RTHK: Sanders vows to unseat 'dangerous' Trump US Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the place of his birth on Saturday to deliver the first rally speech of his presidential campaign, vowing to defeat "the most dangerous president in modern American history" in Donald Trump. The Vermont independent voiced confidence at the address in the New York borough of Brooklyn that he would first beat the crowded field of his rivals for the 2020 nomination, with much of his liberal, populist agenda now considered mainstream Democratic policy. "I want to thank all of you for being part of a campaign which is not only going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeat Donald Trump, who is the most dangerous president in modern American history," Sanders told the crowd of several thousand people. "But, with your help, we are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the one percent." He promised that his campaign would say "loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies." Sanders returned to Brooklyn College, which he once attended, for a rally emphasising his personal story, as the working class son of a Jewish immigrant who grew up in poor housing. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," Sanders said in another dig at Trump. "I did not come from a family that gave me a US$200,000 allowance every year beginning at the age of three." Sanders spelt out his big-ticket items for 2020, his second presidential campaign after losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016 - "Medicare for All," a US$15-an-hour minimum wage and climate change. Many are long-held principles previously dismissed as too radical by more moderate Democrats, but are now more widely accepted talking points as he squares off against several other progressives who have embraced many of his issues. Following November's midterm elections, the Congressional Progressive Caucus - co-founded by Sanders in 1991 - wields more power than at any time in its history. Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislation in 2017. Julian Castro, another Democratic hopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting universal early childhood education. And Warren, Booker and Harris have all proclaimed support for the Green New Deal, an ultra-progressive platform to combat climate change that was unveiled this month by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star. Sanders was an outsider candidate three years ago. But with his massive political network, muscular fundraising capacity and resilient message, he is now a frontrunner. He would need to best multiple formidable rivals - including former vice president Joe Biden, should he enter the race - and victory is anything but assured. On Sunday, Sanders heads to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as "Bloody Sunday" and will also visit Chicago, where he graduated from college and was active in civil rights protests. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: IS teen's Dutch husband wants to head home The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who fled to join Islamic State, wants to live with her in the Netherlands, the BBC reported on Sunday after finding him in Syria. Yago Riedijk, who is being held in a Kurdish-run detention centre in northeast Syria, married Begum days after she arrived in territory held by IS when he was 23 and she was 15, he told BBC television. Begum, 19, from east London and now in a refugee camp, has said she would like to return to Britain but has been stripped of her British citizenship by the government, which calls her a security threat. Riedijk, who is 27 and says he now rejects IS, having fought for the jihadist group, says he wants to return home to the Netherlands with his wife and their newborn son. Their first two children died. In a first extract from the interview released by the BBC, he was asked if he thought marrying a girl of that age was acceptable. "When my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway," he replied. "We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. "Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didn't, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her." Riedijk, from Arnhem, told the BBC that he had been imprisoned and tortured after IS suspected him of being a Dutch spy. He surrendered to Syrian fighters. The case of Begum has highlighted a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow jihadists and IS sympathisers home to face prosecution or bar them as the so-called "caliphate" crumbles. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Ibrahim became famous for her roles as a villain, including her turn as one of the Alexandrian serial killer sisters in the film Raya and Sakina Egyptian cinemas famous male villains are many, but only one actress achieved great fame in similar roles. Negma Ibrahim will forever be remembered for her role as the serial killer Raya in the 1953 film Raya and Sakina, directed by Salah Abu-Seif. She became known for her ability to portray evil female characters thanks to this role. Ibrahims birth name was Pauline Edmond according to her certificate of conversion to Islam and she was most likely born on 25 February 1914, although some sources say that she was born on 19 January 1915. The little girl was attracted to acting through her elder sister Serena, who was an actress who achieved some fame, before immigrating to Israel after 1948. Pauline was taught in both French and Arabic schools and was fluent in the two languages. She learned many surahs from the Quran by heart, converting from the Judaism of her birth family to Islam in 1932 when she wasnt yet 18. She married the multi-talented writer and director Abbas Younis in 1944. During the 1920s, Ibrahim moved from one famous theatrical company to another, from that of Youssef Wahbis to Naguib Al-Rihanis to Mounira El-Mahdeyas, as an actress and songstress. She was endowed with a sweet voice to the extent that she thought seriously about singing solo through imitating Oum Kalthoums songs, which were famous at the time. But her real beginning on stage was in 1930 when she joined the Fatma Rushdy Company in its tour to Iraq where she sang in Shahrazad and The Ten of Diamonds, two musical plays composed by the renowned musician Sayed Darwish. In the end, her ingenious talents as a tragedian and a comedian overcame her musical gifts. On her return to Cairo, she left that company and formed her own; then she joined the National Company on its formation in 1935. She performed in prominent plays under the direction of the pioneer Zaki Tuleimat, such as George Bernard Shaws The Devils Disciple, Oscar Wildes Lady Windermeres Fan, Ahmed Shawqis comedy Madam Huda and in his musical play The Madman of Layla, where she played a singing role. However, her love for drama was stronger than for musicals. Her cinema debut was in The Marriage (1933, directed by Fatma Rushdy), starring Rushdy along with Mahmoud El-Meligy. She participated in a number of films, the most prominent of which were Tita Wong (1937, directed by Amina Mohammed), Rabha (1945, directed by Niazi Mostafa) and Angel of Mercy (1946, directed by Youssef Wahbi). Ibrahims first major role was when Hassan Al-Imam cast her as the villain in The Orphans (1948) along with Faten Hamama and Thoraya Helmy, putting her on the path to specialising in roles as a baddie, or a domineering woman. Despite being gentle and good-natured in her private life, her stern visage, unflinching hawkish expression, and cold-as-ice voice became her trademarks as a big-screen villain. Her noteworthy films in this phase are A Passionate Night (1951, directed by Ahmed Badrkhan) adapted from Mohammed Abdel-Halim Abdullahs novel Foundling, Sacrificed My Love (1951, directed by Ibrahim Emara), Deprivation (1953, directed by Atef Salem) and Ill Never Cry (1957, directed by Hassan Al-Imam). None of these roles would have brought her such wide fame, however; that came with her unforgettable role in Raya and Sakina. The film was based on a gruesome true story of two sisters who committed murder in Alexandria in the 1920s. She reprised this role in the comedy film Ismail Yassin meets Raya and Sakina (1955, directed by Hamada Abdel-Wahab). Later that year she reprised the same role on stage in The Secret of Raya and Sakina with the theatrical company she formed with her husband Younis. Simultaneously, she was playing other memorable roles on screen, such as in Four Girls and an Officer (1954, directed by Anwar Wagdi), They Made Me a Criminal (1954, directed by Atef Salem) and Crime and Punishment (1957, directed by Ibrahim Emara), adapted from Fyodor Dostoevskys novel of the same name. Although Ibrahims theatrical company didnt last long, its heroine didnt stop performing until she went blind in 1963. She was sent to Spain to be treated at the states expense, and she immediately returned to act, albeit on a limited scale during the 1960s. She was obliged to retire due to a number of illnesses that befell her after her final role in Three Thieves (1966, directed by Fateen Abdel-Wahab), and she died ten years later in 1976. Ibrahim was distinguished for her patriotic sentiments. During the climax of the Arab-Israeli conflict, she devoted the returns from her plays to the Egyptian army. She also totally disowned her sister. As a result, the state awarded her the Medal of Science and Arts, as well as an exceptional pension that enabled her to lead a dignified life until her death. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Experts from Egypt were hosted by the Dutch Embassy in a lively conversation and dynamic roundtable in global climate change A panel discussion on the topic of climate change in its multiple dimensions took stage 28 February, organised by the Embassy the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency under the title, "Climate Action in Egypt: From plan to operation." Cairo is one of the capitals of the world most struggling with pollution, with the issue adding urgency to the discussion and hanging over the speakers and audience alike. The objective of the event was to highlight the outcomes of the 24th session of the UN Conference of Parties (COP24), linking them to different sectors in Egypt and encouraging different stakeholders to adopt measures to address climate change in Egypt. Mr Louis Martens, deputy head of the economic sector at the Dutch embassy, caught the attention of the audience when he quoted Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: "What affects us all should concern us all." Martens pointed to the similarities between Holland and Egypt as delta countries and highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change in both. He concluded his remarks with a reminder that the main objective of the Paris agreement was lowering emissions and limiting the global temperature rise preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, stating that Netherlands finds it essential for nations to assist each other in fighting climate change, with a fund created for that purpose A simplified overview of the history of COP and some key Paris agreement articles, like the carbon market, climate finance and transparency, was presented by Maryam Gamal, a renewable energy engineer and climate advocate. "The establishment of the Paris Agreement Rulebook bought executive regulations that make the Paris agreement operational," Maryam said, highlighting the climate threats facing Egypt, with its densely populated Nile Delta and coastal zones. Next, Essam Mohamed, assistant professor at the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology (IGHHE) at the Centre for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES) of the American University in Cairo, talked about the water crisis in Egypt. "We are expected to reach extreme water scarcity in 2020 due to rising population levels and irrigation inefficiency, which consumes 85 percent of Egypt's fresh water capacity," he said. Mohamed stated that if the economic feasibility issue was resolved, desalination plants could present a solution. Young energy economist Rana El-Guindy, who is a senior specialist at the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), took to the podium to discuss the link between renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change, stating that the benefits of renewable energy transcend a positive impact on the environment to include benefits to the economy of the state and the creation of job opportunities. "The state target is to have 22 percent of our energy mix from renewable energy by 2022, and 42 percent in 2035, and the green energy sector managed to provide 9,000 jobs in 2016," El-Guindy said. "Biodynamic agriculture is the solution," said Kadria Abdel-Motaal, CEO of KAM Consulting and co-founder and former president of the Heliopolis Academy for Research, explaining that it is a holistic system that takes all environmental factors into consideration while developing out agricultural practices. She explained how climate change affects the agricultural sector in Egypt in relation to the decline in land fertility and salinity, as well as the depletion of water resources. "We need a more sustainable agricultural system," she said. Young entrepreneur, green activist and CEO of Greenish and Mashana startups, Shady Abdallah, caught the attention of participants. Greenish focuses on advocacy and public engagement to shed light on the environmental impact of waste, while Mashana delivers products from local producers following ecological practices in return for unwanted products to be recycled instead of being thrown away. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts minister of antiquities and an archaeological delegation embarked on a tour of the under-renovation Greaco-Roman Museum in Alexandria to inspect progress in the project. According to Hisham Samir, the minister of antiquities advisor for projects, the Greaco-Roman Museum renovation project started in 2018 and is planned to be completed by the end of this year. Roman Museum So far, 48 percent of the work has been completed, Samir said, adding that this includes the restoration of the western and eastern facades; the inner walls and 90 percent of the buildings metal frame, as well as the consolidation of the museums ground floor, the exhibition halls and the administrative building. Elam Salah, head of the museums department, said that according to the planned exhibition scenario; the museum will have 30 galleries displaying 20,000 artifacts from the Greaco-Roman period. Roman Museum The museum will also have a state-of-the-art conservation and research centre as well as a hall for multimedia. The museum was built in 1892 and was inaugurated by Khedive Abbas Helmy II in 1895 to display Greaco-Roman artefacts discovered at archaeological sites in Alexandria. In 1983, it was registered on Egypts heritage list for Islamic, Coptic and Jewish antiquities. Roman Museum 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Search Keywords: Short link: Rampant discounting in retail is hardly new. Department stores and fashion chains have conditioned their customers to wait for larger, more frequent sales and rarely pay the full price. Even so, the extent of discounting surprised me on a recent shopping trip. One fashion store after another advertised sales of up to 40 per cent off, instore and online. Sales offers bombarded my phone (the curse of signing up to customer databases) and some came by text. Being a sceptical journalist, I assumed the sales were for a few items to encourage instore traffic or mostly for old summer stock that did not sell. Not so. Several adventurewear retailers offered 40 per cent off all company-branded items the majority of their stock. Even new-season stock was being heavily discounted, amid heightened competition in a slow sales-growth environment. I cant recall so many retailers having flash sales so soon after Christmas and slashing their margins to move stock. That says a lot about the challenges of the Australian economy and retail sector. And the danger of buying stock in mature companies that rely on domestic retail sales growth. Retailing conditions could go from bad to worse in 2019, tipping more firms into insolvency. Yes, my experience with these sales is anecdotal. It can be dangerous extrapolating personal experiences to an entire sector. But your eyes and ears are always your best investment tool; its obvious that retail conditions are worsening. The house-price correction, high household debt and stagnant wages growth are a terrible trifecta for retailers. Together, they suggest an extended period of consumer de-leveraging as more people become concerned about their falling wealth, so pay down debt and spend less. De-leveraging is not a quick fix, particularly for those who bought property late in the cycle near the price peak. They are watching the value of their property fall, facing a mountain of debt and struggling with rising living costs as wages stay flat year after year. Who would want to be a retailer in this environment? There are, of course, always exceptions. I have nominated electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi for The Bull several times over the years and it has not disappointed. Infant-goods retailer Baby Bunting Group impresses, as does kitchen-appliances manufacturer Breville Group. I particularly like Australian retailers with an expanding global footprint. Those that can rapidly open stores in higher-growth markets overseas and boost their earnings firepower. Discretionary retailers that rely only on the slowing domestic retail market are hard to buy. Premier Investments, owner of outstanding stationery chain Smiggle and key shareholder in Breville, has been a long-term favourite. The stock has a five-year annualised total return (assuming dividend reinvestment) of almost 20 per cent. Smiggle is going gangbusters, its sales up 58 per cent over two years. Smiggle had 347 stores at the end of FY18 and could have more than 500 within a few years at its current growth trajectory. It would never have this type of growth only in Australia. Premier has fallen from a 52-week high of $20.16 in September 2018 to $16.25, amid the fourth-quarter sharemarket sell-off and general retailing concerns. No company news warranted the extent of that fall and the stock has started to recover this month. Its rally can go further. Chart 1: Premier Investments >> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter Tony Featherstone is a former managing editor of BRW, Shares and Personal Investor magazines. The information in this article should not be considered personal advice. It has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on information in this article consider its appropriateness and accuracy, regarding your objectives, financial situation and needs. Do further research of your own and/or seek personal financial advice from a licensed adviser before making any financial or investment decisions based on this article. All prices and analysis at February 26, 2019. Mar 02 2019 7:00 pm [COMMUNICATED] The trip, first reported by Israeli website Bchadrei Chareidim, will be the first one by the Sar Hatorah in nearly 30 years. Miron, Israel Preparations are underway for a once-in-a-generation event, as Maran R Chaim Kanievsky readies to head to the gravesite of R Shimon Bar Yochai in Miron on Monday, March 11, for his first visit to the holy site in decades. Despite his advanced age, R Chaim has shared his willingness to make this extraordinary trip on behalf of Yissachar BOhelacha, the leading organization in Israel for struggling Kollel families. The organization is preparing for the launch of a massive fundraising drive and the Sar Hatorah has undertaken to travel to Miron to pray on behalf of those who will support Torah through their generosity during this campaign. The visit carries extraordinary weight as R Chaim has been known to rarely leave his hometown of Bnei Brak and has not been to the Kever of R Shimon in Miron in nearly three decades. As soon as the trip was confirmed, police and askanim began preparing the logistics for this historic day. It is expected that the entire area surrounding Meron will be cordoned off to the general public and a large tent will be built to accommodate the authorized participants. The announcement of this extraordinary occurrence brought a flood of wealthy donors and benefactors who will be flying in from Europe and the United States to be in Miron on this special day. The generous supporters announced their intent to donate larger sums for the exclusive right to participate in this monumental occasion. With the many commitments already being received, it is expected that the event will soon be closed to any additional participants. Yissachar BOhelacha, founded by the Rosh Yeshiva, Maran R Aryeh Leib Shteinman ZTL, has fallen on tough times since his passing and has been struggling to provide stipends for the thousands of families who count on their critical support. To that end, leadership of the organization is planning a massive fundraising push for the upcoming week to raise the necessary funds to save the organization. Hearing the plight of these struggling families, R Chaim announced that he will be personally traveling to Meron to storm the gates of heaven on behalf of those who will donate to the organization during the planned campaign. In the coming days, askanim of Yissachar BOhelacha will be announcing more details about this monumental event and offer opportunities for donors around the world to have their names mentioned by the Gadol Hador on this auspicious day. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -4C. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low -11C. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. mfanukhona@times.co.sz MBABANE MPs are the custodians of the law. This is because their primary responsibility is to enact, pass and protect the laws. By virtue of this responsibility, they are regarded as custodians of the law. However, they are breaking the law. Specifically, they are notably breaking the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini). Parliament passed the Constitution to an Act in 2005. It has been established that MPs were perceivably disregarding Section 218 of the Constitution, which is considered the supreme law of the land. SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT According to section 218, Parliament shall within five years of the commencement of the Constitution provide for the establishment of a single countrywide system of local government. Obviously, this has not been done despite the fact that they have the capacity to pass the laws as evidenced by their enacting of 26 Acts of Parliament in 2018. In essence, MPs should have set up the single countrywide system of local government in 2010. A period of five years within the commencement of the Constitution equates to 2010 or before. It is uncertain when the Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill, which was drafted during the tenure of office for Prince Gcokoma, the ex-Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, will be tabled or piloted in Parliament. Prince Gcokoma is the current Manzini Regional Administrator. In 2014, Parliament instructed Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini, the then Minister of Tinkhundla, to come up with a law that would comply with Section 218 of the Constitution. MPs pointed out that there was a need to have a law that would bring government closer to the people. Dlamini had not done so when his term of office expired last year. It remains to be seen if David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, the current Minister of Tinkhundla, will pilot the Bill in Parliament. It is stated in the Constitution that the single countywide system of local government must be based on the Tinkhundla system of government, hierarchically organised according to the volume of complexity of service rendered. The system, according to the supreme law, must be integrated to avoid urban/rural dichotomy. Dichotomy is a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. It is worth mentioning though that Prince Gcokoma, the former Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, tried to comply with the constitution by taking to Cabinet Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill of 2010. David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, said he had briefed on the Bill, but was yet to look into it. He said they would have an opportunity to look at it and seek advice from the Attorney General on its contents and significance. Ngcamphalala joined Cabinet in 2013. He served in the administration of deceased Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini. He was reappointed to Cabinet last year by His Majesty the King. Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini, the ex-Minister of Tinkhundla, said he had done a lot of work with regard to the law by the time he vacated office last year. Dlamini said they had extensively consulted over the matter, and all controversies surrounding the Bill were removed. He said he might give details on the issue in due course. Speaker Petros Mavimbela asked to comment on the issue at a later stage after he had consulted widely over it. mfanukhona@times.co.sz MBABANE Was government given a raw deal? It has emerged that the four-bedroom house bought in 2009 by government to accommodate Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku cost the taxpayer E2.6 million. Worryingly, after the purchase, a sum of E977 000 was spent on renovating the house, which up to now has not been fully rehabilitated. It has been established that the taxpayer has spent E3.4 million on purchasing and maintaining the house respectively. This excludes the E180 000, which the current lessee, Robert Atwell, understandably paid from his pocket to finance the endless renovations. If Atwells money is to be included, it would mean E3.7 million has been spent on the purchase, and rehabilitation exercise respectively. Media reports indicate that the then Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by Thuli Dladla, now Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, discovered that E797 000 was spent on rehabilitating the dilapidating property. Asked if the house was fit for human occupation, Atwell mentioned that it still needed some facelift. It effectively means government would have to spend more on the house if it were to keep it as one of its immovable assets. However, Neal Rijkenberg, the Minister of Finance, said moves were afoot to dispose of certain government assets. It is not certain at this stage if the Waterford Park house will be sold. You can get details from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, but I have spent a lot of money from my personal pocket, trying to fix the house, said Atwell. Documents in the possession of this newspaper reveal that government bought the house from A &A Properties (Proprietary) Limited. The company was represented by Andrianus Jacobus Maria Vriend in his capacity as director when it sold the property to government. The company took the resolution to sell the house to government on June 11, 2009. The size of the land is 5 616 square metres. The Times SUNDAY reported last week that the four-bedroom spacious house bought by government about seven years ago to specifically accommodate Masuku did not serve its intended purpose. monthly rentals collected This was due to the fact that the house was a residence for a non-civil servant, Atwell, who claimed he had been paying monthly rentals to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for the past two years. He said he paid E13 000 per month directly to the ministry. Due to the shortage of accommodation, Masuku has reportedly converted his private home in Mbabane to an official residence. As a result of this arrangement, government must pay him a monthly allowance of E17 369.43, which is 25 per cent of his basic salary of E69 477.75 per month. The housing allowance is based on Article 4.6.1 of Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. For using his house, the DPM is expected to get E208 433.16 per annum, translating to E1 042 165.00 in five years. The term of office for politicians is five years. Since Atwell pays E13 000 per month, it effectively means government makes a loss of E4 369 per month (E17 369 E13 000); translating to E52 433 per year, and E262 165.50 in five years. Contrastingly, in rentals, the house has a potential to raise E780 000 in five years. It was mentioned that had the house been renovated on time to fit the standard of the fourth most important person in the political hierarchy of the country, the taxpayer would not be paying the monthly allowance of E17 369, which runs into a million Emalangeni in five years. DPM happy at home Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said he was happily staying at his home, and would not want to talk about the house he once occupied because issues of accommodation fell outside his jurisdiction. I cannot comment on the issue of accommodation. The only thing I can say to you is that I am happy where I stay at my home, and I can even plant trees in the yard, the soft spoken DPM said. It must be said that Masukus predecessor, Paul Dlamini, also did not use the house, resulting in government securing a rental apartment for him in Thembelihle, Mbabane. Dlamini declined to comment on the matter on the grounds that he was no longer an active politician. Khangezile Mabuza, the Principal Secretary in the DPMs office, said the house, as a matter of fact, did not actually belong to her portfolio even though the current deputy prime minister once occupied it. She said it belonged to government, and it is under the custody of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The principal secretary pointed out that the DPM was happy where he lived. She added that there was currently no designated house for the DPM. As soon as we get an official house for the deputy prime minister, he (DPM) will be expected to move in. At the moment we dont have an official house for the DPM, he said. Cabinet allowed leasing Lungelo Nkambule, the Communication Officer of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, said government did not lease its houses to civil servants. She said there was also no regulation that inhibited government from leasing its properties to private entities/citizens. Nkambule disclosed that it was a Cabinet decision that allowed for this current arrangement on the basis of particular circumstances, which existed at the time. It follows that if govt is leasing the property to the individual, any dues will be for the benefit of government, she said. Under normal circumstances, it is the Ministry of Public Service that is responsible for the upkeep of government houses. It is not clear how and why this house was left under the care of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Evart Madlopha, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, was not helpful in terms of details, except to play safe, and referred enquiries to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Asked if there would be a need to sell the house, he referred enquiries to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), said the arrangement was poor because the house was never bought for commercial purposes. Dlamini said any Cabinet decision that made government to make a loss was not good, particularly at the time when the countrys economy was dismally ailing. We are being pock-pocketed by the government here, he said. He said it looked as though government has plenty of houses for high ranking officers. Thats why they lease out the houses. Teachers are sharing houses but theres a house that government has leased out to a private citizen, he said. He urged Masuku as a senior politician to address this anomaly. MBABANE His Majesty King Mswati III has urged members of Lutsango regiment not to drink too much. In his own words, the King said: Natsani nitsi cabu cabu kodvwa nicaphele kungabese kuye engcondvweni. The monarch was speaking at Hlane Royal Residence during the Buganu Ceremony which was attended by hordes of the members of Lutsango yesterday. The King said they should drink to quench thirst. The King went on to thank Lutsango for its continued honouring of the ceremony, which he said has become one of the ceremonies that attract tourists into the country. He said the numbers of tourists that are lured by the Buganu Ceremony are increasing every year, likewise the number of Lutsango. He said that was judged by the fact that the arena where they dance is becoming smaller and had to be extended every year. Among those who had come far to witness the ceremony were the King of kaTembe and the one of the VaVhenda. The King said the increase in the number of visitors was evidence that emaSwati are doing the right thing in continuing to stick to their culture and cultural activities. I am not drunk Indlovukazi Meanwhile, Indlovukazi also left members of Lutsango regiment in stiches when she said she mustnt be perceived as someone who was drunk. She said: Labanye batuwubese batsi yini ngatsi logogo sewubufakile. Indlovukazi was sharing to Lutsango that she had made another breakthrough on how the marula fruit can be processed to generate more income for them. However, she said she would keep it a secret for now. MBABANE An audit report meant for Matsapha municipal council managements eyes paints a gloomy picture of the industrial towns finances. Renowned audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found that the municipality has a porous accounting process that leaves it highly susceptible to fraudulent activities. The audit is for the financial year ended March 31, 2018. The biggest concern was uncovered in the institutions trial balance. A trial balance is a bookkeeping or accounting report that lists the balances in each of an organisations general ledger accounts. The debit balance amounts are listed in a column with the heading Debit balances and the credit balance amounts are listed in another column with the heading Credit balances. The total of each of these two columns should be identical. Trial balance found not in order In a letter directed to Mayor Sandlane Zwane and Chief Executive Officer Lucky Sukati, the auditors, giving an update on the audit work, said when they first received the trial balance from the town treasurer on August 29. 2018, they noted it was not in a proper format. They said this was communicated to the town treasurer who promised to take the matter up with the systems vendor. The auditors said they then received a revised version on September 7, 2018 but there were still problems because the debits did not equal the credits. A further revised version was received on September 18, 2018 which had been updated for some of the differences noted by the accountants and auditors. There was then a meeting between the auditors with councillors and management on September 24, 2918 after which the auditors received a further updated version of the trial balance on September 25, 2018 which had been updated for further differences that had been queried by the auditors with management. The auditors said in the latest trial balance, the total debit amounts still do not agree to the total credit amounts by about E7 000. The other irregularity that the auditors raised was with regard to the municipalitys fixed assets register where it was identified that there was a difference of about E700 000 between the balance on the fixed assets register when compared to that on the trial balance. This difference was reportedly communicated to the accountants to investigate in September 10, 2018, which resulted in a revised fixed assets register together with a revised trial balance being submitted on September 18, 2018. The difference noted had reduced to E19 000 between these two documents, noted the auditors. They said upon inspecting the fixed assets register, they noted that the categories of the assets were not easily identifiable and management was asked to look into resolving this query. The other big concern raised by the auditors was when they asked for an accruals schedule from the accountants on September 11, 2018 but were handed a general ledger and not a detailed listing or schedule. Accruals are adjustments for revenues that have been earned but are not yet recorded in the accounts, and expenses that have been incurred, but are not yet recorded in the accounts. An example of an accrual involving an expense is an employees bonus that was earned in 2012, but will not be paid until 2013. The auditors said they reported to management that they required a schedule instead of the general ledger and this led to the accountant emailing them a revised report of the accruals on September 20, 2018, which showed a total of E1.1 million. We identified a difference of about E6 million between this balance and the balance as per the trial balance which we requested that management should check for us, reported the auditors. The following day (September 20), the accountant reportedly emailed the auditors a revised report of the accruals which reflected a balance of E700 000. We reported on the same day that we could not follow the work which had been performed on this report, stated the auditors. After receiving the updated accruals schedule of E700 000, the auditors said they also received an updated trial balance from the accountants. The balance of accruals on this trial balance was about E800 000, and from discussions with the accountant on September 25, 2018, they will pass the necessary adjustments in order to correct this difference which was caused by incorrectly posted items, said the auditors. In the September 25, 2018 meeting with the accountant in order to understand the work done on the schedule, the auditors said they were comfortable with the process which had been followed when resolving the earlier noted E6 million difference, hence they proceeded to perform audit tests over this information. In the audit report to management, the auditors said implication of such an anomaly with the schedule could be the loss of track of how much amounts are owed to which suppliers at any point in time. There is also the risk that management may make incorrect payments to suppliers if they do not maintain a comprehensive record of amounts owed. Errors, irregularities and other fraudulent transactions may not be identified and corrected timely, said the auditors and recommended that council should maintain a proper detailed listing to support amounts owed to suppliers at year end, something management said it noted. Serious concerns on fixed assets In the report, the auditors continued to raise serious concerns regarding the status of the municipalitys fixed assets register. It was noted that the total of fixed assets (property, plant and equipment) on the fixed assets register was not reconciled to the total of fixed assets in the trial balance. The auditors said the difference between the fixed assets register and the trial balance amounted to E759 980. We also noted that there was a number of updates which had to be performed on the assets register during the audit which was an indication that the fixed assets register was not appropriately reviewed and reconciled during the year, said the auditors while also stating that the fixed assets register was subsequently reconciled to the trial balance. But the auditors noted that the implications included that errors, irregularities and other fraudulent transactions may not be identified and corrected on time and property, plant and equipment may be misstated. The auditors recommended that the fixed assets balance as per the fixed assets register should be reconciled to that reflected in the trial balance on a monthly basis and the difference noted should be followed up and investigated on a timely basis. Still on the property, plant and equipment, the auditors noted that some of these fixed assets purchased during the year were recorded under accounts payable instead of being capitalised to property, plant and equipment. This resulted in misstatement of accounts payable by over E4 million, noted the auditors. Subsequent to this observation, the fixed assets were then reportedly reclassified from accounts to fixed assets on September 18, 2018. The auditors noted that such an anomaly could lead to the councils fixed assets being understated and depreciation expense amounts, which are calculated for fixed assets, may also be misstated. Also, accounts payable may be misstated. They recommended that the fixed assets which have been purchased during the year should be properly capitalised to property, plant and equipment and not be recorded under accounts payable. Management, according to the report, said it would ensure that all assets were capitalised on time. What was also found was that most of the fixed assets owned by council were not tagged hence they were not easily traceable to the fixed assets register. Therefore, the auditors said it might be difficult for council to identify its fixed assets and it was recommended that they should be tagged for easy reference and tracing. Bank account found to be in shambles Besides the fixed assets register, even the institutions main bank account was found to be in shambles. From our inspection of the cash balance of the entity at the start of the audit, we noted that the main account balance was not tying up with the balance reflected on the bank statements and the balances which were being confirmed by the banks to the auditors, the auditors said. When this was brought to the attention of council, it was then that the bank balance was updated by a consultant to reflect a correct bank balance. Subsequent to the above observation, the bank reconciliation was revised following assistance from the systems provider. The balance as per the cash book was misstated, reads the audit report. The implications of this, according to the auditors, include that the financial records relating to the balance in the bank accounts may be materially misstated. The auditors then recommended that the reviewer of the monthly bank reconciliations should monitor these closely and ensure that the correct transactions amounts are used when updating accounting records in the general labour. E108 000 staff loans not traced Another anomaly that the auditors uncovered was in respect to loans, where an amount of E108 000 that was given as staff loans could not be traced, resulting to them being listed as doubtful debts. The auditors uncovered the untraceable loans after noting that some of the balances included in the accounts receivables had been carried forward from previous years and had not been cleared. The consequences of this could be that other receivables may be misstated and that balances may not be recoverable and may eventually be written off resulting in financial loss to the council. They recommended that long outstanding accounts receivables, which have not cleared within a period of 12 months, should be investigated and written off or provided for if there is doubt regarding their recoverability. Responding to this, management said it noted the recommendation and investigations on the issues will be conducted. The auditors went on to uncover an anomaly in the payment of allowances to members of management where it was found that they were being paid in cash instead of electronic funds transfer. CEO paid E35 148.75 allowance in cash One such payment was in respect of subsistence allowance to the amount of E35 148.75 that was paid to the town clerk/CEO on June 1, 2017. There is an increased level of risk associated with cash payments, warned the auditors, while also stating that another implication of this was loss of audit trail. A recommendation from the auditors was that council should consider paying members of management for trips to be undertaken through electronic funds transfer instead of cheque or cash payments. A further irregularity found by the auditors touched on petty cash records where figures did not tally. One observation was a petty cash balance of E5 800 which was recorded in the financial records but could not be reconciled to the petty cash records of the council. A second observation was a cash on hand balance of E26 000 on the trial balance that had been carried over from previous financial periods but did not exist at year end. Even though the auditors said this was subsequently resolved through a journal entry on September 18, 2018, there were implications that included that errors, irregularities and other fraudulent transactions may not be identified and corrected timely as well as that cash and cash equivalents may be misstated. It was recommended that council should maintain the record of petty cash and these records should show the trail of petty cash amounts from the point at which they were withdrawn from the bank accounts to when these amounts were used for business purposes and eventually to the records of the petty cash which remained unused. The council should also perform regular reconciliations of petty cash usages and these reconciliations should be reviewed. The council should also consider performing regular petty cash counts, said the auditors. No support documentation for cheque payments An additional observation by the auditors was the municipalitys failure to maintain supporting documentation for cheque payments. In one instance, the auditors said they sampled a cheque amounting to E9 689 with the description subsistence allowance which they could not obtain supporting documents for. There were three implications that could be a result of this anomaly, one of which is that it may be difficult to verify whether the funds were actually used for the intended purpose or whether there were any left-over funds which should have been returned back to the council. The second implication is lack of appropriate paper trail and the last one is that the revenue authority might conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support that costs were incurred for business purposes. Two councillors, one of whom is a member of the Finance Committee, said the anomalies that had been raised by the auditors were of a serious nature and should be investigated by an independent institution. Councillors want financial operations probed We would like to call on Parliament, specifically House of Assembly, to institute a commission of enquiry into the councils financial operations. The audit has provided enough reasons to convince us that there is a lot of mismanagement in the institutions finances, the members said. The councillor, who is a finance committee member, said when they saw the auditors findings, they wondered why the bank records were not balanced on a monthly basis by the town treasurer such that they had to be corrected by technicians at the end of the year. This may encourage fraud and funds may be directed to peoples personal bank accounts, said the member. He said as councillors they doubted the status of the accounts and questioned the performance of the town treasurers competence. For instance, how can you allocate E4 million asset additions to accounts payable? Lets go back to accounts 101; assets have a debit balance whilst accounts payable have a credit balance. What they did is totally unacceptable, decried the councillor. He said with regard to the assets that were not tagged or easily traceable, the question was what then was the purpose of a fixed asset register if the assets cannot be found? This is a very great risk as it is easier to point a wrong asset whilst that asset disappeared a long time ago, he said. He was echoed by the other councillor, who questioned why fixed assets that had been disposed of still appeared on the fixed assets register. This can make us believe that assets are still at council premises yet they are at someones homestead, he said. On the issue of the untraceable staff loans, the finance committee member said they suspected that these were never repaid because had they been paid back, they would have been cleared from the accounts books. The councillors said while PwC issued a clean or unqualified audit report, they believed that there were fraudulent transactions that existed within the institution, hence a forensic audit should be carried out. This information comes to light after the conclusion of a commission of enquiry into operations of the municipality that was instituted by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane after infighting among councillors and management brought the town into chaos. Councillors, management officials, government officers and ratepayers who have testified before the commission threw wild accusations against each other and these have been explosive in most instances. A report on the commissions findings has since been submitted to the ministry. Estonians are voting in a parliamentary election Sunday in the small Baltic nation in a ballot where Prime Minister Juri Ratas and his Center Party are pitted against the center-right opposition Reform Party and where populists are seen making inroads. Sunday\s vote in the NATO and the European Union member of 1.3 million comes as the far-right, nationalist Estonian Conservative People\s Party, or EKRE, has substantially increased its popularity since the 2015 election. Both main contenders wish to keep the anti-immigration, xenophobic and euroskeptic EKRE, run by father and son Mart and Martin Helme, at bay. "It will be quite sad if we fall towards populists, as it has happened with other countries, even with the United States," Peter Janson told The Associated Press at a polling station in Tallinn. Nearly a million voters are eligible to elect representatives for the next four years to the 101-seat Riigikogu legislature. EKRE got 8.1 percent of votes and seven seats in parliament in the previous election. Ratas, 40, has been heading a coalition of his left-leaning Center Party, the Social Democrats and the conservative Fatherland since November 2016, when the previous, center-right government collapsed after internal disputes and a lost confidence vote. The Center\s backers include ethnic Russians, who make up 25 percent of the population in this former Soviet republic. The government is challenged by the Reform Party, a key political party in Estonia since the early 1990s, which advocates liberal economic policies and held the prime minister\s post continuously for 11 years from 2005-2016. Struggling with internal crisis, Reform has seen its chairmen change several times in the past few years. Its current head, Kaja Kallas, took over at the helm of the party as its first female leader last year. Campaigning has mostly focused on social and economic issues such as taxation. "The topic that most people talk about are the taxes," Kallas told The Associated Press while voting in central Tallinn. Kallas, a lawyer and a former European lawmaker, said Ratas\ Cabinet "has totally messed (up) the tax system . excise duties, income tax system and people are really annoyed by this." She said that whatever the result of the election, her party will have a big influence going forward on Estonian politics. "We will definitely be a big power," she said. "So the decisions can\t be made without us. We are doing our best efforts to form the government, definitely. Let\s see how it goes." Among other things, Ratas\ government has substantially increased excise duties on alcohol, partly on health grounds. All parties, including the EKRE, agree that NATO and the EU are the cornerstones of Estonia\s security and foreign policy. Polls have put Center and Reform neck and neck with many predicting a slight win for Center, while EKRE appears set to emerge in third place. About 26 percent of Estonians had already cast their votes online by a Feb. 27 deadline. Electronic voting pioneer Estonia was the first country in the world to use online balloting for a national election in 2005. No online voting takes place on election day. SOURCE: Associated Press Malgre les approches allechantes du PSG et de clubs chinois cet hiver, Thiago Mendes assure quil na jamais imagine quitter le LOSC en milieu de saison. Je nai toujours pense quau LOSC. Bien sur, il y a eu des discussions entre les clubs et les agents mais je veux amener le club le plus loin possible , a explique le milieu de terrain bresilien selon des propos rapportes par LEquipe. Reste a savoir si son discours sera le meme cet ete en cas doffres concretes. Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza) has announced that its non-oil foreign trade last year hit Dh146 billion ($39.7 billion) up 62 per cent over 2017. Its contribution to Dubai's non-oil foreign trade was put at 11 per cent compared to 7 per cent the year before. Unveiling the 2018 non-oil sector results, Dafza said it has shown resilience and steady growth with 2018 results reaching unprecedented performance with five per cent growth in net profit, a four per cent increase in EBID, an 8 per cent increase in total revenue, as well as an increase of three per cent in total assets versus 2017. Dafza pointed out that its 2019 budget has increased significantly to Dh1 billion ($272 million), thanks to its investment in new expansion projects estimated at around Dh780 million. This represents 78 per cent which comes in support to its commitment to increasing its contribution to Dubai non-oil trade. Following the free zone's decision in mid-2018 to reduce its set up costs by 65 per cent, the zone witnessed a clear 22 per cent increase in registered companies versus last year, it stated. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said that trade was one of the key sectors driving Dubais growth, supported by the emirates long standing of being a gateway for global trade. Dafzas results achieved in 2018 are a direct reflection of Dubais strong economic growth and in line with the path taken by Dubais leadership for revenue diversification, he noted. These results confirm that Dafza continues to play a vital role in achieving the strategic goals of strengthening Dubai's non-oil economy, with foreign direct investment through attracting global capital and major multinational organisations," remarked Sheikh Ahmed. "This also encourages investors to establish their business within a stable economic environment and to expand their investments operating locally in the UAE and regionally through the free zone," he stated. "The zones unique value proposition encourages investors to set up their businesses in Dafza where they benefit from the competitive environment on offer and the high flexibility in the midst of global economic fluctuations," he added. He went on to say that these carefully-laid plans and ambitious strategic initiatives support the strategy of economic diversification in line with the Dubai 2021 Plan. The governments plans to move to the post-oil era have played a major role in achieving these results, as well as the continuous efforts of all those who develop and implement these initiatives. Dafzas non-oil foreign trade volume climbed 62 per cent in 2018 to reach Dh146 billion. This is largely due to the strong growth in exports and re-exports which stood at Dh83.3 billion in 2018, an increase of Dh39.5 billion, a 90 per cent growth versus 2017, while imports increased by 35 percent from 2017 to reach Dh62.5 billion. This resulted in a significant surplus in Dafzas trade with Dh21 billion in 2018. This has confirmed once again the quality of Dafzas world-class services, and the positive impact of the initiatives and incentives provided by the free zone to foreign investors. Dafza Director General Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni said: Non-oil foreign trade growth in 2018 is a clear indication that we are adopting the right strategies. Our competitiveness has appealed to a wide spectrum of companies from around the world which seek to take advantage of Dubais position as regional and international trading hub." He also highlighted the importance of strategic targeted marketing campaigns implemented during the past year, which has proven Dafzas ability to attract businesses, retain them and act as a catalyst for their growth. Dafzas data revealed that non-Arab Asian countries accounted for 46 per cent of Dubais non-oil trade last year amounting to Dh66.5 billion. India topped the list with Dh24.1 billion worth of trade, accounting for 16.5 per cent of the total. This was followed by China which accounted for Dh24 billion worth of trade in the non-Arab Asian countries category, (16.4 per cent), said the statement from Dafza. Arab countries ranked right behind at 27 per cent with a value of Dh39.5 billion, where GCC countries comprised 62 per cent at a value of Dh24.5 billion. European countries came in at third place with 22 percent of trade valued at Dh32 billion with Switzerland topping the list with Dh23 billion trade accounting for 15.6 per cent, it added.-TradeArabia News Service A team of MSc students from Modul University Dubai has secured a place on an accelerator programme, conducted by Expo 2020 Dubais global funding and partnership programme Expo Live in conjunction with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa). The placement will enable the student team to further develop their start-up, Carb-In a sustainable enterprise that will give UAE investors and individuals the chance to do well, by doing good. The bespoke accelerator programme, which supports student teams that secured funding and support as part of Expo Lives University Innovation Programme (UIP), is designed to empower young innovators with the tools necessary for the next stages of their entrepreneurial journeys. Andrea Hesketh, David May and Yauheniya Nestsiarenka, three students on the masters program in Sustainable Development, Management and Policy, hit on the idea of Carb-In while studying a course under Professor Jeremy Williams that covers the emerging phenomenon of social impact investment. The business idea is based around an app that will enable investors to make a positive social and environmental impact while generating private financial returns. With Carb-In, investors will be connected to renewable energy and other sustainability related projects in Africa, providing users with options to offset their personal carbon emissions through carbon neutralizing investment. The app will offer individuals a working mechanism to remain carbon neutral (or positive) through a range of investment vehicles that will earn them a profit. Zaid Maleh, managing director of Modul University Dubai, said: This app, and the incredible effort of the students and university staff, underlines the commitment that we have at Modul University Dubai to innovation and sustainable solutions. The Carb-In app and the hard work that has already gone into the idea is the best evidence there is of the quality of professors and faculty, and the attitude of the students day in, day out at Modul University Dubai. The app uses a carbon calculator that will track and monitor a users emissions, before partnering the investor with specific social impact investment firms, allowing the investor to select projects that will pay returns on carbon offsets. Next steps for the team behind the sustainable enterprise app includes work on a Sharia compliant structure to facilitate Islamic investment and incentives, and consultation with financial advisors, experts and social impact investment firms to facilitate financial transactions and zero-default investment programs. Carb-In was one of 47 UAE-based student teams to receive grants of up to AED50,000, plus guidance and exposure, as part of the Expo Live UIP. After continuing its collaboration with Expo Live, it became one of 28 UIP grantees to secure a place on the accelerator programme, which will see the young innovators mentored by Sheraas in-house team of experts, helping them to further develop their social impact investment project. Modul University Dubai, a subsidiary of Dubai Investments, has focused its efforts in the space of sustainability and innovation with the launch of the Centre for Sustainability through Research and Education (CSRE), a fully integrated research centre with the mission of facilitating sustainable solutions. TradeArabia News Service Bentley Systems, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, has invited nominations for the Year in Infrastructure 2019 Awards programme. The awards, which are judged by independent juries of industry experts, recognise infrastructure projects for digital innovations that improve project delivery and/or asset performance. The Year in Infrastructure Awards are an integral part of Bentleys annual Year in Infrastructure Conference. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2019. Advancing BIM through Digital Twins is the theme of this years conference, which takes place from October 21 to 24 in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. Winners will be announced at a gala event during the conference. The entries for the Year in Infrastructure Awards programme is open to all users of Bentley software. These firms can enter their projects, no matter which phase the project is in - preconstruction/conceptual, design, construction, or operations. The three finalists chosen for each awards category will win a trip to Singapore to attend the Year in Infrastructure 2019 Conference, as guests of Bentley Systems. As part of the conference, the finalists will present their projects before the judges, industry thought leaders, and more than 100 members of the media. Every project nominated for an award receives recognition across the global infrastructure community. The 18 Year in Infrastructure 2019 Awards categories recognize advancements in going digital for several categories including 4D Construction Modeling; Bridges; Buildings and Campuses; Communications and Utilities; Digital Cities; Geotechnical Engineering; Manufacturing; Mining and Offshore Engineering; Power Generation; Project Delivery; Rail and Transit; Reality Modeling; Roads and Highways; Road and Rail Asset Performance; Structural Engineering; Utilities and Industrial Asset Performance; Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants; Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Networks. Additionally, projects that represent Bentleys mission of advancing infrastructure, but which transcend the narrower focus of the individual category awards, can be considered for Special Recognition awards including: Advancements in Digital Twins for Project Delivery (Project Digital Twins) for a project using a digital twin to gain useful insights, such as understanding the impact of change and design alternatives or highlighting issues with the quality of project data, to more effectively collaborate with the extended project team, or to model the performance of a project and its construction. Advancements in Digital Twins for Asset Performance (Performance Digital Twins) for projects involving an operating infrastructure asset that uses a digital twin to gain useful insights to improve the performance of an operating asset throughput, safety, compliance, maintenance to evaluate the relative impact of different operational strategies, to support training of operational staff or to support remote operations of an asset. Advancements in Sustainability and Resilience for a project that has been designed or an infrastructure asset that is being operated to achieve better sustainability (lower carbon footprint, better use of renewables, reduced environmental impact) or higher resilience (ability to withstand and recover from man-made or natural disasters, adaptability to changing conditions). Bentley Systems is the leading global provider of software solutions to engineers, architects, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators for the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure. Its MicroStation-based engineering and BIM applications, and its digital twin cloud services, advance the project delivery (ProjectWise) and the asset performance (AssetWise) of transportation and other public works, utilities, industrial and resources plants, and commercial and institutional facilities.-TradeArabia News Service Zain Bahrain, a leading telecoms operator in the Kingdom, has been announced as the Gold Sponsor and Official Telecom Partner of Unbound Innovation Festival 2019. This marks the second year of Zain Bahrains support for the popular event, which will take place on March 6 and 7 in Bahrain National Theatre. Zain Bahrain will host a panel discussion on diversity in the workplace in partnership with C5 Accelerate on March 6, and will feature Fatima Haider, Zain Bahrains Organizational Development Specialist. The panel will emphasise on the importance of diversity in the workplace, how companies can align diversity practices with their organizational goals and whether diversity is an inclusion fad or a competitive advantage It will also highlight cultural barriers and gender bias challenges in the workplace and how can organisations avoid such issues when recruiting. Additionally, Zain Bahrain will provide attendees with complimentary Zain WiFi throughout the event. Sheikh Abdulla Al-Khalifa, Zain Bahrain director of Corporate Communication & Investor Relations, said: True diversity is achieved not just by ensuring that employees from various backgrounds are selected for employment, but by creating a culture of inclusion in which all employees feel that they are equally contributing and accepted members of the organization. Zain Bahrain has diversity-driven incentive programs to help solve workplace challenges and enhance a diverse environment. Zain Bahrain is proud to be the gold sponsor of Unbound Innovation Festival 2019 for the second year. Unbound 2019 will attract more than 4,000 start-ups, investors and businesses from Bahrain and beyond, who will hear from multiple influential speakers, uncover pioneering ideas, and take part in immersive brand experiences, hackathons, startup battles and networking sessions.- TradeArabia News Service Wasla the ultimate Arabic Alternative Music Festival, has been confirmed for April 5, kicking off at 11am and rocking right through until 11pm, at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai. This years outstanding line-up includes heroes of the regional music scene, such as Cairokee, Massar Egbari, Mashrou Leila, 47 Soul and El Morabba3. Early bird tickets, at Dh195 ($53), are now available at www.ticketmaster.ae. The April 5 festival will mark the third year in a row that Wasla will gather together the very best alternative Arabic talent from the regions buzzing genre-spanning music scene in Dubai. With Live Nation, in partnership with Brag in association with Emaar, as well as strategic partner Dubai Calendar and hospitality partner Rove Hotels, on board for this years event, Wasla 2019 is guaranteed to be bigger and better than ever before. Joining the line-up will be: Cairokee Egypts rock giants, whose ever-evolving approach to their craft is a true sonic reflection of the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of their beloved home city of Cairo. El Morabba3 The Amman-based trio has been making waves across the region after winning the award for Best Indie Music at the Arab Music Awards in Beirut, in 2017, for their Arabic, Indie, and desert-influenced brand of rock. Mashrou Leila Eager festival-goers can look forward to what the New Yorker calls the Middle Easts biggest alt rock band, as Lebanons Mashrou Leila are set to unleash their brand-new album The Beirut School, live in the UAE for the very first time. 47SOUL 47SOUL will join straight from their headline slot on the globalFEST stage at SXSW, with their new album Balfron Promise, which made it onto The Guardians Top Ten World Music Albums for 2018. Massar Egbari Egyptian rock heroes will also feature in the jampacked line-up, touring with El Album and performing songs from this new album live for the first time outside of Egypt. - TradeArabia News Service Aloft Meaisam, Element Meaisam and Aloft Dubai South have announced the official appointment of Elaine Watson as cluster general manager. In her role, Watson will oversee the management and operations of all three properties. A dynamic and goal-orientated professional, with extensive experience in the international hospitality industry, Watson is a hands-on general manager who has demonstrated high levels of operational skills, problem-solving abilities and the drive to achieve success under pressure. Her career with Marriott International spans four countries and has seen her hold senior positions at hotels in the UK, UAE and Egypt. Watson has substantial previous experience as a general manager in the UAE which includes the opening of the Marriott Executive Apartments, Dubai Creek and the opening of the Courtyard Green Community. Thereafter Watson held the position of general manager at the 500 room Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Beach Resort in Egypt. Watson also led the re-branding of the African Pride Crystal Towers hotel in Cape Town in the role of general manager Projects, which saw the opening of the first Marriott branded hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. Watson has proven success in managing some of the most demanding situations within the industry, including property development, pre-opening and launching new brands into the UAE market. Being able to expertly manage and oversee numerous departments has allowed Watson to meet any challenge that presents itself, which has led to her career growth within Marriott International. Watson will use her extensive hospitality, problem-solving and management skills to the fullest as she oversees the growth of three of the latest hotels to open in Dubai again launching a new brand, Element, to the Middle East market, and contribute towards the development of two of the fastest-growing business hubs in the Emirate, Dubai Production City and Dubai South. I am delighted to once again be tasked with such an important and challenging role at not one but three hotels in Dubai and working to establish these exciting relatively new brands of Aloft and Element in these new upcoming locations, said Watson. I look forward to working with the talent team that these exciting Aloft brands attract in both Meaisam and Dubai South and working to establish the first Element in the MEA region as a preferred extended stay product, she said. - TradeArabia News Service Colombo, Mar 3 (UNI) In wake of heightened tensions between its two neighbours, Srilanka has cancelled all its flights to Pakistan until March 4. "This flight cancellation is due to the decision taken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan to temporarily close the countrys airspace until March 4th", SriLankan Airlines Media Spokesman Deepal Perera said. According to Srilanka's official news portal, the airline is closely monitoring the situation and will take measures to recommence the flights between Sri Lanka and Pakistan soon after the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority reopens its airspace. Pakistan closed its airspace on Feb 27 after tensions escalated with India in the wake of the Pulwama attack on February 14 by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), forcing airlines over the world to cancel or divert flights from Pakistan. UNI XC JAL 0649 Two killed in shooting incident in Moscow 08 Dec 2021 | 12:21 AM Moscow, Dec 7 (UNI/Xinhua) A man killed two people and injured three others in southeast Moscow on Tuesday before he was detained. see more.. 38 inmates died in prison fire in central Burundi 08 Dec 2021 | 12:20 AM Gitega, Dec 7 (UNI/Xinhua) At least 38 inmates died and 69 others were injured in a fire that happened at dawn on Tuesday in Gitega prison, in Gitega province, central Burundi, Burundian Vice President Prosper Bazombanza said at a press conference after a visit to the prison. see more.. Covid pandemic in human population ends, virus looking for new host among animals: Expert 08 Dec 2021 | 12:17 AM Moscow, Dec 7 (UNI/Sputnik) The coronavirus pandemic in the human population is ending, the virus is looking for a new "host" among animals, immunologist Vladislav Zhemchugov, an expert in especially dangerous infections, told Sputnik. see more.. Myanmar reports 367 new Covid 19 infections, tally rises to 525,005 08 Dec 2021 | 12:16 AM Yangon, Dec 7 (UNI/Xinhua) The number of Covid 19 cases has risen to 525,005 in Myanmar after 367 new Covid 19 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, according to a release from the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. see more.. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 31d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre PBS At Pottawatomie Creek, five men were dragged from their cabins and massacred by John Brown and his sons. At Pottawatomie Creek, five men were dragged from their cabins and massacred by John Brown and his sons. John Brown was not a timid man. A devout reader of the Bible, he found human bondage immoral and unthinkable. The father of 20 children, he and his wife Mary settled in Kansas to wage a war on the forces of slavery. A few days after the sack of Lawrence, Brown sought revenge. He was furious that the people of Lawrence had chosen not to fight. He told his followers that they must "fight fire with fire," and they must "strike terror in the hearts of the pro-slavery people." In his eyes, the only just fate for those responsible for the border ruffian laws was death. A great believer in "an eye for an eye," John Brown sought to avenge the sack of Lawrence. Vengeance would come on the night of May 24, three days after the Lawrence affair. Setting out after dark with 7 others and calling himself the Army of the North, Brown entered the pro-slavery town of Pottawatomie Creek. Armed with rifles, knives, and broadswords, Brown and his band stormed the houses of his enemies. One by one, Brown's group dragged out helpless victims and hacked at their heads with the broadswords. In one encounter, they even killed two sons of an individual they sought. Before the night was through, five victims lay brutally slain by the hands of John Brown. John Brown's followers insisted that he did no killing at the Pottawatomie Massacre, but he did decide which men would live and which would die. John Brown's followers insisted that he did no killing at the Pottawatomie Massacre, but he did decide which men would live and which would die. It was the South's turn to be outraged. Destroying property was one thing, but no one had been killed at Lawrence. Brown had raised the stakes. He and his followers were doggedly hunted well into the summer. Federal troops arrested two of Brown's sons who had not been with him. Border ruffians burned the Brown homesteads to the ground. But John Brown lived to fight another day. Now a fugitive, he traveled north where he was received by Abolitionists like a cult hero. This would not be the last America would hear of John Brown. He would again make national headlines at Harper's Ferry in 1859. The sack of Lawrence and the massacre at Pottawatomie set off a brutal guerrilla war in Kansas. By the end of 1856, over 200 people would be gunned down in cold blood. Property damage reached millions of dollars. Federal troops were sent in to put down the fighting, but they were too few to have much effect. Kansas served as a small scale prelude to the bloody catastrophe that engulfed the entire nation only 5 years later. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 36f. Politics of the Gilded Age Impeachment trial ticket Impeachment trial ticket The Gilded Age will be remembered for the accomplishments of thousands of American thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, writers, and promoters of social justice. Few politicians had an impact on the tremendous change transforming America. The Presidency was at an all-time low in power and influence, and the Congress was rife with corruption. State and city leaders shared in the graft, and the public was kept largely unaware. Much like in the colonial days, Americans were not taking their orders from the top; rather, they were building a new society from its foundation. The American Presidents who resided in the White House from the end of the Civil War until the 1890s are sometimes called "the forgettable Presidents." A case-by-case study helps illustrates this point. Andrew Johnson was so hated he was impeached and would have been removed from office were it not for a single Senate vote. A Soldier in the White House Ulysses S. Grant was a war hero but was unprepared for public office. He had not held a single elected office prior to the Presidency and was totally naive to the workings of Washington. He relied heavily on the advice of insiders who were stealing public money. His secretary of war sold Indian land to investors and pocketed public money. His private secretary worked with officials in the Treasury Department to steal money raised from the tax on whiskey. Many members of his Administration were implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal, which defrauded the American public of common land. Grant himself seemed above these scandals, but lacked the political skill to control his staff or replace them with officers of integrity. Electoral Woes Rutherford B. Hayes was elected in 1876 by a margin of one electoral vote. Rutherford B. Hayes was elected in 1876 by a margin of one electoral vote. His successor was Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes himself had tremendous integrity, but his Presidency was weakened by the means of his election. After the electoral votes were counted, his opponent, Samuel Tilden, already claimed a majority of the popular vote and needed just one electoral vote to win. Hayes needed twenty. Precisely twenty electoral votes were in dispute because the states submitted double returns one proclaiming Hayes the victor, the other Tilden. A Republican-biased electoral commission awarded all 20 electoral votes to the Republican Hayes, and he won by just one electoral vote. While he was able to claim the White House, many considered his election a fraud, and his power to rule was diminished. Assassination James Garfield succeeded Hayes to the Presidency. After only four months, his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet. Charles Guiteau, the killer, was so upset with Garfield for overlooking him for a political job that he shot the President in cold blood on the platform of the Baltimore and Potomac train station. James A. Garfield James A. Garfield Vice-President Chester Arthur became the next leader. Although his political history was largely composed of appointments of friends, the tragedy that befell his predecessor led him to believe that the system had gone bad. He signed into law the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which opened many jobs to competitive exam rather than political connections. The Republican Party rewarded him by refusing his nomination for the Presidency in 1884. One President impeached, one President drowning in corruption, one President elected by possible fraud, one President assassinated, and one disgraced by his own party for doing what he thought was right. Clearly this was not a good time in Presidential history. Congressional Supremacy This was an era of Congressional supremacy. The Republican party dominated the Presidency and the Congress for most of these years. Both houses of Congress were full of representatives owned by big business. Laws regulating campaigns were minimal and big money bought a government that would not interfere. Similar conditions existed in the states. City governments were dominated by political machines. Members of a small network gained power and used the public treasury to stay in power and grow fabulously rich in the process. Not until the dawn of the 20th century would serious attempts be made to correct the abuses of Gilded Age government. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 3d. Puritan Life As minister of Boston's Old North Church, Cotton Mather was a popular voice in Puritan New England. His involvement in the witch trials of the 1680s would bring him even more notoriety. As minister of Boston's Old North Church, Cotton Mather was a popular voice in Puritan New England. His involvement in the witch trials of the 1680s would bring him even more notoriety. New England life seemed to burst with possibilities. The life expectancy of its citizens became longer than that of Old England, and much longer than the Southern English colonies. Children were born at nearly twice the rate in Maryland and Virginia. It is often said that New England invented grandparents, for it was here that people in great numbers first grew old enough to see their children bear children. Literacy rates were high as well. Massachusetts law required a tax-supported school for every community that could boast 50 or more families. Puritans wanted their children to be able to read the Bible, of course. Massachusetts Bay Colony was a man's world. Women did not participate in town meetings and were excluded from decision making in the church. Puritan ministers furthered male supremacy in their writings and sermons. They preached that the soul had two parts, the immortal masculine half, and the mortal feminine half. Puritan law was extremely strict; men and women were severly punished for a variety of crimes. Even a child could be put to death for cursing his parents. Puritan law was extremely strict; men and women were severly punished for a variety of crimes. Even a child could be put to death for cursing his parents. It was believed that women who were pregnant with a male child had a rosy complexion and that women carrying a female child were pale. Names of women found in census reports of Massachusetts Bay include Patience, Silence, Fear, Prudence, Comfort, Hopestill, and Be Fruitful. This list reflects Puritan views on women quite clearly. Church attendance was mandatory. Those that missed church regularly were subject to a fine. The sermon became a means of addressing town problems or concerns. The church was sometimes patrolled by a man who held a long pole. On one end was a collection of feathers to tickle the chins of old men who fell asleep. On the other was a hard wooden knob to alert children who giggled or slept. Church was serious business indeed. The Puritans believed they were doing God's work. Hence, there was little room for compromise. Harsh punishment was inflicted on those who were seen as straying from God's work. There were cases when individuals of differing faiths were hanged in Boston Common. Made famous by author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his book of the same name, the Scarlet Letter was a real form of punishment in Puritan society. Made famous by author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his book of the same name, the Scarlet Letter was a real form of punishment in Puritan society. Adulterers might have been forced to wear a scarlet "A" if they were lucky. At least two known adulterers were executed in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Public whippings were commonplace. The stockade forced the humiliated guilty person to sit in the public square, while onlookers spat or laughed at them. Puritans felt no remorse about administering punishment. They believed in Old Testament methods. Surely God's correction would be far worse to the individual than any earthly penalty. Contrary to myth, the Puritans did have fun. There were celebrations and festivals. People sang and told stories. Children were allowed to play games with their parents' permission. Wine and beer drinking were common place. Puritans did not all dress in black as many believe. The fundamental rule was to follow God's law. Those that did lived in peace in the Bible Commonwealth. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 49f. Roosevelt's Critics Father Charles Coughlin's fiery radio broadcasts reached an estimated 40,000,000 listeners and attempted to sway popular opinion away from Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal policies. Father Charles Coughlin's fiery radio broadcasts reached an estimated 40,000,000 listeners and attempted to sway popular opinion away from Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal policies. FDR was a President, not a king. His goals were ambitious and extensive, and while he had many supporters, his enemies were legion. Liberals and radicals attacked from the left for not providing enough relief and for maintaining the fundamental aspects of capitalism. Conservatives claimed his policies were socialism in disguise, and that an interfering activist government was destroying a proud history of self-reliance. Despite big numbers at the ballot booth, Roosevelt needed to temper his objectives with the spirit of compromise and hope that his plans were popular enough to weather criticism. Friends and enemies alike had to admit that FDR was a political genius. One major threat to FDR came from Father Charles E. Coughlin, a radio priest from Detroit. Originally a supporter of the New Deal, Coughlin turned against Roosevelt when he refused to nationalize the banking system and provide for the free coinage of silver. As the decade progressed, Coughlin turned openly anti-Semitic, blaming the Great Depression on an international conspiracy of Jewish bankers. Coughlin formed the National Union for Social Justice and reached a weekly audience of 40 million radio listeners. Advocating a program to "share the wealth," U.S. Senator from Louisiana Huey "Kingfish" Long in August 1935 announced his intention to run for President against FDR, but an assassin's bullet ended his life less than a month later. Advocating a program to "share the wealth," U.S. Senator from Louisiana Huey "Kingfish" Long in August 1935 announced his intention to run for President against FDR, but an assassin's bullet ended his life less than a month later. Another reformer who felt the New Deal had not gone far enough was Francis Townsend, a doctor from Long Beach, California. Townsend proposed the Old Age Revolving Pension. This plan called for every American over the age of sixty to retire to open up jobs for the younger unemployed. The retirees would receive a monthly check for $200, a considerable income during the Depression. There was one catch. The recipients had to agree to spend the entire sum within a month. Townsend argued that this plan would ignite the economy, as well as provide for a proper pension for those who had worked so hard for so long. The person considered the greatest threat to Roosevelt politically was Huey "the Kingfish" Long of Louisiana. Long was a rollicking country lawyer who became governor of Louisiana in 1928. As governor, Long used strong-arm tactics to intimidate the legislature into providing roads and bridges to the poorest parts of the state. He emerged onto the national scene with his election to the United States Senate in 1930. In 1934, he started a movement called "Share Our Wealth." With the motto "Every Man a King," Long proposed a 100% tax on personal fortunes exceeding a million dollars. The elderly would receive pensions. The poorest Americans were promised an estate worth no less than $5000, with a $2500 yearly minimum income guaranteed. Democrats worried that a Long bid for the Presidency might steal votes from FDR in 1936, but an assassin's bullet ended the Kingfish's life in 1935. As Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the New Deal, Charles Evans Hughes often voted to uphold controversial legislation. But there was little doubt when it came to FDR's "court-packing scheme" Hughes was vehemently opposed. As Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the New Deal, Charles Evans Hughes often voted to uphold controversial legislation. But there was little doubt when it came to FDR's "court-packing scheme" Hughes was vehemently opposed. Despite his reelection landslide, Roosevelt's mainstream opponents gained steam in the latter part of the decade. Frustrated by a conservative Supreme Court overturning New Deal initiatives, FDR hatched a "court packing" scheme. He proposed that when a federal judge reached the age of seventy and failed to retire, the President could add an additional justice to the bench. This thinly veiled scheme would immediately enable him to appoint six justices to the high court. Conservative Democrats and Republicans charged FDR with abuse of power and failed to support the plan. During the 1938 Congressional elections, Roosevelt campaigned vigorously against anti-New deal Democrats. In nearly every case, the conservatives won. This coalition of Southern Democrats and Republicans dominated the Congress until the 1960s and effectively ended the reform spirit of the New Deal. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 60. Toward a New Millennium Used with permission of the Roanoke Times, Robert Lunsford, artist. A minor glitch in computer programming, nicknamed "The Y2K Bug" threatened to crash computers as the calendar ticked from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000. In the end, the new millennium mostly came and went without so much as a virtual bug bite. A minor glitch in computer programming, nicknamed "The Y2K Bug" threatened to crash computers as the calendar ticked from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000. In the end, the new millennium mostly came and went without so much as a virtual bug bite. The last decade of the 20th century was marked with dizzying change for the United States. With the Soviet Union out of the picture, American diplomats sought to create a "new world order" based on democracy, free-market capitalism and the Western lifestyle. Challenges from abroad did not disappear with the end of the Cold War. The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq threatened a major percentage of the world's oil reserves. In the largest American military operation since the Vietnam War, the United States led a multinational force in the liberation of Kuwait. The collapse of the Cold War in Yugoslavia allowed centuries of hatred between rival ethnic groups to bubble to the surface. The term "ethnic cleansing" was applied to the process of removing an entire nationality out of a particular territory by threats, violence, or genocide. The United States contributed blue-helmet peacekeeping troops to Bosnia to end ethnic cleansing and committed air support to Kosovar Albanians who faced the same fate. American troops were used to provide food to starving civilians in war-torn Somalia, to restore a democratically elected president to Haiti, and to bomb suspected terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan. Carrying portraits of the dead through the streets, young villagers mourn the massacre of 41 ethnic Albanians in the village of Cuska, Kosovo by Serbian security forces. Carrying portraits of the dead through the streets, young villagers mourn the massacre of 41 ethnic Albanians in the village of Cuska, Kosovo by Serbian security forces. Americans began to think of themselves as peacekeepers of the world. As both parties moved to the center to claim the largest numbers of American voters, bitter partisanship emerged. Voters punished the Republicans by voting against George Bush in 1992. After two years of Bill Clinton, voters punished him by turning the House and the Senate over to the Republicans. A bitter partisan struggle emerged over the personal sexual improprieties of Clinton in 1998, leading to an impeachment vote largely along party lines. Although disgusted with Clinton's behavior, voters punished overzealous Republicans by trimming their majority in Congress in 1998. The 1990s marked a revolution in communications. Individual use of the Internet mushroomed from a handful of scientists and professors at the beginning of the decade to becoming widespread by the year 2000. Companies regeared their approaches for online commerce. Electronic mail was a common new form of communications between relatives, friends, and colleagues. Satellite dish networks challenged cable companies for business in telecommunications. Although many efforts have been made to illustrate the World Wide Web, the so-called "Information Revolution" is so new and has evolved so rapidly, the illustrations usually convey only complexity and chaos. Although many efforts have been made to illustrate the World Wide Web, the so-called "Information Revolution" is so new and has evolved so rapidly, the illustrations usually convey only complexity and chaos. The United States entered the 21st century as the leading users of Internet and satellite technology. These devices opened new windows of opportunity to spread American culture across the globe. Vietnamese in Hanoi were wearing Tommy Hilfiger shirts, Russians were downing Big Macs in Moscow, and Nike sneakers were being made in sweatshops around the world. American products and culture were being spread around faster than a computer virus. The 20th century had been dubbed by many as "the American Century." Would the 21st Century also be an American century? Or will the United States be eclipsed by new superpowers like China or the European Union? Only time will reveal the answers. American History 1. Native American Society on the Eve of British Colonization a. Diversity of Native American Groups b. The Anasazi c. The Algonkian Tribes d. The Iroquois Tribes 2. Britain in the New World a. Early Ventures Fail b. Joint-Stock Companies c. Jamestown Settlement and the "Starving Time" d. The Growth of the Tobacco Trade e. War and Peace with Powhatan's People f. The House of Burgesses 3. The New England Colonies a. The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony b. William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving c. Massachusetts Bay "The City Upon a Hill" d. Puritan Life e. Dissent in Massachusetts Bay f. Reaching to Connecticut g. Witchcraft in Salem 4. The Middle Colonies a. New Netherland to New York b. Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey c. City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia d. The Ideas of Benjamin Franklin 5. The Southern Colonies a. Maryland The Catholic Experiment b. Indentured Servants c. Creating the Carolinas d. Debtors in Georgia e. Life in the Plantation South 6. African Americans in the British New World a. West African Society at the Point of European Contact b. "The Middle Passage" c. The Growth of Slavery d. Slave Life on the Farm and in the Town e. Free African Americans in the Colonial Era f. "Slave Codes" g. A New African-American Culture 7. The Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking a. The Impact of Enlightenment in Europe b. The Great Awakening c. The Trial of John Peter Zenger d. Smuggling e. A Tradition of Rebellion f. "What Is the American?" 8. America's Place in the Global Struggle a. New France b. The French and Indian War c. George Washington's Background and Experience d. The Treaty of Paris (1763) and Its Impact 9. The Events Leading to Independence a. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 b. The Stamp Act Controversy c. The Boston Patriots d. The Townshend Acts e. The Boston Massacre f. The Tea Act and Tea Parties g. The Intolerable Acts 10. E Pluribus Unum a. Stamp Act Congress b. Sons and Daughters of Liberty c. Committees of Correspondence d. First Continental Congress e. Second Continental Congress f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense g. The Declaration of Independence 11. The American Revolution a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses b. Loyalists, Fence-sitters, and Patriots c. Lexington and Concord d. Bunker Hill e. The Revolution on the Home Front f. Washington at Valley Forge g. The Battle of Saratoga h. The French Alliance i. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris 12. Societal Impacts of the American Revolution a. The Impact of Slavery b. A Revolution in Social Law c. Political Experience d. "Republican Motherhood" 13. When Does the Revolution End? a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy b. The War Experience: Soldiers, Officers, and Civilians c. The Loyalists d. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery e. Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Women f. Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans g. Revolutionary Achievement: Yeomen and Artisans h. The Age of Atlantic Revolutions 14. Making Rules a. State Constitutions b. Articles of Confederation c. Evaluating the Congress d. The Economic Crisis of the 1780s 15. Drafting the Constitution a. Shays' Rebellion b. A Cast of National Superstars c. The Tough Issues d. Constitution Through Compromise 16. Ratifying the Constitution a. Federalists b. Antifederalists c. The Ratification Process: State by State d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat 17. George Washington a. Growing up in Colonial Virginia b. The Force of Personality and Military Command c. The First Administration d. Farewell Address e. Mount Vernon and the Dilemma of a Revolutionary Slave Holder 18. Unsettled Domestic Issues a. The Bill of Rights b. Hamilton's Financial Plan c. Growing Opposition d. U.S. Military Defeat; Indian Victory in the West e. Native American Resilience and Violence in the West 19. Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s a. Trans-Atlantic Crisis: The French Revolution b. Negotiating with the Superpowers c. Two Parties Emerge d. The Adams Presidency e. The Alien and Sedition Acts f. The Life and Times of John Adams 20. Jeffersonian America: A Second Revolution? a. The Election of 1800 b. Jeffersonian Ideology c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. e. A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court f. Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia in 1800 21. The Expanding Republic and the War of 1812 a. The Importance of the West b. Exploration: Lewis and Clark c. Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War d. Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West e. The Second War for American Independence f. Claiming Victory from Defeat 22. Social Change and National Development a. Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution b. Cotton and African-American Life c. Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening d. Institutionalizing Religious Belief: The Benevolent Empire e. New Roles for White Women f. Early National Arts and Cultural Independence 23. Politics and the New Nation a. The Era of Good Feelings and the Two-Party System b. The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy c. The Missouri Compromise d. The 1824 Election and the "Corrupt Bargain" e. John Quincy Adams f. Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America 24. The Age of Jackson a. The Rise of the Common Man b. A Strong Presidency c. The South Carolina Nullification Controversy d. The War Against the Bank e. Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun f. The Trail of Tears The Indian Removals 25. The Rise of American Industry a. The Canal Era b. Early American Railroads c. Inventors and Inventions d. The First American Factories e. The Emergence of "Women's Sphere" f. Irish and German Immigration 26. An Explosion of New Thought a. Religious Revival b. Experiments with Utopia c. Women's Rights d. Prison and Asylum Reform e. Hudson River School Artists f. Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy 27. The Peculiar Institution a. The Crowning of King Cotton b. Slave Life and Slave Codes c. The Plantation & Chivalry d. Free(?) African-Americans e. Rebellions on and off the Plantation f. The Southern Argument for Slavery 28. Abolitionist Sentiment Grows a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator b. African-American Abolitionists c. The Underground Railroad d. Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 29. Manifest Destiny a. The Lone Star Republic b. 54 40' or Fight c. "American Blood on American Soil" d. The Mexican-American War e. Gold in California 30. An Uneasy Peace a. Wilmot's Proviso b. Popular Sovereignty c. Three Senatorial Giants: Clay, Calhoun and Webster d. The Compromise of 1850 31. "Bloody Kansas" a. The Kansas-Nebraska Act b. Border Ruffians c. The Sack of Lawrence d. The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre e. Canefight! Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner 32. From Uneasy Peace to Bitter Conflict a. The Dred Scott Decision b. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c. John Brown's Raid d. The Election of 1860 e. The South Secedes 33. A House Divided a. Fort Sumter b. Strengths and Weaknesses: North vs. South c. First Blood and Its Aftermath d. Sacred Beliefs e. Bloody Antietam f. Of Generals and Soldiers g. Gettysburg: High Watermark of the Confederacy h. Northern Plans to End the War i. The Road to Appomattox 34. The War Behind the Lines a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. Wartime Diplomacy c. The Northern Homefront d. The Southern Homefront e. The Election of 1864 f. The Assassination of the President 35. Reconstruction a. Presidential Reconstruction b. Radical Reconstruction c. A President Impeached d. Rebuilding the Old Order 36. The Gilded Age a. Binding the Nation by Rail b. The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller c. The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie d. The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan e. New Attitudes Toward Wealth f. Politics of the Gilded Age 37. Organized Labor a. The Great Upheaval b. Labor vs. Management c. Early National Organizations d. American Federation of Labor e. Eugene V. Debs and American Socialism 38. From the Countryside to the City a. The Glamour of American Cities b. The Underside of Urban Life c. The Rush of Immigrants d. Corruption Runs Wild e. Religious Revival: The "Social Gospel" f. Artistic and Literary Trends 39. New Dimensions in Everyday Life a. Education b. Sports and Leisure c. Women in the Gilded Age d. Victorian Values in a New Age e. The Print Revolution 40. Closing the Frontier a. The Massacre at Sand Creek b. Custer's Last Stand c. The End of Resistance d. Life on the Reservations e. The Wounded Knee Massacre 41. Western Folkways a. The Mining Boom b. The Ways of the Cowboy c. Life on the Farm d. The Growth of Populism e. The Election of 1896 42. Progressivism Sweeps the Nation a. Roots of the Movement b. Muckrakers c. Women's Suffrage at Last d. Booker T. Washington e. W. E. B. DuBois 43. Progressives in the White House a. Teddy Roosevelt: The Rough Rider in the White House b. The Trust Buster c. A Helping Hand for Labor d. Preserving the Wilderness e. Passing the Torch f. The Election of 1912 g. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom 44. Seeking Empire a. Early Stirrings b. Hawaiian Annexation c. "Remember the Maine!" d. The Spanish-American War and Its Consequences e. The Roosevelt Corollary and Latin America f. Reaching to Asia g. The Panama Canal 45. America in the First World War a. Farewell to Isolation b. Over There c. Over Here d. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations 46. The Decade That Roared a. The Age of the Automobile b. The Fight Against "Demon Rum" c. The Invention of the Teenager d. Flappers e. The Harlem Renaissance f. A Consumer Economy g. Radio Fever h. Fads and Heroes 47. Old Values vs. New Values a. The Red Scare b. The Monkey Trial c. Intolerance d. Books and Movies e. Domestic and International Politics 48. The Great Depression a. The Market Crashes b. Sinking Deeper and Deeper: 1929-33 c. The Bonus March d. Hoover's Last Stand e. Social and Cultural Effects of the Depression 49. The New Deal a. A Bank Holiday b. Putting People Back to Work c. The Farming Problem d. Social Security e. FDR's Alphabet Soup f. Roosevelt's Critics g. An Evaluation of the New Deal 50. The Road to Pearl Harbor a. 1930s Isolationism b. Reactions to a Troubled World c. War Breaks Out d. The Arsenal of Democracy e. Pearl Harbor 51. America in the Second World War a. Wartime Strategy b. The American Homefront c. D-Day and the German Surrender d. War in the Pacific e. Japanese-American Internment f. The Manhattan Project g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb 52. Postwar Challenges a. The Cold War Erupts b. The United Nations c. Containment and the Marshall Plan d. The Berlin Airlift and NATO e. The Korean War f. Domestic Challenges 53. The 1950s: Happy Days a. McCarthyism b. Suburban Growth c. Land of Television d. America Rocks and Rolls e. The Cold War Continues f. Voices against Conformity 54. A New Civil Rights Movement a. Separate No Longer? b. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott c. Showdown in Little Rock d. The Sit-In Movement e. Gains and Pains f. Martin Luther King Jr. g. The Long, Hot Summers h. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam i. Black Power 55. The Vietnam War a. Early Involvement b. Years of Escalation: 1965-68 c. The Tet Offensive d. The Antiwar Movement e. Years of Withdrawal 56. Politics from Camelot to Watergate a. The Election of 1960 b. Kennedy's New Frontier c. Kennedy's Global Challenges d. Kennedy Assassination e. Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" f. 1968: Year of Unraveling g. Triangular Diplomacy: U.S., USSR, and China 57. Shaping a New America a. Modern Feminism b. The Fight for Reproductive Rights c. The Equal Rights Amendment d. Roe v. Wade and Its Impact e. Environmental Reform f. Others Demand Equality g. Student Activism h. Flower Power 58. A Time of Malaise a. Undoing a President b. The Sickened Economy c. Foreign Woes d. Finding Oneself e. The New Right 59. The Reagan Years a. "Morning in America" b. Reaganomics c. Foreign and Domestic Entanglements d. Life in the 1980s e. The End of the Cold War 60. Toward a New Millennium a. Operation Desert Storm b. A Baby Boomer in the White House c. Republicans vs. Democrats d. Living in the Information Age e. The End of the American Century 8b. The French and Indian War Round four of the global struggle between England and France began in 1754. Unlike the three previous conflicts, this war began in America. French and British soldiers butted heads with each other over control of the Ohio Valley. At stake were the lucrative fur trade and access to the all-important Mississippi River, the lifeline of the frontier to the west. A squadron of soldiers led by a brash, unknown, twenty-two year old George Washington attacked a French stronghold named Fort Duquesne. Soon after the attack, Washington's troops were forced to surrender. Shortly after that, a second British force also met with defeat. When news of this reached London, war was declared, and the conflict known in Europe as the Seven Years War began. Americans would call this bout the French and Indian War. The first phase of this war was a sheer disaster for Britain. Assaults on French territory ended in bitter defeat. The French and their Indian allies inspired fear on the British frontier by burning and pillaging settlements. The French struck within sixty miles of Philadelphia. Americans were disheartened. They believed that Britain was not making the proper commitment to North America. British Secretary of State William Pitt helped turn the tide against the French. He is also the namesake of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. British Secretary of State William Pitt helped turn the tide against the French. He is also the namesake of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The turning point in the war came when William Pitt took over the wartime operations. He believed North America was critical for England's global domination. Pitt turned recruitment and supplies over to local authorities in America and promised to reimburse them for their efforts. He committed more troops and juggled the command, replacing old war heroes with vigorous young ones. Militarily, the tide began to turn, as the British captured Louisbourg, an important strategic port the British used to close the St. Lawrence Seaway. The death blow to the French cause was struck in Quebec in 1759. Commander James Wolfe bravely sent his forces up a rocky embankment to surprise the French. The battle that followed on the Plains of Abraham killed Wolfe and the French commander, as the crucial stronghold was transferred to British hands. It would only be a matter of time before Montreal suffered the same fate. The French chapter of North American history had ended in a bloody finale. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A Chinese human rights lawyer released from jail for subverting state power has gone missing. His supporters believe he has been disappeared by state security. Two friends of lawyer Jiang Tianyong went to collect him from a prison in Henan Province on March 1; however, they were told by police that someone had already picked him up and offered no further details, reported the BBC. Speaking to RFA, Jiangs U.S.-based wife said that family members in China were informed by police that they had plans for Jiang. State security officials reportedly told Jiangs family they would not allow him to return to them upon his scheduled release. The officials reportedly said they would instead take the 47-year-old to the provincial capital Zhengzhou, where he would be given employment and a place to live. Amnesty Intentional have said that Jiangs sister and father are now also missing. His wife Jin Bianling who fled to the U.S. said she is very worried about his welfare. We dont know how Jiang Tianyong is, or who took him away, or where they took him, Jin told RFA. [He] has basically disappeared. I fear for his health and safety, as well as the safety of his father and sister, she said. I call on the Chinese authorities to make public Jiang Tianyongs location; he should have his liberty now that his sentence has been served. Police creating whole new life for human rights lawyer #JiangTianyong after hes released! [They] said that they would be taking him instead to the provincial capital Zhengzhou,where the authorities would find him a place to live & a jobJin saidhttps://t.co/QvTSpF394R pic.twitter.com/eQivcksvNy William Nee (@williamnee) February 27, 2019 Jiangs 2-year sentence was related to the Chinese governments July 9, 2015 709 crackdown on legal advocates for rule of law and human rights defenders. The Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG) said that when the 709 crackdown happened, Jiang began organizing support for the families of detained lawyers. Jiang was disappeared by the state in November of 2016 and charged with subversion in 2017. While imprisoned, it is also believed he has been tortured and given unknown drugs. During this time, his family members have been the targets of official intimidation and harassment, living in near-constant fear, said the lawyers group. For a time while in prison, Jiang was refused visits from his family. Jiang also reported that he was regularly forced to take medicine, each day two pills. As a result, his memory began to suffer, and physically, he reported struggling with swelling, lethargy, and weakness, the CHLCG said in an open letter. Jiang already suffered from the physical and psychological mistreatment hed faced in detention in previous years, which exacerbates his current situation. Past experience demonstrates that Jiang, like his former client Gao Zhisheng, risks being subject to ongoing surveillance and potentially house arrest, even after he is formally released. We've just learned that Chinese #humanrights lawyer #JiangTianyong has again disappeared. Jiang was instrumental in the release of Sun Yi, the subject of documentary Letter from Masanjia. Like his family, we await his safe return home. #praying #709lawyershttps://t.co/BfWYPqOuzS pic.twitter.com/rxBrFZYkUh Flying Cloud Productions (@FlyingCloudProd) February 28, 2019 Jiang was known for defending politically sensitive clients, such fellow lawyers Chen Guangcheng and Gao Zhisheng, and defended the rights of a large number of Falun Gong practitioners and government petitioners, said CHRLCG. Jiangs license to practice as a lawyer was withdrawn by the authorities in 2009 after he had provided legal advice to Tibetan monks, said international lawyers group Lawyers for Lawyers. Chen, who now lives in the U.S, told RFAs Mandarin Service that Jiangs treatment resembles his own at the hands of the authorities in Shandong Province. When I was released by the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party, I walked out of the small prison, and straight into the big prison, Chen said. After they sent me home, they detained me and my family illegally. Chen said many other political prisoners in China have been similarly treated at the end of their jail terms, giving examples such as the cases of Hu Jia, ethnic Mongolian activist Hada, and rights lawyer Gao, who it is believed is being held somewhere by the state. See this China Uncensored video about why being a Chinese human rights lawyer is a dangerous profession: News of Jiangs situation follows the recent sentencing of human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang for also subverting state power. Wang was sentenced to prison after spending 3-and-a-half-years in pre-trial detention. He was sentenced to 4-and-a-half years in prison by the Tianjin Municipal No .2 Intermediate Peoples Court on Jan. 28. Amnesty International (AI) said Wang was originally detained by police on August 3, 2015. He was one of the first lawyers detained in the 709 crackdown. Like Jiang, he took on politically sensitive cases. It was only in July 2018 that a lawyer informed his family that Wang was alive and being held in Tianjin. Doriane Lau, an AI China Researcher, said that what the state did to Wang is a gross injustice. Its outrageous that Wang Quanzhang is being punished for peacefully standing up for human rights in China, Lau said. In the three years leading up to his sham of a trial, the authorities disappeared Wang Quanzhang into a black hole, where he was likely tortured, she said. Wangs family, who continue to be harassed by the authorities, didnt even know if he was alive until recently. His continued imprisonment only prolongs their suffering. Watch this DW video about why human rights lawyers in China live in fear: Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our weekly email Tips lead to drug charges for two in Paducah By Representative Richard Heath Mar. 01, 2019 | 04:03 PM | MAYFIELD I joined my fellow members of the House in passing several good, meaningful pieces of legislation this week, all aimed at improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians. This is our last full week of this legislative session, with only eight legislative days left in the 2019 Regular Session.One of the most meaningful bills we have worked on this session cleared the House on Wednesday as members voted unanimously to pass legislation that would position Kentucky to provide more resources to children in state care. HB 2 is the first step in providing a comprehensive support program for the most vulnerable citizens of our state. The bill also adds fictive kin under the definition of a caregiver. Fictive Kin is a non-relative caregiver who still has a significant relationship with the child. HB 2 directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to maximize services available to kinship and fictive caregivers with services including monetary support, child care, respite care and health insurance.According to a recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an average of 9 percent of Kentucky children resided in kinship care between 2016 and 2018, a rate more than double the national average. HB 2 incorporates national best practices in order to put Kentucky in the best position to draw federal funding for the program. The bill creates a state support system for grandparents and other family members and friends who have been awarded custody. HB 2 would also require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to keep data on the exact number of relative and fictive kin placements which would give lawmakers the data they need to identify areas of improvement in kinship and fictive care moving forward.Also on Wednesday, members of the Kentucky House of Representatives passed a measure to protect the unborn against unjust discrimination. The bill, HB 5, would prohibit abortion providers from performing an abortion based on gender, race, national origin or disability. Under the bills provisions, anyone who performs or induces an abortion knowing that the mother wants the abortion based, at least in part, on the sex, race, color, national origin or disability of her unborn child would face a felony charge carrying up to five years in prison and revocation of their license to practice in Kentucky. Exceptions would only be made in a medical emergency involving the mother. Bill supporters believe this measure is a necessary step in ensuring that unborn children have equal protections under the law and are not unjustly discriminated against based on protected classifications.I was extremely happy to support HB 21, legislation that would allow Family Resource and Youth Service Centers to accept private donations. FRYSCs are among the great stories of public education in Kentucky, as they provide necessary resources for all of our children, but particularly those in need. They are currently funded through the schools budget, but HB 21 would allow them to accept private donations for operation and maintenance. This measure comes on the heels of an increase in FRYSC funding that the legislature was able to include in last years budget.Members of the House voted unanimously to approve legislation that would support financial literacy education in Kentucky schools. House Bill 139 would create a Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission, funded entirely by private donations, to provide curriculum and other resources to educators teaching financial literacy. In addition, the commission would also develop and implement plans to improve the financial literacy of Kentuckians. This is a complement to legislation passed last session that made financial literacy a requirement for high school graduation.Members of the Kentucky House voted 93-1 on Monday to approve legislation that would ensure Kentucky consumers are aware of how the meat they are eating was raised. The legislation, HB 311, would prohibit cultured animal meat, which is produced in a lab, from being labeled as meat. Instead, it would bear the appropriate label that informs consumers of how it was created.We also passed HB 4, a measure that would provide the General Assembly more oversight into how the legislation we enact actually becomes the laws that are enforced. House Bill 4 would ensure that legislative intent is followed when state agencies interpret legislation into regulations. Under current law, the legislature has the ability to monitor regulations and point out issues, but the agencies that write the regulations are under no obligation to actually address legislators concerns. The bills provisions would require the legislature to issue an annual report on regulations that legislators feel do not meet legislative intent. The legislature would then have the opportunity to clarify the issue through new legislation.Members of the House voted 99-0 on Thursday to pass legislation that would tighten the legislative ethics code by explicitly banning legislators from sexually harassing employees and fellow members. House Bill 60 would make sexual harassment an offense in the legislative ethics code and create a new reporting process. The bill also provides clear definitions of harassment, sexual harassment, workplace complaint, unwanted sexual contact or sexually suggestive comments and discrimination, while creating a tip line to report wrongdoing within the legislative branch.Before leaving Frankfort on Friday, I joined members of the Kentucky House in voting for legislation that would eliminate a requirement that Kentuckians have a permit to carry concealed weapon. The measure, SB 150, only removes the permit requirement for those who are at least 21 years of age. It has no effect on where firearms may be carried or any prohibitions on purchase or ownership. I was proud to support this Second Amendment measure, which passed by a vote of 60-37Legislative committees are, of course, still meeting and working on a few remaining House bills as well as legislation passed by the Senate and sent to us for consideration. I hope to update you on more action next week. In the meantime, I can be reached here at home anytime, or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. If you would like more information, or to e-mail me, please visit the legislature's website www.legislature.ky.gov. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 02, 2019 | 06:34 PM | BENTON, KY Benton Police report that officers were called to an apartment on West 14th Street to investigate a domestic violence assault. James E. Miller was alleged to have assaulted the victim, restrained her by pinning her in a closet, then pointed and placed a loaded handgun at her head. Miller fled the scene before officers arrived. He was located and arrested a short time later. Charges against Miller include 1st degree wanton endangerment, 1st degree unlawful imprisonment, and 4th degree domestic violence with minor injury. A man was arrested Friday in Benton for allegedly assaulting a woman. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 03, 2019 | 01:46 PM | MAYFIELD Mayfield Police officers responded to Walmart where associates told officers that a man was in the store that had been seen allegedly shoplifting in the past. Officers made contact with the man, 39-year-old Darren Carroll. Kentucky State Police advised the officers that Carroll had a Graves County warrant for failure to appear in court. Officers also said that Carroll was found to have methamphetamine, a glass pipe, a set of brass knuckles, and six Gabapentin pills in a plastic bag. He was taken to the Graves County Jail, charged with 1st degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), 3rd degree possession of an unspecified controlled substance, 1st degree trafficking in a controlled substance, prescription not in proper container, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, and also failure to appear in Graves County Court. A Mayfield man was arrested Saturday on a Graves County warrant, and also on drug charges. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 02, 2019 | 04:44 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY Brian and Teresa Cope, the parents of Preston Cope, issued a statement the day after lawmakers sent the measure to Gov. Matt Bevin. Their son and another 15-year-old student, Bailey Holt, were killed in last year's shooting at Marshall County High School in western Kentucky. More than a dozen others were injured. "We are happy to see the first of many steps achieved," the Copes said in thanking legislators. "There are five angels smiling down from heaven today." It was a reference to their son, Holt and the three students, Nicole Hadley, Jessica James and Kayce Steger, killed in the 1997 Heath High School shooting. "We must not get complacent," the Copes said in their statement. "We have to continue being their voice, so that all of our children can remain safe in our schools." The bill was a top priority for lawmakers in this year's legislative session. It sets new goals, including seeking security officers in every school and at least one counselor for every 250 students. But it comes with no money, so school districts won't be able to comply right away. Still, Republican budget leaders in both chambers have vowed to provide the money next year, despite not knowing how much it might cost or where the money will come from. In a phone interview Friday, Brian Cope said that passage of this year's bill was the first hurdle to clear in statewide efforts to strengthen school safety. Next will be finding money to achieve the bill's goals, he said. It should rank as a top priority when lawmakers put together the state's next two-year budget, he said. "We have to find ways to fund this," Cope said. "This is a must. We have to protect our children, whatever means necessary." Senate President Robert Stivers said during a debate Thursday that a statewide assessment is needed to determine the funding needs to carry out the bill's goals. A bipartisan special committee of Kentucky lawmakers spent nearly a year discussing potential school safety legislation with stakeholders. They settled on the bill that focuses heavily on training school officials for how to plan for and respond to mass shootings. The legislation created new positions, including a state school security marshal, and ordered school districts to designate school safety coordinators. And it sets a goal of each school district having at least one counselor for every 250 students by 2021. The parents of a slain student in Marshall County said Friday that Kentucky lawmakers took an important first step to enhance school safety with a bill intended to boost security and counseling. By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 02, 2019 | 01:10 PM | LEXINGTON The need for pension, education and regulatory reform are on full display these days and offer plenty of fodder for this edition of Liberty boosters and busters. Liberty Booster: Sen. Chris McDaniel While lawmakers understandably want to focus on implementing new programs, sometimes getting rid of wasteful ones is the most valuable service they provide. McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, has filed legislation tossing the fat-laden pork roast known as Kentucky Wired, a government-owned broadband network that state Auditor Mike Harmon speculated might hand taxpayers a $1.5 billion bill and may never be completed. If McDaniel can get some questions answered in the process, so much the better. For example, while Macquarie Group, a foreign operation, was hired as the commonwealth's private partner, how did the massive costs and risk of this project get shifted to taxpayers? Plus, why isn't Kentucky at the very least following the example of neighboring states like Tennessee which incentivize private providers to expand and make high-speed broadband available to all citizens? Better yet, lowering taxes, reducing regulation and generally getting government out of the way would result in our powerhouse private providers figuring out how to build such networks without publicly backed incentives. Liberty Buster: Social studies standards committee It's been over a decade since Kentucky's social studies standards were updated. Considering the revision proposed by this committee chosen by Frankfort education insiders, it might be better to keep the old ones a bit longer. After all, how can you offer history standards to Kentucky schoolchildren that never even mention Abraham Lincoln, who, along with being the nation's 16th president, was a native of this commonwealth? A major fallacy of this process is the omission of virtually every important historical person integral to understanding what makes America such an exceptional nation, with no apology to Colin Kaepernick. In fact, I doubt even Kaepernick would be happy that Martin Luther King Jr. doesn't warrant so much as a mention in these proposed standards, which are far from ready for prime time. Liberty Boosters: House leaders supporting legislation to expand educational opportunities for low- and middle-income Kentucky families. Agreeing to become a co-sponsor of Majority Floor Leader John "Bam" Carney's bill making Kentucky the 19th state with a Scholarship Tax Credit program is one of the most positive and consequential decisions made by Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, and Majority Whip Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, during this year's General Assembly. This isn't just a move to pacify school-choice supporters who for years have clamored for more options, especially for lower-income parents to enjoy the same opportunity as wealthy families of placing their children in private schools. By joining Carney, R-Campbellsville, during the current legislative session, Osborne and McCoy are doing what it takes to get controversial, if sound, policies passed: leading. Liberty Buster: Forward Kentucky's Bruce Maples, who dismisses such school-choice programs as "a scam for the wealthy." Most reasonable Kentuckians would expect a self-proclaimed progressive like Maples to support options helping poor children escape bad schools, especially when he claims on his organization's website that Forward Kentucky exists "with the goal of helping our state move forward and be all that it can be." How can the nine out of 10 black students and two out of three whites across Kentucky failing to attain proficiency in the critical areas of math and reading and who disproportionately find themselves in failing schools "move forward" without a better education? How can poor families "move forward" to get their children a different educational setting without financial assistance? Creating a program where the wealthy help the poor to get their children into those settings sounds like the kind of forward movement Maples claims to endorse. Jim Waters is president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky's free-market think tank. Read previous columns at www.bipps.org. He can be reached at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com and @bipps on Twitter. COMMENTARY: A visitor looks at exhibits on an art exhibition at Suzhou Art Museum in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 2, 2019. The art exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is held from Feb. 28 to March 17. [Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, makes a statement during the opening ceremony of a training program of young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2019. [Xinhua/Ding Lin] Chinese President Xi Jinping (C), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, makes a statement during the opening ceremony of a training program of young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2019. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] President Xi Jinping on Friday said training and selecting outstanding young officials is vital to the fate of the Party, state and Chinese nation, and to the people's wellbeing, calling it an important task for generations to come. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement during the opening ceremony of a training program of young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). Xi told the officials to stay loyal to the Party, remain grateful to the people, be motivated at work and hold law and Party discipline in high regard. Party officials should be faithful, loyal, competent and disciplined, he said. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the ceremony. Xi said it is necessary to arm officials and cadres with Marxist theory in their development. He also called for efforts in learning the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, saying that it is necessary to fully grasp its significance for the time, the theory, the practices and the world. He noted that whether an official is loyal to the Party is a key gauge of whether they have ideals and convictions. "Loyalty always comes first," he said. He also called on officials and cadres to place the people at the top in their hearts, saying that to weather through with the people, keep close bonds and share the same future with them is the fundamental guarantee for the Party to overcome all difficulties and risks. He asked the officials to maintain a strong sense of love, care and willingness to work for benefits of the people. He told the officials to enhance self-cultivation, self-discipline and self-reform. Officials should be determined to make great achievements, rather than to seek personal promotion, in serving the Party and the people, Xi said. Xi instructed officials to maintain integrity in their personal lives and cultivate a good taste for life, and asked them not to indulge in empty talk but be a man of action. Officials who take responsibility for their actions demonstrate their commitment to Party principles and their integrity, he stressed. (Source: Xinhua) Four former Ysgol Clywedog students secure places at Oxbridge This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 3rd, 2019 Seven learners from the north east Wales college will begin life at Oxford and Cambridge this September including four alumni from a Wrexham secondary school The five offered places at Cambridge are Ethan Martin-Yates (Architecture), Lewis Morrin (Music), Ryan Cummings (Natural Sciences), Esther Abelian (Medicine) and Katia Allen (English). Edan Jackson (Biology) and Aleesha Sky Morgan Jones (Theology and Religion) are heading to Oxford. The outstanding achievement of this magnificent seven four of which are ex pupils of Ysgol Clywedog in Wrexham follows Cambrias record-breaking A level results last summer, when the institution achieved an overall pass rate (A*-E) of 98%, including the first cohort to ever complete exams at the 14m Deeside Sixth Form Centre. Chief executive David Jones said he was immensely proud of the students and staff at both Yale in Wrexham and Deeside for again raising the bar and aspirations of everyone at the institution. To have seven learners receive offers from Oxford and Cambridge universities is incredible, said Mr Jones. And to do this in seven completely different subjects is testament to the excellence we strive for across the board, both academically and socially. It just shows that if you put your mind to it you can do anything, and that Cambria and north east Wales continue to punch above their weight, setting new standards and providing inspiration for those who follow. One learner who really put her mind to it was Aleesha, who bounced back from disappointing GCSE results and a tough first year of sixth form to swap her A levels and secure a place at Oxford. Hailing from Caia Park in Wrexham, the 18 year-old admits her path to the elite university was far from simple, and said: I come from a family of farmers, weve been farming for generations so for me to be going to university and Oxford at that makes them very proud. I honestly didnt think it would ever happen because my GCSE results were not at the level they need, and then I had a disaster in my first year of A levels, picking the wrong subjects that did not suit me. I started again with Politics, English and Religious Education (RE) and have felt much more comfortable, supported by the amazing staff here at Yale in Wrexham, who believed in me and helped me on this journey. Aleesha added: When I opened the email from Oxford my heart was racing, it was so scary; This is not the kind of thing that happens to people from my family, or the area Im from, so Ive shown that it doesnt matter what your background is, you can do it. At Cambria there is no snobbery, the atmosphere is so focused yet relaxed and that made a big difference to me and has helped me get to this position Im shocked, but delighted. Ethan was equally surprised to receive an offer from Cambridge, and is relishing the opportunity after excelling in Maths, Music and Art, despite leaving school and transferring to Deeside Sixth Form Centre in September to complete the final year of his A levels. I really wasnt thinking about Oxford or Cambridge but thought I might as well apply to see how far I would get, said the 17 year-old, from Prestatyn. I didnt think I would get accepted so it was a surprise, and of course Im absolutely thrilled. Ethan added: When I moved over to Cambria I grew in confidence, its a more focused environment and the staff really worked to help get me to where I wanted to be. Im excited to be going to Cambridge, its a big step and I still have to get the grades but Im on course to do that and looking forward to the future. Earlier this year, the college was lauded for its A level provision by ALPS, a UK-wide tool used by more than 1,600 schools and colleges to measure performance. Cambria was labelled Outstanding for distance travelled by students from GCSEs to A level grades, providing crucial added-value to youngsters leaving school to attend the leading FE provider. As a result, Coleg Cambria has been placed in the top tier of all UK schools and colleges for the progress made by learners. Alex Thomas, Head of Deeside Sixth Form Centre, said the college will continue to raise the bar for its students. Its fantastic to see these seven students reach such a high level and sets a benchmark for others wanting to attend these two world class universities, he said. The journey of all Coleg Cambria learners from GCSEs to A level exams is paramount to us, not just academically but in terms of their health and wellbeing, the support they receive and the contribution we make to our community. Im delighted to say that year on year we are improving and will continue to do so, working hard for our learners so together we can achieve excellence and reach for the stars, as these students have congratulations to you all. For more on Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk (Click for large) Local primary school pupils find out more about Wrexhams history This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 3rd, 2019 School council members recently had the chance to take a look at some of Wrexhams history when they were given a tour of the Mayors Parlour. Pupils from Ysgol Rhostyllen visited the Guildhall earlier last week, and were given a tour of the Mayors Parlour and the main council chamber by Cllr Andy Williams, the Mayor of Wrexham. Visiting pupils had the chance to speak to Mayoress Mrs Beverley Williams, and Cllr Mark Pritchard, ward member for Esclusham. The Mayor also discussed the history of some of the items on show with visiting members of Rhostyllens School Council. Cllr Williams said: Im always very pleased when we have members of school councils in attendance at the parlour, and the visiting pupils from Ysgol Rhostyllen were no exception they were a credit to their school. They were very interested to hear of the history of some of the items on show in the Parlour, and some of the civic regalia, including the mace. Cllr Mark Pritchard, ward member for Esclusham, said: Its wonderful to see the level of interest shown by primary school pupils in the history of Wrexham, and the opportunity for them to visit the Guildhall and get an insight into the Mayors role is a very important one. Id like to thank the Mayor and Mayoress for providing the tour to pupils of Ysgol Rhostyllen, and would also like to thank the school for having organised the visit. (Click for large) Police appeal for help in locating a missing teenager from Gresford This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 3rd, 2019 North Wales Police have issued an appeal for help in locating missing teenager from Gresford. An update posted on social media just before 12.45am this morning states: Ceyhan Svash 17 yrs missing from Gresford Wrexham. Ceyhan was last seen at Wrexham General train station at 7.20am on Saturday morning. He is described as having dark hair and was wearing a tracksuit, either a blue Ralph Lauren or Green Adidas. Police say he could have made his way to the Stourbridge area. If you have any information or have seen Ceyhan contact 101 quoting: itrace 24839. (Click for large) Humboldt County Sheriff's Office(SAN FRANCISCO) -- Two young sisters have been found alive and safe after wandering away from their Northern California home and spending 44 hours lost in a cold, rainy forest, according to their mother and the local sheriff. The girls, 8-year-old Leia Carrico, and her 5-year-old sister, Caroline, were found by rescuers Sunday morning in rural Humboldt County, their mother, Misty Carrico, told ABC News. The sisters went missing Friday afternoon. "I am pleased to report that we all are witnessing a miracle today. Caroline and Leia have been found safe and sound in southern Humboldt," Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said at a news conference, prompting wild applause from rescuers, who had been searching for the girls for three days. Honsal said the sisters were discovered at about 10:30 a.m. local time by Piercy, California, Fire Chief Delbert Crumley and firefighter Abram Hill, who were among nearly 200 rescuers from across the state who joined the search. The sheriff said the girls were found near Richardson State Park, about 1.4 miles south of their home in Benbow. He said Crumley and Hill were following tracks in their assigned search area when they came upon the little girls. "They were safe and sound, still ambulatory, in good spirits, no injuries," Honsal said. "These girls definitely have a survival story to tell." He said the girls were examined by paramedics and the initial assessment showed they were dehydrated and cold. They were expected to be reunited with their parents on Sunday afternoon. "We could not have had a better outcome than we've had this morning," Honsal said. "It's an absolute miracle." Misty Carrico told authorities her daughters went missing about 3 p.m. on Friday from their home in Benbow, near the Eel River and the famed Julia Morgan Redwood Grove. She went looking for them with neighbors and friends before calling the sheriff's office three hours later. "The two asked to go for a walk. The mother said, 'No.' And then in the course of getting things ready and stuff, she noticed they were missing around 3 o'clock," Honsal said. Authorities had launched an expansive search that involved more than 170 personnel from 21 law enforcement and military agencies, including two helicopter crews and 12 K-9 units. The search extended into Sunday with officers going door to door and inspecting all vehicles going in and out of the sprawling area where the search was centered, about 280 miles north of San Francisco. The girls were found just hours before a rain storm was scheduled to hit the area. A photo released by the sheriff's department showed Caroline, dressed in a pink sweater and matching rain boots, speaking with a firefighter shortly after she and her big sister were found. #searchandrescue #update Leia and Caroline were found approximately 1.4 miles south of their residence near Richardson's Grove. Here's a first look from the scene where first responders located the girls. Press release with more information as soon as possible today. pic.twitter.com/k2bUTQOtrt Humboldt County Sheriff (@HumCoSO) March 3, 2019 Humboldt County Supervisor Estelle Fennell praised the rescuers and thanked the community for all their prayers over the course of the search. "I have to tell you that when we go the first word that the kids may be safe, there was still a question mark in a lot of people's minds," Fennell said. "It is so amazing to have such good news, to know they are safe. We have so many of these kinds of efforts that end up in tears and tragedy." Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. File photo shows Flight ET 684 of Ethiopian Airlines taxies on the runway of Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai Municiplaity, March 30, 2014. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) ADDIS ABABA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) forecasts further growth in its already robust share in the Chinese air market, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday. Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, Esayas Woldemariam, Managing Director of International Services at ET said the airlines already flies to five destinations in China, and is aiming for even more Chinese destinations. ET currently operates daily passenger flights from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou and Beijing, and three-times-a-week passenger flights to Chengdu, as well as daily passenger and cargo flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai. ET was the first African airline to start flight services to China, back in 1973. "Ethiopian Airlines is planning to add the Chinese cities of Dalian, Zhengzhou and Hangzhou, helping ET cover destinations in the eastern, central and northern parts of China," Woldemariam told Xinhua. ET plans to start cargo flight services to Zhengzhou city while it plans to start passenger flight services to Dalian and Hangzhou cities. "The Chinese destinations ET currently flies to and the three other ones it's planning to travel to are known for being production and shipping centers, adding more value to Ethiopia's aviation partnership with China," said Woldemariam. "ET has also many other Chinese cities in its network radar, but it all depends on the approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which has so far been very cooperative to us," he further said. However, Woldemariam said Ethiopian Airlines doesn't see China as only a travel destination, with ET currently discussing with Chinese air carriers on possible commercial partnerships. ET is already in discussions with Chinese air carriers to sign special priority agreements. Special priority agreements included ET transporting passengers to a certain point, with Chinese air carriers taking the ET passengers to their final Chinese destinations. Then after, ET and Chinese air carriers set up a mechanism to share the flight revenues. "ET is currently in discussions with Air China, Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines. We have invited these Chinese air carriers to operate in Ethiopia, as part of efforts to boost bilateral aviation cooperation," said Woldemariam. "ET's discussion with Chinese air carriers isn't just about flying to Chinese destinations. We also want to help Chinese air carriers have the opportunity to fly to African destinations," Woldemariam told Xinhua. Woldemariam said with ET being the first African airline to start flights to China in the 1970s, it sees its role as bringing closer together China and Africa in every aspect possible. "Ethiopia as a country is enjoying a very good relationship with China for nearly five decades. Ethiopia has also helped China extend its relationship to the rest of Africa, with aviation playing a key role," Woldemariam said. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., March 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Reuters) WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- An American spacecraft designed to fly astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from the United States was launched Saturday morning for its debut unmanned flight. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifted off at 2:49 a.m. Eastern Time (0749 GMT) from Launch Complex 39A at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. About 11 minutes after blastoff, the Crew Dragon separated from the second stage of the rocket, and headed for an autonomous docking with the space station on Sunday. The test flight is intended to show the transport capabilities of SpaceX, a private company and contractor of the U.S. space agency NASA for ISS flights. The move came eight years after NASA's space shuttle retired, leaving it dependent on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to fly crews to the station. NASA called the flight on its official Twitter account "a new chapter of U.S. human spaceflight systems." "Today's successful launch marks a new chapter in American excellence, getting us closer to once again flying American Astronauts on American rockets from American soil," said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine after the launch. This is the first test mission of a commercially-built and operated American spacecraft and rocket designed for humans, according to NASA. "Demo-1 is a demonstration of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft, ground systems and overall operations, basically just everything that needs to be operating and operating well before we want to put our astronauts on board," said Mike Lee, NASA mission manager for SpaceX's Demo-1 flight test. The 7-seat spacecraft used in this Demo-1 mission a dummy astronaut with a sensor-equipped spacesuit to collect the capsule's environmental data. The crew capsule has eight 3D-printed SuperDraco escape engines, which could fly the vehicle out of harm's way during a launch emergency. If the Demo-1 is successful, there will be a high-altitude abort test for the escape system before the Demo-2 mission brings two astronauts into space, now targeted for July. The spacecraft is expected to take about 180 kg of crew supplies and equipment into the station and will remain docked there for five days. It will autonomously undock with the station on Friday and make a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on March 8, according to NASA. "We need to make sure that it can safely go rendezvous and dock with the space station, and undock safely, and not pose a hazard to the International Space Station," said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program during a briefing before the launch. NASA is also working with Boeing to make an unmanned flight test for its CST-100 Starliner crew spacecraft no earlier than April, with a target flight no earlier than August with astronauts on board. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 03:48:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Spokesperson of the Houthi rebels Yahya Sarie speaks during a press conference in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 2, 2019. Yemen's warring parties clashed on Saturday in the country's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and kept trading blames over breaching a fragile cease-fire deal in an escalation that could jeopardize the peace agreement reached in Stockholm in December last year. SANAA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's warring parties clashed on Saturday in the country's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and kept trading blames over breaching a fragile cease-fire deal in an escalation that could jeopardize the peace agreement reached in Stockholm in December last year. According to residents, the clashes took place in Kilo 16 area, Zafran village and the 50th Street inside the port city, while the fighting also intensified in several districts in the southern edges of the city, including Tahita, Fazah, Durayhemi and 7 July district. Meanwhile, the government blamed the Houthi rebels on the breaches, saying in a statement on its website that "the rebels have committed a total of 1,112 breaches to the cease-fire deal in Hodeidah since the truce went into force on Dec. 18, 2018." "Those violations have killed 76 civilians and wounded 492 others," the government said, adding that "the rebels seek to provoke the coalition-backed government troops and aim to fail Stockholm Agreement." In response, the rebels-controlled Saba news agency accused the government of keeping sending military reinforcements to its troops massing on the southern edges of Hodeidah, saying the move "completely contradicts with the terms of cease-fire deal" and counted "9,025 violations to the truce deal allegedly committed by the government troops since Dec. 18 last year. UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths has been shuttling between the Houthi rebels in Sanaa and the exiled government in Riyadh to avert an all-out deadly fighting in Hodeidah, the lifeline of the country's most commercial imports and humanitarian aid. On Friday, the Houthis said they had informed the United Nations of their readiness to withdraw unilaterally from the ports of Hodeidah and that they are waiting for a response to begin the pullback. There were no comments yet by the UN, but British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said he met Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Riyadh on Saturday to discuss the "fragile" progress. "Progress fragile but within sight for UN-backed peace talks on Yemen, as I discussed with Yemeni President Hadi in Riyadh today. There is a lack of trust and it is taking too long to implement Stockholm but no one has a better plan so we need to get going and end the crisis," Hunt tweeted. A day earlier, Hunt tweeted that he met Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam in Oman and told him "withdrawal of Houthi troops needs to happen soon to maintain confidence in Stockholm and allow opening of vital humanitarian channels." The warring parties reached the peace deal in Stockholm last December. They have largely held the cease-fire deal in Hodeidah since it went into force on Dec. 18. However, both warring sides have since delayed the implementation of troops' withdrawal for several times. According to the deal, the troops' mutual withdrawal should go through two timeline phases starting from the ports of Ras Isa, Saleef and Hodeidah's main port, which are under rebel control, and concluding with full withdrawal from inside and around the city. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to support the government of Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa and Hodeidah port city. The four-year civil war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 04:18:56|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close by John S. Marshall, Gao Lu HOUSTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Laredo, a major inland port on the U.S. border with Mexico, continues to be in the spotlight of trading activity between China and the United States as plans move forward to build a multi-million dollar free trade center near the city's downtown. Local company Laredo Lomas Properties and a Houston-based investor of Chinese origin recently signed a joint development agreement that will convert an abandoned seven-floor hospital building that's fallen into disrepair and been fenced off for nearly 20 years into the World Free Trade Plaza of America Inc. The deal to convert the old Mercy Hospital Building into a multi-function commercial center of showrooms, office, hotel and warehouse space will cost at least 50 million U.S. dollars and take around a year to finish, according to Gao Long, the Houston investor. In addition to drawing up plans for the renovations of the building, the team is also in the process of applying for parts of the building to be designated as a Free Trade Zone, allowing companies to bring goods into the zone without duties. The center, once completed, would provide a venue to showcase products such as food, electronics, clothes from abroad, serving as a platform for sellers and buyers. Once dismissed by some as nothing more than a small border city in the U.S. state of Texas, Laredo is now a busy international trading center with the world. Tens of thousands of trucks cross the border on a daily basis, carrying billions of dollar worth of goods. Laredo owns the busiest inland port along the U.S. southern border, which is also the second busiest port overall in the country, trailing only the Port of Los Angeles, California. China is the city's second largest trading partner, with neighboring Mexico the first. China's trade volume with Laredo increased 5.23 percent to 4.02 billion dollars in 2017. "We believe the market is ready for this kind of infrastructure in Laredo, connecting not only the existing trade between the United States and Latin American countries, but also bringing in wholesale goods from all over the world, including China," said Sunny Zhang, president of Z LAB USA LLC, the Houston-based global marketing firm that conducted a feasibility analysis and investment report for the Laredo free trade plaza project. Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, an enthusiastic supporter of expanding trade between the United States and China, said it's an "honor" to have Chinese investors showing so much interest in the border city. "When people want to invest money and capital, we all realize that there's always a risk in business, and they're still willing to place their dreams in our city. We're so grateful for that," Saenz told Xinhua. "There's a willingness also to further develop this relationship (between the United States and China) that we're just beginning with," he said of the deal, adding he was hoping to have "more Chinese investment in our city." "With this plaza and signing with our Chinese friends, this is really going to be a portal for global trade on a whole different level," Olivia Varela, president and CEO of the Laredo Economic Development Cooperation, said of the trade plaza deal. "China represents our second largest trading partner after Mexico. So this is not only a huge opportunity for trade between our three countries, but for many other countries globally," she said. Saenz, Laredo's mayor since 2014, has long been enthusiastically pitching his city of 250,000 residents as an international trading center with China. Both Saenz and Varela expressed optimism of improving trade relations between China and the United States, hoping the two countries will ease their trade tension. They shared the view that local projects, like the free trade center, will help strengthen the trade ties between the world's two economic giants. "These kinds of partnerships that we're doing here locally have a much bigger impact globally and are very significant," Varela said. "And these kinds of opportunities will resonate not only on our community level, but also abroad...These are the kinds of grassroots events that are going to help continue to solidify our relationship with China." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 04:59:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, March 2 (Xinhua) -- At least three Yemeni civilians were killed while 10 others injured when intensified Houthi shelling targeted residential neighborhoods in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Saturday, a government official told Xinhua. The source, who preferred to be unnamed, said that the Houthi fighters launched an intensified shelling against government-controlled sites and residential areas in Tuhyata district of Hodeidah province. He said that around 45 mortar shells were fired randomly by the Houthi rebels against Tuhyata, leaving three civilians killed and nearly 10 others critically injured. A medical official confirmed to Xinhua that "the field hospitals couldn't cope with the increased number of injured civilians as a result of the indiscriminate Houthi shelling." "Some seriously injured people including civilians were shifted to receive treatment at hospitals in Aden province," the source said. A statement revealed by the pro-government Giants Brigades blamed the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels for "committing a new massacre in Hodeidah." A source of the pro-government forces told Xinhua by phone saying that "Houthis started attacking our military locations and there will be a response for that violation." "Today, the Houthi rebels stepped military operations with no respect for the cease-fire brokered by the United Nations in Hodeidah," the source added. The UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths concluded Thursday his two-day talks with senior leaders of the Houthi group but did not succeed in convincing the group to start withdrawal from Hodeidah. The warring forces have so far failed to withdraw from Hodeidah and its southern districts in accordance with the UN-sponsored Stockholm Peace Agreement reached last December. The deal aimed to avert an all-out offensive on the lifeline port city, which is the key entry of Yemen's most commercial imports and international aid. The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa and Hodeidah. The four-year civil war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 05:14:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Julia Pierrepont III LOS ANGELES, March 2 (Xinhua) -- "We have an ambition to globalize and become an international company that is able to offer products to consumers all around the world. American market is an important step toward the goal," Cai Lijun, Deputy General Manager of China's ZBOM Cabinets, has said. Founded in 1998, ZBOM has become a leading brand in the domestic kitchen cabinet industry. ZBOM has set its sights on the U.S. market, and is currently expanding sales and operations in the country, from the West Coast in San Diego and Los Angeles to the East Coast of New York. The company is planning to open a local office and establish a warehouse in Los Angeles by the end of this year. ZBOM attracted many eyes at the 2019 International Builders' Show (IBS) held last month in Las Vegas, which brought together more than 1,500 manufacturers and suppliers from around the globe. "The IBS is an important event for us and by far the best expo in the United States to reach our target consumers. We come to showcase our new and existing cabinet lines to the top builders and buyers in the country," Cai told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Besides selling and making important contacts in the industry, one of our top priorities while we are here is to redefine to the American public what 'Made in China' means," he said. "To ZBOM, it means quality." "While many Chinese companies offer a range of products to meet consumer needs, from the more affordable, mass-market fare to more costly, higher quality products, at ZBOM, we are committed to bringing only the highest quality products to American consumers," he added. ZBOM is one of the Chinese companies that have struggled to win business in the United States. Around 20 percent of the more than 1,500 top manufacturers and suppliers at the 2019 IBS are from China. "Americans are very picky," Cai said. "They know what's good and won't settle for less. They want top quality products, like solid wooden cabinets and state-of-the-art designs. And, like the Europeans, they care about the environmental impact their purchases have." He said his company's innovative design and engineering teams have spent years in developing designs that don't just look good, but also enhance functionality and convenience. "And we use durable, eco-friendly materials that would satisfy even the most demanding homeowner." According to the company, ZBOM has developed 691 acres of specialized manufacturing production zones in China, with 400,000 square meters of intelligent, semi-automated, production lines that feature a full set of German HOMAG automatic intelligent CNC equipment. The company has established strategic partnerships with many world famous suppliers to ensure their ability to consistently deliver high quality products worldwide. ZBOM's global partners include DuPont, BASF, LG and so on. "To obtain a better understanding of the needs of American builders and consumers, we target them effectively by modifying our products to better serve the diverse American market," he said. American, Europe and Australia are very different from each other and each market prefers respective styles of products, he said. "We have the flexibility, the manufacturing base and the innovation teams behind us to accommodate each market's preferences. We can even customize per person," Cai added, proud of the Chinese industry leader's strengths. "The commitment to quality has enabled us to meet or surpass U.S. and European industry quality standards for our products and materials," he noted, adding that the company has set a long-term goal of becoming one of the leading cabinetry manufacturers and distributors in the world. "Being a publicly-traded company also helps increase our value. That's enabled us to expand into North America and Australia as well and soon other parts of the world," Cai said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 05:44:10|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Maria Spiliopoulou DELPHI, Greece, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can benefit all countries, all peoples, and Piraeus port project in Greece is a good example, two Chinese experts told Xinhua on the sidelines of the fourth annual Delphi Economic Forum running to Sunday here. More than 400 political leaders, academics, bankers and global financiers from Europe, Asia and Africa attend the four-day forum that opened on Thursday at Delphi, 120 km northwest of Athens, which ancient Greeks considered the navel of the world. The challenge of inclusive growth is the main theme of the annual forum this year. Xu Zhanchen, director of the Strategic Research Department of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, and Shi Zhiqin, Executive Dean of the Belt & Road Initiative Institute and Vice Chairman of the Center for China-EU Relations at Tsinghua University, participated in a session under the title "Constructing China's Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Europe", presenting China's proposal for a shared future of development and prosperity for humanity. During the event both experts presented some of the remarkable progress achieved so far under the BRI in this part of the world, noting the vast opportunities for further collaboration to the benefit of all from the sectors of infrastructure, trade, energy and agriculture to tourism, culture, education and peoples to peoples exchanges. In the eyes of the two experts, Sino-Greek cooperation at Piraeus port, where China's COSCO Shipping has investment, helping create 10,000 jobs in a period when debt-laden Greece is suffering from unemployment, is an exemplary case of win-win partnership. "The topic of the Delphi forum is inclusive growth. I think that the Belt and Road Initiative represents this idea. For everybody, for every country, for every class in the countries, this initiative can benefit all," Xu said when speaking to Xinhua. "More and more countries and more and more peoples think the initiative is important to the future, to the world, because the Belt and Road is the right direction for the world, for globalization," he added. Although the China-proposed initiative faced some concerns and skepticism in some European countries, Xu sees no obstacles in the course ahead. "I think the important thing is dialogue between the West and the East. Globalization is a trend that couldn't change. Belt and Road I think is in line with the trend; it can get more people come together and benefit all countries, all peoples," the expert said. Shi agreed, believing that now Europe views China as a great trade partner. "A lot of progress was made. The first I think is that the idea is from unknown to well known. Many countries now know the B&R Initiative," Shi told Xinhua, noting that more and more countries have joined the initiative. Another significant development, according to Shi, is that there is a complete framework now for cooperation among countries. In particular in Europe and the Mediterranean, the establishment of the 16+1 mechanism which brings together so many countries regularly in summits to discuss how to move forward is an important step, he said. For Shi, the progress in Southeast Europe is clear and Greece is an excellent case study of beneficial collaboration in the context of the BRI. "In terms of Greece I think also is a very typical example of the cooperation. Now we know the very famous Piraeus port. I think this is a very important progress in Europe and this is a very good example for the BRI," he said. "Piraeus port is a model, is a successful model between China and Greece. I think it is a model for other countries," Xu also underlined on his part. While cooperation in business is being promoted by the BRI, exchanges in the spheres of culture and people are also being boosted. In addition to the increased Chinese investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange also expanded, which have helped bridge the distance between the two countries, Shi explained, referring also to his personal experience. As a professor at Tsinghua University, he saw very few Greek students and very few exchanges with Greek universities in the days before the BRI. But things have changed over the past five years, during which links between the two countries have been strengthened and a Greek foundation has funded a students' exchange program. Now Tsinghua has seen more and more Greek students, while many Chinese choose Greece as their study abroad destination. Ahead of International Women's Day, the Lebanese hold a demonstration in Beirut in protest of child marriage and pressure parliament to pass a law to make 18 the legal minimum age for marriage on March 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Despite the heavy rain, hundreds of protesters marched Saturday from Adlieh to Beirut's downtown to advocate for a law on preventing child marriage in Lebanon. "We, as members of Progressive Women Union, can say that it is time to approve a law preventing child marriage because this is not only a right for women but a humanitarian right which should be approved right away," a woman protester told Xinhua. The protest on Saturday was organized by the Lebanese Democratic Women's Gathering (LWDG) in cooperation with the National Alliance for the Protection of Children from Early Marriage and the presence of over 57 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in addition to a number of Lebanese political parties. Protesters chanted slogans against child marriage while holding signs such as "The younger, the more dangerous." Lawmaker Bilal Abdallah, who took part in the march, told Xinhua that it is not easy to work on such laws in Lebanon because the country "is sectarian and the mentality is a bit conservative." "It is our duty, however ... to fight for this case because of the negative repercussions of child marriage on society," he said. LWDG has launched a campaign to install a legal minimum age for marriage since 2016, when it formed a legal committee to work toward that end. The proposed law, introduced in March 2017 by then-Bcharre member of parliament Elie Keyrouz, was discussed four times only by parliamentary committees. "But after last year's parliamentary elections, the new parliament put the law aside," said Sara El Outa, campaign and advocacy coordinator at LWDG. However, El Outa said that some lawmakers are supporting LWDG and vowed to discuss the law in the parliament. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 06:04:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close HOUSTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of business people from Chinese-invested enterprises in the Greater Houston region, the U.S. state of Texas, attended a workshop Friday, discussing the impact of U.S. tariffs and local business culture. The workshop, with the theme of The Hot Topics in 2019, was held days after Chinese and U.S. negotiators wrapped up the latest round of trade talks with substantial progress on specific issues. The event, co-organized by Ernst & Young LLP, Prodensa Group and Nguyen & Chen LLP, aimed at helping Chinese investors operating their businesses in the Greater Houston region improve their profitability as well as avoid potential risks or traps. During the half-day event, speakers and attendees discussed topics such as U.S. trade environment, data technology in the future chemical and energy industry, biomedical innovation in Texas, human resources in American market and legal risk management. Mark Winchester, deputy district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), told Xinhua it's not the first time for him to attend an event focusing on Chinese investors in Houston. Mark said the SBA can be a good platform or a partner in providing services, including free consulting for small companies with Chinese background. The SBA is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 06:14:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close NEW YORK, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese securities market's pilot of registration-based initial public offerings system is a good attempt and will benefit A-share markets in the coming days, Henry Huang, professor with Sy Syms School of Business, Yeshiva University, said on Saturday. China Securities Regulatory Commission, the top securities regulator, on Friday issued the regulations on the science and technology innovation board, which will pilot registration-based IPO system. Huang believes that the implementation of the pilot registration system for listed companies is an encouraging step made by China's capital market and it opened a window for A-share markets to adopt the system in the future. "If the sci-tech companies grow and expand in the sci-tech innovation board, maybe they will get listed in the A-share markets later to attract more qualified investors, which makes the sci-tech innovation board an incubator of quality enterprises," said Huang. But he argues that the requirements for qualified investors in the sci-tech innovation board somehow have limited investment activities of individual investors. "I think the restrictions should be loosened in the future so all investors will enjoy the opportunities to invest in quality enterprises," said Huang. Chinese securities regulator further improved the delisting system last year as a major reform endeavor for the capital market. "I believe it is headed in the right direction," added Huang. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 07:48:36|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close A devotee dressed as Hindu God Shiva participates in a procession on the eve of Shivratri festival, in Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 2, 2019. Shivratri, the festival dedicated to the worship of Hindu god Shiva, will be celebrated by devotees on Monday. (Xinhua/Stringer) Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 07:44:29|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders gestures during his first presidential campaign rally in Brooklyn College, New York, the United States, March 2, 2019. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders kicked off his 2020 presidential campaign as a second-time runner on Saturday in his hometown borough of Brooklyn, New York, reiterating his Democratic socialist views that have been reshaping the Democratic Party. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) NEW YORK, March 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders kicked off his 2020 presidential campaign as a second-time runner on Saturday in his hometown borough of Brooklyn, New York, reiterating his Democratic socialist views that have been reshaping the Democratic Party. On the snow-covered campus of Brooklyn College, Sanders, 77, expressed his determination to fight for a "Medicare-for-all" healthcare system and a 15-U.S.-dollar hourly minimum wage, and vowed to address climate change and other priority issues that altogether form a progressive agenda. The Brooklyn native recalled his childhood living in a rent-controlled apartment as the son of a Polish immigrant who came to the United States without a nickel, saying this experience has well connected him with today's lower class. "With your help, we are going to transform this country, and finally create an economy and a government which work for all of us, not just the one percent," Sanders told thousands of enthusiastic supporters from New York and adjacent states, most of whom were millenials holding a colorful banner with "Bernie" written on it. "Bernie is a special type of candidate that you don't usually see in U.S. politics. He's really fighting for everyday people," said 24-year-old local video producer Carl Straut-Collard. "I trust that he'll be fighting for me and people who are less well-off." Representing the state of Vermont as an independent senator but caucusing with Democrats in Congress, Sanders was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 and to the Senate in 2006. He lost to Hillary Clinton after a tight race in the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Members of Indonesian Search and Rescue (SAR) team pull out a body of a gold miner after an unlicensed gold mine collapsed at Bolaang Mongondow district of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, Feb. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Stringer) JAKARTA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from collapse of an illegal gold mine in central Indonesia has reached nine as unstable soil condition vulnerable to another mine slide hampered efforts to rescue the trapped miners, a disaster agency official said on Saturday. Over 60 miners were working underground on Tuesday when the incident hit the unlicensed mine in Bakan village of Bolaang Mongondow district in North Sulawesi province, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. So far, 19 miners have been rescued, most of whom sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital, said Abdul Muin Peputungan, head of the emergency unit of the Disaster Management Agency in Bolaang Mongondow district. At least three survivors have been shifted to a bigger hospital for their serious injuries, such as broken backbone, which require an immediate surgery. The official revealed that the threat of further landslide aborted a plan to operate three excavators at the scene to remove the rubble and open access to the tunnel. "Another landslide in the mine was occurring. When we were trying to enter the mine, we could hear the sounds of falling soil and rocks," he told Xinhua. "This endangers the rescuers and the excavator could also be plunged downward or buried by the rubble should a landslide take place," he added. However, the official said the search and rescue efforts persisted. "We set up three rescue teams working alternately every day," Abdul said. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency, said that poor geographical condition of the mine, which is situated in steep slopes, has also slowed the rescue operation. Poor mine infrastructure and too many holes dug by miners amid unstable soil condition were blamed for the incident, according to the agency. The government has prohibited operation of illegal gold mines, which are often situated in remote areas. With lacking of safety standard, such activities have often triggered mine incidents in Indonesia, a natural resources-rich nation. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 09:09:40|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China has provided financial aid for 135 million students from preschool education to higher education in 2018, according to the Ministry of Education. The investment was worth 204.3 billion yuan (30.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 8.54 percent from 2017, said Ma Jianbin, an official with the ministry, at a press conference over the weekend. Students of the nine-year compulsory education that ranges from primary school to junior high school enjoyed the policies of miscellaneous fee exemption and free textbooks in 2018, Ma said. Nearly 44 million college students received 115 billion yuan of financial aid last year, up 9.48 percent from the previous year, said the official. The country has provided more than one trillion yuan to 620 million students from 2012 to 2018, generally reaching the target of "not letting any student drop out of school because of financial difficulties." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 09:44:47|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The online gaming population in China increased by 9.6 percent to 484 million as of December 2018, according to a report on China's Internet development. Among them, about 459 million played games on mobile phones, up 12.7 percent from a year earlier, said the report released by the China Internet Network Information Center. The year 2018 saw closer cooperation between domestic game platforms and foreign game developers, facilitating the overseas marketing of locally produced games as well as the introduction of foreign games to the domestic market, it said. Meanwhile, concerted efforts of various aspects of society have been made to effectively tackle the negative influence that online games bring, the report noted. Since central authorities issued guidelines on stepping up regulation over the online gaming market in February 2018, several campaigns have been launched to rectify violations of laws and regulations and remove vulgar content from online games. Game companies were urged to better protect the youth from adverse effects of online games. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 10:04:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the highlights of China's key health news from the past week: -- China reduces taxes for rare-disease drugs A total of 21 rare-disease drugs and four active pharmaceutical ingredients are the first to enjoy China's Value Added Tax (VAT) reduction policy, starting March 1. The new policy aims to lower the cost for patients with rare diseases and encourage the development of the pharmaceutical industry. According to the policy, the VAT rate for the import of rare-disease drugs is reduced to 3 percent. -- China's basic medical insurance expenditure hits 1.76 trillion yuan in 2018 The income and expenditure of China's basic medical insurance fund hit 2.11 trillion yuan (314.8 billion U.S. dollars) and 1.76 trillion yuan respectively in 2018, statistics from the National Healthcare Security Administration showed Friday. As of the end of 2018, the balance of the fund stood at 2.32 trillion yuan, according to the administration. -- Rate of breastfeeding in China lower than 30 percent The rate of breastfeeding for infants under six months old in China is 29.2 percent, according to a recent survey by China Development Research Foundation. The survey, conducted between September 2017 to January 2018 among over 10,000 mothers with infant children across the country, also found that only 11.3 percent of the participants breastfed their children within an hour of birth. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 10:29:56|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close YANGON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government has returned 1,410 acres (571 hectares) of confiscated farmlands to 355 farmers in Myanmar's southern Ayeyawaddy region, according to the Central Committee for Scrutinizing Confiscated Farmlands Sunday. A handover ceremony was held on Saturday in Einme township in the region on the occasion of the Peasants Day. Vice President U Henry Van Thio, who is also the committee's chairman, said on the ceremony that the assistance has been provided for farmers whose lands had been confiscated and the rights of the farmers would be protected under the Law of Protection of the Farmers Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits. Myanmar is an agriculture-based country and Ayeyawaddy region is considered as a rice bowl of the country. The government has been establishing a long-term agricultural production system that supports rural people's socio-economic development and the country's economic development through increasing production of crop yield. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 10:50:02|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia launched the third general population census on Sunday, said Hang Lina, director general of the National Institute of Statistics. "The census started at 7:00 am today (March 3) and will run until March 13 at 5:00 p.m.," she told Xinhua. About 50,000 census staff have been deployed to collect the demographic, social and economic statistics, including births, deaths, migration, education and employment status among others, she said. "The census data is very important for the country to plan and to make policies," she said. "It will also work as an indicator to monitor and check the work carried out under the national strategic development plan and the sustainable development goals." It is estimated that the Southeast Asian nation has nearly 3 million households with the population of about 16.2 million, she said, adding that the census' preliminary result will be released in June before the official result to be publicized at the end of 2019. According to Lina, the 11-day census is to cost 8.5 million U.S. dollars, which is the government's own budget. She added that the Chinese government also donated cars, motorbikes, desktop computers and other equipment worth about 2.5 million dollars to Cambodia for the census work. Cambodia conducted a general population census once a decade. The 2008 population census found that the country's population was 13.4 million, up from 11.4 million in 1998. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 11:10:05|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Hu Bing, deputy chief of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, speaks to reporters during a relics repatriation event held in the Eiteljorg Museum of Indianapolis, capital city of state of Indiana, the United States, on Feb. 28, 2019. China is willing to cooperate further with the United States in relics repatriation and protection, so as to promote a win-win and fair model for the international community at large, a senior Chinese official in charge of relic preservation said recently. Hu Bing, deputy chief of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, made the remarks after attending a ceremony in Indianapolis, where the United States announced the repatriation of 361 pieces of Chinese relics and artifacts to China on Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) INDIANAPOLIS, the United States, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to cooperate further with the United States in relics repatriation and protection, so as to promote a win-win and fair model for the international community at large, a senior Chinese official in charge of relic preservation said recently. Hu Bing, deputy chief of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, made the remarks after attending a ceremony in Indianapolis, capital city of the U.S. state of Indiana, where the United States announced the repatriation of 361 pieces of Chinese relics and artifacts to China on Thursday. The repatriation would bring back to China the largest batch of relics and artifacts from the United States since 2009, when the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in this respect. These returned relics and artifacts, including a green glazed ceramic architectural model, were found by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Indianapolis office in April 2014. Hu told Xinhua that Thursday's repatriation highlights cooperation between the two nations' governmental institutions, including China's National Cultural Heritage Administration and its embassy in the United States, as well as the U.S. FBI and the Department of State. China appreciates U.S. commitment and contribution to the protection of China's relics and artifacts, Hu said, noting that the latest repatriation, the third since 2009, represents the joint effort of the two nations and their support for each other, and will surely enhance the understanding and trust between the two peoples. It also helps set a good example for the global effort in this regard and presents a gift to the 40th anniversary of the China-U.S. diplomatic relations, the Chinese official added. Thanks to the first two rounds of repatriation in March 2011 and December 2015 since the 2009 MoU was signed, 36 pieces of relics and one ancient fossil have come back to their native country and been sent to major museums in China. Hu noted that these relics and artifacts are an inseparable part of China's historical and cultural heritage, and it is in line with international protocol to enhance effort to repatriate cultural relics to their country of origin. Hu also noted the robust momentum of bilateral cultural exchanges in the past 10 years, which were exemplified by the renewals of the MoU, joint archaeological activities, relic restoration, dozens' exhibitions of the Chinese cultural relics held in the United States, as well as the frequent cooperation between China's national relic-preservation institutions and U.S. prestigious counterparts like Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harvard University. Speaking of future plans to promote China-U.S. cultural relic cooperation, Hu suggested that the two sides pursue win-win results by advancing dialogues and coordination in such areas as relic restoration, exhibition and technology as well as heritage management. Moreover, governments of the two nations shall enhance their partnership in terms of cultural heritage management around the globe, Hu said, adding that China is willing to work with the U.S. side to build a stable multi-dimensional cooperation network, support the international relic-protection initiative, engage in the establishment and enhance of international treaties, and commit to cultural relic preservation in conflict areas, and so on. Noting that China has signed bilateral agreements with the United States and other 20 nations regarding combating relic theft, excavation and smuggling, Hu said China's National Cultural Heritage Administration has in recent years secured the return of over 4,000 pieces of relics through diplomatic, judicial and consultation channels, among others. He added that China hopes to further its collaboration and exchanges with the U.S. side in fighting the looting, stealing and smuggling of cultural relics, to help secure an open and win-win cultural atmosphere in the world. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 11:45:11|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Pablo Giuliano SAO PAULO, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Silvia Basilio Proenca felt safer after she installed a security camera in her car while driving passengers in Brazil's populous city of Sao Paulo. The 51-year-old woman joined the country's ride-hailing service 99 in February 2017. "At first, my family was concerned about safety. But for me, it was the ideal job while I underwent medical treatment, offering a flexible schedule and making a profit," Proenca told Xinhua. Brazil suffers serious problems with crime. The country's homicide rate decreased 13 percent in 2018, but still saw about 51,000 cases in that year. Installing cameras is aimed at enhancing security for both passengers and drivers, said the ride-hailing application. "The idea was to create a tool that promotes prevention and is effective in resolving a problem," 99 spokesman Raul Montenegro told Xinhua in the company in Sao Paulo recently. "99 focuses a lot on prevention, with the whole security system serving to give notice to the authorities," he said. The project began with security cameras set up in vehicles serving in the cities of Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, capital of the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, and Manaus, capital of the northern Amazonas state. The Brazilian company, which owns a 600,000-strong fleet of taxis and privately-owned vehicles, was acquired by Chinese company Didi Chuxing last year. Some 18 million Brazilians are using this application which is among the first ride-hailing apps to put security cameras in place. "We know that the question of safety is one of the most important to Brazilians," Montenegro said. Images captured by the cameras are confidential. Passengers boarding a vehicle equipped with a camera will receive a text message that tells them the ride is being filmed. The company has a team of experts including former police officers and members of the military, and psychologists who are available on a 24-hour basis. In case of an incident, the security team will alert the police. The feature works to curb passenger crime as well, since a would-be attacker who hails a ride would think twice about carrying out an assault. The new measure has brought more profits to Proenca. "Today, I earn more than what I was making before. I now manage to earn some 8,000 reales (nearly 2,000 U.S. dollars) a month by working 12 to 14 hours a day." The camera makes all the difference, she said. "I get in the car, start driving and the camera automatically turns on via the phone's router. The good thing is that passengers are notified they are being monitored, in keeping with the law, and that is an efficient safety measure." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 11:55:13|Editor: Liu Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Zhang Wuyue and Zhang Xudong QINGDAO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Carl the police dog is 12 years old, or nearly 80 in human years, and has finished his last mission as a guard during Chunyun, the Spring Festival travel rush, which ended this week. As a police dog, he is entitled to an honorable retirement. Carl is a male springer spaniel approaching the end of his life. The 2019 Chunyun security mission was his final performance as a member of the Qingdao railway police dog team. "I wonder what a sniffer dog is capable of at such an age, besides getting his pension and living a quiet life," said Zhang Dong, a young trainer who graduated from college last year. However, Carl taught the arrogant young man a lesson on the first day while searching the square, exits and trains in an amazingly calm and orderly manner, while Zhang got lost among the huge crowds. Thanks to Carl, Zhang completed his mission that day and eliminated potential explosive dangers. "It was Carl who carried me to continue the work all day. I overcame my timidity, and Carl was my true mentor," Zhang said. Lasting for 40 days and containing nearly 3 billion trips, Chunyun has always been an challenge for China's public transportation system. Carl was on duty for 30 days, having done his part to maintain order and safety at Qingdao Railway Station, which handled 789,000 trips during the period. In 2008, Wang Zhijun, captain of the Qingdao railway police dog team, picked Carl out from a peasant family, in cooperation with Nanjing Police Dog Research Institute. "Carl had the most concentration among all the puppies, which indicated his potential to be an outstanding police dog," Wang said. Carl did not fall below Wang Zhijun's expectations. After an intensive training project for three months, Carl revealed more abilities other than concentration, such as high excitement levels and strong possessiveness, which made him a more qualified explosive-sniffer police dog. Since his first mission for the 2008 Qingdao Olympic Sailing Regatta, Carl has taken part in more than 70 important tasks, including the APEC, G20 and SCO summits, without making a single mistake. "Carl has the style of a general," said Wang Qichen, another trainer at the police dog team. Unlike many of his fellow friends, Carl was always calm and thorough while working. All his trainers were impressed. However, Carl's hind legs were injured during a training in 2005 and his legs were never able to recover despite treatment. "We've tried to release him from too much work, but when it comes to important events, he is always the first option. He is so excellent that we just can't go without him," Wang Zhijun said. During Carl's last mission, he could not jump or walk upstairs. As long as he needed to examine luggage on high places, Zhang Dong would have to lift him to appropriate locations. "It breaks my heart to see Carl this way. But he is clever enough to discover our difficulties. He kept working so as not to affect our work progress. All I can do is to give his legs a massage during breaks," Zhang said. China has 2,350 registered railway police dogs that undertake missions like tracing, drug and explosive detecting. "Police dogs still have a vital place, as many threats such as micro explosives and drugs wrapped twice in plastic bags cannot be detected by devices," said Wang Qichen. "In many conditions, human beings still have to rely on their help." The police dog team is short-handed in manpower. It is a tradition to find kind-hearted families to take care of retired dogs. But Carl's adoption was often delayed. "We are all aware that Carl will be taken better care of when he comes to another family, but we can't make up our minds to do that," said Wang Zhijun, who has trained Carl for 11 years. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 12:10:14|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SEOUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The combined forces of South Korea and the United States will replace their massive springtime military drills with the new "Dong Maeng" exercise slated to continue from March 4-12, the Combined Forces Command (CFC) said Sunday. "Exercise Dong Maeng is a combined command post exercise that highlights the longstanding and enduring partnership and friendship between the two nations and their commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and regional stability," the CFC said in a statement. "Dong Maeng," which means alliance in English, has been modified from the previously-held Key Resolve and Foal Eagle spring exercises and would focus on strategic, operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula, according to the statement. "Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States and United Nations Sending State Partners," said Park Han-ki, the South Korean chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and the CFC Commander Robert B. Abe Abrams. "It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance," said Park and Abrams. The announcement came after U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-doo decided to adapt the massive springtime war games, codenamed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, "to reduce tensions and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has denounced the springtime war games as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion. U.S. President Donald Trump also said the drills were "very expensive" and "provocative." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 12:20:15|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon announced on Saturday that the United States and South Korea have decided to "conclude" the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of military exercises, which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has viewed as provocative. The announcement came after a phone call between U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-doo earlier on Saturday, the Pentagon said in a statement. The defense chiefs "reviewed and approved the Alliance decisions recommended by the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff on the combined exercise and training program," it said. "Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises," said the statement. The Pentagon suggested the decision to suspend the war games was a gesture to reduce tensions. "Jeong expressed his regrets that a complete agreement was not reached while also noting his hopes for the U.S. and the DPRK to continue further vigorous conversations based on the discussion results of the Summit," it said. "Both the Minister and Secretary agreed that close coordination between the military activities of the United States and Republic of Korea will continue to support diplomatic efforts," said the statement. U.S. media reported earlier on Friday that the United States and South Korea would downgrade the large-scale joint military exercises this spring. The combined forces of the United States and South Korea have annually staged springtime war games from March to April, including the Key Resolve command post exercise and the Foal Eagle field training drill. The DPRK has denounced the war games as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion. The Pentagon said in the statement that the defense chiefs of the United States and South Korea have made it clear that the "decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner." They "affirmed their continued support for the ROK and U.S. armed forces, the Combined Force Command, and the United Nations Command in support of peace and security in the region," said the statement. Nevertheless, the two military leaders also "reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the continued combined defense posture of U.S.-ROK combined forces to meet any security challenge, and agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." The Pentagon also said the two military leaders "assessed the outcomes of the Summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim and discussed the further coordination of measures to establish complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, as well as steps to maintain the readiness of combined forces." U.S. President Donald Trump and the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un concluded their second summit in Hanoi last week without reaching an agreement. Nevertheless, the White House said the two leaders had "very good and constructive meetings" and discussed various ways to "advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts." South Korea's presidential Blue House also said later that Trump and Kim have made "more meaningful progress" than ever as they expanded the scope and depth of their understanding of each other's positions. Trump and Kim had their first summit in Singapore last June, when they promised to build new bilateral relations and work toward a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." After the meeting, Trump said the United States would stop war games with South Korea "unless and until we see the future negotiation is not going along like it should." He also said the drills were "very expensive" and "provocative ... war games." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 12:30:18|Editor: Liu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's crude oil output edged up 0.3 percent year-on-year in January, data from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) showed. Crude oil output came in at 16.19 million tons in January, while 49.97 million tons of crude were refined, up 1.9 percent year on year. China is one of the world's largest oil buyers, with over 60 percent of its oil consumption coming from imports. The country imported 42.6 million tons of crude oil in January, up 5.1 percent from the same period last year, according to the General Administration of Customs. The consumption of refined oil saw a 2.1-percent rise year on year, amounting to 27.14 million tons in January, the NDRC data showed. China aims to increase domestic crude oil output to 200 million tonnes by 2020, while supply capacity for natural gas should exceed 360 billion cubic meters. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 12:50:20|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the highlights of China's key education news from the past week: -- Newly enrolled undergraduate, postgraduate students in China on the rise The number of students newly admitted to undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by higher education institutions across China increased by 3.87 percent and 6.43 percent respectively year on year in 2018, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). Last year, a total of 7.91 million people were newly enrolled in undergraduate programs. Meanwhile, 2018 recorded a total of 858,000 newly enrolled postgraduate students. -- China to step up crackdown on malpractice in after-school institutions The Chinese government announced that it will step up the campaign against malpractice in after-school institutions as schools across the country are beginning enrolling students for new semester. The crackdown will target after-school institutions that set their curriculum too much ahead of the normal school curriculum or promise enrollment of good schools, said a statement from a State Council committee that supervises education services. -- College entrance exam reform extends to more provinces An ongoing reform of China's college entrance exam and enrolling system, under which students used to be selected for their performance on a single test, has been extended to cover more provinces in China, said the MOE. Initiated in 2014, the reform aims to make the selection of students and their enrollment in universities a more scientific and fair procedure and promote education for students' all-around development. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 13:15:30|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close KABUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's growth is experiencing structural changes and is moving toward greater integration with the global economy, said one economist. Signs indicate that China's role in the global economy is growing, with the market playing an increasingly bigger role in relocating resources across the country, Kabul University Vice Rector Reza Farzam said in a recent interview with Xinhua. China's opening-up policy will have far-reaching, long-term effect on the country's economic stability and growth, the expert said. Despite data showing that China's economy continues to slow, it remains the world's second largest economy, said Farzam. He also said that China's policies are having a positive impact on the global economy. China-proposed development endeavors, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, will have a long-term effect on both China and other nations along the routes, said Farzam. China is trying "to give a firm guarantee that the Belt and Road Initiative would provide sure economic development for both the country and those nations living around the (Belt and Road) route," said Farzam, also professor at Kabul University's Faculty of Economy. Other sub-projects, like the Lapis Lazuli road connecting to the Chinese transit and trade belt and the Aqina Port railway, would play a vital role in Afghanistan's economic growth, he added. The Lapis Lazuli road refers to the Lapis Lazuli international transit corridor, a joint project by Turkey, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Aqina Port railway is a railway section linking Imamnazar in Turkmenistan and Aqina in northern Afghanistan, which is a part of a 400-km railway project linking Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Regarding China's fight against poverty, Farzam said the country's economic growth is its best weapon to beat poverty as well as pollution and to tackle other economic problems. He said due to growing living standards in China, public awareness about the negative consequences of environmental pollution is improving. Farzam said China has prioritized minimizing pollution in order to "lessen the negative environmental outcomes that are feared to affect not only China but the world as well." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 14:50:44|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close HEFEI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Police in eastern China's Anhui Province seized 4 kg of heroin and arrested eight suspects in a drug bust, local authorities said on Sunday. In September last year, police in the city of Hefei received information that a woman surnamed He was cooperating with drug dealers. The police later found that He had frequent contact with a woman surnamed A. On Jan. 1, He contacted A for 300 grams of heroin and decided to meet the following day, when the police caught A at the site. The police seized 4 kg of heroin and over 220,000 yuan (32,800 U.S. dollars) of drug money, as well as drug-making equipment at He's apartment. The rest of the suspects were also arrested in Hefei and other cities in the province. An investigation is underway. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 15:05:48|Editor: Liu Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body started its annual session Sunday afternoon in Beijing, raising the curtain of a key season in the country's political calendar. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting at the Great Hall of the People. Wang Yang, chairman of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a work report to more than 2,000 political advisors at the session. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 15:50:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah were killed and night others injured as fighting aircrafts pounded Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district of the southern Kandahar province on Sunday, army statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 16:00:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Photo taken on March 2, 2019 shows Noah's Train at Schaerbeek Station in Brussels, Belgium. Noah's Train, a freight train painted with colorful animals, has recently arrived at Belgium's Schaerbeek Station. After departing from the UN Climate Change Conference held in Poland's Katowice in December 2018, Noah's Train made its way through Vienna, Berlin, Paris and its final station, Brussels. At each station, prominent street artists spray-painted two containers with animal motifs, transforming it into the world's longest mobile street artwork ever, with the aim of calling for more climate-friendly freight transport. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 16:00:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah were killed and nine others injured as fighting aircrafts pounded Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district in the southern Kandahar province on Sunday, an army statement said. "Acting on tip off the fighting aircrafts struck a hideout of Taliban rebels in Wach Baghto area of Shah Walikot district early today morning, killing eight armed insurgents including notorious commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah and seven of his armed fighters on the spot and injured nine others including a group commander Mustari Zubair," the statement said here. Taliban militants who have intensified activities and launched brazen attacks against an army base in the neighboring Helmand province on Friday, haven't commented. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 16:06:00|Editor: ZX Video Player Close LHASA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Phurchung, 52, rushes with incredible agility through creeks and rubble on the grasslands in Changtang, 5,000 meters above sea level, watching over the "golden treasure." He is the head of one of the 73 management stations across the Changtang National Nature Reserve, covering an area of 298,000 square km in the north of Tibet Autonomous Region. It is China's biggest and highest reserve and home to a variety of wildlife species. The Golden Wild Yak is one of them and perhaps the rarest. An adult golden yak weighs over one ton. With lion-like fur, unlike its dark brown cousins, it is truly a magnificent animal. There are only around 200 of them on Earth, all found here. The golden beast first showed up in travel notes a century ago, but it was not until 1987 that biologists were convinced they were real. Phurchung was born in a nearby village and became a wilderness ranger in the 1990s. He now earns 2,000 yuan a month, with a living allowance of 300. Unlike his ancestors who worshiped yak in cliff paintings scattered all over the grasslands, Phurchung roams the reserve to protect them. "I traveled much faster when I was younger," he said. "With binoculars, a motorbike and a few supplies, I could cover hundreds of kilometers a day." Over the decades, Phurchung has patrolled every corner of the reserve. "I know the names of every snow mountain and every lake." The grasslands in Changtang were once hunting ground for villagers living nearby, but golden yaks have always been off limits. Legend says they were dowry of the Snow Mountain goddess. During the 1980s, local residents' lives were improved and more options became available. Hunting became obsolete. In 1990, China adopted a law to protect wildlife, banning hunting across the country. Poaching, however, threatened wildlife as well as rangers. Phurchung recalls his encounters with armed poachers. Once a gun was held against his chest, and he chose to stay until the poachers ran away. He also helped local forest police catch several poaching groups. The largest one had more than 20 members. "Protecting them is something worth my life," Phurchung said. His son in law works at another station, inside a habitat of endangered Tibetan antelope. The number of poaching cases is declining, thanks to heavy punishment. Wildlife, on the other hand, prospers in the reserve. "We have 60,000 Tibetan antelope and 15,000 Tibetan wild donkeys, much more than what we had 20 years ago. The number of golden yaks is also increasing," said local forest police chief Champa Tsering. Villagers were advised to resettle in areas with lower altitudes. Fences on animal migration routes were removed, and herdsmen who raised less livestock were given compensation from the government. A total of 780 farmers and herdsmen were hired as wild rangers in the reserve. Phurchung insisted on staying, even though he could have retired when he turned 45. "I still have lots to do and tell the newcomers," he said. "As long as I can walk, I'm still the guardian of this land." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 16:26:03|Editor: ZX Video Player Close HAIKOU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's southern island province of Hainan will offer global talent senior positions to promote free trade zone (FTZ) construction, local authorities said. The 20 job openings involve various fields, including healthcare, finance, culture and education, shipping and the Internet. Zhang Yingrui, deputy chief of the Organization Department of the provincial Party Committee and head of the provincial talent development bureau, said that it was the first time for Hainan to hire specially-invited top managerial talent. Three will be appointed as C-level executives -- a big data architect of the provincial big data development administration, chief operating officer of the Management Committee of Yangpu Economic Development Zone, and chief medical officer of the Lecheng international medical tourism pilot zone, which was set up in 2013 in Bo'ao, a town near Hainan's east coast. It is also Hainan's first attempt to recruit talent for state-owned enterprises and the public service sector, Zhang said. Application starts on Sunday, with the deadline for online registration on March 23. In November last year, the province decided to create a total of 7,471 jobs for 371 enterprises and public institutions for talent in various fields, including biopharmaceutics, network technology, oceanography and tourism. Hainan was approved in April 2018 to build a pilot free trade zone covering the whole island and explore the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics that promotes trade and investment facilitation and provides a good environment. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 17:07:07|Editor: ZX Video Player Close A medical volunteer performs an hearing test on a senior citizen during a charity event held in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2019, China's National Ear Care Day. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 17:11:12|Editor: zh Video Player Close KATHMANDU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A Romanian citizen died after a glider met with an accident in Nepal's tourism hub Pokhara on Sunday afternoon, local authorities said here. The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Ebe Chihjer, local police officer Rabindra Gurung told Xinhua over phone from the crash site. The solo pilot, who flew from Sarangkot area of Pokhara, lost his control in course of landing in the city and plunged into local Fewa Lake, according to the police officer. Police personnel immediately rescued him and rushed to local Fewa City hospital, where he breathed his last. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 17:31:15|Editor: zh Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army is preparing for launching a campaign to eradicate ultra-radical rebels from the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel bastion in Syria, a pro-government newspaper said on Sunday. The preparations of the Syrian army have caused confusion among the militants of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which controls Idlib, according to al-Watan newspaper. This situation has been coupled with a state of lawlessness in Idlib where assignations and explosions are on the rise. The report said that 50 people were killed and wounded over the past two days in Idlib as a result of the deteriorating security situation. The report said that the Syrian army is serious about launching the campaign as the army is targeting the supply routes of the HTS and bringing in reinforcement to the frontlines. Turkey and Russia brokered a deal in last September to impose a demilitarized zone in Idlib and its surrounding areas. However, the deal wasn't fully implemented as the HTS was supposed to withdraw from the zone but it didn't. On the contrary, the HTS expanded and controlled the entire Idlib area. Throughout the last couple of years, Idlib has emerged as the main destination and stronghold for the rebels fleeing other parts of Syrian through deals or surrender. Idlib is also of strategic significance as it shares a border area with Turkey in the north and neighbors the coastal province of Latakia, the hometown of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Notably, the namesake capital city of Idlib lies close to the international road linking the capital Damascus with the northern province of Aleppo. Idlib is home to around 3.5 million people, including those who evacuated other Syrian areas after the surrender of rebels. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 20:21:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces have intensified military operations and killed 17 militants elsewhere in the war-battered country in a single day on Sunday, officials said. The crackdowns have obviously increased in the wake of Taliban deadly attack on an army base in Shorab area in the southern Helmand province on Friday. The brazen offensive, which started at 2:00 a.m. local time on Friday and ended at 4:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, left some 50 dead and more than 40 others injured, according to local media reports. However, the government forces in crackdown against militants, stormed Taliban hideouts in Dawlat Abad district of the northern Faryab province in the wee hours of Sunday, killing six insurgents and injuring two others, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said. According to Rezai, two Taliban senior commanders namely Mawlawi Jalal and Mullah Jandullah were also among those killed in the raids. Similarly, the government forces stormed a Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district of the southern Kandahar province on Sunday, killing eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah and injuring nine others, an army statement said. Showdown between security forces and the Taliban fighters in Khawja Ghar district of the northern Takahr province on Sunday morning left three militants dead and injured four others including two militants and two security personnel, district governor Mohammad Omar said. Taliban militants have yet to make comments on the claims made by the officials. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 21:42:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RAMALLAH, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Member of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi on Sunday described the U.S. move to lower its diplomatic representation to the Palestinians as "undermining and hostile." "The Trump administration is intent on leaving no room for doubt about its hostility towards the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights as well as its abject disregard for international law and its obligations under the law," she said in a statement. Ashrawi's remarks came in response to a U.S. administration official's announcement on Saturday that the U.S. decides to lower its diplomatic representation to the Palestinians, which will come into effect Monday. On the scheduled merging of the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem with the U.S. embassy to Israel, which was moved to Jerusalem last May, Ashrawi said the move is "an act of political assault on Palestinian rights and identity and a negation of the consulate's historic status and function, dating back nearly two hundred years." PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat said in a tweet that the "U.S. is pinning the last nail in its roles in the peace process," after the merger was announced. He added "the U.S. consulate has worked for 175 years in Jerusalem and its closure has nothing to do with its performances, but with fundamentalist ideology that refuses for the Palestinian people to enjoy the rig to self determination." In late 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, revising a decade-long White House policy and triggering international condemnations. Last May, the U.S. relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in a move that sparked tensions and violence in the West Bank and Gaza. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 22:22:05|Editor: zh Video Player Close TAIYUAN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Gao Aiping finally got his washing machine fully functioning as it was supposed to, as he and his family have moved into a new home with running water. "We used to only spin wet clothes with it in winter," said the 56-year-old. The Gaos had lived in a mountain village in north China's Shanxi Province. There was no running water, not to mention central heating or gas supply. Whenever it snowed, they would get stuck and could not even shop for food. Last year, Gao's family and 161 other households scattered in five mountain villages were relocated to a newly built community in Linxian County, Lyuliang City. The Gaos successfully escaped poverty, with an annual income of more than 70,000 yuan (about 10,440 U.S. dollars) from working at the afforestation cooperative and a nearby vegetable greenhouse, and subsidies for relocation. China has vowed to lift all of its poor out of poverty by 2020. Alleviating poverty through relocation is one of many ways to reach the goal. Eliminating rural poverty is considered the most difficult in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, one of China's two centenary goals, with 2019 a "key year" to realize this goal. Topics on poverty alleviation and rural development are expected to come under the spotlight during the annual sessions of China's national legislature and political advisory body. As this year is essential for winning the tough battle against poverty by 2020, China aimed to reduce the rural poor population by more than 10 million. China has lifted 82.39 million rural poor out of poverty in the past six years, with the rural poor population down from 98.99 million in 2012 to 16.6 million last year. INTERNET PLUS "Wanna get rid of poverty and become better off fast? Try e-commerce!" reads a slogan at an e-commerce startup space in Anjiazhuang township, Linxian County. Kang Xuping from a poverty-stricken family joined last year. The 30-year-old sold soybeans grown by local villagers. "Our online sales exceeded 1 million yuan last year, with a net profit of more than 100,000 yuan," he said. "I'm sure my family will get out of poverty this year with the help of e-commerce," he said. E-commerce also boosted sales of red dates. Nearly 70 percent of the county's annual red date output of 150 million kg are sold on the Internet. The county now has 354 such e-commerce startup bases, and plans to increase the number to 1,000 this year, according to Chen Xiaolin, director of the county's poverty alleviation office. "The Internet Plus model is an eye-catching trend. E-commerce in rural areas has made it possible for local specialties and handicrafts in rural areas to enter the urban market," said Zhao Xiaode, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. "The Internet Plus model helps forge new businesses in China's rural areas and injects new impetus to rural modernization, which is essential to building a moderately prosperous society," he said. Big data work well, too. In Minqing County, Fujian Province, Wang Yongyuan no longer has to worry about his farm when he is away. With a smart phone, he can spread the sunshade net, turn on ventilation fans and spray water when a greenhouse gets too hot. Sensors in the greenhouses help collect data on temperature, humidity and light, with which he can analyze the relevance among climate, fertilizer, spray and output. "The future of agriculture lies in smart and customized farming with novel farm machinery," he said. "BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES" Shen Jilan, 89, who served all previous 12 terms of the National People's Congress (NPC) since 1954, is ready to attend the second plenary session of the 13th NPC. Before her trip to Beijing, she knocked on the doors of fellow villagers to find out what their hopes were for a "beautiful village" in Xigou Village, Pingshun County in Shanxi. "There are many villages such as Xigou in China and the government should invest more to improve the infrastructure and build a pleasant environment there, and turn lucid waters and lush mountains into invaluable assets," she said. Xigou has more than 1,600 hectares of trees in the mountains. Shen has been considering of making the forest a tourist attraction to help her village prosper. China unveiled a three-year plan to improve the rural living environment last year, defining it as an important task for the country to accomplish the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It also aims to lift 12 million people out of poverty through tourism during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). "I hope to see 'beautiful villages,'" Shen said. "As long as we unite as one and make arduous efforts, a moderately prosperous society will be built on time." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 22:32:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Soldiers take part in a naval exercise dubbed the Blue Homeland 2019 in Izmir, Turkey, on March 4, 2019. The largest ever drill conducted by the Turkish Navy is seen by analysts as a sign of both Ankara's determination to protect its territorial and gas exploration rights in the Mediterranean Sea and the rebound of the navy from the fallout of a failed coup in 2016. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya) ISTANBUL, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The largest ever drill conducted by the Turkish Navy is seen by analysts as a sign of both Ankara's determination to protect its territorial and gas exploration rights in the Mediterranean Sea and the rebound of the navy from the fallout of a failed coup in 2016. The message sent by the drill is that Turkey is ready to protect its maritime interests and exclusive economic zone, said Celalettin Yavuz, a security and foreign policy analyst with Istanbul Ayvansaray University. The naval exercises, launched on Feb. 27, are being conducted simultaneously for the first time in all the three seas surrounding the country, namely the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Seas. The drill came at a time of rising tension due to gas exploration rights off southern Cyprus between Turkey and its neighbors, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. The exercises involving fighter jets, helicopters and land forces are widely seen as a display of Turkey's rapidly growing naval power. "Considering the big number of vessels involved and the fact that the drills are being carried out simultaneously in all the three seas, the drills represent a challenge, a show of force by Ankara against the Greek side," said Cahit Armagan Dilek, director of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute. The seven-day drill, dubbed the Blue Homeland 2019, is the largest in the history of the Turkish Republic involving a record 103 navy ships. As the name of the drill suggests, Ankara is making clear about its readiness to pursue its maritime interests as strongly against the unilateral steps by the Greek side, remarked Dilek, a former captain in the Turkish Navy. However, he also argued that it is difficult to see the drill as a major show of force against Greece in the Aegean, as the exercises appear to include no action around the disputed islands under Greek possession. Firing drills should have been carried out in the international waters around the disputed islands if the drill intends to send out a message to Greece and indicate its refusal to accept any attempt by Athens to extend its territorial waters from six to 12 miles, Dilke said. For Athens, the ownership of the disputed islands in the Aegean, some of which are quite close to the Turkish mainland, is not an issue to be negotiated about. Ankara, however, questions the Greek sovereignty over the islands numbering as many as 152 in total, saying the issue remains a grey area legally and should be resolved through talks. Unlike Dilek, Yavuz does not feel the disputed islands in the Aegean should necessarily be a focus of the Blue Homeland drill. The exercises essentially focus on protecting Turkey's exclusive economic zone, maritime trade lines and ports, he said. The fleet joining the exercises includes 13 frigates, seven submarines, six corvettes, 16 assault boats, seven mine-hunting vessels, 14 patrol boats and other vessels. The drill also serves to indicate that the Turkish Navy has managed to get over the damage inflicted by the coup attempt in July 2016, both analysts agree. The exercises are proof enough that the navy is getting increasingly stronger in the wake of the failed coup, said Yavuz. According to press reports, over 2,600 navy staff were expelled from the Turkish Navy either over their suspected involvement in the coup bid or their suspected links with the group led by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed for the putsch. A great majority of those sacked were commissioned and non-commissioned officers, including 30 admirals. In this context, the drill is presenting a force that has gotten over the crushing impact of the failed coup and is back with full powers, remarked Dilek. Amid protests by Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots on the divided island of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots are tapping rich natural gas reserves off southern Cyprus in cooperation with some leading energy companies. "No activity can be carried out in the Mediterranean without Turkey, and we would never allow that," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last month in allusion to the Greek Cypriots' efforts to drill for gas. Ankara takes the Cyprus issue and gas exploration in the area strategically, the minister stressed. The Republic of Cyprus, which only represents the Greek Cypriots in the south of the island, concluded long ago bilateral maritime border demarcation agreements with Israel, Egypt and Lebanon. Turkey, which is yet to declare its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean, says the EEZ declared by the Greek Cypriots partly overlaps with its own and that of northern Cyprus. "If this drill is to be seen as an act of intimidation, then Greece, the Greek Cyprus Administration and Israel may be the countries at the receiving end," said Yavuz, a former captain in the Turkish Navy. Israel has joined forces with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus to construct an undersea pipeline to carry Cypriot and Israeli natural gas to Europe. Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974, when Turkey intervened militarily following a military coup by Athens-backed Greek Cypriots. Ankara argues that the Turkish Cypriots, who inhabit northern Cyprus, should have a share of the revenues from the sale of gas to be drilled off the island, while Nicosia says the Turkish side would get its share after the reunification of the island. Firing drills off southern Cyprus, part of the ongoing exercises, are sending the Greek Cypriots the message that their gas exploration activities are being closely watched by Ankara, said Dilek. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 22:37:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close NANJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG), China's leading construction machinery manufacturer, plans to launch a total of 84 new types of customized cranes in overseas markets in 2019, the company said Sunday. The new generation of products, named G-series cranes, have user-friendly design and adaptability to different weather conditions, and are tailored to the specific needs of clients working in different geographical and environment regions, according to the company. A number of 25 types of G-series cranes have already been introduced to Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and African markets, said Liu Jiansen, general manager of XCMG Import and Export Company. "We are confident that our new line of cranes will achieve success in these markets. XCMG aims to make breakthroughs by adapting to client needs with differentiated products and cutting-edge technologies in the future," Liu said. XCMG is a multi-national heavy machinery manufacturing company with headquarters in the city of Xuzhou, eastern China's Jiangsu Province. The company's cranes are exported to more than 183 countries and regions worldwide. In 2018, XCMG saw a 33 percent year-on-year increase of hoisting machinery business in overseas sales, and its crane products exporting to Europe and North America rose by 50 percent. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 22:37:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (Xinhua)-- Ethiopian Airlines (ET) plans to double its flights to the Chinese city of Guangzhou, an Ethiopian official said on Sunday. ET Managing Director of International Services Esayas Woldemariam told Xinhua that the flag carrier plans to fly to Guangzhou twice a day, up from once every day now. The airline currently operates one daily passenger flight each from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou and Beijing, and three-times-a-week passenger flights to Chengdu. It also operates daily passenger and cargo flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai. ET was the first African airline to start flight services to China, back in 1973. "From October 2019, we plan to double our flight frequencies to Guangzhou, to meet the demands of an increasing passenger traffic," Woldemariam said. The airlines is also planning to add more Chinese destinations to facilitate the rapidly increasing multifaceted ties between African countries and China, he added. ET plans to start cargo flight services to Zhengzhou and passenger flight services to Dalian and Hangzhou. "ET has also many other Chinese cities in its network radar, but it all depends on the approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which has so far been very cooperative to us," Woldemariam said. Guangzhou, capital city of China's Guangdong province, is home to a large African community. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 23:12:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Russia will continue to assist Venezuela in resolving its socio-economic problems, including providing humanitarian assistance, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said Sunday. Matviyenko, during talks with visiting Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, stressed the need to increase bilateral economic cooperation and for agreements to be reached at the Russian-Venezuelan Intergovernmental High Level Commission in early April. "We oppose outside interference in the affairs of sovereign states. Resolving the artificially created crisis in Venezuela is possible only through the establishment of inclusive national dialogue," she said. She welcomed the position repeatedly expressed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that his government is ready for such dialogue. Rodriguez said Venezuela intends to strengthen ties with Russia in every possible way in energy, trade, and finance. "This will contribute to the emergence of new cooperation mechanisms. We see huge potential," she said. On Friday, Rodriguez met State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 23:17:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese and Russian national reserves recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), pledging to beef up cooperation in the protection of Siberian tigers and Amur leopards and in national park management. The MoU was signed by the management bureaus of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park and Russia's Land of the Leopard national park, during a visit by the Russian conservation group to Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province this week. The two sides agreed to draw up a three-year road map for cooperation on big cats, environment monitoring and public education, as stipulated by the MoU. The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park proposed joint efforts in animal migrating route investigation, ranger training, and public education, while the Russian counterpart called for closer partnership in research and monitoring, epidemic control, anti-poaching, ecological experience and education. Siberian tigers and Amur leopards mainly live in eastern Russia, northeast China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Liu Peiqi, the head of World Wildlife Fund's Northeast China program, said the increasing cross-border activities of Siberian tigers in recent years had given rise to closer cooperation in research and conservation between the two countries. "We have seen a rising number of endangered predators in recent years, thanks to intensified efforts in habitat protection and anti-poaching," Liu said. "But we still need further cooperation between the two countries." By the end of 2017, at least 27 adult Siberian tigers and 42 Amur leopards were reported to roam in Jilin Province, according to the provincial forestry authorities. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-03 23:27:24|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China saw 15 of major production goods monitored by the government post lower prices in the middle 10 days of February compared with the previous 10 days, official data showed. Of the 50 goods monitored by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 15 goods saw their prices drop during the period, with 22 posting rising prices and 13 with unchanged prices, according to the NBS. Chemical products and agricultural production goods saw an overall decline in prices, while prices of ferrous metals and coal products rose or remained flat in general. Liquefied natural gas, coke and pigs led the rising trend, while lead ingot and zinc ingot saw notable price drops. The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provinces and regions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 00:17:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government clashed with fighters of the Houthi group in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Sunday, an army officer told Xinhua. "Intense clashes broke out between the government forces and the Houthi fighters in the eastern neighborhoods of Hodeidah," the Hodeidah-based army officer said on condition of anonymity. The government forces captured seven Houthi fighters and destroyed a number of military vehicles belonging to the rebel group during the clashes, the source added. Other Yemeni government officials said the clashes were sparked by the sporadic shelling of the Houthi rebels on the government-controlled sites despite the UN-brokered cease-fire in Hodeidah. Casualties were caused by the clashes, they added. Houthi media, however, reported that the government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition launched heavy artillery shelling against Kilo 16 neighborhood and other areas in Hodeidah. The military escalation came after the two warring rivals continually traded accusations of breaching the UN-brokered cease-fire deal. Earlier in the day, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt visited Aden, which is the first time that a Western foreign minister has travelled to war-torn Yemen since the start of the conflict in 2015. In a display of Britain's support for the Yemeni government and the UN efforts to secure peace, Hunt met with Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Saeed Khanbashi and Foreign Minister Khaled Yamani at the presidential compound. "The process could be dead within weeks if we do not see both sides sticking to their commitments in Stockholm," he said in Aden through a short video posted on Twitter. The Yemeni warring parties reached the peace deal in Stockholm last December. Despite sporadic attacks, they have largely held the cease-fire in Hodeidah since it went into force on Dec. 18, 2018. However, both sides have since delayed the implementation of withdrawing forces for several times. According to the deal, the mutual withdrawal should be carried out in two phases starting from the ports of Ras Isa, Saleef and Hodeidah, which are all under the Houthi control, and concluding with full withdrawal from inside and around the city. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to support the government of President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa and Hodeidah. The four-year civil war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 00:32:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close DHAKA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar soldier who strayed across the border into a jungle in Bangladesh more than a month earlier has been returned by Bangladesh after a flag-meeting between the border forces of the countries. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in January detained Aung Bo Thin, 30, the member of the Myanmar Army, along the border in the country's Bandarban hill district, some 316 km southeast of capital Dhaka. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Asaduzzaman Chowdhury, commanding officer of BGB-2, told journalists Sunday, "We've handed the soldier over to Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) through a flag meeting." Commander of BGB-34 battalion Lieutenant Colonel Ali Haidar Azad Ahmed led the 9-member BGB delegation on the Bangladesh side while Kew Wing Ling led the 9-member BGP delegation on the Myanmar side. Bo Thin was reportedly captured by locals on Jan. 24 while he was roaming around in the hill areas inside the Bangladesh territory. Upon his detention, Bo Thin identified himself as a resident of Yangon in Myanmar and a member of the Libi 287 battalion of the Myanmar Army. He also said he had been assigned to duty at a camp near a border point. He also admitted that he fled into Bangladesh on his own as he did not like to perform the duties at the camp. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 00:52:40|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said 30 Somali security officers have been trained on how to tackle conflict-related sexual violence in South West State. Gloria Jaase-Nkundanyirazo, AMISOM protection officer, said trainees were drawn from the Somali National Army, Somali Police Force and ministries of health, internal security and women and human rights. "We want to give them the necessary skills that will enable them investigate the crimes and take action against perpetrators to help end impunity," Jaase-Nkundanyirazo said. She said the training was tailor-made to empower security officers to take the lead in the fight against such crimes. AMISOM Community Policing Adviser Bernard Azagisnaba urged security officers to help raise awareness on the dangers of conflict-related violence to the country's progress. "We are expecting them to be agents of change by raising awareness in communities, schools, mosques and families about conflict-related sexual violence and why we should all fight the crime," said Azagisnaba. The training is part of AMISOM's capacity-building program aimed at preparing security institutions to take charge of the country's security. U.S. and Chinese officials view relics on display during a repatriation event held in the Eiteljorg Museum of Indianapolis, capital of state of Indiana, the United States, on Feb. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) INDIANAPOLIS, the United States, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to cooperate further with the United States in relics repatriation and protection, so as to promote a win-win and fair model for the international community at large, a senior Chinese official in charge of relic preservation said. Hu Bing, deputy chief of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, made the remarks after attending a ceremony in Indianapolis, capital city of the U.S. state of Indiana, where the United States announced the repatriation of 361 pieces of Chinese relics and artifacts to China on Thursday. The repatriation would bring back to China the largest batch of relics and artifacts from the United States since 2009, when the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in this respect. These returned relics and artifacts, including a green glazed ceramic architectural model, were found by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Indianapolis office in April 2014. Hu told Xinhua that Thursday's repatriation highlights cooperation between the two nations' governmental institutions, including China's National Cultural Heritage Administration and its embassy in the United States, as well as the U.S. FBI and the Department of State. China appreciates U.S. commitment and contribution to the protection of China's relics and artifacts, Hu said, noting that the latest repatriation, the third since 2009, represents the joint effort of the two nations and their support for each other, and will surely enhance the understanding and trust between the two peoples. It also helps set a good example for the global effort in this regard and presents a gift to the 40th anniversary of the China-U.S. diplomatic relations, the Chinese official added. Thanks to the first two rounds of repatriation in March 2011 and December 2015 since the 2009 MoU was signed, 36 pieces of relics and one ancient fossil have come back to their native country and been sent to major museums in China. Hu noted that these relics and artifacts are an inseparable part of China's historical and cultural heritage, and it is in line with international protocol to enhance effort to repatriate cultural relics to their country of origin. Hu also noted the robust momentum of bilateral cultural exchanges in the past 10 years, which were exemplified by the renewals of the MoU, joint archaeological activities, relic restoration, dozens' exhibitions of the Chinese cultural relics held in the United States, as well as the frequent cooperation between China's national relic-preservation institutions and U.S. prestigious counterparts like Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harvard University. Speaking of future plans to promote China-U.S. cultural relic cooperation, Hu suggested that the two sides pursue win-win results by advancing dialogues and coordination in such areas as relic restoration, exhibition and technology as well as heritage management. Moreover, governments of the two nations shall enhance their partnership in terms of cultural heritage management around the globe, Hu said, adding that China is willing to work with the U.S. side to build a stable multi-dimensional cooperation network, support the international relic-protection initiative, engage in the establishment and enhance of international treaties, and commit to cultural relic preservation in conflict areas, and so on. Noting that China has signed bilateral agreements with the United States and other 20 nations regarding combating relic theft, excavation and smuggling, Hu said China's National Cultural Heritage Administration has in recent years secured the return of over 4,000 pieces of relics through diplomatic, judicial and consultation channels, among others. He added that China hopes to further its collaboration and exchanges with the U.S. side in fighting the looting, stealing and smuggling of cultural relics, to help secure an open and win-win cultural atmosphere in the world. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 01:07:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A voter casts a ballot at a polling station at a shopping center in Tallinn, Estonia, on March 3, 2019. Voting of Estonian parliamentary election at polling stations of local culture centers, schools, shopping centers and Tallinn city office went on smoothly on Sunday. (Xinhua/Guo Chunju) TALLINN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Voting of Estonian parliamentary election at polling stations of local culture centers, schools, shopping centers and Tallinn city office went on smoothly on Sunday. Working staff of the polling stations were seen checking the identity cards of the voters and guiding them to cast their ballots. In an international visitors program organized by the State Electoral Office of Estonia, participants were taken to a culture center in Keila, a town and an urban municipality in northwest Estonia, and Paldiski, a town and Baltic Sea port about 45 km west to Tallinn, as well as Laulasmaa School and Muraste School in the small villages of Harju County, while another two separate trips went to Rakvere, 100 km southeast to Tallinn, and Haapsalu, about 101 km southwest to Tallinn. Voters were required to write down the number of their preferred candidate or the name of the candidate on the paper ballot comprehensively, the working staff told Xinhua. The 451 polling stations from 12 voting districts open from 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) till 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) Sunday for voters to cast ballots for their regional candidates from 1,099 candidates from 10 political parties and 15 independent candidates. During the advance voting period from Feb. 21 to Feb. 27 in Estonia, a total of 247,232 voters chose internet voting, rising from just over 186,000 in the 2017 local elections, while advance overseas voting was held at Estonian foreign representations from Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, according to the State Electoral Office. Out of the total 1.32 million Estonian population, altogether 958,571 people including 77,881 Estonian citizens living abroad can vote in the general election, the Estonian Ministry of the Interior confirmed. The 13th Estonian parliament Riigikogu was elected in 2015, with Estonian Reform Party winning 27.7 percent votes, followed by Estonian Center Party's 24.8 percent. The turnout was 64.2 percent. In November 2016, current Estonian Prime Minister Yuri Ratas took over from then prime minister Taavi Roivas from the Estonian Reform Party after the latter lost a confidence vote in parliament, forming a new coalition government. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 01:12:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that the just-concluded meeting between the top leaders of the United States and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not a "failed summit." "I don't agree at all that it was a failed summit," he said during an interview with Fox News. Bolton also made a similar statement in a separate interview with the CBC's "Face the Nation," saying that "I don't consider the summit a failure. I consider it a success defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." "There was extensive preparation for this meeting. Extensive discussions between the president and Kim Jong Un," he explained. "I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected." However, he added that Washington's "program of maximum pressure will continue" on Pyongyang, which had "brought them to the table in the first place." Trump and Kim ended their second summit in Hanoi last week without reaching an agreement. However, both sides have expressed willingness after the meeting for further engagement on key issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the establishment of lasting peace, and economic options related to the DPRK side. The Pentagon said on Saturday that the United States and South Korea have decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises, which the DPRK had denounced a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, and "very expensive" and "provocative" "war games" in Trump's view. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 01:37:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Moldovan Central Electoral Commission on Sunday approved the final results of the parliamentary elections and the referendum held one week ago. These data will be sent subsequently to the Constitutional Court whose magistrates must confirm or deny the legitimacy of elections and referendum, as well as validate mandates of new lawmakers. According to the official results, in the parliamentary elections on Feb. 24, Party of Socialists obtained the highest number of mandates in the future Parliament, 35 in number, followed by the current ruling Democratic Party, with 30 mandates, the center-right ACUM (NOW) bloc with 26 seats and the Sor Party, seven. The rest of three mandates of the parliament will be occupied by independent lawmakers. For the first time in the history of the country, the 101 lawmakers of the parliament were elected on the basis of a mixed electoral system, in which 50 deputies were elected based on party lists in the nationwide constituency, while the other 51 were elected in 51 single-member constituencies. As many as 14 political parties and an electoral bloc competed in the national constituency, while 325 electoral contestants fought for the seats of deputies in the 51 uninominal constituencies. The Socialists got 31.15 percent of the votes, while the ACUM won 26.84 percent, the Democrats 23.62 percent and the Sor Party 8.32 percent. The other electoral contenders did not pass the minimum threshold of 6 percent of the total votes. In the elections in uninominal constituencies, the Democrats obtained the most mandates, followed by the Socialists, the ACUM block and the Sor Party. Three independent candidates won in their respective constituencies. Alongside the parliamentary elections, a referendum was also held in which the voters had to answer two questions: whether they agree with the cutting of the number of parliamentarians from the current 101 to 61 and whether they agree that people can recall the lawmakers from office in case of failure to fulfil their duties. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 01:57:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army said on Sunday that its forces repelled rebels' attack in the country's northwestern province of Latakia, state news agency SANA reported. The rebels attempted to attack military positions in the northern countryside of Latakia, which prompted the Syrian army to respond. During the one-hour clashes, two Syrian soldiers were wounded and many of the rebels were killed, according to the report. It is the second attack launched by the rebels on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the rebels attacked military positions in the central province of Hama. The army said it foiled the attack in the northern countryside of Hama. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor, said 30 Syrian soldiers were killed in the Hama attack. Members of the Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra perform at the auditorium of the Central Middle School in Muscatine, the United States, Feb. 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) CHICAGO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Watching a Chinese New Year concert more than half a month ago, Chinese American composer and violinist Yang Gongqian is still in a state of excitement. "The concert was a success. It inherited Chinese tradition and did a good job in artistic expression," he said. Yang is also envisioning how he could have done to make the American audience better understand, enjoy and accept this Chinese New Year concert, which was jointly presented by the Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra and the China National Peking Opera Company at Chicago Symphony Center, if he were the conductor. Exotic is what many American audience feel about the concert when they hear traditional Chinese music, Yang told Xinhua. He has been using some modern techniques to hybridize traditional Chinese music, and facilitate more extensive spread and acceptance of Chinese music in the Western world. "The Butterfly Lovers" violin concerto is a crossover masterpiece, a perfect fusion of China's Huangmei Opera with Western symphonic writing, Yang said. It is one of the most famous piece of Chinese music, as well as a world renowned masterpiece. Yang has made some efforts in this field by redeveloping and orchestrating Chinese folk music "Kangding Love Song" into a symphonic work. The redevelopment has the original folk music as the main theme, but features a second theme he has created. He used solo violin and piano to express an antiphonal style. Chicago's Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra premiered the "Fantasy for Violin and Piano with Orchestra", the symphonic work Yang recomposed from "Kangding Love Song" at a local 2018 Chinese New Year concert, drawing enthusiastic applause. Nurhan Arman, a well-established Canadian conductor and founder of Sinfonia Toronto, praised the music "a lovely piece". Yang's devotion to music started when he was a child. He entered China's Central Conservatory of Music in 1982, majoring in violin, and then worked for China National Symphony Orchestra after graduation, playing first violin. Talking about his study and work in China, Yang said the biggest reward he got is "discipline". "It is the basis of all," he stressed. Recitation of the poems of Tang Dynasty and the verses of Song Dynasty in childhood has left a profound influence on Yang's music composition, endowing him with a unique music style of his own. "Those poems and verses have melted into my way of creative thinking process, and enabled my mind to travel through time and space. When composing, the artistic image of Li Bai is alive in my mind," Yang told Xinhua. Li Bai, a Chinese poet in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pushed traditional Chinese poetic forms to new highs. There are around a thousand poems attributable to him, which are models for celebrating the pleasure of friendship, the depth of nature, solitude, and the joy of drinking. With the desire to see the world, Yang came to the United States in 1988, and became a student of Dorothy Delay, a legendary violin teacher. In 2005, Yang had his first original music album "Sonic Poem" published, which was selected one of the "Top 10 Master Albums" on CD Baby in the year. When China National Symphony Orchestra had its tour of the United States in 2006, it performed the "Nature and Me Symphonic Poem" from the album. Yang has so far composed some 80 music pieces, some of which are re-orchestrated from traditional Chinese music. Augusta Read Thomas, an American composer as well as a professor of the University of Chicago, praised his music as "song without words". Listening to Yang's music, one can feel quietness, elegance and comfort in "Morning Lake" and "Wave and Clouds"; or open-mindedness in "Nature and Me Symphonic Poem" and "Dawn Awakening". Yang said the path to discovering a music language of his own is extremely difficult. Fortunately, he found the music language of his own. "This is the best reward I've got." Now with both oriental cultural accumulation and Western music composition techniques in hand, Yang dreams of bringing traditional Chinese music into the mainstream society in the Western world. "Music under different limelight gives people different feelings," Yang said. "Traditional Chinese music just needs a medium." He plans to go on re-orchestrating traditional Chinese music with artistic means of the Western world, making the Western audience understand Chinese music in their way. "Mutual understanding is essential," Yang stressed. "Only when people understand each other can they accept each other." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:03:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. latest decision to conclude its military exercises with South Korea aims to save money and reduce tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Pentagon said on Saturday that the United States and South Korea have decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises, which the DPRK had denounced a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, and have been "very expensive" and "provocative" "war games" in Trump's view. Trump tweeted on Sunday that "the reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed." "That was my position long before I became President," he noted. "Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" The combined forces of the United States and South Korea have annually staged springtime war games from March to April, including the Key Resolve command post exercise and the Foal Eagle field training drill. Trump and DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un concluded their second summit in Hanoi last week without reaching an agreement. Nevertheless, the White House said the two leaders had "very good and constructive meetings" and discussed various ways to "advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts." Trump and Kim had their first summit in Singapore last June, when they promised to build new bilateral relations and work toward a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." After the second summit, Trump said the United States would stop war games with South Korea "unless and until we see the future negotiation is not going along like it should." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:23:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- With females accounting for just 6 percent of airline pilots in Britain, a call was made Sunday for more women high-flyers in the aviation industry. Transport Minister Liz Sugg has called on the aviation industry to address the gender gap, saying the sector needs to make the best use of the female talent. Sugg has written to the aviation sector, calling on it to pledge action to overcome the gender gap, ahead of International Women's Day later. Women account for nearly half (47 percent) of Britain's national workforce, but only 6 percent of airline pilots are women. The minister said: "For every 100 airline pilots, 94 are male. With a shortage of pilots in the future, the aviation industry needs to be making the best use of the talent in this country." "There are already some great industry initiatives, and ahead of International Women's Day, we are calling on the aviation industry to pledge action to address this gap." Sugg has already helped launch the Women in aviation charter, which commits to building a more balanced and fair industry for women British low-cost airline easyJet is on track to achieve its target of ensuring 20 percent of its new pilot entrants are female by 2020. London Stansted Airport, a signatory to the charter, meanwhile has a number of education programs, including its Aerozone center, which have helped inspire thousands of young girls in the last three years. Liz Austin, HR Director at London Stansted Airport, said: "Encouraging more girls into aviation-related careers is something London Stansted fully supports, and we welcome the government's drive to increase the number of women in these roles." Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:28:24|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi the situation in Palestine, especially Jerusalem. "I briefed the Iraqi prime minister on the developments of situations in Palestine and the violations against Jerusalem," Abbas said at a joint press conference after a meeting with Abdul Mahdi. Abbas also said he explained to Abdul Mahdi the decision of the Palestinian government to reject the U.S. peace plan. "The U.S. government proved that it was not neutral after it recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which led us to reject its peace plan," he noted. For his part, Abdul Mahdi highlighted the Palestinian issue as central to the region, saying Iraq "will continue to defend the right of the Palestinian people." "Iraq has a strong presence in the region, which would enable it to help achieve the demands of the Palestinian people," the Iraqi prime minister said. Abbas arrived in Iraq's capital Baghdad on Sunday afternoon heading a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, for a visit aimed at discussing the current political situation, particularly the Palestinian cause, and ways to promote bilateral relations in all fields. Earlier, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim tweeted that Abbas and al-Malki will visit Iraq on March 3 and 4 without giving further details. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:43:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Ministry of Transportation on Sunday discussed the possibility of joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). A statement by the ministry's media office said Transportation Minister Abdullah Luaibi held an extensive meeting to discuss "drawing a road map in cooperation with the Chinese side to activate the role of Iraq in the Belt and Road Initiative." During the meeting, Luaibi discussed the possibility of speeding up procedures of Iraq's accession to the AIIB, the statement said. The multi-lateral AIIB is a China-led financial institution set up to spur funding of roads, bridges, ports, airports and railways along the New Silk Road in Asia and beyond. "We seek to cooperate with China, through its companies and embassy, by introducing the announced investment opportunities in Iraq's infrastructure," Luaibi said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:53:27|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities celebrated on Sunday the completion of a project removing underground water from 2,000-year-old catacombs in the northern seaside province of Alexandria dating back to the Greco-Roman era. "We have completed the project of permanently lowering the level of rising underground water in ancient Kom al-Shoqafa tombs that has been threatening the burial site for more than 100 years," Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany told a press conference at the site. The drainage project was supported by a grant of 5.7 million U.S. dollars from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), he added. The project started in November 2017 by the construction of six 42-meter-deep wells with pumps removing water through drainage pipelines. "We will announce the completion of a similar project on March 25 that gets rid of underground water in Kom Ombo antiquities in Upper Egypt's Aswan Province," the minister told reporters at the press conference, noting that the project costs 9 million dollars. Kom al-Shoqafa is the largest Greco-Roman burial site discovered in Egypt so far, and its catacombs are "extremely important" because of their historical significance, according to Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "A few weeks ago, tourists here were unable to reach the third and last underground floors of the catacombs because of the rising water level, but they can easily reach them now after the project has been completed," Waziri told Xinhua outside the catacombs. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 05:53:27|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HELSINKI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The issue of the future level of utilization of the Finnish forest polarized further on Sunday as Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila implied his objection to shut down any of the current forest projects. He said to the public in his monthly radio hour that those who want a reduction in the forest usage should also say which paper or pulp plant they would want to close first. The nation is currently involved in a widely debate about a balance between the combat against climate change and the boost for the forest industry. There are differing expert views on what a sustainable level of wood usage should be. Expert opinions in Finland this winter have ranged from a major increase from the present level of 80 million cubic meters annually to a major cutback down to the 40 million cubic meters in the early 1990s. The centrist prime minister said he is strongly committed to the "sustainable Finnish usage of forests", but an increase in the use of wood "would also encourage foreign investors". Some investment plans for an expansion of the Finnish forest industry, mainly pulp and biofuel, are currently awaiting the final decision. Both the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party reacted on Sunday to the statement from Sipila. Ville Niinisto, an MP and the former chairman of the Green Party, accused the prime minister of exaggeration. He said the political difference means only a "ten percent increase or decrease", not a major boost or cutback. Sanna Marin, vice chairman of SDP, said the level of usage must be based on a reliable and timely scientific information. Earlier on Sunday, in an interview with the news agency USU, Sipila said the "red-green" policy line would be a threat to forests and jobs. CARBON NEUTRALITY On Thursday, a joint report published the Finnish technological research center, VTT, and the National Institute for the Environment, SYKE, said Finland could reach carbon neutrality in 2040 still with tremendous viable economic sustainability. The research did not give any direct answer as what is the safe limit of using Finland's forest without risking the carbon sink ability, but it was cautious about the increase of wood usage for industry. It noted that various scientific predictions exist. Kimmo Tiilikainen, minister for the environment, said on Friday the fresh investigation allows "a small increase" in the industrial use of the forest as raw materials. He said the researchers had chosen to be on the safe side in their predictions. The research also noted that there are "various ways of calculating the size of the forest carbon sinks and they give widely differing results". Researcher Sampo Soimakallio told Yle, however, that it is certain that "the more forest is consumed, the smaller the sink gets". "And we can always lose the carbon sinks," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 06:23:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led coalition on Sunday fired white phosphorus shells on an Islamic State (IS)-held area in eastern Syria, causing deaths including women and children, state news agency SANA reported. The shelling targeted the farmlands of the town of Baghouz, the last IS-held area in the eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Deir al-Zour Province, SANA said. This comes as the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is making its last push against IS remnants in Baghouz after the evacuation of thousands of civilians. The U.S.-led coalition has been backing the SDF in its push against the IS in the area since last September The Syrian government has repeatedly accused the U.S.-led coalition in Syria of targeting civilians in the fight against the IS, calling on the international community to dissolve the coaliton. Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-04 06:28:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close YAOUNDE, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Unknown gunmen on Sunday kidnapped a senior government official working at the Southwest governor's office in Buea, chief town of Southwest, one of two English-speaking regions of Cameroon, according to the Cameroon army. "Franckline Ngwa Che who works at the governor's office in Southwest was abducted early this morning (Sunday). He was kidnapped from his home by unknown men who were well armed. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom amounting to millions of CFA franc," a military official who opted for anonymity told Xinhua. "We have been told to do everything possible to secure his safe release," the official said. Early Sunday, local authorities said a regional chief of Cameroon's Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection was kidnapped in Northwest, one of the two troubled Anglophone regions. "It seems the kidnappers are now targeting government officials," the military official added. Kidnappings have become rampant in the two troubled Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest where armed separatists want to create a new nation they called "Ambazonia". The United Nations estimates that at least 430,000 people in Cameroon have been displaced internally by the conflict. Testele COVID pentru elevi, un esec Testele COVID-19 noinvazive, pe baza de saliva, au starnit deja numeroase controverse, chiar dupa prima zi in care au fost folosite de elevi, mai multe cazuri pozitive fiind infirmate de testele PCR. In Capitala, de exemplu, in urma utilizarii testelor noninvazive COVID au fost depistati pozitiv cinci elevi. La distanta de aproximativ [citeste mai departe] Russian-backed militants violated the ceasefire regime seven times and used Minsk-banned weaponry over 24 hours On March 2, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the Donbas conflict zone. Russian militants attacked the Armed Forces of Ukraine seven times, they also used the Minsk-banned weaponry three times. The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) HQ reported this on Facebook. The enemy fired six times in the East operational group action zone: With 82 mm and 120 mm mortar, anti-tank grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms near Lebedynske settlement; With 120 mm mortars near Vodiane village; With automatic grenade launchers near Verkhnyotoretzke village; With easel and manual anti-tank grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms near Pavlopil settlement. In the North group area, the hostile forces attacked our positions three times with automatic easel grenade launchers near Travneve settlement. According to Ukraine's surveillance, one fighter of the Russian army was killed on March 2. Besides, one unit of the enemys military equipment was destroyed. From midnight, the Russian militants two times shelled Ukraine's positions. In the North group area, the enemy attacked our positions with 120 mm mortars and used 30 shells near Novozvanivka and Zolote-4 villages. No casualties among the Joint Forces operation were spotted. Open source On March 2, people honored the memory of the local Ukrainians who died at the hands of members of the Armia Krajowa, the dominant Polish resistance movement in Poland, occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, during World War II, in the village of Pavlokom in Poland. This is reported by Ukrinform. About two thousand people arrived at the ceremony - members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland, Ukrainian diplomats, delegations from Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, as well as representatives of local authorities. Today at this place we ask ourselves the question: Why did this happen? And each of us knows the answer: because then there was no Ukrainian state, there was no unity. We are here today because we have a powerful state, we have a strong army, which protects the entire civilized world thousands of kilometers away from the invasion of the enemy so that it does not kill new and new generations, said Oleg Synyutka, chairman of the Lviv Regional State Administration. Armia Krajowa If Ukraine does not change its position concerning the decriminalization of the illicit enrichment, what makes all the fights on corruption in vain, it might lose visa-free regime with the EU and the support of the International Monetary Fund, bringing severe economic consequences. Transparency International, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, posted this warning on its website. "On 26 February 2019, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine struck down Article 368-2 of the Criminal Code the provision on illicit enrichment. This decision greatly weakens the countrys anti-corruption efforts, undermines up to 65 open investigations and has a direct impact on four cases against high-ranking officials that were already before the courts. Transparency International, together with its Ukrainian chapter, believes that the Constitutional Courts decision violates Ukraines international commitments, and calls for the Ukrainian government to immediately take all necessary steps to rectify the situation," the report said. Transparency International believes that the Courts resolution basically provides state officials with a way to legalize their possibly illegal assets and have no fear of criminal prosecution. Besides, the electronic declarations of public officials assets that have been successfully introduced as part of anti-corruption reforms will now lose their purpose due to the lack of criminal responsibility for illicit enrichment. According to Ukrainian law, the decision of the Constitutional Court is binding, final, and cannot be appealed. Anyway, the Court argued that the article on illicit enrichment violated the presumption of innocence and the right to refuse to testify. However, even common analysis shows that this article did not place the burden of proof on the accused. The burden of proof lay with the prosecution. The provision did not oblige a public servant to prove the legitimacy of assets acquired but provided accused individuals with the chance to confirm the legitimate origin of their assets. Transparency International urges the government of Ukraine to take responsibility for the cases, where investigators, prosecutors, and judges will be forced to close due to the ruling and granting the criminals an absolute amnesty. Even if a new law on illicit enrichment is introduced and adopted, it will not be retroactive, leaving all current cases closed and allowing the corrupt to escape justice. The cooperation with the IMF is a very important image-making issue but under one condition Yuriy Boyko, Ukrane's people's deputy and the member of "Opposition platform" on air of 112 Ukraine, December 13, 2018 112 Agency Ukraine has to prove very strongly to the International Monetary Fund that we have no intention to return Ukrainian people to energy poverty again, Yuriy Boyko, the presidential candidate from the political force 'Opposition Platform-For Life', said this in the interview with 112 Ukraine. If they do not agree with this, then we should stop the coordination and seek for the other opportunities for finding money. As IMF has 92 programs in the world, 92 countries cooperated with IMF, Boyko stated. The presidential candidate has also outlined that the cooperation with IMF is a very important imagemaking issue under one condition. It will happen if in addition to the IMF payments the payments from other international financial institutions are added. And if the country did not take 50% loans from the IMF, and 50% from other financial institutions, the politician said. At the same time, according to Boyko, 33 countries had quick economic plummet because they had not abided by the IMF conditions; those countries worsen the economic and social situation. Eight countries even had revolutions after cooperating with the IMF. Open source On February 28, Yevgeny Kalinin was detained in the airport of Athens upon the request of Ukraine, as the lawyer Yannis Rakhyotys told to the RIA Novosti. According to the lawyer, the court ruled to put Kalinin into custody in anticipation of the Ukrainian request of the extradition on March 1. He insisted that the case was the political one, as Kalinin is on the Peacekeeper website list (Kyiv-based website that purports to reveal personal information of people who are considered to be "enemies of Ukraine," the website is condemned by numerous members of the world community) because he supported Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych. According to the information on the website of the Ministry of Interim Affairs, the National Police Department in Odesa region put Kalinin into a wanted list in 2017. He is accused of tax evasion and creation of a criminal organization. As we reported earlier, The Prosecutor Generals Office summons Ukraine's oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko for the interrogation. The criminal proceeding investigates the foundation of a criminal organization dealing with the large-scale embezzlement, as well as the legalization of illegally obtained income and tax evasion. Fugitive ex-Minister of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine Oleksandr Klymenko and Serhiy Kurchenko caused $7.43 billion losses to Ukraine. Serhiy Kurchenko left for Russia after Euromaidan events. The Ukrainian authorities have blocked the assets of oligarch Kurchenko, who is on the international wanted list. Serhiy Kurchenko filed a lawsuit against Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko for slander about his ties with Mikheil Saakashvili. Trump assured that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be very, very strong" North Korea will have a great future if the country makes s deal with the USA. If it refuses from the denuclearization, it will suffer severe economic consequences, U.S. President Donald Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference, as Reuters reports. Despite the unsuccessful second summit between the leaders due to the unwillingness of the USA to withdraw sanctions from North Korea, Trump assured that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be very, very strong. The United States and North Korea say they intend to continue talks but have not specified when. Analysts believe North Korea has from 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the U.S. mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. As we reported earlier, The U.S. President Donald Trump and his North Korean colleague Kim Jong Un have abruptly cut short their two-day summit in Hanoi after they failed to reach an agreement to dismantle the nuclear weapons of Pyongyang. At the press conference, held after Trumps return, the President said he and Kim did not agree to hold a third summit. In addition, according to the U.S. President, Kim promised not to carry out missile launchers or test nuclear weapons. The parties have not reached compromise on the key issue - denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He has a certain vision. Its not exactly our vision, but its a lot closer than it was a year ago, Trump said. On March 1, several settlements in Crimea were left without electricity due to bad weather conditions and accidents. This is reported by Krym.Realii. As of 4 p.m. (in Crimea), the Krymenergo distribution company enterprise reported on a partial power outage in Kerch. Lenino and Kalynivka villages of the Leninsky district, Krasnaya Polyana and Vnukovo villages of the Black Sea region, Koltsovo village of Saksky district are also left without electricity. The power outage happened due to the strong wind," as said in a statement. During the day, Armiansk, Krasnoperekopsk, and partially Yevpatoria remained without electricity. The reason is power grid accident. Residents of Yevpatoria also suffered from a lack of water. The corresponding bodies of Russia's Ministry of Energy did not report a massive blackout in Crimea. Crimea has suffered a total power blackout on June 13, 2018 after an incident at a Russian power station. According to the media and information from Crimean power companies, the outage embraced Bakhchysarai, Yalta, Simferopil, Yevpatoria, and other Crimean cities. The blackout disrupted the services of the two mobile carriers. Open source The archbishop of the Crimean Diocese of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine Klyment was detained in the occupied Crimea allegedly because of theft in the church. It is reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism. "As I was told at the police office, there was a call saying that something was stolen in the church on the Sevastopolskaya Street in Simferopol. That is, someone allegedly called that there was a theft in my church. And so they detained me at the bus station, took off already from the bus. This accusation is a lie. Because they found out about who I was only when they brought me to the regional department. And after 30 minutes they came up with such a version, "the archbishop told the representatives of the center. On March 3, 2019, the Crimean and Simferopol archbishop Klyment (Kushch) was detained by the Russian police at the bus station in Simferopol. The latest news he is being brought to the Kyiv district police department, - the report said. Besides, it is emphasized that archbishop Klyment, who is the head the Orthodox help mission to the victims of the human rights violation and imprisoned people, intended to visit the hearing of Pavlo Gryb, the arrested in Russian Ukrainian political prisoner, in Rostov-on-Don. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has no contact with the bishop for now. Open source The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the detention of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archbishop in the annexed Crimea. This was reported by the Ministrys Speaker Kateryna Zelenko on her Twitter page. "We are concerned about reports of the arrest of Klyment, the archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in the Russian-occupied Crimea. Russian occupants are continuing their systematic attack on Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Crimea. True oppressions of religious freedoms and the rights of believers take place in the territories occupied by Russia. Let us draw attention to the detention of Klement in the UN and the OSCE, " she wrote. The archbishop of the Crimean Diocese of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine was detained in the occupied Crimea allegedly because of theft in the church. It is reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism. "As I was told at the police office, there was a call saying that something was stolen in the church on the Sevastopolskaya Street in Simferopol. That is, someone allegedly called that there was a theft in my church. And so they detained me at the bus station, took off already from the bus. This accusation is a lie. Because they found out about who I was only when they brought me to the regional department. And after 30 minutes they came up with such a version, "the archbishop told the representatives of the center. Serving God with all of our hearts no matter where we are PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attends a ceremony to launch the Ministry of Veteran Affairs and addresses the inauguration ceremony, April 16, 2018. /Xinhua Photo The protection of the legitimate rights and interests of veteran soldiers still requires improvement, said Sun Shaopin, head of Chinese Ministry of Veteran Affairs. According to Sun, more efforts in this area will be expected in the coming years. The official made the remarks at the Ministers' Corridor press briefing of the 2019 Two Sessions. The ministry is on its way of improving, Sun said, citing the central government's call for "comprehensive construction" on safeguarding veterans' welfare, including helping them find jobs. "We are building relevant protection systems from the central government to the county level. That's six levels in total," Sun said. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs came into being on April 16, 2018. Based on Xinhua's reports, it is in charge of providing policies and regulations on demobilized military personnel, honoring the dedication and spirit of veterans, and dealing with veterans' retirement, reemployment and vocational training issues. The ministry plans to encourage veteran soldiers to receive academic education and better implement supporting policies, including providing free education and training. The ministry will also improve vocational education for veterans to enhance their employability, such as holding more job-oriented and specific training programs. Meanwhile, it is also looking to cooperate with both state-owned and private companies, organize regional job fairs for veterans and set up information platforms for sharing job posts. So far, 12 documents concerning better assistance of veterans that want to start their own businesses have been carried out, Sun added. For veterans who want to start businesses, the ministry will help with tax cuts, set up investment funds and provide professional guidance. Xi Jinping (C, front), Li Keqiang (3rd R, front), Li Zhanshu (3rd L, front), Wang Huning (2nd R, front), Zhao Leji (2nd L, front), Han Zheng (1st R, front), and Wang Qishan (1st L, front) attend the opening meeting of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body started its annual session Sunday afternoon in Beijing, raising the curtain of a key season in the country's political calendar. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting at the Great Hall of the People. Wang Yang, chairman of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a work report to more than 2,000 political advisors at the session. Wang commended the political advisory body's work last year, saying new advances have been made under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. "We gave full play to the CPPCC's role as a body dedicated to consultation and carried out our dual responsibility of offering suggestions and building consensus," Wang noted. Over the past year, the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee has focused on the central tasks of the Party and country and fulfilled its duties with commitment to pursuing unity and democracy. Political advisors have conducted consultations with a focus on fighting the three critical battles against potential risk, poverty, and pollution, and on promoting high-quality development, according to Wang. With regard to the CPPCC's major tasks in 2019, Wang said top priority will be given to studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The second task is offering high-quality suggestions on the central tasks of the Party and the country, which include completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and deepening supply-side structural reform. Making greater efforts for unity and friendly ties is another important task, said Wang. Other major tasks include contributing wisdom and strength to the major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, making solid progress in the self-improvement of the CPPCC, and holding celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the CPPCC's founding. This year is a critical year in China's bid to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects to reach its first centenary goal. "Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is a cause that benefits our population of more than one billion people," said Wang, highlighting the importance of harnessing positive energy for securing a decisive victory in this goal. Wang encouraged political advisors to focus on hotspot and difficult issues, promptly identify potential risks and dangers, and proactively report on social conditions and popular sentiment, so as to provide the Party and government with valuable proposals and suggestions to help resolve issues and defuse risks. Describing the formidable tasks, the many problems, risks and challenges, and the complex demands involved in decisively securing a moderately prosperous society in all respects as "unprecedented in scale," Wang pinpointed the need to build consensus and promote unity. It is necessary to strengthen theoretical and political guidance and build consensus on sensitive issues, points of risk, and matters of public concern in view of the fact that the CPPCC features a diversity of sectors, strata, and interests, he noted. A total of 5,571 proposals had been submitted by the CPPCC National Committee members over the past year, with 41 percent of them focusing on practicing new development concepts, deepening supply-side structural reform, and promoting high-quality economic development. As of Feb. 20, 99.2 percent of them had been handled, said Su Hui, vice chairperson of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, when delivering a report on proposals. Dr. Jean Herskovits (1935-2019), who died on February 5, was widely recognized as a foremost expert on Nigeria who came to know and love the country and its people over five decades. Her lifes passion was promoting education, especially for African girls. As research professor of history at the State University of New York at Purchase, Herskovits taught and published in academic journals, as well as contributing to Foreign Affairs, the New York Times and AllAfrica. She earned her BA from Swarthmore College and PhD from Oxford and held teaching posts during her career at Brown, Swarthmore and the City College of New York. She was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Historical Society. She frequently testified on Nigeria before Congressional committees and was consulted on a regular basis by senior U.S. diplomats working. In Nigeria, she served at various times as a director of the United Bank for Africa and chair of the UBA Foundation and as an advisor to Citizens Energy Corporation and Conoco Phillips. She was a founding member of the board of the T.J. Danjuma Foundation. Jean was a unique and true friend of Nigeria, the Foundation said in an obituary. She will be deeply missed by fellow trustees and staff. Herskovits, who had visited every one of the 36 Nigerian states, had an nationwide network of friends and associates. Among them was President Muhammadu Buhari, with whom she met on most trips to the country, both before and after his election in 2015. Her deep appreciation for Nigeria was accompanied by a desire to see it fulfil its vast potential. She argued that strong institutions were an essential prerequisite for Nigerias peace and prosperity. In a 2012 address to the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, at an event honoring her close friend, Joseph Garba, a well-known Nigerian general and diplomat, Herskovits decried the lack of security across the vast country. The country is more militarized than it was under military governments, she said. Fear and anger trump almost everything else. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Education U.S., Canada and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. A well-disguised Nigerian I was regularly introduced by Joe Garba as a well-disguised Nigerian, the diminutive professor said in her address one of the nicest compliments I have ever been paid. Herskovits left her collection of documents and artifacts to the Schomburg Center at the New York Public Library, which also houses the papers of her parents, Melville J. and Frances S. Herskovits - both anthropologists. She is survived by her husband, John Corry, a former New York Times reporter, as well as three daughters - Colette Corry Dahlberg, Janet Farnsworth and Fatima Nduka-Eze and six grandchildren - Luke, Nkem, Sam, Annie, Safian and Bilal. This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, concerns the $6B project to build the Barclays Center arena & 15-16 towers at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park Brooklyn in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland USA bought a 70% stake going forward. In 2018, once the arena & four towers were built, Greenland bought out most of Forest City's stake, then sold three leases to other companies. (Bloomberg) -- The Huawei Technologies Co. chief financial officer whose detention in Canada has sparked a diplomatic standoff has filed a civil lawsuit against Canadian authorities, alleging she was wrongfully detained and searched. Meng Wanzhou claims that her constitutional rights were breached and is seeking damages for an ordeal she says amounted to false imprisonment. The suit was filed March 1 in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against the Canadian Border Services Agency, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and the Canadian government. Mengs suit comes as China ratchets up pressure on two Canadians who were seized nine days after Mengs initial arrest. China now says that Michael Kovrig is suspected of stealing state secrets, and that Michael Spavor fed him information. A third Canadian man has also been sentenced to death on drug charges in China since Mengs arrest. The Canadian legal notice filed by Mengs lawyers alleges that the police officer and several border guards detained, searched and interrogated her under the guise of a routine customs or immigration case, and used that opportunity to unlawfully compel her to provide evidence and information. It alleges they did so without immediately arresting her under the warrant to avoid affording Meng her constitutional rights. Instead, according to the complaint, the officers detained the Huawei CFO on the jetway Dec. 1 as she was getting off a flight, took away two phones, an iPad and a computer, then got her to surrender the passwords to those devices. She was formally arrested only about three hours after her initial detention, the claim says. The claim was filed the same day Canadas government agreed to proceed to an extradition hearing at the request of the U.S., which alleges Meng lied to banks to trick them into processing transactions for Huawei that potentially violated Iran trade sanctions. The complaint comes as Chinas largest tech company is increasingly playing offense to counter accusations it aids Beijing in espionage -- something its always denied. In recent weeks, senior executives have taken shots at Americas own surveillance efforts, invited foreign media to speak with its reclusive founder, and even tweeted directly at Donald Trump. Story continues Demands Release China has accused Canada of abetting a political persecution against Huawei and has demanded the release of Meng, daughter of billionaire company founder Ren Zhengfei. History shows that if Canada follows the letter of its law, Meng will likely eventually be extradited. Meanwhile, Trump has muddied the legal waters with conflicting statements on whether he might try to intervene in whats supposed to be an independent law enforcement operation in order to boost a China trade deal. Canadas justice department referred requests to the border services agency, which declined to comment Sunday. On March 6, Meng is scheduled to appear in a Vancouver court, which will likely set the date for her first hearing in the extradition case. Phone Devices Meng was arrested in Vancouver after getting off a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong, while on her way to Mexico. The claim alleges the Chinese telecom executive was not informed promptly of the reasons for her detention, nor given an opportunity to contact a lawyer. The officials unlawfully opened and viewed the contents of the seized devices in violation of the plaintiffs right to privacy and also performed a thorough, invasive and focused search of all of the plaintiffs luggage, the claim alleges. It says that officials interrogated her over two sessions. The police officer intentionally delayed the arrest for the purpose of allowing the unlawful detention in Vancouver under the false pretense of a routine border check, it alleges. The claim states that Mengs rights under Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms were violated. Meng, who remains under house arrest in Vancouver, suffered mental distress, anxiety and loss of liberty, it says. The claim seeks declarations that her Charter rights were infringed, various damages and costs, all unspecified. (Updates with details of detained Canadians in third paragraph.) --With assistance from Esteban Duarte. To contact the reporters on this story: Natalie Obiko Pearson in Vancouver at npearson7@bloomberg.net;Josh Wingrove in Ottawa at jwingrove4@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Scanlan at dscanlan@bloomberg.net For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika pledged Sunday not to serve a full term if re-elected at April polls after huge protests against the bid to extend his 20 years in power. The ailing leader, who suffered a stroke in 2013, vowed in a letter read out on state television to organise a "national conference" that would set a date for early polls which he would not contest. "I pledge not to be a candidate in that election which will ensure I am succeeded in undeniable conditions of serenity, freedom and transparency," the letter read. "I listened and heard the cry from the hearts of protesters and in particular the thousands of young people who questioned me about the future of our homeland", it said. Bouteflika's bid to placate demonstrators came after tens of thousands of Algerians took to the streets against his bid for a fifth term in office in the biggest challenge to the authorities in years. Just after the announcement his campaign director formally submitted his candidacy for the April 18 poll ahead of a midnight (2300 GMT) Sunday deadline. Following that move a fresh demonstration erupted in central Algiers, and elsewhere in the country, with several hundred young people marching in the streets still opposed to Bouteflika's candidacy. Bouteflika remains in Switzerland where he has been for a week undergoing what the presidency describes as "routine medical tests", but there was no legal requirement for him to submit his candidacy in person. The veteran leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since his stroke. - Students protest - Hundreds of students staged new demonstrations against the president on Sunday in Algiers and other cities, two days after the tens of thousands of protesters thronged the country. Chanting "Bouteflika go away", the students rallied near the main city centre campus of the University of Algiers, which was cordoned off by police, AFP journalists said, while others demonstrated at other campuses. Police fired water cannon to prevent protesters from reaching the Constitutional Council, where presidential bids were formally lodged, security sources said. Rallies inside and outside campuses in the northeastern city of Annaba also drew hundreds chanting anti-Bouteflika slogans, a local journalist said on condition of anonymity. The TSA news website reported other protests in Algeria's second and third cities, Oran and Constantine. Bouteflika's announcement in February that he would seek another five-year term despite his failing health has unleashed pent-up frustrations in the North African country. The presidency has not detailed when he will return from the Geneva hospital. On Saturday, Bouteflika sacked his campaign manager Abdelmalek Sellal, a former premier who successfully oversaw the president's past three re-election bids, state media said, without giving a reason. Sellal was replaced by Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalane. Alongside Bouteflika, several other candidates have registered, including prominent retired general Ali Ghediri, who was the first to announce he would run and has promised change. A Sunday editorial in El-Moudjahid newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said protesters would be "disappointed" in their campaign to force Bouteflika to pull out of the April election. - Tear gas and stones - On Friday, clashes erupted between police and protesters in Algiers as tens of thousands of people took to the streets. Riot police used tear gas and batons to keep some protesters from marching on the Government Palace which houses the prime minister's office. According to a police toll, 56 police officers and seven demonstrators were hurt and 45 alleged stone-throwers were arrested in Algiers. Bouteflika has been in power since 1999, initially gaining respect from many for his role in ending a civil war that officials say killed nearly 200,000 people. Authorities have warned that the protests risk dragging Algeria into instability, comparing the rallies to those that sparked Syria's ongoing war. Protesters have been mobilised by calls on social media, as many young Algerians struggle to find jobs in a country where half the population is under 30. In France, Algeria's former colonial power, several thousand people on Sunday joined anti-Bouteflika rallies in Paris, Marseilles and other cities. "Out out," shouted crowds in the Place de la Republique, central Paris, where protesters waved placards and some wrapped themselves in Algerian flags. Algerians march with a national flag during a protest rally against the ailing president's bid for a fifth term in power, in the northeastern city of Annaba Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 Protesters hold placards against the Algerian president's bid for a fifth term at a demonstration in the French city of Marseille Algerians demonstrate against Bouteflika's bid for re-election in the northern city of Annaba on Sunday Protests have also shaken Algeria's second city of Oran The US jobs engine has continued to deliver for nearly a decade, putting more Americans back to work and sending unemployment to a historic lows. But, just over a year after Congress enacted sweeping corporate tax cuts meant to jolt the economy, a shadow has crept into the picture: Layoffs are also on the rise. While claims for unemployment benefits remain low, major companies have begun to swing the axe even as many enjoy the tax windfall and solid profits, and are spending record amounts of cash to buy back their own stock from investors. In February alone, layoffs were announced by PepsiCo, the video-gaming giant Activision Blizzard and the cosmetics marketer Avon. General Motors enraged President Donald Trump in November by announcing a 15 percent cut to its workforce while shuttering auto plants in the political battleground states of Ohio and Michigan. Economists say tax cuts often fuel investments like mergers and acquisitions, which frequently result in job cuts -- at least initially -- as some workers become redundant. Automakers, toy manufacturers, banks, tech firms and telecommunications giants are trimming their workforces. Job cuts jumped 29 percent last year in the wake of the tax reform to about 540,000, the highest in three years, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement firm that tracks staff reductions. And job cuts in January hit 44,653, higher than 20 of the prior 24 months, the firm reported. Despite the increase in layoffs, first-time claims for jobless benefits have risen only slightly in recent months -- suggesting the current US jobs market is so hot many laid-off workers find new jobs even before they need to claim unemployment insurance. The economy created over 220,000 new jobs each month on average in 2018, up from about 180,000 in the prior year. The reasons driving layoffs vary. Banking giant Wells Fargo announced in September it was cutting five to 10 percent of its workforce as it focused more on internet banking. And some firms shed workers because they worry the economy could hit a rough patch in the near future or are seeing rising raw material costs, John Challenger, the employment firm's CEO, told AFP. But as more companies merge, more employees become redundant: combined firms no longer need two departments to handle accounts payable, human resources or IT. "You see layoffs occur that aren't really about the slackening of business conditions," Challenger said. - Rhetoric and results - "You don't need full-scale vertical operations in as many locations as banks get bigger and core functions get moved to headquarters." The value of mergers and acquisitions in the United States jumped 17 percent last year to $1.94 trillion, the second highest since 2000, according to financial data firm FactSet. Edward Rice, a professor of finance at the University of Washington who has studied the effect of tax cuts on corporate behavior, told AFP his research shows tax cuts tend to produce mergers and acquisitions that were more profitable. He acknowledged those corporate combinations could cut jobs initially, but argued that over time healthier companies could hire more. "The idea of the merger is that somehow the firm's going to get more efficient and grow faster. So there may be a saving in employees now but a gain in employees later," he said. However, Rebecca Lester, professor of accounting at Stanford University, said tax cuts sometimes have failed to produce the desired outcome. A popular corporate tax cut in 2004 -- intended to reward companies with activity and workers in the United States -- actually caused some firms to increase investment abroad while others reduced their US workforces, her research showed. "The rhetoric was, we want to increase jobs, we want to increase investment here in the US," she told AFP. But "it can be quite difficult to get those outcomes." Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a prominent Republican economist who favored the 2017 tax overhaul, acknowledged that despite the lower tax rates, businesses slowed their investments in new equipment and machinery in the later part of 2018, something he called "very disappointing." But he said the number of layoffs by itself was not the best yardstick for measuring the impact of the tax cuts. "The ultimate test is, do we see higher levels of investment that produce better productivity and wage growth?" he said. "We shouldn't care which firm employs somebody. We should care that they are employed at good and rising wages." United Auto Workers members hold a prayer vigil in February 2019 at the General Motors Warren Transmission Operations Plant in Warren, Michigan Line graphs showing the progression of company mergers and acquisitions and layoffs since January 2017 Plans to move SunTrust's Atlanta, Georgia headquarters to North Carolina -- following the announcement of a $66 billion merger with BB&T -- has locals fearing layoffs, with an expected $1.6 billion in cost savings by 2022 T-Mobile CEO John Legere (L) and Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure are sworn in before congressional testimony in 2018 -- the Communications Workers of America say their planned merger could cost 30,000 jobs Karen Ducey/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who officially launched his presidential campaign on Friday, decried the "enormous cost" the United States will bear if it does not act swiftly to combat the effects of climate change. "You have to understand there is enormous cost of doing nothing here," Inslee said on "This Week" Sunday. "There is a huge cost to our economy, our health and national security if we do not act." When asked by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos about a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll that found combatting climate change to be a lower priority on Democratic voters' minds than issues like healthcare and economic inequality, Inslee said he plans to cast the problem as a "character issue." "Look, I really believe that the way to win this is to talk about the basic American character of who we are. We think big. We go to the moon. We invent. We create. We build. We lead the world, we don't follow it," Inslee said. "I think we have got to argue this from a character standpoint, and an optimistic standpoint, because that's what wins in America, and I truly believe that." When asked about the defeat of a ballot initiative in Washington state that would have instituted a carbon tax, something he campaigned hard for, Inslee said there are multiple ways to implement policies that both combat climate change and promote economic growth. "Theres multiple tools in our toolbox and this is good news, right? Its good news that we don't have to depend on just one tool," Inslee said. "We now are growing jobs all kinds of sectors because of my clean energy development fund, a $100 million fund that we have. Were electrifying and put people to work in software, dealing with the integration of batteries, new battery technology." Inslee, emphasized the "existential threat" of climate change to the United States when he announced his candidacy for president Friday morning. He's the first governor to join a field of Democratic contenders that has already swelled to over a dozen candidates. The former congressman, who has co-authored a book on climate change, is betting that a campaign that hinges on a singular issue will help him stand out despite his lack of national name recognition. "Whether we shrink to this challenge or rise to it is the vital question of our time, we have one chance to defeat climate change, and it is right now, Inslee told a crowd of supporters at his official campaign launch, which took place at a solar energy installation company in Seattle. "It is my belief when you have one chance in life, you take it." Inslee, 68, spent 2018 as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, helping the party flip seven seats from red to blue and raising his national profile as an antagonist to President Donald Trump. During an event last year at the White House, Inslee called out the president over a proposal to arm teachers in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "I just suggest we need a little less tweeting here, a little more listening," Inslee said at the time. Inslee said he is "comfortable" confronting Trump on a host of issues, and hinted that further legal action against the administration may be forthcoming. "I can think of no higher pleasure than to take on Donald Trump on a big stage. Ive done it in White House. Im the governor who went to the White House and told him he needed to quit tweeting and start listening to Americans. I feel very comfortable in that confrontation," Inslee told ABC News in an interview following his campaign launch on Friday. "Im happy that I was the first governor to call him out on his Muslim ban. Weve sued him successfully now something like 16 times, and well do it again on his emergency action on his vanity project on the wall, at the right moment." Inslee heads to Iowa on Tuesday, where he will host a number of green energy events during his first trip to the state as a presidential candidate. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Canada says it will allow an extradition hearing to proceed against the chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies, paving the way for a legal battle that could complicate the Canadian and U.S. relationships with China. Canada's Department of Justice announced Friday that a date for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition hearing would be set in a Vancouver courtroom on March 6. "The department is satisfied that... there is sufficient evidence to be put before an extradition judge for decision," it said. The Chinese Embassy in Canada said it was "utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes" the decision to allow the case to proceed. Lawyers for Meng said she maintains her innocence, and they called the U.S. extradition request an abuse of the legal process. Meng was arrested at the request of the United States as she changed planes in Vancouver in December. She is wanted by Washington on charges that she conspired to violate U.S. sanctions on Iran. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera sharply criticized his leftist predecessor and UN rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet Sunday for failing to condemn Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro for human rights violations. "The high commissioner Michelle Bachelet still has not condemned the Maduro dictatorship for violating human rights in Venezuela. This is insufficient, I say it with respect but I say it truthfully," Pinera said in an interview published in the El Mercurio newspaper Sunday. He said Bachelet's predecessor at the UN, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein of Jordan, "was much clearer, more categorical in condemning human rights abuses." Pinera, a Chilean billionaire elected president for the second time in 2017, is a key supporter of Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president. Pinera joined Guaido in the Colombian border city of Cucuta last weekend in an attempt to send international humanitarian aid into Venezuela, which was blocked on the border by Maduro's security forces. "The Lima Group -- formed by more than a dozen countries to help resolve the crisis in Venezuela -- and various democracies around the world are calling (on Bachelet) to fulfill the role as high commissioner to defend human rights in a country where they are being brutally overrun, as is the case in Venezuela," said Pinera. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza recently invited Bachelet to visit the country to see for herself the impact of US sanctions that Maduro insists are responsible for his country's crisis. Bachelet was Chile's president from 2006-2010 and from 2014-2018. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has been criticized for failing to condemn human rights violations by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro China's rubber-stamp parliament opens its annual session on Tuesday as President Xi Jinping faces growing concerns about the slowing economy, a major challenge to the country's pre-eminent leader. One year after the legislature abolished presidential term limits and etched Xi's name on the constitution, his "new era" vision of a resurgent China at the centre of world affairs has hit unforeseen road bumps. Economic growth is slowing, a festering trade war with the United States has eroded confidence and Xi's signature Belt and Road global trade infrastructure initiative has faced setbacks in some countries. Bubbles of discontent have appeared as the state has pushed deeper into the economy and people's lives. "This will be a much more difficult situation for Xi Jinping than last year. Last year he was riding high," said Hong Kong-based political analyst Willy Lam. Premier Li Keqiang is expected to open the National People's Congress by announcing a lower GDP growth forecast for 2019, setting the tone for a session heavy on economic legislation and expected to last two weeks. Nearly 3,000 delegates will ratify a raft of bills in a session expected to last two weeks, including a foreign investment law that could address some US demands and possible tax cuts. "Xi Jinping has been criticised by party members for not handling the economy well, and failing to tackle the challenges posed by Donald Trump," said Lam. Lam believes Xi avoided holding a fourth plenum of the party's Central Committee last autumn because of his weakened position. But he convened a meeting with hundreds of provincial and ministerial leaders in Beijing in January to warn them on the need to prevent "major risks" in politics and the economy. "We must increase our readiness for unexpected developments, take precautions, and properly prepare for major risks that may arise in the economic field," Xi warned. - Slowing growth - China reported 6.6 percent growth in 2018, the slowest in nearly three decades. Independent analysts estimate it was worse. Three-quarters of provinces have lowered annual growth targets for 2019. Delegates from around the country will convene for the NPC session and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body that runs simultaneously and begins discussions Sunday. "Behind closed doors NPC members from the provinces will demand Xi Jinping do something about reviving the economy," Lam said, adding he will face "angry voices". Still Xi presides from a position of strength with no potential challengers on the horizon. "For him it's not only the backbone of the economy that makes him a strong leader, but also political ideology. An ongoing campaign places Xi centre stage," said Matthias Stepan of Germany's Mercator Institute for China Studies, noting it made it hard for any competitor to emerge. Most recently the party released a "Study to Make China strong" propaganda app that grades people's knowledge of all things Xi. - State control - In 2017 Xi expanded his portfolio into economics -- once seen as the purview of the premier -- stamping it with a new wordy banner: "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era". His push to increase the state and party's role in the economy has coincided with a downturn. Video game, film and TV makers have struggled to navigate the vagaries of changing censorship guidelines while internet companies have been forced to retrench in some areas and step up monitoring. Some entrepreneurs have privately bristled at a push to expand party cells in all companies while others bat about the phrase "guojinmintui" or "state firms advance, private companies retreat". "On the one hand the government wants to develop the market but on the other hand they want to control the freedoms that come with a market economy," said Sheng Hong of the Unirule Institute of Economics. "They are afraid of an economy without government control," Sheng said. US trade negotiators, meanwhile, are pushing for further economic reforms. The investment law seeks to eliminate a major bone of contention -- the requirement for foreign companies to transfer proprietary technology to Chinese joint-venture partners. Tim Stratford, chairman of the American Chamber, said "our initial impression is positive" but businesses are waiting for more details. But the European Chamber of Commerce said it fears the legislation is being fast-tracked to meet US demands. Xi and his lieutenants have their work cut out for them. "They have to reinstate confidence, especially that the party has the right tools and the right team around Xi to deal with the challenges," said Stepan of Mercator. One year after the legislature abolished presidential term limits and etched Xi Jinping's name on the constitution, his "new era" vision of a resurgent China at the centre of world affairs has hit unforeseen road bumps China's economic growth is slowing Delegates from around the country will convene for the National People's Congress session China's Communist Party recently released a propaganda app that grades people's knowledge of all things Xi Estonia's opposition liberal Reform party won Sunday's general election, outpacing centre-left Prime Minister Juri Ratas's party and a surging far-right buoyed by a backlash from mostly rural voters in the Baltic eurozone state. Led by former MEP Kaja Kallas, Reform garnered 28.8 percent of the vote, well ahead of Ratas's Centre party on 23 percent, with the far-right EKRE more than doubling its previous election score at 17.8 percent, according to full results on Estonia's official state elections website. Two other parties in the race which currently govern in coalition with Ratas, the Social Democrats and conservative Isamaa, respectively took 9.8 percent and 11.4 percent of the vote. Both could team up with Reform for a 56-seat majority in the 101-member parliament, or holding a combined 60 seats, arch-rivals Reform and Centre could govern together as they have done in the past. "Now the real work begins to put together the government and start running the country with common sense," Kallas told public broadcaster ETV/ERR. Insisting that the "EKRE is not a choice for us," Kallas said Reform would "keep all coalition options on the table", adding that her party has "strong differences with Centre in three areas: taxation, citizenship, and education." As for Ratas, when asked if Centre would consider becoming a junior coalition partner, he said "of course" but declined to elaborate. EKRE leader Mart Helme raised the idea of a Centre-EKRE-Isamaa coalition commanding a 57-seat majority, according to ETV/ERR. Bread-and-butter issues like taxation and public spending had dominated the lacklustre campaign, along with tensions over Russian-language education for Estonia's sizeable Russian minority and the rural-urban divide. The far-right EKRE captured support promising to slash income and excise taxes and pushing anti-immigration rhetoric. Turnout clocked in at 63.1 percent of eligible voters, the state election commission said. - Tax breaks, wage hikes - Traditional rivals, Centre and Reform have alternated in government and even governed together over the nearly three decades since Estonia broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union. Both strongly support Estonia's EU and NATO membership and have favoured austerity to keep spending in check, giving the country the eurozone's lowest debt-to-GDP ratio. Centre has vowed to hike pensions by 8.4 percent and to replace Estonia's 20 percent flat income tax and 21 percent corporate tax with a progressive system to boost state revenue. Nixing a progressive tax, business-friendly Reform instead wants to raise the tax-free monthly minimum exemption and lower unemployment insurance premiums to aid job creation. Joblessness hovers at just under five percent while economic growth is expected to slow to 2.7 percent this year, from 3.9 percent in 2018. For Lauri, an advertising specialist who declined to reveal his family name, the isolationist and conservative foreign and social policy proposed by parties like the EKRE is cause for concern. "There's a trend in Western Europe right now, if we look at the Netherlands, at England, maybe even France. I don't support such populism myself," he told AFP. - Estxit - While it won just seven seats in the 2015 election, the EKRE is now a close third behind the mainstream parties. Staunchly eurosceptic, it called for an "Estxit" referendum on Estonia's EU membership, although the move would fail in the overwhelmingly pro-EU country. The party's suspicion of Moscow translates into strong support for NATO membership and the multinational battalion the alliance installed in Estonia in 2017 as a tripwire against possible Russian adventurism. Tonis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, describes the EKRE's position on liberal democracy, including civic and human rights, rule of law and the separation of powers, as "very ambiguous" and compares it to similar parties that have recently gained support across Europe. The party's appeal is largely rooted in the misgivings of rural Estonians who feel left behind after years of austerity under Centre and Reform. "These people see few economic prospects and feel the mainstream parties don't care much about their problems," Saarts told AFP. - Russian minority - The Centre party has long been favoured by the Russian minority, comprising around a quarter of the Baltic state's population of 1.3 million. To avoid losing voters suspicious of Russia, Ratas insists that a 2004 cooperation deal with Vladimir Putin's United Russia party is "frozen". But out of fear of losing the Russian vote, he has refused to rip it up. The minority counts on Centre to save the existing education system comprising Estonian and Russian-language schools rooted in Soviet times, while Reform and EKRE want to scrap Russian-language teaching. Kaja Kallas's business-friendly Reform wants to raise the tax-free monthly minimum and lower unemployment insurance premiums to aid job creation The government can point to some impressive economic figures Bread-and-butter issues like taxation and public spending dominated the campaign, along with tensions over Russian-language education for Estonia's sizeable Russian minority and the rural-urban divide Centre, the party of Prime Minister Juri Ratas shown here campaigning on Saturday, has vowed to hike pensions by 8.4 percent and to replace Estonia's 20 percent flat income tax and 21 percent corporate tax with a progressive system US allies in the Middle East risk an uprising by their "humiliated citizens" if they continue to rely on Washington, a top Iranian security official warned Sunday in comments carried by state media. "(US President) Trump and even his underlings ridicule and humiliate Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates day and night, saying that you're nothing without us and cannot last a day without America's support," said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Back in October, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's 83-year-old King Salman "might not be there for two weeks" without US military support. The comments were mostly shrugged off by Riyadh. "Our prediction about America's allies in the region is that if they continue the policy of relying on Islam's enemies, they will face the uprising of their humiliated citizens," said Shamkhani, whose comments were published by the official IRNA news agency. Iran's relations with its Gulf neighbours have soured in recent years and tensions escalated last month when the Islamic Republic accused Riyadh and Abu Dhabi of being complicit in a suicide bombing that killed 27 Iranian troops. The Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards blasted the "traitorous governments of Saudi Arabia and (the) Emirates" and said Iran will no longer tolerate their "hidden support for anti-Islam thugs and Takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups." The February 13 bombing targeted a busload of Guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan and was claimed by Jaish al-Adl, a Pakistan-based extremist group blacklisted by Iran as terrorists. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said US officials "ridicule and humiliate" countries such as Saudi Arabia Thousands of people marched in Paris and other French cities Sunday to protest Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to stand for a fifth term in office. The demonstrations coincide with large-scale rallies in Algeria to denounce the ailing president's bid to hang on to power. Bouteflika, 82, uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. He flew to Switzerland a week ago for what his office described as "routine medical checks". Organisers said 10,000 demonstrators from Algeria's large diaspora gathered in the Place de la Republique, in central Paris. Police put the numbers at 6,000. Many waved their national flag or wore it over their shoulders, shouting, "out, out", an AFP journalist at the scene witnessed. Organisers said about 1,000 turned out in the Mediterranean port of Marseille in the south, and a few hundred in the southwest city of Toulouse. Although Bouteflika has been increasingly frail since suffering a stroke in 2013, he was re-elected for his fourth term in 2014. Elections for a new president are due to take place on April 18. "No to the mandate of shame, 20 years is enough," proclaimed one placard in Paris, referring to Bouteflika's intention to stand in the April 18 elections after 20 years in power. Since gaining independence from France in 1962, "Algeria has been run by the same group of men, the same system," 62-year-old Abderrahmane Hamirouche told AFP. "Algeria is ruined while it's a country that potentially could be rich. What is there left for future generations?" the IT specialist asked. Nadia Tamzali, a 62-year-old Franco-Algerian doctor, criticised the country's lack of free speech and dominance by the military. "They have killed our culture -- nearly all the cinemas have disappeared," she said. "We want the 40 thieves to go. They have gone too far," said a 54-year-old Algerian who gave his name as Asri. "We aren't opposed to the president, but he is unconscious, he doesn't exist anymore, his generals and those close to him are doing what they will behind his back," said Asri, who has lived in France for 31 years. Algeria, a former French colony, won independence in 1962. Organisers say thousands turned out for the protest in Paris Around 1,000 people protested in Marseille, home to large numbers of Algerian immigrants Bouteflika, 82, who uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, flew to Switzerland a week ago for what his office described as 'routine medical checks' Algeria, a former French colony, won its independence in 1962 A Nigerian court has condemned as "illegal and unconstitutional" the arrest and deportation of Cameroonian separatists who had applied for asylum in Nigeria, the lawyers representing them said Sunday. In January 2018, Nigeria arrested and deported 47 anglophone separatists who had fled Cameroon following a crackdown by the authorities. The move was denounced by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, which said most of them had filed asylum claims and accused Nigeria of breaching international agreements. "Justice Chikere declared the arrest and detention of the 12 applicants illegal," said a statement from Nigerian law firm Falana & Falana, referring to a ruling issued this week in the capital Abuja. "Consequently, Justice Chikere declared the deportation of the applicants illegal and unconstitutional, awarded (compensation) to each of them and ordered the federal government to ensure that they are brought back to Nigeria forthwith." Among the 12 claimants was separatist leader Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, president of the self-declared "Republic of Ambazonia", who was arrested along with his supporters on January 9 by Nigerian intelligence agents. The group was sent back to Cameroon on January 26, and Ayuk Tabe was put on trial for "terrorism" in December at a military court in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital. At the hearing, defence lawyer Femi Fakana argued that the arrest and detention of refugees and asylum seekers constituted a breach of Nigeria's constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The judge agreed, saying the expulsion of the group was in "utter violation" of legal obligations which ban Nigeria "from expelling or deporting refugees" from the country. And he ordered the government to ensure they were brought back to Nigeria, and that their fundamental rights be respected. Since their deportation, the 47 have been held in secret at a high-security facility at police headquarters in Yaounde. Clashes between the armed forces and separatists take place almost daily in the two Anglophone regions on the western flank of Cameroon, where resentment at perceived marginalisation by the French-speaking majority boiled over into an armed uprising in late 2016, prompting a harsh government crackdown. The crisis in Cameroon's anglophone western regions has claimed the lives of at least 500 civilians and more than 200 police and soldiers, the International Crisis Group says Award-winning Reuters photographer Yannis Behrakis has died aged 58 after a battle with cancer, Greece's foreign press association said Sunday. Athens-born Behrakis, who worked at Reuters for more than 30 years and died on Saturday, was "one of the best photographers of his generation", the press body said in a statement. "His pictures shaped the very way in which we perceived events, from the war in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone to the refugee crisis and the Arab Spring." Prestigious awards included the World Press Photo in 2000, Bayeux-Calvados in 2016, and Photographer of the Year by the Guardian in 2015. The married father of two also led a Reuters team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2016 for coverage of the migration crisis, which erupted the previous year. "Few people abandon everything to capture the truth. Yannis Behrakis defended truth in the four corners of the world," Greece's junior minister for media Lefteris Kretsos said in a statement. In 2000, Behrakis had narrowly escaped death in Sierra Leone in an ambush by gunmen that killed Reuters colleague Kurt Schork and AP cameraman Miguel Gil Moreno. One of his most striking pictures from Europe's migration crisis is of a Syrian father carrying and kissing his daughter as he walked towards Greece's border with North Macedonia in the rain. "This picture proves that there are superheroes after all," Behrakis later explained. "He doesn't wear a red cape, but he has a black plastic cape made out of garbage bags. For me, this represents the universal father and the unconditional love of father to daughter." Reuters photographer Yannis Behrakis won the prestigious Bayeux-Calvados award in 2016 President Donald Trump rallied right-wing activists Saturday with a speech offering conservative red meat on immigration, trade and the threat of "socialism" as he sought to move on from a bruising week in domestic and international politics. "We believe in the American dream, not in the socialist nightmare," he said to boisterous applause from hundreds of supporters at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington. "America will never be a socialist country," Trump added in a mammoth two-hour speech that seemed to draw energy from the fervent reception offered by some of his influential supporters in the room. It was his first public appearance since coming home empty-handed, and to criticism from all sides, after a nuclear-disarmament summit with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. He told CPAC the meeting was "very productive" -- but that he would not "make a deal just for the sake of doing it." The White House is also smarting from explosive testimony on Capitol Hill by Trump's former lawyer and fixer on Wednesday that branded him a cheat and a racist. Trump, often speaking in mocking tones, portrayed the Green New Deal climate strategy touted by the left of the Democratic party as a socialist plan that will devastate the fossil fuel and automotive industries. He said progressive healthcare policies would "lead to colossal tax increases" -- and accused the Democrats of having "totally abandoned the American mainstream" on issue such as immigration and abortion. - 'These people are sick' - With the federal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia reportedly approaching its conclusion, Trump again berated Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team as partisan hacks out to get him, adding that "these people are sick." His voice dripping with sarcasm, he suggested that his call in summer of 2016 for Russia to find and release Hillary Clinton's emails was a joke that had been obtusely taken at face value by the media. On the foreign front, Trump repeated his claim that the last Islamic State group fighters in Syria would be captured or killed imminently -- "as of tomorrow" -- after on Thursday telling US troops "we just took over" 100 percent of the caliphate. Two weeks earlier Trump had declared the fall of the so-called caliphate would be announced "over the next 24 hours." He railed against Chinese tariffs on American goods and said the US loses $500 billion a year to the world's second biggest economy -- "such a disaster." Trump regularly ignores the dominant US services sector to focus only on goods, when in 2017 the US trade deficit with China was actually $337 billion -- not $500 billion. Trump last year initiated a tariff war with Beijing, which has taken a nasty bite out of US growth. Although both sides say they are now close to resolving the dispute Trump insisted he's "fine with it" and told his supporters: "The beauty is this. I have $250 billion more to put tariffs on." The word "socialism" has been in heavy rotation since some Democratic candidates began openly embracing liberal platforms including the Green New Deal and a Medicare for All. On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the four-day conference in National Harbor, Maryland, to warn that Democrats are taking a "hard left turn" ahead of 2020. "Under the guise of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, Democrats are embracing the same tired economic theories that have impoverished nations and stifled the liberties of millions over the last century. That system is socialism," he said. Trump's speech came at the same time Senator Bernie Sanders, who has embraced the label of "democratic socialist," spoke at a rally in New York, assailing Trump as "the most dangerous president in modern American history." - 'Freedom' or 'socialism' - It was Sanders' first major speech since announcing he will again seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Republicans hoped Trump's address would serve as a diversion from the Mueller investigation and to the testimony this week on Capitol Hill by the president's former personal attorney Michael Cohen implicating him in crimes. In December a court sentenced Cohen to three years in prison for hush-money payments to two women and for lies to Congress -- both of which he said were to protect Trump -- and tax evasion. During Cohen's testimony the president was in Vietnam where a high-stakes second summit between Trump and Kim broke up in disarray Thursday, without even a joint statement. The pair failed to reach an agreement on curbing Pyongyang's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Republicans hoped President Donald Trump's address to the Conservative Political Action Conference would serve as a diversion from the Mueller investigation and testimony by the president's former personal attorney Michael Cohen President Donald Trump hugged the US flag as he arrived to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland Trump's speech came at the same time as a rally in New York by US Senator Bernie Sanders, who kicked off his 2020 campaign North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, pictured at their Hanoi summit on February 28, 2019, failed to reach an agreement on curbing Pyongyang's nuclear program Michael Cohen, US President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, testified before the House Oversight and Reform Committee that Trump is a racist and a cheat . . US lawmakers will demand documents from Donald Trump's eldest son and a lifelong business associate as part of a wide-ranging investigation into alleged abuses of office by the president, a leading Democrat said Sunday. US House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler told ABC political show "This Week" that Donald Trump Jr. and Allen Weisselberg, the sole trustees of The Trump Organization, were among 60 people and entities being targeted by the probe. The New York congressman said the requests would go out on Monday "to begin investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power" by the Republican president. Trump's campaign is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for alleged collusion with Russia to influence the 2016 election, and for possible obstruction of that probe. Many observers believe, however, his biggest legal exposure will come with the various federal and state-level investigations into his finances and the running of his charity foundation and business. Trump came out fighting, posting on Twitter that two years of "presidential Harassment" since he took office had proven nothing but Democratic lawbreaking. "I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start," he tweeted. Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen testified on Capitol Hill Wednesday that authorities in New York were probing crimes allegedly involving the president beyond those that have been made public. Nadler said it was "very clear" that Trump had obstructed justice, by repeatedly calling the Mueller probe a "witch hunt" and by trying to halt an investigation into his first national security advisor Mike Flynn, who subsequently admitted lying to the FBI over Russian contacts. Trump set off a political firestorm by firing FBI chief James Comey on May 2017 -- and then admitting to NBC he had taken the decision after becoming frustrated with the Russia probe. - 'Proper investigations' - Nadler, like Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been reticent about pushing for the president's impeachment, and told ABC such action would be "a long way down the road." Trump was implicated by Cohen in numerous crimes as the president's former fixer gave evidence to the House Oversight Committee Wednesday, accusing his old boss of being "a racist," "conman" and "cheat." Cohen, who has been convicted of lying to Congress, said Trump knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks would release material damaging to election rival Hillary Clinton, which turned out to be emails stolen by Russian spies. He added that he believed Trump knew in advance about a June 9, 2016 meeting between campaign chiefs and a Russian lawyer touting dirt on Clinton. Cohen pleaded guilty last year to violating campaign finance laws when he paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet before the 2016 election about an affair Cohen said she had with Trump. Cohen said Trump ordered the hush payment. He also alleged that the Trump Organization regularly and illegally inflated the value of its assets to obtain bank loans, and accused his former boss of misusing charity funds. "What we learned from the Cohen testimony is that he directly implicated the president in -- in various crimes, both while seeking the office of president and while in the White House," Nadler said on "This Week." "We don't have the facts yet. But we're going to initiate proper investigations." Jerry Nadler, pictured at the US Capitol on February 25, 2019, says he believes President Donald Trump has obstructed justice US President Donald Trump, pictured in Hanoi on February 28, 2019, set off a political firestorm by firing FBI chief James Comey Four people have served as Onondaga County executive since the position's creation 58 years ago. None of them are Democrats. Tony Malavenda hopes to end the Republican Party's stranglehold on the county's top job. Malavenda, D-DeWitt, received the Onondaga County Democratic Committee's endorsement to challenge Ryan McMahon, a Republican who was appointed county executive after Joanie Mahoney's resigned last fall. Democrats endorsed Malavenda Monday, one day before candidates could begin circulating petitions. The decision to run for county executive follows the recent sale of Duke's Root Control, the business Malavenda founded with Kevin Duke. The company removes roots from municipal sewer systems. At the time of its sale, Duke's had roughly 3,000 clients in 48 states. Malavenda, 62, told The Citizen he's always had a passion for politics. He campaigned for an Onondaga County Legislature seat in 1983 and lost to incumbent Republican Gerald Mingolelli Jr. He remained interested in politics, but he focused on building his business instead of another campaign for public office. Now that he sold his business, he said he has the time for a political run. "If I don't do it ... then who's going to do it?" Malavenda said. After selling Duke's Root Control, several people have asked him if he's going to move to Florida. The Sunshine State doesn't interest him. He plans to stay in central New York he's building a house in Syracuse and wants to serve the community in a new role. Malavenda noted that county government, at least the county executive's position, has been controlled by one party. Since the position was created in 1961, there have been four county executives, all Republicans. "I feel that someone like me, right now, can bring a fresh perspective to the area," Malavenda said. "I really do believe it. We need a different and better vision." He believes his business experience can be an asset. If elected county executive, he said he would bring an "entrepreneurial spirit" to local government. Such an approach, he explained, would help create jobs, invest in infrastructure and address poverty throughout the county. There have been some positive developments in recent years. New businesses have opened and millennials that left the county are moving back, Malavenda said. One of his two daughters works at Syracuse-based Digital Hyve, which has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing companies. His other daughter is finishing her studies at SUNY Upstate Medical University. "I feel like there's an energy there and I want to nurture that," he said. Barring a Democratic primary for county executive, Malavenda will face McMahon in the general election. McMahon has more than $426,000 in his campaign account, according to the latest filing with the state Board of Elections. He has incumbency on his side, too. Not only was he appointed county executive last fall, but before that, he was chair of the Onondaga County Legislature. McMahon's platform, so far, has focused on many of the same issues Malavenda is discussing now infrastructure, jobs and poverty. The advantage McMahon has is that he has been working on these issues in government. Malavenda, despite his prior run for office, acknowledges he's a neophyte. That's why he plans to embark on what he called a "learning tour" to hear from residents throughout the county. "I'll talk to people in the towns, as well as the city, and hone my own skills, hone my own knowledge," he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SUMMERHILL Summerhill Brewing needed to expand before much of Cayuga County even knew it existed. The brewery opened humbly in September 2016 in the southeastern corner of the county. It started with a 20-gallon system, or roughly half a barrel, and its Champlin Road tasting room has only been open one weekend a month. But by the following March, owners Megan and Kurt McDonald and Sallee and Jeff Ten Eyck were overwhelmed by demand. Beers like Paper Money IPA and Iron Plow Porter had earned Summerhill such a thirsty following that expanding became necessary. And the brewery earned that following almost entirely through word-of-mouth within its community. This spring, Summerhill Brewing will open a new facility on Route 90, a quarter-mile away from the old brewery. The new 3,000-square-foot building will include a seven-barrel system, which will be able to produce 10 times as much beer. Its spacious tasting room and outdoor seating area will similarly multiply the number of people Summerhill can serve. Speaking Thursday at the freshly sanded bar of their new facility, Summerhill's owners said the expansion will allow them to become a regular stop for their old customers in the community and a destination for new ones outside of it. To learn more Until Summerhill Brewing opens its new facility at 14408 Route 90 with regular hours, it will continue to release beer on an intermittent schedule at its current tasting room, 384 Champlin Road. For updates on releases and the facility, follow the brewery at facebook.com/summerhill.brewing, instagram.com/summerhill.brewing or summerhillbrewing.com, or call (607) 591-6148. "We've gotten a lot of community support, and we intend to support our community," Megan said. Kurt, Summerhill's brewmaster, is husband to Megan and son to Sallee and Jeff. Each of the owners brings their own relevant background to running the business. Kurt studied chemistry at SUNY ESF and works as an operator at Cornell University's High-Energy Synchotron Source facility. Megan has practiced culinary arts for 20 years and feeds about 1,000 mouths a night as a dinner cook at the university's North Star Dining Hall. Sallee retired in 2014 after working for the USDA Farm Service Agency for 39 years. And Jeff graduated with degrees in agricultural science from SUNY Morrisville and environmental biology at ESF before working for the state Department of Agriculture & Markets and American Farmland Trust. He retired in September as Summerhill Brewing ramped up. On the same property that would host both brewery sites, Kurt started making cider while he was growing up. Then, he and his parents started a small hop crop. Having those 80 plants led Kurt and Jeff to homebrewing. And once the McDonalds and Ten Eycks started hosting tastings with friends and family, the rave reviews encouraged the four to turn their hobby into a business. Kurt said he likes applying his knowledge of chemistry to making beer with local ingredients. Summerhill still sources some hops from the Ten Eycks' property, such as the Nugget and Tettnanger in Paper Money. But as the brewery expands, those plants will constitute an ever-shrinking percentage of the ones Kurt uses. The rest don't come from far away, though, as Summerhill sources from hop farms in Skaneateles and Ledyard. Only popular IPA hops like Mosaic, El Dorado and Citra will come from outside New York, said Jeff, whose assistant brewing duties include ordering ingredients. And because Summerhill will have a farm brewery license, 60 percent of those hops, malts and other ingredients have to come from within the state 90 percent by the beginning of 2024. "We weren't sure how difficult it was going to be to source from New York," Jeff said. "It turns out it's not hard at all." Megan, meanwhile, runs Summerhill's social media and oversees the tasting room. Her culinary experience also comes in handy at the brewery, like when she helps Kurt and Jeff calibrate the amount of peppers they use in their chili beer. Soon, too, Megan will oversee Summerhill's food options, which she said will complement the beer menu and make use of local ingredients that are in season. She also recently became certified to teach yoga, which could join lawn games and walking and snowshoe trails on the list of possible attractions the brewery will add to its vast, scenic property. Sallee handles the brewery's finances and event bookings. In addition to its tasting room hours, Summerhill regularly takes part in community functions, often partnering with businesses like Chateau Dusseau and Grisamore Cider Works in Locke, and 10-10 BBQ in Moravia. Local craft beverage producers are no exception to the strong community support for Summerhill, Sallee said. As customers go, 90 percent of that support comes from less than 15 minutes away: Locke, Groton, Homer, Sempronius. Though that area covers four counties, it shares one common need, Jeff said. "The area has needed a community gathering place," he said. "Summerhill seems like the middle of nowhere, but we're 10 minutes away from everywhere." With such a strong local following, Summerhill has set out to serve beer drinkers, Jeff said, not craft beer drinkers. That difference means making sure the brewery always has most, if not all of its seven or eight staple beers available, such as Millard's American Ale (named after Summerhill native and 13th President Millard Fillmore) and Naked Neighbor Amber Ale (named after the nudists who come to the area for the Northeast Naturist Festival). Customers always want to try what's new, Kurt said, but they tend to go back to their favorite beers afterward. With a system that's 10 times bigger, Kurt will be able to introduce a lot of new beers to Summerhill. The brewery will keep serving seasonal specials like Sugar Shack Stout, which is made with locally harvested maple sap, and its Irish red for St. Patrick's Day. But the brewmaster is keeping his options open for further experimentation likely with his old, smaller system. Once his new system has the tasting room stocked, too, Summerhill may look at selling kegs to area accounts as a way of marketing itself outside the community, Jeff said. That is, if word-of-mouth about Summerhill Brewing doesn't continue to do all the marketing it needs. Lake Life Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @drwilcox. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NEW YORK Bernie Sanders kicked off his presidential campaign Saturday miles from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn and 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." The Democrats in the 2020 race have taken varied approaches to Trump, with some avoiding saying his name entirely, while others make implicit critiques of his presidency. Sanders has never shied from jabbing Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College, he called Trump "the most dangerous president in modern American history" and said the president wants to "divide us up." The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Beyond the issues themselves, Sanders, who grew up in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," said Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. He pegged his allowance as a kid at 25 cents a week. Sanders also said he "did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers, 'You're fired.'" "I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over every day workers," he added. More than 200 miles away in suburban Washington, Trump reveled in his 2016 victory and said Republicans "need to verify it in 2020 with an even bigger victory." While Trump didn't mention Sanders explicitly in a two-hour speech, he railed against the policies of "socialism" in a continued attempt to portray Democrats as out of touch with ordinary Americans. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. "Socialism is not about the environment, it is not about justice, it is not about virtue. It is only about one thing - it is called power for the ruling class," Trump said. "We know the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism" Speaking at the same conference Friday, Vice President Mike Pence called Sanders an "avowed socialist." Sanders enters the race at a moment that bears little resemblance to when he waged his long-shot bid in 2016. Democrats have been mobilized by the election of Trump and are seeking a standard-bearer who can oust him from office. Many of Sanders' populist ideas have been embraced by the mainstream of the Democratic party. The field of Democrats that he joins includes a number of liberal candidates, most notably Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who share similar sensibilities. As Sanders launched his campaign in Brooklyn, Warren was campaigning in Waterloo, Iowa and was questioned repeatedly about Sanders. Though the two have been friends since before they came to the Senate, Warren did not endorse Sanders in 2016, a decision that angered his supporters. "I'm going to be blunt - we can't go back and relitigate 2016," she told a voter who asked why she declined to back Sanders. "We've gotta keep our focus on how we're going to win in 2020." Later asked by reporters how she'll distinguish herself from Sanders, she said she would focus on issues, and emphasized the need for the Democratic field to stick together. "The way I see it, I got plenty to talk about as it is about the structural change we need in this country and laying out how we can do this. This is hopeful. People come and they hear what's broken, that we can fix it and that we do it together." Sanders' rally was his first campaign event since announcing a week ago that he would run against Trump for the White House. Sanders will make his first trip to the leadoff caucus state of Iowa next week, with plans to campaign in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Des Moines. He is headed to the early state of Iowa Hours before his speech in Brooklyn College's East Quad, a line of supporters snaked down the snowy streets. A reggae band played before Sanders spoke, and he was introduced by a number of supporters including Nina Turner, the former Ohio state senator who is a co-chair of Sanders' campaign this year, and Shaun King, the writer and civil rights activist. King cited Sanders' participation in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when he was a student at the University of Chicago. "This is the origin story of an American revolutionary," King said of Sanders, who will return to Chicago on Sunday evening for a second campaign rally, where he's expected to further highlight his own activism. Paul Crewdson, 37, of Brooklyn, came to the rally carrying a hand-drawn cardboard sign that read, "Win Michigan, Win Ohio, Win Wisconsin." "I think this was the reason that Democrats lost in 2016," he said. As he began his speech, Sanders himself hinted at how he sees the race, a campaign that runs beyond the battlegrounds. "This is a 50-state campaign," he said. "We will not concede a single state to Donald Trump." Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BATH, Pa. An eastern Pennsylvania school bus driver is facing charges after police allege she drove erratically while under the influence of alcohol with 26 juveniles aboard, then abandoned them and the bus at a gas station. State police in Bethlehem said Lori Ann Mankos, 44, of Walnutport is charged with child endangerment, driving under the influence, and careless and reckless driving. Mankos was transporting 26 students for the Northampton Area School District on Friday but was alleged to have been driving erratically while under the influence, police said. She eventually parked at a Sunoco station, handed the keys to a gas station employee and walked away from the scene. The bus and 26 juveniles were left unattended until school officials, Moore Township police and state police arrived. Mankos was later arrested at her home. A listed number for her wasn't in service Saturday and it's unclear whether she has an attorney. Northampton eighth-grader Stephanie Shiller told The (Allentown) Morning Call that Mankos had been transporting her and other students for two weeks. On Friday afternoon, students noticed she wasn't following her route, missing stops and driving on the wrong side of the road, she said. "We were freaking out," Shiller said. "We didn't know if she was drunk or what." A spokesman for the bus contractor, Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Student, told the paper that the company is cooperating with investigators. "This is not what we expect of any of our drivers," he said. Northampton School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik said officials are "extremely upset" but "very thankful" no one was hurt. He said the district has been contracting with the bus company for more than 20 years, and nothing like that has happened before. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 He was born in Auburn, the son of Charles and Paulette Jayne and Linda Zak and had been an area life resident. Chuck or C.F.J. as he was affectionately known by his family or friends was a deputy at the Cayuga County Sherriffs Department and had been employed for more than 15 years with the department, where he was also very active in their honor guard detail. Chuck assisted and helped the U.S. Marshals, was a resource officer for the Weedsport School District, and a constable for both the town of Brutus and Montezuma courts. He was also very active in C.H.A.D. and the Special Olympic Torch Runs that were held annually for law enforcement. Chuck enjoyed hunting, exercising, riding his Harley motorcycle, and especially loved racing with Motocross and his famous 934, at least in his mind. Above all, Chuck cherished the times spent with his wife, sons, grandson, and other special relatives in his life. Chucks infectious smile, charming personality and quick wit will always be treasured by all who were fortunate enough to get to know this special man. He will be sadly missed. When the control of the New York Senate shifted from Republicans to Democrats this year, many upstate communities suddenly lost considerable clout in Albany because they no longer had state representation in one of the Legislature's majority conferences. That shift clearly affects Cayuga County, which went from having three state legislators in a majority conference to having none. The county's two state assemblymen and three senators are all party of the minority Republican conferences. Faced with that reality, it's important that these GOP state representatives, here and throughout much of upstate, put full efforts into remaining effective advocates for their constituents when it comes to key state government issues. What they must avoid is to become irrelevant by pushing proposals that have no basis in reality. Unfortunately, some Republican senators in the past couple of weeks have been doing just that. GOP senators have introduced one bill this month that would examine the impact of separating New York into two states and another that would redraw Senate district lines so each of the state's 62 counties had one senator, regardless of population. Both measures are aimed at pleasing people who believe the Democrats running both houses of the Legislature are too focused on the needs of downstate New York. But both measures have absolutely zero chance of ever becoming law, for both practical and legal reasons. Upstate New York doesn't need to secede from downstate. But upstate New York schools are going to need aggressive advocacy so they get their share of state support in this year's budget, a budget that's heavily dependent on revenue from New York City-area taxpayers. The same goes for upstate hospitals and municipal governments. Upstate can use more targeted investment in roads, bridges and water and sewer infrastructure. Upstate New York would benefit from reforms to the legislative process so majority party leaders don't have nearly limitless power over what gets considered on the Assembly and Senate floors. NY legislator wants to study splitting upstate, downstate into two states A New York lawmaker unveiled legislation that would examine the effects of separating upstat So instead of wasting time, energy and taxpayer dollars with thought exercises that are nothing more than political pandering aimed at promoting partisanship for political gain, we suggest the lawmakers pushing these proposals shift their focus to advocacy that can actually serve their constituents. The Citizen editorial board includes publisher Rob Forcey, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In his recent letter, Frank Petrosino accused me of experiencing "Trump derangement syndrome" for having the audacity to express my anti-Trump opinion in the opinion section of The Citizen newspaper. I stated that Donald J. Trump is as dumb as a rock. In that regard I apologize to all rocks. The opinion I expressed did indeed have facts to back it up. I based my opinion upon much more than what I listed as I am limited to 400 words. How about Mr. Trump not knowing (during a debate) what the "nuclear triad" is or Mr. Trump showing his ignorance regarding the concept of "deterrence" when he asked Chris Matthews "What good are nuclear weapons if we don't use them?" The fact that Trump has the nuclear codes should scare every American. Kudos to Mr. Petrosino, though, for catching my mistake in that it was NOT Booker T. Washington that Trump thought was still alive, it was Frederick Douglass, whom Trump did not realize passed away 123 years ago. That's not much to hang your hat on in defense of Mr. Trump. I respectfully assert that Mr. Petrosino has been conned by Trump as so many people have been, including those who enrolled in his fake university or donated money to his fake charity ... all evidenced by actual facts. If I were to inquire as to what exactly it was that caused him to support Mr. Trump I would sarcastically ask whether it was Trump bragging about molesting women or candidate bone spur stating that American POWs were not heroes. While disputing my assertion that Trump is dumb, I appreciate that Mr. Petrosino did not take umbrage with my characterizing Trump as a pathological liar, mentally unbalanced, grossly immoral and deeply corrupt ... as none of that should be in dispute. If I asked, based upon the aforementioned, why he likely voted for Trump, Mr. Petrosino would probably sheepishly say, as many do, that he supported Trump because Trump was not Hillary. She, of course, was the candidate who was actually experienced and well-qualified ... the one the right has been campaigning against and hurling one groundless investigation after another at for over 20 years. I would say that the attacks on Hillary Clinton did result in a very real malady that Mr. Petrosino obviously contracted: Hillary derangement syndrome. Now our nation and the world suffers from the ill effects of Donald J. Trump. The other day I saw our governor on television waving his arms in the air proclaiming that immigration is good. He goes on to say most of you are from immigrant parents that came through Ellis Island. Governor, that was legal immigration, exactly what President Trump agrees to and promotes. Our forefathers didnt show up at the port without vetting medical papers, background papers and a passport. They didnt rush the gates, throw rocks at security people or kick over fences, bring drugs into the country or tunnel into the city as is currently on our southern border. As governor you should know that. Read about former President Teddy Roosevelts thoughts on immigration. Also President Bill Clinton took a strong stand on illegal immigration. Heres another issue. Im so tired of the media folks calling the border wall Trumps Wall. It is in fact Americas wall or fence our wall. It is to protect us from potential criminals, drug traffickers, human traffickers and more. In addition, who cares if Mexico pays for the wall (barrier) or not, it is our barrier protecting you, me and our families from crime and drugs. However, dont be surprised if down the road the President does come up with some money from Mexico. I thought it was also interesting when I saw CNNs Jim Acosta telecast from the border. He is seen standing next to the wall saying (as the camera panned around seeing no one in site) look there is no problem here. Well Jim, you were standing next to the improved steel border fencing that discourages crossing. Jim, thank you for illustrating the effectiveness of the barrier. That news clips never ran again, why? The partial government shutdown was caused by border funding being included in that portion of the Federal Budget that also covers some government employees. President Trumps reason for holding off approval was to get agreement on increased security on our southern border. Nancy Pelosis concern was certainly not for government employees or increased security on our border. Therefore, the only reason is political pandering and not wanting t give our President another win. President Trump is simply trying to provide necessary border security and its curious that not just some of the democrats but all of them suddenly oppose that, when not long ago most of them supported a border barrier. Steve Vincent Auburn Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Talk Looks at Oregon Coast River Fishing, Status of Species Published 03/03/2019 at 3:23 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Newport, Oregon) Oregon coast science gets a little fishy but in a serious way. An event in Siletz a small town just outside of Toledo takes a close look at some species of the Oregon coast, and will be of great interest to anglers. The talk on March 19 discusses local fish populations following the low returns of fall Chinook and emergency angling restrictions put in place this past fall. Part of the Siletz Watershed Councils spring quarterly meeting, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes Mid-Coast Assistant District Fish Biologist Paul Olmstead presents an overview of fall Chinook, coho, and steelhead stock status and their fisheries in the Mid-Coast District. In addition, hell give updates on the restoration work ODFW is currently undergoing in the Siletz Basin, and projects theyll begin this summer. Olmstead is an Oregonian who has lived in the state his entire life. Raised in McMinnville, he later attended both Oregon State University and University of Oregon, worked as a wildland fire fighter with the US Forest Service, then began his career with ODFW. For 13 years, he has conducted field work and research with the agency, from as far south as Roseburg and as far north as Nehalem, including 8 years at the Corvallis Research Lab, and is currently based in Newport. I have always had a curiosity and passion surrounding fishing and the biology and ecology associated with salmon, steelhead, and trout in the Pacific Northwest, especially in the Oregon Coast range, Olmstead said. I grew up spending lots of time fishing, hunting, camping, and backpacking with my family throughout Oregon and enjoy being outside on a river as much as possible. The presentation will begin at 6:30 PM in Siletz at the Public Library on 225 SE Gaither Street. Light refreshments will be provided. A Siletz Watershed Council Board meeting will follow the presentation in which planning for the Annual Siletz River Clean Up will take place, as well as time for community questions and announcements. Lodgings in Newport - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours Sea Horse Oceanfront Lodging . Oceanfront rooms may start at special prices, depending on month. Vacation Rentals and Romance Suites. Fireplaces, and your pet is welcome.1301 NW 21st Street. Lincoln City, Oregon. 800-662-2101. 541-994-2101. www.SeaHorseMotel.com More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted On Monday evening, Senate Democrats blocked their Republican counterparts from protecting infants born alive after botched abortion procedures. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which is sponsored by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), failed to pass the Senate with a vote of 53-44, seven votes shy of the required 60.Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would mandate doctors attempt to save born-alive infants instead of allowing them to die.The bill amends the criminal code toreads the legislation, adding:Only three Democrats voted for the bill: Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), reported National Review's Alexandra DeSanctis.DeSanctis noted:Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, representing Alaska, declined to vote on the bill. According to DeSanctis, Republican senators Tim Scott (SC) and Kevin Cramer (ND) did not vote on the bill due to flight delays, per their communications directors.The bill also states that anyone whois subject to criminal prosecution for murder.said Sen. Sasse of the legislation.he continued.Sasse added,After the bill failed, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who was an original sponsor of the bill, blasted Democrats, saying it wasthatHe added that the votethat Democratsandin the Democratic Party.The past few months have highlighted the Democrats' abortion radicalism. As previously reported by The Daily Wire, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Catholic Democrat, recently signed and celebrated the passing of the euphemistically-named Reproductive Health Act, which legalizes abortion up to the moment of birth, loosens restrictions on who can perform abortions, and strips the murder of the unborn (including the murder of wanted babies) from the state's criminal code. BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer). This is a lawsuit brought by former owners of a car who were incorrectly identified as the driver of the vehicle (and his father, respectively) who ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians in Charlottesville. In the wake of the planned alt-right demonstrations, a gray 2010 Dodge Challenger drove into a crowd of pedestrians and killed Heather Heyer. Several posters and a news organization (GotNews, of Chuck Johnson fame) wrongly identified Joel Vangheluwe as the driver-perpetrator. The grey Challenger was owned at one point by Jerome Vangheluwe, Joels dad. The car was actually driven by Alex Fields, Jr., who acquired the car that the Vangheluwes once owned. According to the court, while the Vangheluwe family was in the midst of hosting a wedding celebration, pandemonium broke out as a result of social media posts identifying Joel as the perpetrator. The Vangheluwes received a torrent of online threats and messages at their home. They feared for their safety. They sued twenty individuals and two news entities in federal court in Michigan. Jurisdictional rulings: Several of the individuals, who were not Michigan residents, brought motions to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds. These lead the court to identify the following legal question: when a defendant [doxxes a plaintiff], does the [doxxing] amount to constitutionally minimum contact with the state where plaintiff resides? The court says yes. The plaintiffs sought to rely on the Calder Effects test, where the Supreme Court said that a defamatory statement about a plaintiff could reasonably have effects in the plaintiffs home state and would support jurisdiction against an out-of-state defendant there. However, the court notes that in Calder, the defendants had additional contacts with California beyond merely posting the articles about a California resident. The court concludes that merely publishing a defamatory article about an in-state plaintiff is not by itself sufficient to confer jurisdiction. There must be something more. The court applies this rule and comes to the following conclusions as to the moving defendants. A defendant who tweeted killer confirmed, referencing Joel, was subject to jurisdiction in Michigan because the poster actually included Joels home address. This defendant said that the post did not receive much attention online (no likes, no retweets and 4 comments, 2 of which took issue with the post). She says she was not aware of any Michigan followers and had never visited Michigan or communicated with anyone from there. But the court says that given the relatively slight jurisdictional burden plaintiffs face, plaintiffs met it. Interestingly, the court takes care to say that this defendants conduct amounted to doxxing (the court looks to the format of the post and compares with other posts during this time-frame and concludes that the poster intended to reveal Joels address online). The court found personal jurisdiction proper. The court said two other defendants are not subject to personal jurisdiction in Michigan. One of them (Nehlen) merely tweeted a GotNews article. The article itself did not disclose Joels address (and plaintiffs allege the article is more defamatory than doxxing). The court says there was nothing Michigan about Nehlens tweet. The plaintiffs tried to marshal additional facts, such as that Nehlen was running for a seat in the House of Representatives and tweeted the message to his supporters in Michigan, but Michigan stood sixth on the list of states where his supporters lived. The court is not sold. Another defendant (Weikart) tweeted Joels name, that Joel was from Romeo, Michigan, and the make and license plate of the car. The court says this is like Calder except it lacks that something more. The court dismisses this defendant on jurisdictional grounds. GotNews Anti-SLAPP Motion: GotNews filed an anti-SLAPP motion. GotNews identified Joel as the perpetrator and as an Anti-Trump, Open Borders Druggie. The article included screenshots from various social media posts of Joel. The court first looks at whether the anti-SLAPP motion can be applied in federal court because it conflicts with the federal rules. The court says it will treat GotNews filing as one for early summary judgment under rule 56. GotNews pointed to various accurate statements in its article and says Joel cannot establish falsity, but the court rejects this argument. Any reasonable reader would look at the article and conclude GotNews falsely asserted Joel drove into the crowd of pedestrians. GotNews also raised several privileges, including the speakers privilege, the wire-service privilege, and the breaking news privilege. Where GotNews obtained the underlying information largely dooms its privilege claims (although they failed on other grounds in some cases): GotNews argues, given its reliance on the 4Chan board and public records, no reasonably jury could think it published with reckless disregard for truth . . . Am I reading that right? Did someone actually argue that they were reasonable in presenting something they found on 4Chan as fact? Indeed, the court is not persuaded by reliance on 4Chan. In the context of dealing with the wire service privilege, the court says it is not convinced that 4Chan is a reputable news-gathering agency. Not surprisingly, plaintiffs are able to present a plethora of evidence on the freewheeling nature of 4Chan. The court also says GotNews is not entitled to dismissal of Joels intentional infliction of emotional distress and false light claims. __ Weve seen several tort lawsuits involving (often organized, mob-based) online torts, and they all seem to throw off interesting rulings. Gersh v. Anglin is one in this genre. The Eichenwald seizure lawsuit vaguely fits in this category. Several plaintiffs allegedly injured (physically) by the Unite the Right organizers also brought suit in Virginia. Both rulings from this case get into some detail on the actual online posts in question, and offer a glance into how events can unfold rapidly online. Heres the courts summary of how Joel was mis-identified: Shortly after the attack, users of a 4Chan.org forum (the /pol/ or Politically Incorrect forum, to be specific) were able to track down the vehicle identification number for the Dodge Challenger. And a 4Chan user had run the VIN through SearchQuarry.com. (According to its website, SearchQuarry allows its users to search for many different kinds of public records including but not limited to criminal records, vehicle records, civil records, court records, driving records, . . . .) The 4Chan user posted a screenshot of the SearchQuarry results; the screenshot stated in part, Owner Name: Joel Vangheluwe. A reporter for Defendant GotNews, LLC saw this screenshot on the 4Chan message board or otherwise learned of it. And with the name Jerome Vangheluwe in hand, the GotNews reporter located the social media pages of Jeromes then 20-year old son, Joel Vangheluwe. It seems like yesterday that bloggers were hungrily sleuthing about the fonts and formatting of the so-called Killian Memos that led to a black eye for CBS and Dan Rather. Those feel like innocent times! This not the first time the term doxing has appeared in a court opinion. A search for doxing and doxxing both revealed a handful of results. Interestingly, plaintiffs did not assert a claim for invasion of privacy but stuck with defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false light. As part of the jurisdictional argument, the court takes care to conclude some of the posts are actually doxxing. This seems relevant to the courts analysis. Although the court doesnt explain why, it seems that in the case of doxxing, the tortious act actually involves the location of the plaintiff. It also gets at the fuzzy nature of doxxing is there a difference between merely posting someones information (such as part of a directory) and posting with the intent to draw attention to the address and draw people there? Interestingly, theres not a ton of discussion about whether GotNews satisfied any particular standard of care. The court notes that because this is a private-figure plaintiff, the actual-malice standard does not apply (under a Michigan Supreme Court case). GotNews actually ended up arguing it was non-negligent, but the court says thats a jury question. __ Erics Comment: This is a fake news case. Though the court system is a cumbersome way of correcting fake news, the law still plays a critical and integral role in managing the information ecosystem. Thus, its unquestionably wrong for anyone to claim that fake news can be disseminated online without any legal consequence. __ Case citation: Vangheluwe v. GotNews, LLC, 2019 U.S. Dist Lexis 18700 & 18705 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 6, 2019) (two different rulings). The jurisdiction ruling. The denial of the motion to dismiss. Related posts: First Amendment Doesnt Protect Encouraging Readers to Make Anti-Semitic AttacksGersh v. Daily Stormer Court Allows Battery by GIF Claim to ProceedEichenwald v. Rivello Twitter Isnt a Shopping Mall for First Amendment Purposes (Duh)Johnson v. Twitter SpicyIP is arguably the leading blog for experts on India's copyright system, but links to it disappeared from Google's search index following a fraudulent claim of copyright infringement filed by Saregama, India's oldest record label. The label claimed that an expert report from 2010 on the history of a Bollywood song called "Apni To Jaise Taise" infringed on the copyright to the song. It did not. Luckily for SpicyIP, they have no shortage of copyright experts who can argue their case with Google's takedown system, and they were reinstated. However, this is a bad omen for the future of free expression in India, which is contemplating legislation similar to Europe's catastrophic Article 13, which would automate censorship of anything claimed as copyrighted, without any requirement that these claims be truthful or made in good faith. Regardless of the form of notice-and-takedown, it is apparent that placing an obligation to police copyright infringement on intermediaries create perverse economic incentives on private parties like Google or YouTube to over-comply and take down legal content. This is not solely attributable to the intermediaries' practices themselves, but the policy and legal decisions which are created and are supposed to to strike a balance between access to knowledge and copyright protection in the digital age. While we hope SaReGaMa has a stern word with its lawyers, it's funny and (perhaps on the balance) appropriate that this takedown notice came to a copyright law blog, where we can discuss and dissect such procedures. Yet, had it happened to a non-lawyer, or even someone who had ceased to take interest in their old blog, as it often does, it would result in the permanent removal of public information from an index which serves as the gateway to the internet, due to the 'mistakes' of private parties whose interests do not coincide with public access. What does this mean for the future of access to knowledge? These are hard questions which Indian lawyers and policy makers need to grapple with, particularly when we have senseless obligations like the mechanism for 'automated takedown of unlawful content' being proposed for intermediaries by the Ministry of IT SaReGaMa Pa-rdon Me, You Have the Wrong Address: On the Perils and Pitfalls of Notice and Takedown [Divij Joshi/SpicyIP] Record Label Targets Copyright Experts With "Bogus" Takedown Request [Ernesto/Torrentfreak] Whistleblower and torture-survivor Chelsea Manning (previously) has been summoned before a Grand Jury, seemingly to testify about her "2010 disclosures of information about the nature of asymmetric warfare to the public." Like many activists before her, Manning is challenging the subpoena and faces the risk of up to 18 months in prison if she does not prevail in her legal battle. She believes that "since testimony before grand juries is secret, grand juries can create fear by suggesting that some members of a political community may be secretly cooperating with the government. In this way, grand juries can seed suspicion and fear in activist communities." I agree. I've donated $50 to her legal defense fund. By serving Chelsea Manning with a grand jury subpoena, the government is attempting once again to punish an outspoken whistleblower for her historic disclosures. We stand with Chelsea in support of her refusal to participate in this repressive and undemocratic process. Grand juries are notoriously mired in secrecy, and have historically been used to silence and retaliate against political activists. The indiscriminate nature of grand juries means the government can attempt to artificially coerce a witness into perjury or contempt. Chelsea gave voluminous testimony during her court martial. She has stood by the truth of her prior statements, and there is no legitimate purpose to having her rehash them before a hostile grand jury. Statement from the Chelsea Resists support committee [Xychelsea] The Lifetime Income Security Solution This book provides a straightforward methodology to achieve and protect your financial goals. It not only explains why an income-based investment strategy is superior to active management but also how to utilize certain deferred compensation strategies to better time income recognition. Finally, there is an overview of a simple and realistic asset protection methodology that relies less on hype and more on an honest appraisal of asset protections true capabilities. Concise and conversationally written, this book is a must for high net worth individuals and investment advisers. The City and project team have released a Preliminary Public Review Draft of our Climate Action Plan . I do not understand it. It reads like... Sibusiso Khwinana was just starting to make it big as an actor when his life was tragically cut short after a fatal stabbing. South Africans were left upset after the news of his death broke, and took to social media to mourn him. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! News broke of Sibusiso Khwinana's untimely death broke on Saturday, 2 March and South Africans were left unsettled and disturbed. The young actor was allegedly stabbed to death over a cellphone. A thug reportedly tried to rob Sibusiso of his phone and they wrestled before the actor was stabbed with a sharp object. Police Captain Mavelo Masondo stated that a 25-year-old young man was fatally stabbed at about 11 pm on Friday, 1 March, as reported on by Briefly.co.za. Since then, Mzansi has taken to social media to mourn the senseless loss of yet another South African. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Here's what South Africans had to say: READ ALSO: DJ Zinhle swipes back at Ntsiki Mazwai's Barbie shade Briefly.co.za wishes to extend their deepest condolences to Sibusiso's family and friends. May a light of peace shine on them during this difficult time. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly.co.za Norwegian and Canadian politicians made peace at what is likely the world's first international moose summit, with tongue-in-cheek barbs replaced with words of unity and friendship. Linda Otnes Henriksen, vice-mayor of the Norwegian municipality of Stor-Elvdal, came to Saskatchewan to meet with Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie on Saturday, setting the stage for peace after weeks of pointed banter over which town boasted the biggest moose statue in the world. "I thought, 'It's been going on for so long, we need to get together and talk and show the world we're friends,'" said Henriksen, explaining why she made the trip from Norway to Canada this week. "We want to make a positive thing out of this and maybe have some friendships between our towns." She expressed delight with the city of Moose Jaw and how people in the community had welcomed her with open arms. "You guys are really friendly." Expansion must occur, says mayor Moose Jaw and Tolmie had pledged to make the city's Mac the Moose big enough to reclaim the world record, after Stor-Elvdal had a moose created that bested that record. Justin Reves and Greg Moore, a Regina comedy duo, were the first to bring attention to what they called "an egregious offence," launching a GoFundMe on Jan. 15 to help Mac regain his title. That fundraiser has so far collected $14,000, while Moosehead Breweries has also donated $25,000 to the cause. Tyler Pidlubny/CBC News Tolmie said it would be "unfair and unethical" not to spend those publicly donated funds on bringing the "world's biggest moose" title back to Canada, a point which Henriksen concedes. "Canada might have the biggest moose in the future, and we're totally fine with that," she said. But Tolmie has a concession of his own to make Norway's moose is pretty. I know I've said it looks like a hood ornament; that's just been jealousy in my own heart. - Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie Story continues "I love Mac. He's very very close and near and dear to our hearts," said Tolmie. "But that is a shiny moose over there. I know I've said it looks like a hood ornament; that's just been jealousy in my own heart," he said, getting a laugh from Henriksen in response. Engineers are currently looking at Mac to assess the sculpture's lifespan and how it might be expanded safely, Tolmie said. Regardless of what happens with Moose Jaw's sculpture, the attention from international news organizations has been a boon to Moose Jaw and Stor-Elvdal in terms of exposure. "This has really put us on the map. That's one of the best things we could have got out of this whole thing," said Henriksen. Tolmie thinks the appetite people had for the lighthearted story of the battling moose was driven by a general thirst for good news stories. "They want to see people unite, and that's what we're doing." Facebook's whole business model hinges on collecting data and breaching users' privacy, so it comes as no surprise to learn that the company has been currying favor with politicians around the globe to stymie legislation that protects people's privacy. Leaked internal documents from Facebook, reported on by The Guardian and Computer Weekly Saturday, outline a litany of ways that Facebook was using its power, money, and influence to sway politicians including a former UK chancellor, a former prime minister of Ireland, and a former president of India. SEE ALSO: Facebook's search feature has some pretty creepy suggestions The leaks show specific tactics that Facebook used to get on the good side of politicians and push for favorable legislation, including lobbying European politicians to ease up on the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), using COO Sharyl Sandberg's memoir as an in to buddy up with female politicians who weren't exactly friendly to Facebook, and telling politicians they wouldn't invest in their countries if they went against Facebook's desires, according to The Guardian. Part of Facebook's lobbying plan appears to have worked pretty well in its favor with Enda Kenny, who at the time was prime minister of Ireland. The leaked documents describe Kenny as one of a group of politicians referred to as "friends of Facebook," which is particularly alarming considering Kenny's role at the time not just with Ireland, but with Europe as a whole. Ireland's Kenny was the president of the Council of the European Union in 2013, shortly after the GDPR was first proposed in 2012. The GDPR protects internet users' privacy by placing tons of added rules and regulations on companies that deal in user data like Facebook. With Kenny as a "friend," Facebook was lining itself up to receive favorable treatment in the decision whether to implement the GDPR or other regulations on Facebook. Story continues Kenny should have been an impartial, neutral party on decisions that impacted Facebook. But based on Facebook's description of their relationship, Kenny wasn't neutral at all. Especially in light of the social media company's 2008 decision to establish its European headquarters in Dublin. The leak also describes how Facebook had buddied up with UK chancellor George Osborne, trading investment in the UK's technology ventures for help in standing up for Facebook and its interests in European Data Directive debate. Osborne also aided Sandberg's memoir publicity by hosting a launch event for the book in 2013. Facebook's influences and lobbying touched countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, India, and more, according to The Guardian. The leaks likely surfaced from sealed court documents from a case against Facebook being pursued by app developer Six4Three. The 47th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, but the 1,600 kilometre race to Nome will look slightly different than in years past. Fifty-two mushers 17 women and 35 men are set to compete this year, the fewest since 1989. And they will be starting with a maximum of 14 dogs, down from last year's limit of 16. Among the competitors will be two Yukoners: Marcelle Fressineau with bib 27 and Ed Hopkins with bib 33. This will be Fressineau's fourth and final time competing in the Iditarod. She says at 65 years old and with the costs of competing, she would have to keep working until she is 80 to continue racing. Veteran Yukon musher, Iditarod rookie While Hopkins is a veteran of the Yukon Quest, having completed the race 10 times, this will be his first time competing in the Iditarod. "I've been holding out for a long time," he said ahead of the race. "I think it's something I probably should do while I still can." But the Alaskan trail won't be foreign to Hopkins. He's worked as a handler for his wife Michelle Phillips, who has completed the Iditarod nine times, and he's also volunteered along the trail. "I'm kind of excited to get out there," he said, adding he hasn't felt any pre-race jitters. Reuters/Mark Meyer Hopkins said the trail this year might be slow going, as there's lots of snow, and he's also heard moose have been moving toward the flatter hard-packed areas. "I'm going to be bringing an air horn along with me," he laughed. The dog team joining Hopkins on the Iditarod trail will include nine of the dogs that competed with Phillips in the 2019 Yukon Quest, where she finished in fourth place. Hopkins said his dog team will be "a nice crew" with "a good mix of power and speed." It includes six leader dogs, with his favourite being Dragon. "She's my little black fur ball of a dog." What else is new? Story continues Along with fewer dogs and mushers along the trail, this year's Iditarod has other new rules in place, along with a new board. One of the biggest changes is if a dog dies during the race, a musher will now have to voluntarily scratch or be withdrawn from the race unless it's determined the death was due to an "unpreventable hazard." Hopkins and Fressineau both said they're happy with the new rule. "I think that's the honourable thing to do," Hopkins said. Philippe Morin/CBC Other additions to the 2019 race rules are that mushers must review and certify that their kennels meet Iditarod Trail Committee kennel standards, and that dogs must be hauled in a "secure, protected, humane manner." All issues around dog care and all dog deaths will also now be reviewed within 30 days of the end of the race. Changes have also been made to the 2019 drug testing manual, which was provided to mushers ahead of the race.Tthe drug testing period for dogs has been extended to four hours after they finish the race. The Iditarod sled dog race has faced difficulties in recent years, including protests from animal rights activists and the loss of several sponsorships. 2017 was a particularly challenging year for the race as four dogs tested positive for the opioid painkiller Tramadol, a banned substance. Iditarod officials ultimately cleared four-time Iditarod winner Dallas Seavey of wrongdoing. Mushers are also now held liable for all positive drug tests unless they can establish the results were caused by something "completely beyond their control." In June 2018, the chief of drug testing for the Iditarod trail committee resigned. Despite the changes, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, more commonly known as PETA, says it still opposes sled dog racing and is calling for a permanent end to the use of dogs in the Iditarod. Reuters/Mark Meyer "The Iditarod race is inherently cruel," said PETA campaigner Tricia Lebkuecher. "The new rule regarding dogs' deaths doesn't even come into play until after dogs die. So how does it help dogs?" Lebkuecher said she expects about a dozen people, including herself, to come out to protest the beginning of the race in Anchorage with "a very powerful visual." She said PETA is also planning a protest in Willow, Alaska, on Sunday. Last year, protesters created a fake dog graveyard, held signs and handed out pamphlets. PETA claims since the Iditarod began in 1973, more than 150 dogs have died during the race. Iditarod officials, however, have disputed that number. Last year, one dog died during the race. A necropsy determined the death was consistent with aspiration pneumonia. The Iditarod Trail Committee did not return CBC's requests for comment before Friday night. Two best friends are pairing up to offer a Middle Eastern feast every week at the University of British Columbia but the unique lunch is more than just falafel and hummus it's about tearing down walls. The "Taste of Coexistence" lunches are hosted by two chefs: one is Jewish and from Israel, the other is Muslim and of Palestinian descent. Both run restaurants in Vancouver, where their friendship has flourished despite what they were taught growing up. "In Arab countries, on TV, they never acknowledge Israel they always say the 'Zionist occupation, the occupying enemy,'" said Haitham El Khatib, 33. He grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon and moved to Canada in 2016. "If you are found to have any interactions with Israel, on any level, you are basically collaborating with the enemy," he recalled. Vivian Luk/CBC Overcoming 'ancestral trauma' Itamar Shani, 30, grew up in an Israeli settlement. As a child, he used to visit a nearby Arab village with his father on the weekends until, one day after the First Intifada uprising in the late 1980s, a wall was built between the two towns. "They build a really, really high wall and said 'Behind this wall there is Arabs, there are terrorists, it's very dangerous,'" Shani told CBC's Vivian Luk. Shani served the mandatory three years with the Israeli defense forces and watched colleagues be killed. His mother, Shani said, warned him to be careful about trusting Palestinians. Six years ago, he moved to Canada where he met El Khatib. Those same conversations and concerns about trust surfaced again when the pair decided to start collaborating for the UBC lunch events. "There was a time in the planning of those events where that rhetoric of 'You don't know who they are, you can't trust them' came up for me," said El Khatib. "There is ancestral trauma." Vivian Luk/CBC 'The face of coexistence' The pair hope that by showcasing their friendship and celebrating what Palestinians and Israelis have in common, rather than focusing on the differences, they will help change attitudes. "In a small scale of success, it is our families my son and his daughter. They are the face of coexistence, they are growing up [together]," said Shani. Taste of Coexistence lunches are hosted every Wednesday until the end of the semester at UBC's Hillel House. After so much snow in Toronto this winter and more coming down this weekend the city is hauling it off the streets on the largest scale in nearly a decade. "This has been a challenging winter for us," said Mark Mills, superintendent of road operations. "We've received a year's worth of snow in the last six weeks." After Wednesday's storm, staff found that emergency vehicles could not get down the roads safely, Mills said. That prompted the current snow removal operation, he said, in which crews will be removing road-blocking snow from local and arterial streets. Several crews will be working 24 hours a day over the next five to seven days, blowing snow and ice into trucks and moving it to one of the city's five storage facilities, he said. This is the first time the city has removed snow on this scale and coordination since 2010, said Toronto city spokesperson Eric Holmes. More recently, staff have done snow removal at strategic and isolated locations, he noted. Mills could not say how much this snow removal operation would cost yet, but expects it may be "in the millions." The city's 2019 winter budget is about $87 million he said, and they spent $15 million of that as of Wednesday. 'Way above average' Snowfall has been "way above average" this season, said Mills. Wednesday's storm brought another 17 to 24 cm of snow, Mills said, and they don't expect a thaw until mid-March. The snow removal started Friday night, and will last five to seven days, he said. "The goal is to get one side of the street cleared off," he said. CBC Expect overnight noise Mills said people should be prepared for possible noise overnight as crews work on local roads. "It's a necessary evil to get this snow off the road," he said, as he reminded residents and property owners to clear snow off their sidewalk. The city said it may do "friendly towing" to a nearby location to make room for equipment. Story continues Signs will be posted in advance for streets where snow removal is happening, the city says. Toronto got about 128 cm of snowfall from November to February, and 107.1 cm in January and February, said the city, citing Environment Canada data. "The 20-year average for annual snowfall in Toronto is about 105 cm," the city said. Danielle Staub has some new bling and shes showing it off from every angle. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 56, shared an exclusive first photo of her engagement ring from new fiance Oliver Maier with PEOPLE. The couple headed to the luxury French jewelry brand, Van Cleef & Arpels, to pick out the perfect ring for Staub after Maier popped the question during a romantic getaway to the Cheval Blanc maison in St. Barth. Staub whose birthstone is ruby settled on a 5-carat ruby design from the famed jeweler, whose engagement rings range from $4,000 to $145,000. Describing the meaning of the intertwined diamonds on the side, Staub tells PEOPLE, In the French culture having something intertwined symbolizes two bodies coming together as one. RELATED: The Most Jaw-Dropping Celebrity Engagement Rings Oliver Maier and Danielle Staub The reality TV star announced her engagement on Thursday, just one week after finalizing her divorce from husband Marty Caffrey, who split four months after their wedding. She met her soon-to-be-hubby in October through a mutual friend, whom Maier was dating at the time. Her new man is German and French and works as the managing director of Speyside Equity, a private equity firm based out of New York City. He told PEOPLE that his family owns 15 vineyards in the South of France as well as two castle. He also said that hes considered the Duke of Provence, which would make Staub a duchess after they wed. RELATED VIDEO: RHONJs Danielle Staub Is Engaged a Week After Divorce and Shes Going to Be a Duchess! The two plan on tying the knot at the Justice of the Peace in New York City on Monday, where friends, including RHONJ costar Teresa Giudice, are said to be in attendance. Im madly in love, Staub told PEOPLE about her 21st engagement. Im feeling elated and excited for the next stage of my life. Im going to marry the man of my possible dreams and hopefully Ill spend the rest of my life in bliss. That next step for Staub is to relocate to be with her man. The New Jersey-based star says she plans to live in New York City and Europe. Most likely well be spending a lot of time in France, she said. Well be going to castles and all that, and living in Paris for a certain amount of months out of the year. Its going to be far different than Jersey, thats for sure, she added, saying that she still plans to purchase property in the state for her daughters. While the federal government warns people not to travel to Haiti, a St. Stephen woman can't wait to return to the Caribbean country. Karen Harding is a missionary and vice-president of Mission Evangelique D'oeuvre Sociale, based in Les Cayes, Haiti. She left Haiti in November and hasn't been able to return. "I was speaking with an RCMP officer here yesterday and he warned me not to go into Port-au-Prince," Harding told Information Morning Saint John this week. "I'm just waiting. It will happen. I will be able to get back." Harding started supporting a mission in Haiti about 10 years ago but only signed up to serve there in 2017. The mission in Les Cayes includes a medical clinic and a school. Submitted by Karen Harding Originally she wanted to set up a new mission but decided to join a Haiti-based one instead. "I'm the only Canadian in this team and I live with them work with them do all the mission work with them and what I have found is that I am I am actually seeing first-hand what it's like to be Haitian and experiencing a lot of the hardships along with them," said Harding. Anti-government protests in Haiti have thrust the country into a state of anarchy and have caused Canada to issue warnings not to travel there. The protesters have called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise and Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant over mismanagement of an oil deal with Venezuela that was meant to free up funds for Haiti, which is still recovering from several natural disasters. Harding said Haiti is experiencing extreme poverty and endless struggles. "Most of them do not even own a toilet, so it's common to go down the street and see women squat on the ground to go to the bathroom," said Harding. Submitted by Karen Harding "Many of them are very concerned about even having enough food during the day to feed their family." Harding said the country is like a war zone. Food prices have skyrocketed, with a bag of rice now costing about $40 Canadian. Story continues Harding said she has been trying to raise money to send back, but raising it is only half the battle. Getting it to her co-workers is difficult. Submitted by Karen Harding "Sometimes they can't even get to a bank machine or a Western Union to get the money," said Harding. "That's how dangerous it is." Still, she said, Haitians are resilient, a quality Harding connects with their faith. She said a Haitian told her, "the people of Haiti believe the entire world has excluded them, but what keeps them going is they know God loves them." Fluctuating winter weather in Vancouver, which saw warmer January temperatures turn cold in February, may have helped kill an invasive beetle with a ferocious appetite for plants, according to a University of British Columbia scientist. Juli Carrillo, who studies plant-insect ecology and evolution at UBC, says the grubs of the Japanese beetle, which spend the winter in the soil, may have been lured to the surface during January's warm spell, but then froze as below normal cold temperatures set in. "Similar to the early flowers we saw in January, that bloomed and then died from the cold," Carrillo wrote in an email to CBC News. In 2019, Vancouver experienced the coldest February since Environment Canada began recording weather data in 1937. "Sudden and prolonged freezing temperatures that cause those upper soil layers to freeze could potentially limit the beetle's population growth this year," wrote Carrillo. The Japanese beetle was first discovered in B.C. in Vancouver's False Creek in 2017. The beetle, Popillia japonica, is a invasive pest that feeds on the roots of grass and the foliage of more than 300 plant species. Plants into skeletons It's unclear how the pest came to B.C., but most likely it arrived on plants transported from other regions. The province says the beetle poses a serious risk to plants, trees and agricultural crops. The pests turn healthy plants into skeletons by eating their soft green parts, ultimately causing the plants to die. David Cappaert/Bugwood.org/Province of British Columbia Adults have an oval outline and are approximately 10 millimetres long and 6 millimetres wide, with metallic green abdomens and heads, copper-brown wing coverings and white tufts of hair along their sides and rear. Since the beetle was discovered, the City of Vancouver along with the province and the federal government have worked together on measures to prevent its spread. They've sprayed a larvacide to kill the grubs, which live in soil, and also trapped adults. They have also restricted the movement of plants and soil and have asked people to report sightings. Story continues Enzo Zanatta/CBC There are no adults present in the wintertime, but grubs, which emerge from the soil in late June or early July, spend the winter underground eating on the roots of grass. However, the province is not so certain the cold weather made a dent in Japanese beetle numbers. The Ministry of Agriculture says grubs bury deep into the soil during winter and are also insulated by snow on the ground. While the cold may have killed some grubs, the most the cold weather will do, it says, is delay the time when grubs emerge from the soil and develop into adult beetles. "We do not expect the temperatures were severe enough to significantly impact the overall larvae population," said the ministry in a statement. IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis: Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations 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. . ..IMRA Weekly Commentary..02 March '19..Years ago, before she was an MK, Shulamit "Shuli" Mualem-Rafaeli lobbied for IDF widows to continue to receive their pensions after remarrying (her own first husband Moshe was killed in the 1997 IDF helicopter disaster).The proposed change to the rules was supported by all the decision makers who held their positions as a result of the democratic process - including the Minister of Defense.The proposal was quashed by the legal counsel of the Ministry of Defense at a meeting she attended.What legal grounds did the legal counsel of the Ministry of Defense cite for quashing the proposal?He said if was a budget buster.That's right.The lawyer serving as legal counsel of the Ministry of Defense couldn't actually cite a legal issue with the proposal.He just felt that he knew better what was in the public interest than a bunch of decision makers who held their positions as a result of the democratic process - including the Minister of Defense.This, in a nutshell, is the fierce dispute over the proper role of the so-called "gate keepers".Does the legal counsel of a given ministry limit his voice to advising if a given proposed action is legal according to the written law or does the legal counsel also serve to block proposed actions that, while legal according to the written law, do not, in the eyes of the legal counsel, serve the public interest?Ironically, the people screaming "PROTECT DEMOCRACY" are the ones arguing that the "gate keepers" should have the final say on what serves the public interest. That somehow it is not "democratic" for the political process to serve as the expression of the public interest.We have a similar phenomena in our court system where rulings are made on whether something is "reasonable" rather than if it is or isn't in accordance with the applicable written law.Also in this instance the people screaming "PROTECT DEMOCRACY" are the ones arguing that the judges should rule according to what the judges believe serves the public interest rather than according to the written laws enacted by the democratically elected Knesset.A word about the charges raised against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. I recommend reading Professor Ran Baratz's article in the 1 March edition ofBaratz cites the "tunnel vision" employed in the prosecution of Netanyahu on the basis of action he was associated with that favored someone when Netanyahu was also associated with decisions that caused great financial harm to the same person. This "tunnel vision" considered favorable mediacoverage by an internet news service as evidence of a pay-off when that same news service, on average, was unfavorable to Netanyahu."Tunnel vision" has Netanyahu lobbying with American officials for a visa for a friend in exchange for cigars while ignoring that the reason his friend had a visa issue in the first place was that he was being punished for helping Israel."Tunnel vision" prosecutes Netanyahu for talking with the owner of a major newspaper openly devoted to destroying Netanyahu's political career when the operative conclusion of these conversations was that the paper continued its crusade against the prime minister and Netanyahu went to elections to stop legislation that served the paper's interests.________________________________________ The case of jailed Australian Cardinal George Pell is to be investigated by the Vatican, a spokesman said yesterday. Pell was jailed yesterday following the announcement of a verdict in his trial for sexually abusing children. He is due to be sentenced on March 13 on five charges relating to offences against two 13-year-old boys in the 1990s when he was archbishop of Melbourne. Pell in Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Sydney 2012 (Credit: Kerry Myers) Pell has continued to maintain his innocence and plans to appeal against the verdict. He is a former head of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, though his term ended on February 24. The interim director of the Vatican press office, Alessandro Gisotti, said: 'After the guilty verdict in the first instance concerning Cardinal Pell, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will now handle the case following the procedure and within the time established by canonical norm.' While a final verdict in Pell's case will not be given until the result of his appeal is known, possible penalties include dismissal from the clerical state and a life of prayer and penance. Pell's conviction is the latest in a string of abuse scandals to hit the Church, coming closely after the dismissal of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. At the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show, Southern Draw Cigars formally introduced a new value-priced line known as 300 Hands. While the cigar was announced just prior to the trade show, the line had a formal unveiling at the actual show. 300 Hands is what is commonly referred to as the number of steps needed to go from seed to store to deliver a hand-made premium cigar to the consumer. Southern Draw Cigars Chief Evangelist Robert Holt decided to brand the cigar with this name and pay homage to the people of Nicaragua who are an integral part of the process of cigar-making process. The people involved dont just include those who work on the farms or in the factory, but also include the forgotten people such as repairmen and bus drivers. Because many people in Nicaragua live in poverty, Southern Draw Cigars set out to create a charitable angle where the company is donating 25% of the profits of 300 Hands to (according to Southern Draw) those Nicaraguans that offered us their honest stories and identified specific needs in and around their own communities. 300 Hands features two distinct blends the 300 Hands Maduro and the 300 Manos Habano. Today, we take a closer look at the 300 Hands Maduro in the Piramides size.. Charitable giving is something Southern Draw has incorporated into its philosophy and overall mission statement. The 300 Hands project is most interesting because the company has created a more personal conduit between the consumer and the people involved in the cigar making process. This had been done by producing a series of cards for the 300 Hands project that highlight the people involved with the project and their role in the process. . Without further ado, lets break down the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides and see what this cigar brings to the table. SPECIFICATIONS Blend and Origin The blend for the 300 Hands is a multi-national one highlighted by a Nicaraguan wrapper. As with all Southern Draw Cigars, they are produced at AJ Fernandezs Esteli, Nicaragua facility. Wrapper: Esteli, Nicaragua Binder: Indonesia Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez Vitolas Offered Each of these sizes is offered in 10-count bundles Petit Edmundo: 4 3/4 x 52 Coloniales: 5 1/4 x 44 Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46 Piramides: 6 1/8 x 52 Churchill: 7 x 48 Southern Draw has provided retailers with a patent-pending vertical display tray that holds 10 cigars of each size from both blends. These also hold the cards representing the people involved with the project. Appearance The Nicaraguan wrapper of the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides had a dark chocolate color wrapper. There was a very light sheen of oil on the wrapper. There were some visible veins on the surface of the wrapper. Most of the wrapper seams were hidden by the dark color of the wrapper. The Piramides cigar had a moderately sharp taper toward the tip. The band of the 300 Manos is white with blue font. The center of the map contains the text 300 HANDS with a triangle in the middle of center 0. The left side of the band contains the text MADURO while the right side contains a map of Nicaragua. A white stripe crosses the map with the text CIGARS OF NICARAGUA on it. The upper and lower part of the band is finished with a perforated pattern. PERFORMANCE Pre-Light Draw A straight cut was used to commence the cigar experience of the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides. For this cigar experience, the Credo Special T cutter with the 36 ring gauge hole was used to get an ideal cut for this figurado and take advantage of the taper. Once the tip was removed, it was time to commence the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of mocha, leather, and a slight amount of spice. Overall this was a satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to light up the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides and see what the smoking phase would have in store. Tasting Notes The 300 Hands Maduro Piramides commenced with notes of mocha, white pepper, cedar, orange sweetness, and mineral. The mocha notes are what I consider to be a fusion between chocolate and coffee. During the early stages of the 300 Hands Maduro, the mocha notes became primary with an emphasis on the chocolate component. Meanwhile the white pepper, cedar, orange, and mineral notes settled in the background. There was an extra layer of white pepper on the retro-hale. During the second third, the coffee component of the mocha slowly increased in intensity while the chocolate component diminished. In the background, there was a slight increase in the pepper and a slight decrease in the orange sweetness. In the more distant background were still notes of cedar and mineral. By the last third, the mocha present in the forefront was now dominated by the coffee component. The pepper, orange, mineral, and cedar remained in the background with the pepper more prominent than the other secondary notes. This is the way the 300 Hands Maduro cigar experience came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn The 300 Hands Maduro Piramides performed very well when it came to the burn. For the most part, the cigar maintained a straight burn path and a straight burn line with what I consider to be a normal amount of touch-ups. The resulting ash was tight and firm with a mostly light gray color. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal. Draw Southern Draw Cigars has always prided itself on having excellent draws and the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides lives up to that expectation. This was a draw that had a touch of resistance something I personally enjoy. At the same time, the area where the belicoso tip was remove remained firm and allowed for a good draw. In the end, this made smoking this Piramides size quite enjoyable. Strength and Body In terms of strength and body, I assessed the 300 Hands Maduro Piramides to be in the medium range. There was a slight increase in the intensity of both attributes, but in the end, the cigar remained in the medium strength, medium-bodied orange from start to finish. While both attributes were still assessed to be medium, I found the body to have a slight edge over the strength throughout the smoking experience. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Final Thoughts As I mentioned when I assessed the 300 Manos Habano, Southern Draw Cigars has historically done a very good job at delivering a very good value priced cigar to the consumers. Before the release of the 300 Hands line, this had been seen through Southern Draws QuickDraw line. Like the 300 Manos Habano, the 300 Hands Maduro is in that high-value category. The 300 Hands Maduro Piramides is a cigar that delivered an excellent and well-balanced flavor profile. In particular, I found this blend worked extremely well in the figurado format. The 300 Hands Maduro Pirmadies is a cigar I could recommend to either a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I would smoke again and definitely get multiples to keep in the humidor. Summary Key Flavors: Mocha, Pepper, Orange, Cedar, Mineral Burn: Very Good Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Strength: Medium Body: Medium Finish: Excellent Rating Value: Buy Multiples Score: 90 References News: Southern Draw 300 Hands to Launch at 2018 IPCPR Price: $6.39 Source: Purchased (for review), additional cigars were provided by Southern Draw Cigars Brand Reference: Southern Draw Photo Credits: Cigar Coop 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. Question: Regarding my posts about the terrible perversion of Torah and halacha that Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky has engineered with his prod... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59138213 In the US, people can justify their use of deadly force against another when it reasona... lt is clear that no one in the world has the authority to establish guilt anyone without both [the accuser and accused] coming ... Important!! email - yadmoshe@gmail.com Despite being diagnosed with mental and emotional disorders, Mohammad Kalhori is facing imminent execution in Iran for a crime he allegedly committed at the age of 15, his attorney Hossein Aghakhani told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on February 28, 2019. With the sentence already issued and confirmed, Kalhoris lawyer has asked the victims family to pardon him on the grounds that he was just a minor without mental maturity at the time of the crime, as allowed by the presiding court in the city of Boroujerd, Lorestan Province. Unfortunately, my clients execution order has gone through the full judicial process and he could be hanged at any moment, Aghakhani told CHRI. The enforcement office has told his family that time is limited and if they dont get a pardon from the victims family, he could be hanged soon. [The victim Mohsen] Khashkhashis family has so far refused to grant a pardon but on the other hand, there is evidence and medical documents to show that the judiciary should have reviewed the death sentence because of my clients mental and emotional disorders, he added. On February 21, the UN called on Iran to halt the execution of this child offender and immediately annul the death sentence against him, in line with its international obligations. According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is illegal to execute someone for crimes committed under the age of 18. Iran is party to both treaties but remains one among a handful of countries still putting juveniles to death. According to Article 91 of Irans Islamic Penal Code, If mature people under 18-years-old do not realize the nature of the crime committed or its prohibition, or if there is uncertainty about their full mental development, according to their age they can be spared the death penalty. In September 2016, Branch 2 of the Criminal Court in Lorestan sentenced Kalhori, who was born in March 1998, to death for murdering his teacher in November 2014. In April 2016, the medical examiner of Lorestan Province determined Kalhori was not mentally mature when the crime was committed. My client was 15 when the murder happened, Kalhoris attorney, Hassan Aghakhani, told CHRI on February 22, 2018. According to the medical examiners opinion, his action was not based on reason or logic and he was lacking mental development, he added. His adviser in the juvenile reform center also says that he didnt have the mental ability to understand his action. The attorney added: Article 91 of the Islamic Penal Code should be applied to him but unfortunately, the court has not paid attention to this matter. Interference with the Judicial Process Aghaghani told CHRI that his attempts to reverse the death sentence had been unsuccessful because a deputy education minister and an influential member of Irans Parliament had asked the court to look after the victims family. We lodged an appeal and made 2 requests [in June and October 2017] for a judicial review by Branch 33 of the Supreme Court presided by Judge Mohammad Niazi, Aghaghani said. But [Judge Niazi] believes in retribution. When it was time to consider the appeal, unfortunately there was a letter from a deputy education minister and 2 letters from Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who is the member of Parliament from Boroujerd [city] and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy, requesting that the judge to look after the victim, not the murderer. Aghakhani continued: When it was determined that my client did not have sufficient mental development, we did not expect the political and security officials to get involved. This kid could have been saved if the law followed a normal course, without the court being influenced by the political climate, but unfortunately, they interfered in this case. Kalhori killed his physics teacher, Mohammad Khashkhashi, with a pocket knife after allegedly being physically attacked for alleged disobedience on November 22, 2014, at the Hafezi High School in Boroujerd, Lorestan Province. At the preliminary stage [March 2016], Branch 1 of the Criminal Court in Lorestan Province sentenced my client to three years in prison and ordered him to pay blood money to the victims parents, Aghakhani told CHRI. But the victims family appealed the decision [in September 2016] and Branch 31 of the Supreme Court struck down the ruling and ordered a new trial, which resulted in a death sentence against my client without regard to Article 91 of the Islamic Penal Code, he added. According to Islamic law, Diyah, known as blood money in English, is paid as financial compensation to the victim or heirs of a victim in cases of murder, bodily harm, or property damage. Kalhori has been held at a juvenile rehabilitation center in Lorestan Province since November 2014. In a UN report on the human rights situations in Iran covering the period of January 2018 to October 2018, Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman called on Irans Parliament to urgently amend legislation to prohibit the execution of people who committed crimes while under the age of 18 and amend the legislation to commute all existing sentences for child offenders on death row. Statement By UN Experts: Iran Must Stop Execution of Juvenile Offender Mohammad Kalhori GENEVA (21 February 2019) Iran must immediately halt the imminent execution of child offender Mohammad Kalhori, say a group of UN human rights experts in a statement published today. Mohammad Kalhori was sentenced to death for killing his teacher when he was 15 years old. It is reported that his family have been told to visit him for the final time. This is taken as a strong indication that his execution is imminent. Iran must halt the execution of this child offender and immediately annul the death sentence against him, in line with its international obligations, the experts said in a joint statement. Iran has committed itself to prohibiting the use of the death penalty for all those who committed a crime while under the age of 18 by its ratification of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As such, this execution is unlawful and arbitrary, they stressed. In 2013, Iran amended its Penal Code to allow judges to provide alternative sentences for child offenders if there was uncertainty about their mental development at the time of the crime or if they had not realized the nature of the crime. Iran assured the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2016 that the amendment, Article 91, would apply systematically to all child offenders on death row. Kalhori, now aged 20, was sentenced to death on appeal despite a State forensic institution report that found he was not mentally mature at the time of the crime. He had originally been sentenced to imprisonment and a fine based on the report. Notwithstanding the clear prohibition of the application of the death penalty for those who committed a crime while under the age of 18, this case demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the amendment to the Penal Code itself, the UN experts said. There are believed to be dozens of child offenders on death row in Iran, which reportedly executed at least six child offenders in 2018. The UN experts have previously notified the Government of Iran about their deep and continuous concerns." -- The UN experts: Mr. Nils Melzer (Switzerland), Special Rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Ms Agnes Callamard (France), Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Ms Renate Winter (Austria),Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; Mr. Javaid Rehman (Pakistan), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Councils independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. -- UN human rights experts previously issued a press release on 19 June 2018 concerning Mohammad Kalhori, which also appealed to Iran to halt his execution and commute his death sentence. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Iran Human Rights, March 2, 2019 Iran Human Rights , February 21, 2019 The Iranian Judiciarys High Council for Human Rights rejected recent allegations leveled against the country by the United Nations special rapporteur as baseless, saying the person is misusing his position to propaganda against the Islamic Republic. In a statement issued on Saturday, the High Council for Human Rights said Javaid Rehmans numerous interviews with various media outlets including the BBC, which is well known for its hostile reports against Iran, are a blatant violation of the UN framework, within which he has been chosen as special rapporteur. Undoubtedly, his propaganda activities, which are accompanied by the misuse of a UN official title, and his baseless allegations against Iran, seriously cast doubt on his competence as a rapporteur, the statement read. In his latest report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on February 27, Rehman raised allegations over purported human rights violations in Iran, paying particular attention to the way the death penalty is carried out in the Islamic Republic. In a meeting in Geneva in March 2018, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution against Iran and extended the special rapporteurs mandate for another year. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, Iran believes that the extension of the mandate of the special rapporteur for another year is unjustifiable and unnecessary. Tehran insists that the appointment of a UN special rapporteur on Irans human rights situation is a selective, politically-motivated and unacceptable move. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde tasnimnews.com, March 2, 2019 Brown was freed from nearly a decade on death row in 2015, but because he was never declared "actually innocent," he couldn't get compensation for wrongful imprisonment until Friday. Alfred Dewayne Brown spent nearly a decade on Texas death row before his conviction was thrown out by the courts. But despite being freed in 2015 , he didnt qualify for the state payout given to those wrongfully convicted because he was never declared actually innocent. On Friday, that changed. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg held a press conference announcing that an outside attorney she had assigned to investigate the case had found Brown innocent, paving the way for Brown to receive $80,000 for each year he was wrongfully in prison plus smaller monthly payments over the course of his life. She filed an amended motion in the trial court. That motion is expected to be approved and clear Brown's last hurdle to get compensation. The appointed attorney, John Raley, is well known for his years-long fight to free Texas Michael Morton from a 25-year-long wrongful sentence in his wifes murder, a case that led to new legislation requiring prosecutors to share their complete investigation with defense attorneys. Now there is no evidence sufficient for a reasonable juror to find that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the legal definition of innocence, and Alfred Dewayne Brown is innocent, Raley said at the press conference. Brown was released from prison nearly four years ago after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals tossed out his conviction and death sentence in the 2003 murder of a Houston police officer, Charles Clark, during a botched robbery. Phone records found in the prosecutions possession but not shared with the defense at trial supported Browns alibi that he was at his girlfriends house during the crime. But the court tossed the case because of the prosecutions violation, not because of Browns innocence. After the conviction was tossed, then-District Attorney Devon Anderson dismissed the case completely, saying there wasnt enough evidence to retry Brown for capital murder. Two other men, including one on death row, had also been convicted in the officers murder. But the Texas Comptroller, which handles payments for wrongful incarcerations, denied Browns request for payment after his case was dismissed. Texas statute says a person qualifies for compensation if he is pardoned; if an appellate court finds him legally innocent in post-conviction proceedings that look at constitutional issues; or if that appellate court tosses the conviction, the charges are dismissed and the prosecutor says in an affidavit she believes that the defendant is actually innocent of the crime for which the person was sentenced. Until Friday, Brown was missing the last piece, the prosecutions declaration of innocence. Ogg said at the conference that she accepted Raleys recommendations that Brown is innocent. A spokesperson for the comptroller confirmed Ogg's court filing of his innocence was what Brown needed to qualify for compensation. Brown's lawyer, Neal Manne, said the filing and new case dismissal needed to be approved by the court, but it was expected to be approved with the prosecution and defense on the same side. Then, Brown will file a new petition with the comptroller for money. "[Brown's] really happy," Manne told The Texas Tribune Friday. "It's been a long, long road for him, and it feels really good that the district attorney is now on his side." But not everyone believes in Browns innocence. Joe Gamaldi, the president of the Houston police officers union, told the Tribune in January that Brown couldnt touch the high standard of actual innocence with a 10 foot pole and that he remains the main suspect. Saying he knew what was in Raley's pending report, Gamaldi said Ogg went through Raley to give herself cover from the political fallout. At the conference, Ogg acknowledged the discontent from the police union, and said before the findings were released that she knew there were those who would disagree with them. "That happens every time a district attorney anywhere makes a decision of this magnitude about a person's life," she said. Raley said at the conference that his team spent more than 1,000 hours in investigating and compiling his nearly 200-page report on Brown's case. His report also recommended further investigation of Dan Rizzo, the trial prosecutor in Brown's case who failed to turn over the phone records that led to his ultimate release from prison. The failure to turn over the phone records was said to be "inadvertent," but Ogg asked the state bar to investigate Rizzo last year after unearthing an email that showed he was told about the corroborating phone records before Brown's trial. The state bar ultimately found no cause to issue disciplinary sanctions against the attorney, the Houston Chronicle reported | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! But I dont want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you cant help that," said the Cat: "were all mad here. Im mad. Youre mad." "How do you know Im mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldnt have come here. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), the furthest right Democrat in the Senate, has, according to ProgressivePunch , been voting far less progressively than any other Democrat in the Senateless progressively than Kentucky and Louisiana Republicans Rand Paul and John Kennedy! He crucial vote score is exactly the same as Susan Collins' (R-ME), Mike Lee's (R-UT) and Ted Cruz's (R-TX). She tends to never disappoint Trump. But say for a moment that when McTurtle brings up the Resolution of Disapproval, she can somehow be forced to vote for it with the Democrats. In that case, only 4 Republicans will be needed to pass it. At this point, that looks like it's in the bag. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have all said they are yes votes. Any number of Republicans may provide that 4th vote but by the end of the weekwas reporting that Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who is retiring next year, i willing o cast the deciding vote if he can't get Trump to back down and withdraw the phony state of emergency. Burgess Everett reported on Thursday that he's one of the senior Republicans offering Trump a choice: Withdraw your national emergency declaration at the border or face a potential rebellion from the GOP In a much-anticipated floor speech, the retiring senator declined to state whether he will become the deciding vote to block the presidents maneuver. But he signaled broad opposition to the emergency declaration and sought to convince Trump that he has other ways to collect $5.7 billion for the border wall-- the precise amount of money he demanded during the government shutdown fight. Hes got sufficient funding without a national emergency, he can build a wall and avoid a dangerous precedent, Alexander told reporters afterward, referring to billions from a drug forfeiture fund and anti-drug smuggling money at the Defense Department. That would change the voting situation if he we were to agree to do that. ...[Trump] told Sean Hannity that Republicans who oppose him put themselves at great jeopardy and said its very dangerous to vote against border security. Some GOP senators shrugged off that sentiment. I always do what I think is the right thing to do, said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who is undecided. As long as Im satisfied with myself, thats the person Im going to satisfy. Republicans spent all week debating how to deal with the political headache of seeing a president from their party use some of the same unilateral tactics they panned under President Barack Obama. After introducing her own resolution of disapproval directly on the Senate floor Thursday, Collins said her Republican colleagues are very uneasy about the precedent. I dont think emergencies are a good way to run the government. And the president needs permission from Congress to get money, said Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Thursday. Despite those words, he hasnt made a final decision on his vote. ...Despite his clear opposition to Trumps national emergency declaration, Alexander deemed the looming vote on disapproval a hypothetical, since Trump could withdraw it or the House-passed resolution could be amended. Under current law, the House measure will come up by mid-March, and Alexander left little doubt that hes just one of a large bloc of Republicans who could defy the president. Trumps national emergency declaration for border wall funding is unnecessary, unwise and inconsistent with the Constitution, Alexander told reporters. And many Republican senators who can speak for themselves share that view. Weve never had a case where the president has asked for money, been refused the money by Congress, then used the national emergency powers to spend it anyway, he added. To me thats a dangerous precedent. Washington Monthly Last week David Atkins, writing for the pushed back on some of the lame ideas ritually asserted by the Republican wing of the Democratic Party upon which they claim their right to dominate a party they are so obviously out of touch with. "Probably the most annoying frequently repeated shibboleth," he wrote, referring to another in a series of anti-AOC screeds pushed by corporate media, "is the notion that centrists make for more effective legislators than progressives. This is not the case by any quantifiable metric. In fact, centrist involvement has historically proved catastrophic for Democratic priorities. The most recent notable case was when Max Baucus was allowed to dither with the Affordable Care Act for months. That dilatory measure was not only counterproductive, it cost Senator Ted Kennedy his chance to vote on the landmark legislation. Meanwhile, Joe Lieberman (who, it must be noted, was endorsed by almost the entire Democratic establishment in his own primary battle against Ned Lamont) singlehandedly killed the initiative to allow the Medicare age to be reduced to the age of 50. It was not the progressives who harmed the Affordable Care Act in its march to passage; it was the centrists. Time and time again, the Third Way wing pretends that by being conciliatory enough with Republicans, Democrats can get votes from across the aisle to pass necessary legislation. This is a fantasy, a pipe dream far more far fetched than any progressive wish list. Progressives start with the understanding that Republicans will automatically blockade anything decent, then figure out what will be legislatively required to accomplish the necessary goals. It is worse than useless to start by trying to figure out what kind of compromise a bipartisan majority will accept. In fact, weakened platforms and confused messaging, which result from such an approach, end up doing more harm than good." Historically, the anti-progressive faction of politics-- whether Federalists, Whigs, Democrats or Republicans in their day-- opposed ideas like the Declaration of Independence and the break with Britain, the Bill of Rights, public education, emancipation of the slaves, unions, government regulatory initiatives, the minimum wage, Social Security, Medicare, expanding suffrage to include non-property owners, women, former slaves, young people... That's what conservatives do; that's what conservatives are... defenders of the status quo, whether we're talking about Trump or McTurtle or Status Quo Joe, the Republican Party, the Blue Dogs, the New Dems, Third Way, No Labels, Problem Solvers... they are all essentially the same-- corrupted men and women willing to take money from the wealthy to act on the public stage as their agents. "What progressives are doing," continued Atkins, "is laying down the marker that if this system wont allow the Green New Deal to be enacted, they will change the system until it does-- whatever it takes. If that means eliminating the filibuster? So be it. Need to add states to the union? Go for it. Term limits for justices or packing courts? Sign them up. This might seem like fantastical thinking, but it actually carries a greater dose of realism about both the current political situation and about the opposition in the Republican Party Any 'solution' that would realistically get the vote of even a single Republican senator wouldnt come close to doing what the moment actually requires. Which means that progressives dont care what the center-left thinks it might be able to pass, because thats ultimately irrelevant. Progressives are saying what is necessary, and then determining just how far theyll need to go to get there. And not just to deal with climate change, but also radical inequality, the destruction of the middle class, and much more besides." In These Times. A short, right to the point essay last week, Joel Bleifuss is the editor and publisher of. A short, right to the point essay last week, How Third Way Democrats Could Get Trump Re-elected isn't referring to creepy, crawly fake Democrats like Mark Penn, Nancy Jacobson and Andrew Stein going to work to reelect Trump-- as I did Saturday -- but today's versions of the DLC leading the Democratic Party down the path of ruin. He notes that former DLC president, a conservative Arkansas governor, Bill Clinton managed to snatch the Democratic nomination, win the presidency and wreck the bond between the Democratic Party and the working class. But the DLC's death in 2011 wasn't the good news it should have been. "[T]his creature of the Third Way," he wrote, "did not slither into the sunset. Rather, it shed its skin and emerged in 2017 as New Democracy , a political action committee. New Democracy is coiled to strike in 2020. Its advisory board includes declared presidential candidate John Delaney, a former Maryland congressman and millionaire businessman, along with two other possible presidential contenders: Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who said in January that he is 'probably' in the race, and former New Orleans mayor, Mitch Landrieu, a self-proclaimed 'radical centrist.' Third Way Democrats love the word 'radical.' The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), the DLC-affiliated think tank, brags that it deploys 'its trademark philosophy of radical pragmatism' as part of 'the vanguard' working 'to design a distinctly American hybrid of publicprivate action'-- in other words, privatization of government services." New Democracy founder Will Marshall expands on this point in a recent article for The Daily Beast, Hey, Democratic Socialists: More Big Government Wont Fix What Ails Us. He writes that, rather than emulate European-style statism as advocated by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the new socialist idol, progressives should offer voters an indigenous and decentralized vision for effecting radical change. Marshall is also a founder of both the late DLC and the PPI, which shares an office with New Democracy. PPI funders have included the weapons manufacturer Raytheon, Dow Chemical and General Electric, along with the right-wing Bradley Foundation, which funds the American Legislative Exchange Council [ALEC]. Just as there is nothing progressive about PPI, there is nothing new about the ideas advanced by New Democracy. Like the Republican Party, New Democracy is death on single-payer healthcare, which the groups website explains would force working Americans to give up their doctors, and raise the threat of rationing care. Back in 2010, PPI wonks ensured that the White House not push for a public option-- a government-run nonprofit insurance option-- in Obamacare. New Democracys stated goal in 2020 is to expand the partys appeal across Middle America and make Democrats competitive. Pragmatic radicals like Marshall advocate doing so not by tear[ing] up existing trade agreements but by building a knowledge economy that is shaped largely by American ingenuity and technological prowessa vision crafted for corporate America under the guise of aiding downwardly mobile white working people who, according to the New Democracy fairy tale, were abandoned by Democrats in 2016. Not so. The abandonment dates to the 1990s, when the DLC, PPI and Bill Clinton championed free trade policies that destroyed the livelihoods of working people of all races, including many of Hillary Clintons deplorables. Hillarys speechifying may have opened the purses of Goldman Sachs bankers, but she failed to woo white non-college-educated voters who supported Barack Obama in 2012, and she lost the critical states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. According to the calculations of Ruy Teixeira at the Center for American Progress, Clinton would be president had she had won over just 25 percent of these former Obama voters. Indeed, if Clinton had campaigned, as Bernie Sanders did, against trade agreements like NAFTA that benefit the rich and the powerful, it is a good bet that Donald Trump would not be president. If New Democracy steers Democratic strategy in 2020, it is a good bet he will remain president. The New Democracy PAC-- a Super PAC-- hasn't spent any money on elections so far and has raised relatively modest amounts from just 8 key contributors ( with the help of Harry Reid ): Netjets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots- $15,000 Ernst & Young- $10,000 DTE Energy- $5,000 National Electrical Contractors Association- $5,000 Fresenius Medical Care North America- $5,000 Genentech Inc- $5,000 American Apparel & Footwear Association- $5,000 National Auto Dealers Association- $5,000 Matt McClain for The Washington Post via Getty Images(RICHMOND. Va.) -- John Boyd said he first met Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to talk about how the government shutdown was impacting black farmers. Nearly two weeks after their first meeting, Virginia would be consumed by a series of race-related scandals embroiling the governor, first lady, and attorney general. Northam faced national backlash and calls from some in his state to step down after a photo, which depicts two men, one in a Ku Klux Klan robe and another in blackface, on his yearbook page. Northam has denied he was in the picture, has not resigned and has since been on a racial reconciliation tour of sorts meeting with civil rights leaders and others. Those conservations included discussions with Boyd who, for three decades, has advocated for black farmers as the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association. He says Northams lack of political experience has been a hindrance in his ability to bounce back following the yearbook controversy. I believe sometimes the governor may not have the right choice of words, due to the fact that hes clearly not a sharped-edged politician thats been poised at doing those type of off-the-cuff comments over the career, he said. Boyd is a fourth-generation farmer who has testified in Congress, met with presidential candidates, and has successfully lobbied for legislation from Rep. Maxine Waters and then-Sen. Barack Obama in efforts to fight discriminatory practices against black farmers. That included legislation that paid $1.25 billion to black farmers who filed a civil rights lawsuit saying they were discriminated against by the U.S. Agriculture Department. In the past month, Boyd said he has met with the governor two additional times and has had several phone calls during which he has had frank discussions about race relations. He describes the situation as a very teachable moment. A spokeswoman for the governor said Northam "values his friendship and appreciated Mr. Boyd provided to visit with Virginia black farmers and discuss the challenges they face." Boyd, meanwhile, posted a photo to Twitter in February from his meeting with Northam, where he urged the governor not to resign. Northam responded by saying, "John, I enjoyed hearing from you today. Thank you for your great work on behalf of Black farmers." John, I enjoyed hearing from you today. Thank you for your great work on behalf of Black farmers. https://t.co/xShKsVHLq0 Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 8, 2019 Boyd said he has become an ally to the governor and has called for him to stay in office. He adds that Northam understands the severity" of what was depicted in the photo and "he understands the impact of what he has to do to move forward and heal Virginia. On the last day of Black History Month, Northam spoke at the Richmond Slave Trail Commission for the opening of a new exhibition series. During his remarks, which were his first public appearance in weeks, Northam made no mention of the yearbook photo. This year, were marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia. Your work and this exhibit are important components of telling the story of where those first Africans were taken from and what happened here in Virginia, Northam said. By keeping Northam in office, Boyd believes it would be more beneficial to African-Americans than replacing him with a new governor. I think as if there is some pressure there for the governor to have to step it up and do some things for the African-American community, Boyd added. A new governor may come in and not have to do anything, may not have to feel like they have to do anything in the African American community. He believes Virginia has the chance to take something bad and turn it into something good. Boyds decision to stick by Northam aligns with the 58 percent of African-American voters who in late February said that they believe that Northam should remain in office, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted last month. He, like several African-American Northam supporters ABC News spoke to in recent weeks, said: The issue of blackface opened up a national dialogue, not just in Virginia but nationally. Terrie Pendleton stood alone on a corner in the shadows of the Virginia State Capitol on a cold February day, holding a sign that read: African American! Woman! Gay! I believe that Governor Northam & Attorney General Herring should stay! During an interview with ABC News, Pendleton said she doesn't feel the governor should step aside. Why should Governor Northam and Mark Herring resign? I think they should stay and I think we should find a bigger picture here. Something we can all learn from. Forgiveness equals change, Pendelton said, stressing that this was a teachable moment for America. There was a bigger picture that Americans "can learn from this we can grow from this" Pendleton added. Boyd stressed that blackface is not just a Virginia issue, but a national issue. However, in Virginia, thorny issues of race and politics have taken a particularly public and contentious turn. Pam Northam, the wife of the embattled governor, apologized on Wednesday after she allegedly gave out raw cotton and asked black children to imagine being slaves who were forced to pick cotton during a governors mansion tour. Virginia's Attorney General Mark Herring, who is white and is third in line for the governorship, apologized for attending a 1980 party dressed as rapper Kurtis Blow and wearing brown makeup on his face. After his meeting last week with Northam at his farm in rural Virginia, Boyd says hes reached out to Herring and is expected to speak to the governor for a scheduled follow up in the coming days. He called the governor's wife's comments "clearly a poor choice of words during a very poor time of history. He added that "being Virginia and that particular mansion, being the oldest [occupied] executive mansion that has slave quarters, this could be looked upon poorly in the black community. Going forward, Boyd believes Virginia's first lady should greet visitors and let African-Americans talk about the brutal and complex history of cotton in the state and how that history has impacted African Americans. And while he hasnt spoken to Northam recently, Boyd plans on advising him to hire an African-American senior staffer that can advise him about race-relations, something hes advocated the governor on before. He hopes Northam will take his advice. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake has one of the best locations in Hanoi. Photo acquired by VnExpress Malaysia-based Berjaya Group has sold its 75 percent stake in the five-star InterContinental Hanoi Westlake hotel to Hanoi Hotel Tourism Development Company JSC. Berjaya said the deal was worth VND1.24 trillion ($53.6 million). The hotel has one of the best locations in Hanoi, being built right on top of the West Lake and close to the capital city's Old Quarter. Berjaya Group, a conglomerate with interests in consumer marketing, property development, investment, hotels, resorts, and amusement facilities, owned its stake indirectly through T.P.C. Nghi Tam Village JSC (Nghi Tam Village). It owned 75 percent of Nghi Tam, while the remaining 25 percent is owned by construction and furniture company Thang Long GTC. Hanoi Hotel Tourism Development was established last October with a charter capital of VND658 billion ($28.35 million). The $53.6 million value of the sale was worth three times Berjaya's initial investment. Berjaya Group currently holds a 50 percent stake in another five-star hotel, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, and owns 70 percent of Long Beach Resort Phu Quoc in Phu Quoc, Vietnam's biggest island off the central coast. The Transport Ministry might organize a competitive bid for constructing a third terminal (T3) at the nations largest airport. So far, the ministry has received two proposals, one from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which currently manages and operates all civil airports in the country, and another from private company FLC Group, which launched Bamboo Airways in January. "In case we receive more than one proposal, the ministry will have to organize competitive bidding," Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said at a recent press conference. "The Ministry is now gathering all proposals, working with government agencies and State Capital Management Committee to soon choose investors according to the law," said Dong. The construction of T3 has been designated by the Government as an urgent task "to resolve congestion both in the air and on the ground." The project has been approved and the Ministry of Transport has been assigned to implement it. ACV submitted a detailed pre-feasibility report on the project in early January. The report estimated total cost at over VND11.43 trillion ($496.18 million), which ACV would raise on its own. The preparation of a feasibility report, selection of architectural plans would be completed in February 2020; construction would begin in Q3 of 2020, and finish in Q2 of 2020. ACV has proposed that T3 has a capacity of 20 million passengers per year, with a total floor area of about 100,000 square meters. The corporation would also build in tandem an additional airport apron, a two-lane overhead path, a 5-lane viaduct in front of the terminal and a multi-storey car park. The FLC Group submitted its own investment proposal earlier this week, details of which have not been revealed, except for the assurance that if approved, the group would focus its resources on finishing the terminal within a year. Tan Son Nhat Airport currently handles 36 million passengers per year, which is way above its designed capacity of 25 million. Previously, fashion retail distributor Imex Pan Pacific Co. Ltd (IPP) and budget carrier Vietjet Air had showed interest in investing in the airport's third terminal. Vietnams capital: from war-torn city to Trump-Kim summit host Hanoi was devastated by the savage U.S. bombing, but has more or less fully recovered and is now a bustling modern city. The air raid alarm went off one winter night in 1972. Nguyen Manh Tuan, a resident of Kham Thien Street, woke up and went down to the bunker right below his bed. Outside, the dark night lit up with bombs dropped by a U.S B-52. It was one of 12 consecutive days and nights on which the U.S Air Force carried out Operation Linebacker II, with B-52s dropping bombs. It resulted in 2,380 civilian deaths and 1,300 injuries. When Tuan got out of the house, he saw the whole street had been destroyed and filled with rubble and debris of collapsed walls. The Hanoi Railway Station had been bombed with the grand clock on its front knocked down, Tuan recalls. L: Hanoi Railway Station destroyed in bombing in 1972. Photo by Shutterstock/Vietnam Stocks Image R: Hanoi Railway Station now. Photo acquired by VnExpress That was Hanoi five decades ago, shattered by nearly 20,000 tons of explosives dropped on it. Now Hanoi plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the award of the title "City for Peace" by UNESCO in July 1999. It has just hosted the second U.S-North Korea summit where U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un discussed denuclearization and efforts to achieve peace. Today Hanoi has a population of seven million, 132 times the number in 1954. In the same period it has expanded from 152 square kilometers to 3,000 square kilometers. During the summit Hanoi was lit up with flowers and lights. There is a lot of high-rise buildings in the city. Lines of cars and motorbikes fill the streets during rush hours. In the memory of Hanoians, Hanoi gave off a peaceful vibe in the late 20th century. But what used to be a small city with narrow streets, unassuming shops and few vehicles is now filled with skyscrapers, luxurious restaurants and cafes. "Back in the day having a bicycle meant you were affluent," Doan Hoa, 80, says. "The streets were without traffic, even in the downtown." Sofitel Metropole Hotel Hanoi then and now. Photo acquired by VnExpress Hoa used to work at a public library on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, just a few buildings away from the Melia Hotel, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stayed. Every day she used to cycle to work with a small lunch box of rice and some pickled greens. Now, as she travels by bus through the area, she has gradually gotten used to the wide new roads packed with people and vehicles. In the 10 years from 2008 to 2017 Hanoi spent $2 billion on traffic infrastructure, building eight modern roads to connect the city centre with the suburbs. But still vivid in Hoas memory of Hanoi are the honking sound of the radio signaling approaching enemy planes, hurried evacuations to the suburbs, and bittersweet memories of the subsidy period before the country's Doi moi reform began in 1986. During the subsidy period a familys monthly food rations were listed in a rice book, which was among her most valuable belongings. "We used to queue in line to be able to buy anything. Now we can buy the groceries we need at many supermarkets out there, so I almost forget how hard it was." Doi moi eventually resulted in improvement in the economy. For years now the city economy has been growing at a rapid and steady rate. But modernity has not erased Hanois ancient values. Despite the high-rise buildings and bumper-to-bumper traffic, among the modernity Hoa can still see the remnants of the old. "Now we have many tall beautiful buildings, and the old constructions also look more modern," Hoa says pointing at the grand shopping malls and luxury foreign brands whose names she cannot pronounce. "But I can still feel the old Hanoi here, in the old places like Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter." Dong Xuan, one of Hanoi's biggest markets. Photo acquired by VnExpress While the US president likes his steaks well done, the North Korean leader has rarer tastes. Paul Smart, the executive chef at the Metropole hotel in Hanoi, worked closely with two of the North Korean leader's personal chefs on the meals prepared during the two-day summit. An intimate dinner on the first day featured marinated tender sirloin served with kimchi-stuffed pear, but the principals missed out on a foie gras and snow fish lunch as negotiations over the North's weapons programmes and international sanctions ground to a halt. AFP/Noel CELIS Australian chef Paul Smart, who oversaw meal preparations for the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, inside the Metropole Hotel's kitchen in Hanoi. The team had strict instructions on how to prepare the meat, Smart said. "Kim had medium-rare to rare, very rare," he told AFP. "And Trump had well done." The US president is known for his simple culinary tastes, but Kim's preference for bloodier meat showed an appreciation for quality, Smart said. "He really likes to dine and experience cuisine for what it is." According to his chefs -- both of them called Kim -- the North Korean leader has expensive tastes, Smart added. "He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine." Each side in the Metropole kitchen prepared dishes of its own, with the North Koreans bringing all their own ingredients -- including the steaks, carried in a chilled metal container on board Kim's train. AFP / Saul LOEBUS President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un dined on steak at dinner during their summit in Hanoi The beef was "very natural and marbled, very red", Smart said, suggesting that -- as with Japanese wagyu -- cattle may be allowed to roam free in North Korea. But aside from ox-drawn carts, bovines are a rare sight in the North Korean countryside. AFP/Saul LOEBUS President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un dined on steak at dinner during their summit in Hanoi. The impoverished country consistently fails to produce enough food to feed itself and according to the United Nations, more than 10 million people -- around 40 percent of the population -- need food aid. But for those who can afford it, there is an increasing number of coffee shops in Pyongyang, where restaurants offer cuisines ranging from Western to Japanese. Sanctions breach? Trump previously stayed at the Metropole during a state visit in 2017 -- in the $4,800 a night top suite -- when Smart stocked the freezer in his room with six tubs of vanilla ice cream to ensure his sweet tooth could be satisfied. On Wednesday Trump ate every last morsel of his chocolate lava cake dessert, while the main course was almost certainly the first time the US president has consumed North Korean beef. AFP/Noel CELIS Australian chef Paul Smart, who oversaw meal preparations for the Hanoi summit, said the North Koreans brought only the best ingredients. AFP / Noel CELIS Australian chef Paul Smart, who oversaw meal preparations for the Hanoi summit, said the North Koreans brought only the best ingredients For an ordinary American citizen eating a steak provided by the North Korean leader could potentially violate the sanctions Washington has imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes. In June 2016, the US Treasury designated Kim and other North Korean officials as subject to sanctions for their roles in human rights abuses by the North. Under Section 6 of Executive Order 13722, the legislation, which applied to Kim, US citizens are barred from receiving "goods" from any sanctioned person. But as US president on official business, the rule does not apply to Trump himself: another clause says that transactions "for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government" are not prohibited. Shrimp cocktail Sniffer dogs were brought in to sweep the kitchen ahead of the summit, and food samplers from both sides tasted each dish before it went out to the Metropole tables. "Everything was individually wrapped, it was very hygienically packed and everything," Smart said of the North Korean supplies. "They even brought a little alcohol swab to swab down their knives, swab down their chopping boards. In a clinical way they prepared the food very nicely." The two chefs were talented and "very nice", the Australian added, and "very intrigued by the way that we're doing things and the style that we're cooking". They had one culinary blind spot: they had never before seen a shrimp cocktail, the 1980s American classic which Trump requested for the opening dinner. "They were really intrigued by the taste" of thousand island dressing, Smart said. "So I gave them the recipe and they took it home with them." AFP/Noel CELIS Chefs preparing food inside the Metropole Hotel's kitchen in Hanoi, where the summit between US President Donald Trump and Nortrh Korean leader Kim Jong Un was held. In return, they explained how to make kimchi, the fermented cabbage side dish that is a mainstay of Korean cuisine. For lunch on the summit's second day, the North Koreans were responsible for the apple foie gras jelly appetisers -- again providing their own ingredients, and carving long-beaked birds of out of a white seaweed jelly for presentation. "It was really kind of a masterpiece," Smart said. They were laid out on the table, but the leaders never sat down as the summit deadlocked over Washington's demand the North close its Yongbyon nuclear complex and Pyongyang's desire for relief from UN Security Council sanctions. The leaders left without a signing ceremony or the scheduled meal, to the disappointment of the culinary team. Instead, hotel staff ate Smart's main course of grilled snow fish, roasted vegetables and rice pilaf. "It was delicious," said Anthony Slewka, Metropole's sales and marketing director -- and the hotel is now considering offering guests the same menu. North Korea has no economic future if it has nuclear weapons: Trump North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump meet for the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi. Photo by KCNA via Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons. The Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises. "North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they dont have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong." According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two "made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the Pentagon said. South Koreas military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning on visiting the United States in the coming week to meet with U.S. officials to discuss the second U.S.-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the U.S. and South Korea had agreed to "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." U.S. officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the U.S. and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. The second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from February 27-28 in Hanoi, Vietnam ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbiers death. Trump said he was trying to maintain "a delicate balance" to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kims leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbiers treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the U.S. mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster like." Turkey expects to sign free trade deal with Ukraine soon Turkey is in talks on a free trade area with 17 countries now. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Russia sells stolen Donbas coal as its own to Turkey, Europe without latter's knowing that Ukraine's minister South Ossetia and other unrecognized quasi-state entities are widely involved in the scheme. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter After many meetings and debates, the Chicago delegation succeeded in working with the New York United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 (UFT) to push the AFT to take stronger stands on charter school accountability and school closings though many delegates from Chicago would have liked the language to have been even stronger. Generally speaking, the New York delegation represented organizing charters as the best model for handling their role in reshaping unions, despite the fact that according to many reports few charter schools in New York have been organized as is the case in Chicago. This logic is the same touted by the Progressive Caucus of the AFT. The few that have been organized are a part of the UFT local though they have separate contracts negotiated with the help of UFT. The Chicago delegation reflection the mindset that allowing new charters to continue to proliferate while attempting to organize existing charters is an end game in which public schools and the union lose. Jen Johnson, CTU, Local 1 in Substance The Iranian Judiciarys High Council for Human Rights has lambasted the United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in Iran for his latest report on the country. In his latest report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on February 27, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran Javaid Rehman voiced concern over human rights violations in Iran, in particular the way the death penalty is implemented. A British-Pakistani legal scholar and professor of Islamic law and international law at Brunel University, Rehman expressed deep regret that children as young as 9 years old can still be executed, noting that at least 33 minors have been executed since 2013. Retaliating, the Iranian judiciarys High Council for Human Rights rejected the report as baseless, saying Rehman is "misusing his position to spread propaganda against the Islamic Republic. Once again, Tehran has responded by targeting the UN rapporteur rather than the facts reflected in his report, according to human rights activists. In a statement issued on March 2, the High Council for Human Rights said Rehmans numerous "interviews" with various media outlets including the BBC, which is well known for its hostile reports against Iran, are a blatant violation of the UN framework, within which he has been chosen as special rapporteur, local news outlets reported. The High Council for Human Rights is led by the brother of the judiciary and parliament speaker Mohammad Javad Larijani, who cautioned that if the UN high commissioner is incapable of controlling Rehman's violations and stop his misbehavior, Tehran will review its overall cooperation with the international body. However, Larijani did not elaborate on the accusations leveled against Rehman. Focusing on the execution of child offenders, Rehman had said that Iran must "urgently amend legislation to prohibit the execution of persons who committed [a crime] while below the age of 18 years and as such are children, and urgently amend the legislation to commute all existing sentences for child offenders on death row. Directly addressing the high authorities in Iran, Rehman had asked them to provide the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the special rapporteur with a list of all child offenders on death row. Responding to the report, Larijani has sufficed to dismiss Rehman's report as "baseless" and "unrealistic. Echoing Larijani's statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi also said Iran believes that the extension of the mandate of the special rapporteur for another year is unjustifiable and unnecessary. Once again, Qassemi stopped short of presenting any evidence proving Rehman's latest report as irrelevant and unfair. Tehran has not responded yet to Rahman's allegations, which include coerced confessions, suppressing workers, teachers, and Sufi dervishes of the Gonabadi denomination, and widespread discrimination against the Kurdish, Baha'i, and Sunni minorities. The Central bank of Iran (CBI) announced on Saturday March 2 That five banks and financial institutions affiliated with the Iranian armed forces will be merged into Bank Sepah. Iranian banks have been suffering from financial crisis for several years, with outstanding loans given to insiders and lack of proper banking supervision. Many credit institutions have gone bankrupt, leaving millions of ordinary people with no savings. This has put undue burden on the government and the central bank to often rescue shaky banks. According to the CBI, the measure is based on a ratification by the Money and Credit Council and the High Economic Council, which has been approved by the heads of the three branches of the government as part of an initiative "to reform the banking system and putting the money market in proper shape." Iranian economist Ahmad Alavi told Radio Farda that, "According to the Central Bank the aim of the merger is to 'solve some problems' in the banking system, but there is no transparency regarding the nature of those problems. However, the problems appear to be a combination of lack of compliance to banking regulations, lack of transparency, as well as money laundering and high risk of bankruptcy." Alavi stresses that these banks are plagued by widespread corruption, and offering unreasonable interests, while they are practically on the verge of bankruptcy because of heavy losses. Nevertheless, the Central Bank conceals the problem to prevent customers from rushing to the banks to withdraw their money. The five entities to be merged into Bank Sepah are: Bank Ansar, Bank Qavamin, Bank Hekmat Iranian, Bank Mehr Eqtesad and Kowsar Credit Institute. Some of these are said to be suffering from accrued losses. Kowsar Credit Institute was established by the Ministry of Defense in 2008. Bank Ansar belongs to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and is part of the IRGC's cooperative foundation. Bank Mehr Eqtesad Iran, which belongs to the Basij militia force, was first launched as the Basij Fund in 1993 to offer banking services to Basij members, but it later extended the scope of its activities to public domain. Bank Qavamin was established in the year 2000 by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who was Iran's police chief at the time. Qalibaf later started his political activity and became the mayor of Tehran and took part in several rounds of presidential elections with no success. Bank Hekmat Iranian belongs to the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Central bank says that after the merger, all of the services rendered previously to their customers by individual entities, will be offered by Bank Sepah "with a strong management, as usual." It was the Iranian minister of defense brigadier general Amir Hatami, who in 2017 first broke the news about delegating some of the financial entities affiliated with the armed forces to civilian organizations. Hatami said at the time, that the Islamic Republic leader Ali Khamenei has ordered the chief of staff of the armed forces to do a feasibility study about delegating "irrelevant" organizations within the army, IRGC and Ministry of Defense to civilian bodies. Bank Sepah, which is going to take delivery of the armed forces' financial empire, has been maintaining close links to the military from the date of its inception, as it is the bank that handles military personnel's financial affairs, including their salaries and pensions. Some economic observers say like most other Iranian Banks, Sepah has not been paid back the loans it has given to well-connected individuals and financial entities in recent years. According to the Central Bank, the Iranian Stock Exchange Organization is to handle issues relating to the shareholders of the four bank and one financial institutions to be merged in Bank Sepah. The CBI has promised that all those who worked for individual banks and institutions would be carrying out their responsibilities as before and the payment of their salaries will not be halted at any point. However, economic analysts have said that laying off a number of their staff members currently working at more than 2000 branches will be inevitable. Previous plans by banking managers for the merger of some of these banks have remained inconclusive. However, the merger is more likely to materialize this time as it is evident by the calibre of decision makers and the pressures on the banking system that forces it to tighten its organization. WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) The Trump administration is comfortable that there is enough oil in the global market months into its program of unilaterally re-imposing sanctions on OPEC-member Iran, the State Department's energy envoy said on Friday. U.S. law requires that the Energy Information Administration, the statistics arm of the Energy Department, studies whether oil market supplies are ample enough to carry out the sanctions. The Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on Iran's crude oil exports in November over its nuclear program and influence in Syria and other countries in the Middle East. The sanctions have roughly halved Iran's oil exports from last April to about 1.25 million barrels per day. "We're quite comfortable ... given that EIA continues to on a monthly basis to adjust their forecasts ... upward," Frank Fannon, the energy envoy, said at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. "I think that's a pretty powerful signal." Fannon and other U.S. officials have said the Trump administration's goal is to push Iran's oil exports to zero. But actually doing so could prove difficult amid strong oil demand, especially in China and India. Oil output is rising quickly in the United States, the world's top petroleum consumer, helping to keep global oil markets balanced. U.S. crude oil production has risen by more than 2 million barrels per day over the past year to a record 12 million barrels per day. In November, the United States granted waivers to China and seven other importers, allowing them to continue importing Iranian oil as long as they cut the purchases significantly. The administration is set to decide whether it will renew waivers to oil-consuming countries on May 4. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Dan Grebler) Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3 Trend: Military units of the armed forces of Armenia violated ceasefire 20 times throughout the day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said March 3, Trend reports. Armenian armed forces, located on nameless hills in Noyemberyan region, in Berkaber village of Ijevan region, in Chinari village of Berd region, and on nameless hills in Krasnoselsk region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijan Army located in Gaymagly, Mazam villages of Gazakh region, in Aghbulag, Munjuglu villages of Tovuz region, and on nameless hills in Gadabay region. The positions of Azerbaijan Army were also fired from positions of Armenian military units located near the occupied Javahirli, Yusifjanly villages of Aghdam region, Horadiz village of Fuzuli region, Nuzgar village of Jabrayil region, as well as from positions located on nameless hills in Terter and Aghdam regions. 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. Tehran, Iran, March 3 Trend: A mafia group with 110 clothing stores in Iran hinders the fight against smuggling the clothing, Saeed Jalali Ghadiri, secretary of Iranian Textile Exporter & Manufacturers Association (ITEMA) told Trend. In addition to the currency fluctuation, the most important problem in Irans garment sector is smuggling of clothing, he said. According to the assessment of the Headquarters of Fighting Smuggling of Goods and Currency, the total value of the clothing imported to Iran stands at $2.7 billion, while at the customs, only $60 million worth clothing are declared as imported. It means that most of the imported clothing has been smuggled into the country. Ghadiri noted that recently, the Headquarters of Fighting Smuggling of Goods and Currency began the fight against smuggling, and as soon as it began, a massive opposition started, which disturbed the market. When the Headquarters began to combat against 110 stores, suddenly a lot of controversy raised, which means that a powerful group is behind the scene, he said. But fortunately, the Headquarters did not give up and is executing its plan. The smuggling of clothing has become a tradition. Today, the foreign brands which are famous in our country are unknown in their own country and this is a weakness of our system, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: The medicines produced in Iran mainly meet the country's needs through minimum currency worth about $600-700 million, Mehdi Pirsalehi, chairman of the Iranian Food and Drug Administration, said. This Iranian year (started on March 21, 2018) was one of the most difficult years for the Iranian pharmaceutical industry, Pirsalehi added, Trend reports referring to IRNA. Despite all the problems, the shortage of local medicines was minimal, he said. Iranian pharmaceutical companies have not ceased their activity despite sanctions, he added. Pirsalehi said if Iran does not strengthen the local pharmaceutical industry, it will face problems due to the sanctions. Next Iranian year may be a hard year for the pharmaceutical industry. However, the local potential can save Iran from these problems, he said. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 3 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: In 2019, Italy will become a new export destination for Azerbaijan's Ganja Aluminum Plant, a source at the company told Trend. The source noted that presently, almost all of the plant's production is exported. "The company's products are exported to a number of European countries and the former USSR countries, and in the coming months, exports to the Italian market will be arranged. In order to ensure continuity of exports, the Ganja Aluminum Plant plans to increase production volumes as well," the source said. The company plans to increase production volumes to 52,447 tons. This figure amounted to 51,967 tons in 2018. The company produces primary and final aluminum products, as well as semi-finished products, such as rolled aluminum. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 3 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A round table meeting was held in Paris dedicated to the trade and economic relations between Turkmenistan and France, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The event was organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan together with the French-Turkmen Chamber of Commerce. The discussion was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, as well as the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Economy and Finance of France, the leaders of French companies and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry "MEDEF International." The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation. Representatives of French companies expressed their willingness to participate in major projects in Turkmenistan, the report said. French companies operate in Turkmenistan in such areas as construction, transport, tourism and energy. The two countries are also interested in the implementation of a project of transporting Turkmen gas to Europe. The option of laying a gas pipeline through the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan and its connecting to the transnational projects in the European direction is being considered. The French Total and Gas de France companies are interested in developing the hydrocarbon resources of the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea and exploring the possibilities of transporting gas to Europe. Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 3 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Gas supply from Azerbaijan to Georgia may increase by 11 percent in 2019, Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR told Trend. "SOCAR Georgia Gas LLC has imported around 500 million cubic meters of natural gas to Georgia from early 2019 to late February this year. The company plans to directly supply additionally around 1.26 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia by late 2019," said the company. SOCAR said that in total, gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Georgia this year via all suppliers may exceed 2.45 billion cubic meters of gas, thats to say, by 11 percent more than in 2018. SOCAR exports gas extracted at Azerbaijani fields through its own funds to Georgia without participation of foreign companies. Moreover, Georgia receives Azerbaijani gas extracted at Shah Deniz offshore field with participation of SOCAR and foreign companies. Presently, SOCAR is the major supplier of natural gas, oil and oil products to Georgia. SOCARs subsidiaries are engaged in expansion and modernization of the countrys gas distribution systems, development of filling stations under SOCARs brand and have an oil terminal in Georgias Kulevi Black Sea Port, which supplies Azerbaijani oil and oil products to the world markets. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, located in Irans Bushehr province, has temporarily ceased its activity for repair and fuel replacement, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Irans Atomic Energy Organization, said. According to the program, Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has been recently shut down for about two months, Kamalvandi added, Trend reports referring to Irans iranenergy website. Kamalvandi added that this work was carried out in coordination with the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization and the Energy Ministry. It would have been better for the plant to carry out this work in summer. Annual repair usually accounts for March to prevent electricity shortages, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, March 3 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Three border guards were swept away in floods in Irans south-eastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, Mohammad Hadi Marashi, assistant governor of the Sistan and Baluchestan province, said. The border guards were in surveillance tower, Marashi added, Trend reports referring to ISNA. When trying to leave the tower, one of the border guards was swept away in floods. When two other servicemen wanted to rescue him, they were also swept away in floods. The bodies of all three servicemen were found. Rainfall has resulted in overflowing rivers and some roads have been blocked. A total of 183 people were injured during protests across Algeria on Friday against President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas bid for election to a fifth term, the state news agency APS said on Saturday, citing the health ministry, Trend reports citing Reuters. One person died of a heart attack, officials said earlier. Tens of thousands of protesters called on the ailing, 82-year-old Bouteflika to abandon plans to seek re-election in an April presidential vote Algerias biggest anti-government rallies since the Arab Spring eight years ago. He has not formally confirmed he will stand, although representatives have indicated he will do so. APS reported on Saturday that Bouteflika had named Abdelghani Zaalane as his campaign director. Fridays protests were mostly peaceful but scuffles between police and protesters broke out in the evening near the presidential place in the capital Algiers. Algiers was quiet on Saturday. Large-scale demonstrations rarely seen in Algeria with its ubiquitous security services against Bouteflikas re-election move began a week ago, but Friday saw the biggest turnout yet. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since. His re-election bid stoked resentment among Algerians who believe he is not fit to run the major oil- and gas-producing country. Bouteflikas campaign manager had said on Tuesday he would submit his official application on Sunday, the deadline for candidates. Bouteflika, who turned 82 on Saturday, has not directly addressed the protests. Authorities said last week he would travel to Geneva for unspecified medical checks. Swiss television said on Friday Bouteflika was at Geneva University Hospital. There was no official confirmation that Bouteflika was in the Swiss city. Many Algerians for years avoided politics in public, fearing trouble from the security services or disillusioned as the country has been run by the same group of veterans since the 1954-1962 independence war with France. Bouteflika has ruled since 1999 and stamped out a decade-long Islamist insurgency early in his rule. Algerians have long tolerated a political system with little space for dissent as a price to pay for peace and stability. A weak and divided opposition faces high hurdles in mounting an electoral challenge. Since the FLN party again picked Bouteflika as its presidential candidate, several parties, trade unions and business groups have endorsed him. The Syrian army said on Sunday that its forces repelled rebels' attack in the country's northwestern province of Latakia, Trend reported citing Xinhua. The rebels attempted to attack military positions in the northern countryside of Latakia, which prompted the Syrian army to respond. During the one-hour clashes, two Syrian soldiers were wounded and many of the rebels were killed, according to the report. It is the second attack launched by the rebels on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the rebels attacked military positions in the central province of Hama. The army said it foiled the attack in the northern countryside of Hama. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor, said 30 Syrian soldiers were killed in the Hama attack. Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is serving a 12-year prison term for corruption, proclaimed his innocence again on Saturday at the funeral of his 7-year-old grandson, saying he will prove he did no wrong by the time the two meet in heaven, Trend reports citing Reuters. According to the former presidents press office, Lulas grandson, Arthur, who succumbed to meningitis during the week, was bullied in school after his grandfathers arrest on charges of accepting a bribe from a construction firm while in office. On Friday, a judge granted Lula the right to leave prison in the southern city of Curitiba to attend his grandsons funeral, in a suburb of Sao Paulo, about 250 miles to the northeast. Lula, who served as president from 2003 to 2011, was among Brazils most popular presidents ever while in office, but his image was tarnished among many segments of the population as he become ensnared in several graft probes. The 12-year sentence relates to a luxury apartment he was gifted by construction firm Odebrecht. He has vigorously denied all charges against him and has portrayed them as part of a judicial coup. Lula stayed at the cemetery in the suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo for two hours, though did not speak publicly outside of the funeral ceremony, his press office said. It is the second loss of a family member for the former president this year. In January, Lulas brother, Genival Inacio da Silva, known as Vava, died. At that time, lawyers also sought the former presidents temporary release so he could attend the funeral. Lower courts rejected the request, but the Supreme Court allowed it. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises, Trend reports citing Reuters. North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they dont have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons, Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be very, very strong. According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the Pentagon said. South Koreas military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning to visit the United States in the coming week to meet US officials to discuss the second US-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the US and South Korea had agreed to newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs. US officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. South Koreas joint Chiefs of Staff and South Korea-United States Combined Forces Command said on Sunday that the two countries will conduct a military exercise from March 4 to 12. The exercise,Dong Maeng, which means Alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula. Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States, and United Nations Sending State Partners, said the ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-Ki and the CFC Commander, Gen. Robert B. Abe Abrams in a statement. It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance, the statement added. In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbiers death. Trump said he was trying to maintain a delicate balance to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kims leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbiers treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the US mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as gangster like. The United States and South Korea will hold the new "Dong Maeng" ("Alliance") combined military exercise on March 4-12 to replace the discontinued Key Resolve and Foal Eagle drills, Trend reported citing TASS. "Dong Maeng, which means alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula," they said in a joint press release. South Korea's Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense earlier said that they decided to discontinue the joint Key Resolve and Foal Eagle military exercise "to back diplomacy for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The decision was made by South Korea's Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan during their telephone conversation on Saturday. The move followed the two-day summit in Hanoi between US President Donald Trump and Nortk Korean leader Kim Jong Un. After several meetings on February 27-28, Trump and Kim decided not to sign a joint document but agreed to continue dialogue. Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine said that an interim application will be filed in the apex court on Wednesday. MEXICO: On Saturday, A large group of Central American migrants who U.S. authorities separated from their children last year when they crossed the Mexican border entered the United States again asking for refuge and to be reunited with their kids. A Reuters witness said some 50 people entered the United States at the international border crossing from Mexicali, Mexico into Calexico, California, where they were met by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). However it is to be noted that visibly nervous parents crossed the pedestrian bridge, some with children and carrying luggage, a Reuters witness said. They were accompanied by lawyers from immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado. The group said 29 parents crossed. also read Pakistan Media demanding Noble Peace Prize for PM Imran Khan, overlooking all terror attacks Joe Arteaga, a Honduran man separated from his 15-year old son last year, said before the crossing "We are waiting here in Mexicali, we arrived early. God willing and our cases can be seen,". he added "I know it's a big risk, but we hope for the best,". Erika Pinheiro, Litigation and Policy Director of Al Otro Lado said "This is a huge victory for these families, but this fight isn't over until they're reunited with their kids,". The families, who arrived back in Mexico helped by Al Otro Lado, which means "On the Other Side," hope to present their cases to U.S. authorities and be reunited with their children. also read Pak IAF F-16 pilot Family mourning in silent, see what drastic happen with him The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general said in a January report that the administration began ramping up separations in 2017. They accelerated in 2018 after Trump implemented a "zero tolerance" policy to criminally prosecute and jail illegal border crossers. The BJP had lashed out at the chief minister for his remarks, tweeting "Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating India's victory will create rift between two religions in India. CM @hd_kumaraswamy avare just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state & not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of #Mahaghatbandhan. Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has sought to know why there were terror attacks now while it had never occurred when his father HD Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister. He said at a public meeting late Friday night at Mysuru "Why were there no instance of terrorists carrying out blasts or killing anyone when Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister? Why are they happening now? You need to think over it,". also read Why so many terror attacks happening now, we need to think over it: Karnataka CM The Chief Minister flayed the BJP for what he alleged was 'editing' of his speech and released the complete video of his speech. He also took to Twitter to hit out at at the saffron party. Slamming the BJP for the manner in which they were celebrating the pre-emptive air strikes by hoisting victory flags, he alleged this was only creating an atmosphere of strife between two communities. "They are hoisting the victory flags as if they themselves flew the aircraft and carried out bombing inside Pakistan. It is misusing a situation for vested interests." also read Digvijaya Singh sought evidence of the IAF attack in Pakistan, says, Centre should give proof if US could give Cautioning people against the saffron party, Kumaraswamy said cadres of that party were behaving as if they alone were the saviours of the nation and nobody else. Kumaraswamy, in his rebuttal, tweeted "Shame on you@BJP4Karnataka for misleading the people by editing & twisting my statement against the BJP to suit your ulterior motives. Indore: Senior Congress leader sought evidence from the Centre of the air strike conducted by the air strike in Pakistan. Singh on Saturday seek evidence from the government of the air strike, while at the same time congratulating Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for Varthamans release. He said, I do not question the IAF actionbut pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So, we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence before the world on (the killing of) Osama bin Laden. Jawaharlal Nehrus one wrong decision leads to a continuous crisis in J&K even after more than 70 years: Adityanath Earlier, Congress leader Salman Khurshid also said that IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, received his wings in 2004 and matured as a fighter pilot during UPA. IAF jets on February 26 launched a major offensive against terrorist organisations using Pakistani soil to carry out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and annihilated training camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot that falls in the Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa region, along with Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in PoK. The IAF attack was carried out by 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets, ably aided by Sukhoi jets that provided cover throughout the operation, around 3:30 am. The payload dropped by the Indian Air Force weighed as much as 1000 kilogrammes. We will glad if someone from UP becomes PM: Akhilesh Yadav The terror JeM group is responsible for the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama on February 14 where 40 CRPF personnel were killed. New Delhi: On Saturday, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border late on Friday, went through "a lot of mental harassment" in the neighbouring country, news agency quoted a source as saying. Source also quoted the source as saying that Varthaman has said that he was not physically tortured in Pakistan. The IAF pilot was captured by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. But before his plane was hit, he shot down an F-16 of Pakistan air force. According to a report, Varthaman on Saturday briefly apprised Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa about the mental trauma. also read After 9 Years PM Modi and Nitish Kumar share dais to host Sankalp Rally However, The defence minister had met the Wing Commander at the Army's Research and Referral hospital here, a day after Pakistan released him in its bid to scale down heightened tensions between the two countries. In a tweet, the defence minister said she met Varthaman and his family to "commend him on his valour, express the nation's gratitude for his selfless service, and wish him a speedy recovery". Varthaman's wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), seven-year-old son, sister Aditi and a few senior military officials were present in the meeting, PTI quoted its sources as saying. A defence ministry spokesperson said Sitharaman conveyed to the pilot the sentiment of the nation and appreciated his "impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity".He is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan, official sources were quoted as saying by PTI. also read Former ICICI Bank chief executive Chanda Kochhar questioned till 4 PM Varthaman is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of the "cooling down" process and it is expected to continue till Sunday. Once the health check-up is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, officials said. He arrived in the national capital around 11:45 PM on Friday and soon after he was taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. When he crossed over to India Friday night, his right eye above his handlebar moustache appeared swollen. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the return of Varthaman, saying the nation is proud of his exemplary courage. "Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians," tweeted Modi Friday night. Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated the strike by carrying attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp 12 days after the terror group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. also read Lockheed Martin rubbished Pakistan's claims for shooting down F-16 jet New Delhi: Minutes after PM Modi targeted Congress over Rafale jets in the wake of India-Pakistan tensions, Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked the prime minister if he had "no shame at all". He slammed Modi for "risking lives" of IAF pilots by letting them fly "outdated jets". Rahul Gandhi tweeted after PM Modi said that the country was feeling the absence of Rafale, as "Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Cr and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets. YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets,". also read After 9 Years PM Modi and Nitish Kumar share dais to host Sankalp Rally On Saturday, While speaking at a media event evening, the prime minister had said that results would have been different if India had Rafale fighter jets. Tearing into the Congress, Modi alleged its rule saw many defence scams. He said "They began with jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, helicopters. The defence sector suffered in the process,". Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. IAF pilot Varthaman shot down an F-16 fighter of the Pakistan Air Force shortly before his jet was hit during the fierce dogfight. also read IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman brief about this harassment to Defence Minister However, in his tweet, Gandhi reiterated his earlier statement, which was made during a rally in Jharkhand's Ranchi. The Congress president alleged that there was "corruption" in the Rafale deal and Rs 30,000 crore had been wrongfully given to Anil Ambani. He said "Vaayu Sena desh ki raksha karti hain aur hamare PM use chori karti hain (The IAF defends our country but the PM has snatched money from the force),". Getting married changes the way you file your taxes, and not always to your benefit. Many people refer to the marriage tax or marriage penalty, for example. But, depending on whether you file jointly or separately, you can also reap benefits by taking advantage of the common tax deductions for married couples. As you begin a family, you might qualify for additional deductions and credits, such as the earned income tax credit for taxpayers with dependents or children. Understanding this can help you claim every tax credit and benefit for which you qualify. Tax Tips for Married Couples Get your financial forever off to a good start by filing taxes correctly and effectively for you and your partner. Here are 9 tax filing tips for married couples: 1. Understand the Standard Deduction Married filers have three filing statuses available: Married filed jointly Married filing separately Head of household The standard deduction depends on which filing status you use. For married filing jointly, the deduction is $24,000 in 2018, and the amount is $12,000 if you are married filing separately. Choosing the married filing jointly status might be a good choice even if one spouse is not working because the IRS extends some tax benefits for married couples to joint filers that arent available to those who file individually. This results in a marriage tax break. However, even if married filing jointly has been your best choice in the past, dont assume it will always be that way. Do the calculations each year to determine whether filing separately or jointly will give you the best tax result. Changes in your personal circumstances or new tax laws might make a new filing status more desirable. What was once a marriage tax break might turn into a reason to file separately or vice versa. Get the Scoop: Biggest Tax Problems for Married Couples 2. File Jointly to Deduct Education Expenses Married students can deduct education expenses, but youll need to file jointly to qualify. The credits you might qualify for are the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The AOTC is worth up to $2,500 of your qualifying education expenses, and because its refundable, you can get money back if your credit is more than your total tax liability. The Lifetime Learning Credit is worth 20 percent of your first $10,000 in education expenses, up to $2,000 maximum. The modified adjusted gross income limit for joint filers is $132,000 a year as of the 2017 tax year. Story continues 3. Use Tax Breaks for High Medical Expenses You can also deduct qualifying medical expenses from your taxes. You might claim expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted income. Keep copies of your receipts, and make sure you only claim qualifying expenses. Qualifying expenses can include doctor visits, hospital stays, physician-ordered weight-loss treatment programs, prescription glasses and prescription drugs. 4. Consider the Marriage Penalty You might pay a marriage penalty when you file jointly if you and your spouse earn the same amount of income, especially if your earnings are high and you have children. The penalty results from your combined income pushing you into a higher tax bracket. This bump is commonly referred to as, the married couple tax. But you might be off the hook for it if one person makes significantly less than the other because tax benefits tend to phase out as income increases especially if the benefits are related to deductions for children. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the marriage penalty for households in most income brackets, but could still affect those in higher income brackets. 5. Examine the Child Tax Credit and Use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Parents with dependent children might be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. The Child Tax Credit for 2018 is $2,000 per qualifying child, and taxpayers with less tax liability might get the remainder refunded to them. The income threshold at which the child tax credit begins to phase out is $400,000 if married filing jointly, and $200,000 if married filing separately. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit allows you to claim qualifying expenses for child care or dependent care. You can claim a maximum of $3,000 per year for one dependent and up to $6,000 per year for two or more dependents. Married tax filers might be eligible for the child and dependent care credit if they paid expenses for the care of a qualifying individual so that they could work or look for work. The rules for who can be a qualifying dependent and who can be a care provider are strict. This credit is not available if you file separately. 6. Take Advantage of the Spousal IRA for Stay-at-Home Parents You typically must have earned income to qualify for an IRA, but filing jointly lets you open a spousal IRA, allowing the stay-at-home parent to contribute to their retirement savings even if they dont earn money during the year. This is one of the tax loopholes for married couples. The contribution limit through 2019 is $6,000, or $7,000 if youre 50 or over. You can open either a traditional or Roth IRA, but only traditional IRA contributions are deductible. Learn More: How to Save for Retirement When Youre Unemployed 7. Know When to File Separately Despite the tax perks married joint filers receive, filing individually is a better option if it reduces your total tax liability. It can also be beneficial when one spouse has a tax liability for which the other spouse doesnt want to be responsible, or if one spouse might have a refund seized due to unpaid child support or another debt. Sometimes it makes sense to file separately, said Josh Zimmelman, owner of Westwood Tax & Consulting, a New York-based accounting firm. A joint return means that your finances are linked, so youre both liable for each others debts, penalties and liabilities. So if either of you has some financial issues or baggage, then filing separately will better protect your spouse from your bad record, or vice versa, he said. If you file jointly, you cant later un-couple yourselves to file as married filing separately for that years tax return. On the other hand, if you file separate returns and then realize you should have filed jointly, you can amend your returns to file jointly within three years, Zimmelman said. A related consideration is whether to take the standard deduction or itemize your deductions. You and your spouse must file the same way you both must either itemize or take the standard deduction. Carefully consider this option because you might lose some tax deductions and credits. 8. Consider Using the Earned Income Tax Credit The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the tax breaks for married couples with low income. Its only available to taxpayers who have earned income for the year. To qualify without children, you must make less than $20,950 but this amount increases with each child you have and it tops at $54,884 for three or more children. You can claim previous years credits if you have not claimed them before by amending those previous years tax returns. 9. Factor in the Effects of Divorce on Taxes Your tax situation is likely to change if you are getting a divorce. Divorcing couples must determine which spouse will claim the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit, for example. These usually go to the parent who has custody of the child. If your child lives with you more than half the year, and youre paying at least 50 percent of their support, then you should claim them as your dependent, said Zimmelman. In cases of shared custody and support, you have a few options. You might consider alternating every other year who gets to claim them, he said. Or if you have two children, each parent can decide to claim one child, he said. Alimony and child support also affect your tax bill. Alimony payments are tax deductible for the spouse who pays them and theyre taxable income for the spouse who receives them. Child support payments are not tax deductible for the parent who pays them and they arent taxable income for the parent who receives them. The IRS considers you to be married if you were lawfully wed on the last day of the tax year. For example, if you tied the knot at any time in the past and were still married on Dec. 31, 2018, you were married to your spouse for the entire tax year in the eyes of the IRS. The laws of the state in which you live determine whether you were married or legally separated for the tax year. Even if youre married for the full tax year, the IRS might consider separated couples unmarried for tax purposes if you are not divorced but have a legally binding separation agreement, or if you and your spouse have lived apart for the last six months or more of the tax year. This essentially creates a married filing single status that makes you eligible to file as head of household if you qualify, thereby reducing your tax rate. Need to Know: Frequently Asked Tax Questions for Married Couples You might still have questions about how to file taxes if you are married. These are some of the biggest tax questions for married couples. Are same-sex marriages taxed the same as heterosexual marriages? Married same-sex couples are treated the same as married heterosexual couples for federal tax return purposes. What is the healthcare requirement for my tax filing status? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act more commonly known as Obamacare requires that you and your dependents have qualifying healthcare coverage throughout the year, unless you qualify for an exemption or make a shared responsibility payment. Even if you lose your health insurance coverage because of divorce, you still need continued coverage for you and your dependents during the entire tax year. For Tax Year 2018, the rules remain unchanged under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. If I changed my name this year, which name should I use when I file my taxes? If you want to change your last name after a marriage or divorce, you must officially inform the federal government. Your first stop is the Social Security Administration (SSA). Your name on your tax return must match your name in the SSA records. Otherwise, your tax refund might be delayed due to the mismatched records. Also, dont forget to update the changed names of any dependents. What tax filing status do I use if my spouse died? If your spouse passed away during the year, youll need to determine whether and how your filing status should change. If you didnt marry someone else the same year, you may file with your deceased spouse as married filing jointly. Getting Through This Difficult Time: How to File Taxes for a Deceased Relative If you did remarry during the tax year, you and your new spouse can file jointly. In that case, you and your deceased spouse must file separately for the last tax year of the spouses life, however. In addition, if you didnt remarry during the tax year of your spouses death, you might be able to file as a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child for the following two years if you meet certain conditions. This status entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount. Are we both liable if we file jointly? If you use the status married filing jointly, each spouse is jointly and severally liable for all the tax on your combined income, said Gail Rosen, a Martinsville, New Jersey-based certified public accountant. This means that the IRS can come after either one of you to collect the full amount of the tax, she said. If you are worried about your spouse and being responsible for their share of their taxes including interest and penalties then you might consider filing separately. Who gets a tax benefit for saving money in a retirement account? If you contribute to a 401k plan, you can save money for your golden years and lower your taxable income now. If your employer offers a 401k plan, you can contribute money on a pretax basis, subject to certain limits. Nonworking spouses, however, cant contribute to a 401k because they dont have wages from an employer. Both of you can explore other tax benefits for contributing to different types of individual retirement accounts. What do I do if I missed making quarterly tax payments? Single or married, you might have to pay quarterly tax payments to the IRS, especially if you are self-employed. Make sure you know how to calculate estimated taxes. If you are required to make such payments but do not do so, you might have to pay an underpayment penalty, Rosen said. All taxpayers must pay taxes during the year equal to the lower of 90 percent of the tax owed for the current year, or 100 percent 110 percent for higher-income taxpayers of the tax shown on your tax return for the prior year, Rosen said. The problem for married couples is that often they do not realize they owe more taxes due to the combining of the two incomes, she said. You should be proactive each year. To avoid owing the underpayment penalty, make sure to do a projection of your potential tax for [2019] when you finish preparing your [2018] taxes, she said, adding that you should make sure to comply with the payment rules outlined above. Do we still qualify for passive losses with our joint income? Crystal Stranger an El Paso, Texas-based enrolled agent, president of 1st Tax and author of The Small Business Tax Guide said she sees a lot of married couples who have issues with passive loss limitation rules. With these rules, if you have a passive loss from rental real estate or other investments, you are allowed to take up to $25,000 of passive losses against your other income, she said. You can only make this claim if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $100,000, or $50,000 if married filing separately. Can we get a tax break for selling our house this year? The IRS provides a tax break when you sell your home, subject to certain conditions. Generally, you must meet a minimum residency period by owning and living in the house for two of the five years preceding the sale. A single person who owns a home that has increased in value can qualify to exclude up to $250,000 in gains from income, said Andrew Oswalt, a CPA and tax analyst for TaxAct, a tax-preparation software company. Married people can exclude up to $500,000 in gains. This rule can become tricky if one person in the couple purchased the house prior to the marriage: If you are married when you sell the house, only one of you needs to meet the ownership test for the $250,000 exclusion, said Oswalt. You both must meet the residency period to exclude up to the full $500,000 of gain from your income, however. Can we deduct our student loan interest? If you are paying back student loans, you might be looking forward to taking the student loan interest deduction. If youre married, however, it might not be so easy to do that. For a single filer, the deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayers adjusted gross income is greater than $65,000, said Oswalt. This amount is [$135,000] when filing jointly. So if both spouses are making $65,000 or less, then their deduction will not be affected by the phaseout. However, if one is making $60,000 and the other $75,000, the deduction begins to phase out, which will ultimately result in a larger tax bill. How do we report gambling wins and losses on our taxes? Imagine a married couple who both like to gamble. Hes not so lucky and has losses, and she has winnings. If they file a joint return, they might have to report the gambling winnings as taxable income. Meanwhile, the losses might be deductible if the couple itemizes their deductions instead of taking the standard deduction. They cant take the number of gambling winnings, subtract the losses and claim the net amount as winnings. Instead, they must report the entire amount of gambling winnings as income, whereas the losses are reported as an itemized deduction up to the amount of the winnings. The IRS requires you to keep accurate records of your winnings and losses. What do we do if one of us is a victim of tax identity theft? Identify theft can be a financial nightmare. Tax identity theft happens when someone files a tax return using one spouses or both spouses Social Security numbers in hopes of scooping up your legitimate refund. If this happens to you, contact the IRS immediately and fill out an identity theft affidavit, said Zimmelman. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, contact your banks and credit card companies, and put a fraud alert on your and your spouses credit reports. Where can I get a copy of my tax return? The IRS and state tax agencies work to develop safeguards to avoid identity theft related to tax returns. Getting your adjusted gross income for previous years might be difficult if you are divorced and not on good terms with your ex or if you cant find all of your documents for totaling your income for that year; however, you still have options. You might be able to get the information if you go to the IRS website and use the Get Transcript service. Marriage affects all your finances, including and perhaps especially your taxes. Learn how to navigate IRS rules and keep more money in your pocket. More on Taxes Sabah Karimi, Gabrielle Olya and Valerie Rind contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Tax Tips Every Married Couple Must Know Your credit report touches so many critical parts of your life. The information it holds can determine whether you can buy a home, get a job or qualify a credit card. But just who can peek at this all-important information? Organizations That Can Access Your Credit Report Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, any business or organization with a "permissible purpose" can obtain your credit report. That means potential lenders and creditors can request your credit report to help decide whether to extend credit to you and determine the terms involved, such as the annual percentage rate. But other types of companies and organizations may seek access to your credit report as well. For example, businesses such as apartment landlords and insurance companies might look at your credit report to figure out whether to rent you an apartment or write a policy for your car. A prospective employer might even, with your permission, check your credit. [Read: Best Low-Interest Credit Cards.] Here are some other examples: -- Companies that want to prequalify you for credit or insurance. -- Creditors you already do business with. -- Debt collection companies trying to collect money from you. -- Phone companies checking your credit before adding you as a customer. -- Utility companies checking your credit before hooking up your service. -- A bank where you're opening a checking account. In some circumstances, a government agency can access your credit report if, for example, it is responding to a court order or a subpoena, reviewing your eligibility for certain government benefits or licenses, or working on a child support case. Generally speaking, your credit report contains personal information, like your name, address and Social Security number; data about your credit accounts; a list of credit inquiries made by credit card issuers and other lenders; and details from public records, such as bankruptcies and civil lawsuits. Though, some requesters may only be able to see a modified version. For example, credit reports for employers don't include your birth year. Story continues [Read: Best 5 Percent Cash Back Cards.] Which Laws Apply to Credit Report Access? The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act is the primary law regulating access to your credit report. However, some states have their own laws as well. In Illinois, for instance, the state Employee Credit Privacy Act prohibits employers from using credit reports or histories to hire, fire or set pay and conditions for many types of jobs in the state. However, the Illinois law does not apply to banks, insurance companies, debt collectors, state law enforcement agencies or state and local governments. Even then, some employers in Illinois that normally wouldn't have access to your credit report might be able get it if a genuine occupational requirement is involved, according to Illinois Legal Aid Online, a nonprofit that connects people with resources that help them resolve legal problems. For example, an employer might be allowed to get your credit report if state or federal law requires you, as an employee, to be bonded or if you control business assets of at least $100 per transaction. Nolo.com, a legal advice website for consumers, has a guide to state laws on employer use of credit reports. Identifying and Limiting Access to Your Credit Report Under federal law, the three major credit bureaus must keep track of when your credit reports are accessed and who accessed them. If, for instance, a landlord orders a copy of one of your credit reports, that action will be listed on the report under the inquiries section. Though a company may have a legitimate reason for accessing your credit report, it still may make you nervous. It's important to monitor your credit yourself so you can keep an eye out for identity theft and unauthorized access. "Consumers should remain vigilant about regularly checking their credit reports," says Nancy Bistritz-Balkan, vice president of communications and consumer education at Equifax. You can get a free copy of your credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Consumers can obtain one free copy of their credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus. "If you suspect you're a victim of identity theft, you should report it to your local law enforcement agency or the FTC's IDTheft.gov website," says David Blumberg, senior director of public relations at TransUnion. He also recommends contacting the company where the fraud occurred, such as a credit card issuer, to shut down your account. Blumberg adds that you can also set up a free fraud alert and restrict access to your credit report by imposing a credit freeze. A credit freeze has no effect on your credit score and you can freeze or unfreeze your report for free. [Read: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards.] If you've frozen your credit report, you can still get a free annual credit report, open a new account, apply for a job, rent an apartment and buy insurance. However, according to the Federal Trade Commission, if you're doing any of those, you'll need to temporarily lift the freeze either for a certain period or to a particular organization. But even with a freeze in place, your credit report still is available to existing creditors or their debt collectors, and to government agencies responding to a court order, administrative order, subpoena or search warrant, according to the FTC. To freeze your credit reports, you must contact each of the three major credit bureaus. -- Equifax: Visit its website or call 800-685-1111. -- Experian: Visit its website or call 888-397-3742. -- TransUnion: Visit its website or call 888-909-8872. When contacting each of the bureaus, you'll need to provide your name, address, birthdate, Social Security number and other personal information. After you've submitted your freeze request, each bureau you reached out to will supply a PIN or password, which you'll have to use when you want to lift the freeze, the FTC says. Your credit report will stay frozen until you ask a credit bureau to lift it temporarily or permanently, according to the FTC. If you request a lift of a freeze by phone or online, the credit bureau is supposed to take off the freeze within one hour. If you make the request by mail, the bureau must remove the freeze within three business days after receiving your request. More From US News & World Report Amazons HQ2 search has gone from publicity boon to publicity nightmare. After pulling out of New York following protests and resistance, Amazon is now facing protests from several politicians and activists in the Northern Virginia region, where it plans to build its second headquarters. PR experts say its becoming clear that Amazon could have avoided all the negative publicity if it had just run the bidding process quietly, instead of spinning up a year-long media cycle. Amazon AMZN 's decision to run a highly public bidding process for its second headquarters, called HQ2, is turning into a publicity nightmare. Just two weeks after pulling out of New York City (one of the two winners for HQ2) following fierce local opposition, Amazon is now facing similar protests from several politicians and activists in the Northern Virginia region (the other winner). The criticism is largely centered around the incentives cities were giving Amazon, which is one of the most valuable companies in the world, and its potential impact for raising the cost of living in those areas. Amazon could have avoided all the negative publicity if it had just run the bidding process quietly, instead of spinning up a year-long media cycle, according to public relations experts. "To go out and create a 'beauty contest,' and turn it into a media circus it was a dumb idea," said Paul Argenti, a communications professor at Dartmouth College. Ill-advised move Argenti pointed out that Amazon's HQ2 bidding process came in marked contrast to the more subdued procedures run by its tech peers. Google, for example, took a quieter approach to its $1 billion expansion in New York City last year, saying it didn't seek incentives. Apple didn't make a big deal out of the $1 billion it's investing in its new Austin campus , although it did receive some tax benefits. "Amazon could have done the same thing quietly behind the scenes," Argenti said. "I'd say they got nothing but misery out of this." Story continues In 2017, Amazon announced that it would start taking bids from cities across North America for its second headquarters, which would generate 50,000 jobs and billions of dollars worth of economic impact. Over 200 cities rushed to apply, creating a media circus on who would win the tech giant's second largest office complex. Some experts at the time called Amazon's move a "marketing ploy," citing how unusual it is for a company to have two separate headquarters, not to mention the auction-like process. One marketing firm estimated that Amazon got at least $42 million worth of free publicity from the buzz related to HQ2, while some press outlets started calling it a "brilliant PR stunt." Michael Goodman, who teaches corporate communications at Baruch College and is an author of over ten books in the field, said HQ2's unusually public bidding process was "ill-advised," given how Amazon could have received similar perks using a quieter process anyway. It's why most corporations prefer not to make too much noise until they know where they're going to expand, he said. "I'm at a loss to figure out the pros of this," Goodman said. "It just didn't make any sense to me what they were doing." Amazon's spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that it wanted to create a "transparent and open process" by making HQ2 bids public. It also said that HQ2 was a $5 billion investment project to create 50,000 "high-paying" jobs, which is a lot bigger than similar projects from other tech companies. Many cities that applied for HQ2 were able to strengthen their pitches to attract other investments as well, the spokesperson added. Missed opportunity To be fair, HQ2's publicity failure is not entirely Amazon's fault. New York's highly political environment and its failure to include all stakeholders into the bidding process added to the growing opposition. Still, the fallout shows how Amazon missed out on what could have been a great opportunity to generate goodwill and positive corporate sentiment across the country, according to Pallavi Kumar, a communications professor at American University. For example, Kumar said, Amazon could have chosen a struggling city like Detroit, instead of economically thriving regions like New York and Northern Virginia. That would have completely changed the narrative, creating stories of how a tech giant could have "profound, positive effects" on a city looking to bounce back, she said. "Think of how many more great stories would have been generated for years to come," Kumar said. The public backlash on HQ2 was made worse by Amazon's lack of transparency on why exactly it ran a public bidding process, said Toni D'Angelo, a public relations professor at Syracuse University. If it had clearly explained why it's pursuing a new location in such an unusual manner, and what the motivations were, while more fully engaging local representatives to mitigate concerns, Amazon may have seen a different outcome, he said. "Staging an auction on such a grand scale amplifies pressure on Amazon to both deliver the goods and minimize the 'bads.'" D'Angelo said. "It's now in an unexpected defensive posture that's been accentuated by the hoopla it created." More From CNBC Americas trucker shortage is about to hit consumers right where it hurts: in the kitty litter. McDonalds Corp.s long-time distributor Martin-Brower Co. is raising delivery fees, imperiling low menu prices, and Procter & Gamble Co., Church & Dwight Co. and Hasbro Inc. are sounding the alarm that higher freight fees could be passed on to consumers of everything from Crest toothpaste to Arm & Hammer cat litter to My Little Pony figurines. And its all because transport companies cant find drivers. Millennials, they dont want to drive trucks, said Darren Tristano, CEO and founder of consultant Foodservice Results. Theyre looking at this and saying, I want to be in something more glamorous, more tech-oriented. America simply doesnt have enough truck drivers to deliver everything its people buy. Thats not new, but many retailers are just now feeling the pain as annual shipping contracts are renewed. That has trucking companies scrambling to find ways to keep costs down. And it has Michael Norwich counting every dime and quarter as he contemplates the $4.99 combo meal whose price is dictated at Jack in the Box Inc. headquarters. Long-Term Issue Distribution costs are huge, said Norwich, who owns 14 of the fast-food restaurants in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Im scratching my head trying to figure out how $4.99 is going to work. The driver shortage is a long-term issue thats going to get worse, and its going to cost consumers money, said Lee Klaskow, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Pay bumps for drivers havent moved the needle much. Autonomous trucks are still far off. And even if legislators succeed in lowering the minimum age for long-haul drivers to 18 from 21, as some propose, it wouldnt help much. Insurance for young drivers would be sky high, making it a tough job most of them would avoid, he said. More Women The trucking industry is also trying to recruit more women, who currently make up a small fraction of the workforce. Story continues Drivers who own their own trucks and pay their own expenses can make gross pay of as much as $250,000 a year and receive a hiring bonus of $5,000 by joining J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., according to the companys website. The trucking giant is also advertising long-haul positions that pay $65,000 a year plus a $2,500 hiring bonus and require only three months of experience and promise little lifting of freight. Its still difficult to find good quality drivers, executive vice president Nicholas Hobbs said in January. Trying Rail Companies are trying to push down costs by using software to optimize routes and moving some cargo to rail. While cheaper, those rates have risen and arent as flexible as having a truck travel point to point. Still, its difficult keeping prices down. Tariffs are increasing the price of truck parts coming from China and imported aluminum and steel. Fuel increases, too, are having an effect. Retail chains are also trying to cut shipping expenses where they can. TJX Cos.s HomeGoods furniture chain said Wednesday that increased pressure from freight is weighing on margin. Its opening more distribution centers in the U.S. to mitigate mounting costs. So is Hasbro, which plans to open a new hub in Joliet, Illinois, after shipping costs surged in 2018. Procter & Gamble, maker of Tide detergent and Pampers diapers, is feeling the heat, too. The company recently blamed a 25 percent jump in trucking costs for narrowing margins. P&G raised prices last year on some products, and has said its still too early to divulge its pricing strategy for 2019. Overcome Headwinds Higher transportation costs are headwinds that we have to overcome, Church & Dwight CEO Richard Dierker said Feb. 21. The company identified a bright side to the jump in trucking expenses competitors are also raising prices. Walmart Inc., which has its own fleet of 6,500 trucks, offered $1,500 referral bonuses last year and shortened the hiring process to attract more drivers. For Amazon.com Inc., freight costs consistently outpace online sales growth. The company is trying to find cheaper ways to deliver packages or it may have to hike prices. It already raised its annual Prime membership fee by 20 percent to $120 last year, the first hike since 2014. And then theres the McDonalds menu. Martin-Brower ships to 12,372 restaurants in the U.S. and 20,208 globally, so the sting of higher fees is widespread. Because much of the McDonalds menu is priced at company headquarters and reinforced by a national advertising campaign, franchisees are looking for places they have leeway to set their own prices and $1 drinks are candidates. We must be able to pass these increases along to our customers, a group of McDonalds franchisees said in a Feb. 27 website post. The bottom line is their costs are going up and so are ours. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2019) - Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: QTA) (OTCQB: QTRRF) today announced its wholly-owned subsidiary Singatse Peak Services LLC ("SPS") has closed the previously announced sale of certain primary ground water rights associated with its copper property in Yerington, Nevada, for $6.02 million. SPS entered into a purchase and sale agreement on September 13 last year with a Yerington-based company involved in agriculture in the district, to sell water rights for $6.26 million (see press release dated September 17, 2018). The final value of the sale was $6.02 million after adjusting for a small correction to one of the original permits. (All amounts are in U.S. dollars.) SPS retains about 6,700 acre-feet per year of primary ground water permitted for mining and milling on its 51-square-mile Yerington property. The 2012 Preliminary Economic Assessment at MacArthur estimated water consumption of about 2,590 acre-feet per year for a 41,000 ton a day oxide project at the property's MacArthur deposit. Also, Quaterra estimates that 3,100 acre-feet of water is required to mine and operate a 50,000 ton a day sulfide mill on the property. Based on the price set in today's sale, the Company's remaining primary ground water rights may be valued at about $20 million. In addition, SPS also has substantial decree, supplemental and storage water rights associated with private land that it has under option. Funds from the sale will be used to advance the MacArthur copper project on the Yerington property including work on metallurgical recoveries, resource development and mine plan optimization as part of an ongoing prefeasibility study; de-risk the over-all Yerington property; assess other exploration opportunties; and for general and administrative purposes. The sale of water rights is non-dilutive to shareholders. About Quaterra Resources Inc. Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: QTA) (OTCQB: QTRRF) is a copper exploration company with the objective of advancing its U.S. subsidiary's copper projects in the Yerington District, Nevada. The Company also looks for opportunities to acquire copper projects on reasonable terms that have the potential to host large mineral deposits attractive to major mining companies. Story continues On behalf of the Board of Directors, Thomas Patton, Chairman & CEO Quaterra Resources Inc. For more information please contact: Karen Robertson, Corporate Communications, 778-898-0057 Gerald Prosalendis, President and COO, Quaterra Resources Inc., 250-940-3581 Thomas Patton, Chairman & CEO, Quaterra Resources Inc., 604-641-2758 email: info@quaterra.com website: www.quaterra.com Disclosure note: Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements under Canadian securities laws and within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified in this news release by words such as "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "has the potential", "expects", "may", and similar language, or convey estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives, potential outcomes, expectations, or goals. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. In particular, forward looking statements in this news release include what value can be placed on the Company's remaining water rights, and estimates regarding water usage required in possible future mining operations. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. A summary of risk factors that apply to the Company's operations are included in our management discussion and analysis filings with securities regulatory authorities, and are publicly available on our website. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43185 (Adds comments from British American Tobacco) By Allison Lampert and Martinne Geller MONTREAL/LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - The Court of Appeal of Quebec upheld on Friday the bulk of a 2015 decision that awarded around C$15 billion ($11.29 billion)to smokers in the Canadian province, dealing a blow to Big Tobacco. The judgment involves class action suits that were consolidated against the Canadian subsidiaries of British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International, known respectively as Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc (RBH) and JTI-Macdonald Corp. The companies were appealing a 2015 Quebec Superior Court ruling to award damages to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and ex-smokers who alleged the companies knew since the 1950s that their product was causing cancer and other illnesses and failed to warn consumers adequately. The province's Council on Tobacco and Health, a non-profit smoking-prevention group that was also a plaintiff in the suits, said the "historic judgment" would cost the companies almost C$17 billion ($12.79 billion), reflecting additional interest since 2015. RBH said in a statement that it will try to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. JTI-Macdonald said it would consider that option. While big tobacco companies in the United States have faced lawsuits for decades, the Quebec class action marked the first time tobacco companies went to trial in a civil suit in Canada. "This is a huge defeat for the tobacco industry," said Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst from the Canadian Cancer Society. "The Court of Appeal did reverse the Superior Court on some relatively minor points, but that does not materially change the overall result." The judgment comes as Big Tobacco firms are pouring billions into vaping devices that deliver nicotine through vapor they say is less harmful than smoke, and as smoking rates fall in many countries. The two Quebec suits, called the Letourneau and Blais cases, were filed in 1998 and certified as class actions in 2005. They were consolidated into one before the 2012 start of trial proceedings, which ended in 2014. Story continues JTI-Macdonald said in a statement it "fundamentally disagrees" with the court's judgment and that Canadians "have had a very high awareness of the health risks of smoking." A spokesman for Imperial Tobacco Canada told reporters at the Montreal courthouse the company was "disappointed" with the decision. British American Tobacco Finance Director Ben Stevens told analysts on Thursday that the Canadian cases would likely take years to play out in the courts. British American Tobacco said in a statement late on Friday: "Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. needs to review the court's decision in more detail and will decide on next steps over the coming days and weeks." ($1 = 1.3282 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Allison Lampert; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall) (Repeats story from Feb 28 without changes to text) By Marwa Rashad RIYADH, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock exchange expects passive fund inflows of $15 to $20 billion this year as it gears up for inclusion in emerging market benchmarks, its chief executive told Reuters. Tadawul, Saudi Arabia's main stock exchange and the Middle East's largest bourse, will join the FTSE Russell and MSCI emerging market indices in March and May this year, heightening interest among foreign investors in the Saudi market. "We anticipate from the passive funds $15-$20 billion in 2019, the active side is very hard to anticipate," Khalid al-Hussan said in an interview on Thursday. Foreigners have been net buyers of Saudi stocks since the start of the year after the market saw heavy selling in the latter part of 2018 following news of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Since the start of the year, foreign investors have ploughed more than $1.5 billion into the Saudi market and the Saudi index is up nearly 8 percent, outperforming its Gulf peers. Hussan said he was not concerned that foreign fund inflows would cause any excess liquidity, as the flows would be gradual. "Over the history of inclusions you can't avoid some volatility (but) the tranches will help reduce a lot the impact of this volatility," he said. The Saudi bourse has a total market capitalization of around $535 billion, with a free float of about 40 percent. Many analysts expect the inclusion on the emerging market indices to encourage more companies to list on the market. Hussan said that regulations to allow companies from other Gulf countries to list on Tadawul are expected to be finalised in the second quarter, adding there is good interest. He also said he is still committed to listing the stock exchange, but an initial public offering will not come this year. "We are going through massive changes, so it is about the right time...we are making sure we are selling the right assets at the right time to investors." (Editing by Saeed Azhar and Alexander Smith) NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 3, 2019 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (''Diplomat'' or the ''Company'') (DPLO). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Diplomat and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here to join a class action] On February 22, 2019, Diplomat filed a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing that it was postponing the release of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 due to a ''recent determination'' that it would need to record a non-cash impairment charge upwards of approximately $630 million relating to 2017 acquisitions for its pharmacy benefit management business. Diplomat also disclosed that it was withdrawing its preliminary 2019 full-year outlook provided in January. On this news, Diplomat's stock price fell $7.59 per share, or over 56%, to close at $5.87 per share on February 22, 2019. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/537516/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-of-Diplomat-Pharmacy-Inc-DPLO (Bloomberg) -- Square Inc. co-founder Tristan OTierney died on Feb. 23, his mother, Pamela Tierney, said on Saturday. He was 35. I dont have an official diagnosis, she said by phone, adding that it was probably related to his addiction. A doctor called her to say Tristan had kidney failure and was under cardiac arrest, she said. A former engineer at Yahoo and Apple Inc., OTierney was hired to develop Squares original mobile payment app in 2009 and stayed until 2013, when he left the San Francisco company co-founded by Twitter Inc.s Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey. Based in Los Angeles, OTierney previously served as the director of mobile at Voteraide, a civic engagement network known as the LinkedIn for politics, and a freelance photographer, according to his LinkedIn page. His website showcased his photos of cities, people and landscape, and he called his camera my singular creative outlet." OTierney opened up about his struggles in a 2017 tweet. Last year, he compared some of his failure in dealing with addiction, which he didnt specify, to the success he had at Square. The tweet was linked to an Instagram post that has since been deleted. Square didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for a statement on Saturday. In addition to his parents, OTierney is survived by his three-old-year daughter, according to an obituary on the website for the funeral home. A memorial will be held on Sunday at the Brookside Funeral Home in Houston. (Updates with comment in fourth paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Maria Jose Valero in New York at mvalero3@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Clementine Fletcher at cfletcher5@bloomberg.net, Linus Chua, Virginia Van Natta For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. The U.S. is still out in front of global rivals when it comes to innovation, but American universities - where new ideas often percolate - have reason to look over their shoulder. Thats especially true for technologies like 5G phone networks and artificial intelligence. Theyre exactly the fields where President Donald Trump recently insisted the U.S. has to lead and also the ones where Asia, especially China, has caught up. Universities from China, Korea and Taiwan get more patents than their U.S. peers in wireless communications, according to research firm GreyB Services. In AI, 17 of the top 20 universities and public research organizations are in China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences topping the list, says the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva. Overall, American universities still dominate the patent rankings, led by the University of California and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Theres a special place for universities in the ecosystem of research. Corporate labs tend to focus on what theyre fairly sure will be profitable, while their government equivalents put national security first. Universities groom future scientist and can be incubators for pie-in-the-sky ideas - some of which turn out to be game-changers. The list ranges from Googles search engine to DNA technology thats behind a whole industry of gene-manipulating treatments. Plus the Honeycrisp apple. Government grants to universities have been stagnant for more than a decade, meaning theyve declined in real terms and as a share of the economy. If you look at the federal dollars, theyve not really changed substantially, says Stephen Susalka, head of AUTM, a technology transfer association whose members include 800 universities. Other countries are catching up. We cant sit on our laurels. Federal funding of $40 billion for university research in fiscal 2017 was slightly below its peak six years earlier. The colleges spend about $75 billion a year altogether, with the balance largely coming from their own funds. The governments share has slipped below 60 percent, from almost 70 percent in 2004. Story continues Trump has proclaimed AI and 5G to be high priorities, but hasnt pitched Congress for more money. In fact, last year the administration called for deep cuts in research funding, including an 11 percent hit to the National Science Foundation. Congress balked and instead passed the biggest increase for a decade, bringing the total to more than $176 billion. How much will go to universities remains unclear, because the grant process was interrupted by a 35-day government shutdown. More than half of federal cash for university research comes from the Department of Health and Human Services. Thats reflected in the types of patents U.S. universities are getting. Almost three quarters are in the life sciences, compared with less than half at Asian universities, according to intellectual property-management software firm Anaqua. Should Be More Grants for IT research tend to originate at the Pentagon and the NSF, which each contribute about 13 percent of university funding. Thats not nothing, says Doug Brake at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation in Washington. But Id argue there should be more, he says. It pales in comparison to the type of support the Chinese engage in. Comparisons are tricky, but by some measures Chinas spending on research and development now rivals Americas. The Chinese government also is investing in nearly 100 U.S. universities, which have Confucius Institutes to promote Chinese language and culture. None of those schools receive direct U.S. federal funding, according to the Government Accountability Office . Another way to look at innovation in the worlds two biggest economies, and how they commercialize it, is to study payments made for the use of intellectual property like patents, trademarks or copyrights. Here again, the U.S. still holds a lead but China is advancing. The American way of bringing universities into this process has been widely emulated. A 1980 law allows them to keep patents that stem from government-funded research. Universities received more than $3 billion in gross licensing income in 2017, according to AUTM. They filed more than 15,000 patent applications, and helped create 1,080 start-ups. Walter Copan, head of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, says the system is being updated so that research can be delivered more efficiently into the hands of business. The governments job is to invest in these high-risk exploratory areas, he says. This is of critical importance to U.S. competitiveness. Great to See Thats pretty much what Trump concluded about AI in his executive order last month. China isnt identified by name in the 2,700-word document. But the references to maintaining Americas economic and national security, and protecting its tech from attempted acquisition by strategic competitors, point clearly in that direction. Money doesnt get much of a mention, though. At the University of California in Berkeley, theres significantly more high-quality work going on than there is cash available, says Randy Katz, the vice chancellor for research. Only about one in five proposals deemed to have merit ends up getting funded. Thats why Trumps AI order needs some practical follow-up, says Katz. Its great to see its a national priority, he says. Its up to Congress to see how much money is going to be spent. Personnel work at the scene where a Tesla electric SUV crashed into a barrier on U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, Calif. Federal investigators say the Tesla using the company's semi-autonomous driving system accelerated just before crashing into a California freeway barrier, killing its driver. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report Thursday, June 7, on the crash. (KTVU via AP) By CCN.com: Telsa faces another barrage of scrutiny over its safety. Tesla and media outrage go hand in hand these days. It is usually because of something that Elon Musk has tweeted about the SEC, but occasionally it is because a Tesla vehicle is involved in a crash. As reported by Zero Hedge, yet another of Musks line of luxury electric cars has had a serious accident. With a history of major fires alongside accusations of auto-pilot failure, fatal Tesla crashes get an obscene amount of media coverage. Is it fair that Tesla gets raked over the coals every time something like this happens? Are those batteries as safe as Tesla claims and are the NHTSA tests of lithium battery-powered electric cars sufficient? US Roads Are Dangerous, Florida is Especially Dangerous First of all, its important to consider just how many crashes occur on US roads every year. It is an absolute certainty that there is a huge bias for the media to report when a Tesla crash happens and particularly when a fatality occurs. In the United States there were 37,133 road deaths in 2017, so why is it so significant when one of those crashes is a Tesla? Florida is no utopia when it comes to driving as it was reported as the 3rd worst state for motor vehicle fatalities that same year. As Elon Musk Disrupts Car Industry, Boomers Push Back elon musk tesla self-driving car Musk has clashed relentlessly with regulators during his time as Tesla boss | Source: REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson Tesla Autopilot is safer than human driving (according to Teslas own statistics) There is no doubt that a significant cause of the furor comes around the fact that Tesla is a pioneering company. The world is full of gasoline-powered cars and those who rely on their sale for a living. Tesla disrupts some of the oldest and most powerful industries in the US from the colossal Oil industry down to car dealerships, Elon Musk has found a way to irk a considerable amount of people. Throw into the mix that Baby Boomers have an inherent distrust of computers and new tech, and you have a perfect storm. Story continues Lets throw out the sentiment and look at the facts starting with the autopilot. Elon Musks incredible talent for marketing would certainly have you believe this to be the case. Teslas statement reported in an article from Electrek certainly seems to suggest that using their service is a definite improvement on the human alternative, Read the full story on CCN.com. March 2 (Reuters) - Islamic State faces territorial defeat as U.S.-backed Syrian forces attack its final, besieged enclave near the Iraqi border. This timeline chronicles the lightning rise, cruel reign and gradual fall of Islamic State. * 2004-11 - In the chaos following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, an al Qaeda offshoot sets up there, changing its name in 2006 to Islamic State in Iraq. * 2011 - After Syria's crisis begins, the group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi sends operatives there to set up a Syrian subsidiary. Baghdadi follows in 2013, breaking with al Qaeda and renaming his group "The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant". * 2014 - Its sudden success starts with the seizure of Fallujah in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria at the turn of the year. The jihadists take Mosul and Tikrit in June and overrun the border with Syria. At Mosul's great Mosque, Baghdadi renames the group Islamic State (IS) and declares a caliphate. So begins a reign of terror. In Iraq, IS slaughters thousands of Yazidis in Sinjar and forces more than 7,000 women and girls into sexual slavery. In Syria, it massacres hundreds of members of the Sheitaat tribe. IS beheads Western hostages in grotesquely choreographed films. In September, the United States builds a coalition against IS and starts air strikes to stop its momentum, helping the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia turn the militants back from Kobani on the border with Turkey. * 2015 - Militants in Paris attack a satirical newspaper and a kosher supermarket, the bloody start to a wave of attacks that IS claims around the world. Militants in Libya behead Christians and pledge allegiance to IS, followed by groups in other countries, but they stay operationally independent. In May, IS takes Ramadi in Iraq and the ancient desert town of Palmyra in Syria, but by the end of the year it is on the back foot in both countries. * 2016 - Iraq takes back Fallujah in June, the first town IS had captured during its initial blaze of success. In August, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG, takes Manbij in Syria. Story continues Alarmed by the Kurdish advances near its own frontier, Turkey launches an offensive into Syria against both IS and the YPG. Enmity between Turkey and the YPG will continue to complicate operations against IS. * 2017 - Islamic State suffers a year of catastrophic defeats. In June it loses Mosul to Iraqi forces after months of fighting and Baghdad declares the end of the caliphate. In September the Syrian army races eastwards backed by Russia and Iran to relieve Deir al-Zor and re-extend state control at the Euphrates River. In October, the SDF drives IS from Raqqa. * 2018 - The Syrian government retakes IS enclaves in Yarmouk, south of Damascus, and on the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The SDF advances further down the Euphrates and Iraqi forces take the rest of the border region. The United States vows to withdraw troops. * 2019 - IS is besieged in its last enclave on the Euphrates at the village of Baghouz. (Compiled by Angus McDowall; Editing by Tom Perry/Mark Heinrich) Its 9 p.m. on a Thursday, and the night shift just started working at a studio space in lower Manhattan. Fashion photographers scurry about, shooting looks that just days earlier were draped over top models strutting the catwalk at New York Fashion Week. In this studio, however, the modelssome outfitted with Jason Wu pinstripe dresses and black tulle outfits from Red Valentinoare mannequins. They represent a radically different way to sell fashion in America and, soon, around the worlda shift led by a company thats raised almost $300 million and is now run by a former Tesla Inc. executive. For the uninitiated, the relationship between haute couture and that sweater you bought at Bergdorf Goodman is opaque at best. Designers create their collections to display at fashion shows, the biggest being in February and September. Huge clothing retailers and boutiques were once the gatekeepers, sending their minions (the ones sitting behind the celebrities) to pick what they think will sell best. They served as curators, choosing clothing that, in six months, would hang from store racks. They also decided which items would never be seen again. But not anymore. Moda Operandi enables clothes-crazed shoppers to buy directly from a designers complete runway collection, not just the ones picked by Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York or any other retailer for that matter. Through special arrangement with fashion houses, Moda can get you any look that appeared on the runway, allowing you to preorder before its made in a factory. For those wowed by a $4,500 lace dress from Zimmermann or a pair of $1,300 Proenza Schouler mules that just hit the runway, Modas website offers you the opportunity to be seriously fashion-forward. As of now, the site carries more than 1,000 different labels, a mix of well-known fashion houses and upstart designers. Some of its biggest brands include Givenchy, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Prada and Oscar de la Renta. Story continues Ordering on Moda requires shoppers to put down a deposit, since the item is being made just for them. Depending on the label, it can also take months for it to arrive, so its not always that quick. And the offers dont last forevereach collection disappears from Modas website after four to six weeks. And now the company faces competition. Theres a growing push by fashion labels to sell their own items right after runway showswhat the industry calls see now, buy now. Its a strategy thats been adopted by major labels such as Burberry, Moschino, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. It provides them with a way to sell some of their own clothes immediately without waiting for a nod from retailers. In a quest for growth, Moda decided it needed to expand its horizons. Thats where Ganesh Srivats came in. At Tesla, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk assigned the then-vice president of sales the job of launching the Model X SUV and the Model 3 sedan. Now at Moda, Srivats said his goal is to collect customer data while expanding the companys reach into one of the most lucrative luxury markets: China. Srivats, 42, is the latest of a growing number of Silicon Valley expats who decamped for the fashion industry. Two more Tesla executives joined himPuja Clarke, who ran global merchandise and e-commerce, and consumer communications director Alexandra Valasek. More recently, Jet.com executive Preston Bottomy came aboard to run Modas corporate strategy. Also hired were Kristina Salen, the former finance chief of Etsy; Josh Peskowitz, from Bloomingdales; and Lisa Aiken, from Net-a-Porter. Srivatss new post isnt his first in the style game. Before getting into the electric car business, he spent a decade at Burberry, the British luxury fashion label best known for its $2,000 trench coats and check patterns. His mission now merges both threads of his professional background. By analyzing real-time data to predict which looks will trend months later, Srivats said, he hopes to provide retailers with critical information while their production window is still open. When a line of alligator handbags hits the runway, how would a traditional retailer know which colors are going to be best-sellers? They dontthey have to guess. What are people going to like, pink or green? Who the hell knows, said Srivats. Heres the thing: Moda knows. It crunches the data from its orders to help identify hot items before theyre actually hot, let alone being made in the factory. We would love to be the merchandiser for the high-fashion industry and help them reshape their inventory bets. Armed with almost $300 million in venture capital, Moda has around 300 employees and is looking to grow. The last round, in late 2017, was a $165 million injection led by investor Apax Digital and K11 Investment Co. (Moda, which said its not seeking additional funding right now, declined to share revenue figures.) Thanks to Srivats, Moda Operandi may be having its moment, but its been around for a while. The company was started in 2010 by Lauren Santo Domingo and Aslaug Magnusdottir with a simple goal: instant fashionista gratification. They see whats coming out on the runway, but they know they cant actually buy it, and they wont even know for four to six months whats actually coming to their local store, Srivats said. Thats huge asymmetry. Since Moda arrived, the modern fashion show has morphed into a theatrical marketing device rather than a true sales event. Nowadays, everyone knows what designers are making the minute the clothes appear on the runway. Attendees share photos and videos on Instagram, and glossy magazines like Vogue and Elle post every single look. That dynamic created an opening for Moda. In years past, even the most fashion-obsessed werent able to see designers collections until they appeared in print. Now they can browse through all the looks instantly and, thanks to Moda, buy it right now. We want to be able to take the entirety of high-fashion content and present it to customers without editing it, and we want to let them decide what appeals to them, said Srivats. It allows for more quirky and eccentric and interesting tastes to come up. Srivats plans to enter China with a website suited to a domestic shopper there. The Chinese market has become vital to the luxury industry, both through tourist spending and local shopping. Moda is looking to launch in the summer or fall of this year. International growth, Srivats said, is a big part of the agenda. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldnt blame long term China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group Limited (HKG:2877) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 39% over a half decade. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 28%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 16% in the last 90 days. See our latest analysis for China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the five years over which the share price declined, China Shineway Pharmaceutical Groups earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 4.9% each year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 9.4% annual reduction in the share price. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 10.98. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:2877 Past and Future Earnings, March 3rd 2019 Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Its fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group, it has a TSR of -27% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group shareholders are down 26% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, thats worse than the broader market decline of 5.1%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case theres a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last years performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6.0% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should buy when there is blood on the streets, but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. Before forming an opinion on China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group you might want to consider the cold hard cash it pays as a dividend. This free chart tracks its dividend over time. If you would prefer to check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S., March 2, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday is hosting major chief executives who joined a Trump administration advisory board on workforce issues. Last month, the White House said the chief executives of Apple Inc, Walmart Inc, IBM Corp, Lockheed Martin Corp, Siemens USA, Home Depot Inc, Visa Incand other major companies are joining a 25-member board, co-chaired by adviser Ivanka Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The council plans to hold its first meeting Wednesday afternoon at the White House complex, according to a public notice. President Donald Trump is expected to attend part of the sessions, a White House official confirmed. The meeting, set to last three hours, will be live-streamed. A White House official was unable to confirm on Saturday a list of the CEOs who are attending but said most are expected to take part. The board members are to serve until 2020 and will work with the administrations National Council for the American Worker to develop and implement a strategy to revamp the American workforce to better meet the challenges of the 21st century," the White House said last month. Also on the council are the chief executives of the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as the governors of Iowa and Indiana, the president of the North Americas Building and Trades Unions and mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. Last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said U.S. job openings reached a record high in December at 7.3 million. The White House says the job openings present "a mismatch between the skills needed and those being taught, requiring immediate attention to help more Americans enter the workforce." This is the highest-profile White House business group to meet in 18 months. In August 2017, Trump disbanded two high-profile business advisory councils after numerous chief executives quit in protest over his remarks blaming violence in Virginia on anti-racism activists as well as white nationalists. Trump dissolved the American Manufacturing Council and the Strategic and Policy Forum after eight executives, including the CEOS of Campbell Soup Co and 3M Co, quit the panels. Both councils were moving to disband on their own when Trump made his announcement on Twitter. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Afghan forces repelled a Taliban attack at deadly cost after the militants assaulted a large military base in the southern province of Helmand late on February 28. Afghan officials said on March 1 that at least 25 Afghan soldiers were killed in the gunbattle. At least nine Taliban militants were also reported killed, including three suicide bombers. Clean-up operations were still under way at Camp Shorab, a strategic military installation that has been attacked by militants three times in the last 48 hours. A U.S. military-assistance mission operates from the base, but no foreign troops were involved in the incident, Afghan officials said. On Twitter, U.S. military spokesman Colonel Dave Butler said the attack "was repelled by the brave Afghan Security Forces." Butler later added that reports indicated "Taliban fighters were initially able to gain access to the Afghan base but were stopped by Afghan forces." The Taliban said its fighters had killed dozens of Afghan soldiers. A military source told RFE/RL that a top Afghan commander at the military installation had been killed in the attack. The assault on the base comes with the U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan in Qatar for the latest round of peace talks. On February 28, Zalmay Khalilzad said negotiations would resume on March 2 following three days of talks with Taliban negotiators in Doha, aimed at finding a negotiated solution to Afghanistan's 17-year war. The New York Times reported on March 1 that the proposal currently under discussion could include the withdrawal of U.S. forces in the next three to five years and the creation of a power-sharing government including the Taliban. In the past, Khalilzad has tried to convince the Taliban to hold direct talks with representatives of Afghanistan's government. The Taliban has rejected that proposal. In Kabul on February 28, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reiterated that an Afghan-led peace process would provide lasting stability in the country. "Afghanistan wants cooperation and collaboration, but Afghans and the legitimate government of Afghanistan should own the peace process," he said. There are some 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, as well as thousands of European forces participating in NATO's Resolute Support mission. With reporting by dpa and AFP On February 26, Indian jets launched a bombing raid on what it described as a militant training camp inside Pakistan. The air strike came in retaliation for a suicide attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14 that left 40 Indian servicemen dead. Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale announced the air strike had taken out "a very large number" of "terrorists, trainers, senior commanders, and groups of jihadis." Another Indian official claimed some 300 militants were killed in the bombardment. But pictures taken by a Reuters photographer who visited the scene on February 28 show only craters on a sparsely populated hillside. A local told Reuters he was jolted awake by the predawn barrage but that no one was killed. "Only some pine trees died, they were cut down. A crow also died." Locals did tell Reuters that Jaish-e Muhammad, the extremist organization India said it was targeting, ran a madrasah, or Islamic religious school, near where the bombs struck. But that building appeared to be intact when Reuters visited. Indian officials later walked back the tally of alleged "terrorist" deaths, saying on February 28 it was "premature" to provide casualty details. Then, on February 27, as Pakistani and Indian jets clashed in the skies above Kashmir, officials made contrasting claims. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his military had shot down two Indian warplanes and captured two pilots. In Delhi, meanwhile, a government spokesperson told reporters the Indian Air Force had shot down a Pakistani fighter plane and lost one of its own aircraft and pilots in the clash. A senior Indian Air Force officer then claimed the downed Pakistani jet was an F-16 taken down by an Indian MiG-21. Soon afterward, photos and videos were released that confirmed one Indian pilot had been captured and an Indian MiG-21 jet had been downed, but no evidence that a second Indian plane or a Pakistani plane was shot down has since emerged. The downing of a relatively modern F-16 fighter by an Indian Air Force MiG-21, which first took to the skies in 1959, might be a surprising takedown given the disparity in technology of the planes. And several media outlets have run with the David-and-Goliath angle of an ancient Soviet jet taking out a relatively modern American-made F-16. Lynette Nusbacher, a strategist and former British intelligence officer, told RFE/RL that such a shoot-down is certainly possible "if the right missile or round hits [an F-16], it doesn't matter what platform the missile or round comes comes from." But Nusbacher said there was not enough open-source evidence available to say whether an F-16 had indeed been shot down. Since the announcement that a Pakistani F-16 was downed, amateur sleuths have trawled the Internet for proof of an F-16's demise, with many major Indian news outlets basing reports on images that appear to show the downed Indian MiG, rather than a Pakistani F-16. Further confusion followed when an Indian military helicopter crashed in Kashmir on the morning of February 27, reportedly killing several servicemen. Several major news outlets included images of the helicopter crash to illustrate the stories of downed "planes" during the crisis. The British outlet The Independent described several pictures of the helicopter wreckage, including one photo that clearly shows a helicopter rotor, as the remains of "an Indian fighter jet." Yes, I found a better job Yes, but I'm still looking for a new job Yes, I retired Yes, I started my own business No, I like my current job No, but I'm currently looking for a new job Vote View Results Live Aid. Farm Aid. No Nukes. The Concert for Bangladesh. For decades, big-name musicians have lent their talents to benefit concerts to raise awareness and money for urgent issues. Compassion Internationals 16-city Roadshow Tour lands at the Broadmoor World Arena on March 14 with Matthew West, Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith and Leanna Crawford the latest example of the Springs-based ministrys 42-year history of partnering with musicians. The Roadshow concerts open with a worship music set by Michael W. Smith, who has been a Compassion donor and ambassador for decades. Im grateful for my long and productive relationship with Compassion International, said Smith, and I appreciate them providing the opportunity for me to kick off these concerts, setting the tone for the night from the very beginning. Compassion owns the Roadshow Tour, which it manages out of the Nashville office of its Compassion LIVE subsidiary, which creates events featuring leading Christian musicians and speakers. We create and produce musical and speaking tours and events from the ground up so Compassion can get more children sponsored, said Brian Seay, director of Compassion LIVE. Seay hopes this 10th anniversary edition of Roadshow will sell 50,000 tickets, break even financially and bring in 3,000 new child sponsors. Compassion, founded in Chicago in 1952, helps more than 2 million children by working with more than 7,000 churches in 25 countries. Sponsored children typically receive schooling, meals, health checkups, education and Christian teaching. A quarter of Compassions 1 million U.S. child sponsors signed up to support the ministry after hearing about its work from Christian musicians. Thats how it happened for the late President George H.W. Bush. In 2001, Bush attended a Compassion-sponsored Christmas concert featuring Amy Grant and Vince Gill in Washington, D.C. Grant has worked with Compassion for decades, and during an intermission, concert attendees were invited to sponsor a child. Bush raised his hand and received a photo and bio of a 7-year-old Filipino boy named Timothy. Bush secretly sponsored the child for the next decade, writing in his initial letter to the boy: I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already. Bush signed that letter G. Walker, according to a story on CNN.com. In 2018, Compassion sponsors exchanged nearly 6 million letters with their sponsored children. Many Christian organizations have sought to harness the power of contemporary Christian music, but none has done so as successfully or as long as Compassion, says Devlin Donaldson, who managed the ministrys music programs for a decade, adding top artists such as Smith and Grant to the roster of musicians who promote sponsorship through their concerts and recordings. Compassion now partners with more than 100 musical artists. Donaldson, now CEO of Springs-based VisionTrust, praised former Compassion President Wally Erickson, who died in February, for providing a solid foundation. I can remember Wally saying, We do not want, nor will we accept, an insincere endorsement, Donaldson says. Wally also insisted that anyone speaking publicly on Compassions behalf see the work overseas so they could talk about it truthfully and intelligently. Roadshow Tour headliner Matthew West says using concerts to help children can be life-changing. Because of the work of Compassion International, the impact goes far beyond those in attendance at the shows, he said. Many childrens lives are being radically changed, rescued from poverty through the blessing of sponsorship. Musician Mike Johnson first approached Compassion in 1977 with his idea of concerts that combined music, ministry and appeals to sponsor children. Now, after four decades of reaching potential donors by partnering with Christian musicians they love and trust, Compassions donor base is younger than most non-profits enjoy. Many child sponsors faithfully send their monthly $38 donations for years or even decades, helping the ministry enjoy two decades of annual growth. Its income of nearly $900 million makes it one of the nations largest Christian nonprofits. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked the ministry No. 8 in its 2018 Americas Favorite Charities report. For Compassion LIVEs Brian Seay, the success of the music partnerships is simple. It really comes down to artists who believe in Compassion, and Compassion believes in the artists, and both are in it as a partnership, not a transactional relationship. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. ABC News (NEW YORK) -- The top Republican in the House of Representatives asserted Sunday that President Donald Trump has done "nothing" wrong, and claimed that the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has been set on impeaching Trump. "I think Congressman [Jerrold] Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election," Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on "This Week" Sunday. ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos highlighted a statement Nadler made earlier on "This Week," Sunday: "Impeachment is a long way down the road." "Well, listen to exactly what he said," McCarthy replied. "He talks about impeachment before he even became chairman, and then he says you got to persuade people to get there. There's nothing that the president did wrong." "Nothing?" Stephanopoulos pressed. "In this process, to be impeached? Show me where the president did anything to be impeached," the House Republican leader responded. Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney for Trump, said in public testimony before the House Oversight Committee last week that the president was directly involved in -- among other things -- hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. McCarthy said he thinks Cohen, who has been disbarred as an attorney, had the ultimate responsibility to advise Trump of legal implications in matters such as these payments. "If I hire an attorney to make sure I carry out the law, the attorney has a responsibility to tell me what's right and wrong in the process," McCarthy said. During Cohen's public hearing on Wednesday, Republicans emphasized Cohen's previous lies to Congress, lies that resulted in charges in the Southern District of New York and a guilty plea from Cohen. "Liar, liar, pants on fire," said Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., during the hearing. "No one should ever listen to you and give you credibility. It's sad." Cohen provided the committee with a check from the president that he said served as an installment of Trump's reimbursement to him for the hush money payment to Daniels in 2016. The payment is at the center of allegations that Trump may have violated campaign finance laws. On Sunday, Stephanopoulos pressed McCarthy on the payments and apparent reimbursements made by Trump, asking how evidence such as the check doesn't serve as proof the president participated in campaign finance violations. McCarthy said that he doesn't believe the payments are impeachable. He also said that Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, should recuse himself from his committee's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. "Schiff has now met Schiff's own standard of why Devin [Nunes] had to recuse himself," McCarthy said. "Adam Schiff needs to recuse himself for any new investigation." Schiff responded to McCarthy's statement in an interview later Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," saying "The extent of my contact was just inviting [Cohen] to testify and also trying to allay his concerns about the president's threats against him and his family, but our staff certainly sat down to interview him, and that's what you do in any credible investigation." He added, "Mr. McCarthy, I think, can be forgiven for not knowing how to run a credible investigation for the last two years." While some Republicans are framing the Democratic-led investigations and hearings as the seeds of impeachment, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the chairman of the Oversight Committee, told the New York Times after the hearing that "not one person on our side even mentioned the word impeachment" and that it's the Republicans who raised it during Cohen's testimony. On "This Week" Sunday, McCarthy also responded to a New York Times report that Trump overruled intelligence officials and his own White House counsel in ordering his then-chief of staff John Kelly to grant Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner a top secret security clearance. When asked by Stephanopoulos whether he thought the public has a right to know why the CIA was concerned with Jared Kushner, McCarthy said "the president has the right to pick, just as you said, whoever he wants." "I know but that's not what I asked," said Stephanopoulos. "I said does Congress have a right to know the concerns about Jared Kushner and why the president overruled the CIA's concerns?" McCarthy responded, "Well I think the president looked at [the CIA's] concerns and the president says those weren't concerns to him, so he could have him around." He added, "They give you the pluses and the minuses, whatever the concerns are, the president made the choice and he's doing a good job at it." Just last month in an interview with ABC News, the president's daughter Ivanka Trump said that her father "had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband's clearance." And in an interview with the New York Times in January, the president said himself that he was "never involved" with Kushner's security clearance, and that he didn't even believe that he held the "authority" to take that sort of action. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said that the White House refused three times to confirm or deny that memos by Kelly and then-White House counsel Don McGahn relating to Kushner's security clearance. When asked by Stephanopoulos whether he thought the public has a right to know why the CIA was concerned with Jared Kushner, McCarthy said "the president has the right to pick, just as you said, whoever he wants." "I know but that's not what I asked," said Stephanopoulos. "I said does Congress have a right to know the concerns about Jared Kushner and why the president overruled the CIA's concerns?" McCarthy responded, "Well I think the president looked at [the CIA's] concerns and the president says those weren't concerns to him, so he could have him around." He added, "They give you the pluses and the minuses, whatever the concerns are, the president made the choice and he's doing a good job at it." Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Joe Barrera, Ph.D., is the former director of the Ethnic Studies Program at UCCS, and a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close English French OTTAWA, March 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Royal Canadian Legion welcomes Canadas new Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay. We look forward to working directly with Minister MacAulay at the first available opportunity, says Dominion President Thomas D. Irvine. Knowing his vast experience in government including as a past Secretary of State for Veterans and his understanding of seniors issues, this appears to be a very positive appointment. The Legion hopes to explore a range of issues with Minister MacAulay as soon as possible, including sharing concerns about the new Pension for Life program set to be released on April 1, and advocating for an improved transition system for Veterans leaving military life. About The Royal Canadian Legion Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canadas largest Veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S., Europe and Mexico. With close to 260,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regulus Resources Inc. ("Regulus" or the "Company", REG TSX.V) is pleased to report an updated mineral resource estimate for its AntaKori copper-gold project in northern Peru. This is the first mineral resource estimate prepared for Regulus at the project and supercedes a previous estimate prepared for Southern Legacy Minerals Inc. (SLM), (see press release by SLM dated July 3, 2012). Regulus engaged Wood (formerly AMEC Foster Wheeler) to independently estimate the mineral resources at AntaKori. The estimate relies on new data from drilling completed by Regulus through November 2018 and drilling data provided through a collaborative agreement established in 2017 with the adjoining property holder (see press release by Regulus dated Jan 24, 2017). Highlights from the updated resource estimate AntaKori copper-gold project Additional drilling data has allowed significant conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to the Indicated Mineral Resource category as well as the definition of additional Inferred Mineral Resources Reasonable long term metal prices used compared to the historical resource Updated cost, NSR, and arsenic penalties considered A collaborative exploration agreement with the operator of the immediately adjoining Tantahuatay Mine, allows for modeling of a large open pit with layback onto adjoining property to more completely capture mineral resources All mineral resources reported are on Regulus concessions with no reporting of mineralization from adjoining concessions The amount of drilling data available has more than doubled from that available for the previous resource estimate with Regulus completing more than 20,000m of drilling in its initial 2017-18 drilling campaign This is an interim resource estimate to provide an update on progress at the project - the resource remains open to the north with potential for significant expansion with additional drilling A summary of the Mineral Resource estimate is presented in Table 1 below: Table 1. Summary of AntaKori Mineral Resource Estimate at a 0.3% CuEq Cut-off Resource Million Cu Grade Au Grade Ag Grade CuEq Grade AuEq Grade Cu Au Ag CuEq AuEq Category Tonnes (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (g/t) B lbs M oz M oz B lbs M oz Indicated 250 0.48 0.29 7.5 0.74 1.09 2.6 2.3 61 4.1 8.8 Inferred 267 0.41 0.26 7.8 0.66 0.96 2.4 2.2 67 3.9 8.2 Please note that the CuEq and AuEq grades and metal contents in this table are mutually exclusive and are not additive. See Table 3 for additional notes. John Black, Chief Executive Officer of Regulus, commented as follows: We are very pleased to provide an updated interim resource estimate for the AntaKori project that shows a substantial increase in size from the previous report. This new estimate not only takes into account approximately 20,000 m of drilling completed by Regulus in 2017-2018, but also uses assumptions and methodologies that we believe are better supported for the project in order to generate a higher level of confidence in the reported estimate. While this report is a significant milestone for the project, it is important to understand that it only represents a marker along the path and not the final destination. We expect that there will be several more increases to the size of the mineral resource at the AntaKori project as we continue to define the full extent of the mineralized system. We look forward to an exciting year of drilling activity in 2019 as we plan to complete 20-25,000m of drilling. Dr. Kevin B. Heather, Chief Geological Officer of Regulus, commented as follows: This interim resource estimate is a substantial increase in both tonnage and contained metals over the historical estimate for the project, however, we have yet to find the limits of the mineralization and additional drilling is clearly warranted to extend the known mineralization. It is remarkable to note that hole AK-18-026, (see press release by Regulus on Jan 30, 2019) which intersected 473.2 metres with 1.16% Cu, 0.21 g/t Au and 8.4 g/t Ag (1.39% CuEq), falls outside the new mineral resource estimate due to lack of supporting drill holes in that area. This provides tangible evidence of the potential to grow the currently reported resource. Mineralization at the AntaKori copper-gold project The AntaKori system hosts two principal styles of copper-gold-silver sulphide mineralization: 1) mineralized skarn and breccias (Cu-Au-Ag) within Cretaceous calcareous sedimentary rocks, likely associated with as-yet undiscovered porphyry mineralization; and 2) younger, epithermal high-sulphidation (HS) mineralization (Cu-Au-Ag-As) in overlying Miocene volcanic rocks and breccias that host the adjacent Tantahuatay heap-leach gold mine to the south. The younger high-sulphidation mineralization is characterized by pyrite-enargite and locally overprints the earlier skarn mineralization (pyrite-chalcopyrite-magnetite), particularly along the southern part of the AntaKori system. Drill holes at AntaKori typically encounter the overlying Miocene volcanic rocks and high-sulphidation style mineralization prior to entering the Cretaceous sedimentary sequence and skarn at depth. As the drilling progresses to the north, the volcanic rocks terminate, and drill holes will commence directly in the skarn/porphyry environment within the Cretaceous sedimentary sequence. Regulus mineral concessions and agreements with adjoining property holders The Regulus AntaKori project consists of 20 mineral concessions totalling 289 ha in area that are located immediately to the north of the Tantahuatay gold-silver mine in northern Peru. The concessions are adjoining to and interfingered with mining and exploration concessions held by Compania Minera Coimolache S.A. (Coimolache or CMC), the owner and operator of the Tantahuatay Mine, and mineralization extends across property boundaries. Regulus has entered into a collaborative exploration agreement with Coimolache that allows for mutual access, mutual rights of expansion and collaborative exploration with a principal objective of determining the size and nature of copper-gold sulphide mineralization on both parties concessions and with a secondary objective of allowing the expansion of Coimolaches Tantahuatay oxide gold-silver mine by way of lay-back onto Regulus mining concessions (see press release by Regulus dated Jan 24, 2017). The collaborative agreement allows Coimolache and Regulus to model a conceptual pit shell that lays back onto the AOI to provide for more complete capture of resources on Regulus concessions. Regulus may only report information and mineral resources from Regulus concessions. The AntaKori property also adjoins and interfingers with mineral exploration concessions to the north that belong to Compania Minera Colquirrumi S.A. (Colquirrumi), a wholly owned subsidiary of Buenaventura. Regulus has an agreement with Colquirrumi that allows Regulus an option to earn up to a 70% interest in a large area (2,571 hectares) of Colquirrumi mining concessions located immediately to the north and east of Regulus mining concession by completing 7,500m of drilling. The Colquirrumi agreement provides for similar mutual access and mutual rights of expansion terms as the Coimolache agreement and thereby allows the development of a conceptual pit design to extend onto this ground to allow for more complete definition of resources on Regulus concessions. No mineral resources have been defined on the Colquirrumi ground in this report. Mineral Resource Estimate This Antakori Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of February 22, 2019 and was prepared by Mr. Douglas Reid, Principal Geological Engineer, Wood. The Mineral Resource estimate is prepared and reported in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mr. Reid is the Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate. A technical report will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Regulus website at www.regulusresources.com within 45 days of the issuance of this news release. The following tables show the Mineral Resource estimate with sensitivity to varying CuEq grade cut-offs. Table 2 AntaKori Indicated Mineral Resources AntaKori Inferred Mineral Resource Contained Metals CuEq Cut-off Tonnes CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag As CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag (%) (millions) (%) (g/t) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm) (B lbs) (M oz) (B lbs) (M oz) (M oz) 0.2 296 0.66 0.98 0.42 0.26 6.9 793 4.3 9.3 2.7 2.5 66 0.3 250 0.74 1.09 0.48 0.29 7.5 857 4.1 8.8 2.6 2.3 61 0.4 201 0.84 1.23 0.54 0.32 8.3 969 3.7 7.9 2.4 2.1 54 0.5 152 0.96 1.41 0.63 0.37 9.2 1137 3.2 6.9 2.1 1.8 45 0.6 118 1.08 1.59 0.71 0.42 10.1 1304 2.8 6.0 1.9 1.6 38 0.7 93 1.20 1.76 0.79 0.46 10.9 1480 2.5 5.3 1.6 1.4 33 0.8 73 1.32 1.94 0.87 0.51 11.7 1669 2.1 4.6 1.4 1.2 28 0.9 57 1.45 2.13 0.96 0.56 12.5 1874 1.8 3.9 1.2 1.0 23 1 45 1.59 2.33 1.05 0.62 13.2 2086 1.6 3.4 1.0 0.9 19 See Table 3 for notes Table 3 AntaKori Inferred Mineral Resources AntaKori Inferred Mineral Resource Contained Metals CuEq Cut-off Tonnes CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag As CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag (%) (millions) (%) (g/t) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm) (B lbs) (M oz) (B lbs) (M oz) (M oz) 0.2 320 0.59 0.86 0.36 0.24 7.2 484 4.2 8.9 2.6 2.5 74 0.3 267 0.66 0.96 0.41 0.26 7.8 518 3.9 8.2 2.4 2.2 67 0.4 199 0.76 1.12 0.48 0.30 8.7 597 3.3 7.2 2.1 1.9 56 0.5 146 0.87 1.28 0.56 0.34 9.6 702 2.8 6.0 1.8 1.6 45 0.6 112 0.98 1.43 0.63 0.38 10.3 808 2.4 5.1 1.6 1.4 37 0.7 89 1.06 1.56 0.69 0.41 10.8 910 2.1 4.4 1.3 1.2 31 0.8 69 1.15 1.69 0.75 0.45 11.4 1005 1.8 3.8 1.1 1.0 25 0.9 53 1.24 1.82 0.80 0.48 12.0 1096 1.5 3.1 0.9 0.8 21 1 40 1.34 1.96 0.87 0.53 12.5 1169 1.2 2.5 0.8 0.7 16 Notes to accompany Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource tables (Tables 1-3) assuming open pit mining methods for AntaKori Project: Mineral Resources have an effective date of 22 February 2019; Douglas Reid, P. Eng., a Wood employee, is the Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource estimate. Inputs to costs for cut-off grade assumes a conventional truck and shovel open pit mine handling and feeding a 60,000 t/d concentrator and producing a copper-gold concentrate with arsenic for sale to specialists in concentrate trading, third-party smelters and refineries. Mineral Resources are reported based on a CuEq cut-off of 0.30% constrained within a pit shell. Mineral Resources are only reported within Regulus concessions. CuEq and AuEq grades and metal contents in this table are mutually exclusive and are not additive. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Copper price used is US$6,614/t (US$3.00/lb), gold price is US$1,400/oz, silver price is US$18.00/oz. Assumed metallurgical recoveries: copper 85%, gold 55%, silver 50%. Assumed pit slope of 45 degrees. Assumed open pit mining cost of US$1.85/t plus lift charge to average US$2.00/t, processing cost of US$7.18/t, G&A cost US$1.00/t. Copper equivalent formula: CuEq = Cu + 0.6805561*Au + 0.008750*Ag (no use of Pb, Zn or Mo and no metallurgical recovery was applied to the copper equivalent formula. Gold equivalent formula: AuEq = Au + 1.469387*Cu + 0.012857*Ag (no use of Pb, Zn or Mo and no metallurgical recovery was applied to the gold equivalent formula). Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% basis. Tonnages are reported as metric tonnes rounded to million tonnes; copper, gold grades and equivalent grades are rounded to two decimal places, silver is rounded to one decimal place. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences. Based on the economic criteria listed in Table 4, a reasonable cut-off grade was determined to be 0.30% CuEq according to similar projects in the industry of copper arsenical concentrate. This cut-off grade was based on a range of As concentrate grades and associated penalties. At the metal prices used the cut-off was determined to be 0.25% CuEq for low As concentrates and 0.32% CuEq for high As concentrates and with the prospect of blending the 0.3% CuEq cut-off grade was considered reasonable. The close-out date for the AntaKori database is December 18, 2018 and all drilling up to Regulus drill hole AK-18-027 was included in the database. Mineral Resource Estimation Methods Leapfrog was used to construct a model of lithological domains which were used to constrain resource estimation. Five metre composites were created within each domain. Separate variograms for copper, gold and silver were constructed for the main lithological domains supported by sufficient number of composites to produce a robust variogram. Metal grades were capped using outlier restriction prior to estimation. Ordinary kriging (OK) and Inverse Distance Squared (ID) were selected to estimate the copper, gold and silver grades within the block model. OK estimation was used in the major domains and ID was used to estimate in the minor domains. Multiple pass estimation strategies were used. Generally, a minimum of 5 and maximum of 20 samples were allowed for estimation purposes. Model validation checks included a global bias check where the OK estimate was compared to the nearest-neighbour (NN) grades at a zero cutoff, local bias checks using swath plots, change of support checks using Herco plots, and visual data inspection. Based on internal confidence limit guidelines, Wood conducted a drill hole spacing study. This study determined the drill hole spacing required for classification of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. Currently there are no Measured Resources within the AntaKori project. Resource blocks with sufficient drill spacing to allow Indicated classification were downgraded to the Inferred category if the supporting legacy drill holes lacked sufficient QA-QC documentation. The final limits for the Indicated and Inferred classifications were smoothed to remove isolated blocks of one classification in areas where most of the blocks were classified to another category. Conceptual Pit Shell To demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE), Wood constructed a conceptual pit shell for the AntaKori project using the Whittle software and based on Indicated and Inferred mineralized material. The mineralization considered in the conceptual pit shell was limited to sulphide material, the minor amount of oxide material was treated as waste for this exercise. Parameters for the conceptual pit shell assumed the deposit would be developed as a long-life operation consisting of a conventional truck and shovel open pit mine feeding a 60,000 t/d concentrator, producing a copper-gold concentrate containing arsenic on-site for sale to third-party refineries. Processing costs assumed a sulphide concentrate would be produced using flotation methods to recover copper, gold, and silver. Parameters are listed in Table 4. Table 4: Parameters for Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction Parameter Value Units Copper Price 6,614 US$/t Gold Price 1,400 US$/oz Silver Price 18.00 US$/oz Treatment Charge Cu (average) See footnote 300 $/DMT Conc Copper Refining Charge (US$0.25/lb) 148.81 $/DMT Conc Gold Refining Charge (US$5/oz) 1.52 $/DMT Conc Silver Refining Charge (US$0.3/oz) 2.43 $/DMT Conc Freight and shipping 120 $/DMT Conc Copper Recovery (Rec Cu ) 85 % Gold Recovery (Rec Au ) 55 % Silver Recovery (Rec Ag ) 50 % Arsenic Recovery (Rec As ) 80 % Overall Pit Slope 45 Mining Cost 1.85 US$/t Material Moved Processing Cost 7.18 US$/t Material Treated G&A Cost 1.00 US$/t Material Treated Note: For treatment charges depending on the arsenic content the following rule was used: US$ 500/DMT, if As conc >5%; US$ 300/DMT, if As conc >3%; US$ 250/DMT, if As conc >0.5% and As conc <=3%; US$ 100/DMT, if As conc <0.5%. and additionally, an Arsenic penalty was applied based on: if As conc<0.5% and As conc>0.3%, 5 US$/dmt each 0.1% Metal prices net selling cost including concentrate refining. Bench-marked mining, processing and general and administrative (G&A) costs based on estimates and current costs for similar sized and similar types of operations in the region. Metallurgical recoveries are based on testing benchmarks. To date, only preliminary metallurgical studies have been completed at AntaKori. A 5% NSR was applied to mineralized material from the CMC AOI as per the Coimolache agreement. The pit shell was determined by evaluation of a Net Smelter Return (NSR) with NSR block cut-off grade (BCOG) = 10.03 $/t. The NSR of each block has been calculated using the following formula: NSR= 45.07* Cu + 24.10 * Au + 0.30 * Ag The conceptual pit shell was restricted to CuAuAg mineralization that occurs on AntaKori permits, the CMC AOI and the CMC permits outside and south of the AOI as shown in Figure 1. CMC Data was not accessible for the CMC concessions outside the AOI so this area was assumed to be waste material. Based upon precedent agreements and a demonstrated working relation between Regulus and CMC, an assumption is made that Regulus will be able to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with respect to CMC concessions to the south of the AOI similar to the existing agreement. It is anticipated that a new agreement would provide for the removal of CMC owned material under the same terms of the current collaborative agreement. The impact of not reaching such an agreement would be to reduce the stated Regulus owned resources by approximately 10% in tonnage with the grade remaining essentially the same. Additional risks to the mineral resource estimate include assumptions regarding geological continuity being different from what has been interpreted, unrecognized bias in the assay results from legacy drilling where there was limited documentation of the QA-QC procedures, metallurgical recoveries being different from what was assumed, inability to achieve smelter agreements for the concentrate at reasonable rates, and changes to the forecast economic parameters used in the estimates. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0259c450-ddbd-46d4-9ef4-95a782799381 The conceptual resource constraining pit shell reaches a depth of approximately 600m at the deepest point. The ratio of waste to total in-pit resource (Regulus and CMC) at a cut-off of 0.3% CuEQ is approximately 0.85. Although the conceptual pit shell captures much of the material classified with an Inferred or Indicated level of confidence, there is significant mineralized material that falls outside of the conceptual pit shell and additional drilling will likely convert more mineralization to resource status in the future. Data verification and QAQC Collar surveys, downhole surveys, assays, and lithology data for Regulus holes drilled in 2017 to 2018 were validated in the database by comparison of the database values to original documents. No discrepancies were discovered. For holes drilled prior to 2017, no original data were available or collar or downhole surveys. Collars for 47 holes (67% of historical collars) were re-surveyed by a contractor and compared to the database. A small number of minor discrepancies were corrected. Assay data for historical drilling were compared to original documents and no significant discrepancies were identified. Most of the available core was relogged by Regulus in 2017 and 2018 so there is no need to verify against original records. Density data from 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 were compared to original documents and a very small number of discrepancies in the 2007-2008 data were identified and corrected. Documentation of the QA-QC data for the 1997-1998 drilling program was not available. Documentation of the QA-QC data for 2007-2008 program was not available, but the QC data (duplicate samples, standard reference materials, and blank samples) from the laboratory were available and evaluated. QA-QC for 2017-2018 consisted of insertion of standard reference materials, duplicate samples, blank samples, and submission of check assays to an umpire laboratory. Those data were continuously evaluated during the drilling program and possible problems identified and evaluated. Insertion rates were consistent with industry best practices. As a result of these evaluations, Wood considers the data to be reliable as follows: 1997-1998 data are not supported by documented QA-QC and are thus able to support only Inferred Mineral Resources; 2007-2008 data are supported by documented QA-QC data from the laboratory only. We consider these data adequate to support Indicated Mineral Resources and preliminary mine planning; 2017-2018 data are thoroughly supported by documented QA-QC data and are adequate to support Measured Mineral Resources and mine planning. CMC data provided to Regulus were audited before they were used. Approximately 6% of the collar data were audited. Downhole survey reports for 35% of the 2016-2018 drill program were audited. Data from prior drill programs were not available. Assay certificates for 1% of the historical (pre-2016) data were available and 75% of the 2016-2018 data. Density data (178 determinations) were compared to original documents. No discrepancies were identified in any of the audited data. Regulus did not receive any raw QA-QC data. Wood reviewed QC reports for May, June, and July 2018 which indicate that the 2018 drill program was supported by adequate QC. Without any documented QC data, any block that relies on these drill holes for more than 50% of the data used to estimate a block was limited to Inferred Mineral Resources. This report relies on information provided by CMC, not to be publicly disclosed, that has been reviewed by Wood and found to be valid and appropriate for use in the support of the resource estimate. Next Steps - Metallurgical Investigations Regulus will undertake a geometallurgical modelling program at AntaKori commencing in 2019. The objective will be to integrate the geological understanding of the deposit with metallurgical characterization of the various mineralization styles. This will involve, among other activities, bench scale flotation testing, ore microscopy, and comminution tests. Regulus has taken a significant step in understanding the whole rock mineralogy with the implementation of hyperspectral scanning of all drill core from the project. It is expected that the eventual level of understanding of the minerals and their behavior in processing will be among the most complete of any project in the world today. These investigations will also include a very high degree of focus on the deleterious elements found in the AntaKori project resource, most notably, arsenic. Characterization of the occurrence of Arsenic from geological observations and laboratory studies will help in the development of future metallurgical test work programs developed jointly with Wood and others. Generally, copper ores around the world are showing increased levels of arsenic as cleaner ores are depleted. There is a considerable amount of research effort taking place funded by many of the producers in the industry. Regulus strives to stay informed on the potential treatment pathways forward and the associated capital and operating costs. Next Steps - Continued Drilling Program Regulus will continue resource definition drilling at the AntaKori project with plans for 20,000 to 25,000m to be completed in 2019. This second phase drilling campaign will focus on determining the full extent of the mineralized system on Regulus concessions and concessions where Regulus can earn-in to an interest such as the Colquirrumi ground to the north. The AntaKori copper-gold sulphide system remains open in several directions, most notably to the north. To date, drilling permits have only allowed drilling to the south, closer to the Tantahuatay Mine. Regulus anticipates that additional drill permits will be approved about mid-2019 that will allow drilling to progress farther to the north. Sampling and Analytical Procedures Regulus follows systematic and rigorous sampling and analytical protocols which meet and exceed industry standards. These protocols are summarized below and are available on the Regulus website at www.regulusresources.com . All drill holes are diamond core holes with PQ, HQ or NQ core diameters. Drill core is collected at the drill site where recovery and RQD (Rock Quality Designation) measurements are taken before the core is transported by truck to the Regulus core logging facility in Cajamarca, where it is photographed and geologically logged. The core is then cut in half with a diamond saw blade with half the sample retained in the core box for future reference and the other half placed into a pre-labelled plastic bag, sealed with a plastic zip tie, and identified with a unique sample number. The core is typically sampled over a 1 to 2 metre sample interval unless the geologist determines the presence of an important geological contact. The bagged samples are then stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample preparation facility. Samples are sent by batch to the ALS laboratory in Lima for assay. Regulus independently inserts certified control standards, coarse field blanks, and duplicates into the sample stream to monitor data quality. These standards are inserted blindly to the laboratory in the sample sequence prior to departure from the Regulus core storage facilities. At the laboratory samples are dried, crushed, and pulverized and then analyzed using a fire assay AA finish analysis for gold and a full multi-acid digestion with ICP-AES analysis for other elements. Samples with results that exceed maximum detection values for gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish and other elements of interest are re-analyzed using precise ore-grade ICP analytical techniques. For Further Information, please contact: Regulus Resources Inc. John E. Black, CEO / Director Phone: +1 303 618-7797 mobile +1 720 514-9036 office Email: john.black@regulusresources.com About Regulus Resources Inc. and the AntaKori Project Regulus Resources Inc. is an international mineral exploration company run by an experienced technical and management team, with a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration properties located in North and South America. The principal project held by Regulus is the AntaKori copper-gold-silver project in northern Peru. Mineralization remains open in most directions and drilling is currently underway to confirm and increase the size of the resource. For further information on Regulus Resources Inc., please consult our website at www.regulusresources.com . Qualified Persons The scientific and technical data contained in this news release pertaining to the AntaKori project has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Kevin B. Heather, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc, Ph.D, FAusIMM, Chief Geological Officer of Regulus Resources Inc. who serves as the qualified person (QP) for the AntaKori Project under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Douglas Reid. P. Eng., and Dr. Ted Eggleston Ph.D., P. Geo, RM SME of Wood (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) are Independent Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (43-101) and are independent consultants to Regulus. Mr. Reid prepared the Mineral Resource estimate and has reviewed and considers it to fairly and accurately summarize the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Eggleston has reviewed the press release and considers it to fairly and accurately summarize the geological other technical data for the AntaKori project that forms the basis for the Mineral Resource estimate. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information Certain statements regarding Regulus, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Regulus' control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Specifically, and without limitation, all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Regulus expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and development of the AntaKori project described herein, the completion of the anticipated drilling program, the completion of an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate and management's assessment of future plans and operations and statements with respect to the completion of the anticipated exploration and development programs, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Regulus' control. These risks may cause actual financial and operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Although Regulus believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Regulus does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novoheart Holdings Inc. (Novoheart or the Company) reports financial results for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018. Amounts, unless specified otherwise, are expressed in Canadian dollars and are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Q2 2019 Highlights: Entered into a multi-phase partnership with another top-15 Pharmaceutical Company (the Global Pharma Partner ) to develop high-throughput contractility assays ) to develop high-throughput contractility assays Entered into a third project with Pfizer Inc. ( Pfizer ) extending disease modeling work on Friedreichs Ataxia ) extending disease modeling work on Friedreichs Ataxia Published a research paper with Pfizer on the predictive capabilities of the MyHeart Platform Appointed Chief Operating Officer as the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2019 The Company recorded net loss of $1,945,459 (loss per share of $0.02) for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to a net loss of $1,660,675 (loss per share of $0.02) for the three months ended December 31, 2017. On a year-to-date basis, the Company recorded a net loss of $3,895,260(loss per share of $0.04) for the six months ended December 31, 2018 compared to a net loss of $7,933,244 (loss per share of $0.15) for the six months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in the net loss on a year-to-date basis was due primarily to the completion of the reverse takeover transaction that occurred in Q1 2018, for which the Company incurred a non-cash loss on completion of reverse takeover of $5,213,597. The decrease is offset by the increase in operating expenses including costs in marketing, share-based compensation and research and development,compared to the six months ended December 31, 2017. For the second quarter of 2019, the Company recorded revenue of $5,255 and cost of sales of $1,744, achieving a gross margin of 67%. The revenue was from a contract with the Global Pharma Partner. The contract with the Global Pharma Partner requires the Company to design and fabricate reliable multi-well plates for high-throughput generation, culture and contractility measurements of miniature engineered human cardiac tissue strips. Services commenced in December 2018. Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2019 was $1,999,010 compared to the operating expenses of $1,737,289 for the second quarter of 2018. Operating expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $3,974,694 and $2,829,756, respectively. The increase in operating expenses is primarily due to the increase in marketing expenses, shared-based compensation expenses and research and development expenses. The increase in marketing expenses is primarily due to expansion of the commercialization of its MyHeartTM platform, along with the hiring of the Senior Vice President commercial development in August 2018 to lead the effort. For share-based compensation expenses, such expenses were only incurred upon the Company being listed on September 27, 2017. The increase in research and development expenses is primarily due to the expansion of Novohearts scientific team resulting in an increase in personnel costs, the completion of the ITF project and the commencement of a sponsored research agreement signed with the Regents of the University of California, Irvine Campus. Liquidity and Outstanding Share Capital As at December 31, 2018, the Company had cash of $666,494. From the service agreement with XT, the Company received proceeds of $1,1811,680 in Q2 2019 and received the remaining balance of $452,920 in February 2019. As at March 1, 2019, there were 94,634,025 common shares issued and outstanding, and 5,018,555 common shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options (of which none are exercisable) at an exercise price ranging from $0.32 to $0.50 per share and 1,183,000 of the issuance of vested restricted share units. The Company also has 972,037 purchase warrants outstanding with an exercise price of C$0.50, expiring in September 2019. Results of Annual General Meeting Novoheart is pleased to announce the results of its annual general meeting of shareholders held on February 11, 2019. Shareholders elected six directors to the Companys board, being Dr. Ronald Li, Dr. Camie Chan, Victor Chang, Ricky Chiu, Allen Ma and James Topham. The shareholders also approved all other matters proposed, including the re-appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and the re-approval of the Companys stock option plan. All share compensation arrangements of the Company, including the RSU Plan, will not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. ABOUT NOVOHEART HOLDINGS INC. Novoheart is a global stem cell biotechnology company dedicated to human heart engineering with offices and laboratories in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong. Novohearts scientific team has pioneered a range of bioengineering technologies collectively known as the MyHeartTM platform, including the worlds first human mini-heart novoHeartTM (otherwise known as a human heart-in-a-jar) that is fully capable of pumping and ejecting fluid. Novoheart believes that its proprietary platform uniquely positions the Company to enter into commercial partnerships with leading pharmaceuticals and research institutions to deliver pre-clinical cardiotoxicity screening and to develop custom-tailored engineered heart constructs for disease modeling and drug discovery. Novoheart also believes that the MyHeartTM platform is well-positioned for the potential development of cell-based cardiac regenerative therapies with superior safety and efficacy. Common shares of Novoheart is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NVH. For further information please contact: Novoheart Holdings Inc. Suite 1430, 800 West Pender Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2V6 Ronald Li Chief Executive Officer info@novoheart.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation; statements about the Companys future plans, its goals and expectations, and the potential applications its MyHeartTM platform are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the management discussion and analysis section of Novoheart Holdings Inc.s interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the respective companies undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. NOVOHEART HOLDINGS INC. (Formerly Novoheart Holdings Limited) Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) (Expressed in Canadian dollars) December 31, 2018 June 30, 2018 ASSETS Current Cash and cash equivalents $ 666,494 $ 1,595,094 Accounts and other receivables 538,818 615,332 Prepaid expenses and deposits 281,177 312,161 1,486,489 2,522,587 Property and equipment, net 1,081,384 1,245,981 Intangible assets, net 246,815 277,948 $ 2,814,688 $ 4,046,516 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,272,828 $ 1,357,713 Contract liabilities 1,811,680 - Due to related parties 41,180 60,684 3,125,688 1,418,397 Deferred government grants 31,976 40,648 Long-term license payable 81,003 75,424 3,238,667 1,534,469 Shareholders' Equity Share capital 17,426,693 17,426,693 Contributed surplus 2,411,981 1,493,175 Accumulated other comprehensive income 343,689 303,261 Accumulated deficit (20,606,342 ) (16,711,082 ) (423,979 ) 2,512,047 $ 2,814,688 $ 4,046,516 NOVOHEART HOLDINGS INC. (Formerly Novoheart Holdings Limited) Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) (Expressed in Canadian dollars, except number of common shares) Three months ended Six months ended December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Revenue $ 5,255 - $ 5,255 - Cost of sales 1,744 - 1,744 - 3,511 - 3,511 - OPERATING EXPENSES Research and development $ 575,277 $ 427,475 $ 935,554 $ 691,135 Intellectual property and patent 27,240 103,781 68,809 361,339 General and administrative 734,200 842,718 1,281,404 1,382,112 Marketing 199,428 13,015 439,893 13,015 Share-based compensation 295,483 295,500 918,806 300,222 Depreciation and amortization 167,382 54,800 331,228 72,933 1,999,010 1,737,289 3,974,694 2,820,756 LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (1,995,499 ) (1,737,289 ) (3,971,183 ) (2,820,756 ) Government grants 49,469 16,310 73,338 21,687 Other (loss) / income - 53,856 (344 ) 110,665 Interest income / (finance expense) 101 (1,263 ) 1,798 (1,768 ) Foreign exchange gain / (loss) 470 7,711 1,131 (29,475 ) Non-cash loss on completion of reverse takeover - - - (5,213,597 ) 50,040 76,614 75,923 (5,112,488 ) NET LOSS FOR THE PERIOD $ (1,945,459 ) $ (1,660,675 ) $ (3,895,260 ) $ (7,933,244 ) OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Foreign currency translation adjustment 12,701 (17,215 ) 40,428 (58,041 ) COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD $ (1,932,758 ) $ (1,677,890 ) $ (3,854,832 ) $ (7,991,285 ) Loss per share Basic and Diluted $ (0.02 ) $ (0.02 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.15 ) Weighted average number of shares outstanding basic and diluted 93,462,025 93,462,025 93,462,025 52,110,915 NOVOHEART HOLDINGS INC. (Formerly Novoheart Holdings Limited) Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flow (unaudited) (Expressed in Canadian dollars) For the six months ended December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss for the period $ (3,895,260 ) $ (7,933,244 ) Items not affecting cash: Non-cash loss on completion of reverse takeover - 5,213,597 Share-based compensation 918,806 300,222 Depreciation and amortization 331,228 72,933 (2,645,226 ) (2,346,492 ) Changes in non-cash working capital items: Increase/(decrease) in accounts and other receivables 112,399 (12,817 ) Decrease/(increase) in prepaid expenses 64,004 (321,664 ) Decrease / (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (153,606 ) 599,886 Decrease in due to related parties (31,037 ) (11,686 ) Increase in contract liabilities 1,755,520 - Decrease in deferred government grants (11,241 ) (10,830 ) 1,621,318 242,889 Net cash used in operating activities (909,187 ) (2,103,603 ) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Acquisition of equipment and payment of leasehold improvements (34,341 ) (42,428 ) Prepayment for equipment - (1,213,048 ) Net cash used in investing activities (34,341 ) (1,255,476 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from share issuance, net - 6,663,982 Cash acquired in RTO - 112,662 Net cash provided by financing activities - 6,776,644 Change in cash during the period (943,528 ) 3,417,565 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash held in a foreign currency 14,928 (13,387 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,595,094 1,319,748 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 666,494 $ 4,723,926 As in the years preceding 1979, economic hardship is hitting a broad swath of Irans population. Everyone is hurting: farmers who cant find water or pay for feed for livestock, merchants who cant afford to import their products, and anyone whose savings to buy a car or house have been torpedoed by the failing currency. Even after a security crackdown and regime concessions quelled the early 2018 protests, demonstrations have regularly popped up across the country. Irans economic situation has become so severe that its leadership is considering drastic measures. On Feb. 6, Iranian news website ISNA reported that Ali Larijani, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wanted to implement structural reforms within the next four months. But when questions arose about what exactly these reforms would entail, the parliaments public relations office quickly walked back the statement. Irans clerics, undoubtedly familiar with how the shahs structural reforms infuriated the populace, know that such reforms can have unintended, uncontrollable consequences. Statements like Larijanis, therefore, are dangerous. They raise expectations of real change, which could lead to disappointment and even anti-regime sentiment if the people dont see substantial improvements in economic conditions. Larijanis announcement aside, it seems likely the regime is mulling more serious changes to pacify growing public discontent. After all, its harder to put down a revolution than to avoid one in the first place. The mere consideration of 1979-scale reforms indicates that the regime has to find options beyond just muddling through the status quo. Still, Iran today isnt facing the same kind of pressure it had to cope with in 1979. Theres no powerful ally pushing for reform; the U.S. is still applying pressure, but no longer as an ally, and sanctions have failed to compel sweeping changes in Iran in the past. With more room to breathe than the shah had, the current regime will be able to dull the pain of reforms through a more gradual rollout, hoping to avoid antagonizing poor and rich, urban and rural all at once. But structural reforms might also affect the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Upon ascending to power, the clergy established the IRGC, separate from the militarys chain of command, to safeguard the revolution and its ruling clerics. The IRGC controls a huge chunk of the economy (some estimates put it at one-third) and its members hold significant governmental leadership positions. It seems unlikely the government will confiscate the IRGCs wealth, as the shah confiscated landowners holdings. But the regime has to perform a difficult balancing act with the budget: It must tighten its belt while still keeping the IRGC happy. Khamenei allowed the government to draw from the National Development Fund to keep defense spending high. (Notably, the NDF is a sovereign wealth fund meant to invest in projects with economic returns, such as infrastructure and oil sites. Its funds are not normally spent on defense.) The regime may also have to decrease its spending on engagements abroad; indeed, the budgetary squeeze is the main reason we expect Iran to pull back from Yemen and Syria in 2019 . At the same time, Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani have called on the IRGC to give up some of its economic holdings, and the government arrested a dozen IRGC members and associates to force repayment of certain earnings. In response, the IRGC divested its shares in Irans telecom company. Still, these seem like token gestures; its unlikely Irans clerics would impinge on the IRGCs power enough to anger the very force that ensures their survival. Another Revolution? Though protests continue, they lack a common purpose that brought together the 1979 revolutionary factions. But this doesnt mean regime change is impossible. The IRGC is the most powerful organization in Iran, and in the event of a nationwide uprising with slogans like down with the clerics, it is the most capable entity to take advantage of and fill the resulting power vacuum. This would not amount to a social revolution of the sort seen in 1979, but a political revolution or coup detat that places the country under military control. Iran does not seem to be on the verge of implosion, but its leaders are finding a shrinking number of solutions to Irans problems. Some of the few options that remain risk recreating the kind of opposition that led to the current regimes ascendancy in the first place a thought not lost on Khamenei. Irans leaders will likely continue to do what they do best pound their chests, fire missiles and brag about the regimes strength while in private desperately trying to manage an economic transition that mollifies the Iranian public without destroying the regime itself. Making it in America American manufacturing companies have a spring in their step The scaling back of Foxconns plans to make televisions in Wisconsin is offset by other good news ADRIVE ALONG the narrow county roads of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, used to be a sleepy affair. You would spot a pumpkin farm, the odd homestead and red barn. But a recent visit revealed a cacophonous building site: a factory is emerging in this corner of the Midwest. Where chicken coops once stood, Foxconn, a Taiwanese contract-manufacturing giant best-known for assembling iPhones, has arrived. When in 2017 the firm announced plans to build a massive factory for high-end televisions, many cheered, not least President Donald Trump, who came for last years ground breaking ceremony. Electronics manufacturers had long ago abandoned America for cheaper countries, especially China, so the investment seemed to mark a reversal. Having secured a promise of over $4bn in subsidies from Wisconsin, Foxconn vowed to create 13,000 jobs, many of them on the assembly line, with an average annual salary of $54,000. But what Foxconn will do in these hinterlands is now in question. The company has discovered that it is hard to get thousands of Midwesterners to work long hours at stressful assembly-line jobs for relatively low pay. Last week Mr Trump personally intervened and persuaded Foxconns boss, Terry Gou, not to pull out. Even so, Foxconn has scaled back its mass-manufacturing plans, and an insider confirms that it will now make only unspecified quantities of high-value products. It has not retracted its jobs promise, but observers doubt if it will hire at the scale it originally envisaged. At first glance, the Foxconn reversal confirms that American manufacturing is in trouble. Consider the recent wobbles at other big firms with local factories. Electrolux, a Swedish white-goods giant, announced on January 31st that it is shutting down an oven-making plant in Memphis, Tennessee. It blamed higher costs arising from the Trump administrations tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, as well as the bankruptcy of Sears, a big retailer that sold its products. On January 28th, Caterpillar, a legendary American maker of heavy equipment, reported disappointing profits for the fourth quarter thanks in part to a slowdown in Chinas economy, which has been hit by Americas trade war. A closer look, however, suggests manufacturing is undergoing a revival, especially among agile smaller firms and those using advanced techniques. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, manufacturing employment leapt by 261,000 jobs in 2018, reaching a total of 12.8m, coming after another rise in 2017, of 207,000 jobs. The sector has rebounded from the financial crisis of 2008-09 (see chart 1). The Institute for Supply Managements manufacturing purchasing-managers index, a closely-watched indicator, rose to 56.6 in January from 54.3 in December (a figure above 50 signals expansion). It has shown expansion for 29 consecutive months. With characteristic modesty, Mr Trump is claiming most of the credit. His tax-reform package, passed at the end of 2017 by Congress, reduced corporate-tax rates, made capital investment more attractive and cut the incentive for American multinationals to hoard cash overseas. Though some firms have used the bounty from tax reform to undertake big share buy-backs, it seems that large firms are increasing investments in plant and equipment in America. Analysts at Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, estimate that the big industrial firms of the S&P 500 index (leaving out the large technology firms) during the first three quarters of 2018 spent $460bn on capital expenditures, up from $400bn in the same period in 2017. In a survey of leading American firms released on January 28th by the National Association for Business Economics, a trade association, four times as many firms in the goods-producing sector (which includes manufacturing) expect to increase capital spending in the next three months as those expecting to cut spending. Foreign direct investment into American manufacturing shot up to roughly $185bn during the first nine months of 2018, compared with under $100bn in 2017. Yet forces that predate Mr Trumps arrival into the White House are also boosting the fortunes of American factories. A new analysis by the Boston Consulting Group, a consultancy, shows that the cost of manufacturing is approaching parity for the two economic superpowers (see chart 2) whereas 15 years ago Chinese costs were over an eighth lower. Manufacturers were bringing supply chains home (partly by investing in automation) well before Mr Trump took office, according to a forthcoming report from the Conference Board, a research group. Researchers conclude that nearly two-thirds of manufacturers in America, domestic and foreign, in leading sectors were localising sourcing and manufacturing from 2011 to 2016, and only about a quarter were globalising. Since Mr Trumps election, higher oil prices have helped manufacturing businesses linked to the energy industry. Home run The report also offers clues as to what went wrong in Wisconsin. Electronics was among the sectors that did the least reshoring during the period studied. This is because electronics supply chains and innovation ecosystems in China are highly specialised, efficient and hard to duplicate. In contrast, the automobile and metals industries were aggressive localisers. To catch a glimpse of what could be the future of American manufacturing, travel to southern New England, home of Americas first manufacturing boom two centuries ago. Here, Mr Trump has been good for Trumpf. The German firms North American headquarters and manufacturing hub in Farmington, Connecticut, is bustling. Trumpf makes machine tools, each costing $500,000 or more, that cut, bend and shape metal with the aid of proprietary lasers. Unlike the traditional metal-bashing kit found on typical factory floors, which are cost-effective only for mass production, these computer-controlled marvels allow short runs and high variation, making mass customisation economic. Business is booming. Trumpf counts such American industrial icons as John Deere, a manufacturer of tractors, and Toro, which makes lawnmowers, as customers. Sales rose 21% to $699m in the year to June 2018, and were a healthy $400m in the second half of 2018. Customers frequently cite tax breaks from being able to expense the cost more quickly as reasons for investment. Behind a giant tarpaulin in Trumpfs factory can be glimpsed a new assembly-line being built for its next-generation offering. Trumpf has also spent some $30m building a factory of the future in Chicago, close to its industrial clients. In Cromwell, a nearby town by the bucolic Connecticut River, John Carey, founder of Carey Manufacturing, reflects on his small companys experience with reshoring. The family-controlled firm makes automobile components as well as metallic handles and latches for such things as toolboxes. Unable to face a flood of cheap Chinese imports around 2000, he outsourced operations to mainland China but found it to be a race to the bottom on quality and price. He brought back the work to America starting in 2014, a process he has accelerated in the past two years. He invested $2.5m in equipment from Trumpf and embraced advanced manufacturing. Consumers want products in ever greater variety, on demand, and Trumpfs advanced tools allow even small manufacturers like Carey to be nimble. Carey is growingit hopes to earn $4m in revenues from reshored product lines in 2019, more than double the figure three years ago. Mr Carey praises Mr Trump for taking on Chinas unfair subsidies, but berates him for his steel and aluminium tariffs, which have raised his costs. Like Foxconn, his firms big challenge is finding enough skilled workers. America needs a system of apprenticeships like that of Germany, he says. Instead of wasting billions on a border wall with Mexico, he argues, Mr Trump should spend the money helping develop a highly-skilled manufacturing workforce. The evidence suggests that if America builds it, companies will come. " " Lost States/Michael J. Trinklein The 'lost state' of Franklin. On May 16, 1785, a Franklin delegation petitioned Congress for statehood, but received less than the two-thirds majority required under the Articles of Confederation to add additional states to the confederation. Our 50, nifty United States may have had several more siblings if things had turned out differently. For over the past 150 years, more than a few additional states have been proposed, such as Texlahoma and Nickajack. Hosts Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown talk about these potential new states in a recent episode of the podcast Ridiculous History: The United States That Never Were. The state of Texlahoma was proposed shortly before World War II. The state would have been a combination of rural swaths of northern Texas and western Oklahoma. It was pushed for by residents of these areas who wanted better roads. The car was becoming ubiquitous at this time, but American roads were in terrible condition, especially in the oft-overlooked rural areas. If Texlahoma came to be, citizens reckoned, they could build the good roads their region needed. The proposal, designed by Oklahoman A. P. Sights, did garner some attention, including the backing of then-American Vice President John Nance Garner IV. But the proposal died when the Texans realized it would result in their becoming Texlahomans and losing their identity as Texans was unacceptable. Advertisement At least two states were proposed during the Civil War as a protest against the Confederates States of America and its push for secession from the Union. Nickajack was one. A combination of southeast Tennessee and northern Alabama, this area was full of Southern Unionists poorer residents who did not own plantations and slaves, and thus were not in favor of secession or the Confederacy. Residents of these areas put forth their idea in the hopes of squashing the secessionist movement in their states. But after a majority of Alabamans and Tennesseans voted in favor of secession, the Nickajack proponents decided it was too dangerous to proceed with their proposal, and the matter was dropped. The residents of Scott County, Tenn., also wanted to secede from their state because they weren't wealthy, slave-owning plantation folk; thus, joining the Confederacy wasn't deemed necessary or wise. But unlike the Nickajackians, the people here were pro-active and made a formal proclamation of secession to the state government, dubbing themselves the Free and Independent State of Scott. The state didn't fight Scott; it simply ignored the proclamation. In 1986, Scott County formally requested to be readmitted to Tennessee. The state accepted the request, and even threw Scott a party. Ever ponder Michigan's odd shape? The midwestern state is comprised of two pieces of land: a lower, mitten-shaped portion and the U.P., or Upper Peninsula, which is actually attached to the neighboring state of Wisconsin. The first whispers of the U.P. separating from Michigan to become the independent state of Superior came in 1858, but the ensuing Civil War quashed the discussion. Yet the idea of creating Superior named after the Great Lake the region hugs was broached several times over the ensuing century. While the initial proposal was for the new state to be comprised of the U.P. and some tracts of land in the upper portions of Lower Michigan and Wisconsin, more recent pushes were just for the U.P. to become Superior. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Delaware is comprised of the bulk of a small peninsula on the East Coast, with Maryland and Virginia laying claim to tiny chunks of it. Over the years, various proposals have been floated to create one peninsular state called Delmarva, with most plans calling for Maryland and Virginia to cede their land to Delaware. News UAE Rulers witness the launch of new 50-dirham banknote as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations Sheikh Mansour added, "We see in this issuance that the UAE has entered a new phase in its history and a renewed pledge to continue the process of economic and social growth. This occasion also allowed us to express our appreciation and gratitude to our founding fathers, by issuing a new 50 dirham banknote to celebrate the passing of Fifty years since the establishment of the UAE. IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ -- The Venezuela IP Office (SAPI) has informed through an official resolution ( here ) about a new mechanism for the payment of official fees through the usage of PETRO (oficial Venezuelan crypto-currency). The measure, only applicable for foreign applicants, includes a 60-day deadline, with retroactive effect, for the payment of the official fees corresponding to the trademarks published in the last two Official Trademark Gazettes.It is noted that PETRO transactions are economically prohibited by some countries (e.g. USA), which would prevent some foreign entities from protecting their IP in Venezuela. As well, the legitimacy of the Resolution is being questioned, as the country is going through a difficult political situation, which could see the reversal of measures taken by the current government.-- Buenos Aires Criminal Court Number 26 has acquitted Matias Botbol, Hernan Botbol and Alberto Nakayama, founders of the Argentinian social network Taringa!, from alleged infringement of IP rights belonging to several publishing houses. The action, initiated in 2009 (!), sought a criminal sanction for the alleged illegal download of various literary works. According to the court, the website is a mere intermediary, hence it is not responsible for the content shared by its users. In so doing, the Argentine court displayed a forceful position in ruling that such restrictions would violate a users constitutional right of freedom of speech.--It seems that Panamas Copyright Office (DGDAP) has a clear New Years resolution. After matching last years statistics for copyrighted works (781), Director General, Mrs. Isis de Rivera Gonzalez, stated that during 2019, a digital database of protected works will be put into place. Also, the Office will more strictly implement the Marrakech Treaty (ratified by Panama in 2017), in order to establish new copyright exceptions and limitations for benefiting people with disabilities.--Nation-branding is a particularly popular policy in Latin America. As an example, two new countries, Paraguay and Guatemala, will join the list of countries so doing, which already includes Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Belize, Cuba, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Bolivia, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, El Salvador, Bahamas, Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. Public tenders have been issued in both countries.However, while the Paraguayan Government is engaged in the logo design stage and hopes to reveal it by October 2019 at the Anuga Fair, the Guatemalan Tourism Institute has already encountered some hiccups. After entering into a contract for brand development with Regional de Comunicaciones S.A., the decision to proceed has been revoked because of budgetary issues, with no further news about when this initiative will be renewed.Photo by Strobridge Litho. Co. and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic licennse. Before MEK leader Massoud Rajavi was released from the Shahs prison on January 20, 1979, he must have hoped that the peoples revolution would bring about a free Iran. Sadly, the mullahs stole power and Rajavi was quick to draw a line between the political and ideological views MEK and the mullahs. In various speeches in the early days of the Regime, Rajavi defended the Iranian peoples democratic revolution, something that required great courage given how the mullahs regarded democracy and exposed how then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini had usurped the Revolution to put himself in power. In 1980, Massoud Rajavi truly delved into the differences between the Regimes policies and MEKs during a series of interviews, highlighting that the people of Iran did not want the monopoly of power, murders, torture, stoning, flogging, and trampling of rights that were evident in the Regimes positions. Massoud Rajavi also warned Khomeini about any crackdown on the MEK, explaining that the MEK had not fired a single bullet since the mullahs took power and that, for this reason and many others, it was wrong for the Supreme Leader to issue a fatwa against the MEK and order the Regimes security forces to slay the MEK. The MEK was nonetheless patient with the Regime in the two and a half years following 1979 revolution, as evidenced by Massoud Rajavis interviews and speeches during the time, but the Regime did not moderate one bit. The MEK was determined to do everything they could to postpone Khomeinis onslaught and protect the Iranian people from his wrath, but alas, they could not hold out forever. In a recent speech, Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian Resistance, said: Were it not for the responsible and selfless role played by the [MEK], and their restraint despite the regimes murder of 54 of their members, Khomeini would have eliminated the limited remaining freedoms much sooner. She noted that Khomeini, who she referred to as a monster, was prepared to do anything to eradicate the MEK or any other group that posed a threat to the Regime, so the MEK launched a major revolutionary movement to promote truth, justice, and sacrifice, against an ongoing wave of abuses in their quest for freedom. Maryam Rajavi said: [The MEK] faced horrendous ideological and political obstacles, each of which was enough to terminate any movement as attested by quite a few similar cases in modern history. Yet the revolutionary, trailblazing, effective element that brought about change was Massoud Rajavis leadership. He led our organization and removed the obstacles on the path of freedom for our enchained nation. The MEK continues their fight against the mullahs to this day and will continue to fight tyranny until they achieve a free, democratic, and peaceful Iran. 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. - Popular paranormal expert Ed Caluag shared his struggles in life - He is also a licence teacher aside from being a paranormal expert - Ed gave a message for those who judge and bash him online PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Ed Caluag who became a subject of online meme shared his life story which was featured in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Sojo where he gained popularity. As a young boy, Ed who was a carpenter's son had polio and later diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease which kept made him stay at home for two years. He would just watch other children play but he later got bored and seek to enjoy playing with other children. Gusto ko talagang lumabas, gusto kong maglakad, gusto kong maging normal, gusto kong makipaglaro, he says. So unti-unti, pag wala yung nanay ko, bumababa ako dun sa aking rocking chair. Humahawak ako sa mga gilid, pinipilit kong maglakad. As in talagang struggle, as in talagang masakit, mahirap. He found friends and played with them without knowing where they live. He just assumed they live nearby. He found out one day that it was only him who sees these kids. Sabi ko, Eh yung bata dito na natin pakainin. Sabi niya, Sinong bata? Wala naman daw bata, he said. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! He was able to recognize his difference and learned to cast spells to help other people in need. His ability to foresee the future gave him guilt feelings because despite seeing his father's death through a vision, he was not able to stop it from happening. Sana man lang kako hindi ko na siya pinakain ng mangga, he says. Naisip ko bakit pinabayaan ko pa siyang kumain? Netizens poked fun of him and some sympathized when he appeared in an episode of KMJS where his prediction did not coincide with the scientific and factual investigations done by the show. Try ninyo munang alamin ano ba ang nasa likod namin bago kayo magsalita, bago kayo magsabi na mali kami, na palpak kami, hindi kami tama, he says. Kilalanin ninyo muna kami. he added addressing to those online bashers. Ed Caluag had appeared as a paranormal investigator on television, including appearances on KMJS segments Bato-Bato Sa Langit, Manila City Hall from Gabi Ng Lagim VI, and Palaka. POPULAR: Read more viral stories here Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Social Experiment: Can I Have A Cigarette? | HumanMeter "Human Meter (KAMI) conducted a social experiment to see how many of these respondents will show concern for a 10-year-old boy who asks them to light his cigarette. Click the play button and find out. 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(3) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (4) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (3) Jun 06 (4) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (4) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (3) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (4) May 27 (6) May 26 (3) May 25 (3) May 24 (3) May 23 (3) May 22 (5) May 21 (3) May 20 (3) May 19 (3) May 18 (4) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (4) May 13 (4) May 12 (5) May 11 (2) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (3) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (4) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (3) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (3) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (4) Apr 11 (5) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (7) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (2) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (6) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (5) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (3) Mar 15 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(3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (7) Dec 10 (7) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (5) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (5) Nov 28 (4) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (4) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (6) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (4) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (5) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (4) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (4) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (5) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (5) Oct 07 (6) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (5) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (4) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (4) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (3) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (5) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (6) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (5) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (7) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (4) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (6) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (5) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (6) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (6) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (6) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (6) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (4) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (3) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (5) Jun 11 (5) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (5) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (4) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (5) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (6) May 23 (4) May 22 (5) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (5) May 18 (6) May 17 (6) May 16 (4) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (4) May 12 (3) May 11 (4) May 10 (5) May 09 (2) May 08 (4) May 07 (4) May 06 (4) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (6) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (6) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (5) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (4) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (7) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (8) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (6) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (5) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (5) Mar 13 (6) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (7) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (4) Mar 03 (6) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (7) Feb 27 (6) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (5) Feb 24 (8) Feb 23 (7) Feb 22 (8) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (7) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (5) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (7) Feb 11 (6) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (5) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (4) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (7) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (6) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (5) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (7) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (7) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (5) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (5) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (7) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (6) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 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15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (7) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (6) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (6) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (5) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (5) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (7) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (4) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (4) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (5) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (6) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (3) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (3) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (5) Jun 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17 (10) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (6) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (6) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (8) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (7) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (9) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (7) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (12) Nov 17 (8) Nov 16 (6) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (11) Nov 13 (11) Nov 12 (9) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (9) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (7) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (8) Nov 04 (6) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (7) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (7) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (7) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (7) Oct 22 (7) Oct 21 (6) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (7) Oct 18 (6) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (6) Oct 13 (7) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (8) Oct 09 (8) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (7) Oct 06 (7) Oct 05 (8) Oct 04 (6) Oct 03 (8) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (10) Sep 29 (7) Sep 28 (10) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (5) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (6) Sep 18 (6) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (6) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (7) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (10) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (3) Sep 08 (8) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (6) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (6) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (5) Aug 25 (9) Aug 24 (7) Aug 23 (8) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (9) Aug 20 (8) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (6) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (6) Aug 12 (5) Aug 11 (7) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (9) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (6) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (7) Aug 02 (8) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (8) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (9) Jul 25 (9) Jul 24 (7) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (9) Jul 20 (6) Jul 19 (9) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (2) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (7) Jul 14 (7) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (7) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (8) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (5) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (7) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (5) Jun 22 (7) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (6) 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(1) Mar 14 (2) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (1) Mar 04 (1) Mar 03 (2) Mar 02 (2) Mar 01 (2) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (1) Feb 26 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 23 (2) Feb 19 (2) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (1) Feb 02 (1) Jan 31 (1) Jan 22 (1) Jan 18 (1) Jan 16 (1) Jan 09 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 20 (2) Dec 15 (1) Dec 13 (1) Dec 11 (1) Nov 30 (1) Nov 27 (1) Nov 20 (1) Nov 11 (1) Nov 10 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 01 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 29 (1) Sep 24 (2) Sep 15 (1) Sep 13 (1) Sep 12 (1) Sep 08 (1) Sep 02 (2) Aug 31 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 27 (2) Aug 24 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 20 (1) Aug 18 (3) Aug 16 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 11 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 03 (1) Jul 27 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 24 (1) Jul 22 (1) Jul 21 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 14 (1) Jul 13 (3) Jul 10 (1) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (1) Jul 06 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 28 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 20 (1) Jun 19 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 15 (1) Jun 14 (2) Jun 11 (1) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 06 (1) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (1) May 31 (3) May 30 (1) May 29 (1) May 28 (2) May 26 (1) May 25 (1) May 18 (1) May 17 (1) May 15 (1) May 09 (1) May 07 (2) May 02 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (2) Apr 23 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 19 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 25 (1) Mar 22 (2) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (2) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Sunday, March 3, 2019 From The Pocono Record: A man who says he was unlawfully detained on his wedding day by a Pennsylvania judge who wrongly suspected he was in the United States illegally filed a federal lawsuit Thursday, alleging violations of his constitutional rights. Alexander Parker sued Camp Hill-based District Judge Elizabeth S. Beckley, two court entities and an unidentified court officer who, Parker says, told him he was not free to leave. The federal lawsuit claims Guatemala-born Parker and his fiancee went to Beckleys court office to get married in May 2017, but Beckleys suspicions prompted her to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Read more here. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/2019/03/man-sues-judge-who-ruins-wedding-day.html Sunday, March 3, 2019 Demographer Walter Ewing for Immigration Impact briefly looks at the latest data on the undocumented immigrant population in the United States. Contrary to President Trumps claim that large-scale unlawful migration across the southern border constitutes a national emergency that requires building a wall, research suggests that undocumented immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border is actually the lowest its ever been in the past 25 years. Last November, the Center for Migration Studies has issued a report with this conclusion, which reinforces the findings of a similar report released by the Pew Research Center. According to the report, the total number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has decreased by one million since 2010 and now stands at about 10.7 million. At the same time, apprehensions at the border have dropped dramatically, falling from 1.6 million in 2000 to about 300,000 in 2017a decline of more than 80 percent. These numbers would not seem to signal an emergency at the border. KJ https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/03/number-of-undocumented-immigrants-in-us-at-a-25-year-low.html Sunday, March 3, 2019 The Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed counterclaims brought against the real Armie Hammer[s] Plaintiffs, brothers Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, through Winklevoss Capital Fund, LLC, made a substantial investment in an upstart magazine operated by Defendant, Treats! LLC, and founded by Defendant, Stephen Shaw. Plaintiffs allege they have not achieved the return on investment promised them by Defendants and that Shaws mismanagement of Treats! is to blame. Defendants deny the allegations of mismanagement and bring counterclaims against the Winklevoss brothers in which they allege the brothers breached commitments to allow Treats! to announce and capitalize on the publicity surrounding the brothers investment. According to the counterclaims, the brothers made their investment in Treats! soon after the release of the movie The Social Network in which their association with the social networking site, Facebook, was depicted. Shaw allegedly accepted the investment, in part, based on the brothers commitment that Treats! could announce (presumably with some fanfare) that the brothers had selected Treats! as one of the first investments of their newly created firm, Winklevoss Capital Fund, LLC. The counterclaims purport to state claims for fraud, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. Defendants have moved to dismiss the counterclaims on multiple grounds, including that the claims are barred by laches and by a fully integrated contract governing the parties relationship that makes no mention of the brothers alleged commitment to promote Treats!. In rare circumstances, the Court may apply laches at the pleadings stage to bar a claim when it is clear on the face of the claim that it is untimely and that equity would not be offended by the claims dismissal. This is especially so when the claimant brings common law claims and seeks common law remedies after the applicable statute of limitations has expired. That is what Defendants/Counterclaim Plaintiffs have done here. Accordingly, Plaintiffs Motion to Dismiss Defendants Counterclaims as time barred must be granted. The allegations In early 2011, a mutual friend introduced Shaw to Cameron and Tyler. When they met Shaw, Cameron and Tyler were seeking to strengthen their Los Angeles network. Shaw, a professional photographer well known to many celebrities, opened the door to his social circle for Cameron and Tyler by introducing them to his friends, inviting them to exclusive dinners and parties and photographing their various girlfriends. When Cameron and Tyler learned about Treats!, they were intrigued and offered to invest in the company. They emphasized to Shaw the potential significance of the fact that Treats! would be the first investment they made through their newly-formed investment firm, WCF. Shaw believed Treats! would develop into a lifestyle brand and he thought a partnership with WCF would provide the perfect launch pad. The notoriety of the Winklevoss brand following the release of the blockbuster film, The Social Network, in which the brothers were depicted, was the main attraction for Shaw as he sought to secure their investment in, and promotion of, Treats!. WCF invested 1.31 million dollars. Following WCFs investment, the parties relationship was marked by a consistent refrain. Shaw pressed the brothers to promote Treats! while the brothers pressed Shaw to enhance their personal and professional profiles. For example, Defendants allege that, on October 4, 2012, Tyler asked Shaw to arrange a special casting with multiple women he selected from Facebook and a modeling agencys website. Tyler followed this request on October 17, 2012, with further direction to Shaw: [d]ont hire any of them . . . get their details and call the hot ones up, invite them, and then I can shag them ;). Shaw refused. It got worse As Shaw was accusing the brothers of failing to honor their promise to promote Treats!, the brothers were accusing Shaw of mismanagement and failing to grow Treats! as promised. Litigation followed as night follows day. As to the counterclaims Delawares statute of limitations for claims sounding in fraud or promissory estoppel claims is three years... The allegations in the counterclaims reveal that Defendants claims accrued for statute of limitations (and laches) purposes no later than June 17, 2013. The counterclaim came two years too late but For the reasons stated above, I am satisfied Defendants counterclaims must be dismissed as time-barred because they were filed after the expiration of three year statute of limitations and no tolling doctrine applies. With that said, Defendants may present evidence of Plaintiffs alleged fraud and broken promises in order to set off any potential damages arising from the affirmative claims asserted against them. In this regard, I note that Defendants have asserted as affirmative defenses fraud, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent misrepresentation, and unclean hands, among others, based on the same facts alleged in the counterclaims. I can discern no basis to restrict Defendants from presenting evidence of the Defendants failure to honor agreements to promote Treats! as grounds to defend against Plaintiffs claim that Defendants have not delivered all that was promised. Counterclaims based on this evidence, however, are time-barred. Vice Chancellor Slights authored the opinion. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2019/03/the-delaware-plaintiffs-brothers-tyler-and-cameron-winklevoss-through-winklevosscapital-fund-llc-made-a-substantial-inve.html Sunday, March 3, 2019 The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board has imposed an interim suspension of an attorney for crimes committed in Ohio. Cleveland.com reported A Washington-based lawyer who is a former trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday after he admitted to sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy three times. Justin Torres, 43, of Alexandria, Virginia, could be released after serving just six months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to three counts of gross sexual imposition, each a third-degree felony. County Common Pleas Court Judge Daniel Gaul said at the hearing that imposing a lengthy sentence on Torres, who faced up to nine years in prison, would not be appropriate. But the judge also said he couldnt allow a sex-offender off without prison time, and pegged the appropriate prison stint at six months. I think what serves the community is for this event in your life to end, and for a new journey to begin today, Gaul said. Gaul said that Torres, a victim of child sexual abuse himself who sobbed through a nearly 20-minute statement in which he apologized to the boy and to his family and begged Gaul not to send him to prison, was the most remorseful person he had ever seen in his 28 years on the bench. Abuse, abandonment and neglect led us here, Gaul said. Torres will be eligible to apply for early release after six months, and Gaul signaled that he planned to grant that request, place Torres on five years of probation supervision and put in place therapy that Gaul said would restore Torres back to the community. As part of the sentence, Torres must register as a sex offender every six months for the next 25 years. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley said in a statement to cleveland.com that nobody is above the law. Torres resigned his position as counsel at Schaerr Jaffe on Friday citing personal reasons, a spokeswoman for the law firm said in a statement sent to cleveland.com Saturday. The spokeswoman said the firm did not know about the troubling personal allegations against Torres until Saturday. Neither the proceeding nor the surrounding events were disclosed during or after the hiring process, and the firm had no reason to suspect any problems," Sarah Norton said. The firm wishes the victim, as well as Mr. Torres and his family, the strength to move forward and heal from these unfortunate events. Torres grew up in a childhood that was fraught with abuse and neglect, he and his lawyer, Stephen Bradley, told Gaul. Torress own father was sentenced to prison in 2013 for raping a relative of Torres when both Torres and his fathers victims were children. Torres worked as a political appointee in the Bush Administration, serving as an aide to the director of the agency that runs the AmeriCorps program, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2005.Torres, then 30 with three children, told the newspaper that he and his wife were about to sell their condo and use the money to pay for Torres to go to law school at the University of Virginia-Charlottesville, a move they hoped would lead to a decent career. Torres became the editor of the schools law and policy review. He landed a job at the D.C. office of a global law firm where he specialized in environmental and appellate law until 2015, when he joined the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. Less than a year later, Torres left government and was named senior associate at the burgeoning King & Spalding, another international law firm that, according to a November 2018 article in The American Lawyer saw its revenue surpass $1 billion. Torres was part of the legal team that represented oil giant ConocoPhillips in a highly publicized lawsuit filed by San Francisco and Oakland accusing the company, along with Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP and Royal Dutch Shell, of knowing the environmental dangers of fossil fuels but continuing to promote them as environmentally safe, the Associated Press reported. The judge overseeing the case dismissed the lawsuit in June. Last year, Torres, the oldest of eight children who grew up in a household of abuse, earned more than $350,000 a year, a pre-sentence investigation found. Torres said he channeled the anger from his childhood into his academics and his career. But his fathers 2013 conviction was a trigger for him, he said, and his life slowly came crashing down. He said he had never told anyone about the abuse he suffered as a child until 2011, when he told his wife, just before his father was prosecuted. He said his wife suggested that he seek help, but he refused. I was a coward, he said. The irony is, the people in this courtroom would have been the first people to help me. Torres turned to abuse in late 2016, while his family was visiting his wifes family in Fairview Park for the holidays. The boy, who was 10 years old the time, later told police that Torres abused him on two separate occasions, once around Thanksgiving and once around Christmas that year, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Steven Szelegiewicz said. Torres abused the boy a third time when he and his family returned to Fairview Park for Thanksgiving in 2017. The boy eventually told a family member about the abuse, and prosecutors charged him by information in September. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 29. His actions cant be excused by his past, Szelegiewicz said in court Thursday. He inflicted the same pain that he says he went through on another child. Torres began working at Schaerr Jaffe on Nov. 1, and worked there until his Friday resignation. He is also a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative and libertarian organization that ascribes to an originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. After he pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse charges has made several appearances on conservative media outlets in December, including the Lars Larson Show, to discuss the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census. One of those appearances was on theDove TV, a media company which its website says exists to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ though all media platforms. Members of the boys family sat in the back of the courtroom Thursday behind Szelegiewicz and Fairview Park Police Detective Mark Miller. Torress wife sat in the first row behind him. Torress 16-minute speech to the court began with a series of apologizes, starting with the boy. Torres said that, since he has gotten treatment after his arrest, he looked back on the moments that he abused him and the fear and confusion the boy must have felt and could not believe that I was the author of that kind of cruelty. This was not your fault," he said. "This was entirely my fault. I am to blame, and I am so sorry. The boys mother, reading from a letter, said she hoped seeing Torres facing consequences in court for his abuse make her son know what happened to him was wrong that he is worthy of protection, and affirm his bravery in coming forward, she said. Tragic origins or not, since it led to behavior of this gravity, I believe he has shown with his actions that he is a risk to children, the mother said. She then asked to read words directly to Torres. Both she and Torres burst into tears as she read as she told Torres that he violated the trust of her, her husband and her children. All of our lives have been hurt by this and all of us will have to pick up the pieces from this and do our best to begin again, she said. The boys family members, including his mother, walked over to Torress wife and embraced her after Torres was led out of the courtroom. The attorney is directed to show cause regarding final discipline. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2019/03/the-virginia-state-bar-disciplinary-board-has-imposed-an-interim-suspension-of-an-attorney-for-crimes-committed-in-ohio-cle.html For hundreds of years, African women have been important to the peace and security of the continent. In the 17th century, a group of female soldiers, known as the Women Warriors of Dahomey, defended their homeland against invaders in what is now the country of Benin. Eritrean women fought alongside their men during Eritreas 30-year fight for independence in the 20th century. The women also healed the wounded and repaired equipment for return to the battlefield. African women, however, continue to face harassment and discrimination at all levels of military service. And when the conflicts ease up, they often receive less recognition than male armed forces members. Women face trials In South Africa, changes in gender policy have led to a slow improvement in the years since the end of racial separation. Women now make up nearly one fourth of the countrys full-time armed forces. But difficulties remain. The problems are documented in research by the African Peacekeeping Network and the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Its study found that women are still considered less capable than men in the armed forces. Women are not permitted to serve in battle and weapon training was limited to self-defense. The higher or better-paid jobs were given to men, not women. The report said this had more to do with the conservative attitudes of broader society towards women, than the military itself. In some African countries, women serve in smaller numbers in the armed forces. In others, women are blocked from some duties or barred from joining the military altogether. Leading armies That has not prevented some women from rising to the highest positions in their countries' militaries. For example, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is the longest-serving female defense minister on the African continent. She has been South Africas defense minister since 2012. Kenyas defense minister, Raychelle Omamo, has served since 2013. In the past two years, Kenya and Uganda appointed their first female major generals. And, Marie-Noelle Koyara has led the Central African Republics armed forces for nearly two years. Elizabeth Fitzsimmons is the United States deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. She told VOA, We have a democratically elected government [in the Central African Republic]. We have a military with a minister of defense at the head who is a woman. And I think that speaks volumes about the potential for cooperation between the United States and the Central African Republic. Peacekeeping role The United Nations praises the work of women as peacekeepers. It says female peacekeeping soldiers can help bring women in conflict areas into the peace process and give them a voice. Female peacekeepers can assist victims of sexual violence and protect children from violence in ways male soldiers cannot. In some cultures, only female peacekeepers can speak to women in need of aid. That has led to a higher number of women in civilian peacekeeping positions, but not in military peacekeeping operations. In the seven active peacekeeping operations in Africa, women make up less than 4 percent of military personnel. Bintou Keita of Guinea is the U.N.s assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations. She said the U.N. is working to achieve gender parity by the year 2030. Keita wrote, "Women peacekeepers act as role models in the local environment, inspiring women and girls in often male-dominated societies to push for their own rights and for participation in peace processes. Fatuma Ahmed is Kenyas first female major general. She told Kenya CitizenTV, We have doctors. We have engineers. We have lawyers. We have jet pilots. We have pilots in air defense. We are spoiled for choice. This is just the beginning. I'm Jonathan Evans. Salem Solomon reported this story for VOANews.com. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story harassment - n. action of annoying or bothering someone repeatedly gender - n. the state of being male or female attitude - n. a feeling or way of thinking that affects a person's behavior speak volumes - v. to show something very clearly achieve - v. to reach a goal parity - n. the state of being equal China has proposed new rules for gene editing and other high risk biomedical technologies. The proposals come three months after a Chinese researcher was widely criticized after claiming he had created the worlds first genetically-edited babies. A draft of the measures was published this week on the website of Chinas National Health Commission. The new rules would cover gene editing, stem cell experiments and biological products created for the human body, the Chinese government-supported Global Times newspaper reported. Future projects considered high-risk would have to be approved and managed by health department officials from the State Council, Chinas national cabinet, the report said. Biomedical research projects considered to have small or medium risk would be managed by local health departments, it added. The new rules would also require research experiments to pass academic and ethical examinations, the Global Times reported. Violations of the rules would result in punishment for medical organizations or individuals, the draft proposal said. Punishments could include large fines or a ban on future research. Individuals could also face criminal prosecution. The back story These rules come after Chinese researcher He Jiankui reported last November that he had helped make the worlds first genetically edited babies. He said he had edited meaning changed the genetic material of two human embryos. The embryos developed into twin girls, who were born. He Jiankui said he had performed the gene editing to help protect the babies from infection with HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS. He said the process had worked safely and the two girls were as healthy as any other babies. His claims were quickly condemned by members of the world scientific community, who denounced them as irresponsible. The Chinese government ordered a halt to the work soon after news media reported on the experiment. This kind of gene editing is banned in the United States and many other countries. Such changes to a persons DNA can pass to future generations and risks harming other genes. The researchers employer, Southern University of Science and Technology of China, said it did not know about his activities. Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology called the experiment unacceptable. He Jiankui spoke to a reporter with The Associated Press the month before his project was made public. At the time, he said he believed gene editing of human embryos resulting in live births was legal in China. The country had no law specifically banning it. But Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported last month He Jiankui had broken national guidelines and would be punished for any legal violations. Xinhua did not specify which laws were violated, but noted he had created a false ethical examination. Along with the twins, another embryo yet to be born reportedly resulted from He Jiankuis experiment. All three are to remain under medical observation with regular visits from government health department officials, Xinhua reported. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Global Times. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Do you think gene editing and stem cell experiments should be subject to government rules? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story draft n. a plan or proposal that has not yet reached its finished form manage v. be in control of a project, company, team, etc. ethical adj. relating to what is right or wrong DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) n. a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals Students hoping to visit the grounds of Western Governors University will not find them: WGU operates entirely over the internet. But that is not its only difference from most other colleges and universities in the United States. It does not have classes or professors either -- at least not in the traditional sense. WGU is a private, not-for-profit school that offers study programs leading to a bachelors or masters degree. Its programs have been approved by educational accrediting agencies. They are accepted through a system known as competency-based education, or CBE. Students in a CBE program, such as the one at Western Governors, choose a central field of study, just as they would at a traditional college or university. Yet instead of attending a series of classes led by professors or teaching assistants, the students direct themselves. CBE programs require students to demonstrate their understanding of a given set of skills. Students must prove their mastery of skills that relate to their field of choice through self-study and use of their existing knowledge of the subject. The programs also require them to prove their mastery by taking exams on those skills. Once they have demonstrated all the skills their study program requires, the students earn their degree. How Western Governors University came to be Marni Baker Stein says the people who set up Western Governors University in 1997 knew there would be a growing need for different methods of higher education. Stein is the chief academic officer at WGU. Stein told VOA that in recent years, more and more nontraditional students have been entering U.S. higher education. Many are people who decided to attend college later in life, instead of right after high school, as most Americans who go to college do. They also include men and women who may have attended college at one point, but left without earning a degree. Most nontraditional students have full-time jobs, notes Stein. They see higher education as the best path towards getting better jobs and improving their positions in life. But they need to do so at a rate that works for them and their day-to-day activities. In the United States, most traditional colleges and universities operate around set time periods. Classes usually start in the late summer and end in the spring of every year. These academic calendars are usually divided into two or three study terms, each lasting around 15 weeks. Stein notes that in a CBE program, students can start any time they want. If students work hard, they can finish a class as soon as they successfully complete the final skills test, meaning they can earn their degree faster than in a traditional academic program. Western Governors students might not sit in classrooms with professors for several hours a week. But Stein says each class has one or more teachers who communicate with students over the internet. These instructors guide the students through their self-study and offer help whenever they need it. There are also plenty of special materials to improve the self-learning experience. The materials can include videos, writing projects and computer software programs. Stein adds that each WGU student has a university representative working with them throughout their entire program. This person follows their progress and makes sure they choose the right classes. And people responsible for the final exams provide complex and helpful criticism for students who fail. So our students arent on a physical campus, Stein said. But they are surrounded by this community of care that is able to personalize their interactions with them in very powerful ways. Western Governors reports that it serves over 113,000 students, both in and outside the United States. And CBE programs are slowly growing in popularity around the country. Kelle Parsons studies CBE programs for the American Institutes for Research, a non-profit group with offices in Washington, D.C. She argues that CBE programs are nothing new, and that U.S. educators have been experimenting with them since the 1970s. However, CBE has been getting more attention recently than it may ever have in the past, even if that popularity has not grown as much as some had expected over the last five years. Last year, Parsons organization asked officials at 501 U.S. colleges and universities about their opinions on CBE. The group released its findings last month. A total of 57 schools were shown to be operating some form of CBE program. About 85 percent of all the higher education officials said they were either currently designing a CBE program at their school or were considering doing so. Why the growing popularity? Parsons says growing interest in CBE comes from the increased debate over three major issues facing American higher education: access, cost and quality. CBE programs have made use of many new technologies, she adds. This helps reduce barriers for nontraditional and other students by bringing higher education to them. And programs that permit students to work at their own speed may save students money by reducing the time it takes for them to earn a degree. Also, Parson says many companies struggle in placing value on what a job candidate may have learned from a psychology or history study program, for example. Employers are not satisfied just know[ing] that someone has a degree, she said. They want to know what skills they have. CBE classes are based on mastering a skill, like how to solve a given security problem or write a project proposal, instead of a general area of knowledge. So a students academic records show exactly what skills they offer to an employer rather than just a grade point average. But some educators have concerns about the value of the education CBE programs offer. Johann Neem is a professor of U.S. history and higher education policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Neem argues that the purpose of higher education is not simply to help students earn a degree. It should teach students how to think critically, understand the subjects they are studying more deeply and see how they are connected to other subjects. That way they can put the knowledge to better use. You dont need to just master a set of skills or a small body of knowledge, he said. You need to explore, think get shaken, have a conversation struggle. And those things take time. They take relationships. They take actually being in an environment where those are the most valuable things. The promises of easier access and lower cost will likely make CBE programs more desirable for students from poor families, says Neem. But as the quality of the education in these programs may be lesser, low-income students may not actually be any better off in the end. Instead of supporting CBE, he adds, policy makers and educators should look for ways to improve access and reduce costs for traditional higher education. Im Dorothy Gundy. And Im Pete Musto Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How popular are competency-based education programs in your country? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz - The Rise of Colleges without Classes or Professors Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bachelors (degree) n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study masters degree n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after one or two years of additional study following a bachelor's degree accredit(ing) v. to say that something is good enough to be given official approval mastery n. knowledge and skill that allows you to do, use, or understand something very well academic adj. of or relating to schools and education campus n. the area and buildings around a university, college or school personalize v. to change or design something for a particular person interaction(s) n. to talk or do things with other people access n. a way of being able to use or get something grade point average (GPA) n. a number that indicates a student's average grade Newsletter Subscribe now to get updates from armenian media & videos... Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 19222019 Edith K Burch, age 96, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2019 in Napa. She was born on May 19, 1922 in Madison County, Indiana. She met a local Napa boy, George K Burch, via a letter from the South Pacific during World War II. They wrote letters (precursor to internet dating) fell in love and were married on April 28th, 1946. They started Capital Business Service in 1957, a company providing accounting services and tax preparations. When her beloved husband passed away 22 years ago, Edith continued to run the business on her own. She loved her work, employees and clients so much that she did not stop working until she was 94. She was sharp as a tack; at social gatherings she would be found with people crowded around her asking for her advice on business and taxes. She was an honest, hard worker who believed in the Golden Rule (treat others as you wanted to be treated), we will forever hear her saying that. She belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Napa for 63 years and served on most of their boards and committees. She was a life member of Soroptimist International (a professional womens organization that does community service). She held every office they have including President. At age 81 she was recognized by U.S. Congress, receiving the National Experience Works Award for the State of California and was honored the following year by the Governor with the Outstanding Older Worker Award for California. As for family life, Edith had 6 children including a foster daughter. We were fortunate to have such a loving, caring and strong mother. Her care was not limited to her family. There was never a holiday without extra people at the dinner table and for Christmas there was always a stocking with a personal gift for those who joined our family. Her husband George, sister Ellanora, sons George and Roger predeceased Edith. Four children survive her: Raymond Burch, Stewart Burch, Dianna (Burch) Freeman and foster daughter Janis Freeman. Fourteen grandchildren: George Burch, Joey Burch, Josh Burch, Jennifer Burch, Sarah Araujo, Cynthia Keeler, Sam Burch, Daniel Burch, Jessica Senft, Michael Easley, Adam Easley, Jacob Easley, Miklos Laszlo and Ryan Freeman. and twenty-one (21) great grand children. Our mother was grace and energy combined. She did everything in life with a twinkle in her blue eyes and always a smile on her beautiful face. She loved her family and we loved her, and she will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am on March 9th at the First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third Street Napa. Donations may be made to Soroptimist International of Napa (Fed Id #94-6104117) for the education and training of women, with financial needs, who are head of household with the goal of making a better life for themselves and their children. Good morning, everyone. Lets have a look at some of what well be talking about today. I wanted to remind you that Dr. James Keolker will be offering one of his very popular mediation classes this coming Friday, March 8 at 9:30 a.m. as well as the following Friday, March 15, also at 9:30 a.m. at Rianda House Senior Education Center, 1475 Main St., St. Helena. Be sure to call for reservations, 707-963-8555. These classes are a gift from James and Rianda House to the community. Id also like to share with you a bit about Dr. Keolker. As we discussed last time we were together, he is a certified master teacher, and took his training at Mindfulness Teaching Institute and just recently became eligible for international accreditation. He has, in addition, taught classes at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Ratna Ling Retreat Center and, locally for Collabria Care Wellness Center, among others. We are very fortunate to have someone of his background volunteering to teach us. Thank you, James, and congratulations on beginning your fifth year of teaching meditation at Rianda House. Dear readers, last week I began introducing you to members of one of the Practicum groups of this years Leadership Napa Valley Class. Id like to honor them, because they are all involved in helping folks in our community, and will be, even more so, when they complete their time with LNV. Im proud of the fact that they care about making things just a little bit better for others. In this case the others happen to be the seniors who live in Napa County. Beginning this coming Wednesday, March 6, at 7:30 a.m. we seniors will be enjoying the first of a weekly 30-minute program with information and news specifically for Napa County seniors. Each Wednesday, there will also be a rebroadcast of Senior Moments at noon. Now, lets continue meeting the rest of the group. Natalie Griffin is a Napa native who has held a variety of roles within the Active 20-30 Club of Napa #57 since joining in 2013, and is the development director at Napa Humane. Natalie believes in creating opportunities for local youth to explore, grow and give back will ensure our future leaders are compassionate, inquisitive, and well-prepared for their adult lives. Thank you, Natalie. Our next member is Kim Brown Sims, who serves Queen of the Valley Medical Center as the VP of patient care services and chief nurse executive. Kim is also the president-elect for the California Association of Healthcare Leaders (CAHL), the California affiliate of ACHE. Kim attended Napa Valley College for her licensed vocational nursing certification and did her first clinical rotations at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center. Although she never officially worked at the Queen she lived in Napa and was recruited here as the chief nursing officer in 2017. Thank you, Kim. Bob Van Der Velde moved with his wife Laura and his mom to Napa two years ago, and finds this a wonderful place to live. Bob is dean of sciences at Napa Valley College. As a new resident, Bob finds Leadership Napa Valley to be a great introduction to the community. One of the things I really appreciate about the program is that we are divided into groups to work on various needs for the Napa community, and some of those groups, over the 32 years of the program, have made a lasting positive difference for our fellow citizens. Our small practicum group is a mix of newer and longer residents, but we have united around what we see as an unmet need, providing seniors with information and helping to reduce their isolation. Thank you, Bob, for an excellent definition of what Leadership Napa Valleys purpose is in our community. Last, but far from least, is Will Marcencia, chief executor at Wine Down Media (99.3 FM The Vine and 1440 AM KVON) Will has an interesting tale to tell: My wife, Julissa, and I moved to Napa in July 2017 when we acquired the radio stations after we determined to write our own destiny and left our media corporate jobs in Los Angeles. Wills fascinating story of Julissas and his last name: I was born Martinez but my wife and I blended our birth last names together to start our own legacyMartinez + Plascencia = Marcencia. Will has two senior grandmothers in their late 80s so he has an extra soft spot for issues that affect seniors. He learned about Leadership NV from new friends. Thus far, it has exceeded my expectations of what I would learn about my new community I am proud to call home now. I have made such strong friendships already that I know will last a very long time. A few of the Wine Down Media Recognitions, received by Will: 2018 Napa County Sheriffs office Complex Fire First Responders Medal; 2018 Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Harvesting Pride Award; 2018 Senator Bill Dodd Napa County Small Business of the Year. Thank you all for the wonderful gift of Senior Moments, especially for our Napa County isolated seniors, who may only be able to receive information through their radios. Well, my friends. Were a little bit overtime so goodbye for now and thanks for joining me at our Corner. Lets close with the promise that we will always try to be all that we can be. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy This is the time of year when many of us entertain thoughts of a turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. More than likely that bird was pluck YOUNTVILLE Outside of Madison Hall at the Veterans Home is a splotchy cream wall, where someone has haphazardly painted over brick red letters that once read THE PATHWAY HOME. The building has remained shuttered during the past year and the Pathway Home has stopped treating patients. Unlike the letters outside of Madison Hall, the trauma of that day cant so easily be erased. The crime scene that law enforcement saw on March 9, 2018 was so disturbing that the FBI agents who uncovered it remain haunted by what they saw. That is a poison that law enforcement drinks and has to live with, said John Bennett, who heads the FBIs San Francisco chapter. You dont just walk away from that. The FBI was the last of four agencies to arrive on the scene of the Pathway shooting. Napa County Sheriffs Office, Napa Police Department, California Highway Patrol and FBI all worked together in the hours after shots rang out from Madison Hall, on a crime scene described by some as chaotic. The events of that day have spurred change at the campus, which is the largest of its kind in California and was called the crumbling crown jewel of the state Veterans Home system in a 2017 Little Hoover Commission report. The Yountville campus can house up to 1,000 veterans and their spouses, and is among the oldest and largest in the nation, according to the report. CHP, which usually oversees state buildings because it is a state agency, has resumed responsibility for law enforcement services at the Home after nearly two decades of oversight by the Sheriffs Office. Of the four agencies that responded to the Pathway shooting, the FBI was the only agency to grant an interview for this article. CHP insisted on issuing prepared statements. The Napa Police Department deferred to the Sheriffs Office. The Sheriffs Office said Deputy Steve Lombardi, who traded fire with the gunman, was a hero but declined to comment further citing the possibility of litigation. The Sheriffs Office deferred to Napa County Counsel to elaborate, and a county attorney said the office could not comment on pending or potential future litigation. It was over before we even got there Bennett of the FBI remotely oversaw the FBIs coordination with local agencies on the day of the shooting. Its unusual for the bureau to respond to an active shooter call, especially one involving hostages. The scene was chaotic, he said. People wandered around the open campus, media personnel were scattered about the scene, and law enforcement worked to bring order to the site. It was also an unusual call, Bennett said, because active shooter incidents tend to be over quickly. The impasse ended about seven hours after shots rang out in Madison Hall, when the FBI sent up a robot and found four bodies. It was over before we even got there, he said. We just didnt know that. Bennett noted that two months before the attack, the FBI trained 30 local officers, including some from the Sheriffs Office, and practiced responding to an active shooter at the Napa Valley College library. The training was scheduled at the request of Napa law enforcement, he said. If we think that were above or beyond a major incident happening ... then were not doing what the public pays us to do, said Sheriffs Sgt. John Hallman at the January training session. Keith Behlmer, a retired Napa Sheriffs captain and former office spokesperson, was ready to go into retirement March 9, the last day of an administrative leave. He was at home when a reporter called him and asked for comment on what was happening in Yountville. Behlmer said he hung up the phone and started making calls, trying to figure out what was going on, and the sheriff asked him to respond to the Veterans Home. Behlmer, who spent three decades of his career on a SWAT team, helped manage the scene. Four law enforcement agencies were on site and it was unorganized, as active shooter sites typically are, he said. Everyone wants to help, but officers dont know where colleagues from other agencies are. It gets chaotic because you dont have a system in place, he said. Behlmer said it was a bittersweet end to his career. It was horrific that three people were killed, but rewarding to watch his team do good work, he said. Deputy Lombardi risked everything to save the people inside Madison Hall, knowing that he was facing an armed veteran. The heroism he showed that day it was just incredible, Behlmer said. CHP retakes control of the home The incident touched off a series of meetings between the Sheriffs Office and CHP, which resulted in the canceling of a years-long agreement that made the Sheriffs Office responsible for handling law enforcement calls on the campus. The home also has its own security force, armed with batons and pepper spray but no firearms. CHP declined to make anyone available for an interview and communicated through email. CHP said it had once provided law enforcement services to the campus, but entered into an agreement that transitioned responsibility for the campus to the Napa County Sheriffs Office in November 2001. CHP said it resumed responsibility for law enforcement services in October 2018. Behlmer, retired Sheriffs Office captain, speculated that his former colleagues would welcome the change. It was long overdue, he said. The California Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees the Veterans Home, declined to make Frederick Just, who was sworn in as head of the Yountville campus in June, available for an interview. The department wants the Home to instead focus on our staff and our residents, said department spokesperson Lindsey Sin. The department emailed responses to written questions. Sin wrote that CHP has had an increased presence on the campus since March 9. She said she would not elaborate further on security information. She noted that Pathways lease made it responsible for its own security and emergency preparedness plan. Guards need better training, union says The Veterans Home campus has seen some changes in the past year, but the state law enforcement union says theres more to be done. The campus employs the wrong type of security guard to protect residents and visitors, and staffing levels are low, said Ryan Navarre, an attorney with the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association. Officers are often alone while on duty, but two or three should ideally be on duty working together. Large facilities, such as the Veterans Home, can become a target for violence, he said. Everything were talking about was talked about before this tragedy, Navarre said. This is something weve identified years and years ago as a need. The state hires different kinds of security guards, but the Yountville campus employs a type of security guard known as a firefighter security officer. Guards patrol the campus in black and white cars marked by a seven-point star. A member of the public might think firefighter security officers are actually sheriffs deputies, he said. CSLEA advocated for the state to hire the same kind of officers employed in state hospitals, known as hospital police officers. Hospital police officers still arent an ideal fit, but have a higher level of authority and training, he said. Its leaps and bounds better than what theyre currently employing, Navarre said. Most CHP officers wouldnt even qualify to be a firefighter security officer, because the position requires a year of education or experience as a firefighter, Navarre said. This limits the pool of eligible officers and requires officers to have training that they dont really use on the job, he said. The union tried to push the state to hire a different type of security guard before the shooting, but ramped up its efforts after the incident. It argued that the Veterans Home security guards needed more training and equipment. For the first time, the department decided to do something, Navarre said. For a time, it seemed the state veterans department, known as CalVet, agreed firefighter security officers were not appropriate guardians of the campus. CalVet wrote in an August letter to the states HR department that the positions are misallocated due to a current contract with the County of Napa, which has provided firefighting services to the campus for the past 16 years. The county has leased a firefighter training facility on the property since 1997, according to a recent state audit. Veterans Home security guards no longer fight fires, CalVet wrote. It is the only one of eight Veterans Home campuses that employs firefighter security officers. Hospital police officers would allow the veterans home to provide services that are more closely related to the needs of the home, CalVet wrote. The letter referenced a Sacramento Bee article on a California Highway Patrol site assessment that recommended the campus install security features such as a security checkpoint, front gate, fencing, working locks and intercoms. The report insinuated that the State of California was not doing enough to protect its residents, CalVet wrote. Months later, in December, the department withdrew its request to hire hospital police officers. We determined that the increased CHP presence and our existing public safety force provides an appropriate level of security, wrote CalVet spokesperson Sin in an email. Sin wrote that firefighter safety officers receive a higher level of training than the security guards who work in other state veterans homes. An online job description shows the security guard and firefighter security officer positions are similar, except the former cant fight fires. Officers at the Yountville campus have fought fires in the past, Sin said. Sin noted that veterans homes are different from state mental hospitals. They are intended to be residential communities where veterans can come and go. They are not military bases, nor are they state hospitals where residents are involuntarily placed or committed to a treatment facility with lock downs and security perimeters, Sin wrote. The safety and well-being of staff and veterans is a top priority, Sin wrote. CalVet Secretary Vito Imbasciani wrote that the department will keep the victims families, friends and co-workers close to our hearts as the year anniversary of the incident approaches. Was the attack preventable? Last week attorneys for the victims families filed wrongful death lawsuits against various state agencies, including CalVet, Napa County, the Sheriffs Office and the deputy who traded fire with the gunman. They argue that the deaths of their loved ones were foreseeable on a veterans campus, where its likely that some residents have access to weapons and are mentally ill, and could have been prevented if better security measures were in place and public agencies had responded in a different manner. Cassidy Nolan who served two tours in Afghanistan, formed Napa Valley Colleges student veteran group and served as a liaison between the college and Pathway Home doesnt think the Veterans Home or a cash-strapped nonprofit could have done anything to stop such an attack. Clients werent allowed to have weapons. The campus has its own security guards. The deputy arrived minutes after law enforcement was alerted of a possible active shooter situation on campus. The gunmans access to the building was revoked, but even if it hadnt been, he might have asked a friend to let him in the building, he said. If the gunman was determined to carry out the attack, Nolan believes he would have found a way. Having intense security protocols, like armed guards, would have been at odds with Pathways mission as a place of healing, he said. How could veterans relax and be receptive to help if they felt their care providers didnt trust them? He likened arguments in favor of stronger security at Pathway to debates over whether teachers should be armed in hopes of preventing school shootings. Is it a prison or is it a place where people are feeling at ease? The women leading the Pathway Home were pioneers, he said. It was a revolutionary program because vets would otherwise have to go to an understaffed Veterans Affairs health care facility. Clients were housed, fed and going to school. Nolan was in class at UC Berkeley when the shooting happened. Calls and texts flooded his phone. He read an article about the hostage situation online and began to picture himself in the room, as if it were happening to him. It was surreal, he said. Nolan never met gunman Albert Cheung Wong, 36, but felt a sense of responsibility for the attack because he had advocated for veterans to get help there. So Nolan coped the same way he did in Afghanistan, where he learned to move forward by casting aside his emotions. Months later, he let himself grieve. Those touched by the shooting are still grappling with the events of March 9, 2018. On a recent day at the Veterans Home campus, a man crouched near the Madison Hall sign at a memorial for Christine Loeber, 48, Jennifer Gray Golick, 42, and Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba, 32, who was nearly seven months pregnant with her daughter. Everybody has families, everybody has wives and sisters, said Bennett of the FBI. It really kind of hurts when this was resolved the way this was. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. What began as a bucolic respite for veterans damaged by war ended just a decade later in a hail of gunfire, a stark reminder that war and inexplicable violence can reach into even the quietest of communities. A year ago this week, a gunman shattered the peace at Yountvilles Pathway Home, killing three staff members and the unborn baby that one of them was carrying before taking his own life. The shooter was an Army veteran who had sought help for his PTSD through the Pathway Home, but he had been ejected just weeks before, reportedly after he threatened his caregivers. In the year since, the Pathway Home has been effectively shuttered as a treatment facility. Sorrow and shock have given way to investigations, finger pointing and a wave of lawsuits. It wasnt supposed to be this way. A ray of hope in dark times Amid a widely reported scandal more than a decade ago over mistreatment of veterans at the nations premier military and veterans hospitals, officials at Yountvilles Veterans Home of California began plans for a facility that would sound a more hopeful note. The Pathway Home would accept up to 34 veterans at a time, giving them intensive, clinically sound treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an age-old affliction of warriors that had gone by many names, from Soldiers Heart to Shell Shock to Battle Fatigue. Today, were looking at not repeating the lack of preparation we saw in the Vietnam War, Bart Buechner, then-deputy administrator of the Yountville Veterans Home, told the Register in 2007. What we dont want to see is the (welcome home) parade go away and expect that life goes on as normal, because it doesnt. People need help adjusting back to work and their communities. It takes a sustained effort. The Veterans Home, a state-owned facility, leased a building, Madison Hall, to the privately-funded Pathway Home for just $1 per year. More than 450 men would eventually go through the program. The effort garnered national attention being featured in the documentary Broken Promises and later the fictionalized Hollywood film Thank you for your service. A community favorite The Napa County community rallied around Pathway in a big way, with high profile community members and service groups hosting fundraisers, visiting the men at the home, and even leading bowling nights and other outings to give the Pathway members a gentle reintroduction to civilian life. By 2009, Napas Rotary Club had become a leading supporter of the program, donating money and time. The club has given at least $700,000, leaders say, including a significant portion of the money raised by the annual Cycle for Sight bike ride. Local Realtors had given at least $56,000, with other individuals and groups stepping up as well to share money and time. Were not therapists, Steve Orndorf, longtime Kaiser Steel and Napa executive, told the Register in 2010 about the publics efforts to help the Pathway residents. It is amazing when you do hear their stories, but primarily we just provide some companionship beyond what goes on at the Pathway Home. I view our relationship as offering some relief from the structured environment up there. A new beginning But despite the attention and love of the community, the program struggled to fully fund the expensive and intensive treatment the former soldiers required. After an initial $5.6 million private endowment expired in 2010, staff found itself in a constant search for grants and gifts to raise at least $1.2 million per year. That struggle reached a crisis point in September 2015, when longtime Executive Director Fred Gusman left abruptly and the program suspended operations while it looked to restructure. After more than a year of uncertainty, Pathway returned in 2017 under new Executive Director Christine Loeber, with a new partnership with Napa Valley College to provide services to veteran students, and an infusion of resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other sources. Loeber and other staff made the rounds of local service clubs, officials, and community movers, who all came away believing that Pathway Homes future was finally assured. Then came March 9, 2018. A day like any other The day started routinely enough, with staff gathered for a going-away party for several staff members. Shortly after 10 a.m., a 36-year-old Army veteran named Albert Wong arrived on the grounds of the Veterans Home. Investigators say he had spent the morning at his Sacramento-area home searching websites for information on committing murder and committing suicide. Later lab tests showed he had been drinking. He was also heavily armed, carrying a shotgun and rifle, both legally purchased less than a month before from area gun stores. Investigators say he entered the Pathway Home building surreptitiously, using a side door that had been propped open. They say the gunman himself had propped that door open the night before in preparation for the attack. Once inside, he outfitted himself with tactical gear goggles, ear protection, and extra ammunition magazines. He kicked open the door from the basement, walked up two flights of stairs and entered the second-floor room where the goodbye party was underway. At gunpoint, he ordered most of the staff to leave, but held back Executive Director Christine Loeber, 48, Clinical Director Jennifer Golick, 42, and psychologist Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba, 32. The long wait Frantic calls by staff to 9-1-1 started at 10:22, according to dispatch records, with callers reporting that a former resident at the home was holding hostages and seems emotionally upset. Law enforcement from across the region swarmed to the scene, but first to arrive was Napa County Sheriffs Deputy Steven Lombardi. Knowing the urgency of the situation, he entered the building alone, armed with a rifle, and ascended to the second floor. Lombardi cleared those who remained in the hall, then pushed open the door to the room where the gunman and hostages were, investigators say. In a hectic flash, he saw what appeared to be a rifle barrel. He heard the sound of the weapon being racked, followed by a womans scream. The deputy stepped back and opened fire through the door, shooting 13 times toward where he believed the gunman stood. The man inside fired back through the door 22 times. Remarkably neither man was stuck during the exchange, investigators say. Then all was quiet. Other officers relieved Lombardi and more than 100 officers from 16 agencies settled in for a prolonged siege. Efforts to reach the gunman verbally or by phone went unanswered. For more than seven hours, it was unclear what was happening, and hope remained that the women might be alive. At 5:45 p.m. a robot controlled by the FBI entered the room and learned the truth as he was exchanging fire with Lombardi, the shooter had taken the lives of all three women and then turned his gun on himself. Shock and horror As hope died that afternoon, even worse news emerged. A fourth victim was added to the list Shushereba was six months pregnant at the time and the child did not survive. Even as the families grieved, the community struggled to come to terms with what had just happened. They were amazing, amazing women with a heart for giving, Army veteran and former Pathway Home client Steven Roy said. They dedicated their lives as civilians to help out guys like me They gave their lives for their country as much as any guy who died on the battlefield. The community also struggled to reconcile what had happened to Wong, who was described by friends and family as a quiet and respectful man who had always aspired to a career in the Army. His two years in Afghanistan changed him. The shooter was dealing with real demons in his life, which got the best of him, said Dorothy Salmon, chair of the Pathway Home board of directors, in the days after the shooting. The six veterans remaining in the Pathway Home were quickly moved to other facilities and the building was shuttered. The investigation After the searing events of March 9, investigators began the long, slow work of piecing together what happened. The lead agency on the probe was the California Highway Patrol, since the Veterans Home sits on state land. For nearly eight months, there were few new public developments in the case, but in November, District Attorney Allison Haley issued her report, saying that Lombardi had acted appropriately during the incident and that she did not intend to file criminal charges against him or anyone else in the case. Weeks later, the CHP issued its own report, which had previously been supplied to Haley, detailing the events leading up to and during the incident. Investigators found no evidence that the story was anything other than originally reported the gunman took his own life after killing the women. The CHP found no evidence that the deputys bullets had struck anyone inside the room. The report, however, didnt tell the whole story, at least publicly. The document contained several pages of recommendations based on the investigation, but virtually all of them were blacked out, leaving many questions about what the CHP may have concluded. Attorneys for the three families, meanwhile, started signalling that they would sue several of the agencies involved with the Pathway Home and with the response to the March 9 shooting. As of March 1, all three had sued, saying that the state, the Veterans Home, and the Napa County Sheriffs Office had failed to protect the lives and safety of the employees at the Pathway Home. They pointed to several pre-shooting reports from various agencies that noted the lack of basic security at the Vet Home campus. They say that officials failed to warn the staff that Wong had made threats against them. And they say that Lombardi acted wrongly when he responded to the shooting. The Sheriffs Office has had relatively little to say about the day of the incident, and Lombardi, speaking through a Sheriffs Office spokesman, has declined to discuss the matter with the media. The CHP has largely declined to discuss the matter, beyond the heavily redacted report released in November. The future of the Pathway Home It is clear that the Pathway Home as it existed before the shooting is gone. The facility at the Veterans Home remains closed and the organization gave up its lease in July. There are moves by lawmakers in Sacramento to renovate the building to provide general housing at the home. Board members and friends of the organization, however, are quick to point out that Pathway Home lives on in some form. They plan to continue as a fundraising organization, using donations to help fund other PTSD treatment facilities across the country. The idea of the [effort] is to create a guide to what The Pathway Home learned over 10 years, in building an organization that was tightly knit to the local community and thats a very different model than many VA programs which typically dont have a lot of community involvement, Pathway spokesman Larry Kamer said in August. The names and work of the women killed that day also live on. In the fall, the New England Center and Home for Veterans named a medical clinic after Loeber, who had previously worked for the centers parent organization. Around the same time, Petalumas Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services, a residential treatment program for adolescents suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues, established a scholarship in the name of Jennifer Golick, a founding member of the organization. At the former Pathway Home Today, there are a few ghostly remnants of March 9. The doors of Madison Hall, the former Pathway Home, are locked and plastered with No Trespassing signs. Outside is a wooden placard lettered Love from family, a stuffed turtle and two snow-white teddy bears, one holding a palm-size American flag in its left hand. On top of the Madison Hall sign, a blue-and-gold medallion with the logo of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a war from which many Pathway Home residents returned. Nearby a cable spans a cypress and a palm, supporting a simple sculpture similar to an installation planted on the nearby ground in the weeks after the killing: a trio of hearts shaped from bent, red-painted metal in memory of three women who had worked, and died, within Pathways walls. One of the hearts contains a smaller heart nestled within in the same way that an unborn daughter had been within Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba on that terrible day. Register reporter Howard Yune contributed to this report. You can reach Sean Scully at 256-2246 or sscully@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A year ago this week, a gunman shattered the peace at Yountvilles Pathway Home, killing three staff members and the unborn baby that one of them was carrying before taking his own life. The shooter was an Army veteran who had sought help for his PTSD through the Pathway Home, but he had been ejected just weeks before, reportedly after he threatened his caregivers. YOUNTVILLE Outside of Madison Hall at the Veterans Home is a splotchy cream wall, where someone has haphazardly painted over brick red lette When I taught college journalism in Southern California, I liked to give a pop quiz midway through the semester. Take out a piece of paper, I said, and number it 1 to 10. For the first five, Id ask a series of factual questions: How many glasses of water do we need to drink every day? Who was the least intelligent president? That sort of thing. Questions 6 through 10 went like this: 6. How do you know the answer to Question 1? How do you know the answer to Question 2? And so on. The trick here is that all 10 questions have exactly the same correct answer: I dont know. Seems there are a lot of things we think we know but are based on, well, what? The general name for this kinds of fact is common wisdom, something that everybody knows. For professional statisticians, historians, journalists and others, there is a more colorful technical name: Zombie Statistics (and their undead cousin, Zombie Quotations). These are facts that keep reappearing in news articles, journals, and popular writing, but tracing them back to their origin turns out to be very difficult, and often turns up the fact that they are, essentially, made up, albeit often based on some kernel of truth. Take, for example, the water thing. It became common sometime in the 1990s to hear that we need eight glasses of water every day to look and feel our very best. To this day, this number appears all over the internet. Seems sensible enough, but when you try to find where this scientific conclusion comes from, things get a little foggy. A 2000 investigation by the LA Times finds that no nutritionist or researcher will endorse the common wisdom, and those that will hazard a guess say six max should do just fine. In fact, excessive water can be hazardous. The common wisdom seems to have come from marketing efforts by an Iranian-born doctor who is selling his theory, which lacks any direct experimental evidence, that water is a wonder cure for almost any disease. The least intelligent president bit comes from 2002, when a widely circulated and reported Internet rumor said the Lowenstein Institute of Scranton, Pa. had determined that George W. Bush was the least intelligent president, with an IQ of 91 (FDR was most intelligent at 147) based on an analysis of published writing, speeches, and remarks. There is, however, no such institute and no known evidence of the intelligence score of any president. Sometimes, these Zombie Statistics have large-scale effects. For example, in 2015 the World Bank, one of the globes leading crusaders against poverty, reported that development efforts in Africa had focused on the widely circulated notion that women on that continent did 60 to 80 percent of all the agricultural work. The World Bank decided to test this theory and did a detailed study in six African countries. The result? Women perform around 40 percent on average. The difference may seem academic, but the ag development aid and expertise had been focused on women in Africa, while men were doing a majority of the work. The point of all of this was to show students that it is the things you think you know that will trip you up. When someone says studies show, ask what studies? When someone says that some ethnic group commits crimes at some rate higher than others, say prove it. When someone says The Supreme Court says ask what case? Its often not possible for journalists (or readers either) to spend all day questioning such assumptions, but once you get in the habit of looking, it gets surprisingly easy to spot a claim that could stand some extra investigation. And I mentioned earlier Zombie Quotes. These are sayings by famous and learned people that support some position or assertion. Often as not, its Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, or Mark Twain who is supposed to say these things, but often as not they didnt. Its gotten so pervasive that Monticello, the foundation that runs Thomas Jeffersons home in Virginia, has a website devoted to listing real and imaginary quotes by our third president. For example, he really did say (in a 1783 letter written from Paris), the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure. He did not, however, say, A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have. That first appeared in print in around 1952, but wasnt attributed to Jefferson until around 2005. He also did not say, no nation has ever yet existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. That quote first appeared in an 1857 work by The Rev. Ethan Allen, relating a second-hand story told to him by a man known as Mr. Ingle. There is no trace of it, or anything like it, in any of Jeffersons papers or contemporaneous accounts. Which brings me to Question 5 on my pop quiz. It asks who said a familiar quote, one that youve probably heard sometime in the last few months. It is widely attributed to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, but scholars of Disraeli say they have no record that he ever said anything like it. Its first appearance with attribution to the famous prime minister (though there are earlier quotes by other people that are similar), came in 1907 in Mark Twains famous autobiography. That quote? There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, and statistics. You can reach Sean Scully at 256-2246 or sscully@napanews.com. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kristi Knebel and her dog, Boogie, in her tiny home on Hunter Road on Friday, March 1, 2019. The land Knebel resides on is being sold to a developer. Unable to find a new plot of land within her price range, Knebel is looking to sell her tiny home. The collapse of talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un in Hanoi means Pyongyang's nuclear program will continue - and so, too, will the still unresolved Korean War, now nearly 70 years old. The war, which ended with a truce but not a peace treaty, is famously forgotten in the United States, but it is invoked as legal authority every time a president sends U.S. troops overseas without congressional authorization. The war was the first large overseas U.S. conflict without a declaration of war, setting a precedent for the unilateral presidential power exercised today. The Korean War has helped to enable this century's forever wars. A peace deal, which Trump has talked of reaching, would not undo this forgotten legacy, but renewed American attention to the Korean War should be an occasion to rethink the president's war powers. Trump's Office of Legal Counsel drew upon the Korean War precedent as authority after he ordered targeted military strikes on an air base in Syria from which the Syrian regime had launched chemical weapons on its own people in 2017 and 2018. In 2011, President Barack Obama also relied on the Korea precedent when, without congressional authorization, he ordered airstrikes in Libya in an effort to prevent civilian deaths by the government of Moammar Gadhafi. Similarly, it was authority for President George W. Bush when - again without congressional authorization - he sent Marines to Haiti for the purpose of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. In late June 1950, American leaders were caught by surprise when North Korean forces invaded South Korea, a country established after World War II with United Nations and U.S. support. The administration of Harry Truman believed North Korean action was directed by the Soviet Union. Decades later, Soviet archives would show that North Korea pushed the Soviets to go along, but Truman and his advisers saw the invasion as a possible template for Soviet military action elsewhere in the world. They believed they needed to act quickly and forcefully. On the evening of June 24, when news of the crisis first trickled into Washington, Dean Rusk, assistant secretary of state for Far Eastern affairs, and others rushed to the State Department and began planning to bring the issue before the U.N. Security Council. That "was just automatic," John D. Hickerson, assistant secretary for U.N. affairs, remembered, not something they debated. Truman agreed to this. The council required convincing, however. The United Kingdom cautioned against going "beyond the bounds of the evidence," and some members questioned whether the conflict was a civil war, which the U.N. should stay out of, rather than an act of aggression. Consequently, a resolution passed on June 25 was limited, and it was too early to contemplate the use of force. It called upon North Korea to cease hostilities and withdraw, and asked member states to render assistance. The Soviet Union was absent and unable to use its veto. Over the next two days, conditions in on the Korean Peninsula deteriorated. Lacking weapons that could stop the Soviet tanks used by North Korean forces, the South Korean army could not hold the line. The capital city of Seoul quickly fell. North Korean soldiers pushed south, and hundreds of thousands of civilians became refugees. The war looked like a rout. The Truman administration again turned to the U.N. Security Council. On June 27, it passed a resolution calling upon member states to assist South Korea in repelling the North Korean attack. It was a historic moment: the first time the U.N. Security Council had authorized the use of force. The council resolution provided international authority, but the U.S. Constitution required more: authorization from Congress. Within the first 24 hours, members of Congress raised concerns about whether Korea was a civil war, and whether the president intended to use American ground troops. The president conferred with selected lawmakers but not Congress as a whole. On the evening of June 26, after meeting with military and State Department advisers, Truman authorized the Navy and Air Force to offer "fullest possible support" to South Korea below the 38th parallel that divided the North and the South. Military targets were "cleared for attack." This was the night before the U.N. Security Council Resolution authorizing force was approved. Truman met with a handful of congressional leaders the morning of June 27, and he released a public statement announcing his decision to use force. Truman had sufficient support at the time, and Congress would have probably passed a war declaration had he sought one. Truman aide George Elsey, who closely recorded the events, recalled that June 27 would have been the right time to seek a war resolution, "but apparently nobody thought of it at that time." They were "too busy thinking of military action and United Nations action to try to cover up their tracks with congressional resolutions." In other words, the administration took a tremendously consequential step - launching a major military action while ignoring the authority of Congress to declare war - without actually thinking about it. Sen. Robert Taft, R-Ohio, loudly objected to Truman's decision, insisting there was "no legal authority for what he has done." Most members of Congress initially closed ranks with the president, however, as American troops headed into harm's way. As time went on, Secretary of State Dean Acheson urged the president to seek a resolution to respond to criticism. Truman was reluctant. By early July, it seemed improbable that he could get the near-unanimous vote he would have liked. But a war resolution only required a simple majority. Truman viewed Congress as a political stumbling block, rather than his constitutional partner charged with the authority to declare war. Truman declined to address Congress until three weeks after the invasion out of concern that it would appear he was asking for a war declaration. He insisted, oddly, that it was not up to him, but to Congress, to propose a war resolution. In the end, the most important legal document on presidential power in Korea was not a war declaration, an informal congressional resolution or even a formal legal opinion by the attorney general. It was a State Department memo, which has been cited ever since. The memo argued, in part, that the very survival of the United Nations was at stake in the conflict. The U.N. was only five years old at the time. Defiance by North Korea of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the memo said, "would have meant that the United Nations would have ceased to exist as a serious instrumentality for the maintenance of international peace." Protection of the U.N. was an American "interest" that justified intervention under the president's power as commander in chief. The memo also listed 85 instances when American forces had been deployed without congressional authorization. They were identified as "peacetime" examples, and were minuscule in scope compared with the Korean War. U.S. troops were sent to Puerto Rico in 1824 "to atone for insult to the flag and procure apology;" to Haiti in 1888 to free a captured American merchant vessel; and to Paris in 1914 to guard the U.S. Embassy. More significant, but still limited actions, included President Woodrow Wilson's order sending troops to Mexico to pursue revolutionary general Pancho Villa in 1916. Notably left off the list was the Philippine-American war from 1899 to 1902, in which the United States fought a bloody undeclared war against the Philippine independence movement after the Spanish-American War. To justify this, Truman refused to call Korea a war. Instead it was a "police action." Conditions on the ground belied this ruse. The first American ground troops deployed to the Korean Peninsula met with disaster. Underequipped and outmanned, they were ultimately forced to flee, abandoning their dead and scores of injured. Napalm was used extensively but sometimes fell on U.S. and U.N. troops, burning them to death. With no quick victory, the war lasted through brutally cold winters - one of the most common war injuries was amputation resulting from frostbite. American families waited at home, often without word. "Do you have a son in Korea, outnumbered 10 to 1?" a father asked Taft. The war's greatest burdens fell on Korean civilians. Millions perished. Many were killed by U.S. and U.N. aerial bombing, which particularly decimated the North. There was so much carnage that some refugees returning home in the aftermath could not avoid walking over bodies in the forest. The fighting ended with an armistice signed by North Korea and the United Nations in 1953. In the years that followed, Democratic and Republican administrations crafted a defense of presidential unilateralism in opinions by the Office of Legal Counsel, sometimes in secret. The conflict in Korea showed that it was "deeply rooted historical practice" to send troops to war without congressional authorization, according to the Office of Legal Counsel opinion that gave Trump a green light in Syria. In addition, starting with Korea, supporting U.N. action counted as a national interest the president could protect militarily. The Korean War precedent converged with and informed another practice. After Korea, authorizations for the use of military force became the primary way for Congress to exercise its constitutional power. This method has been around since 1798, when President John Adams sought authority to use the Navy to protect American ships during an undeclared naval war with France. Authorizations replaced war declarations for even large-scale wars like the one in Vietnam. In 2001, Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force approving armed conflict "against those nations, organizations, or persons" who had "planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001," and those who had harbored them. Like the Korean War precedent, this had unexpected aftereffects. It was later interpreted to apply to groups that did not even exist at the time it was passed. Through this process, presidential war power has become a one-way ratchet. By failing to step in, Congress has acquiesced in the loss of its own power. If Trump's peace initiative ultimately fails, it should at least rekindle attention to a crucial pivot point in the decline of democratic restraints on war powers. One of the most surprising aspects about Truman's decision to bypass Congress was that he thought so little about it. Still, the war became part of the historical practice of presidential power, enabling the commander in chief to act alone, and cutting political restraint out of decisions to go to war. Mary L. Dudziak is the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, Emory University, and the author of War Time: An Idea, Its History, Its Consequences. She wrote this for The Washington Post. For the last decade or so, the city of St. Helena has presented something of a problem. It has been plagued with staff turnover, including something like five city managers in just a decade, the death of a beloved (but tradition-bound) mayor and the attempted recall of one of his successorsand financial problems that seemed to pop up and metastasize with astonishing speed. This included bungled paperwork on a federal grant that forced the city council to dip into its precious reserves to pay back Washington to the tune of around $1.2 million. It was just a few years ago that the then-city manager pointedly refused to rule out municipal bankruptcy and county officials were left wondering helplessly what would happen if the one-time jewel of the Upvalley were to fall into a financial abyss. Add on top of that St. Helenas famously pugnacious and bitter political culture, and you had what was shaping up to be a hell of a mess. So it is with considerable pleasure that we note that things seem to be going much better lately. Some painful restructuring by previous city managers, and careful financial stewardship by the city council and past mayor (aided by a voter approved sales tax hike) have left the city expecting to end the fiscal year with about $6 million in reserve, or about 40 percent of the typical annual budget. New City Manager Mark Prestwich, who has been in the job for about 18 months, appears to be a welcome rock of stability. He was under a four-year contract and the council was so pleased with him that they have already extended him to five years. Prestwich is a calm, reassuring presence, with a track record of good management in previous cities and an appreciation for the Napa Valley from a previous job with the city of Napa. He has articulated sensible plans to retain and develop staff, manage long-term liabilities, and to rebuild the citys aging infrastructure. And St. Helenas new mayor seems to be growing into his job nicely. Geoff Ellsworth first came on the political scene as a fierce critic of development in the city, and has aligned himself closely with the slow-growth Vision 2050 countywide coalition. Ellsworth, who had been elected to city council in 2016, ran a bruising and expensive campaign against former mayor Alan Galbraith in 2018 that sharply divided the city. It seemed St. Helenas acrimonious political climate might derail the progress the city was making. We met with Ellsworth and Prestwich recently, however, and we were pleased with what we heard from the new mayor. He seemed keenly aware that he cannot govern solely from his political base, which gave him a narrow victory despite more than $100,000 in campaign spending. He spoke passionately and convincingly of the need to bring all voices into the councils debates. It was not just pie in the sky, either he came with a plan. The answer to achieving goals in a polarized atmosphere, he said, is a clear and unambiguous process. If everybody knows the system for making a decision, and can watch it operate transparently, then people are less likely to feel that they were unheard or thwarted. He may not display his predecessors technocratic mastery of policy detail, but Ellsworth seems committed to an open, honest, and collegial leadership, which could go far in healing the citys divisions. He is joined on the city council by a relatively new team two members elected in 2018, one in 2016 and one in 2014. They will face many of the same issues, divisions and rivalries that bedeviled earlier councils, but we hope that the openness and optimism projected by Ellsworth and Prestwich represent a new era in the city. We were also very heartened by talk from both the mayor and city manager about opening the city up to sharing resources with other jurisdictions. St. Helena is, for example, in an agreement with Calistoga to share police officers while the smaller city tries to fill an unusual number of vacancies. That agreement could lead to even greater cooperation in the future, helping to ease the law enforcement burden on the two relatively isolated cities. Prestwich also raised the possibility of requesting assistance from the countys planning and zoning officials to boost local capabilities. County officials have previously told the Editorial Board that they would be willing to lend whatever help the city needed but St. Helena had never asked. In all, we felt hopeful after our meeting. St. Helena politics will probably always remain colorful and pugnacious, but we believe that after a long period of instability, acrimony and uncertainty, things are starting to look up in the heart of Upvalley. The Napa Valley Register Editorial Board consists of Publisher Davis Taylor, Editor Sean Scully, and public members Cindy Webber, Ed Shenk, Mary Jean Mclaughlin and Chris Hammaker. The Myanmar army has reportedly taken over the physical control of NSCN-K headquarters and driving out Northeast insurgents from Taga area of Myanmar. Over 500 security personnel of Myanmar army dismantled the hideouts of Indian insurgent groups and taken over the physical control of NSCN-K headquarters last week, Deccan Chronicle reported. Myanmar army has taken this step after NSCN-K refused to follow the order of the Myanmar army to drive out all the non-citizen terrorists and armed rebels from their camps, the newspaper quoted an unnamed security source as saying. Myanmar army has also reportedly a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the insurgents who are loitering in the forest areas for shelter. Admitting that Myanmar army has not resorted to aggressive military action on these insurgents, security sources said that they have been told to go back to India instead of trying to set up fresh shelter points in Myanmar. Myanmar army in the first week of February launched offensive to flush out Northeast rebel groupsULFA-I, NSCN-K, NDFB-S and KLOwho have bases in the Burmese territory. According to Army sources, on February 2, gunbattle took place between ULFA (I) and Myanmar Army in which one cadre of the banned outfit was killed and another one was nabbed by the Tatmadaw, the official name of the armed forces of Burma. According to reports, six members of the NSCN-K were also arrested by Myanmar Army during the operations. NEWS.am daily digest: 07.12.21 Kazakhstan First President notes Russias role in resolving Karabakh conflict Armenia opposition MP: We are launching legal process of National Assembly speaker's resignation Fight occurs in Armenia legislature Armenia legislature deputy speaker from opposition: We are at preparatory phase for rallies Armenia parliament speaker claims video with his remarks on captive Armenian soldiers was edited MFA: Armenia urges Azerbaijan to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions Legislature speaker: Criminal case will be launched against Armenian soldiers who laid down their weapons, surrendered 4 more die of coronavirus in Artsakh Dejavu: Parliament speaker says Armenian captive soldiers no longer exist for him National Assembly holding urgent discussion on Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan Armenia legislature majority blocks opposition draft statement on border delimitation Armenia ex-defense minister on border delimitation: Authorities say 'we negotiate whatever we want' US embassy of Armenia on local elections: We note reports of pressure against opposition candidates Ombudsman in Paris, briefs France colleague on Armenian captives in, war crimes of Azerbaijan Opposition Armenia Faction plans to launch urgent parliamentary debates on POWs in Azerbaijan Karabakh President pays tribute to 1988 Spitak earthquake victims Pentagon discusses situation on Russia-Ukraine border 240 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia US Air Force plans to develop 2 new secret combat drones Wreath laid in Gyumri on behalf of Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Ombudsman provides details from Azerbaijan shooting at Karmir Shuka village of Artsakh Armenia parliament session kicks off with minute of silence Newspaper: As always Armenia citizens chose individuals over ideas in elections Armenia remembers victims of 1988 earthquake Newspaper: Armenia gets more than $11M from international organizations, several countries for Covid prevention Seven die in Zanzibar after eating exotic food Turkey and Qatar discuss possibility of joint operation of airport in Afghanistan Development of warm relations between Abu Dhabi and Tehran is one of UAE priorities Israel tries to convince US to strike Iranian targets Bayramov and US Assistant Secretary of State discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan NEWS.am daily digest: 06.12.21 Armenia legislature majority to block opposition draft statement on border delimitation Vahe Hakobyan underscores effective cooperation with UNDP Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia project Armenia prosecutor's office files lawsuit demanding confiscation of ex-Police chief, his familys illegal property One dollar passes AMD 491 threshold in Armenia Armenia parliament to set up friendship group with Montenegro India-Eurasian Union free trade zone talks to begin early 2022 Armenia Supreme Judicial Council members receive ECHR judgments execution department delegation Armenia President, UK envoy discuss regional security Armenia premier chairs Security Council meeting Man found dead in downtown Yerevan near garbage cans Opposition Armenia Faction MP: Premier Pashinyan gave best assessment of local elections Armenia opposition lawmaker on local election results: Authorities rigged, pressured but still did not win Kopirkin: Russian-Armenian Center for Humanitarian Response has highly qualified specialists Russia official: 1988 Armenia earthquakes tragic experience gave impetus to creation of effective warning system Opposition MP: Nothing officially announced in Armenia about negotiations over return of 10 POWs Young Russia air force crew kicks off night flights over Armenia mountains 2 people killed in single-engine plane crash in Canada 95 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Yerevan hosting international conference with participation of Armenia, Russia emergency ministries representatives World oil prices on the rise Friend of Armenian people, former US Senator, presidential candidate Bob Dole dies aged 98 PM: Practice of election-rigging undermined state resistance system emerging in early 1990s in Armenia World gold prices going down Armenia local elections: Ruling party loses by more than 13.5% in Vanadzor Artsakh soldier, 19, dies from gunshot wound Armenia local elections: Ruling party suffers crushing defeat in Aparan Armenia local elections: Lack of alternative, record low voter turnout ensure ruling partys win in Armavir Armenia local elections: PAP beats ruling party in Abovyan Armenia local elections: Bloc named after incumbent mayor wins in Sevan The body of a young man found under a bridge in Yerevan UAE National Security Advisor to visit Iran Artsakh registered 31 new coronavirus cases Voter turnout in local elections in Armenia 3 hours before the end of voting was 33.8% Naftali Bennett calls on world powers to take a tough stance on Iran COVID-19 in Armenia: 327 new cases OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs regret that it was not possible to hold a joint meeting of Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs Aravot: Special police forces are in Aparan Head of Ayntap village of Ararat province and his brother apprehended 10 Armenian captives are returned from Azerbaijan Azerbaijan transfers 10 soldiers to Armenia, media report Armenia PM attends meeting of Consultative Assembly on Cooperation with Extra-Parliamentary Political Forces Armenia FM meets with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Identity of Azerbaijani who killed Artsakh resident is known Turkey intelligence took part in 2020 war against Karabakh, says Turkish vice president Baku explains why it declined from Stockholm meeting of Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs FM: Any status within Azerbaijan is unacceptable for Artsakh people, authorities Opportunities for expanding Armenia-Belarus cooperation in high tech are discussed Quake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh ensure safety during replanting of vineyards Biden says hopes to have long discussion with Putin 54 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh 419 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Blinken: NATO does not seek aggression against Russia MFA spokesman: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs did not meet in Stockholm WHO: Omicron variant could worsen situation in Europe Newspaper: Opportunity created for change of power in Armenia Newspaper: Matter of changing Armenias external vector becoming reality? Psaki: US, Russia considering possibility of Biden-Putin meeting Armenian FM meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Putin and Erdogan discuss Azerbaijan, Armenia, Syria, Libya, and Ukraine Armenia and Poland FMs discuss regional security issues Erdogan and Putin support coordination of efforts on Karabakh UN launches campaign against Gender-based violence online NEWS.am daily digest: 03.12.21 Azerbaijanis kill Nagorno-Karabakh resident captured today Armenia deputy FM: Azerbaijan blatantly ignores core principles of international law (PHOTOS) 2-day workshop on Inclusive Development kicks off in Armenia Armenia Prosecutor General to head for Egypt 09:37 Actor Kangana Ranaut on Saturday said the system in place in Bollywood helps people with privilege and repels when it is challenged. At the India Today Conclave 2019, she said her many fallouts in the industry happened because she was always presented do-or-die situations in which she always fought her survival. "I come from a situation where I really do not have a backup plan. I don't have a plan B. It's not like I wake up in the morning and think about 'Oh wait a minute. How many people can I offend today and how to make my life difficult?' That's not how it is. "... The kind of story I have I wasn't left with an option. I wish they did. I wish they let me do my thing and I wish there wasn't this do or die situation. I would have preferred it like that. But if one of us has to do die I will make sure that it is not me," Kangana said. A couple of her past few films have been plagued by controversies. Her 2017 film "Simran" was marred by a spat between her and screenwriter Apurva Asrani, who claimed that she poached his writing credit. Her latest release "Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi" was also embroiled in multiple controversies. Kangana said the credit for her success is hers only as she is the only actor in the film industry "who has not worked with a big production house or a big hero". "We all know that Bollywood, the film industry is classist and so is the rest of the society. The system works for certain people the way it is. It is definitely going to resist when you are going to challenge it." The three-time National Award winner said after her debut film "Gangster", she struggled a lot for work. "When I came to the industry with a film like 'Gangster', I won the Best Actress award in entire Asia and then I did not have any work at all. They did not know what to do with an actor like that. "Item numbers were prevalent and so were the patriarchal and chauvinist sort of male depiction in films where actors and actresses are just showing up to get pinched in their butt or get mocked. So I did not had any work. So I like said if it is a do-or-die situation I'm going to ensure that I survive," Kangana said. She said the power players of Bollywood tried to suppress her voice but she fought every time. "When you question so many things, they will try to shut your voice because the system has been working for them. It is your prerogative as a person to see what you want to do. Of course they will do what they can to ensure that people like us who question the system do not survive," she said. -- PTI The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Air New Zealand Limited (NZSE:AIR) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 20% in the last quarter. But at least the stock is up over the last five years. However we are not very impressed because the share price is only up 30%, less than the market return of 83%. View our latest analysis for Air New Zealand While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, Air New Zealand managed to grow its earnings per share at 6.3% a year. This EPS growth is reasonably close to the 5.4% average annual increase in the share price. This indicates that investor sentiment towards the company has not changed a great deal. Indeed, it would appear the share price is reacting to the EPS. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). NZSE:AIR Past and Future Earnings, March 3rd 2019 It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Air New Zealands earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Its fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Air New Zealands TSR for the last 5 years was 133%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And theres no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Air New Zealand shareholders are down 17% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 11%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldnt be so upset, since they would have made 18%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. Before spending more time on Air New Zealand it might be wise to click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling shares. Story continues Of course Air New Zealand may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NZ exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Hamid Ould Ahmed and Stephanie Nebehay ALGIERS/GENEVA (Reuters) - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has changed his campaign manager for an April election in which he is expected to seek a fifth term, state news agency APS said on Saturday. News of Abdelghani Zaalane's appointment came a day after tens of thousands of Algerians protested against a further presidential term for the 82-year-old, who is in Switzerland for medical checks. Zaalane is a minister. APS did give any reason for Bouteflika's decision to replace his previous campaign manager Abdelmalek Sellal, who had said on Tuesday that the president would submit official election papers on Sunday, the deadline for candidates. Opponents say Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since, is no longer fit to lead the North African country, a major oil and gas producer. But in a sign of weakness to mount a challenge against the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN), an umbrella group of opposition parties again called on Bouteflika to quit but did not nominate a single candidate. Friday saw the largest turnout to date in Algeria's biggest anti-government demonstrations since the Arab Spring eight years ago. Bouteflika has not directly addressed the protests. Like most of the country's elite made up of FLN leaders, military officers and business tycoons, Bouteflika is a veteran of Algeria's 1954-1962 independence war against France. He has been in power since 1999. The authorities said last week he would travel to Geneva for unspecified "routine" medical checks. Algerian media did not report on his trip but Swiss public television said late on Saturday that Bouteflika remained at Geneva University Hospital. A total of 183 people were injured during Friday's protests across Algeria and one person died of a heart attack, APS said. The capital Algiers was quiet on Saturday with shops open. Story continues Large-scale demonstrations -- rarely seen in Algeria with its ubiquitous security services -- against Bouteflika's re-election move began a week ago and have grown in size. Many Algerians avoided public political activity for years, fearing trouble from the security services or disillusioned with the war veterans who have run the country since independence. After a decade-long Islamist insurgency that Bouteflika stamped out early in his rule, Algerians have often tolerated a political system with little space for dissent as a price to pay for peace and stability. (Reporting by Lamine Chikhi, Hesham Hajali, Tom Miles, Stephanie Nebehay, Tarek Amara, Hamid Ould Ahmed, Zohra Bensemra and Ulf Laessing; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Catherine Evans and Daniel Wallis) Washington (AFP) - The US jobs engine has continued to deliver for nearly a decade, putting more Americans back to work and sending unemployment to a historic lows. But, just over a year after Congress enacted sweeping corporate tax cuts meant to jolt the economy, a shadow has crept into the picture: Layoffs are also on the rise. While claims for unemployment benefits remain low, major companies have begun to swing the axe even as many enjoy the tax windfall and solid profits, and are spending record amounts of cash to buy back their own stock from investors. In February alone, layoffs were announced by PepsiCo, the video-gaming giant Activision Blizzard and the cosmetics marketer Avon. General Motors enraged President Donald Trump in November by announcing a 15 percent cut to its workforce while shuttering auto plants in the political battleground states of Ohio and Michigan. Economists say tax cuts often fuel investments like mergers and acquisitions, which frequently result in job cuts -- at least initially -- as some workers become redundant. Automakers, toy manufacturers, banks, tech firms and telecommunications giants are trimming their workforces. Job cuts jumped 29 percent last year in the wake of the tax reform to about 540,000, the highest in three years, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement firm that tracks staff reductions. And job cuts in January hit 44,653, higher than 20 of the prior 24 months, the firm reported. Despite the increase in layoffs, first-time claims for jobless benefits have risen only slightly in recent months -- suggesting the current US jobs market is so hot many laid-off workers find new jobs even before they need to claim unemployment insurance. The economy created over 220,000 new jobs each month on average in 2018, up from about 180,000 in the prior year. The reasons driving layoffs vary. Banking giant Wells Fargo announced in September it was cutting five to 10 percent of its workforce as it focused more on internet banking. Story continues And some firms shed workers because they worry the economy could hit a rough patch in the near future or are seeing rising raw material costs, John Challenger, the employment firm's CEO, told AFP. But as more companies merge, more employees become redundant: combined firms no longer need two departments to handle accounts payable, human resources or IT. "You see layoffs occur that aren't really about the slackening of business conditions," Challenger said. - Rhetoric and results - "You don't need full-scale vertical operations in as many locations as banks get bigger and core functions get moved to headquarters." The value of mergers and acquisitions in the United States jumped 17 percent last year to $1.94 trillion, the second highest since 2000, according to financial data firm FactSet. Edward Rice, a professor of finance at the University of Washington who has studied the effect of tax cuts on corporate behavior, told AFP his research shows tax cuts tend to produce mergers and acquisitions that were more profitable. He acknowledged those corporate combinations could cut jobs initially, but argued that over time healthier companies could hire more. "The idea of the merger is that somehow the firm's going to get more efficient and grow faster. So there may be a saving in employees now but a gain in employees later," he said. However, Rebecca Lester, professor of accounting at Stanford University, said tax cuts sometimes have failed to produce the desired outcome. A popular corporate tax cut in 2004 -- intended to reward companies with activity and workers in the United States -- actually caused some firms to increase investment abroad while others reduced their US workforces, her research showed. "The rhetoric was, we want to increase jobs, we want to increase investment here in the US," she told AFP. But "it can be quite difficult to get those outcomes." Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a prominent Republican economist who favored the 2017 tax overhaul, acknowledged that despite the lower tax rates, businesses slowed their investments in new equipment and machinery in the later part of 2018, something he called "very disappointing." But he said the number of layoffs by itself was not the best yardstick for measuring the impact of the tax cuts. "The ultimate test is, do we see higher levels of investment that produce better productivity and wage growth?" he said. "We shouldn't care which firm employs somebody. We should care that they are employed at good and rising wages." Australia is ramping up efforts to tackle an oil spill from a cargo ship stranded in World Heritage-listed waters in the Solomon Islands as fears grow of spiralling environmental damage, Canberra said Sunday. MV Solomon Trader ran aground on February 5 while loading bauxite at remote Rennell Island, some 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of the Pacific nation's capital Honiara. Around 75 tonnes of heavy fuel oil have leaked into the sea amid failed salvage attempts, while more than 600 tonnes of the oil remains on the stricken 225-metre (740-foot) vessel. "Given escalating ecological damage, and a lack of action by commercial entities involved, the Solomon Islands government has requested Australia's assistance," Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement. "In response, we are mobilising an offshore pollution mitigation operation, including equipment, vessels and specialised personnel." The operation will be run by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and will work alongside the Solomons' own efforts. AMSA has been using aerial surveillance to monitoring the unfolding environmental disaster, while New Zealand on Friday dispatched two oil spill containment specialists to the area. Rennell Island is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and includes a UNESCO World Heritage site which extends kilometres out to sea. The islanders rely on waters in the ecologically delicate region for their livelihoods. The Solomon Trader is registered in Hong Kong and operated by a Hong Kong-based company, but its ownership is unclear. Vienna (AFP) - David Lasar's family is sadly not unusual among Austria's Jewish community in having lost several members in the Holocaust. But in one respect Lasar stands out -- his membership of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe). At its foundation, the FPOe was led by two former members of the Waffen SS, so 66-year-old Lasar's choice of political home might well be considered surprising. Lasar says he initially joined in the late 1990s as the FPOe was "the only party close to the people, to employees and workers who had been forgotten by the left, while the centre-right was the party of capitalism and big business". Now as an FPOe MP he says he has an added reason for throwing his lot in with the party. "We are fighting tirelessly against anti-Semitism, especially anti-Semitism imported through immigration. "We are the only party to be fighting against this, together with our partners in government," he says, referring to the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Since entering the coalition government at the end of 2017, the FPOe has made great play of its efforts to foster a rapprochement with the Jewish community, and to establish relations between the party and Israel. But the Jewish community has largely kept its distance in the face of repeated scandals suggesting that anti-Semitic attitudes are still present in the party's milieu. As for Israel, its government has maintained an official boycott of all FPOe ministers, including Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who while not an FPOe member herself, was nominated for the post by the party. - 'Political calculation' - Benjamin Hess, co-president of the Austrian Union of Jewish Students insists: "We see no change at all within the FPOe." Hess himself confronted Strache in a TV programme last year for having shared an anti-Semitic image on his Facebook page in 2012. Story continues "It's easy to say: 'I'm against anti-Semitism, it's much harder to distance yourself from it in reality," Hess says. He and others who are still sceptical of the FPOe point in particular to the party's deep ties to the "Burschenschaften", student fraternities known for their strident pan-German nationalism and whose alumni include many high-ranking FPOe politicians. Strache, who himself flirted with neo-Nazism in his youth, has tried to clean up the party's image, insisting that it rejects anti-Semitism and expelling some of its more embarrassing members. He has also made trips to Israel, being welcomed on his last visit in 2016 by junior members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. He also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Lasar says he has also been to Israel on behalf of the party to foster better relations with the Israeli right, and boasts that he has made "excellent contacts". "The political calculation is obvious," says Bernhard Weidinger from the DOeW institute, which researches the Austrian far-right. When the current government came to power the European Jewish Congress (EJC) warned that "the Freedom Party can not use the Jewish community as a fig leaf and must show tolerance and acceptance towards all communities and minorities," in an allusion to the FPOe's anti-Muslim rhetoric. - 'No rapprochement' - The "imported anti-Semitism" that Lasar speaks of has become a favourite theme of Strache's too, particularly as since 2015 the country has received some 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, many of them from Muslim countries. In February, Strache launched his new think-tank with a podium discussion on "Islamic anti-Semitism". Ten days later, a prominent FPOe politician sent a letter to the Israeli ambassador in Vienna, saying that "supposed far-right extremist incidents" linked to FPOe members in recent months were down to "nothing more than agitation by the FPOe's political opponents". Last year the party's lead candidate in a regional election, Udo Landbauer, was forced to stand aside after it was revealed that the student fraternity that he belonged to had previously published virulently anti-Semitic songbooks. He has since returned to politics for the party. Weidinger points to the fact that the party has taken out adverts in publications that have included anti-Semitic content. And all this against a backdrop of what Austria's Forum Against Anti-Semitism says was a doubling of anti-Semitic incidents between 2014 and 2017. Lasar says that "many Jews" admit to him: "I vote for the FPOe because you are the only ones who are there for us on issues around security and who speak out against radical Islamism." But Hess says this is still a minority view within the community. "You find lots of different opinions among the community in Austria, but one thing unites everyone: no rapprochement with the FPOe." Bangladesh has said that Myanmar has obstructed the return of refugees who have been fleeing to Bangladesh since a military crackdown 18 months ago. - REUTERS Bangladesh told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that it cannot take any more refugees from Myanmar, some 18 months after more than 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims started pouring across the border fleeing a military crackdown. Attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents in Myanmar's Rakhine state were followed by an extreme crackdown that the United Nations, the US, Britain and others describe as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies the accusations. "I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar," Shahidul Haque, the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary, said. Mr Haque accused Myanmar of "hollow promises and various obstructionist approaches" during negotiations on returns. "Not a single Rohingya has volunteered to return to Rakhine due to the absence of conducive environment there," Haque said. Myanmar says it has been ready to accept returning refugees since January, but the United Nations says conditions are not yet right for their return. The Rohingya say they want guarantees over their safety and to be recognised as citizens before returning. Western powers on the council on Thursday lamented the lack of action from Myanmar's government. "We're very disappointed... that there hasn't been more progress on getting the refugees back and that obviously includes creating the conditions where the refugees feel able to go back," British UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told the council. Several council members from western countries stressed that the return of refugees needed to be safe, voluntary, dignified and secure, and pushed for the Myanmar government to allow the United Nations widespread and unconditional access to Rakhine. Christine Schraner-Burgener, UN envoy to Myanmar, told the Security Council that UN access was currently "insufficient." "The scale of what has been done to the Rohingya Muslims and the allegations of crimes against humanity really mark this out as one of the most terrible events of this century so far," she said. Story continues The 15-member Security Council has been split over how to deal with the crisis, with western powers pitted against Russia and Myanmar ally China. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have asked for assurances of their safety before returning to Myanmar. Credit: AP Photo/Dar Yasin China's Deputy UN Ambassador Wu Haitao said it was mainly an issue between Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh "and as such it is up to the two countries to work out a solution." Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy agreed. In December, Britain circulated a draft resolution to council members that diplomats said aims to put a timeline on Myanmar allowing the return of refugees and addressing accountability, but China and Russia have boycotted talks on the draft. Deputy US Ambassador Jonathan Cohen said: "The international community cannot ignore the world's largest refugee camp." By John Whitesides (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders showed a more personal side as he hit the 2020 campaign trail for the first time on Saturday, describing the struggles of his working class youth and how it helped shape his progressive politics. At a rally in Brooklyn, near the New York City neighborhood where he grew up in a small, rent-controlled apartment, Sanders contrasted his spare upbringing with Republican President Donald Trump's privileged youth as the son of a New York real estate developer. "My experience as a kid, living in a family that struggled economically, powerfully influenced my life and my values," Sanders said at a campaign kickoff rally at Brooklyn College, where he once attended classes. "Unlike Donald Trump, who shut down the government and left 800,000 federal employees without income to pay the bills, I know what it's like to be in a family that lives paycheck to paycheck," he said. The U.S. senator from Vermont rarely talked about his personal history during his first run for the White House in 2016 against eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, focusing almost exclusively on his policy plans to rein in Wall Street and reduce income inequality. But the new approach for Sanders, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland, was a recognition of the need to find a way to stand out in a crowded and diverse field of 2020 Democratic contenders, including five of his fellow senators. Sanders also did not highlight his Jewish faith during his 2016 run. But in Brooklyn he described his father's journey to escape poverty and anti-Semitism, and said his father's family eventually was "wiped out" by the Nazis. "As we launch this campaign for president, you deserve to know where I come from because family history heavily influences the values that we adopt as adults," Sanders told cheering supporters in Brooklyn. "Today, I want to welcome you to a campaign which says, loudly and clearly, that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies," he said. Story continues The first weekend on the campaign trail also signaled Sanders' emphasis on expanding his support among minority voters, who he struggled to connect with during his 2016 campaign. On Sunday morning, he will make a quick stop in Selma, Alabama, for events commemorating the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march. Later, he will hold a rally at Navy Pier in Chicago, where he graduated from the University of Chicago at the height of the civil rights movement and helped lead student protests against segregated campus housing and schools. "I did not come from a family that taught me to build a corporate empire through housing discrimination," he said. "I protested housing discrimination." The twin rallies over the weekend also served as a reminder to Democrats of his ability to generate grassroots enthusiasm. During his 2016 campaign, Sanders frequently held big rallies with thousands of supporters, matching Trump's ability to capture attention and generate large crowds. Sanders already has shown his fundraising ability this time around, as the campaign said on Tuesday he had raised about $10 million in the first week. But he also has faced new challenges - three of his top media strategists during the 2016 campaign split with Sanders this week over creative differences. Over the next few weeks, his campaign said, Sanders will travel to states with early nominating contests, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada before returning to his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, for a formal campaign launch. (Reporting by John Whitesides in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Diane Craft) The Senate threatens to become the graveyard of progressive Democrats dreams. The sweeping liberal ideas backed by many of the partys candidates Medicare for all, a Green New Deal, and a $15 federal minimum wage would struggle to get past a Senate where Republicans are likely to retain powerful influence over what legislation becomes law, even if a Democrat defeats President Donald Trump and takes office in January 2021. Some Democrats are sounding warnings about the expectations being raised among the progressive voting base that helped the party gain control of the House and wholl be crucial to any chances of winning the White House. The Senate is going to make or break the progressive agenda in 2021, regardless of how well we do at the top of the ticket, said Adam Jentleson, a former spokesman for Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The problem is math and congressional procedure. In the best case scenario for Democrats another wave election that consolidates the partys hold on the House and wins them a majority in the Senate any far-reaching changes still would struggle to get 50 votes in the Senate, let alone the 60 votes needed to advance most legislation. Minority Power Democrats would need to gain a minimum of three Senate seats to have a majority. But even then, the chambers structure allows for a minority to block most legislation unless the filibuster is eliminated, a step that many Senate Democrats say theyre unwilling to take. The electoral map gives Democrats some Senate pickup opportunities, but none will be easy. Just two GOP senators face re-election in states won by Hillary Clinton in 2016: Colorados Cory Gardner and Maines Susan Collins. From there it gets tougher. Arizonas Martha McSally and Georgias David Perdue are on the ballot in once solidly Republican states where Democrats have been making gains. North Carolinas Thom Tillis and Iowas Joni Ernst represent swing states where Democrats have struggled in recent years. Given the results from the 2018 election, Texass John Cornyn is seen as a long-shot target for Democrats. Story continues At the same time, Democratic Senator Doug Jones will face a very difficult re-election in deep-red Alabama. Best Case The absolute best case scenario for Democrats is a Senate majority somewhere in the low 50s, Jentleson said, adding that getting to 52 Democratic seats would effectively require a political tsunami. Such a 52-seat majority would include figures like West Virginias Joe Manchin, Arizonas Kyrsten Sinema and Montanas Jon Tester, all of whom represent Republican-leaning states and have kept their distance from the most progressive proposals in the party. None support Medicare for all or the Green New Deal, and getting their votes would be a heavy lift. Even now, some of the most ambitious proposals from progressives such as the Green New Deal have gotten a tepid response from Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the second-ranking Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois. Democrats were hamstrung by the filibuster in President Barack Obamas first two years, even when they had 57 to 60 active senators, a number that fluctuated because of contested elections, illnesses and deaths. That was due to Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnells success in keeping Republicans unified against Obamas agenda. Dream-Catcher The Senate is always the dream-catcher for stopping the most partisan and ideologically far-reaching proposals out of the campaign, said Josh Holmes, a confidant and former top aide to McConnell. What it does is protect the American people from wave elections one way or another and forces all legislation toward the middle. Holmes said that whether McConnell is the leader of a GOP majority or a minority, the 60-vote threshold will prevent single-payer health insurance or a Green New Deal from becoming law. There will not be a socialized health care plan, nor will there be a restructuring of the American economy that necessitates crushing the entire energy infrastructure of the country, he said. Some influential progressives are pushing Democrats to commit to end the filibuster, with its 60-vote threshold for legislation, to clear the way for their agenda. Filibuster Hurdle This field, with so many senators in it, knows full well that even in the fortunate scenario where we defeat Donald Trump and win back the Senate, Mitch McConnell will preserve a veto over the entire progressive agenda thanks to the filibuster, said Brian Fallon, a Democratic operative who worked for Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign and for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Any candidate campaigning on ambitious solutions but failing to call for eliminating the filibuster is not being honest about their ability to deliver change, Fallon said. So far, most Democratic candidates are hesitant to go there. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren recently told the progressive podcast Pod Save America that all options are on the table when asked about scrapping the filibuster in 2021, if the Republicans are going to block us on key pieces that were trying to move forward. California Senator Kamala Harris declined to take a position when asked by a voter in Ankeny, Iowa, on Saturday, saying that the question of scrapping the filibuster is a difficult one and I actually am conflicted. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has perhaps the most far-reaching liberal agenda, told CBS This Morning this month that hes not crazy about getting rid of the filibuster. Democrats Resist Fallons pitch so far hasnt won over enough Democrats, with senators like Chris Coons of Delaware recently vowing on the Senate floor to never support ending the 60-vote threshold. Many Senate Democrats, including some running or considering running for president Harris, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Kirsten Gillibrand and Amy Klobuchar, signed a letter in 2017, led by Coons and Collins, urging McConnell to keep the filibuster intact for legislation. There are ways of getting things through Congress with the legislative filibuster still in place, according to Brown of Ohio, who said hell make an announcement on a 2020 run by the end of March. It takes a chief executive who knows what shes doing, or knows what hes doing. But Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said that if Democrats take power, we should be open to changing the rules which can be done with 51 votes. Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming said theres always a potential for the next Democratic majority to get rid of the filibuster if the country elects a liberal president whos taken this far left, hard left turn where the presidential candidates seem to be going. He said if that happens, Republicans wont be to blame. Provided at least 50 Democrats in a new majority could stay united a big if they could pass much of their economic agenda through the tortured budget reconciliation process, which bypasses filibusters on budget-related items. Yet the failure of Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act shows the difficulty of that route, which requires navigating a gantlet of byzantine rules. A simple health care expansion and higher taxes for the wealthy would comply. But other items would be far harder to navigate through procedural hurdles, including items Democrats almost universally back such as a minimum wage increase, laws friendlier to forming unions, voting rights legislation and universal gun background checks. Both parties have also become more ideologically cohesive and grown further apart, leaving little ground in the middle for the kind of big, bipartisan compromises of decades past. Republicans will have every incentive to thwart Democratic plans. We are facing obstacles that have been constructed with Republicans playing constitutional hardball, Jentleson said. And Democrats are going to have to be playing hardball to get the change we want. New York (AFP) - An unflinching new documentary on pedophilia accusations against Michael Jackson has shattered the glittering veneer around the late King of Pop, presenting in lurid detail the stories of two men who say he sexually abused them for years as minors. "Leaving Neverland," a four-hour film by British director Dan Reed, is considered so potentially devastating that counseling was made available at its Sundance Film Festival premiere in January. US cable network HBO will air it in two parts, starting Sunday. Reed said he tried to include "sexual detail in a very measured way, so it wasn't done for shock value." "We tried to make it graphic enough to be eye-opening and for people to be confronted with what it means for a little child to be seduced and raped by an adult pedophile," Reed told AFP. "Of course it's shocking. It's a very serious crime. And it shouldn't be glossed over." It's not the first public airing of abuse claims against Jackson but the release marks the scandal's first major explosion since his fatal overdose at age 50, almost 10 years ago. The documentary centers on James Safechuck, 41, and Wade Robson, 36, who recount separate but consistent accounts of how their idol molested them as boys. Both describe the childlike Jackson wooing them: inviting them into his fairytale existence, gaining their families' trust and manipulating them into keeping their sexual relations secret. "You and I were brought together by God," Robson said Jackson told him. Their mothers also offer narratives of seduction into the cult of Jackson -- and the ensuing guilt that haunts them. Robson first met Jackson as a five-year-old after winning a dance competition. The megastar invited the boy to his Neverland Ranch, where Robson, by then seven, said the abuse began. He describes how their sexual relationship "escalated rapidly," with Jackson telling him: "This is us showing each other that we love each other." Story continues Safechuck, who said his abuse began at age 10, tells a similar tale, saying Jackson told him if anyone found out their lives "would be over." - Decades of denial - Jackson's estate has vehemently defended the late star, suing HBO for $100 million over a "posthumous character assassination" it says breaches an agreement made not to disparage the icon, a condition for airing one of his concerts. Jackson faced accusations in 1993 of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy and settled out of court, with Robson and Safechuck saying at the time that Jackson hadn't touched them. In 2003 more accusations triggered a dramatic trial: that time, Safechuck kept a distance, but Robson testified for Jackson, who was acquitted. Neither man reversed their stories until recently, after becoming fathers themselves. Both filed their own lawsuits that were dismissed over statutes of limitations. "You loved him in a lot of ways. And then you know Michael does these things to you that are not healthy," Safechuck said. "It's really hard to have those two feelings together. I still, today, am grappling with that." - 'Prolific pedophile' - "Leaving Neverland" comes in the wake of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's downfall, and as R&B superstar R. Kelly faces a fresh legal reckoning for his own questionable history with underage girls. For pop culture scholar Robert Thompson of Syracuse University, the release in today's #MeToo context is key: Jackson's trial was relatively recent, but "in so many ways, consciousnesses have been raised." "A documentary this far out could completely change his legacy," Thompson said. Reed said the timing of the film's release with #MeToo was unplanned but fortuitous. "The #MeToo movement has done a lot of groundwork," he said, because the normal response now is to listen to alleged victims, not "slime them." Jackson's sprawling California homestead is back on the market for $31 million -- some 70 percent less than the asking price four years ago, according to The Wall Street Journal. Diane Dimond, who covered the Jackson saga for years and has penned a book on it, said she expects more men will come forward. "He was a prolific pedophile, that did what he did right under our noses because he knew he was so adored that he could get away with it," she said. - 'Ripples of impact' - But the fans, Dimond said, "will forever think that he was like Jesus." "Jackson somehow strikes a chord, even today, in the very soul of people," she added. Thompson agrees, saying there's little chance of erasing Jackson's artistic legacy, even if his reputation is tarnished. "In any sense of rational history, we cannot retroactively say that no, Michael Jackson didn't change the history of global pop -- because he did change the history of global pop," Thompson said. "The ripples of impact that he sent out were not ripples; they were tsunamis." For Safechuck, whose trembling hands in the film betray his struggle for calm, it's a statement that rings all too true. "They say time heals all wounds," Safechuck said. "But I don't think time heals this one. It just gets worse." LONDON (Reuters) - Brexit-supporting lawmakers who voted down British Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union withdrawal deal in January have outlined demands for a revised treaty to ensure their support, the Sunday Times newspaper said. Lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected May's deal in January. Many were unhappy with the "Irish backstop", insurance to prevent return of hard border controls between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland. Critics said it could leave the country tied to EU rules indefinitely. Britain, due to exit the bloc on March 29, is attempting to amend the deal to provide assurances that the backstop would not be indefinite. The Sunday Times said hardline Brexit supporters from May's Conservative Party had drawn up a document outlining three tests the deal must pass to gain their support. These are a "clearly worded, legally binding, treaty-level clause which unambiguously overrides" the text of the withdrawal agreement, with language that goes beyond emphasizing the temporary nature of the backstop and a clear means to exit the backstop if subsequent trade talks fail. The paper said the plan had been drawn up with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, the Northern Irish party which props up May's minority government. If May secures the demands, she would win the backing of the DUP and the Brexit-supporting lawmakers in a vote on the deal which she has promised would be held before March 12, the Times said. The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday that the bloc was ready to give Britain more guarantees that the backstop was only intended to be temporary and used for a "worst-case scenario". "We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU," Michel Barnier said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt newspaper. "This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary." In a further sign that former opponents of May's deal might now back a revised version, Graham Brady, a senior Conservative lawmaker, said he would support it with legally binding assurances on the backstop. "Once we have that, my colleagues in parliament need to recognize the strength of feeling," he wrote in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. "The whole country is tired of vacillation and delay. When the right compromise is offered, we should pull together behind the Prime Minister and help her to deliver our exit from the European Union on March 29." (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by David Gregorio) Aden (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt held talks with his Yemeni counterpart in government-held Aden on Sunday, in the first visit by a western foreign minister to the war-torn country in years. "I am here because this is really the last chance for peace," Hunt said from Aden, in a video uploaded to his Twitter account. Hunt held talks with Yemen's top diplomat Khaled al-Yamani on the conflict and "international efforts to bring peace to Yemen", state news agency Saba said. They discussed an agreement on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between the warring sides, brokered by the United Nations at talks in Sweden in December, Saba said. On Friday, Hunt tweeted a picture with Mohammed Abdelsalam, head of the rebel delegation to the UN talks, saying the two had met in the Gulf state of Oman to discuss the implementation of the Sweden agreements. Britain has resisted pressure to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which along with the UAE leads a pro-government alliance in Yemen battling Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The coalition has been blacklisted for the killing and maiming of children by the UN, while both sides in the conflict stand accused of failing to protect civilians. Since the Saudi-led alliance intervened four years ago some 10,000 people have been killed, according to the World Health Organization, although rights groups say the figure could be five times higher. Millions more are at risk of starvation, according to the UN which says Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Hunt's visit to Aden comes a day after he met with Yemen's embattled president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in Saudi Arabia, where he has lived in self-imposed exile since 2015. While in the kingdom Hunt also held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Adel al-Jubeir, state minister for foreign affairs, on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the fate of jailed Saudi women activists. The killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider-turned-critic, at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last October sparked global uproar and amplified calls to end arms exports to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia on Friday announced that a group of women activists will face trial after nearly a year in detention, during which they have allegedly faced torture and sexual harassment. Have you been keeping an eye on Canadian National Railway Companys (TSE:CNR) upcoming dividend of CA$0.54 per share payable on the 29 March 2019? Then you only have 3 days left before the stock starts trading ex-dividend on the 07 March 2019. Is this future income stream a compelling catalyst for dividend investors to think about the stock as an investment today? Lets take a look at Canadian National Railways most recent financial data to examine its dividend characteristics in more detail. See our latest analysis for Canadian National Railway 5 questions to ask before buying a dividend stock When researching a dividend stock, I always follow the following screening criteria: Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies? Does it consistently pay out dividends without missing a payment of significantly cutting payout? Has the amount of dividend per share grown over the past? Is is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate? TSX:CNR Historical Dividend Yield, March 3rd 2019 Does Canadian National Railway pass our checks? The company currently pays out 31% of its earnings as a dividend, according to its trailing twelve-month data, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. In the near future, analysts are predicting a payout ratio of 33% which, assuming the share price stays the same, leads to a dividend yield of around 2.0%. Moreover, EPS should increase to CA$6.27. When considering the sustainability of dividends, it is also worth checking the cash flow of a company. 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 CNR it has increased its DPS from CA$0.51 to CA$2.15 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. Story continues Relative to peers, Canadian National Railway has a yield of 1.9%, which is on the low-side for Transportation stocks. Next Steps: Considering the dividend attributes we analyzed above, Canadian National Railway is definitely worth keeping an eye on for someone looking to build a dedicated income portfolio. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. Below, Ive compiled three essential factors you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for CNRs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for CNRs outlook. Valuation: What is CNR 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 CNR 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. There was a time, not that long ago, when Democrats used to decry voting in lockstep. That was a big talking point during the George W. Bush years, with a couple of unspoken qualifiers: Voting in lockstep was bad when Republicans did it, and very, very bad when Republicans did it while in the majority. That line of rhetoric lasted for a few months, until somebody did some actual reporting and found that the data demonstrated the opposite: In spite of all their humble-bragging about being more diverse and less disciplined than Republicans, Democrats in Congress in fact voted with their leadership more often than Republicans did at the time. There were some pretty obvious reasons for that: Ron Paul and other libertarian-leaning Republicans often opposed the Bush administration, fiscal hawks voted from time to time against go-along/get-along spending bills, etc. That continued into the Obama years as more ideologically rigid Republicans from safe districts increasingly bucked at the leadership of more moderate Republicans such as Speaker of the House John Boehner. As Ryan Lizza put it in the New Yorker in 2013: Boehner has lost his ability to control his caucus. There has been a general trend toward more en bloc congressional voting for decades, and the parties have become more ideologically uniform: Republicans still have a number of important ideological cleavages as the culture warriors work to gut the Chamber of Commerce crowd, and the Democrats have been showing some cleavage lately, too, as the socialists grow annoyed with the Democrats who are dumb enough to call themselves socialists in public. But how many real wild cards are there? Not many: Justin Amash on the Republican side, maybe Joe Manchin on the Democratic side. The Free-Thinking Caucus is not exactly a growth enterprise. But after all those years of complaining about Republicans marching in lockstep, the Democrats have a new program: marching in lockstep. Story continues Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is embarrassed, to the extent that she is capable of being embarrassed, by the fact that Republicans pulled a humorous little switcheroo on her. House Democrats were on the verge of passing a bill that would require you to get clearance from the federal government before selling your old deer rifle to your brother-in-law for 50 bucks, and Republicans got a couple dozen Democrats to join them in support of a last-minute amendment that would have required alerting immigration authorities when those mandatory background checks turned up illegal immigrants, who are not permitted to buy firearms. Keep in mind that this was a symbolic flip of the bird to a piece of legislation that itself is a symbolic flip of the bird: Senator Mitch McConnell isnt going to be letting any Democratic gun-grabbing legislation come to a vote in the Senate. So its symbolism about symbolism about symbolism, but Madame Speaker flipped her wig, anyway. She called those moderate Democrats, many of whom represent districts carried by Donald Trump, in to a meeting to berate them. Never mind the quality of the legislation, this is about party discipline: Vote no, just vote no, because the fact is a vote yes is to give leverage to the other side. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, is a self-proclaimed socialist who apparently is ready to move straight into the Stalinist phase of her political career, promising to organize purges against Democrats who dont do as she says. Shes even calling herself a boss these days. No doubt shes already looking for her Trotsky. Writing in Jacobin, a socialist magazine (100 million dead in the 20th century, but socialism never loses its appeal to the worst), James Muldoon of the University of Exeter works to revive the thinking of the Marxist theoretician Karl Kautsky, particularly the idea that democracy must extend beyond the state level itself. To extend the reach of democracy beyond the public sector and into the private sector amounts to the abolition of private life entirely, putting formerly private affairs (by no means limited to economic organization) under political discipline. That is something close to a working textbook definition of totalitarianism. The purges that Representative Ocasio-Cortez envisions for the Democratic party already are a part of ordinary life thanks to the efforts of progressives. If it should happen that you have a child who was once photographed standing in proximity to another child who had a look on his face that someone with political power disapproved of, there will be an organized effort to have you deprived of employment and ruined economically and otherwise by whatever means are available, as happened in the Covington affair. The rule of absolute conformity is by no means limited to elected members of the Democratic party answerable to partisan leadership: Democracy, as they like to call it (it is more ochlocracy), is to be extended into every aspect of life. That is the vision of the Left in 2019: Mob rule under a dollop of ideological frosting. That a liberal political culture cannot survive enforced homogeneity is obvious enough. The assault on free speech already is well under way, and the Democrats are poised to impose sweeping restrictions on political communication and organizing as soon as they have the votes. The personal is the political, they used to say. The slogan is intellectually flaccid but no less authoritarian and totalitarian for that. Progressives, once the partisans of diversity, tolerance, and social liberalism, have become the partisans of absolutism, conformism, and moral hysteria. Part of that is cynical politics: It was predictable that the same people who championed toleration when they were a relatively powerless minority would discover the attractions of homogeneity as soon as they got a taste of political power. But there is more to this than cheap opportunism: The emerging left-wing fanaticism gives every appearance of being mostly genuine. Genuinely asinine, genuinely dangerous, but genuine. Poor dopey gawping old Joe Biden apparently thinks hes going to get out in front of that parade, and that the red banners will be furled on his say-so. He is in for a shock. So are the rest of us. Voting in lockstep isnt going to be enough for these new totalitarians. What they have in mind is living in lockstep. More from National Review SELMA, Ala. (AP) Thunder rolling above Brown Chapel AME Church, Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker warned Sunday of a looming threat to American democracy and called for protecting the legacy of the civil rights movement with love and action. "It's time for us to defend the dream," Booker said in a keynote speech at Brown Chapel, which two generations ago was the starting point of a peaceful demonstration in support of voting rights that ended in beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The infamous "Bloody Sunday" on March 7, 1965, galvanized support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act that year. "It's time that we dare to dream again in America. That is what it takes to make America great. It is up to us to do the work that makes the dream real," said Booker, a New Jersey senator and one of three White House hopefuls who participated in events commemorating the march. Saying America faces challenges, Booker said: "People want to make it just about the people in the highest offices of the land. . People who traffic in hatred, people in office that defend Nazis or white supremacists, people that point fingers and forget the lessons of King. What we must repent for are not just the vitriolic words and actions of bad people, but the appalling silence and inaction of good people." Also visiting Selma on Sunday were Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Joining them was Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee in 2016. Booker and Brown, along with Clinton and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, marched with dozens of others Sunday afternoon to Edmund Pettus Bridge. Sanders had left for a campaign event in Chicago. The throng of marchers had set out from the church and sang freedom songs under a stormy sky as they headed to that sacred spot over the Alabama River to commemorate the peaceful protesters who were met with tear gas and clubs wielded by state troopers. Story continues This year's commemoration came in the early days of a Democratic presidential primary campaign that has focused heavily on issues of race. Several candidates have called President Donald Trump a racist, while others have voiced support for the idea of reparations for the descendants of enslaved black Americans. Booker and Sanders have already announced their campaigns. Brown is still considering a White House bid. The three gathered for a unity breakfast in Selma to pay homage to its civil rights legacy and highlight how the movement shaped their personal narratives. For the New Jersey senator, much of the day felt personal. In Brown Chapel he sat next to Jackson, for whom he cast his first ballot as an 18-year-old during Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign. He later marched to the bridge alongside Jackson, their arms locked together. In his speech, Booker linked the 1965 Selma demonstration to the lawyer who volunteered to help his family buy a home in a white neighborhood after they were discriminated against and repeatedly denied. "I would not be here if it wasn't for marchers on a bridge who inspired a man a thousand miles away in New Jersey," he said. "The dream is under attack. You honor history by emulating it, by us recommitting ourselves to it." Brown, currently on a "Dignity of Work" tour inspired by King, returned to Selma for the fifth time. He frequently draws connections between civil rights and worker's rights. A former secretary of state in Ohio, Brown also has a reputation as a leader on expanding voter participation. "We need to understand what happened here and we need to talk about it so we keep fighting on these issues," Brown told reporters at the breakfast. "It's clear we make progress and then we fall back because of Republican attacks on voting rights." Claiming that the Georgia governor election was stolen from Democrat Stacey Abrams, Brown said: "It's not just a Southern issue, of course. In the north we see all kinds of changes in voting laws. We see suppression of the vote in 2016, purging of voters in my state in a big way. This fight continues. It's become personal in many ways because voting rights are so important to our country." Sanders attended the 1963 March on Washington, which featured the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. Sanders has highlighted his civil rights and activist background as a young man at the University of Chicago. He is working to strengthen his relationship with black voters, with whom he struggled to connect in the 2016 Democratic primary that Clinton won. Appearing at Chicago's Navy Pier, Sanders on Sunday night recalled his work with the campus chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, protesting discrimination and housing segregation. He led one of the first sit-ins in the North and was arrested at a demonstration against segregation in Chicago schools in 1963. Sanders said while the Chicago activism was significant at the time, it didn't compare to what was happening in the South. "We were protesting," he told a rally of thousands. "They were putting their lives on the line, and some were getting killed." "I must say that it is incomprehensible to me that, in the year 2019, we continue to have a president, a Supreme Court and Republican governors who still are trying to deny people of color and poor people the right to vote," he said. "The reason I tell you all of this is because my activities here in Chicago taught me a very important lesson," he said. "And that is that whether it is the struggle is against racism, or sexism, or homophobia, or corporate greed, or environmental devastation, or war and militarism or religious bigotry real change never takes place from the top on down. It always takes place from the bottom on up when people, at the grassroots level, stand up and fight back." In Selma, Clinton told those at Brown Chapel that the absence of crucial parts of the Voting Rights Act contributed to her 2016 loss to Trump. The Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a part of the law that required the Justice Department to scrutinize states with a history of racial discrimination in voting. Clinton said "it makes a really big difference" and warned of the need for continued vigilance about voter suppression heading into the 2020 election. The backdrop of Selma provides a spotlight on voting rights. Advocates say the gains achieved as a result of "Bloody Sunday" have been threatened in recent years, particularly by the 2013 Supreme Court decision. Voter suppression emerged as a key issue in the 2018 midterm elections in states such as Georgia and North Carolina, where a Republican congressional candidate was accused of rigging the contest there through absentee ballots. House Democrats signaled they plan to make ballot access a priority in the new Congress, introducing legislation aimed at protecting voting rights in 2020 and beyond. ___ Whack is The Associated Press' national writer on race and ethnicity. Follow her work on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous Cohen hearing and cooperation turns up heat on Trump Nadler aims at obstruction of justice and abuse of power If Trump loses, we know what to expect: anger, fear, disruption Donald Trump hugs an American flag at CPAC. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters Democrats in the House of Representatives are stepping up investigations into Donald Trumps potentially impeachable acts of corruption, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. On Monday the House judiciary committee, which is on the frontline of renewed Democratic efforts to hold the president accountable, will issue demands for documents from more than 60 people and entities. The targets include the presidents son Donald Trump Jr and the chief finance officer of Trumps business empire, Allen Weisselberg, both of whom have been implicated in payments made to an adult film actor on Trumps behalf in violation of campaign finance laws. Other possible targets are John Kelly, Trumps former chief of staff, and former White House counsel Don McGahn. The Democratic document grab was revealed on Sunday by Jerrold Nadler, the judiciary committees chairman. He told ABCs This Week the request for information would be going out to the White House, the justice department and other agencies and individuals. We will do everything we can, he said, to get whatever evidence to begin the investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. The New Yorkers threat capped a disastrous week for Trump who, while out of the country at the Hanoi summit with Kim Jong-un of North Korea, was the subject of almost six hours of withering testimony from his former personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen. The account to the House oversight committee was packed with peril for the president as well as several people in his inner circle, including Don Jr who was tied by Cohen much more closely into the scandal surrounding the payoff of the actor Stormy Daniels. Cohen produced for the committee a cheque for $35,000 signed by Donald Trump Jr and Weisselberg. He said it was one of 12 installments reimbursing him for the $130,000 payment he had made to Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election to keep her from going public over an alleged affair with Trump Sr a payment that was a criminal violation of campaign finance laws that has in part sent Cohen to prison. Story continues Cohen also put the heat on Weisselberg by naming him more than 20 times. Trump is facing up to six investigations led by Democrats in the House. Democrats in the Senate will continue to press for more information, although Republican control of committees will dampen their efforts. Mark Warner, Democratic vice-chair of the Senate intelligence committee, told CNNs State of the Union that Cohens testimony had thrown up three new lines of inquiry. Cohen provided an account of overhearing a whispered conversation between Trump and Don Jr that suggested the elder Trump had prior knowledge of the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a group of Russians peddling dirt on Hillary Clinton. Cohen also recounted being in Trumps office when his longstanding adviser Roger Stone called on speakerphone and said he had just talked to Julian Assange of WikiLeaks who had told him of an imminent dump of emails damaging to Clinton. Asked if phone records existed of that call, Warner replied: There are phone records though he later appeared to retract that statement by saying he was not sure. The third area of investigation prompted by Cohens hearing related to Trumps financial dealings, particularly over plans to build a Trump tower in Moscow that were under discussion during the 2016 election. Warner said he wanted to find out why Trump and Cohen had misled the American public for months. News that the Democrats are beginning to home in on Trumps personal finances made him see red on Saturday. In a rambling two-hour speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the president bluntly dismissed the inquiries as bullshit. No matter how much Trump complains about scrutiny of his financial affairs, he will not succeed in holding back the Democratic steamroller. The House intelligence committee is instigating a major investigation into the Moscow Trump tower deal and the involvement in it of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, during the 2016 race. Adam Schiff, chairman of the intelligence committee, told CBSs Face the Nation the Democrats would be looking at persistent allegations that the Russians have been laundering money through the Trump Organization. He added: Well need to talk to some of the banks that have been doing business with Mr Trump like Deutsche Bank which has a history of laundering Russian money. Deutsche Bank was one of the main funders of the Trump Organization, particularly after US banks ceased lending money to the real-estate developer in the wake of his business failings and bankruptcies. In 2017 Deutsche Bank was fined $630m for failing to stop Russian money laundering to the value of $10bn. As Democratic power brokers dig into the Trump investigations, they will be counting on considerable support from Cohen, who is scheduled to go to prison on 6 May at the start of a three-year sentence. The lawyer told Congress last week he has more than 100 hours of voice recordings of conversations with people in the Trump circle and others, and he offered to hand them to the oversight committee. Warner said: Mr Cohen is in the process of turning over to our committee and others a whole series of additional records we have been looking for for a long time. In the face of the storm, Republican leaders continue to talk denial. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader of the House, told ABCs This Week theres nothing the president did wrong. To me [the Democrats] are trying to find a case for a problem that doesnt exist. Tallinn (AFP) - Estonians vote Sunday in a general election with the centre-left coalition duelling its traditional liberal rivals and a surging far-right party buoyed by a backlash from mostly rural voters in the Baltic eurozone state. The lacklustre campaign has focused on bread and butter issues like taxation and public spending, as well as tensions over Russian language education for Estonia's sizeable Russian minority and the rural-urban divide. Nearly 40 percent of the 880,690 eligible voters have used e-voting in advanced polling, with officials confident the online system can withstand any attempted meddling. A poll collating e-voters and those intent on using paper ballots on Sunday suggests a tight race. Prime Minister Juri Ratas's centrist Centre party scored 24.5 percent support, narrowly trailing the liberal Reform party led by former MEP Kaja Kallas with 26.6 percent, according to pollster Kantar Emor. Promising to slash income and excise taxes and pushing anti-immigration rhetoric, the far-right EKRE stands to more than double its support to 17.3 percent, but could struggle to find coalition partners. With 5-6 parties expected to enter the 101-seat parliament, the splintered outcome will make for tricky coalition building. - Tax breaks, wage hikes - Traditional rivals, Centre and Reform have alternated in government and even governed together over the nearly three decades since Estonia broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union. Both strongly support Estonai's EU and NATO membership and have favoured austerity to keep spending in check, giving the country the eurozone's lowest debt-to-GDP ratio. Centre has vowed to hike pensions by 8.4 percent and to replace Estonia's 20 percent flat income tax and 21 percent corporate tax with a progressive system to boost state revenue. Nixing a progressive tax, business-friendly Reform instead wants to raise the tax-free monthly minimum and lower unemployment insurance premiums to aid job creation. Story continues Joblessness hovers at just under five percent while economic growth is expected to slow to 2.7 percent this year, from the 3.9 percent in 2018. Calling existing taxes "difficult to cope with", Marilyn, a small business owner from Tallinn who declined to give her surname, told AFP that Reform's proposed tax breaks get her vote. Alexander, a Russian-speaking factory worker, wants pension and salary hikes. "It's impossible to survive with the minimum wage," he told AFP in Tallinn, referring to Estonia's 540 euro ($615) monthly minimum. - Estxit - While it won just seven seats in the 2015 election, the EKRE is set to capture a close third spot behind established parties. Staunchly eurosceptic, it called for an "Estxit" referendum on Estonia's EU membership, although the move would fail in the overwhelmingly pro-EU country. The party's deep suspicion towards Moscow means it strongly supports NATO membership and the multinational battalion the alliance installed in Estonia in 2017 as a tripwire against possible Russian adventurism. Tonis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, draws comparisons to the rise of far-right parties across Europe that oppose immigration and multiculturalism while offering generous social spending. He describes the EKRE's position on liberal democracy, including civic and human rights, rule of law and the separation of powers as "very ambiguous". The party's surging popularity is largely rooted in the misgivings of rural Estonians who feel left behind after years of austerity under Centre and Reform. "These people see few economic prospects and feel the mainstream parties don't care much about their problems," Saarts told AFP. - Russian minority - The Centre party has long been favoured by the Russian minority, comprising around a quarter of the Baltic state's population of 1.3 million. The party signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party in 2004. To avoid losing voters suspicious of Soviet-era master Russia, Ratas insists the deal is "frozen" but also wary of losing the Russian vote, he has refused to rip it up. The minority is counting on Centre to save the existing education system comprising Estonian and Russian-language schools set up in Soviet times, while Reform and EKRE want to scrap Russian-language teaching. Polling stations open from 0700 to 1800 GMT on Sunday. No exit polls will be issued, with initial official results due by midnight. Oxygen An Illinois man has been accused of gunning down his ex-girlfriend on Thanksgiving while she was on a date with another man. Robert Bobby J. Tarr, 48, is now facing three counts of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend Leslie Reeveswho had taught self-defense courses in the community and was an outspoken advocate against domestic violence. Tarr is also facing one count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Christopher J. Smith, 48, who had been on BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Franco Macri, the father of Argentina's president who migrated to the South American country from Italy as a teenager and went on to become one of its most prominent businessmen, died on Saturday, the president's office said. He was 88. The father of President Maurico Macri had been having health troubles and was recently hospitalized with a broken hip. A brief statement from the president's office said he died at home but did not give a cause of death. Franco Macri migrated to Argentina from Italy as a teen and went on to build a business empire with interests ranging from construction to the automotive industry. His son, Mauricio, followed in his father's footsteps becoming a successful businessperson before entering politics and assuming the presidency on Dec. 10, 2015. However, the two men's relationship had some tense moments that emerged in public. Both supporters and rivals of Argentina's president sent their condolences to him. Daniel Scioli, the presidential contender Macri beat in Argentina's last election, tweeted: "My respects and condolences to the President ... to his family, for the death of his father Franco Macri. I salute you with affection." ___ Associated Press journalist Paul Byrne contributed to this report from Buenos Aires. Baghuz (Syria) (AFP) - The rattle of guns, bomb blasts and black smoke -- a deluge of fire is being unleashed on the Islamic State's last Syrian stronghold by Kurdish-led and international forces. "Watch out, it's coming!" Kurdish commander Hagit Qamishlo shouts to AFP journalists, from the terrace of a house that overlooks the battlefield some 800 metres away. A few minutes later, a low growl announces the arrival of a plane from the US-led coalition. It hits one of the jihadist positions, the explosion sending a shockwave juddering through the landscape and reducing several houses to dust in the IS-held sliver of Baghouz village. "Well played! That was a jihadist sniper position", Qamishlo relays into his walkie talkie. He then asks fellow Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units on the ground if they have coordinates for other enemy positions to feed to the coalition. The jihadists' patch of territory -- a bombed out cluster of buildings next to tents that for weeks allowed fighters to hide among civilians -- is down to 700 square metres. It is just a tiny fraction of the "caliphate" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared in 2014 that sprawled across swathes of both Syria and neighbouring Iraq. An hour earlier, a coalition air strike targeting another jihadist position hit an underground ammunition store. It triggered an enormous and extended explosion, accompanied by a series of fireballs that were celebrated by Kurdish and Arab SDF fighters. - 'The most radical' - A two-week suspension of operations by the SDF -- motivated by concerns about the use of civilians as human shields by IS -- had given the jihadists respite. The offensive resumed on Friday evening, with the holdout forces resisting. "They are completely encircled," another SDF commander, Sefqan, tells AFP. "But they have planted mines along all the roads (and) in the houses," he says. Several mines seriously wounded SDF fighters in the early hours of the assault. Story continues After a short night-time interval, the fighting -- SDF artillery and mortar fire, countered by the jihadists' smaller projectiles, sniper fire and mines -- resumed early Sunday. IS had "also booby trapped cars, but they have not had the time to use them against us because we have neutralised them with drone strikes", Sefqan adds. SDF commanders have repeated for several weeks that the end is near for IS. It may take another "four or five days or so" to finally prevail, they now say -- depending on how many diehards remain in the way. "With the tunnels that they dug, we don't know how many of them there are," Sefqan admits. Fellow commander Qamishlo says Iraqis figure are among the remaining hardcore, but foreigners are more numerous, including Russians, Turks, Tunisians, Central Asians and at least seven from France. During the two-week humanitarian window, more than 10,000 people vacated Baghouz for SDF-held territory, including many wives and children of jihadists that IS allowed to leave. But other wives and offspring of IS fighters remain in the group's besieged and bombarded tunnels. "Those that have stayed are there to fight or blow themselves up -- they are the most radical", insists Qamishlo. Rep. Justin Amash, the Michigan Republican who broke with President Trump to vote to overturn his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, said some of his colleagues are failing to uphold their duties to the Constitution. Asked on CNNs State of the Union if he thinks that Republicans who are supporting this national emergency are abdicating their responsibilities to the Constitution, Amash responded I think so, yes. He added: I don't think that they are all intending to do that. Days after the vote, Amash explained his views when he tweeted, If you think my job is to support the president one hundred percent, then you dont understand what it means to be a representative in Congress. My job is to support the Constitution one hundred percent and to represent all the people of my district by protecting their rights. Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters; screengrab via Twitter The president is violating our constitutional system, said Amash on Sunday. He didnt directly address whether he believes the border situation amounts to a crisis, but said Trump shouldnt be making that call unilaterally. Theres a fair debate that there are big problems on the border some people would call it a crisis but that has to go through Congress, said Amash. The president doesnt get to decide that he can override Congress simply because Congress doesnt do what he wants. If there were an emergency in the sense that the president is describing, there would be a lot more consensus, continued Amash. When a house is on fire, nobodys debating whether they should go in to save people or whether they should put out the fire. Everyone understands thats an emergency. He added: The fact that theres a debate going on here, theres not a consensus, indicates that its not an emergency in the sense that the president is describing, and he cant just go around Congress. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., followed by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leaving a closed-door strategy session in 2017. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Amash, a fifth-term representative from Grand Rapids, Mich., was one of 13 House Republicans in opposition to the national emergency, a resolution that now goes to the Senate, where the vote is expected to be close. If it does pass, Trump can veto the resolution, and an override is considered unlikely. Story continues Amash had another breakout moment this week when he questioned Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen at the House Oversight Committee hearing, where he, unlike most of the other Republicans on the panel, didnt use his time to attack the credibility of Cohen, a disbarred lawyer felon who had lied to Congress in earlier testimony. As Amash put it, instead of just yelling at him or trying to grandstand or make political statements, he asked a question that stumped Cohen: What is the truth that you know President Trump fears the most? Thats a tough question, sir, said Cohen. I dont have an answer for that one. Reflecting on his questioning, Amash told State of the Union host Jake Tapper that Cohen deserves the opportunity to be believed. Cohens testimony has kicked off renewed speculation about possible impeachment motions against Trump, but the head of the House Judiciary Committee said it was too soon to start the process. Impeachment is a long way down the road, Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said Sunday on ABCs This Week with George Stephanopoulos." We dont have the facts yet, but were going to initiate proper investigations. Tapper asked Amash about a possible challenge to Trump in 2020 on the Libertarian Party line. Amash said he hasnt ruled it out. Thats not on my radar right now, but I think it is important that we have someone in there whos representing a vision for America that is different from what these two parties are presenting. Everything has become, do you like President Trump or do you not like President Trump? continued Amash. We need to return to basic American principles... and try to move forward together rather than fighting each other all of the time. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By Stephen Farrell and Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Protesters waved black flags outside Benjamin Netanyahu's residence on Friday, sensing vulnerability in the Israeli prime minister weeks before an election where he will face looming corruption charges as well as a surging new rival. Netanyahu's aim of a fifth term on April 9 that would make him Israel's longest-serving premier were dealt a blow by the announcement on Thursday of his planned indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. A poll by the public broadcaster Kan gave his right-wing Likud party 29 of parliament's 120 seats, behind the 37 predicted for Blue and White, a centrist alliance led by charismatic ex-general Benny Gantz. The survey further indicated that center-left parties taken together would win 61 seats, potentially enough to form a government. Yuval Steinitz, a Likud cabinet minister, told Tel Aviv 102 FM radio he was "confident that Netanyahu will continue being able to contend with pressure of whatever kind". Former party leader Ariel Sharon won a 2003 election and went on to form a coalition government despite a graft scandal, Steinitz noted. But one of the opposition Labour party flag-wavers, Alon Visser, said: "It is a black day for the citizens of Israel. We are all ashamed of our prime minister and we are calling him with one big voice: Please resign from your office." Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting $264,000-worth of gifts from tycoons and dispensing favors in an attempt to secure positive coverage in a newspaper and on a website. He denies any wrongdoing, but could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of bribery. However, charges cannot be filed until Netanyahu has been given a chance to address a review hearing - which is unlikely to happen before the election. In the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, social worker Coral Kala, 24, said she had not been surprised by the indictment announcement: "I think everyone was expecting this to happen." But others echoed the position of Netanyahu, widely known as Bibi, that the political and media elites are against him. "I think that Bibi did a wonderful job," said Tzipi Amit, 44, from Petah Tikva. "All the news and reporters want to hurt him and they are not fair to him ... All of us are people, all of us make mistakes." (Writing by Dan Williams and Stephen Farrell; Additional reporting by Rahaf Ruby in Ramat Gan and Rami Amichay in Jerusalem; Editing by Kevin Liffey) The 17-year-old stabbed to death in a London park on Friday night has beennamed locally as Jodie Chesney The grandmother of a 17-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in an east London park has issued an emotional plea for the end of needless violence. Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in near St Neots Road, Romford on Friday night. Her devastated grandmother Debbie Chesney said too many young people were having their lives cut short by needless violence. She called for anyone with information about the attack on her youngest granddaughter to contact the police. Ms Chesney added: This was our youngest granddaughter. How have we come to this point where kids cant have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. We dont want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. Jodie Chesney was pronounced dead at the scene in an east London park Jodie Chesney was pronounced dead at the scene in an east London park. This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence. The teenager has not been formally identified but the Metropolitan Police said her next of kin have been informed. The death brings the number of homicides in London this year so far to 18. No arrested have been made in connection with Jodies death. On Tuesday, Che Morrison, 20, described by his family as a loving young man, was stabbed to death outside Ilford station in east London. In the latest incident, a mother-of-three who tried to help the teenage girl in the park was shocked by the amount of blood, her husband said. Paul Farenden, 54, said his 49-year-old wife Teresa had rushed to the scene near their home to see if she could help after she heard screaming. He added: My wife asked if everything was alright and one of the boys said no, my girlfriend has been stabbed. She put her in the recovery position and waited for the ambulance to turn up. I think she tried to resuscitate her. She thought it was all over then and it would be alright. Jodie Chesney was pronounced dead at the scene in an east London park. But Mr Farenden said they later heard the teenager had died. He said of his wife: She is dealing with it better than she was last night. She was shocked with the amount of blood there. Story continues Normally you do not see anything like this in the park. Hopefully they will get someone for it. This just should not happen. Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, of the East Area Command Unit, said: I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girls family and friends. Her death is a tragedy. I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible. Neighbours said young people often hang out in the park, and if they are too loud they are usually moved on without any trouble. Hairdresser Ellie Best, 17, said she and her family had moved to the area for the good strong community life in Harold Hill. A shocked Ms Best said: No-one should have to get a call to say that their child has been killed. It is becoming more and more like central London here. Children did not fight or anything and you did not hear of people being mugged. There has never been knife crime here before it is just in the last six or seven months. I worry for the younger youths. Police need to talk to them about the dangers of carrying knives because the message is not getting through. A small group of people cried and hugged each other after leaving flowers at the cordon with the message: We love you forever in our hearts. Another message attached to a floral tribute said: You are so strong. We will always remember you. The park, which has a playground at its centre and is known locally as Amys Park, has been cordoned off with police tape and is being guarded by officers for the forensic investigation. Councillor Paul McGeary, who represents the Gooshays ward where the incident occurred, arrived with fellow councillor Tele Lawal to lay flowers at the scene. Mr McGeary spoke of his shock and horror that the killing had happened in the semi-rural outer London borough. He said: This is not something that happens here and I am just completely surprised. He could not say if the death was gang-related, but described it as tragic. Ms Lawal said the park, which she herself used to play in, was not an area where you will frequently see violence like this. The 22-year-old added: It is going to shock our community but it just shows the strain that is happening with young people, with our police and the resources we need in our community to tackle violence like this. Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 020 8345 3775, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece says a two-notch upgrade of its debt rating by Moody's Investors Service is a sign of renewed investor confidence in the country's economy. The finance ministry said in a statement Saturday that "reforms have started to produce results and the successive upgrades of the Greek economy show its steady upward trajectory and the regaining of investor confidence." Moody's upgraded Greece's debt from B3 to B1 Friday. This is still four levels below investment grade; Greece's Treasury bonds are still considered "high-yield" ones or, less charitably, junk. Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's opposition leader called for mass protests across the country on Monday as he announced his return to the country after a week touring Latin American allies. "I'm announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT)," Guaido said on Twitter. Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president, gave no details of when or how he would return. He asked supporters to pay close attention for messages of where the demonstrations would take place on Monday. "Let's go Venezuela," he said. Defying a travel ban by President Nicolas Maduro, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia last week to try to bring in the aid and to meet with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence. The 35-year-old political newcomer continued on to Brazil, where he met the new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday traveled to Paraguay and Argentina. He has spent the weekend in Ecuador. Guaido stunned the world on January 23, proclaiming himself Venezuela's acting president after the National Assembly he leads declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May re-election which was widely criticized as fraudulent. Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. Maduro -- who retains the support of Venezuela's powerful military -- enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro's regime. The socialist president warned last week that Guaido should "respect the law" and would have to "face justice" if he returns to the country. Guaido said last week he intended to return to Venezuela "despite threats" to arrest him. The US and other allies have expressed concern for his safety. Caracas (AFP) - Opposition supporters in Venezuela were set to take to the streets Monday after leader Juan Guaido called for mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro -- as the self-declared interim president prepared to return after a week touring Latin American allies. Guaido's reappearance in Venezuela would pose an immediate challenge to the embattled Maduro, who will have to decide whether to arrest him for defying a travel ban -- thereby provoking strong international condemnation -- or allow him to enter unmolested, which would undermine his authority, analyst say. "I'm announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT)," Guaido wrote Sunday on Twitter. Later, in a video with his wife shared on his social networks, he said if Maduro's government "tries to kidnap us ... it will be one of the last mistakes it makes." Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's interim president, did not say how or when he would return, though speculation is rife that a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota to Caracas is the most likely route. However, it is possible that he plans to slip across the border with Colombia in the same way he left Venezuela, claiming on that occasion that he had help from Maduro's military. Guaido held talks in Salinas -- a coastal resort town west of Guayaquil -- on Saturday with President Lenin Moreno, and met with Venezuelan refugees. On Sunday around noon he flew out of Salinas without revealing his destination. - 'Must return to Venezuela' - Defying a Venezuelan government travel ban, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia on February 23 in an attempt to escort in truckloads of international humanitarian aid. While in Colombia he met with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence. The 35-year-old political newcomer then traveled to Brazil, where he met the country's new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday traveled to Paraguay and Argentina. Story continues In a poke at Maduro during his trip, he said he was invited to visit Chile later this month. Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, stunned the world on January 23 when he proclaimed himself Venezuela's acting president after the legislature declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May 2017 re-election, which was widely criticized as fraudulent. Maduro's new term in office began on January 10. Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. Guaido "must return to Venezuela and continue to press internally, as the international support is enormous," Eufracio Infante, 64, a Venezuelan lawyer and history teacher, told AFP. "We are facing a very delicate situation and every minute we are approaching an outcome we hope will not be catastrophic," he said. Maduro -- who retains the support of Venezuela's powerful military -- enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro's regime. The socialist president warned last week that Guaido should "respect the law" and would have to "face justice" if he returns to the country. Guaido said last week he intended to return to Venezuela "despite threats" to arrest him. The United States and other allies have expressed concern for his safety. "The challenge has gone very far," political analyst Luis Salamanca told AFP. "If he comes in and they stop him, it will generate strong internal reaction as well as internationally. Maduro is at permanent risk." European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned on Saturday that any measure that would put at risk Guaido's "freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions and meet the firm condemnation of international community." "Guaido has grown so much politically that they haven't been able to touch him, in the traditional ways ... which is to put him in prison or force him to flee the country, harass him," said Salamanca. Separately, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera sharply criticized UN rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet -- Chile's president 2006-2010 and 2014-2018 -- on Sunday for failing to condemn Maduro for human rights violations. Pinera, a Chilean billionaire elected president for the second time in 2017, is a key supporter of Guaido, and joined the Venezuelan opposition leader in Cucuta, Colombia last weekend in a failed attempt to send international humanitarian aid into Venezuela. Pinera said in an interview published in the El Mercurio newspaper that Bachelet's predecessor at the UN, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein of Jordan, "was much clearer, more categorical in condemning human rights abuses." Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the Trump Organization's chief financial officer. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler on Sunday stepped up his rhetoric about potential criminal wrongdoing by President Donald Trump and said he plans to request documents from more than 60 people linked to the president. Nadler, D-N.Y., said during an interview on ABC's "This Week" that congressional Republicans "spent two years shielding the president from any proper accountability." "Its our job to protect the rule of law. Thats our core function. And to do that we are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption and into obstruction of justice," Nadler said. On Monday the House Judiciary Committee plans to issue document requests from over 60 people connected to the White House and the Trump Organization, he said. Among those individuals are the president's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer for the Trump Organization. Nadler expected that the full list of names would be made public on Monday. "Its very clear that the president obstructed justice," Nadler said, citing Trump's frequent attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller; his alleged request that the FBI go easy on former national security adviser Michael Flynn; and his admission that one reason he fired FBI director James Comey was to stop "the Russian thing." "The White House seems to have used its power for personal enrichment in violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution," Nadler said. If the reports are true that Trump ordered his son-in-law Jared Kushner to be given a top-secret security clearance over the objections of the White House counsel and his intelligence advisers, that would constitute another abuse of power, he said. But the congressman cautioned that "impeachment is a long way down the road." Story continues "We dont have the facts yet, but were going to initiate proper investigations," he said. "Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen." Nadler said that crimes and impeachable offenses are "two different things." Robert Mueller investigation: Key players in 2016 election probe In response to Nadler's comments, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. R-Calif., said Sunday on "This Week" that he believes "Congressman Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election." McCarthy said "there's nothing that the president did wrong," and he accused Nadler of starting fresh investigations because he does not believe Mueller will conclude there was collusion between Russians and the Trump campaign. On Sunday, Trump tweeted, "After more than two years of Presidential Harassment, the only things that have been proven is that Democrats and other broke the law." He did not elaborate on what crimes he believes Democrats had committed. "I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election! Despite this, great success!" the president said. After more than two years of Presidential Harassment, the only things that have been proven is that Democrats and other broke the law. The hostile Cohen testimony, given by a liar to reduce his prison time, proved no Collusion! His just written book manuscript showed what he..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2019 ...said was a total lie, but Fake Media wont show it. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election! Despite this, great success! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2019 Trump also repeated an argument he first made last week that testimony from his former attorney Michael Cohen before the House Oversight and Reform Committee was contradicted by a book manuscript he had written before the FBI raided his home, hotel room and offices in April 2018. In his testimony, Cohen called Trump a "racist" a "liar" and a "cheat." But the manuscript for the book, which was to be called "Trump Revolution: From the Tower to the White House, Understanding Donald J. Trump," painted a largely flattering portrayal of Trump, according to multiple published reports. Trump's 'love letter' book claim: The latest attack on Michael Cohen after testimony Cohen's testimony prompts new question: In web of Trump investigations, is anyone safe? When asked about Cohen's testimony, Nadler said Trump's former fixer "directly implicated" the president in "various crimes." He said the "major one" was the campaign finance violation Cohen pleaded guilty to that involved paying an adult film star weeks ahead of the 2016 election to remain silent about an alleged past affair with Trump. Cohen claims the president directed him to make the payment. "Seeking to sabotage a fair election would be an impeachable offense," Nadler said Sunday. McCarthy said the payment was a "personal issue." "If its a finance campaign, those are fines," McCarthy said, despite the fact that the violation to which Cohen pleaded guilty was a felony. "Those arent impeachable." McCarthy also pushed back at the notion that Trump's granting of a security clearance to Kushner was an abuse of power. "The president has the legal authority to do it," McCarthy said. During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Cohen had a "checkered past" and "an ax to grind." Kennedy said that he would rely on Mueller's conclusions regarding any potentially illegal acts by the president. 'Shameful': Donald Trump slams Michael Cohen testimony, accuses him of lying More: Michael Cohen testimony's biggest bombshells Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also took a wait-and-see approach Sunday on "State of the Union," although he said that he believes there is "lots of evidence" that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election. The Virginia Democrat cited Cohen's testimony that Trump deceived the public during the campaign about his efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow; that Roger Stone told him in advance about WikiLeaks publication of stolen emails; and that Trump knew about Trump Jr.'s meeting with Russians offering "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. "Anyone that says there's no evidence of collaboration, there's plenty of evidence," Warner said. "The question is, what kind of full conclusion do we reach? And I'm going to reserve my judgment on that conclusion until we finish our investigation." The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said on "This Week" that Democrats also plan to investigate "allegations that the Russians have been laundering money through the Trump Organization." If true, Schiff said that would constitute "a profound compromise of this president." But Schiff also planned to wait on the Mueller report. "While there is abundant evidence of collusion, the issue from a criminal point of view is whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a criminal conspiracy. And that is something that we will have to await Bob Muellers report and the underlying evidence to determine," he said. More: Robert Mueller has spent two years investigating Trump, and he hasn't said a word. It's possible he never will. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler says it's 'clear' Trump obstructed justice, plans 'abuse of power' probe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic-led congressional panel on Friday demanded that the White House comply with requests for documents and witnesses for a probe into alleged security clearance abuses involving President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and others. After weeks of White House stonewalling, House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, in a letter to the White House, said "I am now writing a final time to request your voluntary cooperation." Cummings panel has subpoena power. Cummings highlighted in his letter a New York Times story that said Trump ordered his former chief of staff John Kelly to provide Kushner with clearance over objections from Kelly and Donald McGahn, then White House counsel. The Times said Kelly and McGahn both wrote memos about the incident and that McGahn outlined concerns raised about Kushner by career security officials, including CIA officers. "If true, these new reports raise grave questions about what derogatory information career officials obtained about Mr. Kushner to recommend denying him access to our nation's most sensitive secrets," Cummings wrote to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone in the March 1 letter, which appeared to set the stage for his committee to subpoena the material. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Oversight Committee launched its investigation on Jan 23. Cummings said he and his staff have since written and spoken to White House officials multiple times about obtaining documents and witnesses, but to no avail. Kushner's temporary clearance was suspended by Kelly in February 2018, along with other officials operating under temporary clearances, as part of measures to tighten procedures after White House staff secretary Rob Porter was fired when his two ex-wives raised charges of domestic abuse. Cummings said he has provided the White House with detailed descriptions of security clearance abuses by at least nine high-level White House officials including Kushner and current and former national security advisers. Story continues The House Democrat's letter included a transcript from a Jan. 31 Times interview with Trump, in which the president denied ordering Kelly to overrule security officials and provide clearances for Kushner. Trump said he did not think he had the authority to overrule security officials on clearance matters, according to the letter. But White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told an NBC interviewer on Friday that Trump has said he has "absolute authority" to order security clearances. Cummings gave the White House until Monday to respond to his latest demands. His panel's probe is part of a wide-ranging effort by House of Representatives Democrats, launched since they took majority control of the chamber in January, to investigate Trump, his presidency and his business interests. (Reporting by David Morgan and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and James Dalgleish) Montreal (AFP) - Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, has filed suit against Canadian authorities for violating her constitutional rights when she was arrested in Vancouver, her lawyers said Sunday. As she suffered "serious breaches of her constitutional rights," she is "seeking damages for misfeasance in public office and false imprisonment" when detained at Vancouver International Airport on December 1, attorneys Howard Mickelson and Allan Doolittle said in a statement. The 47-year-old businesswoman was changing planes in Vancouver when she was detained at Washington's request on suspicion of violating US sanctions on Iran -- sparking arrests of Canadians in China that were seen as retaliatory. Her lawyers charge impropriety in the conditions under which Meng was interrogated for three hours by the customs officers, officially as part of a routine inspection, before being served with her official arrest. During those three hours, the customs officers searched her phones and computers as well as her luggage, in violation of her rights, the lawyers said. The complaint was lodged Friday, the same day that Canadian justice officially launched Meng Wanzhou's extradition process to the United States. The US Justice Department accuses Huawei and its chief financial officer of circumventing US sanctions against Iran, but also, via two affiliates, stealing trade secrets from US telecommunications group T-Mobile. The daughter of Huawei's founder, Meng was released on parole in mid-December in Vancouver, where she owns two residences, on a bond deposit of C$10 million ($6.6 million), wearing an electronic bracelet and handing over her passports. She is scheduled to appear before a Vancouver judge next Wednesday "to confirm that a writ of court has been issued and to schedule a date for the extradition hearing," the Canadian court has explained. The extradition procedure can take months or even years because of the many appeal possibilities. China is furious over the US charges against Meng, saying they are the product of "strong political motivations" and an attempt to undermine its flagship telecoms company. Huawei has strenuously denied any wrongdoing. By Fayaz Bukhari and Abu Arqam Naqash SRINAGAR, India/MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - As India and Pakistan seemingly dial down hostilities that brought the arch enemies to the brink of another war, a massive crackdown on militancy in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region is killing both militants and security personnel in big numbers. At the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the nuclear-armed neighbors, there was relative calm in the past 24 hours, their armies said on Sunday. The exchange of fire in the past few days has killed seven people on the Pakistani side and four on the Indian side, though the release of a downed Indian fighter pilot by Pakistan on Friday night has helped de-escalate tensions. "By and large the LoC was calm last night but you never know when it will become active again," said Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, a minister in Pakistani Kashmir. "Tension still prevails." Indian warplanes carried out air strikes on Tuesday inside northeast Pakistan's Balakot on what New Delhi called militant camps. Islamabad denied any such camps existed, as did some villagers in the area when Reuters visited. Nevertheless, Pakistan retaliated on Wednesday with its own aerial mission in a show of force. The countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. In Indian-ruled Kashmir, troops on Sunday shot dead two militants after a three-day gun battle that also killed five security force personnel, taking the total death toll to 25 in the past two weeks. The fresh anti-militancy drive was launched after a Kashmiri suicide bomber, a member of a Pakistan-based militant group, killed 40 Indian paramilitary police on Feb. 14. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also come down hard on separatist groups operating in Kashmir, including by banning the Jamaat-e-Islami party, two of whose clerics were detained in raids on Saturday night. On Sunday residents observed a shutdown in South Kashmir's Tral area against the detentions. Shops were closed and traffic was off the roads in the area, and a protest march took place. Indian authorities have arrested more than 300 Jamaat leaders and activists in the past two weeks, accusing the group of supporting attempts to "carve out an Islamic State out of India" by destabilizing the government. Amit Shah, the president of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party that faces a general election by May, told an election rally that the government has made it clear to the separatists that "if they want to live in India, they will have to speak the language of India, not Pakistan's". The government, however, has come under pressure from the opposition to share proof that "a very large number" of militants were killed in air strikes inside Pakistan this week, after doubts were raised there were any casualties in the attack. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, one of Modi's top lieutenants, said on Saturday "no security agencies ever share operational details" and dismissed suggestions that the escalation in tensions with Pakistan had anything to do with domestic politics ahead of the election. Pollsters expect the ruling party to benefit from the nationalistic passion sweeping the country. (Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari in SRINAGAR, Abu Arqam Naqash in MUZAFFARABAD; Additional reporting by Drazen Jorgic and Saad Sayeed in ISLAMABAD; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in HC Group Inc. (HKG:2280). What Is Insider Buying? Its quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. 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. As Peter Lynch said, insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise. See our latest analysis for HC Group HC Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman & Compliance Officer Jun Liu for HK$9.5m worth of shares, at about HK$31.57 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the companys future. That purchase may suggest an expectation of positive returns over the long term. Jun Liu was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. Jun Liu bought 3.70m shares over the last 12 months at an average price of HK$7.17. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! SEHK:2280 Recent Insider Trading, March 3rd 2019 HC Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Story continues Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. HC Group insiders own 29% of the company, currently worth about HK$1.6b based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At HC Group Tell Us? The recent insider purchase is heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about HC Group. Thats what I like to see! If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. If you would prefer to check out another company one with potentially superior financials then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. If you are interested in cashing in on Desane Group Holdings Limiteds (ASX:DGH) upcoming dividend of AU$0.022 per share, you only have 4 days left to buy the shares before its ex-dividend date, 07 March 2019, in time for dividends payable on the 29 March 2019. Investors looking for higher income-generating stocks to add to their portfolio should keep reading, as I examine Desane Group Holdingss latest financial data to analyse its dividend characteristics. Check out our latest analysis for Desane Group Holdings 5 checks you should use to assess a dividend stock If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is it the top 25% annual dividend yield payer? Has its dividend been stable over the past (i.e. no missed payments or significant payout cuts)? Has dividend per share amount increased over the past? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate? ASX:DGH Historical Dividend Yield, March 2nd 2019 Does Desane Group Holdings pass our checks? The company currently pays out 6.4% of its earnings as a dividend, according to its trailing twelve-month data, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Furthermore, analysts have not forecasted a dividends per share for the future, which makes it hard to determine the yield shareholders should expect, and whether the current payout is sustainable, moving forward. If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio, you may wish to consider the cash flow of the business. Cash flow is important because companies with strong cash flow can usually sustain higher payout ratios. If there is one thing that you want to be reliable in your life, its dividend stocks and their constant income stream. Although DGHs per share payments have increased in the past 10 years, it has not been a completely smooth ride. Shareholders would have seen a few years of reduced payments in this time. Story continues In terms of its peers, Desane Group Holdings generates a yield of 3.3%, which is on the low-side for Real Estate stocks. Next Steps: If you are building an income portfolio, then Desane Group Holdings is a complicated choice since it has some positive aspects as well as negative ones. However, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still offer some interesting investment opportunities. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the companys fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. Below, Ive compiled three important aspects you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for DGHs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for DGHs outlook. Historical Performance: What has DGHs returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The collapse in the price of cryptoassets makes it a more interesting time to consider gaining exposure to this space, including investments in the underlying blockchain technology, according to investment firm Cambridge Associates. It says for institutional investors that already have exposure to cryptoassets it is on average approximately 20-30 basis points of assets under management. The companys research states that any allocation to cryptoassets should be kept to a maximum of 1% of a portfolio. Exceeding this allocation would not be prudent, even for those comfortable with assuming the high risks involved. Marcos Veremis, Managing Director at Cambridge Associates, says: Investing in cryptoassets remains controversial, and we are extremely selective and cautious in this space. However, the attitude of many institutional investors in this space is not dissimilar to that of venture capital investors in early internet companies in the 1990s. Early stage venture investing implies that the vast majority of companies and projects in this space could, and probably will fail. Institutions know they are investing on the basis that they may see many of their portfolio companies produce no returns, but with outsized returns from one or two of them. Though investments entail a high degree of risk, some may upend the digital world. Venture-style due diligence and technical expertise may provide a better understanding of cryptoasset investments and their long-term return potential. Although the space is nascent and at the infrastructure stage, the presence of cryptoassets implies that a lot or some of the potential value could be captured at the protocol level. It is too early to discuss the applications built on top of value protocols at this time. We have observed the influx of real talent into this space, thats what makes it interesting to us. Talented individuals tend to deliver in the long-term, Veremis concludes. The post Investors should take a punt on controversial crypto assets, Cambridge Associates appeared first on Coin Rivet. The big shareholder groups in Goodbaby International Holdings Limited (HKG:1086) have power over the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership. Goodbaby International Holdings is a smaller company with a market capitalization of HK$4.8b, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions own shares in the company. Lets take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about 1086. See our latest analysis for Goodbaby International Holdings SEHK:1086 Ownership Summary, March 3rd 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Goodbaby International Holdings? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once its included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors own 35% of Goodbaby International Holdings. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we cant rely on that fact alone, since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. Its therefore worth looking at Goodbaby International Holdingss earnings history, below. Of course, the future is what really matters. SEHK:1086 Income Statement, March 3rd 2019 Goodbaby International Holdings is not owned by hedge funds. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Goodbaby International Holdings The definition of company insiders can be subjective, and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Story continues I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. I can report that insiders do own shares in Goodbaby International Holdings Limited. As individuals, the insiders collectively own HK$216m worth of the HK$4.8b company. This shows at least some alignment. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 14% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over 1086. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 46%, of the shares on issue. Its hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow, for free . If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Paris (AFP) - Thousands of people marched in Paris and other French cities Sunday to protest Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to stand for a fifth term in office. The demonstrations coincide with large-scale rallies in Algeria to denounce the ailing president's bid to hang on to power. Bouteflika, 82, uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. He flew to Switzerland a week ago for what his office described as "routine medical checks". Organisers said 10,000 demonstrators from Algeria's large diaspora gathered in the Place de la Republique, in central Paris. Police put the numbers at 6,000. Many waved their national flag or wore it over their shoulders, shouting, "out, out", an AFP journalist at the scene witnessed. Organisers said about 1,000 turned out in the Mediterranean port of Marseille in the south, and a few hundred in the southwest city of Toulouse. Although Bouteflika has been increasingly frail since suffering a stroke in 2013, he was re-elected for his fourth term in 2014. Elections for a new president are due to take place on April 18. "No to the mandate of shame, 20 years is enough," proclaimed one placard in Paris, referring to Bouteflika's intention to stand in the April 18 elections after 20 years in power. Since gaining independence from France in 1962, "Algeria has been run by the same group of men, the same system," 62-year-old Abderrahmane Hamirouche told AFP. "Algeria is ruined while it's a country that potentially could be rich. What is there left for future generations?" the IT specialist asked. Nadia Tamzali, a 62-year-old Franco-Algerian doctor, criticised the country's lack of free speech and dominance by the military. "They have killed our culture -- nearly all the cinemas have disappeared," she said. "We want the 40 thieves to go. They have gone too far," said a 54-year-old Algerian who gave his name as Asri. "We aren't opposed to the president, but he is unconscious, he doesn't exist anymore, his generals and those close to him are doing what they will behind his back," said Asri, who has lived in France for 31 years. Algeria, a former French colony, won independence in 1962. Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said Sunday, five years on from the plane's disappearance. The Malaysia Airlines jet vanished in March 2014 with 239 people -- mostly from China -- on board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of it was found in a 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) Indian Ocean search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017. US exploration firm Ocean Infinity mounted a fresh hunt on a "no find, no fee basis" last year for several months, using hi-tech drones to scour the seabed, but did not locate the plane. Hundreds of people, including some of the relatives of those onboard, gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall Sunday to mark the anniversary of the jet's disappearance. Only a few fragments of MH370 have been found, all of them on western Indian Ocean shores. Two of those pieces were put on display Sunday for the first time at the memorial. There is no new search planned, but Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the event that the government was open to hearing proposals to resume the hunt. "If there are any credible leads and any specific proposals, especially from Ocean Infinity, we are more than willing to look at it," he said. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a crew member on the flight, said there was "no closure until the plane is found, until we exactly know what happened to the aircraft and our loved ones on board. "It gets tougher every year, because we are all expecting some answers." In a long-awaited final report into the tragedy released in July last year, the official investigation team pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually. But they failed to come up with any firm conclusions, leaving families of those onboard angry and disappointed. Lille (France) (AFP) - Dozens of migrants hoping to reach Britain scrambled aboard a cross-Channel ferry in northern France, sparking a 12-hour manhunt as police combed the ship to find them, officials said Sunday. Around 100 migrants broke into the dock area of the port of Calais late Saturday, and dozens managed to get onboard the ferry that had just arrived from the English port of Dover. A total of 63 migrants were detained, many of whom had tried to hide aboard the Danish-operated DFDS 'Calais Seaways', regional authorities said. On Sunday morning, firemen talked down the last group of about a dozen migrants who had climbed high above the deck to a catwalk attached to the ship's funnel. Prosecutors at nearby Boulogne said these people were still in custody. Twelve people were due to appear in court. Others were released with a warning because they were minors or for lack of evidence. The migrants managed to get aboard the ferry by using a maintenance ladder at high tide, senior regional official Jean-Philippe Vennin told AFP. "Two of the migrants fell into the sea and were quickly rescued by firemen," he added. Police offloaded vehicles arriving from Britain on the ferry before making a top-to-bottom search of the ship. Those detained were taken to Calais police headquarters, Vennin said. - An 'orchestrated operation' - Cross-Channel ferry traffic was delayed overnight with at least two forced to remain at sea before being allowed into port. The 'Calais Seaways' was itself moved overnight so the harbour could resume operations. To reach the port area, "the migrants crossed a pedestrian gangway normally used by employees and I am convinced the place had been cased and that last night's operation was orchestrated by people smugglers," harbour master Jean-Marc Puissesseau told reporters after the police search ended. "It's not normal to have 100 migrants break into a secure area such as a harbour. There must be a failure somewhere," local mayor Natacha Bouchart said, before blaming police force cutbacks. Story continues "We must reinforce our police forces on the eve of Brexit which people smugglers exploit in a bid to promote their trafficking," regional president Xavier Bertrand said on Twitter. Herve Krych, a lawyer for four of the migrants in custody, said his clients were alright overall. "I'm delighted that this ended with so few injuries and human damage given the exceptional and dangerous circumstances that we saw that night. For the moment, it was not clear to what extent it had been organised or just a spontaneous action, he added. - Seeking new routes - Sunday's incident was unusual by its scale, and this despite introduction of costly security features around the port including barb wire, grill-fencing and additional surveillance cameras. Despite the best efforts of the authorities migrants, many from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, and smugglers have diversified ways of trying to cross the Channel. Many still hide in trucks headed to the ports, but more recently others have attempted to cross the Channel aboard small vessels and lifeboats stolen from local harbours or acquired by traffickers. On Friday, a French court jailed two Iraqis and an Iranian for organising illegal migrant boat trips to Britain. A 30-year-old Iranian, considered the group leader, received an 18-month sentence, while his two accomplices, aged 39 and 32, were each jailed for a year. Some 500 people attempted to cross the Channel last year -- most of them in November and December, compared with just 13 such known attempts in 2017. French interior ministry figures showed that 276 people successfully reached British waters. In December, London dispatched a Royal Navy cutter to help coastguard vessels survey the 21 miles (33 kilometres) of sea that separates France and Britain at its narrowest point. A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer has reappeared two days after going missing following his release from a jail sentence for state subversion, his wife said Sunday. Jiang Tianyong -- who took on high-profile cases including those of Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan protesters -- was one of more than 200 lawyers and activists detained in a 2015 clampdown on courtroom critics of Communist authorities. The 47-year-old had disappeared Thursday after completing his two-year jail sentence, before he finally reappeared in his hometown of Xinyang, Henan province, said his US-based wife. Supporters had said police outside the jail he was released from told them he had been "taken away" but did not specify by whom. "After not seeing each other for six years, we were finally able to talk and video chat," Jin Bianling told AFP. But even though Jiang has been released from jail, "he is still not free", she added. "He is living at his parents' home now, but there are police stationed outside. Wherever he goes, the police follow him," said Jin. "I am also worried that he could disappear at any time, so I hope he can come to the US as soon as possible to reunite with us." It is not uncommon for human rights activists and dissidents in China to remain under surveillance or face ongoing restrictions after they serve their prison sentences. Hu Jia, a Beijing-based activist who served a three-year jail sentence in 2008, says he has been under intermittent house arrest since 2004. The disappearance of Jiang, who was charged with "inciting subversion" in 2017, also comes as China continues to clamp down on human rights activists and lawyers in the country. In January, Wang Quanzhang, another well-known Chinese lawyer swept up in the 2015 crackdown, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for "subverting state power". Wang, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, was part of a now defunct law firm called Beijing Fengrui. The law firm, which specialised in cases involving farmers' land rights, labour camps and criminal rights saw at least five lawyers detained in 2015. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Sunday the vandalism of a memorial marking the site of Strasbourg's Old Synagogue, a place of worship destroyed by the Nazis in World War II. "A monument to a synagogue that was burned by the Nazis was vandalised" in the eastern French city, he said at the start of a cabinet meeting. The vandalism of the memorial stone is "another shocking anti-Semitic incident", Netanyahu said, after graves in a Jewish cemetery were discovered to have been daubed with swastikas in the nearby village of Quatzenheim on February 19. The large black marble slab was knocked off its plinth overnight Friday to Saturday. "I strongly condemn all manifestations of anti-Semitism, and I call upon all leaders of enlightened countries to join in the systematic and continuous denunciation of anti-Semitism," Netanyahu said. A surge in anti-Semitic acts and hate speech has sparked concern in France. Warri (Nigeria) (AFP) - A major Nigerian oil pipeline has exploded, local police said Sunday, forcing nearby residents to flee and raising suspicions of possible sabotage. The Nembe Creek Trunk pipeline runs from an oil terminal in Bonny to the state of Bayelsa with capacity of 150,000 barrels per day. The explosion happened on Friday. "We have not been officially briefed on the incident, but it occurred," Bayelsa State Police spokesman Asinim Butswat told AFP. "No lives were lost as a result of the explosion and we can't confirm if it was an attack by militants or an equipment failure unless the people managing the facility go there" to determine the cause, he said. OPEC member Nigeria is Africa's biggest producer of crude oil. Ndiana-Abasi Mathew, a public relations official for Aiteo, the company that manages the pipeline, confirmed the incident in a text message on Saturday. "There is no official statement at the moment but I can gladly inform you that the fire has been contained and no lives were lost," Mathew said. Oyinkro Jasper, a local chief from Kalablomi, one of the affected communities, said the blast forced hundreds of residents to flee as it caused "a huge inferno" along the pipeline, which ran through six communities. Nigerian pipelines are prone to accidents and are sometimes pierced by people who refine the oil themselves to sell on the informal market. The explosion could also be the result of a criminal act after the re-election of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. During his first mandate, a group called The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) had claimed several attacks on oil infrastructure. In February, the NDA warned that "strike teams are active and gallantly waiting to receive instructions from the high command to cripple the Nigerian economy again" if Buhari won the election. WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises. "North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don't have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong." According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two "made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the Pentagon said. South Korea's military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning to visit the United States in the coming week to meet U.S. officials to discuss the second U.S.-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the U.S. and South Korea had agreed to "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." U.S. officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. South Korea's joint Chiefs of Staff and South Korea-United States Combined Forces Command said on Sunday that the two countries will conduct a military exercise from March 4 to 12. The exercise,Dong Maeng, which means Alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula. "Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States, and United Nations Sending State Partners," said the ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-Ki and the CFC Commander, Gen. Robert B. Abe Abrams in a statement. "It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance," the statement added. In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier's death. Trump said he was trying to maintain "a delicate balance" to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kim's leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier's treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the U.S. mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster like." (Reporting by Steve Holland, Idrees Ali, David Shepardson and Katanga Johnson in Washington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by David Gregorio) Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un shake hands in Hanoi, Vietnam, during a two-day summit - Host Broadcast North Korean state media brushed over the failure to reach a deal in its coverage of the Vietnam summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, indicating that hope remains for progress in future negotiations. The headline on the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the country's official newspaper, made no mention of the collapse in talks and the lack of agreement, instead proclaiming how well the summit had gone. The newspaper referred to the "constructive and candid exchange" that the US and North Korean leaders had during their two days of meetings in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital. The positive write-up was noted by US officials, who took heart from the fact that North Korea appeared to be playing down the rift rather than returning to the bellicose rhetoric common before the recent thawing in relations. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State who had been by Mr Trump's side for much of the talks, said he was "anxious" to return to the negotiating table in a conversation with reporters during a trip to the Philippines. "These are global demands for the denuclearisation of North Korea and we are anxious to get back to the table so we can continue the conversation that will ultimately lead to peace and stability and a better life for the North Korean people and a lower threat, a denuclearised North Korea," Mr Pompeo said. In a separate interview, he reiterated US demands of North Korea: "We need to make sure that we get what Chairman Kim committed the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." After briefings from US officials and, in a rare move, the North Korean delegation over the last 24 hours a clearer picture has emerged about why the talks hit an impasse in Hanoi. Kim and his aides demanded the lifting of all economic sanctions placed on the country since March 2016 and offered in turn to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear complex, a senior US administration official said. Story continues Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump stroll through the gardens of the Metropole hotel in Vietnam Credit: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP That position was rejected by Mr Trump and his team, who have always insisted that sanctions will only be lifted after North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons as well as its means of producing and distributing them. The North Korean delegation argued that because they had stopped nuclear and missile testing, the sanctions which Mr Trump imposed over those tests - starting in March 2016, just a few months into his presidency - should be lifted. Those sanctions, adopted as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign designed to force Pyongyang to the negotiating table, targeted the North Korean economy rather than subjects directly linked to its weapons programme. The US team refused the proposal because it would have in effect provided a major boost to the North Korean economy while Pyongyang continued to hold stockpiles of nuclear weapons and develop nuclear material. "To give many, many billions of dollars in sanctions relief would in effect put us in a position of subsidising the ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea," a senior US administration official said. There were other complications too. Kim and his aides were reluctant to define what they meant by the Yongbyon complex, which is a sprawling, three-square-mile site with more than 300 separate facilities within it. Removing the 2016 sanctions is also not something America could do unilaterally, given they were implemented by the United Nations, with China among countries supporting their imposition at the time. Mr Trump gave an interview to Fox News before flying out of Hanoi which was broadcast on Thursday evening and gave a further insight into his thinking. The US president called Kim a "mercurial" character, saying: "Hes a different kind of a guy, and I just said, look, this isnt going to be working". But he added: "I have feeling something down the line will happen. And it'll happen, it'll be good." Donald Trump at his press conference in Hanoi after talks broke down without a deal Credit: AP Photo/ Evan Vucci After Mr Trump departed Hanoi on Thursday, Kim began an official two-day bilateral visit to Vietnam, some 60 years after Kim Il Sung, his grandfather, first travelled to the Communist-ruled country. Kims motorcade left the Melia hotel on Friday afternoon to meet with Nguyen Phu Trong, the Vietnamese president and general secretary of the Communist party, and was later greeted by Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the prime minister. The Vietnamese will throw a state banquet in his honour in central Hanoi on Friday evening and Kim will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnams founding president, on Saturday before departing for the return journey to Pyongyang by train. After failing to forge a deal with Mr Trump which could have boosted his countrys economy, Kims bilateral visit is likely to be used as a face-saving measure, with scenes of red-carpet treatment and military guards of honour projecting a statesman-like image. The collapse in talks forced Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, to make alterations to a major speech on Friday outlining his hopes for peace on the Korean peninsula in the next 100 years. "The new Korean peninsula regime is a new community of economic cooperation that will be formed after the era of ideology and factionalism is put behind us," Mr Moon said in the address. He has been a key figure pushing forward denuclearisation talks and hopes progress will help his party's chances at next year's parliamentary elections. A song called "Our Wish is Unification," popular in both of the Koreas, played in the background as Mr Moon spoke. ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan plans to lodge a complaint against India at the United Nations, accusing it of "eco-terrorism" over air strikes that damaged pine trees and brought the nuclear-armed nations to blows, a government minister said on Friday. India and Pakistan are amidst their biggest stand-off in many years, with the United States and other global powers mediating to de-escalate tensions between arch-foes who have fought three wars since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Indian warplanes on Tuesday bombed a hilly forest area near the northern Pakistani town of Balakot, about 40 km (25 miles) from India's border in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. New Delhi said it had destroyed a militant training camp and killed hundreds of "terrorists". Pakistan denied there were any such camps in the area and locals said only one elderly villager was hurt. Climate Change Minister Malik Amin Aslam said Indian jets bombed a "forest reserve" and the government was undertaking an environmental impact assessment, which will be the basis a complaint at the United Nations and other forums. "What happened over there is environmental terrorism," Aslam told Reuters, adding that dozens of pine trees had been felled. "There has been serious environmental damage." Two Reuters reporters who visited the site of the bombings, where four large craters could be seen, said up to 15 pine trees had been brought down by the blasts. Villagers dismissed Indian claims that hundreds of militants were killed. The United Nations states that "destruction of the environment, not justified by military necessity and carried out wantonly, is clearly contrary to existing international law", according to the U.N. General Assembly resolution 47/37. India and Pakistan are also engaged in a diplomatic tussle, with New Delhi vowing to isolate Pakistan over its alleged links to militant groups. Islamabad is currently putting pressure on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to uninvite India's foreign minister from their next meeting. (Reporting by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Nick Macfie) Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. PHOENIX Parents at an Arizona high school are upset after school administrators demanded their children remove clothing and accessories that touted President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" logo. Parents say some of the kids are now facing suspensions. The students at Perry High School in Gilbert, which is part of the Chandler Unified School District, had come to school wearing the pro-Trump gear Friday. The day had been designated a spirit day with a "Party in the USA" theme. A group of students showed up to school wearing red MAGA-themed hats and other clothing items. One student brought a Trump flag. The students had no trouble until the lunch hour, said Heidi Jones, a mother of one of those students. "I feel bad for these children. I don't agree with everything our president does or says, but I respect our country and I'll support these kids using their freedom of speech," she said. Administrators were walking around campus asking anyone they saw wearing the gear to remove it, Jones said. She said the the kids complied. 'The whole situation was weird' Just before 2:30 p.m., after school let out, the students gathered outside to take pictures wearing the gear and holding the flag, Jones said. The students noticed the school's police resource officer taking photos of them and others wearing MAGA gear without their permission, Jones said. When the officer asked her freshman daughter for her name, the girl refused to answer, questioning why he needed her name. "I thought the whole situation was weird. They're out of school, so why are you coming up to her?" Jones said. When the girl refused, the officer said she had been a part of a disruption all day, that no one was allowed to have a Trump flag, Jones said. She said he told her daughter to go to the office. There, administrators asked her what her name was again. She responded that she wasn't going to answer any questions until her mother arrived, Jones said. Story continues When Jones got to the school 10 minutes later, she found that the administration had suspended her daughter for 10 days. "She came here today to support America, which is what your Spirit Day is all about. And now that she has refused to give her name, you're suspending her after she's complied with everything else?" Jones said. More: Woman who knocked off man's MAGA hat now faces deportation Clothing considered 'offensive' Jennifer Farris, another mom with a student in the group, gave a similar account to The Arizona Republic, saying assistant principals were among those asking the students to remove the items. Farris also drove to the school after hearing her kids were being asked to remove the clothing. According to Farris, within four minutes of her walking into the office, she was told by school officials to leave and that she would not be allowed on campus again. "As soon as they realized I was protecting my daughter, they were immediately rude, dismissive and told me to get off the property," Farris said. Farris said she was told officials considered the clothing "offensive, and that the kids were being disrespectful by wearing it'' and could face sanctions if they didn't comply. Terry Locke, a school district spokesman, confirmed that one student was suspended but would not specify the reason other than that it was not related to the MAGA gear. "As you know, federal privacy prevents schools from discussing student discipline. One student was disciplined for a matter not related to wearing Trump attire," Locke said. He refused to comment further on any specific questions from The Arizona Republic regarding the incident. Moms want public apology Farris questioned whether the students faced a political backlash. "I think it's because the faculty didn't agree with the kids' message to support their president and they don't want them to express their feelings," Farris said. "My kids are expressing freedom of speech on USA Day. They're allowed to." Both moms have contacted the superintendent's office about the matter.. "I want a public apology from the school district and the administration for how they treated not only the parents but also the students. There's no reason these kids should've gotten in trouble at all," Farris said. Jones agreed, noting that to her, the situation wasn't politically charged. "They told me I was making this political and I told them this wasn't political at all. The fact is, if this was during a campaign situation, I would understand that her bringing this onto campus would be a distraction," Jones said. "However, this isn't political at all because he is already our president." It is unclear what, if any, other sanctions were handed out besides the 10-day suspension. More: Patriotic or racist? Trump's MAGA hats have become a hot-button issue According to the school's handbook: Students shall not wear clothing that display messages that are vulgar, offensive, obscene, or libelous; that demean others on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability; that promote alcohol or drug use or violence; or that are otherwise contrary to the schools educational mission. The school administration retains the final discretion to determine that the garment or accessory meets the dress code. Some exceptions may be made for uniforms, formal attire, and/or costumes. The handbook also lists specific types of clothing or accessories not allowed, but does not specify anything about political speech. It does, however, note that school administrators have the discretion to decide if something is inappropriate. The policy is the same at other district high schools. The handbook, which is posted on the school website, said students will be asked to remove anything inappropriate and replace it with an alternative or face "disciplinary action,'' which can range include warnings, detention, suspension, volunteer time or a parent conference. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Parents say students at Arizona school were told to remove MAGA gear, one was suspended By Alison Bevege SYDNEY (Reuters) - Firefighters battled 25 blazes across the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday as a record-breaking heatwave delivered the hottest start to March on record for the southern third of the country. The continent is prone to deadly blazes thanks to its combination of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and flammable eucalyptus bush. A severe four-day heatwave has brought fire weather across the southern parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania over the weekend. The south-eastern state of Victoria was the worst hit, with more than 2,000 firefighters, water-bombing aircraft and volunteers battling blazes on Sunday. A cool change was forecast for late on Sunday but an associated wind change would bring danger for firefighters. "It's a dangerous time, putting it bluntly," Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said in a televised emergency briefing on Sunday. "Not just for communities but for firefighters." In 2009, the worst bushfires on record destroyed thousands of homes in Victoria, killing 173 people and injuring 414 on a day the media dubbed Black Saturday. The largest fire in Bunyip State Park was sparked by multiple lightning strikes on Friday. Rural townships were evacuated with no reported injuries or deaths, but three homes and several properties had been destroyed by noon on Sunday. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said the heatwave, defined as three consecutive days and nights of above-average temperatures, had broken more than a century of records. "It's broken heat records for March in four states along the southern coastline," meteorologist Dean Narramore told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. Temperatures in Tasmania, Australia's southernmost state, reached 39.1 degrees Celsius (102F) on Saturday, the hottest in 131 years of records, Narramore said. Australia's hottest summer on record is causing several industries to wilt, including the $4.4 billion wine industry with grape yields set to drop to the lowest in years. Drought has also damaged the winter wheat crop and is expected to drag the wool clip to a record low. The Pacific nation had its third warmest year on record in 2018, a year marked by severe drought in parts of the country and a prolonged bushfire season. Australia continued the trend into 2019 with its hottest January on record. (Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Kim Coghill) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., signaled on Saturday that he will vote to block President Trumps national emergency declaration to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border a move that likely gives the Senate enough votes to pass a resolution that would nullify the declaration. Trump has vowed to veto the bipartisan resolution, which would be the first veto of his presidency. President Trump during a news conference in Hanoi on Thursday. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP) I cant vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasnt been appropriated by Congress, Paul told Republican supporters at a dinner at Western Kentucky University, according to audio published by the Bowling Green Daily News. We may want more money for border security, but Congress didnt authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, its a dangerous thing. On Tuesday, the House voted 245-182 to approve the resolution with 13 Republicans joining Democrats to block Trumps emergency declaration. The Senate is expect to vote on it later this month. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., listens as President Trump speaks in 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) In voicing support for the resolution, Paul joins three other Senate Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of N.C. who have already said they will vote with Democrats. With Republicans holding 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, and a simple majority needed to pass the resolution, the four GOP defections would be enough to send the measure to the presidents desk. Will I veto it? One hundred percent, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 2. One hundred percent. And I dont think it survives a veto. We have too many smart people that want border security. So I cant imagine it would survive a veto, but I will veto it, yes. If the resolution passes the Senate, and Trump does, in fact, make good on his veto vow, Congress will likely fall far short of the two-thirds majority needed to override him. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: The Daily Beast REUTERSAfter Jussie Smollett spilled all the tea he could on Monday, Special Prosecutor Dan Webb put the focus back on the attack on the Empire star that the actor allegedly staged in a brutal cross examination on Tuesday.Webb, a lawyers lawyer who nailed corrupt judges and cops when he served as the U.S. attorney for the district including Chicago and who prosecuted Ronald Reagans national security adviser and deposed the president as special counsel in the Iran-Contra affair, shifted the foc Jodie Chesney death: Familys plea for an end to needless violence Following the needless death of a much-loved teen, here is a list of all of the suspected killings reported in London since the start of 2019 less than three months ago. The capital in particular has seen shocking levels of violence and knife crime since the beginning of the year. As the family of Jodie Chesney a 17-year-old who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in an east London park have issued an emotional plea for the end of needless violence. Her grandmother, Debbie, said: This was our youngest granddaughter. How have we come to this point where kids cant have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. We dont want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. Sadly, the Chesneys arent the only family to lose a loved one to crime in the capital. Here is a list of homicides in London so far in 2019: January 1: Charlotte Huggins, 33, is believed to have been the first homicide victim in London in 2019. She was stabbed in Camberwell, south-east London, in the early hours of New Years Day. January 1: Later that day, security guard Tudor Simionov, also 33, was stabbed to death at about 5.30am as he tried to prevent gatecrashers storming a private party in Park Lane, central London. January 4: Simbiso Aretha Moula, 39, was found murdered in her home in Rainham, east London. Her husband, Garikayi Moula, was found hanged. Police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the murder. January 5: Sarah Ashraf, 35, was found dead in a home in the Isle of Dogs, east London. A 32-year-old man was charged with murder. January 8: Just 14 years old, Jaden Moodie was knocked off a moped and stabbed to death in Leyton, east London. January 11: Asma Begum, 31, was found with a neck injury in a property City Island Way, Tower Hamlets. A 46-year-old man was charged with murder. January 27: Kamil Malysz, 34, was found stabbed to death in a shared house in Acton, west London. January 29: Nedim Bilgin, 17, was the victim of a knife attack in Caledonian Road, Islington, north London. February 3: A 46-year-old man was found dead at a medical facility in Highgate, north London. A 21-year-old was charged with murder. February 5: Lejean Richards, 19, was fatally stabbed in Battersea, south-west London. February 10: A man, believed to be in his 30s, was found fatally stabbed in East Dulwich, south-east London. February 18: Bright Akinleye dies after walking into a hotel reception in Camden, north London, with stab wounds. February 19: Brian Wieland, 69, found dead with multiple head injuries at his home in Chingford, east London. February 21: Glendon Spence, 23, was killed outside a youth club in Brixton, south London. Police have charged two 17-year-olds with murder. February 22: Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck, 19, was murdered in Wood Green, Haringey. Police said that he and a another man, aged 20, were both found with stab wounds. February 25: Spaniard David Lopez-Fernandez, 38, was pronounced dead after being found with stab wounds at an address in Globe Road in Tower Hamlets, east London. A 36-year-old man was charged with murder. February 26: Che Morrison, 20, died after being stabbed to death outside Ilford station in east London. March 1: Jodie Chesney, 17, was stabbed to death in an east London park. March 2: A 50-year-old was found dead with fatal knife injuries at a property in Hendon, north-west London. A 54-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion murder. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced there will be extra police patrols following the death of Jodie Chesney. He also tweeted a video from his London needs you alive- so dont carry a knife campaign. Washington (AFP) - With Britain deadlocked on negotiating its divorce from the European Union, an unexpected side-front is emerging -- the US Congress. Conservatives who pushed the June 2016 referendum that ended in the shock decision to leave the 28-member bloc dangled the prospect of a free trade agreement with the United States as proof that Britain would not be isolated. But while nationalist-minded President Donald Trump has welcomed Brexit, the main hitch to Britain's exit has raised alarm among key US lawmakers -- the prospect of the return of a physical border that divides Ireland. The elimination of the border between the Republic of Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland was a key component of the Good Friday agreement of 1998 -- brokered with the United States and made possible through the fruition of the integrated EU -- which largely ended three decades of conflict that killed around 3,500 people. Representative Peter King, long one of the highest-profile supporters in Congress of a unified Ireland, warned at a recent event in Washington that the direction of Brexit would be critical to any future US trade deal. "It's important for we, as Irish Americans, to make clear when we deal with the British that this is very, very important to us," he said. "And if the British want to consider any type of trade agreement with the United States, it's important that a soft border be maintained." While King is a Republican, his stance has appeared to gain steam since the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in November due to the party's historic Irish base and its generally more skeptical take on free trade. Representative Richard Neal, a co-chairman of the Friends of Ireland Caucus who has voiced unease about Brexit's effects, has taken charge of the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, which will review any trade deal. Eleven lawmakers led by a Democrat recently introduced a resolution that would state the House of Representatives' opposition to a hard border in Ireland. Story continues - 'Hugely complex issue' - Daniel Dalton, a British Conservative member of the European parliament who visited Washington for talks with US lawmakers, voiced concern that the Irish question could hold up a US-Britain trade agreement. He rebuffed, ever politely, US lawmakers' worries on Ireland, saying that nobody was out to end the Good Friday agreement. "I think the worry is a little bit that there might be an assumption from people here and that they jump into a discussion on what is a hugely complex issue when there is no will from London or from Dublin to have a hard border," Dalton told AFP. "That is a point that we have to make time and time again," he said. "The issue is how do we ensure that the Good Friday agreement isn't accidentally breached -- which is a very different position to start off from." Britain is set to leave the European Union on March 29, with Prime Minister Theresa May scrambling to seek changes after the House of Commons overwhelmingly rejected her divorce deal negotiated with the EU. May has given MPs the option to delay Brexit and the opposition Labour Party has supported a fresh referendum. Dalton said that the possibility of a US-Britain trade agreement played "a very big psychological role" for Brexit voters, seeing as Washington has not been able to seal a deal with the EU as a whole. A major issue, Dalton said, will be seeing whether post-Brexit Britain gravitates toward US or EU standards on agriculture and manufacturing -- crucial in sealing a trade pact. For Dalton himself, the results of Brexit will not be abstract -- he will be out of a job. And the European lawmaker may not find comfort in going back to Britain as his wife is German. "We, like many people, aren't sure where actually we can live together and how all these things are going to play out," he said. "And there are many couples across that particularly divide." Washington (AFP) - SpaceX's Dragon capsule -- launched on a test mission for NASA -- was on Sunday approaching the International Space Station, where it was set to dock for the first time. Dragon was gradually climbing in altitude toward the ISS, which is orbiting the Earth at around 400 kilometers altitude and at a speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour -- orbiting the Earth in 90 minutes. The capsule has made two orbits since its launch on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida. On board the ISS, the crew -- American Anne McClain, Russian Oleg Kononenko, and Canadian David Saint-Jacques -- were scheduled to carry out a welcoming ceremony. This time around, the only occupant on board the Dragon capsule was a dummy named Ripley -- but NASA plans to put two astronauts aboard in July, although that date could be delayed. Dragon first stabilized seven kilometers behind the ISS, and 2.5 kilometers below it. Then, the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, gave the green light for the first phase of the approach which ends 400 meters from the ISS. Around 0900 GMT, Dragon was 3,000 meters away, NASA said. Ships bound for the ISS approach via several "way points," imaginary gates of sorts. After reaching the 400-meter point, Dragon was set to move in front of the station, 150 meters away -- before automatically docking at 1100 GMT. The launch is a key step towards resuming manned space flights from US soil after an eight-year break. After the shuttle program was shut down in July 2011 following a 30-year run, NASA began outsourcing the logistics of its space missions. It pays Russia to get its people up to the ISS orbiting research facility at a cost of $82 million per head for a round trip. In 2014, the US space agency awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing for them to take over this task. Bhrikuti Rai is an investigative reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering technology, environment and human rights. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2019, she was a reporter at Nepali Times and South Asia Check. She loves all things audio, and is co-creator of the Boju Bajai podcast. After looking at Swiss Prime Site AGs (VTX:SPSN) latest earnings announcement (31 December 2018), I found it useful to revisit the companys performance in the past couple of years and assess this against the most recent figures. As a long-term investor I tend to focus on earnings trend, rather than a single number at one point in time. Also, comparing it against an industry benchmark to understand whether it outperformed, or is simply riding an industry wave, is a crucial aspect. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways. Check out our latest analysis for Swiss Prime Site Did SPSNs recent performance beat its trend and industry? SPSNs trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2018) of CHF310m has increased by 1.6% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 0.4%, indicating the rate at which SPSN is growing has accelerated. Whats the driver of this growth? Lets see whether it is merely attributable to an industry uplift, or if Swiss Prime Site has seen some company-specific growth. SWX:SPSN Income Statement, March 3rd 2019 In terms of returns from investment, Swiss Prime Site has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 6.0% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 3.3% is below the CH Real Estate industry of 4.0%, indicating Swiss Prime Sites are utilized less efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Swiss Prime Sites debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 4.3% to 3.9%. What does this mean? Swiss Prime Sites track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesnt tell the whole story. Recent positive growth doesnt necessarily mean its onwards and upwards for the company. I recommend you continue to research Swiss Prime Site to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for SPSNs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for SPSNs outlook. Financial Health: Are SPSNs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2018. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. New York (AFP) - Long out of favor in the United States, the idea of taxing rich individuals and corporations to pay for healthcare or to combat inequality is gaining ground among Democratic politicians. While the United States reveres free enterprise and is home to the world's largest number of billionaires, such tax proposals have been gaining traction in political circles in recent weeks. More than one Democratic contender in next year's presidential elections are campaigning on some plan to tax the wealthy. And they have been encouraged by famous billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, the world's second and third wealthiest people, who worry about America's severe wealth inequality. Vermont's left-leaning Senator Bernie Sanders was among the first in the recent wave. During his 2016 presidential campaign he called for higher federal income taxes to pay for free college tuition and universal healthcare. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has proposed a two-percent wealth tax starting at $50 million in earnings. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for a levy on financial transactions, and Sanders says inheritances should be taxed up to 77 percent. With the Democrats now in control of the House of Representatives, the undisputed media star of the freshman class, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is leading the charge: she has proposed a tax of 70 percent on any income over $10 million to help pay for a proposed "Green New Deal" to de-carbonize the US economy and help prevent catastrophic climate change, while offering universal healthcare and guaranteed employment. This so-called marginal rate of 70 percent is not unprecedented in the United States, but was last at that level 1981. The current top marginal tax rate is 37 percent. Raising corporate taxes is another Democratic priority, a subject inflamed by the recent controversy over Amazon, which has reported no federal income tax expenses for the past two years. That has stoked debate over highly profitable companies that do not pay into government coffers. Story continues Some Republicans have pushed back, with outspoken and media savvy Ocasio-Cortez drawing the most fire. Grover Norquist, an anti-tax activist who has long pushed Republican lawmakers to pledge never to raise taxes, warned in January against soaking the rich, saying such taxes "always slip down to hit the rest of us." But Joseph Thorndike, a historian specializing in US tax policy, said a reversal of the post-war trend of cutting taxes is within sight. - 'Social tensions' - "Something is happening here," he said. "We are beginning to have a discussion about that that we haven't had since the 1960s or even the 50s." Top marginal tax rates in the United States were very high following World War II, maxing out at 94 percent. They began to fall in the 1960s and were slashed again under President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. In late 2017, Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress cut corporate and personal income tax rates, despite unanimous Democratic opposition which denounced the tax overhaul as a giveaway to the rich. Trump, himself a billionaire, has attracted widespread scorn for refusing to disclose his own income tax returns, and accusations that his family maintained its wealth by evading taxes, an accusation he denies. Why has the debate changed? Yawning income gaps are one reason, Thorndike said. "People are willing to tolerate rich people getting richer as long as middle class people are also doing better," he said. "When the middle and laboring class is stagnating, that creates social tensions." Trump himself may have been catalyst. While most major changes in US tax policy came in times of crisis -- wars or deep recessions -- Trump's unconventional presidency could mark "a sharp enough break" to bring about change, Thorndike said. A Morning Consult poll conducted late last month for Politico found 74 percent of voters were generally in favor of higher taxes for the rich, while 73 percent favored this for corporations. Furthermore, 90 percent believed such tax revenues should go to pay for healthcare or infrastructure. But this apparent consensus masks significant divergences between Democrats and Republicans, and the tax issue remains very sensitive, analysts say. The modest changes are sometimes a hard sell for the public while the "anti-rich" rhetoric of some Democrats could alienate certain voters, Thorndike said. But Kenneth Scheve, professor of political science at Stanford University, said "there is a set of voters and politicians who are trying to innovate and respond in ways the country has not traditionally responded to." "For the Democratic primaries in 2020, this is going to be a key feature of the debate," he said. London (AFP) - The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who fled to join Islamic State, wants to live with her in the Netherlands, he said in an interview out Sunday from detention in Syria. Yago Riedijk, who is being held in a Kurdish-run detention centre in northeast Syria, married Begum days after she arrived in territory held by IS when he was 23 and she was 15, he told BBC television. Begum, 19, from east London and now in a refugee camp, has said she would like to return to Britain but has been stripped of her British citizenship by the government which deems her a security threat. Riedijk, 27, says he now rejects IS after having fought for the jihadist group. Instead, he wants to return home to the Netherlands with his wife and their newborn son. Their first two children died. "I would love to go back to my own country... I now understand the privileges I lived with. The privilege of living there as a citizen," he said. "I understand that many people have a problem with what I did... I have to take responsibility for what I did. Serve my sentence." Asked if he thought marrying a girl of that age was acceptable, he acknowledged that she had been "very young". "When my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway," he replied. "We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. "Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didn't, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her." - Miserable life - Riedijk, from Arnhem, told the BBC that he had been imprisoned and tortured after IS suspected him of being a Dutch spy. He surrendered to Syrian fighters. "I lived a miserable life. I was imprisoned. I was tortured. I lived in fear," he said. Story continues "It was my own fault for going, yes, but I didn't come out of it as a winner, in any way." He said he did not see how Begum could be deemed a threat by the British authorities. "I don't understand how she would, in any form, be a danger. All she did was she sat in the house for three years, took care of me and my children," he said. The case of Begum has highlighted a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow jihadists and IS sympathisers home to face prosecution or bar them as the so-called "caliphate" crumbles. A spokesman for the Dutch Justice and Security Ministry said they could not comment on individual cases. Speaking generally, he told AFP: "The Netherlands don't offer any help to Dutchmen in Syria willing to return. If someone reports at a Dutch embassy or consulate, that person will be transported to the Netherlands, arrested and prosecuted. "Foreign fighters with two (or more) nationalities, who are deemed a threat to our national security, can have their Dutch citizenship (or) passport revoked." To be eligible for a residence permit to live in the Netherlands, a valid passport or travel document is mandatory, and people must meet national security requirements. London (AFP) - The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who fled to join Islamic State, wants to live with her in the Netherlands, the BBC reported Sunday after finding him in Syria. Yago Riedijk, who is being held in a Kurdish-run detention centre in northeast Syria, married Begum days after she arrived in territory held by IS when he was 23 and she was 15, he told BBC television. Begum, 19, from east London and now in a refugee camp, has said she would like to return to Britain but has been stripped of her British citizenship by the government which calls her a security threat. Riedijk, who is 27 and says he now rejects IS, having fought for the jihadist group, says he wants to return home to the Netherlands with his wife and their newborn son. Their first two children died. In a first extract from the interview released by the BBC, he was asked if he thought marrying a girl of that age was acceptable. "When my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway," he replied. "We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. "Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didn't, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her." Riedijk, from Arnhem, told the BBC that he had been imprisoned and tortured after IS suspected him of being a Dutch spy. He surrendered to Syrian fighters. The case of Begum has highlighted a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow jihadists and IS sympathisers home to face prosecution or bar them as the so-called "caliphate" crumbles. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea and the U.S. are eliminating their massive springtime military drills and replacing them with smaller exercises in what they call an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision announced by both countries Sunday came after President Donald Trump complained about the cost of joint drills even as his high-stakes second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam collapsed last week. The drills' cancellation is an olive branch to North Korea, which has viewed them as an invasion rehearsal. But it will likely raise worries about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the failed nuclear summit. BEIJING (AP) In an unusual step, China's ceremonial legislature is due to endorse a law meant to help end a bruising tariff war with Washington by discouraging officials from pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. The battle with China's biggest trading partner is overshadowing the National People's Congress, the country's highest-profile event of the year. It brings 3,000-plus delegates to the ornate Great Hall of the People in Beijing for two weeks of speeches, meetings with senior leaders and political ritual to endorse the ruling Communist Party's economic and social welfare plans. A gathering of noncommunist groups held at the same time brightens Beijing's drab winter, drawing tech billionaires, movie stars and ethnic minorities in distinctive traditional dress. SRINAGAR, India (AP) Indian and Pakistani soldiers have again targeted each other's posts and villages along their volatile frontier in disputed Kashmir, killing at least six civilians and two Pakistani troops, officials said Saturday. But in a sign that tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals could soon ease, a Pakistani Cabinet minister said a key train service between Pakistan and neighboring India would resume on Monday. Tensions have been running high since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan this past Tuesday, carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Story continues DONG DANG, Vietnam (AP) Smiling and holding up his clasped hands in a victorious pose, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday boarded his private train at the Vietnam-China border for a 60-plus-hour ride home, ending a trip to Vietnam that saw a summit breakdown with President Donald Trump. He spent his last day in Hanoi laying large red-and-yellow wreaths at a war memorial and at the mausoleum of national hero Ho Chi Minh, surrounded by Vietnamese soldiers in crisp white uniforms and his own entourage of top North Korean officials. At the border, he got out of his armored limousine and clasped his hands, waving to a crowd of people cheering his departure. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid his respects Saturday to Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, whose embalmed body is on permanent display, just like Kim's own father and grandfather in North Korea. Kim's visit to the mausoleum in Hanoi was part of a two-day official visit to Vietnam that began Friday. Earlier in the week, he met President Donald Trump in Hanoi for their second nuclear summit , which collapsed without agreement. Ho's massive granite-and-marble mausoleum, built with help from the Soviet Union, is one of Hanoi's most famous places. Streams of Vietnamese wait in long lines to pay homage to their beloved former leader, who died in 1969 at the age of 79. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) An official overseeing a grueling rescue at a collapsed Indonesian gold mine said that the voices of dozens of trapped miners are no longer being heard as the effort to reach them continued for a fourth day Saturday. Rescuers are currently not entering the mine in North Sulawesi's Bolaang Mongondow district while an excavator and other heavy equipment are working on it, Abdul Muin Paputungan said. No one has been saved from remote mine located in steep terrain since Friday when the death toll stood at eight with 20 people rescued. Authorities believe about three dozen miners remain trapped. TORONTO (AP) Canada said it will allow a U.S. extradition request for an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei to face charges over possible dealings with Iran to proceed. The Department of Justice said Friday officials made the decision after a diligent review of the case against Meng Wangzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Ltd., the biggest global maker of network equipment for phone and internet companies. A department statement stressed that Canada was following its laws. Meng's Dec. 1 arrest at the Vancouver airport set off a diplomatic furor and strained Canadian relations with China. Beijing has accused Washington of a politically motivated attempt to hurt a potential competitor to U.S. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) President Donald Trump said he walked away from his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un because Kim demanded the U.S. lift all of its sanctions, a claim that North Korea's delegation called a rare news conference in the middle of the night to deny. So who's telling the truth? In this case, it seems that the North Koreans are. And it's a demand they have been pushing for weeks in lower-level talks. Trump's much-anticipated meeting with Kim, held in the Vietnamese capital Wednesday and Thursday, ended abruptly and without the two leaders signing any agreements. CINCINNATI (AP) Unlike President Donald Trump, Otto Warmbier's parents don't believe North Korea's leader. The parents of the American college student who was sent home from North Korea in a vegetative state spoke out Friday, after Trump's comment this week that he takes Kim Jong Un "at his word" that he was unaware of any mistreatment during the young man's 17 months of captivity. Warmbier died at age 22 soon after his return in June 2017. Fred and Cindy Warmbier, who have expressed appreciation of Trump in the past and were guests at his 2018 State of the Union address, said in a statement Friday they had been respectfully silent while Trump and Kim met in Vietnam. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) More than 30 Muslim Rohingya women and children were found stranded along a beach in Malaysia's northernmost state, and are believed to have been dropped off by human traffickers, authorities said. A police official in Kangar, the capital of northern Perlis state, said villagers early Friday found the 34 people, including nine children, weak, hungry and covered in mud as they made their way through the coast. A Myanmar welfare group said the group is believed to have been trafficked into Thailand from Bangladesh, before heading to Malaysia, whose dominant Malay Muslim population makes it a sympathetic destination. WASHINGTON (AP) The White House national security adviser on Sunday described President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a success despite the lack of an agreement providing for verifiable dismantling of the North's nuclear sites. John Bolton, in three television interviews, tried to make the case that Trump advanced America's national security interests by rejecting a bad agreement while working to persuade Kim to take "the big deal that really could make a difference for North Korea." The U.S. and North Korea have offered contradictory accounts of why last week's summit in Vietnam broke down, though both pointed to American sanctions as a sticking point. However, in a tweet Sunday night, Trump offered another possibility. He appeared to cast criticism at Democrats for holding a congressional hearing with his former lawyer Michael Cohen while he was in sensitive negotiations overseas. "For the Democrats to interview in open hearings a convicted liar & fraudster, at the same time as the very important Nuclear Summit with North Korea, is perhaps a new low in American politics and may have contributed to the "walk." Never done when a president is overseas. Shame!" Trump tweeted. In new show appearances, Bolton said the leaders left on good terms and that Trump made an important point to North Korea and other countries that negotiate with him. "He's not desperate for a deal, not with North Korea, not with anybody if it's contrary to American national interests," Bolton said. Bolton also sought to explain Trump's comments about taking Kim's word about Otto Warmbier, the American college student who was held prisoner in North Korea, then sent home in a vegetative state. Trump said he didn't believe Kim knew about or would have allowed what happened to Warmbier. "He tells me that he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word," Trump said at a news conference last week. Story continues Bolton said Trump's "got a difficult line to walk to" in negotiating with North Korea. "It doesn't mean that he accepts it as reality. It means that he accepts that's what Kim Jong Un said," Bolton said. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a close Trump ally, broke with the president. "I think Kim knew what happened, which was wrong," McCarthy said. Some have been critical for Trump letting Kim stand with him on the world stage given North Korea's poor human rights record. Kim will be able to portray himself to his people and supporters as the charismatic head of a nuclear-armed power, not an international pariah that starves its citizens so it can build weapons. But Bolton said that Trump's view is that he "gave nothing away." Asked whether that was his view, too, Bolton replied: "The president's view is he gave nothing away. That's what matters, not my view." Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, summarized the summit as a "spectacular failure" made all the worse by Trump's comments on "murder of an American citizen, Otto Warmbier." "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kind of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and that is essentially flying by the seat of its pants, and it has real-world consequences," Schiff said. "Those reactors continue to spin on, producing more material that can threaten us and our allies," said Schiff, D-Calif. Bolton said Trump has "turned traditional diplomacy on its head, and after all in the case of North Korea, why not? Traditional diplomacy has failed in the last three administrations." An example of that non-traditional diplomacy was formally unveiled Sunday when South Korea and the U.S. announced they would not conduct massive springtime military drills and were replacing them with smaller exercises. They described it as an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. "The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed," Trump tweeted Sunday. "That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" Bolton spoke on "Fox News Sunday," CNN's "State of the Union" and CBS's "Face the Nation." McCarthy was on ABC's "This Week," and Schiff was on CBS. The US House Judiciary Committee will launch a probe into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by Donald Trump. Jerry Nadler, who chairs the committee, told ABC that the panel wanted to obtain documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of the investigation. Documents from Donald Trump Jr, the presidents son and Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organizations chief financial officer, are among those wanted by the panel. We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption ... and into obstruction of justice, Mr Nadler said. Its our job to protect the rule of law. Its very clear that the president obstructed justice, he said. But the congressman added that it was too soon to consider the possibility of impeachment. Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen, he said. The politician said the committee would release the full list of people and organisations it would be seeking information from on Monday. He said that the presidents firing of James Comey, who at the time was leading an investigation into Russias alleged interference in the 2016 US election, was evidence of Mr Trumps obstruction. The congressman also cited what he described as Mr Trumps attempts to intimidate witnesses involved in the probe. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start, Donald Trump said on Twitter, in response to the announcement. Despite this, great success! Additional reporting by agencies WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and South Korea are expected to announce that they will not carry out large-scale spring joint military exercises, replacing them with smaller-scale drills, U.S. officials said on Friday. U.S. officials have long said the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced in scope. However, one of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal announcement was expected in the coming days. The official said the decision had been made for some time and was not an outcome of the latest summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Foal Eagle field exercise, which usually involves thousands of combined ground, air, naval and special operations troops, takes place every spring. Key Resolve is a computer-simulated exercise. The news was first reported by NBC News. The United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump to encourage talks with North Korea. The leaders met this week in Hanoi for their second summit but the talks collapsed on Thursday without any agreement or immediate plan for a third meeting between them or their delegations. Speaking with reporters after the summit, Trump said military exercises were "very, very expensive". "I was telling the generals, I said: Look, you know, exercising is fun and it's nice and they play the war games. And I'm not saying it's not necessary, because at some levels it is, but at other levels it's not," Trump said. The Pentagon has said that another exercises that was suspended last year, known as Freedom Guardian, would have cost around $14 million. The U.S. military has a budget of more than $700 billion. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by James Dalgleish) Former finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari dies at 83 Bharat Mohan Adhikari, a second generation communist leader of Nepal, who is credited for introducing the popular old-age pension scheme and Aafno Gaun Aafai Banaau (build your village on your own) programme, as a finance minister during the first communist government in the country, passed away on Saturday. He was 83. (Reuters) - U.K. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has abandoned attempts to secure a hard time-limit or unilateral exit mechanism for the Irish backstop, the Telegraph reported on Sunday. Ministers said Cox's aims that represent central demands of Euroskeptics are considered too "blunt" and have been rejected by the European Union, the newspaper https://bit.ly/2NFVsNN reported. The "backstop" provision in Britain's European Union divorce deal, widely known as Brexit, aims at avoiding the return of a hard border between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland. The attorney general is trying to secure an enhanced "arbitration mechanism" that allows Britain or the European Union to provide formal notice that the backstop should come to an end, the Telegraph said. Demands for an "independent" arbitration panel by the negotiators are being resisted by the EU, outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, according to the newspaper. Cox was scheduled to talk to parliament last week, but that was postponed as negotiations continued. (Reporting by Mekhla Raina in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Washington (AFP) - US lawmakers will demand documents from Donald Trump's eldest son and a lifelong business associate as part of a wide-ranging investigation into alleged abuses of office by the president, a leading Democrat said Sunday. US House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler told ABC political show "This Week" that Donald Trump Jr. and Allen Weisselberg, the sole trustees of The Trump Organization, were among 60 people and entities being targeted by the probe. The New York congressman said the requests would go out on Monday "to begin investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power" by the Republican president. Trump's campaign is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for alleged collusion with Russia to influence the 2016 election, and for possible obstruction of that probe. Many observers believe, however, his biggest legal exposure will come with the various federal and state-level investigations into his finances and the running of his charity foundation and business. Trump came out fighting, posting on Twitter that two years of "presidential Harassment" since he took office had proven nothing but Democratic lawbreaking. "I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start," he tweeted. Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen testified on Capitol Hill Wednesday that authorities in New York were probing crimes allegedly involving the president beyond those that have been made public. Nadler said it was "very clear" that Trump had obstructed justice, by repeatedly calling the Mueller probe a "witch hunt" and by trying to halt an investigation into his first national security advisor Mike Flynn, who subsequently admitted lying to the FBI over Russian contacts. Story continues Trump set off a political firestorm by firing FBI chief James Comey on May 2017 -- and then admitting to NBC he had taken the decision after becoming frustrated with the Russia probe. - 'Proper investigations' - Nadler, like Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been reticent about pushing for the president's impeachment, and told ABC such action would be "a long way down the road." Trump was implicated by Cohen in numerous crimes as the president's former fixer gave evidence to the House Oversight Committee Wednesday, accusing his old boss of being "a racist," "conman" and "cheat." Cohen, who has been convicted of lying to Congress, said Trump knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks would release material damaging to election rival Hillary Clinton, which turned out to be emails stolen by Russian spies. He added that he believed Trump knew in advance about a June 9, 2016 meeting between campaign chiefs and a Russian lawyer touting dirt on Clinton. Cohen pleaded guilty last year to violating campaign finance laws when he paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet before the 2016 election about an affair Cohen said she had with Trump. Cohen said Trump ordered the hush payment. He also alleged that the Trump Organization regularly and illegally inflated the value of its assets to obtain bank loans, and accused his former boss of misusing charity funds. "What we learned from the Cohen testimony is that he directly implicated the president in -- in various crimes, both while seeking the office of president and while in the White House," Nadler said on "This Week." "We don't have the facts yet. But we're going to initiate proper investigations." Seoul (AFP) - The US and South Korea announced Sunday an end to key annual large-scale military exercises in support of diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as provocative rehearsals for invasion. While Trump has ruled out withdrawing the troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive". During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, Seoul's defence ministry said Sunday. Washington and Seoul will instead conduct "modified" drills starting Monday through to March 12, a joint military statement announced Sunday. The nine-day exercise, officially named "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance", will largely focus on joint defence manoeuvres rather than the offensive posture of the Key Resolve drill, a South Korean military official who requested anonymity told AFP. Story continues There was no indication of how many US and South Korean troops will be mobilised for the new exercise. South Korea's foreign ministry said that Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, will also leave for Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun. "Lee will fly sometime this week," ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP. Lee and Biegun are expected to discuss the Hanoi summit, which failed to build on the vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula signed by Kim and Trump during their meeting in Singapore last year. - Combat readiness - Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. "Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "The South's conventional forces outclass the North's, and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added. Retired General Vincent Brooks, a former commander of US forces in South Korea who helped organise Trump's first meeting with Kim in Singapore, said last year that any end to joint training would not hinder the Pentagon's combat-readiness on the peninsula. "Perhaps we've been told for now to put our sword back into its sheath, but we have not been told to forget how to use it," he said. Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme. Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. "Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point ... would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin. Brasilia (AFP) - Brazilian mining giant Vale on Saturday accepted the temporary resignation of its president Fabio Schvartsman and three executives, weeks after a mine dam owned by the firm collapsed in the southeastern town of Brumadinho, killing 186 and leaving 122 missing. According to a statement, Schvartsman and the other executives submitted the requests for "temporary removal from office" -- which were accepted immediately -- after prosecutors recommended their dismissal on Friday. In a letter addressed to the firm's board of directors, which was leaked to some Brazilian media, Schvartsman made the request "for the benefit of the continuity of the company's operation and support for victims and their families." He defended his management in the wake of the disaster -- but added his presence at the helm of the firm, which is under investigation over the tragedy, had come to be "seen as an inconvenience." Vale, meanwhile, said in its statement that it had appointed executive director of base metals Eduardo de Salles Bartolomeo as interim CEO. However, it did not immediately confirm how long that interim period would be, or the company's long term plan. Vale, the world's biggest producer of iron ore, owned the dam that collapsed on January 25, washing over the iron ore mine. Most of those buried under its thick mud were mine workers, though some nearby residents were also engulfed. So far neither the company -- which has been fined millions and had its assets frozen to pay for future compensation -- nor the authorities have offered any explanation of what caused the disaster. The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the same region of Brazil, after a 2015 collapse of another tailings dam at a jointly owned mine that caused what is considered the country's worst-ever environmental catastrophe. By Yury Garcia SALINAS, Ecuador (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Saturday he would return home after a visit to Ecuador and called for new protests next week against President Nicolas Maduro, whose government had banned him from traveling abroad. Guaido has spent the past few days touring between Latin American countries to muster support for his campaign to form a transition government and oust Maduro, whom he denounces as an illegitimate usurper. He had visited Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay after leaving Venezuela last week for Colombia to coordinate efforts there to send humanitarian aid into his country, though troops loyal to Maduro blocked a convoy of aid trucks and turned them back. "As for the next steps for Venezuelans, I announce my return home from Ecuador," Guaido told a news conference in the coastal town of Salinas alongside Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno. Guaido did not say when exactly or how he would return to Venezuela. He is expected to leave Ecuador at 9.30 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to the Ecuadorean government's schedule for his visit. His return opens the possibility that Venezuelan authorities will try to arrest him. The Supreme Court had imposed a travel ban on him after he invoked the country's constitution on Jan 23 to assume an interim presidency, which most Western nations now recognize as legitimate. Guaido said Venezuelans should again take to the streets on Monday and Tuesday, even though Venezuela, like other Latin American countries, was celebrating the Carnival holiday. "We have little to celebrate and a lot to do," he said. Guaido has called on his international backers to impose harsher measures to pressure Maduro and after the aid convoy's failure proposed that "all options be kept open." While U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has not ruled out military intervention to dislodge Maduro, it is seen as unlikely and his Latin American allies have encouraged a mix of sanctions and diplomacy instead. (The story corrects typographical error in first paragraph.) (Reporting by Yury Garcia in Salinas; Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by David Gregorio and Chizu Nomiyama) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that the congressional questioning last week of his former lawyer may have contributed to the failure of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- even as his national security advisor claimed the Hanoi meeting was a success. A high-stakes second summit to strike a disarmament deal with Kim broke up in disarray in Vietnam Thursday, with Trump saying: "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times." The summit took place at the same time a Democrat-led congressional committee was grilling Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, who labelled his ex-boss a "racist", "conman", and "cheat". On Sunday, Trump said the hearing may have contributed to the "walk". "For the Democrats to interview in open hearings a convicted liar & fraudster, at the same time as the very important Nuclear Summit with North Korea, is perhaps a new low in American politics and may have contributed to the 'walk'," he tweeted. "Never done when a president is overseas. Shame!" Still, US National Security Advisor John Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday that the summit should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." He said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely -- or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected," Bolton added. The summit's collapse followed the leaders' historic meeting in Singapore that produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." Story continues According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Seat of its pants' - In return, Pyongyang was offering only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, however, disputed the US account, saying Pyongyang offered to dismantle all "nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area" in exchange for partial sanctions relief. Bolton's evocation of progress was dismissed by leading Democrats, however, including House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, who described the Hanoi meeting as a "spectacular failure." "The president did give up a great deal, by going to that summit, by enhancing Kim Jong Un's prestige on the world stage, by giving up those military exercises in the last summit and getting nothing for it," Schiff told CBS. "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kinds of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and is essentially flying by the seat of its pants." Much of the criticism of the summit was sparked by Trump's remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - Trump said he believed Kim's claim that he did not know what happened to Otto Warmbier, who died at age 22 days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. Bolton said Trump had been clear that Warmbier's death was "barbaric and unacceptable," although Schiff countered that the president's "obsequious comments" had compounded the summit's failure. Bolton was touring the Sunday political shows the morning after the US and South Korea announced an end to key annual large-scale military exercises. The maneuvers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- condemned by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for war. Trump has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises and -- since 2017's Singapore summit -- the Washington and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint exercises. Opponents of scrapping the drills warn that it could affect the combat readiness of US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula. Bolton sought to play down Saturday's announcement, however, saying the policy remained unchanged since Singapore. There are exactly zero circumstances in which Bernie Sanders should seek advice from Hillary Clinton. Source: AP Photo / Seth Wenig / File By CCN.com: She attempted and failed to become president in 2008 and 2016. What advice could she possibly offer? In an interview with The View on ABC News Friday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said he would not meet with former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for advice, as other 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls have done. Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain and an avowed conservative, posed the question to Bernie about whether hed take Clintons help in his bid to win the presidency in 2020. McCain said: Were hearing about a lot of candidates who are meeting with Hillary Clinton for advice, people like Amy Klobuchar. Do you think youll do the same? Sanders replied: I suspect not. She hasnt called me. Look, we have differences. You know, Hillary has played a very important role in modern American politics. Do You Ask A Trader Who Loses Money For Tips on Trading Cryptos, FX, or Stocks? Bernie Sanders asking Clinton for advice is like asking someone who strikes out in clutch moments for tips on how to hit a home run in the World Series. Read the full story on CCN.com. Home | News | General | PDP insists Atiku did not make any demands of President Buhari - PDP says there is no truth in reports that the opposition or its candidate Atiku reached out to President Buhari through some demands after losing the presidential election - PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan accuses the Nigerian presidency and APC of trying to blackmail the opposition with such reports - Ologbondiyan says the party remains steadfast in its resolve to take the matter or alleged electoral malpractices in the elections to court The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied that the party or Atiku Abubakar, its candidate in the Saturday, February 23 presidential election made any demands of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was declared winner by INEC. Channels TV reports that PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement he issued on Saturday, March 2, accused the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to the opposition. Ologbondiyan said the party had no interest in negotiating with anybody over the outcome of the election. READ ALSO: EFCC arrests Abubakar Atiku's son-in-law He said: The PDP states categorically, without mincing words, that Atiku Abubakar had not, and will never make or accept any condition from President Buhari regarding the rigged February 23, 2019, Presidential election, which he (Atiku) clearly won. Our party and candidate remain committed to the huge sacrifices made by Nigerians in ensuring our collective victory as delivered at the polling units across the country. We are mindful of the pains that Nigerians are passing through since the subversion of their will at the polls; we are sensitive to the expectations that millions of compatriots place on our shoulders in this struggle and we will never let Nigerians down. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The PDP claimed it had results different from what INEC declared and that the party would provide that and evidence of manipulations before the election tribunal. There had been reports making the rounds that a 5-point demand was reportedly presented to the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government by Atiku Abubakar. The former vice president allegedly presented his demands to the president during a meeting with a delegation led by the former head of state and chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd), The PDP has now denied the existence of such demands. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that a former military president of Nigeria, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) urged Atiku to work with President Buhari while congratulating him on his re-election for another four years. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app IBB praised the main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the PDP for behaving in a respectable manner throughout the electoral process. IBB issued a statement in Minna, the Niger state capital to convey his congratulations to Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Free the speech The beauty of the internet is freedom. Let it be Home | News | General | Atiku sets up legal team to challenge Buhari in court over 2019 presidential election - PDP candidate Atiku has set up a team of lawyers to lead his defense against APC's President Buhari at the elections tribunal - The former vice president announced the development through a statement by his media aide Paul Ibe - Atiku's legal team is led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Ibe says Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 presidential election, has set up a legal team that will challenge the victory of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in court. The Guardian reports that the inauguration of his legal team, headed by Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), on Saturday, was announced by his media aide Paul Ibe through a statement. READ ALSO: EFCC arrests Abubakar Atiku's son-in-law I have just inaugurated my legal team and charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that our stolen mandate is retrieved, Abubakar said in the statement. I am encouraged by the presence of fearless men and women of the Bench. The judiciary which had in the past discharged itself ably is once again being called upon to deliver judgement on this matter that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied that the party or Atiku Abubakar, its candidate in the Saturday, February 23 presidential election made any demands of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was declared winner by INEC. PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement he issued on Saturday, March 2, accused the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to the opposition. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Ologbondiyan said the party had no interest in negotiating with anybody over the outcome of the election. The PDP claimed it had results different from what INEC declared and that the party would provide that and evidence of manipulations before the election tribunal. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng upgrades to serve you better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Another world leader congratulates President Buhari over re-election victory President Muhammadu Buhari has received yet another congratulatory message over his victory in the presidential elections held across the nation on Saturday, February 23. Presidential spokesmen Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu announced the arrival of the new message in a statement on Saturday, March 2. The statement read in full: READ ALSO: Akpabio: Court stops INEC from issuing certificate to PDP's Ekpeyong "President Paul Biya of Cameroon has felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election, wishing the Nigerian leader every success as he serves a new term. "In a congratulatory message, President Biya said: On the occasion of your re-election to the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as declared by the Electoral Commission of your country, I am very pleased to extend to you my sincere and warm congratulations. "Recounting the excellent relations between the two countries, President Biya said, I am already looking forward to working more closely with you to the continued promotion of the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon and to meeting together the major challenges of our two countries, especially those related to stability and security. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng reported earlier that former military president of Nigeria, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) congratulated President Buhari on his re-election for the next four years. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app IBB also praised the main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party for behaving in a respectable manner throughout the electoral process IBB issued a statement in Minna, the Niger state capital to convey his congratulations to Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Senator Akpabio drags INEC to court after losing National Assembly seat to PDP in Akwa Ibom - Senator Godswill Akpabio has dragged INEC to court over his loss of the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial seat - He filed a case before a federal high court in Apo, Abuja on Friday, March 1, praying that the court stop issuance of certificate to winner of the said election held on Saturday, February 23 - The court granted Akpabio's prayer because it said his application, which had INEC as a respondent, had some merit Senator Godswill Akpabio has acquired a court injunction which stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from issuing return certificate to winner of the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial election. Business Day reports that a Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja on Friday, March 1 ordered INEC to stay action on the issuance of certificate of return to any candidate pending when the lawsuit brought before it. According to the report, Justice Valentine Ashi issued the order after an application with suit No. FCT/HC/M/2680/19 was filed by Senator Godswill Akpabio with INEC as the respondent. READ ALSO: IBB congratulates President Buhari over his re-election for fresh 4 years It reported further that an exparte motion dated February 28 with an affidavit deposed to by one Daniel Michael Idoko was filed on March 1. In the motion, Senator Akpabio prayed the court for leave to apply for judicial review for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against INEC. Akpabio also asked the court to direct the respondent to stay further action particularly further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district on the account of election held on the 23rd February, 2029. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The court granted the order, saying there was some merit especially in regards to the need to keep things in status quo The court ordered that Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus prohibition injunction and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent The court adjourned to March 8 for hearing of the case. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng had reported that Senator Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress was defeated in the race for Akwa Ibom north senatorial district. Resident Electoral Commissioner Professor Peter Ogban revealed this in his declaration that Christopher Stephen Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party is the senator-elect of Akwa Ibom. According to Ogban's declaration, Ekpeyong polled 118,215 votes to floored Akpabio who scored 83,158 votes. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | IBB congratulates Buhari, pleads with Atiku after 2019 presidential election victory and loss Former military president of Nigeria, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has congratulated President Buhari on his re-election for the next four years. IBB also praised the main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party for behaving in a respectable manner throughout the electoral process The Nation reports that IBB issued a statement in Minna, the Niger state capital to convey his congratulations to Buhari. The statement read: Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: insecurity of lives and property. READ ALSO: Failed prophecies: 5 prophets who predicted Atiku would defeat Buhari and what they said The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region, whiles the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry remain a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues. He urged President Buhari to pay utmost attention to the country's economy and also draw close his opponents in the presidential election that he won. He said: There is the need to be more creative in formulating policies that will improve the nations economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to our teaming youths. The newly elected president should heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him. The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda IBB also praised Atiku and expressed his admiration of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his doggedness urging him to work with President Buhari to move the country forward. I was particularly impressed with the gallant and audacious spirit of the main challenger in the presidential race, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON. I was not surprised that even though he lost the most exotic position of the land, his doggedness and pattern of support cut across ethnic, religious and regional lines that earned him the second position of the last Presidential election. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app I call on the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to close ranks and work with the winner of the election in an objective and constructive manner so that democracy will continue to thrive in our country at this crucial period of renaissance. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that the United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo congratulated the people of Nigeria on a successful presidential election and President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election. According to a statement by the Presidents spokesman, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, Pompeo commended all Nigerians who participated peacefully in the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections. He, however, condemned those whose acts of violence harmed Nigerians and the electoral process. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Breaking: EFCC arrests Atiku's son-in-law in Abuja The operatives of Nigeria's anti-corruption body Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Babalele Abdullahi, the son in-law of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar. Daily Trust reports that Babalele, who doubles as finance director of Atikus group of companies was arrested at his Maitama residence. According to the report, about two dozen EFCC agents came in 4 vehicles that included 2 regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus and a Hilux truck. They were however prevented entry into Babalele's residence when they arrived around 8am until his lawyers arrived. READ ALSO: Akpabio: Court stops INEC from issuing certificate to PDP's Ekpeyong Atiku's media aide Paul Ibe confirmed that the operatives came backed by law with a search warrant for Babale's residence and office. But reportedly proceeded to arrest him even after finding nothing incriminating. He said: They came with a search warrant to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating. They then proceeded to his office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there. "However, they took away some documents of landed property. Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after the search. "Afterwards, Babalele was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The Cable quotes Atiku as saying through his aide in the same statement that the arrest of Babalele was a plot to force him to concede defeat to Preisdent Buhari after the Saturday, February 23, 2019 presidential elections. In a desperate move to have Atiku Abubakar concede and congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at about 8.30am today (Saturday) invaded the Maitama residence of Babalele. They were however not given access into the house until his lawyers arrived, Ibe said in the statement. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Ibe says Atiku will not be moved by the actions of the EFCC. As a law abiding citizen, Atiku Abubakar recognizes the constitutional role of the EFCC and indeed any other agency of the government to carry out investigations, but will not be cowed by any attempt to blackmail him into mortgaging his mandate, he said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had also reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos granted a bench warrant for the arrest of four officials of the Akwa Ibom state government at the instance of the EFCC. The warrant of arrest was issued on the attorney general and commissioner for justice in Akwa Ibom state, Uwemedimo Nwoko, the commissioner of finance, Nsikan Nkan, the accountant general, Mfon Udomah and a cashier of the state government, Margaret Ukpe. The warrant was issued after the EFCC told the court that the defendants are at large and the warrant was necessary to ensure their presence in court at the next adjourned date of March 18 and 19. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | PDPs alleged plan to retain National Assembly leadership reportedly revealed - Yekini Nabena has called on the APC to be vigilante - The APC deputy national publicity secretary claimed the PDP was plotting to retain leadership of the National Assembly - Nabena called on the APC to zone positions properly to avoid problem Yekini Nabena who is the deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is plotting to hijack the leadership of the National Assembly. Vanguard reports that the APC chieftain spoke on Saturday, March 2 in Abuja where he claimed that the PDPs plan B after losing the presidential election is to retain the leadership of the National Assembly. READ ALSO: I will not mortgage my mandate - Atiku speaks after arrest of his son-in-law by EFCC Nabena said in order to avoid a repeat of the political crisis that followed the election of the National Assembly leadership in 2015, the party leadership must urgently put in place an inclusive and fair internal zoning/selection arrangement. He said: The Peoples Democratic Party PDP has lost the presidential election and they have now adopted a Plan B from their infamous Dubai Strategy Meeting to hijack the incoming National Assembly leadership by repeating their heinous coup in the previous Assembly. The All Progressives Congress APC must prevent a repeat of a situation where despite our overwhelming majority in the outgoing 8th Senate and House of Representatives, the National Assembly leadership was hijacked by saboteurs and their opposition PDP collaborators. Nigerians will recall how the outgoing 8th National Assembly under Bukola Saraki sabotaged the present administration in pursuit of selfish political interests of the PDP. But for the principled, focused and dogged governance of President Muhammadu Buhari, many of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded would have been completely sabotaged. The National Assembly is a strategic arm of government to achieve the Change Agenda for the country. I call on the Partys leadership to urgently set out mechanisms for the zoning/selection of our preferred principal officers who will join the President Buhari administration in implementing our Change Agenda. Aside being President, Muhammadu Buhari is a respected father figure among party members and supporters. His direct involvement and views will be very important as the Party works around the zoning/selection arrangements. Meanwhile, a member representing Alimosho federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Olufemi Adebanjo, has said that he was prevented by the speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, to air his views on the floor of the House for four years. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng reports that the lawmaker made the revelation during a courtesy visit to him in Lagos by the leadership of Alimosho Youth Development Association of Nigeria (AYDAN), led by its president, Comrade Lateef Ogungbade. Adebanjo, who won his reelection to the House of Representatives on Saturday, February 23, said his public support for the leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, during speakership tussle in 2015, was the genesis of Dogaras grouse against him. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng upgrades to serve you better. 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | BBNaija's Ifu Ennada issues strong warning to her male housekeeper for calling her 'dear' In what appears to be a case of trespassing and not keeping to boundaries, a BBNaija 2018 housemate took to her social media page to share her experience with an employee. Popular Big Brother Naija 2018 house mate Ifu Ennada, recently shared an encounter with her male housekeeper on her Instagram page. According to the reality star she had given an instruction to him to carry out an errand and he responded by using an endearing word with her. The employee responded saying ok dear Not sure if she heard him correctly, she went on to query if what she thought she heard was the same thing he had said. READ ALSO: BBNaija's Khloe stuns in new photos as she strikes a pose with her car Still not knowing that he was passing his boundary, the help had responded again by using the same word. Shocked by his audacity, she had immediately called him to order by reminding him that she was his employer and as such should not be using such words with her. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app See the post from her Instastory below: PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Instastory from Ifu Ennada's page. Photo: ifuennada Source: Instagram READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously gathered the report of an exchange between the former reality star and another housemate from the 2018 BBNaija show identified as Khloe. She had come after Ennada after she posted a complement on the Instagram page of ex-housemate Teddy A. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Church worker reveals why she wants to enter BBNaija | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | God drank tea with me, we have a relationship that is difficult to describe - Pastor Enoch Adeboye says during service Legit.ng had earlier reported that the general overseer of Redeemed Christain Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had celebrated his birthday on Saturday, March 2. The pastor had clocked 77 years old. In a recent news, it was gathered that the pastor had shared a story of how he had tea with God during breakfast a longtime ago. The pastor had shared the story during a church service to boost the faith of his congregation. On Friday, March 1, before the pastor's birthday, the church had held her monthly Special Holy Ghost Service which was ministered by the pastor at the Redemption Camp in Lagos. During the service, the pastor shared the story of how he had tea with God. According to him, he was in Ilorin, Kwara state, with his wife and they were both having breakfast when he noticed that the tea finished before it should have. READ ALSO: Video shows Pastor Mboro falling to his knees calling Alph Lukau fake The RCCG general overseer noted that he then heard the voice of God, telling him he had invited him to eat with them before they began eating. Pastor Adeboye also revealed that his relationship with God is a special one that is difficult to describe to others. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Read story below: "I want to beg you from the bottom of my heart cos this night is like no other night, I cant tell you all the details but there are things that God will tell me that I dare not share. I have shared some things before in the past that created a problem for meyou want me to tell you one of themif it is going to help your faith, I will tell you. I was in Ilorin years ago, we were having breakfast, and we have a pot then for always making tea. And if I remember correctly, there are five cups then in that pot, my wife and I usually use take it turn by turn till the final cup.so that day, i took one, she took one, i took one, she took one and then i put my hand in the pot to take my third one which is the last cup in the pot..but it was empty, I looked at her, I couldnt remember seeing her take the cup, so i wondered what happened to my tea and lo behold, i heard the voice of the lord loud and clear, saying son, when you prayed, you invited me to join you.ah..and i didsome of you dont know why i call him daddy, it is cos we have a relationship that is difficult to describethis is a special anniversary, my daddy is here to celebrate with us, prayers prayed tonight will be answered by fire. PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Watch below from 6:10 - 6:14 to hear the story: [embedded content] READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that man who was allegedly raised from the dead by South African pastor Alph Lukau has spoken out. The man Brighton Moyo had noted that the truth would come out eventually. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Pastor Adeboye, Imams Should Join Politics to Move Nigeria Forward - Olulade - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Pastor who predicted Buharis victory releases new prophecies - Prophet Emmanuel Omale called on Nigerians to rally in support for President Muhammadu Buhari - The religious leader has predicted that Buhari would win the elections - Omale said the second coming of Buhari will benefit the poor Prophet Emmanuel Omale who predicted the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election has again predicted that the second coming of Buhari will benefit the poor. In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, the Founder of Divine Hand of God International Ministries said it is is duty to tell people what he heard from God. READ ALSO: Atiku sets up legal team to help win mandate lost in 2019 presidential election He said: I am a prophet of God and by the grace of God, I have been prophesying from the age of eight. Since then till now, anything the Lord tells us comes to pass because we hear from the Him; we dont hear from men. We dont use people opinion to prophesy. There are thousands of people that call themselves prophets; pastors that use peoples opinions to prophesy. When we hear from the Lord, we tell people. It is left for people to take it. During our crossover, God told me that President Buhari would be re-elected; that Atiku Abubarkar will try but will not get elected as president. And God told me a lot of things about Buhari. It is He that anointed him to be our leader at this season and when God has annointed someone to be a leader or President, you cant change it. The world can hate him: the world can reject him but God has ordained him, and there is something about God. When He says that you would be this, no man can change it. The religious leader called on Nigerians to rally in support for Buhari saying his second term in office will benefit the poor. He said: God loves Nigeria so much. Nigeria is a big country, and is blessed for having people like us. God loves Nigeria and that is why he brought Buhari back. The coming back of Buhari is going to be for the good of the people: the poor people are going to be able to eat three times a day; there will be light; we are going to have infrastructure; and God is going to use Buhari to build a new Nigeria, to lay a solid foundation. My advice to Nigerians is that we support Buhari and pray for him. What you are against, you cannot benefit from. All the political parties whose candidates didnt win should start praying for Buhari so that his government can be a blessing to them. There is nothing they can do, its God that brought him. God said that its him, there is nothing that we can do. If you try to fight somebody that God has brought to the seat of power, you are fighting yourself. The person will be walking stronger and you will be going down. I will advise Christians, Muslims, Pagans and everybody to pray for Buhari and support his government because its God that brought him. No doubt about it. God told me that Buhari was coming back and His prophesy has come to pass." Omale also called on Atiku Abubakar to accept the outcome of the election describing it as a will of God. He said: Thank God that Atiku is a man who has seen life and who practices the religion that preaches Gods will. When Muslims lose something, it does not pain them the way Christians are pained when they lose something. Anything that happens, to them, is the will of God. He too, as a good Muslim and good leader, has seen that it is truly the will of God that Buhari remain in power. If God wants you to get something, even when you are not qualified for it, God will do something for you to get it. You saw that he put all the efforts, he tried, he campaigned, and did everything, before things turned out this way. My advice to him is that he should know it is the will of God. Although Nigerians love him so much, he should know it is the will of God for President Buhari to be in power. He should just call him and work together with him for the future of our country. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that a former military president of Nigeria, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) urged Atiku to work with President Buhari while congratulating him on his re-election for another four years. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app IBB praised the main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the PDP for behaving in a respectable manner throughout the electoral process. IBB issued a statement in Minna, the Niger state capital to convey his congratulations to Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Lady becomes first Nigerian female pilot with Qatar Airways - A Nigerian woman has broken another record as she becomes a pilot for famous airline - The woman has become the first Nigerian female pilot to work with Qatar Airways - Qatar Airways is the state-owned national carrier of Qatar Breaking barriers and making a name in the world is what Nigerians do best. Nigeria is filled with talented people who do their best in their various fields in other to be known for their great achievement A Nigerian woman has broken a barrier and paved the way for many Nigerian women in the aviation industry. The woman identified as Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has become the first female Nigerian pilot with Qatar Airways. The woman, who now works for the state-owned national carrier of Qatar, had taken to her Facebook page to thank God for his mercy. She wrote: "It is the Lord's doing and it's marvelous in my sight." Meet lady Adeola Ogunmola who became the first Nigerian female pilot with Qatar Airways Facebook source: Adeola Ogunmola Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Beautiful lady in police uniform goes viral with sweet photos PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app On seeing her post, friends and family members on the platform also celebrated her for the great achievement. They also thank God for granting her the abilities to achieve it. It was gathered that Sowemimo would be flying the Dreamliner Boeing 787 for the Qatar Airways. The lady was celebrated by friends and family Facebook source: Adeola Ogunmola Source: Facebook PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Here are some of the posts below: READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that a 30-year-old Nigerian lady who is known as a whizz at the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA), became the first black woman to get a doctorate degree in aerospace engineering. She was born into a family of six. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Talented Nigerian man with 28 skills says he did not learn from anybody (Amazing Story) - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Mahashivaratri: These photos depict Sadhus converged at Pashupatinath Temple The Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu wears a colourful look at this time of the year as hundreds of Sadhus (Hindu holy sage) converge on the premises of the Hindu shrine to observe the annual Mahashivaratri festival that falls on Monday. Home | News | General | Just in: Group to protest Buharis presidential win on Monday, March 4 The victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded presidential election has been described as the worst form of election robbery meted on the Nigerian people by the occupy Nigeria movement. Consequently, the group said it would protest against it on Monday, March 4 by 9:00am at the Unity Fountain, Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Muhammad Bash. According to him, votes were merely allotted in many parts of the northwest and northeast. READ ALSO: PDP governorship aspirant, 30,000 others dump party in Kaduna It is an insult to the Nigerian people that INEC would allow an election in which voters were intimidated, injured and even killed to stand. Daily Trust reports that the group also condemned alleged use of thugs to intimidate legitimate citizens from exercising their civic rights. Some thugs constituted themselves into a government in a society governed by laws, and prevented legitimate citizens from exercising their franchise, makes a mockery of the entire law enforcement system and to rub it in the government and its agencies have turned a blind eye to this situation. That INEC chose to go ahead with the show of shame at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja is a public blow on the sensibilities of the people of Nigeria, even when it had failed to provide credible explanations on what had actually transpired in the polling centers where ballot papers were snatched or burnt. Going further, the group urged all well-meaning Nigerians to join in a peaceful protest on Monday. The group in the statement argued that the protest was aimed for: Nigeria to make a clear statement to those who think they can trample on the will of Nigerians. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| - on Legit TV: [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Social media user cries out as young girl living with her sister goes missing (photos) In what appears to be a missing persons situation, a social media user has taken to her timeline to announce the search of young girl. The user identified as, Possible Oge, took to her Facebook timeline with a series of photographs of a young female. In the caption that accompanied her post, she disclosed the identity of the girl as Amaka, and also revealed that she had gone missing. According to Oge, the young girl lives with her (Oge) sister and had left the house which is situated at Okota, Lagos, at noon on February 2, 2019. She had failed to return to the house since she left which had resulted in the search for her whereabouts. Oge also said that Amaka had no other relatives in Lagos , adding that her followers should help her spread the news to as many people as they possibly could. READ ALSO: 20-year-old secondary school student goes missing after spending time with boyfriend She said: AMAKA IS MISSING!! This is Amaka, The girl living with my sis, she left the house since yesterday afternoon on her own, and hasn't been seen till now, please and please, guys, help me rebroadcast, Amaka doesn't have any other relation in Lagos, we have searched the whole Area to no avail, we stay in Okota, and our Shop in in Bucknor, Please help me broadcast!!!!! See her post below: PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Meanwhile, Legit.ng team has put together a new initiative aimed at ensuring public safety in the country. If you cannot trace the whereabouts of a friend or family member, kindly report it as soon as you can. You can contact us by dropping a message on Legit.ngs Facebook page. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Evans the Kidnapper Lands in Kirikiri Prison After First Appearance in Lagos Court | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Breaking: Gombe governor Dankwambo escapes attack, 2 official cars, FM station burnt The governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo, has reportedly escaped death as thugs were said to have attacked his convoy and set two cars ablaze. The development was revealed by the director of media of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council in the state, Dahiru Kera, on Sunday, March 3. Kera said the thugs attacked the governors convoy while he was on his way from the airport. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda According to him, two cars in the entourage were burnt. Vanguard reports that the thugs further attacked Lafiyawo community in the state and destroyed a private radio station, Progress FM, located along Gombe Airport road. Apart from these attacks, the thugs also burnt down eight shops in the community. The report said two vehicles were burnt in Jekadafari quarters of the state capital. The commissioner of police in the state, Bello Makwashi, confirmed the incident through the commands spokesperson, Mary Malum. He said investigations into the attack by the thugs had commenced. Malam Nuhu Usman, a resident of the community, reportedly said that the attackers started stoning the convoy on their way back from airport before setting eight shops on fire. He said the attack left many people injured and currently in the hospital. However, the managing director of the radio station destroyed, Alhaji Ibrahim Biu, accused some thugs allegedly attached to the governor of causing the attack. He reportedly said: Yesterday evening, thugs following the governors convoy from the airport attacked our office with weapons. They were throwing stones and making attempts to gain entrance into the compound. So I quickly called the commissioner of police and the director of State Security Service who responded swiftly. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app In the attack, one of our security men was wounded. It was very scary but we thank the security for their swift response. In his own reaction, Kera said the thugs that attacked the community and the radio station were not from PDP. According to him, the same thugs had initially attacked the governors convoy on his way from the airport with two cars razed. Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, the senatorial candidate for Gombe North, was defeated by Alhaji Saidu Alkali of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent National Assembly election. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gombe North senatorial district has five local government areas; Nafada, Kwami, Gombe, Dukku, and Funakaye. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. 2019 Election: Nigerians reveal what Buhari did to them| Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Breaking: PDP governorship aspirant, 30,000 others dump party in Kaduna - A PDP governorship aspirant in Kaduna, Mohammed Sani Sidi, dumps party just days to the election - Sidi, a former NEMA boss, leaves the party with at least 30,000 other top members in the state - The defecting members of the party say they are yet to decide with political organisation to pitch tents with Just about six days to the governorship election on March 9, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna has dumped the party. Mohammed Sani Sidi left the PDP with about 30,000 other members ahead of the election in which the APC is featuring Governor Nasir El-Rufai as its flag bearer. Sidi reportedly explained that he and his political associates as well as many other chieftains of the party across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna state have resigned their membership of the party. He said they were yet to indicate the party they are joining. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mass defection was revealed by Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, a close associate of Sani Sidi. It was learnt that Sidi, a top member of the PDP, conveyed his resignation in a letter sent to the Chairman of Unguwan Sarki Ward, Kaduna North local government Area. He wrote: Since the partys primaries held last year, characterized by manipulations, impunity, lack of internal democracy and intimidations of party delegates, the partys leadership at the state or the candidate has failed to genuinely engage all aspirants towards consultation and genuine reconciliation, an important task that would have helped the party forge ahead. Even more worrisome is the mutual mistrust that exists between the party leadership, the gubernatorial candidate and some of its members and above all the failure to showcase any meaningful blueprint and capacity on how to govern the state when voted into power. It is based on these reasons and after due consultation with my political associates across the 23 local government areas, l decided to resign my membership of the party henceforth. And l thank you most sincerely for your support while in the party, he said. It was further gathered that apart from Sani Sidi, a former NEMA boss, who submitted his membership card of the party to the ward leadership of the PDP alongside the letter, other prominent politicians with links to him across the state resigned their membership of the party. They include Peter Adada, former deputy speaker, Kaduna state House of Assembly, Rabiu Bako, former council chairman of Kaduna LGA and commissioner of information, Maiyaki also listed Kabiru Ballah, former state secretary, PDP, Sani Shahada, former member, KSHA, Nasiru Aliyu Damau, former council chairman of Kubau LGA and commissioner of LGA, Aliyu Saleh Ramin Kura, former council chairman of Lere LGA, Magaji Sadiq Hunkuyi, former council chairman of Kudan LGA. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Others are Ashiru K Bomo, former state chairman of AD and state official of the PDP, Sani Rabiu Bako, former House of Representative aspirants, Joe Machu, and Alhaji Adamu Kagarko, former permanent secretary, Abdulaziz Makama, former council chairman, Kagarko LGA, Bala Ahmed, former deputy chairman, Kagarko LGA, Umar Farouq Kafanchan, former SSA, political and chieftaincy, Barnabas Samuel, former SA, community mobilization, Shehu Tafarki, former party chairman, Kagarko LGA, Rufai Mustapha Ango (Maradona). Maiyaki said over 30,000 members of the Sani Sidi campaign steering committee and some executive members of the party at the local government and ward levels have begun the process of resigning their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Legit.ng earlier reported that the Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, all those who contested and the voters that conducted themselves peacefully during the elections on February 23. The congratulatory message came from the leader of JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Skoto, in a statement signed by the organisations secretary-general, Shaykh Khalid Abubakar, in Kaduna. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Just in: Finally, public officials allegedly engaged in amnesty fraud forfeit N732.85m to FG - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's application for the final forfeiture N732.85 million is granted by a Federal High Court - The forfeiture includes landed property belonging to the government officials who are defendants in the case - The EFCC names some of the defendants in the case that involved alleged fraud in the presidential amnesty programme office The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, March 1, granted its application for the final forfeiture of N732.85 million to the federal government. According to the anti-corruption agency, the forfeiture includes a plot of land situated at Katsina Road by Ogbomosho Road, Kaduna North local government, worth N190 million, all believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The EFCC said it was able to secure the final forfeiture, following the usage of non-conviction based forfeiture proceedings. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The forfeited sum of N732.85 million was stolen from the presidential amnesty programme office by 17 respondents to the suit. It listed the 17 respondents to the suit to include Paul Tarela Boroh, Hanafi Musa Moriki, Allotey Asari Edem, Joshua Ebiemeyefa. The others were named as D Wokoma, Bernard Ochoche, Cecilia Adebisi, Omofuma Faith, Olusegun Opeyemi Okungbure, Beggi Erepatei, Matti Abdul, Stella Nnamatti, Theresa Okoro, Chika Nsirim, Omonyemen Osunbor, Musa Odiringa, and Ode Martins Olajide. Justice Tsoho had granted an interim forfeiture order on November 16, 2018, following the ex-parte application filed by the lawyer to the EFCC, Abbah Mohammed. Investigations by the EFCC had uncovered the various sums of N124,000,000; N320,000,000; N68,768,916; N1,900,000; N5,125,000; N3,000,000; N28,595,755; N6,137,000; N40,000,000; N46,800,000; N16,315,000; N2,547,800; N3,900,000; N8,234,650; N6,800,000; N2,651,000, and N1,970,750 traced to the respondents, respectively. The ex-parte motion was brought before the court, pursuant to section 17 of the advance fee fraud and other related offences act 2006, and section 44(2)(B)(K) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), seeking for an order of interim forfeiture of the said sum and property. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Justice Tsoho had earlier granted interim forfeiture of the said N732.85 million, and ordered the EFCC to advertise the order in the newspapers for any interested party to show cause within 14 days on why the money should not be forfeited to the government. Following successful prosecution, the judge consequently ordered that the monies and property be permanently forfeited to the federal government, a statement by the agency said. Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos recently granted a bench warrant for the arrest of four officials of the Akwa Ibom state government at the instance of the EFCC. The warrant of arrest was issued on the attorney general and commissioner for justice in Akwa Ibom state, Uwemedimo Nwoko, the commissioner of finance, Nsikan Nkan, the accountant general, Mfon Udomah and a cashier of the state government, Margaret Ukpe, Channels TV reports. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Guru Maharaj Ji slams Nigerian prophets, says only he knows who will win elections| Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Goodbye rose of Matabeleland! Today is your burial I was blessed with your life on this earth. I was blessed with the friendship we shared together as young growing up girls, young women, mothers and comradeship in the struggle for independence of Zimbabwe. In playing together, laughing together, sharing together anything and everything that we had: sharing that deep love that decent mankind upholds: that love and adoration of one another cannot be bought by any gold worthy pieces. Indeed your presence in my life is ineffaceable forever. I can say with a painful heart: Sibare: Goodbye the rose of Bulawayo. It is wholly challenging to me to say I celebrate your passing: How do I celebrate this? My greatest consolation is that you now belong to heaven and the stars spell out your name: Soneni Ngwenya-Matiwaza. I realize now how blessed I was to have you in my life at that early age. My near companionship with you made me realize the importance of life and education. My eagerness to go back to school was enriched by my social interaction with you at that tender age. Soneni you were a no-nonsense girl, those were the values and principles I embraced as standard. You never realized in your life time how much of a star you presented to me to emulate from you those noblest ambitions: education as the key to success. I took this on board and am what I am today because of your gentle embrace, personal and emotional influence over my personal and academic development. I thank you very much for this dear Sibare. I remember the scripture union camp fires I was part of at your recommendations to my mother and Mpopoma Secondary School Christian Club: those bible verses that taught us what was good and bad. You initiated that for me to be part of it: what a blessing. I woke up from a school dropout nonentity to an academic because you set the bar measurement for me and I realized it. You never said it loud but your actions and gentle push and pull made me realize those noble goals of education first. I cannot even try to comprehend our disparaging social mobility differences, but you saw in me as a friend and you accepted me as I was: what a blessing! It is only now at your death I begin to appreciate your invaluable and indispensable rich friendship. What a blessing! I now can recall the beautiful lives we lived full of innocence we had at Tshabalala Township. It was a life full of joy and dreams, we dreamt because we were growing up girls. Is it not a wonder that all that we dreamt of, some of it came to fruition? On my part, when I think about happy childhood, it is that time we shared in Tshabalala before we separated, you went to train to be a teacher at United College of Education, and I left Rhodesia and went to Zambia to do secondary education much later in my life. We both needed to cross the River Zambezi did our lives get a roundabout turn: our personal values and principles we upheld high were immensely challenged. What I will remember most is the bread and sugar you bought me when I was at boarding school: Roma Secondary School in Lusaka - Zambia. We broke bread together to symbolize the friendship we shared for so long. This act of breaking bread was to me the punctuation of our deep and undying friendship: (when I think of it now) In Zambia we indeed found ourselves in most challenging and excruciation circumstances. But because our future goals were set long before we arrived in Zambia Lusaka, we were convinced that those life challenges will come to pass: those were vicissitudes in life we had to go through and overcome. It is only now that I realize the notion of "breaking bread" together: be it in the Christian sense or any other religious belief. I wonder still if both realized the symbol of such noble act when we did it back then. I am glad that we enjoyed motherhood together: saw our children growing up. On my doctoral attachment in Hwange our children Bakani and Nqobizitha were, just like us, inseparable: played and fought each other, we loved it, but because we were so immersed in our girl-talks, we continued as if we did not see them. We were busy with ourselves; had just reversed some of a life time decade's back. We had so much to talk about, so much to catch up with during absence from each other. We had managed to turn the clock several decades back and revisited those past times that comforted us most, not the rough life in Zambia, not the times you were in Kenya and I was in East Germany then, but it was those dreams we were able to dream apparently they came fruition to both of us: very rare. It must have been a way of thanking God for all he/she has done to us: our dream-prayers were heard. The vicissitudes of decades merely solidified our friendship. The last time we could see each other again it was in 2012: Premonitions! we spoke about death for some reason I can now comprehend this today the day of your burial 02.02.2019. Somehow I am now sure we were preparing ourselves for something to come. We were saying goodbye to each other. We spoke at length about one going first and leaving the other behind. Not remembering the actual words we said, we were kind of saying: when she dies please I should be present for her children so that they recognize the friendship we had. I remember saying the same to her; please hold my son Nqobizitha's hand at my funeral. The irony of it all is that, it is Soneni burial is today and I am seven thousand miles away from her last presence here on earth: away from her children I promised to hold their hands on her day of burial. Her last church burial service was this morning at Amphitheatre in Bulawayo and over 800 burial guests were present except me: I am visibly absent from the burial scenes except some flowers talking on my behalf saying "goodbye rose of Bulawayo. You now belong to heaven and the stars spell out your name: Soneni Ngwenya-Matiwaza." She was once a queen of Bulawayo at Jairos Jiri Fete. Soneni continued to be the queen of hearts to so many people in Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe and in SADC region. She held a senior position in the Methodist Church at SADC level. Her service to her husband, children and grandchildren is honourable. She died in honour and service to the Church and to mankind. She rose to the higher echelons of the Methodist Church and became a preacher of the Gospel truth. Soneni is a hard act to emulate from because she shone out since her girl-hood times till her death. Her kindness, mercy & compassion and her empathy to the neighbour will remain indelible, ineffaceable inerasable in our hearts. Sleep well giant of Bulawayo, the queen of our hearts, the rose of Bulawayo: sleep well dear Sibare wami! Iqhawe lama qhawe: you are counted as one of them! Home | World | Africa | Ndebele communal farmers evicted to pave way for shonas in Filabusi Threats by the government to evict communal farmers in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, to allegedly pave way for those from outside the province are stoking fears of tribal clashes in the area, analysts and political parties have warned. At least 54 Filabusi families occupying Hilton Farm in Matabeleland South's Insiza district have received "photocopied" notices of eviction allegedly signed by a Lands ministry official, one Musengi, giving them days to vacate the property and pave way for "some beneficiaries", with some coming from as far as Masvingo. The move has angered the local community, Bulawayo pressure groups and the militant Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) that have ganged up and also engaged lawyers to resist the evictions. According to a photocopied notice of eviction letter signed by Musengi addressed to Marko Mpofu, he and several families at Hilton Farm in Filabusi, who have been residing at the place for years, must vacate the place on the grounds that they are illegal settlers. "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," the letter, threatening arrests and prosecutions, reads in part. However, the threats have been met with anger amid claims villagers are being evicted to pave way for "outsiders", with analysts and political parties warning of tribal and ethnic land disputes. "The removal of locals from the land to make way for outsiders is not only an act of violent injustice, but a demonstration of failure on the part of government to ensure certainty in the land reform exercise. "It will not only flare up ethnic or tribal divisions in the country, but will itself stoke future tribal land wars in the country," commented Effie Ncube, a Bulawayo based analyst. "We are doing exactly what has been happening in central Africa leading to endless wars. "This will only lead to further divisions and destabilise the country. "What is troubling is the fact that the people being dispossessed of their land are survivors of the Gukurahundi atrocities that were committed at the superintendence of this government." The Democratic Republic of Congo's deadly land conflict started over grazing cows' pastures in 1999, when Hema herders evicted Lendu farmers after purchasing their land. Eviction grievances led both tribes to pick up weapons, leaving several thousands dead. "The land reform programme in Zimbabwe was skewed in the first place. "It was another episode of land grabs by foreigners, just like the colonialists did in the 1800s, especially in Matabeleland provinces where locals lost land to foreign Zanu-PF supporters," said Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa. "If nothing is done about this blatant land grab and displacement of people of Ndebele extraction, we are certain the next generation will revolt, plunging the country and particularly the region into a war over land similar to that of Palestine and Israel." The move to evict the villagers has been likened to the 2015 attempt by state spy Rodney Mashingaidze to grab Maleme Ranch in Matobo belonging to Peter Cunningham. Mashingaidze's manoeuvres sparked protests by the local community, chiefs, civic groups and opposition political parties, forcing him to back off. Former vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko had to intervene and ordered Mashingaidze to vacate the property. Mphoko directed the Lands ministry to identify a farm for him elsewhere and not Maleme, which also houses the Big Cave Camp and Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre. The farm was benefiting at least 800 families, with Cunningham being credited for assisting villagers with various projects, including poultry farming and teaching them modern farming methods. Maleme Ranch provides grazing pastures to the villagers, who were also given pieces of land by Cunningham to do their small-scale agricultural projects, like poultry. The militant MRP has since engaged Ncube-Tshabalala Attorneys to stay the Hilton Farm evictions with the party's spokesperson Njabulo Ngwenya telling The Standard that the secessionist party would not stand idle while "our people are being evicted". "As MRP we reiterate that the custodians of our land are chiefs and headmen," he said. "Any eviction notice in Matabeleland is expected to carry the signature of our traditional leadership. "We encourage the people of Matabeleland to unite and refuse to be bullied on their own land." Lawyers' engaged by the MRP have managed to stay the evictions, possible arrests and prosecutions pending resolution of the land dispute, according to a letter addressed to the Insiza district Lands office dated February 7 after threatening legal action. The lawyers are representing the 54 affected families. Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo, a Gwanda commentator, argued failure to devolve powers as guaranteed in the constitution is the reason why Matabeleland continues to witness "tribally fuelled" land disputes involving locals and government officials from other provinces. "It (devolution) is the only tool that we can use to fight the tribal segregation that our government has been ably executing since we attained independence," Fuzwayo said. "The spirit of devolution of power is very explicit that local people must be given priority in benefiting and having access to their local resources and so government needs to start believing in that now and practicing it even before devolution is implemented." Ncube, who is also the CEO of the Crown Council that is pushing for the restoration of the Ndebele monarchy, weighed in saying the planned evictions ran against the essence of devolution. "It is an act against the spirit and letter of the constitution," he said. "By taking the land away from the people, as an instruction coming from central government, the leaders are trampling on the principles of devolution of power which is supposed to devolve the ownership of the land and devolve education, among others, to the people in their localities." Zapu said it was high time political parties and the legislature created a law that forbids tribalism by the Zimbabwean state. "They must also expedite a proper land audit that is aimed at correcting the anomaly there is that the so-called land reform was just another episode of land grabs and dispossession of local people by foreign outsiders," Maphosa said. In separate interviews, the affected families said they would resist the evictions with Mpofu vowing, "I will die defending my land from being grabbed by outsiders." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Opposition supporters in Venezuela were set to take to the streets Monday after leader Juan Guaido called for mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro -- as the self-declared interim president prepared to return after a week touring Latin American allies. Guaido's reappearance in Venezuela would pose an immediate challenge to the embattled Maduro, who will have to decide whether to arrest him for defying a travel ban -- thereby provoking strong international condemnation -- or allow him to enter unmolested, which would undermine his authority, analyst say. "I'm announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT)," Guaido wrote Sunday on Twitter. Later, in a video with his wife shared on his social networks, he said if Maduro's government "tries to kidnap us ... it will be one of the last mistakes it makes." Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's interim president, did not say how or when he would return, though speculation is rife that a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota to Caracas is the most likely route. However, it is possible that he plans to slip across the border with Colombia in the same way he left Venezuela, claiming on that occasion that he had help from Maduro's military. Guaido held talks in Salinas -- a coastal resort town west of Guayaquil -- on Saturday with President Lenin Moreno, and met with Venezuelan refugees. On Sunday around noon he flew out of Salinas without revealing his destination. - 'Must return to Venezuela' - Defying a Venezuelan government travel ban, Guaido slipped across the border to Colombia on February 23 in an attempt to escort in truckloads of international humanitarian aid. While in Colombia he met with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence. The 35-year-old political newcomer then traveled to Brazil, where he met the country's new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday traveled to Paraguay and Argentina. In a poke at Maduro during his trip, he said he was invited to visit Chile later this month. Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, stunned the world on January 23 when he proclaimed himself Venezuela's acting president after the legislature declared Maduro a usurper and illegitimate over his May 2017 re-election, which was widely criticized as fraudulent. Maduro's new term in office began on January 10. Guaido wants to oust Maduro and set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. Guaido "must return to Venezuela and continue to press internally, as the international support is enormous," Eufracio Infante, 64, a Venezuelan lawyer and history teacher, told AFP. "We are facing a very delicate situation and every minute we are approaching an outcome we hope will not be catastrophic," he said. Maduro -- who retains the support of Venezuela's powerful military -- enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro's regime. The socialist president warned last week that Guaido should "respect the law" and would have to "face justice" if he returns to the country. Guaido said last week he intended to return to Venezuela "despite threats" to arrest him. The United States and other allies have expressed concern for his safety. "The challenge has gone very far," political analyst Luis Salamanca told AFP. "If he comes in and they stop him, it will generate strong internal reaction as well as internationally. Maduro is at permanent risk." European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned on Saturday that any measure that would put at risk Guaido's "freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions and meet the firm condemnation of international community." "Guaido has grown so much politically that they haven't been able to touch him, in the traditional ways ... which is to put him in prison or force him to flee the country, harass him," said Salamanca. Separately, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera sharply criticized UN rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet -- Chile's president 2006-2010 and 2014-2018 -- on Sunday for failing to condemn Maduro for human rights violations. Pinera, a Chilean billionaire elected president for the second time in 2017, is a key supporter of Guaido, and joined the Venezuelan opposition leader in Cucuta, Colombia last weekend in a failed attempt to send international humanitarian aid into Venezuela. Pinera said in an interview published in the El Mercurio newspaper that Bachelet's predecessor at the UN, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein of Jordan, "was much clearer, more categorical in condemning human rights abuses." Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido says he is returning to his country on Monday People use illegal trails to cross from the Venezuelan town of San Antonio de Tachira to Cucuta, Colombia near the Simon Bolivar international bridge, as the border remains closed on the Venezuelan side Demonstrators clash with Venezuelan National Guard forces on February 23, 2019 at the Simon Bolivar bridge across from Cucuta, Colombia after President Nicolas Maduro's government ordered the border with Colombia closed Troops with Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard were out in force on the border with Colombia on February 24 to prevent foreign aid from coming into the country UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has been criticized for failing to condemn human rights violations by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Identity crisis Having the tallest peaks in the world is not enough; fame and identity must be earned Nepals Badi community finds itself in a bottomless pit of despair In a one-room shack in Kholi village in the western district of Bajhang, Laxmi Badi and her four children shiver the night away in hopes of warmer sunshine the next day. At night, they light a fire and try to stay warm. During the day, they lie in the sun and try to recapture the sleep they lost the night before to freezing temperatures. People are fucking sick. I will never, ever talk shit about Britney/Gaga/Beyonce stans again. This shit is beyond. Reply Thread Link Someone last month asked me why I love Mariah so much instead of a "real musician" like MJ/David Bowie/whatever and I just told them she might not be a real musician to them, but she's also not a real pedophile and that's a little more important. Reply Parent Thread Link People like that are so ignorant. She writes and arranges all her own music, sings, and plays piano. She has a stronger basis in classical music than either of those men could dream of having in life or death. Like...name a more skilled technical pop vocalist than Mariah Carey in her prime? There are none. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao what the fuck at mariah not being a real musician. vocals are just as much an instrument as a guitar or piano. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Doesn't Mariah have the same vocal range as Freddie Mercury? Which is pretty rare for singers, apparently. But she's a woman and wasn't around in the 70s and 80s so I guess she's doomed to not be seen as a 'real' singer/musician. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link HA, tell 'em. Standom, especially for musicians, is a crazy and wild place. Reply Parent Thread Link Okay but after the whole BrexIt Bus thing, do these busses ever display anything that has a modicum of truth or is this some sort of their fanfiction written on the side of public transportation could mean anything (that's not true)? Reply Thread Link what the absolute fuck? can anyone just buy a bus ad? i guess that's the point but this is fucking nuts Reply Thread Link If you have to proclaim your innocence on a bus, youre probably not innocent. Reply Thread Link exactly Reply Parent Thread Link anyway when tf is leaving neverland leaking? i need to see it Reply Thread Link its airing tomorrow and monday. Reply Parent Thread Link How sad is your life to donate money to this? Reply Thread Link mj stans are psychotic. lock em up. Reply Thread Link I was reading the buzzfeed articles about the new doc and the comments were disgusting. Reply Thread Link Save for ONTD I really haven't seen a comments section on this story that wasn't a total dumpster fire. Reply Parent Thread Link I clicked the trending story on Twitter against my better judgement and was instantly repulsed. Reply Parent Thread Link his insane rabid fans are swarming the entire internet, they're are fucking disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link The hills that people choose to die on. Reply Thread Link his stans are delusional. it's sick the things they say and how the attack his victims Reply Thread Link Ive read a lot of reviews that came out in the last few days and like. I dont think any of us are ready for the fallout of this documentary Reply Thread Link I really think that's true. cause even those who believed he was guilty are feeling shook, from the reviews. and i read several reviews and frankly i was shook. it just goes to a different level between knowing he was guilty and having it spelled out like it was. i think it's that it rips away the curtain and won't let your mind escape to not think of details. and no victim should have to spell it out to the public, that's another kettle of fish, it simply elevates it to a place where i don't even know how to describe it. i always believed these guys. but even believing he was guilty we had no idea just how horrible and evil, all of this really was. it's like Going Clear. We all knew shit was bad, but we had no idea how bad it could get. At the risk of giving any entertainment corporation props, HBO has brought it with a few docs and been fearless about the fallout. Reply Parent Thread Link Disgusting Reply Thread Link I wasn't ever a fan of him or his music so much. I think we all had a few songs we could admit were good, but for myself, i was such a little kid when shit started to decline in terms of his career and public life, that i was always divorced a bit from it. i grew up with whacko jacko. i always figured, even as a kid, he was guilty as hell because at bare minimum it's weird as fuck for a total stranger to shower gifts, affection, money and then sleep in the same bed as your child. even if you could somehow suspend belief and say nothing happened in that bed, that's pretty goddamn weird, and you'd have to be really naive to think that something couldn't have happened. As has been alleged. Repeatedly. For decades. So i always figured it was true. But there was something about reading reviews where they spelled out in detail, the graphic descriptions of abuse that Wade and forgive I don't recall his name, the other gentleman suffered. It really does take it to a whole new level. I have felt sick since then. Always believed his victims, truly. But there is this weird thing of idk, being an adult, the time and place we are in, i'm not sure. I know almost all reviewers said it gut punched them as well, even those who figured he was guilty. but having it spelled out, it just takes it to a whole new level. I hope those guys can get their cases against the estate opened on appeal. I hope the tide turns a bit, in terms of the public. Plenty still won't care, but i don't think he's going to be remembered 20-30 years from now remotely with the almost reverence he still holds today. i don't think he will be held as high Monday morning. But for the rest it's a slow slide toward changing perceptions. I think this film will help both time tables. It's that whole thing of you always knew it was bad, but you'd never had it spelled out how bad. All universal goodness and blessings to the victims of Michael Jackson. Reply Thread Link Well said. But the tide is going to turn slowly. It doesn't help the fact that both accusers have defended him in the past. General public lacks empathy and are not well read about what SA survivors go through and how their experiences are different. They also simplify the case to ''fame and money''. What does that mean? James and Wade are being threatened, harassed and insulted every single day and it's going to get worse after the documentary airs. Reply Parent Thread Link ia with this when you've no firsthand experience with it i think csa is such a grotesque concept your brain just protects you from it and doesn't allow you to like even go there mentally. the reviews i've read of the things the survivors said left me fully shook. Reply Parent Thread Link fucking hell Brits'll put anyshit on the side of a bus Reply Thread Link After the recovery in global oil and gas drilling seen in 2018, this year the pace of drilling growth around the world is set to step up, albeit moderately, analysts at World Oil forecast. The undisputed leader in drilling activity last year was the United States, with shale production surging, and it will continue to lead growth in global drilling activity in 2019 as well. Excluding the United States, the worlds drilling activity is set to increase by 2.5 percent to 46,209 wells expected to be drilled in 2019, following more modest 1.6-percent growth in drilling in 2018, World Oil has estimated. Source: World Oil World Oil analysts have forecast drilling activity across eight major regions, in which they have included selected countries, typically the biggest oil and gas producers in each of those regions. The eight regions are North America excluding the U.S, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union (FSU), Africa, the Middle East, Far East/South Asia, and South Pacific. All but one of those eight regions are expected to see a higher number of wells drilled this year compared to 2018. The only exception would be the Middle East, where drilling activity is set to slightly decline by 0.5 percent. Nevertheless, World Oil sees 2019 as a very strong year for the major producers in the Middle East. Another key takeaway from the forecasts is that growth in offshore oil and gas drilling will outpace the overall global drilling market. While total global drilling activityexcluding the U.S.is set to rise by 2.5 percent this year, offshore drilling is expected to grow by just over 6 percent to 2,204 wells. The most active offshore drilling areas will include East Canada, Brazil, Norway, Angola, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, China, and India, according to World Oil. Last month, research firm Rystad Energy said that global deepwater liquid production is set to jump by 700,000 bpd from 2018 to reach a record-high of 10.3 million bpd in 2019 thanks to new fields coming on stream in Brazil and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. In addition to Brazil and the United States, the other biggest deepwater producers will be Angola, Norway, and Nigeria, according to Rystad. Related: U.S. Oil Rig Count Falls As Prices Slide Breaking down drilling activity by the eight main regions, World Oil finds that North America, including Canada and Mexico and excluding the U.S., will see activity rise by 5.1 percent this year. Drilling in Canada is expected to remain flat this year as the oil industry is implementing a production cut mandated by the province of Alberta in order to cope with the glut amid constrained takeaway capacity. Mexicos rig count has increased over the past few months, and although new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is halting tenders for new oil and gas blocks and reviewing all previous contracts with foreign firms, there is still hope that he would not entirely backtrack on his predecessors energy reform, World Oil reckons. South America will see drilling up by just 1.7 percent this year, with hot spots Brazil and Guyana offsetting a massive 15.8 percent decline in Venezuela and weaker Argentina, where the economic slump continues. Western Europes drilling is forecast to increase by 3.9 percent, driven by high activity offshore Norway and UK drilling growing at a pace similar to the 5.7 percent rise in 2018. Eastern Europe/FSU activity is set to rise by 1.4 percent this year after 4.3 percent growth last year, which was driven by record Russian production thanks to ramp-ups from its biggest oil producer Rosneft. Drilling in Africa is expected to grow at the fastest pace among all regions, by 8.7 percent, with Angola and Egypt leading the way. Middle East activity is set for a 0.5-percent drop, but top OPEC producers Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE are all set for growthby 5.4 percent, 1 percent, and 2.5 percent, respectively. The Far East/South Asia will see drilling up 2.6 percent, following a 12-percent jump in 2018, with Chinese drilling expected up by 2.5 percent as major energy companies aim to boost domestic oil and gas production. In the South Pacific, drilling will increase by 3 percent, with Australian activity up 2 percent, according to World Oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Venezuela is scrambling to find buyers for its oil, hoping to keep revenue streams alive even as Maduro loses control of Citgo. The U.S.-based subsidiary of PDVSA officially severed ties with its parent company in order to comply with U.S. sanctions, according to Reuters. The American government is trying to shift control of Citgo into the hands of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Citgo has stopped sending payments to PDVSA, and Gauido has appointed a new board to the company. Some Venezuelan employees working at Citgo in the U.S. returned back to Caracas. Citgo is one of the major prizes that the U.S. has tried to wrestle away from Maduro as part of the American regime change campaign in Venezuela. Citgo is the eight largest refiner in the U.S. at 750,000 bpd, and it owns pipelines and retail gasoline stations. The company is a key source of revenue for the Venezuelan government. Aside from being based in the U.S., the Trump administration had some extra leverage over Citgo. The company needs to refinance some of its debt, but couldnt do so if it was to be smothered by sanctions. We have been told that we have to organize the house by Feb. 26 to avoid conflicts with sanctions, a source told Reuters. Citgos bonds have gyrated in value due to the uncertainty over how its credit rollover would be handled. The Trump administration had been holding off creditors, who, like vultures, have been swarming around Citgo, readying for a default amid the political chaos. Guaido and the Trump administration wanted Citgo to remain intact, free of creditor actions, so that it would provide a source of revenue for the fledgling government after the ouster of Maduro. The severing of Citgo from PDVSA was a crucial element in keeping Citgo alive. Meanwhile, back in Venezuela, Maduro and PDVSA are trying to keep their oil exports from collapsing, despite the tightening vice of American economic and political (and potentially military) warfare. Venezuela is aiming to send oil shipments to India and Europe, the Wall Street Journal reports, although the discounts necessary to secure purchases from worried buyers might mean that the countrys revenues from the sales are vastly diminished. PDVSAs head Manuel Quevedo said that exports remain steady at 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d), although the WSJ notes that private estimates from shipping tracking firm Kpler put the figure at 1.1 mb/d. Related: Thailand Pivots To Renewables As Gas Dries Up Venezuela has had some modest success. Exports to India rose modestly by 40,000 bpd in February. The WSJ reports that Spain, Sweden and the UK continue to import oil from Venezuela. However, the problems are significant and mounting. Some of those shipments are sent in return for investment in Venezuela, and thus, are not earning hard currency. Moreover, somewhat surprisingly, exports to China declined by 155,000 bpd in February, the WSJ reports. China was expected to be one of the few countries that might pick up extra cargoes following U.S. sanctions, but that has apparently not yet happened. Other buyers are staying away. Eni has stopped buying oil from Venezuela, along with other European oil majors. Even the Russian privately owned oil company Lukoil ended its oil-for-products trade with Venezuela. One of the problems for PDVSA is the quality of its oil. The heavy grade of Venezuelan oil can only be refined in certain places. The U.S. Gulf Coast was one of the few sources of major heavy oil refining capacity. Not just Citgos refineries, but also those of Valero and Chevron. With sales to the U.S. Gulf Coast drastically down, its tricky finding other buyers for so much heavy oil. At the same time, Maduro has defied the odds and has so far fended off the Venezuelan opposition, the U.S. government and the combined political attacks from governments in most of Latin America and Europe. He is still hanging on to power, and for now, still exporting oil, even as shipments are expected to decline. Surely the Trump administration will decide to escalate the situation in an effort to topple him, but so far the oil embargo has not succeeded. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Welcome to 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow!! Some posts may be seen as offensive. Posting is at 10AM, Noon and 2PM CST daily. Up to 12 days of posts on the main page. The archives have more. You can forward posts by clicking on the envelope at the bottom of the post. Enjoy your stay! *** If you need to contact me, or have a copyright issue, please use the "Contact The Wizard" form on the left side of 'OZ'. Original source and author is cited and credited in each post where possible. *** From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has removed over 650,000 campaign materials all over Metro Manila.NCRPO Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar urged the candidates to also do their TO coincide with March as Womens Month and to highlight women empowerment, two women will assume as regional director and assistant regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 on Monday, March 4. They are Salome Mimi Siaton and Lilia Estillore. The two took their oaths of office in Manila last week. Siaton was the assistant director of Dole 6 (Western Visayas) with the rank of Director 3. As Dole 7 director, she will automatically be the chairperson of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 7. Estillore, on the other hand, started at Dole 7 as a chief accountant before she became chief of inspection, chief of labor relations, chief of technical services support division, director 2 of Tricity Field Office and intermittent OIC Dole 7 assistant director for four years. Estillore, as assistant director of Dole 7, has the rank of Director 3. Outgoing Dole 7 Director Johnson Canete will be posted in Qatar to serve overseas Filipino workers, while OIC Assistant Director Roy Buenafe was ordered to go back to his original position as med-arbiter after Estillore was permanently appointed to the post. Estillore said they will soon hold capacity building services with all Dole 7 officials and personnel and stakeholders consultations in lieu of the ISO 2015. She said they will also meet with members of the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises to help them comply with the law. (EOB) Nepali park officials tortured a man to death. Then, the government and the World Wide Fund for Nature rewarded them. Over the years, there have been several reported incidents of forest rangers and army soldiers engaging in abuse and torture of members of indigenous groups who live around the protected areas. Police rescue two women from Nepal-India border; three human traffickers arrested Police have rescued two women from Nepal-India border while they were being trafficked to India from Karnalipur of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-8 in Bardiya district on Sunday. 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 Arjun Poudel is a health reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Before joining the Post, he worked for Sagarmatha Television, Naya Patrika, Republica and The Himalayan Times. Rights activists say punishment to Godamchaur A rapists good step, but too little, too late On Friday, the Lalitpur District Court sentenced three persons to jail for 10 years each and slapped them with Rs300,000 compensation for perpetrating a gang-rape on a 21-year-old girl in Godamchaur, south of Lalitpur. State-announced ban on marijuana ineffective Although the Pashupati Area Development Trust has announced to strictly ban illegal trade and consumption of marijuana for commoners during the Mahashivaratri festival, the ban is not being effectively followed. The fate of dream Rupesh was on his way to becoming a doctor. He was pursuing his bachelors degree in medicine, one of the most costly degrees one could pursue. 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Nearly 2,000 workers at a General Electric plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, went on strike after workers union accused the plants new owneralso its former rivalof playing down and dirty with wages, benefits and working conditions. Something like this hasnt happened in the U.S. manufacturing sector in three years. It hasnt happened at this particular plant in 50 years. The incoming owner of the factory, Wabtec Corporation, just closed an $11-billion merger deal with GEs transportation division. The deal includes the Pennsylvania plant, which has been building train locomotives for decades. The combined company, which has its headquarters in Pittsburgh and its global freight headquarters in Chicago, has 27,000 employees and operates in 50 countries. The workers union said it had failed to secure a temporary extension of their GE contract with Wabtec, leading them to authorize the strike just one day after the merger. According to the union, things were better before the merger: workers were satisfied with conditions in the factory and the average pay of $35 an hour. And while they have no problem working overtime for the new owners, its got to be voluntary. But the biggest beef was about hiring new employees for lower pay. In fact, according to the union, the new owners were planning to make new hires for around 38 percent lower wages, which could create divisions within the union. Related: China Just Lost Nearly 200 Billionaires Wabtec says that the new workers would be hired at a competitive wage and that a two-tier wage system is necessary to compete in the global market. No one ever benefits from a walkout, the company said. Employees lose wages and the companys ability to deliver products to customers on time is jeopardized. Wabtec looks forward to returning to normal operations. The fact is that GE had a very bad 2018 with stock plunging 56 percentand it wasnt the first time in recent years thats investors have been burned. But since the start of 2019, things have been looking up for GE. Its stock has jumped nearly 47 percent since the start of the year, and investors have been feeling optimistic about GEs earnings and the deals its cut on asset sales so farsales that will help it fix its horrendous balance sheet after years of poor decision-making and overpriced asset buys. The biggest mess-up was GEs $42-billion stock buybackan ill-thought-out investment in a stock that continued to plunge. It also racked up a pile of debt that left it with $115 billion worth of long-term liabilities and not enough revenue-generating capacity to justify that. It all cost two CEOs their jobs. The latest GE CEO, Larry Culp isnt faring that well, eithertruth be toldbut he inherited an ominous task. To pay down the debt, the company previously pledged to raise around $30 billion in cash from asset sales. And earlier this week, it announced the sale of its biopharmaceutical business to Danaher for $21 billion in cash, the company managed by Culp for more than a decade before joining GE in October. It also said last year that it would spin off GE Healthcare , but it no longer needs to complete an IPO of its healthcare unit after selling its biopharma assets. It also announced to sell off its stake in oil services group Baker Hughes, and even get rid of its light-bulb division. By David Craggen for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Sergiy P. Usatyuk (20), from Orland Park, Illinois pleaded guilty for owning, administrating, and supporting an illegal DDo-for-hire service. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the booting service operated by Sergiy P. Usatyuk (20) was used to carry out millions of distributed denial of service attacks. Usatyuk developed and operated other DDoS-for-hire services with a co-conspirator between August 2015 and November 2017. An Orland Park, Illinois man pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to cause damage to internet-connected computers for his role in owning, administering, and supporting illegal booter services that launched millions of illegal DDoS attacks against victim computer systems in the United States and elsewhere. reads a press release published by the DoJ. The list of illegal DDoS-for-hire services operated by the man includes ExoStress.in ( ExoStresser ), QuezStresser.com, Betabooter.com ( Betabooter ), Databooter.com, Instabooter.com, Polystress.com, and Zstress.net. ExoStresser. The services were involved in million of attacks, for example as of Sept. 12, 2017, an advertising on the ExoStresser website ( exostress .in) said that the booter service alone had launched 1,367,610 DDoS attacks, and caused targeted victim computer systems to suffer 109,186.4 hours of network downtime. According to the authorities, Betabooter was used by one of the subscribers to the service in November 2016 to hit the school district in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, with a series of DDoS attacks. The attacks disrupted the computer systems of 17 organizations that shared the same infrastructure, including other school districts, the county government, the countys career and technology centers, and a Catholic Diocese in the area. DDoS-for-hire service was a profitable business for Usatyuk and its co-conspirator that reportedly made over $550,000 from charging subscriber fees to paying customers of their booter services, as well as from selling advertising space to other booter operators. For over two years, Sergiy Usatyuk conspired to launch millions of DDoS attacks that paralyzed the computer systems of U.S. organizations for more than 100,000 hours, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in protecting the American public by prosecuting the cybercriminals responsible for these sophisticated and harmful schemes. According to the DoJ, over the past five years, the abuse of booter and stresser services to launch DDoS attacks was increased allowing a growing number of threat actors to enter in the cybercrime ecosystem. In January, Europol and law enforcement agencies worldwide, announced they are investigating DDoS-for-hire services and hunting users that paid them to carry out cyber attacks. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs DDoS-for-hire, cybercrime) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On The moment of truth Dalits see converting to Christianity as an escape from the caste system "The Lingering Stench of Marijuana Prohibition: People with pot records continue to suffer, even in places where their crimes are no longer crimes." | Main | Spotlighting the role of prosecutors as the death penalty fades away in Pennsylvania The title of this post is the title of this notable new paper now available via SSRN authored by Paul Robinson. Here is its abstract: In the first change to the Model Penal Code since its promulgation in 1962, the American Law Institute in 2017 set blameworthiness proportionality as the dominant distributive principle for criminal punishment. Empirical studies suggest that this is in fact the principle that ordinary people use in assessing proper punishment. Its adoption as the governing distributive principle makes good sense because it promotes not only the classic desert retributivism of moral philosophers but also crime-control utilitarianism, by enhancing the criminal laws moral credibility with the community and thereby promoting deference, compliance, acquiescence, and internalization of its norms, rather than suffering the resistance and subversion that is provoked by perceived violations of blameworthiness proportionality. Such a principle has been commonly used as the basis for criticizing improper aggravations, such as the doctrines of felony murder and three strikes, but the principle also logically requires recognizing a full range of deserved mitigations, not as a matter of grace or forgiveness but as a matter of entitlement. And given ordinary peoples nuanced judgments about blameworthiness proportionality, maintaining moral credibility with the community requires that the criminal law adopt an equally nuanced system of mitigations. Such a nuanced system ideally would include reform of a wide variety of current law doctrines as well as, especially in the absence of such specific reforms, adoption of a general mitigation provision that aims for blameworthiness proportionality in all cases. Such a general mitigation ought not be limited to cases of heat of passion or limited to cases of murder, as todays liability rules commonly provide. It ought to be available whenever the offense circumstances and the offenders situation and capacities meaningfully reduce the offenders blameworthiness, as long as giving the mitigation does not specially undermine community norms. "Mitigations: The Forgotten Side of the Proportionality Principle" | Main | Notable new materials from the Drug Policy Alliance on drug decriminalization in Portugal March 2, 2019 Spotlighting the role of prosecutors as the death penalty fades away in Pennsylvania This lengthy local article, headlined "Death penalty has fallen out of favor with Pennsylvania prosecutors," reports on the steady decline in capital prosecutions and death sentences in the Keystone state in recent decades. Here are excerpts: Pennsylvanias death penalty is, by all accounts, embattled. There hasnt been an execution in two decades, even before Gov. Tom Wolf imposed a moratorium on them in 2015. The courts have long scrutinized death sentences, throwing out scores of them at appeal. And juries have become more hesitant to impose the states ultimate punishment. A long-awaited legislative study recently called for a host of reforms. But a surprising factor is quietly contributing to the death penaltys decline in Pennsylvania: Prosecutors are increasingly reluctant to pursue capital murder charges, given the high financial cost and lengthy legal battles they guarantee, and the improbability the sentences will ultimately be carried out. In 2004, 40 percent of murder convictions in Pennsylvania started as death-penalty cases, according to a review of state data by The Morning Call. By 2017, that number had dropped more than threefold, to 12 percent of murder convictions, the lowest rate in 14 years.... The Morning Calls figures offer a first accounting of the waning frequency with which the states 67 elected district attorneys pursue capital punishment, data that state government does not track. For its analysis, the newspaper reviewed 4,184 murder convictions in Pennsylvania from 2004 to 2017, using docket sheets, appellate court records and local media accounts to determine whether they were ever listed as capital cases.... The findings showed that in 2004, there were 309 murder convictions statewide, of which 123 started as death-penalty prosecutions. In 2017, there were 271 murder convictions, of which 33 saw the filing of capital charges. The downward trend held generally year to year, though there were occasional bumps. It was driven by Philadelphia, which has long dominated Pennsylvanias death-penalty cases, but was also seen in the rest of the state, though some individual counties such as Bucks, Chester and Lancaster saw little or no change. And the numbers should only fall further in the coming years, amid the tenure of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a self-described progressive who took office in 2018 vowing to never pursue the death penalty.... Death sentences are falling across the nation, said Robert Dunham, a former federal public defender in Pennsylvania who now heads the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. Pennsylvania reflects that pattern, Dunham said. What were seeing is that prosecutors have realized these cases are likely to not result in a death sentence.... Amid that, the governors moratorium remains in effect, with little movement in the Legislature to take up capital punishment. Wolf tied his decision to a Senate-commissioned report on the death penalty, a long-delayed study that was released in June after seven years of preparation. The report offered a raft of potential reforms, including calls for a state-funded capital defenders office, and more protections to prevent the execution of the mentally ill and intellectually disabled. Wolf will continue blocking executions until the death penaltys problems are corrected, said J.J. Abbott, a spokesman for the governor. He looks forward to working with the General Assembly on their plans to address the report and its recommendations for legislative changes, all of which he believes should be debated and considered, Abbott said in a prepared statement. Whether there is momentum to take up the death penalty either to repeal it or to fix it with an eye to resuming executions remains unclear. State Rep. Rob Kauffman, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he is open to re-examining capital punishment, considering its cost to taxpayers and the lack of executions. But he said it just isnt a big topic in Harrisburg. Theres a lot that has been talked about regarding criminal justice reform, but this is not one of those front-burner issues, said Kauffman, R-Franklin. In the meantime, the number of inmates on death row continues to fall, as do the number of new death sentences. In 2018, juries added only one killer to death row in Pennsylvania. March 2, 2019 at 11:42 PM | Permalink Comments In a message dated 3/1/2019 10:02:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, sharpjfa@aol.com writes: To: Riley Yates, reporter, The Morning Call RE: Death penalty has fallen out of favor with Pennsylvania prosecutors, Riley Yates, The Morning Call, 2/28/19 https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-pennsylvania-death-penalty-prosecutors-20190219-story.html From: Dudley Sharp. pro death penalty expert, former opponent Dear Riley: Why would Pa. prosecutors seek the death penalty? Really. Why? They know Pa judges will not allow executions. You could say that Pa judges are, intentionally, killing the death penalty and you would be correct. Why would prosecutors seek the death penalty when Pa judges have, never, allowed an execution, after the end of appeals, but only 3 executions when the murderers chose to waive appeals and request execution, over a 45 year period? Gov. Wolf just made official what the judges had been, obviously, doing for decades. Is this a secret? Since 1976, Virginia has executed 112 murderers within 7 years of full appeals. Virginia's last execution was after 5 years of full appeals. How? Responsible management. Pretty basic. The judges are the case managers. IF Pa. judges were in charge of ruling on abortion requests or on pot hole fixes (see The Onion), and acted in this fashion, the media and citizens would be outraged and demanding hearings and firings of the judges. Yes? Read below, for more. Sincerely, Dudley Sharp, pro death penalty expert Judges Responsible For Grossly Uneven Executions https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/11/judges-responsible-for-grossly-uneven.html Judges as Jackasses https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2016/11/judges-as-jackasses_4.html Posted by: Dudley Sharp | Mar 3, 2019 6:31:37 AM Choices depend on likely outcomes. In many states, it can take almost two decades to carry out a death sentence (if you can ever carry out a death sentence). Under those conditions, death and lwop are essentially the same outcome. And the current extra procedures surrounding the death penalty require prosecutors to expend a lot of resources to get and keep a death sentence. Under those conditions, a lot of prosecutors are deciding that the benefits to the public of getting a nominal death sentence do not outweigh the costs. However, things are changing. Many of the same folks who opposed the death penalty are trying to get rid of life without parole (either by expressly removing it or through the backdoor of a separate statute saying that, notwithstanding the "without parole" language in the sentencing statute, inmates serving an lwop sentence can still be granted parole). Simultaneously, they are trying to get rid of the parole restrictions on potential lesser charges as well. If the options are a nominal death sentence (for practical purposes an lwop sentence) or eligibility for release in 10-15 years, the extra effort to get death may start making sense again. Posted by: tmm | Mar 4, 2019 2:33:55 PM Post a comment Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika pledged Sunday not to serve a full term if re-elected at April polls after huge protests against the bid to extend his 20 years in power. The ailing leader, who suffered a stroke in 2013, vowed in a letter read out on state television to organise a "national conference" that would set a date for early polls which he would not contest. "I pledge not to be a candidate in that election which will ensure I am succeeded in undeniable conditions of serenity, freedom and transparency," the letter read. "I listened and heard the cry from the hearts of protesters and in particular the thousands of young people who questioned me about the future of our homeland", it said. Bouteflika's bid to placate demonstrators came after tens of thousands of Algerians took to the streets against his bid for a fifth term in office in the biggest challenge to the authorities in years. Just after the announcement his campaign director formally submitted his candidacy for the April 18 poll ahead of a midnight (2300 GMT) Sunday deadline. Following that move a fresh demonstration erupted in central Algiers, and elsewhere in the country, with several hundred young people marching in the streets still opposed to Bouteflika's candidacy. Bouteflika remains in Switzerland where he has been for a week undergoing what the presidency describes as "routine medical tests", but there was no legal requirement for him to submit his candidacy in person. The veteran leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since his stroke. - Students protest - Hundreds of students staged new demonstrations against the president on Sunday in Algiers and other cities, two days after the tens of thousands of protesters thronged the country. Chanting "Bouteflika go away", the students rallied near the main city centre campus of the University of Algiers, which was cordoned off by police, AFP journalists said, while others demonstrated at other campuses. Police fired water cannon to prevent protesters from reaching the Constitutional Council, where presidential bids were formally lodged, security sources said. Rallies inside and outside campuses in the northeastern city of Annaba also drew hundreds chanting anti-Bouteflika slogans, a local journalist said on condition of anonymity. The TSA news website reported other protests in Algeria's second and third cities, Oran and Constantine. Bouteflika's announcement in February that he would seek another five-year term despite his failing health has unleashed pent-up frustrations in the North African country. The presidency has not detailed when he will return from the Geneva hospital. On Saturday, Bouteflika sacked his campaign manager Abdelmalek Sellal, a former premier who successfully oversaw the president's past three re-election bids, state media said, without giving a reason. Sellal was replaced by Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalane. Alongside Bouteflika, several other candidates have registered, including prominent retired general Ali Ghediri, who was the first to announce he would run and has promised change. A Sunday editorial in El-Moudjahid newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said protesters would be "disappointed" in their campaign to force Bouteflika to pull out of the April election. - Tear gas and stones - On Friday, clashes erupted between police and protesters in Algiers as tens of thousands of people took to the streets. Riot police used tear gas and batons to keep some protesters from marching on the Government Palace which houses the prime minister's office. According to a police toll, 56 police officers and seven demonstrators were hurt and 45 alleged stone-throwers were arrested in Algiers. Bouteflika has been in power since 1999, initially gaining respect from many for his role in ending a civil war that officials say killed nearly 200,000 people. Authorities have warned that the protests risk dragging Algeria into instability, comparing the rallies to those that sparked Syria's ongoing war. Protesters have been mobilised by calls on social media, as many young Algerians struggle to find jobs in a country where half the population is under 30. In France, Algeria's former colonial power, several thousand people on Sunday joined anti-Bouteflika rallies in Paris, Marseilles and other cities. "Out out," shouted crowds in the Place de la Republique, central Paris, where protesters waved placards and some wrapped themselves in Algerian flags. Hundreds of people gathered in Paris on March 3 to protest President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas decision to run for a fifth term in office, local media reported. France Info said 6,000 people joined the protest at Place de la Republique. Storyful has not independently verified this estimate. The deadline for presidential election applications was due to close at midnight on Sunday, state media said. President Bouteflika, a veteran of Algerias war of independence from 1954 to 1962, turned 82 on Saturday and has suffered from ill health in recent years. He has been in office since 1999. The state-run Algerian Press Agency (APS) reported that one person died and 183 people were injured during protests in Algeria on March 1. The agency also reported that 56 police officers were injured in Algiers. Credit: Sihem Ben via Storyful North Korea has no economic future if it has nuclear weapons - Trump WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises. "North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don't have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong." According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two "made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training programme reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the Pentagon said. South Korea's military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning to visit the United States in the coming week to meet U.S. officials to discuss the second U.S.-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the U.S. and South Korea had agreed to "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." U.S. officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. South Korea's joint Chiefs of Staff and South Korea-United States Combined Forces Command said on Sunday that the two countries will conduct a military exercise from March 4 to 12. Story continues The exercise,Dong Maeng, which means Alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula. "Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States, and United Nations Sending State Partners," said the ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-Ki and the CFC Commander, Gen. Robert B. Abe Abrams in a statement. "It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance," the statement added. In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear programme. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier's death. Trump said he was trying to maintain "a delicate balance" to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear programme. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kim's leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier's treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the U.S. mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster like." (Reporting by Steve Holland, Idrees Ali, David Shepardson and Katanga Johnson in Washington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by David Gregorio) Corporal punishment. (Source: AP) President Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed a bill that aims to prohibit parents from inflicting corporal punishment on children. The measure would have barred physical, humiliating, or degrading acts of punishment or discipline on children. Duterte believed that corporal punishment has beneficial results for society. Such manner of undertaking corporal punishment has given rise to beneficial results for society, with countless children having been raised up to become law-abiding citizens with a healthy respect for authority structures in the wider community, Duterte said. Duterte also said the Philippines should resist the growing trend, especially in Western nations, that sees corporal punishment as an outdated form of discipline. The cultural trends of other countries are not necessarily healthy for our own nation, he said. Do you think President Duteterte quashing the ban on corporal punishment is the right move? Have your say in the poll and leave us a comment below. Related stories: Philippines Duterte backs smacking kids, vetoes ban Duterte vetoes measure prohibiting corporal punishment for children Duterte vetoes bill banning corporal punishment inflicted on children Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #9 Posted on 3 March 2019 by John Hartz Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Reviews... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... How the Weather Gets Weaponized in Climate Change Messaging Clearing snow in Buffalo, N.Y., in January. Credit:Lindsay Dedario/Reuters< In the summer, when heat waves scorch cities or heavy rains flood the coasts, some climate scientists and environmentalists will point out any plausible connections to global warming, hoping todays weather will help people understand tomorrows danger from climate change. Then winter comes. And, like clockwork, those who want to deny the established science that humans are warming the planet will try to flip the script. In January, when large swaths of the country were gripped by bitter cold, President Trump took to Twitter to mock climate fears: Wouldnt be bad to have a little of that good old fashioned Global Warming right now! Welcome to the weather wars. As battle lines harden between climate advocates and deniers, both are increasingly using bouts of extreme weather as a weapon to try to win people to their side. Weather, after all, is one of the easiest things for people to bond over or gripe about, a staple of small talk and shared experience that can make it a simple but powerful opportunity to discuss global warming. But, as Mr. Trumps words show, its also a framing device that can be easily abused. That raises the stakes for how scientists, who have long tried to distinguish between short-term weather fluctuations and long-term climate shifts, draw out and discuss the links between the two. How the Weather Gets Weaponized in Climate Change Messaging by Brad Plumer, Climate, New York Times, Mar 1, 2019 Opinion of the Week... Scientists Must Speak Up for the Green New Deal The resolutions focus on climate and social justice highlights the central challengesand opportunitiesof our time Credit: Getty Images When Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal (GND) resolution on February 7, 2019, many climate advocates rejoiced. From the Union of Concerned Scientists to the League of Conservation Voters, advocates representing a diversity of interests recognized that, finally, a resolution had been introduced into both chambers of Congress with an ambition that matched the scale of the climate-change challenge. The resolution presents a broad vision of what climate action in the United States could look like, centering the economy and jobs, especially for working class people.Meanwhile critics, both of the well-intentioned and bad-faith sorts, lambast the resolution for being unrealistic, falling short, being too vague or too costly. With so many voices in the GND debate, one that is conspicuously silent is the voice of the scientific community. We urge scientists to engage in the discussion, both with their scientific expertise and as citizens. As we wrote two years ago: We are women and scientists who strongly believe in the power of scientific solutions to change lives for the better, particularly those of other women and marginalized groups. Our goal is to use our knowledge, expertise, and experience as scientists to highlight the unique challenges faced by women around the world in the face of climate change, and propose policy and grassroots actions to address these challenges. The GND is galvanizing a movement around these very ideals and we see a critical role for scientists, and for women scientists in particular, in how the GND resolution is enacted. Here is why: Scientists Must Speak Up for the Green New Deal, Opinion by The 500 Women Scientists Leadership,, Observation, Scientific American, Feb 25, 2019 Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Next self-paced run of Denial101x starts on March 5 (Baerbel) (Baerbel) Inequality, sunk costs, and climate policy (Frank Ackerman) (Frank Ackerman) SkS Analogy 19 - A table full of crystal and ideal temperature (Evan) (Evan) Analysis: The climate papers most featured in the media in 2018 (Robert McSweeney) (Robert McSweeney) New research this week (Ari) (Ari) 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #10 (John Hartz) (John Hartz) 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #10 (John Hartz) Climate Feedback Reviews... Western Journal op-ed deceives readers with completely unsupported claims Climate Feedback asked a team of scientists to review the article, Media Hysteria: Climate Change Heat Records Are a Huge Data Manipulation by Jay Lehr & Tom Harris, The Western Journal, Feb 20, 2019 Three scientists analyzed the article and estimate its overall scientific credibility to be 'very low'. A majority of reviewers tagged the article as: Cherry-picking, Flawed Reasoning, Inaccurate, and Misleading. Review Summary This op-ed published by The Western Journal, written by two members of think tanks opposed to the conclusions of climate science, makes several different types of claims about global temperatures and global temperature data. The authors attempt to argue that global temperatures are not increasing by cherry-picking some local examples of weather extremes. The headline further claims that temperature data have been manipulated. Scientists who reviewed the article found that it provided no support for any of its claims, which contradict existing research and data analysis.The argument it attempts to make suffers from flawed reasoning, pretending that a cold record at some location decades ago would mean that the last few years of global average temperatures havent been the warmest on record. The reviewers indicated that the content of the article does not support its headline. You can read an archived copy of the op-ed here. Western Journal op-ed deceives readers with completely unsupported claims, Edited by Scott Johnson, Climate Feedback, Feb 26, 2019 SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... It is no secret that Fox News is obsessed with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and has dedicated lots of hours of programming to criticizing the freshman lawmaker every way possible. But a contributor* took that obsession to new heights Saturday, jokingly suggesting in an unhinged rant that the Green New Deal could lead to cannibalism. AOC has completely lost her marbles. I think shes living in bananaland, National Review columnist Katherine Timpf said. Earlier this week she called herself the boss for coming up with the Green New Deal. How are you the boss for coming up with a plan that doesnt work? Like, are you sure that the Green New Deals not, like, what youre putting in your pipe and smoking every day? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timpf said she could come up with lots of plans that dont work: How about we fly around on unicorns instead of airplanes? How about instead of gasoline we use fairy dust we get from Tinkerbell? The columnist then wonders whether Ocasio-Cortez wants us to do away with all modern technology before going on to suggest that the deal would lead to turning back to the mid-1800s and reliv[ing] the Donner Party. Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to eat people, Greg, and I dont want people to eat me, Timpf said. AOC, do you want people to eat you? She said that right after suggesting that the Green New Deal would also force her to only eat lettuce and carrots like some kind of little fucking bunny. Timpfs rant was guided by a piece she wrote earlier this week in which she said the freshman lawmaker was ridiculous while characterizing the plan as pointless because it has no chance of working. Would the world be a better place if the United States eliminated all carbon emissions? Of course it wouldjust like it would be better if we all got free Lamborghinis, Timpf wrote. The truth, however, is that being a notable leader requires a lot more than just fantasizing about pie-in-the-sky proposals that have no real future. Advertisement I also fly & use A/C Living in the world as it is isnt an argument against working towards a better future. The Green New Deal is about putting a LOT of people to work in developing new technologies, building new infrastructure, and getting us to 100% renewable energy. https://t.co/DZGE1WwLbn Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 3, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement What inspired all this unhinged anger? It was a speech that Ocasio-Cortez recently gave at a Girls Who Code event in which she defended the Green New Deal from criticism that it was unrealistic. People are like, Oh, its unrealistic, oh, its vague, oh, it doesnt address this little minute thing, and Im like, You tryyou do it. Because youre not. So, until you do it, Im the boss. How about that? Ocasio-Cortez also took to Twitter Saturday to defend herself from similar accusations that shes a hypocrite for enjoying some comforts of modern day life. I also fly [planes] & use A/C. Living in the world as it is isnt an argument against working towards a better future, she wrote. The Green New Deal is about putting a LOT of people to work in developing new technologies, building new infrastructure, and getting us to 100% renewable energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, says there is no doubt in his mind. Its very clear that the president obstructed justice. Its very clear, Nadler said on ABCs This Week. Nadler pointed out that Trump has called the investigation by the special counsel a witch hunt many times. He also noted the president tried to protect former national security adviser Michael Flynn from being investigated by the FBI and he fired FBI director James Comey in order to stop the Russia thing, as he told NBC News, Nadler said. As if that werent enough, Hes dangled pardons, hes intimidated witnesses in public, Nadler added. Advertisement BREAKING: @GStephanopoulos: "Do you think the president obstructed justice?" House judiciary chairman Jerry Nadler: "Yes, I do. It's very clear that the president obstructed justice" https://t.co/YaWpzth66u pic.twitter.com/m7TiPwAKyo ABC News (@ABC) March 3, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his certainty, Nadler said any impeachment proceeding is a long way away. We have to do the investigations and get all this, he said. We do not now have the evidence all sorted out to do an impeachment. Nadler, whose committee would be responsible to start impeachment proceedings added that before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen. Advertisement Advertisement For now, his committee will be issuing lots of document requests to more than 60 people and entities to begin the investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power, Nadler said. Its our job to protect the rule of law. But he made clear to emphasize that just because something was a crime didnt mean that it would be an impeachable offense. There can be crimes that are impeachable offenses and impeachable offenses that are not crimes, he said. Theyre just two different tests. Rep. Adam Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said that as far as hes concerned theres direct evidence of collusion between Donald Trumps presidential campaign and Russia. Specifically, Schiff says that the 2016 offer from a Russian lawyer for information on Hillary Clinton to members of Trumps campaign is the smoking gun. I think there is direct evidence in the emails from the Russians through their intermediary offering dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of what is described in writing as the Russian government effort to help elect Donald Trump, Schiff said on CBS Face the Nation, when he was asked if he had direct evidence of collusion with Russia. Advertisement Rep. Adam Schiff says the emails from Russians offering the Trump campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton are "direct evidence" of collusion https://t.co/QheiKiQQOI pic.twitter.com/Q6l06nKLzp CBS News (@CBSNews) March 3, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They offer that dirt, Schiff went on. There is an acceptance of that offer in writing from the presidents son, Don Jr., and there is overt acts in furtherance of that. Beyond that, though, theres also abundant circumstantial evidence, Schiff added. There is, for example, evidence of Manafort sharing internal polling data with someone linked to the Russian intelligence services. Advertisement Advertisement Despite this direct and circumstantial evidence, Schiff also made sure to emphasize that it doesnt all add up automatically to impeachment. While there is abundant evidence of collusion, the issue from a criminal point of view is whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a criminal conspiracy, Schiff said. And that is something that we will have to await Bob Muellers report and the underlying evidence to determine. Schiff wasnt alone in talking about evidence that incriminates Trump in terms of Russia contacts. Sen. Mark Warner, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there is enormous evidence of possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia during the election. Im going to reserve judgment until Im finished, but theres no one who can factually say there isnt plenty of evidence of collaboration or communication between the Trump organization and Russians, Warner told NBCs Meet the Press. I have never in my lifetime seen a presidential campaign, from a person of either party, have this much outreach to a foreign country and a foreign country that the intelligence community [says], and our committee has validated, intervened massively in our election and intervened with an attempt to help one candidate, Donald Trump, and hurt another, Hillary Clinton. 1. Yes. The Schlueter Group has extensive experience and contacts. Its a good investment. 2. Yes. The firms namesake has a background as a legislator and knows Killeen well. 3. No. The expenditure is a waste of money. Our lawmakers should be doing that work. 4. No. The contract should be shorter, incentivized and based on performance benchmarks. 5. Unsure. Its not always easy to quantify the outcomes of lobbying efforts. Vote View Results "Nothing stinks like a pile of unpublished writing." Sylvia Plath The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. A tragic mid-morning barn fire in Scotsburn, NS on Thursday (Feb. 28) claimed the life of former grand circuit stakes-campaigner Impeccable. The fire spread through the Pictou County barn of Greg MacKenzie and Megan Baird Thursday morning when no one was home with Impeccable. The 16-year-old son of Astreos was living his retirement at the Nova Scotia farm and was the only horse in the barn when the fire hit. The other horses on the property were turned out in their pastures and were unharmed. A winner of 15 races and $465,986 in purses, Impeccable was a runner-up in the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo final in 2005 for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, who co-owned the horse with fellow Maritimers William Shearer, RG McGroup and David Smith. The stallion was a winner of his Metro Pace elimination in 2005 then finished fifth in the $1 million final. The pacer would go on to race in the top events in Ontario as a three-year-old including the $1.5-million North America Cup won by Total Truth in 2006. Impeccable last raced at Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 17, 2009, then retired to Nova Scotia with a brief stint in the breeding shed. His only foal from seven breedings was stakes winner Twirly. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Impeccable. (With files from Nick Oakes) If you ask a class of primary school children to draw a picture of a scientist, often they will draw a man in a white lab coat. But, there are many New Zealand women scientists trying to break down that stereotype. Among them is House of Science chief executive Chris Duggan. House of Science distributes more than 300 science resource kits to classrooms around the country, empowering teachers to deliver meaningful, hands-on science lessons. A former secondary school science teacher and three-time nominee for the Westpac Women of Influence awards (science and innovation category), Chris established House of Science in Tauranga in 2013. In partnership with the Wright Family Foundation, she has taken her vision to raise scientific literacy to nine other centres throughout New Zealand, with more clamouring to join. Wright Family Foundation founder Chloe Wright says House of Science is a project which fits perfectly with the values and goals of the foundation. The Wright Family Foundation is about empowerment through education, which is exactly what House of Science is achieving. And if their work helps more young women think about taking up science careers, thats got to be positive. Among the 35 topics children can learn about through House of Science are pollution, skeletons, and electricity, through to the recently-added topics of weather, space and climate change. Each resource kit includes at least five hands-on experiments, catering for year one eight students, and includes bi-lingual instructions for both teachers and students. We want to normalise science in the classroom, says Chris. We understand that many primary teachers lack the confidence to deliver science lessons, but by bringing science into every classroom in the country, we want to break down the stereotype of that man in the white lab coat. Joining House of Science as its ambassador last year, was microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles, who, with her hot pink hair, definitively breaks down the stereotype of what a scientist looks like. She was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to microbiology and science communication in the recent New Years honours and is well-known for her ability to communicate science in a simple and straightforward way. I dont fit the image or the mould of what a scientist looks like, even within my community, so its about challenging some of those preconceptions that you cant possibly be serious looking like that. Its important that people outside of science, especially children who might be interested in going into science, see that you can be different, she says. The Geneva Motor Show is a draw for luxury automobile enthusiasts with more than 660,000 visitors expected to attend The Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week with automakers eager to show off new electric models, even as they nervously eye a horizon coloured by trade wars and Brexit uncertainty. After years of growth and record profits, the sector took a sharp U-turn in mid-2018 amid an unexpected slowdown in China, which is by far the world's biggest market, counting one out of three registered cars on the planet. And with just three weeks to go before Britain is to leave the European Union on March 29, carmakers are bracing for the very likely possibility of a "no-deal Brexit", which is expected to spell cataclysm for the industry. The automakers heading for Europe's biggest annual car show, which opens on March 7, are already suffering from the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing, and are wary about increased tariffs the US might slap on European imports. On top of such tensions, carmakers have also been pushed to pump huge investments into electrifying their fleets in order to respect strict CO2 emissions standards that will take effect in the EU next year and be further tightened in the coming decade. Slim profits Following the tough conditions of 2018, manufacturers of cars and auto equipment "will see slim profits in 2019," said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, who heads the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Germany. "We can already expect profit warnings, production reductions and job cuts," he told AFP. "This is not a good climate for a show filled with glitz and glamour." After a one-percent drop last year, he predicted the global car market would slip two percent in 2019 to 81.9 million individual cars soldor three million fewer than in 2017. As a result, factories were struggling, with overcapacity estimated at "well above five million units." "The good times that we have known for the past decade are behind us," agreed Flavien Neuvy, head of the Observatoire Cetelem, which conducts economic surveys in the global automotive industry. Automakers, he said, are at high risk of being hit with heavy fines in Europe as of next year, when strict emissions limits that require a company's entire fleet to emit no more than 95 grams (3.4 ounces) of CO2 on average per vehicle, kick in. These targets, he said, are "almost impossible to keep." A recent study by the BCG consultancy estimated that each car maker stands to be hit with between 500 million and one billion euros ($570 million to $1.1 billion) in fines. Limit the damage "They will really need to sell a lot of electric vehicles to limit the damage," Neuvy said, pointing out sales of diesel-fuelled cars are sliding quickly as sales of petrol-fuelled vehicles, which emit more CO2, rise. At the same time, people are still drawn to gas-guzzling SUVs, which currently account for one in three vehicles sold. The models going on show in Geneva reflect industry concerns, with a wide range of concept electric vehicles on display from middle-class carmakers like Citroen and Honda, which will present their visions of a far more battery-powered future. At the same time, high-end brands like Aston Martin, Audi and Mercedes will be showing off concept electric SUVs. They are scrambling to catch up with Californian electric carmaker Tesla, which won't be present at the show, but will weigh heavily on everyone's mind at a time when its Model 3 sedanalready a best-seller in the United Statesis revving up in Europe. And French automakers Renault and Peugeot will present the latest reincarnations of popular city cars like the Clio and the Peugeot 208, with the latter available for the first time in an electric version. World's fastest SUV Despite the constraints, the Geneva show remains a draw for luxury automobile enthusiasts and is unlikely to disappoint in terms of glitz and glamour. Bentley will present its new Bentayga Speed, which has been categorised as the fastest SUV in the world, capable of reaching 306 kilometres per hour (190 mph). Lamborghini's new sleek Huracan Evo Spyder and Porsche's 911 are also expected to turn heads, as is Ferrari's F8 Tributo, with its powerful 720-horsepower engine. More than 660,000 visitors are expected to descend on Geneva's Palexpo from March 7 through 17 to cast their eyes over some 900 vehicles. Explore further European car sales begin 2019 in reverse 2019 AFP 9 hours ago 3 Reasons Why a Robust Retirement Plan Matters Even More in 2022 (and What it Means for You) This year, 401(k) plans held an estimated $7.3 trillion in assets and represented nearly one-fifth of the $37.2 trillion U.S. retirement market, according to the Investment Company Institute. This refers to employer-sponsored retirement plans (both defined benefit and defined contribution plans), individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and annuities. That's a lot of money. Read Article Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. Luxembourg may be miniscule in size but, let us assure you, its sceneries are worthy of the big screen. Here are some movies that you maybe didnt know were (partly) filmed in the Grand Duchy Luxembourg? Only banks and fields there, right? At least in the movies I mean, a particularly quick-witted acquaintance recently remarked. Admittedly, this furrow-browed assessment of Luxembourgs portrayal within the filmic medium holds true to a certain extent the recent success of Bad Banks or the sporadic references to Luxembourgs allegedly unscrupulous financial establishments in crime series like Noah Hawleys Fargo seem to attest to this view. Even though film crews often flock to the Grand Duchy specifically to capture images of its cityscape and office buildings, there are refreshing exceptions to the rule. Let's take a trip down memory lane. Remember... ...when Emma Watson went skinny-dipping in Mullerthal? In 2014, some of the creme de la creme of international actors made their way to the Grand Duchy. Among others, Britains Emma Watson and German actor Daniel Bruhl filmed several scenes for the historical thriller Colonia. Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, now best known for her role in Oscar-nominated Phantom Thread (2017), also scooped a secondary role in the film. Colonia (2015) Set against the backdrop of the 1973 military coup in Chile, the film recounts the story of Daniel and Lena (Bruhl and Watson), a German couple falling prey to Chiles tumultuous political climate. When Daniel is abducted by Pinochets secret police, Lena is set to rescue her boyfriend. The desperate quest ultimately brings her to the Colonia Dignidad, a sealed-off sect with a diabolical leader. The film received financial support from Film Fund Luxembourg and principal photography began, you guessed it, in Luxembourg. Filming locations in the Grand Duchy include the scenic Little Switzerland Mullerthal region, complete with its iconic Schiessentumpel waterfall (see gallery below). Another notable location is an ancient slate quarry in Haut-Martelange, which currently hosts a slate museum. Watson against Mullerthal backdrop. / Colonia (2015) Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps as Ursel. / Majestic / Ricardo Vaz Palma Ever went for a hike here? / Colonia (2015) Colonia (2015) The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question. when Al Pacino and Scarlett Johansson came to Esch aka Venice-sur-Alzette? Quick question: what do the two blockbusters The Merchant of Venice (2004) starring Al Pacino and Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) starring Scarlett Johansson have in common? Even though the two movies vastly differ in content and style, both works feature several scenes that were shot in a miniature version of Venice in Luxembourg! Back in 2001, Italys floating city was rebuilt in a former industrial site in Esch for Bosnian director Ademir Kenovics Secret Passage. Miniature Venice in Luxembourg. / culture.luxembourg.public.lu / SIP The directors of The Merchant of Venice and Girl with a Pearl Earring later reappropriated the same set for their own works. In other words, Al Pacino did not travel to Venice but to the south of Luxembourg to assume the role of Shakespeares Shylock. Al Pacino on set in Esch. / culture.luxembourg.public.lu / Delux Productions The case of Girl with a Pearl Earring is even trickier. How is it possible that a movie that is set in Delft, Holland was filmed in a recreated version of Venice in Luxembourg? On the eve of the film release, novelist Tracy Chevalier shed light on this question in an article for the Guardian: suddenly I was on a plane to visit the set in Luxembourg. Luxembourg? That was one of many surprises about film-making. [] There was a pre-built set in Luxembourg which had been used for a film set in Venice, and with a change of window shape and brick replacing Venetian stone it looked quite Dutch. ...when musketeers and gutsy stuntmen invaded Vianden castle? Film-wise, 2001 was also an eventful year in the north of the Grand Duchy. Vianden castle became one of the main filming locations for Peter Hyamss action film The Musketeer, Luxembourgish film critic Jean-Pierre Thilges tells me. Not everyone was happy at the time, they almost tore down the castle during the film works. Former Vianden mayor Victor Abens was not amused at all, Thilges recalls. Can you spot Vianden's iconic castle in the film trailer? ...when an Oscar-nominated movie was shot in Fond-de-Gras railway park in the south of Luxembourg? Dutch director Ben Sombogaarts 2002 film Twin Sisters recounts the divergent fates of two sisters after they are separated at the tender age of 6. The movie received largely positive reviews and was even nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars in 2004. Once again, the producers decided to shoot several scenes at another iconic location in Luxembourg: the Minett Park Fond-de-Gras near Differdange. Historically, the Fond-de-Gras was one of Luxembourgs most significant mining centers. Even though the last mine closed in 1964, several historic buildings such as the railway station (featuring in Twin Sisters) have been preserved and the site functions as an open-air museum today. A visit is highly recommended! minettpark.lu The list of film locations in Luxembourg goes on. Did you for instance know that a French movie (Laddition) was shot at Schrassig prison before it became operational? And that the producers of An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) actually rebuilt the platform of the Eiffel Tower in an abandoned factory in Wecker? What can we say... small country, big film locations! --- Special thanks to Jean-Pierre Thilges for sharing his broad cinematic knowledge! This Sunday is the national day of resistance in remembrance of the victims of World War 2. On Sunday, Luxembourg commemorates all the resistance fighters who died in concentration camps and in prisons during World War 2. 23 members from the resistance movement in Luxembourg are being remembered in particular. They were shot on 25 February 1944 at the Hinzert concentration camp near Trier, Germany. It is also a day of remembrance for the Luxembourgish workers who went on strike in 1942 and were subsequently at Hinzert concentration camp and in Cologne. On Sunday morning at 11am, a service will be held at the Glacis chapel in Luxembourg City, as well as a processions and a ceremony will be conducted in front of the Hinzert cross at the St. Nicolas graveyard. After that, the graved of the dead will be visited. Luxembourg actively stimulates geothermal heat - in the last five years, the government paid subsidies for around 560 private geothermal heat pumps. Luxembourg's government is currently probing deeper into the question of geothermal energy. More specifically, one hopes to find out whether deep geothermal energy could be an option in the Grand Duchy. For this reason, officials are debating whether a new geothermal laboratory should be opened in Dudelange's Nei Schmelz neighborhood. Luxembourg's geological service already conducted 423m deep geothermal drilling and recorded a subterranean temperature of 28,5 degrees. However, the goal is to go even deeper. Ultra-deep geothermal drilling (1000-2000m) could provide enough energy to heat an entire neighborhood. The favorable geological constellation between Esch and Dudelange may fulfill all the preconditions. Wonder Caves: Ideal Spot for Hikers and Cave Explorers By Benjamin Jumbe. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has urged all stakeholders to expedite the process to get the KAMPALA CITY GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ORDINANCE in place. This was at a Conference organized about the same in Entebbe where he argued that this is critical for the citys sustainable development and therefore should be in place before end of this financial year. The Ordinance is in a bid to enhance proper management of urban natural resource assets. Green infrastructure includes trees, vegetation, parks, and wetlands among others. The Ordinance, currently in draft is championed by the Citys Political Leadership with the assistance of the Technical team and supported by the European Union. Your browser does not support the audio element. The number of Vietnamese tourists to North Korea is expected to climb as the relations between Vietnam and the East Asian country have further improved in the wake of the second U.S.-North Korea Summit in Hanoi last month. A number of Vietnamese tour operators said they were restarting tours to destinations across North Korea after they had been disrupted for various reasons. We had taken tourists to the nation but the numbers were quite modest back then, said Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Travelink. As the Vietnam-North Korea relation is becoming better following the summit, more Vietnamese tourists are taking an interest in North Korea. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi for the second summit on February 27 and 28 without signing an expected joint statement, following their disagreement over sanctions and denuclearization. They had first met in Singapore in June 2018. People walk at the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Thai Loc / Tuoi Tre Another operator, Saigontourist, has planned to bring two groups of 15 to 20 visitors each to the East Asian nation monthly during this year, said Vu Dinh Tuan, one of the companys directors. Tourists have to arrive in Chinas Beijing for a 1.5-hour stopover before reaching North Koreas capital of Pyongyang on a flight that lasts over one hour, as no direct services between Vietnam and the East Asian country are available. Tours in North Korean may last five or 11 days and in the second case travelers pay around VND32-53 million (US$1,379-2,283), much lower than previous quotes. Truong Thi Thu Giang, deputy marketing director of tour company Vietravel, said the firms customers gave positive comments about trips to North Korea. The impression is still really vivid in my mind. Its a peaceful, beautiful country with lots of things to be discovered in local life and society, a tourist named Nguyen Thanh Ha said. North Korea is modern and civilized. Its completely different from what I thought. Its also simple and peaceful. Its regrettable that I couldnt snap lots of pictures as you must get permission for taking photographs, another tourist, Luu Thi Diem Hong, recalled. North Korean tourist attractions include the Arch of Triumph, Mansudae Fountain Park, Grand Monument on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang. The Grand People's Study House, which is the central library in Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Thai Loc / Tuoi Tre A science and technology complex is pictured at night in Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Thai Loc / Tuoi Tre The North Korean tourism authorities only grant visas to visitors traveling in groups that have no less than ten members each and must present detailed itineraries. Foreign tourists are placed under strict monitoring by the authorities. North Korea may not be ideal for visitors wishing to buy goods there as the products are not very diverse as a result of a long-standing sweeping embargo, Lien Bang Travelink director Tu Quy Thanh added. The Pyongyang train station in Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Thai Loc / Tuoi Tre Vietnamese tourists pose for a picture in North Korea in late 2018. Photo: Nguyen Phong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! By Ritah Kemigisa. International relation experts have welcomed the repatriation of the former M23 rebels to the Democratic Republic of Congo as a positive development for the Great Lakes Region. Ambassador Harold Achema says their return opens a new chapter for the Congolese government under the leadership of Felix Tshisekedi. Because of this Achema says Tshisekedis government should not be condemned for accepting to have the former rebels back. On Monday 70 former M23 fighters returned home after more than five years of exile in Uganda. In 2012, more than 1,000 M23 fighters fled into Uganda after they defeated by a joint force of the UN and DR Congo. Some have either secretly gone home or officially handed over to the Congolese government by Uganda. Related Stories.. Uganda repatriates close to 70 M23 rebels Your browser does not support the audio element. A young Vietnamese woman has initiated a project that manufactures reusable sanitary pads in an effort to reduce the amount of garbage dumped every day. Bui Thi Minh Ngoc established a project called Green Lady Vietnam in 2017 that has produced cloth menstrual pads items that have started to be used in America, Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnams neighbors Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand. An average woman uses up to 10,000 disposable sanitary towels during her entire life. But a standard sanitary towel decomposes as slowly as four plastic bags, Ngoc, 25, said. She was motivated by the desire to offer sanitary pads made completely of cloth that are tailored to Vietnamese women. Often working ten to twelve hours a day, she has spent a large part of her time being employed full-time and devoting several hours of the day to plans to develop her own business. She had a hard time finding suitable cloth for eco-friendly, safe sanitary napkins. The fabric has to be naturally made, absorbent, easily washable and quick-drying, she said. She traveled to cloth-making villages on the outskirts of Hanoi in the hope of getting good enough fabric but the effort failed. Her mother, who has enthusiastically supported her, came to the daughters rescue by buying the material she needs and finding workers for the Green Lady Vietnam project. Ngocs decision to embark on the undertaking encountered dissuasion from a number of friends and people with knowledge of the menstrual napkin industry. Many people told me cloth sanitary pads are a backward step away from modern life, as they cause inconvenience and would hardly sell well, she recalled. She has remained undaunted although she was at times uncertain about whether expanding the project would generate any success. She found a way out by maintaining sanitary pad production while running courses on eco-friendly lifestyles and knowledge of human reproduction. I learned how to find an opportunity amidst challenges and grab at it, she said. Even with a focus on the niche market, we decide that what Green Lady Vietnam aims to do is not just sell products but also combine public awareness and action. Van Anh, one of Ngoc's customers, has switched to reusable sanitary napkins to avoid getting rid of 20 disposable sanitary pads that could have otherwise been dumped in a month. Another customer, Hai Anh, said what she liked best about Ngocs sanitary pads was their high quality and the beautiful patterns on them. Ngoc is happy to see that her business has reached Cambodia and is expected to enter the markets of Myanmar and Indonesia soon. I wish to make Green Lady Vietnam able to create jobs for disadvantaged women in the future, she said. To be ready for use, cloth sanitary pads should be soaked in cold water for half an hour before they can be washed in water at the maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, according to Viet Thi Minh Trang, a department head at the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City. It is advisable to keep the items straight while they are being washed, and then they can be dried at low temperatures, Trang said. They should be placed in dry places to prevent the growth of microorganisms, she added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. A Vietnamese photographer has traveled across the Southeast Asian country on his motorbike to take photos of garbage in a bid to raise awareness of plastic waste and environmental pollution. Nguyen Viet Hung, a 42-year-old photographer from a photography training center in Hanoi, began his journey on August 28, 2018 and completed it in December of the same year. Hung traveled nearly 7,000 kilometers, including 3,260 kilometers along the coastline of 28 provinces and cities, on his motorbike. He started his trip with a journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh Province, before going along the countrys north-to-south coastline to Ca Mau Province, then Kien Giang Province and the Vietnam-Cambodia border. A resident dries fish on a trash-filled beach in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City. Hung then rode to Ho Chi Minh City, where he caught a flight back to the capital. He also had his vehicle transported back to Hanoi. After reaching Hanoi, he went to Nam Dinh Province, and toured the coastline in Thai Binh Province, Hai Phong City, and Quang Ninh Province. The photographer did not spend time visiting the famous destinations of each locality, but instead heading toward landfills, waste treatment plants, and garbage-filled beaches. I read news about plastic waste and warnings about two years ago and was vexed by the alarming statistics in Vietnam, Hung said. I thought I should do something within the reach of my expertise to raise awareness of the issue. Garbage in the north-central province of Quang Binh Hung took a lot of photos featuring garbage during his trips and posted them on his personal Facebook account, along with stories about local people and their daily life. Ive been to beaches filled with trash, mostly plastic bags and objects, in Binh Thuan Province. There was no recycle bin and residents just dumped their garbage into the seas, rivers, and canals, he recounted. That also happens in Quang Ngai Province. In the north-central province of Qung Binh, residents and even children join hands to pick up trash along beaches every week, thus the beaches here are cleaner. A woman dumps waste into the sea on Ly Son Island off Quang Ngai Province. They, however, left the garbage along coastal roads due to the lack of vehicles specializing in collecting waste, according to the photographer. Hung said he had spent a year prior to his trip learning more about plastic waste, so he could pick the best angle and shoot photos that can tell stories. Some people told me that my works would not make any change, but I was undeterred, he elaborated. The photographer is expected to organize an exhibition of these photos in June, hoping the images can reach a wide range of viewers and help raise public awareness of environmental pollution and protection. A canal full of garbage An overloaded landfill A resident shows a dead duck that is dumped by local people. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! "The drone was developed in connection with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Defence Science & Technology (DST) Group. Boeing further partnered with other defense firms such as BAE Systems Australia, Ferra Engineering, RUAG Australia, Micro Electronic Technologies, AME Systems, and Allied Data System, for the ATS development program. The partnership will produce a concept demonstrator of a low cost unmanned Loyal Wingman aircraft, capable of operating in concert with Air Forces fifth generation air combat capability, Minister Pyne said in a statement. There is significant value investing in innovative, future leaning initiatives like this, particularly in the early conceptual stages where Defence can explore concept s and define the role such capabilities can play in our national security framework. The first version of the ATS will employ electronic warfare sensors. Boeing said future versions of the drone would incorporate various types of advanced weaponry." Mister Pyne ------------ I would suppose that USAF is not supportive of this development. USAF, for all its blather about "the future," is a club for pilots, a club in which they are paid to do what they most want to do in life. This flying automated beast is a vision of the real future, a future in which pilots are people who fly the airplanes from seats in air conditioned rooms that can be thousands of miles from the action. Or perhaps they have very little role at all because the airplanes will fly themselves. In a 5G world, the various airplanes will be talking to each other yet further reducing the need for wild blue yonder flights of fancy. "Reached up and touched the face of God," etc. Australia, OTOH, has a much smaller and less powerful aviator club and finds the idea of reduced pilot training and maintenance programs attractive. After all, UAVs do not have survivor families. Nor do they have downstream financial costs like retired pay and medical benefits. pl https://southfront.org/boeing-unveils-wingman-combat-drone-that-supports-stealth-jets/ This week on Foreign Corespondent is in north eastern Syria to see how communities are rebuilding, but there are still threats close to home. It was love at first sight Azad, 26. My dreams are coming true! Bercem, 19 Lovestruck couple Azad and Bercem are about to get married. They want the usual things kids, a nice house, a car. Theyre just hoping war doesnt get in the way. Azad and Bercem live in the town of Kobani in north eastern Syria, smack bang in the former territory of Islamic State. Their dream of a normal, peaceful life is shared by millions of fellow Kurds who now lead control of this area and are carving out a bold new system a direct, secular democracy that enshrines gender equality. For Azad and Bercem, that means getting married in a civil ceremony, no sheikh required. We are building democracy, building a life wed never dreamed of Azad In the drably named Autonomous Administration of North Eastern Syria, women hold 50 percent of official positions. Incredibly, Raqqa, the once notorious capital of Islamic State, is now headed by a young woman, Leila Mustapha. The bomber jacket-clad Mustapha is using her civil engineering skills to rebuild the city which will include a makeover of the square where IS displayed crucified and decapitated bodies. The locals called it Hell Roundabout because of all the brutal acts committed here Leila Mustapha As she tours Raqqa with reporter Yaara Bou Melhem, she does what would have been unthinkable under ISIS: she shakes hands with men on a worksite. But ISIS isnt wholly gone. It clings to a tiny pocket of territory south of Raqqa, moving among civilians as protection from attack, as Yaara Bou Melham discovers on a trip to the frontline. The Kurdish-led authority has some 900 ISIS foreign fighters in jail and it wants their home countries to take them back. One prisoner tells Bou Melhem how ISIS pushed its fighters: If youre not going to fight, youre not going to eat. People, kids, died from starvation prisoner ISIS is now the least of the administrations problems. To the west they must deal with Syrias Assad regime and to the north, the biggest worry, Turkey, which has sworn to smash the Kurds when Donald Trump pulls out American troops. Soldier Azad and journalist Bercem know a Turkish invasion could wreck their new life together. They will do what they know best. If necessary, he will go to war Bercem She will report the situation and expose it to the world Azad 8pm Tuesday March 5 on ABC. Paul Murray Live will head to Townsville or the next Our Town regional broadcast on March 27. Murray will be joined by Queenslands own Dami Im who will perform live for the audience and viewers at home. Paul Whittaker, Sky News Chief Executive said: From the housing crisis and the ongoing recovery efforts, the effects of the recent flooding are continuing to be felt across the Townsville region. Through the support of the Our Town partners we hope this special Paul Murray Live episode will raise awareness nationally of the issues and provide assistance where it is most required. Paul Murray, said: We want everyone to know Townsville is back and open for business. The best thing the rest of the country can do to support this amazing place is to book a holiday here sooner rather than later. We want to fill the hotel rooms and get the shops roaring again. Sure, we are going to tell the stories of the recovery, but we want to have some fun too. The people of Townsville deserve a night to remember and theyll get it including some great music from Dami Im and some other surprises along the way. For the opportunity to be part of the Townsville audience email [email protected] 9pm Wednesday March 27 on Sky News. Thousands gathered in the heart of the French capital on Sunday to protest against ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office. An all-ages crowd -- some born in France, others across the Mediterranean -- assembled on the Place de la Republique in Paris with protestors chanting slogans like, Go away and No pardon.No to the mandate of shame, 20 years is enough, one demonstrators placard read.We want to also do our part [for] this movement, share, participate in this movement, and also express our wish for the end of this regime and for a democratic Algeria, protest organiser Farid Yaker told FRANCE 24s Sandro Lutyens in the square.Police said some 6,000 people demonstrated in Paris, while organisers estimated the rally drew around 10,000.The rally came ahead of the March 3 midnight deadline for candidates to file their applications for the April 18 Algerian presidential election. Hundreds of thousands of protesters across Algeria took to the streets on Friday in an exceptional popular challenge to the country's secretive leadership.Opponents say Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since, is no longer fit to lead the North African country. He is currently undergoing medical checks in Switzerland.The mass protests in Algeria have triggered a show of solidarity in France, which has a large Algerian population. A first Parisian rally against the countrys long-term leader took place on February 24.On Saturday, a rally organised by Bouteflika supporters in central Paris drew only about thirty people.(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP) Thousands gathered in the heart of the French capital on Sunday to protest against ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office. An all-ages crowd -- some born in France, others across the Mediterranean -- assembled on the Place de la Republique in Paris with protestors chanting slogans like, Go away and No pardon. No to the mandate of shame, 20 years is enough, one demonstrators placard read. We want to also do our part [for] this movement, share, participate in this movement, and also express our wish for the end of this regime and for a democratic Algeria, protest organiser Farid Yaker told FRANCE 24s Sandro Lutyens in the square. Police said some 6,000 people demonstrated in Paris, while organisers estimated the rally drew around 10,000. The rally came ahead of the March 3 midnight deadline for candidates to file their applications for the April 18 Algerian presidential election. Hundreds of thousands of protesters across Algeria took to the streets on Friday in an exceptional popular challenge to the country's secretive leadership. Opponents say Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since, is no longer fit to lead the North African country. He is currently undergoing medical checks in Switzerland. The mass protests in Algeria have triggered a show of solidarity in France, which has a large Algerian population. A first Parisian rally against the countrys long-term leader took place on February 24. On Saturday, a rally organised by Bouteflika supporters in central Paris drew only about thirty people. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP) US Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the place of his birth Saturday to deliver the first rally speech of his presidential campaign, vowing to defeat "the most dangerous president in modern American history" in Donald Trump. The Vermont independent voiced confidence at the address in the New York borough of Brooklyn that he would first beat the crowded field of his rivals for the 2020 nomination, with much of his liberal, populist agenda now considered mainstream Democratic policy."I want to thank all of you for being part of a campaign, which is not only going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeatDonald Trump, who is the most dangerous president in modern American history," Sanders told the crowd of several thousand people."But, with your help, we are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the one percent."His promised that his campaign would say "loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies."Sanders returned to Brooklyn College, which he once attended, for a rally emphasizing his personal story, as the working class son of a Jewish immigrant who grew up in poor housing."I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," Sanders said in another dig at Trump."I did not come from a family that gave me a $200,000 allowance every year beginning at the age of three."From outsider to frontrunnerSanders spelled out his big ticket items for 2020, his second presidential campaign after losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- "Medicare for All," a $15-an-hour minimum wage and climate change.Many are long-held principles previously dismissed as too radical by more moderate Democrats, but are now more widely accepted talking points as he squares off against several other progressives who have embraced many of his issues.Following November's midterm elections, the Congressional Progressive Caucus \-- co-founded by Sanders in 1991 -- wields more power than at any time in its history.Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislation in 2017.Julian Castro, another Democratic hopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting universal early childhood education.And Warren, Booker and Harris have all proclaimed support for the Green New Deal, an ultra-progressive platform to combat climate change that was unveiled this month by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star.Sanders was an outsider candidate three years ago. But with his massive political network, muscular fundraising capacity and resilient message, he is now a frontrunner.He would need to best multiple formidable rivals -- including former vice president Joe Biden, should he enter the race -- and victory is anything but assured.On Sunday, Sanders heads to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as "Bloody Sunday" and will also visit Chicago, where he graduated from college and was active in civil rights protests.(AFP) US Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the place of his birth Saturday to deliver the first rally speech of his presidential campaign, vowing to defeat "the most dangerous president in modern American history" in Donald Trump. The Vermont independent voiced confidence at the address in the New York borough of Brooklyn that he would first beat the crowded field of his rivals for the 2020 nomination, with much of his liberal, populist agenda now considered mainstream Democratic policy. "I want to thank all of you for being part of a campaign, which is not only going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeatDonald Trump, who is the most dangerous president in modern American history," Sanders told the crowd of several thousand people. "But, with your help, we are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the one percent." His promised that his campaign would say "loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies." Sanders returned to Brooklyn College, which he once attended, for a rally emphasizing his personal story, as the working class son of a Jewish immigrant who grew up in poor housing. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," Sanders said in another dig at Trump. "I did not come from a family that gave me a $200,000 allowance every year beginning at the age of three." From outsider to frontrunner Sanders spelled out his big ticket items for 2020, his second presidential campaign after losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- "Medicare for All," a $15-an-hour minimum wage and climate change. Many are long-held principles previously dismissed as too radical by more moderate Democrats, but are now more widely accepted talking points as he squares off against several other progressives who have embraced many of his issues. Story continues Following November's midterm elections, the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- co-founded by Sanders in 1991 -- wields more power than at any time in its history. Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislation in 2017. Julian Castro, another Democratic hopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting universal early childhood education. And Warren, Booker and Harris have all proclaimed support for the Green New Deal, an ultra-progressive platform to combat climate change that was unveiled this month by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star. Sanders was an outsider candidate three years ago. But with his massive political network, muscular fundraising capacity and resilient message, he is now a frontrunner. He would need to best multiple formidable rivals -- including former vice president Joe Biden, should he enter the race -- and victory is anything but assured. On Sunday, Sanders heads to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as "Bloody Sunday" and will also visit Chicago, where he graduated from college and was active in civil rights protests. (AFP) The Mercy of the Jungle, directed by Joel Karekezi, was awarded the top prize at the Fespaco film festival, while female artists deplored a general lack of recognition.The Mercy of the Jungle, directed by Rwandan filmmaker Joel Karekezi won the highest award at the the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) on Saturday in Burkina Faso.Female artists at the event questioned why female African filmmakers have never been honoured.The Mercy of the Jungle shows the arduous road trip by foot of two soldiers lost in the jungle during the time of the Democratic Republic of Congo wars. It beat out 19 other candidates to get the Golden Stallion of Yennenga.Marc Zinga, a Belgian, also took best actor for his role in The Mercy of the Jungle.Second prize went to Karma, a drama by Egyptian director Khaled Youssef, while third place was awarded to Tunisian Ben Hohmound, who directed Fatwa, another drama.Women ignored for 50 years, say female artistsWomen were lacking in the lineup, with only four movies in the running directed by women, but they have been for the past 50 years since Fespaco was established."Can it be that in 50 years, there hasn't been a single woman capable of telling a great story to win the Fespaco?" asked South African actress Xolile Tshabalala, who featured in Miraculous Weapons, directed by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, a Cameroonian.Burkinabe director Apolline Traore said that any award had to be earned, not considered a token gesture, but admitted that there is a problem in gender equality for directors."There's no equality for the craft of a woman director, not just in Africa, but in the world," she said. Traore won a special prize on Friday for her film, Desrances.Other female artists pointed out the violence when working on films.Violence "is everywhere -- against actresses but also directors, scriptwriters and technicians, who live with harassment, sexual aggression and rape," said French actress Nadege Beausson-Diagne.She added that she had twice been assaulted during film shoots in Africa."It's time to speak out," she said. The Mercy of the Jungle, directed by Joel Karekezi, was awarded the top prize at the Fespaco film festival, while female artists deplored a general lack of recognition. The Mercy of the Jungle, directed by Rwandan filmmaker Joel Karekezi won the highest award at the the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) on Saturday in Burkina Faso. Female artists at the event questioned why female African filmmakers have never been honoured. The Mercy of the Jungle shows the arduous road trip by foot of two soldiers lost in the jungle during the time of the Democratic Republic of Congo wars. It beat out 19 other candidates to get the Golden Stallion of Yennenga. Marc Zinga, a Belgian, also took best actor for his role in The Mercy of the Jungle. Second prize went to Karma, a drama by Egyptian director Khaled Youssef, while third place was awarded to Tunisian Ben Hohmound, who directed Fatwa, another drama. Women ignored for 50 years, say female artists Women were lacking in the lineup, with only four movies in the running directed by women, but they have been for the past 50 years since Fespaco was established. "Can it be that in 50 years, there hasn't been a single woman capable of telling a great story to win the Fespaco?" asked South African actress Xolile Tshabalala, who featured in Miraculous Weapons, directed by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, a Cameroonian. Burkinabe director Apolline Traore said that any award had to be earned, not considered a token gesture, but admitted that there is a problem in gender equality for directors. "There's no equality for the craft of a woman director, not just in Africa, but in the world," she said. Traore won a special prize on Friday for her film, Desrances. Other female artists pointed out the violence when working on films. Violence "is everywhere -- against actresses but also directors, scriptwriters and technicians, who live with harassment, sexual aggression and rape," said French actress Nadege Beausson-Diagne. She added that she had twice been assaulted during film shoots in Africa. "It's time to speak out," she said. ISIS bride Shamima Begums jihadi husband Yago Riedijk says he wants them to live in Netherlands with their baby son The husband of the teen who fled the UK to join Isis says he wants them to live together as a family. Shamima Begum left her home in Bethnal Green, east London when she was just 15. Now 19 Begum has had three children, after recently giving birth to her third child, a baby boy, while at a Syrian refugee camp. Her Dutch husband, Islamic State fighter Yago Riedijk, 27, says he wants to return to the Netherlands with her and their newborn son. Riedijk, who married Begum before her 16th birthday, is currently being held in a Kurdish-run detention centre in northern Syria. Meanwhile Begum has pleaded to come back to the UK. It is believed that she is currently living in a refugee camp near the Iraqi border after her British citizenship was revoked on February 20 earlier this year. Her wish to come home sparked intense debate, with many declaring Begum a brainwashed victim of grooming, while others insist she is a dangerous member of a terrorist organisation. It is believed that Begum and Riedijk fled Baghouz, the groups last foothold in eastern Syria, as its territory collapsed in recent months. ISIS bride Shamima Begums jihadi husband Yago Riedijk says he wants them to live in Netherlands with their baby son Riedijk, who is said to have rejected IS, was found in the detention centre by the BBC. When asked if he thought marrying a girl of that age was acceptable, he said: To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasnt that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway. We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didnt, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her. When denying her an easy route back to the UK, the Home Office pointed out that Begum has dual British-Bangladesh nationality due to her heritage. Sajid David That said, Bangladesh were quick to point out that she had never set foot in the country and she was by birth a British citizen. Said Javid, Home Secretary, has said her newborn son has British citizenship and therefore could be be allowed into the UK without his Isis-sympathising mother. Tom Ballard has been missing on Nanga Parbat for a week, along with Italian Daniele Nardi. A search for a British climber missing on the worlds ninth highest mountain is poised to resume after being hampered by adverse weather. Tom Ballard, who was born in Derbyshire but had moved to the Highlands, was climbing Nanga Parbat in Pakistan with Italian Daniele Nardi when they lost contact a week ago. Tensions over Kashmir and bad weather hit plans to search the 8,126-metre (26,660ft) peak, nicknamed the Killer Mountain, but now a search party is being flown in. Pakistani army helicopters are bringing in Basque climber Alex Txikon and his team from K2, the Italian ambassador to Pakistan tweeted. Stefano Pontecorvo hailed the move as a big step forward and said the weather has cleared and should allow the search to start. Army helis have picked up @AlexTxikon with his team from K2 BC and are headed for BC #NangaParbat. Big step forward. Weather cleared and should allow for starting search for @NardiDaniele and Tom Ballard. Initially search will be carried out by drones. to all involved. Stefano Pontecorvo (@pontecorvoste) March 3, 2019 Mr Txikon plans to fly high-altitude drones over the area where the two climbers went missing. Earlier, Mr Pontecorvo said both the missing men are tough guys, adding: We hope for a miracle and just try our best to find them. Initial search plans on Thursday were prevented when Pakistan closed its air space after it shot down two Indian military planes. Snow, clouds and low visibility forced proposed searches on Friday and Saturday to be called off. Mr Ballard moved to Scotland in the same year his mother, Alison Hargreaves, died on K2 when she was 33, months after becoming the first woman to conquer Everest unaided. A woman on holiday in Iceland had to be rescued after the ice she was sitting on began to drift away. Catherine Streng, 24, shared pictures of her grandmother at Jokulsarlon Lagoon on Twitter, sent to her by her father on the messaging service Whatsapp. Streng's grandmother had been sitting atop an ice block among the waves when it become dislodged it and began drifting out into the lagoon. My grandmother almost got lost at sea in Iceland today lmaoooo pic.twitter.com/osHrwTEkyr - babygirl, u dont know (@Xiushook) February 25, 2019 The tourist was apparently recued by a boat captain who happened to be with them at the time. According to Catherine's grandmother, a handful of people had sat on the throne-shaped ice block before her, while Catherine tweeted: "They were with a tour guide so I guess they said it was cool." She added: "When I first got the texts I laughed out loud at work because that's just so something that would happen to my family." The post was "liked" on Twitter more than 150,000 times, with one user noting "Granny is going to atlantis", while another wrote "Frozen 3 looks great". Granny is going to atlantis - hilmi (@hilmi_lol) February 27, 2019 Frozen 3 looks great - Joe Halabi (@freeformjazz25) February 27, 2019 And while it looked like a close escape for Catherine's grandmother, she said: "My father also would like to note, however, that you're never too old to have fun!" French President Emmanuel Macron has committed himself to making anti-Zionism illegal , by making it legally equivalent to anti-semitism, and therefore a hate crime. This announcement follows a verbal attack against French pro-Israeli writer Alain Finkielkraut during a Gilets Jaunes protest, where one demonstrator hurled the words dirty Zionist. The confrontation was described as anti-semitic by the president and numerous commentators. Targeting political movements The alarming rise of anti-semitism has plagued not just France, but the whole continent, with far-right groups gaining ground electorally and on the streets. In France alone, anti-Jewish attacks have risen by 74 percent over the last year. But the problem with the French states response which is not dissimilar to that of other governments, including the UK and US is that it targets legitimate political movements, rather than dealing with a form of oppression woven into the fabric of French institutions. It is striking that it is not the far-right and its numerous splinter groups that are being targeted by the president, nor is it the growing normalisation of racist rhetoric, including by the French leader himself. Racism and fascism are structural forms of oppression that only manifest themselves on the streets because they have been normalised through state institutions Instead, it is solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposition to Zionism the ideology that justifies their dispossession that is made to bear the responsibility. Macron is showing us exactly what not to do in the face of rising fascism. He is effectively co-opting the rise in anti-semitism to target political dissent in the vein of pro-Palestine, anti-Zionist efforts. Racism and fascism are structural forms of oppression that only manifest themselves on the streets because they have been legitimised, defused and normalised through state institutions. Macron is surely aware that in World War Two, anti-semitism, and the consequent dehumanisation of entire peoples, became so widespread only because the Nazi partys rhetoric gained influence within political institutions. White-washing history It is especially rich that Macron is attempting to equate anti-Zionism and anti-semitism when, just a few months ago, he came under fire for defending plans to pay tribute to Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain. Indeed, he claimed it to be legitimate because Petain was a marshal who led the French army to victory a century ago. While heading the Vichy government, however, Petain and his administration facilitated the deportation to death camps of thousands of Jews. Much of this was later white-washed, with those involved integrated into the postwar administration of the republic. French President Emmanuel Macron is overseeing the normalisation of racist rhetoric (Reuters) The states targeting of the entire Gilets Jaunes movement over an isolated incident also discredits efforts to fight racism. The movement, which is non-hierarchical and has been described as leaderless, also includes far-right protesters a point of much internal political debate in recent months. Anti-racist groups have expressed the need to fight for an inclusive and intersectional space, which is only likely to happen if they are part of the political events, protests and rallies. There is a recognition at the grassroots level that in a society plagued by racism, it is only normal that even in anti-austerity efforts and among left-wing organisations, reactionary and conservative ideas exist. The difference is that there is a willingness to partake in a process of consciousness-raising, to set the direction of the movement and roll back the growing dominance of racism across French society. The juxtaposition couldnt be starker. Anti-racists in France are participating in a mass movement against austerity and taking on reactionary ideas, while the president, who himself has a poor track record on racism, is attempting to capitalise on it to launch a broader assault on solidarity with the Palestinian people. Cosying up to the far-right Communities are fearful for their safety. To provide the false illusion that Macron and his counterparts in the UK and US are legislating a fight back is despicable. They are targeting groups with a long-standing history of anti-racism, because theyre also likely to support the anti-imperialist struggle against Israels occupation of Palestine. At the same time, these very same politicians are cosying up to the anti-semitic Hungarian government, the far-right, and individuals such as former White House strategist Steve Bannon. They are putting Jewish communities at risk, while instrumentalising them to justify their attacks on the left and communities of colour, and their foreign policies in the Middle East. The gilet jaunes are uniting France in a rage against Macrons regime Read More In Britain, we have witnessed the targeting of pro-Palestine efforts through counter-terrorism strategies, including Prevent. This has led to the cancellation of events, the questioning and demonisation of young activists, and threats to make the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement illegal. In the US, theres a continued targeting of activists and public figures by groups such as the Canary Mission. The recent swearing-in of Congress representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib was followed by a media onslaught over their support for Palestinian liberation not to mention the Middle East security bill voted through the US Senate in order to criminalise BDS. The need to resist The international pattern is clear. Around the world, the rich and powerful are stoking racism to divert anger about growing inequality and injustice, including the normalisation of far-right groups, individuals and governments. In this process, anti-semitism is re-emerging, including among the very people who are close to power. Today, the struggle against anti-Zionism is justified by a false conflation with anti-semitism Yet, it is the left the pro-Palestine movement and communities of colour who are being accused by those very same governments around the world. Today, the struggle against anti-Zionism, justified by a false conflation with anti-semitism, has a triple purpose: to weaken the left at home, shield the government from criticism over its active participation in the rise of anti-semitism and other forms of racism, and hide its geopolitical support for Israel behind a supposed protection for Jewish communities, endangering them in the process. All three aspects should be resisted ferociously. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Jay Inslee is the latest Democrat to launch his 2020 presidential bid. He feels riding the wave of climate change will boost his chances. He wants to make the issue of combating climate change his priority because he feels there must be a new perception on the subject. He released a video to announce his candidature and reiterated that his bid for the White House will revolve around this single issue that he described as the most urgent challenge of our time. World leaders have realized that the menace of climate change is a serious affair. They drew up the 2015 Paris accord but the United States did not sign it. The Washington Post reports Jay Inslee highlighted the fact that a successful fight against climate change will pave the way for all round prosperity. He made mention of areas like health care, national security and racial justice that are linked to climate change. How Jay Inslee is planning to use his 2020 presidential bid to fight climate change https://t.co/ByLT15uHqY TIME (@TIME) March 1, 2019 Inslee selects a very appropriate subject Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has selected a very appropriate subject for his 2020 presidential bid. He announced his decision to contest at an event in Seattle and the venue coincidentally was a solar installation company. This is significant because solar energy is a form of Renewable Energy that can provide much-needed relief from the evils of climate change. Fossil fuels play havoc with the environment and contribute to global warming. A large number of industries are fossil-fuel based and dependence on such harmful fuels must reduce. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is launching his bid for the presidency in 2020. Inslee argues that no presidential candidate has hinged a campaign as heavily on climate and environmental policy as he will. https://t.co/YoADJPCkrs pic.twitter.com/UuLkG5ZUyW ABC 7 News - WJLA (@ABC7News) March 1, 2019 The Washington Post goes on to add that Inslee vowed that if elected president, he would ensure a complete overhaul of the system. Discuss this news on Eunomia He pointed out that a section of the people are forced to live near pollution-spewing plants and have to bear the brunt of climate change. While announcing his decision to contest, he revealed some of his accomplishments and indicated that these could be extended at the national level. Field for Democrats is crowded According to the BBC, Washington State's Democratic Governor 68-year-old Jay Inslee has added his name to the list of hopefuls in the 2020 presidential bid. There are already 12 other Democrats and six of them are senators with a couple of women. Inslee is a two-term governor and has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. That could explain his choice of climate change as the oar to steer him into the White House. Others in the fray are the women, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris who is known as the female Barack Obama. The men include Kirsten Gillibrand and Bernie Sanders. The competition will be tough and it will be interesting to see who clears the hurdles and gets the final nod to take on Donald Trump. Will America get its first woman president in 2020? Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort The beautiful rooms and suites at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort scream elegance and splendor, with richly appointed furnishings and stunning views. The hotel, which is rated one of the top 10 hotels in Honolulu, has a great location right on Waikiki Beach and close to all the action in Honolulu. Guests can enjoy a delicious, traditional meal on the premises, from a grill-your-own steak experience to fresh-caught seafood at the Diamond Head Restaurant. After a day spent sipping Mai Tais by the pool, guests can enjoy a Hawaiian-style jam, learn to play the ukulele, or take part in any of the hotels other Hawaiian cultural activities and lessons. 2169 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815, Phone: 808-923-0711 You are reading "23 Best Beachfront Hotels & Resorts on Oahu, Hawaii" Back to Top By Park Hyong-ki NongHyup Financial Group will draw a complete roadmap for its expansion in Southeast Asian markets this year, the holding company said Sunday. The plan will include an investment in Vietnam-based Agribank, which is seeking foreign investors as it moves to launch an initial public offering this year. NongHyup Financial said it was "positively" considering investing in the state-run Agribank. In Vietnam, a foreign investor is allowed to acquire up to a 30 percent stake in a local bank. The country's financial authorities are considering raising the investment cap to attract foreign investors and meet growing demand for loans. This comes after NongHyup Chairman Kim Gwang-soo met with Agribank Chairman Trinh Ngoc Khanh in Hanoi, Feb. 21, as part of his seven-day trip to Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia last week. Kim visited the countries after NongHyup Bank CEO Lee Dae-hoon went to Hong Kong, Indonesia and Vietnam to survey the markets for more investment opportunities early February. NongHyup Financial earlier told The Korea Times that it is seeking to make deals in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia in 2019. The deals include forging strategic partnerships through equity investments and joint ventures. It will put NongHyup Bank and NH Investment & Securities in Vietnam at the forefront for its Southeast Asian expansion, the group said. NongHyup Financial has injected 30 billion won ($27 million) into NH Investment in Vietnam. "As a latecomer in entering global markets, NongHyup Financial will need to collaborate with local financial institutions and carry out our plan flexibly with our partners by sharing our unique business models," Chairman Kim said in a press statement. NongHyup Financial acquired SAMIC in Cambodia for 10 billion won in August 2018, the group's first overseas deal. SAMIC, a Cambodian microfinance institution with 10 branches, was renamed NongHyup Finance Cambodia in September. In Myanmar, NongHyup Financial will seek to forge ties with HTOO Group in banking and insurance, and they will develop a new business in agriculture financing, the Seoul-based group said. A CH-47 Chinook helicopter flies above the United States Army Garrison-Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on Apr. 23 last year for a Key Resolve command post exercise. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung South Korea and the United States have decided to stop holding annual large-scale military exercises in spring, replacing them with smaller-scale ones, in a move to avoid provoking North Korea, the allies' military commands said Sunday. The decision ends the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint drills, the largest joint exercises that usually take place in the first half of the year. Instead, the allies will carry out Dong Maeng combined command post exercises as a replacement for the two, according to Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC). The word means alliance in English, and the new exercise will focus on the strategic, operational and tactical aspects of military operations on the peninsula, according to the allies. "Dong Maeng has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle," the CFC said in a press release. JCS Chairman Park Han-ki and CFC Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said in the statement, "Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with South Korea, U.S. and United Nations Sending State Partners." The statement came a day after Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan had a 45-minute telephone conversation starting 10 p.m. Saturday (KST) during which they made the decision and shared their views on the denuclearization of the peninsula. ROME March 3rd is International Sex Workers Rights Day. The day has been celebrated since 2001, when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex workers festival but the government attempted to revoke their permits for the event. Sex worker groups worldwide continue to celebrate the third day of March as International Sex Workers Rights Day. The original event was organized by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee. Called Durbar for short, the name means Unstoppable Womens Synthesis Committee. It has approximately 65,000 sex workers as members and has been advocating for their rights and safety since they were established in 1992. Durbar has been working on womens rights and sex workers rights advocacy, anti-human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Durbar ran its first major advocacy campaign in 1997, which included a national conference in Calcutta. The conference captured international attention with its slogan Sex Work is Real Work. The slogan continues to be in use today by many organizations that advocate for sex worker rights, often used alongside the international symbol of sex work, the red umbrella. The umbrella symbol came into use in 2001 when sex workers rights advocates gathered in Italy during the 49th Venice Biennale of Art, which had a prostitutes pavilion covered in red umbrellas, an installation by Slovenian artist Tadej Pogachar. The red umbrella was formally adopted as symbol of the sex workers rights movement by the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) in 2005. On March 1st, Zero Discrimination Day, the ICRSE launched a new advocacy initiative with the launch of a new documentary titled Crossing: Stories of Immigrant Sex Workers. The film was produced by multiple sex worker rights groups in different European countries and focuses on the stories of stories of five migrant sex workers living and working in these countries. By sharing their experiences as women, men, migrants, LGBT people, single mothers, Muslims, Roma, and sex workers, notes the documentarys website, they challenge the sensationalist portrayal of all sex workers as prostituted women and trafficking victims.' In addition to ICSRE, the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NWSP) published a consensus statement detailing the expected rights of sex workers. Sex Worker Rights and Religion The history of opposition to sex work is intimately bound to the rise of certain religions, particularly the branches of the Abrahamic faith that describe the consequences of infidelity and the consequences of prostitution. Texts that emerge from the Abrahamic faiths, such as the Bible and Quran, insist that while prostitutes are not beyond forgiveness, their behavior is sinful and exceptionally so at times punishable by death. Prostitution is presented as a force of corruption that destroys not only marriages but the souls of all involved. Especially in Islam, conservative Judaism, and Pauline Christianity, there is an institutionalization of opposition to sex work and liberal approaches to sex and sexuality generally. Secular legislation appeases the religious interests against sex work. In order to inhibit corruption, laws were established to further social controls on women specifically, while adjacent issues, such as normalizing heterosexism and monogamy, underpin that control. Paganism and Sex Worker Rights The rise of modern Paganism parallels the sexual revolution that began in the 1960s. Most branches of Paganism embrace feminism as a functional and powerful core ethic. To many, these co-occurring movements are nothing less than the energies of goddesses, in all their manifestations, re-asserting themselves into society. Feminism, some argue, is the culmination of a long absence of womens spirituality and the feminine spiritual force being rendered secondary and oppressed by patriarchal forces. I spoke with a few Pagan workers who echoed that sentiment immediately. Near a fruit stand on a highway outside Rome, I met Mariah. She works multiple jobs, one of them being sex work. Our meeting was happenstance; we were both purchasing oranges at a stand, and I noticed a goddess necklace. We laughed about misreading the others intentions in opening the conversation. Mariah didnt want to give her full name; she says its dangerous. If some men know who you are, they can find out where you live. They hunt you. She is new to Paganism and wants to become a Witch. The Church offers forgiveness, and will then let you starve forgiven. When I asked her about International Sex Workers Rights Day, she didnt know there was such a day but immediately embraced the idea. She said that advocates are needed. Its the oldest profession, and the last to get retirement benefits. In relation to Paganism, she commented that she knew some Pagans in the area and not a single one of them has judged me; to the contrary, her Pagan friends are proud of her. She says they know her, but do not judge what she does for money. Maggie, a sex worker in Florida who identifies as a polytheist devoted to Ganesha and Inanna, echoed much of the same sentiment. Maggie noted that every Pagan event she has interacted with has addressed consent. She noted that sex work is about consent at the personal and the legal level. I own my body, she says. I should get to decide what to do with my body. You get to decide to work with your hands, or your eyes. I get to decide the same thing. I bring no harm. If the client is married or with a partner, he or she has to make that decision. It is not my position to judge what they do or police their relationships. Mariah agreed. She also noted that consent is the essence of the work. Both agreed that organizations working to support the rights of sex workers help to establish financial security, but more importantly, they help minimize abuse, especially of minors. Mariah and Maggie both noted they cannot call the police if they are abused or raped. The police will simply say we are looking for it, Mariah said. A Deeper Intersection with Paganism As a woman and a Witch, says Rowan, a longtime member of the Pagan and Witchcraft community, I support human rights for everyone. We are all kinfolk on this planet, and anyone who is marginalized and discriminated against is worth standing alongside and advocating with them on their own behalf. I have spoken to and advocated with sex workers over decades. In our conversation, Rowan spoke to her familiarity with the topic of sex work and the importance of the fight for sex workers rights. In my 20s, I briefly worked in the sex trade. I had a friend who put herself through college doing sex work. I had a friend who bought the training for her commercial pilots license doing sex work. Were talking strong women who take stock of their options and go for something that provides money for their dreams. Given the marginalization of womens work in general, and the nature of low pay for women in most conventional jobs, sex work can be incredibly empowering. Rowan underscored the importance of self-accepting our sexuality, a topic adjacent to sex work but intimately bound to both Paganism and the agency we have as individuals. I belonged for a number of years to a community that was about creating sacred connections between members, exploring and going deep into the realms of love, sacred sexuality, and shared community. No, that wasnt about sex work, but it opened me further to the possibilities of pursuing sex work as part of sacred sexuality, bringing wholeness and pleasure to those who need it. Maggie also mentioned the intersection of Paganism and self-acceptance. My spiritual work helps me understand who I am and that who I am at any moment is who I am meant to be. She noted that sex worker rights do not create legitimacy only my work with my gods create that but recognition of rights will stop harassment, trafficking and abuse. Rowan also noted that she attended Annie Sprinkles Sluts and Goddesses workshops, which teach women to interface with the multiplicity of understandings related to pleasure. I do consider that important magical work, Rowan says, creating deep heart-centered and sex-centered connections between people. Over the years, a number of my friends have become Tantrikas and studied the arts of pleasure extensively as a magical calling. I want to distinguish between sex workers, those who work providing sexual services, and victims of trafficking. The latter are not sex workers, they are trafficking victims. We, and the law, should make that distinction and get victims the help they need. The three individuals pointed out that sex worker rights enhance the agency of individuals to decide what to do with their bodies and unhook the patriarchal oppression describing how people should behave sexually. Each also emphasized that rights will reduce sexual human trafficking by giving power and voice to those whose consent has been silenced. They noted that voice, consent, and empowerment were manifestations of a Pagan spirituality. There was a time when Pagans looked to the Temple Priestesses of the ancient world, who provided sex and healing from within the temple, says Rowan, connecting the need for sex workers rights more immediately to the Pagan community. Rowan notes that sex workers rights should matter to Pagans as a manifestation of ones own capacity for power and healing. The sex negativity of the over culture has infected our community as well. Editors note: Mariahs statements have been translated from Italian. 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Photos of our students at work are published solely for the promotion of the Wisdom of the Hands program and Other uses are strictly prohibited and copyright will be enforced. Questions about Wisdom of the Hands can be addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speak during a dinner at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel in the Vietnamese capital, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung The latest summit between Washington and Pyongyang was a half success for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as he achieved a big image makeover by actively engaging in a formal diplomatic schedule there despite the breakdown in his denuclearization talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Since taking power in 2011, Kim had been regarded as one of the world's toughest dictators, apparently orchestrating the assassination of his half-brother and the execution of his uncle. Until the end of 2017, the young third-generation dictator of the Kim dynasty was also seen as the most reclusive leader, making few public appearances and not actively taking part in diplomatic engagement with other leaders. Rafia Zakaria in The Nation: As irony would have it, Pakistan and Indias latest squabble began on Valentines Day when an explosive-laden truck, commandeered by a young Kashmiri Indian man, slammed into an Indian military convoy, killing 40 Indian soldiers. Even before the funerals were over, India blamed Pakistan, claiming its neighbor was sponsoring the terrorist group, Jaish-e-Muhammad, responsible for the attack. Ten days later, India carried out strikes in Pakistanthough its unclear what, if anything, it hit. The following day, Pakistan shot down two Indian planes that had crossed into its territory and captured an Indian pilot. The Pakistani government then closed its airspace and imposed blackouts in the Northern Areas so that Indian aircraft could not detect its cities. In an instant, it seemed, the two countries stood daggers drawn, teetering on the edge of nuclear cataclysm. Yet peace, or the desire for it, caught on in Pakistan. On Thursday, the day after Pakistan captured the Indian pilot, peace rallies were held all over Pakistan, and the hashtag #SayNoToWar trended on Twitter. Groups of Pakistani women photographed themselves holding placards asking women across the border to #SayNoToWar. More here. Incheon Airport immigration office. Korea Times file Vietnamese students now subject to stronger financial screening By Lee Suh-yoon The government is tightening visa rules for foreign students accepted into Korean language programs at universities here, starting Monday, the Ministry of Justice said Sunday. The move comes amid immigration brokers' increasing abuse of the language exchange visa system for international students. The number of foreigners staying illegally after entering the country via a language exchange visa increased three-fold from 4,294 in 2015 to 12,526 in 2018, according to immigration authorities. "Up till now, we gave universities maximum autonomy over the selection process of foreign exchange students," the ministry said in a press statement. "But their failure to screen prospective students' finances and academic ability properly resulted in an increase in the number of illegal migrants." Vietnamese students, in particular, will be subject to stricter financial screening because about 70 percent of the illegal aliens who entered the country via D-4 language training program visas are from Vietnam, according to the ministry's 2018 data. Instead of simply submitting proof of a bank account holding $9,000 in tuition fees, the ministry will require prospective Vietnamese students to put $10,000 in a restricted account that allows a withdrawal of 5 million won ($4,400) every six months, thus blocking one-time withdrawal of the total sum to be returned to immigration brokers as soon as a D-4 visa is issued. Additionally, students from Guinea, Mali, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Cameroon who have shown high percentages of dropping out of the program midway before disappearing into the undocumented labor force will need at least a level 3 TOPIK certificate or get 530 points in a TOEFL test to be admitted to a Korean language program at a "lower-tier" university, as ranked by the education ministry based on factors like the drop-out and illegal residency rate of former students. The ministry will also limit the number of foreign students these "lower-tier" universities can accept into their Korean language programs, and the number of students per language instructor to 30. Using the same standards, 50 "top-tier" universities will now be able to issue electronic visas to its language exchange students. Part-time employment regulations of international students, however, will be slightly eased due to criticism that banning them from part-time work in the manufacturing sector increases illegal employment, especially at provincial universities where part-time job choices are limited. The new rule allows foreign students with a TOPIK level 4 certificate or higher to work legally part-time in the manufacturing sector. Gov. Noem's budget calls for workforce raises, high-dollar projects for local economies Noem's proposed budget includes $30M to help DSU bolster its cyber-security training program, which could include a facility in Sioux Falls. Theres a step you can take to increase the security of online purchases that you might not have heard of: virtual credit cards. Think of them as temporary and disposable. If someone steals your virtual number and tries to purchase something in your name, you can just delete the number. Theyre becoming more relevant as people shop online more, said Oliver Browne, an industry analyst with Credit Card Insider. People are looking for additional security. Heres how it works: Through the three companies that offer this service at no additional charge Capital One, Bank of America and Citibank consumers can generate a virtual credit card number that differs from their physical card and the physical cards security code and expiration date. This is a safety measure because if a scammer steals your virtual number or the number is stolen in a data breach, your physical card wont be threatened and you wont have to replace it. In the case of theft, you would just cancel the virtual number and prevent any further use, Browne said. You can also set specific spending limits or time frames on virtual credit cards which can give a card holder added security when shopping online or over the phone, according to an information sheet. The cards can only be used for online purchases and not in physical stores. In some cases, they are merchant-specific so a thief that tried to use it more broadly would be unable to do so. There are a few ways this method provides convenience. The obvious is you can just cancel the number and dont have to wait for a new card, like you do when your physical card is lost or stolen. Another benefit: if you want to subscribe to something but want to avoid that annoying trend of being automatically signed up for renewal later, you can use a virtual card. By the time the publication signs you up again, the virtual number will have long since been canceled. Nonetheless, its not a silver bullet, Browne said. There arent any extra fraud protections with these cards, so youll still want to check your credit card statements. The virtual-card purchases will be listed there, along with physical card purchases. Heres one way to battle unwanted calls with a sense of humor. A Journal readers answering machine has this greeting: Hello. You have reached the American Apathy Association. We could care less who you are or why you called. Please continue to hold and none of us will take your call ever. Yet another reason to carefully check credit card statements: a scam called formjacking. Its basically code thats written on some websites with the purpose of stealing credit card numbers and other information from consumers when they make purchases. Heres how the Identity Theft Resource Center describes this hard-to-detect con: The purchase you made is valid and goes through as normal, which makes this identity crime all the more stealthy. Generally, the malicious code is on the checkout page of ecommerce websites. Once the consumer clicks submit on an order, the code enables cyber-criminals to highjack personal information. That information can then be used to make fraudulent purchases or can be sold to other criminals on the dark web, according to Symantec, which provides cybersecurity services. Formjacking hits an average of 4,800 websites per month notable victims include Ticketmaster and British Airways. The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends consumers keep a close watch on their credit statements and that businesses use security practices to prevent such theft attempts. Ellen Marks is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. Contact her at emarks@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210. Prev 1 of 5 Next The Shroud of Turin has to be one of the most curious and intriguing and mysterious of religious artifacts. The shroud is an ancient linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man, and many people of faith believe it had been wrapped around Jesus Christ after he was crucified. While this is a matter of significant debate among scholars and scientists, believers and skeptics, people visiting Alamogordo can delve deeply into the issue and make up their own minds. There is a deep connection between New Mexico and the shroud, said Pete Schumacher, founder and original curator of the Shroud of Turin Museum & History Center (shroudnm.com) in Alamogordo. (The actual shroud is housed in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.) The investigation of the shroud involved more people from New Mexico than any other place in the world, he said. Personnel from Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories, as well as researchers from White Sands, Kirtland Air Force Base, IBM and Lockheed Martin descended en masse in 1975 to study the shroud. They had 6,000 pounds of equipment, and 20 of them studied the shroud for 24 hours a day for five days, Schumacher said. Then they reviewed material for two years. It was the worlds largest scientific investigation ever to study a single fabric artifact. At the heart of the investigation was the groundbreaking use of an image enhancer with the capabilities to include isodensity contouring, image density measurement, signal-level monitoring, 30-display, color-and-monochrome presentation, and computer compatibility. All of the discussions are shown in exhibits about the various tests and studies, Schumacher said. You can interact with the VP-8 image analyzer so you can understand why and how the machine works and discover why its so important. The Discovery Channel did a documentary on the investigation in 2008. We have a lot of people come to Alamogordo specifically to see the museum and do research there, Schumacher said. Weve had people who have traveled from Panama, California, Italy, France. We had a film crew from China to do documentary in Chinese. And its the only place in the world where you can actually go and interact with a VP-8 image analyzer and really study and see what it is all about. World-class shows When it comes to less surreal experiences, the Flickinger Center (flickingercenter.com) is a state-of-the-art former movie theater that underwent a $1 million transformation that now attracts leading acts and also serves to educate local youths about the arts, said Teresa Ham, a volunteer for more than 30 years and who spearheaded the drive for the 1988 capital improvements project. We have world-famous shows, world-class shows, she said. These shows are really phenomenal for a small town of 35,000 people. Alamogordo itself is home to a number of different attractions, not the least of which is the New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org). Among the many highlights of a visit is the chance to explore a mock-up of the International Space Station, as well to see the planetarium on the 40-foot, wrap-around OMNIMAX screen, said Michelle Brideaux, Alamogordo city spokeswoman. The museum has interactive displays, including a rocket rumbler, that makes you feel like you are a part of the launch as everything is literally rumbling around you, she said. Getting a chance to don a spacesuit has also become a popular exhibit, Brideaux said. All aboard! Take a step back in time at the Toy Train Depot (toytraindepot.homestead.com). A model railroaders delight, the 100-year-old depot has hundreds of model trains and toy trains on display. A 1,000-square-foot HO layout of Alamogordo circa 1940 is among the displays, as is the smallest scaled working train in the world, she said. Locals and visitors have the railroad to thank for the Alameda Park & Zoo (alamogordo.nm.us/Zoo/coa), which was established in 1898 and is the oldest in the Southwest. The zoo houses more than 300 animals of 90 species, including the newest animals, Oscar the river otter and Annie the bobcat. Both of these animals came to the zoo from rehab facilities and could not be returned to the wild, Brideaux said. Oscar came from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah, and Annie came from the Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Carlsbad. COLUMBUS, N.M. The Village of Columbus is getting ready for its 20th annual Cabalgata Binacional weekend event from Friday, March 8, to Sunday, March 10. The Bi-national Calvary recognizes Mexican revolutionary Gen. Francisco Pancho Villas surprise attack against the Village of Columbus on March 9, 1916, where 18 U.S. citizens and more than 100 Mexicans lost their lives. The event is also an opportunity to promote goodwill between Mexico and the United States. The Cabalgata is on auto pilot now, said Norma Gomez, Columbus Chamber of Commerce event coordinator. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is processing the use of right-of-way permit and the sheriffs office is leading the parade and providing traffic control for the horse parade that (will) come across the border to trek the last three miles of their 15-day travel across the state of Chihuahua and finishing in Columbus. The village will host two more major events during the weekend. Pancho Villa State Park will host its annual Camp Furlong Day on Saturday, March 9, an educational event covering the events in 1916. The Columbus Historical Society will host its annual Raid Day Memorial at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, behind the historical train depot museum. The Society has reached out in the past to families who are descendants of those who where killed during Villas raid. Passionate participants set out to follow the same journey that Villas soldiers took from Guerrero, Mexico, to Columbus, New Mexico, by horseback. Riders were scheduled to start their journey the last weekend in February. According to Gomez, this years Cabalgata will be special as the Chamber has invited two of Villas grandsons to attend. When Antonio Chen Guang was 4 years old, his father banned him from his piano studio. When he turned 5, he begged the piano professor to let him in. I always wanted to play the piano, the 24-year-old Guang said in a telephone interview from Fairbanks, Alaska. He said, We have to make a deal. You have to listen and obey my rules. If I tell you to practice two hours a day, you practice two hours a day. He said, You cannot quit easily. If you quit, I will never teach you again. The Olga Kern International Piano Competition winner obviously listened, and hes returned to perform Beethovens Piano Concerto No. 3 with the New Mexico Philharmonic on Sunday, March 10, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The orchestra also will play Robert Schumanns Rhenish Symphony No. 3. Grammy Award-winning conductor Roberto Minczuk will lead the musicians. Guang grew up near Wuhan, in central China. At age 11, he moved to Beijing to study at the Central Conservatory. In 2012, he earned his pre-college diploma at The Juilliard School. Today he lives in Vienna, Austria, where he continues to study his instrument. Guang said he has always felt drawn to the music of Beethoven. He played the composers Piano Concerto No. 4 at his first public performance when he was 14. Beethoven wrote the third (circa 1800) during the onset of his deafness. Its in a quite different key, Guang said. For Beethoven, the C minor has always been related to the heroic. Its almost always a mastery of fighting with destiny, with his fate, the end of the world. Placing first in the Albuquerque-based competition triggered a flood of opportunities, Guang said. In January, he performed in Romania. Future dates include South Africa and Moscow. Hes also won the Scriabin Prize and the Rome Prize, along with numerous internationally renowned competitions. He was humbled by the win. You have to go super, super prepared, he said. But you never know whats going to happen. I think I was lucky that I was playing at my best. Sometimes art blooms from crisis. Arturo Garcia spent much of his life as a real estate broker. Then he learned he had cancer. I got very ill six years ago, and I ended up in the hospital for a long time, he said in a telephone interview from his Littleton, Colo., home. I had cancer. They took all my organs out. They cut my pancreas in half. It was a bile duct, but they treated it as pancreatic cancer. I looked back on my life and I said I wished Id painted more. That was what made me happy. The results of that personal epiphany can be seen at next weekends Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival Spring Show at Expo New Mexicos Manuel Lujan Exhibit Complex. A lineup of 185 juried artists will show fine art, sculpture, photography, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, wood, metal and glass art. Patrons can browse a selection of both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art. This marks the shows 31st year. Garcia had always treated his art as a hobby, although he had been creating since he was a child growing up in Mexico. I always had the ability to create and paint well, but Ive always been too critical of myself, he said. He began as a realist until he shifted into the highly expressionistic, color-splashed style of the Fauves. French for wild beasts, the Fauves incorporated vivid, splashy brushwork. Henri Matisse and Andre Derain were the movements leaders. Switching from brushes to a palette knife added a thick, painterly quality to Garcias canvas. The paint layers are so thick they cast their own shadows, giving the images a three-dimensional appearance. At one point, Garcia struggled and gave up because the technique proved so difficult; it was hard to add detail. But he persevered, using a 2-inch triangular-shaped knife to produce wild slashes of pigment. Hes never taken a formal art lesson. He often works from his own photographs. Garcias Colorado wildlife series features elk, buffalo, bears, bobcats and bighorn sheep. In Evergreen (Colo.), we have hundreds of elk, Garcia said. Evergreen is 40 minutes from here, and I like to watch them. Ive painted buffalo so much I dont need to look at the animal anymore, he added. New to the Rio Grande festival, Garcia also shows his work in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and at Denvers Cherry Creek Art Festival. He took first prize in Jackson, landing the cover of the festival poster. His work has been shown at the Denver Art Museum and at the University of Colorado. Last year, I won a residency in France, he said. I painted for a whole month in a castle. It was a gift from art itself. HOUSTON A 75-year-old Houston-area man is accused of murder in the 1983 death of a woman who authorities identified as his fiancee. Noel Leon King Jr. of La Porte (luh PORT) was being held Saturday in the Montgomery County jail on $300,000 bond. The Houston Chronicle reports King admitted to investigators that he fractured the skull of 28-year-old Teresa Brignoni during an argument, leading him to panic and place her body in his car. She was found dead in Conroe. King was investigated at the time but a friend provided an alibi. Investigators who re-opened the case interviewed the friends aunt, who says her nephew told her he gave King an alibi. King, arrested Wednesday, didnt have an attorney listed in court records. A phone number listed for him was disconnected. ___ Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com Wade Modisette is a local husband and father that seeks the best and most appropriate entertainment for his family. A movie connoisseur in his own mind, he seeks to educate his friends and community on quality choices for their family. Find more reviews and information at wadereviewsstuff.wordpress.com . Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Susan Goseyun is up early every day. I try to wake up before Jane does, she said of the 72-year-old sister she has cared for the past 3 years. Because she doesnt want me to rip anyone off, says Jane, who suffers from Alzheimers, before adding, Im only kidding. Jane has retained her sense of humor. And a laugh here and there certainly helps, because even though Jane will never realize it, shes putting her sister through a lot. Susan has the patience of a saint, says Maryann DeStefano, Susans friend, who occasionally relieves her of her caretaking duties. I have a lot of compassion for her because I took care of my mom for two years and ended up in the hospital. It almost killed me. Susan recently ended up in the hospital, too, due to a bad reaction to medicine prescribed after she was diagnosed with the symptoms of a nervous breakdown, likely caused by the stress of working a full-time job as a nurse and taking care of her sister for years without a break. Its 24/7. Youre on call every minute, Susan said. There are no coffee breaks. Susan cant take her eye off her sister. She did once, and Jane walked out the front door and wandered off. The police found her a few blocks away and brought her home. Waking up early is just the start of it. Susan says she has an internal alarm clock that gets her up at least twice during the night so she can check on her sister. Sometimes, shell wake and bounce out of bed when she hears her sister cry, Help me. The half hour or so Susan is up before Jane awakes for good is her only alone time. Once shes up, youre up, Susan says. Then, shell call my name 40 times a day. Can I eat? Can I go upstairs? Jane will ask her sister, even through there is no upstairs to their home off Zia Road. Susan figures Jane is thinking of their childhood home, which did have a second floor. Susan does try to keep her sister moving around and her blood flowing. You cant just let her sit. You have to keep her moving around, she says. Sometimes, they will sit down together and read a book, just to give Janes mind some exercise. She can have lucid conversations, Susan says of her sister. Jane can also remember words to songs from the 1950s and can recite her lines from a play performed when she was 4 years old nearly 70 years ago. But when asked, she cant remember what she had for breakfast. Im the one with memory loss, shell say, aware of her condition. How am I supposed to know? Not only does Susan make her sister breakfast, she watches her sister eat to make sure shes swallowing and not storing food in her cheeks that she could choke on later. Shell help her sister wash up in the morning, do her hair and help her get dressed. Shell respond to Jane calling her name 40 times a day, feed her again later in the day but not too early or too late and get her ready for bed. At midnight, a new day starts and she does it all over again. It goes on and on, Susan said. A growing need Susan and Jane are just the kind of people Glenys Carl wants to help by establishing Scotts House, which would be the first social model hospice facility in the state of New Mexico and one of only about 50 in the country. Hospice is a great organization, but theyre not a stay-in home service and there is no free-standing hospice facility, Carl, who has spent much of her long life providing hospice and palliative care, says in a Welsh accent only slightly softened by decades living in America. No, Jane isnt dying. But the home Carl has in mind would also include a respite room that would be perfect for Jane and a tremendous relief for Susan, allowing her a much-needed break from her caregiving duties. Jane could be cared for and looked after by trained caregivers and nurses during a monthlong stay. Sure, Susan could, and has, hired someone to care for Jane while shes at work. But do the math, Carl says. She has to pay that caregiver and in the end she barely breaks even. The whole idea behind creating a social model hospice facility is not to replace hospice, but supplement it by providing a comfortable home staffed by volunteer nurses and good-hearted individuals trained to assist patients with daily life functions like bathing, grooming, repositioning and helping with some medications. We just have to give them (patients) a place. Then I will bring volunteer nurses in to care for them, said Carl, who has worked extensively with the nursing program at Santa Fe Community College. I know it works with volunteers. Ive done it over and over. The main purpose of the home, she says, is to help families who struggle to care for a loved one suffering from a debilitating disease, such as ALS, cancer, leukemia or Parkinsons disease, with end-of-life care or, as in the case of people like Susan, provide some temporary relief from the burden of being a caretaker on duty 24/7. Its a need thats growing, especially in Santa Fe, where demographics reflect a high population of senior citizens that is only increasing as baby boomers get old. Residence at the home would be free of charge to terminally ill patients enrolled in a hospice program. The patients would first contract with a third-party hospice provider to oversee their medical care under a hospice physician. They would also contract with a group like Coming Home Connection founded by Carl founded 12 years ago, though shes no longer attached that provides free, in-home health care to the terminally ill, elderly, disabled, uninsured or poor. Carls vision is to start with one such home. And hopefully someone else will do another one, and then another one, and another one, she says. Local, national recognition Carl already has her eye on the first home. Its a 3,000-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bath home located on a one-acre lot on a cul-de-sac off Rodeo Road east of St. Francis Drive. One of the bedrooms could be split in two to make it four bedrooms, each with access to a private bathroom, she said. And one of the bedrooms would be dedicated to respite care aimed at giving caregivers a temporary break. The property is on a walled lot that Carl said is large enough to accommodate a casita that could potentially serve as additional quarters for patients in the future. Zillow shows that the home is off the market now, but its zestimated cost was $620,000. Carl said its owner is willing to sell it to her for $450,000. Ive got to raise a little bit more money to buy it, she said, later adding shes about $100,000 short. Anyone who has read the book that tells the story of Carls life and the life and death of her youngest son, Scott understands that, though small in stature, Carl is capable of big things. She seems to have a knack for overcoming insurmountable odds and obstacles. Hold My Hand, subtitled A Mothers Journey, published by McMillian Publishers in 2005, details her early life growing up in Wales and the trials and tribulations of a single mother raising three children. The focus of the book, however, is when tragedy strikes after the boys are all grown and each living on a different continent. Just a few weeks after Scott arrived in Australia to attend college, he suffered a traumatic head injury. No one is sure what happened. He had played, and starred, for his rugby team in a match earlier that day. A superior athlete, he was last seen jogging home that night. Police say he may have been mugged or might have startled a burglar. He was found in the basement of a row of flats, probably 10 hours after he fell or was pushed, with a black eye and in a coma. Carl traveled halfway around the world from her home in Germany, where she was living at the time, to be by her boys side. Doctors didnt think hed ever be revived. But through the love of his mother, her sheer determination and persistence, and her incredible ability to rally people behind her and maybe a little spiritual help from fairies and angels Scott pulled out of it. And while he was never physically the same and spent the last four years of his life mostly in bed or a wheelchair, Carl said Scotts character and sense of humor remained intact. The book chronicles the incredible efforts to rehabilitate Scott, his own will to carry on, and the amazing amount of support Carl got from volunteers, most of them strangers. Pneumonia and a weakened immune system, along with a terrible misstep by personnel at a London hospital, eventually killed him in 1989. He was 24. Shortly thereafter, Carl came to Santa Fe to grieve, having been offered a home to stay in by a friend. Since she has been here, Carl has been recognized locally and nationally for her contributions to the community. Her book won a New Mexico Book Award for best memoir; shes a winner of a Santa Fe Community Foundation Pinon Award, which honors the work of vital nonprofits and philanthropists; she won the Manhattan Institutes Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2016 for her work with Coming Home Connection; Money magazine named her a hero in New Mexico in 2014; and in 2017 the Santa Fe New Mexican picked her as one of 10 Who Made a Difference. Its not about the awards, said Carl, who shuns the accolades. Its about the need. Permission granted Carl has been thinking about opening a hospice-like facility in honor of her son since the 1990s after she first came to New Mexico. Its been a long haul for me, Carl says, reflecting on what shes had to overcome to make Scotts House possible. But it wasnt until about three years ago that she formed a nonprofit organization under the name Scotts House. That was the easy part. She also needed permission from the city to open such a facility, but just how to categorize it under the citys zoning regulations was unclear. They hadnt seen anything like this before, Carl said of her proposal. In a letter to City Land Use Director Carol Johnson last October, Carl presented it as a Continuing Care Community and explained how she intended to set it up as a social model hospice facility. This is a model that has been developing over the past few years called a social model hospice. There are approximately 50 of these houses that are operating in many communities around the country, she wrote. Although there are many hospice organizations operating in Santa Fe, currently there is no free-standing hospice house. There are many residents of Santa Fe that have no family, families that live in other states, families dealing with employment issues or that may be homeless. A month later, Carl received a response from Johnson. The activities you describe are consistent with the definition of a Group Care Residential Facility adopted as part of the Santa Fe Land Use Code, Johnson wrote, defining such facilities as a non-family dwelling unit where care, supervision and services are provided to residents of any age who have difficulty caring for themselves, including the elderly, persons with disabilities and children living apart from families. Those would include group homes, community residential care, assisted living facilities, halfway houses and foster homes. Such homes are permitted uses in residential neighborhoods, with limits on the number of occupants. Its easier now that I have permission, said Carl, who can now tell prospective donors that all she needs to open the facility is the house. Carl is now pushing to make it easier for such facilities to open in other cities across the state. She is advocating for Senate Memorial 61 now at the state Legislature, which calls for the state Department of Health to study options for regulating independent hospice houses and report the findings to the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee by October. The memorial, sponsored by Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, states that it is virtually impossible to create an effective, licensed residential hospice house in New Mexico, as the current licensing is under the assisted living regulations, which do not address the specific needs and stresses associated with terminal illness and dying. SM 61 states that theres a need for such facilities, as New Mexico has nearly double the number of elderly residents per capita as the national average. It notes that five other states Florida, New York, North Carolina, Minnesota and Wisconsin have already created statutory and regulatory frameworks that allow for the licensing of residential hospice homes. A bill that would permit reopening Northern New Mexico Colleges historic El Rito campus as a branch community college for vocational and technical classes is making progress at the Legislature. Senate Bill 431, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Martinez of Espanola and Carlos Cisneros of Questa, would create a unique governing structure for the El Rito site, with Northerns college president and administration overseeing the operation instead of creating a separate bureaucracy for the branch. The El Rito campus would receive no money through the states higher education funding formula and there would be no line item appropriation for it in the state budget. But Northern whose main campus is in Espanola would get credit in the funding formula for student credit hours and degrees, and certificates awarded at El Rito. The branch campus primary funding source would be a property tax generated within the boundaries of area school districts that would require voter approval. An analysis prepared by the Legislature says a 2 mill levy in the Espanola, Pojoaque Valley and Mesa Vista districts would generate $1.2 million a year for the branch school. On the Senate floor Thursday, Martinez said a previous administration at Northern had dropped vo-tech courses years ago and that its very important to bring them back. He said Los Alamos National Laboratory is willing to partner with Northern on trades programs for students. But if were not offering the trades programs, we cant educate them, said Martinez. Cisneros said LANL expects to hire 4,000 new employees in coming years due to retirement attrition. We need to start training those people, he said. Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said vocational training as a part of adult education is crucial. There have been no college classes at the El Rito campus since about four years ago. Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said an El Rito operation really could be a gem. He said El Rito has one of the most beautiful settings for a college probably in America, although the last time he passed through, the college buildings were looking pretty dilapidated. The bill passed the Senate 38-0. It still needs House approval. Jake Arnold of El Rito, executive director of an advocacy group that supports Northern and in particular re-use of the El Rito campus, said the group is in favor of SB 431. La Sociedad Venceslao Jaramillo is named after the man who founded the college in 1909, and who was a prominent territorial and early statehood civic figure. The original name of the school founded in El Rito by Jaramillo, with the support of then-former territorial New Mexico governor LeBaron Bradford Prince, and funding provided by the territorial legislature, was the Spanish American Normal School, Arnold wrote in a recent letter to lawmakers. The Jaramillo family donated the land for the schools home campus in El Rito. We applaud the efforts of Senators Carlos Cisneros and Richard Martinez to carry forward the vision of Jaramillo, Prince and the citizens of El Rito for an institution in Northern New Mexico that, in todays terminology, would have as its mission a community college curriculum to meet the needs of our young and continuing education students in this part of the state, wrote Arnold. Its a way to bring back the original mission of Northern New Mexico College, he said in an interview. Thats all we here around here is What happened to all those other (vo-tech) programs? Arnold said. Not everyone who goes to college wants to go on and get a Ph.D. The community wants those programs back. Coming from the Republic of Georgia to Santa Fe, life in the U.S. was a major shift for Ketevan Kharshiladze Ussery. She was at the top of her career in her home country, working as an artistic director for a repertory theater in Tbilisi, the capital city, and teaching theater and cinema at the local university. But her journey in America brought challenge after challenge. All of a sudden, I am nobody, she recalled about how she felt when she moved to New Mexico more than 15 years ago. I am absolutely zero with my broken English. An undocumented immigrant at the time, she says she was forced to start anew. She got a job as a salesperson in a downtown jewelry store, a line of work shed never done before, and had to learn to adjust to a new life. Along the way, she says, she discovered how to thrive and find lifes treasures wherever she was. Life can be very exciting and interesting, it depends how you look at life and where you are looking in life, said Kharshiladze Ussery. Her one-woman show based on her journey and stories from her first job, Hidden Treasures: A Georgian Immigrants Story, will premiere at Teatro Paraguas later this week. The show is being produced through local theater company Ironweed Productions. Scott Harrison, the companys artistic director and a friend of Kharshiladze Ussery, met her in 2004 through another production. She came to the U.S. at the end of 2000, seeking political asylum from her home country after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even though it was 10 years almost (afterward), it was total chaos; total anarchy, she recalled during a recent phone interview from El Rito, where she lives with her husband John Ussery and works as a caretaker. She and a handful of other Georgians made their way out of the country and ended up in Juarez, Mexico, where they were taken across the border. They were detained in El Paso, but after the process of their asylum requests began, they were allowed to go out and support themselves. So I went immediately to New York, she added. I came here for New York. Manhattan. Thats where she met her husband, a northern New Mexico native. The two wed in 2003 and then moved to Santa Fe. It was then that she got her job at that downtown jewelry store, which isnt identified by name in the show. There, she says, she had to navigate a demanding boss, and learn the ins and outs of sales. Throughout her six months of employment at the store, she would also write short stories about her interactions with coworkers and shoppers tales that are now the core of her one-woman show. And it was so interesting for me to see, what can I do and how can I adjust to this kind of life, how can I absorb this, and what product I can make, if not for everybody, but myself? she said. And this product were my little stories. It was almost like (a) journal. Bringing stories to life She said she was denied for asylum several times. From 2007-11, Kharshiladze Ussery returned to Georgia. She described it as self-deportation at the suggestion of her attorney after immigration officials had contacted her and her husband, and questioned the validity of their marriage. For a period of time, she thought she would never be able to come back to the U.S. But my crazy American husband did it, she said with a laugh. Three years after her return, shed become an official U.S. citizen. While back in Georgia, she had self-published her writings about her time at the jewelry store, in both Georgian and English. Upon her return to New Mexico, she gave copies of the small books to her friends and hoped to create a show from her stories. She and Harrison both finally found the time to start working on the show in late 2017. The personal aspect of the narrative is what drew Harrison to direct the production. Theres this element to the whole story, this whole story and journey the play goes on, that lends itself to the idea that you never know where youre going to find connection and meaning among people or experiences if youre open to it, he said. Ketevan, throughout her journey and this story, finds connection and meaning in very surprising places because shes open to that possibility. I think thats a message that resonates with a lot of us right now. In the show, Kharshiladze Ussery portrays eight characters who represent the people she met on the job. Talking with the customers, she explained, allowed her to absorb all types of American people. One of the stories she describes centers around her interaction with a woman who visited the store. They started talking about Kharshiladze Usserys home country and the woman said her husband had visited Georgia years before and fell in love with the culture. It was rare back then for Kharshiladze Ussery to meet someone who knew about her country, let alone had been there. She told the woman she wanted to meet her husband, but it turned out he had recently passed away. The trip to the jewelry store, Kharshiladze Ussery recalled, was one of the first times the woman had gone out since. She went to jewelry store just to kill time, and instead she find friend, Kharshiladze Ussery said. Salesperson. Keteva. The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office has charged a 19-year-old in the fatal shooting of a woman and a string of robberies committed in northeast Albuquerque last August. According to court records, Christian Dix faces one count of second degree murder in the death of Stephanie Martinez, 23, as well as two counts of armed robbery. Dix is already facing federal charges in connection to armed robberies he is accused of committing the night of Martinez slaying. Prosecutors say Dix gunned down Martinez as she rode her bike near Prospect and Quincy NE on the night of Aug. 20. Martinez later died at the hospital and it is unclear why Martinez was shot and if she knew Dix. Dix is also accused of robbing two gas stations at gunpoint, stealing cash and cigarettes, around the same time as the homicide. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico would establish a new Cabinet-level department to oversee its growing investment in prekindergarten and other programs for young children under legislation that passed the Senate on Saturday. The proposal won approval 39-2 and now heads to the House for consideration, with less than two weeks left in the session. Sen. Michael Padilla, an Albuquerque Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, said the proposal would help New Mexico coordinate early childhood services now spread across four state departments. This will become a savings to the taxpayer by having a high-quality top-to-bottom leadership team, Padilla said. The proposal is backed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who encouraged senators to pass the measure in a formal executive message last month. New Mexico is more than ready to transform education and child welfare, and it must start at the beginning, Lujan Grisham said Saturday. Early childhood education is the foundation. Senate Bill 22 would establish the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. It would be the 23rd Cabinet-level position headed by a secretary in New Mexicos executive branch of government. Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, questioned whether another Cabinet secretary will really help. Im just not sure adding another person to that big round table (in the Governors Office) actually does anything, he said. Sharer also suggested that a centralized system for early childhood services wouldnt leave flexibility for the different needs in small communities and urban areas. But in the end, he supported the proposal. The only opposing votes came from Senate Majority Whip Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview. Senate approval of the bill comes amid a growing consensus inside the Roundhouse that early childhood programs should be a priority as New Mexico tries to interrupt the cycle of poverty by helping families with young children. The state has more than doubled its spending on early childhood programs over an eight-year period, to roughly $306 million this fiscal year. Padilla said his proposal would provide accountability for the extra spending. One department, headed by a Cabinet secretary, would be responsible for state programs aimed at helping kids from birth to age 5. The outlook for children in New Mexico today is one of poverty, Padilla said. We believe this is one thing we can do to turn that tide. The bill drew support from a variety of groups, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Under the legislation, the governor would appoint a secretary of early childhood development and care. An assistant secretary would focus on providing services in Native American communities and working with tribal governments. The departments work would touch on home-visiting programs, child-care licensing, prekindergarten, prenatal services and education. Padilla said the new department wouldnt disrupt how services are now delivered, but would improve coordination and impose high standards. The delivery of pre-K services, for example, would still happen in private child-care centers and in schools. The bill includes funds for a $1.25 million appropriation to help set up the department. SANTA FE The state Senate adopted a resolution Saturday that aims to reshape the Public Regulation Commission turning it into a three-member body appointed by the governor. The proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 1, now heads the House. If approved there, the proposed constitutional amendment would go to voters in a statewide election. An independent nominating committee would set professional qualifications and vet the candidates before the governor picks an appointee. The PRC is now a five-member board elected by voters. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senate Minority Whip William Payne, R-Albuquerque; Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe; and Sen. Steven Neville, R-Aztec. It passed the Senate on a 36-5 vote. With so much at stake in the utility industry, an industry that affects each and every household and business in the state, the people of New Mexico deserve to have qualified commissioners making decisions, Payne said in a written statement. Californians brag their state is the worlds fifth-largest economy. They talk as reverentially of Silicon Valley companies Apple, Facebook and Google as the ancient Greeks did of their Olympian gods. Hollywood and universities such as Caltech, Stanford and Berkeley are cited as permanent proof of the intellectual, aesthetic and technological dominance of West Coast culture. Californians also see their progressive, one-party state as a neo-socialist model for a nation moving hard to the left. But how long will they retain such confidence? Californias 40 million residents depend on less than 1 percent of the states taxpayers to pay nearly half of the state income tax, which for Californias highest tier of earners tops out at the nations highest rate of 13.3 percent. In other words, California cannot afford to lose even a few thousand of its wealthiest individual taxpayers. But a new federal tax law now caps deductions for state and local taxes at $10,000 a radical change that promises to cost many high-earning taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. If even a few thousand of the states 1 percent flee to nearby no-tax states such as Nevada or Texas, California could face a devastating shortfall in annual income. During the 2011-16 California drought, politicians and experts claimed that global warming had permanently altered the climate, and that snow and rain would become increasingly rare in California. As a result, long-planned low-elevation reservoirs, designed to store water during exceptionally wet years, were considered all but useless and thus were never built. Then, in 2016 and 2017, California received record snow and rainfall and the windfall of millions of acre-feet of runoff was mostly let out to sea. Nothing since has been learned. California has again been experiencing rain and cold that could approach seasonal records. The state has been soaked by some 18 trillion gallons of rain in February alone. With still no effort to expand Californias water-storage capacity, millions of acre-feet of runoff are once again cascading out to sea and may be sorely missed next year. The inability to build reservoirs is especially tragic given that the states high-speed-rail project has gobbled up more than $5 billion in funds without a single foot of track laid. The total cost soared from an original $40 billion promise to a projected $77 billion. To his credit, newly elected Gov. Gavin Newsom, fearing a budget catastrophe, canceled the statewide project while allowing a few miles of the quarter-built Central Valley track to nowhere to be finished. For years, high-speed rail has drained the state budget of transportation funds that might have easily updated nightmarish stretches of the Central Valleys Highway 99, or ensured the nearby ossified Amtrak line became a modern two-track line. California politicians vie with each other to prove their open-borders bona fides in an effort to appeal to the estimated 27 percent of Californians who were not born in the United States. But the health, educational and legal costs associated with massive illegal immigration are squeezing the budget. About a third of the California budget goes to the states Medicaid program, Medi-Cal. Half the states births are funded by Medi-Cal, and in nearly a third of those state-funded births, the mother is an undocumented immigrant. California is facing a perfect storm of homelessness. Its labyrinth of zoning and building regulations discourages low-cost housing. Its generous welfare benefits, non-enforcement of vagrancy and public health laws, and moderate climate draw in the homeless. Nearly one-third of the nations welfare recipients live in the state, and nearly one in five live below the poverty line. The result is that tens of thousands of people live on the streets and sidewalks of the states major cities, where primeval diseases such as typhus have reappeared. Californias progressive government seems clueless how to deal with these issues, given that solutions such as low-cost housing and strict enforcement of health codes are seen as either too expensive or politically incorrect. In sum, California has no margin for error. Spiraling entitlements, unwieldy pension costs, money wasted on high-speed rail, inadequate water storage and delivery, and lax immigration policies were formerly tolerable only because about 150,000 Californians paid huge but federally deductible state income taxes. No more. Californians may have once derided the states 1 percent as selfish rich people. Now, they are praying that these heavily burdened taxpayers stay put and are willing to pay far more than what they had paid before. That is the only way California can continue to spend money on projects that have not led to safe roads, plentiful water, good schools and safe streets. A California reckoning is on the horizon, and it may not be pretty. E-mail authorvdh@gmail.com. 2019 Tribune Content Agency LLC. The recent series in the Journal (available at ABQJournal.com) fleshed out the growing problems relating to poor access to health care in New Mexico. All but one county in the state is short of providers, and waiting times for appointments can be a month or more. It is time to embark on a broad systemic change to address this crisis and restore the critically important physician-patient relationship. The Health Security Act, HB 295/SB 279, now pending in the Legislature would start us on this path. The bill calls for an in-depth fiscal analysis to make certain the Health Security Plan is financially feasible and prudent. The process of setting up the plan would continue only after the study first demonstrates its viability. The New Mexico Academy of Family Physicians endorses the Health Security Plan. Also, the New Mexico Medical Society, with more than 2000 physician members, supports carrying out the currently proposed analysis to see if the plan works financially. As the Journal demonstrated, provider shortages are a worsening problem. We have the highest proportion of doctors over age 60 of any state, so many retirements by them are coming in the near future. In addition, in a recent national survey that assessed 33 factors, New Mexico is the third state from the bottom in our access to health care. And with an older population than the national average, New Mexico needs more providers per capita than most states. In summary, New Mexico is in more of a crisis than most states, and the situation will likely get worse. How do we out-recruit other states for physicians, nurse practitioners, etc.? We New Mexico physicians are convinced that hundreds of additional doctors would choose to practice in the state if every resident of the state was covered with comprehensive, affordable health insurance, as would be the case with the Health Security Plan (HSP). We are confident that this plan would bring more providers to New Mexico because we know: a) The majority of N.M. doctors have 46 health system frustrations in their offices daily or often, based on a 2018 New Mexico Medical Society survey. The HSP which is far simpler, fairer, cheaper and more efficient would reduce or eliminate about half those battles for patients and providers. b) High drug prices, networks and insurance company obstacles frustrate patients and providers to no end, and the HSP would tackle these head on. c) Having their patients stay in one affordable, comprehensive plan year after year, as the HSP calls for, would mean better continuity of care and health outcomes. d) The HSP would not change how health care is delivered. The ownership of hospitals, offices, labs, etc., would remain the same. e) Underserved areas of New Mexico would have far more success with provider recruitment under the HSP, due to its salary bonuses for underserved areas, Regional Health Councils and geographically balanced representation on the commission that oversees the plan. f) Private practice, instead of huge medical groups, would be an attractive option again for doctors a positive change for patients. We can easily imagine many doctors from other states, who are worn down by todays health system mess, choosing to come here for a far more satisfying work life. The Health Security Plan calls for an innovative approach that enables New Mexico to self-insure, setting up its own health care plan with a structure like a co-op. The plan is a New Mexico solution, with years of input from New Mexicans across the state. It is endorsed by over 170 diverse organizations. Instead of simply struggling along with a worsening crisis, lets take the next step. New Mexico could well become the nations leader in attracting providers while creating a better health system. For once, lets be first, rather than last. Doctors Rx These physicians have endorsed the Health Security Act bills: Don Apodaca, Angela Bratton, Hamilton Brown, Mary Ray Cate, Mark Dankert, Alan Firestone, Madhavi Garimella, Nona Girardi, Sarah Gude, Marjorie Luckey, John Mezoff, Kathleen Mezoff, Robert Murray, Deepa Nadiga, Willie Orr, Doris Page, Rep. Bill Pratt, Peggy Roberts, Clayton Smith, Jaye Swobodan and Bill Ulwelling Most believe that legalizing recreational marijuana is a done deal; perhaps it is. But that does not mean debate on the issue should cease. Maybe abortion is a done deal. Maybe gun control is a done deal. But in the hearts and minds of people the questions still persist. What is right? What is fair? What is just? What is best? We know other states have legalized recreational use, but the jury is still out on how these social experiments are going to work. They are promoting a different society than the one that made us a land of opportunity. The N.M. Senates proposed solution to problems experienced by other states is to let state government run the business. State employees selling pot. The government collecting your personal information each time you walk in that door on what you buy, how much you buy and when you buy it. Is this what you want? When was the last time you have been in the MVD? That is a business run by the state. That solution will make the problems worse. New Mexico is its own special case. Few entrepreneurs succeed here, and jobs have been fleeing. We have become a hollowed-out state. Nearly one out of every two people is on public assistance. There is extremely high welfare and extremely limited job opportunities. Add marijuana to that mix and you will have more crime, greater family instability and more traffic accidents. Secondly, recreational drugs reduce ambition and personal responsibility; N.M. will experience more welfare and even poorer educational scores. We are already 50th in U.S. educational achievement. Let Colorado over the next five years say if its worth it, then well consider this drug. Someone has to speak for families trying to raise their kids to aspire to succeed. Someone has to speak for families who have experienced great turmoil because of drug or alcohol abuse. Our governor and Legislature are not acting in the best interest of the families of New Mexico when they raise taxes, expand late-term abortion to full-term abortion, impose gun controls, kill our jobs or legalize recreational marijuana. They are following a national agenda that hurts the hard-working families that strive to live quiet lives and raise their children to be productive citizens. Who will speak for these everyday families? The Republican Party is the party of values, character and freedom. Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, said it best: We have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Special interests have unduly influenced the political system for too long. It is time for us to curb the power of the elites and return it to the everyday man and woman who makes this country work. We fight for the American Dream and forgotten working-class men and women. We protect our children, born and soon to be. We fight for families, even when the fight may not be popular. We do not capitulate. Give up? Quit? Not in our vocabulary. This country is great because we do not give in to changing political winds that will be unhealthy for our state and country; we fight for what is right. Who will speak for single mothers working two jobs and struggling to keep their kids on the right path? The Republican Party will. Because we fight for families and our childrens future, the Republican Party of New Mexico opposes SB 577, HB 356 and other attempts to legalize recreational marijuana. Our current state law makes criminals out of health care providers. In New Mexico, according to statute established half a century ago, it is a felony to perform an abortion. Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court long ago rendered this backward, outdated state law unenforceable. The high court, in 1973, established a womans right to choose as the law of the land. The court made clear women have the absolute right to decide what they will do with their bodies, to make health care and family planning decisions for themselves, to not allow the state to meddle in and restrict their most private and personally sacred decisions. This Supreme Court holding means the section of our state law making abortion a criminal act is unconstitutional, on top of being a dehumanizing slap in the face of a womans most basic rights, on top of criminalizing medical professionals. I firmly support, have always supported and have made no secret about my support for excising this statute from our books. As governor, I have pledged to sign House Bill 51, which would do exactly that. Not simply because it will align New Mexico with established law, although it does, and we should all be glad to right a constitutional wrong whenever we can. I support decriminalizing abortion because I have every intention of leading a state that values women, that empowers women, that listens to women. And I have every intention of recruiting additional medical professionals to New Mexico and retaining the excellent providers we already have, and I want them to know: I will fight to oppose any move to make you into a criminal for simply doing your work. Elected officials have no business making a womans choices for her. Neither do faraway federal judges who have, in some cases, made a career out of antagonizing marginalized groups, not the least of all women. The decision to proceed with an abortion is never, ever made lightly. A woman must be free to consult with her family and her doctor; she must be free to make a decision that comports with her faith, her future, her individual situation, none of which is anyone elses business, plain and simple. Elected officials similarly have no business villainizing our medical professionals. A doctor must be free to make decisions in the best interest of his or her patients without fear. As this bill moved recently through the House, opponents of the measure raised their complaints. Many called my office. There is, Im afraid, a good deal of misinformation proliferating about the content of the bill. Opponents have expressed fear that, somehow, this legislation would facilitate murder. They argued the legislation would compel certain providers to perform abortions against their conscience. This is not true. Federal law will continue to accommodate this type of conscientious refusal. And this bill does nothing with regard to access to abortion; it simply ensures New Mexico will never play the draconian game of criminalizing a safe procedure women have every right to pursue. This bill has been even-handedly debated by both sides. Indeed, more than half of the time of debate on the House floor was used by Republicans who oppose the measure. Its only right opponents be heard. Its always right to put New Mexico women first. Its always right to value the diligent medical professionals who we trust with our lives. Thats what New Mexico will do, in this instance and every other, as long as I am your governor. Is there a doctor in the house? Or at least in the office? Maybe, but you might have to wait weeks or longer to see him or her. That message came through loud and clear in Journal investigative reporter Colleen Heilds Feeling the Pain series. Over two weekends she detailed the shortage of physicians in New Mexico and its impact on people seeking medical help. Journal readers chimed in with their own first-person accounts of their frustrations and long waits to see a doctor for ailments ranging from cancer to gastrointestinal bleeding to simply seeing a primary care doctor. One study ranks us 48th in the nation for physician access, and some specialties, neurology for example, are in short supply. The shortage is particularly acute in rural New Mexico. New Mexico is predicted to have one of the oldest populations in the nation by 2030, and older people typically have more medical needs than younger ones. Currently, we have one of the oldest physician forces in the U.S. with a large number planning to retire in the next few years. So the system might not be on life support yet but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham isnt far off the mark when she says, Were all having trouble. The system is broken. And shes right on target when she says,We have to do everything in our power to fix it. In fairness, we might be ranked among the worst, but this is a national problem. And there are some things New Mexico can do to bolster the ranks of doctors in the Land of Enchantment, along with improving access in general with nurse practitioners, physician assistants and specially trained pharmacists. There also are some things we could do to make it worse, and we pursue those at our peril. On the positive side of the ledger: Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for medical providers, who have seen cuts in payments due to state budget problems. Lujan Grisham says, We cant ask physicians and other practitioners to stay or come to New Mexico if they lose money in the practice. Shes right. Leverage more Medicaid dollars to fund additional graduate medical residency slots. The governor argues if the state can pay for residency training, combined with loan repayment of forgiveness, theyll stay here. Train and recruit, says Jerry Harrison, executive director of New Mexico Health Resources, which recruits health professionals. Unfortunately we train a lot of people for export. Dr. Steve Jenkusky, a psychiatrist and chairman of the New Mexico Medical Board, said the state could launch a New Mexico True-like advertising campaign aimed at physician recruiting. He recalled that what lured him to New Mexico for his residency he was living in Illinois was a vacation guide included along with his application packet from the University of New Mexico. Why not use our strengths? Grow the labor pool. Various legislative measures propose funding for residency slots, tax credits for providers who train doctors, nursing or pharmacy students, and an Osteopathic Physician Excellence Fund for educational loan repayments. These proposals offer sound prescriptions for improvement; a smart start would be for lawmakers to allocate the $18 million needed to rebuild New Mexicos provider network, which with the federal match would mean a $80 million boost. On the do harm side of the ledger: House Democrats HB 6 boosts state income tax to 6.5 percent for top earners, putting us out of synch with neighboring states and giving Texas with no state income tax an even bigger recruiting tool in a war it is already winning. Other legislation, HB 629, would raise the cap on malpractice awards from $600,000 to $2 million in a state already considered friendlier to trial lawyers than to doctors. Jeff Bourgeois, CEO at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, said its tougher to recruit if doctors cant earn an income commensurate with other states or they have to pay more in taxes or risk practicing in an unfriendly litigious environment. The message both these measures send: Hey doc, look elsewhere. Other, more global kinds of problems include the states reputation as a high-crime haven, lots of poverty and less than stellar public schools. None of these makes recruiting easy. Read the series Feeling the Pain can be found online at Feeling the Pain can be found online at ABQJournal.com/doctors At the end of the day, this is a problem so big it simply cant be solved piecemeal. But there seems to be a growing consensus New Mexico needs to take it on. And only one person has the power of the bully pulpit and ability to convene the best minds and experience and get something done. Thats the governor. Lujan Grisham, who has important personal and professional experience with the health care system, can and should bring together health leaders, educators and others to do a thorough exam of this needy patient and come up with an overarching and holistic prescription. Because New Mexico cant hope to prosper and move from its bottom-tier rankings in so many categories if we cant get health care on its feet and moving toward recovery. 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. Prev 1 of 6 Next Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal First in a two-part series. ARTESIA This past summer, a 50-year-old Artesia man, a friend of Heather Lopezs, was killed when the pickup truck he was driving east on U.S. 82 near Loco Hills slammed head-on into a semitruck. It might have been that Lopezs friend was having a difficult time seeing as he drove along the two-lane highway between Artesia and Lovington. It was about 6:30 in the morning. The sun was just coming up, said Lopez, 45, the general manager and innkeeper at Artesias Heritage Inn. But she cant help feeling the sheer volume and accelerated pace of traffic on U.S. 82 due to the most recent expansion in the oil and gas business had something to do with it. With the oil field traffic, everybody is in a hurry, she said about the roads here in Eddy County and neighboring Lea County. Everybody runs like it is the end of days. Drivers get impatient. Trucks pull out in front of cars. They figure they are bigger and you are going to stop. Figures compiled by Eddy County show there were 17 roadway fatalities in the county in both 2018 and 2017 and seven in 2016. In Lea County, according to the New Mexico State Police, there were 24 traffic fatalities in 2018, 12 in 2017 and 10 in 2016. There have been, I think, eight deaths on that highway (N.M. 128) between Jal and Carlsbad, said Jim Harris, 76, director of the Lea County Museum in Lovington. And the road south of Jal (N.M. 18) is all tore up. You cannot believe the kinds of holes that are in it now. Its those oil trucks. I know they bring in the money, but they do the damage. I survived 285 New Mexicos current oil boom, which, according to Robert McEntyre, spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, can be traced to the last part of 2016 and the first part of 2017, is pumping big money into the states coffers. And the state is looking at putting as much as $300 million to $400 million of that money into road projects statewide. Folks who live in Eddy and Lea counties, where most of the oil and gas is produced, feel the bulk of that money should be spent to repair roads pummeled by the big rigs serving the industry and also to increase the capacity of roads jammed to a standstill by overflow traffic generated by the boom. There are as many as 100 trucks backed up at stoplights in Jal, said state Sen. Gregg Fulfer, R-Jal, who is himself the owner of an oil and cattle company. When (trucks owned by private contractors) are charging oil companies $130 an hour, thats costing the industry millions of dollars. Jeri Strong, public information officer and oil and gas liaison for Eddy County, points to U.S. 285, which runs north and south through the heart of the county and is a two-lane road from Loving, 10 miles southeast of Carlsbad, all the way to the Texas state line 22 miles farther on. You cant pass, Strong said of that stretch of 285. It needs super twos (a broader two-lane highway with occasional passing lanes) and widening of the shoulders. Its dangerous. You dont have to tell Leo Gonzalez that. He and members of his wifes family, the Vasquez clan, live in neighboring houses for several miles along 285 between Loving and Malaga, five miles to the south. There are three to four accidents a week from here to the Texas line, Gonzalez, 47, said. There are shirts going around that say I survived 285. Semis dont slow down. They cut you off. When you slow down to turn, they dont stop. Hell on mailboxes Wind chimes sing in the yard behind Gonzalezs spacious, four-bedroom brick house as five dachshunds and a Chihuahua, quiet now after vigorously announcing the arrival of visitors, patrol the premises. Its a tranquil contrast to the bustling two-lane road in front of the house. Gonzalez said the busiest times on U.S. 285 are weekdays from 5 to 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. At 5 to 5:30 p.m., traffic is backed up at least three miles, sometimes all the way to Malaga, he said. My wifes family is elderly. If they have an emergency at 4:30 p.m., how are we going to get to a hospital in Carlsbad? It can takes us 45 minutes to get to Walmart (in Carlsbad). It used to take 15 minutes. But he is not as bothered by slow-moving traffic as he is by traffic that doesnt slow down at all. The highway from Loving to the Texas border has been designated a safety zone, meaning that traffic laws are more strictly enforced and traffic fines doubled. Apparently, not all drivers are getting the message. Gonzalez said that last year, while driving home from Carlsbad with his wife, a son and a nephew, he stopped to turn left across traffic into his driveway on the east side of 285. But the semitruck behind him didnt stop. The semi driver went on the shoulder between me and a mailbox, Gonzalez said. Me and my wife have been run off the road a lot here. Every mailbox from here on has been taken out. They have run over my water meter twice. We have found fire extinguishers, propane tanks, generators, a (6-foot-long) tool box and jacks lying in the highway. My daughter ran over a battery on the way home. I think they need a four-lane highway and a turning lane here. And drivers need to slow down. Other people live here. A lot of stress Just north of Loving, N.M. 31, a two-lane highway, threads off to the north and east from U.S. 285 at an intersection made more complicated because fracking sand is hauled in by rail to a storage facility here, transferred into silos and later loaded on trucks. The result is one of those bottleneck situations that Sen. Fulfer refers to as pinching points. Pinching points, Fulfer said, have a lot to do with the speeding oil and gas trucks so many people complain about. They are running so far behind, Fulfer said. They are getting calls every five minutes. Where are you? Its a lot of stress. When a two-hour ticket becomes a six-hour ticket it puts a lot of pressure on, and its costing oil companies and contractors. Speeding rigs not only chew up roads, which state and county governments are tasked with maintaining, but result in wear and tear on trucks and equipment and put the lives of truck drivers and others at risk. Fulfer said New Mexico needs to address hazardous and constricting road conditions in the statess oil patch region, not only to help prevent accidents but also to support a revenue-producing industry. Old West, oil West N.M. 31 loops up to connect with U.S. 62/180, which goes east to Hobbs. Driving along this highway and others in Eddy and Lea counties, it is sometimes possible to forget for a few miles about the oil and gas boom. Traffic eases up for a while, maybe theres just a lone oil derrick in the distance or a single gas flare on the horizon. You drive by a few windmills, some cattle grazing on winter-yellow grass and you get that Old West-never-died feeling. It doesnt last long. Soon enough you notice the thick lengths of black water line snaking through the creosote and yucca toward drilling sites, drive over a hill and past a posse of pumpjacks and see a convoy of semis green, white, orange, pale blue, dark blue, black, red, purple heading your way or queuing up behind you. Curtis Fort, a sculptor of Western and wildlife bronzes, lives in Tatum, 21 miles north of Lovington, the Lea County seat. Fort, 69, grew up in a ranch family at Tatum and was a working cowboy before turning to sculpture for a living. But hes not bitter about the oil and gas boom. If it werent for the industry, Tatum would be a ghost town, he said. No matter what people say, minerals have supported ranching operations on and off many a time. Money doesnt come in big chunks from cows. Oil and gas got some ranches through. So theres three times as much traffic now, and theres a piece of pipe in the road and you run over it. Thats just part of life. Theres jobs over here now. Remember when you were just begging someone to do a little business. Even so, Fort admits he avoids driving on roads south of Tatum, such as N.M. 18, which goes south from Lovington through Hobbs and Jal to the Texas state line; U.S. 82, which goes west from Lovington to Artesia; N.M. 128, which goes west from Jal toward Carlsbad; or U.S. 62/180. I dont go to Carlsbad because its a nightmare, Fort said. From Artesia south, its just so congested. We dont need to go that way, so we dont. Oil rigs everywhere But if Fort wants to get to Albuquerque to visit wife Carols family or to Corrales or Santa Fe to deliver a sculpture, its difficult to avoid U.S. 380, which runs west out of Tatum to Roswell and U.S. 285, which will take him north to I-40. And U.S. 380, a two-lane highway, is bad enough, Fort said, not because of the oil business but because of out-of-state visitors heading to Roswell, Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs and then back home. The traffic is pretty heavy, he said. They have widened the right of way but they have not four-laned it yet. If youre heading to Roswell, especially on a Friday, you need to stay awake. They kill someone pretty regular between Tatum and Caprock (25 miles to the west). Fort said he has twice been run off the road by oncoming traffic in his lane, once when he was hauling a gooseneck trailer. Youll meet traffic, 15 in a line, and then a middle vehicle will come out to pass, Fort said. If you want to stay alive, your only option is to go into the bar ditch. Lea County Museum director Harris writes history columns for the Lovington Leader and the Hobbs News-Sun in addition to his duties with the museum, so he drives all over Lea and Eddy counties. Hes got 340,000 miles on his 2007 Ford F-150, four-wheel-drive pickup. He said he has been driving south on N.M. 18 into Texas for the past 35 or 40 years and that in the past five years, he has witnessed a remarkable transformation. There are oil rigs everywhere, he said. The number of vehicles is just madness. When I go through Jal at 3 or 4 in the morning, there are tanker trucks lined up at the intersection of N.M. 18 and N.M. 128. The biggest problem for a guy like me who just uses the roads is that it seems to me New Mexico has never put money into the road infrastructure as we should have. I drive over into Texas and the roads there are taken care of. We have not had our priorities straight. The vote speaks for itself. That was the response I received from Rep. Xochitl Torres Smalls office when I sought a comment on her vote on the Charleston loophole gun safety bill. She broke ranks from her Democratic colleagues in voting against extending the waiting period for gun sales from three days to 10. She was one of only seven Democrats who voted against the bill. Her New Mexico colleagues, Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Deb Haaland, supported the measure. Torres Smalls vote not only spoke for itself, it served as a reminder she doesnt always toe the party line, and thats reportedly not sitting well with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and others in her party. She also supported a procedure motion by Republicans on the gun safety measure she had voted for the previous day, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. The motion would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement be notified if an undocumented immigrant attempted to purchase a gun. Actions such as that, according to a story by Politico, put her on the opposite side of Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in a closed-door meeting held by the Democratic caucus late last week. Pelosi reportedly encouraged Democrats not to break ranks on procedure motions made by Republicans, linking party loyalty with leadership opportunities and future campaign support. Ocasio-Cortez reportedly made veiled threats against moderate Democrats during the meeting. Torres Small gave a passionate response during the meeting to the call not to break rank during procedure votes. Freshman Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), who voted for the GOP motion on Wednesday pointedly said courage looks different to different people, according to two sources in the room, Politico reported. Torres Smalls office told the Journal the Politico story about the meeting was accurate, although she declined to comment on the meeting itself. She said she is trying to take more of a bipartisan approach in representing the interests of her district, which is the most conservative congressional district in the state. I was elected to represent everyone in New Mexicos 2nd District, whether you voted for me, against me, or not at all, Torres Small said. The solutions to the unique challenges our communities and other rural communities across the country face require common-sense, bipartisan solutions. I will always be willing to work with anyone to help tackle these issues. Rep. Lujan has new title: Lujan, who was elected assistant Democratic leader in the House following the November 2018 elections, now has a new title. While he remains fourth in line behind Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, his title has been changed to Assistant Speaker of the House. Lujan has presided over votes in his new position. His duties include working with one of the largest freshmen classes in the chambers history, which includes both of his New Mexico colleagues in Haaland and Torres Small. Scott Turner: sturner@abqjournal.com Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal A measure is advancing in the state Legislature to give alleged incapacitated people and those who care about their welfare a greater voice in the legal process that can turn over management of their lives and finances to court-appointed guardians and conservators. The legislation would allow people to call witnesses and otherwise defend themselves in court against allegations that they are incapacitated and provides for a new grievance procedure for complaints against guardians and conservators. It also details the ways someone can designate the guardian or conservator they want should the need arise. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim White, R-Albuquerque, and Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, builds on the slate of reforms enacted in 2018 that aimed at injecting transparency and accountability into New Mexicos guardian/conservator system. Last year made quite an impact, White told the Journal last week. We made laws a number of years ago to create this guardianship and conservatorship system to protect the folks that cant handle it themselves and then people found a way to abuse it. So now were making laws to hopefully stop the abuse. White said the proposal is the product of a series of meetings over the past year involving a group that included judges, the state Auditors Office, Disability Rights New Mexico, the Attorney Generals Office, the Governors Office and others. The measure was approved unanimously by the Senate on Friday and was sent to the House for further hearings. The measure, SB 395, adds teeth to last years legislation by requiring certification of professional guardians and conservators, and increases fines if they are late in filing required annual reports with the court about the incapacitated persons status. It provides that people who are alleged to be so incapacitated they cant manage their affairs would be able to present evidence, examine witnesses and otherwise participate at a hearing in which a judge considers a petition sometimes filed by family members or even a neighbor that would authorize the appointment of a guardian or conservator. That provision, according to a legislative analysis, is important for the person alleged to be incapacitated to adequately defend themselves and present evidence at hearings. Supreme Court Justice Shannon Bacon told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the 52-page bill is much more explicit what the protected persons rights are. The measure also creates a process so that a protected person or those interested in that persons welfare can file a grievance with the court if the person believes a guardian or conservator is breaching their fiduciary duty or otherwise acting inappropriately. You want anybody whos interested or sees an abuse, you want them to be able to come forward and say we need to look at it, White told the Senate Judiciary Committee. Once a grievance is filed, the judge who appointed the guardian or conservator is required to review the grievance, schedule a hearing if appropriate and take any action supported by the evidence. Bacon, who as a state District Court judge in Albuquerque served as the courts chief representative in reform discussions, has since been appointed to the state Supreme Court by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Bacon told the Judiciary Committee that the Supreme Court has already approved rules not yet put into place anticipating approval of SB 395, to create a standardized grievance form available to people who seek to file such grievances. Bacon said court rules will set out the process so a judge can hear all sides of a grievance. And she added there is a fail safe mechanism contemplated so judges can decline to consider a grievance if a similar grievance has been filed within the prior six months and was acted upon by the judge. The measure would allow anyone interested in the protected persons welfare to file a grievance. We want individuals to say something doesnt seem right and if you start to narrow the scope as to who can say something isnt right, were just putting this all back in the closet, Bacon told the committee. Another safeguard in the proposed legislation would allow the court to appoint a court investigator to assess a protected persons mental and/or physical capacity no later than 10 years after the initial appointment of a guardian or conservator, and every 10 years after that. Some people, such as those with traumatic brain injury, may have improved to the point that they can manage without a guardian or conservator, Bacon said. The 10-year review would supplement the legally required annual or initial 90-day reports judges receive from guardians and conservators they appoint. The bill also specifies what types of documents, such as a will, a person can use to designate their choice of guardian or conservator if he or she becomes incapacitated in the future. The person designated would rank second on the priority list a judge by law must consider in deciding whom to appoint. The first would be a guardian already appointed in another jurisdiction. Thats in there also, White said, that if theyve got a will or a power of attorney, that those documents are respected. The bill is the latest attempt to reform the states adult guardianship/conservatorship laws after a 2016 Journal investigation and follow-up stories revealed weaknesses in the system, which allowed incapacitated people in need of protection to be victimized. DURHAM, Calif. - Students and teachers from Ponderosa Elementary School in Paradise are celebrating their principal for his courageous acts during the Camp Fire.' Principal Ed Gregorio helped evacuate all the kids as the Camp Fire was closing in. He followed their school bus through the flames burning on both sides of the bus. Students told Action News Now his calm presence helped everyone stay calm amidst the chaos, despite the fact that the principal lost his own home. Teachers describe Gregorio as a "rock star." Since the Camp Fire he has worked hard to make sure teachers and students have everything they need. Ponderosa Elementary suffered a lot of fire and smoke damage and is currently holding classes at Durham Elementary School. CHICO, Calif. - Early Saturday morning Butte County Sheriff's deputies discovered two men in north Chico that looked like they may have been involved in a home burglary. A Butte County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said there has been an increase in burglaries in the W. Eaton Rd. area of north Chico. Deputies Harper and Robertson were patrolling at Weymouth Way and Southbury Lane when they said they spied a white hatchback-style vehicle. The rear hatch was open and miscellaneous property was spread out on the ground. Officers thought it was odd that the men would be moving property around at 1:30 in the morning, so they stopped to make contact. Deputies said 48-year-old William Omler fled the scene on foot. They canvassed the neighborhood by checking yards and waking neighbors, but were unable to locate their suspect. 29-year-old Michael Borden was detained at the scene. During their investigation deputies determined that a garage in the Weymouth Way area had been burglarized. They contacted the homeowner who identified the recovered property. Later in the day on Saturday Sheriff's deputies and Chico Police worked together to find the missing suspect, who was then arrested. Both Omler and Borden were charged with residential burglary and possession of stolen property and were taken to the Butte County Jail. Bail for each of the men has been set at $103,000. Omler was also held on a violation of Post Release Community Superivision (PRCS), for an unrelated criminal conviction. The Butte County Sheriff's Office is encouraging people to secure garages and vehicles at night, citing a recent influx in property-related crimes. The Lodha Group always aims to be at the forefront of innovation and lifestyle, and Palava City - one of its most ambitious projects in terms of scale - is no exception. Palava represents the future of urbanisation in India. It is an integrated live-work-learn-play city with all the comforts of an international township at prices which the Indian middle class and smart corporates can afford. The Lodha Group wanted to create awareness about Palavas newest and most happening neighbourhood, situated right next to what is planned to be Indias largest mall. Social Kinnect - Indias foremost independent digital marketing agency - devised and launched a campaign to help The Lodha Group establish Prime Square at Palava as one of Mumbais most happening neighbourhoods. The agency did just this, one building block at a time. In an effort to seamlessly marry the power of storytelling with the promotional points of Palava, Social Kinnect devised an innovative campaign that also fulfilled the campaigns key objective of driving brand awareness in a clutter breaking fashion. Using building blocks to bring alive the scale and ambition of the project, the agency replicated the happening neighbourhood of Palava, with the focus on Indias Largest mall and the international-standard amenities that it provides like a shopping arcade, a boating zone, an adventure zone, a ferris wheel, multiplexes, open-air dining spaces, cafes, restaurants, an aquarium, and a childrens museum. This awe-inspiring structure has been installed at the Xperia Mall in Palava between 28th Feb and 3rd March, free for all to come and view, with the aim of generating brand recall for Palavas most happening neighbourhood. Social Kinnect also produced a video of the entire campaign, with the objective of driving views and traffic to the Palava website. Speaking about this campaign, Viral Oza, Chief Marketing Officer at The Lodha Group said, This is a first-of-its-kind campaign in the real-estate space. The magnitude of this project could only be captured in the creative and innovative manner of this campaign. The wide range of amenities and the lifestyle they provide for residents of Palava City is something we are all very proud of, and were excited about adding this mall to that range. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe https://www.aish.com/ci/s/Blacks-Palestinians-and-the-Disastrous-Politics-of-Rage.html African American conservatives have a message worth heeding on the corrosive effects of playing the victim card. Ive just returned from a remarkable meeting of religious leaders and thinkers in Birmingham, Alabama devoted to race relations and reconciliation between whites and blacks in America. Eager to learn from the black leaders, I prepared to check my privilege and open my ears and soul to pain that as a white American I knew I could not fully understand. But one after another, these speakers leading black conservatives rejected the identity politics of victimhood dominant in black America as detrimental to black self-interest and to efforts toward racial reconciliation. As an Israeli, I appreciated the arguments in Birmingham as a lens on the Palestinian ideology of victimhood and how it undermines Palestinian self-interest and sabotages efforts toward reconciliation with the State of Israel. The leaders I met included Eugene Rivers, a gang member as a teenager, and for thirty years now a pastor in inner city Boston and the co-chair of a national foundation that addresses urban violence; Glenn Loury, the economist who popularized the concept of social capital in his career at Harvard and Brown; Robert Woodson, a MacArthur genius award winner for his pioneering work empowering impoverished neighborhoods in thirty-nine states; and Carol Swain, raised as one of twelve children in a single parent home, who has taught politics and law at Princeton and Vanderbilt. All lived through the civil rights era of the 1960s. These thinkers maintain that black America lost its way with the rise of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s. Martin Luther King had led a movement based on equality: if whites had civil rights, then so must blacks. But Black Power forged black identity on the basis of the cultural history of racial oppression and victimization. Demands for equality were now cast as reparations, an entitlement demanded as an expression of black self-determination. These thinkers argue that blacks who reject the narrative of the omnipresence and omnipotence of white racism are shamed and castigated by fellow blacks, with the result that individuality is repressed so as to project a veneer of solidarity in collective black identity. They argue that the ideology of victimization erodes moral standards within the black community. They argue that the ideology of victimization erodes moral standards within the black community. Moral failures are explained and excused as the result of the structural forces of white oppression. Moreover, As Robert Woodson told the conference, too often, evil has to wear a white face before we address it. He pointed to black calls to squelch allegations of child molestation against R&B megastar R. Kelly to defend the reputation of black collective identity. Within the racial cosmos of Black Power, the immortal words of Martin Luther King are turned on their head. The black is not to be judged by the content of his character but by the color of his skin. Further, they argue, Black Power actually disempowers black people. Emphasizing the omnipotence of white racist structural inequality, blacks inadvertently internalize the message that all is lost, and fail to engage efforts to better their own lot. These thinkers indeed decry attempts to disenfranchise blacks through voter registration laws and gerrymandering, but will tell you that apathy is the greatest source of voter suppression in the black community. Many repeated the statement, We must save ourselves; no one is coming to save us. These thinkers point to the irony of just how racist the identity of black victimization really is. To state whites are controlling my life is to subscribe to white supremacy. To maintain that all whites must pay for what was done to blacks is racist. To maintain that all blacks are off the hook because they are black is racist. To suppress individual expression in the name of the black collective is to brand someone with the mark of race just as certainly as segregation did. Finally, they argue, the narrative of black victimization sabotages attempts at racial reconciliation. Identity politics constructs a struggle between a victim-hero in opposition to a scapegoat, reveling in caricatured depictions of the oppressor. It is fueled by the very rage it produces. For blacks, part of that rage stems from the self-inflicted costs of the Black Power movement itself. Blacks understand that they are not free to express themselves as individuals, and are aware that black identity politics comes at the expense of moral courage. These realizations further sap blacks of their self-worth, further internalize black feelings of inadequacy, all further stoking the rage. Their sharpest words, however, took on the black elite leadership. Leaders, these thinkers argue, must roll up their sleeves and impart skills and inspiration to underprivileged blacks. Instead, too many black elite leaders expend their energy decrying victimhood, in an effort that rising black conservative Derryck Green described as a virtue-signaling, look-busy-while-doing-nothing action plan of self-righteousness. Moreover, reconciliation between the races can never be achieved because for the Black Power movement permanent victim status must be maintained, as Derryck Green noted: Leaders of the movement will keep the conversation [of racial reconciliation] going interminably because of the amount of social virtue and capital associated with the assumption of white guilt and black victimization. Well-meaning whites also contribute to the corrosive effects of Black Power. In his book, White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era, black theorist Shelby Steele argues that white Americans view blacks as victims to ease their guilty conscience, and blacks attempt to turn their status as victims into a kind of currency that does nothing to truly assist blacks in improving their own lot. The result is that blacks internalize their sense of being beholden to the white bureaucrats who now control their lives. Government handouts on the basis of race discourage self-agency and personal responsibility thus diminishing their recipients self-worth further. As I followed these arguments it was hard not to see that Palestinian identity politics suffers from the same set of ills. It hamstrings, in the first place, Palestinian aspirations for a better life. Grass roots criticism of the Palestinian leadership is disallowed because it threatens the collective Palestinian identity. Failing to establish the institutions of a functioning state, Palestinian leaders turn to globetrotting in a virtue-signaling, look-busy-while-doing-nothing action plan of self-righteousness. They insist the world must come and save them. Palestinian narrative of victimhood sabotages efforts to achieve a lasting peace with Israel. Palestinians pluck the chords of European colonial guilt in order to receive generous aid, with the result that Palestinians internalize their sense of being beholden to their European benefactors, further discouraging Palestinian self-agency and personal responsibility and diminishing their self-worth. But above all, the Palestinian narrative of victimhood sabotages efforts to achieve a lasting peace with Israel. Palestinians never stage protests under the banner of equality. Demanding equality would implicitly recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian one. Instead, Palestinians routinely call for days of rage, where the rage is an end in itself that fuels the identity predicated on victimhood. A Palestinian who argues for a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian one is sure to be castigated and shamed by fellow Palestinians. Here, too, individuality is repressed in the name of the sacrosanct collective identity. The narrative of victimization loosens moral standards here as well. When a Palestinian murders a Jew, it is explained and excused as a natural outcome of the occupation. Within the Palestinian racial cosmos, evil must have a Jewish face before it is addressed. Ironically, Palestinians play the race card claiming Israel is an apartheid state, yet ignore just how racist their own narrative of victimization really is. To maintain that any Israeli Jew is fair target for murder simply because he is an Israeli Jew is racist. To maintain that any Palestinian has license to murder simply because he is Palestinian is racist. Palestinian identity politics constructs a struggle between a victim-hero in opposition to a scapegoat, reveling in caricatured depictions of the oppressor. It is no coincidence that Palestinian media regularly feature illustrations depicting Israelis that traffic in classic hook-nose anti-Semitic tropes. And like black leaders fixated on race Palestinian leaders will keep the conversation going about reconciliation interminably because of the capital they accrue with world leaders by doing so. Black Power knows no reconciliation with white America, and Palestinian victimhood knows no reconciliation with Israel because central to any identity politics is the conviction that permanent victim status must be maintained. https://www.aish.com/sp/so/With-Mengele-in-Auschwitz.html After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, Yantu Weisz lived independent and strong till age 109. In 1944, Yantu Weisz was 35 years old when the Nazis entered the Hungarian town of Mezokovesd and rounded up the Jewish community. Yantu was herded together with her sister and mother onto a cattle car. The train chugged toward Auschwitz, with inhuman conditions of no food, water, or facilities. Days later, the train pulled its weary and dispirited cargo through the notorious red brick gate. As the cattle car door opened, the first thing Yantu saw was a pair of shiny black boots. They belonged to an immaculately dressed soldier with a riding whip the bespectacled Angel of Death, Yosef Mengele. Yantu and the others were quickly pushed into line where Mengele pointed his whip to the right for slave labor, to the left for gas chambers and crematoria. Though upset about being childless, that saved her life. It was clear that Yantu's more elderly mother was destined for death, and the two sisters decided not to abandon her. In those perilous moments they were uncertain which sister will be spared, and which will accompany their mother to the gas chamber. Because Yantus sister had a young child with her, she was automatically sent to the left with their mother. Yantu was married for 10 years and childless. Though shed been upset about not having children, it saved her life. Yet prior to the fateful deportation, Yantu had become pregnant. As she stood in Mengeles line, instructions were given for all pregnant women to step forward and receive better care. As Yantu was about to comply, another woman alerted her not to reveal the pregnancy: Being caught pregnant in Auschwitz meant certain death. One night, after having been in Auschwitz for a few weeks, Yantu became very weak with abdominal pains. She went to the latrine and the baby slipped out. Afterwards, Yantu received assistance from a Jewish nurse perhaps the legendary Dr. Gisella Perl, a Hungarian prisoner in Auschwitz who was ordered to inform Dr. Mengele of any pregnant women in the camp. His evil intent: to perform cruel and excruciating medical experiments. Yet Dr. Perl bravely defied these cruel orders. She would warn any pregnant woman of the life-threatening situation. Then, using no tools, anesthesia, bandages or antibiotics, Dr. Perl often saved the pregnant womans life lovingly and compassionately performing an abortion in the middle of the night on the dirty barrack bunks. (Dr. Perl survived the war and moved to New York City, where she specialized in infertility, making it her mission to bring life into the world, as chronicled in her autobiography, "I Was a Doctor in Auschwitz.") Following the miscarriage, Yantu felt very sick and against everyones advice checked into the concentration camp hospital. There, Mengele would visit daily, walk around the beds, and point to those to be taken out and gassed. Miraculously, he never pointed at Yantu. One evening, one of Yantus friends came to the hospital and told her to get up, as a transport was taking them to a better place. Yantu was very weak and told her friend to go on without her. Not one person from that transport survived. In the course of six months first in Auschwitz, then in a munitions factory making bullets Yantu endured the most horrific conditions a Nazi tactic to make the Jews subhuman. Prisoners were given food only once daily one small piece of bread and something to drink in the evening. Once, Yantu decided to save her bread for the morning as a way to have more strength during the day. She hid the bread under her head and in the morning it was gone stolen! From then on, Yantu ate her bread immediately. Whenever Yantu spoke about her Holocaust experience, she always said that no story, movie or book could adequately convey the sheer horror they endured. Liberation and the New World One day, all the Nazi guards ran away. Liberation! The war was over and Yantu survived due to physical strength and a tremendous determination to live. With humility, however, she did not regard her survival as commendable, saying that the finer, more genteel people died; only the tougher ones managed to survive. Yantu's husband Azriel Chaim, despite suffering from diabetes, also survived the war, however in a weakened condition from which he never fully recovered. (When he died at age 67, the doctors said he was like 85.) After the war, Yantu and Azriel Chaim returned to their hometown in Hungary, to see what remained. One of Yantu's sisters had gone into hiding in Budapest and survived. Additionally, two of Yantu's three brothers survived the slave labor camps. Following the war, Yantu had difficulty getting pregnant again and suffered a few miscarriages complications of her experience in Auschwitz. She was well into her 40s when two children were born, whom she referred to as "miracles." Her son, Rabbi Noson Weisz, is today a senior lecturer at Yeshivat Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. Her daughter, Annie, lives in New York. Religion was not allowed, and children were required to attend school on Shabbat. For a few years, the Weisz family enjoyed the thriving Jewish community in Budapest he with a government job and she as a seamstress. Yet when Hungary became a satellite of the communist Soviet Union, life became difficult. The open practice of religion was not allowed, and children were required to attend school on Shabbat. The Weisz family wanted to leave but the border was closed. With the Hungarian revolution of 1956, the border opened again and Yantu insisted that they leave so her children could grow up as proud Jews, not Communists. At the first opportunity, they escaped to Vienna, where they applied for exit visas to Israel, USA and Canada. The visa for Canada came first, so they immigrated to Toronto. Within six months, the ever-adaptable Yantu was fluent in English and had reestablished her career as a successful, high-end dress designer who made wedding and evening gowns. Yantu and Azriel Chaim Weisz Independent and Strong Yantu lived by herself in Toronto until age 102, working as a seamstress and remaining independent the entire time. She described work as the best medicine for whatever bothers you. "Her independence was more important to her than anything," says her son, Rabbi Weisz. Her eyesight and mental faculties remained sharp until the very end. Yantu wanted her son to be a doctor, but he wanted to be a rabbi. So concurrent with yeshiva studies, he attended University of Toronto night school, earning degrees in microbiology and in law. My mother then wanted me to go to graduate school, so I consulted with the great Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who said: 'She is a Holocaust survivor. Do what she asks, says Rabbi Weisz, who earned a Masters in Political Science. I want to be buried with a coffin made of my sewing machine. Though the children never knew their grandmother who perished that day in Auschwitz, she was a strong presence in their life. "My mother always followed in my grandmothers ways and quoted her, says Rabbi Weisz. For example, my grandmother was a seamstress and said: 'I supported my family with my sewing machine, so I want to be buried with a coffin made of my sewing machine.' My mother was also a seamstress and the memories of her mother were never far." Yantu passed away in April 2018 at age 109, bequeathing to 70 descendents a legacy of courage and goodness. Rabbi Noson Weisz teaching at Yeshivat Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. "The Talmud says that someone who lives a long life can usually attribute it to a specific merit," says Rabbi Weisz. "My mother's outstanding trait was that if she could avoid it, she never took anything from anybody. When her son became engaged to a woman from a prominent, wealthy family, Yantu insisted on paying for half the wedding expenses. This was to the other familys chagrin, as they could not countenance accepting money from a survivor who was eking out a living. The bride's parents had to come up with creative ways to assume as many expenses as possible since Yantu was always averse to "taking." "If someone asked for tzedakah, she always gave. Even when people owed her money, she never asked for it back, says Rabbi Weisz. She always gave and never took. There aren't people like this around anymore." Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance day, is Thursday May 2, 2019. That Thursday evening (Nissan 28) marks the first yahrtzeit of Yantu Weisz, may her memory be blessed. BEIRUT Lebanons debate over the legalization of civil marriage was once again brought to the forefront after newly appointed Interior Minister Raya El Hassan vocalized her support to instate nonreligious unions, a practice strictly prohibited by religious leaders of all sects. In a televised interview with Euronews Feb. 15, Hassan said that she would try to make room for a serious and deep discussion on a framework for civil marriage. The ministers words quickly drew fire from religious authorities and political figures. Dar al-Fatwa, Lebanons Muslim Sunni authority, issued a statement Feb. 18 after Hassans remarks declaring its absolute rejection of civil marriage due to its contradiction to Sharia. It said that a draft law could not be approved in parliament without taking into consideration the stance of Dar al-Fatwa and the other religious authorities in Lebanon. On Feb. 22, Sheikh Ali-al Khatib, vice-president of the Higher Shiite Council, reaffirmed during a sermon that the body was against the option. Christian Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai voiced on the same day that while he was not against civil marriage completely, he supported the creation of a civil law that would give all Lebanese citizens the option to choose between a religious and civil marriage. Still, he strongly advised his religious constituents to marry within the church. Despite the outcry, a myriad of prominent political figures, including former head of the largely Druze Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt and former Minister Nicolas Tueni of the largely Christian Free Patriotic Movement, publicized their support for the option of civil marriage. Prime Minister Saad Hariri has also aligned himself in the pro-civil marriage camp. During a 2013 interview with TV channel LBCI, Hariri criticized Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani for labeling supporters of civil marriage as infidels. On Feb. 23, dozens of protesters demonstrated outside the Ministry of Interior in Beirut calling on the government to recognize civil marriages performed in Lebanon and the passage of a civil law. In Lebanon, issues related to personal status, including marriage, divorce and child custody, are under the purview of the countrys recognized religious authorities. Without a civil code in place, a marriage between different sects is not officially legal, forcing interreligious couples to marry abroad. However, same-sect couples have also sought civil marriages outside of Lebanon, as patriarchal religious authorities award more rights to men complicating issues in case of divorce. Several draft laws have been proposed over the past decades to introduce a legal framework for civil marriage in Lebanons constitution. In 1998, then-President Elias Hrawi proposed legislation to parliament amid objections by religious clerics. In 2013, progress was made when then-Interior Minister Marwan Charbel signed off on the civil marriage certificate of a Sunni-Shiite couple. Their civil marriage was the first to be recognized in Lebanon, but unfortunately, it did not mark a precedent. When succeeding Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk took office, he declared that he would not be signing contracts for civil marriages performed in Lebanon, thus impeding the possibility of a legal framework to be introduced into Lebanons constitution. Another attempt was brought to parliament in 2016 when the Beirut Bar Association proposed a draft law to legalize civil unions in the country. However, legislators took no further action. Despite these past obstacles, Hassans comments are seen as a renewed and serious commitment toward implementing the long-contested civil framework for matters related to personal status. In Lebanons current 128-member parliament, a coalition of about 45 parliamentarians has already vowed their support in passing such legislation, including member of parliament Paula Yacoubian of the civil society Sabaa Party, all three members of parliament of the largely Christian Kataeb Party and the nine members of the Progressive Socialist Party. It, however, remains unclear as to how other blocs might vote if a framework were brought to the table. Member of parliament Fadi Alameh of the largely Shiite Amal movement told Al-Monitor that he would personally vote for a draft law to implement civil marriage. However, the stance of his 17-member Amal bloc was not as straightforward. To pass such a framework through parliament, Alameh said, a national committee would need to be established to deal with issues of sectarianism, which civil marriage is deeply entangled in. In principle we would first need a national committee where we talk about national unity and move out of sectarian rhetoric. Logically, this has to be part of the package when dealing with changes in [personal status laws], Alameh said. Eddy Abillama, a member of parliament for the Christian majority Lebanese Forces, told Al-Monitor that the party would be making an official statement on its stance in the coming week, leaving the vote of 15 parliamentarians up in the air. The vote of the 20-member Future Movement bloc also remains a mystery, as an official party stance has not been taken. However, with Hariri as leader of the party and Hassan a high-ranking member, there may be more pushback against the Sunni authorities. In the past, Hezbollahs 13-member parliamentary bloc has largely aligned with that of the Higher Shiite Council; however, members of parliament Hasan Fadlallah ann Amin Sharri both told Al-Monitor that the party would not be commenting on its official stance for the moment. CASABLANCA, Morocco It has been eight years since the outbreak of the so-called Arab Spring. At that time, the February 20 Movement was born in Morocco, led by Moroccan leftist parties and supported by Al Adl Wal Ihsane, a political Islamic association that is not legally recognized by the Moroccan state. On that day in 2011, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Rabat and many other Moroccan cities to demand freedom, dignity and social justice. Among other things, protesters called on dissolving parliament and the government, which was headed by Abbas El Fassi at the time. Many Moroccans saw Fassi as a symbol of political monopoly as his family and relatives occupied various positions in power since the beginning of the 20th century. In addition, protesters demanded the adoption of a democratic constitution that expands the powers of the government and the parliament, and ensures the independence of the judiciary. On March 9, 2011, in a speech that broke protocol, King Mohammed VI addressed the nation by announcing changing the constitution and strengthening the independence of the executive, legislative and judicial authorities. On July 1, 2011, over 98% of Moroccans voted in favor of this constitution during a national referendum. Under the new constitution and following the first legislative elections held on Nov. 25, 2011, the Islamic Justice and Development Party won a majority in the parliament and the king appointed the partys secretary-general, Abdelilah Benkirane, to head the government on Nov. 29, 2011. Today, Benkirane continues to defend the king's direct involvement in the executive authority even after the king removed him from his post in 2017. Moroccos king had dismissed Benkirane in March 2017 from his position as designated prime minister after the latter failed to form a government following the 2016 parliamentary elections. During several meetings with the press and his youth supporters, Benkirane reiterated his rejection of a parliamentary monarchy in which the king reigns without actually ruling, supporting the kings direct intervention in the executive authority, as is the case today. Political observers in Morocco consider that the promises Mohammed made in his 2011 speech merely aimed at absorbing the street's anger, and that the most important authority, i.e., the executive power, is still in the hands of the king, despite the new constitution. Benkirane's view of the nature of the monarchy is no different from that of the majority of pro-regime parties as well as the opposition. Perhaps the only political party in parliament that explicitly calls for establishing a democratic parliamentary monarchy in which the king reigns and does not rule is the Federation of the Democratic Left. According to Article 48 of the current Moroccan Constitution, the king presides over the Council of Ministers: The king can, on the basis of a specific agenda, delegate to the head of government the presidency of a Council of Ministers. In this regard, Khalid Bakari, professor of language didactics at the Regional Center for Education and Training Profession in Casablanca and expert in social movements in Morocco, told Al-Monitor that the youths of the February 20 Movement are feeling rather disappointed because the constitutional document did not fulfill its promises. In 2011 a large part of the February 20 Movement had leftist political affiliations. The movement was shaped by these people and a large number of them believed in change from within the institutions. They had confidence in the central authority's response to the demand for democratic transition, he said, believing this never happened. Nabila Mounib, secretary-general of the Unified Socialist Party, one of the components of the Federation of the Democratic Left and one of the few political parties that supported the February 20 Movement, told Al-Monitor that the constitution did not live up to the expectations of the Moroccan street. The constitution of 2011 provided some minor developments, but it is still far from reaching the basics of democratic transition. As long as the constitution does not guarantee separation of power, independence of the judiciary and respect for popular sovereignty, we cannot even say that it is a constitution suitable for democratic transition. The current constitution gives the royal palace an opportunity to strengthen its prerogatives and leaves the prime minister with very limited powers, she said. Journalist and former member of the February 20 Movement Omar Radi told Al-Monitor that the regime wasted the opportunity of democratic transition in 2011. The state could have seized the opportunity of the Arab Spring to strengthen the foundations of democracy, but unfortunately it did not, sparking resentment in the Moroccan street. This is why popular movements erupted back then, calling for social rights. When political slogans turn into social demands, it means the crisis has the majorly aggravated, he said. Meanwhile, Bakari said that most of the demonstrations and protests that followed in 2011 were led by people without a partisan background, and these movements had a regional social character such as the Hirak protest in the Rif [region] or in other areas such as Jaradah and Zagora. In essence, they all questioned the conflict of interest between power and the accumulation of wealth among decision-makers. He added, It is true that the February 20 Movement has been dissolved, but we cannot say that it disappeared completely. On the contrary, cultural and artistic dynamics such as Masrah Mehgour theater or street musicians emerged as a form of restoring public space. The February 20 Movement inspired the social movements born after 2011. Five years after the constitution came into force, a popular demonstration called the Hirak protest (Arabic for Rural Mobilization) took place at the end of October 2016 in the city of al-Hoceima in northern Morocco, after a fishmonger was killed by a garbage truck on Oct. 28, 2016. Under the leadership of prominent activist Nasser Zefzafi, residents of the city and neighboring villages rallied raising social slogans and demanding that the authorities build a hospital and a college so the Rif region would no longer be marginalized. On May 29, 2017, Zefzafi was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison along with dozens of his comrades. According to Mounib, condemning the symbols of this mobilization exposed the powers weaknesses. The security approach is the actual policy that the state adopts when dealing with popular movements, she noted. Bakari concluded, The Moroccan people have a lack of trust in the central regime, in addition to the lack of representation of a broad strata of society within the state apparatus, so it would not be strange if we later see more radical popular movements than before. None other than Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, snuffed the hopes of hard-liners that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would follow through on his Feb. 25 resignation letter. As Sinan Toossi reports, Soleimani backed Zarif as the main official responsible for foreign policy and stressed that he has always had the support of senior officials, especially Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His comments echoed President Hassan Rouhani's letter rejecting Zarif's resignation in which he stated that he agreed with his chief diplomat that the foreign minister is the highest official implementing the country's foreign policy." Soleimani who is respected across Tehran's partisan divide but especially revered by conservative forces has great influence over the balance of power in Tehran's contentious domestic politics, adds Toossi. His comments diminished the political space for hard-line forces to sabotage Zarif's foreign policy approach and awkwardly positioned them on the same side as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who promptly bid Zarif good riddance." Netanyahu spared no effort to show his glee, writes Meir Javedanfar. To make sure Iranians were aware of how delighted he was, Netanyahu's Persian-language Twitter account on the morning after Zarifs resignation read: Zarif went. We are rid of him. As long as I am here, the Iranian regime will not acquire nuclear weapons. Javedanfar said the quick return of Zarif is bad news for Israel given Zarifs warm ties with many of his European counterparts. Zarifs smiling face and veneer of moderation get under the skin of Netanyahu and many in Israel. While the catalyst for Zarifs resignation was his not being informed by Rouhanis office of a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who made a surprise visit to Iran on Feb. 25, Zarif used the snub as catalyst to re-establish control over Iranian foreign policy, which has come under siege by hard-liners following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the crown jewel of Iranian foreign policy under Rouhani and Zarif. Zarifs maneuvering is likely the last resort of a man focused on maintaining cohesion in Irans diplomatic apparatus including through the firing of a loud warning shot against the consequences of the fracturing of Irans diplomacy, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani. For these consequences may include the danger of Iran being perceived as weak and then taken advantage of by outside powers, whether by Russia, China or Europe. As such, what may ultimately be at play is brinkmanship albeit genuine brinkmanship by an astute tactician who, having perfected the art in his dealings with Irans friends and foes abroad, has finally decided to deploy this same skill set at home, adds Shabani. Rouhani moved fast to erase any sense of division with Zarif. The president said he saw himself in the same boat with the foreign minister as both face domestic pressure, but expressed confidence that 'we will pass through this tough stage,' according to a Feb. 27 Al-Monitor staff report. The best proof of Zarif's success, according to Rouhani, was that Iran's sworn enemies such as the Zionist regime had celebrated his resignation, referencing a tweet by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Within an hour of the letter's release to the media, pictures went viral of a smiling Zarif sharing an umbrella with Rouhani as the two waited to welcome a visiting Armenian delegation led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Tehran's Sa'dabad Palace. Rouhani and Zarif may try to leverage Zarifs turnaround to thwart opposition to legislation that would make Iran compliant with the Financial Action Task Force, which, as seen in a Feb. 26 Al-Monitor staff report, is required to keep Western financial transactions with Iran running. Now those bills are gridlocked. For months, Zarif and his diplomatic team have tried to convince Iran's hard-liners to pass the bills and not provide the United States with any more excuses to pressure Iran. In spite of parliament's approval, the legislation is now in the hands of the Expediency Council, whose members are appointed by the supreme leader. One early casualty among the hard-line parliamentarians who applauded Zarifs resignation was Karim Javad Khodoosi, who came under attack by the Islamic Republic News Agency, which operates under Rouhanis administration, as described in a March 1 Al-Monitor staff report. Even if Rouhani, Zarif and Soleimani appear to have closed ranks, the whole flare-up may signal cracks in Irans Syria policy, according to Javedanfar. There are distinct signs attesting to the unpopularity of Irans Syria policy among the people of Iran and even among its former and serving officials, he writes. Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, the former mayor of Tehran, was recently sentenced to one year in prison for criticizing Irans involvement in the Syria war. The very fact that a former official is jailed for uttering a few lines of criticism shows fear by the regime in Tehran fear of public opinion. Another sign attesting to the unpopularity of Irans current Syria policy is the absence of debates surrounding this issue in the Iranian press. There are lively debates regarding numerous issues, but not on Irans policies in Syria. Iranian reporters could get called up for questioning if they criticize Assad, or worse, have their publications shut down temporarily. This was witnessed on the day of Zarifs resignation when the Ghanoon daily called Assad an 'Uninvited Guest.' Even Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi commander of Irans army, the Artesh distanced himself from Irans involvement in Syria, adds Javedanfar. After reports that four members of the Iranian armys special forces belonging to the mythical 65th Airborne Brigade were killed in Syria, Salehi stated publicly on April 20, 2016, that his organization had no role in dispatching them to Syria. He put the responsibility on the shoulders of an unnamed organization, meaning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Perhaps the clearest sign that Irans Syria policies are unpopular among the people of Iran is the fact that its not an election issue. There are no candidates for or against this issue. There are no debates during the elections when many other issues including relations with the United States are discussed. Iran and Syria were at the top of the agenda when Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Feb. 27. The Israelis reportedly brought updated maps of Iranian positions in Syria to show the Russians, writes Maxim Suchkov. This is an important point since a good portion of the discontent between Moscow and Tel Aviv is over Israeli strikes on what it deems Iranian and proxy deployments and infrastructure. ... The strikes put Moscow in an uneasy position vis-a-vis Damascus and raise Syrian complaints over Russias inability to deliver on its allied commitments to defend Syria from foreign aggression. Russia and Israel, in turn, have allegedly had their own agreement under which the Israeli strikes would not threaten Assad, while Russia is believed to have promised to curb Iranian influence near the Israeli border, adds Suchkov. In this sense, Russia tacitly grants Israel leeway to provide its own security yet has to publicly castigate Tel Aviv for illegitimate strikes, as Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov put it. In Washington, Laura Rozen reports that while the Trump administration mocked as basically irrelevant Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarifs surprise resignation and return to the job this week, a State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told her, I do think that Trumps basic realist lets make a broader deal approach has been hijacked by the regime change people. Rozen adds that some administration officials have recently privately expressed misgivings about how far the policy has strayed from Trumps stated goal last year to try to negotiate a broader deal with Iran that would address other concerns not solved in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from last year to one that increasingly seems regime change in all but name. While other 5-year-old girls played hopscotch and Barbies, Karen Wright of Huntsville organized her toys and sorted her clothes. Her lifelong love of having everything in its place eventually brought her to own a successful Huntsville organizing business, Life Simplified. Founded in 2008, the business focuses on two main segments: downsizing retirees as they move from a home to independent or assisted living, and what Wright calls whole house organizing. Another aspect of the business is what she calls house clean-outs, typically for seniors who move out of state. Wrights services include bagging trash, identifying items that can be sold at an estate sale, arranging the moving of personal items and furniture, and junk removal. But Life Simplified can also help organize closets, pantries and other small spaces. This was the above pantry before Life Simplified organized it. For most of us, organization is a daunting and unpleasant chore. For Wright, its a passion. You either have it or you dont, but I do think its a natural gift, she said. Ive been able to help others to live Life Simplified. Wrights goals in any project are efficiency, simplicity and aesthetics. Household organizing gained worldwide popularity with the publication of Marie Kondos 2014 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Wright skimmed the book and uses many similar methods, such as placing shirts vertically in a drawer rather than horizontally, but she doesnt share some of Kondos cultural beliefs. I dont thank things for what they did, Wright says with a laugh. Karen Wright is CEO and founder of Life Simplified. Containerizing is another method in the book that Wright has long used to organize. Her makeup, for example, is arranged in three trays of what she uses in order: foundation, eyes and lips. Wright has the neat freak credentials to back up her skills. She became a Certified Relocation Transition Specialist in 2009 and a Certified Professional Organizer in 2012. Pricing her organizing services begins with an initial assessment with clients, discussing their goals and needs. I can see the big picture, says Wright, who reviews the space in question and then provides a range of costs. Packing-only jobs begin at around $2,500, while facilitating an entire move from packing and unpacking can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and overseeing an entire relocation can run even higher. Her team is often on hand to show moving personnel what goes where, and to make sure her clients have what they need for a restful first night in their new homes. A lamp, a clock, a bed, she says. Til we can get in there (and continue unpacking) the next day. I always, through my services, try to look for the most cost-effective approach, she said. Through the estate sale of items left behind, for example, clients sometimes can recoup the cost for our services. In overseeing a total move, Wright customizes room plans to scale with existing furniture to get the reality of whats going to fit; make sure its safe for them to get around, she says, noting she gives special attention to space for clients who use wheelchairs or walkers. She also determines how much surface space is available in recommending what decorations and knick-knacks can practically come along in a move. It is difficult for some clients to part with things, even if they have no room for them. In such cases, Wright arranges for storage. We want to help everyone, whether theyre moving or organizing, to right size their life, she says. A 45-year-old graduate of Grissom High School, Wright obtained a fashion design and marketing degree from Auburn University in 1996. She spent 18 years working in retail and five years in real estate before finally realizing her dream in 2008. Her husband, Michael Rose, a systems engineer, encouraged her to start the business before they were engaged and even provided her with some of the seed money. He admired my passion and my drive, says Wright. He said, No matter what happens, I want to give you this (money). I want to invest in you cause I believe in you. Wright pitched her business idea to a friend, who predicted she would have clients rolling in steadily within three months. She continued working full-time while launching Life Simplified, but turned in her notice two weeks before the 90th day after that conversation. She typically has three to five employees who work flex time on an as-needed basis. The business has grown steadily and now services 45-75 clients each year. Peggy Parks of Huntsville, a retired pediatric nurse, has hired Life Simplified for several moves, most recently from a home rental to an independent living villa. Karens company packed, loaded and delivered my stuff, and unpacked it, said Parks. Theyre just wonderful. They make moving a whole lot easier and they take the stress out of it. In less than a week at her new home, Parks says she felt settled. Wright has several pieces of advice for people who want to organize themselves at home. Be in a place where theyre ready to be honest, she said. Take time. Start with a small project, be it a drawer, a cabinet, a cabinet shelf, a pantry shelf, or the pants section of a closet. Its a process, its a journey, Wright says. Its not a destination. The organizational process will always involve stuff in, stuff out, and is never completely done. But tweaking systems is part of the fun of her job, she says. The more stuff you have, the more time it takes. Friends of the family of an 11-year-old girl found dead Saturday in a DeKalb County missing persons case have begun to raise money. A GoFundMe page has been started for the family of Amberly Alexis Barnett, whose body was discovered in an undisclosed location Saturday after an overnight search, according to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. CHS Class of 2009 is raising money in memory of our classmates daughter. All donations will go directly to the family of this sweet girl, the page reads. Barnett was last seen in the Mt. Vernon community around 6 p.m. at her aunts house, according to the sheriffs office. The search took authorities to Cherokee County and the state of Georgia, Weldon said Saturday. Authorities did not reveal where Barnetts body was found or the cause of death and would not take questions, only stating that they were diligently, diligently pursuing different avenues. Barnetts mother, Jonie Barnett, stated on social media that a green SUV was seen in the driveway of the Mt. Vernon home and that her daughter had left her cellphone behind. Her phone was left behind and my baby takes it everywhere. Nothing in her phone indicated she was planning to leave! she wrote. Amberly is the type to not do anything that she will get in trouble for. She is so scared of anyone being mad at her or getting in trouble. She would not have ran away or make plans to go off somewhere. Later, she stated that Amberly was wearing a blue hoodie with yellow stripes on the sleeves and dark blue skinny jeans with white converse at the time she disappeared. She also wrote that anyone who knows Amberly, knows she would not have left without telling me or my sister. Shes to scared to get into any trouble. She would never leave her cell phone behind. She will fight if anyone try to do anything to her. She Is the type that gets mad and leave. She will not quit fighting to get back home. This post was changed at 11:20 a.m. March 3 to correct Amberly Barnetts middle name. U.S. Senator Doug Jones says Alabama ISIS bride Hoda Muthana should return to the United States to face justice. In an interview this morning on CBS Face the Nation, Jones spoke about several issues on the program, including his book, Bending Toward Justice. The comments were similar to others Jones made about the woman from Alabama who went to Syria to join ISIS four years ago. She now wants to return home, saying she regrets joining the organization. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton has filed an order for attorneys for Muthana and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appear in court at 11 a.m. Monday. A lawsuit, filed by Muthanas father, Ahmed Ali Muthana, on her behalf, asks the court to recognize her citizenship and her sons. It also asks the court to allow her father to send money to her so she can return to the United States safely. Muthana fled from ISIS with her 16-month-old son and was captured by Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Pompeo claimed Muthana has no legal basis on which to claim her citizenship. His statement was based on a technicality regarding her time of birth and her fathers status as a diplomat at the time she was born. Jones said no one is going to welcome this person back to the United States - thats just a mischaracterization. He said the issue of Muthanas passport will probably be decided in the courts, and that its important that American justice deliver a verdict on the case. I do think we ought to consider bringing her back to face justice," Jones said. "We do it all the time with terrorists, with other people that commit crimes against the United States. I think it sends kind of a bad message if we give someone a Get Out of Jail Free card just because they go to the Middle East. .@SenDougJones comments on Hoda Muthana from his state of Alabama who went to Syria to join ISIS: No one is going to welcome this person back to the US. Thats just a mischaracterization. I do think we ought to consider bringing her back to face justice. pic.twitter.com/alAnC1uMv5 Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 3, 2019 Questioned about voting rights, Jones said "state legislatures, governors and members of Congress that are Republicans are responsible for the backsliding of voting rights, through gerrymandering and other methods. He called it a political power grab. For whatever reason, they do not want African-Americans and other minorities to vote," Jones said of Republicans. I assume, rather than trying to get those votes, they seem to want to restrict those votes, And I think thats incredibly unfortunate. He said he supported a new bill put forward last week toward voter enhancement to put teeth back into the Voting Rights Act. We need to be expanding the voter rolls, Jones said. We need to be pushing the percentage of Americans up who want to vote on Election Day, and instead we seem to be working, and the powers-that-be, constricting that, and I think weve got to change that. .@SenDougJones blames state legislatures, governors and members of Congress that are Republicans for the backsliding of voting rights. For whatever reason, they do not want African Americans and others minorities to vote. pic.twitter.com/fIKAmenrTC Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 3, 2019 Jones was also asked about his status as a Democrat in traditionally red-state Alabama. Jones was the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama since 1992. He called himself an independent voice for Alabama and feels good about the future. Im not a solid voice or vote for the president or the Democratic party. I look at each individual vote separately," he said. I think Alabama, the South, were all changing... Were putting aside a lot of the issues that have divided us in the past, that have caused some of those incredible divisions - division, political and social divisions. UPDATE: A missing Bessemer girl was found safe Saturday night after disappearing from her home the previous night. EARLIER: Police are asking for the publics help finding a young girl who disappeared overnight. Janyha Pleasant, 12, was last seen at her home in Bessemer Friday night. Investigators say she was known to be at home at 10:30 p.m. but was not there when her parents woke up Saturday morning. Janyha should have a pink backpack with her and could be wearing a green Gap hoodie and white and gold Jordan shoes. Additional information wasnt immediately available. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Bessemer Det. Burmeister at 205-760-9827 or the police department at 205-425-2411. A woman was killed Saturday in Russellville when she was struck in a restaurants parking lot. The TimesDaily is reporting Kathy Beasley Emerson, 65, was getting out of a vehicle in the parking lot of 43 Grill when another vehicle struck her. She was taken to Russellville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to police, a vehicle was traveling north on Alabama 43 and was sideswiped by another vehicle in the median. The collision forced one of the vehicles into the parking lot, striking Emersons vehicle, as well as two other vehicles. Millbrook police say the death of a man Saturday is being investigated as a traffic homicide. According to The Montgomery Advertiser, a man was found lying on the shoulder of the eastbound traffic lane in the 1400 block of Alabama 14 Saturday. Police say he appeared to have been struck by a vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released by the Elmore County Coroners Office. Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson said, in a news release, that police have no evidence at this point to suggest the incident was intentional. However, the driver of the vehicle left the scene and apparently did not attempt to render aid or contact first responders. They simply left this unfortunate victim on the side of the roadway to perish alone," Johnson said. "That is an unconscionable act and it is also a crime in the state of Alabama. If you are involved in a traffic collision that involves physical injury, you have a duty to stop and render aid. That did not occur in this case. Police are asking for anyone with information to contact them at (334-285-6832) or on the Secret Witness Line at (334) 285-8500. I sincerely hope this was a terrible accident and the driver got scared, didnt know what to do and just left the scene, Johnson told the paper. If that is the case, I would appeal to the drivers humanity to come forward and turn yourself in to our investigators and give them your full account of what happened. Thats just the right thing to do. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims family. Lee Countys sheriff is saying 23 people are dead amid catastrophic damage there following a possible tornado this afternoon. And more people are missing as crews search through wreckage and debris. Sundays death toll is more than double the number of people killed by tornadoes nationwide in all of 2018. Last year, 10 people died in tornadoes across the U.S., a record low. Sheriff Jay Jones told WRBL-TV on Sunday that damage followed a path several miles long and appeared up to a fourth of a mile wide. He said Sunday night that families in the area had lost everything they ever had. At a late news conference , Jones said crews were still working as of 9:30 p.m. to secure the areas hit by the storm. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings confirmed the death toll on social media, saying search and rescue operations are ongoing. The devastation prompted President Trump to tweet: To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe. Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2019 Lee County was only one of several areas across Alabama hit by severe weather, as damage was reported in at least six counties. Shortly after the storm hit Lee County, a possible tornado struck near Eufaulas Weedon Field Airport, according to reports. David Logan, Barbour County EMA director, said much of the damage was confined to the area around U.S. 431. The storm destroyed a fire station and a chicken hatchery, as well as inflicting damage on a few homes. There were reports of other storms in Washington, Macon, Autauga and Houston counties. Rita Smith, spokeswoman for the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, said first responders were on the scene in two different areas of the county. Smith said she could confirm multiple fatalities but that officials were still trying to gather information, and multiple search and rescue operations were underway. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris at 8 p.m. said victim ages range from children to 80s. Were still got people being pulled out of rubble, he said. Were going to be here all night. East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika stated at 6 p.m. that it had received more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado, with some sent to surrounding hospitals. As a result, the hospital is cancelling elective procedures for Monday morning. Lee County EMA said a tornado warning was issued at 2:38 p.m. Several reports are centered around the Smith Station area near Phenix City and the Alabama/Georgia line. Other reports came from the Beauregard area. EMA told residents that Smith Station Volunteer Fire Department Station #1 was where citizens affected by the storms should seek assistance with sheltering or unmet needs. Other storm warnings were issued this afternoon in south Alabama and the Wiregrass area. Alabama Power stated this afternoon that more than 10,000 customers were without power. The National Weather Service said it would send three survey teams out tomorrow. They will assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour Counties. Gov. Kay Ivey said in a tweet that state EMA officials are working with local officials. She is extending the states state of emergency, issued Feb. 23, to deal with flooding. Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today. Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected, Ivey said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Due to Sunday's storm all Lee County Schools will be closed tomorrow 3/4/19 https://t.co/rqqxJLP7Av Lee County Schools (@LeeCoSchools) March 3, 2019 Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today. Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected. Officials from @AlabamaEma & other agencies are quickly working to provide assistance. Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) March 3, 2019 A @GoPro frame grab of the Lee County, AL tornado earlier today from @ScottPeakeWX pic.twitter.com/wwnl3G8xS8 SevereStudios (@severestudios) March 3, 2019 I need prayers tornado just destroyed my house pic.twitter.com/7jbyNqMmmD Evan (@zSmithii) March 3, 2019 Lee County Road 240 west of Smiths Station blocked by downed trees photos from Krista Blanchard pic.twitter.com/y08btP4OgX James Spann (@spann) March 3, 2019 @JoshWeather @EricSnitilWx @LeeWSFA @spann @NWSBirmingham here is a picture of the funnel cloud coming through Hope Hull that finally went into Lee County. Photo from Paul Bowden. pic.twitter.com/aT7bFNs7Qm AL Storm Spotter (@SapperFoxtrot) March 3, 2019 CELL TOWER BROUGHT Down by the Tornado in Smith Station pic.twitter.com/Oz6r68Iy6z Brandon Copic (@BrandonCopicWx) March 3, 2019 @spann Tornado moving across Smiths Station Alabama pic.twitter.com/VVlFuBiS7k Chris Cannon (@CCannonforAU) March 3, 2019 Devastated to hear about the lives lost in Lee County, a place close to my heart. Wishing strength and healing for all those affected by todays tornadoes. Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 4, 2019 Sri Lankans are paying smugglers up to $3,000 to reach Reunion, a paradisiacal French island of fewer than one million. Reunion Before he decided to undertake a perilous 22-day journey by sea to Reunion, 35-year-old Balapu Waduge Prasad Indika Dilan Mendis had never heard of the tiny French island off the eastern coast of Africa. On March 21 last year, two days after being set adrift on a raft without food or water following a boat mishap, six Sri Lankans including Mendis arrived. If we had not been seen by the tourists it would be over for us, he said of the ordeal; Reunions waters are notorious for sharks. The six men had traversed 4,000km across the Indian Ocean that stretches between South Asia and Africa, crossing the equator along the way. They came in search of Europe. More would follow. It was the first of five boats that have brought 145 Sri Lankans to Reunion in less than a year. On February 5 this year, the latest and largest boatload arrived with 72 people on board, including eight women and five children. On February 14, 64 were deported after their asylum appeals were rejected. Reunion, a former French colony which neighbours Mauritius, became an overseas department of France in 1946. It is the only developed region in the Indian Ocean, they will not go to Seychelles or Mauritius because they know they will be turned back. From the first boat, we knew that more boats will come. Swami Advayananda Sarasvati, Reunion resident sheltering refugees at an ashram There is a steady trickle of asylum seekers from nearby African islands but its new-found appeal for Sri Lankan asylum seekers has caught French authorities off-guard. From 2016 to 2018, the island received 105 asylum applications. Sri Lankans accounted for most requests, followed by Indians and Comorians, according to the prefecture of Reunion. In public comments, French and Sri Lankan authorities have said that the influx shows that Reunion is now on a human-trafficking route that was earlier taking migrants eastwards. Classically immigration was happening towards the east; Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia, said Anthony Goreau, a geographer at the University of Bordeaux. A view of the western coast of Reunion [Malavika Vyawahare/Al Jazeera] Reunion, a fraction of the size of Sri Lanka, hosts fewer than one million people. But it is not chance that has brought the Sri Lankans to the remote island, according to Goreau. You cannot put your fate in the hands of luck when you are going to be on a boat for over two weeks and navigating cyclones, Goreau said. Four of the five boats arrived in the middle of cyclone season. Mendis said he was introduced to Reunion by an agent, who showed him a video about the island and promised to arrange passage for a sum of 5,00,000 Sri Lankan rupees, about $2,800. Others in his group paid between $1,500 and $3,000. A decades-long Tamil rebellion in northern Sri Lanka that was crushed in 2009 is at the root of many desperate bids to leave. Though the conflict officially ended in 2009, the immigration flux persists till today, Goreau said, adding that the flight of minorities, mainly Tamil victims of persecution, is a factor. A Sri Lankan asylum seeker at the ashram of Swami Advayananda Sarasvati in Le Port, Reunion [Malavika Vyawahare/Al Jazeera] The sudden surge in arrivals can also be linked to the political crisis that unfolded in Sri Lanka last winter. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former president and architect of the final phase of a government offensive that wiped out the Tamil rebellion, laid claim to the premiership in a bid to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe, the current prime minister. Rajapaksa later backed down but the resurgence of the popular Sinhala-Buddhist leader in Sri Lankan politics sparked fears of aggression against those connected to the rebellion, and against minorities. It is this fear that Mendis and many others are citing in their plea for asylum. Hailing from Mannar island, an offshoot to the northwest of the Sri Lankan mainland, Mendis said he was orphaned at five. His parents were killed during the civil war because of links to the Tamil Tigers, a group demanding a separate state for people of Tamil origin. Balapu Waduge Mendis, right, and another Sri Lankan asylum seeker, at the ashram of Swami Advayananda Sarasvati [Malavika Vyawahare/Al Jazeera] He was later taken under the wing of a Catholic priest in Negombo, a major port city north of the capital Colombo, which is predominantly Christian. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist-majority country with a significant population of Hindus -12.6 percent, Muslims -10 percent and Christians 7.5 percent. Though most Sinhalese are Buddhists and most Tamils are Hindus, there are also Tamil and Sinhalese people who practise Christianity. Mendis, a mechanic by profession, is one of them. Sporting a conspicuous metallic cross around his neck, he now lives at a Hindu ashram in Reunion under the care of Swami Advayananda Sarasvati. The choice of Reunion does not surprise Sarasvati. It is not his first brush with asylum seekers. It is the only developed region in the Indian Ocean, they will not go to Seychelles or Mauritius because they know they will be turned back, Sarasvati said. From the first boat, we knew that more boats will come. In Reunion all religions live peacefully Reunion was settled and colonised by the French in the 17th century and remained largely in French hands with a brief spell of British rule. Coffee plantations were established after colonisation, soon to be overtaken by sugar plantations that continue to be the mainstay of the economy. When slavery was abolished in 1848, wage labour was imported from India, China and Africa to work on the plantations. Christianity is the predominant religion but Hindus and Muslims abound. There are groups in Sri Lanka that believe that to be Sri Lankan means to be Buddhist, Sarasvati said. In Reunion all religions live peacefully. They (the asylum seekers) think it is paradise here. This promise of harmonious existence seems to have attracted not just Sri Lankans, but Indians, as well. Two Indian Muslims are currently seeking asylum on the grounds that an increasingly assertive Hindu nationalism poses a threat to them. Most of the labourers from French colonies in south India are of Tamil origin. The presence of a strong Sri Lankan Tamil community in France, and particularly in Paris, could also explain the choice of Reunion, experts said. However, determining which of the asylum seekers face a genuine threat in their homeland and who are seeking better economic opportunities will be a challenge for French authorities. The frequency of the arrivals and the relative well-being of the seafarers after almost three weeks on a boat has also raised doubts about the veracity of their stories. However, Sri Lankan asylum seekers are no strangers to long arduous sea voyages. We were well prepared with food and water and everything was taken care of by the agent, said one Sri Lankan man, who did want to be identified for fear of jeopardising his asylum request. 190217104337722 Until a few years ago, Australia, another distant country, was the destination of choice, but migration to there fell after the country adopted a stricter immigration policy including processing asylum seekers who arrive by boat at offshore facilities in island-nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, denying them entry into Australia. It has also turned back boats to deter those arriving by sea. But Sri Lankans coming to Reunion are risking more than deportation. A boat bound for the French territory was intercepted by the Sri Lankan navy in September with 90 people onboard. They are now facing charges because leaving the island without permission is a crime under Sri Lankan law. Mendiss asylum plea has already been rejected once but he has filed an appeal. On February 12, he celebrated his first birthday in Reunion, but whether he will be able to start over on the island remains uncertain. From cautious hope to worries about Brexits effect on the economy, Belgians share their opinions. Brussels, Zeebrugge Belgium Brussels, the EUs headquarters, is considered to be the heart of Europe. Around 2,000 British nationals work for EU institutions, mostly employed by the European Commission in the capital. Their number, however, has been dropping. In 2016, there were 1,164 staff members, 1,046 in 2017 and just 917 last year. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has asked Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel to show the same generosity when it comes to granting Belgian citizenship to British EU staff. 190207131551916 Belgium is the UKs eighth trading partner, with the UK exporting automotive goods, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Al Jazeera spoke with Belgians, and a Dutch student, about how they feel regarding Brexit and their own countrys EU membership. The top-down approach of the EU has to end Pieter Cleppe, 37, head of Brussels office at policy think-tank Open Europe I didnt predict it, but I thought Brexit was possible because I simply looked at the opinion polls. In 2015, we prepared an estimate of what could have happened, how expensive might Brexit be and what were the conditions for it to be a success or not. At Open Europe, we were always aware of the risks. Thats why, before Brexit, we were very much in favour of reforming the EU and making sure it didnt happen. I think other countries leaders are partly to blame, as well, particularly Angela Merkel, who said it was not possible to change the EU treaties. Of course, it is hard, but she refused to do it from the very beginning. Before Brexit, the EU should have listened to the concerns of the British and reformed the EU according to their needs. Not so much because the UK should dictate what must happen in Europe, but because many of the concerns the UK has been expressing over the years are shared by many people elsewhere. 190220195012241 If you look at the rise of the anti-establishment movements, they are sometimes left-wing and sometimes right-wing but they are all concerned to lose control and that their fate is no longer decided by national democracy. Its perfectly possible to keep the EU. The EU is fundamentally a good thing, because it helps people move and trade across borders, but the approach according to which a lot of regulations are being made at a Brussels level need to end. Supposedly it opens up trades. Often making rules at the EU level is an excuse for governments preferring to make rules in Brussels so they dont have to face their national parliaments and the scrutiny of the national media. One can also open up trade by scrapping protectionist elements in national legislation. The very technocratic top-down approach of the EU has to end. I think, despite all the bad aspects of Brexit, one good side of it is that we will see more regulatory competition. It may be an issue for British people living abroad Laura Wambach, 27, teacher at Bogaerts international primary school Laura Wambach [Emanuela Barbiroglio/Al Jazeera] There are some British students in this school and I know many British teachers. Ive always thought about Brexit impacting more economic structures rather than social ones, but of course, it may be an issue for British people living abroad. A lot of our students are here because their parents are sent away on different missions to work in a foreign country. If their parents have to go back home for whatever reason, including EU institutions making them redundant, it would be a problem. I am also worried about my co-workers. I am not so sure about the implications of Brexit for both parts at the moment. Even in Belgium, Ive heard people who disagree with European policies. But to be that extreme and say, Lets leave the EU and become completely autonomous would sound unexpected to me. Brexit is bad for future generations Ramata Hoorntje, 29, coding student from the Netherlands Ramata Hoorntje, a Dutch student, says future generations will suffer because of Brexit [Emanuela Barbiroglio/Al Jazeera] Im of the generation that has been given the freedom to move around in the EU and Im the example of it, having studied and worked in London. Im saddened by the fact that this is likely not going to be an easy option for the generation of Europeans to come. I think Brexit is bad for future generations. I remember colleagues crying in London the morning the results of the referendum had been announced. London was numb, but that clearly didnt reflect the feeling in other parts of the country, given the final result. Ive since moved away but I ask my European friends who are still in London, Whats going to happen next?. It seems that the cloud of uncertainty around Brexit as led them to adopt a wait and see approach. There will be issues for British artists Pierre Retif, 45, event organiser at the Centre for Fine Arts BOZAR Pierre Retif says Britain has never fully embraced Europe [Emanuela Barbiroglio/Al Jazeera] Besides the whole rhetoric, I think there will be some administrative obstacles [for the museum]. There will be issues for British artists, in terms of coverage, freedom of movement, fundings. The UK will lose the money that comes as part of European projects. The British have never totally put their feet inside Europe, they have always kept one foot in and one out. But I think that both the UK and the rest of the continent will regret it, because we will miss a very important player. Brexit is forcing everyone to look for alternatives Katia Al Jbrail, 39, worker in the financial sector Katia Al Jbrail says Brexit uncertainty will force political and economic players to seek other options [Emanuela Barbiroglio/Al Jazeera] Brexit is creating a situation of complete uncertainty. Negotiations are so difficult because it is something new that never happened before. The models to estimate its impact are all very sensitive to any kind of assumption. This vulnerability is creating a big disruptive situation, which brings a lot of challenges but also a lot of opportunities to find solutions. Brexit is a negative operation overall and in the long run, it might be worse for the UK. But small countries in an already precarious situation will suffer the most at the beginning, along with countries whose supply chain is highly linked to the UK like Belgium. Brexit is forcing everyone to look for alternatives. Its a pity Joachim Coens, 52, port of Zeebrugges managing director Joachim Coens, a manager at a port, believes Brexit will not bring positive change [Emanuela Barbiroglio/Al Jazeera] Our logistics hub [at the port of Zeebrugge] focuses on the UK trade. Up to 45 percent of traffic and activity is related to business with the UK, so it is a very important market. Everything that makes trading less efficient is a pity. The fact that the UK will not stay in a kind of union that allow us to exchange goods easily is a pity. Globalisation created an emotional reaction and some people would like to go back in time. With Brexit, however, everybody is losing. The US border wall debate is diverting attention away from grave human rights abuses and criminalisation of aid work. On February 15, US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border in order to access funding for the construction of what he calls an absolutely critical border wall. Although he has repeatedly described the situation as a growing security crisis, research shows that the number of undocumented individuals crossing from Mexico into the United States has been steadily decreasing in recent years. Trump has relentlessly demonised border crossers, calling them criminal illegal aliens who have created the lawless state of our southern border. There is indeed lawlessness at the US-Mexico border, but some of the most egregious criminal acts are being carried out by the US border patrol and have been validated and perpetuated by US courts. Human rights are being systematically violated so extensively that we can certainly acknowledge an emergency at the border. The separation of families and horrendous mistreatment of children in detention centres has attracted some public attention, but other abuses remain unaddressed. Border patrol agents have been violating the rights to water and food of border crossers for years. Now they are also targeting the very people who are documenting these violations and attempting to provide essential water and food aid. The weaponisation of water In the 1990s, the Clinton administration adopted a prevention through deterrence strategy which effectively sealed off entry points near urban areas at the US-Mexico border, forcing border crossers to take risky routes through desert areas. Since then, over 7,000 bodies have been found near the border, with estimates putting the real number of deaths caused by dehydration, heat stroke, hypothermia, etc at 21,000. Distressed by these tragic deaths, local people have sought to help prevent further loss of life by leaving water and food along desert routes. But these humanitarian initiatives have not been welcomed by the border patrol. In January 2018, a humanitarian group called No More Deaths published a report detailing how between 2012 and 2015 border patrol agents destroyed 3,586 gallon jugs of water left behind for border crossers in the Sonoran desert of Arizona. They also released footage of border guards kicking and pouring out water containers. As the report points out: Hundreds of vandalism acts cannot be dismissed as the misguided behaviour of a few bad apples. Rather, after extensive statistical analysis, we conclude that the culture and policies of the US Border Patrol as a law-enforcement agency both authorize and normalize acts of cruelty against border crossers. The US border patrol has adopted a practice as part of its policing activities that clearly violates human rights. The right to water is also recognised under international law in UN Resolution 64/292, which acknowledges that the right to safe and clean drinking water as a human right is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights. The right to food is recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Impeding humanitarian relief violates customary international humanitarian law, which includes an obligation to allow the free passage of relief supplies. Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the ICC includes deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population in the definition of extermination, a crime against humanity. It also identifies wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions as a war crime. Border crossers are not the only ones whose right to water and food is violated within the borders of the US. Communities across the country, including in Flint, Michigan and Dimock, Pennsylvania, know what violations of the human right to water mean all too well. The weaponisation of water is also not a practice exclusive to the US border patrol. Israel uses it regularly against the Palestinian population. It is easy to recognise Palestinian homes in occupied Palestine by checking the roofs for black water tanks, which Palestinians have to keep because they are regularly denied access to water and must perpetually store emergency supplies. Unsurprisingly, Trump has expressed affection for Netanyahus extreme right-wing government, applauding his militarised security policies, while coveting his wall and citing it as a model for the US. While cruel deterrence practices that violate human rights along the US-Mexico border long predate Trumps election, under his administration, the bad apples of border protection are overwhelmingly calling the shots, and the courts are now unprecedentedly validating their actions. Criminalising humanitarian work The criminalisation of humanitarian work is evidenced by the recent targeting of No More Deaths volunteers. On Friday, a federal court in the state of Arizona sentenced four American women Natalie Hoffman, Oona Holcomb, Madeline Huse, and Zaachila Orozco-McCormick on misdemeanour charges for having left water and food in the desert back in summer 2017. Officially, the women all No More Deaths volunteers were convicted for entering Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge without a permit and leaving behind supplies, but the activists suspect that the charges were politically motivated. Hours after the January 2018 report was released, another No More Deaths volunteer, Scott Warren, was arrested and charged with harbouring undocumented immigrants. The four women now have criminal records, which could greatly affect their personal and professional lives, while Warren faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. These convictions set a dangerous precedent that strengthens and normalises the campaign to criminalise humanitarian work in the US. International law regarding basic rights faces daunting enforceability challenges, but Trumps systematic attacks on human rights must be documented, resisted, and demolished. Given that international humanitarian law applies only during armed conflict, we must also ask: Is the US not at war at the border, given the thousands of lives lost? The status of border-crossers and terminology used to describe them refugees, economic migrants, asylum-seekers, illegal aliens, victims of violence -are irrelevant. They are indisputably entitled to rights to water and food. In this context, Trumps border wall project and the debate over funding it has provoked constitute yet another dangerous distraction. The Trump administration has repeatedly demonstrated that it seeks not only to erode human rights in the US, but also to dismantle human rights protections internationally. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. As one border crosser told No More Deaths, We would die without water, and they [the border patrol] dont want us to live. So stay tuned the US government is targeting humanitarian workers who provide water and food to people on the brink of death. Have you done any volunteer work for the starving or water deprived lately? You could be next. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Capturing Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village, would cap four years of efforts to roll back the ISIL group. A US-backed Syrian force closing in on ISILs last territorial bastion near the Iraqi border expects a decisive battle on Sunday after advancing slowly, a spokesperson for the group said. Capturing Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village on the bank of the Euphrates River, would cap four years of international efforts to roll back the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. Thousands of fighters, followers and civilians had retreated to Baghouz, a tiny cluster of hamlets and farmland in Deir Az Zor province, as ISILs territory shrunk, and over the last few weeks, they have poured out in greater numbers than expected, holding up the final assault. 190302074443355 After removing the remaining civilians on Friday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) resumed their assault on the village and clashed with ISIL fighters for nearly 18 hours inside Baghouz, according to Marvan Qamishlo, an SDF media official. Our forces are advancing at a slow pace to avoid any problems since ISIL mined the area extensively. Thousands of mines are present along the roads in that small patch, he said. We expect a decisive battle in the morning, he told Reuters news agency on a hill overlooking Baghouz. The remaining fighters are mostly foreigners who are using tunnels to hide and launch surprise attacks against the SDF fighters, added Qamishlo. But once Banghouz falls, and ISIL suffers what some are calling a final territorial defeat, the group and its members will remain a serious threat. This isnt the end of ISIL at all, Sami Nader, an analyst for al-Monitors Lebanon Pulse told Al Jazeera. Weve seen how ISIL and similar groups are thriving in Africa, and I wont be surprised if these same groups will target civilians, or they will have military operations inside Europe and the US. All the grudges that led to the emergence of this group are still there, he added. The evacuees on Friday were mostly women and children, but included some wounded men. There were Russians, Indonesians, Bosnians, Daghestani, Kazakhs, Egyptians, Syrians and Iraqis. Umm Mohammed, a 38-year-old Syrian, left Baghouz with her three children on Friday but her husband stayed behind in support of ISIL There are many fighters and families inside, she told the Associated Press news agency. ISIL is weak only in Baghouz but elsewhere it is expanding and growing. The military campaign to uproot the fighters from the eastern banks of the Euphrates River began in September, pushing them down towards this last corner in the village of Baghouz, near the Iraqi border. ISIL had used civilians as human shields against air strikes in Baghouz, holding thousands of civilians all huddled in a makeshift camp on the edge of the village, according to evacuated families. The SDF has said that those who did not use last weeks humanitarian window to be evacuated were essentially choosing to die in Baghouz. Addressing a crowd in New York, Sanders presented himself in stark contrast to Trumps policies and personality. Bernie Sanders kicked off his presidential campaign on Saturday not far from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn, and forcefully made the case that he is nothing like fellow New Yorker Donald Trump. Sanders proclaimed himself the Democrat best prepared to beat the incumbent in 2020. The rally was his first campaign event since announcing a week ago that he would run for the White House. 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. 665003303001 Sanders has never shied from addressing Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College, he called Trump the most dangerous president in modern American history and said the president wants to divide us up. The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Beyond the issues themselves, Sanders, who grew up in the heavily Jewish neighbourhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs, said Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. He pegged his allowance as a kid at 25 cents a week. Sanders also said he did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers, Youre fired'. I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over every day workers, he added. In the name of socialism More than 300km away in suburban Washington, Trump revelled in his 2016 election win and said Republicans need to verify it in 2020 with an even bigger victory. 665003303001 While Trump didnt mention Sanders explicitly in a two-hour speech, he railed against the policies of socialism in a continued attempt to portray Democrats as out of touch with ordinary Americans. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. Socialism is not about the environment, it is not about justice, it is not about virtue. It is only about one thing it is called power for the ruling class, Trump said. We know the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism. Supporters of Sanders Hours before his speech in Brooklyn Colleges East Quad, a line of supporters snaked down the snowy streets. A reggae band played before Sanders spoke, and he was introduced by a number of supporters including Nina Turner, the former Ohio state senator who is a co-chair of Sanderss campaign this year, and Shaun King, the writer and civil rights activist. King cited Sanderss participation in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when he was a student at the University of Chicago. This is the origin story of an American revolutionary, King said of Sanders, who will return to Chicago on Sunday evening for a second campaign rally, where hes expected to further highlight his own activism. The candidate will make his first trip to the leadoff caucus state of Iowa next week, with plans to campaign in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Des Moines. He is headed to the early state of Iowa. Algerian presidents campaign manager files official papers but says he will call a fresh vote if reelected in April. Algiers, Algeria The campaign manager of Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been facing nearly two weeks of protests against his bid for a fifth term, says the ailing leader will call for early polls if he is reelected in Aprils vote. Abdelghani Zalene made the announcement on Sunday after submitting the candidacy papers at the Constitutional Council office in Algiers on behalf of the 82-year-old president even as the head of the election commission said all presidential contenders must formally register in person. Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been barely seen in public since, flew to Switzerland for a routine medical check-up on February 24 and has reportedly remained hospitalised in Geneva University Hospital. In a letter attributed to him, the president addressed for the first time the unprecedented large-scale grassroots movement calling for him to step down immediately and peacefully. I have heard the pleas of protesters and especially the thousands of young people who asked about our nations future, the statement read out by Zalene on national TV, said. I am committed to the organisation of an early presidential election, the date of which will be decided by a national conference set up after the April 18 vote. I pledge not to be a candidate for this election, Bouteflika said, while also calling for a new revision of the constitution. Protesters react Anti-Bouteflika protesters, however, denounced the presidents announcement as a farce and meaningless. 190303174018022 This letter shows that Bouteflika is not willing to step down, Habib, a 30-year-old entrepreneur in Algiers, said. The president and his government are ready to stay in power at all costs, he added. We, the people, will answer to his letter by massively and peacefully taking the streets. Abderrahmane, a computer engineer who lives in Blida, agreed. The content of this letter does not meet the populations expectations, he said. The Algerian people are aware and have not forgotten Bouteflikas promise made in 2012 when he said that his generation should leave the power to the younger population. We are still waiting for him to keep his promise. Anti-Bouteflika demonstrations first broke out on February 22, about two weeks after the president confirmed his plan to run in the April 18 vote, with many expressing doubts over his ability to lead the country. On Sunday, the deadline for presidential contenders to register their candidacy, hundreds of mostly young people once again demonstrated against Bouteflikas plan, yelling chants and slogans such as No fifth term and No Bouteflika, no Said, referring to the presidents younger brother and special adviser. Police used tear gas and water cannon to discourage the protesters from reaching the heavily guarded Constitutional Council office. Questions over absence Zalene, a former transport minister who on Saturday replaced ex-Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal as Bouteflikas campaign chief, did not comment on the presidents absence after submitting his official candidacy papers. Bouteflikas non-show, however, raises many questions. The rule is explicit. For a presidential election, all candidates must present themselves at the Constitutional Council to submit their candidacy papers, Abdelwahab Derbal, the head of the election commission told reporters on Sunday. If his candidacy is approved by the Constitutional Council, Bouteflika will face six other candidates who have formally registered, including retired general Ali Ghediri and businessman Rachid Nekkaz. However, former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, who came second in the 2014 presidential elections, announced earlier on Sunday that he would not join the presidential race and called for an election boycott. Two other opposition parties, the Labour Party, led by Louisa Hanoune, and the Islamist Movement Society for Peace, have also said they will boycott the polls. Just as students across Algeria on Sunday began gathering once again to demand their countrys president step down, thousands of kilometres away, on the other side of the Mediterranean, their compatriots were also getting ready to pour into the streets. In a show of solidarity, thousands of flag-waving protesters rallied in Frances capital, Paris, to add their voices to those back home denouncing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas plan to seek a fifth term in office in next months elections. The 82-year-old, who was first elected president in 1999, has rarely been seen in public since suffering a debilitating stroke in 2013. Still, his campaign team on Sunday formally submitted his candidacy to the Constitutional Court. It is very important to mobilise here because we have to echo what is going on in Algeria, Amina Afaf Chaieb, a protester from the Ibtykar Citizen Movement, said in central Paris. It is very important to say no to a fifth term but also to a regime that has taken us all hostages for so long. Protesters denounced Bouteflikas plan to seek a fifth term in office [Christian Hartmann/Reuters] This was the second time in as many weeks that Frances Algerian diaspora heeded in large numbers the call for protests, with rallies also held in Marseille and Toulouse, according to opposition figures. On Saturday, Bouteflikas supporters staged a gathering of their own in Paris but videos posted on social media purportedly showed it had managed to draw dozens of participants. Anti-Bouteflika demonstrations first erupted in Algeria on February 22, about two weeks after the president confirmed his plan to run in the April 18 vote, with many expressing doubts over the ailing leaders ability to lead the country. Theres no fifth [term] for Bouteflika, bring out the riot police and special forces, demonstrators chanted in Paris, taking their cue from the ongoing protests back home. Moustafa, a 56-year-old security guard who was born in France, said he joined the Paris rally because he felt a responsibility to ensure the demands of the protesters in his parents country would be heard. Im here to support my brothers who are waging a peaceful battle in Algeria, he said. Moustafa argued the mass mobilisation was as much about the presidents unfitness for office as it was about the rampant corruption and the inefficiency with which the country was being run. The protest is against the political mafia that controls the country Those in power have become rich at the expense of ordinary people, he said. Despite Algeria being one of the worlds biggest oil and gas producers, youth unemployment is estimated at about 29 percent an alarming statistic in a country where 70 percent of the population is believed to be under the age of 30. Meanwhile, critics say authorities have failed to institute the reforms needed to diversify an economy that is heavily dependent on hydrocarbon sales and vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations. The government successfully weathered the wave of protests that toppled leaders elsewhere in the region, notably Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Muammar Gaddafi in neighbouring Tunisia and Libya, through generous state subsidies, which were feasible at a time of high oil prices. Memories of a bloody civil war that claimed an estimated 200,000 people in the 1990s, the result of an aborted political liberalisation, also played a role in dissuading people previously from taking their grievances to the street, according to observers. The protest in Paris was the second in as many weeks [Donia Ismail/Al Jazeera] Sarah, a 22-year-old student born in Algeria, said Bouteflikas candidacy was only the tip of the iceberg for people like her and her friends who have effectively only known one president in their lives. The entire system needs to be changed. Its not a single subject that we want to address, Sarah said. Censorship is all I have seen in Algeria. Those who are close to the regime live the best of lives while others live in extreme poverty, she added. I dont intend on voting if Bouteflika runs for office They have to leave. Theyve done nothing but destroy and steal [the countrys wealth]. But their Machiavellian plan is finally being seen for what it is. Les Algeriens se mobilisent a nouveau a Paris contre un 5eme mandat de Abdelaziz #Bouteflika. Forte mobilisation en cours place de la Republique en ce jour decisif de depot des candidatures. #Algerie #Alger pic.twitter.com/oOItgIMWg4 Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) March 3, 2019 Members of the opposition have also threatened to withdraw from the race if Bouteflikas candidacy is approved. Some, including former prime minister Ali Benflis and Abderrazak Makri, leader of the Islamist Movement for Society and Peace, have already quit, alleging the votes result was a predetermined affair. US protests The ongoing movement against Bouteflikas bid for a fifth term spread to the east and west coast in the United States. Hundreds gathered at Union Square in New York City on Sunday to express their discontent with Algerias political regime. I stand here in solidarity with my fellow countrymen and women who, throughout our history, have stood up against injustice and have risked their lives for a better Algeria, said Sophia Laila Agag in Manhattan. We need an improved democracy that guarantees jobs, access to healthcare and education. If Bouteflika gets a fifth term, this will prevent Algerians [from getting] their freedom. On the west coast, more than 200 Algerians demonstrated at San Franciscos Civic Center. Algerian Americans, first generation and second like myself, are raised with values that come from a history of revolution and fighting for justice. That was apparent today, even with the thousand miles of distance, said Vanessa Mehaouchi. I was so impressed with the demonstration today. Algerians in America who understand the value of opportunity and democracy want to see it at home. Donia Ismail contributed to this report from Paris. Rym Bendimerad contributed to this report from Doha. She tweets @RymBendimerad. For first time since 2014, some 800 Palestinians are permitted to leave for Umrah pilgrimage via the Rafah crossing. For the first time in five years, Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have been allowed to cross over into Egypt via the Rafah border crossing to begin their initial stage of a pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Umrah. The first convoy of 800 Palestinians passed into Egypt early on Sunday, according to an official at the crossing in the Gaza Strip, heading towards the Egyptian capital where they were expected to catch flights to Mecca, Islams holiest city in Saudi Arabia. Its an incredible feeling, thank God for that. We have waited for this moment since 2014, Fathia Abu Eita, a passenger on the Cairo-bound bus, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press news agency. Security sources on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing confirmed it was the first such permission for the Muslim Umrah pilgrimage since the start of Egyptian military operations in northern Sinai in 2014. Egypt halted the Umrah programme for Palestinians in Gaza in 2015 over instability in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula that borders the Palestinian enclave, but still allowed transit for the main annual Hajj pilgrimage. Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca that can be completed throughout the year, as opposed to the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Around 2,500 pilgrims are authorised annually to leave Gaza via Egypt to perform Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam which every able-bodied Muslim who is able to afford the journey is obliged to undertake at least once in their lifetime. The Rafah border is the main exit point for the majority of Gazas two million population. The Erez crossing, the other exit for Palestinians in Gaza, is managed by Israel, who puts severe limitations on the number of people who can pass through it. Gaza has been under a land, sea and air blockade imposed by Israel since 2007 when Hamas the group that governs the Strip took over power after winning a parliamentary election. Egypt has also maintained the blockade, but as its relations improved with Hamas, it began reopening the largely sealed border more regularly last summer. Since March 30, 2018, Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza have gathered every week by the fence with Israel, calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their lands, and demanding an end to the 12-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade. UKs decision is an insult to the feelings, sympathies and will of the Lebanese people, Hezbollah said. Beirut, Lebanon Hezbollah has said Britain is acting as a subordinate that serves the American master after London decided to ban the group in its entirety last week. Hezbollahs military wing was outlawed by the United Kingdom in 2008. However, now the British government has announced it is proscribing its political arm, too. Any member or supporter of the Iran-backed group will now be treated as a criminal in the UK and could be imprisoned for up to 10 years. 190225114825625 Hezbollah responded by saying that the UKs decision to list it as a terrorist organisation was taken so as to fall in line with US policy, which also proscribes Hezbollah in its entirety. On Saturday, Iran said that the decision was wrong and irresponsible, and will not contribute to the stability and security of Lebanon. In a statement released a day before, Hezbollah also said: UKs decision is an insult to the feelings, sympathies and will of the Lebanese people that consider Hezbollah a major political and popular force represented in the Lebanese parliament and cabinet. A military force A militia founded in the 1980s, Hezbollah has become a military force in the region. It displayed its political acumen in the elections held in Lebanon last May by securing a majority in parliament along with its allies. Three ministers in Lebanons government are affiliated to the group, including the health minister. Despite pressure from the US, which did not want the cash-rich ministry to fall to Hezbollah, the group succeeded in putting its man in the position. Jamal Jabak, the new health minister, used to be the personal physician of Hezbollahs chief Hassan Nasrallah and is seen to be close to him. 180507160524402 His appointment irked Washington, which had warned there would be consequences. Analysts close to Hezbollah see the UKs decision partly as fallout from Jabaks appointment. Amal Saad, professor of political science at the Lebanese University and author of a book on Hezbollah, said there were other reasons behind Britains move, including domestic politics. Jeremy Corbyn and his allies in the Labour leadership are prominent supporters of the Palestinian cause and Hezbollah flags have been raised at their rallies. Critics have also accused the home secretary, Sajid Javid, who announced the ban, and Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, of pursuing their own leadership ambitions in Britains current turbulent political landscape. There are a convergence of motives for the ban; undermining Corbyn in the wider context of the anti-Semitism campaign; leadership ambitions of Hunt and Javid; repositioning or realigning UK with US, Saudi, Israel in a post-Brexit phase, hence a full breaking off with EU on foreign policy, Saad said. Javid said his motivation was simply to protect British people. A threat to Israel Meanwhile, making the most of the momentum, Israel has once again asked the European Union to proscribe the political arm of the group. France has taken a different position. President Emmanuel Macron said: It is not up to France or other outside powers to know which political force represented in Lebanon would be good or not, it is up to the Lebanese people to do so. Bente Scheller, director of the Heinrich Boll Foundations Middle East office in Beirut, said the UK had little leverage left over the EU. The decision to ban the military wing in the past was driven by the UK. But with a looming Brexit I think the UK is in a weaker position in the EU to lobby for this, Scheller said. She said that even though the EU recognised that political and military wings were mere distinctions on paper, and that Hezbollah presented a threat to Israel, she doubted that the EU would list all of it as a terrorist organisation and lose room for manoeuvering. Given that Hezbollah is in the government and also locally a very active political actor in Lebanon, it would be very difficult to cooperate if all of Hezbollah was on the list, Scheller said. Lebanon is hosting more than a million Syrian refugees and is heavily dependent on EU aid. The EU is in part motivated in its support by the desire to stop more refugees moving westwards towards Europe. Hezbollah seems confident that the ban will not harm them. This will actually affect the UK more than Hezbollah and curb its influence in Lebanon, given that it now has crippled its diplomats political manoeuvrability, Saad said. Chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee says panels wants a broader probe into US president. The US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will seek documents from more than 60 people and organisations as it begins investigations into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by President Donald Trump, according to the panels chairman. Jerrold Nadler told ABCs This Week programme on Sunday the committee wanted to get documents from the Department of Justice, the presidents son Donald Trump Jr and Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, among others. We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption and into obstruction of justice, Nadler, whose committee would be responsible for starting impeachment proceedings against Trump, said. Its very clear that the president obstructed justice, he added, noting, however, that it was too soon to consider whether impeachment should be pursued. Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen, he said. Trump denies his campaign worked with Moscow [Joshua Roberts/Reuters] Innocent man being persecuted As evidence of obstruction, Nadler cited Trumps May 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russia activities in the 2016 US presidential election and possible collusion with Trumps campaign. That investigation was subsequently taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is expected to deliver his findings to the US attorney general within weeks. Nadler also cited what he called Trumps attempts to intimidate witnesses in the probe. He said the committee on Monday would release the list of people and organisations it would request documents from. Trump has denied his campaign worked with Moscow. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start, Trump said in a tweet on Sunday. said was a total lie, but Fake Media wont show it. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start And only because I won the Election! Despite this, great success! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2019 There was no immediate comment from the White House and the Trump Organization on Nadlers remarks. Trump told a group of conservative activists and politicians on Saturday that investigators want to look at his finances and business dealings because no evidence of collusion has been found. All of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bullshit, he said. While the Mueller investigation is focused on specific crimes, Congress probes will cast a wider net, Nadler said. The interview follows the public testimony on Wednesday of Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who accused his former boss of telling multiple lies as a candidate and after taking office. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, tax evasion and campaign finance violations, called Trump a conman and a cheat in the testimony before the House Oversight Committee. Nadler said Congressional investigators will also look at whether Trump used the White House for personal enrichment in violation of the constitutions emoluments clause. All of these have to be investigated and laid out to the American people, he added. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy attacked Nadler as having an impeachment agenda. Theyre setting a whole new course because theres no collusion so they want to build something else, he told ABC. Several US congressional committees are pursuing investigations focusing on Trump. The House Intelligence Committees Democratic chairman, Adam Schiff, said his panel would look closely at negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, which Cohen said continued well into the 2016 presidential campaign. That was a deal that stood to make him more money than any other deal in his life and it was a deal where he was pursuing help from the Kremlin, from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin himself, at a time when Putin was seeking relief from sanctions, Schiff told CBS Face the Nation programme. That is the most compromising circumstance that I can imagine. Leaders of the disputed region say New Delhi is persecuting civilians for alleged links to armed groups. Regional Kashmiri leaders are criticising the Indian governments crackdown against separatist groups in the disputed region. One of them is Jamaat-e-Islami, whose members are accused of supporting armed resistance against India. Hundreds have been arrested and the leaders say their work for the regions most vulnerable children will now be affected. Al Jazeeras Sohail Rahman reports from New Delhi. In Italys Collepardo, a former monastery is set to become a school for the next generations far-right populist politicians. US President Donald Trumps former adviser Steve Bannon is helping set up an academy for the alt-right leaders in Italy. Bannon has praised Italys populist government for its nationalist agenda, and is hoping more countries will follow its example. But some residents arent happy their town will host the next generation of alt-right leaders. Al Jazeeras Sonia Gallego reports from Collepardo. A look at the work being done in Kenya to save sea turtles from extinction. Conservationists on the Kenyan coast say poaching is putting turtle species at risk. They are working with local fishermen to try to stop the endangered reptile being caught on purpose, or in their nets. But the turtles are also losing their breeding grounds to erosion and construction. Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi reports from Watamu, Kenya. Going back home a bittersweet journey for Syrian refugees who fled to neighbouring Lebanon to escape the war. Thousands of Syrians who fled to neighbouring Lebanon when the war began are going back home. The new minister in charge of Lebanons millions of refugees, Saleh Gharib, is an outspoken supporter of the Syrian government. Gharibs first act in the job was to visit Damascus, where he has vowed to make the return of refugees a priority. But human rights groups say those returning face arbitrary detention and torture by the regime. Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut. On fifth anniversary of planes disappearance, minister says Malaysia is open to reviving search for the missing flight. Malaysias government says it will consider resuming the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines flight if companies interested in the hunt come forward with viable proposals or credible leads, as families of passengers marked the fifth anniversary of the planes mysterious disappearance. Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, became the worlds greatest aviation mystery when it vanished on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Malaysia and China, as well as Australia, called off a two-year $141.6m underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2017 after finding no trace of the aircraft. A second three-month search, led by US exploration firm Ocean Infinity, ended similarly in May last year. Anthony Loke, Malaysias transport minister, said on Sunday the government was prepared to reward firms searching for MH370 under a no cure, no fee agreement, meaning payment would be made only if they located the aircraft. The government had offered Ocean Infinity up to $70m under such an agreement for its 2018 search. If there are any credible leads or specific proposals we are more than willing to look at them and we are prepared to discuss with them the new proposals, Loke told reporters at a Kuala Lumpur event marking the fifth year of MH370s disappearance. Ocean Infinity has expressed interest in another search, citing new technology developed in the past year after the firm successfully located an Argentinian submarine in November, a year after the vessel went missing. In a video shown at the event, Oliver Plunkett, Ocean Infinitys CEO, said his company is still reviewing all possible data on MH370 and thinking about how it can revive its failed mission. We havent given up hope, Plunkett said. We hope we can continue the search in due course. Two of the three pieces of debris confirmed to be from the plane were on public display for the first time [Vincent Thian/AP] Loke, the transport minister, said the company has yet to put forward a fresh proposal. If they can convince us that the new technology can be more efficient in terms of the search, then we are more than willing to restart, Loke said. Tougher every year In a long-awaited final report into the tragedy released in July last year, the official investigation team pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually. Investigators said the cause of the disappearance could not be determined until the wreckage and the jets black boxes were found. The report reiterated Malaysias assertion that the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications. 190212054612228 But it said there was no evidence of abnormal behaviour or stress in the two pilots that could lead them to hijack the plane. All the other passengers were also cleared by police and had no pilot training. More than 30 pieces of debris, believed to be part of the Boeing 777-200ER plane, have washed up along the Indian Ocean coastline, but only three were confirmed to be from it. Two of those fragments went on display at Sundays event, the first time such pieces have been open for public view. The parts, currently in the custody of the Malaysian government, include a wing fragment found in Tanzania measuring about 4.27 metres, the largest piece of debris found so far. Families of those on board the plane said they hoped displaying the debris would help the public understand their loss and spur efforts to continue searching for the aircraft. Relatives and supporters at the event lit candles and sang songs in tribute to their loved ones. Many wore light blue T-shirts that read, Its not history, its the future. Fly safely. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a crew member on the flight, said there was no closure until the plane is found, until we exactly know what happened to the aircraft and our loved ones on board. It gets tougher every year, because we are all expecting some answers. Commercial travel partially resumes at airport in Lahore, as tensions with India remain high in disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan has continued a limited opening of its airspace for commercial flights, after closing it earlier this week at the height of tensions with neighbouring India that saw both countries carry out air raids inside each others territories for the first time since the 1971 war. Pakistans civil aviation authority said on Sunday it was allowing restricted operations at the Allama Iqbal international airport in the eastern city of Lahore. This comes after partial operations at Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and the capital, Islamabad, resumed on Friday. Other airports in Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab province and the interior Sindh region remained closed on Sunday. The travel restrictions are expected to be lifted on Monday at 1pm local time (08:00 GMT), according to the countrys civil aviation authority. International and domestic air travel in the region has been widely disrupted, with several airports in Pakistan and India shut, flights rerouted and suspended, amid fears of a major military escalation between the South Asian nations. A few hours ago, Pakistan issued a Notam reopening Lahore to traffic with certain routing restrictions. Notam details: https://t.co/9NeSPvrJtY EK622 inbound to Lahore now: https://t.co/Z23Khz3wOw pic.twitter.com/LcTyxblOyP Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 3, 2019 On February 14, a suicide attack killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary troops in the Indian-administered Kashmir town of Pulwama, triggering the current standoff between the two nuclear powers. Indian warplanes carried out air raids on Tuesday inside northeast Pakistans Balakot on what New Delhi called camps belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), the armed group which claimed the Pulwama suicide bombing. Islamabad denied any such camps existed. Al Jazeera visited the site of the Indian raids and found that bombs hit a forest and a field in a remote area in northern Pakistans town of Jaba, about 100km away from Islamabad. Pakistan retaliated to the Indian air attacks by shooting down a MiG-21 fighter jet on Wednesday and detained its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was returned to India on Friday night in a peace gesture. Cross-border shelling Hours after Abhinandans release, firing resumed on Saturday, with at least seven people, including five civilians and two soldiers, killed on either side of the disputed Kashmir border. Two siblings and their mother died after a shell fired by Pakistani soldiers hit their home in Poonch region near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the Himalayan territory of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, police said. At 6pm, Pakistan started shelling, which went on for three hours. One of the shells hit by Pakistan hit the house, in which three members of a family were killed, including two innocent children, Poonch resident Mohammad Saleem told Al Jazeera. The childrens father was critically wounded and has been admitted to hospital. Reporting from New Delhi, Al Jazeeras Sohail Rahman said residents of Uri, 50km from Poonch, were moved to safer areas due to the heavy shelling from Pakistan along the LoC. In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a man and a boy were killed by Indian shelling in Nakiyal, said Nasrullah Khan, a hospital official. Khan said a man was also wounded in the Tatta Pani area. The Pakistani army said in a statement that two of its soldiers were killed in Nakiyal in an exchange of fire while targeting Indian posts undertaking firing on civilian population. Separately, a police official in Rawalakot, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said that a man had been wounded and three homes destroyed in the Indian shelling overnight. Also in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, government official Umar Azam said the Indian troops with heavy weapons indiscriminately targeted border villagers along the LoC. 190301213038382 Rebel groups have been fighting Indian rule since 1989 and demand that Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the region, and most people support the rebels cause against the Indian rule while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. Al Jazeeras Rahman said the India-Pakistan standoff is likely to be a major issue in the Indian general election, due in April and May. In 2014, the issue of relations with Pakistan was not high on the election campaign agenda. Now with another election coming up, Indian politicians are trying to internationally isolate Pakistan, while domestically build consensus that will help them win the election, he said. Social media users widely shared a picture of the Green Movements leader Mousavi who is under house arrest since 2011. A new photo of an Iranian opposition leader and his activist wife who have been held under house arrest for eight years is spreading on social media. The Twitter account of the reformist Etemad daily published the image early on Sunday of Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, without a story. The photo was not published in the papers Sunday edition. A new image of Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard, Etemad posted on Twitter. Authorities have banned media from publishing their images after they were put under house arrest in 2011. Mousavi, together with reformist Karroubi, emerged as opposition leader during Irans disputed 2009 presidential election. Following the announcement of the election result, according to which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won his second term, millions of Iranians took to the streets to protest against the allegedly rigged election. The mass demonstration, the widest since the 1979 revolution, was denominated by the slogan Where is my vote?, giving birth to what then become known as the Green Movement. Green was the colour of Mousavis electoral campaign and the opposition leader became universally recognised as the symbolic leader of themovement. He made a series of public statements that culminated in the Manshur-e Jonbesh-e Sabz [Charter of the Green Movement] with the intention to form a new political front. Despite his peaceful methods, Mousavi and his wife, as well as Mehdi Karroubi, were put under house arrest for challenging Iranian authorities over the disputed vote and human rights abuses. The US State Department called for the release of Mousavi and Karroubi last month on the anniversary of their house arrest. We condemn the continued arbitrary detention of the 2009 election candidates and others being held without fair trial, State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a February 14 statement posted on Twitter. This week marks the eight-year anniversary of the detention of 2009 Iranian presidential election candidates Karroubi and Mousavi. We condemn the continued arbitrary detention of the 2009 election candidates and others being held without fair trial. https://t.co/tKa4Yg60ES pic.twitter.com/9SLrAiDdqr Cale Brown (@StateDeputySPOX) February 14, 2019 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, already under fire by conservatives for his unravelling nuclear deal, faces criticism from reformists over failing to free the two as he had pledged during his election campaigns in 2013 and 2017. Ailing leader vows to organise a national conference that will set a date for early polls which he will not contest. Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has pledged not to serve a full term if re-elected at April polls following huge protests against his bid to extend his 20 years in power. The ailing leader on Sunday vowed in an 11th-hour letter read out on state television to organise a national conference that would set a date for early polls which he would not contest. The announcement came after hundreds of students staged new protests in the Algerian capital and other cities against a fifth term ahead of a midnight deadline for candidates to register for the April 18 vote. In Algiers, where protests have officially been banned since 2001, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse more than 100 students rallying near the main campus of the citys university chanting slogans such as Bouteflika go away, witnesses told news agencies. Protesters also turned out in their thousands in other cities around the country, including in Oran, Batna, Blida, Skikda and Bouira, according to witnesses and local television footage. The demonstrations came amid heightened security at the Constitutional Court in Algiers where contenders have until midnight to submit their candidacy for the countrys top job. While there are no legal requirements for candidates to be physically present to submit their bid, Algerian law does require that they be medically fit to assume the presidency. The 82-year-old Bouteflika has been in power since 1999 but has not addressed the nation in years. He has rarely been seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013. Protests first broke out on February 22, about two weeks after Bouteflika confirmed in a letter carried by the official APS news agency that he was running in the April 18 vote, with many expressing doubts over his ability to lead the country in light of his failing health. A week ago, the president flew to Switzerland for what his office described as routine medical checks. Other candidates in the race On Saturday, Bouteflikas office announced that the head of state sacked his campaign manager, former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, who successfully oversaw Bouteflikas past three reelection bids. He was replaced by Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalene. An editorial Sunday in El-Moudjahid newspaper, a mouthpiece of the government, said protesters would be disappointed in their campaign to force Bouteflika to pull out of the presidential race. Six candidates have already registered, including prominent retired general Ali Ghediri, who was the first to announce he would run for the presidency, calling it a major challenge and promising a change. Businessman Rachid Nekkaz, who has cultivated a mass following among young people, said he would follow suit on Sunday afternoon. Skirmishes with police The scale of the protests has surprised many in Algeria and represents the biggest challenge in years to Bouteflika, who has gained respect by many for his role in ending a civil war in the 1990s that officials say killed nearly 200,000 people. Omar Ashour, associate professor of security studies and Middle East politics at Qatars Doha Institute, said the anti-Bouteflika protests in Algeria were at a different level. Referring to protests following Bouteflikas decision to seek reelection in 2014, Ashour said: At the time, we saw tens to hundreds of protesters. Now we are seeing hundreds of thousands of protesters. So in terms of intensity, scale, geographic location, and numbers we are talking about a very different level. Its very surprising. On Friday, clashes erupted between police and protesters in Algiers as tens of thousands of people took to the streets. Riot police used tear gas and batons to keep some protesters from marching on the Government Palace which houses the prime ministers office, AFP news agency reporters said. According to a police toll, 56 police officers and seven demonstrators were hurt and 45 alleged stone-throwers were arrested in Algiers. Officials have warned that the protests risk dragging Algeria into instability, with the prime minister comparing the rallies with those that sparked Syrias war. Protesters have been mobilised by calls on social media which have resonated with young Algerians, many of whom struggle for employment in a country where half the population is under 30. Reporters at state radio have complained that their bosses have imposed a blackout on coverage of the protests, and last week journalists also took to the streets to protest against alleged censorship. Former ISIL fighter and prisoner Yago Riedijk tells BBC his wife Shamima should live with him in the Netherlands. The husband of so-called ISIL bride Shamima Begum, who left the UK to join the armed group in Syria, says he wants her to return to the Netherlands with him, together with their newborn son. Dutch national Yago Riedijk, 27, and Begum married after she slipped into the ISIL-held territory in northern Syria via Turkey in 2015. In an interview with the BBC, broadcast on Sunday, Riedijk said he rejected ISIL and had tried to leave the group after he was tortured by its members who accused him of being a spy for the Netherlands. He is currently held captive in a Kurdish detention centre in northern Syria and faces a six-year prison sentence for joining a terror organisation if he returns to the Netherlands. In the interview, Riedijk was asked why he married a 15-year-old girl, while he was 23. To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasnt that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway, he told the BBC, adding that she had seemed to be in a good state of mind. 190226210138059 It was her own choice. She asked to look for a partner for her, and I was invited she was very young, maybe it would have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didnt, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her. Last month, Begums father insisted in an interview with the AFP news agency that Britain must take his daughter back before deciding any punishment. Begum, who gave birth this month in a refugee camp in Syria, has said she wants to come home but the British government has decided to revoke her citizenship, calling her a security threat. 190221075011986 The 19-year-olds father, Ahmed Ali, said that while his daughter had made mistakes, Britain was duty-bound to let her return. The British government should take her back because she is a British citizen, said Ali, who has been following Begums plight from a remote village in northeastern Bangladesh. If she has committed any crime, they should bring her back to London, to her country, and punish her there. Begum left the UK for Syria with two schoolfriends in 2015, when she was just 15, and her case has caused political divisions in Britain. It highlights a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow ISIL fighters and sympathisers home to face prosecution or bar them as the so-called caliphate crumbles. Public sentiment hardened against Begum after she showed little remorse about ISIL attacks in media interviews from the camp in eastern Syria, where she arrived after fleeing fighting between the group and the US-backed forces. Ali, who lives with his second wife in the village of Daorai in Sunamganj district, said he felt sorry for his daughter and believed she may have been brainwashed into joining ISIL. It was certainly a mistake to go to IS [ISIL]. Perhaps it was because she was a child. She may not have gone there (Syria) willingly. She may have been ill-advised by other people, he said. Ali last saw his daughter in Britain just two months before she fled to Syria with Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase in March 2015. He highlighted how the Bangladesh government has declared that Begum would not be allowed into the country. 190220102302074 The British government reportedly believes that Begum was entitled to claim Bangladesh citizenship, though this is disputed by the South Asian country. She cant come to Bangladesh since she is not a citizen of this country, Ali said. Tasnime Akunjee, a lawyer for Begums family, earlier said the teenager was born in Britain and had never had a Bangladeshi passport. After meeting with Kim Jong-un, Trump decides to scale down drills in South Korea to ease tensions with the North. South Korea and the United States are ending large-scale joint military exercises, replacing them with smaller mission specific training in order to support diplomacy with North Korea. South Koreas Defence Secretary, Jeong Kyeong-doo, and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan agreed to discontinue the war games known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. 190217084622128 The decision comes after President Donald Trump complained about the cost of joint drills which North Korea has always regarded as preparation for a military invasion. The Pentagon said in a statement that the allies would maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programmes. The defence secretaries made clear that the alliance decision to adapt our training programme reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. Seouls defence minister released a statement as well, expressing regret at the lack of agreement at the recent Trump-Kim summit but hopes that Washington and Pyongyang would continue negotiations. The scaled-down training exercises, dubbed Dong Maeng, which means alliance in English, starts on Monday through March 12. The drills will focus on strategic operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula, South Koreas military and the US-South Korean combined forces command said in a joint statement. Last November, a month before he resigned as defence secretary, Jim Mattis disclosed that the US and South Korea would scale back and tone down the spring exercises. Mattis said the aim was to avoid setting back diplomacy over North Koreas nuclear weapons. The former defence secretary described it as a reorganisation of the exercises, not an end to manoeuvres on the peninsula. 665003303001 After Trumps second summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, ended without any agreement in Vietnam on Thursday, Trump spoke again about the cost of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. Its a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too, Trump told reporters. Following his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June, Trump caught many in the US and South Korea by surprise by suspending the allies summertime military drills. He called joint drills very provocative and massively expensive. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has responded with its own costly military exercises and weapons tests, including firing a new intermediate-range missile over Japan in 2017. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The two sides resumed talks this week after making significant progress in an earlier round of discussions in January. Negotiations between the Taliban and the United States officials in Qatar entered the fifth day in an attempt to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan. The talks mark the highest level negotiations between the two sides since the US ramped up peace efforts last year. Cofounder of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has joined the talks as the new head of the Taliban team. He met the US special representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, for the first time on Monday. Since then, the two men and their respective delegations have been working to hammer out details of a framework agreement reached in six days of negotiations in Doha in January. We have two core issues. The withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan is a core issue for us. And a core issue for the American side is that the soil of Afghanistan should not be used against the Americans and against its allies, said Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen as talks entered a second day on Tuesday. The US has also been asking for a Taliban ceasefire. If we do not reach a solution in this round of talks, then we will in the next round of talks, but that is our target, Shaheen said. In the latest round of talks, working groups are trying to find formulas that work for both sides. One major sticking point is the US wants the Taliban to negotiate any final deal with the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani, something the Taliban has repeatedly refused to do, calling the government a puppet of the West. Ghani has expressed frustration at being excluded from the negotiations. Taliban members had met Afghan representatives, including Ghanis political opponents in Moscow last month. Continuing violence Meanwhile, the Taliban continues with its offensives in Afghanistan, despite the talks. Taliban fighters killed at least 23 Afghan security forces in an attack on Friday on Camp Shorab, a sprawling military base in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. In northern Sari Pul province, Taliban ambushed a convoy of Afghan security forces, killing nine, said Zabihullah Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor. The heavy fighting has been costly for Afghan security forces. While the Afghan Ministry of Defence stopped publicly releasing casualty figures, Ghani said 45,000 Afghan security forces have been killed since September 2014. The last year was the deadliest for civilians in Afghanistan, according to the United Nations, with 3,804 civilian deaths in 2018. The UN says at least 32,000 civilians have been killed and another 60,000 wounded in the past decade, when it began compiling the data. The decision to ban two senior journalists prompts protests from Berlin, which says the move is incomprehensible. Turkey has refused to renew the accreditation of two long-serving German journalists working in the country, triggering protests from Berlin, which said the decision was incomprehensible. Jorg Brase, the Istanbul bureau chief for ZDF public television, and Thomas Seibert, who writes for the newspaper Tagesspiegel, have had their applications for press cards rejected by the Turkish government on Friday. Senior German foreign ministry official Andreas Michaelis called Turkeys ambassador to Germany to protest the decision and asked Ankara to reconsider, the ministry said. The decision is incomprehensible, said ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr. 171219064835908 Relations between Berlin and Ankara soured after Turkish authorities arrested and sacked tens of thousands of people in mass purges over the 2016 attempted coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government. Some of those arrested were also German nationals. The arrests are part of different probes into followers of Muslim preacher and businessman Fethullah Gulen, who lives in exile in the United States. Turkey accuses Gulen of ordering the coup attempt of July 15, 2016. Gulen denies any involvement in the plot. Two journalists freed A gradual rapprochement between Germany and Turkey began in 2018 after German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel was freed following his arrest the year before. 180216130823701 Another journalist, Mesale Tolu, was allowed to return to Germany in August 2018. Both still face terror-related charges in Turkey. Despite criticism from Western allies and human rights defenders over the scale of the crackdown following the coup attempt, the police operations and probes continue with rigour. Turkish officials insist that the raids are necessary to remove the virus caused by the Gulen movements infiltration of Turkish state bodies. Delay of Britains March 29 exit date from the European Union is likely, junior justice minister Rory Stewart says. Britain is likely to be forced into delaying its March 29 exit from the European Union if parliament rejects Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal later this month, junior justice minister Rory Stewart told Sky News on Sunday. May has promised to bring a revised deal back to parliament by March 12, and if legislators reject it they will be given an opportunity to vote to leave without a deal or to extend the Article 50 negotiating period. I think we would have to be forced into an extension of Article 50, Stewart said when asked which option he would choose if Mays deal is rejected. There doesnt seem to be parliamentary majority for no deal. 190226160643676 Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also told Cabinet colleagues that a delay of Britains exit date from the EU is very likely, Irelands Sunday Independent quoted an unnamed minister as saying. The Taoiseach (prime minister) has privately said to us that it is very likely there will be an extension until June, the minister was quoted as saying. However, any extension to the article 50 negotiating period will have to be requested by the UK and can only be implemented with the unanimous agreement of the 28 European members. French president Emmanuel Macron has insisted it will only accept a delay with a good reason for it. The withdrawal agreement cannot be renegotiated, Macron said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, last week. If the British need more time, we could consider an extension request only if it is justified by a new choice of the British, but we would in no way accept an extension without a clear perspective on the objective being pursued, he added. Frances President Emmanuel Macron has insisted it will only accept a delay on Brexit with a good reason for it [File: Guillaume Horcajuelo/AP] Divorce package With just 26 days until Britain is due to leave the 28-member EU, May is making last-ditch efforts to win concessions from the bloc on the divorce package, brokered after months of arduous negotiations between London and Brussels. The EU has ruled out reopening the withdrawal agreement, though both sides are looking at a possible legal addendum to reassure MPs who worry the controversial Irish border backstop clause could keep Britain trapped in the EUs orbit for years to come. The mechanism would guarantee no re-establishment of a hard border on the island of Ireland in the event that post-Brexit trade negotiations between the UK and the EU prove unsuccessful. European Council President Donald Tusk said last week on Monday the EU was open to Britain postponing its exit from the bloc beyond March 29, adding he had discussed the legal and procedural context of a potential extension when he met Sunday with May on the sidelines of an EU-Arab summit in Egypt. I believe in the situation we are in, an extension would be a rational solution but Prime Minister May still believes shes able to avoid this scenario, Tusk told a closing summit press conference. May has repeatedly ruled out delaying Brexit, arguing it would not solve the ongoing impasse shrouding British politics. United Nations says the war-torn country saw 3,800 civilian lives taken last year, including 1,000 children. Talks between the United States and the Taliban continue in Doha as civilians in Afghanistan are dying in record numbers. A United Nations report recorded about 3,800 civilian deaths in 2018, including nearly 1,000 children. That is the highest number of civilians killed in a single year in Afghanistan since records began. Al Jazeeras Charlotte Bellis reports from Kabul. Guaido says he will return to Venezuela soon and calls for new protests next week against President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has said he would return home after a visit to Ecuador and called for new protests next week against President Nicolas Maduro, whose government had banned him from travelling abroad. Guaido has spent the past few days touring between Latin American countries to muster support for his campaign to form a transition government and overthrow Maduro, whom he denounces as an illegitimate usurper. He had visited Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay after leaving Venezuela last week for Colombia to coordinate efforts there to send humanitarian aid into his country, though troops loyal to Maduro blocked a convoy of aid trucks and turned them back. 190302053433320 As for the next steps for Venezuelans, I announce my return home from Ecuador, Guaido said at a joint press conference with Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno on Saturday. Guaido did not say when exactly or how he would return to Venezuela. He is expected to leave Ecuador at 09:30am local time (14:30 GMT) on Sunday, according to the Ecuadorean governments schedule for his visit. I announce my return to the country and I call for mobilisations in all the national territory, Guaido wrote on Twitter. #Venezuela Anuncio mi regreso al pais y la convocatoria de movilizaciones en todo el territorio nacional para este lunes y martes. Difundamos este mensaje y esten muy atentos a nuestro llamado a traves de las redes oficiales. #VamosBien Juan Guaido (@jguaido) March 3, 2019 His return opens the possibility that Venezuelan authorities will arrest him. The Supreme Court had imposed a travel ban on him after he invoked the countrys constitution on January 23 to assume an interim presidency, which most Western nations now recognise as legitimate. Last week, Maduro said the opposition leader will have to face the consequences of his actions. 190123205835912 He can come and go [but] he will have to face justice, and justice prohibited [him] from leaving the country. I will respect the laws, Maduro told ABC news. No one can be above the law. In this case, Guaido has to answer before the justice and not before Nicolas Maduro, the president added. Guaido also called on the people to take to the streets on Monday and Tuesday, even though Venezuela, like other Latin American countries, was celebrating the Carnival holiday. Trying to manage the Guaido situation has become a real problem for the government because [Guaido] has grown so much politically, said Luis Salamanca, a political scientist and constitutional law professor at Venezuelas Central University. Maduro says Guaido will have to face consequences, as nobody can be above the law [File: Ariana Cubillos/AP] All options be kept open Guaido has called on his international backers to impose harsher measures to pressure Maduro and after the aid convoys failure, and proposed that all options be kept open. While US President Donald Trumps administration has not ruled out military intervention to dislodge Maduro, it is seen as unlikely and his Latin American allies have encouraged a mix of sanctions and diplomacy instead. But analysts believe Guaido is running out of time. The government is betting on resisting the challenge, Ronal Rodriguez, a professor and researcher at the University of Rosarios Venezuelan Observatory in Colombia told Al Jazeera. The situation is tense in the US for Donald Trump, whats happening domestically might force him to focus on domestic issues and get him distracted from the situation in Venezuela. Brexit could end breaking up the EU stand, Germany and France are also facing their own internal problems. All the tensions taking place around the world might force international leaders to leave the Venezuelan case aside meanwhile the current government is resisting, and they have shown resilience throughout time, he added. Guaidos supporters also think the self-proclaimed interim president needs to keep up momentum. If he doesnt, he will end up being another failed leader of the opposition, Jesus Barreto, a 21-year old told Reuters. He needs to keep challenging the government. This years polar vortex hasnt gone away yet and the centre of North America now adds windchill to the Arctic cold. Warnings have been issued of severe cold in central Canada and some northern US states, as windchill figures of -40 degrees Celsius in Alberta and nearly -50C in Montana were quoted. For much of this northern hemisphere winter, Siberia has been the coldest place on the Earth. Now, as the sun comes north, that title is being reclaimed by Antarctica. Nevertheless, pockets of extreme cold persist in the northern hemisphere, particularly in North America. The winter ice cover over the Arctic Ocean is becoming less reliable. Areas of open water where once there was ice completely disrupt the formerly settled winter freeze. The term polar vortex is sometimes bandied about when the weather gets cold in Canada and the US in mid-winter. A vortex in the atmosphere is a rotation around a central low pressure. A tornado is a most obvious example, or a hurricane. The polar vortex is a rotation in the stratosphere, influencing the weather pattern below it, and is the reason for the outbreaks of severe cold. When the polar vortex is strong, it is well defined and Arctic air is well contained, winter is normal. When it is weak, which it generally now is, it will break into two or more vortices, one likely over northern Canada, and another over northeast Siberia, the sites of this winters Arctic cold. The Arctic air travels with the polar vortex, giving a sudden and significant drop in temperature on the ground. This happened in January 2019 and resulted in record cold in both eastern Siberia and the US. The cold air is still there, over the snow-covered ground; add some wind and there is the recipe for severe windchill. Environment Canada has issued warnings for most of Alberta, southern Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan for the occurrence of windchill temperatures between -40 and -45C. Over the border in the US, figures in Montana and North Dakota as low as -48C are suggested. Whatever happens, these conditions cannot persist into April. The polar vortex collapses as the sun comes north and the strength of that sun overcomes the cooling of shortening nights. Extremes of weather are an expectation as the climate changes even though such outbreaks of cold might seem contrary to global warming. The reason for this weakening of the polar vortex is the change in the temperature difference between the equator and the Pole. The bigger the difference, the stronger the vortex, but the surface water of the Arctic is much warmer than the ice that used to cover it all. Thus the difference in temperature between the equator and the Pole can be as much as 60C in a traditional winter (+30C to -30C), or as little as 30C in what is becoming the new normal winter (+30C to 0C). The Arctic is warming at a much greater rate than anywhere else on the Earth and as such is biasing future winters towards a weak and split polar vortex. In other words, a tendency towards outbreaks of Arctic air into North America and Eurasia. Move follows Waqf Councils decision to defy a 16-year Israeli ban and reopen the Bab al-Rahma building in Al-Aqsa. Police in Israel have extended bans on top Palestinian officials who oversee Jerusalems Al-Aqsa compound from entering the holy site, in a move analysts warned could further escalate tensions. The decision on Sunday came weeks after the Islamic Waqf Council, a religious body appointed by Jordan to oversee the Al-Aqsa compound, defied a 16-year Israeli ban on the Bab al-Rahma building within the site and reopened it to Muslim worshippers. Following the councils decision on February 14, its head Sheikh Abdel-Azeem Salhab and his deputy, Sheikh Najeh Bkerat, were briefly detained and hit with a one-week ban. Israeli police extended the bans on Sunday by 40 days for Salhab and four months for Bkerat, a spokesman for the Waqf Council told Anadolu news agency. Salhab told local media that police informed him the ban was due to his role in opening Bab al-Rahma. Israeli authorities had shut down Bab al-Rahma in 2003, claiming the site was being used by members of the outlawed Islamic Movement in Israel Northern Branch for political activities, an allegation the Waqf Council denies. Since its reopening, some 100 Palestinian activists and religious figures have been detained in an effort to put an end to Palestinian defiance of Israeli orders, according to Wafa, a Palestinian news agency Among them were Arafat Naib, a guard at the Al-Aqsa compound, who was banned from entering the site for six months, and Nasser Qous, a Fatah party official in Jerusalem, who was also barred for 40 days. Intimidation Jordans Waqf ministry condemned the bans on Sunday, describing them as intimidation of the [Waqf] Council members and a direct targeting of the Hashemite [Jordanian] guardianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites. Jordan oversees the Al-Aqsa compound via the Waqf Council according to a 1967 status quo agreement with Israel. The deal prohibits non-Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa, but many Palestinians accuse Israel of trying to undermine it. Following his ban, Salhab told Arab48 news website that with the expulsion of scholars and guards from the site, Israels right-wing government is trying to ignite a religious war as it continues to facilitate Israeli extremists intrusions into the compound. The Al-Aqsa mosque is the property of Muslims alone, and no other religion has the right to it. It seems that Israel is trying in vain to change the status quo in the Al-Aqsa mosque, and this is what we will not allow, Salhab said. With Bab al-Rahma remaining open for prayers, religious Zionists and Israeli Knesset members have called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prohibit Palestinian access to the building. Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the bans against the top officials as unprecedented. Weve seen bans on Waqf guards, but we havent seen bans on members of the Waqf Council, Zalzberg told Al Jazeera. They reflect a significant escalation in relations between Israel and the Waqf and deeper than that, between Israel and Jordan. Netanyahu is trying to signal that [Israel] will not be silent when the Waqf is challenging Israeli policy at the holy site but at the same time Netanyahu is avoiding sending in the police in order to force closure of Bab al-Rahma. The opening of Bab al-Rahma has angered many religious Zionists, including activists of the Temple Movement, who advocate the building of a Jewish temple over the Al-Aqsa compound. Despite pressures during electoral period, mostly by religious Zionist politicians, Netanyahu did not order Israel Police to curb Muslim access to Bab al Rahme/Gate of Mercy building. Muslims pray inside. Calm prevails. Expect religious Zionist backlash sooner or later. https://t.co/DhQCyx4kh3 Ofer Zalzberg (@OferZalzberg) March 1, 2019 Once a fringe group, the group now enjoys the support of mainstream Israeli political and religious organisations. Zalzberg said he expected a significant backlash from religious Zionists, as Israel was heading towards a general election on April 9. The Temple Movement was working on an election plan regarding the issue, he said, adding: They are more likely to ask specific demands regarding Israeli policies towards the site in order to change long-standing policy. Additional reporting by Mersiha Gadzo. RTHK: US-South Korea to end large scale drills The US and South Korea announced on Sunday an end to their annual large-scale military exercises in support of diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The decision comes just days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as provocative rehearsals for invasion. While Trump has ruled out withdrawing the troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive". During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The two allies will instead carry out "adjusted outside manoeuvre trainings and united command exercises to continue firm military readiness", Seoul's defence ministry said Sunday. The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, it added. South Korea's foreign ministry said that Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, will leave for Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun. "Lee will fly sometime this week," ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP. Lee and Biegun are expected to discuss the Hanoi summit, which failed to build on the vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula signed by Kim and Trump during their meeting in Singapore last year. Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could hurt the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Moving to a new city can be full of anxiety and excitement. When you feel scared, you cant enjoy the... Most real estate agents have an obligation to market their business to potential clients. You have to make sure that... Were sure you already know, but lets repeat: Burlington is a city located in the Halton, Ontario area. It is... A personal injury occurs when a person's body, mind, or emotions are injured due to the negligence, carelessness, or wrongful... I Agree This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy We are all familiar with the track record of African-Americans in voting for the Democratic Party. In many elections the ratio is comfortably above ninety percent. If the Episcopal Church was once described as "The Republican Party at prayer," certainly the African-American church for the last fifty years could be described as "The Democratic Party at prayer." In practical terms, what this means is that the black community has marched in lock-step with the agenda of that party: abortion, same-sex marriage, normalizing transgenderism, secularized education, and the like. The results of this dogmatic one-sided commitment to the progressive vision: one-third of African-American children will be aborted; seventy percent of African-American children are born out of wedlock; only 15-20 percent will reach their teenage years in two-parent families. But here is where it gets ironic: blacks are the most church-attending ethnic group in America. Something is terribly out of sync. Either the churches are devout but have no influence, or else they have compromised their message so as to render it compatible with a rigid political agenda. In that regard, black Americans have been much like the German Christians of the 1930s, who got the autobahn, a robust economic recovery, jobs for all, and reinforcement of racial identity. Meanwhile, the infirm, mentally challenged, and Jews were being marked out, their business closed and seized, and they were eventually taken away to be gassed. But with a few honorable exceptions, the German church did not stir. There were too many earthly benefits which could be put at risk, too many positions to be lost, too much security to be threatened. And besides, what happened outside their own tightly-knit local community wasn't their business. They could look the other way. It didn't affect them. What black pastor today could oppose the agenda of the Democratic Party and not put at risk his position and status in his own community? I mourn the loss of over 15 million black boys and girls that have been sacrificed on the altar of abortion and the cultural acceptance that it has earned within the black community and also, the black church. But here is the voice of a real African, speaking for the African (not the "African-American") church: Dr. Jerry P. Kulah (Dean of Gbarnga School of Theology, United Methodist University in Liberia) to a Methodist Conference in St. Louis last week, which met to consider the adoption of liberal leftist views on sexual identity: ... please hear me when I say as graciously as I can: we Africans are not children in need of western enlightenment when it comes to the churchs sexual ethics. We do not need to hear a progressive U.S. bishop lecture us about our need to grow up. We stand with farmers in Zambia, tech workers in Nairobi, Sunday School teachers in Nigeria, biblical scholars in Liberia, pastors in the Congo, United Methodist Women in Cote dIvoire, and thousands of other United Methodists all across Africa who have heard no compelling reasons for changing our sexual ethics, our teachings on marriage, and our ordination standards! Africans all. I hope and pray, for your sake, that you will walk down that road with us. We would warmly welcome you as our traveling companions, but if you choose another road, we Africans cannot go with you. That is, we cannot go along with the liberal positions so blithely accepted by, among others, the African-American churches in the USA. And in truth, we think many people in the U.S. and in parts of Europe could learn a great deal from us. The African churches may one day rise to rebuke those in Europe and the USA for their lack of fidelity to the gospel; what role does the African-American church envision for itself? Please understand me when I say the vast majority of African United Methodists will never, ever trade Jesus and the truth of the Bible for money. Recall when Africa said No to the Obama administration: Ghana refuses to grant gays' rights despite aid threat. We will walk alone if necessary. Have the African-American churches ever bolted from the Democratic platform on a single issue? Have they ever confessed a red line they cannot cross? Or are they so conformed to the image of left-wing politics that they are unwilling to even consider change? How is it that what conveys strength in abundance [church attendance] does not benefit marriage in the black family and does not yield the fruits of chastity and stable marriage in the black community? I long for the American black church, so wrongly mislabeled as the "African-American" church, to follow in the tradition of genuine African Christianity and put the gospel ahead of material considerations. But if the past is any indicator, its pastors will not join that walk. Like the German Christians they will count the cost and decide to turn back. Renouncing the agenda of the Democratic Party would mean a rupture with current "African-American" culture and its history for the past half-century. It will force a radical turn into another direction. It might mean becoming a loner. And unfortunately, when choosing between their continued security and position, most pastors will, like the German Christians, have to ponder what this would cost them personally. And it seems most would prefer to retain the gloss of this world and its black silken robes rather than the raiment of the Kingdom. I used to love "60 Minutes." As a teenager, it was a favorite program in our house on Sunday evenings. The show featured all sorts of interesting people and places, with in-depth explorations that stimulated the imagination. Oh, how times have changed! On February 24, 60 Minutes did a segment about a drug manufacturer who is calling out drug companies for "corrupt," "immoral," and "depraved" actions in marketing opioids. Supposedly, the incentive for changing the labeling of opioids to allow for extended use is some sort of moral crime. David Kessler, former Commissioner of the FDA said, "There are no studies on the safety or efficacy of opioids for long-term use." (8:25 in the video) Case closed! We need to restrict opioids to two or three days at most. Anything longer than that is bad medicine and gets people killed. But There are no polite words for the perfidious implications of Kessler's comment. How do we know this? Let me count the ways. First, opioids have been used for millennia. Chinese workers on the transcontinental railroad used opium on a weekly basis for years, without any notable adverse effects. American soldiers used them in Vietnam, and their performance in the field was not affected. Overdoses were unusual, since the usual heroin had well known potency. With 20% of the Army on drugs, you'd think that bad effects would be easy to find. Curiously, there was no evidence of mass addiction, either. Why did they use drugs in their "off" time? They wanted to escape the war that none of them wanted to be part of. The Chinese laborers wanted a break from the brutal conditions on the railroad project. This is basically why urban professionals have beer at the end of a long hard week of work. Mild intoxication is therapeutic for them. Second, while there may be no studies on extended use, those of us in medicine are painfully aware that while some patients do well without opioids, others require what Dr. Kessler would call "extended" use. This is a result of the Bell curve, or "normal distribution" of response to drugs. The person whose knee replacement requires zero opioids is on the left side of this curve, while the one who needs them for two weeks is on the right. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle. Every surgeon and every anesthesiologist lives with this curve every day. Importantly, the difference between the left and right sides of the curve isn't two or three pain pills. The range is from zero to a hundred or more. And that leads to a key piece of information that 60 Minutes completely ignored. Most physicians routinely use medications in "off-label" ways. To understand this, we have to point out one part of the Law of the Bureaucrat. Each FDA officer has been hired to "protect the public" from unsafe drugs. This means that people are too stupid to use drugs properly (Unfortunately, this is often all too true, even when explicit instructions are provided.) And it means that doctors are too stupid to prescribe them safely, leaving the bureaucrat charged with "protecting the public" as the smartest person in the room. That then means that the bureaucrat must create iron-clad instructions for how medical personnel with more training and experience than him or her should prescribe the drugs. These instructions become part of "the label." Drug reps are only allowed to tell doctors exactly what the label says. They can't even provide reprints of newer studies with additional information. That would be "off-label marketing," and the FDA expressly prohibits that. Fortunately, doctors aren't prevented from reading those journal articles. Shortly, responsible doctors start prescribing in ways that are different from what the Feds said they should do. And millions of patients get new benefits that the Feds haven't approved. With regard to opioids, the Feds never approved fentanyl or sufentanyl for the massive doses commonly used in heart surgery. But that never stopped me from administering literally gallons of both. The benefits were far too great to bother asking for permission I wasn't legally required to get. And with regard to longer term use, we've been helping patients with cancer pain and other chronic pain with opioids for decades. These people are physiologically dependent, but you wouldn't know it, because your co-worker with the bad back keeps coming to work. He's able to do that because his opioid prescription keeps getting refilled. The long-term benefits of opioids have been well known for a very long time. The long-term side effects are equally well known. But the key side effect that is creating the panic does not come from long-term medical use. You heard me right. In spite of all the noise about "overprescribing," that simply is not a problem. Less than 1% of the addicts on the street got their start with prescription opioids. And chronic pain patients rarely die of overdoses. When Ed Thompson of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Research Services tells Bill Whitaker that "the root cause of this epidemic is the FDA's illegal approval of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain," he's simply wrong. This approval did create a marketing change, but for chronic pain patients, it didn't make a lot of difference. Most pain management specialists and oncologists were already prescribing the drugs when needed for long-term care. But this opened the door for unscrupulous doctors to ring the cash register in an already illegal market. The problem in the US began in earnest when William Randolph Hearst capitalized on racist sentiments against Chinese workers in his newspaper campaign against the "coolee." He created the myth of the "opium fiend" who terrorized white women after smoking opium. It was a complete fabrication, but it sold the idea of opium restrictions to moralists and politicians. Who cares about facts when you can "Do something!"? Next, when Andrew Kolodny says that "as the doses become higher [in response to drug tolerance] the drugs become more dangerous, and the risk of death goes up," he is not telling the truth as I see it. He is pandering to a political narrative. The basic fact is that when you give opioids for an extended period, the endorphin receptors become tolerant to their presence. You do need to give more drug to achieve the same effect. But that very tolerance is what makes the drugs safer in the tolerant patient. Allow me to translate from medical to English. If I need 10 milligrams of morphine for pain relief after surgery, and I just keep on taking 10 mg, after a while, I won't get the relief. But my body will not need that degree of relief, so I will start spacing my doses out. This is something we saw in great detail when Patient Controlled Anesthesia (PCA) was introduced to pain management after surgery. With the "morphine pump," a patient was able to give himself lots of little doses of an opioid to help with pain after surgery. The PCA was rigged to prevent a repeat dose until 6 minutes after the previous dose, giving it time to work. We never saw overdoses with PCA if the patient was the only person to push the button. Never. As in "not once." In fact, patients automatically weaned themselves off opioids. This was so safe that now the Acute Pain Service no longer exists in most hospitals. The surgeon signs a protocol sheet, and everything goes on autopilot. The same thing happens when patients have pain pills at home after surgery. They taper off without thinking about it as the pain level subsides. But suppose they are in that 1% that stays on opioids. Their receptors get tolerant and need higher and higher doses to get the same response. This means it also takes higher and higher doses to stop the patient from breathing, which is how ODs kill. Kolodny has his facts wrong. So, what kills addicts? Or, perhaps we should ask, why do addicts take overdoses? After all, overdoses given by someone else are rare. Even addicts don't often try to commit suicide. It's at this point that we have to step back from the final dose of a street drug, the proximate cause of the overdose, and look for the first step in a series of critical incidents. Like airplane crashes, it's never just one thing that causes ODs, even if politicians like to have one problem that they think only they can solve. The first thing to note is that all opioids are, in a sense, the same drug. They all work at the same receptor, and they all have the same family of side effects. The primary differences revolve around how fast they start working (onset), how long they last (duration), and how much is required to reach a standard level of effect (potency). Of importance, the more potent a drug is, the more it binds only to the intended receptor, and the fewer side effects it will have (for example, nausea). That means that fentanyl is safer during surgery than morphine and explains why we rarely use morphine in surgery today. The next factor is that all the opioids are dirt cheap to manufacture. Virtually all the cost is in distribution. But even including the cost of distribution, Portugal spends about $4 a day on maintaining addicts, Canada about $11, and we should expect similar economies here if implemented. So why is it that El Chapo was worth north of $14 billion from the drug trade? It wasn't the native cost of drugs. It came from distribution. Why would anyone pay more than the price of aspirin for a drug that costs the same as aspirin? There's only one reason: Prohibition. Recall that the soldiers in Vietnam used heroin and the Chinese laborers used opium for stress relief during leave time. There is a relatively fixed portion of the population that wants such intoxicants. With the change in labeling, it became "legal" for unscrupulous doctors to supply those people. But if they can't get them "legally," they will find a way to get them illegally. If there's a market for the illegal drugs, there will be a marketer. Enter El Chapo. He'll provide your drugs, but for a price. Since he's taking a legal risk, it will be high enough to compensate him for that risk. Economists call this a "risk premium." Next, since you are opening your wallet, you want the good stuff. You won't go back to the left street corner if you don't get quality. So the guy on the right street corner figures that out and adds fentanyl to your heroin. As the expression goes, "Aye, there's the rub." We've described a vicious circle where higher price demands higher quality which again demands higher price. The higher price invites competition, but since the competition is in an illegal market, crime follows. And as users become addicted, they often find themselves committing crimes to pay for those high prices. Did I mention that Canada is able to maintain an addict legally for $11 per day? Even the Drug Enforcement Agency has noted that prohibition creates massive profits for bad guys. That should raise alarms. If prohibition starts this vicious cycle, and a national experiment with decriminalization (Portugal) has basically eliminated ODs, shouldn't we start looking in that direction? Drug-related crime in the US was essentially nonexistent until Hearst's yellow journalism led to restrictions on heroin and other drugs. Crime accelerated as laws got stricter. In short, Congress created the drug cartels. Competition among drug cartels leads to adulteration of heroin with much more potent opioids, and this unknown potency leads people to take doses with unknown risks. In maintenance programs, known-potency drugs are given to patients with extreme safety. And over time, Portugal has seen that about half of addicts will wean themselves off their drugs. 60 Minutes wasn't satisfied with its story until it slandered drug manufacturers and the FDA with this exchange: (13:40) Whitaker: "(commentary) also review new drugs, like Dsuvia, the most powerful opioid pill ever approved. (to Kessler) Just a few weeks ago the FDA approved a new opioid that is a thousand times more powerful than morphine. And this is in the middle of this opioid epidemic. How is that possible?" Kessler: "I don't get it. I get your question. I don't get the agency's action." Whitaker: "Isn't the FDA supposed to be our watchdogs to protect us?" Dsuvia is a tablet to be taken under the tongue when severe pain (chronic or cancer) "breaks through." It is faster in onset than morphine, with a shorter duration. The 30 micrograms in Dsuvia, is equal in effect to 30 milligrams of morphine, a common dose in that situation. Whitaker's phrasing was wrong. The FDA did not approve an opioid that was a thousand times more powerful than morphine. It was the same strength. It is a thousand times more potent, so AcelRx Pharmaceuticals created a pill carefully tailored to meet a specific need by only including a thousandth as much. 60 Minutes is complicit in the fear-mongering that is killing large numbers of Americans through poorly considered laws. The only way to eliminate the overdoses is to eliminate the laws. That will bankrupt the drug cartels. But the Overton Window for this sort of action has not yet opened. That means we will likely be seeing more and more examples of Einstein's Maxim. "Insanity is when you do something a second time and expect a different answer." Ted Noel, MD is a retired anesthesiologist. He comments on political issues in the Vidzette podcast at vidzette.libsyn.com. When I was an undergraduate student at MIT quite a while ago, I took a four-semester humanities program called Foundations of Western Civilization. It absorbed and fascinated me. However, I noticed that the course material jumped from ancient Greek and a few Roman writers to St. Augustine and other relatively early Christian writers and then on to thinkers of the Middle Ages. I wondered what happened to the wonderful narratives of the books of the Hebrew Bible, what Jews call the Tanach and Christians refer to as the Old Testament. Being inquisitive, I asked my quite excellent class teacher why we had not covered some biblical counterparts to the Greek stories and narratives. After all, was it not the interaction of those two cultures first, and subsequently Roman, Christian, and European cultures that provided the foundations of Western civilization? He responded, somewhat sheepishly I thought at the time, that the faculty assumed we students already knew the narratives and stories of the Bible. But did we? First of all, I was not exactly sure which Bible he was talking about -- the older or the newer, or both. Secondly, I knew some, but not much about biblical narratives and thinking, and did not think most students did, raised in contemporary generally secular environs. Being a student at the time, and having no agenda, I kept my doubts to myself, until recently, when I encountered the writings and thinking of Professor Kalman Kaplan (a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago) and his colleague Dr. Paul Cantz (of Adler University) who seem to completely challenge the assumptions of the designers of my long-ago liberal arts course. These scholars point out that there was a distinct Hebrew-Jewish tradition at the same time and in opposition to the Greek thinkers of roughly the two centuries before the Common Era. And it is this argument that Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Paul Cantz make in their new book titled Biblical Psychotherapy: Reclaiming Scriptural Narratives for Positive Psychology and Suicide Prevention. Their basic argument proceeds as follows: Much of modern mental health is implicitly or explicitly based on ancient Greek narratives (e.g., Oedipus, Electra, and Narcissus). Yet the ancient Greek world, despite its unquestioned brilliance, was fatalistic, depressed, fearful of change, and profoundly hopeless. Suicide was typically tolerated and even tacitly encouraged as an escape from a highly-constrictive life. The biblical world, equally brilliant, offers a diametrically contrasting approach, emphasizing free will, optimism (though not naivete), hopefulness, and an embracement of the future. Since life itself is freeing, suicide and self-mutilation, though expressly forbidden in rabbinic writings, were seldom addressed. Those are strong words; but are Kaplan and Cantz correct? Well, their analysis of the frequency of suicide in Greek tragic plays versus the Hebrew Bible certainly suggests that they may be on to something important. They enumerate and discuss sixteen suicides and self-mutilations in the twenty-six surviving tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides. Countless others occurred in actual Greek and Roman societies. In contrast, the book points out only six suicides are found in the Hebrew Scriptures, while numerous suicide-prevention narratives exist. To combat the suicide epidemic with narratives implicitly based on ancient Greek narratives and pessimism is akin to treating a patient sick with influenza with medicine from a spoon infected by the virus itself. But the book does not stop there. In many ways it is only a preamble to the main thrust of these mens work. How do we use biblical narratives to clinically treat suicidal patients exhibiting seven classical Greek syndromes (fourteen are described, two per syndrome), and then treat these patients with therapy based on biblical narratives matched on the same evidence-based risk factor. These can be delineated as follows: 1) Overcoming feelings of isolation --- Elijah versus Ajax; 2) Overcoming feelings of meaninglessness -- Job compared to Zeno; 3) Overcoming feelings of being an outcast or refugee -- David distinguished from Coriolanus; 4) Overcoming inability to be oneself with others -- Jonah contrasted with Narcissus; 5) Overcoming insecurity of being adopted -- Moses differentiated from Oedipus; 6) Overcoming the empty nest syndrome -- Rebecca compared to Phaedra; 7) Overcoming an enmeshed (incestuous) family background -- Ruth and Antigone. This is a book well worth reading by professional and layperson alike, and likewise by those who consider themselves religious and those secular. As Tevye in the stage adaption of Fiddler on the Roof sings out: LChaim, LChaim, To Life!!! Of all the contemptible episodes of political theater Congress has ever produced, Michael Cohen's seven-hour hearing before the House Oversight Committee is without precedent. Has there ever been a more seditious, mendacious, and just plain degrading spectacle? While America's president was overseas conducting a nuclear disarmament summit with a hostile communist dictator, the new Democrat majority in the House used their very first hearing to undermine his credibility on worldwide TV. Given the depraved character of modern Democrats, the hearing's circus-like atmosphere was predictable, but the timing of the event can be taken to mean only that they're more interested in impeaching President Trump than in avoiding a nuclear holocaust. That's a chilling realization. As the ranking Republican on the committee, Jim Jordan, pointed out in his opening, this was the Lanny Davis show from concept to planning and execution. Davis is well known as the longtime fixer for the Clinton crime family. To those of us who remember the many Clinton scandals, he's considered just as dishonest, unethical, and ruthless as Michael Cohen ever was, although obviously much more polished and effective. Does anyone doubt that Cohen's 30-minute opening, used to slander and denigrate Trump, was composed by Davis to inflict maximum political damage? Davis captured Cohen for the Resistance after he was indicted for tax and bank fraud. Davis likely promised to use his Clinton connections with the highly partisan Southern District of New York to win Cohen a reduced sentence. He would also have to implicate Trump, which explains why Cohen would plead guilty to a charge of campaign finance violation that isn't in fact a crime and never would have stood up in court. Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to this same Oversight Committee concerning the inconsequential timing of his conversations with Felix Sater. Sater is a longtime FBI and CIA informant who was dangling the prospect of a Trump tower in Moscow if only Cohen could entice Trump to communicate with Vladimir Putin nothing at all suspicious about that. As former assistant attorney for the SDNY, Andrew McCarthy, points out that Cohen might have been led to believe that his testimony at the hearing could further reduce his sentence. But that's assuming he escapes prosecution for perjuring himself yet again before the committee, including claiming he never sought a job in the White House something the opposite of which Cohen previously admitted on CNN. Republicans have already made criminal referrals for this and other lies under oath. By putting him back before the committee something no competent attorney would do Davis exposed Cohen to additional charges. But Davis is apparently doing this all out of the goodness of his heart. It was revealed that Cohen isn't actually paying for Davis to represent him, which makes perfect sense, because Davis isn't acting in Cohen's best interest. During Cohen's testimony, he accused Trump of being a racist, a con man, and a cheat. Racist is the go-to slur Democrats use against anyone who opposes them, but it's worth noting that Trump became a racist in their eyes when he decided to run against Hillary. Prior to that, he received recognition and awards from the NAACP and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition, and was bosom buddies with the black glitterati. Cohen regurgitated the Democrats' talking point that Trump stiffed contractors on his construction projects, instructing Cohen, as his attorney, to tell them they wouldn't be paid, or they would be paid a reduced amount. Considering the scale of projects Trump has developed over a long career, this is unremarkable. Anyone who has employed contractors knows they often pad their bills and sometimes mess up jobs so badly that it costs even more than the original invoice to have the work redone. As far as con man goes, Cohen offered that Trump had attempted to reduce his tax bills by appealing assessments on his properties. This appeared to excite the Democrats who spent much of the day heaping praise on a convicted perjurer who was violating the sacred attorney-client privilege. On matters of substance related to Russia collusion, Cohen admitted he had no knowledge to prove any of it and debunked several of the details in the Clinton-produced dossier, including the claim that Cohen had traveled to Prague a cornerstone of the hoax. Unable to provide any verifiable testimony or evidence regarding collusion, Cohen was left to say it sounded like something Trump would do and that he once overheard Roger Stone telling Trump that WikiLeaks intended to dump damaging information on Hillary Clinton something that by that time had already been published in newspapers. Now that Mueller's investigation is reportedly winding down with no evidence of collusion, the Democrats clearly signaled they have no intention of allowing the president to focus on his America First agenda, much less on nuclear disarmament of rogue states. Much of the Democrats' questioning had nothing to do with Trump's election or his administration, but his past personal matters and business dealing. Among other questions, they asked if Trump had ever struck Melania, used drugs, or paid for an abortion. Cohen answered no. Chairman Elijah Cummings has changed the name of his committee from House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to just House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Cummings and his committee show no intention of limiting themselves to the proper, constitutional role of government oversight. Instead, they are shifting gears to probe every aspect of Trump's business and private life and that of his family and his associates in order to impeach him or prevent his re-election. It's amazing they don't realize that disgusting displays like this hearing will have the exact opposite effect. The author hosts Right Now with Jim Daws, a webcast on news, politics, and culture from an American nationalist perspective. https://twitter.com/RightNowJimDaws Image from YouTube via USA TODAY. You want to hope she didn't, but the Minnesota socialist's new round of Jew-hating statements and her failure to apologize for them suggests some kind of influence from the famous anti-Semitic pariah. Here's here latest controversy over what a Democratic congressional leader called her vile anti-Semitic slur: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is facing new accusations of making anti-Semitic remarks, this time rebuked by a senior member of her party who says the House freshmans words conjured a vile anti-Semitic slur. Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has demanded an apology over comments Omar made Wednesday, less than a month after she was condemned by bipartisan leadership for suggesting pro-Israel lobbying groups and Jewish politicians influence American politics. [For Rep. Ilhan Omar, 2 apologies in 3 weeks for anti-Semitic tropes] Her comments came during a town hall in Washington while speaking about liberal issues. I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country, Omar said. Earlier on, she apologized for a tweet claiming that "Israel has hypnotized the world." After that, she apologized again, or, rather, issued a semi-apology, for another tweet claiming "It's all about the Benjamins, baby," to argue that Jews control U.S. foreign policy. The second one came after pressure from more than 20 Democratic congressional members, revolted by the stench of that discourse in their own party. Creepy? In the extreme. Now she's done a new one and this time she's not apologizing. After a third Jew-hating statement in a span of weeks, she's, incredibly, now claiming that she's the victim. According to Fox News: Omar also said at the event that she feared her religious affiliation would get in the way of meaningful discussions. What Im fearful of [is] that a lot of our Jewish colleagues, a lot of our constituents, a lot of our allies, go to thinking that everything we say about Israel to be anti-Semitic because we are Muslim, she said. But its almost as if, every single time we say something regardless of what it is we say we get to be labeled something. And that ends the discussion. Of course it ends the discussion. Who wants to discuss the anti-Semitic ravings of an anti-Semitic nut? You wouldn't on a street corner, you sure as heck wouldn't want to waste your time with it in Congress. And that non-apology raises the issue of what famed Jew-hater Louis Farrakhan publicly told her in the wake of her last semi-apology, as reported by the Washington Times: Mr. Farrakhan praised "Miss Omar from Somalia. She started talking about the Benjamins and they are trying to make her apologize. Sweetheart, don't do that." Addressing himself to the Muslim congresswoman, Mr. Farrakhan told her at his annual Founder's Day speech Sunday in Chicago that "you don't have nothing to apologize for. Israel and AIPAC pays off senators and congressmen to do their bidding." Another anti-Semitic statement and now she's not apologizing. As I argued earlier, it would have been a slam-dunk for her politically to condemn Farrakhan, both for his openly expressed anti-Semitism, and his disrespectful and sexist way of addressing her, to separate herself from his disgustingness on behalf of both Jewish people and women. She didn't. With her failure to apologize now, she actually seems to be following his advice. All I can think is, she must have found a fellow soul in this freak. Makes you wonder if she actually liked it when he called her 'sweetheart.' Image credit: Leopaltik, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 Perhaps the most famous civil war in history began on April 12, 1861, when secessionist Southerners attacked the United States Army garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Subsequent hostilities embroiled the American states in bloody battles that slaughtered a large portion of their youthful male population. About a quarter of each army was killed and nearly half a million wounded, many of them grievously. Even after the South surrendered, in 1865, the aftermath of the war saw intense resentment that, it is said, continued even until after the last veteran of that war finally died of old age. What could cause such brutal fratricide? While officially, the Civil War was not fought over the issue of slavery, there can be little doubt that without the existence of legalized slavery, matters would have been very different and, perhaps, even peaceably resolved. Slavery was a condition over which, despite legislated compromises since 1789 and beyond, no permanent compromise was possible. There was, and is, no middle ground. Human rights are what they are, and those rights are a central principle in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Reasonable disagreements over general human rights may arise concerning limits and specifics, but as to the central issue, there can be no doubt: it is abominable for one man to own another, as one owns cattle or land. Today, with the issue of slavery settled and sealed in blood, it seems inconceivable that the United States might ever again engage in such mutual mass slaughter. What could possibly cause it? Consider abortion. It either is or is not the violation of the right of an unborn child to live. Consider the so-called gender issues. Either homosexuality (along with so-called transgenderism) is worthy of the full protections of the law (as in, for example, redefining marriage to include same-sex couples), or it is not. Opposition is considered by some to be the intentional infliction of suffering upon gays and transgenders. There are more issues than these two that divide Americans irreconcilably, but they might top the list at the moment. And irreconcilable they are. "Abortion rights" began with a misguided interpretation of a right to privacy, the right of a pregnant woman to exercise the power of life and death over her unborn child during the first trimester of gestation. From that beginning, it has expanded ever farther, to include so-called late-term abortion. Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam's hideous description of infanticide outside the womb, which he tacitly endorsed as a proposed law, is far beyond any possibility of compromise. Opponents of abortion are accused of being anti-woman. So-called gay rights began with a plea from homosexuals to be free from harassment, but over time, the concept has infringed more and more on religious liberties, and the right of free speech, of others. Policies now in place in certain locales require that everyone speak as if he believed that if a man claims to be a woman, he is one. "Mis-gendering" someone that is, by calling a woman a woman when she identifies as being a man is already, in some cases, cause to be fired from one's job, possibly sued in court, and eventually to be imprisoned once the movement runs its course. High school children can be required to shower with members of the opposite sex. Gender issues include such amorphous topics as toxic masculinity, a concept that is beginning to suggest that laws be made forcing parents to raise their children as "gender fluid" or lose custody. Public schools propagandize small children into points of view held by transgender advocates, with no practicable "opt out" provision for parents who object, nor any mention of opposing points of view, except pejoratively. Statements like these bring charges of fear-mongering, just as a few years ago, the specter of same-sex "marriage" was scorned by gay rights advocates as propaganda. Where are the public debates over these issues? On what college campus is it permitted to openly declare unpopular opinions on these matters without physical violence being used to suppress dissident speakers? How many more divisive issues will result in the infringement of rights and in violent protests? Global warming? Public displays of Christian crosses? Assisted suicide and involuntary euthanasia? Racial reparations? Sharia law? Illegal immigration? How many? How far will the violence go? When will the rage break us apart? What does it take to start a civil war? Where is today's version of Fort Sumter? The fifth generation of mobile networks is promising nothing short of another industrial revolution fueled by a broad range of new technologies expected to create tens of millions of new jobs and consequently boost the global economy but the next connectivity standard wont spell exclusively good news for consumers. Thats perhaps the most evident by how the concept of smartphone location privacy is poised to change once 5G connections become ubiquitous. Namely, having any expectation of privacy while communicating with 5G networks will be frivolous, industry watchers warn. Even todays wireless solutions combining 4G LTE with GPS and similar satellite systems are capable of triangulating positions of individual devices with great precision, so long as they arent operating in truly horrible circumstance (i.e. a combination of bad weather and weak signal reception). With 5G, that accuracy is bound to increase more than tenfold as cell stations enabling the new technology will become significantly more numerous. Advertisement The bulk of the latest 5G specification, both non-standalone and independent, reflies on millimeter-wave frequencies since those bands offer massive improvements on the bandwidth front while not being heavily contested. On the other hand, the reason why the TV industry and many other segments arent in a rush to join the mmWave accumulation race is that the high-frequency nature of those bands makes them extremely difficult to work with. Compared to mid- and low-band signal, mmWave telecommunications allow for a small-scale performance boost but are much more challenging to scale. High-frequency wireless signals have a tendency to get lost in everything from foliage to rain, not to mention more solid obstacles like windows and walls. In an effort to offset that inherent flaw of mmWave spectrum, carriers are now investing billions in large-scale deployment of small cell stations. Even assuming contemporary positional systems stay the same for the time being, the current approach to locating electronics primarily relies on triangulation, so having more signal-bouncing beams will consequently make device location tracking much more precise. Advertisement For years, Google allowed Android users to choose between high-accuracy location settings and a less intrusive alternative that disabled some features of the operating systems and its apps but also consumed less power. That option was surprisingly scrapped with a move to Android 9 Pie last year and theres no indication of a return being on the charts. Contemporary Android devices can hence either do their very best to pinpoint their exact location or periodically check on their GPS coordinates even if the Location setting is turned off. Google already received a fair bit of criticism for the decision, yet consistently defended it as a natural move toward fully leveraging todays wireless networks. Anyone paranoid about their digital privacy hence wont rest any easier once humanity starts taking advantage of 5G connectivity on a large scale. Initial rollouts of consumer-grade services are already underway in the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, and several other countries. The global 5G race is still anyones for the taking as well and next-gen mobile technologies are finally receiving mainstream media attention following years of hype generated by the wireless segment. 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User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 02:20 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #1 Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently Advertisement A key witness in the Russia probe James Woolsey, a former CIA director who has been cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller, had a "lengthy conversation" with President Donald Trump over dinner last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. James Woolsey, the former CIA director who has been cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller, had a "lengthy conversation" with President Donald Trump over dinner last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Woolsey, who served on the board of Michael Flynn's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group, was at a meeting on September 19, 2016, with Flynn and Turkish government ministers in which they discussed removing the controversial Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen from US soil, Woolsey has said. Mueller's team has interviewed Woolsey about that meeting, and Woolsey has been in touch with the FBI since before Mueller began overseeing the bureau's Russia investigation in May. Former CIA Director James Woolsey dined with President Donald Trump last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida where, a report said, they had a "lengthy conversation" at the main dining table surrounded by several of Trump's friends, associates, and political allies. A tipster told Politico's Playbook about the conversation, which raised eyebrows given Woolsey's centrality to the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser. Woolsey, who served on the board of Flynn's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group, was at a meeting on September 19, 2016, with Flynn and Turkish government ministers in which they discussed removing the controversial Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen from US soil, Woolsey has said. Woolsey apparently notified Vice President Joe Biden through a mutual friend about the meeting, which he thought could have been an illegal discussion, Woolsey's spokesman, Jonathan Franks, said earlier this year. Franks confirmed late last month that Mueller's team had interviewed Woolsey about the meeting. He said Woolsey and his wife had been in touch with the FBI since before Mueller began overseeing the bureau's Russia investigation in May. "Ambassador Woolsey and his wife have been in communication with the FBI regarding the September 19, 2016, meeting Ambassador Woolsey was invited to attend by one of General Flynn's business partners," Franks said in a statement at the time. "Ambassador Woolsey and his wife have responded to every request, whether from the FBI, or, more recently, the Office of the Special Counsel." more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-ja...go-2017-11 James Woolsey, the former CIA director who has been cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller, had a "lengthy conversation" with President Donald Trump over dinner last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.Woolsey, who served on the board of Michael Flynn's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group, was at a meeting on September 19, 2016, with Flynn and Turkish government ministers in which they discussed removing the controversial Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen from US soil, Woolsey has said.Mueller's team has interviewed Woolsey about that meeting, and Woolsey has been in touch with the FBI since before Mueller began overseeing the bureau's Russia investigation in May.Former CIA Director James Woolsey dined with President Donald Trump last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida where, a report said, they had a "lengthy conversation" at the main dining table surrounded by several of Trump's friends, associates, and political allies.A tipster told Politico's Playbook about the conversation, which raised eyebrows given Woolsey's centrality to the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser.Woolsey, who served on the board of Flynn's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group, was at a meeting on September 19, 2016, with Flynn and Turkish government ministers in which they discussed removing the controversial Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen from US soil, Woolsey has said.Woolsey apparently notified Vice President Joe Biden through a mutual friend about the meeting, which he thought could have been an illegal discussion, Woolsey's spokesman, Jonathan Franks, said earlier this year.Franks confirmed late last month that Mueller's team had interviewed Woolsey about the meeting. He said Woolsey and his wife had been in touch with the FBI since before Mueller began overseeing the bureau's Russia investigation in May."Ambassador Woolsey and his wife have been in communication with the FBI regarding the September 19, 2016, meeting Ambassador Woolsey was invited to attend by one of General Flynn's business partners," Franks said in a statement at the time. "Ambassador Woolsey and his wife have responded to every request, whether from the FBI, or, more recently, the Office of the Special Counsel."more: Natura Naturans Registered User User ID: 480998 03-03-2019 02:27 AM Posts: 13,155 Post: #2 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently Woolsey is another deep state snake. Trump is surrounded by them. The deep state doesn't really want to get rid of Trump, they just want to blackmail him and threaten him to play ball their way. The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free. --Baruch Spinoza (This post was last modified: 03-03-2019 02:28 AM by Natura Naturans .) spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 02:49 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #3 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently What else would we expect from mob-boss-in-chief..after seeing all the Big Crime connections he has had for the last 40 years 'Thick as thieves' comes to mind here.. and human trafficking from Asian countries usually mean children and young male/female prostitutes roped into these syndicates lured into it ,as means to get residence in western nations. Shouldn't assume Flynn/Russia would be the only possible topic of interest to those two. @B0Z023 brought to my attention that Woolsey is a Director of a company trying to develop a *casino* on Saipan (US Territory), which is ensnared in legal difficulties. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...pan-casino "Its chairman is Mark Brown, former exec w/Trumps Atlantic City casinos. Former CIA director James Woolsey & Eugene Sullivan, formerly senior military judge, sit on its board. Former LA Gov Haley Barbour, former FBI dir Louis Freeh & former PA Gov Ed Rendell serve as advisers" Freeh was also Alan Dershowitz' attorney in Epstein-related, under age sex defamation counter lawsuit, "Former FBI director Louis Freeh, whom Dershowitz hired to investigate Giuffre's accusations, said he found no evidence to support them & had found evidence directly contradicting them" "'In my opinion, the totality of the evidence found during the investigation refutes the allegations made against Professor Dershowitz,' Freeh said.." Photo caption: "Dershowitz discusses allegations of sex with an under age girl leveled against him" How Did Trump and Clinton Pal Jeffrey Epstein Escape #MeToo? Call him Weinstein 1.0: The billionaire with famous friends (Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen) was a secret pervert who used his power and influence to groom teens for abuse. As the Harvey Weinsteins of the world get their comeuppance in the press and in court, another serial predator walks free. Last month, after a flood of allegations by Hollywood actresses, Weinstein was indicted on rape and criminal sex act charges in New York. The disgraced Hollywood executive stands accused of assaulting one woman in 2004 at Miramax headquarters in TriBeCa and raping another woman at a Midtown hotel nine years later. He has pleaded not guilty to these crimes. Since Weinsteins reign of terror was exposed and ignited a #MeToo reckoning, other powerful men have found themselves publicly censured or even toppled over their dark pasts and allegations of sexual misconduct. But the Weinstein Effect seems to have spared one Jeffrey Epsteina 65-year-old billionaire and convicted sex offender whos palled around with former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen, and other high-flying friends whose names were revealed in his little black book and flight logs for his private jet. Many of them enjoyed jaunts to Epsteins private Caribbean island and mansions in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. Even President Trump was among the deviant philanthropists admirers. Ive known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy, Trump told New York in 2002. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about itJeffrey enjoys his social life. Jefferys social life, according to police and a score of lawsuits, involved a pedophile ring of dozens of underage girls, whom he groomed and then loaned out to powerful friends. But aside from a minor conviction in Floridafor which he served a mere 13 monthsEpstein has emerged remarkably unscathed. New York authorities have never charged him with any crime, and he still drops into his Upper East Side mansion, where women have been photographed coming and going, according to tabloid reports. His sex offender registration lists his primary address as St. Thomas. more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-did-tr...cape-metoo "Dershowitz, a Harvard Law School professor emeritus, may be best known for helping to successfully defend OJ Simpson against murder charges." THAT WAS THEN. Now, his claim to fame is his pro-tyranny stance taken in defense of the Orange Apparition who shares Jeffrey Epstein. Louis Freeh, former director of the FBI was part of the Prevezon/Veselnitskya team trying to help them get the US to drop the case https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.busin...ng-2017-11 And Dershowitz is Assange's attorney. See how this works? ->Feb. 17, 2017 "Alan Dershowitz: Why I Am Defending Julian Assange" https://twitter.com/lovetogive2/status/9...2380242944 Alan Dershowitz shopping Lev Leviev during protest against Leviev Diamonds. What else would we expect from mob-boss-in-chief..after seeing all the Big Crime connections he has had for the last 40 years'Thick as thieves' comes to mind here.. and human trafficking from Asian countries usually mean children and young male/female prostitutes roped into these syndicates lured into it ,as means to get residence in western nations."Its chairman is Mark Brown, former exec w/Trumps Atlantic City casinos. Former CIA director James Woolsey & Eugene Sullivan, formerly senior military judge, sit on its board. Former LA Gov Haley Barbour, former FBI dir Louis Freeh & former PA Gov Ed Rendell serve as advisers"Freeh was also Alan Dershowitz' attorney in Epstein-related, under age sex defamation counter lawsuit, "Former FBI director Louis Freeh, whom Dershowitz hired to investigate Giuffre's accusations, said he found no evidence to support them & had found evidence directly contradicting them""'In my opinion, the totality of the evidence found during the investigation refutes the allegations made against Professor Dershowitz,' Freeh said.."Photo caption: "Dershowitz discusses allegations of sex with an under age girl leveled against him"As the Harvey Weinsteins of the world get their comeuppance in the press and in court, another serial predator walks free.Last month, after a flood of allegations by Hollywood actresses, Weinstein was indicted on rape and criminal sex act charges in New York. The disgraced Hollywood executive stands accused of assaulting one woman in 2004 at Miramax headquarters in TriBeCa and raping another woman at a Midtown hotel nine years later. He has pleaded not guilty to these crimes.Since Weinsteins reign of terror was exposed and ignited a #MeToo reckoning, other powerful men have found themselves publicly censured or even toppled over their dark pasts and allegations of sexual misconduct.But the Weinstein Effect seems to have spared one Jeffrey Epsteina 65-year-old billionaire and convicted sex offender whos palled around with former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen, and other high-flying friends whose names were revealed in his little black book and flight logs for his private jet. Many of them enjoyed jaunts to Epsteins private Caribbean island and mansions in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.Even President Trump was among the deviant philanthropists admirers. Ive known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy, Trump told New York in 2002. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about itJeffrey enjoys his social life.Jefferys social life, according to police and a score of lawsuits, involved a pedophile ring of dozens of underage girls, whom he groomed and then loaned out to powerful friends. But aside from a minor conviction in Floridafor which he served a mere 13 monthsEpstein has emerged remarkably unscathed. New York authorities have never charged him with any crime, and he still drops into his Upper East Side mansion, where women have been photographed coming and going, according to tabloid reports. His sex offender registration lists his primary address as St. Thomas.more:"Dershowitz, a Harvard Law School professor emeritus, may be best known for helping to successfully defend OJ Simpson against murder charges." THAT WAS THEN. Now, his claim to fame is his pro-tyranny stance taken in defense of the Orange Apparition who shares Jeffrey Epstein.And Dershowitz is Assange's attorney. See how this works?->Feb. 17, 2017 "Alan Dershowitz: Why I Am Defending Julian Assange"Alan Dershowitz shopping Lev Leviev during protest against Leviev Diamonds. (This post was last modified: 03-03-2019 02:52 AM by spo snouou .) spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 09:33 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #4 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 11:01 AM Posts: 67,593 Post: #5 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently He Man Wrote: (07-22-2018 01:24 AM) That whole bunch of BS about the DOJ/FBI not having any legitimate reason to investigate Trump and his campaign, staff, foreign policy advisors, etc. etc. is just more BS. They had every reason they were onto Mike Flynn being an agent of the Turkish government and taking money illegally from Russian intelligence connected plutocrats and media companies. They were on to Carter Paige, they were on to George Papadopoulos, many others. Revealed: Pre-election FBI memo says Carter Page was collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government "President Donald Trumps claim is that the Russian investigation was launched by sore losers in the political establishment. A memo newly obtained by the New York Times says otherwise. The memo was prepared for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and was just released by the Department of Justice under a Freedom of Information Act request. In October 2016, the FBI said that it knew Carter Page was collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government. The memo, prepared so the FBI could wire-tap Page, said the former Trump aide has established relationships with Russian government officials, including Russian intelligence officers and that the Russian governments efforts are being coordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with Donald Trumps campaign. Read the report here. https://www.rawstory.com/2018/07/reveale...overnment/ NormalIsSubjective Wrote: (07-22-2018 08:34 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (07-22-2018 05:50 PM) Intel from any intelligence agency does not equate to Obama predicting anything. Obama knew it and did nothing to seriously make a viable dent in Russia meddling. It works both ways asshole. It certainly does. But "only for a good cause and in the interests of democracy": Yanks to the rescue: Times not-so secret story of how Americans helped Yeltsin win 1996 presidential election February 19, 2018 Imagine Izvestia ran a headline in January 2018 titled Rescuing Donald, in which it proudly boasted that a group of crack Russian election-fixers had been sent over to Washington to make sure Trump beat Hillary. Does anyone imagine it would stop short of impeachment for Trump and maybe even hot war with Russia? Yet 22 years ago Time magazine ran just such a feature on how four Americans and an ex-pat Russian had managed the 1996 Russian presidential election to ensure a win for Boris Yeltsin. And apparently that was something to openly boast about. The cover of Time July 15 1996 On July 15 1996 Time magazine ran a screaming front page that read Yanks to the Rescue the secret story of how American advisers helped Yeltsin win. The exclusive feature inside left little room for doubt. It was headlined in red Rescuing Boris and the caption on the header photo of a smiling Yeltsin was: The secret story of how four US advisors used polls, focus groups, negative ads and all the other techniques of American campaigning to help Boris Yeltsin win... https://off-guardian.org/2018/02/19/yank...-election/ The U.S. tried to change other countries governments 72 times during the Cold War By Lindsey A. O'Rourke December 23, 2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monk...d281450041 Fmr. CIA Director Admits the U.S. Interferes in Foreign Elections By Jay Syrmopoulos, Feb 19, 2018 After the federal indictment of 13 Russian citizens accused of conspiracy to defraud the US, former Bill Clinton-era CIA director James Woolsey took to the media to criticize Russia and frame the narrative surrounding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election but in the process, he ended up admitting that the United States meddles in foreign elections only for good cause and in the interest of democracy. http://truthinmedia.com/fmr-cia-director...elections/ spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 04:29 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #6 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently R. James Woolsey, a former C.I.A. director - on the board - part of Trump's Transition Team - witness to Flynn - Gulen discussions Louis Freeh, a former F.B.I. director - Advisory committee - Ed Rendell, a former governor of Pennsylvania - Advisory committee In the statement, Woolsey's spokesman suggested the REUTERS STORY WAS PLANTED in an effort to discredit the former CIA director as a witness https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna815176 The research was financed by a company owned by Ekim Alptekin, a Turkish American businessman close to top officials in Turkey https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/...story.html Flynn Intel is under scrutiny by federal authorities & congressional investigators for its role in research and lobbying work for a Turkish businessman tied to the government of Turkey. https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2017...disclosure Flynn tapped White Canvas Group to help him investigate Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Islamic cleric who lives in Pennsylvania, Inovo, a Netherlands-based company owned by Alptekin, paid Flynn Intel Group $530,000 to activate an investigative laboratory made up of former top security and intelligence officials to research Gulen. Flynn associate Bijan Kian played a central role in securing and overseeing the Inovo contract. Kian portrayed himself as a rainmaker for Flynn, tapping into connections cultivated during a five-year tenure as a director at the US Export-Import Bank. (Back history) Flynns troubles trace back to a previously unreported million-dollar contract for computer chips forged with Bijan Kian. A former governor at the Export-Import Bank, Kian was chairman of the Nowruz Commission = DC connex. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/...estigators Kian built a relationship with former CIA Director James Woolsey and, in 2013, used it to get Flynn, then the Pentagons top intelligence officer, to support his computer chip companys bid for a contract. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/...estigators Kian oversaw key elements of the project that emerged, including a still-unfinished documentary on Gulen, according to two people involved in the project. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-t...SKBN19B0ZL Inovo paid Flynn Intel Group a total of $530,000, starting in September, according to a Justice Department filing by the company in March. Flynn Intel Group paid $80,000 to Inovo in "consultancy fees," On Sept. 19, 2016 Kian and Flynn met in New York with Turkey's foreign minister and energy minister, who is Erdogan's son-in-law. ?In late October, Kian invited staff of the House Homeland Security Committee to Flynn Intel Group's HQ in VA. Thread continues here: https://twitter.com/karolcummins/status/...1427191808 In the statement, Woolsey's spokesman suggested the REUTERS STORY WAS PLANTED in an effort to discredit the former CIA director as a witnessThe research was financed by a company owned by Ekim Alptekin, a Turkish American businessman close to top officials in TurkeyFlynn Intel is under scrutiny by federal authorities & congressional investigators for its role in research and lobbying work for a Turkish businessman tied to the government of Turkey.Flynn tapped White Canvas Group to help him investigate Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Islamic cleric who lives in Pennsylvania, Inovo, a Netherlands-based company owned by Alptekin, paid Flynn Intel Group $530,000 to activate an investigative laboratory made up of former top security and intelligence officials to research Gulen.Flynn associate Bijan Kian played a central role in securing and overseeing the Inovo contract.Kian portrayed himself as a rainmaker for Flynn, tapping into connections cultivated during a five-year tenure as a director at the US Export-Import Bank.(Back history) Flynns troubles trace back to a previously unreported million-dollar contract for computer chips forged with Bijan Kian. A former governor at the Export-Import Bank, Kian was chairman of the Nowruz Commission = DC connex.Kian built a relationship with former CIA Director James Woolsey and, in 2013, used it to get Flynn, then the Pentagons top intelligence officer, to support his computer chip companys bid for a contract.Kian oversaw key elements of the project that emerged, including a still-unfinished documentary on Gulen, according to two people involved in the project.Inovo paid Flynn Intel Group a total of $530,000, starting in September, according to a Justice Department filing by the company in March.Flynn Intel Group paid $80,000 to Inovo in "consultancy fees,"On Sept. 19, 2016 Kian and Flynn met in New York with Turkey's foreign minister and energy minister, who is Erdogan's son-in-law. ?In late October, Kian invited staff of the House Homeland Security Committee to Flynn Intel Group's HQ in VA.Thread continues here: (This post was last modified: 03-03-2019 04:31 PM by spo snouou .) spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 04:43 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #7 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently Joint statement from William Webster, Hayden, Panetta, Petraeus, Clapper, John McLaughlin, Mike Morell in total 12 former directors and deputy directors of the CIA and a former DNI criticizing Trump for revoking Brennan's clearance. That 10yr gap -- who didn't sign? John Deutch, who had his clearance revoked by George Tenet for a security breach. James Woolsey, a Trump campaign advisor and witness in the Mueller probe. Robert Gates, W's super shitty secretary of Defense after Rumsfeld. That 10yr gap -- who didn't sign?John Deutch, who had his clearance revoked by George Tenet for a security breach.James Woolsey, a Trump campaign advisor and witness in the Mueller probe.Robert Gates, W's super shitty secretary of Defense after Rumsfeld. (This post was last modified: 03-03-2019 04:44 PM by spo snouou .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 471605 03-03-2019 05:04 PM Post: #8 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently spo snouou Wrote: (03-03-2019 04:43 PM) Joint statement from William Webster, Hayden, Panetta, Petraeus, Clapper, John McLaughlin, Mike Morell in total 12 former directors and deputy directors of the CIA and a former DNI criticizing Trump for revoking Brennan's clearance. [img=500x600]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DkxH-ayXsAsxpax.jpg That 10yr gap -- who didn't sign? John Deutch, who had his clearance revoked by George Tenet for a security breach. James Woolsey, a Trump campaign advisor and witness in the Mueller probe. Robert Gates, W's super shitty secretary of Defense after Rumsfeld. And there is the problem. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...ied-senate You have criminals vouching for criminals Brennan and Clapper both were caught spying on the very Congressional panel that was in charge of their oversight. And there is the problem.You have criminals vouching for criminalsBrennan and Clapper both were caught spying on the very Congressional panel that was in charge of their oversight. spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 03-03-2019 07:16 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #9 RE: Russia probe Woolsey key witness, had a lengthy conversation with Trump recently LoP Guest Wrote: (03-03-2019 05:04 PM) spo snouou Wrote: (03-03-2019 04:43 PM) Joint statement from William Webster, Hayden, Panetta, Petraeus, Clapper, John McLaughlin, Mike Morell in total 12 former directors and deputy directors of the CIA and a former DNI criticizing Trump for revoking Brennan's clearance. [img=500x600]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DkxH-ayXsAsxpax.jpg That 10yr gap -- who didn't sign? John Deutch, who had his clearance revoked by George Tenet for a security breach. James Woolsey, a Trump campaign advisor and witness in the Mueller probe. Robert Gates, W's super shitty secretary of Defense after Rumsfeld. And there is the problem. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...ied-senate You have criminals vouching for criminals Brennan and Clapper both were caught spying on the very Congressional panel that was in charge of their oversight. can we see their charge sheets and indictments please? that was ages ago surely they have them by now? can we see their charge sheets and indictments please?that was ages ago surely they have them by now? Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Photo by Richard Van Der Meulen Military aviation forums are buzzing with reaction to a Facebook posting by the Dutch-based Scramble Magazine that four F-117 Nighthawks were pulled out of retirement and snuck into Syria to fly clandestine missions on behalf of the U.S. in 2017. Giving some credence to the report, which is classified as a rumor by most military pundits, is the increasingly public display of a cadre of up to six stealth fighters that have been photographed and videoed flying over the shadowy Air Force bases in the California desert. Its widely known that after the planes official retirement in 2008, the Air Force has kept more than 50 aircraft in flyable storage in the desert. But although there is no verifiable confirmation that Nighthawks flew combat missions in Syria, the various publications, websites and forums that follow such things are pretty much unanimous that the scenario is plausible. Among the most detailed assessments is by online journalist Tyler Rogoway at thedrive.com who says the Nighthawk is uniquely qualified to handle covert operations over Syria and who notes those missions might be run by an American agency other than the Air Force. He said more modern platforms dont have its ability to use laser-guided weapons to hit moving targets (precision GPS munitions on new aircraft can hit a matchbook from 50,000 feet but only if it stays still) and says thats the most likely use for the 38-year-old design. Rogoway opines that while far-fetched, the reactivation of the F-117 is not only possible but possibly justifiable. Still, in the end, there is no evidence that the F-117 was sent back into combat in any form or magnitude. Zero, he wrote. At the same time, there seems to have been a fairly good reason to do so, at least in small numbers. Bernie Sanders highlighted his working-class roots and pledged to lead a "political revolution," as he launched his 2020 presidential bid on Saturday in Brooklyn, where he grew up. Between the lines: The independent Vermont senator vowed to overcome Democratic presidential rivals and go on to defeat the most dangerous president in modern American history, the Washington Post reports. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," Sanders said, alluding to President Trump's background. "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, and that is something I will never forget." Go deeper: Bernie Sanders: Everything you need to know about the 2020 candidate White House national security adviser John Bolton said on CNN Sunday that he doesn't think that the U.S.' support for dictators undermines the Trump administration's hardline stance against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The big picture: CNN's Jake Tapper noted that the U.S. supports leaders that perpetrate human rights abuses in other parts of the world, including in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE. Bolton invoked the Monroe Doctrine to explain that it's always been the goal of the Trump administration and other presidents to have a democratic Western Hemisphere, and that they will continue to push for an end to the Maduro regime. Bolton also brought up the "Troika of Tyranny" a term he coined last year to describe Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Notably, the administration's Latin America strategy has involved closer engagement with Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro who has spoken fondly of military rule in the fight to "advance the rule of law and increase security and prosperity" within the region. Go deeper: 1 big thing: How Tesla lost its minotaur soul Tesla was never, technically, a minotaur: When it went public in 2010, it had raised just $482 million in equity capital, along with a $450 million loan from the Department of Energy. And even the IPO only raised another $276 million. Nevertheless, Elon Musk comes from true minotaur stock. Musk is a paid-up member of the PayPal Mafia the group of entrepreneurs who all but invented the modern version of blitzscaling. His other company, SpaceX, is a fully fledged minotaur, having raised $2.4 billion in equity capital to date. Tesla also raised an astonishing $1.5 billion in a 2016 secondary offering designed to give Musk enough capital to build the Model 3. the group of entrepreneurs who all but invented the modern version of blitzscaling. His other company, SpaceX, is a fully fledged minotaur, having raised $2.4 billion in equity capital to date. Tesla also raised an astonishing $1.5 billion in a 2016 secondary offering designed to give Musk enough capital to build the Model 3. For all its enormous size , the ambition behind the 2016 offering was so compelling that it drove Tesla's stock up, not down. Similarly, Dan Galves, an automotive industry analyst at Wolfe Research, tells Axios that if Musk wanted to do another large offering, that too would be bullish for the stock, since it would assuage market worries about a possible cash crunch. , the ambition behind the 2016 offering was so compelling that it drove Tesla's stock up, not down. Similarly, Dan Galves, an automotive industry analyst at Wolfe Research, tells Axios that if Musk wanted to do another large offering, that too would be bullish for the stock, since it would assuage market worries about a possible cash crunch. Musk's compensation package is contingent on him reaching market-cap milestones that start at $100 billion and range all the way up to $650 billion. If he reaches that goal, he gets more than 20 million shares, which could be worth more than $50 billion. The deal gives him every incentive to remain in hypergrowth mode. The other side: Maybe PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel drank all of Musk's minotaur blood, because Musk now has the zeal of the convert when it comes to cutting costs. Tesla is effectively shutting its entire retail network to bring the price of the Model 3 down by 6%. For those keeping count, that makes three rounds of layoffs in less than a year, after significant cuts in June and January. to bring the price of the Model 3 down by 6%. For those keeping count, that makes three rounds of layoffs in less than a year, after significant cuts in June and January. Elon Musk told Axios on HBO in November that the company came "within single-digit weeks" of death that "if we didn't solve these problems in a very short period time, we would die." Which is to say: Musk considered running out of cash to be akin to death, even as the stock market was clearly showing that he could raise new equity capital at will. in November that the company came "within single-digit weeks" of death that "if we didn't solve these problems in a very short period time, we would die." Which is to say: Musk considered running out of cash to be akin to death, even as the stock market was clearly showing that he could raise new equity capital at will. The latest round of cost cutting coincides with the maturity of a $920 million convertible bond. Because the Tesla share price is below $360, the whole bond is being paid out of Tesla's shrinking cash pile. Driving the news: Given Musk's rapidly escalating war with the SEC, trying to issue new equity at this time would require a decidedly uncharacteristic level of delicacy and diplomacy. But that doesn't fully explain why Musk doesn't want to keep on growing as fast as he can. The bottom line: Musk has persuaded himself that a company making 500,000 cars per year can and should be able to fund itself out of its own cashflows. Just like we saw with Tesla's door handles, once he's made that decision, no force on Earth is going to be able to move him. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) disclosed on Saturday that he will vote in support of a resolution this month to block President Trump's emergency declaration, reports the Bowling Green Daily News. "I cant vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasnt been appropriated by Congress. We may want more money for border security, but Congress didnt authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, its a dangerous thing." Why it matters: Paul's vote, along with the votes of Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.), gives the Senate the majority necessary to block Trump's national emergency. Sen. Lamar Alexander also warned Trump last week that he will face a GOP rebellion if he follows through with the declaration. Trump has already vowed to veto the resolution if it passes, which will be the first veto of his presidency. Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-educated physician and dual citizen of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, is one of dozens of prisoners arrested in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's infamous corruption crackdown who claim they have been tortured, the New York Times reports. The big picture: Fitaihi, who has been detained since November 2017, reportedly told a friend that he underwent an hourlong electric shock session after being "slapped, blindfolded, stripped to his underwear and bound to a chair." His status as an American citizen poses a diplomatic challenge to President Trump, who has repeatedly touted his record of freeing Americans detained abroad while also equivocating on the human rights abuses of the Saudi kingdom including the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia is a U.S. ally that the Trump administration views as key to securing Middle East peace. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner met with Mohammed bin Salman this week for the first time since U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly determined that he was responsible for Khashoggi's assassination. Saudi officials denied any mistreatment or torture of prisoners to the Times. On Sunday afternoon, a State Department spokesperson confirmed to CNN that Fitaihi is being detained: "We can confirm that U.S. citizen Walid Fitaihi is detained in Saudi Arabia, we are providing him consular services, and we have raised his case with the Government of Saudi Arabia." Go deeper: Saudi leaders deflect blame on day of Khashoggi sanctions deadline The mother of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man killed by police in Sacramento, California, said Saturday she was "outraged" the officers would not be charged and vowed to continue fighting for justice. The big picture: The police officers' shooting of Clark 8 times in Sacramento on March 18, 2018, triggered protests and was highlighted in national campaigns raising concern about the use of force by police. Protesters gathered Saturday outside police headquarters in the state capital after it was announced the officers would face "no criminal liability," CNN reports. The officers said they believed Clark had pointed a gun at them after seeing a flash of light. A phone was found beneath his body. What theyre saying: Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said in announcing her finding that police had responded to a domestic violence complaint two days earlier from Salena Manni, the mother of Clark's children, and that Clark had drugs in his system the night he was shot. "He was in a state of despair and he was impaired, and that may have affected his judgment," Schubert said. The officers feared for their lives and had "acted lawfully under the circumstances." Clark's mother, SeQuette Clark, said his previous actions and his actions in the days before his death were "no one's business." "That is not a permit to kill him," she said. "Weve been sitting for a year patiently allowing [Schubert] an opportunity to do right, and she has failed us. ... This is just the beginning. The fight for justice has just begun." Manni said the district attorney's decision was "continuing the shameful legacy of officers killing black men without consequences, and breaking my familys hearts once again." Watch the full statements by Clark's family and campaigners below: What's next: Clark's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Sacramento and the officers involved in the case. The California Attorney General's Office is conducting its own investigation of the shooting and the state's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called for systemic reforms to the state's criminal justice system following the Sacramento District Attorney's announcement. By Trend Military units of the armed forces of Armenia violated ceasefire 20 times throughout the day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said March 3, Trend reports. Armenian armed forces, located on nameless hills in Noyemberyan region, in Berkaber village of Ijevan region, in Chinari village of Berd region, and on nameless hills in Krasnoselsk region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijan Army located in Gaymagly, Mazam villages of Gazakh region, in Aghbulag, Munjuglu villages of Tovuz region, and on nameless hills in Gadabay region. The positions of Azerbaijan Army were also fired from positions of Armenian military units located near the occupied Javahirli, Yusifjanly villages of Aghdam region, Horadiz village of Fuzuli region, Nuzgar village of Jabrayil region, as well as from positions located on nameless hills in Terter and Aghdam regions. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend On the sidelines of the 46th session of the Council of Ministers of the OIC in Abu-Dhabi, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname Yldiz PollacK-Beighle, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry told Trend Mar. 2. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov touching upon the issue of establishing the European and other states Group within the OIC, had an exchange with his counterpart on inclusion of the Republic of Suriname to this Group. Underlining the importance of strengthening the diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Suriname Minister Mammadyarov noted that the draft of the Agreement on abolishing visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport holders between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Suriname is ready for signature. Minister also spoke on the existing potential for cooperation in the field of education between the two states. Suriname Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed that her country is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan and in that regard she emphasized the importance of exchanges of visits between the sides. Madame Minister invited her counterpart from Azerbaijan to visit Suriname in the capacity of chair of the Non-Aligned Movement. At the meeting also the economic cooperation perspectives between the sides were discussed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Hazim Al-Yousifi, The Foreign Ministry Undersecretaryof the Republic of Iraq in the margins of the 46th session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the OIC, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry told Trend Mar. 2. The Foreign Ministry Undersecretaryof the Republic of Iraq conveyed the sincere greetings of the Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Alhakim and stressed his appreciation over development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq. Iraqi undersecretary for foreign affairssaid that they notice serious development in Azerbaijan, implementation of critical infrastructure projects, as well as ensuring security and stability in the country. Stressing the importance of exchange of visits between the states, Hazim Al-Yousifi invited Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to Iraq. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov noted the existence of historical friendship relations between two nations. He emphasized the achievements in the development of bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of tourism and education. At the meeting there was an exchange between the sides on perspectives of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional issues. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Gas supply from Azerbaijan to Georgia may increase by 11 percent in 2019, Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR told Trend. "SOCAR Georgia Gas LLC has imported around 500 million cubic meters of natural gas to Georgia from early 2019 to late February this year. The company plans to directly supply additionally around 1.26 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia by late 2019," said the company. SOCAR said that in total, gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Georgia this year via all suppliers may exceed 2.45 billion cubic meters of gas, thats to say, by 11 percent more than in 2018. SOCAR exports gas extracted at Azerbaijani fields through its own funds to Georgia without participation of foreign companies. Moreover, Georgia receives Azerbaijani gas extracted at Shah Deniz offshore field with participation of SOCAR and foreign companies. Presently, SOCAR is the major supplier of natural gas, oil and oil products to Georgia. SOCARs subsidiaries are engaged in expansion and modernization of the countrys gas distribution systems, development of filling stations under SOCARs brand and have an oil terminal in Georgias Kulevi Black Sea Port, which supplies Azerbaijani oil and oil products to the world markets. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A round table meeting was held in Paris dedicated to the trade and economic relations between Turkmenistan and France, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The event was organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan together with the French-Turkmen Chamber of Commerce. The discussion was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, as well as the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Economy and Finance of France, the leaders of French companies and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry "MEDEF International." The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation. Representatives of French companies expressed their willingness to participate in major projects in Turkmenistan, the report said. French companies operate in Turkmenistan in such areas as construction, transport, tourism and energy. The two countries are also interested in the implementation of a project of transporting Turkmen gas to Europe. The option of laying a gas pipeline through the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan and its connecting to the transnational projects in the European direction is being considered. The French Total and Gas de France companies are interested in developing the hydrocarbon resources of the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea and exploring the possibilities of transporting gas to Europe. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Oregon's Sharing the Coast Conference Returns, March 8 - 10 Published 02/28/2019 at 1:23 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Newport, Oregon) For the tenth year the Sharing the Coast Conference returns to a beach town somewhere in Oregon to impart a whole new level of knowledge about the Oregon coast. This time around it all happens in Newport on March 8 through 10, at the Hatfield Marine Science Center (2030 S.E. Marine Science Drive) in the South Beach area. Its always a cornucopia of information about coastal science, natural history, shoreline monitoring, and environmental stewardship, put together by CoastWatch and the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME). Register at this website; attendance fees vary. The event is open to the public, and the activities on the schedule, including lectures, field trips, workshops, and a Saturday evening party, would be of interest to anyone fascinated by coastal natural history and wishing to learn more about how to protect shoreline resources. This time around, highlights include an appearance by Jim Rice of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and veteran marine educator and ecotour leader Marty Giles will speak on the most basic of shoreline subjects, All About Sand. She will take the audience on a virtual tour of our sandy shores, explaining where sand comes from, what it does while it is on the beach or dune, what lives within it, and where it goes. The annual conference is also designed as a way to learn more about monitoring the shore as a CoastWatch volunteer, participating in citizen science projects, and educating others about the shoreline and marine environment, whether as a teacher or field interpreter. Events kickoff on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. with the Community Talk, a Sharing the Coast tradition featuring Giles. On Saturday everything starts at 9 p.m. The schedule: Marine ecologist Cynthia Trowbridge talks on The Ecology of the Driftline, exploring all the natural materials that wash up on shore and what they tell us about marine life Bruce Menge, well-known rocky shore ecologist, will be speaking on rocky shore ecology, climate change, and the fate of sea stars in the midst of all this. Environmental scientist Dorothy Horn discusses plastics in the ocean (and especially microplastics) and how they affect the Oregon coast. Avian researcher Jessica Porquez does a presentation on Oregons seabird populations and the research being conducted on them, helping to explain the lives and origins of the beached birds we find on shore. On the subject of invasive species, behavioral ecologist Catherine de Rivera talks about their effect on coastal the estuaries and how to watch for them on the outer shore. Jim Rice, head of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, will speak on the marine mammals and sea turtles that wash up on our shores, and how to report on them. There will be a panel discussion on citizen science steered by NAME. The group is organizing a parallel set of activities aimed at educators, with presentations on such topics as making art from plastic debris, edible seaweeds, and making marine science relevant to learners. On Saturday evening, the conferences after-party will be combined with a wrap-up party for the recently concluded King Tide Project, through which volunteer photographers document the reach of the winters highest tides. Both conference-goers and other interested members of the public will gather at the Rogue Brewers on the Bay brewery in South Beach beginning at 5:30 p.m. for food and drink, a display of photos providing a virtual tour of the Coquille River Valley during a king tide by photographer Rena Olson, and a talk on how sea level rise is affecting our coast by Meg Reed, Coastal Shores Specialist with the states Department of Land Conservation and Development. This event is free and open to all. Field trips will dominate the roster on Sunday, March 10. Look for an estuary walk guided by marine educator Athena Crichton, leaving from the Hatfield Visitor Center at 10 a.m. Also at 10 a.m., Fawn Custer, CoastWatchs volunteer coordinator, will lead a field trip to the shoreline, during which she will discuss CoastWatch monitoring and citizen science projects, at Otter Rock Marine Reserve (just north of the community of Otter Rock). For more details about the conference or the CoastWatch program, see the website, https://oregonshores.org/coastwatch. Conference fees vary, depending on membership in Oregon Shores, CoastWatch, NAME, or general public, with student and other categories as well. To register online, go to this web link. You can also register on the day of the conference. Lodgings in Newport - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More Newport below: More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The impending retirement of Beaumont ISD Superintendent John Frossard presents a real challenge to the districts governing board, and the people of Beaumont. The BISD absolutely must maintain the momentum it has built up under Frossards leadership. The thought of regressing or being taken over by the state again is too much to bear. The trustees and the managers have to get this right. The best way to start is with a wide search. Frossard currently earns $249,000, though the next superintendent might not make that much. Anything in that ballpark would grab the attention of many highly qualified candidates. And whereas Frossard had to come to a district that was barely functioning, his successor will inherit a well-run operation. That will also make this job more attractive to applicants. The government will make sure that thousands of foreign nationals working in Philippine offshore gaming operations pay their income taxes, the Finance Department said over the weekend. It said it was working closely with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Justice Department, the Labor Department and other agencies to make foreign nationals working in the so-called Pogos comply with the tax laws. Under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 78-2018, all foreign and Philippine-based gaming operators, including those with offshore licenses, are required to register with the BIR as a prerequisite in the renewal of their Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. licenses. The directive mandates the BIR to identify and monitor tax payments, including the remittance of taxes withheld on foreign nationals working for them. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the list of foreign nationals working for service providers of Pogo operators should be consolidated and reconciled by the various agencies and offices involved in the screening, providing work permits and registration of foreign workers. These agencies include the Foreign Affairs Department which screens and issues visas to foreign nationals entering the country; the Justice Department which oversees the Bureau of Immigration that grants short-term special work permits to foreigners; the Labor Department which issues alien employment permits; Pagcor which has a list of licensed Pogo operators; the Trade Department which oversees the special economic zones where several Pogos operate and the Securities and Exchange Commission which registers Pogo agents. If we get all that [information], then it is possible that we can begin to collect taxes, enforcing the law on these foreign workers who are operating here. Isnt that what we really want to do here, enforce the law? Dominguez said during a recent meeting he requested with the respective heads of these agencies to find ways of making foreign Pogo workers pay their income taxes.Dominguez said a good starting point would be to trace the employers of these foreign workers so that a portion of their salaries could be withheld and turned over to the government as partial payment of their income taxes. He said that aside from ensuring that foreign nationals comply with tax laws, the government should also find out who and where all foreign workers are, given the national security implications of their large presence in the country. Other officials who attended the meeting were Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Pagcor chairperson Andrea Domingo, BIR commissioner Caesar Dulay, BIR deputy commissioner Arnel Guballa, SEC deputy commissioner Javey Paul Francisco and deputy solicitor general Henry Angeles. Guballa said the BIR listed 54 Pogo licensees, of which 10 are local firms and 44 are offshore operators. Of the local operators, only seven are registered, while only eight of the offshore licensees are registered with the BIR. Citing immigration data, Guevarra said that as of June 2018, less than 95,000 foreign nationals were issued by the BI with various forms of temporary work permits as Pogo employees. Domingo, however, said this figure was not accurate because foreign workers that were given six-month SWPs might have already secured provisional working permits and remained on the list of those still with SWPs, while those with provisional working permits might have already been issued AEPs by the Labor Department. The numbers may overlap, Domingo said. The train line on Lake Street in Lurgan where workers were allegedly threatened with a firearm. Credit: Google Maps A man has been arrested after a BBC cameraman was attacked near a railway line in Lurgan where workers were allegedly threatened with a firearm. On Saturday afternoon, engineering work on the railway line on Lake Street had to be suspended after Translink workers were threatened. Less than 24 hours later, on Sunday afternoon, a BBC cameraman was assaulted in the area while filming a report on the incident. Read More PSNI Inspector Beckett said: "A 25-year-old man has been arrested following a report of a man in his 60s assaulted at the Lake Street area of Lurgan this afternoon. "The man remains in police custody." Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Keith Haughian, said journalists should be able to do their job free from intimidation. "Firstly I want to commend the BBC crew who, despite this attack, insisted on completing the interview and their report," he said. "I also want to fully condemn the reckless actions of the attacker who violently struck the cameraman. I welcome the swift response of the PSNI. "In stark contrast to the idiotic actions of the attacker a lady nearby took the crew into her home this demonstrates the true face of North Lurgan community." A BBC spokesperson said: "We can confirm there has been an incident involving a member of staff in Lurgan. We are unable to provide further information at this time." Ian Ogle was stabbed to death at Cluan Place in east Belfast in January A 32-year-old man has been arrested at Manchester Airport by detectives investigating the murder of Ian Ogle. Ian Ogle was stabbed to death at Cluan Place in east Belfast in January. Detective Chief Inspector Peter McKenna said: Following excellent partnership working with UK and international partners, the man was detained in Manchester Airport this evening. "He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and will be conveyed to Northern Ireland to be questioned by Major Investigation Team detectives. "At this time, I would also reiterate my appeal for witnesses to this horrific murder. Ian Ogle was subjected to a brutal attack. "His skull was fractured and he was savagely stabbed 11 times in the back before being left to die on the street. His family deserve justice. "Anyone with information that could assist my investigation is asked to please get in touch with the investigation team by calling 101 quoting reference 1303 27/1/19." Last month, 33-year old Jonathan Brown of McArthur Court in east Belfast appeared in court charged with the murder. He denies the offence and remains in custody. The SNP wants Scotland to receive extra money following a funding announcement for Northern Ireland (Jane Barlow/PA) The SNP has called for Scotland to be given a comparable share of money after it was revealed Northern Ireland is to receive 140 million of additional UK Government funding in the next budget. The funds are on top of the 11 billion-plus block grant allocated under the Barnett model for devolved regions. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said on Thursday the money recognises the lack of opportunity for fundamental service reconfiguration in the current financial year. The SNP has demanded to know when Scotland will receive a comparable share of extra cash, saying an equivalent share for the country which has a larger population than Northern Ireland would be 400 million. Expand Close The SNPs Kirsty Blackman has hit out over the additional funding for Northern Ireland (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The SNPs Kirsty Blackman has hit out over the additional funding for Northern Ireland (PA) The party has accused the Conservative Government of delivering a grubby Brexit bung to buy off DUP votes ahead of crucial votes on Brexit this month. UK ministers have insisted the 140 million is to address specific challenges in Northern Ireland. SNP economy spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman has written to Scottish Secretary David Mundell, asking various questions about the funding. The letter asks him: Why do you support additional money for Northern Ireland but not a proportionate increase in funding for Scotland? Commenting later, Ms Blackman, the MP for Aberdeen North, said: The Tories are delivering another bung for the DUP, ripping up the rule book in the process. But if the rules are to be applied as they should be, then Scotlands fair share would amount to an extra 400 million for public services here. this additional funding will not result in Barnett consequentials for Scotland. To suggest it should is to fail to understand how the Barnett formula works. This additional funding will not result in Barnett consequentials for Scotland. To suggest it should is to fail to understand how the Barnett formula works.UK Government spokeswoman This problem lies at the door of David Mundell, who has disgracefully failed to fight Scotlands corner right the way through the Brexit process. This extra cash for Northern Ireland comes just before Theresa May brings her bad Brexit deal back to Parliament where every MPs vote will count. And it is crystal clear that the Tories are delivering a grubby Brexit bung to buy off DUP votes whilst Scotlands voice in the Brexit process is ignored. A UK Government spokeswoman said: Like previous Northern Ireland support packages, or funding for city and growth deals in Scotland, the 140 million funding addresses specific challenges. As there has been no increase in spending on devolved matters in England, this additional funding will not result in Barnett consequentials for Scotland. To suggest it should is to fail to understand how the Barnett formula works. Frank Brehany and Mary Merritt at the grave of Franks grandmother (Niall Carson/PA) The grandson of a woman incarcerated in one of Irelands notorious Magdalene laundries has spoken of his familys pride as he attended an emotional commemoration. Frank Brehany, from Wales, discovered his familys deep secret after promising his late father he would find his mother. Mr Brehanys grandmother Mary spent many years in High Park laundry in Dublin. From the 18th century right up to the mid-1990s, tens of thousands of women were put to work in laundries run by Catholic orders of nuns. Unmarried mothers and girls from troubled backgrounds suffered years of abuse inside the grim facilities. Expand Close Flowers laid at the grave for the residents of Our Lady Of Charity Residential Home in Sean McDermott Street (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flowers laid at the grave for the residents of Our Lady Of Charity Residential Home in Sean McDermott Street (Niall Carson/PA) On Sunday, Mr Brehany was at a memorial event in Glasnevin cemetery, Dublin, to commemorate the women who died inside the walls of the laundries. There, he embraced 88-year Mary Merritt, who credits his grandmother with looking after her during her 14 years in the laundry. I am deeply moved and privileged to be standing here in the company of giants its a cliche but its a true cliche, Mr Brehany said. My journey started in 2010 to uncover the secret, the deep secret of my family. Before my father died I promised I would find his family, that I would find his mother. The other part of that promise is I would find justice for my family, justice for Mary and I am delighted to be able to tell you that I am luckier than most because my father had a birth certificate and, as a result of that, I have not only found my family history going back to the late 1700s, but I have surviving family in the Irish Republic, in Northern Ireland, in London, in Connecticut, in Chicago. Expand Close People make their way to the memorial plots (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People make their way to the memorial plots (Niall Carson/PA) We are united as a family again and we are proud, we are not ashamed, we are not hiding away Marys past she did no wrong, my father did no wrong. She was a Magdalene woman, he was a Magdalene child. Ms Merritt gave thanks that Ireland had been transformed since the days of the laundries. I am 88 years of age now and I hope to be able to come every year until I am 100 or more to pay my respects to the Magdalene women because I love each and every one of them, and I love all of you who come here and pay respects to them, she said. Its a great day for Ireland that its all changed. Mrs Wards body was found on Friday (Niall Carson/PA) A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his wife. Alan Ward, of Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, is accused of killing Catherine Ward, 41, at the west Dublin property. Mrs Ward was found with fatal stab wounds in the house in the early hours of Friday. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Ward, 51, appeared before a district judge charged with her murder on Saturday afternoon in Dublin. He was remanded into custody to appear before court again at a later date. Eleven suspected migrants have been detained at a Kent lorry park on the same day as 100 people were reported to have stormed the port of Calais. Kent Police responded to reports of the nine men and two women at the lorry park in Waterbrook Avenue, Ashford, on Saturday morning. A Home Office spokesman said that the group, who were handed over to immigration officials, said they were Eritrean and their cases would be progressed in line with UK immigration rules. The incident at Calais on Saturday evening caused delays to ferries arriving from Dover and departing from France with the port being closed for about an hour. One traveller, Matt Perry, wrote on Twitter: Currently sat on a P&O ferry outside Calais as captain say its closed due to over 100 immigrants storming the port. French media reported that 100 migrants broke into the dock area with many managing to get on board the Danish-operated DFDS Calais Seaways ferry with 63 people being arrested. #Calais : 2eme tentative dintrusion en 48h. Il faut renforcer nos forces de lordre a la veille dun #Brexit quutilisent les passeurs pour promouvoir leur trafic. La justice doit prononcer des sanctions exemplaires pour ceux qui sintroduisent illegalement dans les ports. Xavier Bertrand (@xavierbertrand) March 3, 2019 President of the Hauts-de-France region Xavier Bertrand posted on social media: We need to strengthen our security forces on the eve of #Brexit that the smugglers use to promote their traffic. Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, posted on Twitter: How were migrants able to storm a DFDS ferry at Calais? Thoughts with the crew who must have had a frightening experience. Seems a very worrying security lapse at the Port of Calais. Important to know how on earth this could happen. A Labour government would not agree to a second Scottish independence referendum, Richard Leonard has said (Jane Barlow/PA) Richard Leonard has appeared to suggest a Labour government in Westminster would oppose granting a further referendum on Scottish independence. Questioned on the BBCs Sunday Politics Scotland programme about whether the UK party would allow a second Scottish independence referendum if it won a snap election, the Scottish Labour leader said it did not support a further referendum and claimed there was no appetite for it. Pressed further on whether a Section 30 Order required for the vote would be refused, he said a Labour government would not agree to a second independence referendum. His comments follow increased speculation SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will call for the power to hold a second referendum in the near future expected to be rejected by Westminster having said in January she would set out her thoughts on the issue in the coming weeks. Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay was interviewed on the same programme and believes if Scotland leaves the UK following a second independence referendum, a forecast GDP deficit of around 6% can be halved faster than the five to 10 years predicted by a leading economist. We're proposing continuing with the pound and we have the ambition to have an independent Scottish currency, and we have set out a plan to take us thereDerek Mackay, Scottish Finance Secretary In a major shift in SNP policy, Mr Mackay and SNP depute leader Keith Brown will put forward a motion to the partys conference next month to adopt as the official party line that an SNP government in an independent Scotland would establish an independent currency. The plan envisages Scotland using the pound during a transition period following a vote to leave the UK, aiming for the Scottish Parliament deciding on establishing the new currency by the end of its first term in an independent Scotland. In the run-up to the 2014 referendum, then-first minister Alex Salmond said Scotland would continue to use the pound in a UK-wide currency union a proposition rejected by parties opposing independence. Mr Mackay was questioned on advice from economist Andrew Wilson, who predicted a GDP deficit of around 6% following independence and suggested this should be halved over five to 10 years before any independent Scottish currency was introduced. The forecast was made in a May 2018 report by the Growth Commission, set up by Scotlands First Minister to draw up a new economic blueprint for independence following the 2014 referendum. Mr Mackay said the deficit could be reduced more quickly than forecast but denied such a move would accelerate austerity. We could reduce that notional deficit, of course thats the deficit for being part of the United Kingdom, and accelerate the economic growth, he told the programme. After we published the Growth Commission report, our economics, our financial position is improving. He added: We want to be part of the European Union and were not proposing the euro. Were proposing continuing with the pound and we have the ambition to have an independent Scottish currency and we have set out a plan to take us there. Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats claim the Growth Commission plans would lead to austerity. The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Leonard hasnt got a plan to stop a second referendum on independence and said Mr Mackays plans were fantasy economics. A dive team was used to search for the missing man (Owen Humphreys/PA) Police in the US are searching for a British man reported missing from a beach in California. Kim Gordon, from Inverness, was reported missing on Monday from Monastery Beach in Carmel, by his 17-year-old son who said his dad had gone swimming. Monterey County Sheriffs Office captain John Thornburg said the beach is dangerous. He said dive teams searched the water for two days but found no trace of the missing man. US officials now believe he may still be alive. Mr Thornburg told the Press Association: The whole thing started on February 25, which was a Monday. We got a 911 call saying that he had gone swimming off one of our beaches and hadnt returned. This was 7.15pm, which was a little unusual to go swimming because it was dark. At that time we treated it as a missing person, as a swimmer in distress, so the fire department, the sheriffs office and state parks began searching. Monastery Beach is the area where he was reported to have gone. Its a very dangerous beach, getting out of the water is very difficult. For the next two days we put dive teams into the Pacific Ocean there to try and locate him and he wasnt. He said when the incident was further examined it began to be treated as suspicious and added weve got to a point now that we dont believe he went into the ocean, we dont think he went swimming. He said: We cant prove that he went into the water. Mr Thornburg believes the pair were on a two-week break in the States and flew in to Los Angeles, but said there was no indication of how they got to Monterey County, where they were staying or if they had a vehicle. He said the missing mans son was taken into protective custody during the rescue operation and has since returned to Scotland. Inquiries in the US are continuing and the countrys Marshals Service is now involved in the case. A Foreign Office spokesman said: Our staff are assisting the family of a British man who is missing in the United States and are in touch with the local authorities. Meditation is better than sitting around and doing nothing. Meditation, according to an oft-cited definition, refers to a family of self-regulation practices that focus on training attention and awareness in order to bring mental processes under greater voluntary control and thereby foster general mental well-being and development and/or specific capacities such as calm, clarity, and concentration. With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, meditation requires one to sit still, often just focusing on ones breathing. In meditation, one pays attention to the present moment. One becomes mindful of an emotion that surfaces and passes, a mental image, or a sensation in the body. Without passing any judgment on these random occurrences, one acknowledges that the past is already behind him and the future is yet to come. There is only the present. The rest are just distractions. As a $1.1-billion industry, meditation/mindfulness training has been adopted by major companies such as Google, Apple, General Milling for their employees. Confirmation studies have exhibited that aside from calmness and clarity, participants were later found to experience less stress, to have more focus, higher cognitive flexibility, and lower emotional reactivity. In practice, researcher Andrew Hafenbrack suggests that meditation be used as on-the-spot workplace intervention. In Mindfulness Meditation as an On-The-Spot Workplace Intervention, Hafenbrack writes about how mindfulness meditation helps lessen escalation of commitment in organizations. Because mindfulness focuses on the now and the present, participants are less prone to brood about sunk costs. They can easily move on and could offer a more productive course of action. By not dwelling on past issues and not overthinking about the future, they are less likely to be impulsive or engage in retaliatory behavior that might be harmful to colleagues, co-workers, or the organization. They tend to self-regulate to fit the needs of the situation at hand, and are less likely to react automatically to stimuli. One caveat, though. Participants who underwent mindfulness sessions may be more accepting of the status quo, think less about outcomes they desire in the future, and thus be less motivated to achieve goals. Alcohol has been given a bad name. This is primarily because alcohol consumption frequently co-occurs with cognitive or mental impairment. Through five studies, a research shows that people who simply hold an alcoholic drink in their hand are perceived to be less intelligent than those without one. It is widely known that the use of alcohol can have harmful effects on individuals.In the workplace, the use of alcohol, even in small amounts, can impair performance, judgment, coordination, concentration, and alertness. These effects often result in mistakes and accidents that can affect the health, safety, and morale of co-workers and customers. In his research, Professor Andrew Jarosz of Mississippi State University intentionally served vodka-cranberry cocktails to one group of his research subjects until their blood levels neared legal intoxication. Then together with a separate group of subjects who are sober, the intoxicated subjects are subjected to a series of word association problems. The result? The intoxicated subjects gave more correct answers and arrived at solutions more quickly. While their sober counterparts were analytical in solving the problems, the intoxicated participants were more intuitive. According to Uncorking the Muse: Alcohol Intoxication Facilitates Creative Problem Solving, one explanation to these bursts of creativity is the alcohols effect on ones working memory. A working memory is the brains filtering system. It screens out peripheral information that the mind deems unimportant. This is useful for solving analytical problems. The more working memory one has at his disposal, the higher is the expertise, and the better is ones performance. However, experts are often caged by their scope of knowledge. They are stumped when the problem needs to be examined from the perspective of a different discipline. To put it simply, ones ability to think in new and unusual ways can be hampered when he has too much working memory. By relaxing the filters of the working memory, alcohol allows one to include and consider possibilities that were sidelined by the sober self. Despite its popularity, the effects of mindfulness meditation to the human brain remain unclear. Perhaps, participants felt better after each session because most of them practically slept through it. I would have chosen to do the same. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a better intervention. The fact that youre reading this means that it is definitely worth a shot. A 17-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed in a park was socialising with friends before she was approached by two males and attacked from behind. Jodie Chesney, 17, died at the scene in Harold Hill, east London, just over an hour after police were called to the park at 9:25pm. The suspect who attacked Jodie is described as a black male aged in his late teens, the Metropolitan Police said on Sunday. Expand Close People look at floral tributes near the scene at St Neots Road in Harold Hill, east London (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People look at floral tributes near the scene at St Neots Road in Harold Hill, east London (Victoria Jones/PA) There was no description given of the other male who approached Jodie and her five teenage friends while they were playing music. The group were aware of the two males being in the park and saw them leave at around 9pm, police said. Around 30 minutes later the pair returned to the park and walked straight towards the group, where one of the males stabbed Jodie once in the back, a statement from the force said. Nothing was said by the two suspects, who ran off in the direction of Retford Road, it added. A post-mortem carried out on Sunday established that the cause of Jodies death was trauma and haemorrhage, and police released a photograph of the teenager on the same day. Detectives make fresh appeal for information following fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Jodie Chesney in #Romford - details of a suspect have been released and police have revealed more information about what unfolded before the fatal attack https://t.co/zVu7NAHEyD pic.twitter.com/P7zpASedTv Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 3, 2019 Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, who is leading the investigation, appealed for witnesses to come forward. He said: Although the description of the suspect is limited, I am certain that people will have seen the two males hanging around the park or running away from the scene or will otherwise have noticed something suspicious. I need those people to call me. Jodies uncle Dave Chesney told ITV News on Sunday that the family had lost a beautiful, lovely and quirky girl. Mr Chesney said Jodie was the daughter of his youngest brother Pete, adding: We value your support and prayers at this time especially for our brother Pete, his wife Jo and Jodies sister Lucy. Also for the friends that were with her at the time. Posting on Facebook on Saturday, Jodies grandmother Debbie Chesney said too many young people were having their lives cut short by needless violence. She echoed calls for people to come forward with information. The Duchess of Sussex presenting Angela Midgley with a Moses basket at Number 7, a citizens supermarket in Birkenhead (Anthony Devlin/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will opt for nurturing baby slings and eco-friendly reusable nappies as they care for their baby, according to one parenting expert. Emma Kendell, editor of Mother&Baby magazine, suggested Harry, with his focus on mental health campaigning, would be prepped to check on Meghans emotional well-being after the birth, perhaps with the aid of a new hi-tech baby monitor. Expand Close Harry and Meghan holding hands during an official engagement (Phil Noble/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry and Meghan holding hands during an official engagement (Phil Noble/PA) The royal baby is due to put in an appearance at the end of April or early in May, with the couple excitedly looking forward to the arrival of their first child. Even before Meghan was pregnant, she joked about all the baby paraphernalia they would need when shown products from the Shnuggle range during a trip to Belfast. Expand Close Sinead Murphy from Shnuggle shows Meghan and Harry a baby bath in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinead Murphy from Shnuggle shows Meghan and Harry a baby bath in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) The former Suits star laughed, gestured to a non-slip bath on view and said: Im sure at some point well need the whole (lot). Ms Kendell said the Queens grandson Harry and LA-born Meghan would clearly be great parents. Im confident Meghan and Harry will parent in their very own way, picking and choosing what suits their lifestyle which is going to make their journey really interesting to watch, she said. They're going to be great parents and were all excited to see what they get up to as mum and dad to a new royal babeEmma Kendell, Mother&Baby editor Theyre going to be great parents and were all excited to see what they get up to as mum and dad to a new royal babe. Their wedding showed that theyre very good at giving a nod to tradition but then mixing it up big time. Expand Close Harry and Meghan are already known for their natural approach towards youngsters on royal engagements (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry and Meghan are already known for their natural approach towards youngsters on royal engagements (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Looking at parenting trends and products, Ms Kendell said a baby carrier was almost certain to be on their shopping list. I think we can safely assume that Meghan will be a baby-wearer, with all the cradling shes been doing of her baby bump, Ms Kendell said. And Im sure Harry is with Daniel Craig in knowing that dads do baby-wearing too. Bond actor Craig has been seen carrying his baby daughter in a papoose. Ms Kendell suggested Harry and Meghan might choose the Boba X carrier, which costs 125 and allows a newborn to be carried inward-facing on the front and later as a toddler on your front or back. Expand Close The Boba X baby carrier (Boba/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Boba X baby carrier (Boba/PA) Other options include Bobas range of stretchy wraps, including one made of a cotton/bamboo mix, and another made of organic French Terry cotton, both costing 42. Expand Close The Boba Bamboo wrap in the colour bloom (Boba/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Boba Bamboo wrap in the colour bloom (Boba/PA) Ms Kendell picked out the wearable Elvie Pump, costing 249, as a key choice for breastfeeding mothers. If Meghan chooses to breastfeed, then the new Elvie wearable breast pump is a must so Harry can help with the night feeds, she said. It wowed mums in the Mother&Baby Big Test. Elvie Pump launched in the US last week selling out in under an hour! Excited to launch Elvie Pump with our US retail partners very soon! https://t.co/WctH47cgVb #breastpump #elviepump #femtech pic.twitter.com/CMmC2gduL2 Elvie (@elvie) February 11, 2019 The small, lightweight hands-free pump is silent, has no tubes or wires and fits inside a standard nursing bra. It also has smart features that can be used with an app, allowing remote control, live milk monitoring and tracking of pumping session times and quantities. Expand Close The wearable Elvie pump (Elvie/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The wearable Elvie pump (Elvie/PA) The environmentally-conscious Sussexes may want to do their bit by going for reusable nappies. Reusable nappies from Close Parent are a must for any modern planet-conscious parent, Ms Kendell said. Expand Close Close Parents Pop-in newborn nappy featuring a squirrel pattern (Close Parent/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Close Parents Pop-in newborn nappy featuring a squirrel pattern (Close Parent/PA) A washable Pop-in newborn printed tiger nappy by Close Parent currently costs 9.99. Expand Close Close Parents Pop-in newborn printed tiger nappy (Close Parent/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Close Parents Pop-in newborn printed tiger nappy (Close Parent/PA) Meghan could also choose to co-ordinate her skincare routine with her baby. Kit & Kins Mum and Baby Bundle of natural hypoallergenic products costs 54.99 and includes body butter, breast balm and stretch mark oil for the mother, as well as body oil, hair and body wash and bubble bath for baby. Have you tried our mum and baby bundle? Our essential award winning bundle of safe and effective natural products will care for and protect your familys skin, all approved by dermatologists and certified natural by the soil association pic.twitter.com/l2YIRxP70e Kit & Kin (@KitandKinUK) October 9, 2018 Ms Kendell singled out the new Bluebell smart monitoring system, priced at 299, as perfect for keeping a close eye on the royal baby and new mother Meghan. With Harry being so supportive of the mental health campaign Heads Together, I think hes going to be very proactive when it comes to supporting Meghans mental well-being as she adjusts to being a mum, Ms Kendell said. The only monitor for the royal household to consider is the new Bluebell monitor, as itll support Meghans well-being as well. Bluebell is finally here! Check out our shiny new website at https://t.co/YSRAemxBkt. Register your interest to make sure you're the first in line to get your Bluebell Smart Monitoring system. Pre-order from 1st March. #parenting #Parents #newborn #startup pic.twitter.com/odaSv0Vi9x Bluebell Baby Monitor (@Bluebellfamily) February 1, 2019 The state-of-the-art Bluebell includes a monitor, which clips to the babys clothes, which can track and issue alerts on breathing, skin temperature, position, sleep, activity and when the baby cries. The parent wristband keeps count of a parents sleep, steps and activity level, and shows updates from the baby monitor. Expand Close The Bluebell monitor and parent wristband, costing 299 (Bluebell/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Bluebell monitor and parent wristband, costing 299 (Bluebell/PA) It can also be used to record feeding and nappy changing times. All readings are synced to a smart hub and a mobile app, which also encourages the mother or father to track their own mood and offers intermittent checks on their mental well-being. The Bluebell can be pre-ordered and will be available in May. Mother&Baby is the UKs best-selling parenting magazine. Bernie Sanders has kicked off his presidential campaign by proclaiming that he is the Democrat best prepared to beat President Donald Trump in 2020. Speaking just miles from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn, Mr Sanders forcefully made the case that he is nothing like fellow New Yorker Mr Trump. He told a crowd: 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. And that is something I will never forget. The Democrats in the 2020 race have taken varied approaches to Mr Trump, with some avoiding saying his name entirely, while others make implicit critiques of his presidency. Mr Sanders has never shied from attacking Mr Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College he called the US leader the most dangerous president in modern American history and said Mr Trump wants to divide us up. The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Expand Close The Vermont senator said his campaign is designed to defeat Donald Trump next year (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Vermont senator said his campaign is designed to defeat Donald Trump next year (AP) Beyond the issues themselves, Mr Sanders, who grew up in the Jewish neighbourhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs, said Mr Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. Mr Sanders also said he did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers: Youre fired.' Expand Close Mr Sanders supporters gathered to hear him launch his campaign (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Sanders supporters gathered to hear him launch his campaign (AP) I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over every day workers. As he began his speech, Mr Sanders hinted at how he sees the race a campaign that runs beyond the key battlegrounds. This is a 50-state campaign, he said. We will not concede a single state to Donald Trump. Marines of the US and South Korea during a joint military combined exercise in Pohang, South Korea (Kim Jun-bum/Yonhap/AP/File) South Korea and the US are ending their massive springtime military drills as part of efforts to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision will likely raise worries about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the recently failed summit between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Pentagon said in a release the US and South Korean defence chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programmes. Today ROK MinDef Jeong Kyeong-doo @ROK_MND & I agreed to maintain strong military readiness through newly designed Command Post exercises & revised field training programs. Together we are ready to meet any security challenge. #UNC #USFK #CFC #KatchiKapshida #Alliance Archive: Acting SecDef Pat Shanahan (@ActingSecDef) March 2, 2019 Acting US Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo made clear that the alliance decision to adapt our training programme reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. Seouls Defence Ministry released a similar statement. After his second summit with Mr Kim ended without any agreement in Hanoi on Thursday, Mr Trump complained about the cost of annual military drills. Its a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too, Mr Trump said. Following his first summit with Mr Kim in Singapore last June, Mr Trump also suspended the allies summertime military drills, calling them very provocative and massively expensive. The US and South Korea also have suspended a few other smaller joint drills. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has described them as a rehearsal for invasion and responded with its own costly military exercises. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. Philippine Airlines has programmed $650 million worth of capital expenditures this year to fund the acquisition of new aircraft. PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said over the weekend the airline was acquiring two Airbus 350, two A321 Neo and two Q400 aircraft this year. He said these aircraft would be deployed to long-haul and domestic flights. PAL flies to 43 international and 35 domestic destinations using 95 aircraft, one of the youngest fleets in the industry with an average age of just five years. ANA HD, the Japanese parent company of All Nippon Airways, earlier invested $95 million for a 9.5-percent stake in PAL parent PAL Holdings Inc. ANA HD acquired the shares from Trustmark Holdings Corp., which is owned by the family of billionaire Lucio Tan and the largest shareholder of PAL Holdings. The investment will increase foreign ownership in the company from 8.77 percent to 18.27 percent. Earlier, PAL Holdings posted a net loss of P3.29 billion in the January-to-September period last year from P2.31 billion year-on-year.Total revenues in the nine-month period reached P112.07 billion, up 16 percent from P96.58 billion on year. Expenses increased 17 percent to P115.30 billion last year from P98.56 billion in 2017, led by higher jet fuel prices, aircraft lease charges and flight frequencies. Flying operations expenses increased 26.9 percent to P63.26 billion last year from P49.84 billion a year ago. The company said jet fuel expenses climbed 36.1 percent in the nine-month period as the average price per barrel of aviation fuel soared from $73.92 in 2017 to $92.80 in 2018. The airline earlier announced it was expanding operations in Asia by launching new routes to Hanoi (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and New Delhi (India) from its Manila hub. The latest expansion by PAL creates the first direct air link between the Philippines and the capital of Cambodia, expands PALs existing Vietnam network and re-establishes a historic link to India with immense potential for tourism development. Philippine Airlines strategic vision is to make the Philippines a true gateway to Asia. We are the Southeast Asian airline with the biggest and most extensive network of direct flights to the US and Canada, and thus we can be the leader in carrying North American travelers to India, Cambodia and Vietnam via our Manila hub, Bautista said. SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property unit of the Sy family, earmarked P80 billion for 2019 capital expenditures to support the companys provincial expansion and land banking activities. SM Prime said in a presentation posted on its website this years capital spending program would be funded by a combination of local borrowings and internal funds. This years spending plan is slightly lower than the P91 billion it spent in 2018. SM Prime plans to open four new malls and complete the expansion of two this year. The new malls set to open this year are SM Center Dagupan with 23,000 square meters of gross floor area, SM City Olongapo Central with 72,000 sqm, SM City Butuan with 48,000 sqm and SM Mindpro Citimall in Zamboanga City with 53,000 sqm. SM Prime will also complete the expansion of SM Baguio to add 32,000 sqm in GFA and SM City Fairview which will add 46,000 sqm. SM Prime said that by the end of 2019, the mall business unit would have 76 malls in the Philippines and seven malls in China with an estimated combined gross floor area of 10.5 million square meters.Meanwhile, the groups residential business under SM Development Corp. is scheduled to launch 15,000 to 18,000 residential units this year that include high-rise buildings, mid-rise buildings and single-detached house and lot projects. These projects are located in Metro Manila and other key cities in the provinces. SM Prime is also set to open two new hotels, Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa in 2019. Offering 200 rooms, Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo is situated right next to SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao while the 239-room Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa will be connected to SM North EDSA in Quezon City. By 2019, SM Prime will have 2,059 hotel rooms under its portfolio. For office development, SM Prime will launch NU Tower in 2019 with 46,000 sqm of GFA. This will boost the groups office to nine with total GFA of 681,000 sqm. Canada NewsWire OTTAWA, March 3, 2019 OTTAWA, March 3, 2019 /CNW/ - The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) welcomes the new Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP), a milestone initiative in support of Canada's minerals and metals industry. The CMMP, which includes measures that aim to enhance the sector's competitiveness, advance the participation of Indigenous communities and promote Canada's role as a global leader in the mining sector, is an ambitious plan and provides vision that will position the industry for success in the years to come. "We appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with federal, provincial and territorial governments to provide the perspective of Canada's mining industry throughout the drafting process of the CMMP," said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of MAC. Given the important role Canada's mining industry plays in the economy and as an employer in communities across the country, addressing the sector's waning competitiveness has been an issue of critical importance over the past several years. "While Canada has long benefited from a prosperous minerals and metals industry, we are not immune to global competitive forces, and cannot take the benefits and opportunities that mining offers Canadians for granted," continued Gratton. "In order to attract greater investment and enhance the competitiveness of the mining sector, the CMMP proposes a number of initiatives, including strategic investments in infrastructure, supporting financing and taxation systems that support exploration, promoting more agile and efficient regulatory systems and investing in Indigenous training initiatives and mining innovation. If all of Canada's governments take steps to put this plan into action, the competitive landscape for new mineral exploration and mining investment will be much improved." As demand for minerals and metals continues to grow, and with Canada a demonstrable leader in sustainable mining practices, there is tremendous potential for the country to position itself as a responsible supplier of the mineral and metal products the world needs. "While much needs to be done to bolster the sector's domestic and international leadership, the good news is that Canada already has strong building blocks in place and the commitments in the CMMP are encouraging," concluded Gratton. "The federal Fall Economic Statement, which included a five-year renewal of the METC and enhanced accelerated capital cost treatment for resource projects, was an early example of actions that would make a material difference to Canada's competitiveness. The governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia have already announced new measures to support investment in their mining industries, and we look forward to seeing the full implantation of federal, provincial and territorial Action Plans in the coming months." The mining industry is a major sector of Canada's economy, contributing $97 billion to national GDP and responsible for 19 percent of Canada's total domestic exports. Canada's mining sector employs 634,000 people directly and indirectly across the country. The industry is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a major customer of Indigenous-owned businesses. About MACThe Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca. SOURCE Mining Association of Canada (MAC) Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION PR Newswire DUBAI, UAE, March 3, 2019 DUBAI, UAE, March 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OPPO - a leading global smartphone brand - and Ericsson have signed a multi-year global patent license agreement, including collaboration on a number of business projects. Ericsson is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the world. The deal with Ericsson is the latest in a series of patent license agreements by OPPO with key telecommunication industry partners including Qualcomm, Dolby and Nokia. Adler Feng, Head of OPPO Intellectual Property Department, said that the agreement will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation between the two companies in the 5G era. "OPPO has always placed intellectual property rights as our top priority. We look forward to working with Ericsson to drive cutting-edge innovation in products and services." Gustav Brismark, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson, said: "This important deal confirms the value of our patent portfolio and further validates the Ericsson FRAND licensing program. Ericsson has signed more than 100 patent license agreements to date, and we are delighted to sign a mutually beneficial agreement with OPPO." Following a patent-first strategy, OPPO always attaches great importance to the patent and reserve accumulation. As of January 2019, the company has filed more than 33,000 patent applications worldwide and owns more than 8,000 granted patents. OPPO will continue to work closely with leading industry partners to bring the best products and experiences to consumers globally. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smartphone brand, dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of young, trend-setting and beauty, OPPO brings consumers delighted experience of digital life. For the last 10 years, OPPO has been focusing on manufacturing camera phones, while innovating mobile photography technology breakthroughs. OPPO started the era of Selfie beautification, and was the first brand to launch smartphones with 5MP and 16MP front cameras. OPPO was also the first brand to introduce the motorized rotating camera, the Ultra HD feature and the 5x Dual Camera Zoom technology. OPPO's Selfie Expert F series launched in 2016 drove a Selfie trend in the smartphone industry. In 2017, OPPO was ranked as the number 4 smartphone brand globally, according to IDC. Today OPPO's business covers 40 countries and regions, and has 6 research centers worldwide, providing excellent smartphone photography experience to more and more young people around the world. About OPPO MEA In 2015, OPPO entered the Egyptian market. In 2016, OPPO set up its Middle East & Africa Sales Center in Cairo. The markets OPPO has entered in the Middle East and Africa include: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kenya and Nigeria. OPPO set up its factory in Algeria in 2017, which made OPPO the first Chinese brand setting up factory in North Africa. Now, the factory goes into production. Based on the insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO MEA has started the progress of localization. And the localization includes all the perspectives towards each market product localization, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localization, to better communicate with local young customers; and team localization, to know our local consumers further and provide better service to the consumers. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X smartphone and the introduction of the OPPO R Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to young consumers in the region. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oppo-and-ericsson-signed-patent-license-agreement-300805511.html SOURCE OPPO DICT defends cyber security deal posted March 03, 2019 at 07:05 pm by Darwin G. Amojelar March 03, 2019 at 07:05 pm The Department of Information and Communication Technology said it is open to any investigation on the P512-million Cyber Security Management project. The Cybersecurity bidding process is above board and can pass any scrutiny. We welcome any investigation on this matter, DICT acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said. A taxpayer recently filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the DICT over the CSM Project. The DICT in January 2019 launched the CMSP, the countrys national platform for intelligence sharing to comprehensively monitor threats and defend the countrys cyber infrastructure from cyberattacks.The project is set to be completed in 10 and a half months starting from the issuance of the notice to proceed on Jan. 15. This kick-off for the CMS project is a great cue for us to keep taking bold action in this gargantuan task of safeguarding our citizens in the cyber realm, Rio earlier said in a statement. The platform aims to build the resilience of the country as part of the National Cybersecurity Plan 2022. 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. PXP Energy eyes other oil, gas areas posted March 03, 2019 at 07:00 pm by Alena Mae S. Flores March 03, 2019 at 07:00 pm PXP Energy Corp. is looking at other oil and gas areas offered under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program. Of course, were looking, PXP Energy chairman Manuel Pangilinan said if the company was interested in other areas under the PCECP which are near the Recto Bank. If theres a deadline, then we will comply with government requirement, Pangilinan said. PXP Energy, through Forum Energy Ltd., controls Service Contract 72 (Recto Bank) and SC 75 (Northwest Palawan) which are under exploration moratorium amid the territorial dispute with China.SC 72, which covers an 8,800-square-kilometer area west off Palawan, is estimated to contain bigger oil/gas reserves than the Malampaya gas project. The PCECP drew 21 expressions of interest, according to the Department of Energy. We have 14 pre-determined areas under PCECP. Thirteen have applied for the pre-determined areas and eight nominated for a potential area so actually, PCECP is a hybrid of PECR [Philippine Energy Contracting Round] and application by nomination, Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said earlier. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. The Chinese government does not set any debt trap for developing countries when it extends loans to fund infrastructure projects, Chinas top political advisory body said Saturday. At a press conference, Guo Weimin, spokesperson of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said extending Chinese loans to developing countries facilitates infrastructure projects that are expected to bring development and boost the economic growth of these nations. Chinese investments only account for a very small share of their total debt. And our projects are mostly infrastructure, which can support the long-term development of those countries, Guo said. Yet some say, this is a great debt trap. But this doesnt make sense, he added. In the Philippines, China is financing the $62 million Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, which aims to water around 8,700 hectares of agricultural land to benefit more than 4,300 families in the northern part of the country. Data from the Philippines Department of Finance (DOF) also showed that the countrys projected debt to China by 2022 will only account for 4.5 percent of the total debt. This is lower compared to the debt to Japan at around 9.5 percent of the governments total debt by 2022. The DOF also said the Philippines stable fiscal condition will be able to pay its obligations. Philippine government data also showed that the countrys debt-to-GDP ratio in 2018 was estimated at 41.9 percent, lower than its 42.1 percent target for the previous year. Actually the debt problem of some developing countries is complicated. It is a product of history, Guo said. Malacanang on Sunday shrugged off the challenge of Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares to have a debate on the irrigation project deal between the Philippines and China. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said he has better things to do than to grant Colmenares desperate wish to be in the limelight to help his run for the Senate.Challenging a publicly visible government official to a debate attracts media attention. Surely Mr. Neri Colmenares knows how to grab at a media operation to improve on his fledgling candidacy, Panelo said in a statement. He should be commended for that, but I have better things to do than to provide him the forum he desperately needs, he said. Last week,saying it was onerous in its entirety and highly favored Beijing. Colmenares said a dangerous component of the agreement could allow China to take control of the countrys patrimonial properties should the Philippine government fail to pay the loan. READ: Palace slams Colmenares for questioning China deal , arguing that the Duterte administrations economic managers have carefully studied the agreement. It is clear that the matter has been studied at length by our economic managers, particularly the DOF, unlike Mr. Colmenares who has only shown himself to be ignorant of the intricacies of finance, Panelo said. In response, Colmenares hit back at Panelo for accusing him of making a publicity stunt out of the loan agreement. He then challenged Panelo to a debate. READ: China loans not a debt trapNeda BRANDON Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister fired back at Liberal MP Jim Carr on Saturday, saying finger-pointing is just a distraction from real issues in Ottawa. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/3/2019 (1011 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us BRANDON Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister fired back at Liberal MP Jim Carr on Saturday, saying finger-pointing is just a distraction from "real" issues in Ottawa. "I think we need to work together effectively, and I think Manitobans are intelligent enough to understand why the federal Liberal government members are starting to point fingers away from Ottawa and at us," Pallister said in an interview with The Brandon Sun. The premier made the comments following the opening ceremony of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier on Saturday. "Ill leave it at that, except to say that we are making progress on a number of infrastructure files, not least of which would be the outlet construction (for flood mitigation) at the north end of Lake Manitoba, in spite of extensive delays that have been introduced into the process," he said. He also said a number of projects are currently under negotiation with the federal government. Pallister will be in Brandon Monday for an unspecified funding announcement, following a spate of funding announcements last week, including $300,000 for Manitoba 4-H and shared federal-provincial funding for horticultural research at Assiniboine Community College and Agriculture in the Classroom. On Friday, Carr, who is the international trade diversification minister, called on members of Manitobas heavy construction industry at a breakfast in Winnipeg to join him in working to get federal funds "flowing to Manitoba" to get "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects built. He blamed the Manitoba government for dragging its heels in getting projects approved. See the full story in Monday's Brandon Sun. BRANDON Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister fired back at Liberal MP Jim Carr on Saturday, saying finger-pointing is just a distraction from "real" issues in Ottawa. "I think we need to work together effectively, and I think Manitobans are intelligent enough to understand why the federal Liberal government members are starting to point fingers away from Ottawa and at us," Pallister said in an interview with The Brandon Sun. The premier made the comments following the opening ceremony of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier on Saturday. "Ill leave it at that, except to say that we are making progress on a number of infrastructure files, not least of which would be the outlet construction (for flood mitigation) at the north end of Lake Manitoba, in spite of extensive delays that have been introduced into the process," he said. He also said a number of projects are currently under negotiation with the federal government. Pallister will be in Brandon Monday for an unspecified funding announcement, following a spate of funding announcements last week, including $300,000 for Manitoba 4-H and shared federal-provincial funding for horticultural research at Assiniboine Community College and Agriculture in the Classroom. On Friday, Carr, who is the international trade diversification minister, called on members of Manitobas heavy construction industry at a breakfast in Winnipeg to join him in working to get federal funds "flowing to Manitoba" to get "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects built. He blamed the Manitoba government for dragging its heels in getting projects approved. OTTAWA - The number of cannabis confiscations at the Canadian border increased more than 60 per cent year-over-year in the first six weeks after pot legalization, new statistics show. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/3/2019 (1010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A man smokes cannabis in Kamloops, B.C. on October 17, 2018. New statistics show the number of cannabis confiscations at the Canadian border increased more than 60 per cent in the first six weeks after pot legalization.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward OTTAWA - The number of cannabis confiscations at the Canadian border increased more than 60 per cent year-over-year in the first six weeks after pot legalization, new statistics show. The Canada Border Services Agency is linking the rise to the fact it began asking people last fall whether they were bringing cannabis into the country. The border agency says there were 329 instances of cannabis either being seized by or forfeited to Canadian border officers from Oct. 17 to Nov. 30 of last year. That compares to 204 such confiscations in the same period of 2017. These numbers include both undeclared cannabis seized by the border agency and declared cannabis forfeited to officers. But the agency could not break the figures down further to indicate how many instances of each type of confiscation occurred. As of last Oct. 17, adults in Canada can possess and share up to 30 grams of legal cannabis. However, taking pot across Canada's international borders remains illegal and can result in serious criminal penalties. As a result, bringing cannabis into Canada is against the law even when travelling from places that have loosened their laws on marijuana use, and despite the fact recreational consumption is now permitted in Canada. In the weeks before legalization, the border agency advised the public that officers would be asking visitors and returning Canadians whether they have any cannabis with them. They hoped the question would reduce the risk of unintentional violations of the law. If you are carrying pot when you enter Canada, it must be declared to the border agency. Otherwise, you may face arrest and prosecution, the agency says. The newly released statistics do not indicate how many charges resulted from the 329 confiscations in the six-week period last fall. The increase "doesn't mean necessarily that it's leading to a negative outcome for these folks," said Mark Belanger, a lawyer with Border Solutions Law Group in Vancouver. Belanger suggested it is too early to detect such post-legalization trends, and over the next year or two he will have "better anecdotal evidence" as to what is happening. The border agency also saw a massive year-over-year jump in the number of cannabis interceptions through searches of parcels sent to Canada by mail during the six-week period. The agency detected 1,980 packages containing cannabis from Oct. 17 to Nov. 30, 2018 up from just 241 interceptions during the same period the previous year. But the reason for that appears to have little to do with cannabis legalization. The agency says the postal disruption last fall resulted in lower volumes of mail at postal centres, allowing it to work on tackling shipment backlogs. "Due to this focused effort, there was an increase in cannabis interdiction reporting in the postal mode during this period," the agency said in response to questions from The Canadian Press. "Travellers, mail, courier and commercial shipments continue to be subject to the Customs Act and examined for prohibited goods, including cannabis and cannabis products." Follow @JimBronskill on Twitter It is a long time since an Irish Taoiseach - Charlie Haughey was able to boast about the countrys youthful population, about the fact that half of us were aged under 25. Back in the 1980s, we were young and poor, by European standards. The problem was a lack of jobs for our growing population. Since then, we have grown middle-aged. As family sizes have fallen, we have enjoyed what economists refer to as a "demographic dividend" as the ratio of people of working age to dependents young and old - has risen. Over the next few decades, our "dependency ratio" is set to soar as more of us reach retirement age. That could have serious economic implications if we dont start re-tooling large numbers of our workers before they face being eased into retirement. At a conference in Dublin Castle organised by the Irish Fiscal council, the OECDs expert on population ageing Herve Boulhol pointed out that while the number of over 65s across the OECD area is predicted to jump by 90%, in the case of Ireland the corresponding increase is likely to be around 120% An even more startling statistic was provided by John McCarthy, chief economist at the Department of Finance. Professor Nicholas Crafts noting that it's hard to recall a time when there has been such a diverse range of views for future productivity growth. #ifacevent pic.twitter.com/nwE2dNaqXT Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (@fiscalcouncil) February 22, 2019 According to Mr McCarthy, there are currently almost five people of working age for every Irish person of retirement age. This is predicted to fall to just over two-to-one by the year 2050 that is barely 30 years from now. The figures are startling, but hardly surprising. In truth, policymakers have been fretting about the so-called "pensions time bomb" since the 1990s. At the end of November, John McKeon, Secretary General at the Department of Employment Affairs warned that the countrys social insurance fund would be faced with a deficit of around 335bn accumulating over the next 50 years if action was not taken in the meantime to remedy the situation. In the US, the public pension systems of some States - including Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and Kentucky - now have less than half the assets available to meet the demands on them. Those systems are underwater. We in Ireland still have time to tackle the issue of public retirement indebtedness. Our politicians need to own up to the fact that retirement ages must rise across the board and they must equip people for the part time jobs many will be filling. A new approach to retirement cannot be made to work in the future without a fundamental overhaul of our care systems and our systems of labour market intervention It was interesting to listen to the psychologist Maureen Gaffney, on RTE last Saturday, discussing the huge care burdens which people in middle-age are increasingly faced with as parents survive in greater and greater numbers to advanced ages. Childcare results in many people withdrawing from careers often at the point when productivity and earnings potential has begun to peak. The burden of the generations is increasingly borne at both ends of the age scale. Improving the quality of community care in an age of increasingly dispersed families- is absolutely essential if large sections of the workforce are not to be put in a position where their skill levels are allowed to gradually decay as they are forced back into familial duties. The no-holds-barred approach to work in todays output-oriented organisations has increased the pressure on employees. The pressure may result in improved levels of profits for those in pole positions, but the consequences for many individuals can be incalculable. Many are forced to step back, or step out as a result of this long hours, pressure-cooker culture. There is no easy answer to all of this. It would appear that it is part and parcel of the high tech globalised world that has delivered fat rewards to many in this economically open society. But it just does not make sense to let go of so many skilled people. We have yet to really start thinking seriously about how to reintegrate people back into the workforce after lengthy gaps. Some professional firms have found space for returners in educational roles, but there remains a heavy preference for recruitment of the young in many organisations. As the population grows older, structural - as distinct from cyclical gaps - in the workforce will open up. Some of those gaps will be filled by immigrants increasingly drawn from outside Europe. As Germany is discovering, the assimilation of migrants is not always straightforward. Complex skills cannot be passed on overnight, particularly in the case of those coming from countries with rudimentary education and training facilities. Over time, of course, most become important contributors to a host society into which they end up embedded. While migrants are usually younger than the host population, they also grow older. The demographic challenges can be deferred but not ducked through immigration. Mr Boulhol estimates that increases of more than eight years in the retirement age will be needed if member country pension systems are to be sustainable. The equivalent increase in the case of Ireland is 9.5 years as we play a game of demographic catch-up. However, such an increase would not be required if a rise in the employment rate across the working age population were to occur, or if retirement benefits were to be cut in real terms. The only way the latter could be achieved politically would be where part time employment, after the age of 65, were to jump appreciably. This could happen. Technology is making obsolete many work functions, but it is also enabling many people particularly those with creativity and business skills to work well into what are considered to be the twilight years Interestingly , despite the severity of the financial crisis, the employment rate among people aged 55 to 64 actually rose by almost 15% between 2000 and 2016 across the OECD area. It rose by more than 20 percentage points in Italy, Hungary and the Netherlands countries where the average age of the population is considerably higher than in Ireland. In Ireland, the total employment rate the number at work as a proportion of the total population is close to the OECD average. However, from the age of 55, the proportion at work drops off dramatically from 70% to just 45% by the time people reach their 65th birthday. In many occupations, there remains in place a culture of early retirement. In some cases, particularly once people reach 60, retirement is welcomed eagerly, no doubt. The grandchildren may have arrived. The chance to develop neglected hobbies or to simply get out for long walks. These are, indeed, the golden years for some, particularly in high-end business, professional and public sector occupations. But many others typically women forced out early from the workforce would welcome the chance to try and fill up largely empty retirement accounts. This 'time bomb' can be defused without too much difficulty if opportunities are more widely spread across the generations and labour market strategies are reworked to promote second chances for those in mid-life. Healthy patients are taking up hundreds of thousands of hospital beds because there is not enough community support to allow them to go home. Delayed discharges are when an older or vulnerable patient no longer requires acute care in hospital, but has no access to 'step-down' care in the community. Senators and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday spoke out againstallegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, particularly if it is without evidence and if it comes out before the May elections. Making it public is unjust and unfair to those who may be delisted later, or worse, after the elections said Senator Panfilo Lacson, noting that such a list could be used to smear candidates running for office in May. This has happened before and it could happen again, he said. Senator Richard Gordon added that producing such a list could be a basis for filing a libel case against the government officials responsible. Both senators were reacting to a plan by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano to release the names of politicians appearing on the narco list as a guide for voters. But Lacson said such a list should be used only for intelligence purposes and to help law enforcement build up a case. He said this has the end view of filing appropriate criminal charges against those on the list. Gordon raised due process concerns.If they have evidence, they can file a case, he said. Earlier, DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency was just waiting for thebefore releasing the list. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President would allow the release of the list as long as it has been verified. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, meanwhile, said it would be unfair to release the list during the election period as this would constitute negative campaigning. In an interview on radio dzBB, Guanzon urged the DILG and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to file cases against the politicians who are involved in drug trade instead of releasing the list. She added that if the DILG cannot prove its charges, publishing the list could be considered libel. READ: Duterte has power over narco-list Update: Proposals to allow convicted drink drivers to drive to work are being considered. The Vintner's Federation of Ireland wants the Government to look into the issue in the wake of the new drink drive laws introduced in October. They have seen automatic driving bans, fines and penalty points brought in for those caught over the limit. Padraig Cribben, the CEO of the VFI, said a similar move has been proposed in other countries. Mr Cribben said: "What we are looking at is the detail of a scheme that's in New Zealand where those that are caught, very much at the lower end of the scale, would have the facility to use their car for transport to and from work. "Bear in mind that the most recent change in the legislation in Ireland has really only affected those at the very bottom end of the scale." Earlier: Minister considering VFI proposal to allow convicted drink-drivers to drive to work The Government is considering allowing convicted drink-drivers to drive to work. Officials have been asked to examine a system in operation in New Zealand. In New Zealand, a person can apply for a limited licence that would allow them to drive at specific times for specific reasons. They must prove to a court their driving ban causes them extreme hardship or undue hardship to someone else. The Sunday Business Post reports that if the move was considered in Ireland it would be most likely in cases where people need their car in order to get to and from work. According to the paper, Transport Minister Shane Ross would consider any such proposal from the Vintner's Federation of Ireland. Ireland's tough drink-driving laws have seen automatic driving bans, fines and penalty points introduced for those caught over the limit. Businesses packing tens of millions of dollars in debt could qualify for treatment as "small" companies when dealing with their banks under a recommendation from the Hayne royal commission. Small business lending has emerged as a key sticking point following the banking royal commission, after it recommended the industry's definition of a small business be changed so that it applies to "any business or group employing fewer than 100 full-time equivalent employees, where the loan applied for is less than $5 million". Suncorp banking and wealth chief executive David Carter. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer If adopted, this would be a significant change from banks' current definition of small business customers - those with a total loan exposure of up to $3 million. Small businesses receive extra protections in their loan contracts, and from the banks' perspective this adds risk. The minutes of meetings held in Perth, London, Melbourne, Dubai and in Brazil, and obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, suggest the Samarco board was aware of problems shortly after the dam began operating in late 2008. Minutes from a July 2009 meeting attended by Mr Randolph and another BHP representative John Slaven, note the board was "worried about the efficacy of the proposed solution to fix seepages at the dam. Seepages can be an early sign of potential dam weakness. The board appointed a Vale team to supervise Samarco's investigation and report back. That report was presented in Melbourne later that year. The board, including BHP's representatives Mr Randolph, Mr Slaven and Ian Ashby, were told investigators had concluded the leaks were caused by a construction fault, remediation had commenced and plans were in place to restart operations. The board approved the report, but problems persisted. Mr Slaven said he left the board in 2010 and declined to comment on matters subject to legal proceedings, as did Mr Randolph. Mr Ashby and other directors did not reply to requests for comment. Neither Mr Slaven nor Mr Ashby have been charged. Constant preocupation In 2011, an independent Tailing Review Board panel recommended to the board that Samarco improve the dam and communicate an emergency plan to nearby villages. Only ruins are left of the now flooded and green Bento Rodrigues. Credit:Lucas Godoy The board then requested Samarco "evaluate the cost and implications of relocating of downstream communities" and investigate alternative solutions for storing mining waste, given its plans to expand the mine's output and thus increase waste volume. Crucially, it requested Samarco "maintain focus on the identified catastrophic risks, taking necessary steps to avoid them". Another call for Samarco to talk to the local communities about emergency plans and set up a warning siren came again in 2013. A technical report commissioned by state authorities as part of the company's operational licence renewal process made an emergency contingency plan conditional for approval "given the presence of [nearby] Bento Rodrigues". But a siren was not installed and local residents say drills never took place even though the licence was granted. "Safety, leave the area when siren sounds". A siren system and evacuation route signs were only installed in Bento Rodrigues, Brazil, after the 2015 dam disaster. Credit:Lucas Godoy The board, meeting in Dubai that year, was recorded as emphasising that "the tailings were still a point of great preoccupation, especially considering future storage needs". They requested a contingency plan by the following meeting. The minutes of that and subsequent meetings do not record any such discussion. Two years later and four months before the dam failed, two external inspectors and a Samarco employee again observed further leaks. Monitoring equipment showed the dams risk rating was at 1.3, exceeding a baseline 1.5 rating which was the minimum to avoid failure. Even so, consultants VOGBR issued a report declaring the dam stable. Prosecutors point to this as a false and misleading declaration of stability". A woman covered in mud, kneels next to the word "assassins", during a protest outside the Rio de Janeiro office Brazilian mining company Vale last month. Credit:AP At the last board meeting before the dam collapsed, held in Perth on August 8, 2015, minutes record a recommendation for a study to potentially raise the dam wall further to "delay requirements for a new dam ... until 2023". On November 5, the dam failed with consequences similar to the joint-venture's worst risk assessments. Brazilian federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald late last year he was confident of securing convictions. The accusation is that they knew the risks. They knew it could burst, he said. They should have taken steps to avoid the crime; instead, they increased production. A BHP spokesperson said the company had "no reason to believe BHP people knew the dam was at risk of failing". "We reject outright criminal charges against the company and its employees and will continue in our defence and support of affected individuals," it said. A BHP statement said that monitoring and alarm systems at all sites had been reviewed and "all significant tailings storage facilities have emergency response plans in place". Phi Finney McDonald Principal Lawyer Brett Spiegel said the firm was "looking forward to holding BHP accountable" through the Impiombato class action in Melbourne. The action alleges BHP knew of the risks by at least September 2014 "and neither informed the public, nor took the necessary action to prevent the dams collapse". The disaster has cost the joint venture close to $2 billion in compensation to date, on top of fines and production losses. An additional $55 billion civil lawsuit brought by Brazilian prosecutors is suspended until 2020. Last month, another Vale-owned tailings dam collapsed killing an estimated 300 people, also without alarms sounding. The Public Attorneys Office on Sundayand other health officials over the deaths of children linked to the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine during the previous administration. PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said they saw theas a vindication of the agencys pursuit of cases for the victims and their families. Acosta said she believed that the departments filing of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide had also disproved the insinuations of Garin and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III that the PAO should be blamed for the publics vaccine scare that supposedly led to the measles outbreak. We feel vindicated by the findings of the DOJ. Our tireless efforts for the families of the victims have paid off, Acosta said. This is proof that we did not create the vaccine scare of measles outbreak. It was precisely this criminal liability of Garin, as established in the preliminary investigation of the DOJ, that tainted the publics trust in vaccines. It was this indiscriminate mass vaccination and under-distribution of safe vaccines that caused the alleged scare and outbreak. Acosta said she was confident the departments prosecutors would be able to establish the guilt of the accused in court, citing the evidence gathered by her office. She disputed Garins claim that the direct link of the Dengvaxia vaccine to the deaths of its recipients had not been scientifically established, which could be the basis for the dismissal of the cases in courts. Thats not true. There is a medical link and we were able to establish that in the DOJ preliminary investigation, Acosta said. A study by the RITM [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine] showed that four deaths were caused by Dengvaxia and 62 percent of the serious adverse effects were caused by the vaccine. They already knew the high risks in conducting the mass immunization of Dengvaxia without blood tests and screening and yet they still proceeded with it.However, Acosta did not agree with the Justice departments dismissal of the charges against Duque and other health officials and the executives of Zuellig Pharma. We will file a partial motion for reconsideration of the DOJ resolution with respect to the findings on Duque and Zuellig officials, Acosta said. There were over 10 deaths during the term of Duque when he pursued the immunization program in November 2017. He deliberately ignored the documented warnings of the Filipino experts as early as March 2016. The DOJ resolution released last week, however, only covered eight cases in the first batch of the Dengvaxia cases filed so far by the PAO. READ: FDA revokes Dengvaxia certificate The department is expected to release another resolution on the second batch of cases involving eight more deaths, while it is still conducting hearings on 13 other cases. READ: Charge Aquino, Abad, too In the resolution by the investigating panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Emilia Victorio, the DOJ found probable cause in the complaints filed by the PAO and approved the indictment of Garin and nine other Health officials for eight counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. READ: Aquino, Sanofi execs rapped over Dengvaxia A Queensland Health spokesman said in 2017-2018 the ieMR supported 6.8 million episodes of patient care. Loading The $600 million integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) project, run by eHealth Queensland, gives all patients an electronic medical record accessible by all clinicians at hospitals with the ieMR installed. So far, 10 hospitals have the electronic medical record installed, with the Sunshine Coast University Hospital the latest to launch the software. Suggestions for improvements and changes to the ieMR from clinicians are a normal part of its operation, but there have been no reports made to eHealth Queensland of patient harm directly linked to the implementation of the ieMR, the spokesman said. The woman at the centre of the review was 38 weeks pregnant when she went to a regional health service with abdominal pain, vomiting and high blood pressure. She was discharged with antibiotics and a plan to return that morning for a check-up. Loading While at home, the woman suffered seizures. Rushed back to the health service by ambulance, the woman was intubated and ventilated, and flown to hospital for an emergency caesarean. The confidential case review recommended the rural facilitys operations be assessed to make sure patients received proper communication and care. It also recommended a urine test be conducted to check for protein in urine at every clinic, and risks be clearly communicated to pregnant women being treated at the clinic. Loading At one of the womans early appointments in December 2017, a midwife had entered the results of a urine test in the obstetric section of the ieMR, which noted a high protein level in the urine that could lead to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Eclampsia is a serious condition that leads to high blood pressure and convulsions during pregnancy, and protein in the urine is an early warning sign of the potential for a woman to develop it. Pre-eclampsia can cause growth delays in babies due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients. The urine test result was not mentioned again in the patients electronic medical record when the woman returned to hospital in early 2018, the review found. The content expert on the team advised that it is likely that the obstetrician would not have seen the ward test urine results as the medical officers do not use obstetric view, the report found. Loading The obstetric view was used by midwives in antenatal clinics to insert and edit test results and patient comments. After birth, the womans baby was given three minutes of CPR and taken into intensive care. The baby was diagnosed with brain damage needing specialist support, and was discharged after nearly three weeks in hospital. The internal review of the 2018 incident found that clinicians used the incorrect assessment tools to monitor the womans symptoms, and she was not given a paper hand-held patient record when being transferred from a regional clinic to the hospital. Loading The case review team agreed that the fragmented care was exacerbated by factors relating to clinical processes and there were a number of missed opportunities to identify the patients additional risk factors earlier, the report said. Midwives entered key patient information into "obstetric view", a section of the womans electronic medical records dedicated to maternity care. However medical officers had been told not use that section as it was not easily seen by other specialists who might have been treating the patient. Comments from midwives and test results that were entered into "obstetric view" would also go to another tab on the patients medical record, called "results view", the report said. Loading But the report found obstetricians did not use the "results view" tab as it was considered incomplete. The Queensland Health spokesman said all systems, including paper-based systems, had risks. Patient safety experts and the vast majority of clinicians across Queensland agree that the benefits of the ieMR far outweigh the risks, he said. Loading In September 2018, the Australian Medical Association Queensland wrote to Queensland Health director-general Michael Walsh highlighting the issue of clinicians unable to see critical patient data because it was entered into different sections of the ieMR. The case review recommended that the way midwives and obstetricians used the ieMR be altered to ensure all patient information could be seen by all clinicians, including specialists such as cardiologists. Those recommendations were passed on to eHealth Queensland and the department. Queensland Health has been upgrading the obstetric module over the past 18 months, rolling out 36 upgrades including the ability for anaesthetists to see "obstetric view". The incident followed an August 2017 obstetric safety alert issued to hospitals by an eHealth Queensland project manager on the ieMR. Safety alerts are issued when the software malfunctions and may be a risk to patients. The alert warned about a patient safety risk as an alert system that monitored how a pregnant womans labour was progressing did not work correctly. Without the action and alert system, midwives and clinicians could not accurately monitor how a womans labour was progressing on the electronic medical record and whether they needed to intervene, for example by performing a caesarean section. Queensland farmers devastated after massive flooding hit northern parts of the state last month now find themselves in the bizarre position of wishing for more rain. Much of the flooded areas were drought declared before the floods, and despite the deluge went right back to that state after the water receded. 'ONE corner in ONE paddock on ONE property': Traeger MP Robbie Katter posted this image on Facebook. Credit:Robbie Katter Heidi Smith lives with her husband and four children on Iffley Station, a cattle station between Normanton and Julia Creek. She said there had been a significant impact on the landscape from the flooding. Police have released an image of a red scooter as they attempt to piece together the final hours of two young boys found dead near the Ross River in north Queensland. The bodies of three-year-old Jhulio Sariago and five-year-old Barak Austral were discovered early on February 26 near the bank of the river in the Townsville suburb of Cranbrook. Hundreds of mourners gathered on the bank of the Ross River on Sunday to farewell the brothers remembered as beautiful angels taken too soon. The boys' mother Leeann Eatts has been inundated with messages of support from friends, family and strangers on Facebook after Ms Eatts wrote a poem read on her behalf at the memorial and traditional smoking ceremony. A Brisbane man extradited from New Zealand to face charges over a multimillion-dollar global investment fraud has been remanded in custody. Anthony David Gray, 54, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday, charged with 25 counts of fraud. Detectives searched a Highgate Hill home and charged a 74-year-old woman in Queensland with nine counts of fraud regarding a multimillion-dollar global investment scheme. Credit:Queensland Police Service He did not apply for bail, and will remain behind bars until his next mention on April 1. It is alleged Mr Gray ran a property investment scheme based on short-term bridging loans under a myriad of companies, many of which were alleged to be based in New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. At least two homes and three other buildings have been destroyed as fires continue to rage across Victoria. A massive 6280-hectare blaze is tearing through the Bunyip State Park, near Tonumbik, about 65 kilometres east of Melbourne. It is the largest fire in Victoria and an evacuation alert remains in place for the town of Labertouche, with the blaze expected to reach the area by midday. There are currently 25 fires burning across the state. Aircraft will be sent up on Sunday to work out what type of buildings were destroyed by fires at Bunyip State Park. I recently moved out to regional Victoria with my wife and child. We wanted to flee the rat race and get a house that didnt cost an arm and a leg and a kidney (in monthly repayments alone). Orchard jobs should be among the best in the country. At first, we found our new area peaceful, beautiful. The tree change was everything wed hoped for. It wasn't long, though, before the two-hour daily commute to my job in the city became a grind. One day I stopped by the office of one of the nearby orchards. I'd read the horror stories about the low pay and poor conditions in the fruit picking industry, but I was finding that employment in regional Victoria is hard to come by. The manager of the operation, a convivial older man, was impressed with my background and offered me a supervisor's role - casual employment with super - for the season that runs from November to May. I was happy. I was working a few kilometres from home, and while the money wasn't much more than bar wages, away from Melbourne it was liveable. The lush rolling hills were stunning, and immediately I was getting fit and knocking off a new audio-book every other day. Why didnt more locals do this, I thought? Why were just 10 per cent of the staff Australians when this job was so damn good? "You have the case of a young woman living in poverty, a single mother, who puts her six-month-old baby in the bath and goes out to have a cigarette on the verandah and the baby drowns. "[Then there's the case] where it's a stepfather, the violence against a very young child, often a baby, is protracted. It involves threats towards the mother not to seek medical attention. It involves the most appalling cruelty. "In the mandatory sentencing space, both those people would get the same outcome." Mandatory sentencing was "superficially appealing", "because it sounds as though you're really 'cracking down on crime'". "People think judicial discretion is some sort of trick ... it gives [judges] the opportunity to do whatever they like," he said. "But in real life it's not like that. We're quite constrained by the law, firstly by the Penalties and Sentences Act and then the case law. "It's not like you can jump in and have a free kick." The former judge said mandatory sentencing would also make Queensland's overflowing prisons, already at 125 per cent capacity, even more crowded. It would affect marginalised and vulnerable members of the community more, Judge Robertson said, such as homeless people, young people, drug-addicted people, Indigenous people and people with a mental illness. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners already account for about one in three people in jail, despite making up less than 5 per cent of Queensland's adult population. "It's a really complex, multi-faceted problem and the difficulty is, it's really easy just to say, well we're going to increase the maximum penalty or we're going to introduce mandatory sentencing - that's really easy," Mr Robertson said. "It's much more difficult to address homelessness, so really put a lot of money into public housing, and to address the relationship between mental illness and criminal behaviour." It is a position that is supported by Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts. "Mandatory sentences often cause injustice," he said. "What we are concerned about in this is where you put a straitjacket on the discretion of the court to take into account all of the circumstances, then injustices may occur." Mr Potts said he did not want to express sympathy for people charged over the death of a child. "They would shock any reasonable person but there is a significant difference between offences which amount to a failure of humanity all the way through to people who are, for example, cold-blooded murderers for profit," he said. "If you equate them exactly the same then you are doing an injustice for victims and the perpetrators as a whole." Mr Potts said mandatory sentences could also lead to defendants choosing to go to trial rather than pleading guilty, increasing the workload of courts and affecting witnesses who must give evidence. "If you have a mandatory minimum, there's no incentive (such as a reduced sentence) for people to enter a plea at an early stage or cooperate with authorities," he said. Washington: A spacecraft built by SpaceX is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station in the second stage of a critical test of the private company's technology. The self-guided SpaceX Crew Dragon launched on Saturday on board a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The capsule is set to catch up with the orbiting ISS at about 0830 GMT (19:30 AEDT) on Sunday and dock at about 6:05am, NASA said. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral on Saturday. Credit:AP Live coverage of the rendezvous and docking will air on NASA Television and the agency's website. New York: The same words are regularly used to describe Bernie Sanders. Socialist. Idealist. Curmudgeon. President Donald Trump likes to call him crazy Bernie. Yet as Sanders stood in the snow on an arctic Brooklyn morning to launch his 2020 presidential campaign a different side of his personality came to the fore: a shrewd and strategic political operator. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont and 2020 presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign rally attended by 13,000 people in the Brooklyn Borough of New York on Saturday. Credit:Bloomberg Sanders emerged from virtual obscurity in 2016 to almost defeat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination on a policy platform that appeared far to the left of the American mainstream. Three years later, the sequel has many similarities to the original. National security adviser John Bolton on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying the president was right not to make a deal that wasn't in the best interests of the United States. "I don't agree at all that it was a failed summit," Bolton said on Fox News Sunday. "I think the obligation of the president of the United States is to defend and advance American national security interests. And I think he did that by rejecting a bad deal and by trying again to persuade Kim Jong Un to take the big deal that really could make a difference for North Korea." Trump abruptly cut short his meeting with Kim in Hanoi last week after the two leaders were unable to reach a deal to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear weapons. The president first met with the North Korean leader in June in Singapore. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among those needling Trump about the collapse of the talks in Hanoi. At a news conference last week, the California Democrat suggested that it should not have taken Trump so long to recognise that Kim is not serious about denuclearisation. The leftist Makabayan coalition on Sunday backed at least nine opposition and independent senatorial candidates running for senator. Satur Ocampo, Makabayan president, said they will endorse, support and vote for former representative Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna chairperson; Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Grace Poe and Nancy Binay; ex-senator Serge Osmena; human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno; ex-Quezon representative Erin Tanada III; ex-solictor general Florin Hilbay, and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc. Aquino, Diokno, Tanada, Hilbay and Gutoc are from the Otso Diretso opposition coalition. On the other hand, Poe, Binay and Osmena are independent candidates, while Colmenares is the only Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan senatorial bet. At times like this where there is widespread poverty, oppression and objection to alarming threat of dictatorship, when times that justice is very elusive, and that the system of how we monitor and balance the executive, judicial and legislative is at stake, we need a free Senate that can stand on its own, Ocampo said. He called on the nine candidates to join them in their fight to suspend the excise taxes on fuel brought about by the governments Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, promote human rights and due process and protect the countrys sovereignty and rights in the West Philippines Sea.Moreover, Ocampo said they expect those they are supporting to block any move to change the Constitution, and support the resumption of peace talks between the Duterte administration and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The nine opposition and independent senatorial candidates welcomed the Makabayan coalitions support. Farmers belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas led by its chairperson Danilo Ramos said they welcomed the endorsement of the nine candidates. We are setting the bar higher for those candidates. Even with the broad unity set, all the more should they prove that they are deserving of the Filipino farmers support and votes, he said. Quito: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said he would go home after concluding a visit to Ecuador, raising the prospect of a showdown with the government that he is trying to force from power. "I'm announcing my return home from Ecuador," Guaido said after meeting its president, Lenin Moreno. He also called for protests in Venezuela on Monday and Tuesday, days that coincide with the country's Carnival season. Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's interim president and is recognised as so by the US and 50 other nations including Australia, did not comment on the exact timing of his planned return to Venezuela. His spokesman, Edward Rodriguez, said "it's possible" that he will return on Monday. Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido speaks in front of the warehouse housing US humanitarian aid on February 23 before a failed attempt to break a border blockade. Credit:AP "We have little to celebrate and a lot to do," said Guaido, who recently visited the leaders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina in a campaign to build pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to resign. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Several readers wrote to us this week, calling for officials to act on measures to slow climate change: To the Editor, Climate change is happening here and now and as a young person building a life for myself, it is overwhelming to see too many of our leaders failing to act to keep our communities safe from climate disaster in the future. The latest climate report from the United Nations says we have only 12 years to transform our economy to preserve the stable climate human civilization has depended on for millennia. We need a massive mobilization of every sector of society on par with what science and justice demand. A Green New Deal will keep Americans safe from climate change and create millions of green jobs. It is common sense policy that is overwhelmingly popular with American people, regardless of political party or where they live. There is a Green New Deal on the table at every level of government in New York at the city level, at the state level, and at the federal level. Its time that our leaders take it up and act to save lives and the future now.Dana Affleck Clinton Hill To the Editor, Thank you for reading this! This letter is me saying, lets get behind the Green New Deal. I am 37-years-old and have been frightened and paralyzed about climate change for so long. Ever since Sunrise Movement and the Green New Deal resolution, Ive been so inspired and ready to participate in our democratic process. A Green New Deal will keep Americans safe from climate change and create millions of good jobs, too. Ive been calling my representatives every week to thank them for co-sponsoring this amazing resolution or encourage them to do so. What a hopeful approach we have found in this resolution. We can squelch our climate change fears by getting behind this bold movement and getting the Green New Deal into law.Brooke LaGrand Kensington To the Editor, The UNs latest climate report states that in order to limit global average temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, we, as a planet, need to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Currently, global average temperature is 1 degree Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, and we have already seen firsthand the negative effects it has had on our lives through increased weather intensity and global sea-level rise. Humanity has 11 more years to limit global-average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and begin to reverse the horrible effects of climate change. The Green New Deal is the first step to making positive climate action in the U.S. Any political candidate, regardless of party affiliation, will not earn youth support unless they have the courage and common sense to back the Green New Deal. This is not the time to sit idly by, this is the time for action.Padriac Nugent Clinton Hill To the Editor, Since I was 8-years-old, I was told that the world was ending around me. I was told that my grandchildren would live to see the actual apocolypse if we didnt do anything to stop it. Now Im 22-years-old and I have seen no progress. I have seen no responsibility from politicians. I have seen no accountability from corporations. And now I am told that I may live to see the end of the world. This global crisis demands drastic action immediately, which is why I see the Green New Deal as a glimmer of hope in a world growing darker by the day. It is our duty to our planet to make up for our wrongs, define where we stand, and create the legislature to save not only our species but all the inhabitants on Earth. Emma Witmer Bushwick To the Editor, The truth is there whether we acknowledge it or not. Thats comforting in the days of Trumpism, but also deeply concerning at a time of increasing calamity from human-caused climate change. Many (including even leaders in the Democratic Party and strong environmental advocates such as Michael Bloomberg) have taken initial steps to paint the Green New Deal as pie-in-the-sky and unreasonable. Besides using metaphors, which were already cliche when my grandparents were kids, they fail to acknowledge the exciting truth directly before us: there has never been a proposal to halt climate change that has been more reasonable than the Green New Deal. Why? Because the Green New Deal is the only major proposal weve seen to date that actually meets this colossal challenge with a plan bold enough to overcome it. The plans that have been proposed so far, while well-intentioned and a good start, have been unreasonable in that they will not actually solve the tremendous problems we face. The latest climate report from the UN says we have only 12 years to transform our economy to preserve the stable climate human civilization has depended on for millennia. It is unreasonable to think that any plan short of a massive mobilization of every sector of society will solve this crisis. The good news? The Green New Deal will unleash prosperity and justice the likes of which the country, and this world, have ever seen. We have been given an unimaginable gift to be conscious human beings on this earth and right now were blowing it. We owe it to ourselves to acknowledge this truth and act boldly to our potential before its too late. Will Blomker Prospect Heights We need truth The protection of executive privilege is a path that allows professional politicians to legally lie. Withholding information is not in the public interest; the truth is what is needed to protect our democracy. Release the complete Mueller report and everything else we have every right to know, because we are the people; and you work for us, are paid by us, and report to us! The current POTUS is a shame; has been accused of divulging state secrets in the past, and lies 24-seven. This is not how our system of governance has been before, nor should be again in the future; assuming there is a future. And that is my two-cents.Barry Brothers Homecrest Media apology To the Editor, The media is now reporting that actor Jussie Smollett, who is black and gay, was arrested after finally coming clean about his staged homophobic, anti-Trump, and anti-black noose attack. After weeks of media hype, the actor and media have a tremendous amount of damage control to perform. In addition, they should approach the black community, in fact all of America, and make public apologies for what was almost done. Sadly, today, we live in a racially charged society, much of it brought to fruition by the media. All it takes to set off this tinderbox in certain cities is false reporting, and the bloodshed begins. May the Chicago police throw the book at Jussie, though, watch and see the liberal slap on the hands he gets. Robert W. Lobenstein Sheepshead Bay Drug addition To the Editor, I strongly agree with Nicole Malliotakis that any facilities where drug addicts can legally inject themselves with heroin or other addictive drugs should be illegal (Shes sticking it to him by Colin Mixson, Bay News, Feb. 2228). I think the mayor should use the money he would allocate to these clinics to provide addicts with rehabilitation programs and to get drug dealers off the streets. I wonder if the mayor is aware that providing clinics where addicts can legally and supposedly safely take illegal and addictive drugs would encourage more teenagers and others to try these drugs. It seems like the city is sanctioning the use of illegal drugs while, at the same time, trying to prevent or save users from overdosing. Does this make sense? Is the mayor aware that these clinics would create two new serious problems? One would be the drug dealers waiting outside the clinics to sell addicts more drugs before or after they shoot up. The second would be the addicts who drive to the clinics, take their drugs, and then attempt to drive home. Mr. DeBlasio, please use this money to rehabilitate drug addicts instead, and to prevent those not yet addicted from ever starting on drugs. Elaine Kirsch Gravesend EMPIRES OF THE WEAK The Real Story of European Expansion and the Creation of the New World Order J C Sharman Princeton University Press 196 pages; $27.95 Where to end the story? For historians, the answer to this question can often shape their accounting of the past. Empires of the Weak very consciously ends its story right now. Most histories written in or about the 20th century accept some version of the idea that Europe won world history. From the perspective of today, however, this seems an increasingly difficult claim to defend. For J C Sharman, a professor of ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Commission on Human Rights said Sunday the threat to the life of Caloocan City Bishop Virgilio Pablo David is a threat to all freedom-loving Filipinos. The groups spokesman Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the commission denounces any form of intimidation, harassment or threat to life as an assault to human dignity and freedom. We cherish our civil rights and freedoms. Those who disagree with the policies and views of elected government leaders should not be cursed or threatened, she said. We remind our public servants and our men in uniform to defend and protect our hard-earned human rights to life, liberty and dignity for all. After receiving multiple death threats, David decided to skip the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Awarding ceremony in his and Rapplers Maria Ressas honor on Feb. 26 for the sake of his companions.David, vice president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, strongly opposes warrant-less arrests and extra-judicial killings under the Duterte administrations war on drugs. The CHR recognizes that the release of the list of narco-politicians is to ensure that only deserving, law-abiding candidates get elected in government, but we equally remind the administration that presumption of innocence is a constitutionally guaranteed right, De Guia said. And if there is enough evidence for the government to put names in a supposed narco list, then the just way to proceed is to file appropriate charges against these personalities to make them accountable before our laws. The last thing that we want to happen is to heighten violence because of the release of such list in an oftentimes already violent period triggered by the election season. Two terrorists affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including a Pakistani national, were gunned down in an encounter that took place earlier today. Officials said the identity of the other terrorist is being ascertained. Five security personnel and one civilian also lost their lives in the gunfire that ensued between security forces and terrorists in the encounter which entered its third day in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. CRPF has recovered incriminating materials including arms and ammunition from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter. The incriminating materials retrieved from the site of the encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other terror cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The entire country cheered with gusto as IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's returned home but what has caught the imagination of people is his swashbuckling gunslinger moustache and equally suave hairstyle. Young men are clearly in awe of the smart and attractive style of the moustache and hailing it as the "pride of India." The pilot's moustache has been a topic of conversation on social media too. Many young men hoping to flaunt their admiration and also pay their tribute to the brave fighter pilot are heading to saloons to get the same catchy look sported by Varthaman. What is more, even saloons are quick to advertise offers for the same. On Friday, the Wing Commander returned to India after two-days custody in Pakistan. His homecoming is being celebrated not only on social media but in several parts of the country through posters, slogans etc. "Wanna grow a moustache like IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman !!!," wrote Debarshi on Facebook. "Can we speak for a moment how amazing Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman's moustache is?," Ken Dennis posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. "Captured Indian pilot + his mustache released, officially crosses border from Pakistan to India," wrote Ian Bremmer on Twitter. In order to flaunt love and worship, his fans in Bengaluru are rushing to 'Outlook Mens Saloon' to get the 'Abhinandan look'. The saloon is located at on Coles Road in Fraser Town, Bengaluru. "Abhinandan is a hero of India and his moustache has become symbolic of the bravery. Both his moustache and hairstyle are trending like anything among the young generation," salesman Sammeer Khan told ANI. "I have kept Abhinandan's sir hairstyle. I'm now his fan. Earlier I used to follow Salman Khan's style but now Anbhinandan is my inspiration. He has become our supreme hero," Mohammad Chan told ANI. Several saloons around India, especially in Bengaluru and Punjab are giving discounts to their customers who want moustache and hairstyle like Abhinandan. The discounts are being given to honour and celebrate the real hero who kept his life at stake while safeguarding the country from enemies. The dairy cooperative, Amul, had released an advertisement with the caption, "#Amul Mooch: To Abhinandan from Amul! "AMUL has always been creative in various issues. They have not insulted our bravehearts . It's Ok . Abhinandan' moustache will soon become a fashion statement," Deepa64 tweeted. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AK-203 is the latest derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. India has signed a deal with a Russian firm to manufacture 750,000 of these assault rifles which would be given to the Army's infantry troops. According to officials, the guns would replace the existing India-made INSAS assault rifles in the Army, Air Force and Navy. After the rifles are supplied to the defence forces, the government, in the next phase, would provide them to paramilitary and the state police forces. There is a possibility that 15 to 20 years down the line, all the forces would be using this assault rifle as their standard weapon. Apart from this, the Defence Ministry has already signed a contract with American Sig Sauer for the supply of 7.69mm 59 calibre advanced assault rifles. These would be given to soldiers directly engaged in counter-insurgency and other operations. The idea behind having two different assault rifles is that the troops who are engaged regularly in combat with terrorist or Pakistan Army on the Line of Control, should have very advanced weapons while the others can also have an advanced rifle which is lighter and can meet all the requirements. After a string of complaints on INSAS rifles were received from ground troops deployed across the country on all frontiers, India about 10 years ago had started looking for new rifles for its infantry troops but the efforts could not materialise due to retraction of tenders issued for the purpose over different issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kashmir Traders Association termed the ban imposed on Jamat-e-Islami by the central government "unacceptable." Bashir Ahmed, General Secretary of the association, told ANI: "Not acceptable. It's a religious organisation that worked for Kashmir even in difficult situations. They have 400 schools in areas where even the government hasn't been able to construct schools. They constructed mosques too." He questioned why the government is not banning the organisations which are actually dangerous for the nation. The central government had on Thursday banned Jamat-e-Islami under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for a period of five years. Both the mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir have disagreed with the decision. While Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah urged the central government to reconsider the decision, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti warned that banning Jamat-e-Islami will have dangerous consequences. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a charge sheet against 38 people in the Bulandshahr district court on Sunday in connection with the death of police inspector SubhodhKumar. Out of the 38, five people named in the charge sheet have been arrested under 302 (Punishment for murder) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, while 33 have been held under 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of IPC. Speaking to ANI, Superintendent of Police (SP) Atul Srivastav said: "SIT filed a charge sheet against 38 people in a local court, out of the 38 people five have been charged with murder." A discussion on the charge sheet will take place on March 5, the court said. On December 3, police inspector Subodh Kumar was killed in the violence which took place after carcasses of 25 cattle were found in the forests close to a police station. Locals alleged that the carcasses were of cows which were slaughtered illegally. A youth was also killed in the violence that ensued. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the central government should provide 'solid proof' of the IAF air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. "I am not raising questions on the operation, but this is the technical age and satellite pictures are possible. Like USA had given solid proof of the Osama bin Laden operation to the world, we should also do it for our air strike," Singh said addressing media here on Saturday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday asked the central government to spell out "details" of the exact place where the air raids were carried out and the casualties inflicted as international media has claimed that there was no damage in the strikes. "We, as the Opposition, want to know the details of the air strike. Where were the bombs dropped? How many people died? I was reading the New York Times and Washington Post and they said that there were no casualties. Some media houses said one died. We want to know the details," Banerjee had told reporters in Kolkata. Tension spiralled between India and Pakistan after the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out a strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror training camp in Balakot. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Pulwama in which about 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. JeM had claimed the responsibility of the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has demanded a CBI probe into the abduction and killing of twins--Devansh and Priyansh--from Chitrakoot last month. "Keeping in view the demand of the family and the general public, I request the state government to facilitate a CBI probe in this case," Chouhan wrote to Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Chouhan also expressed grief and said that he met the family of the deceased children. The five-year-old twins were abducted at gunpoint from their school bus inside their school campus in Chitrakoot on February 12. The bodies of the deceased were found lying near a river in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district on Sunday. Police said the abductors killed the boys even after receiving the ransom. In the wake of the tragedy, protests erupted in Chitrakoot, following which prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC had to be imposed in the area to maintain peace and law and order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Frenchman Philippe Charriol, founder of the luxury watch and jewellery brand that bears his name, was killed in an car accident at the Le Castellet racing track in southeast France on Wednesday, a circuit official said. During a car-racing session that was taking place on the Circuit Paul Ricard... French driver Philippe Charriol was the victim of an accident on the Mistral straight, circuit director Stephane Clair said in a statement. Despite receiving emergency treatment at the track and being rushed to a hospital in Marseille, the 77-year-old succumbed to his injuries. Charriol, originally from Marseille, had a passion for fast cars and had long frequented major race circuits, said Clair, offering his condolences to the entrepreneurs family and to his many friends.He founded the Charriol brand in 1983, specializing in luxury watches as well as jewellery, perfume, and accessories. The company, based in Geneva, has a network of 285 shops around the world, as well as 3,800 sales points. Le Castellet hosted last years French Formula One Grand Prix. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress and its allies of demoralising security forces and benefitting Pakistan, which is a "factory of terror." Prime Minister Modi, who termed Pakistan as 'Aatank ki factory' (factory of terror, said: "At a time when the security forces are attacking terrorists in the country and across the border, a few people from the country, rather than motivating our jawans, are making statements which are making our enemies smile." "Pakistani TV channels are showing their faces and these people are being applauded there," he said while addressing a rally here. "During the time when it was necessary to talk in one voice, 21 parties joined hands in Delhi to issue a statement against the NDA government. Any person having a positive approach from Bihar and the entire nation will never forgive them for this act. At this time, should we say something that will make Pakistan happy," he asked. Prime Minister Modi said: "Just like the surgical strikes, now leaders of these parties have even started asking for proof of the IAF's air strike. Why are the Congress and its allies demoralising our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies?" "The people of the country have seen what the Congress and its allies did for security. The new India is moving forward with new strategies. Now India does not sit quietly on the sacrifices of its jawans. It takes revenge one by one," he said. Tension gripped the region after the IAF on February 26 carried out a strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror training camp at Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The strike was in response to the terror attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. JeM had claimed the responsibility for the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A passenger was caught with 5 live rounds of .22mm calibre at Delhi airport on Sunday. The passenger was apprehended during routine security check. He was scheduled to board an IndiGo flight. The accused was handed over to Delhi police after he failed to provide valid documents. The Delhi Police has registered a case under section 25 of the Indian Arms Act in this regard. In a similar incident, SpiceJet had found 22 live cartridges of .22 calibre from the baggage of a Bengaluru-bound passenger on January 10. The cartridges were found at Pune airport by the airline staff. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday claimed that Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is not "mentally fit" after the latter questioned the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force on February 26. Speaking to media here, Singh said, "I think Digvijaya Singh is mentally challenged, that is why he is saying such things. Earlier also he had shared the stage with Zakir Naik and had called him a messenger of peace. Zakir Naik used to get money from other countries and give it to terrorists here. Not only that; he is also involved in forcibly converting people." Substantiating his stance, the BJP leader added, "The same Digvijaya Singh is questioning and asking for proof from the security forces who risk their lives and sometimes at the cost of their lives protecting our country. This is a very shameful remark, he should be ashamed." Earlier in the day, Singh had said the central government should provide 'solid proof' of the IAF air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. "I am not raising questions on the operation, but this is the technical age and satellite pictures are possible. Like the USA had given solid proof of the Osama bin Laden operation to the world, we should also do it for our air strike," Singh had said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday asked the central government to spell out "details" of the exact place where the air raids were carried out and the casualties inflicted as international media had claimed that there was no damage in the strikes. "We, as the Opposition, want to know the details of the air strike. Where were the bombs dropped? How many people died? I was reading the New York Times and Washington Post and they said that there were no casualties. Some media houses said one died. We want to know the details," Banerjee had told reporters in Kolkata. Tension spiraled between India and Pakistan after the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out a strike at terror launch pads in Balakot. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Pulwama carried out by the JeM in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Saturday, said that Tripura is country's number one gas producing point and every poor household in the state will have LPG connection in 2019. He said that ONGC Tripura has recorded its highest ever production at 4.96 MMSCMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day) on Saturday. "Not only 5 MMSCMD but we can produce 10 MMCMD from here for the upcoming 15-20 years," said Dharmendra Pradhan. "We will try that in 2019 itself none of the poor households in Tripura is without an LPG connection," said Pradhan. "The ONCG will fulfil all the energy requirement of the state with regard to power plants, domestic industries, transportation and domestic fuel," said Pradhan. He said that ONGC Tripura can be the largest contributor in realising the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "New India". During a programme at the ONGC Tripura Asset headquarter in Badharghat, the Union Minister along with the Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb digitally inaugurated and laid foundation for four projects including ONGC Sonamura Gas Collecting Station, first PNG Connection in West Tripura district, first CNG Station in Gomati and Skill Training Institute for Women at Agartala. Pradhan said that Northeast is the energy storehouse in the form of a huge quantity of crude oil or natural gas found in this region. The Union Minister said that an LPG bottling centre is coming up in the outskirts of capital Agartala and to avoid the uncertain hilly route from Guwahati, the Government of India has got it cleared from the Bangladesh government to bring LPG through the Chittagong port so that there is a steady supply of LPG to Tripura round the year. He said, in addition to this, 40 more LPG distribution centers and 150 fuel filling centers are going to come up in Tripura. The Union Minister also declared the setting up of Institute of Skill Trainer in Tripura at the cost of Rs 16 crores for enhancing the income of the women, especially in the SHG and household bamboo handicraft sector through advanced training. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb thanked the Union Minister for announcing various new projects for the development of the state through collaborative efforts of both the central and the state governments for better facilities and utilising of the available resources including human resource. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fake account, named after Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, has been created on micro-blogging site Twitter, according to government sources. Varthaman returned home from Pakistan on Friday, two days after he was taken into custody by Pakistan Army when he bailed out from a MiG 21 fighter jet and landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Twitter handle "@Abhinandan_wc", which was formed last month itself, has over 2,000 followers. Several posts have been made from this account in English and Tamil. However, government sources confirmed that the account does not belong to Varthaman. In one of the photographs shared on the account, Abhinandan can be seen with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two met on Saturday. Another post shows Abhinandan with his family. After a delay of over five hours, Varthaman stepped on the Indian soil through Wagah border, Amritsar in Punjab, on Friday night at 9.20 pm. The pilot was captured by Pakistan Army on Wednesday after his fighter jet crashed in an air duel with a Pakistani F-16. He shot down the plane before his own went down, forcing him to eject. A day after his return from Pakistan, he informed the top IAF brass that he was subjected to a lot of mental harassment, though he was not physically tortured by Pakistan military authorities, said a source. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Self-proclaimed Venezuelan President Juan Guaido on Saturday (local time) called for a fresh protest next week against President Nicolas Maduro's regime. Guaido has been travelling to various South American countries to muster support for his campaign for a new government. "I announce my return to the country and I call for mobilisations in all the national territory," Guaido tweeted. According to the Venezuelan government, Guaido might be arrested upon his return as Venezuelan Supreme Court had imposed a travel ban on him for after he invoked the country's constitution on January 23. "He can come and go [but] he will have to face justice, and justice prohibited [him] from leaving the country. I will respect the laws," said Maduro. Venezuela has been in the throes of a political turmoil ever since Guaido proclaimed himself as the President of the nation on January 23. Protesters have called for Maduro's resignation, while a few international countries like France, Japan, Germany, amongst others, have called for fresh elections to be held in the nation. With no new elections announced, Maduro has time and again reiterated his intention of not stepping down. The embattled President currently enjoys the Venezuelan military's allegiance, with reports claiming that there are over 320 servicemen who have defected to Colombia in recent days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Remaining firm on his stance on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman joining the Air Force during the UPA government, Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid clarified that he was only "stating the truth" and not "taking credit". "I did not say the attack happened during my tenure, I had said that the person who attacked was commissioned in the Air Force during our tenure. I had only stated the truth. I did not take credit," he told ANI. A day ahead, Khurshid had tweeted "Many kudos for Wing Commander Abhi Varthaman the face of India's resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA" and faced backlash for the same. On February 27, the MiG 21 Bison which was being flown by Abhinandan was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, was shot down after it crossed over to the Pakistani side. Abhinandan ejected safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16. On March 1, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Varthaman, calling it a "peace gesture". India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Varthaman unconditionally, top sources in New Delhi said. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran has slammed Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and terror outfits after Jaish ul-Adl, a Pakistan-based terrorist group, claimed responsibility for an attack on an IRGC convoy which claimed the lives of 27 IRGC members while wounding 13 more. The terrorist attack, which took place in mid-February, has invited the ire of Iran's top military brass, with most promising "revenge" in the wake of the attack. The Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari lashed out against Pakistan, stating that the Pakistan intelligence organisation was accountable for sheltering Takfiri groups, including Jaish ul-Adl. "We believe this silence is kind of support for this grouplet and the Pakistani intelligence organization should account for it," Major General Jafari said, according to Far News Agency. "Pakistan should also know that it should pay the cost for the Pakistani intelligence organization's support for Jeish al-Zolm (as Jaish ul-Adl is called in Iran) from now on and this price will no doubt be very heavy for them," he warned. The Major General also reaffirmed that the Pakistani security organisation "knows the hideout of the grouplets but has kept mum." "The recent crime has caused the IRGC and other Armed Forces to boost determination to continue the path of martyrs and confront threats and they will protect the security of the country's borders with more strength and power and will take revenge of the blood of our oppressed martyrs," Jafari also noted. The military general also threatened that Iran reserved the "right of confrontation" if Pakistan ceased to comply with responsibilities. "If Pakistan does not comply with its responsibilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right of confrontation against these peripheral threats at the borders with the neighbouring country, based on international law and rules, and will adopt compensatory measures to punish the terrorists who are mercenaries of the regional and trans-regional states' spy agencies," he cautioned. Meanwhile, the Commander of the IRGC Quds Force, Major General Qassem Soleimani further warned Islamabad to halt cross-border attacks by terrorists who are based on their soil, according to Far News Agency. "We have always offered Pakistan help in the region, but I have this question from the Pakistani government: where are you heading to? You have caused unrest along borders with all your neighbours and do you have any other neighbour left that you want to stir insecurity for," General Soleimani stated at an event in Babol after the February 13 suicide attack. Furthermore, addressing the Pakistani government directly, he said: "Are you, who have atomic bombs, unable to destroy a terrorist group with several hundred members in the region? How many of your own people have been killed in different terrorist operations? We do not want your condolences, how could your condolence help the people of Iran?" "I ask the Pakistani government what has been left for Pakistan?" he asked. Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military aide to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, also lashed out against Pakistan and its intelligence organisation. "These criminal outlaws were from one of the tribes of Baluchestan who had been trained on suicide operations in the neighbouring country, and the neighbouring country and the ISI should account to the Iranian government and nation and the IRGC for (the question) how they have crossed the borders of that country and why this neighbouring country has turned into a safe haven and a place for the training and dispatch of these infidel terrorist grouplets (to Iran)," he said. General Safavi also held Islamabad responsible for the terrorist attack on the IRGC convoy, which took place in Sistan and Baluchestan. Meanwhile, Pakistan, promising to boost security cooperation with Iran, proposed to fence around 950 kilometres of the Iran-Pakistan border "so that no third party could sabotage the brotherly and friendly relations through any nefarious act," Far News Agency quoted Pakistani Army Spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor as saying. Responding to this, the Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh told FNA, "The interior minister and members of the commission underlined that Pakistan lacks the capability to build a wall at the borders (but) Iran strongly welcomes construction of a wall at the borders with Pakistan." On February 13, a total of 27 members of Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed after an explosive-laden vehicle targeted the bus which was ferrying the military personnel in Khash-Zahedan sector of Sistan-Baluchestan province in south-eastern Iran. Tehran lodged a strong demarche with Pakistan over the assault, summoning Pakistan's Ambassador Rafat Masoud to register an official protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two terrorists were gunned down by security forces on Sunday during encounter operations which is in its third day in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. "Two terrorists have been killed today in Handwara encounter. Five security personnel and a civilian have lost their lives in the encounter so far. Encounter operations are still underway," officials said. Out of five security personnel, the identity of one Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) soldier, who succumbed to his injuries on Saturday is yet to be revealed.Encounter operations at Babagund village of Langate, Handwara in the district entered the third day on Sunday. Four security personnel, including two policemen and two CRPF jawans, were killed during the encounter in Handwara town on Friday. A civilian Waseem Ahmad Mir was also killed in the encounter. The two police personnel who lost their lives were identified as SgCt Naseer Ahmad Kholi and SgCt Ghulam Mustafa Barah, while the two CRPF personnel were identified as Inspector Pintu and Ct Vinod. The wreath-laying ceremony of the two CRPF jawans - Inspector Pintu and Vinod of 92 Battalion of Central Reserve Security Force (CRPF) in Srinagar- was held on Saturday. Based on credible input about the presence of terrorists in Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and the security forces in the area on Friday. An encounter between the terrorists and the security forces broke out after the terrorists fired indiscriminately at the search party."Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any," said a statement released by police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Zealand captain Kane Williamson heaped praises on Kiwi bowlers for sealing an emphatic inning and 52-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Hamilton on Sunday. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mahmudullah scored centuries as Bangladesh, after getting bundled out for 234 in the first innings, fought back in the second. The visitors resumed the fourth morning trailing by 481 runs. However, Trent Boult picked up his ninth Test five-wicket haul and bowled out Bangladesh for 429, way short of New Zealand's 715 for six declared in the first innings. "We knew coming in today, it was going to be a big push with the ball. We knew the surface was not going to offer a huge amount-we'd thought the cracks might have opened up a little bit more," ICC quoted Williamson, as saying. "But we also knew that Bangladesh have a lot of quality in their batting line-up, and they showed that today. It's great we were able to stick together for a long period of time, break that partnership, which was a good effort for them, and take the rest of the wickets," he further said. "I thought throughout this whole Test, the bowlers were outstanding. There wasn't a huge amount for the bowlers, there wasn't a lot of seam movement. [There was] a little bit of swing, but then it flattened out." "In saying that, they did get a bounce, so that was something we tried to extract as much as we could with the short ball. But today, they (Bangladesh) certainly combated that well and put together a fantastic inning. A lot of credit to the way the guys bowled and being able to take 20 wickets." New Zealand, ranked second on the ICC Test team rankings, were anchored by the likes of Jeet Raval and Tom Latham, both reached three figures while Williamson went onto smash his second career double-century. Williamson, however, said it was Latham and Raval's 254-run partnership that set up the scene for New Zealand. "It was an outstanding partnership. Tom's been brilliant the whole summer, almost every game. He's just churning them out, which is brilliant for us. Jeet as well, he's made a number of contributions, but I guess an extra large one - a big hundred - was so pleasing for him, but also for us as a team. A partnership like that put us in a really strong position," he said. New Zealand and Bangladesh will meet for the second Test in Wellington, beginning March 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Filipinos want their legislators to empathizeor at least appear to empathizewith their plight." Because it is a midterm election, the 12 senatorial posts up for grabs in May are the most contested and most in the spotlight. Three years after the political winds shifted from the Aquino administration to the populist Duterte presidency, the upcoming contest provides ample opportunity to examine the rationale behind the Filipino voting publics decisions. In a political briefing for the diplomatic community conducted by the Stratbase ADR Institute, perspectives on the dynamics and players of the upcoming elections was the main theme of the event. The findings from surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations (SWS) provide us with initial hints. Asked what qualities of a leader they look for or deem important, 56 percent of Filipino voters answered pro-poor, according to the Pulse Asia poll. This is followed by: knowledgeable in the management of government (48 percent) and fighting anomalies in government (46 percent), able to enforce the law equally on all Filipinos (37 percent), having a deep understanding of economic issues (29 percent) and a clean record as a government official (24 percent). Other traits include having done many things for the country and ones constituents (21 percent), being hardworking (20 percent), and, finally, being trusted by most citizens and having a vision for the country (both 9 percent). These are more or less confirmed by the SWS survey, which asked more specifically what traits Filipino voters looked for in senatorial candidates. Also topping the list was pro-poor, answered by a total of 42 percent of the respondents. Out of this, 22 percent said they prefer those who help the poor while 20 percent said they want those who help people who are in need. While cited in the survey as separate qualities, they referred to more or less similar characteristic: a compassionate, caring attitude toward the needy or marginalized. This was followed by not corrupt (25 percent), with good personal characteristics, including generous, responsible, and fair, (21 percent), trustworthy (21 percent), and able to fulfill campaign promises (14 percent). Disturbing, and again as in the Pulse Asia survey, only 3 percent of the respondents wanted candidates who are bright or intelligent, and only 2 percent preferred those with plans for growth or vision for the country. Taken at face value, this is frustrating as they indicate a Filipino voting public that chooses to vote with their hearts and senses instead of through a sensible appraisal of platforms vis-a-vis pressing social issues. It confirms what has been happening in all our elections: Philippine elections remain personality-driven because most voters want their legislators to empathizeor at least appear to empathizewith their plight.Never mind that senators are supposed to intelligently debate on key issues toward crafting impactful laws. Voters are more concerned with character or personality: do they have a heart for the poor? Are they honest and trustworthy? Can they fulfill their campaign promises? Never mind their stance on federalism or same-sex marriage, the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility or rice tariffication. Never mind if their educational or professional background, if any, have absolutely nothing to do with the law or public service. It is little wonder than that campaign sorties today are still largely dominated by fanfare, often with celebrities and a lot of dancing and singing, instead of a substantive discussion of issues and candidates platforms. Visibility, name recall, and catchphrases are paramount, which explains why our landscapes are littered with posters bearing nothing but names in bold letters and smiling faces, why billions of pesos are spent on TV and radio commercials, why our social media feeds are inundated with gimmicky campaigns and black propaganda. Buoyed by the win of President Duterte, more and more candidates had been keen to follow the populist playbook. This sets aside a platform-based campaign in favor of one that is personality-oriented, with a focus on tugging at emotions, at offering radical-sounding, utopian solutions to otherwise complex problems that need real expertise, especially those that lie perennially close to peoples hearts: food, health, education, peace and order, and the like. A perceived affinity with the still-popular President, for instance, seems to be more effective than experience, credibility, and vision combined. All fanfare and charisma, no substance. There is little incentive, it seems, for candidates to flesh out their platforms of government or thoroughly explain their stance on various issues. These things are perceived as not only unnecessary but boring. Easy-to-digest storylines and punchy, memorable slogans are more effective. Debates, which should be logically par for the course because the Senate floor is a site of discourse, are seen as optional, and for some candidates even a liability so many will skip them altogether but are still rewarded with victories. The knee-jerk reaction is to put the blame solely on the majority of the Filipino electorate, who is seen as immature, if not lazy or easily starstruck. But this isolates the problem and does not take into account, for instance, that a discerning mind is a function of a broader education, which in this country is more often than not a privilege that many people dont enjoy. This translates into a vicious cycle: people elect so-called bad leaders who do nothing to reform the electoral system, which in turn helps recreates the same problem and keeps them in power. But as with any cycle, the first step in disrupting the cycle is to recognize its entrenched, circular quality. The electorate should carefully consider the consequences of their vote with the same seriousness of big personal decisions that will directly affect ones family. The elections offer a unique opportunity of changing the status quo. There is a concrete link, for instance, between corruption in government and why our hospitals and schools are underfunded, why our transport system is dysfunctional, why the quality of our roads has deteriorated. Changing all these begins with that crucial day in May when for one day, the people hold power over the countrys political destiny. Stratbase ADRi President Dindo Manhit said, The electorate should be keener and more cautious in choosing the right candidate because they may fall into the trap of sloganeering strategies of many of our populist candidates. Continuous voters education and participation are essential to democratizing our electoral contests and reforming our political system. Exercising our power to vote entails political maturity and critical discernment for the voters to choose the right candidates that truly embody the leadership qualities that they aspire for. Five security personnel and one civilian lost their lives in the encounter between security forces and terrorists in encounter operations which entered its third day in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Two terrorists were gunned down by security forces on Sunday during the encounter, which officials said is almost over and searches are on. "Operation is almost over and final search is on. We've recovered two bodies of terrorists and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The reason for prolonged operation is tough terrain along with heavy civilian population. We've lost three CRPF and two Jammu and Kashmir police personnel during the encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara in Kupwara district," IGP Kashmir SP Pani told ANI. The CRPF jawan, who succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, has been identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav. "This operation posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. The area, where the terrorists were hiding, was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of the encounter," they added. CRPF has recovered incriminating materials including arms and ammunition from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials retrieved from the site of the encounter, which have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases. The security personnel have requested citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People have also requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Sunday said the rescue operation being conducted in the aftermath of the avalanche that hit Kinnaur has been slowed down due to bad weather in the region. "A team of experts is conducting rescue operation at the site. Due to bad weather, the operation has been progressing slowly. The body of 1 of the 5 missing Army personnel was recovered yesterday after 11 days," he told media here. Last week, Thakur had assured all possible assistance to the Army to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation work. The body of an Army personnel, identified as Rajesh Rishi, was evacuated yesterday from the site of the avalanche and was handed over to his family. On February 20, six army men out of a total of 16 who had started their journey from Namgya to Shipkila to repair a water supply line went missing after an avalanche in Pooh sub-division of Kinnaur district. Over 500 personnel of Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been pressed into action to locate the missing army men. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A young female doctor was found dead in her cabin at a private hospital in West Delhi, the police said on Sunday. The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Dr. Astha Munjal, was working with Maharaja Agrasen Hospital - where her body was found earlier today - for almost a year. Munjal resided at Panchsheel Park area along with her husband, who is also a doctor. "A PCR call was received at 5:50 am. On the first floor of Dr. Cabin of Neuro ICU, the aluminium door was locked from inside and was forcibly opened. A syringe was found lying on the floor near the dead body, the injection was taken on left arm, her bag and mobile phone were found," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Monika Bhardwaj told ANI. Police said guards knocked on Munjal's door at 4:30 AM but there was no response from inside. Less than an hour later, guards broke open the door and found the young doctor lying dead. Prima facie it appears that the deceased doctor committed suicide by injecting some substance as a syringe was recovered from the crime scene. A CCTV footage of the hospital shows her attending to a patient at 12.15 AM and later entering her cabin at 12.18 AM. The police said the body has been sent for autopsy and further investigation is being carried out. "Since it's been one year of marriage, a magisterial inquiry has also been initiated," the police said. Although police said preliminary investigation revealed suicide as the cause of death, the family of the deceased doctor alleged foul play and demanded a thorough investigation in the case. Dr. Astha's father told ANI that her daughter was killed in a planned manner, adding that she was not happy working in the hospital because of internal politics at her workplace. He further expressed anguish as no one from the hospital has spoken to the aggrieved family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu will inaugurate newly-constructed terminal building and associated works of Chipi Airport, Sindhudurg along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 5. The new civil airports at Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in the Konkan region and other airports infrastructure projects in Maharashtra is likely to boost and tourism in the state. Prabhu has sanctioned more than Rs 1200 crore for the airport infrastructure projects in Maharashtra. The routes connecting Sindhudurg to Pune, Mumbai and Nasik have already been approved UDAN 3.1 and bids have been called from the airlines. The flight operations from the airport (under UDAN scheme) will commence very soon. The Chipi Airport is built at the cost of about Rs. 520 crore. The newly constructed terminal building has a capacity to handle 400 passengers per hour and with an annual passenger capacity of about 10 lakh. An MoU will be signed by Airport Authority of India and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in the presence of the Civil Aviation Minister on March 5. Ratnagiri airport will be used as a defence airport and is all set to start civil air operations soon. In addition to these projects, Greenfield Airports in places like Purandar, Navi Mumbai, and Boramani in Maharashtra have also been approved. The Konkan region is blessed with rich natural beauty, ancient temple and historical forts. With the airport coming up in the region, air connectivity to areas of North Karnataka, western Maharashtra and parts of Goa will improve. It will also boost tourism and economic development of the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an apparent reference to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that some people keep giving "Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaipur, Made in Jaisalmer" speeches but his government has given a reality stamp to "Made in Amethi". Modi was addressing a public rally after laying the foundation stone of a factory to manufacture advanced AK-203 rifles in Amethi, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha. The guns will be manufactured under an India-Russia joint venture. "Some people keep giving "Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaipur, Made in Jaisalmer..." speeches but Modi walks the talk. We have made "Made in Amethi" a reality. This factory should have come into being 8-9 years back. But the full potential of the initiative was never realised," he said. "Amethi will be known through the new scheme now. AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles will be manufactured in Amethi, it will Russia and India's joint venture," Modi said, adding people of Amethi are going to script a new history. The Prime Minister said, "I express my gratitude to my friend and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This venture was made possible in such a short time due to his support." Modi expressed confidence that 'Made in Amethi' AK-203s would be of great help in fighting terrorists and Naxals in the country. Talking about the job opportunities, the Prime Minister said, "The rifles made here will be exported to other countries also. Job opportunities will be created besides strengthening the economy and country." The Prime Minister said that previous governments made security forces wait for modern ammunition and fighter aircraft. "Our brave security personnel were made to face the enemy without bullet-proof jackets. Previous governments made our forces wait for modern ammunition and fighter aircraft. The forces and their needs were neglected. But 2,30,000 bullet-proof jackets for the forces have been bought only by our government," he said. He said, "The factory in Amethi will strengthen the country's defence and security. Lack of modern rifles, lack of jobs have been major hindrances for the forces and also the youth under the previous governments." Hitting out at the Opposition on the issue of purchase of Rafale fighter jets, Modi said, "They sat on Rafale for years. We are trying to bring in the jets and some people are trying to object to the purchase. The Supreme Court too is supporting the government's decision on the Rafale deal." Recalling his visit to Amethi with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, "I remember when I came here with Atalji in 1998 it was raining that day. After becoming the Prime Minister, I have the opportunity to meet you all again." "Amethi is an example of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Those who voted for me and those who did not, are all my people. We have not discriminated Amethi on the basis of election results. In future, Amethi will not be known by the leaders who come here, but by the developmental projects undertaken here," he added. Modi also unveiled several development projects for Amethi. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014, the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family since long. The BJP had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The mortal remains of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel Shyam Narayan Yadav killed in an encounter with terrorists in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday was brought to his residence in Ghazipur. He was accorded full state funeral in presence of the officials of district administration and CRPF. Villagers and relatives throng to his house for paying obeisance and for participating in his last rites. The 41-year-old soldier is resident of Hasanpura village under Birno Police station of the district. His elder brother Raj Narayan Yadav said that government must give 'full freedom' to the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. "If they kill one of our soldier's then we must kill their 50 in response. The government has not given full freedom to forces," said Raj Narayan Yadav. "Unless full freedom is provided we would not be able to give a befitting reply to Pakistan," he added. "10 to 12 of our soldiers are killed daily at borders. I retired from the Health Department but I would like to go and give my services in the Army so that I may take revenge and protect my nation," said Yadav. He said that Shyam Narayan Yadav has two children and the government must give them jobs. He also demanded that the government should develop a park and statue in the name of the killed constable. Five security personnel and one civilian lost their lives in the encounter between security forces and terrorists in encounter operations which entered its third day on Sunday in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre on Sunday met Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on Sunday. Bhamre met Abhinandan a day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa met the IAF pilot. As per the latest health report of Abhinandan, no bugs have been found implanted in the pilot during an MRI scan, a source said on Sunday. The security agencies were understood to have been checking for any bugs which could be present in Abhinandan. The scan also showed an injury in his lower spine which could have happened following his ejection from the MiG-21 fighter plane after a dogfight with Pakistani F-16 jets on Wednesday, the source said. He also has a rib injury due to an assault by the Pakistani locals soon after he landed on the ground in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after his aircraft was shot down. Varthaman will undergo more check-ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital for the next 10 days, the source said. During a separate meeting with the Air Chief, Varthaman is believed to have briefed Dhanoa about his detention in Pakistan, officials said. After a delay of over five hours by Pakistan, Abhinandan reached India at around 9.20 pm on March 1. He was in the custody of the Pakistan Army since March 27 when his parachute drifted and fell inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Abhinandan, flying the MiG 21 Bison, was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace. In the process, his plane crossed over to the Pakistani side and was shot down. Although he ejected safely, the pilot was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. On February 28, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Abhinandan, calling it a "peace gesture". India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Abhinandan unconditionally, top sources in New Delhi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no compromises on the Pakistani proposal for holding talks, the sources added. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources said. The External Affairs Ministry also exerted pressure on Pakistan through the Arab world, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Muslim family is reportedly looking after a 500-year-old Shiva temple located at Rangamahal village in Guwahati since generations. Both Muslims and Hindus of the area have firm believe in the deity and throng the temple for offering prayers and doing rituals. The caretaker, Matibar Rehman, said that the deity of 'Lord Shiva' is like his maternal grandfather. "I call him Nana (maternal grandfather). It's a 500-year-old temple, our family looks after the temple. People from both the religions - Hindu and Muslim - come here to offer prayers," said Matibar Rehman, the caretaker. "Muslims perform 'dua' while Hindus perform 'puja' here. Everyone wishes are fulfilled here," he said. Rehman said that he himself offers 'dua' in the 'Shivalaya' or the Shiva temple. The family has been the caretaker of the temple and is looking after it since generations. The temple is considered as the epitome of the Hindu-Muslim unity in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Whosoever speaks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces raids of the Income Tax Department (I-T) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Sunday. Chief Minister Naidu's statement comes close on the heels of the police registering a case after a complaint was received against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for allegedly using the people's data illegally through 'Sevamitra App' to advance the party's electoral prospects in the coming Lok Sabha polls in the state. Police have named four persons in the case. "Whoever speaks against Modi faces I-T and ED raids. We won't be afraid of all this. KCR is threatening our people and businesses in Hyderabad to support Jaganmohan Reddy," said Chief Minister Naidu, also the president of TDP. "We will fight for justice until we achieve it. I am speaking on behalf of 5 crore people. I will not tolerate any injustice to Telugus residing in any part of the world," he said. He also hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and accused him of "threatening TDP people and businesses in Hyderabad in order to support Jaganmohan Reddy. Hyderabad is still the common capital. I will not tolerate any injustice to the people of Andhra in Hyderabad." After the Hyderabad Police raided the office of the mobile app developer, Chief Minister Naidu claimed that this was done after YSRCP leader Vijay Sai Reddy had complained, and also accused the opposition of stealing data. "We are using a mobile application to get all updates from the party workers. The Hyderabad Police recently raided the offices of a mobile app developer, just because YSR Congress Party leader Vijay Sai Reddy complained. They just want to steal our data. I am asking the police why they are harassing us in Hyderabad. Who gave them the right to torture us," asked Naidu. It is worth mentioning that the police have registered a case after a complaint was received against the TDP for allegedly using the people's data illegally through 'Sevamitra App' to advance the party's electoral prospects in the coming Lok Sabha polls in the state. Police have named four persons in the case. The first information report (FIR) has been registered by the Madhapur police. The complainant Thummula Lokeshwara Reddy has stated in his complaint that "while studying about the practices of electioneering in view of the coming General Elections in Andhra Pradesh, he learnt about the use of certain mobile phone and tab-based software applications by the cadre of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), especially 'Sevamitra app' for advancing party's electoral prospects as reported in the newspapers." He further alleged: "When browsed the website of TDP, that is, www.telugudesam.org and the official Facebook page of Telugu Desam Party, the details of 'Sevamitra App' are available, which was meant for the people who were registered as TDP members to gather information about voters and to work for the party's win in the elections in 2019." In his complaint, Reddy alleged: "Bluefrog Ltd was given access to an enormous amount of official data in respect of the beneficiaries of various government schemes and also private data of individuals, including their demographic, geographic, and other identification features such as name, age, gender, address, Aadhar number etc., including the data of AP Smart Pulse Survey, data of State Resident Data Hub (SRDH), data of Praja Sadhikara Vedika, managed by Karvy Data Management Services Ltd, Hyderabad, data of IVRS surveys conducted by the government of AP." "The availability of such information in public domain poses a great risk to each and every voter in Andhra Pradesh. They are also making the use of this data to analyse, who are for and who are against to the ruling government and based on this analysis, they have deleted hundreds and thousands of voters and running into lakhs of voters where their names are deleted from the electoral rolls," the complainant further said. Police said that the complaint was received from Reddy on March 2. A case has been registered under Sections of 120(B), 379, 420, 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 66 (B) and 72 of the Information Technology Act. The complainant has also claimed that the names of several people have been deleted from the voter list meant for the coming Lok Sabha polls, though their names were in the list during 2014 polls. Reddy has given some examples-Sreedhar Reddy Nalivela (ID No.RTT0112169), Em Manikanta (ID No.IAX0108092), Dadigelabavaiah (ID No.RRV0626184) and Anuradha (ID No.AYM0262691)-whose names have been deleted. VC Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad Commissionerate, said: "Lokeshwara has filed his complaint with the police. A case has been registered against four persons, namely, Bhaskar, Phani, Chandrasekhar, and Vikram Goud, who are running IT Grid Company." "It has been alleged that they are involved in data theft. As of now, the case is under investigation and we can give clear details after the investigation. We have served notices to the four persons and have called them to the police station as part of an investigation but they are not in our custody," said Sajjanar. BJP MLC Rama Chander Rao, while reacting to the alleged 'data breach' by the TDP through 'Sevamitra App' said: "TDP's attempt to breaching data with an eye on elections is extremely unfair and action has to be taken against TDP." "No party or government has the right to peek into the privacy of a common man. This is clearly illegal and violation of our Constitution. I applaud the role of Cyberabad Police, which has lodged the complaint against the party," he said. YSRCP leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Midhun Reddy said: "Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is trying to manipulate elections. In fact, for a long time, the TDP has been trying to remove all YSRCP voters from the list." "They are engaging IT software companies in Hyderabad. They also send people with iPads and mobiles to collect important information such as Aadhar and voter ID details. Now that we have lodged a complaint with the Election Commissioner, the investigations are going on," said Reddy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the way he handled the recent challenges emerging out of terrorism. "Under Prime Minister Modiji, the Central government took an initiative. Armed forces were authorised to punish terrorists. The entire nation got united against terrorism," said Kumar, while addressing 'Sankalp Rally' here. The Chief Minister also praised IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. "Wing Commander Abhinandan was released within 60 hours. I congratulate the Government of India and Modiji for this. Greetings to Abhinandan as well," he said. "There will be no compromise on terrorism," the Chief Minister thundered. He also cited several schemes launched by Bihar and Central governments for the poor and underprivileged sections of the society. "Poor women have been benefitted immensely from Ujjawala Yojana," he said. CM claimed that his alliance with the BJP happened for the development of Bihar. He thanked the Central government for its assistance in the development of Bihar. Kumar also praised the Central government for its recent move to give 10 per cent reservation to the poor in general category. He also urged the people to maintain harmony and brotherhood in the society. Talking about 'Mahagathbandhan,' his former ally RJD, and its top leadership, Chief Minister Kumar said: "Some people are doing without principles. Some are gaining wealth without working." "When we came to power, electricity consumption was just 700 megawatt. People used to scare children, saying don't go out because there are ghosts. They used lanterns. Today the electricity consumption is 5,200MW. The ghosts have gone away. There is no use of lantern either," he said. The lantern is the symbol of RJD headed by former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Kumar said the NDA will win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the coming General Elections in the state, and also predicted that the next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Mocking women is not the way to convince people youre worthy of election to public office." "Mocking women is not the way to convince people youre worthy of election to public office." The latest from the loquacious Kris Aquino is her gripe against senatorial candidate Bong Go and his campaign stumper Philip Salvador, whove made her relationship with the latter humor fodder for their sorties. Im no fan of Kris and her penchant for airing her personal laundry in public, but shes been dealt a low blow by Go and Salvador, who are certainly no gentlemen as they have shown by their behavior. A video circulating on the internet shows Go joking that Salvador sired four children in Davao. He addressed someone offstage, presumably Salvador, saying, Totoo naman eh. Naloko mo nga si Kris Aquino eh (Its true. You even cheated on Kris Aquino.) In the 90s, Aquino had a relationship with Salvador and had her eldest son, Joshua, by him. According to Aquino, Salvador has remained mostly mum about their time together until this episode with Go. This prompted the former presidential daughter and sister to say she was deeply hurt by the repartee and to accuse her sons father of putting Joshua in a bad spot by demeaning his mother. Go apologized to Kris publicly while stumping in San Andres, Manila. He said it was all just a script between him and Salvador and that they were just trying to make the voters happy. There was no reason at all for Go to make Kris the butt of jokes. In fact, she has spoken well of him in the past. It was with palpable pain that she wrote on social media, Wala po akong atraso sa inyo SAP Bong Go. I have only had good words for you pero sana sa paglilingkod niyo para sa mga Pilipino bilang senador (I know you are a sure winner), sana priority nyo rin po ang mga kababaihan. Kris Aquino na ako pero madaling gawing joke na naloko ako ng ama ng panganay ko. Nagtrabaho ako, at hindi ako pinabayaan ng pamilya ko. But what about the women without financial security and family? she added. Aquino raises a good pointif someone with her wealth and high profile in society can be made a laughing stock, then more so the ordinary women who have no such privilege or protection. Gos mockery of Kris is especially egregious at this point in time, when the #MeToo movement that holds men accountable for their misogynistic behavior has spread worldwide. #MeToo has not gained ground here yet because patriarchy is so deeply embedded in our culture that male privilege under this repressive system is taken as a right. When Go was on that stage, he didnt think there was anything wrong with taking a womans painful life experience and making it fun of it just to get a few laughs.Many netizens were indignant. The Cyclelogist: Hindi comedy bar tinatakbuhan mo kaya itigil mo na jokes mo. Gusto namin malaman plataporma mo. Arian Mendoza: BASTOS KA BONG GO and PHILIP SALVADOR kayo ang klaseng mga lalaki na binabastos ang mga babae mga walang kwentang lalaki sa mundo, tapos sasabihin joke? Sabihin nyo sa nanay nyo at kapatid na babae. Darkshadesofgray3: I can see a desperate politician. Politicians should realize that its never a good idea to disregard values. While many netizens dislike Aquino and think shes brought her problems on herself, some of them believe that Go went too far and was bastos, which in our culture goes beyond rude. It means obscene, disrespectful, without shame. Not only was Kriss sorrow as a partner mockednaloko siyabut somehow the young boy Joshua was considered as also having been insulted, by the mere fact of his relationship to his mother and father. To Go and other candidates: the best way to make voters happy is to present a clear, well-thought out platform of plans and programs. Tell voters how you will serve them and address their pressing problems. Show that you are the best person for the job because you are qualified and have the necessary education, knowledge, and skills. Mocking women is not the way to convince people youre worthy of election to public office. * * * Pro tip for candidates: They dont write comedy scripts in the Senatethey write laws. / FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO No bugs have been found implanted in Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during an MRI scan, a source said on Sunday. The security agencies were understood to have been checking for any bugs which could be present in Varthaman, who was returned by Pakistan on Friday. The scan also showed an injury in his lower spine which could have happened following his ejection from the MiG-21 fighter plane after a dogfight with Pakistani F-16 jets on Wednesday, the source said. He also has a rib injury due to an assault by the Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after his aircraft was shot down. Varthaman will undergo more check-ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment for the next 10 days, the source said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa had met the pilot on Saturday. On Wednesday, Varthaman, flying a MiG 21 Bison, was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, his plane crossed over to the Pakistani side and was shot down. Abhinandan ejected safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16. On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Varthaman, calling it a "peace gesture". India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Varthaman unconditionally, according to top sources in New Delhi. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources said. The External Affairs Ministry also exerted pressure on Pakistan through the Arab world, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday criticised the Opposition for raising questions over the credibility of the airstrikes carried out by the Indian Air Force in Balakot and claimed that the Opposition's comments "gave smiles to Pakistan". In his blog titled, 'India's Opposition has a Lot to Learn', Jaitley cited three remarks- including one made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - asserted that the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014 ran a "terrible government" and from 2014 to 2019 ran an "even more terrible Opposition." Jaitley quoted the resolution passed by the 21 opposition parties and wrote, "Like its other friends in the Opposition, the Congress Party refuses to learn. In a meeting of the 21 Opposition Parties, a resolution was passed, accusing the Prime Minister of politicizing the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. The Government had twice taken the leaders of opposition parties into confidence. The statement was inappropriate. It gave a handle to the enemy. The media in Pakistan used this statement of 21 Opposition Parties as a trump card." "It took the statement as an endorsement of the Pakistani position that India had taken the Balakot action because of the compulsion of its domestic and not as a part of its policy to defend the country against terrorism," he added. In his blog, Jaitley went on to lambast West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and accused her of seeking operational details by doubting the credibility of the IAF. He, however, expressed strongest sentiments over the statement made by Manmohan Singh and wrote, "Singh stated that he was disturbed with the 'Mad rush of mutual self-destruction' by the two nations. What does this statement indicate? Has the former Prime Minister elevated himself to the status of a neutral third party rather than be concerned about India's interest. The perpetrator of terrorism and the victim of terrorism are both at par according to him and he doubts India's right to defend its sovereignty." "Amongst the problems facing India that he mentions which include poverty, ignorance, and disease. Violence and terrorism are of no consequence in his assessment," read the blog written by Jaitley. Asserting that the above three statements ought not to have been made, Jaitley said these comments became an "important instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India." Stating that the pre-emptive attack by the IAF at Balakot was intended to defend India's sovereignty, Jaitley outlined that the retaliatory attack by Pakistan's F-16 was the most botched up operation. He also said that not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of it harbouring terrorists also reached the Security Council. "Seen collectively and cumulatively, the above three statements ought not to have been made. They hurt India's interest. Not only do they give smiles to Pakistan, they become an important instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India. Does the opposition want the Air Force to release operation details of the Balakot attack? The Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also an essential ingredient of public discourse. I hope, India's Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation," he concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) October 24, 2021, Sunday Anyone would be allowed to add, change, or remove a link, so long as they are a moderator of a room and regardless of the number ... "The country is worried about the terror attacks happening in Jammu and Kashmir for the last few days. It is not hidden from the people how BJP and especially PM Modi are trying to hide their failures in the garb of what is happening there," she said while addressing party workers in Lucknow. Mayawati called the meeting to give guidelines to BSF workers on the party's alliance with SP. Earlier, she had criticised PM Modi for "ignoring" matters of security and trying to serve political interests. "At a time when India is facing hostility and the country needs firm leadership, PM Narendra Modi, instead of concentrating on the matters of security, is trying to serve political interests by addressing BJP workers. It is ridiculous, besides betrayal of sentiments," she had said. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to contest 37 and 38 Lok Sabha seats respectively in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has gone to the SP kitty. UP has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats. The two parties have also agreed not to put up candidates from Rai Bareli and Amethi, represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi respectively. Congress has decided to contest all the 80 seats after the party was not made a part of the SP-BSP alliance. The Congress leadership has said that the party will fight the Lok Sabha polls with 'full force' in Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blatantly politicised the bravery and martyrdom of India's soldiers with an eye on 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "Having failed on every front, Narendra Modi is indulging in shameless credit-seeking for the valor of Armed Forces as a last resort for the 2019 elections. He has blatantly politicised the bravery and martyrdom of India's soldiers as a political pamphlet," said Surjewala. "The nation today witnessed a monologue by a narcissistic Prime Minister sans any sense of accountability. Prime Minister is obsessed with one word - 'Modi'. He forgets that India is a thriving democracy of 132 crore people with a multitude of opinions and not an oligarchy of BJP-RSS loaded by Narendra Modi," he said. "Compromising security and gross intelligence failure are the characteristic style of a non-functioning Modi Government. When will Modi take decisive action against Pak-sponsored terror?" Surjewala asked. He also said that in the last 56 months, 498 soldiers and officers have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir and 55 brave soldiers laid down their lives last month owing to the menace of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. He said, "Prime Minister speaks about accountability forgets that instead of bringing back Rs 80 lakh crore of black money within 100 days, as promised by him in 2014, the likes of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and many others have run away with nearly Rs 1 lakh crore of public money under his watch. Not only this, Nirav Modi was last seen getting himself photographed with PM Modi in the World Economic Forum in Switzerland." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, speaking at the India Today Conclave here on Saturday, said: "Today, the entire nation has felt the absence of Rafale. Had we got Rafale, the result today could have been different. Initially, people were doing 'Swaarthneeti' on it. Today they are doing on the same. The country has suffered a lot because of this." The Prime Minister also alleged that the opposition is questioning India's security forces at a time when the entire world is with us. "When the entire country is with our forces, there are people who are questioning forces. The world is united to fight against terrorism, and at that crucial time people are questioning the forces," he said. Sharpening his attack on the opposition, Prime Minister said: "People in their quest to be anti-Modi have become anti-India." "I want to ask these people do you trust our forces or do you trust those who carry out attacks on our soil. Many Modis will come and go but India is going to be here forever," he said. He added: "If you want to oppose Modi, you are free to do so. But do not oppose what is in favour of the nation. They should be careful that in this stubbornness of being anti-Modi, they may end up giving support to terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and others." Hitting out at the opposition further, the Prime Minister claimed that the security forces had asked for 1.86 lakh bullet-proof jackets but till the time his government came to power, not one jacket had been purchased. "I would like to inform you that in 2009 the forces had asked for 1.83 lakh bullet-proof jackets but not one jacket was bought till the time we came to power. This is shameful. In our tenure, we have got 2.30 lakh bulletproof jackets," he said. Accusing the opposition of being corrupt, Prime Minister Modi said: "There many so many defence scams, which took place during their era. They began with Jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, and so on. In the process, the defence sector suffered immensely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of getting India labelled as a 'terrorist state' at the recently concluded conference of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi. "What happened in Abu Dhabi is extremely disturbing for India and every citizen of this country," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, while addressing a press conference here on Sunday. Tewari said that the OIC chose to state in its resolution, which reads: "Condemn in the strongest possible terms recent wave of Indian terrorism." The Congress leader also referred to the use of expressions in OIC resolution like: "Indian terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir that have resulted in the deaths of 48 people in November alone, making 2018 one of the deadliest years in the history of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in more than a decade over 450 casualties." "Is this your great diplomatic achievement that you go to OIC meeting, you lend legitimacy to them? You get a resolution calling India a 'terrorist state.' Are we occupying our Jammu and Kashmir? You got labelled India as an occupier in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "You get a resolution which states that OIC appeals to other member states and Islamic institutions to provide humanitarian aid to the Kashmiri people," Tewari said, while speaking in the context of the OIC resolution. He said that there was a reason why India had chosen to deliberately ignore these meetings of OIC over the past so many decades. "Congress unequivocally states the NDA-BJP sold the interest in Abu Dhabi. By participating in the OIC meeting and getting such a hostile resolution in response, the NDA-BJP government surrendered," he said. "The Central government is attempting to downplay the OIC resolution. If this resolution is of no importance, then why did External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj last night put out a statement reaffirming our stand on J & K," he asked. "There could not have been a greater and more abject surrender of India's interest than the External Affairs Minister providing legitimacy by her presence and getting a resolution in return which labelled India as a terrorist state," said Tewari, also a former Union Minister. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was invited as a 'Guest of Honour' to attend the meeting of OIC in Abu Dhabi on March 1, where she addressed the plenary session of the conference. Pakistan had boycotted the conference to protest against the invitation to India for the first time in the grouping's 50-year-old history. In response to questions about air strikes at JeM camp in Balakot, Pakistan, Tewari said: "The opposition is not questioning air strikes. PM Modi himself is doing it. When he says that if we had Rafale, then the result would have been different-what does it mean?" "The Prime Minister is directly responsible if we don't have Rafale. Had they not cancelled the contract, the Rafale would be here," he said, denying if the allegations that the Congress was asking for proofs of air strikes. "We are not asking for any proofs," he said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a strike on February 26 in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which destroyed a major terrorist training camp run by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and eliminated a 'large number' of terrorists including some top commanders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu called his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman to express condolences for the Pulwama terror attack and further strengthened the military cooperation between the two countries. "Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu called Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to express condolences for the Pulwama attack and emphasized on the determination to strengthen Indo-Russian military cooperation," the Defence Ministry of India tweeted. Around 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives after a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy of the security forces in Pulwama in South Kashmir. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terror outfit based in Pakistan, claimed the responsibility of orchestrating the attack. On February 26, India carried out air strike on a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following which Jammu and Kashmir saw heightened military activity from February 27 onwards. Pakistani jets violated the Indian air space and dropped some bombs in Rajouri sector after which one of their fighters was shot down. Early on February 28, India also claimed it foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin also telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his condolences on the ghastly terror attack. He further conveyed solidarity of the people of Russia with the people of India in the fight against terrorism. Both leaders also agreed that the concerned (Pakistan) should stop all support to terrorism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the re-constructed Assam house situated at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Marg in New Delhi. People from Assam and those residing in the capital gathered to witness the ceremony which was held on Saturday. Built at a cost of over Rs 50 crore, the Assam house comprises of 74 rooms including VVIP rooms, suits and, double bedded rooms. The new Assam house will provide upgraded facilities to the natives of state who usually visit New Delhi for work or any other official purpose. Moreover, the new Assam house will highly cater to the need of the students, professionals, and patients of the state. The architecturally rich Assam house is designed in such a way that it reflects the rich and colourful heritage of the state. Cultural performance by a Bihu troupe from Assam and others formed an essential part of the inaugural ceremony. Sonowal, while speaking to ANI, said: "This is a newly constructed building and it should be dedicated to the people of Assam with all modern facilities. I am thankful to all the offices and the builders', everybody has extended their sincere efforts, as a result, a beautiful structure has come out in the heart of the capital. This is one of the biggest assets Assam and I believe people from all the sections will get benefit out of this house." "The new Assam house has got five-star facilities; it has got 74 rooms and a very good conference room. For the students we have 7 dormitories, each dormitory has 5-6 beds. Lot of students and non-officials come to Delhi, I am sure that with this facility many of them will be benefited", added Niraj Verma, Resident Commissioner, Assam House. When asked if any effective measure was taken to end the hooch tragedy in the state which took place recently as a result of consumption of spurious liquor, Sonowal said, "We are putting all our sincere efforts, honourable speaker along with the MLAs have visited the spot and we will take an action on the basis of their decision. Before their visit, all the necessary initiatives and actions were taken and we have also directed the Upper Assam Commissioner to investigate into the matter." "The DGP Assam, both police and general administration are putting efforts to find the culprit, who will be given necessary punishment", he added. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of Chinese JF-17 fighter jet manufacturer's sister company surged after a former Pakistani officer's tweet claiming the planes were used by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to shoot down Indian military aircraft, according to a media report. Retired PAF Air Marshal Shahid Latif had early on Wednesday tweeted, "Proud to announce, I was project director for JF-17 Thunder programme jointly produced by Pakistan and China during the [2001-2008] tenure of general Pervez Musharraf." "Today, same jets targeted and shot down Indian jets which entered Pakistani airspace." he wrote. Less than two hours after this tweet, shares of Shenzhen-listed Sichuan Chengfei Integration Technology (CAC-SCIT), a sister company of JF-17 maker Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), rose 10 per cent in five minutes - hitting the maximum daily rise allowed on the Chinese stock market, reported the South China Morning Post. China has refused to confirm the claim made by Latif that JF-17 fighters were used by PAF to shoot down Indian military aircraft. Chinese Defence Ministry refused to comment, but spokesman Ren Guoqiang said, "The most urgent and important thing is both India and Pakistan should keep restraint." PAF had said on Wednesday that it shot down two Indian fighter jets that entered Pakistani airspace near the Line of Control, and captured a pilot. At a joint media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, senior officers of the three armed forces had said that Pakistan used several US-made F-16 aircraft to target military establishments in India. However, no damage was done, they had said. They had also presented proof of AIM-120 missile being fired by F-16 in Indian territory. India had said that its air force lost only one MiG-21 Bison fighter jet on Wednesday. The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who shot down a Pakistani F-16. He was taken into custody by Pakistan Army after he bailed out when his plane crashed. He returned home on Friday. The lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 was developed by CAC and is produced jointly with defence and aviation contractor Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. Meanwhile, the Indian subsidiary of the United States F-16 fighter aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin rubbished claims by a senior official in Pakistan Information Minister's office that it was going to sue India for "wrongly claiming" that an Indian Air Force MiG-21 had shot down an F-16 in a dogfight in Kashmir. The claim was made by Danyal Gilani, Director in the Information Minister's office and chairman of Pakistan's Central Film Board in a tweet. "Lockheed Martin has made no such comments," Lockheed Martin said in its March 1 reply to a tweet by Gilani, which he removed subsequently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of not uttering even a word for the people of Amethi in the Lok Sabha. Speaking at an event here, Irani said: "It is saddening indeed that the person who has been elected by the people to the Lok Sabha from Amethi has never spoken a word either about the place or the people in the Lower House of Parliament." "For the last five years, he has only uttered foul language against the Prime worker (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) of the country," said Irani, who lost the last Lok Sabha poll to Rahul from Amethi. She also accused Rahul of not coming forward to help Amethi which every summer witness fire due to heat. "I have seen at least 500 houses being gutted during summer time every year, and only the BJP workers come forward to help them. Rahul Gandhi was nowhere," she said. Speaking on the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded Prime Minister Modi for February 26 Indian Air Force (IAF) strike deep into Pakistan to destroy JeM terror training camp. "India exhibited ultimate courage last week under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. We conducted a surgical strike in Pakistan and brought back our IAF pilot. All this became possible because we have a leader like Prime Minister Modi," he said. "Swachh Bharat Mission has become a movement in India. Its impact was felt across the border in Pakistan where India conducted the air strike to clean the terror camp. I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for taking the Swachh Bharat Mission to Pakistan," he said. Chief Minister Adityanath also hailed the Prime Minister for the development in the country and the state. "This faster pace of development India and Uttar Pradesh could be possible because we have leaders like Narendra Modi," he said. "I am proud of the fact that Prime Minister Modi has the vision to transfer the benefits of welfare schemes directly into the people's accounts by implementing the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)," said Chief Minister Adityanath. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It seems premature for the Palace to crow about a three-step improvement in the Philippines ranking in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2019, considering that our rank of 90th out of 126 nations planted us firmly within the bottom third of the pack. Still, a presidential spokesman was elated at the news and quickly credited the improvement to the tireless work of the administration. The Duterte administration has been tirelessly working on these since Day One and we are pleased of the Philippines improved global rank in 2019... as a result of our initiatives, the Palace official said in a statement. The Palace official noted that the World Justice Project defines effective rule of law as reducing corruption, combating poverty and disease and protecting people from injustice large and small. All of these, he added, are embodied in the administrations five-year development plan. Given the Palaces effusive response to the latest rankings, it may be instructive to see how well the Philippines scored in eight of the factors considered by the survey: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. The Rule of Law index is a number from zero to one, with one signifying the highest possible score (strong adherence to the rule of law) and zero being the lowest (weak adherence to the rule of law). The countrys overall score of 0.47 is hardly inspiring along this scale. In all eight factors, the Philippines managed to score higher than 0.5 in only threeconstraints on government powers (0.53), open government (0.53) and order and security (0.57) It had lower scores in absence of corruption (0.47), fundamental rights (0.42), regulatory enforcement (0.47), and civil justice (0.44). It scored miserably in criminal justice (0.31).Significantly, this last factor measures the effectiveness of the criminal investigation and adjudication system, the correctional system, the impartiality of the justice system, the absence of corruption or improper government influence in the criminal justice system, and due process of the law and rights of the accused. Sadly, our history is rife with examplesfrom this and past administrationsof how the justice system has been misused to persecute political enemies and to intimidate or silence the press. The Presidents vocal disdain for human rights is also clearly reflected in the survey results. Ranked by the criminal justice factor alone, the Philippines falls to No. 113 of 126, a truly dismal showing. Finally, before the Palace breaks out the champagne, it ought to consider that in East Asia and the Pacific, we are near the bottom, at 13th out of 15, better only than Myanmar and Cambodia. Celebrating a rank of 90 out of 126 countries when it comes to adhering to the rule of law sets the bar much too low. We can and should do better. At least 22 security personnel were killed following an encounter with a Syrian jihadist group linked to Al-Qaeda in Idlib province. The terrorist group attacked Army units deployed near al-Masasneh and Lahaya villages, reports SANA. The attack took place near the proposed demilitarised buffer zone. The demilitarised buffer zone was announced last year to separate government forces from rebel fighters in Syria's Idlib province. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is trying to regain control over the last province in the rebel bastion -Idlib province. Turkey has deployed military troops in different locations across Idlib. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday targeted the Bhartiya Janata Party for portraying the Opposition as "anti-national" after they questioned the air strike by Indian Air Force at terror camps in Balakot in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. "Calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes anti- is baffling. However the opposition should not fall into this trap of changing the entire election discourse from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST, unemployment, farmers distress to these strikes," Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday said there was conflict in reports confirming IAF air strike carried out at multiple terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, which destroyed control rooms of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and some other infrastructure. Taking to Twitter, Mehbooba said: "Post pre-dawn strikes carried out by IAF, conflicting reports coming in. Official communique by FS claims that terror training camps were bombed while Pak denied this & said that the planes made a hasty retreat after being spotted. Hope objective of both sides has been served." Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed that India on Tuesday carried out air strikes at a massive JeM camp in Balakot, eliminating a "large number" of terrorists, including top commanders. The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar. The terror camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, were struck by 12 Mirage 2000 jets with 1000 kg of explosives at around 3:30 am on Tuesday. Pakistan Army also confirmed that Indian Air Force fighters penetrated the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped "payloads" in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, they denied any damage. JeM carried out a ghastly terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14 in which 40 security personnel were killed and five injured. Pulwama terror attack had led to nationwide outrage and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to punish those behind the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister Theresa May in a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called for the de-escalation of tension between India and Pakistan. The British Prime Minister also lauded the decision of Khan to free Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a gesture of stabilising peace between both the countries. "The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan today. She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan," the News International quoted a spokesperson saying. "We are in regular contact with both countries urging dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability. We are working closely with international partners, including through the UN Security Council, to de-escalate tensions and are monitoring developments closely and considering implications for British nationals," Prime Minister May had remarked on the crisis situation between the two neighbouring countries. The gesture by the Prime Minister May came after tensions escalated between Pakistan and India following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, claiming lives of 40 Central Reserves Police Force (CRPF) jawans. Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack. After the February 26 air strikes on a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Jammu and Kashmir saw heightened military activity on February 27, with Pakistani jets violating the Indian air space and dropping some bombs in Rajouri sector after which one of their fighters was shot down. In a failed bid, Pakistan Air Force earlier on the same day had tried to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane. Most of the countries including China and Russia have also asked New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate and exercise restraint regarding all forms of terrorism in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) addressed Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors as "wrong people", adding that those people "tried to take him out with bullshit". "Unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions, and they leave people for a long time that should not be there. All of a sudden, they are trying to take you out with bullshit," Trump said on the last day of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2019. The remarks by the President came after the US Justice Department on February 23 confirmed that Mueller would not be delivering his report on Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election next week. Fox News quoted the President as saying that the reports were produced "by people who weren't elected." "I had a nasty business transaction with Robert Mueller a number of years ago. I said, why wasn't that mentioned? He wanted the job as FBI director. I did not give it to him. Why isn't that mentioned?" Trump argued. Mueller's findings have so far indicted close Trump aides for their activities during the 2016 elections. Roger Stone, a long time friend and advisor of Trump's is one of the most recent indictments, where Mueller's team has found Stone guilty of making "multiple false statements" about his interactions regarding WikiLeaks. Before this, Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen was handed a three-year prison sentence for lying to the US Congress, violating campaign finance laws and tax evasion, in December. He has pleaded guilty to Mueller's charge of lying to the US Congress regarding the timeline of talks regarding a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow which took place during the same time as Trump's Presidential campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Supreme Court set to pass an order on March 5 on whether the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case should be sent for mediation, Haji Mehboob, a petitioner, has accused Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) of not wanting to settle the issue and keep it on for its own benefits. "The main petitioner of the Hindu side, Nirmohi Akhada, wants to solve the issue but Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) wants to keep this issue on forever for its own benefits," he told ANI in Lucknow. Mehboob said, "Talks have been started. The Supreme Court has earlier been of the view that the issue should be resolved through dialogue." The apex court had said on February 26 that it will pass an order on March 5 on whether the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case should be sent for mediation. A five-judge constitution bench said, "It's not a dispute over private property. It has become so contentious. We're seriously giving a chance for mediation." According to Gautam Vij, a representative of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, "The apex court had said that the matter should be solved through dialogue. We have sent the letters to the Muslim law board and Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madni." Syed Rafat, president of Intellectual Forum, said, "I am sure that we will succeed. We have sent letters and the parties have told us that they will look into it. I have started a new intellectual forum of Muslims. Nirmohi Akhada is ready to solve the issue." Hearing the matter, Justice SA Bobde said, "Even if there is only 1% chance, it should be explored." "We are seriously considering it. That's something you can explore. We can suggest it has to be confidential. We can appoint mediators. It has to be confidential and no third party comments on mediation," the court said. "We are considering a possibility of healing relationship," it observed. Earlier, the central government, in a petition to the apex court, sought direction for releasing to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas 67 acres, which it had acquired about two-and-half decades back, leaving untouched 0.313 acres of disputed land. In 2010, the Allahabad High Court had divided the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts for each of the parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States, France and Italy later this month to ease tensions over trade and technology security, reported the South China Morning Post. Xi will embark for Italy in March and then head to France from there. He will then make a planned stop at US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. This comes after Trump offered a second Mar-a-Lago summit "weeks ago" while Xi offered to host the US president in Hainan. Amid the trade war, the US visit by Jinping is considered as crucial as two countries are holding high-level talks regular interval to reach a consensus on trade. The delegations of Chinese foreign ministry officials reached the US last month to hold talks US-China deal. The US President had earlier threatened to raise tariffs on the USD 200 Billion of Chinese products from 10 per cent to 25 per cent at the end of the period of truce on March 1. Upon "successful" trade talks between the two nations, he later indicated that he might extend the March 1 deadline to work out a deal. Along with trade war, Chinese major tech giant Huawei has come under global scrutiny after the US raised security concern regarding equipment. Recently, Chinese technology giant Huawei has been barred from providing equipment for fifth-generation wireless networks in countries including the US, Japan, and Australia. Various countries including Canada and Sweden have also questioned the technology ties with China. Late in January, the US Department of Justice announced 13 criminal charges against Huawei, its CFO Meng Wanzhou, and its affiliates in the US and Hong Kong. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two militants, five security men and a civilian were killed in the 48-hour-long gunfight that ended on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara border district. Police said two militants were killed today in this encounter which started on Friday. Three CRPF troopers, including an inspector, two local policemen and a civilian were killed during the 48-hour encounter in Babagund village of Handwara in Kupwara district. Paracommandos of the Army were called out on Saturday to help other security forces carry on with the operation. Security forces had started a cordon-and-search operation in Babagund village of Handwara area following information about the presence of militants there. On Friday, security forces were carrying out searches after firing exchanges had stopped at the encounter site when a militant, presumed to be dead, rose from the debris of a blasted house and fired indiscriminately at security forces. "Fatalities and injuries to security men were caused in this incident. While two CRPF troopers and two policemen were killed on Friday, an injured CRPF trooper succumbed to his injuries in the hospital today," police said. "A civilian was killed on Friday in clashes between the security forces and protesters when protesters tried to disrupt the operation," the police added. Bodies of both the terrorists were recovered from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained, sources said. "This operation posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. The place where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to safer places," police said. "Incriminating material and arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. The police have registered a case and the incriminating material retrieved from the site of the encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases," police said. Residents living near the encounter site have been repeatedly told to stay away as such an area can be dangerous due to the presence of stray explosive material. "People are requested to cooperate with the police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives material, if any," police said. --IANS sq/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two militants, five security personnel and a civilian were killed in a 48-hour-long gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara area, a defence official said on Sunday. "Two terrorists were killed. The gunfight has now stopped but search operations are ongoing," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. The identities of the slain terrorists were yet to be ascertained. The gunfight started on Friday in Babagund village of Handwara in Kupwara district after security forces cordoned the area following information of the presence of militants. Two CRPF troopers and two policemen were killed on Friday when a militant who was presumed to be dead suddenly rose from the debris of a house and fired indiscriminately at the security forces. An injured trooper succumbed to injuries on Sunday in a hospital, the police said. Seven other security personnel were also injured in the gunfight. The civilian was killed when protesters clashed with the security forces to disrupt the operation. According to some reports, two houses and two cowsheds were destroyed by the security forces as the hiding militants kept on changing positions at the site of the gunfight. --IANS sq/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan forces have intensified military operations and killed 17 militants in the war-battered country in a single day on Sunday, officials said. The crackdowns have increased in the wake of Taliban's deadly attack on an army base in Shorab area in the southern Helmand province of Aghanistan on Friday, reported Xinhua. The brazen offensive, which started on Friday, left some 50 dead and more than 40 others injured, according to media reports. However, the government forces, in crackdown against militants, stormed Taliban hideouts in Dawlat Abad district of the northern Faryab province early on Sunday, killing six insurgents and injuring two others, army spokesman in the northern region said. Two Taliban senior commanders, Mawlawi Jalal and Mullah Jandullah, were also killed in the raids, he said. Similarly, a Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district of the southern Kandahar province was also stormed on Sunday, killing eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah and injuring nine others, an army statement said. Showdown between security forces and the Taliban fighters in Khawja Ghar district of the northern Takahr province on Sunday morning left three militants dead and injured four others including two militants and two security personnel, district governor Mohammad Omar said. Taliban militants had not commented on the claims made by the officials. --IANS pg/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was again hospitalised for "tests and examinations" on Sunday, a hospital official said here. "The Chief Minister has been admitted to conduct tests and examinations to check if the internal bleeding, which he was suffering from, is completely under check," the official from the state-run Goa Medical College, said on the condition of anonymity. Parrikar was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February 2018 and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since. He was admitted at the Goa Medical College for nearly a week last month after he suffered from internal bleeding. --IANS maya/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy is the joint winner of the 2019 Missile Systems Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the US, said the Virginia-based aerospace technical society on Sunday. "Reddy was selected for his over three decades of national contributions to indigenous design, development and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics and navigation technologies in India," said the society in a statement. Reddy, 55, is also the Defence Secretary and Director-General of DRDO's aerospace arm Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) here. Reddy contributed to the Agni-5, the 5,000km range surface-to-surface, long-range strategic missile. The other winner of the missile award, Rondell J. Wilson is the retired principal engineering fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. "Wilson was selected for his technical leadership and innovation that has advanced the performance and capability of the world's premier missile defense systems," said the statement. Though the award will be presented at the society's Defence Forum on May 7-9 at the Kossiakoff Centre at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, Reddy will receive his award in India. "The award also recognises excellence in developing on implementing missile system technology or for inspired leadership of missile systems," said the statement. The society presents the award biennially to those who demonstrated expertise in fundamental technical disciplines that has led to substantial improvement in missile systems. The society also awards those who led a major programme milestone by a state-run agency or an industry team. With about 30,000 individual members from 85 countries and 95 corporate members, the society brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defence. As Director-General of the Missiles and Strategic Systems, Reddy spearheaded Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex and other labs in Hyderabad. As the chief architect of advance missile technologies, Reddy also contributed for design, development and deployment of diversified missiles and strategic systems, guided weapons and avionics. "Under restrictive international control regimes, Reddy evolved strategies for indigenous design and development of advanced avionics and paved the way for inducting a range of missiles and smart guided weapons," DRDO said in a statement here. Reddy joined in 1986 the state-run Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad and later joined the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the brain child of former President Kalam. After graduating in engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University (JNTU) at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy did M.S. and PhD, from JNTU in Hyderabad. --IANS bha-fb/prs (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.) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing unit launched here by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bolster Indias defence potential besides creating employment. In his message read out at the unveiling ceremony of the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited unit in Amethi, Putin stressed decades of military and technical cooperation between the two countries and pointed to the setting up of around 170 military and industrial facilities in India with assistance from Russia. "The Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies," said Putin. "I am convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India, to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy, will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for qualified work force, and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training," he said. The Indo-Russian joint venture will produce the latest series of the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. Putin said the plant itself will become another "symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries". --IANS and/oeb/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Booker T. & the MGs are among the performers named as inductees to the Blues Hall of Fame. The Blues Foundation announced this year's honourees on Friday. An induction ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at the Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts and Education in Memphis, Tennessee, reports variety.com. The Blues Foundation points out that the very first record Franklin ever released after signing with Columbia was a song called "Today I Sing the Blues" and her fifth album was "Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington". In 1980 she released a compilation of her more blues-oriented early material, "Aretha Sings the Blues". The Blues Foundation names recordings as well as artists to its Hall of Fame, and the singles being inducted this year include Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone", Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman" and Elmore James "Shake Your Moneymaker" along with Elmore James' 1965 compilation "The Sky Is Crying". Ida Cox and guitarist Pee Way Crayton are the other two performers joining the Hall of Fame, which will also honour the late Folkways Records executive Moses "Moe" Asch. The May 8 induction ceremony in Memphis will be followed a night later by contemporary honours given out at the 40th annual Blues Music Awards. The museum itself will put items connected with the inductees on display starting the day of the ceremony. --IANS dc/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police lathicharged and detained BJP activists participating in 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rallies in several districts of West Bengal on Sunday. Launched by BJP president Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are part of the party's nationwide outreach campaign, ahead of elections. The rallies have been denied permission by the West Bengal government citing board examinations and traffic issues, a senior Kolkata police officer said. In Kolkata, police intercepted rallies on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points, while disruptions were reported from North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Burdwan and West Medinipur districts. In West Medinipur's Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to lathicharge and scuffle, leaving several people injured. "We have detained eight BJP workers," an officer of Goaltore police station said. In Durgapur, the activists scuffled with the police, following which Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called in. State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said around 100 such rallies were being organised in Bengal. "I have flagged off a rally in Durgapur. Workers are being arrested and such arrests will take place everywhere. But we will be successful," he said. --IANS bnd/ssp/rtp (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday said the just-concluded meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not a "failed summit". "I don't agree at all that it was a failed summit," he said during an interview with Fox News. Bolton also made a similar statement in a separate interview with the CBS' "Face the Nation," saying that "I don't consider the summit a failure. I consider it a success defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." "There was extensive preparation for this meeting. Extensive discussions between the president and Kim Jong-un," he explained. "I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected." However, he added that Washington's "programme of maximum pressure will continue" on Pyongyang, which had "brought them to the table in the first place", Xinhua news agency reported. Trump and Kim ended their second summit in Hanoi last week without reaching an agreement. However, both sides have expressed willingness after the meeting for further engagement on key issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the establishment of lasting peace, and economic options related to the North Korean side. The Pentagon said on Saturday the US and South Korea have decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises, which North Korea had denounced a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, and "very expensive" and "provocative" "war games" in Trump's view. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several people were injured as clashes broke out in various parts of West Bengal on Sunday when police sought to stop BJP activists from holding the 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rallies. Launched by Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are part of the party's nationwide outreach campaign ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, in West Bengal, the rallies were denied permission because of board examinations and traffic issues, a senior police officer said. In Kolkata, police intercepted the rally participants on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points, while disruptions were reported from North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur, Cooch Behar and West Medinipur districts. Workers of the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress clashed in Baraboni of West Burdwan district during the rally, police said. BJP leader and Union minister Babul Supriyo, who led the bike rally in Baraboni, accused the police of attempts to stop the event. "West Bengal Police tried so hard to obstruct BJP's peaceful #VijaySankalpaBikeRally at Amdiha More, Baraboni but how could they have stopped us when we had the support of the people with us??" he said in a series of tweets. "Log saath aate gaye aur carvaan banta gaya (people kept on joining, and the caravan took shape)". In West Medinipur's Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to a baton-charge and scuffle, which left several people injured. "We have detained eight BJP workers," an officer of Goaltore police station said. In Durgapur, the activists scuffled with police, following which the Rapid Action Force was called in to restore order. State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said around 100 such rallies were being organised in Bengal. "I have flagged off a rally in Durgapur. Workers are being arrested and such arrests will take place everywhere. But we will be successful," he said. --IANS bnd/ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The four-day-long annual Barranquilla carnival, the second-largest in the world, began in Colombia with the Battle of Flowers, a grand parade attended by more than 600,000 people. One of the most popular festivals in the country, the carnival, declared by Unesco as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003, dates back to the 1880s, Efe news reported. The Battle of Flowers, one of the biggest draws of the carnival, dates back to 1903, and was aimed at celebrating the end of the One Thousand Days War in Colombia. After the end of the war, the people of Barranquilla gathered for the parade and fought with flowers instead of bullets, mocking war-mongers, including real life politicians and leaders. Like every year, the Battle of Flowers on Saturday, put up a grand, colourful spectacle replete with 30 floats, more than 12,000 dancers from 100 folkloric groups, 'cumbiambas' (popular Colombian dance), along with people dressed in traditional and modern costumes. The Carnival Queen, Carolina Segebre Abudinen, toured the city on her flower-decked chariot "Golden City", in a tribute to the vibrancy of the city. The magnificent floats were an ode to their creators, with themes including "Paloteo en batalle" (Bickering in Battle), "Vuelo al Paraiso" (Flight to Paradise), "Puloy" (Colombian Caribbean), and "Furia Africana" (African Fury), reflected the creativity of their builders. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Telangana state Congress staged a sit-in at the Assembly premises, here on Sunday, protesting against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for allegedly engineering defections in the opposition party. The party announced that it would wage a full scale constitutional battle against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao who engineered defection of two Congress MLAs -- Athram Sakku and Rega Kantha Rao -- to the TRS ahead of elections to the state Legislative Council, scheduled on March 12. Wearing black badges, state Congress chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other MLAs and MLCs staged the protest. The Congress leaders said despite getting majority in the recent elections, the TRS was trying to engineer defections to ensure that there is no opposition to it in the state. Reddy accused KCR of turning Telangana into a symbol of oppression and injustices. He demanded immediate disqualification from the House of both MLAs to deprive them their voting rights in the MLC elections. A complaint would also be lodged with the Election Commission seeking their immediate disqualification, he added. Reddy said it was essential for all, especially the elected representatives, to honour the decision of the people to facilitate the functioning of state in a democratic manner. CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka accused KCR of murdering the democracy in Telangana. He said the Congress would expose the unconstitutional and undemocratic practices of KCR. --IANS ms/rs/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Sunday slammed the Narendra Modi government over the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopting a resolution condemning "Indian barbarities and human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress strongly reacted to New Delhi giving "legitimacy" to the OIC by attending the summit in Abu Dhabi and accused the Modi government of "surrendering India's national interest". The resolution was adopted on Saturday, a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the summit. Besides terming elimination of militant Burhan Wani an "extra judicial killing", the OIC condemned "intensified Indian barbarities since 2016 in Kashmir that led to the death of over 220 people" and also criticised the "inhuman practice of using pellet guns". "The Modi government had touted the invitation to the OIC as a great diplomatic success but it has turn out to be a huge embarrassment for India. The OIC resolution not just condemned Indian terrorism in Kashmir but also called India an occupier in Kashmir," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said here. "For so many decades India has deliberately chosen to avoid attending the OIC. But the Modi government not just gave it legitimacy by attending but in turn got India labelled a terrorist country and an occupier in Kashmir," said the former Union Minister. While the Modi government subsequently said J&K is an integral part of India and its matters are strictly internal, Tewari said it was only a face saving exercise. "We condemn this abject surrender of national interest, in the strongest possible terms and ask Modi and the Swaraj is this the big diplomatic success they have been touting," Tewari said. --IANS and/ksk/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CRPF trooper Vinod Kumar, who died in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir recently, was cremated in Ghaziabad's Patla town on Sunday with full state honour. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for his family and a government job for the martyr's wife. Thousands of people thronged the venue to pay their tribute to Kumar. Constable Kumar had joined Central Reserve Police Force in 2004. He was among five security personnel who were killed in a gunfight with militants on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara district. Kumar is survived by his wife, a nine-year-old son and six-year-old daughter. --IANS sps/rs/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice-President Joel Kaplan will appear before the Parliamentary Committee on (IT), here on March 6, to elucidate what it and its subsidiaries and are doing to safeguard the citizen rights across platforms. "Senior officials will appear on March 6 before a parliamentary panel to outline the specific measures taken to ensure safety of users on its platform," told IANS on Sunday. Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Director, India, and Ankhi Das, Director (Public, Policy and Programmes) will accompany Kaplan, sources said. or COO are not travelling to for the hearing. The officials' presentation will follow appearance of Colin Crowell, Global Vice-President (Public Policy) of Twitter, before the Anurag Thakur-led panel on February 25. Crowell had spoken about how the microblogging site would help address issues like political bias and manipulation on its platform. was also asked to reply to some of the unanswered queries within 10 days. In his tweeet last month, Thakur said: "The Parliamentary Committee will now examine the issue of 'safeguarding citizen rights on social/online news platforms'. The following will present their positions: Facebook, WhatsApp, " As gears up for general elections, global platforms are discussing how to curb misinformation and fake news in a country where mobile penetration has helped Facebook, and reach millions of users. Facebook has close to 300 million users and over 200 million. According to statista.com, Instagram has nearly 75 million users in In the runup to the Lok Sabha polls, Facebook has introduced a new tool to bring transparency to ads related to politics. Anyone who runs ads related to politics will have to reveal their identity and location to pass the authorisation process and have a "Published by" or "Paid for by" label. "The tool comes with some India-specific features," Shivnath Thukral, Facebook's Public Policy Director for India and South Asia, told IANS recently. "The law of the land does not require us to make the 'Paid for by' label mandatory in India," Thukral said. Another India-first feature that Facebook has introduced is that advertisers can begin the authorisations on their itself instead of logging in to a desktop. For registered political parties in India, Facebook has also introduced an option to upload certification and monitoring committee certificate from the of India. "In our conversation with Election Commission, we learnt it is essential to give political parties the option to upload the certificate," Thukral said. --IANS na/oeb/pcj (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fire alarm at the IKEA store here Sunday night triggered panic and caused everyone inside to flee out before it was discovered to be false, police said. The alarm sent panic among hundreds of customers and employees, who ran out of the store located in Hitec City, the information technology hub. "A false alarm broke out at about 8 p.m. in the IKEA store in Hyderabad due to which customers and co-workers had to be evacuated for some minutes as a safety procedure. Everyone is back in the building safely and business is back to normal," an IKEA spokesperson said. Police denied that there was any fire in the store. A police official said people ran out in panic as the fire alarm went off and it later proved to be false. As police said somebody in the cellar pressed the fire alarm button, an IKEA spokesperson said they were investigating to identify the person responsible. Swedish home furnishing multinational IKEA opened its first India store here in August last year. Thousands of people visit the store and the restaurant every day. --IANS ms/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An association representing the families of the 239 passengers, who disappeared with Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, on Sunday called for a fresh search to find the aircraft. At a public event held in Kuala Lumpur, a few days before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, Voice 370 requested Malaysian authorities to start a fresh search, which would be the third since the disappearance of the plane, reported Efe news. "Many amongst us continue to struggle... Give us answers to what, why and how, and if it comes to it, who. Give us the truth," said KS Narendran whose wife was onboard MH370 when it mysteriously disappeared. Grace Nathan, whose mother was also on board, called the tragedy an incurable wound and said that a new search would be an investment into improving global aeronautical security. The event was also attended by the Malaysian Transport Minister, Anthony Loke who clarified that efforts to find the plane had not been abandoned. He said that the Malaysian government welcomes any lead or credible evidence to restart the search. Two previous searches, spread over one part of the Indian Ocean, had failed to locate the remains of the plane. Oliver Plunkett, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Infinity, the company who was in-charge of conducting the second search, had offered to launch a new search mission to track the seabed. During Sunday's event, flaperon, a part of the Boeing 777, was displayed to the public for the first time. However, the whereabouts of the main part of the fuselage remain unknown. The Beijing-bound MH370 had disappeared from the radar on March 8, 2014 about 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, when someone had turned off the communication systems and changed the aircraft's route, according to official investigation. Several pieces of debris had been recovered in the last five years on the east coast of Africa, that analysts confirmed to be part of the missing aircraft, a Boeing 777. So far, 27 pieces have been recovered from the beaches of Reunion, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa and Pemba Island (Zanzibar), fragments that were swept away by the Indian Ocean currents, coinciding with the official hypothesis that the plane might have crashed into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel. Experts had confirmed that three fragments found in Reunion, Mauritius and Pemba belong to the MH370, while seven other pieces, including parts of the cabin interior, almost certainly belong to the same aircraft, and eight more pieces have a high probability of belonging to the same plane. --IANS pg/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's 9 a.m., and as most Kathikhera locals head to the fields, the village's seven women prepare their two-room pad-manufacturing factory unit for the day. An avenue for employment and financial gains, the unit has turned around the lives of not just these young harbingers of menstrual health, who make low-cost biodegradable pads, but also the many rural women who have now switched from cotton cloth to sanitary pads. This silent change happening in a small village located barely a hundred kilometres from the national capital, took the world by storm when a documentary film, 'Period. End Of Sentence', based on the hamlet and its small pad-manufacturing unit won an Oscar at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles last month. However, it was not the award that changed people's perception in Kathikhera about sanitary pads and a subject like menstruation, considered taboo especially in rural India. The transformation had already started to gradually take place in January, 2017 when the home-based unit was set up to produce sanitary napkins using low-cost machines invented by social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham, popularly known as 'Pad Man'. This transformation was visible when people of the village, and even nearby villages, gathered outside the small "factory" to celebrate the Oscar. Having used cotton cloth to absorb menstrual blood all her life, a veteran, Harchandi Devi (67) recounted her struggle with her first period. "I didn't know what a period is, until it showed up. I asked my saheli (friend) and applied a cotton cloth. Dikkat aayi, lekin kya karein (I faced problems, but what to do)," Harchandi Devi told IANS. Change is catching up for some like the unit's female workers, who churn out 600 low-cost pads each day. One such worker and Harchandi's granddaughter, Sneha, is among those featured in the 25-minute documentary that touches upon menstrual taboos in the village in the context of the home-based pad unit set up by the family's daughter-in-law, Suman, a frontline worker of feminist NGO Action India. Kathikhera's women might have painted the Oscars red, but a closer look on-ground tells us that the going, in fact, was not without cramps. Until congratulations poured in after the Oscar win, many villagers took the pad factory to be a unit for children's diapers. Sushma, a worker also seen in the film, streaming on Netflix, explained the hardships of working in the pad unit. "The villagers who knew would taunt: 'Yahi kaam mila hai? Do-do hazar lene jaa rahe hain, poora poora din lagate hai, kitne chakkar lagate hai' (that's the only work they could find? They get paid two thousand rupees monthly despite working all day)," Sushma, whose family has finally come to terms with her work, told IANS. Never having used a cotton pad herself, Harchandi now often closely observes the workers, some of them from her own joint family. Her 22-year-old granddaughter, Rakhi, tells the story of her mother using the pads made in the unit. "My mother used to use cloth first, then we made her understand that pads should be used. Cloth is often dirty and causes infection. Pads are cleaner and good for health. She made the switch and remains quite stress-free during that time of the month." A Delhi Police force aspirant like Sneha, Rakhi shared: "A few people objected saying 'yeh toh sharm ki cheez hai, isse sabke saamne nahi share karna chahiye" (This is a matter of shame, it shouldn't be shared publicly). But we got support from our homes." The women collectively do everything from mixing wood pulp to applying adhesive to the bottom of the pads. The final product is sold and marketed under the 'Fly' brand. In Kathikhera, a village of around 3,000 people and a sex ratio of 892, menstrual awareness in schools is a far cry too, but change seems to be trickling in. Arsi, an 18-year-old unit worker, recounted her menarche at 16 when she was sent back home by a frightened teacher - a practice she said was common. "I recently went back to my teacher with these pads, told her that is healthier and doesn't chafe the thighs. She kept some for herself too." She added that girls who had to skip school for several days every month due to their periods don't have to do so anymore. Although they have now won the respect of the village, defending their work initially was harder for some women, especially those who faced a second disadvantage of caste, after gender. The factory set up in a popular Gujjar household, 'Mohan ki Haveli', was a difficult workplace for Jat and Muslim employees, who said they faced objections, but continued nonetheless. Questions of a plastic-free environment and the waste the pads generate are also not foreign to these ambassadors of change, who said the pads' 'soft' plastic sheets biodegrade in about 3 months. Almost a textbook example of how responsible community and industrial intervention can usher in waves of caste and gender-based sustainable empowerment, the pad unit now makes sales in nearby areas, but is yet to market their produce to a larger market. A small corner in the factory has black polythene bags, to wrap finished pad packets, lest they are seen by others. They are a reminder that more needs to be done still, including making much-needed centres for maternity care and sexual heath, and most importantly, avenues where stories and informed advice is shared within the community, including boys and men. Till then, for many like Harchandi's teenage granddaughter, who aims to do a PhD in physics, the factory will continue to inspire dreams, help women take charge, and teach urban policymakers an easily replicable and scalable model of bottom-up development, led by female change-makers who deserve to 'fly'. (The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) --IANS sj/vv/vm/am/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The hysteria unleashed on social media platforms after Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's plane crashed in Pakistani territory on February 27 is partly responsible for the sudden shift in focus from fighting cross-border terrorism to bringing the pilot back home, experts believe. The country erupted into joyous celebration following Varthaman's release after spending over 60 hours in Pakistani captivity. "Social media did help to build pressure on Pakistan to quickly release the pilot which is excellent. But the hectic activity on social media contributed to derailing the counter-terror measures that the government had initiated after the Pulwama attack on February 14 that killed 40 CRPF troopers," Pavan Duggal, one of the nation's top cyber law experts, told IANS. In a video circulated on social media, the IAF pilot was shown as demonstrating great courage in withholding sensitive information, including his whereabouts in India. However, social media users wasted no time in giving away that information, without realising that whatever they posted were available for a global audience. "Indian social media users did not exercise the restraint that they were supposed to have in times like these. They were posting without understanding their ramifications. The way they were circulating information, most of which were fake, demonstrated that they became victims of psychological warfare controlled by foreign powers," Duggal said. "Abhinandan was part of a broader strategy, but that broader strategy receded into the background partly due to the hectic activity on social media," he said, adding, that a lot of what the mainstream media showed was somehow linked to content on social media. Leading tech policy and media consultant Prasanto K. Roy agreed with Duggal when he said that much of the information that was moving fast in social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook was neither genuine nor true. "We have seen a flurry of fake information and edited videos being circulated on social media from both sides of the border," Roy told IANS, adding that some of those information circulated in social media might have been very painful to the family of the Indian pilot who was captured in Pakistan. "The impact of social media has been overwhelmingly negative during the period following India's an air strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan on February 26," he added. So what happens when people do not exercise self-restraint in a situation like the one India faced over the past 10 days? "In such a case when self-regulation becomes ineffective, it will be a good idea to come up with specific guidelines which should govern the behaviour and the acts done on social media during important moments of our national interest," Duggal said. "We have in place something called Information Technology (Intermediaries guidelines) Rules, 2011 which often asks service providers to inform people not to do certain activities on their platform. "But the IT Rules 2011 don't have teeth. I think there should be now a dedicated provision for legal consequences should you violate these provisions," Duggal noted. Overall, he said, this episode can be seen as a learning experience for social media users as this is the first time they were confronted with a situation of this magnitude and importance. "Social media users should become warriors for the country rather than impacting India's sovereign interest. At the same time, the government should also not be influenced by the change in the course of social media discourses," Duggal said. (Gokul Bhagabati can be contacted at gokul.b@ians.in) --IANS gb/am (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Sunday announced its database of flora in peninsular India was now online. "Nature enthusiasts now have free access to peer-reviewed information on over 10,000 species of plants from peninsular India through the 'Digital Flora of Peninsular India' site," the city-based, state-run institution said in a statement. The digital database of plants was created by the IISc's Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES). The website - http://flora-peninsula-indica.ces.iisc.ac.in. - which was unveiled on Saturday, draws on the information available in the herbarium, a collection of dried, pressed plants specimens and associated data housed at the CES, the statement said. "The herbarium was founded by botanist C.J. Saldanha, who collected these specimens from his explorations of Karnataka's flora. IISc acquired the herbarium after Saldanha's retirement," its in-charge K. Sankara Rao said. The digital database was unveiled by IT major Cognizant's former Chief Executive Lakshmi Narayanan, and the retired chair of Department of Botany and Sericulture at Bangalore University, Kameswara Rao. "The duo have been instrumental in promoting the initiative -- Narayanan made a personal contribution and Rao chaired the database's peer-reviewing committee," the statement added. IISc's team carried out ecological surveys to ensure that the information provided on the site was up-to-date. The website also features photographs taken from the team's field trips and scanned images of the herbarium specimens. "The team spent four years to collect, process and upload the information on the website," the IISc said. Availability of online database was a crucial step in addressing issues related to conservation of plant species and habitats, according to the herbarium's in-charge. The Institute also plans to expand the database to parts of north and central India and is also keen to include information on mosses and lichens ahead. --IANS bha/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Bangladesh on Sunday began a two-week-long joint military exercise in Tangail, Bangladesh, to hone their tactical and technical skills to counter insurgency and terrorism. "The eighth edition of the exercise "Sampriti" started at the Bongobondhu Cantonment, Tangail, Bangladesh, with an impressive opening ceremony on March 3. The participating contingents stood side by side and gave a ceremonial salute to the national flags of both the countries to the strains of 'Jana Gana Mana' and 'Amar Shonar Bangla'," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The Bangladesh contingent was represented by the 36 East Bengal Battalion, while the Indian side was represented by the 9th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. "The aim of the exercise is to increase mutual cooperation, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies through inter-operability and joint tactical exercises," read the government statement. A company group from the Bangladesh Army and an equal number from the Indian Army are taking part in the exercise that will see them hone tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism and aid the civil authorities in disaster management in an United Nations peace keeping scenario, involving combined deployment at a battalion level. The exercise, which was started in 2009 with a platoon level engagement, graduated to the company level in 2015. --IANS vn/arm/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country needs the BJP but internal democracy in the world's largest political party has "weakened" in the last couple of years and veterans in the party have been given short shrift, says Chandupatla Janga Reddy, one of two MPs who opened the BJP's account in Parliament for the first time in 1984. Reddy, now 84, had defeated P.V. Narasimha Rao in Hanamkonda in Andhra Pradesh and along with A.K. Patel from Mehsana in Gujarat, had held the party flag aloft in the House which saw the party's numbers grow up to 88 in 1989. In an interview to IANS, Reddy rejected the opposition charge that democracy has been weakened by the ruling dispensation and held responsible for the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, which, he said led to the killings of over 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama on February 14. "The country needs the BJP. The party is the need of the hour. Due to the wrong policies of the Congress, the country suffered a lot. It was due to their policies that recently 40 of our jawans were martyred in Kashmir," he said expressing his anguish over the killings. The veteran BJP leader, however, expressed concern over the present state of affairs in the party but said he was with it in the national interest. "There is no doubt that I am angry but what can I do? I am now 84 years old. Nobody listens to me. I took time to meet but it ended in just two minutes. Despite all this, I have lived for the BJP and would die for the party," he said. Asked about the opposition's charge that parliamentary democracy was in danger under the present regime, he rejected it. "If says democracy is in danger, I reject it outright. They might be saying because they are at an all time low in numbers in Lok Sabha. The roots of our parliamentary democracy are strong and they can't be weakened," he said, adding, "But one thing I can say that internal democracy in BJP has weakened." Hanamkonda, a part of Warangal district in Telangana region, came into existence as a parliamentary constituency in 1977 and remained till delimitation in 2009. Rao was the first MP to represent Hanamkonda in Parliament. On the recommendation of Delimitation Commission, seven Lok Sabha constituencies in then Andhra Pradesh were abolished in 2009 and Hanamkonda was one among them. Hanamkonda, famous for attractions like the "Thousands Pillar Temple" and the temple to goddess Bhadrakali located at a hilltop, is now a part of Warangal Lok Sabha constituency. Asked about, how he felt about seeing BJP's journey from two seats in 1984 to 280 in 2014, Rao replied, "Better you ask those who are running the government." "But what I can tell is that the party veterans have been given short shrift," he said though refusing to go into details. To a query on why the BJP failed to enlarge itself in the southern state like it did in Gujarat, Reddy who was a member of Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1967-72, 1978-83 and 1983-84, blamed the then BJP central leaders's decision to go for a coalition with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by NTR. "I always opposed an alliance with the TDP. I was of the view that even if we fail to win a single seat, we should go solo rather than in an alliance. The BJP wanted to finish the Congress, which was in power in Andhra Pradesh, and thus it aligned with the TDP in 1983. But what happened? Finally, the BJP has been finished by the TDP. "The alliance with the TDP was finally done just because of self-interest of some of the state leaders, who were close to then central leadership. I opposed it. Before contesting 1984 Lok Sabha polls, I was a three-time MLA and that too without any alliance. "N.T. Rama Rao was the Chief Minister. During the Lok Sabha polls, he called me for the fourth time to convince me on the need for an alliance. He told me that only you (Reddy) can defeat (Narasimha) Rao. So, I finally bowed before him and the central leadership," he said. In 1984, Rao was defeated by the little-known Reddy with NTR's support and that too at a time when won as many as 414 Lok Sabha seats in the wake of assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Congress, led by Rajiv Gandhi, had made huge gains across the country except in Andhra Pradesh where NTR led the TDP to a landslide victory. With numbers second only to the Congress, the TDP became the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha. Reddy said he again contested 1998 general elections and was defeated, which, according to him, came as an end to his political career. ALSO READ: Shivpal Singh Yadav poses challenge to Akhilesh Yadav ahead of LS polls "I was seeking ticket from Hanamkonda but I was forced to contest from Warangal. I went by train to meet Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Baroda when he was touring Gujarat but could not meet him. I met (L.K.) Advani in Jaipur. But nothing happened. Finally, I was defeated," he said. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will be visiting Paraguay and Costa Rica between March 5-9, in the first high-level visit from India to the two countries. He will be accompanied by a delegation including Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons, MPs and senior officials. The visit is aimed at advancing India's outreach in the South American region and giving an impetus to bilateral trade and investment in information and communications technology (ICT), renewable energy including hydel, education, healthcare, space and people-to-people engagement, said an official statement. Bilateral trade between India and Paraguay has increased almost ten-fold over the past 10 years touching $334 million in 2017-18 from $40 million in 2008-09, it said. While in Paraguay, Naidu will meet President Mario Abdo Benitez, Vice President Hugo Velazquez and President of the National Congress (Senate) Silvio Ovelar. He will also address the India-Paraguay Business Forum and interact with the Indian Naidu's engagements in Costa Rica will include meetings with President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, first Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr as well as President of Congress Carolina Hidalgo Herrera. He will also address the UN's University of Peace and the India-Costa Rica Business Forum and meet the Indian community. Bilateral trade between India and Costa Rica is $200 million. Indian exports, mainly comprising automobiles and pharma, to Costa Rica total $133 million. Costa Rica has joined the International Solar Alliance, in order to become carbon-neutral country by 2021. --IANS spk/rtp/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a sharp attack on the opposition, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here on Sunday said statements by opposition leaders after the Indian Air Force's (IAF) counter-terror operation in Balakot had not only hurt India's national interest by giving "smiles to Pakistan" but also become an instrument in its hands to discredit India. Such statements should not have been made, he stressed. Responding to Opposition barbs on counter-terror operation, Jaitley in a Facebook post wrote while Opposition leaders were entitled to oppose and ask questions, restraint and statesmanship too were essential ingredients of public discourse. "I hope, India's opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation," Jaitley wrote. Attacking the Congress, he said after an initial show of support for the IAF, "it tried to create a divide in India's political opinion". "At a meeting of 21 opposition parties, a resolution was passed accusing the Prime Minister of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. The government had twice taken the opposition leaders into confidence. No evidence of politicisation was given," the Minister wrote. "The statement was inappropriate. It gave a handle to the enemy. The media in Pakistan used the statement of 21 opposition parties as a trump card, an endorsement of the Pakistani position that India had taken the Balakot action because of the compulsion of its domestic and not as a part of its policy to defend the country against terrorism," he remarked. Jaitley said the pre-emptive attack by the IAF was intended to defend India's sovereignty and was perfectly executed, pinpointed operation in which no civilian or military installations were targeted. Pakistan was globally isolated and the whole of India was speaking in one voice with public opinion overwhelmingly supporting the government's decision and the IAF's execution, he said. Jaitley said the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went a step further and started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. "The credibility of both the government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions." He said the "most disappointing and objectionable statement" was of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "He stated that he was disturbed with the 'mad rush of mutual self-destruction' by the two nations. According to him, perpetrator of terrorism and its victim are both at par. "In his speech, Singh implicitly doubted India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. He mentioned poverty, ignorance and disease in his speech. But violence and terrorism are of no consequence in his assessment," the BJP leader said. "These statements hurt India's national interest. Seen collectively and cumulatively, the above three statements ought not to have been made. Does the opposition want the IAF to release operation details of the Balakot attack? "The Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restraint and statesmanship are also essential ingredients of public discourse. I hope, India's opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation," he said. --IANS vv/rtp/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit on Sunday to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, posters opposing him have cropped up in many parts of the Uttar Pradesh district. Put up by Jaisingh Pratap Yadav, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, the posters and banners ask Modi to give "the report card of his five years in power" and to "go back". Yadav, who is a member of the state executive of the SP, has alleged step-motherly treatment with the constituency. He also details issues like the Mega Food Park, Hindustan Paper Mill and the IT projects which he accused the Modi government of taking it away from Amethi. Besides laying the foundation stones for developmental projects and addressing a public rally in Amethi, Modi will on Sunday unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. At Kauhar, the Prime Minister will open the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd - a joint venture between India's ordnance factory and a Russian firm. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who unsuccessfully contested against the Gandhi scion in 2014 and has been since then rearing the constituency as her own, has inspected the ground and other venues ahead of Modi's visit. --IANS md/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Priyanka Chopra has been trolled by some Pakistanis for a tweet cheering India's cross-LoC strike in Balakot. An online petition has been filed against Priyanka's removal as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. On February 26, Priyanka had lauded the Indian armed forces on Twitter. She wrote: "Jai Hind. Indian Armed Forces." The petition on Avaaz.org reads: "War between two nuclear powers can only lead to destruction and death. As the goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra was supposed to stay neutral and peaceful, but her tweet in favour of Indian armed forces after they invaded Pakistan airspace shows otherwise. She doesn't deserve this title anymore." It currently has a couple thousand signatures. UNICEF has not commented on it, reports tmz.com. Violent clashes between Indian and Pakistani forces began over two weeks ago when a suicide car bomb killed 40 Indian CRPF troops in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. --IANS dc/nn/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia is ready for consultations on the Venezuela crisis with the US in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. According to a statement on Saturday by the ministry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation around Venezuela with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a telephone conversation, Xinhua reported. "In connection with Washington's proposal to hold bilateral consultations on Venezuelan issues, it is indicated that we are ready for this, but it is necessary to strictly follow the principles of the UN Charter, since only Venezuelans have the right to determine their future," the statement said. On Thursday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt two competing draft resolutions on Venezuela, sponsored by the United States and Russia respectively. Lavrov condemned Washington's threats against the legitimate Venezuelan leadership, which is "blatant interference" in Venezuela's internal affairs and a "flagrant violation" of international law. Incitement and destructive external influence under the hypocritical pretext of rendering humanitarian aid has nothing to do with the democratic process, he said. The two sides also agreed to continue contacts on international issues including Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula, the statement said. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A three-day brainstorming meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs highest decision-making body 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' will be held from March 8 in Gwalior with Lok Sabha polls high on the agenda. The meeting will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi, members of central executive body of the Sangh and around 1,500 delegates from across the country. "The meeting will review its programmes over the last six months and evaluate organisational works. Programmes for the next six months would also be chalked out," said RSS spokesperson Rajiv Tuli. He said a resolution on contemporary situation of the country is also likely to be adopted after discussions. State representatives of the RSS, heads of various bodies and other functionaries are due to attend the meeting that will conclude on March 10. Bhagwat along with Joshi reached Gwalior on Sunday to take part in the event which would be held at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Kedardham. The meeting assumes significance as it comes amid tension between India and Pakistan that escalated after both the countries engaged in aerial hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since 1971. This happened in the wake of February 14 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers in Kashmir. During the aerial hostilities Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani army after his MiG was shot down and fell in Pakistani territory during a dogfight. He returned to India on Saturday night after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in the National Assembly said that the IAF pilot will be freed 'as a peace gesture'. --IANS hindi-bns/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samsung has sent samples of its foldable display to tech giants Apple and Google, according to media reports. "The samples reportedly measure 7.2 inches, just 0.1 inches smaller than the main panel on the Samsung Galaxy Fold," AppleInsider quoted South Korea's ET News as saying on Saturday. The company would be a likely candidate for providing foldable panels to Apple since it already supplies most of the OLED components for the iPhone XS and XS Max. "Samsung is currently able to produce about 2.4 million foldable displays per year, it's contemplating ramping up to 10 million," the report said. Apple has shown interest in foldable OLED for years in the form of related patent applications. With the launch of the Galaxy Fold, the company may now be under pressure to deliver a competing product. According to the report, 2019 iPhones are expected to retain fixed panels however, and the typical analyst view is that Apple won't have any foldable iPhones ready until at least 2020. --IANS vc/ksk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, 62, returned after performing 'Umrah' (pilgrimage to Mecca) last month. He lives in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, but his current visit to Jammu has a special purpose and meaning. He has brought walnuts to greet Girdharilal Daftari, his 68-year-old Kashmiri Pandit friend who lives in Jammu after shifting out of the Valley in early 1990 after outbreak of militancy. Walnuts are traditionally offered by Muslims to their Kashmiri Pandit neighbours and friends ahead of Shivratri. Bhat and Daftari have been friends for over 30 years. The turbulence of time has upset many equations in Kashmir, but the brotherhood between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims has somehow survived. "How can I forget to be with my friend on an occasion like Shivratri. In good old days, I would look forward to the special feast of fish and nadru (lotus stem) at Daftari's home. The love and affection that went along the food, served on Shivratri, cannot be expressed in words," said Bhat. Since the outbreak of insurgency in Kashmir over 30 years ago, there has hardly been a year when Bhat and Daftari haven't been together on the festival. In a way, they are like hundreds of other Kashmiri Muslim and Pandit friends. They may not be able to visit each other on Shivratri due to geographical distance, yet continue to share the same feelings of nostalgia. With their intertwined histories, culture and livelihood for centuries, most among the two communities believe they will withstand the present turmoil. "Can you believe it? I was taught Arabic and Persian by a Pandit teacher. Isn't this a statement that dispels the fear about the shared future of these two communities?" said Nisar Ahmad, 69, a resident of Srinagar. The close links between the two communities were more pronounced in villages than cities. "I would ask my Muslim neighbour to bring mutton, fish, nadru and other things for the festival. But it would take me quite a bit of time convincing him that he must accept the money for these purchases," said Shamlal Koul, 63, who lived in a north Kashmir village before shifting out of the Valley. The mutual trust has stood the test of time. Pandits would not eat pork and the local Muslims would not eat beef. "That was the level of faith we had between us. It cannot be denied that under the influence of the changing times, our youth might not feel so passionately about their Muslim neighbours. "That is something nobody can deny. Children of the two communities feel betrayed. They have not interacted with each other so often after 1990, and whenever there has been some social media interaction between them, it has been based on mistrust. "It is the duty of the elders among the two communities to educate children about the love and respect Pandits and Muslims in Kashmir had for each other. "The pain of migration, leaving everything behind, is something nobody among our community can forget. But Kashmiri Muslims have been more unfortunate because of the lives of youth snatched by violence during this period," said Daftari. He said the Muslim festival of Eid and the Shivratri have to regain their historic meaning for the two communities. "Unless that happens, both Muslims and Pandits would lose the most glorious chapter of their history," Daftari rued. --IANS sq/rtp/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Intense speculation made the rounds about Masood Azhar's whereabouts on Sunday with a report of him getting killed in the bombardment by Indian Air Force (IAF) on a terror camp in Balakot going viral, but there was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also accepted on television that was in and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a army hospital. Reports claimed that after getting seriously injured in the air strike, died in a hospital. In a jolt to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Telangana, one of its two legislators on Sunday decided to switch loyalties to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Sandra Venkat Veeraiah said he was impressed with the development and welfare programmes taken up by the TRS government and hence decided to join the ruling party. Veeraiah, who represents the Sathupalli constituency in Khammam district, told the media that he took the decision in tune with the wishes of people of his constituency and in the interest of the development of the district. Elected from Sathupalli for a third consecutive term in the December 7 Assembly election, Veeraiah had called on Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday. TDP had won only two seats in the 119-member state Assembly, both in Khammam district. Veeraiah's decision comes a day after the Congress received a huge setback with two of its MLAs deciding to quit the party and join TRS. Rega Kantha Rao and Athram Sakku, both tribal MLAs, announced that if necessary they would resign from the Assembly to seek fresh election from their respective constituencies. Their resignations brought down Congress's tally in the state Assembly to 17, dealing a blow to the party's hopes to win at least one Legislative Council seat from MLAs quota. Elections to six Council seats are scheduled to be held on March 12. TRS, which had bagged 88 seats in the recent elections, has fielded five candidates and left one seat for its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). --IANS ms/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook is sending Joel Kaplan, Vice President, Global Public Policy, to face the Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology (IT) on March 6 that will hear him what the social media giant, and its subsidiaries WhatsApp and Instagram are doing to safeguard citizen rights across its platforms. Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Editor, Facebook India and Ankhi Das, Director Public, Policy and Programmes, will accompany Kaplan, sources told IANS on Sunday. CEO Mark Zuckerberg or COO Sheryl Sandberg are not travelling to India for the hearing. "Senior Facebook officials will appear on March 6 before a parliamentary panel to outline the specific measures undertaken to ensure safety of users on its platform after being summoned by the committee," said sources. Their turn comes after Colin Crowell, Global Vice President of Public Policy of Twitter, deposed before the BJP MP Anurag Thakur-led panel on February 25 and discussed how it is going to help address issues such as political bias and manipulation on its platform in real-time. Twitter was told to send back answers to some of the unanswered queries during the hearing within the 10-day time frame. "The Parliamentary Committee on IT will now examine the issue of 'Safeguarding citizen rights on social/online news media platforms'. The following will present their positions: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram," Thakur had tweeted last month. As India gears up for the general election, owners of global social media platforms are in a huddle over how to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news in a country where deep mobile penetration has helped Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram reach millions. Facebook has close to 300 million users and WhatsApp over 200 million. According to statista.com, Instagram has nearly 75 million users in India. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, Facebook has brought a new tool aimed at bringing transparency to ads related to in the country. Anyone who runs ads related to in India will have to reveal their identity and location to pass the authorisation process and have a "Published by" or "Paid for by" label. "The tool comes with some India-specific features," Shivnath Thukral, Facebook's Public Policy Director for India and South Asia told IANS recently. "The law of the land does not require us to make the 'Paid for by' label mandatory in India," Thukral added. Another India-first feature that Facebook introduced was that advertisers can begin the authorization on their mobile phones itself instead of logging in from a desktop. Facebook also introduced for registered political parties in India an option to upload their Media Certification and Monitoring Committee Certificate from the Election Commission of India. "In our conversation with Election Commission, we learnt that it is essential to give political parties the option to upload the certificate," Thukral added. --IANS na/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump attacked Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing probe into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, and called him an "unelected prosecutor running unchecked". In a largely unscripted, wide-ranging speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday lasting more than two hours, Trump also mocked the Democrats' Green New Deal, called his former Attorney General Jeff Sessions "useless" and took shots at his longtime rival and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, CNN reported. But he took on Mueller by commenting extensively on key parts of the investigation as the Special Counsel is expected to hand over the probe report to Attorney General William Barr very soon. "So now we're waiting for a report, and we'll find out who we're dealing with," Trump said, adding: "We're waiting for a report by people that weren't elected." "You put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there, and all of a sudden, they're trying to take you out with b******t, OK," he added. The President also accused the Special Counsel's team of investigators of being stacked against him. "Robert Mueller never received a vote and neither did the person that appointed him," Trump said in an apparent reference to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who named Mueller as Special Counsel in May 2017. Trump also argued that Mueller was compromised due to his prior interest in being Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director after Trump fired James Comey, and reiterated an allegation that Mueller and Comey are "best friends". Comey has denied this claim. He also said that Comey was fired because he was "a bad, bad guy", CNN said. He also bashed Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation and delegate overseeing the Special Counsel to Rosenstein, impersonating Sessions with a thick Southern accent. Regarding his failed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the President said the US had learned a lot since the sudden conclusion of his summit. "I had to walk, because every once in a while, you have to walk." Trump also came out against the Green New Deal, calling the progressive climate plan an attempt by Democrats to "completely take over American energy and completely destroy America's economy through their new $100 trillion Green New Deal which somebody described as a high school term paper written by a poor student". Trump specifically targeted 2020 Senator Warren of Massachusetts, claiming that he's destroyed her career such that she won't be the Democratic nominee he'll face in 2020. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stepping up vigil ahead of festivals like Shivratri, Holi and also the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the state administration to crackdown on criminals and anti-social elements, an official said on Sunday. In a video-conference with District Magistrates (DMs) and district police chiefs on Saturday night, the Adityanath asked them to gear up for elections and ensure that there were no law and order problems. He also asked officials to prepare a list of the "top-10" criminals in their areas and take preventive action against them. Security has already been beefed up at all major temples ahead of Shivratri on Monday. Officials have also been directed to increase foot patrolling and ensure adequate water and power supply at temples, the official told IANS. "There should be no laxity with regard to law and order and the state has to ensure peaceful passage of these festivals as well as the Lok Sabha elections," Adityanath told the officials. --IANS md/rtp/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two US police officers will not face charges for shooting dead Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man, in California last March, prosecutors have said. Clark, 22, was shot on March 18, 2018, in his grandmother's backyard in Sacramento, the state capital, the BBC reported. District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said on Saturday that the officers, who were investigating nearby break-ins, did not commit a crime. "There is no question a human being died," Schubert told the media after making an apology to the Clark family. She said that a months-long investigation into the shooting had looked into whether a crime was committed. "The answer to that question is no and, as a result, there was no criminal liability." The use of force was justified, Schubert said, as the officers had feared for their lives, believing Clark was armed with a gun and had allegedly moved towards the officers. Police body camera and helicopter footage later revealed the officers fired 20 times at Clark, who was then found with only an iPhone, and they waited five minutes before giving him aid. Demonstrators held protests last month, in anticipation of Schubert's announcement. In the year since Clark's shooting, Black Lives Matter protesters have gathered every week outside the district attorney's office. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and South Korea announced that the annual large-scale exercises, which were a ccommon feature of the defence relationship between the two militaries, will end and be re-configured into smaller manoeuvres. The announcement follows a phone call on Saturday between acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Minister of National Defence Jeong Kyeong-doo, reports CNN. "Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises," a statement from the Defence Department said. "The Minister and Secretary reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the continued combined defence of US-South Korean combined forces to meet any security challenge, and agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." The announcement follows this week's summit in Hanoi between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended in a failure to reach an agreement between both sides. "The Minister and Secretary made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the statement added. The "Key Resolve" manoeuvres used to take place in March and lasted about two weeks, overlapping with "Foal Eagle", which were carried out for a month. Thousands of soldiers from the US and South Korea participated in both military exercises, as well as contingents from Australia, the UK and France, among others. In December 2018, Washington announced the suspension of the joint "Vigilant Ace" air manoeuvres with South Korea as part of an effort to ease tensions with North Korea following the June Singapore summit between Trump and Kim. Vigilant Ace was a military exercise held annually at the end of the year with the participation of some 12,000 soldiers and some 200 warplanes from South Korea and the US. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The husband of Shamima Begum, a British teenager of Bangladeshi descent who ran away in 2015 to become an Islamic State (IS) jihadi bride, has said that he wants her to return to the Netherlands with him. Speaking to the BBC on Saturday night, Yago Riedijk, from Arnhem in the Netherlands, admitted fighting for the terror group but said that he he now wanted to return home with his wife and their newborn son. Riedijk, who is being held in a Kurdish detention centre in north-eastern Syria, married Begum days after she arrived inside IS territory in the war-torn country. The 27-year-old faces a six-year jail term for joining a terror organisation if he returns to the Netherlands. Describing how he met the schoolgirl from east London in the women's centre in Raqqa, Riedijk told the BBC he was initially not interested because she was too young. "To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway." Riedijk said that he was imprisoned in Raqqa and tortured after the extremists accused him of being a Dutch spy. Begum, now aged 19, and Riedijk escaped from the town of Baghouz, the group's last territory in eastern Syria, as the caliphate crumbled. Riedijk surrendered to a group of Syrian fighters and Begum and their newborn son, Jarrah, ended up among 39,000 people in the al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria. She has now reportedly gone elsewhere after threats were made against them. The UK has revoked Begum's citizenship on the grounds that she is eligible for citizenship of Bangladesh through her mother, who is a Bangladeshi citizen. But Bangladesh has said that Begum was not a Bangladeshi citizen and that she will not be allowed into the country. Although Riedijk is on a watch list, his Dutch citizenship still remains. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The attack was followed by India's withdrawal of most-favoured-nation treatment to Pakistan and statements to the effect that excess water through the Indus river will be utilised within the Indian territory, instead of flowing into Pakistan. On all these three issues -- terrorist attack, MFN withdrawal and water flow -- China has been silent given its help in raising the Mujahideen forces in the 1980s against the then Soviets in ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor All over Uttar Pradesh, there are reports from Eta, Etawah and Lucknow, to name just three places of families naming their newborn children "Abhinandan", after the Indian Air Force Wing Commander who returned home after downing a Pakistani F16. And so thrilled was he, that a father in a remote village in Rajasthan named his son, born during the aerial strikes, Mirage Singh Rathore: Will the name fly with the son? Bone of contention Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed a ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Traditional African medicine studied to be a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory agent Many herbal plants are used in traditional medicine for inflammatory-related diseases. In Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso, they use Senegal saba (Saba senegalensis) to treat illnesses associated with inflammation. Researchers from Africa have looked at the properties of this plant and found that the leafy stems of Senegal saba actually possess anti-inflammatory properties. They also support the traditional use of Senegal saba in treating diseases associated with inflammation. In the study, which was published in the journal Phytotherapie, the researchers aimed to look at the pharmacological action of the aqueous extract of its leafy stems on swelling and pain and to assess its antioxidant properties. The researchers then found that Senegal saba extract reduced edema as early as an hour after the injection of carrageenan. The extract reached its maximum inhibiting potential at the fifth hour after the injection of the carrageenan. As part of their study, the researchers also evaluated the analgesic effect of the aqueous extract of Senegal saba at doses of 100, 200, 300 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). They found that the aqueous extract significantly reduced abdominal writhing in mice. The analgesic effect of the aqueous extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg is comparable to that of 150 mg/kg acetaminophen. When they looked at the antioxidant activity of Senegal saba extract, they found that it inhibited lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase. Additionally, Senegal saba extract was also found to contain tannins, flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, anthocyanosides, triterpenes, and sterols. The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site. With these findings, the researchers concluded that Senegal saba has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used against inflammatory diseases. Other natural anti-inflammatory herbs There are many other natural anti-inflammatory plants like Senegal saba you may not know. Here are some of them: Boswellia: Boswellia, also referred to as Indian frankincense or Salai, is used in traditional medicine for arthritis, respiratory problems, and digestive symptoms. Scientific evidence supports these uses as Boswellia has active anti-inflammatory compounds called boswellic acids. These anti-inflammatory compounds have been reported to inhibit the formation of enzymes that can result in inflammatory conditions, such as bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis. (Related: Boswellia extract exhibits profound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.) Boswellia, also referred to as Indian frankincense or Salai, is used in traditional medicine for arthritis, respiratory problems, and digestive symptoms. Scientific evidence supports these uses as Boswellia has active anti-inflammatory compounds called boswellic acids. These anti-inflammatory compounds have been reported to inhibit the formation of enzymes that can result in inflammatory conditions, such as bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis. (Related: Boswellia extract exhibits profound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.) Feverfew: This plant is related to chrysanthemum. It produces daisy-like flowers with white petals and yellow centers. It is an anti-inflammatory herb that can help lower fever as well as relieve headaches and migraines. This plant is related to chrysanthemum. It produces daisy-like flowers with white petals and yellow centers. It is an anti-inflammatory herb that can help lower fever as well as relieve headaches and migraines. Guggul: Widely used in Ayurveda for detoxifying, this herb has anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects similar to NSAIDs like ibuprofen. It also has pain-relieving effects which are helpful against fibromyalgia and rheumatism. Widely used in Ayurveda for detoxifying, this herb has anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects similar to NSAIDs like ibuprofen. It also has pain-relieving effects which are helpful against fibromyalgia and rheumatism. Saw palmetto: Saw palmetto is a small palm tree native to the southeastern United States. It has promising anti-inflammatory activity against the enlargement of the prostate gland in men. Saw palmetto is a small palm tree native to the southeastern United States. It has promising anti-inflammatory activity against the enlargement of the prostate gland in men. Slippery Elm: Slippery elm tree has diverse uses. The bark of this tree can be used as a remedy for a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, cough, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and other inflammatory conditions. It is also widely used as an ingredient in lozenges and herbal teas, and can be found in powder form or in capsules. Read more news stories and studies on more natural medicines with anti-inflammatory properties by reading ArthritisCures.news. Sources include: FoodIsMedicine.com NaturalHealth365.com TheConsciousLife.com Heavy snowfall and rains have killed around 10 people in different parts of Balochistan province, with nearly 1,500 stranded families rescued by Pakistan Army helicopters. Rescue officials said heavy flooding caused by rains and snowfall had affected most parts of Chaman, Bolan, Khuzdar, Pishin, Lasbela, Dalbandin, Qila Abdullah, Khuzdar and Kech, where hundreds of families were rendered homeless after their houses were swept away. "We have reports of some 10 deaths from different areas due to the extreme weather conditions," an official said. The media has reported around two dozen deaths due to snowfall, rains and flooding in other parts of Pakistan, which is witnessing an unusually long winter. The official said two children of a family were killed and their parents injured in Chaman when the roof of their house caved in, while heavy downpour in Khuzdar led to the collapse of a house, killing three children and injuring others. He added that deaths were also reported from Bolan due to torrential rains and due to flooding in Mastung and Uthal, Lasbela. "Two persons got swept away in floodwaters and are feared dead in Dalbindin and Pishin, while a coaster carrying 42 pilgrims to the Shah Noorani shrine in Lasbela was swept away by heavy flooding but later, the pilgrims were rescued with some of them injured," another official said. Security forces were moved to assist the civil administration in rescue-and-relief operations for flood victims in various parts of the province, the military's media wing said on Sunday. An update shared by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said nearly 1,500 families had been rescued by Pakistan Army aviation helicopters in the Dureji (Lasbela) and Qila Abdullah areas. Also, rations have been provided to some 3,500 families in the rain-affected areas of the province. Additionally, security forces have rescued the vehicles that were stranded at different places in the province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 17-year-old girl from Thane district in Maharashtra has been detained for allegedly kidnapping a minor boy for ransom, police said on Sunday. According to the 11-year-old boy's mother, who works as a tailor, her son went to his tuition classes on Saturday afternoon. Later in the evening, she received a call from an unidentified person demanding Rs 6 lakh if she wanted her son back, Shanti Nagar police station's senior inspector Mamta D'Souza said. The female caller also threatened that the boy would be killed if they approached the police, and asked his mother to bring the money in a bag and keep it on a bike near Shivaji Chowk in Bhiwandi town, she said. When the boy's mother rushed to inform her husband, who works at a jewellery shop, she found her son alone and crying near the shop on Quarter Gate road, D'Souza said. The boy told his mother that a female, whom he referred as "aunty", allegedly took him away while he was returning from his tuition classes and asked about his father's workplace. He said while walking along with the female, he managed to give her the slip and came running to his father's shop, she said. In a bid to find the culprit, the boy's mother informed the police about the incident and as per their instructions, she kept a bag on the bike, as specified by the caller. When a 'burqa'-clad female came to the spot to pick the bag, the police nabbed her, D'Souza said. The accused, who is a minor, told the police she used to go to the boy's mother to get her clothes stitched and that she kidnapped the minor for money, the official said. She was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 364-A (kidnapping for ransom) and sent to a remand home, D'Souza added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two militants, five security forces' personnel, including a CRPF officer, and a civilian were killed in a 56-hour encounter in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday. A police spokesman said the operation at Babagund area of Kupwara took time as it posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Two militants were killed by security forces in the encounter which began on Friday morning, the police spokesman said here. He said bodies of both the militants were recovered from the site of the encounter and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The spokesman said a CRPF jawan identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav who was injured in the exchange of fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday taking the number of security forces' fatalities to five. Two CRPF personnel, Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod, and two cops, Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah, were killed in the gunfight on Friday, the spokesman said. He said one civilian, Waseem Ahmad Mir, also sustained bullet injury "in the nearby area" and later succumbed at a hospital on Friday. The encounter had begun when security forces launched a search operation in Babagund area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of militants there. "Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter," he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials have been taken in case records for further investigation, the spokesman added. He urged people to not go near the encounter zone as there could be stray explosives. "People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four Afghan nationals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling heroin into India by hiding the contraband in their abdomen, police said Sunday. The accused had come to Delhi on a medical visa from Afghanistan, they said. Abdul Haq Noorzai, Mohammad Naeim Noorzai, Mohammad Esmael Noorzai and Mohammad Nasim Noorzai, all from Farah province in western Afghanistan, were found trafficking heroin concealed in their abdomen for sale in Delhi-NCR and other states, police said. The accused have been admitted in Safdarjung Hospital and 122 capsules totalling 920 grams heroin have been extracted from their body by doctors. It may take a few days to extract all heroin capsules from their abdomen, Pramod Singh Kushwah, deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said. The officer said they received information about an international gang and laid a trap at Indira Gandhi International Airport on February 23 and the four suspects were detained. The accused appeared dizzy after landing at the airport and were taken to hospital, where doctors found suspicious capsules in their body. During interrogation, they told police the cartel is headed by drug lords based in Kandahar in Afghanistan. The accused also told the police that a consignment of heroin was to be supplied to African nationals, the DCP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fifty-nine Nobel laureates have urged the prime ministers of India and Pakistan to "defuse the rising tension" before the situation "escalates to a full-fledged war", a statement said Sunday. A letter signed by the Noble winners, under the aegis of the Laureates and Leaders for Children, a platform founded by India's Nobel peace laureate Satyarthi, was submitted to India and Pakistan's Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on Saturday, it said. "In the best interest of our children, we, the Laureates and Leaders for Children call upon the Prime Minister of India HE Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Pakistan HE Imran Khan to demonstrate wise leadership and exercise immediate restraint at this critical juncture, to avoid any escalation into a full-fledged war," reads the joint appeal, according to the statement from Satyarthi's office. "There is no place for violence, extremism and terrorism in a civilised world. This epidemic has to be uprooted through concrete and time-bound actions," it said. "We reiterate that children never create wars but are the worst sufferers. Therefore, we appeal to the two Prime Ministers, faith institutions, media, youth and the citizens of both India and Pakistan to work towards the restoration of peace in the region with utmost urgency," it added. The Nobel Laureates who have signed the appeal include Leymah Gbowee, Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman, Malala Yousafzai, Muhammad Yunus, Jos Ramos-Horta, Edvard Ingjald Moser and May-Britt Mose, among others who have been awarded the prize across disciplines, according to the statement. "I reiterate that children are the worst sufferers of terrorism and war. The very fact that so many Nobel Laureates from different fields have come together demanding safety of children for the first time ever shows the urgency of the situation at hand," Satyarthi said. "I sincerely hope that the voice of the global moral leaders will be heard by the Prime Ministers and citizens of both India and Pakistan and immediate steps will be taken to defuse the tension between the two countries," he was quoted as saying in the statement. This is for the first time ever that such a large number of Nobel laureates, ranging from peace laureates to those from the fields of economics, chemistry, physics and medicine have come together with a joint appeal to call attention to the lives and future of more than half a billion children in India and Pakistan that are at stake, the statement claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A nine-year-old school girl has donated her savings of Rs 1.50 lakh to the city police for setting up CCTVs here. Srihita was appreciated for the gesture by the city police commissioner A K Viswanathan, who invited her to his office, a press release said Sunday. The girl came to know of the benefits of surveillance cameras from a seminar organised by the police at her father's workplace, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be the first recipient of the 'Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar' instituted by the Akhil Bharatiya Digambar Jain Mahasamiti, a functionary of the organisation said Sunday. Varthaman, piloting a Mig-21 Bison, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 with an R-73 air-to-air missile in a dogfight on February 27 before his aircraft took a hit and he had to eject. He was captured by Pakistan forces soon after and was released on March 1. The award for the fighter pilot was announced in New Delhi by the organisation's chairperson Manidra Jain, said its Maharashtra chapter convener Paras Lohade here. The award, instituted this year, carries a cash prize of Rs 2.51 lakh, a memento and a citation and will be presented to Varthaman on April 17, coinciding with Mahavir Jayanti, Lohade said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would be sending a letter of acknowledgement to all beneficiaries of a state-run health scheme, wishing them well, a top bureaucrat at the state secretariat said Sunday. The chief minister's office has sought the database of 'Swasthya Sathi' scheme from all government hospitals, as part of the public outreach programme, he said. "The families of the beneficiaries would be getting a letter signed by the chief minister as an acknowledgement for taking free treatment under the scheme," the official said. According to the bureaucrat, the director of health services would be sending Banerjee's letter to all government hospital superintendents, chief medical officers, sub-division and block-level health centres for its distribution among patients, who received free treatment between March 1, 2018 and February 28, 2019. The draft letter written by the CM said, "The state government was happy to include the beneficiary in the 'Free of Cost Medicine' and 'Free of Cost Treatment' scheme undertaken by the state health and family welfare department." It also stated that "the chief minister hopes to help every individual in his/her daily life so that they can contribute more to the development of the state". "The letters will have the names of beneficiaries and will be delivered by post," the official told PTI. The CM also has plans to write to the beneficiaries of other state-run schemes, such as Kanyashree, Yuvasree and Rupashree Prakalpa, he said. Earlier, too, the CM has sent personalised congratulatory messages, New Year's greetings to state government employees. She also writes to the parents and students of primary and higher secondary schools during exam, wishing them luck. "This is her (Banerjee's) unique way to establish a personal relationship with the people of the state. It shows that she cares for each and everyone in our state. We have so much to learn from her," state Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sini Mathews, the Indian American adoptive mother of three-year-old Sherin Mathews, who was found dead at a culvert in Texas in October 2017, has been released from prison. After 15 months in jail, charges against Sini for child endangerment were dropped due to insufficient evidence. "After extensive investigation, it was found that the state cannot prove this matter beyond a reasonable doubt at this time," reads a motion filed by the prosecutors and signed by state District Judge Amber Givens-Davis. The charge has been dismissed without prejudice, which means that the court can arrest her under the same charges in future, if need be. When the media asked Sini about her time in jail, she said it was "challenging" and thanked her friends and family for their support. Asked what was she going to do next, Sini said, "Get situated," but did not reveal whether she was going to her home. Sini's husband Wesley is still in prison for capital murder in relation to Sherin's death. He will face trial in May and is presently being held on a USD 1 million bond. Natives of Kerala, Sini and Wesley had adopted Sherin from an orphanage in Bihar in July, 2016. Sherin disappeared on October 7, 2017 and Wesley had initially claimed that he had sent her out in the wee hours as punishment for not drinking her milk. On October 22, 2017, Sherin's body was recovered from a culvert under a road, about a kilometre from her adoptive parents' house. The cause of Sherin's death could not be investigated as the body had decomposed. After Sherin's body was found, Wesley had changed his version that he had tried to feed her milk and she had choked on it. He had also admitted that a day before she died, the couple had left Sherin behind and taken their biological daughter, then aged four, out for dinner. Wesley was indicted for capital murder by a grand jury and for tampering with evidence. Sini was charged with endangering a child. They gave up the parental rights of their biological daughter in January, 2018 and the girl has been with the Social Services since. An autopsy report in January, 2018 showed that Sherin had died of homicidal violence. The Indian government revoked the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) for Sini and Wesley last September. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghanistan has given USD 1 million to the main UN programme for Palestinian refugees. Abdul Rahim Sayed Jan, Afghanistan's ambassador to Turkey, presented the donation on Sunday to Pierre Krhenbhl, commissioner of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, in an Istanbul ceremony. Turkey's foreign minister, who hosted the meeting, congratulated Afghanistan for the donation. Mevlut Cavusoglu said that despite the hardships suffered by the Afghan people, their country has shown "the most beautiful example of international brotherhood with its noble act." Cavusoglu added that UNRWA would need more support in the future and promised Turkey would increase its aid to Palestinians. Last August, the Trump administration announced it was cutting U.S. funding for the agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting out at opposition parties for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the armed forces were busy quelling terror, but the Congress and its allies are not convinced with their act of bravery. The statements made by the opposition parties after the preemptive air strike on terror camps have made only people of Pakistan happy, he claimed. India conducted air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," the PM said at the BJP's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan here. He alleged that the opposition parties were "conspiring" against him, he said. "While I want to eliminate terror, opposition parties are conspiring to finish me," Modi said. "At a time when our armed forces are fighting enemies across border and within India, some people are making statements to please Pakistan. This is New India, it does not remain silent on killings of its jawans," the prime minister stated. Talking about development work in Bihar, Modi praised Nitish Kumar-Sushil Kumar Modi combine for their achievements in the state, asserting that the NDA government wants to ensure that all sections in the state gain access to the best of facilities. The NDA government is working on all departments, including roadways, railways and airways, to improve infrastructure in the state, he said. Thanking Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman for increasing Hajj quota in India, he said the favour has not been extended to any other country. The PM also expressed his gratitude to the crown prince, who visited Delhi recently, for deciding to free 850 Indians detained on various counts. "This demonstrates India's improved standing and also exposes that Congress pursued for its own benefits," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Sunday visited various forward locations along the International border in Jammu region, expressing confidence of thwarting any hostile activity. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited various forward locations of Samba and Ratnuchak in Jammu region to review the operational deployment and preparedness, a defence spokesman said. Gen Rawat was briefed about the situation and preparedness by the General Officer Commanding, Rising Star Corps, Lt Gen J S Nain. The Army chief also interacted with the troops in forward locations, the spokesman said. Gen Rawat expressed complete confidence in capabilities of the Indian Army to thwart any nefarious design of enemies of the country and handle any situation. The COAS also praised the high state of moral and preparedness of the troops, the spokesman said. General Rawat arrived here on Saturday and visited the headquarters of White Knight Corps to review the operational preparedness of the forces in the Corps Zone in view of the current situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB). Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir Singh also accompanied him. During the visit, the COAS was briefed and updated by GOC White Knight Corps Lt Gen Paramjit Singh about the current operational situation, prevailing security scenario and the preparedness of the formation. This was the first visit of the Army chief to the region after India's pre-emptive strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camps at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Barring ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Saturday, there were no reports of firing in the rest of the sectors since 11 pm Friday. More than 80 forward villages were targeted by Pakistan in over 50 ceasefire violations in Rajouri and Poonch districts since Tuesday, which left four civilians, including three members of a family, dead and several others injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Sunday offered a job to Didwmsri Basumatary, the daughter of Maneswar Basumatary who was killed in the Pulwama terror attack last month, by relaxing rules of the government. Sonowal visited the residence of Basumatary at Tamulpur in Baksa district on the occasion of his 'sraddha' ritual. According to an official release, the chief minister handed over an appointment letter to Didwmsri for the post of Assistant Tourist Information Officer under the Directorate of Tourism, Assam. "Her appointment has been approved as a very special case and in relaxation of existing rules, provisions and guidelines," the release said. Over 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in a terror attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to promote Bahrain as financial tech hub, the Middle Eastern country is seeking participation from Indian firms to become a part of the growing fintech space in the region. Bahrain provides a plethora of opportunities to Indian fintech firms for open banking, blockchain, crypto assets, robo advisory and remittances. Financial service sector is the second biggest contributor to the GDP behind oil and gas and the effort is to grow the sector further, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Senior Manager (business development - financial services) Dalal Buhejji said. "Central Bank of Bahrain has put in the right ecosystem to support growth and innovation. We have seen different new regulations coming out recently to support open banking, crypto asset trade regulation and draft regulation on robo advisory," she said. Bahrain acts as the test bed for innovations in financial services space as the country provides many advantages including low cost of doing business, right accelerator and incubators, among others, she said, adding some Indian companies have applied for sandbox. Generally, sandbox is seen as a safe zone to test financial innovation which sees a limited rollout of new products to select customers. Terming India as a key market, Buhejji said EDB had a roadshow in Mumbai to attract fintech companies in December. The EDB, the investment promotion arm of Bahrain, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to provide a framework for co-operation to promote fintech in their respective markets. To promote startups, a public private partnership platform in the name of Bahrain Fintech Bay has been created that provides physical space for fintech companies. Established last year, it has now become a home for 36 companies from 15 different countries, Bahrain Fintech Bay CEO Khalid Saad said. "India is absolutely key market. We do have couple of companies founded by Indian entrepreneurs in Bahrain and the other Malaysian-Indian company in the cryto asset space," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recent rains in West Bengal have put potato growers in a quandary as their crop is expected to suffer extensive damage despite bumper projections made earlier. The state government had offered a support price of Rs 550 crore for buying 10 lakh tonne potato to avert distress sale. "Farmers are worried because widespread potato damage have been projected as a result of heavy rainfall across the state earlier this week," a state government official said. The MeT office predicted more rain in Gangetic Bengal from Monday and this has made the potato farmers across the state more anxious, the official said. "The state government is taking all steps to sensitise the farmers about promptly informing the insurance companies about the projected crop loss, in order to get their claims," the agricultural advisor to the chief minister, Pradip Kr Mazumdar, told PTI. According to norms, the farmers need to intimate the insurance companies individually, Mazumdar said. "We have already apprised the insurance companies about the situation. A farmer has to inform the insurance company within 72 hours of any possible threat of damage to the crop," he said. About 5 lakh potato farmers are covered under the crop insurance programme, he said. The state government had offered free crop insurance to farmers after subsidising the farmers' share of the premium. The government will try to maximise the insurance claim for the farmers. In case the state does not have to buy potatoes, in case the crop is damaged due to the rains, the state will not have to shell out the Rs 550 crore earmarked for procuring the crop, sources said. The actual burden on the state exchequer was supposed to be Rs 650 crore since an additional cost of Rs 100 crore was estimated for collection, storage and marketing the potatoes that were supposed to be procured by the state, sources said. According to the estimates, vast areas where potato cultivation took place, are yet to be harvested in districts such as West Midnapur, East Burdwan, Hooghly, Coochbehar Bankura and Jalpaiguri. At a recent public rally in Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that the state government would spend Rs 550 crore to procure potato to save 20 lakh potato farmers from distress selling. The state government will offer Rs 5.5 a kg during the procurement at the time when loading price at farm level had slipped below Rs 4 a kg. This year, the projected bumper crop will at least be of 120 lakh tonne which is 20 per cent higher than previous year's production of 100 lakh tonne. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An unspecified number of BJP workers and policemen were injured in clashes in several districts of West Bengal Sunday after the saffron party's motorbike rallies held as part of its public outreach programme were denied permission. Police said they disallowed the motorbike rallies as permission had not been granted to them because of the ongoing school board examinations. Clashes between BJP workers and policemen took place at Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district, Midnapore town and Goaltore in West Midnapore, and Balurghat in South Dinajpur when they took out the motorcycle rallies. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the saffron party workers at Asansol and Goaltore leaving some people from both sides injured. Among the injured were a DSP level officer and four other policemen, sources in West Midnapore said. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of using the police and administration to prevent the party workers from holding 'Vijay Sankalp' rallies out of fear of losing political ground in West Bengal. The 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally is part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with the people. Claiming that it is a new BJP in the state which will not take intimidation lying down, Ghosh said if the TMC leaders think they can frighten the saffron party workers by using force, they are mistaken. "Hundreds of party workers engaged in the rallies were arrested.... The rallies will be held even if the police arrest us," Ghosh said in the morning at Durgapur. An officer of Kolkata Police said 135 persons were arrested and 59 motorcycles were seized from different places of the city as a preventive measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP workers clashed with the police at several places of West Bengal Sunday as the saffron party was prevented from holding its 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally. The law enforcers said they prevented them as permission had not been granted for the rallies owing to a ban on public rallies during the ongoing school board examinations. The 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally is part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with people. Clashes between BJP workers and policemen took place at Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district, Midnapore town and Goaltore in West Midnapore, and Balurghat in South Dinajpur when they took out the motorcycle rallies. At Goaltore, a DSP level officer and four other policemen were injured, police sources in West Midnapore said. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the saffron party workers at Asansol and Goaltore leaving some people from both sides injured. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of using the police and administration to prevent the party workers from holding peaceful rallies out of fear of losing political ground in West Bengal. Claiming that it is a new BJP in the state which will not take intimidation lying down, Ghosh said if the TMC leaders think they can frighten saffron party workers by using force, then they are mistaken. "Hundreds of Sankalp yatras were arrested.... It will be held even if the police arrest us," Ghosh said in the morning at Durgapur. Saffron party leaders engaged in arguments with police in the city as they were prevented from taking out rallies owing the lack of permission. An officer of Kolkata Police said 135 persons were arrested and 59 motorcycles were seized from different places of the city as a preventive measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was headed back to prison on Saturday after being allowed to attend the funeral of a grandson who died suddenly at age seven. Early in the day, the popular leftist leader stepped out of his cell in Curitiba -- where he is serving two concurrent 12-year sentences for corruption -- and then flew in a small plane to Sao Paulo, some 400 kilometres to the northeast. A crowd at the Sao Bernardo do Campo cemetery in a Sao Paulo suburb greeted Lula warmly upon his arrival for the service, shouting "Free Lula" and "Lula, warrior for the Brazilian people". Young Arthur Araujo Lula da Silva, whose father Sandro is one of Lula's five sons, was felled by a sudden bout of meningitis. As dozens of armed military police surrounded the area, the crowd of sympathisers at the cemetery numbered perhaps 500, including Lula's successor Dilma Rousseff and Fernando Haddad, the Workers' Party candidate for president in 2018. Hundreds of supporters wore the red colour of Lula's Workers' Party. At the crematorium room where close friends gathered before Arthur's open coffin -- and where Lula made brief remarks -- there were flower wreaths rom Lula's political and trade union allies, even one from Venezuela's embattled socialist president Nicolas Maduro, the daily Folha de S. Paulo reported. As Lula left two hours later, a grim expression on his face, he waved briefly to supporters and somberly shook a few hands before being hustled away by military police for the return back to jail. A federal court had ruled late on Friday that the 73-year-old Lula could attend the funeral service. Arthur, who had twice visited his grandfather in his cell in Curitiba, died on Friday in a Sao Paulo hospital. Gleisi Hoffmann, the Workers' Party leader, visited Lula in prison after he learned of Arthur's death and said the aging leftist was "downcast". "He cried several times and we tried to console him," she said. While of Arthur's death provoked sympathetic messages on social media -- including from a former political foe of Lula's, the head of the National Assembly Rodrigo Maia -- a son of President Jair Bolsonaro sparked a controversy by criticising Lula's release. "Lula is a common-law prisoner," Eduardo Bolsonaro, a deputy in his father's Social Liberal Party, said on Twitter. "When a relative of another prisoner dies, is he escorted by the federal police to go to the services?" He called the temporary release "absurd", adding, "It only allows a high-profile thug to pass himself off as a victim." That remark prompted an angry social media backlash, which prompted a more conciliatory tweet from the younger Bolsonaro. Politics aside, he said, the death of a child was "dreadful". His father, the president, has made no comment on the matter. During his electoral campaign in 2018, he said he hoped Lula would "rot in prison." Lula, who was president from 2003 to 2010, has consistently denied the corruption charges for which he was jailed, saying he was the victim of political machinations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva returned to prison on Saturday after being allowed to attend the funeral of a grandson who died suddenly at age seven. Early in the day, the popular leftist leader stepped out of his cell in Curitiba -- where he is serving two concurrent 12-year sentences for corruption -- and then flew in a small plane to Sao Paulo, some 400 kilometres to the northeast. A crowd at the Sao Bernardo do Campo cemetery in a Sao Paulo suburb greeted Lula warmly upon his arrival for the service, shouting "Free Lula" and "Lula, warrior for the Brazilian people". Young Arthur Araujo Lula da Silva, whose father Sandro is one of Lula's five sons, was felled by a sudden bout of meningitis. As dozens of armed military police surrounded the area, the crowd of supporters at the cemetery numbered perhaps 500, including Lula's successor Dilma Rousseff and Fernando Haddad, the Workers' Party candidate for president in 2018. Hundreds of supporters wore the red colour of Lula's Workers' Party. At the crematorium room where close friends gathered before Arthur's open coffin -- and where Lula made brief remarks -- there were flower wreaths from Lula's political and trade union allies, even one from Venezuela's embattled socialist president Nicolas Maduro, the daily Folha de S. Paulo reported. As Lula left two hours later, a grim expression on his face, he waved briefly to supporters and somberly shook a few hands before being hustled away by military police for the return back to jail, where he arrived some nine hours after his departure. A federal court had ruled late on Friday that the 73-year-old Lula could attend the funeral service. Arthur, who had twice visited his grandfather in his cell in Curitiba, died on Friday in a Sao Paulo hospital. Gleisi Hoffmann, the Workers' Party leader, visited Lula in prison after he learned of Arthur's death and said the aging leftist was "downcast". "He cried several times and we tried to console him," she said. While of Arthur's death provoked sympathetic messages on social media -- including from a former political foe of Lula, the head of the National Assembly Rodrigo Maia -- a son of President Jair Bolsonaro sparked a controversy by criticising Lula's release. "Lula is an ordinary prisoner," Eduardo Bolsonaro, a lawmaker in his father's Social Liberal Party, said on Twitter. "When a relative of another prisoner dies, is he escorted by the federal police to go to the services?" He called the temporary release "absurd", adding, "It only allows a high-profile thug to pass himself off as a victim." That remark prompted an angry social media backlash, which prompted a more conciliatory tweet from the younger Bolsonaro. Politics aside, he said, the death of a child was "dreadful". His father, the president, has made no comment on the matter. During his electoral campaign in 2018, he said he hoped Lula would "rot in prison". Lula, who was president from 2003 to 2010, has consistently denied the corruption charges for which he was jailed, saying he was the victim of political machinations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexican fast-casual restaurant chain California Burrito has plans to open 15 restaurants across India by the end of 2019 as part of its expansion plans in the country, a top company official said. The company currently has 31 restaurants across Bengaluru and Delhi/ NCR. "We plan to add 15 restaurants in Delhi/NCR and Bengaluru by the end of the year as part of our expansion plans across India," California Burrito Co-founder and Director Dharam Khalsa told PTI. The company also has central kitchen in Bengaluru and plans to open one in Gurgugram, he added. On being asked about how the company plans to fund the expansion, Khalsa said: "It will be through internal accruals, money left from our earlier funding round from SNAM Group of companies, and we are also taking some debt for this." Stating that the future for food service sector in India will be huge, former Jubilant FoodWorks CEO Ajay Kaul, who is an strategic advisor to California Burrito, said: "As we rise in our economic portfolio, it will lead to discretionary consumption in next 5 to 7 years." This will result in a big growth for restaurants such as California Burrito going forward. Moreover, as founders of this company are running operations frugally and the firm is profitable, it has huge growth potential, he added. California Burrito started its operations in India in October 2012. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes 'anti-national' was baffling, but asked the opposition parties to not fall into the trap of changing the election discourse from pressing issues like unemployment and farmers distress. India conducted air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26. The PDP president said allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes would only help the BJP electorally. "Calling those who question the veracity ofBalakot strikes anti-nationalis baffling. However, the opposition should not fall into this trap of changing the entire election discourse from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST, unemployment, farmers distress to these strikes, Mehbooba wrote on Twitter. She said the citizens of the country have every right to question the credibility of the Balakot operation especially due to the Government of India's ambiguity about the details. "How does it help the enemies? Only puts GoI (Government of India) in a tight spot since they want to exploit this to reap electoral benefits, she said, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Patna. Hitting out at opposition parties for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the armed forces were busy quelling terror, but the Congress and its allies are not convinced with their act of bravery. The statements made by the opposition parties after the preemptive air strike on terror camps have made only people of Pakistan happy, he claimed. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," the PM said at the BJP's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Modi said "Now they have even started asking for proof of the #AirStrike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies? Mehbooba said "presently when war frenzy and jingoism in the guise of patriotism is at an all time high, allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes will only help BJP electorally. "Its no wonder that the Rafale deal, unemployment, poor eco growth are fading into oblivion (sic), the PDP chief added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A case was registered by the Telangana Police against a city-based IT firm for allegedly "stealing" data of voters through the 'Seva Mitra' mobile application, which was used by the TDP in Andhra Pradesh. Reacting to the development, Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said Telangana Police was "harassing" the companies that were hired to curate the information whose complete rights were held by the party. Based on a complaint from a data analyst, a case was registered against the firm on Saturday, under relevant sections of the IPC and the IT Act, police said. The searches, which began Saturday, continued for the second day Sunday, they added. The complainant alleged that after logging into the official Facebook page of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), he found party cadres using certain mobile phone and tab-based software applications, especially 'Seva Mitra' app, for "advancing the party's electoral prospects". The Andhra Pradesh government utilised the services of the firm in implementation of government schemes, he said in the complaint. He alleged that the firm was given access to enormous amount of official data with respect to the beneficiaries of various government schemes and also private data of individuals, including their Aadhaar numbers. "Following registration of a case, police conducted searches (Saturday). The searches are going on today also," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Madhapur Division) N Shyam Prasad Rao told PTI. He, however, declined to share any further details, saying the matter was under investigation. Reacting to the searches conducted by Telangana Police, Lokesh in a tweet said, "They are trying hard to steal the information of registered party members and Seva Mitras. The Telangana Police is harassing the companies that have been hired to curate the information whose complete rights are held by the (TDP) party." Meanwhile, a report from Amaravati said that Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu conferred with the state Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas there Sunday evening to discuss the case and possible pre-emptive action that his government could take. A key TDP leader in the know of things said "We are also exploring other legal options. The Chief Minister discussed all this with the Advocate General," he said on condition of anonymity. TDP ministers and legislators took turns Sunday to cry foul over the case and blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy for hatching a 'joint political conspiracy' against Chandrababu Naidu. The TDP has alleged that the TRS government was 'robbing' its data to help the YSR Congress party, on whose original complaint police had registered the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's top political advisory body Sunday started its ten-day annual session with President Xi Jinping, Premier and other senior leaders attending the opening meet being held here amid tensions with the US and the slowdown of the world's second largest economy. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) with over 2,000 nominated members began the session at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), raising the curtain of a key season in the country's political calendar amid tensions with the US. The NPC, regarded as the rubber stamp Parliament for its routine endorsements of the proposals and laws forwarded by the ruling Communist Party of China, will begin its session on Tuesday. Every year the two sessions with over 5,000 delegates sets the tone for China's political season in the one-party system. The CPPCC is essentially a group of political advisors from different backgrounds who are tasked with conducting political consultation, putting forward proposals on current affairs, discussing the government's work reports, and carrying out democratic supervision. The CPPCC members representing cross sections of people including top film stars like Jackie Chan, industrialists and academicians serve as advisors for government, legislative and judicial organs and put forward proposals on major political and social issues. During the opening meeting, Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, delivered a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee. Wang reviewed the committee's work, highlighting the efforts made in strengthening and improving CPPCC work, state-run CGTN reported. In 2018, the CPPCC conducted consultations focused on the central tasks of fighting the three critical battles against potential risk, poverty, and pollution, and on promoting high-quality development, Wang said, adding it also actively worked to develop friendly ties with other countries. Wang also outlined the major tasks for 2019. "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of and a critical year in completing the first Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020," he was quoted as saying by CGTN. He said the CPPCC should focus on hotspot and difficult issues, promptly identify potential risk and dangers, and proactively report on social conditions and popular sentiment. Wang stressed that the orientation and mission of the CPPCC in the new era is "to make itself a more well-developed, clearly defined institution and play its consultation role more effectively." is going through a turbulent period due to with the US and the continued slowdown of the world's second largest economy which last year touched down a 28-year low of 6.6 per cent. US President Donald Trump is demanding to reduce the $ 375 billion trade deficit, provide legal protection for intellectual property rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. The NPC in order to address some of the US concerns is expected to pass draft legislation on IPR for foreign investors and a ban on forced technology transfers. Observers say the draft legislations showed Beijing's eagerness to call off the trade war, which is having a negative impact on its economy. Jharkhad Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T V Narendran Sunday paid tribute to its founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata on his 180th birth anniversary here. Chandrasekaran and Narendran paid their floral tribute to the doyen of Indian industries at the companys works. Senior executives of the Tata Group of companies have also paid their tribute to the founder on the occasion. Das paid his tribute to Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata and extended his greetings to the people on the completion of 100 years of Jamshedpur city. Tata Steel has earned laurel for the country in the world and established its due place in the world's industrial map, he said in a statement. Addressing the gathering at the postal park in Bistupur, Chandrasekaran described Jamshedpur as first smart city of the country, saying "Our founder had conceptualised the smart city when hardly anyone thought of it. Chandrasekaran assured the people to develop Jamshedpur as a Modern Smart city in a decade. Envisioned by a Parsi, planned by an American, named by a British Viceroy and landscaped by a German, the industrial town of "Jamshedpur" turned 100 on January 2 last. A small hamlet known as "Sakchi" was rechristened as "Jamshedpur" on January 2, 1919, by Lord Chelmsford, the then Viceroy of India, in memory of Tata Steel founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. Various programmes including an exhibition on 100 years of Jamshedpur commenced in the city Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A high-octane rap, a thought-provoking nukkad natak, a poet reciting poems celebrating love, and a band playing songs on 'protest and change', the 15 August Park in front of the Red Fort is buzzing with all kinds of activities. More than 200 artistes have gathered at the historic monument in Delhi for an innovative two-day event against what they call an "assault on culture" and "attack on democracy" in India. The organisers are calling it a "protest festival". Decked up with hundreds of contemporary posters against lynching, communal hatred and war, the site is a sight to anyone paying attention. One poster mocks the government's promised "good times" by showing people from rural India wearing virtual reality headsets and waiting in a queue outside a theatre showing "Achhe Din". Another displays a mob surrounding a man and beating him with sticks as onlookers capture the incident on cell-phones. "Words can be moulded. Question everything. On social media, everyone is an expert. We are not binary. Popular opinion can be wrong. Read 1984 by George Orwell," reads a poster titled "Antidotes To Hate". Besides topical posters, the event also displays works of artistes such as Pushpamala N, Tushar Joag and Prabhakar Pachpute. Documentary films are also being screened. Shubam, from rap group Azaad Forward Bloc which performed at the protest site, said the artistes gathered are putting to meaningful use their respective art to spread the word. "We, as a nation, are going through a bad phase," the 19-year-old said. "I write rap. I know I can make people aware of various issues in my 16-line rap... My words can change minds for better. I have come to the protest festival to do that," he added. The event saw fewer footfalls Saturday, possibly due to rainfall. But the crow swelled on Sunday. Rashi Girotra, a Delhi University student, said she would have attended the "festival" on Saturday too had the weather permitted. "The crowd, as you see, is picking today. I am sure it will be jam-packed by evening. People know how important it is to stand united at this time," Girotra said. For the uninitiated, the seeds of Artistes Unite, the collective organising the event, were sown during the first 'Not in My Name!' campaign in 2017. Helmed by documentary filmmaker Saba Dewan, that campaign was organised to protest the lynching of 16-year-old Junaid aboard a train in the name of religion. "AU came together as a platform because we as citizens and artistes felt that we must come together to resist the culture and politics of hate, and speak up for democracy," Dewan told PTI. Dewan is also behind this event. Some of the artistes participating in the festival are Dhruv Sangari, Rabbi Shergill, Shubha Mudgal, Sonam Kalra, Maya Rao, Fouzia Dastango, Ashok Vajpeyi, Akhil Katyal, Arpita Singh, Orijit Sen, Shilpa Gupta, Sohrab Hura Furqan Faridi and Shaheen Ahmed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat Congress will not project any one leader as the party's future face as it does not believe in running the show with one or two leaders like the BJP, state party in-charge Rajiv Satav has said. But, he did not rule out fielding young leaders who emerged in the last few years, like Patidar quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party is ready to take on the BJP in Gujarat, Satav told PTI in an interview, adding that selection of candidates is underway and an announcement will be made soon. "Our policy is not to project one leader and go with him. We believe in taking everybody together," he said, when asked if the Congress plans to make a leader like 25-year-old Hardik Patel the party's future face. He said like the 2017 Gujarat Assembly election, the Congress will give a "big surprise" to the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha poll. While the Congress failed to win any Lok Sabha seat in 2014, it bagged 77 out of the total 182 Assembly seats in the 2017 state polls, considerably improving its performance but missing the victory target by 15 seats. Satav, the Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi believes in giving chance to young leaders. He has given opportunity to many young leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia. "But, there are senior leaders whose experience and leadership matters." "If you see the BJP, it is a party of two leaders. The chief minister here (in Gujarat) has no say, while the deputy chief minister is nowhere to be seen," he claimed. Since 1995, the Congress fared badly in election after election in Gujarat, which was once its stronghold. But after 2015, leaders like Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor emerged in the state. Thakor earlier joined the Congress. Mevani is an Independent MLA from Vadgam with Congress' support while Patel is yet to take a decision on joining the party. Asked if the Congress was willing to give a chance to these leaders in the Lok Sabha polls, Satav said, "We will take along all those who believe in our ideology." He said the Congress was gearing up to give a tough fight to the BJP in all 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "Before 2017 (Assembly polls), nobody believed we could make huge gains in Gujarat. We almost doubled ourseats in the last state polls. This time, the Lok Sabha poll results will also be different," he said. He said Rahul Gandhi will pursue an extensive campaign like the way he did before the last Assembly polls and is likely to address more than six rallies in the state. "The 2017 Gujarat polls broke the perception that the BJP can't be defeated. Though the Congress fell short of a majority, people of the state gave ample love to Rahul Gandhi as we were able to increase our tally from 43 to 77," he said. "After the 2017 Gujarat polls, we defeated the BJP in every state poll we fought. It started from here," he claimed. On charge that the Congress was creating caste and class divide for poll gains, he said, "When the BJP is losing and we are gaining, they will make such baseless allegations." "Modi made big promises but failed to deliver. When he became the prime minister, it was expected the state will have rapid development but nothing happened. Bringing international leaders on the Sabarmati river banks will not yield anything," Satav quipped. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Sunday said the Modi government claims that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) inviting India to attend its plenary was a diplomatic success has fallen flat with the 57-nations grouping adopting a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi. The NDA-BJP government touted it as a huge diplomatic success for India that it has been invited to attend the plenary...But what happened in Abu Dhabi is extremely disturbing for India," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari. On Saturday, the Pakistan Foreign Office had said the conference concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "In a resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia," it claimed. Tewari Sunday said the Congress would like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM Swaraj whether this was "the diplomatic achievement". Reacting to the resolution, New Delhi had Saturday asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country. Raveesh Kumar, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs had said, "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India." Swaraj had attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC on Friday. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to Swaraj to address the grouping which was turned down by the host UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary. Swaraj attended the meeting in Abu Dhabi on March 1 as the guest of honour at the invitation extended by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Targeting the central government over the Pulwama terror attack, the Congress Sunday asked how explosives reached the area and why a civilian vehicle was allowed to enter the road when a huge CRPF convoy was moving. Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera also wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent for over two hours after the terror attack in Pulwama which left 40 CRPF personnel dead on February 14. Addressing a press conference here, he said. "As a responsible opposition, we will raise questions. Our first question: how did RDX reach there? Our second question: why a civilian vehicle was allowed to enter that road when a huge CRPF convoy was moving?" Over 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14 in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus, one in a convoy of 78 moving from Jammu to Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir is under President's Rule now. "Our third question is to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When the incident took place at 3:10 pm, where were you and what were you doing till 5:10 pm? We came to know from media friends in Uttarakhand that he was busy in a photo-shoot," the senior Congress leader claimed. "When 40 jawans of the country were killed, the king had no time for that. He was busy with and publicity," Khera alleged. He also slammed the prime minister for allegedly doing and seeking votes in the name of the slain CRPF jawans. "The country will not forgive you. The Congress has shown responsibility and promised to the families of those jawans that answers to these questions will be found," he said. Alleging that BJP is trying hard to politicise the Pulwama attack, Khera asserted that Congress will never play on the incident and will not allow others to do it. On senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh urging the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan's Balakot, Khera said the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister neither raised questions nor asked for any proof. "He (Singh) said the government shuts the mouth of those raising questions. He put it very clearly. It is not like that the Congress is asking for any proof," the party spokesperson said. He said India conducted surgical strikes on Pakistan's soil during when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister. "We never spoke about it openly. Now the BJP asks us to show proof of that four surgical strikes. Does the BJP have no trust in the Army then? The Army does its work, the government does its work," he added. "The government does not have answers on two crore jobs, problems of farmers and the cause of demonetisation. So they are doing such kind of politics. There should not be any politics on Army," Khera said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A police head constable has come out with several suggestions for improving conviction rate in Maharashtra after studying over 200 court rulings as part of his Master of Laws (LLM) studies. The thesis submitted by constable Dwarkadas Bhange has prompted the police authorities to direct district-level officials to study trial court judgements. Bhange presented a thesis on 'Critical analysis of cases decided by the sessions court in 2017 in Police Commissionerate, Aurangabad' while earning his LLM degree last year. He analysed as many as 215 cases. Additional Director General of Police (Training) Sanjay Saxena Saturday directed all Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police that sessions court judgements in their areas should be studied in the similar way. Bhange's findings are valuable and they have been circulated among investigating officers, Saxena said in the order. Bhange said in his thesis that there should be a better co-ordination between investigating officials and prosecutors, and they should hold meetings every week. A "calender of evidence" should be prepared for helping the prosecution, a practise followed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, he suggested. Investigating officers should stay in touch with witnesses throughout the trial, he said. One of his suggestions is that a special cadre of "scene of crime officers" should be created for collection of evidence. Summaries of Supreme Court judgements in criminal cases should be provided to all the investigating officers, he said. Probationary IPS officers and Deputy Superintendents of Police can be given the task of analysing cases of acquittals in the respective district, he suggested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar Sunday asserted the air strike on terror hubs in Balakot amply proved that the country can be safe and secure only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Noting that Pakistan has been attempting to destabilise India by sponsoring terrorism for years, he said previous governments had failed to take bold steps to eliminate terrorism. "However, Narendra Modi government exhibited the courage to give a befitting reply to Pakistan-backed terrorists after the terror strike in Pulwama," the BJP leader said addressing party rallies in Sambalpur and Balangir districts in west Odisha. "The action taken by the BJP-led government showed that the country and its people can remain safe and secure only under the leadership of Narendra Modi," Katiyar said. Apart from its ability to safeguard the country's frontiers, the BJP-led government has launched a host of schemes and programmes for speedy development of all regions and welfare of all sections of society, he said. By launching the Ujjwala Yojana, the Centre has not only ensured spread of environment friendly LPG across the country but also looked after the health of crores of poor women in rural and remote areas, the BJP leader said. Similarly, Ayushman Bharat scheme would go a long way in building a healthy nation by providing medical facilities to a large number of people, he said. The country has made rapid strides in road sector, highways, railways and aviation sectors, Katiyar said. Concrete steps have also been taken for industrialisation and development of the farm sector, he said. The BJP stalwart also lashed out at the BJD government in Odisha accusing it of having failed on all fronts. The government, which failed to protect the keys of the treasury of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri will be thrown out by the people in the coming elections, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to reach out to tribals in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit Bijapur district, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up a veterinary assistance centre. The centre, located at CRPF's camp at Pamalwaya village, 10 km from Bijapur town, will be inaugurated Monday. The CRPF undertakes welfare programs for the local population but this centre was a first of its kind, commandant of 85th CRPF battalion Sudhir Kumar told PTI. Bijapur is part of naxal-affected Bastar division. The idea behind opening a veterinary centre was to reach out to the populace as well as offer the facility of treatment of domestic animals to residents of remote villages, he said. People in the area find it difficult, because of lack of transport facilities and hilly terrain, to take their animals to far-away veterinary hospitals in block or district headquarters, Kumar said. The centre, which will offer services free of charge, would be managed by Assistant Commandant Manir Khan, a former veterinary officer with the Punjab government. Household items such as umbrellas, blankets, utensils and clothes will also be distributed to villagers during the inauguration program Monday, Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In view of delay in implementation of the Centre's project for paperless legislative assemblies in the country, Delhi Vidhan Sabha has decided to implement it on it's own with financial help from the city government. The general purposes committee (GPC) of Delhi Assembly in it's report has opined that the project, NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application), for all the Legislatures has been "badly delayed" and hence the Assembly should implement it from the funds provided by the AAP government. The GPC report was tabled and adopted in the recently concluded budget session of the state assembly. "The Assembly Secretariat has sought Rs 20 crore in the budget estimates of 2019-20. The project will be modified to best suit the need of the Delhi Assembly and it's members," said the report. A Delhi Assembly Secretariat official said the government has allocated the required sum in the budget for 2019-20. The project will involve Information and Technology department of Delhi government and National Informatics Centre (NIC), it said. As per the report, the green governance tool 'e-Vidhan' for paperless Assembly was implemented in Himachal Pradesh with help of NIC and Union Ministry of Information Technology. Under the project, Government of India was to provide financial assistance to the Legislatures for implementing the Himachal model. A sub committee of the GPC had visited Himachal Assembly in October 2015 to have a first hand knowledge of the project. The GPC had approved implementation of 'e-Vidhan' in Delhi Assembly and recommended adoption of Himachal model, said the report. A draft project report estimating a cost of Rs 17.79 crore was submitted to the Ministry of Information and Technology in October 2015. But, later the project was transferred to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, it said. In it's turn, the Parliamentary Affairs ministry decided to universally implement NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application) for all the Legislatures. The ministry was of the view that once all the Legislatures have adopted 'NeVA', funds for physical infrastructure would be released in phases, said the GPC report. The project will completely remove the need for use of paper in all the business transacted by the Parliament and state assemblies. NeVa project was implemented in Himachal Pradesh on pilot basis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing opposition parties of promoting dynastic politics, BJP president Amit Shah Sunday said that a democratic system was adopted in the country so that a "foolish son" of a monarch did not come to power. Opposition parties have made a mockery of democracy by creating a new dynastic system where every leader's son succeeds him, he said. Shah was speaking at an event organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation to raise funds for the Pulwama terrorist attack victims. "What was wrong with the king and his kingdom? It had only one problem. Even if the king's son was a fool, he would succeed the king," Shah said, without naming any politician or party "But should someone become prime minister just because he is my son, irrespective of whether he has any capability?" Shah asked. Saying that the momentum of development under the Narendra Modi government needs to continue, he sought another fifteen years to turn India into a superpower. "For the first time in 70 years, of caste, dynasty and appeasement has been expelled from elections... If the country gets a proper government for fifteen years, I guarantee you that we will see India become a superpower," he said. "If you give blessings, we will see Narendra Modi Part 2," Shah added. "The BJP was all set to fight the election under the leadership of a "hard-working, genuine, far-sighted, patriotic, sensitive, decisive prime minister", he said. Achievements of the last five years have made the world look at India "with respect", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief said. He also slammed the opposition for "asking for proof" of the air strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan, saying those seeking evidence were "helping Pakistan, emboldening it". During the event, Rs 3 crore were raised for the 40 CRPF jawans killed in a terror attack in south Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the BJD government of stalling projects worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore in Odisha, Union Minister Jayant Sinha Sunday said the BJP should be voted to power at the Centre and the state as "double engines" speed up development. Citing an example, Sinha claimed that development has gained momentum in the BJP-ruled Jharkhand with the help of such "double engines", benefitting all sections of society. "We are not getting cooperation from the Odisha government for the implementation of many projects. Therefore, the same party (BJP) should be in power at the Centre and state for speedy progress powered by double engines," the Minister of State for Civil Aviation told reporters here. Hitting out at the BJD government in Odisha ahead of the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Sinha claimed that projects involving investment of over Rs 1.36 lakh crore were blocked due to "lack of cooperation" from the state government. There has been undue delay in land acquisition and necessary clearances for many projects in oil, coastal highway, railways and other sectors, he said urging the state government to extend necessary cooperation for smooth and timely implementation of central projects. "The Centre and the state will work in tandem in perfect coordination for overall growth of the country if the same party forms government at both the places," he said. Asserting that the Centre is committed towards strengthening the aviation sector in Odisha, the Union Minister said a state-of-the-art new terminal is being built at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 935 crore. The new terminal, to be ready in about two years, will raise the passenger handling capacity of the airport from the existing 30 lakh to over 90 lakh, he said. Expansion of Bhubaneswar airport is essential as it is one of the fastest growing airports in the country with around 40 per cent annual passenger growth, the minister said. Seven new aero bridges are being added to the existing four, while parking arrangements are being streamlined and modified. Vehicles coming to the airport to drop and pick up passengers will be exempted from parking charges from April 1, he said. Pointing out that the Centre is chalking out plans keeping in mind the projected requirement for the next 25 years, Sinha said the state government has been asked to expedite land acquisition for a proposed second airport for Bhubaneswar. However, necessary cooperation from the state is not available for quick action, he claimed and said "double engines will certainly be of immense help in such a situation." To a query, Sinha said the Narendra Modi government fully believes in the concept of "cooperative federalism" and GST council is an example in this regard. "The BJD government in the state does not believe in cooperative federalism .. this approach is creating hurdles in development activities," he said. The minister said regular flight services will soon commence from Jharsuguda airport to important cities including Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Sinha said many new airports are coming up in the state and work at Rourkela and Jeypore are almost complete. A proposal for setting up an airport in Paradip is also being evaluated, he said. The new airports will be connected through UDAN scheme for which an amount of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for Odisha, the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Electric three-wheelers could be the "low hanging fruit" that can accelerate faster adoption of (EVs) in due to their "unparalleled relevance" in first and last mile connectivity in some urban areas, according to a report. The report -- Recharging India's electric vehicle ambition by electrifying public transport -- also said while the government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for EVs to be successful in India, it should not initially consider taking all the risk. The government should rather be more of a facilitator by providing support such as subsidies and developing policy framework, it added. Emphasising on the importance of electric three-wheelers or in the Indian context, the report said urban transport systems generally end up servicing the major route networks leaving first/last mile connectivity unattended. "Provision of public transport services for these cities or areas by electrification of auto-rickshaws appears to be one of the optimal solution...The electric three wheelers also termed as could, thus, be the low hanging fruits in EV adoption due to lower lifecycle cost," it said. These electric three wheelers are expected to complete the value chain for public transportation by providing first/last mile connectivity or urban public transport services to the commuters, the report added. The relevance of in providing first/last mile connectivity and/or public transport services in some urban areas is unparalleled, it said. However, for e-rickshaws to be successful the stakeholders, which include government, vehicle and battery manufacturers, and private operators, will need to work in tandem. The business models should aim at promoting acquisition, deployment, usage, and monitoring and control of these vehicles effectively, the report said. "The business models for e-rickshaws ideally should be such that they help in furthering adoption of EVs in the cities by ensuring better connectivity of services. These business models would need to promote accessibility, adequacy, affordability, safety and reliability of passenger services and facilitate efficient last mile connectivity," it added. Additionally, it should aim at managing the risk among the involved parties, allowing to operate them to attain cost efficiency, the report said. Stressing on the importance of the government's role in promotion of overall EVs in India, the report said support in terms of regulatory framework, reduction in battery cost, and widespread availability of charging infrastructure are expected to be the key pillars for mass adoption. "Government should initially not consider taking all the risk and should rather be more of facilitator in developing the conducive environment for growth of players and electric mobility by providing funds, subsidies, developing policy framework, etc," it said. The private players are expected to be able to bring innovation in the era when technology is evolving, the report noted. Thus, government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for larger participation of private operators at all stages of EVs adoption such as manufacturing, operation, charging systems, among others for a total shift to EVs progressively, it said. An Egyptian court on Sunday upheld a five-year prison sentence for the country's former anti-corruption chief, found guilty of insulting the military, legal sources said. A military court rejected Hisham Geneina's appeal and confirmed his sentence, a judicial source said, over comments made in an interview with the website HuffPost Arabi. Geneina was head of Egypt's Central Auditing Organisation until he was sacked by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2016 for allegedly exaggerating the cost of corruption. He subsequently became a top aide to former military chief of staff Sami Anan, who planned to challenge Sisi in presidential polls but was arrested. Geneina claimed Anan held documents on "political events and crises that Egyptian society has passed through" since the 2011 uprising. He said the documents could be released if Anan -- who remains in jail -- was harmed. Following the interview, Geneina was detained in February 2018 and sentenced last April to five years in prison for "spreading that harms the armed forces". Sunday's ruling "could be challenged before a higher military court," Geneina's lawyer Ali Taha said. Moataz Wadnan, the journalist who conducted the interview, was also detained but has not yet been put on trial, according to rights lawyer Negad al-Borai. Without any serious challenger at the ballot box, Sisi won a second four-year term last March with 97 per cent of the vote. Egypt's parliament, packed with Sisi supporters, is seeking to institute constitutional amendments that would extend his rule beyond 2022. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Egyptian military appeals court on Sunday upheld a five-year sentence against the country's former auditor for disseminating false about the military, his lawyer said. Hesham Genena can still challenge the ruling a final time at Egypt's highest military court of appeals, added Ali Taha. Genena was arrested in February last year following incendiary comments in which he claimed that the former chief-of-staff, Sami Annan, was in possession of documents incriminating the country's leadership. He said the documents were kept abroad. He was sentenced to five years in prison in April for insulting the armed forces. Annan himself was arrested in January shortly after he announced his intention to challenge President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in last year's election, which the president won with 97 percent of the vote. Genena led Egypt's top watchdog agency until el-Sissi fired him in 2016 following an investigation that concluded he had misled the public on the scale of government corruption. Genena said corruption had cost the country billions of dollars in 2015 alone. He later said he was misquoted. Genena had long been the target of criticism from pro-government media, well-connected businessmen and senior officials since he was appointed in 2012, but his massive corruption expose sparked a particular furor, with media branding him a traitor and closet supporter of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt under el-Sissi has waged a massive crackdown on dissent since the 2013 overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi after mass protests against his one-year divisive rule. Authorities have since jailed thousands of Islamists as well as several prominent secular activists. Unauthorized protests are banned, and hundreds of websites, including those of independent media and rights groups, have been blocked. Most critics in the media have also been silenced and freedoms won by the 2011 uprising were rolled back. Authorities have also placed draconian restrictions on demonstrations and the work of rights groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Essar Oil & Gas Exploration and Production (EOGEPL) has received environment clearance for exploring shale gas reserves in its Raniganj block in West Bengal, an official said. This follows the government's decision to allow operators freedom to explore both conventional oil and natural gas as well as non-conventional sources like coal-bed methane (CBM) and shale reserves within a exploration acreage. Previously, companies could explore only oil and natural gas or CBM depending on their licence for the block. The official said the expert appraisal committee (EAC) in January 29 meeting allowed Essar to drill 20 wells to explore shale gas in its Raniganj CBM block. It has been awarded an exploration lease for shale gas, CBM and hydrocarbons in the Raniganj block. EOGPL has got approval to drill 20 shale wells at a cost of Rs 10 crore. To start with, it will drill five wells in the block to test the shale potential. When contacted, company Managing Director and CEO Vilas Tawde said: "We will start off with collecting the data. For this, we will need to drill the coal, identify the sweet spot and then drill horizontally for almost a km. Thereafter, we will analyse the coal, the shale, the strength of the shale, and the required volume." "If this exploration is successful, we plan to drill around 220-250 wells that will require an investment of Rs 7,000 crore," he said. EOGEPL has invested around Rs 4,000 crore in the Raniganj block, which will produce 1.7 million standard cubic metres per of gas from coal seams (CBM) in the next two years and ramp up to 2.5 mmscmd in the next three to four years. With the policy for simultaneous exploration of unconventional resources in place, EOGEPL is looking into the shale prospect in the same blocks which is in the range of 7.7 trillion cubic metres. The official said the company could spend up to USD 1 billion in development of shale reserves if the exploration programme was successful. Essar has already signed an agreement to sell entire production from Raniganj East CBM block to state gas utililty GAIL India Ltd. Besides Raniganj CBM block, the company also has a Mehsana CBM block in Gujarat where it plans to drill 6 wells. The project will be completed in 18 months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Yemeni children were killed in an attack on their home in flashpoint Hodeida province, the UN and medics said, months into a ceasefire agreed by the government and rebels. The UN children's agency (UNICEF) said that the five children were "playing at home" when they were killed on Thursday. It did not give details on the nature of the attack or the perpetrators. "Each day, eight children are killed or injured across 31 active conflict zones in the country," UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said in a statement Saturday. Medics in the Tuhayta district, in southern Hodeida, on Sunday confirmed to AFP that they had transferred dead and wounded children to a hospital in the government-held Khokha district nearby. The Red Sea province of Hodeida has witnessed some of the Yemen war's most intense fighting, which has eased since the government and Huthi rebels agreed to a ceasefire in the area in December. The Iran-backed Huthis have battled the government and its allies in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for control of the impoverished country for four years. Hodeida, held by the rebels since 2014, has witnessed intermittent clashes between the Huthis and pro-government forces since the ceasefire went into effect on December 18. Around 10,000 people - mostly civilians - have been killed and more than 60,000 wounded since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the conflict in 2015, according to the World Health Organization. Rights groups say the real figure could be five times as high. The conflict has triggered what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 10 million people at risk of starvation. Over 24 million Yemenis -- more than three quarters of the country's population -- are now dependent on some form of aid for survival, according to the UN. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flight operations resumed at Lahore airport on Sunday after being suspended for over 72 hours as Pakistan's airspace was closed in the wake of escalating tensions with India. Pakistan on Wednesday closed its airspace for commercial flights and suspended flight operations across major airports, including in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, for an indefinite period. According to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), domestic and international flight operations resumed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 6 am on Sunday, Geo TV reported. It said that all airlines have been notified about the resumption of flight operations. However, the Multan airport is yet to open for commercial flights. A day earlier, flight operations resumed at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta airports. On Friday, Pakistan's aviation authority partially resumed operations for some international and domestic flights as thousands of passengers were left stranded worldwide after Islamabad shut down air travel following escalating tensions with India. The CAA on Friday announced that flight operations at the eastern side airports - Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabab and Bahawalpur - will remain closed till March 4. The closure of the airspace left thousands of air travellers stranded worldwide and more than than 700 international and domestic flights were cancelled during the last three days to and from the country including flights to New Delhi. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior Communist leader of Nepal Bharat Mohan Adhikari has passed away. He was 83. Adhikari, who also served as Finance Minister, died while undergoing treatment at Hams hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday, according to party sources. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment three weeks ago following problems in chest and lungs. Earlier on Saturday evening, the hospital had issued a statement saying Adhikari had developed symptoms of multiple organs failure. A three-time minister, Adhikari also led the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affair once each. Adhikari was deputy prime minister in the coalition government, which was thrown out in a coup by then King Gyanendra Shah in 2005. He is remembered for his first stint as finance minister in the first Communist-led government in 1995 led by Man Mohan Adhikari, his elder brother. Born in 1936 at Bhawarpurna VDC in Mahottari district, Adhikari joined Communist during his student life, though he wasn't a full time cadre. He will be cremated at Pashupati, Aryaghat in Kathmandu on Sunday. Adhikari is survived by his wife and three daughters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed rallies in political crucial states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and slammed the opposition for doubting the IAF air strike in Pakistan and trying to "finish" him off while he works for development of the country. In his first visit to Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014, Modi inaugurated a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles, an India-Russia joint venture. Modi, who landed after addressing a rally some 350 km away in Bihar's Patna, said that Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto and his government has done full justice to the constituency in terms of the development. "We were not able to win elections the last time (2014) but won your hearts. Smritiji worked for the development here and did more work than that done by the one who (Rahul Gandhi) has won from here," he said, referring to Union minister Smriti Irani who unsuccessfully contested the last election from Amethi. "Those who voted for us and those who did not, all are ours...This is the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," Modi said. The Congress president has been alleging that his constituency was receiving step-motherly treatment from the Centre with various projects being stalled since the BJP-led government came to power. The prime minister, who announced development projects worth Rs 538 crore for the constituency, said Amethi will get a new identity now and be known by the new venture of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles which will be made at the Korba ordnance factory here. The AK-203 will replace the INSAS rifles being used by the Army and other forces. The immediate target is to produce 7,00,000 AK-203 rifles in the facility, official sources said. "The AK-203 rifles will be manufactured in Amethi under Russia-India joint venture...these rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists," Modi said. In a message read out by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Russian President Vladmir Putin said the joint venture will be able to fulfil Indian security agencies' requirement for small arms. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, "Some people go around giving speeches of 'made in Ujjain', 'made in Jaipur', 'made in Jaisalmer'...this is Modi. Now 'Made in Amethi' will be AK-203 rifles. It will help our jawans." He said the rifles will be made in bulk and exported also, thus presenting employment opportunities to the local youths. Modi alleged the previous government sat on the Rafale deal for years. "When our government assumed office, we finalised it in one-and-a-half years...and the first Rafale aircraft will be in our skies soon," he added. In Patna, where he shared the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a political rally first time since winning the 2014 elections, Modi said the opposition parties were speaking a language that "suits" Pakistan. "Leaders of the neighbouring country are using it as a shield to protect themselves against the charge of promoting terrorism. They are clapping gleefully," Modi said. He said there seemed to be a competition among the opposition parties led by the Congress for hurling abuse at the "Chowkidar". "But the people of the country have made up their minds. They are going to punish these parties once again and teach them a few more lessons." The two states jointly send 120 members to the 545-member Lok Sabha. In 2014 elections, the BJP-led NDA had won majority of seats in the states. At the Patna rally, Modi also questioned the opposition over their February 27 resolution expressing "deep anguish" over the ruling party's "blatant politicisation" of the sacrifices made by the armed forces. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," he stated. Without naming Congress chief, who has coined the slogan "Chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman is the thief), Modi said, "Those who run their political shops in the name of the poor and care for nothing except for their dynasties, are having problems with the chowkidar. But the chowkidar is alert and on the job." Modi also took a veiled dig at jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, saying, "The people of Bihar have seen a lot in the name of purchase of fodder. Our government has worked for doing away with middlemen who siphon off public money." The NDA government is working on all departments including roadways, railways and airways to improve infrastructure in Bihar, he said. Modi also spoke about India's rising stock in the eyes of Islamic countries which he said was reflected in the increased quota for Haj pilgrims and Saudi Arabia agreeing to free more than 800 migrants lodged in its jails. He said the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as the guest of honour at the recent Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference exemplified that. "Such an honour was bestowed on India after five decades during which mostly the Congress and its allies were in power. Why the voice of India was not heard in Islamic nations during that period?" "My government is taking care of the concerns of every section of the society," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rifleman Rajesh Rishi, who was among the six jawans who had gone missing after an avalanche, was cremated with full military honours in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district Sunday, officials said. Rishi (25) and five other jawans of the 7 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were buried under the avalanche at Shipki La near the India-China border in Himachal Pradesh's tribal Kinnaur district on February 20. The body of another jawan, Havaldar Rakesh Kumar, was recovered on the day of the avalanche. A search operation to locate the four other trapped soldiers is underway. Rishi's body was recovered on Saturday and then sent to his native village, Jagatpur, in Nalagarh sub division of Solan district, Kinnaur Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma said. Thousands including local MLA Lakhwinder Singh Rana, Nalagarh SDM Prashant Deshta and Baddi SP Rohit Malpani turned out for his cremation. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur talked to Rishi's family members over the phone and expressed his deep condolences, an official spokesperson said. He prayed to the Almighty for peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear the irreparable loss. The CM assured the family members of all possible help from the state government, the spokesperson said. While search and rescue operation was carried out immediately, bad weather posed a big challenge to search party including Army, BRO, ITBP, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and DRDO personnel, he quoted the CM as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wing Commander Sunday underwent debriefings by security agencies even as his medical check up continued for the second day at a military hospital here, officials said. A number of senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officials also met Varthaman who was brought to Delhi after he returned to India from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night. Wing Commander Varthaman was debriefed by the security agencies and it will continue for the next couple of days. He also underwent several medical tests as part of a cooling down process, the officials said. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," a military official said. The IAF pilot was captured by the Pakistani Army on Wednesday after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during an aerial combat. He downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan before his plane was hit. Varthaman arrived in the capital by an IAF flight at around 11:45 pm Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nation's gratitude for his selfless service. The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said Sunday. For the last two days, the (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a hero's welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," said a military official. The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Varthaman arrived in the capital on an IAF flight around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nation's gratitude for his selfless service. Tensions between India and escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Indian American Medha Narvekar has been appointed as the vice president and secretary of the University of Pennsylvania. Narvekar, an MBA from Wharton School, will be taking over the new position on July 1, according to a UPenn release. Narvekar has worked at the Penns Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Office for 32 years, soon after she earned her MBA from the same school. Prior to this appointment, she served as senior associate vice president of DAR, working closely with the president and many trustees. "Medha is both renowned and respected across Penn," President of UPenn Amy Gutman said. "Very few people know Penn as well or have worked so successfully with so many people across our university. Her extensive experience across all areas -- including working directly with trustees, overseers and Penn's most generous donors -- gives her a unique capacity to step into the important position of vice president and secretary." Narvekar received her bachelors degree from Swarthmore College in 1981 and MBA from Wharton in 1986. She will continue to provide support to DAR even after she moves on to the new role. She will act as a liaison from DAR to the President's Office and will remain a member of the DAR senior management team as the university moves through the final phases of the "Power of Penn" fundraising campaign. Narvekar succeeds Leslie Kruhly, who retires end of June. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Intelligence agencies were trying to ascertain reports on the about the death of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group chief in Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. The officials said they had no information other than that Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's province, Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000. The 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on state assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base and the latest Pulwama terror strike. The was filled with reports that Azhar had died, but there was no confirmation as of now, the officials said. Jaish terror group's Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The government has claimed that it achieved a spectacular success by destroying the facility. In an interview to CNN, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in and is "very unwell", but said the government can act against him only if presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. Amid the opposition's demand for proof on the Centre's claims of terror camp strikes in Pakistan, Union Minister S S Ahluwalia has said the purpose of the strike was not to cause human casualty but to send out the message that is capable of hitting deep inside enemy lines. Ahluwalia said neither Prime Minister nor any government spokesperson had given any figure on casualty of air strikes. Rather, it was the Indian media and where the unconfirmed figures of terrorist killed were being circulated, he said. "I have seen reports in Indian media and international media and also what Modi-ji had said. After the air strike, there was a rally by Modi-ji and he didn't say anything on the casualty figures. I want to ask if Modi-ji, or any government spokesperson, or our party president has given any figures?" he asked reporters in Siliguri on Saturday. The minister of state for and said the intention of the strike was to send out a message that is capable of destruction in Pakistan's own backyard if needed. We didn't want any human casualty, he said. The video of Ahluwalia's comments was posted by the CPI(M) on its handle with a question: "Is the Govt now backtracking from its claims that they took out a Terrorist Camp in (sic)" When contacted, Ahluwalia reiterated that neither the government officials nor any minister has given out a figure of the casualties. "I was asked whether I stand by the government's statement or by the reports of Indian media which have said 300-350 terrorists where killed. I stand by the government's statement. How can I vouch for media reports," he told The Darjeeling BJP MP's comments come in the wake of West Bengal Chief Minister questioning the over the air strike. Banerjee on Thursday demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps by the She also said the opposition parties want to know the details of the operation. US allies in the Middle East risk an uprising by their "humiliated citizens" if they continue to rely on Washington, a top Iranian security official warned Sunday in comments carried by state media. "(US President) Trump and even his underlings ridicule and humiliate Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates day and night, saying that you're nothing without us and cannot last a day without America's support," said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Back in October, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's 83-year-old King Salman "might not be there for two weeks" without US military support. The comments were mostly shrugged off by Riyadh. "Our prediction about America's allies in the region is that if they continue the policy of relying on Islam's enemies, they will face the uprising of their humiliated citizens," said Shamkhani, whose comments were published by the official IRNA agency. Iran's relations with its Gulf neighbours have soured in recent years and tensions escalated last month when the Islamic Republic accused Riyadh and Abu Dhabi of being complicit in a suicide bombing that killed 27 Iranian troops. The Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards blasted the "traitorous governments of Saudi Arabia and (the) Emirates" and said Iran will no longer tolerate their "hidden support for anti-Islam thugs and Takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups." The February 13 bombing targeted a busload of Guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan and was claimed by Jaish al-Adl, a Pakistan-based extremist group blacklisted by Iran as terrorists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian police on Saturday arrested top mafia fugitive Marco Di Lauro, the fourth son of ex-Camorra boss Paolo Di Lauro, after over 14 years on the run. Di Lauro, 38, was arrested without a fight at a modest apartment where he lived with his wife in the Chiaiano district in southern city Naples, police said. He was sitting with his two cats and eating pasta when police arrested him in an operation involving around 150 officers. Police allowed Di Lauro to change his clothes and freshen up before taking him away, local media reported. He voiced concern for the fate of his cats. Naples police chief Antonio De Iesu told a press conference that "unusual activity" had led police to the suspect, previously convicted of criminal association. Police found no weapons and a small sum of money in the flat. An international arrest warrant was issued for Di Lauro in 2006, and he was one of Italy's four most-wanted criminals, according to the interior ministry website. Italian media said he was considered the second most dangerous man in Italy, after Sicilian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. Photos in Italian media showed Di Lauro wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt being brought to the police station in Naples by car, with a police helicopter overhead. Around 100 people including police gathered outside, shouting "well done, well done", according to television images. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted his thanks to the police for the arrest of the "super fugitive". Far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini voiced congratulations for a "very important operation". The high-profile arrest was reportedly linked to the killing earlier in the day of the wife of a man linked to Di Lauro, Salvatore Tamburrino. Tamburrino, 40, handed himself in for shooting dead Norina Mattuozzo, 33, shortly before De Lauro's arrest. She was found dead at her parents' home in Naples where she had gone to live after her relationship with Tamburrino deteriorated, local media reported. Police chief De Iesu refused to confirm or deny a link between the killing and Di Lauro's arrest. Di Lauro had been on the run since he escaped a massive police swoop in 2004 known as the "night of the handcuffs". An informant said in 2010 that Di Lauro was responsible for at least four murders. Marco's father Paolo Di Lauro was head of the Camorra clan that operates in Naples' impoverished Scampia and Secondigliano neighbourhoods. He has been in prison since 2005 and Marco had reportedly taken over running the much-weakened clan. At least 130 people were killed in a bloody power struggle there after the Amato-Pagano clan split from the Di Lauro clan in 2004. Marco Di Lauro, reportedly known within the family by the code F4 for "fourth son", had nine brothers and one sister. All the brothers are now either in prison or dead, Italian newspapers reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir unit president of the Congress, G A Mir, Sunday advocated dialogue between India and Pakistan for resolution of political issues through peaceful means. He also asked Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to convert his words into action and ensure an end to terrorism in the region. "Both the countries (India and Pakistan) need to sit on the table and work out a solution to the political issues politically," Mir told reporters during his visit to forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. Mir led a party delegation to areas hit by shelling by Pakistani forces to take stock of the situation. The delegation met the border villagers and expressed their solidarity with them. Mir said the tension along the borders are resulting in avoidable fatalities. "Innocent civilians on this side and the other side of the border are getting killed, injured and dislocated and their properties are being damaged. What is their fault? The people on the other side are part of the state and are our own people," Mir said. Referring to the recent statements by Imran Khan that his country does not support terrorism, he said the ground realities are different. "If he is sincere in his words, he should act and work with India to end terrorism in the region. Otherwise, his good words will be considered as just a public relations exercise," he said. Last week, there has been 51 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani forces in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch, which left four civilians dead and 14 others, including eight security personnel, injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's most wanted terrorist and Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is "alive", a Pakistani media report said on Sunday, quoting unnamed sources close to his family. The media reports claiming that JeM leader is dead are false, Geo Urdu News reported. The report came amid speculation on social media that JeM founder has died. However, there was no official confirmation. Quoting unnamed sources close to the family of the JeM chief, the channel said Azhar is "alive", without elaborating on his health condition. There was no official word on Azhar's fate from the "I don't know anything at this moment," Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told PTI, when asked about media reports claiming death of Azhar. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000. The 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base and the latest Pulwama terror strike. Meanwhile, Intelligence agencies in New Delhi were trying to ascertain reports on social media about the death of Azhar in Pakistan. The Indian officials said they had no information other than that Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. Jaish terror group's Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The Indian government has claimed that it achieved a spectacular success by destroying the facility. In an interview to CNN, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in his country and is "very unwell", but said the government can act against him only if India presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. The US, the UK and France last week moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. The proposal was moved Wednesday by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will have 10 working days to consider the fresh proposal submitted by the three permanent members. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad's audacious terrorist strikes, part of its 'Ghazwa-e-Hind'(Holy War Against India), have turned it into one of the most deadly terror groups and brought and on the brink of war twice in two decades, officials said. The most deadly terror strikes of the JeM in the past 20 years include attacks on the Pathankot airbase, the Army brigade headquarters in Uri, the Badamibagh cantonment in and the bombing of the Assembly. and were almost on the brink of war in 2001 when the JeM attacked the Indian Parliament, and again now after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF bus in Pulwama, which killed 40 jawans, a security official said Sunday. The terrorist group, with close links with al-Qaida, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its "Ghazwa-e-Hind" irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties, the official said citing an intelligence report. The JeM, which had close links slain al-Qaida Osama bin Laden, was formed after the release of terror mastermind from an Indian jail on December 31, 1999 after the flight IC814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999. Azhar was released along with rouge British secret service MI6 agent Omar Shaikh, who was responsible for the killing Daniel Pearl in January 2002 and the funding of 9/11 terror attacks in the with USD 100,000, the official said. The group carried out a series of terrorist attacks in It killed 30 soldiers in the Valley through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in April 2000, killed three policemen at a bus stand at Batmaloo in in June 2000, bombed the on October 1, 2001 in which 31 people died, and attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001 in which nine security personnel and officials were killed. The attack on the assembly took place just three weeks after the 9/11 attacks and the Parliament attack happened a week after bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora caves in When bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora and the was forced to hold one side of the cordon of these vast caves, the JeM became the conduit to bring fighters and their families from into safe havens in Pakistan, run by JeM and another deadly terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, the official said. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the key conspirators of 9/11, housed fleeing al-Qaida cadres in Karachi, he said. It is widely believed that to help bin Laden flee Tora Bora, JeM carried out attack on Parliament in New Delhi, leading to a war-like situation between and Pakistan after Indian armed forces were mobilised along the country's western border, another official said. This provided a pretext to the to withdraw much of its forces from its western border, which were in cordon of the Tora Bora caves, thus helping the escape of bin Laden to Pakistan. "It took 10 more deadly years to get This is the nature and capability of JeM. Its activities just do not impact India, but feed on and has been a major threat to global peace and security," the official said. On November 2, 2005, a few hours before the swearing in of as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a JeM suicide squad detonated a powerful car bomb in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, killing 10 people and injuring 18 others. On January 2, 2016, a heavily armed group of JeM attacked the Pathankot airbase in which seven security personnel and a security personnel were killed. The JeM attacked the Uri brigade headquarters on September 18, 2016, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 30 others. After the attack, the carried out an aerial attack on the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot in Pakistan, leading to another war-like situation between the two countries. At least 33 pro-regime fighters were killed Sunday in attacks mounted by jihadist groups near Idlib province, in the deadliest day in six months for loyalist forces, a monitor said. Twenty-seven fighters were killed in two attacks by Ansar al-Tawhid jihadists, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Five jihadists were also killed," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Britain-based monitoring group. Ansar al-Tawhid has ties to the larger Hurras al-Deen group, which is also active in the area of northwest Syria. Both are considered semi-officials franchises of Al-Qaeda in Syria. The area of Idlib and small parts of the adjacent provinces of Hama and Aleppo are mostly controlled by the rival Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organisation. HTS is led by fighters who formerly belonged to Al-Qaeda's ex-affiliate in Syria. The attacks by Ansar al-Tawhid were carried out against regime positions in Masasna, a village in Hama province, the Observatory said. A military source quoted by state agency SANA confirmed soldiers had been killed and wounded in the attacks on their positions near Idlib province. Loyalists forces had killed some assailants, the source added without giving figures. The foreign ministry said Syria "will not allow terrorists and those who are behind them to carry on with their attacks against innocent civilians and the armed forces". In Latakia province, also northwest of the capital, at least six pro-regime fighters were killed in attacks by HTS militants later on Sunday, the Observatory said. According to Abdel Rahman, the latest spate of attacks caused "one of the highest casualty figures among regime ranks since the Putin-Erdogan deal". He was referring to an accord struck in the Russian resort of Sochi by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under the September 17 truce deal, Turkey would exert its influence over anti-regime groups in the Idlib region to have them pull back fighters and heavy weapons from a demilitarised zone. It was meant to stave off a planned offensive by the regime and its Russian backers that aid groups feared could spark the eight-year-old Syrian conflict's worst humanitarian crisis to date. The government assault on the last major bastion of rebel forces has been held off but the deal's provisions have not been implemented. Since the Sochi agreement, HTS has consolidated its grip on Idlib province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former union minster and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman earned his flying badge in 2004 and "matured" as a fighter pilot during the UPA rule, remarks which attracted criticism on the social media. "Many kudos for Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the face of India's resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA," Khurshid tweeted Saturday. After attracting criticism on the social media for "taking credit", Khurshid Sunday said that he had only "stated the truth". "I had said that he (the pilot) joined the IAF during our tenure. I had only stated the truth," he told reporters. After being held in captivity for nearly 60 hours, Wing Commander Abhinandan was released by Pakistan and handed over to India at the Attari-Wagah border on Friday night. Days after Pulwama attack of February 14, which left 40 CRPF personnel dead, the Indian Air Force carried out an air strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp inside Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to bomb Indian military installations on Wednesday morning. The attempt was foiled by the Indian Air Force. In an ensuing dogfight, Varthaman's MiG-21 was shot down after he brought down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sangam, confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is all set to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri Monday, after more than 22 crore devotees took a holy bath here. "This day symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well," Gunjan Varshney, president of Ram Naam Bank situated at Civil Lines here, told PTI. She also said it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him. Elaborating about the significance of Mahashivratri, Ashutosh Varshney of Grah Nakshtram, who has set up his camp here, said, "Mahashivratri marks the culmination of the Kumbh and the prominent bathing days. And this time Mahashivratri is falling on a Monday the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is falling after a long time." The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year. "This is a very rare coincidence and the Sangam area will remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day," he said. Varshney said Kumbh will conclude on a rare occasion, Mahashivratri. He also said 'Rudrabhishek' of 'shivling' is also done on this day. In the Kumbh held in Sangam city, there were six bathing dates. "Of these, shahi snaans were held on occasions of Makar Sankranti (January 15), Mauni Amawasya (February 4) and Basant Panchami (February 10). "Apart from this, 'parv snaans have been held on the occasion of Paush Poornima (January 21) and Maghi Poornima (February 19)," Varshney said. The Kumbh draws lakhs of pilgrims over the course of approximately 55 auspicious days to bathe at the Sangam. It is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Sunday offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala. On arrival at the 'mahadwaram' (main entrance), the island nation's United National Party president Wickremesinghe and his wife Maitree were accorded a traditional welcome by temple priests and top functionaries of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which governs the 2,000-year old shrine, a temple official told PTI. Before paying obeisance to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, the 73-year old Wickremesinghe performed ages-old 'Tulabharam' ritual. As part of 'Tulabharam' ritual, devotees sit in a balance and offer grocery items, precious metals or money equal to their body weight, the temple official said. Later, the same is made as an offering to the God at the hill temple, the official added. The Sri Lankan prime minister, his wife and other dignitaries later worshipped Lord Venkateswara. They spent about an hour in the temple. After offering prayers, Wickremesinghe was honoured with a sacred silk clot, besides the 'prasadam' and 'theertham' (celestial water) in a tiny bottle, while the priests, amid chanting of vedic hymns, blessed him at the sprawling Rangamandapam in the temple. Wickremesinghe flew in to the Renigunta airport, 20 km from here, by a special helicopter from Chennai on Saturday evening and drove straight to the Tirumala hills, the temple official said. This is his fourth visit to the ancient shrine. Wickremesinghe has offered prayers at the temple in 2018, 2016 and 2002 as well, the official said. Later, he left for Chennai en route to Sri Lanka. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defining the Women and Child Development Ministry and making it more than just a "post office ministry" was the biggest challenge after coming to power, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has said. Speaking on the challenges faced by her in dealing with women and child issues in the past five years, Gandhi said when she took office, the job of her ministry was only handing out salaries to Anganwadi workers. "The major challenge right at the beginning was defining the ministry. The ministry was undefined even though it has been there for 10 years. It was a post office ministry simply handing out salaries to Anganwadis who are on strike from morning to night," she told reporters. She said another challenge faced by her when she took office was bringing everyone on board, to get opinion from the whole country. "We started by dividing everything into three categories of policy, defence and economic regeneration. We then repaired CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) which was almost closed. We then worked on Rashtriya Mahila Kosh which was then in debt of Rs 60 crore," she said. "Defining NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) was another challenge. We knew it was for children but what (it does) for children was to be understood," she said. She said when she assumed office, 18,000 complaints were pending with the National Commission for Women (NCW). "We now have legal advisory board for the NCW and ensure that women get time-bound action. Now this ministry responds to everything," she said. Gandhi said the government is working on a mechanism on direct monitoring of child care institutions. She accepted that it was a "mistake" reporting to the state that something was wrong at the Muzaffarpur shelter home six months before the Bihar government finally shut the child care institution, run by an NGO and funded by both the Centre and the state. "We had first come to know that there is something horribly wrong with the Muzaffarpur shelter home and shared the lead with the state government, which turned out to be a big mistake," Gandhi said. The issue of sexual abuse of minor girls first made headlines in April after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) submitted its audit report of shelter homes in Bihar to the state social welfare department. It raised the possibility of sexual abuse of girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur, which was later confirmed by their medical examination. On her biggest regret, Gandhi expressed dismay at the low productivity of the Rajya Sabha which she said led to stalling of major bills, including the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018. "I wish the Rajya Sabha had worked hard. Big regret but it is not just my regret but that of all of India. Many things in the social structure got stuck. "I would have been really happy if anti-trafficking bill had gone through, CARA reform had gone through. It takes us a long time to formulate to get it pass through ministries and then have it held up is annoying," she said. The average productivity of the Rajya Sabha has been 8 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi BJP chief has drawn flak for attending a party rally in Delhi in military fatigues. Tiwari flagged off a BJP bike rally in the Yamuna Vihar area in his North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday wearing military fatigues. Drawing flak, Tiwari tweeted on Sunday, "I wore (it) simply because I felt proud of my Army. I am not in Indian army but I was expressing my feeling of solidarity. Why should it be treated like an insult? I have the highest regard for our Army. By (this) logic, tomorrow if I wear a Nehru Jacket, will it be an insult to Jawaharlal Nehru?" Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien said it was a "shameless act" on Tiwari's part. ALSO READ: Shivpal Singh Yadav poses challenge to Akhilesh Yadav ahead of LS polls "Shameless. Shameless. Shameless. Manoj Tewari BJP MP and Delhi President wearing Armed Forces uniform and seeking votes. BJP-Modi-Shah insulting and politicising our jawans. And then giving lectures on patriotism. Low life," he tweeted, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati Sunday accused the BJP of indulging in "petty" after the Pulwama terror attack and claimed people feel that the country's honour and security are not in safe hands. Mayawati also paid tributes to security force personnel killed in the February 14 Pulwama attack and other terror incidents. "The ruling BJP should not have indulged in after the Pulwama terror strike...The worried 130-crore people have seen as to how the BJP could not desist from indulging in petty even at such a time and they have now realised that country's honour and security is not in strong and safe hands," the BSP chief said. Mayawati also convened a meeting of senior party leaders and office bearers at the BSP's headquarters here. The BSP president ,who returned to the state capital only a couple of days ago after a long stay in Delhi, also called for a "strong and dependable policy for issues concerning the safety and security of the country." Mayawati appealed to the people to stand with the families of those killed in terror attacks and extend all possible support. She also asked the government to fulfil promises made to them promptly. The BSP president said it is important that all preparations are made for the country's safety, security and honour, and to ensure that no country is able to either ignore or threaten India. Directing BSP workers to strengthen the organisation up to the booth level in preparation for the Lok Sabha polls and increase the party's base, she asked workers of the BSP and Samajwadi Party (SP) to forget petty differences and strengthen the alliance so as to defeat an anti-people BJP in the general elections. The SP and BSP entered into an alliance recently. "Only the BSP and SP are in a position to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh," she said. Mayawati, who held a strategy session with her party leaders, said in the present scenario, the SP-BSP coalition has to be careful and decide the way forward. The SP and BSP are contesting the parliamentary elections in three states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand - which account for 110 seats in the Lok Sabha. Though she has not yet formally announced the names of BSP candidates, the party will contest in 38 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and its ally SP will contest in 37 seats as per the understanding reached between them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old man was killed and two others were injured after a speeding car hit them near the Moolchand underpass in southeast Delhi on Saturday night, police said. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Afaq, a resident of Jakir Nagar, they said. According to Chinmoy Bisawal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), the incident occurred on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when three friends Rudra Aashish Pandey, Nitish and Gaurav were returning home after attending a wedding function at Moti Bagh. When they crossed the Moolchand underpass, a tyre of the car burst following which they called a mechanic. At around 1.40 am, when the mechanic was replacing the tyre, a speeding car hit them, Biswal said. The car was being driven by a girl who fled the spot leaving her car behind. She was later identified as Ananya Khurana, a resident of Lajpat Nagar-II, the DCP said. The mechanic died due to the injuries sustained in the accident. A case has been registered at Lajpat Nagar police station. Police are trying to nab the accused girl. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself "questioned" the recent anti-terror air strike in Pakistan by his remarks that the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. The party also said it had neither sought proof of such strike earlier nor is it asking for it now. "The prime minister has himself questioned the air strike. He said had the Rafale jets been there (with the IAF), the results would have been different. What is the meaning of this?" Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari posed during a press conference here. Asserting that the prime minister should himself explain what would have been different with Rafale jets, he held Modi responsible for the delay in induction of the French-made fighter jets into the IAF by "cancelling" the earlier negotiations. Modi had on Saturday hit out at the opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan and said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now over Rafale," he had said at the India Today Conclave. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the prime minister of being "solely responsible" for the delay in arrival of Rafale jets. "Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Crore and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets. YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets (sic)," Gandhi had said on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday sought to strike an emotional chord with the people of Bihar, paying tributes to the CRPF personnel from the state, who were killed in Pulwama terror attack and shelling by Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmir. He paid homage to CRPF Head Constable Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Constable Ratan Kumar Thakur, both victims of the Pulwama attack, and Inspector Pintu Kumar Singh, who died in shelling at Handwara a couple of days ago. In keeping with his style of making the people chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" thrice with raised fists, Modi this time prefixed the evocation with phrases - "parakrami bharat ke liye" (for the valiant India), "vijayi bharat ke liye" (for a triumphant India) and "veer jawanon ke liye" (for our brave soldiers). Beginning his 40-minute-long speech with greetings in three local dialects Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi, Modi also remembered the state's legendary figures of the ancient, medieval and modern periods. The prime minister mentioned Buddha, Chanakya, Emperor Ashoka, medieval era bard Vidyapati, 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the 1857 revolt hero Veer Kunwar Singh and Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who is fondly called 'Rashtrakavi'. Modi also paid tributes to political figures like the state's first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha and his deputy Anugraha Narayan Singh, Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan and OBC stalwart Karpoori Thakur, conveying his regard for them cutting across caste lines. Modi also made a special mention of Sulabh International founder and Bihar native Bindeshwar Pathak, in recognition of his pioneering work in eradication of manual scavenging and improving public sanitation. Indian Railways has made Pathak its brand ambassador under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. When it began to drizzle a few minutes after he began his speech, he sought to perk up the restless crowds saying, "Here comes Lord Varuna with his blessings". Lord Varuna is the god of rain in Hindu mythology. Elaborate security measures were in place at the Gandhi Maidan, the rally venue, which was rocked by a series of explosions in October, 2013 when Modi - the then Gujarat chief minister and the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate - had addressed his maiden political rally in Bihar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Milind Deora Sunday said Mumbai Port Trust's (MbPT) plans to redevelop the eastern waterfront of the metropolis amounted to squandering an opportunity to rejuvenate and transform the city. He said the development plans mooted by the MbPT were "disconnected" from the city's interests and did not pay adequate attention to its need for open spaces. The former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said it would be "catastrophic" if the port trust is allowed to do "as it pleases" with its land. "When I assumed charge as the Minister of State for Shipping and Ports in the UPA government, we looked at creating a holistic policy for these three ports (Mumbai, Kolkata and Kandla) that would grant freedom to the port trusts to develop these lands in a way that served the interests not only of residential and commercial tenants, but also the city," Deora said. "Unfortunately, change in the Central government (NDA taking over in 2014) meant we couldn't implement this policy. The current government introduced a new policy that actually encouraged the three ports to function as purely commercial entities, entirely disconnected from the needs and interests of the cities they belong to," he claimed. Deora said he was in favour of Mumbai's development, and MbPT had the right to undertake some degree of commercial activity for revenue generation, but the development cannot come at the cost of equally crucial concerns like Mumbai's severe dearth of open spaces. He called city planning a balancing act and said it must necessarily incorporate various competing interests to make the area an inclusive one. The new plan of the government threatens to make MpBT land and its development a replica of what happened to mill lands in the city, he said. The city lost a massive opportunity to provide open spaces and affordable housing to its citizens during the time when mills lands were developed, he claimed. With mill lands, it was competing interests of mill owners versus the government, he said, adding that the former were the primary beneficiaries and Mumbai was left with scarcely any recreational or open spaces, he said. "But with MbPT, it is the government itself that is thinking and acting like a private enterprise. If this plan is implemented as the government has envisioned, the (port) land will meet the same fate as what is currently Lower Parel, shattering Mumbai's last hope to salvage its open spaces," Deora said. He said he had raised the MbPT land issue in Parliament in 2007 and a committee was set up under then Union Minister of Shipping T R Baalu, with Maharashtra chief secretary, MbPT chairman and other stakeholders as members, to find solutions to the various issues confronting port trust land. But the committee yielded nothing of value, the former MP claimed. "What is truly tragic here is that the Maharashtra government, which is purportedly responsible for safeguarding the interests of its cities, is turning a blind eye to the destruction of the massive potential that this vast tract of land holds, and relinquishing the rights of Mumbai," he alleged. "Why can't Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari, both of whom possess deep understanding of the issues facing Mumbai, chalk out a solution that benefits all stakeholders the tenants, the city and the port trust?" he asked. "Is it lack of political will, apathy for Mumbai's and its citizens' future, or just a myopic view?" he questioned. As part of a draft proposal, the MbPT has been made the special planning authority for developing 966.30 hectares of land along the city's eastern waterfront extending from Wadala to Sassoon Docks. The Union Ministry of Shipping owns 12 major ports, of which Mumbai, Kolkata and Kandla have extensive land tracts and townships. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The 'Nandini' brand of dairy and dairy products, a well known name in Karnataka, Sunday announced its foray into the Tamil Nadu market. It is a unit of the Bengaluru Co-operative Milk Union Ltd (BAMUL), a unit of Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd, which retails the 'Nandini' brand. Sundaram BNP Paribas Home Finance, Managing Director Srinivas Acharya formally launched the 'Nandini' brand of products at a function here in the presence of BAMUL President, B G Anjanappa. BAMUL signed an agreement with RKR Dairy for co-packing and marketing milk and other products in Chennai and Tamil Nadu market, a press release said. Currently, the milk and milk products are sold under the 'Nandini' brand through 1,954 retailers, 81 franchise outlets. It has 49 milk parlours and 330 distribution outlets in Karnataka. BAMUL recently commissioned its Rs 600 crore manufacturing unit in Karnataka to produce different types of cheese, yogurts and other value added products. I The milk union procures milk in Bengaluru urban, rural and Ramanagara districts of Karnataka State and sells milk in Bengaluru. BAMUL currently has 2,160 milk producers co-operative society in 3,217 villages in Karnataka, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The newly-appointed Congress president in Tripura, Pradyot Kishore Debburman, Sunday invited all former party leaders to return to the Congress and said everyone would be given due respect. Debburman, who was the working president of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), was appointed as the president of the TPCC, by AICC chief Rahul Gandhi on February 25. Debburman Saturday met expelled leader and former chief minister Samir Ranjan Barman and asked him to get back to the party. Barman did not join any party after his expulsion from the Congress in March 2017. He accepted Debburman's invitation and rejoined the party on Saturday. A large number of leaders, led by former Pradesh Congress president Sudip Roy Barman, defected to the Trinamool Congress in 2016 and further changed camp to join the BJP in 2017. The new TPCC president said everyone in the party would be given due respect and in return they would also work with honesty and integrity. "I believe that no problem should be there if we give everyone their due respect. I would like to organise a meeting of the former chief minister Samir Ranjan Barman with party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. I shall also talk to all other leaders and take their advice in this regard," he said. Debburman also said he would try to strengthen the organisation in Tripura with the participation of the educated and honest people. "It would be my endeavour to build a strong organisation with the participation of youth, women, educated and honest people, bring back the leaders who remained out of the party and give them due respect," he told reporters. The Congress, which had 10 MLAs in the 2013 state Assembly, drew a blank in the February 18 elections was reduced to a party with less than 2 per cent votes. Debburman, who is also a member of AICC and in-charge Sikkim said building 'BJP Mukt North East' in the Lok Sabha elections is his aim. Pradyot also claimed that people, especially youths are frustrated due to unfulfilled poll pledges made by the the BJP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) in the state. The BJP-IPFT government assumed office on March 9, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has been tasked with drawing up a list of non-core assets of various CPSEs, both healthy and sick ones, as the first step towards finance ministry's plan to monetise such assets and unlock value to shareholders. This is part of the overall plans of the government to lay down procedure and mechanism for monetisation of non-core assets of central public sector undertakings (CPSEs), which include mainly land and building. " will draw up the list of non-core assets owned by CPSEs which can be sold separately after discussion with a consultative group comprising officials from administrative ministries, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)," an official told PTI. The process would take about six months' time, the official added. The report of will be taken up by the alternative mechanism on disinvestment, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, following which the and the respective administrative ministry will further proceed with the monetisation process, the official added. "So far the disinvestment process was confined to a corporate level. Now, it will go one step down and monetise non-core assets of CPSEs to unlock wealth and generate value on equity for shareholders," the official added. It is pertinent to mention here that in 2016 Niti Aayog was also asked to draw up a list of CPSEs which could go in for a strategic sale. It has already identified about 35 CPSEs which could go in for outright sale. The had last week approved laying down of an institutional framework for monetisation of identified non-core assets of the CPSEs under strategic disinvestment and assets relating to immovable enemy property under the custody of Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI). Explaining the process, the official said the Cabinet approval for asset management framework would be applicable in four cases -- the sale of non-core assets of CPSEs identified for strategic disinvestment, sale of immovable enemy property land which are not under litigation. Enemy property refers to the assets which were left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan or China and are no longer citizens of India. It includes the sale of non-core assets of any other after approval of competent authority or the administrative ministry and sale of such assets of sick or loss-making With regard to those CPSEs which are candidates for strategic disinvestment, the official said such companies would have to first list out the non-core assets which are to be hived off separately before the strategic disinvestment process starts. "The enlistment of the land assets would have to happen first before the strategic disinvestment process starts. Once the non-core assets are carved out, the sale of such assets and strategic disinvestment process can go on simultaneously," the official said. DIPAM, after consulting ministries and CPSEs, has already identified a huge tract of land and other assets of nine state-owned companies which will be hived off before they are put on the block for strategic sale. The nine CPSEs whose non-core assets have been identified for hiving off are Pawan Hans, Scooters India, Air India, Bharat Pumps & Compressors, Project & Development India Ltd (PDIL), Hindustan Prefab, Hindustan Newsprint, Bridge and Roof Co and Hindustan Fluorocarbons. In the current financial year, the government has set a disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore, which includes strategic and minority stake sale in CPSEs. The government already had already given in-principle approval for the strategic sale of 24 state-owned companies. These include Dredging Corporation of India, HLL Lifecare, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd, Units/JVs of ITDC, Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur units of SAIL, Nagarnar Steel Plant of NMDC, Central Electronics and Ferro Scrap Nigam. The independent external monitor set up for strategic disinvestment shall oversee the process of asset monetisation. The approved framework shall be reviewed after two years for instituting any change including delegations on financial limits. So far this fiscal, the government has raised over Rs 56,064 crore by divesting stakes in state-owned companies. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and NDA leaders from Bihar Sunday resolved to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats from the state in order to bring back Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country. "People have turned up at the rally in very large numbers. The Lok Sabha polls are impending...I want to assure you 'Pradhan Mantri jee' (Prime Minister) that we will win 40 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the general elections. "This is our Sankalp (resolve)," Kumar said while addressing NDAs 'Sankalp' rally at Gandhi Maidan here. Kumar also congratulated the Prime Minister, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for taking action against terror outfits and those who promote terrorism. Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing over 40 soldiers. There is no question of compromising on the issue of terrorism, he said, adding that the government would ensure all possible and necessary steps to counter it. He also praised the Modi government and the armed forces for forcing Pakistan to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardhaman. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Radha Mohan Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai, Bihar JD(U) chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh, Bihar minister and state president of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Pashupati Kumar Paras, ministers Mangal Pandey, Nand Kishore Yadav and a host of other NDA leaders also attended the 'Sankalp rally'. The weather was initially sunny but later turned out to be rainy. It continued to drizzle throughout the PM's speech. Kumar also assured the PM that work on providing toilet facility to every household in the state will be completed by October 2, 2019, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. PM Modi, later during his speech, appreciated Nitish Kumar for his resolve to complete the construction of toilets by October 2. Earlier, people attending the rally started raising slogans as they were getting impatient to hear the PM. Invoking 'seven social sins' as enumerated by Mahatma Gandhi, Kumar apparently attacked the opposition RJD saying there are people who amassed properties after coming to power, though Mahatma Gandhi termed "acquiring assets without work as sin". Without naming anyone, Kumar said, "What we did after coming to power and what they did after coming to power is known to people." Kumar said people should be aware of such persons who are more interested in getting 'mewa' (power, position and money) instead of doing 'sewa' (service). Lauding the work done by both the NDA governments at the Centre and in the state, the CM enumerated various schemes and projects meant for the welfare of the poor. Giving LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme, Rs 5 lakh medical cover to 10.74 crore families as identified on the basis of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data, PM-KISAN scheme which envisage Rs 6,000 per year as assistance to the farmers, are among the few schemes which Kumar named besides enumerating his much talked about 'Saat Nischay' scheme and 10 per cent reservation to the economically weaker sections of unreserved category after getting the necessary amendments passed by the state legislature. The central government has been quite helpful and cooperative in Bihar's development, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There were no reports of by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's and Rajouri districts since Saturday night, even as the army was on high alert and maintained a tight vigil, officials said. Barring in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Saturday, there were no reports of firing in the rest of the sectors since 11 pm Friday, they said. "There is no report of firing and shelling by Pakistan along the overnight...the army is on high alert and maintaining tight vigil," a defence spokesperson said. The cross-border shelling witnessed a spurt after India's air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. More than 80 forward villages were targeted by Pakistan in over 50 ceasefire violations in Rajouri and districts alone since Tuesday last, which left four civilians, including three members of a family, dead and several others injured. The lull in the cross-border firing came as a major relief to the border residents, who faced intense shelling by Pakistan, forcing many families to move to safer places. Amid heightened Indo-Pak tension, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat visited the Jammu-based White Knight Corps on Saturday to review the operational preparedness and exhorted all the soldiers to remain vigilant. An organisation of Kashmiri students here said Sunday that there was no threat to their lives in Uttarakhand anymore. A sense of insecurity had gripped students from Kashmir in Uttarakhand after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. A large number of Kashmiri students even left for their homes as they anticipated they could be targeted, especially by right wing forces, in the aftermath of the incident. "The situation is perfectly normal now with no threat to the lives of Kashmiri students anywhere in Uttarakhand. I appeal to them to return to their institutions and resume their studies,"Kashmiri Student's Organisation spokesman Nasir Khuehami said. He thanked Uttrakhand Police, DGP Anil Raturi, SSP Dehradun Nivedita Kukreti and the media for coming out in the support of Kashmiri students and ensuring their safety. Khuehami also thanked 'Khalsa Aid', an NGO, for lending a helping hand in evacuating students who felt insecure here. He hoped that Kashmiri students will soon return to their hostels and lodges to pursue their studies. "Tension has subsided now. We are now talking to students from the valley to convince them that they are absolutely safe in Uttarakhand and can return to their hostels and lodges without fear. I hope in a week's time they will start doing so," Khuehami said. The situation had got tense in Uttarakhand after a Kashmiri student studying at a private university here sent a WhatsApp message to his friends exulting over the Pulwama attack soon after the incident. It triggered a reaction from local students who began demanding their eviction from the colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Oil regulator PNGRB has rejected Gas Ltd's application for authorisation to retail CNG to automobiles and piped to households in and Udaipur, saying the company was not in compliance with regulations for a licence. In a 23-page order, the Petroleum and Board (PNGRB) on February 28 gave detailed reasons for rejecting Gas Ltd's (AGL) claim of having 'deemed authorisation' to operate a (CGD) network in the two cities before the regulator came into existence. "Based on the analysis and deliberations of the Board after hearing and considering the submissions of AGL and keeping in mind the observations/directions of the of India, the application of AGL for and cities for CGD authorisation is herby rejected," it said. Gas had, in response to a November 2005 invitation of government, bid for setting up the (CGD) network in and The state government on March 20, 2006 gave a no objection certificate, subject to certain conditions, to the company for retailing CNG and piped in and Jaipur. Adani Gas in the same month deposited the commitment fee of Rs 2 crore. Subsequent to this, the central government in October 2007 appointed PNGRB as the regulator for the sector. Soon after, PNGRB sought application from operating CGD networks before its appointment as the regulator. PNGRB on March 31, 2008 issued a notice to Adani Gas stating "it did not have the requisite authorisation from the central government," the order said, adding the company submitted separate applications for authorisation for Jaipur and Udaipur to the regulator on August 28, 2008. On May 18, 2011, the government withdrew the NOC given to Adani Gas. Subsequently on May 19, 2011, PNGRB rejected Adani Gas' application for both the cities. The company challenged the decision of PNGRB before High Court which dismissed its petition. It then filed an appeal before the " vide order dated January 29, 2019 quashed the order dated May 19, 2011 passed by the Board and directed the Board to take a fresh decision in the matter within four weeks," the order said. In compliance with the Supreme Court order, PNGRB held personal hearing with Adani Gas representatives. The company contended that "it was entitled to be granted authorisation by the Board in view of the provision of 'deemed authorisation' as contained in Section 16 of the (PNGRB) Act" for entities operating before the regulator came into existence. In its order, PNGRB said Adani Gas meets the minimum eligibility criteria but did not comply with the requirement of making committed investments and physical progress in rollout of CGD network in both the cities. Also, it had not tied up gas for supply through the CGD networks. "The conclusion of the Board is that Adani Gas is in non-compliance with a substantial part of the criteria," it said. On the company's claim of having made substantial investment in the two cities, PNGRB said "no documentary evidence has been presented by Adani Gas to show the mammoth expenditure it has supposedly incurred on the project. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Sunday said the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami "is having a major social impact" in Kashmir and appealed to the government to "urgently review" its decision to seal schools and mosques run by it. The central government put a ban on the Jamat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir last week under anti-terror law on grounds that it was "in close touch" with militant outfits and was expected to "escalate secessionist movement" in the state. "The politico-religious role of the Jamaat (JeI) is one aspect but there is also the social aspect. The recent ban is having a major social impact which isn't being taken into consideration," Omar wrote on Twitter. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said people were being "turned away from mosques" where they usually congregate for prayers and schools with tens of thousands of students and employing thousands of teachers were being "sealed". "There is nothing to suggest (that) sealing mosques will improve the security environment. Sealing schools risks forcing so many young kids out on the streets rather than studying to make a future for themselves," he said. Omar said that while the government may take some time to review the need to ban the organisation, "there is a need to urgently review the ban on schools and the sealing of mosques". The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) also opposed the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami. "The ban is part of a provocative and motivated crusade against a particular community. Political advantage is being extracted out of the prevailing hostile situation by creating deep divisions amongst sections of the society," a KCCI spokesman said in a statement here. "The onus is on the government to start explaining to the public the compulsions justifying targeting of religious institutions belonging to a particular community. Sealing of residential houses and schools violates the basic principles of humanity and demonstrates the desperation of people after global rejection of their of hate, communalism and pernicious designed propaganda," the KCCI spokesman said. The ban on the Jamaat was imposed days after the Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested around 100 cadres of the group in the state following the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) OMR sheets of the Mathematics paper of 108 students who had appeared for matriculation examination were found missing from a government-run high school in Malkangiri district on Sunday. The matter came to light after the authorities of SSD High School at Padia lodged a complaint at Padia police station, police said. The complaint said the optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets of nearly 108 students, who appeared for Mathematics exam on Saturday, have gone missing from the school premises. Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena said a team led by ASP U C Nayak has been sent to the school to conduct a thorough probe into the incident. "Investigation is in progress to ascertain the circumstances in which the OMR sheets went missing," he said. The school authorities have also informed the district administration and the Board of Secondary (BSE), which conducts the annual matriculation examination in the state, about the incident, said an official. Malkangiri sub-collector Rameswar Pradhan and other senior officials have reached the school for conducting further investigation into the matter. The development comes a day after images of Mathematics question paper of the ongoing matriculation examination surfaced on social media on Saturday, prompting the state government to suspend three teachers in Kalahandi district. Earlier, the question papers of Odia, Hindi and English subjects went viral on social media, putting the BSE, Odisha, in a tight spot. The matriculation examinations began on February 22 and would conclude on March 8. The Board of Secondary had earlier suspended 10 persons, including four examination centre superintendents, for their alleged role in spreading images of questions on social media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Sunday hit out at opposition parties, alleging they "raised doubts" on the courage of the armed forces and their demand for proof of the IAF air strike brought a "smile on Pakistan's face". He said these parties should "keep quiet" if they were unable to appreciate what Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's armed forces had achieved through the air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. Praising the PM's leadership, Shah claimed Modi went about his work routinely even as he thought up a plan to punish the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack on February 14 which killed 40 CRPF personnel. He claimed Modi made the country understand what "zero tolerance" for terror meant by ordering the surgical strike and air strike. "Opposition leaders do not know what happened. Mamata di asks for proof. Rahul baba says it is being politicised. Akhilesh asks for a probe. Be ashamed that your statements have brought a smile on Pakistan's face," Shah said. "Pakistan smiled only after the press conferences of the opposition leaders where they raised questions on the courage of the armed forces," Shah claimed. "We can understand that you do not have the courage of Modi ji, but if you cannot support and praise what Modi ji and the armed forces did, then at least keep quiet," he said. "After the Pulwama attack, people said surgical strike was not possible, as army could not go (to bust terror camps). Modiji, while going about his routine work quietly, decided and planned (the counterattack) and our brave air force jawans killed hundreds of terrorists in an air strike and came back safely," he said. He said with these strikes on terror camps, India has become only the third country in the world after the US and Israel to avenge attacks on its armed forces personnel. "Now the world accepts that India cannot be taken lightly. The entire world accepts that one cannot tamper with India's borders. The entire world now accepts that it is not easy to touch Indian soldiers. They will get the response for a bullet with a cannon," he said. Addressing a gathering of PM's Modh Vanik community here, Shah said Modi had come from a humble background and had become the PM of the world's largest democracy. He said while Modi "does not believe in casteism", the fact remains that he comes from the same community which has made its presence felt across the country through sheer hard work and good behaviour. Shah said he knew Modi since 1980, when the latter was an unknown political entity to most, and claimed the PM has worked tirelessly to ensure ordinary workers like him (Shah) rose in the party. "Modi ji does not believe in casteism. Ever since he accepted public life, he always worked to remove the pollution of caste from politics. But it a fact that Modi ji also comes from the same community," he told the gathering. Shah said the Modi government took several decisions to promote small businesses like waiving GST for firms with a turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the Congress-led UPA of running a 'terrible' government and even a 'more terrible' opposition, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said their statements have hurt India's national interest and gave handle to Pakistan to discredit the country. Within days of India's air strike at Balakot, the 21 opposition parties led by the Congress passed a resolution accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. "Statements made by opposition parties (after IAF's counter terror operation in Balakot) hurt India's national interest. They give smiles to Pakistan and become an instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India's operation against terrorism," Jaitley said in a blog, stressing that on such occasions the nation ought to speak in one voice as was done by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jan Sangh during the 1971 war. Terming the resolution passed by 21 opposition parties as inappropriate, he said, it gave a handle to the enemy and Pakistan's media used the statement as a trump card. The government had twice taken the leaders of opposition parties into confidence, he said. Referring to the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the finance minister said that he sought to elevate himself to the status of a neutral third party while raising doubts about India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. "I was most disappointed with a brief but a highly objectionable statement of the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh," Jaitley said. While receiving the PV Narasimha Rao Award for the lifetime achievement, Singh had stated that he was disturbed with the "Mad rush of mutual self-destruction" by the two nations. Singh further went on to argue that poverty, ignorance and disease were the real problems in the two countries and that saner counsel on both sides needed to think on the issue. Jaitley wondered that there was no condemnation of terrorism in that speech of the former prime minister. Implicitly, he doubts India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism, he said. Jaitley further said: "The Congress led UPA Government from 2004 to 2014 ran a terrible Government. From 2014 to 2019, it was even a more terrible Opposition". Pointing that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went a step further, he said, she started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. "The credibility of both the Government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions," he said in a facebook post titled India's Opposition Has A Lot To Learn. Jaitley emphasised that the Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also essential ingredients of public discourse. He expressed hope that India's Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation. Jaitley also pointed that the retaliatory attack by Pakistan's F-16 was the most botched up operation and the neighbouring country was globally isolated. "Not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of its terrorism has reached the Security Council. So helpless was the situation that it was in no position to even admit the attack at Balakot. If it had admitted the attack and its consequences, the evidence of a terrorist camp in existence and the list of dead terrorists would have been international issue," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A UK-based Indian-origin entrepreneur is in the process of setting up a base in India for the launch of a range of smart glasses for people with sight loss, devised by an Oxford University research spin-off start-up. Rakesh Roshan is the CEO of OXSIGHT, a company founded in 2016 to create wearable technology devices based on research into how the brain manages visual information. The company began conducting trials in India two years ago in partnership with leading eye hospitals and clinics and is now in the process of setting up a 100 per cent subsidiary in India to make the devices, which are aimed at innovative solutions for sight degeneration, more widely available. "In the first phase, we have appointed a distributor in India, who will import the devices and sell it directly to our customers who have already gone through the product trials," Roshan said at a global launch event for OXSIGHT in London earlier this week. "In the second phase, we will sign a few more distributors as India is a large country. Our India office will continue to work with distributors, manufacture in India, run the R&D centre, and operate our customer care centre in various languages," he said. The company has eight product testing centres in India, including in Kolkata and Hyderabad, with Sushant OXSIGHT Low Vision Centre of Excellence at Ansal University in Delhi as its central clinic. A small team also runs mobile clinics at other hospitals and clinics, with plans for its wider adoption across the country over the years. "Like any other technologies and continued R&D focus, we expect the prices to come down and also with increased volume the economy of scale kicks in," said Roshan. Globally, it is estimated that around 1.3 billion people live with some form of visual impairment. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 188.5 million have mild visual impairment, 217 million have moderate to severe visual impairment and 36 million people are blind. "There is very little awareness in India about low vision and a lot more government support is required in the area," said Professor Monica Chaudhary, Director of the School of Health Sciences at Ansal University, who is one of the Indian experts working with OXSIGHT. Experts believe that the new technology will help address the lack of distinction between low vision and complete blindness. Peripheral vision loss is commonly caused by degenerative sight loss conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. The founding members of OXSIGHT began their research at the University of Oxford in 2010, working closely with the low vision community in the UK. The aim was to develop this knowledge into innovative solutions for sight degeneration that have a balance of style, functionality and intuitive technology. The first device, OXSIGHT Prism smart glasses, was launched last year, and the company is in the process of developing clinical partnerships with a number of opticians across the UK and Europe. At present, the company is providing trials, fitting and clinical support at their clinics in London, Oxford and Greater Manchester Area through several clinical partners. OXSIGHT partnered with Epson to develop their smart glasses to help people with peripheral vision loss, also known as "tunnel vision". The smart glasses use augmented reality and image interpretation technology to enhance users' remaining vision. They are controlled via a hand-held console and fitted with a camera which streams a live-feed into two high-resolution video displays. These screens are placed directly in front of the wearer's eyes and the images produced are manipulated to fit into the user's area of useable vision. "The OXSIGHT Prism is worth it for me because it allows me to make the most of my remaining sight. One of the best things was that when I first tried the Prism device on, I found that I could see my wife's eyes, which I haven't been able to see for at least 10 years," said David Quigley, one of the first people in the UK to get an OXSIGHT Prism device. The OXSIGHT glasses have seven modes, with features including: increased image contrast, super colour mode, textmode, edge enhancement, inverted colour and a digital zoom to allow users to magnify objects and obstacles. These features have been shown to enhance the remaining vision of people with peripheral vision loss. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan may take "decisive action" against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfit's chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistan's decision to act decisively was taken not to give any "face saving" to India. "We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone else's," the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it." Stressing that the country's leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested involvement of any Pakistani organisation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parents of a merchant navy officer from Nagpur who died on board a ship anchored in a port in Saudi Arabia last week have requested the authorities to expedite the repatriation of his mortal remains. As per the Indian embassy, the process can take three to four weeks, but Rajiv Sharma, father of Luv Sharma, the deceased, has questioned why it should take so long. Luv Sharma, 35, died aboard the ship 'Bahri Bulk' when it was anchored at Dammam on February 24. He was working as chief officer on the ship since November 2018. "On February 24 I was informed by the ship management that due to an unfortunate incident inside the cargo-hold, Luv collapsed and has been taken to hospital," Rajiv Sharma said. Three hours later he was informed that Luv had died. "They (the shipping company) agree that the body shall be repatriated at their cost once all the investigation and formalities at Dammam are completed," he said. "But the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia informed the Directorate General Shipping that the process may take upto six to eight weeks," he said. "Investigations can go on. I have no objection. But a dead body will not speak up. It should be sent back to the family after post-mortem. I fail to understand why the body should be detained for such a long period," Sharma said. Sharma said he had approached Union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari's office in Nagpur, requesting the minister's personal intervention. Gadkari's office got in touch with the DG Shipping and was told that repatriation of the body may take upto even two months, he said. As per a letter sent by the Indian embassy to DG Shipping, the investigation in such matters takes "considerable time" and the shipping company will dispatch the body after completing all formalities which takes "3-4 weeks". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ailing Goa Chief Minister is suffering from an advanced-stage cancer, senior state cabinet minister Vijai Sardesai said here Sunday. Sardesai, who heads BJP ally Goa Forward Party, is the second member of the cabinet after health minister Vishwajit Rane to talk about the exact nature of Parrikar's illness. While it is known that the chief minister, who has been in and out of hospitals since February 2018, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, his office has not provided any specific information about the illness so far. Speaking to reporters, Sardesai, the town planning minister, said he will meet Parrikar on Monday to thank him for releasing funds for a cemetery and for getting another work sanctioned. "I am going, and get work sanctioned. Once again it is going to show that in spite of suffering from cancer, which is advanced stage of cancer, the CM is working for people," he said. Rane had said Parrikar was suffering from cancer, but it was not confirmed by the CMO. Parrikar, 63, underwent check-up at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sunday morning. "He was taken to GMCH for a regular check-up and later allowed to go home. His health condition is stable," a CMO official said. He was last admitted to GMCH on February 23 and treated by doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he had undergone treatment earlier. He had also undergone treatment in the United States and at a Mumbai hospital after taking severely ill in February 2018. Since returning from AIIMS, Delhi, in October, Parrikar is mostly confined to his private residence at Dona Paula here where he has held cabinet meetings. Furniture and home products marketplace Pepperfry expects to pump in about USD 12 million (over Rs 85 crore) this year as it sets up over 100 offline stores and strengthens its supply chain operations to reach more customers. The company aims to touch a GMV (gross merchandise value) of USD 1 billion by March 2021 as it scales up its operations across metros and tier I and II cities. "The omni-channel strategy has worked well for us. Our studios (offline stores) drive tons of engagement and also see 1.8X repeats. Most studios break even within 4-7 months," Pepperfry COO and founder Ashish Shah told PTI. He added that currently, the company has 42 such studios with 12 under franchisees and the remaining 30 are owned and operated by the company. Pepperfry, which has 10,000 sellers on its platform, has more than 4.5 million registered users. The marketplace claimed it gets over seven million monthly visits, and the average ticket size (for furniture) is about Rs 17,000-20,000. Through its 'Studio Pepperfry', the company showcases a curated range of furniture from its online portfolio. It also offers interior designing consultancy at these stores. The company has raised over USD 150 million in funding from Goldman Sachs PE, Norwest Venture Partners, Bertelsmann India Investments and others. "We are looking at smaller format stores (1,500 sq ft). The idea is to be in residential catchment areas and solve for access than be present in just high street areas. By March 2020, we are looking at over 100 new stores in top eight cities and more than 20 in tier I and II, taking the total to well over 150 stores," he said. Shah explained that many of these stores will also be dedicated stores for its in-house brand 'Clouddio' (for mattresses and pillows) with the first of such store being launched in the coming weeks. "Over 20 per cent of the 100 Studios being planned will be standalone Clouddio stores... We are also looking at launching standalone studios for Casacraft - one of our in-house furniture brand," he added. Pepperfy has a number of in-house brands like Woodsworth, Mintwud, Casacraft, Amberville, Bohemiana, Mudramark, Mollycoddle, and Clouddio. The company is looking at tapping into locations like Goa, Lucknow, Vadodara, Imphal, Hubbali, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, and Mysore among others with its retail expansion. "We expect the capex to be be about USD 11-12 million in the next one year as we set up these new stores as well as invest in a new warehouse in Bengaluru," Shah noted. The Mumbai-based company, which has two warehouses in Mumbai and Gurugram, is also keen on tapping new-age technologies and will invest in areas like augmented reality/virtual reality to enhance customer's shopping experience. It has recently launched a new gift registry service on its platform that allows consumers to gift home and furniture products. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Monday called the countries of the Sahel region to fight for climate justice, which is a fight for access to a better, dignified life and to a bright future. Climate justice should not be a mere slogan. It must be a requirement for all of us: a requirement to give our populations access to basic resources, said the Sovereign in a speech before the 1st Conference of the Climate Commission for the Sahel region, convened at Niamey, the capital of Niger. It is in this way that we shall prevent our youth from succumbing to despair, stopping them, at the same time, from falling prey to criminal and terrorist organizations, he explained, adding that the climate threats weighing on the Sahel region are known; they affect peoples daily lives and have an adverse impact on socioeconomic development and regional stability. In this strategic space, we can see, perhaps more than anywhere else, how deeply living conditions are affected by the environment. He argued further food shortages, dwindling water supplies and desertification caused by global warming will continue to push our youth into exile, depriving our Continent of part of its crucial human resources. Such threats require us and our partners to invest heavily and also to be fully committed to fulfilling our populations aspirations and to achieving the objectives of inclusive development. Rallying stakeholders against the devastating effects of climate change cannot stop at national borders. In fact, it should transcend all rifts, he insisted in his speech that was read out by Moroccan Foreign Minister. African youth expects us to open up the wide range of possibilities available and to set our Continent on a course of action that creates opportunities, said the King, noting that Africas future depends on our capacity to imagine new solidarity-based answers, building on a genuine commitment that respects all partners, in the South as well as in the North. The Sahel region can become a model of advanced regional integration in economic, environmental, political and human terms, affirmed the Sovereign, describing the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region as one of the levers that will enable it to achieve this objective. This is where history began, and this is where the regions future will be decided. Coming generations are, indeed, entitled to a political commitment backed by concerted, solidarity-based action to address climate-related challenges, stressed the Monarch. He recalled in this regard the launching by the African Heads of State, at the Africa Action Summit, held in Nov.2016, in Marrakech, on the sidelines of COP22, a dynamic process around ambitious, concrete transnational projects led by three Commissions, of which Morocco is a founding partner. These three Commissions are The Congo Basin Commission, chaired by Congo; The Sahel Region Commission, chaired by Niger; and The Island States Commission, chaired by Seychelles. These are the bases for future actions that will bring hope and practical solutions for local and regional populations, the Monarch said, adding that the Niamey meeting is meant to strengthen our actions and enhance their coherence through new proposals. Heads of state of Sahel countries met on Monday in Niamey to approve a climate investment plan, which involves 17 nations from the Atlantic Ocean to the Horn of Africa. This ambitious plan focuses on six projects aiming to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to help people adapt to climate change. The Sahel, home to more than 500 million people, is considered especially vulnerable to climate change. In many parts of the region, climate shocks have resulted in recurring droughts with devastating impacts on the regions already vulnerable populations. Regional and international leaders have linked global warming to conflicts and food insecurity in the Sahel and warned of an ecological disaster caused by diminishing water resources. An online petition has been started in Pakistan seeking Priyanka Chopra's removal as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador after the actor congratulated the Indian Air Force for the air strike across the Line of Control in the neighbouring country. On February 26, the actor had congratulated the IAF after several fighter jets attacked the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)'s terrorist camp at Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The strike came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the February 14 suicide attack by Pakistan-based JeM that killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. "Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces," Chopra wrote on Twitter. The description of the petition on the online platform Avaaz asks for the actor's removal from the post as she did not stay "neutral". "War between two nuclear powers can only lead to destruction & death. As goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra was supposed to stay neutral and peaceful but her tweet in favour of Indian arm forces after they invaded Pakistan airspace shows otherwise. She doesn't deserve this title anymore (sic)," it read. Chopra was appointed as the global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2016. The petition, which tagged the UN and UNICEF, had received over 3,519 signatures -- out of a 5,000 mark -- till the time this report was filed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles. Modi, who landed in the city after addressing a rally in Bihar's Patna, said Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his government's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto. "Those who voted for us and those who did not all are ours," Modi said. After laying the foundation stone of the unit, he said these modern rifles will be manufactured in Amethi under a Russia-India joint venture. These rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists, he said. He accused previous governments of neglecting the armed forces and their needs. He also said the UPA government sat on the Rafale deal for years. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles. Modi, who landed in the city after addressing a rally in Bihar's Patna, said Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his government's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto. "We were not able to win the seat the last time but won your hearts. Smritiji worked for the development here and did more work than that done by the one who has won from here," he said, referring to Union Minister Smriti Irani who unsuccessfully contested the last election from Amethi. "Are you happy with the works we have done, have we not cared for you and tried honestly for your welfare...have we done any injustice to you," Modi told the rally. "Those who voted for us and those who did not, all are ours...This is the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," Modi said. The Congress president has alleged that his constituency has been receiving step-motherly treatment ever since the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre, with various development works being stalled. After laying the foundation stone of the rifle-manufacturing unit, he said these modern rifles will be made in Amethi under a Russia-India joint venture. These rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists, he said. "Amethi will get a new identity now," Modi said. He accused previous governments of neglecting the armed forces and their needs. Attacking the previous UPA government, Modi said, "These people sat on Rafale deal for years and when it was time for their government to go, they pushed it into cold storage." "When our government assumed office, we finalised it in one-and-a-half years...and the first Rafale aircraft will be in our skies soon," he added. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the National Security Council on Sunday following heightened tensions with Pakistan. Official sources said the meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Besides the union ministers, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle were also present. The NSA is tasked with advising the prime minister on matters of national security. It was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor (NSA). The NSC keeps meeting on regular basis but the latest meet assumes significance owing to the latest security scenario. Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the country carried out air strike on terrorist camp across the border, after the Pulwama terror attack. In response to India's air strike, Pakistan air force intruded into Indian territory, leading to a confrontation between the two forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led opposition accusing it of focusing solely on trying to "finish" him off while he is working to quell terrorism, ensure national security, eradicate poverty and corruption, and generate employment. Addressing an NDA rally here in the presence of his Bihar allies -- including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan -- Modi came down heavily on opposition for their skepticism over the surgical strikes by the Army post the Uri terror attack, and the air strikes in Balakot after the Pulwama suicide bombing. "Is it appropriate for these parties to speak in a language that suits Pakistan? Leaders of the neighbouring country are using it as a shield to protect themselves against the charge of promoting terrorism. They are clapping gleefully," Modi said. On Saturday, Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had asked the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. He had also "congratulated" Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Before that, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on February 28 said lives of jawans are much more valuable than electoral politics, but the nation has a right to know what actually happened at Balakot following the IAF's air strike. The PM alleged on Sunday the opposition parties were conspiring against him "while I want to eliminate terror. They are conspiring to finish me off." "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," he stated. Without naming Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has coined the slogan "Chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman is the thief), Modi said, "Those who run their political shops in the name of the poor and care for nothing except for their dynasties, are having problems with the chowkidar. But the chowkidar is alert and on the job." Modi also took a veiled dig at jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, saying, "The people of Bihar have seen a lot in the name of purchase of fodder. Our government has worked for doing away with middlemen who siphon off public money. My heartiest congratulations to Nitish Kumar and (Deputy CM) Sushil Kumar Modi for pulling Bihar out of the dark times."Addressing his first political rally with friend- turned-foe-turned-friend Nitish Kumar, the Prime Minister showered praise on the Bihar chief minister calling him "hard working and sophisticated". "There seems to be a contest among the opposition parties led by the Congress for hurling abuse at the Chowkidar. But the people of the country have made up their mind. They are going to punish these parties once again and teach them a few more lessons," Modi said. The prime minister also asserted that the BJP-led government at the Centre wants to ensure that all sections of the society gain access to the best of facilities. The NDA government is working on all departments including roadways, railways and airways to improve infrastructure in Bihar, he said. In an apparent repudiation of the allegation that the BJP was against Muslims, Modi spoke about India's rising stock in the eyes of Islamic countries which he said was reflected in the increased quota for Haj pilgrims and Saudi Arabia agreeing to free more than 800 migrants lodged in its jails. He said the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as the guest of honour at the recent Organization of Islamic Countries conference exemplified that. "Such an honour was bestowed on India after five decades during which mostly the Congress and its allies were in power. Why the voice of India was not heard in Islamic nations during that period?" Modi asked. Referring to the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Modi said, "I told him that India has a burgeoning middle class and requested for increase in the Haj quota of the country. As a result, the quota has been increased to two lakh people. Such an increase has been made only in the case of India". The PM also said he took up with the crown prince the issue of Indians languishing in Saudi Arabia prisons for minor offences just because they were not familiar with the law of that nation. "He (Salman) sought a little time, and later in the evening at a dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan he asked me to have sweets. I wondered, why? He replied 'we have decided to release 850 Indians from jails'." "My government is taking care of the concerns of every section of the society," Modi said. Opposition parties have been accusing the BJP of pursuing an "anti-Muslim" agenda with its stress on issues like Ram temple, abrogation of Article, Uniform Civil Code, and introducing penal provisions for instant triple talaq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Monday during which he will launch the Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM) and inaugurate the first phase of 6-km-long Ahmedabad Metro service. Official sources said the prime minister would also lay the foundation stone for Umiya Dham temple complex during his visit. PM Modi would visit Annapurna Dham Trust in Adalaj in Gandhinagar on March 5 for the ground-breaking ceremony of a Shikshan Bhavan and a Vidhyarthi Bhavan, they added. The prime minister would start his two-day visit from Jamnagar in Saurashtra region where he would dedicate to the nation a 750-bed annexe of the Guru Gobind Singh Hospital and inaugurate its PG hostel, they said. PM Modi will also launch SAUNI water schemes projects including Und-1 to Ranjit Sagar Lift Irrigation Scheme and Machu-1 to Nyari Lift Irrigation Scheme. He will also lay the foundation stone of Jodiya Desalination Plant and Und-3 to Venu-2 Lift Irrigation Scheme. In Jamnagar, Modi will also lay foundation stones of railway projects including conversion of rail tracks to broad gauge and flag off the Bandra-Jamnagar Humsafar Express. From Jamanagar, he will reach Ahmedabad and attend a grand function for the Umiya Dham temple complex. As part of the metro rail commissioning programme, he will lay the foundation of the 28.28 kilometre second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro and also travel some distance on the phase 1 stretch. Following this, the PM will dedicate to the nation various hospitals built in Ahmedabad region, including Women Children & Super Specialty Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Eye Hospital and Dental Hospital. On Tuesday, Modi will visit the Annapurna Dham Trust in Adalaj, Gandhinagar where he will lay the foundation stones of Shikshan Bhavan and Vidhyarthi Bhavan. The prime minister will then go to Vastral here to launch PM-SYM, a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for workers in unorganised sector with a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000. He will oversee the online transfer of benefits to some beneficiaries and then distribute PM-SYM Pension Cards. The scheme, announced in the Union Budget in February this year, will see each PM-SYM subscriber get a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Opposition Leader and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif met his elder brother, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in a jail here and briefed him on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India, according to a media report. Sharif, 69, is serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. "The purpose of the meeting on Saturday was to brief him (Nawaz) on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India," the Express Tribune reported, quoting party sources. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. Shehbaz also inquired about Nawaz's health, the paper said. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Sharif was the prime minister during the Kargil conflict in 1999. Last week, Sharif was sent back to jail after his 10-day stay in Jinnah Hospital Lahore in connection with his treatment. According to a Punjab government official, the three-time prime minister asked the doctors to shift him back to jail after his bail petition on medical grounds was rejected by a court. Three corruption cases - Avenfield properties, Flagship investment and Al-Azizia steel mills - were registered against the Sharif family by the anti-graft body in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfiled case in July 2018 which was related to his properties in London. Later he was given bail in September. In December, the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia case but acquitted him in the Flagship reference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP workers clashed with the police in several places of West Bengal Sunday as the saffron party were prevented from holding its 'Vijay Sankalp' rally at different places of the state. The law enforcers said they prevented the motorbike rally as permission had not been granted for the rallies owing to a ban on public rallies during the ongoing school board examinations. The 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally is a part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with people. Clashes between BJP workers and policemen took place at Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district, Midnapore town and Goaltore in West Midnapore, and Balurghat in South Dinajpur when they took out the motorcycle rallies. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the saffron party workers at Asansol and Goaltore leaving some people from both sides injured. Rallies would be held even if the police arrest his party cadres, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said in Durgapur. "Hundreds of Sankalp yatras are being held in the country and in Bengal also. It will be held even if police arrest us," Ghosh said. Saffron party leaders engaged in arguments with police in the city as they were prevented from taking out rallies owing the lack of permission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-ruled East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has extended the last date for availing an amnesty scheme for payment of property tax to the end of March, officials said Sunday. The other two BJP-ruled corporations, the North and South Corporations -- NDMC and SDMC -- had kept March 31 only as the last date while announcing the scheme earlier. "For property owners in east Delhi, the amnesty scheme has been extended till the end of March. It was to be effective till February 28 earlier," a senior EDMC official said. Under the amnesty scheme, property owners in the city will not have to pay interest and penalty if they clear pending dues of the tax. "For east Delhi, areas in focus are the unauthorised colonies and unauthorised regularised colonies where people do not pay property taxes. Idea is to make this scheme serve as an incentive to bring them under the tax net," the official said. In North Delhi, the NDMC has announced a similar scheme which covers all private properties, while in the south Delhi, the SDMC scheme covers all properties. For property owners in north Delhi, the scheme will cover defaulters who have not filed property tax since April 2004, officials said. A senior SDMC official said, " In south Delhi, some of the major areas which remain out of tax net are rural urban areas and urban villages". "People living in these areas should be brought under the tax net to augment the corporation's income," he said. The corporations have been announcing similar schemes every year close to the end of a financial year, but, sources said, with elections in the offing, such amnesty schemes are being implemented also keeping the voters in mind. The BJP has been ruling the MCD for the last over 10 years. The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated into NDMC, SDMC and EDMC in 2012. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Morocco has been outspoken in showing support for the quest of the Venezuelan people to democracy and economic prosperity as masses continue to courageously defy the violent crackdown of dictator Maduro. Moroccos stands in favor of legitimacy in Venezuela were recognized by interim President Juan Guaido who expressed recognition to Morocco as the first country in Africa and the MENA region to give support to the Venezuelan people. He expressed, following a meeting in Brazil with Moroccos Ambassador, his willingness to restore diplomatic ties with Morocco after decades of prejudice caused by the authoritarian rule of Chavez and Maduro and their hostile stands towards the North African kingdoms territorial integrity. Last January, Guaido promised to withdraw Venezuelas recognition of the self-declared Sahraoui republic by the Algerian-backed Polisario militias. The Polisario has been dealt severe blows in South America recently. Last year, Paraguay expressed support for Moroccos autonomy initiative as a lasting political solution to the regional dispute over the southern provinces. Paraguays support comes in a series of similar stands expressed by other Latin American states, including Uruguay and Peru. An increasing number of states are coming to terms with viewing the Polisario as totalitarian organization fed by an ideological anachronism peculiar to the Cold War era. Over the last years, support for the Algerian-sponsored separatist thesis in the Moroccan Sahara has been waning as over 43 countries have withdrawn their recognition of the SADR entity out of 80 that previously recognized it in a Cold War context. Furthermore, as a relic of the cold war, the Polisario remains obedient and dependent financially and diplomatically on its paymaster, Algeria, which uses it to achieve regional hegemony to the detriment of regional stability. A mass protest rally was organised here by Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee (STDC) on Sunday demanding Scheduled Tribe status for ethnic Meitei community in Manipur. Addressing the rally, the STDC leaders stressed the necessity of enlisting Meiti community under ST category to protect them from the "unabated influx of illegal immigrants". STDC convenor Laishram Romesh said the committee has been demanding the inclusion of Meitis in the ST list for six years. But the BJP government and the previous Congress dispensation of the state had not even considered forwarding a recommendation to the Centre, on enlisting the community under ST category, Laishram said. "The recommendation should be sent to the Centre before the model code of conduct comes into force before the upcoming parliamentary elections," he said. Meiteis are the only indigenous people in the state who are not included in the ST category thereby making them vulnerable in all aspects, he said. "The demand for ST status stems from the fact that the Meitei community is gradually being marginalised by illegal immigrants and if the trend continues, they will be rendered minority in their own state," Laishram said. The committee had earlier cautioned all political parties that they would be boycotted if their demand was not met. Vice-president of Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) N Edison said that the socio-economic condition of the Meiteis have worsened over the years. "The only way to protect the community is to achieve constitutional safeguard through enlistment in the ST category," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik is a role model for all those who are holding the top state-level Constitutional post, Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasgar Rao said Sunday. Speaking at Raj Bhavan here, Rao said for Naik, service to the people was a matter of faith, and his act of publishing his 'work reports' made him a role model among governors. Rao released the Sindhi version of Naik's book 'Charaiveti, Charaiveti' (Keep Moving) at the function. "Ram Naik must be the only public representative who has published his work reports on a regular basis. Even after becoming governor of Uttar Pradesh, he has maintained the tradition of publishing his work report, proving himself as a model governor for all fellow governors," Rao said. He termed Naik's book as a saga of a sincere public servant and said it would serve as a manual for all those who aspired to serve people, society and country. Naik said that one could serve society even while being in the opposition and claimed his efforts to demand 'sansad nidhi' (MP's funds) and in the renaming of Bombay as Mumbai were testimony of his belief. The UP governor said he, as Union petroleum minister in the previous NDA government, had given petrol pumps and gas agencies to the kin of soldiers martyred in the Kargil War. He also claimed that eminent Sindhis like BJP patriarch LK Advani, late BJP leader Hashu Advani and cancer surgeon Suresh Advani had helped him. 'Charaiveti, Charaiveti' has been translated into the German, Arabic, Persian and English besides six Indian languages, he told the gathering. The 288-page book is Naik's take on the fact that he has changed homes at least 20 times across multiple cities in the country but the instability only helped him move ahead resolutely making new friends and learning new life lessons. Naik, a senior BJP leader, was Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai from 1989 to 2004 and was also minister of state for Railways in 1998. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile is very impressed with Aaron Finch's captaincy and says the lack of runs has not affected his leadership. Finch has not been in good form even during the Australian summer and it has been continuing against India so far. "I've been really impressed with Finch. He actually hasn't been grumpy or angry or let anything overflow into the captaincy or around the boys. He's not been scoring the runs he wants to but he's been an absolute legend around the boys, Coulter-Nile said of Finch. Finch was put on the hot seat after Steve Smith and David Warner were suspended on charges of ball tampering in South Africa. Speaking about the first ODI, that Australia lost by six wickets, Coulter-Nile feels that they scored 20-30 runs short. "It was a close game. May be, we were 20-30 runs short. Again, a couple of half-chances we didn't take. I thought we bowled pretty well. It was a tough wicket. It would've been nice having a set batsman going into the last 10 overs, but all in all just down a little bit in all areas." Asked why batting was tough on this track, Coulter-Nile explained: "I found it really hard, actually. I only batted for 10 overs. Kuldeep was spinning it quite big and the quicks weren't really coming on to the bat. "Obviously I wasn't set, but I thought it might have been a little bit slower and turned a bit more for us at the back end there." "There was a bit of up and down there. All in all, it was probably a 250 wicket."He also praised India pacer Mohammed Shami, who created the initial pressure. "Excellent bowler. He is a fantastic bowler. He is quality everywhere. At the back-end, he was really hard to get away, changed up well, nailed all his yorkers, didn't give me anything to hit." However, he disagreed that the momentum that they had after winning the T20 series has shifted after one match. "Obviously, they are 1-0 up in this series so they've got the upper hand. But I think it was a closely-fought game. We played well, they played better in the end but the two teams were close and the next four games will be even tighter I think," added Coulter-Nile. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 45-year-old man, enraged over a rebuke by his younger brother, axed him to death Sunday at Bohath village in Baran district near here. Police said accused Gopal Nayak, who is reported to be "a trifle mentally unstable", fled the scene after committing the gruesome murder. Mangrole police station SHO Aashish Bhargavsaid Gopal, in his disturbed mental state would often urinate in his room or verandah of the house, embarrassing other family members and evoking their anger. As he did the same today, his younger brother Prahlad, 38 scolded him for the unsavoury act. Infuriated over the scolding, Gopal picked up an axe and attacked his younger brother, inflicting severe blows on his head and other parts of the body and fled the scene after critically injuring him. Prahlad was subsequently rushed to a government hospital in Baran, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, the SHO added. Police later lodged a case of murder against Gopal and started investigation into it, the SHO said, adding the victim's body was handed over to the family members after postmortem. The efforts are on to nab the accused, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opponents and supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the streets on Saturday evening after the country's attorney general said he intended to file graft charges against him. In central Tel Aviv, Netanyahu loyalists waved blue and white Israel flags and carried placards, reading "Netanyahu, the people are with you" and "Netanyahu, my prime minister". Separated from them by a police cordon, opponents waved signs proclaiming "Crime Minister" and "Time for Netanyahu to Go", an AFP photographer said. Police declined to give an estimate of numbers. Under Israeli law, the premier is not obliged to resign unless he is charged, convicted and loses all appeals -- a lengthy process. Netanyahu is running for a fifth term in an April general election. He said after the attorney general's Thursday announcement that he planned on being prime minister for a long time to come, despite the allegations. In Ramle, near Tel Aviv, opposition Labour activists projected onto a wall of the Maasiyahu prison a giant message, reading "Netanyahu, Israel is ashamed", a party statement said. The facility is where former prime minister Ehud Olmert served time for corruption and ex-president Moshe Katsav was incarcerated for rape and other sexual offences. Traffic in Jerusalem was diverted from sidestreets adjacent to Netanyahu's official residence, where another group was demonstrating, a police statement said. They were protesting a deal he has brokered to improve the election chances of a party widely condemned as racist. Netanyahu last week mentored an agreement for an electoral alliance between Jewish Power and two other far-right groupings, which would make it easier for the controversial party to cross the vote threshhold for a parliamentary seat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jihadists controlling Syria's northwestern Idlib region said 10 alleged Islamic State group members were executed on Saturday, a day after a deadly bomb attack. A suicide bomber killed eight people, including five foreign jihadists, at a restaurant in the city of Idlib on Friday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Idlib region borders Turkey and is dominated by an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The faction's propaganda arm, Ebaa, put out a statement online, saying 10 suspected IS members were executed. "This comes a day after a member of the gang blew themselves up in a restaurant," Ebaa said. The Observatory confirmed the executions by HTS and said they had been carried out "in front of the restaurant". HTS took administrative control of the whole of Idlib region last month, after overpowering smaller factions that are backed by Turkey. The region has seen jihadist groups and rebels target each other with bloody attacks, and IS sleeper cells are known to be present. Idlib has been protected from a massive offensive by President Bashar al-Assad's regime since September, thanks to a buffer zone deal agreed by Damascus' ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey. But it has been hit by sporadic government shelling. Eight years into a multi-faceted conflict that has killed more than 360,000 people, Syria's government has wrested back large swathes of territory to control around two-thirds of the country. In the east of Syria, diehard IS fighters are currently battling to defend the last scrap of the group's self-declared "caliphate" from a US-backed force. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister said Sunday that Israel and Russia are to form a joint team to examine the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria. Israel is seeking the removal of Iranian forces and has vowed to keep its main enemy from entrenching itself militarily in the neighbouring country. Netanyahu met Russian President on Wednesday in Moscow to discuss Iran's presence in Syria. "I made it unequivocally clear that Israel will not allow the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria, and I also made it unequivocally clear that we would continue to take military action against it," Netanyahu told his cabinet. "President Putin and I also agreed on a common goal: the withdrawal of foreign forces that arrived in Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. We agreed to establish a joint team to advance this goal, together with other elements." Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian and Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah targets and has established a hotline to avoid accidential clashes with Russia. Iran, Russia and Tehran-backed Hezbollah support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war that broke out in 2011. But a friendly fire incident during one of those strikes in September damaged Israel's relations with Russia. Wednesday's talks were the first extended face-to-face meeting between Netanyahu and Putin since the incident, which saw Syria's air defence systems shoot down a Russian plane by mistake during an Israeli strike, killing 15 Russian troops. The new joint venture between India and Russia to manufacture the Kalashnikov assault rifles' 200 series will be able to fulfil Indian security agencies' requirement for small arms, Russian President Vladmir Putin said in a message read out by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Sunday. Sitharaman read out the message during an event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi where he laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for the AK-203 assault rifles. "The new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localisation of production. "Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfil the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies," Putin said in his message. He said military and technical cooperation has traditionally been one of the key areas of the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. "For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality armaments and equipment to Indian friends. Around 170 military and industrial facilities have been set up in India with assistance from our country," Putin said. It was during his official visit to India last October that Putin and Modi reached an agreement on producing Kalashnikov rifles in India. The inter-governmental agreement was prepared and signed in the shortest possible time. "In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to Russian and Indian specialists, to all those who so promptly made this project happen," the Russian president said. Putin said he is convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India and to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy. It will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for a qualified work force and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training, he said. "The plant itself will become another symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries," he said in his message read out by the defence minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the place of his birth on Saturday to deliver the first rally speech of his presidential campaign, vowing to defeat "the most dangerous president in modern American history" in Donald Trump. The Vermont independent voiced confidence at the address in the New York borough of Brooklyn that he would first beat the crowded field of his rivals for the 2020 nomination, with much of his liberal, populist agenda now considered mainstream Democratic policy. "I want to thank all of you for being part of a campaign which is not only going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeat Donald Trump, who is the most dangerous president in modern American history," Sanders told the crowd of several thousand people. "But, with your help, we are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the one per cent." He promised that his campaign would say "loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies". Sanders returned to Brooklyn College, which he once attended, for a rally emphasising his personal story, as the working class son of a Jewish immigrant who grew up in poor housing. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," Sanders said in another dig at Trump. "I did not come from a family that gave me a USD 200,000 allowance every year beginning at the age of three." Sanders spelled out his big ticket items for 2020, his second presidential campaign after losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- "Medicare for All," a USD 15-an-hour minimum wage and climate change. Many are long-held principles previously dismissed as too radical by more moderate Democrats, but are now more widely accepted talking points as he squares off against several other progressives who have embraced many of his issues. Following November's mid-term election, the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- co-founded by Sanders in 1991 -- wields more power than at any time in its history. Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislation in 2017. Julian Castro, another Democratic hopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting universal early childhood education. And Warren, Booker and Harris have all proclaimed support for the Green New Deal, an ultra-progressive platform to combat climate change that was unveiled this month by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star. Sanders was an outsider candidate three years ago. But with his massive political network, muscular fundraising capacity and resilient message, he is now a frontrunner. He would need to best multiple formidable rivals -- including former vice president Joe Biden, should he enter the race -- and victory is anything but assured. On Sunday, Sanders heads to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as "Bloody Sunday" and will also visit Chicago, where he graduated from college and was active in civil rights protests. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has commuted to life term the death penalty awarded to a man for murdering a child, saying he wanted to reform himself and poems written by him in jail indicate that he realised his mistake. A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri noted that Dnyaneshwar Suresh Borkar was 22 years old when he committed the crime and while in jail, tried to "join the society" and become a "civilised man". The bench, also comprising justices S Abdul Nazeer and M R Shah, said Borkar was lodged in jail for last 18 years and his conduct showed that he could be reformed and rehabilitated. "... We are of the opinion that, in the facts and circumstances of the case, capital punishment is not warranted. Striking the balance between the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, we are of the opinion that mitigating circumstances are in favour of the accused (Borkar) while commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment," the bench said. It noted several mitigating circumstances which were in favour of the convict, including that "from the poems, written by him in the jail, it appears that he has realised his mistake which was committed by him at the time when he was of young age and that he is reformative". Borkar had approached the apex court challenging the May 2006 order of the Bombay High Court confirming the death penalty awarded to him by a trial court in Pune for killing a minor child. His counsel had argued in the apex court that Borkar's conduct was very good in jail and he completed his studies in prison and tried to become a civilised person. The counsel also told the court that poems written by Borkar in prison reflect that he realised his mistake. "Though, we acknowledge the gravity of the offence, we are unable to satisfy ourselves that this case would fall in the category of 'rarest of rare case' warranting the death sentence," the bench said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Will the prospect of a second Trump inauguration freak out Democrats? And if so, how will they react? Photo: Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images As the huge Democratic presidential field for 2020 assembles, there are plenty of reasons for Democratic optimism. Trump remains one of the most unpopular presidents ever. His party is unpopular, too, as evidenced by Republicans poor performance in the 2018 midterms. Democratic voter enthusiasm seems high, fed by Trumps daily antics. And the reasonably high odds that voters will eject him from the position he improbably won in 2016 while losing the popular vote are the very reason so many candidates want to run against him. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Thats the glass half full way of looking at the landscape. But theres a glass half empty take thats plausible as well. After what should have been a calamitous stretch in which he shut down the government for an unpopular border wall, declared a nonexistent national emergency, and underwent a whole new round of high-profile airings of his alleged 2016 sins, Trumps approval ratings have bounced back to the low-to-mid 40s levels that appear to be his long-term floor. Lest we forget, according to Gallup, his favorability number just before winning the presidency in 2016 was 36 percent (61 percent of respondents gave him an unfavorable rating). And speaking of 2016, Republicans arguably retain an Electoral College advantage. The initial 2020 presidential battleground map from Larry Sabatos Crystal Ball, a well-regarded political site, showed Republicans with 248 electoral votes and Democrats with 244, with 46 in the toss-up category. Kyle Kondik explained Trumps strong position: [T]he presidents base-first strategy could again deliver him the White House, thanks in large part to his strength in the nations one remaining true swing region, the Midwest. Hes an incumbent, and incumbents are historically harder to defeat (although it may be that incumbency means less up and down the ticket in an era defined by party polarization). Still, Crystal Ball Senior Columnist Alan Abramowitzs well-regarded presidential Time for Change model, which projects the two-party presidential vote, currently projects Trump with 51.4% of the vote based on the most recent measures of presidential approval and quarterly GDP growth (the models official projection is based off those figures in the summer of 2020). Arguably, the state of the economy is the most important factor: If perceptions of its strength remain decent, the president could win another term. If there is a recession, his odds likely drop precipitously. Meanwhile, its not a given that the Democratic nominee can consolidate the votes of Trump disapprovers, particularly if a third party candidate (Howard Schultz?) eats into the anti-Trump vote. Making the 2020 Democratic effort even more problematic is growing evidence that some targets thought to be ripe may be more resistant to Democrats, and more supportive of Trump, than previously thought. Ron Brownstein has some new Gallup data suggesting the incumbents resilience in Sunbelt states where many Democrats have espied strong trends in their favor: The new Gallup data, based on more than 73,000 interviews conducted throughout 2018, highlight the clear differences between the opportunities and challenges Democrats face in the Rust Belt and Sun Belt Across the potentially competitive Sun Belt states, Trumps position among whites is consistently much stronger. In particular, his support among non-college-educated whites was much higher than it was in the Rust Belt: Gallup found that he drew positive job ratings from 73 percent of these voters in Georgia, 67 percent in North Carolina, 66 percent in Texas, and 61 percent in Florida. Likewise, among college-educated whites, Trump ran well above his Rust Belt numbers in all four states. And thats against a generic Democratic opponent, as opposed to the flesh-and-blood candidate who might not, as Hillary Clinton demonstrated, be as strong as his or her party hoped, after a billion-dollars-or-so of attacks from the Trump campaign and its social media/Fox News allies. As Brownstein notes, these numbers (and the intensely pro-Trump white Evangelical voters they reflect) mean that Democrats will probably need to mobilize nonwhite voters at extraordinary levels to win Sunbelt states Trump carried in 2016. Its not clear the kind of candidate who can exploit Rust Belt opportunities can do that. And Trump has residual areas of strength in the greater Midwest as well: Both the 2018 election results and the Gallup findings suggest that Ohio, and to a slightly lesser extent Iowa, remain very difficult climbs for Democrats against Trump. Again, this is a glass-half-empty look at how 2020 is shaping up for Democrats. But it raises an important question about how Democrats at both the elite and grassroots level react to the real possibility of a second Trump win, particularly if it grows more plausible as 2020 approaches. Will they calmly resolve to unite behind whoever emerges from the abattoir of the nominating process, based on their popularity among Democratic primary voters? Or will they panic and become obsessed about electability as opposed to any other candidate quality? They probably shouldnt. As my my colleague Eric Levitz has argued, electability is a slippery concept that often involves bad-faith efforts to tear down other candidates based on selective deployment of limited evidence. But if it looks like Trump is in a relatively good position, it may be difficult for Democrats to think about anything other than electability, as I noted late last year: For most Democrats, the prospect of a second Trump term in the White House is an existential threat, whereas in 2016 his initial election was a bad but implausible nightmare. A second Trump term would not only drive progressives wild with frustration and fear: It could tangibly mean enough additional Supreme Court decisions to guarantee an end to abortion rights and other cherished constitutional protections, along with a federal judiciary skewed to the right for a generation and enough backsliding on critical challenges like inequality and climate change to darken every Americans future. Faced with that nightmare and ineradicable memories of that shocking Election Night in 2016 will progressive journalists and Democratic activists neurotically look at horse-race polls every other hour and adjust their views of presidential aspirants accordingly? Its entirely possible. So in addition to developing an exciting agenda and raising money and figuring out where on a complex primary and caucus map to deploy candidate time and other resources, 2020 Democrats need to develop, update, and document a strong case that they are a good bet to beat Trump. This could soon dwarf arguments over Medicare for All and college affordability and income inequality and other substantive issues even among perhaps especially among the most serious progressive Democrats. Special Operations Group of the Rajasthan police on Sunday busted a gang involved in cheating candidates on the pretext of providing 'leaked' paper of a competitive examination, police said. The SOG arrested seven members of the gang and recovered Rs 5.48 lakh in cash, cheques taken from 30 people with an amount of Rs 7 lakh each, original documents of the candidates, Bluetooth devices and admit cards of the Agriculture Supervisor examination held on Sunday, Additional SP (SOG) Karan Sharma said. The accused were arrested before the commencement of the exam conducted by the Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Services Selection Board (RSMSSB) at different centres in Jaipur and Kota, Sharma said. Following a tip off received on Saturday, the teams of SOG nabbed the accused here and recovered the documents. They had promised to leak the question paper and had demanded Rs 7 lakh from each candidate, he said. Those arrested were identified as Surendra Chaudhary, Ramprasad Chaupra, Omprakash Jat, Kailash Chand Yadav, Anil Kumar Yadav, Banna Ram Jat and Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting out at BJP president for his criticism of opposition parties which questioned airstrikes in Pakistan, the TMC Sunday said the saffron party leader should refrain from "lecturing others" on patriotism as he was a "proponent of divisive and hatred politics". The (BJP) should stop taking credit for the airstrike as the armed forces belong to India, not to Prime Minister or Shah, (TMC) national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said. " and the BJP are the nastiest proponents of divisive and hatred politics. We will not listen to his lectures on patriotism. Our armed forces belong to India, not to Modi-Shah's BJP," Brien, who is also a TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha, said. Those who had cowered down during the Independence movement are giving sermons on patriotism, O' Brien stated. "Khaki-chaddi wearing men who were hiding under desks during the entire Independence movement are now handing out certificates of patriotism. Thanks. But no thanks," he said in an apparent reference to the RSS, the ideological parent of the saffron party. Shah on Saturday said the ones who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers, when in power, were raising doubts on the recent airstrike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made happy. "The armed forces have said in a press conference that they have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it? You should desist from such cheap politics," Shah said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally in West Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e- Mohammed training camps in by the She also said that the opposition parties wanted to know the details of the operation. (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.) Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, said Sunday he will not change his constituency in the coming election "whatever the situation", making clear he would contest again from Sahib seat irrespective of the party decision. "Situation kuch bhi ho, location wahi hogi (Whatever the situation, location would be same)," Sinha told on the phone from Ranchi. The sitting Sahib lawmaker has been at loggerheads with the current BJP leadership since the 2015 election, over several issues. He has often taken a stance at variance with the official party line, including on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax, and shared the stage with opposition leaders at an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata in January, where he was projected as the "star speaker". On a recent visit to Lucknow, he had held a meeting with chief Akhilesh Yadav, giving rise to speculation his wife Poonam Sinha may enter active politics from the capital, currently represented in by Home Minister Asked about it, the actor-turned-politician said he will neither confirm nor deny this. "Poonam Sinha has been busy with social work for long. She is liked by all. People want her to contest but whether this will happen or not only time will tell," Shatrughan Sinha, 72, said. Following his meeting with Yadav, there was also a talk that Sinha could contest the general election, which must be held by May, on a ticket. He had also visited the headquarters and joined Yadav on Jai Prakash Jayanti programme with Yashwant Sinha. The SP and have forged an an alliance in for the general election, deciding to contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. They have left Amethi and Rae Bareli for and chairperson and three other seats ostensibly for RLD. Bodies of two people, including a constable of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), were recovered Sunday in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. SSB constable Dinesh Kumar Thakur, a resident of Chhattisgarh, was found dead with head injuries near TCP Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, SHO of the Banihal Police Station Ajaz Wani said. According to preliminary investigation, the jawan had left Srinagar for his home on February 25. Police have registered a case and further investigation is on to ascertain the cause of his death, the SHO said. Another deceased was identified as Surinder Paul, an employee of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). His body was recovered from a stream in nearby Digdole area. Paul, a resident of Pathankot in Punjab, was posted in Ramban, police said, adding that inquest proceedings have been started. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A memorial marking the site of Strasbourg's Old Synagogue, destroyed by the Nazis during World War II, was apparently vandalised overnight, local officials said Saturday -- 11 days after a nearby Jewish cemetery was desecrated. Police have opened a probe and a source said investigators would consult surveillance video and interview witnesses "to determine the origin of the incident, whether intentional or accidental". Strasbourg deputy mayor Alain Fontanel told journalists in the eastern French city the incident was an "act of vandalism" that bore "all the signs of anti-Semitism". Earlier on Facebook, he said it was "very probably, unfortunately, a new act of anti-Semitism in our city". The region has witnessed a rise in anti-Semitic acts, the latest on February 19 when 96 graves were daubed with swastikas at a Jewish cemetery in Quatzenheim, northwest of Strasbourg. Before heading to the memorial for an inspection on Saturday, mayor Roland Ries wrote on Facebook: "Once again, enough is enough." The site, he underlined, was itself "a response to such repulsive acts, simultaneously symbolising the exactions and horrors of the Nazi regime and the French people's power of resistance". The 1.6-tonne memorial stone stands next to the Avenue of the Righteous, dedicated to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, Ries noted. It has been moved back into place. The synagogue, which was built in 1898 and was the Strasbourg Jewish community's main place of worship, was ransacked and burnt to the ground by Hitler Youth on September 30, 1940. Fontanel said video surveillance showed that shortly before 7 am (0600 GMT) on Saturday, a car was seen near the heavy monument, and added: "We have to see now if it was this car that committed the act." Thierry Roos, spokesman for the Israelite Consistory of the Lower Rhine region, told AFP the religious council "is distressed by the damage to this stone... whether it was intentional or not". The main Islamic mosque in Strasbourg in a statement said the incident had provoked "sadness, disgust, anger and revulsion" among its members. It quoted the mosque's president Said Aalla as condemning "this new anti-Semitic act with the greatest firmness". Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, which has a seat in Strasbourg, also condemned the damage done and called for a "stop in the increase of anti-Semitism". Israel's foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon tweeted: "Shocking images from Strasbourg. Anti Semitic hatred and vandalism are on the rise in France and throughout Europe." On December 11 last year, the day of a deadly jihadist attack on Strasbourg's Christmas market, 37 Jewish graves and a monument were desecrated in Herrlisheim, northeast of the city. In February 2015, around 300 graves were vandalised in a Jewish cemetery in nearby Sarre-Union, an act for which five adolescents were given suspended prison terms of eight to 18 months in 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) expects to raise roughly Rs 1,500 crore from its planned IPO and wants to retain part of the proceeds -- about Rs 600 crore -- for expansion and working capital needs, according to a company source. The proposed IPO is likely to hit the market sometime in the middle of this year. TCIL is among the six Central Public Sector Enterprises that the government proposes to list on stock exchange through public issue. TCIL had evinced interest in a 'piggyback transaction' of about 10 per cent, a proposal that Digital Communications Commission - the highest the decision-making body of Telecom Ministry - had recently approved. The government plans to sell up to 15 per cent stake in the IPO to mop up about Rs 900 crore. Separately, TCIL wants to issue fresh shares to the tune of 10 per cent, which could fetch the company up to Rs 600 crore. The source privy to the corporation's IPO plans said. TCIL is keen to raise up to Rs 600 crore through fresh issue of shares (10 per cent) during the upcoming IPO, while the rest of the proceeds will go to the government. The official said that TCIL is executing Bharat Net projects and a host of other contracts and requires the amount as working capital and project funding. TCIL is also hopeful of a favourable valuation for itself, given also its existing stake in Bharti Hexacom which operates services in Rajasthan and North East. "TCIL also wants to start a cyber academy now as a lot of training requirement is coming in," the official said underscoring the need for funds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, a senior police official said Sunday. A fourth accused is still at large and efforts were underway to nab him, the official added. Sagar Superintendent of Police Amit Sanghi said the girl and her grandfather were on their way to a temple on a hillock on the outskirts of the city when the four accused obstructed their way, assaulted the elderly man and raped the victim. "The incident happened on Friday. Narendra Ahirwar (26), Pradip Sour (35) and Motilal Sour (28) have been arrested for rape under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. Noni Sour (26) is on the run," Sanghi informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people, including two students returning home after board examinations, were killed when their motorcycle dashed into a stationary truck on Ballia-Gorakhpur road, police said. The accident occurred on Saturday under the Ubhaon police station area. The deceased were identified as Sunita (18), Rani (17) and Pankaj Ram (38), they said. The girls belonged to Akoli village in neighbouring Sivan district of Bihar, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has formed a 12-member committee Sunday to chart modalities on election campaign in West Bengal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the party's secretary general Partha Chatterjee said. The committee would look into the applications by aspiring candidates to fight the elections and forward those to the party's supremo Mamata Banerjee, Chatterjee told newspersons here. The 12-member committee comprises Mamata Banerjee's nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee, Subrata Bakshi, Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Suvendu Adhikari, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sashi Panja, Moloy Ghatak, Jyotipriyo Mallick, Subrata Mukherjee, Derek O'Brien and Partha Chatterjee. "The committee will look into election-related publicity and screening of applications of aspiring candidates in consultation with party supremo Mamata Banerjee," Chatterjee said. While Abhishek Banerjee and O'Brien are Lok Sabha MPs, the other 10 members of the committee are ministers in the state cabinet. Out of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, TMC won 34 seats, the Congress got four and the BJP and CPI(M) won two each in the 2014 general elections. Taking on the BJP, which has emerged as the principal opposition party in the state in terms of vote share in the 2018 panchayat elections, Chatterjee said the saffron party indulges in creating divisions among people. "In the name of Sankalp rally, they tried to go on a rampage in different parts of the state," he said, referring to clashes between the BJP workers and the police at a few places in the state on Sunday. The 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally is a part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with people. BJP workers clashed with the police in several places of West Bengal on Sunday as the saffron party was prevented from holding its 'Vijay Sankalp' rally. "These attempts will be dealt with strongly by the administration," Chatterjee said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Telangana Sunday announced that it would wage a full scale constitutional battle against Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing him of 'engineering' the defection of two party MLAs. The announcement comes days ahead of the Legislative Council elections in the state. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the party would stage a 'dharna' in Asifabad and Pinapaka constituencies on March 5 to protest against Rao's alleged action. He also said a complaint would be lodged with the Election Commission on the issue, seeking immediate disqualification of the two MLAs, Rega KanthaRao (Pinapaka) and Atram Sakku (Asifabad). Further, he said both the MLAs should not be allowed to vote in the MLC elections to be held on March 12. Meanwhile,Congress leaders, MLAs and MLCs staged a dharna before the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises Sunday to protest against what they alleged was the Chief Minister's latest drive to make opposition MLAs defect to TRS. In a party release, Reddy charged KCR with turning Telangana into a symbol of "oppression and injustice." It was "unconstitutional and unethical" for TRS to field the fifth candidate in MLC elections without having the required numerical strength, he claimed. He demanded that both Congress MLAs be disqualified immediately and deprived of voting rights in the MLC polls. By making two Congress MLAs defect to the ruling party, KCR has resorted to "cheap politics" and "smothered" democracy again, the release quoted Uttam Kumar Reddy as saying. Accusing KCR of "murdering democracy" in Telangana, Congress leader Bhatti Vikramarka said the Congress would expose the "unconstitutional and undemocratic" practices of KCR across Telangana. The two Congress MLAs had Saturday said they had decided to join TRS in the interest of development and welfare of STs. They said they would consult legal experts and quit the assembly membership and seek a fresh mandate if necessary. A TDP MLA from Sattupalle Sandra Venkata Veeraiah Sunday said he had decided to join the TRS in the interest of development of his constituency. Veeraiah metChandrasekhar Rao on Saturday and urged him to release irrigation water to save crops in his native Khammam district which was accepted. The strength of the Congress in the 119-member Assembly is 19 and it would come down to 17 with the decision of the two MLAs to join the TRS. The TDP has two MLAs and would be left with only one legislator following Veeraiah's decision to leave the party. The Congress was banking on the support of the two MLAs from its grand alliance partner, TDP in the polls for MLCs to be elected under the MLAs' quota. However, its chances have now been dented with the decision of the three MLAs to join the TRS. The Congress has fielded a candidate in the election (MLAs quota) to be held to fill five vacancies in the council. The TRS has nominated four candidates, leaving one seat to its ally AIMIM. The TRS' strength is 88, with two other MLAs also supporting the party. AIMIM has seven MLAs. Another TDP MLA M Nageshwar Rao representing Aswaraopet segment dismissed rumours that he would join the TRS in the wake ofVeeraiah's announcement that he would join the ruling party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just after 10 am on February 27, 2019, the Pakistan Air Force deployed "a large strike package" of modern F-16 Falcons, Chinese made JF-17s and some vintage Mirage-5 attack jets to avenge India's bombing of terror sanctuaries in Balakot, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The PAF's targets were Indian military installations - primarily the brigade headquarters in Bhimber Gali, Jammu, minutes from the Line of Control. The Indian Air Force scrambled six MiG-21s from its frontline air base in Srinagar to intercept the Pakistani fighters; Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's fighter was among these six aircraft. The IAF also despatched Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s and MiG-29s from other airbases to provide combat air patrol for the MiG-21 interceptors. In the ensuing dogfight, the first between India and Pakistan since the 1971 War, Wing Commander Varthaman in his Soviet-era jet managed to acquire a lock on one of the F-16s, shooting it down with a short-range Vympel R-73 air to air missile. Although he couldn't see the outcome of the short 15-minute high-altitude dogfight, Varthaman radioed to base the words "R-73 selected". Seconds later he was himself shot down. Being the first recorded F-16 kill in history, you'd think it would send ripples across the world of aviation. But curiously, Western defence experts maintained complete silence as the impact of what Varthaman had accomplished took the wind out of the F-16's fanboys. Coping well at Cope India Coincidentally, 15 years ago to the date, the MiG-21 (NATO reporting name: Fishbed) had defeated modern American F-series aircraft in a mock combat exercise, sending shock waves through the American defence establishment. In the space of just 13 days, at the Cope India exercise held at the Gwalior air force range from February 15-27, 2004, Indian pilots notched up an astounding 9:1 kill ratio against the all-powerful US Air Force, dealing a massive blow to the myth of invincibility of American air power. What happened at Gwalior will better explain how a six-decade-old jet that has been consigned to the boneyard by the Russians could defeat a modern F-16. Held from February 15-27, Cope India 2004 highlighted three major issues: The innovativeness of Indian fighter pilots. The impact of Russian jets when flown by a highly trained and motivated crew. The limitations in USAF pilot training. While the Pentagon brass tried to knock the IAF's achievement, the USAF gave their Indian counterparts their due. Aviation Week & Space Technology's David A. Fulghum quotes Colonel Mike Snodgrass, commander of the USAF's 3rd Wing based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska: "The outcome of the exercise boils down to (the fact that) they ran tactics that were more advanced than we expected...They could come up with a game plan, but if it wasn't working they would call an audible and change (tactics in flight)." About the different IAF fighters the six F-15Cs from the American pilots encountered, Snodgrass said: "The two most formidable IAF aircraft proved to be the MiG-21 Bison, an upgraded version of the Russian-made baseline MiG-21, and the Su-30MK Flanker, also made in Russia." About the capabilities of IAF pilots, USAF team leader Colonel Greg Newbech said: "What we've seen in the last two weeks is the IAF can stand toe-to-toe with the best air force in the world. I pity the pilot who has to face the IAF and chances the day to underestimate him; because he won't be going home." "They made good decisions about when to bring their strikers in. The MiG-21s would be embedded with a (MiG-27) Flogger for integral protection. There was a data link between the Flankers that was used to pass information. They built a very good (radar) picture of what we were doing and were able to make good decisions about when to roll (their aircraft) in and out." Clearly, it was the IAF's intense training that has given it the edge. A leading Indian newspaper summed up the aerial encounter: "The US Air Force underestimated the Indian Air Force pilots and their numerical skills. They thought these are another set of Iraqi or Iranian pilots." A different spin in DC Used to hearing the United States is second only to god, the US leadership nearly burst a collective artery. The USAF detachment had barely packed up its kits at Gwalior when Republican Congressman from California, Duke Cunningham, told a House Appropriations defence subcommittee hearing that USAF F-15Cs had been defeated more than 90 per cent of the time in direct combat exercises against the IAF. Cunningham's revelation kicked up a huge uproar in Washington. Some Western military observers attempted to debunk the results, claiming the USAF did not bring its true 'go-to-war-gear' to these exercises and that the American pilots fought with several handicaps. What really happened? Handicapped and totally unprepared First up, it's true the F-15Cs that participated in Cope India 2004 were not equipped with the latest active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. But then neither were the Indian jets. Secondly, at India's request the USAF agreed to offer combat at 3-to-1 odds, which meant the six American jets were up against 18 IAF aircraft. And finally, the Americans agreed not to simulate their beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles. Doesn't look like a fair fight. But wait, ask yourself, which air force would spend millions of dollars on a fortnight long exercise that ends in a turkey shoot? Not the IAF, which is a highly professional service. Also, why would the USAF bring all that high-octane military gear all that way just to get a drubbing? The IAF believes its strength is dogfighting, for which it trains hard as Western air forces. Secondly, the service did not deploy its advanced Su-30 MKI (NATO reporting name: Flanker), only the older Su-30, because the MKI's radar frequencies are classified. There's little advantage in letting your adversary's patron know your combat strategies. The Indians wanting to even the odds is understandable but the United States accepting these handicaps seems counterintuitive. But in fact the USAF agreed because it was desperate to get a close look at the legendary Flanker. Why the USAF came up short The lopsided result can be explained in the difference in combat styles of the two air forces. While the IAF varied aircraft mixes, altitudes and formations, the American pilot seemed stuck in the static Cold War-style of ground-controlled interceptions, which gives little leeway to the individual pilot. Weaknesses in crew performance and limitations in their range of action were evident during the simulated aerial combat. Also, US fighter pilots train in a closed system where belief in the America military's superiority reigns supreme. The strategy is that overwhelming numbers - recall the 1,000 aircraft raids over defenceless and tiny Iraq - and technological pyrotechnics will allow the US to dominate without sweating it out. With the notable exception of Vietnam, the US has never take on a large or well-trained military - and probably never will - so the strategy has worked for it. Also, the 1982 wipeout of the Syrian Air Force over the Bekka Valley by the Israeli Air Force in which 82 Syrian MiGs were downed against the loss of perhaps two American-built Israeli jets had reinforced the belief that US jet fighters are invincible. It was Cope India 2004 that showed the quality of the men in uniform matters more than the jets they fly. Also read: Abhinandan returns home: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Wing Commander in hospital Cope India 2005: Repeat performance Because of the storm kicked up by Cope India 2004 -which threatened the growing Indo-US partnership - the following year the IAF and USAF opted for exercises that had mixed teams of Indian and American pilots on both sides. But observers and participants at the exercise said in a surprising number of encounters - particularly between USAF F-16s and Indian Su-30 MKIs - the Indian pilots came out on top. Cope India 2005 proved the previous year's IAF performance was no fluke. The late air commodore Jasjit Singh, who was the then director of the new Delhi-based Centre for Air Power Studies, said: "Since the Cold War, there has been the general assumption that India is a third world country with Soviet technology, and wherever Soviet-supported equipment went, it didn't perform well. That myth has been blown away by the results." Air power dynamics For the Americans, Cope India was a wakeup call as it had grossly underestimated an old Cold Warrior. While it expected the Mirage-2000s and Sukhoi to be potent adversaries, the MiG-21 Bison came as a nasty surprise to the USAF. The positive attributes of the MiG-21 such as low radar visibility, instantaneous turn rate and "jackrabbit acceleration" were critical factors that gave it an edge. Plus, its new of helmet mounted sight and high-off-boresight R-73 air-to-air missiles turned the MiG-21 into a "Great Equaliser" in the WVR (within visual range) combat scenario. (The Vympel's ability to rapidly scan a wider angle of the sky in front of it gave Varthaman a huge advantage against his F-16 rival.) This has serious implications for modern aircraft armed with powerful long range capabilities and weapons. At some stage these aircraft will have to come within visual range and that's when pocket rockets like the MiG-21 can be deadly. As Benjamin Lambeth of the Rand Corporation so succinctly put its, "In visual combat everybody dies at the same rate." Also read: Mirages over Balakot: Why Pakistan cannot defend its airspace Fly with caution Varathaman's heroics should not be a thumbs-up for the IAF to keep flying ancient warhorses. A critical factor in the MiG-21's F-16 kill over Jammu & Kashmir was the combat air patrol provided by the Sukhoi Su-30s, MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s. The extremely long range capabilities of the Su-30s and its legendary super-manoeuvrability give it a huge edge in a dogfight that the much smaller F-16 cannot match. The Sukhoi has a loiter and combat persistence ability that has no Western equivalent. The knowledge that both these air superiority fighters - plus the powerful Mirage-2000s - could enter the dogfight any time and blow them out of the sky was no doubt weighing on the minds of the PAF pilots. While appreciating the good word done by the IAF, it is important to keep in mind that the MiG-21 is a 65-year-old design and has an unprecedented crash rate that has taken the lives of at least 177 Indian pilots. And let's not forget that Varthaman's MiG-21 was unable to shake off the powerful AMRAAM air-to-air missile fired at it. The MiG-21 belongs in a boneyard, not in Srinagar where by default it becomes India's frontline aircraft - a role it was given when it first entered the IAF fleet in 1964. (Rakesh Krishnan is a New Zealand-based defence and foreign affairs analyst) Also read: Go for the kill! Best time to dismember a crumbling Pakistan - economically, geographically & militarily Also read: Mirage-2000 vs F-16 Falcon: Which is a better fighter jet? West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Sunday said the people raising questions about the success of IAF air strike at Balakot should be condemned. These people in the country are sceptical about what was achieved in the operations by the forces, Tripathi said without naming anyone. "These people are asking what has been done by our forces, where the bomb had been actually dropped, how many (terrorists) were killed etc etc. Those raising such doubts and questions about our security forces, about our army should be condemned," Tripathi said during his address at a function in the city. On Saturday, Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh demanded that the Centre present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. Banerjee Thursday said the nation has a right to know what actually happened at Balakot in Pakistan following the IAF's air strike there, as several foreign media had reported that not much damage was done by the air strike. She had said, "We have the right to know, people of this country want to know how many were killed. Where was the bomb actually dropped? Was it dropped on the target?" Reacting to Tripathi's comments, Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee told reporters, "The West Bengal Governor has spoken in the manner he is used to. What can we do? He wakes up occasionally and makes such statements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump rallied right-wing activists Saturday with a speech offering conservative red meat on immigration, trade and the threat of "socialism" as he sought to move on from a bruising week in domestic and international "We believe in the American dream, not in the socialist nightmare," he said to boisterous applause from hundreds of supporters at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington. "America will never be a socialist country," Trump added in a mammoth two-hour speech that seemed to draw energy from the fervent reception offered by some of his influential supporters in the room. It was his first public appearance since coming home empty-handed, and to brickbats from all sides, from a nuclear-disarmament summit with North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong Un. The White House is also smarting from explosive testimony on Capitol Hill by Trump's former lawyer and fixer on Wednesday that branded him a criminal and a racist. Trump, often speaking in mocking tones, portrayed the Democratic Green New Deal climate strategy touted by the left of the party as a socialist plan that will devastate the fossil fuel and motor industries. He said progressive healthcare policies would "lead to colossal tax increases". Seeming to feed off the crowd's support, he added: "We're in the swamp of Washington DC, but you know what -- we're winning and they're not." With the federal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia reportedly approaching its conclusion, Trump again berated Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team as partisan hacks out to get him, adding that "these people are sick." His voice dripping with sarcasm, Trump suggested that his call in the summer of 2016 for Russia to find and release Hillary Clinton's emails was a joke that had been obtusely taken at face value by the media. On the foreign front, Trump repeated his claim that the last Islamic State fighters in Syria would be captured or killed imminently -- "as of tomorrow", he said -- and railed against Chinese tariffs on American goods. The speech at the National Harbor in Maryland was Trump's third to CPAC since he was elected. The word "socialism" has been in heavy rotation since some Democratic candidates began openly embracing liberal platforms, including the Green New Deal and a Medicare for All. On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the four-day conference to warn the faithful that Democrats were taking a "hard left turn" ahead of 2020. "Under the guise of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, Democrats are embracing the same tired economic theories that have impoverished nations and stifled the liberties of millions over the last century. That system is socialism," he said. Trump's speech came as Senator Bernie Sanders, who has embraced the label of "democratic socialist", spoke at a rally in New York, assailing Trump as "the most dangerous president in modern American history". It was Sanders' first major speech since announcing he will again seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Republicans hoped Trump's address would serve as a diversion to the Mueller investigation and to the testimony this week on Capitol Hill by the president's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, implicating him in crimes. In December last year, a court sentenced Cohen, who worked for Trump for over a decade as his lawyer and vice president in the Trump Organization, to three years in prison for hush-money payments to two women and for lies to Congress -- both of which he said were to protect Trump -- and tax evasion. In a dramatic congressional testimony Wednesday, broadcast across the world on cable and US network channels, Cohen turned on his former boss, using the big stage to describe Trump as a "mobster", "con man", "cheat" and a "racist". Meanwhile in Vietnam, a high-stakes second summit between Trump and Kim broke up in disarray on Thursday, without even a joint statement, after the pair failed to reach an agreement on walking back Pyongyang's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Both sides said they were open to further talks, though a third summit has not been scheduled. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two students of Uday Pratap College were arrested in connection with the recent killing of a student leader on the campus here, police said Sunday. Vivek Singh, the 22-year-old student leader, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in front of his hostel in the campus on the night of February 24. Based on a tip-off, two students, identified as Abhishek Mishra (20), a resident of Cholapur and Himanshu Tiwari (20), a native of neighbouring Jaunpur district, were arrested late Saturday night from the Tarna crossing in Shivpur, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suresh Rao Anand Kulkarni said. The SSP said that both are students of the same college and were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case. During the interrogation, both confessed that there was a long rivalry between junior and senior students from the last two years and Singh was from their rival group, whom they decided to kill on the instruction of another student leader Anupam Nagvanshi, whom Singh had slapped during the college freshers' party in 2017, the SSP said. To avenge the insult of Nagvanshi, the student leader along with the duo and Ankit Singh Sengar, Shivam Singh, Atul Pandey, Rahul Rajput, Pawan Singh, Shubham Singh, Sunil Singh waited in ambush, Said Kulkarni. When Vivek Singh, a B.Com second year student and native of Jamundeeh village in Azamgarh district, reached in front of the hostel, Shubham Singh and Sunil Singh fired eight shots at him, killing him on the spot, and then they all fled from the crime scene, he said. Seven teams of police, including crime branch sleuths, were formed to trace those involved in the murder, the SSP said earlier. Police recovered a .32 bore pistol and three live cartridges from the possession of the two arrested students, he said, adding that efforts are underway to nab the other absconding students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister spoke to Pakistani Premier on Sunday to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, Downing Street said. During the phone conversation between the two leaders, May welcomed Khan's commitment to reduce tensions following the return of captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by the Pakistani authorities earlier this week. "The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan's Prime Minister today. She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan, a Downing Street spokesperson said. "The leaders discussed the need to address the causes of this conflict. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism, the spokesperson said. Both leaders also "reiterated their commitment" to the UK-Pakistan bilateral relationship during the interaction, which follows heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Varthaman, who was in one of the eight MiG-21s that took on the invading Pakistan Air Force jets and shot down an F-16, was released at the Wagah border on Friday. The UK government has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan since the Pulwama attack on February 14, with senior government ministers holding talks with their counterparts in India and Pakistan. During an urgent question in the House of Commons on Wednesday, UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field had told MPs that the UK would continue to support a listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader, Masood Azhar, under a UN Security Council Resolution. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the next kin of each of the two CRPF personnel who lost their lives in an encounter in Kupwara area of Jammu and Kashmir. Five security personnel were killed in an encounter with militants on Friday in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir while a civilian died in clashes near the site. The slain personnel included a CRPF inspector and a jawan, two army men and a policeman. Expressing profound grief at the death of Vinod Kumar of Ghaziabad and Shyam Narain Yadav of Ghazipur, the chief minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for their families, an official spokesperson said. Adityanath also said that one kin of each of the slain CRPF personnel will be given a government job and one road in their native districts will be named after them, he said. The chief minister said the supreme sacrifice of these brave jawans will not go in vain and the entire nation is standing with them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) bulletins prepared by Uttar Pradesh Police on daily activities at the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, have become a big hit, with Bollywood celebrities such as Sanjay Mishra and Prakash Jha hosting shows. Available on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, the bilingual 'Suraksha Bulletin' is shot by media students and professionals. "This is the first attempt of its kind by any government organisation anywhere in the world to produce anchor-based bulletins. For this, the police deployed has prepared capsules, providing information on everyday's development in the Kumbh Nagri," DGP O P Singh told PTI. The capsules have been very successful in providing information to visitors at the Mela, the DGP said, adding, "We are also contemplating to replicate this arrangement in the entire state." A studio has been set up in the SSP office with standard background and lightning. The newsroom has several celebrity anchors such as filmmaker Prakash Jha, actor Sanjay Mishra, an Italian National Geographic producer Raz. Superintendent of Police (Media) Rahul Srivastava, who is overseeing this arrangement, said several senior officers, foreign nationals, dignitaries were interviewed in the newsroom and the bulletins were uploaded on the social media and also shared with media centre of the Mela administration. Srivastava said the bulletins helped the department in "alerting people and avoiding chaos". The DGP said the UP police has won laurels in the past for effective police-citizen communication and grievance redressal through social media. "The TwitterSeva of UP police is a case study of sorts when it comes to changing the paradigm of interaction between police and citizens," he said. For Kumbh Mela, police devised an effective communication strategy which was "unique" and a robust social media cell was set up, the DGP said. A website of the Kumbh Mela police was created with details of police and traffic arrangements, relevant maps, necessary information and even geo locations of police stations to assist the pilgrims. Srivastava said a Kumbh Mela police cell started in December and the team was trained in the basics of social media. "Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, WhatsApp accounts of Kumbh Mela police were created and verified...where people gave their suggestions and complaints," he said. The police officer said animated characters, performed by Bollywood actors were used to convey safety messages. The videos have gone viral on social media. The Kumbh Mela this year is spread over an area of 3,200 hectare as compared to 1,600 hectare area in the previous mela. It started on January 15 and will end on March 4. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttar Pradesh government will sign an agreement with the Gujarat government seeking technical support for the construction of a massive statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday night gave its approval for signing an MOU for guidance and support on technical proposal, design etc, an official spokesman said on Sunday. The cabinet also cleared Rs 200 crore for the preparation of a detailed project report and the acquisition of 28.28 hectares of land identified for setting up the statue by the district magistrate of Ayodhya, the spokesman said. On the lines of Gujarat's Statue of Unity, a chief minister-headed trust would oversee the project, he said, adding a high-powered committee will be set up for smooth conduct of the construction work. The area around the statue will have a digital museum, interpretation centre, library, parking space, food place etc., he added. Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Tourism Avinish Awasthi said it will take a minimum of three years to build the statue, which will be financed through corporate social responsibility fund. "It has been decided that while the government will develop the infrastructure and facilities surrounding the site, CSR funds or donations will be used for the construction of the statue," Awasthi said. On October 31 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled a 182-metre statue built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat's Narmada district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and South Korea said on Sunday they will end their annual large-scale joint military exercises as Washington pursues efforts to improve ties with North Korea. The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. Trump has ruled out withdrawing any of the 28,500 US forces based in South Korea to defend it from its nuclear-armed neighbour, which invaded in 1950. Any such drawdown would face a strong pushback from the US Congress and Japan, whose conservative government is deeply wary of North Korea's intentions. But the US president has complained repeatedly over the cost of the military drills, which Pyongyang has always condemned as provocative rehearsals for invasion. During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies, and has always infuriated Pyongyang. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The two allies will instead carry out "adjusted outside manoeuvre trainings and united command exercises to continue firm military readiness", Seoul's defence ministry said on Sunday. The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, it added. Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. "Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "The South's conventional forces outclass the North's and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added. Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme. Since Trump's first summit with Kim last year in Singapore, in which both leaders signed a vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. "Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point... would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 21-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly mowing down a man and injuring two others by her speeding car near Moolchand underpass in southeast Delhi, police said Sunday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Afaq (24), a resident of Jakir Nagar, they said. According to Chinmoy Bisawal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), the incident occurred on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when three friends Rudra Aashish Pandey, Nitish and Gaurav were returning home after attending a wedding function at Moti Bagh. When they crossed the Moolchand underpass, a tyre of the car burst following which they called a mechanic. At around 1.40 am, when the mechanic was replacing the tyre, a speeding car hit them, Biswal said. The car was being driven by a girl who fled the spot leaving her car behind. She was later identified as Ananya Khurana, a resident of Lajpat Nagar area, the DCP said, adding the mechanic died due to the injuries sustained in the accident. Khurana was arrested at around 3 am on Sunday. Police have taken her blood samples, a senior police officer said. According to Biswal, the woman was returning from airport with her friends in the car while her parents were in another car with some guests. During interrogation, the accused claimed that she was not drunk. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of IPC at Lajpat Nagar police station, the officer said. Khurana was studying diploma in make up art in California, USA. She returned to India in December 2018 and was looking to build her own start up company, Biswal said, adding her father runs a garments business at Lajpat Nagar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a jibe at Opposition, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said some of the "Nawabs of Negativity" manufactured another Balakot without checking facts when Indian Air Force struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Paktunkhwa province. Terming opposition parties as 'Compulsive Contrarians', Arun Jaitley said the doubts raised by Congress and other parties over the honesty of the IAF action has hurt the national interest. "Such statements have hurt India's national interest. Not only do they give smiles to Pakistan, they become an important instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India," Arun Jaitley said on Sunday in a blog post titled 'India's Opposition has a lot to learn'. The Finance Minister said that the Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also an essential ingredient of public discourse. "I hope, India's Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation." Also Read: India Today Conclave 2019: 5 major points PM Modi raised in his speech Jaitley, in his post, said the most disappointing and objectionable statement was of the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He stated that he was disturbed with the "Mad rush of mutual self-destruction" by the two nations. According to him, perpetrator of terrorism and its victim are both at par. "In his speech Dr Singh implicitly doubted India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. He mentioned poverty, ignorance and disease in his speech. But violence and terrorism are of no consequence in his assessment," Jaitley wrote in his blogpost. He further said that the West Bengal Chief Minister went a step further. She started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. The credibility of both the Government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions. Slamming the Opposition parties for accusing the Prime Minister of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents, Jaitley said it gave a handle to the enemy. Pakistan's media used this statement of 21 Opposition Parties as a trump card. "These statements made by opposition parties hurt India's national interest. They give smiles to Pakistan and become an instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India's operation against terrorism." After IAF's counter terror operation in Balakot, three statements ought not to have been made by India's opposition parties. When entire nation was speaking in one voice and standing by the armed forces, he added. Also Read: ICICI-Videocon loan case: Chanda Kochhar quizzed on third day; ED summons Matrix Fertiliser's Nishant Kanodia Edited by Chitranjan Kumar Prime Minister Narendra Modi's headline speech at India Today Conclave 2019 on Saturday reflected his government's achievements in the last five years, India's changing stance on foreign policy and terrorism, and outlined the BJP's agenda before the 2019 General Elections. He took several barbs at the Congress-led Opposition and attacked it on the issues including the country's economic condition and the scams that tarnished the country's image during the previous government's tenure. Here are 5 major points Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised during his speech at the India Today Conclave 2019. Foreign policy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after he was elected as the PM in 2014, media used to discuss whether he would be able to deliver on the foreign policy front. "The recent turn of events (air strikes in Pakistan Balakot region, the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and the cornering of Pakistan at the global stage) must have revealed to you the impact of India's foreign policy today," said PM Modi. He added India was following new strategies and that today's India was "fearless, bold and decisive". Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after he was elected as the PM in 2014, media used to discuss whether he would be able to deliver on the foreign policy front. "The recent turn of events (air strikes in Pakistan Balakot region, the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and the cornering of Pakistan at the global stage) must have revealed to you the impact of India's foreign policy today," said PM Modi. He added India was following new strategies and that today's India was "fearless, bold and decisive". National security: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan and said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale (Rafale ki kami aaj desh ne mehsoos ki hai. Aaj Hindustan ek swar mei kah rha hai ki agar hamare pas rafale hota to kya hota? Rafale par pahle swarthniti ke kaaran aur ab raajniti ke kaaran desh ka nuksan hua hai)," said the PM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan and said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale (Rafale ki kami aaj desh ne mehsoos ki hai. Aaj Hindustan ek swar mei kah rha hai ki agar hamare pas rafale hota to kya hota? Rafale par pahle swarthniti ke kaaran aur ab raajniti ke kaaran desh ka nuksan hua hai)," said the PM. Supreme power of security forces: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said the brave IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, could only be released from Pakistan due to the influence of India's changing foreign policy. He said every soldier's blood was previous, and under the current government, no one should dare raise their eyes against India. Welcoming his instant released from Pakistan, he had earlier said that the entire nation was proud of him. Abhinandan shot down Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet during a dogfight over the LoC last week, though in this fight his own fighter jet, MiG 21 Bison, was also downed after which his parachute landed in PoK. Pakistan was forced to release him in just three days of capture after an intense back channel diplomacy by India. Also read: India Today Conclave 2019: GDP growth rate fastest under NDA government, says PM Modi Policies implementation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slamming the Congress for its failure in implementing policies during its tenure, said the previous government was good at formulating laws and policies but did little to implement them. From food security to road network and electricity for each household to the empowerment of poor -- the PM recounted every achievement of his government during his speech at the India Today Conclave 2019. He said the Food Security Act, which was launched amid a lot of noise by the UPA, was implemented in just 11 states when the BJP came to power. "Our government has implemented this law in all states and UTs." The work on laying optical fibre networks was going on a fast pace, he said. "Similarly, the FDI is coming at the fastest pace today. The pace of sanitation is increasing in the fastest way," he said. "So like 'Sabse Tez (fastest)' is the tagline of your channel Aaj Tak (India Today Group's Hindi channel), the 'Sabse Tez' is the tagline of our government," said Modi. Lok Sabha elections 2019: Setting the tone for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which is likely to be held in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country's journey from 2019 was a "story of the changing dreams". "From 2014 to 2019, and now 2019, the story of India is a story of changing dreams. It is a story of despair towards becoming the pinnacle of hope. It is the story of determination to accomplishment (2014 se 2019 aur 2019 se shuru hone vali aage ki ye yarta badalte hue sapno ki kahani hai. Nirasha ki sthiti se aasha ke shikhar tak pahuchane ki kahani hai. Sankalp se siddhi ki aur le jane vali kahani hai)." Edited by Manoj Sharma Also read: PM Narendra Modi at India Today Conclave: If work has to be done, it has to be in totality and not on tokenism, says Modi Also read: India Today Conclave 2019: UP likes both cycle and elephant, says Akhilesh Yadav Also read: PM Narendra Modi at India Today Conclave: If work has to be done, it has to be in totality and not on tokenism, says Modi A day after hosting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as a "Guest of Honour" in its conclave in Abu Dhabi, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday slammed India on Kashmir in a resolution adopted by the influential grouping of 57 countries. The OIC, in its Abu Dhabi Declaration, criticised the India administration's role in the state of Jammu and Kashmir as "intensified Indian barbarities since July 2016" and "illegal detentions and disappearances". It also endorses "plebiscite" in J&K for the resolution of the dispute between India and Pakistan, emphasising that it is the "core" dispute between the two nations. The council also adopted resolutions moved by Pakistan, raising concerns over air-strikes by India on terror camps inside Pakistan on Tuesday. The OIC praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for sending back Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was held captive by Pakistan for two days after his plane was shot down in a duel by Pakistani fighters on Wednesday. "We welcome the positive initiative undertaken by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to hand over the Indian pilot as a gesture of goodwill to de-escalate tensions in the region", the declaration read. Reacting to OIC resolution, Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India." Also Read: Pakistan leaves the chair empty as Sushma Swaraj speaks against terrorism at OIC meet India has maintained that there can be no "third party intervention" and rejected the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) which also finds a mention in the resolution. However, the final document of the declaration had no mention of Jammu and Kashmir which is being called a "diplomatic success" for India since Kashmir was mentioned last year. This was a rare occasion when Kashmir was not mentioned in the final document. The last time this happened was in the 2016 Tashkent Declaration. Sources told India Today that it was still a win for India. "These resolutions are meant for domestic consumption. The resolutions go without any discussion and debate. Pakistan can say whatever it likes and get it passed because we are not there to oppose it. For India the Abu Dhabi declaration which does not mention Kashmir or in any way hints at India as an aggressor. Pakistan could not manage to get it in final document", say sources. The 46th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers Meet concluded on Saturday with the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. It was the first time that India was invited to an OIC meeting as guest of honour, despite Pakistan's strong objection after India's air strike on a terror camp in its soil. Miffed by the OIC decision, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had skipped the meeting of foreign ministers and sent junior officials to represent the country. Also Read: Fishbed vs Falcon: Why the ancient MiG-21's F-16 kill is no fluke Edited by Chitranjan Kumar In his first reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at India Today Conclave 2019, Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of stealing Rs 30,000 crore and said he was "solely responsible" for the delay in the arrival of Rafale jets in India. Rahul Gandhi's recent attack on the Prime Minister comes after PM Modi during his speech at the India Today Conclave 2019 said India was feeling the absence of Rafale. "The entire country is saying in one voice today, that if we had Rafale, the results would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he said. Holding the PM responsible for the Indian Air Force pilots using outdated fighter jets, Rahul Gandhi said it was due to the PM that brave soldiers like Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman were risking their lives flying obsolete jets. "Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? You stole (Rs) 30,000 Crore and gave it to your friend Anil. You are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the Rafale jets. "You are why brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets," Gandhi said on Twitter. Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Cr and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets. YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets. https://t.co/BrzAuFTlFu - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 2, 2019 Reacting to the PM's speech, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the nation witnessed a "monologue by a narcissistic Prime Minister sans any sense of accountability". "Prime Minister is obsessed with one word - 'Modi'," he said. He said the Modi government symbolised two things - "Crony Deals & Doles to Cronies!". "The very edifice of Modi Government is - By the cronies, Of the cronies & For the cronies," he alleged, adding that only a handful of Modi's crony industrialist friends had enjoyed 'achhe din' for the last 56 months. "Latest instances of Modiji's cronyism are the Rafale deal and handing over of 5 out of 6 airports to his crony friends," the statement said. Also read: India has felt the absence of Rafale, the result would have been different, says Narendra Modi The Congress said that the BJP was "comprising national security" by not taking decisive action against Pakistan-sponsored terror. "When will Modiji take decisive action against Pakistan-sponsored terror? Compromising national security and gross intelligence failure are the characteristic style of a non-functioning Modi government," he said. Attacking the PM over the unrest and a high number of casualties in Jammu and Kashmir, Surjewala in a statement said: "In last 56 months, 498 soldiers and officers have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir alone. In the month of February 2019 alone, 55 brave soldiers laid down their lives due to the menace of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism." He added the Prime Minister had blatantly "politicised" the bravery and martyrdom of India's soldiers as a political pamphlet. Slamming the Opposition for opposing every act of the government, PM Modi on Saturday had said they were welcome to criticise his government's policies and find faults in its working but "I request you not to oppose matters related to the nation's security," he said. Watch: Edited by Manoj Sharma Also read: India Today Conclave 2019: GDP growth rate fastest under NDA government, says PM Modi PM Narendra Modi at India Today Conclave: If work has to be done, it has to be in totality and not on tokenism, says Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles. Modi, who landed in the city after addressing a rally in Bihar's Patna, said Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his government's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto. "We were not able to win the seat the last time but won your hearts. Smritiji worked for the development here and did more work than that done by the one who has won from here," he said, referring to Union Minister Smriti Irani who unsuccessfully contested the last election from Amethi. "Are you happy with the works we have done, have we not cared for you and tried honestly for your welfare...have we done any injustice to you," Modi told the rally. "Those who voted for us and those who did not, all are ours...This is the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," Modi said. The Congress president has alleged that his constituency has been receiving step-motherly treatment ever since the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre, with various development works being stalled. After laying the foundation stone of the rifle-manufacturing unit, he said these modern rifles will be made in Amethi under a Russia-India joint venture. These rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists, he said. "Amethi will get a new identity now," Modi said. He accused previous governments of neglecting the armed forces and their needs. Attacking the previous UPA government, Modi said, "These people sat on Rafale deal for years and when it was time for their government to go, they pushed it into cold storage." "When our government assumed office, we finalised it in one-and-a-half years...and the first Rafale aircraft will be in our skies soon," he added. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. Also Read: 7th Pay Commission: Odisha government announces pay hike for ULB employees The government has approved an Rs 14,000-crore special economic zone (SEZ) project of Adani Power in Jharkhand, which will export entire power generated to Bangladesh, an official said. The project was approved by the highest decision-making body on SEZ - Board of Approval - chaired by the commerce secretary, in its meeting on February 25, the government official said. Also read: Why Trump's favourite Harley-Davidson plans to shift production out of the US? Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd has sought approval for setting up of sector specific SEZ for power at villages - Motia, Mali, Gaighat and adjacent villages in Godda district, Jharkhand over an area of 425 hectare. It has received formal approval for the land in possession of 222.68-hectares area and in principle approval for remaining 202.32 hectares. Two supercritical units of 800 MW each would be set up with an investment of Rs 14,000 crore which would include setting up of a water pipeline and power evacuation system. It will be ready by the end of 2022. The company has already signed a power purchase agreement for the supply of 100 per cent power generated from this plant to Bangladesh. The SEZs are major export hubs in the country as the government provides several incentives including tax benefits and single window clearance system. Also read: Got India to cut tariffs on Harley-Davidson by half in just 2 minutes, says Donald Trump The developers and units of these zones enjoy certain fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as no licence requirement for import, full freedom for subcontracting, and no routine examination by customs authorities of export/import cargo. They also enjoy direct and indirect tax benefits. Exports from special economic zones grew by about 15 per cent to Rs 5.52 lakh crore in 2017-18. The Punjab cabinet Saturday gave in-principle approval to debt waiver plan for farm labourers and landless farming members, a move which will provide loan relief to 2.85 lakh people comprising 70 per cent Dalits. The decision, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, was taken by the council of ministers led by the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here. The scheme will benefit the farm labourers and landless farmers of Primary Cooperative Agriculture Service Societies (PACS) to the tune of Rs 520.55 crore, as per official release. The waiver includes principal amount of Rs 388.55 crore, Rs 78 crore as interest till March 31, 2017, besides Rs 54 crore on account of interest with effect from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2019 as outstanding on March 31, 2019. In the state budget last month, the finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal had made an announcement for waiving loans of landless farm labourers, while earmarking Rs 3,000 crore of allocation for the farm debt waiver scheme. The state government was already running a debt waiver scheme for small and marginal farmers. Beneficiaries will be individual farm labourers and landless farming members of PACS. Members of only those PACS would be eligible for debt relief who have been availing advancement from District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs). Also watch: Why Chidambaram thinks the GDP growth number is fake The amount eligible for debt relief will comprise the outstanding principal amount up to a limit of Rs 25,000 as on March 31, 2017 and simple interest at the rate of seven per cent per annum, as per the release. The debt relief will not be available to those members who are either employees, pensioners of government, semi government, public sector undertaking of any state, central government and or income tax payee. If an individual has more than one account, the relief would be given for one account only, which has higher outstanding amount subject to the maximum of Rs 25,000 as principal. The accounts of the beneficiaries will be Aadhar-seeded to avoid duplication. The move comes as an extension of the Debt Relief Scheme of October 2017 for small and marginal farmers with loans up to Rs 2 lakh. Under the scheme, till date, the government has waived loans of 5.47 lakhs small and marginal farmers to the extent of approximately Rs 4,600 crore. Also watch: What are the possible solutions to India's farm distress? life-style, life Who are the most hated people on Married at First Sight? Ines? Sam? Elizabeth? Now theyre gone, Cyrell stepped up this week, as did intruder Susie. But no. Id like to suggest the most hated people on MAFS are the experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr Trisha Stanford. Follow the #mafs Twitter feed, Sunday to Wednesday and youll realise I am not alone. I feel like I would be a more successful matchmaker than the 'experts' if I was told to down a bottle of scotch and then handed two darts and told to fling them with my eyes closed in the middle of a crowded pub. Experts have done it again empathetic, somewhat shy, gentleman matched with a brash, no-filter woman with unrealistic high expectations. If you need help finding the right person then youve come to the wrong place. These experts dont know what theyre talking about. These experts couldnt pick their nose let alone couples. Not only have their matches in season 2019 left us all perplexed by the process - one which, perhaps somewhat naively, you hope goes beyond ratings. Yes, we saw Dr Trish giving Michael something to smell in a lab. Yes, they seem to talk about what they think each individual will bring to the coupling. Yes, there have been some moments on the couch where theyve made sense. But not many. I was infuriated a few weeks ago when Aiken turned an argument around on Heidi, letting the gaslighter Mike get off scott free. Im getting sick of Dr Trish asking how everyones intimacy is going, why is she so fascinated by other peoples sex lives? And when Mel took Bronson to task for a few bleepy swear words and let Ines behaviour slide right by, I wanted to turn the television off. But I didnt. Instead I sought out some experts of my own to see if science could do a better job of finding me a mate than I could. A few years ago I tried a matchmaking service. The Third Wheel was set up by a local businesswoman Aerin, a company aimed at those over 35, looking to meet new people, perhaps potential partners. I tried three dates with Aerin, all interesting men, but they werent for me and probably vice versa. Id shelved any idea of dating for a while, content to stay at home with my cats and meals for one and MAFS on demand. (Note: I do not have cats.) Then Aerin called not long ago to tell me that she was putting the bike lock on The Third Wheel for a while. Shes back at work after a second baby, living a full and happy life, and she just didnt have time. She was referring some of her clients to a different match-making business hoping to move into the Canberra market if I was interested. Vital Partners started in Adelaide in 1986 and now has a large client base in Sydney, country NSW and hopefully, soon, the ACT. More than 25,000 men and women have been introduced since then and, via their testimonials page, many a relationship has formed. I met with manager Recel Tayor as part of the process. The service includes a very personal initial consultation where you chat about what you are looking for, who you are looking for, talk about your interests. It was like opening up to a complete stranger, and a good opportunity to think about what it is that I actually want. Companionship, she asked. Ahh, no. Am I allowed to say I want to meet someone who might like a bit of canoodling at half-time during the footy? Appears I was. Yes, I need companionship too, but Im not ready to sit on the couch with my cats and a crocheted rug just yet. Tayor spoke about their typical clients. There are those ready to settle down, but not liking the online scene or going out to pubs and clubs. Busy people, professionals and even older people who might be ashamed to tell their families they want to get back into the dating scene. What most of them have in common is a need for privacy and discretion. One of those clients was Kerry, a 52-year-old Canberra woman. A senior public servant, she didnt want her face and details all over Tinder. She knew her ex-husband was and couldnt bear the idea of seeing him there, or he seeing her. Shed been married for 22 years, had a couple of teenage children, and when a friend recommended seeing a matchmaker she tracked down Vital Partners. I'm a very trusting person by nature, says Kerry, and if you're not always good at judging character then you can get yourself in a lot of trouble on the internet. I recognised it would be good to have someone help me through the process. Their job is to understand people and different stages of life people are in, different circumstances, I think that can help you alleviate how many hideous coffees you have to have. She had a few, she laughs, but then she was introduced to John. I hated his photograph when I first saw his profile, she says. But the team told me to rethink my decision because they knew we would get along. They spoke for about six weeks before they decided to meet. John lives on the South Coast. It was the best thing I ever did, Kerry says. Ive learned to be open-minded about all sorts of things. Hes 68 and I my first reaction was youre kidding, but hes interesting and fun, he brings me coffee in bed. I adore him. The pair have been together for about fourth months now. Kerry believes in the experts, in the process. Perhaps we shouldnt be basing our opinions about matchmakers on those directed by ratings, but on those who only have to answer to love. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/479aaed2-e940-45f5-9583-61c27a3b379a/r49_0_2476_1371_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Good morning, Canberra. Happy Monday - I hope you had a restful weekend. We're heading for a hot one today, with a top of 34 degrees and a medium chance of rain and a thunderstorm this afternoon and tonight. It will be hot again tomorrow before cooling down later in the week. Let's have a look at what's making news today. Some have celebrated the news the ACT will ban school chaplains in public schools by the end of this year, but now the chaplains themselves are speaking out. School Chaplaincy ACT, which employs 21 of the 22 chaplains in Canberra public schools, said many schools fund-raised to employ the worker for extra days on campus. "A lot of these schools also have a youth worker or a counsellor, but they've told us they need both, or they've been unable to get a youth worker in and the chaplain's been that vital extra support person," chief executive Peter James said. Sherryn Groch has the story here. The roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has had a negative effect on Canberra's community mental health services, and the impacts aer being felt in emergency departments and the acute mental health unit, advocates say. Woden Community Services - a key provider of community mental health services - said it had been hit hard by the transition and is now seeing the flow-on effects for clients after cuts to key programs. Daniella White has more here. Believe it or not, it's 30 years since the ACT first got self-government today, with our very first ACT Legislative Assembly election. It was an historic day, often fraught with hostility, when 117 candidates and 22 political parties battled to join a parliament the majority of the Canberra population did not want. The ballot paper was more than a metre long. Megan Doherty has the story here. I am super excited about the second season of Secret City starting tonight. It's gripping and intriguing and makes Canberra look pretty sexy. Anna Torv is back this season, joined by Danielle Cormack playing an independent MP from South Australia. They are just a few of the women playing movers and shakers this season. It starts tonight on Foxtel at 8.30. Karen Hardy has all the details here. When Nick Kyrgios turns it on, he really turns it on. After a few months of ups and downs, Canberra's own Nick has won half a million dollars, a boost in his rankings and most importantly a giant sombrero by winning the Mexican Open. Kyrgios beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 over the weekend, after a dream run where he bested Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and John Isner. Of course it's not Kyrgios without some off-field controversy, the win came after a few choice comments aimed at Nadal. The full match report is here. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/fdc16df5-05bc-40a7-9c6c-c253cb61765b/r0_342_6720_4139_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The price of milk, beer and eggs has increased faster in Canberra than any other Australian capital city since June 2011, while beef is more expensive here than elsewhere. On the flipside, pork is cheapest in Canberra and the price is falling at a more rapid rate than in other capital cities. The price of bread also decreased faster here than elsewhere during a 7-year period. The Sunday Canberra Times analysed the Australian Bureau of Statistics' last average retail prices data, from June 2011, and used the bureau's consumer price index figures from the December 2018 quarter to determine how the price of some products changed over time. Only goods that were in both datasets were used in the analysis. The analysis showed Canberra's petrol prices went up 13.4 per cent over the 7 years easily the biggest increase among capital cities. The ACT's stubbornly high fuel prices have angered drivers so much they're now the subject of a Legislative Assembly inquiry, and, as Chief Minister Andrew Barr has warned, could lead to a "dramatic government intervention". While petrol prices are squarely in our politicians' sights, it seems Canberrans also get a rough deal on other products. Eggs are more expensive here than in other cities their price rose 9.7 per cent, the most during the analysis period. Beer cost an average 35.5 per cent more here in the December 2018 quarter than it did in the July 2011 quarter. But despite the fastest price growth, Canberra's beer is still cheaper than that of Darwin or Hobart. The price of milk also jumped 5.3 per cent; more than double the 2.2 per cent growth rate in Sydney, which had the next biggest gains. The price even decreased significantly in Darwin, where it fell 8.4 per cent, and Brisbane, where it dropped 5.9 per cent. Beef prices increased by 25 per cent the second slowest growth rate across the board. However, it's more expensive in Canberra than elsewhere, with Brisbane's prices the next highest. Breakfast cereal became cheaper in all Australian capital cities, but it's more more expensive in Canberra than any of the others. It's not all bad news though. Pork prices dropped 10.5 per cent during the analysis period, giving Canberrans the cheapest chops of all Australian capital cities. The cost rose in every other capital city except Adelaide, which had a marginal decrease of 1.3 per cent. Bread, meanwhile, was 7.9 per cent cheaper in Canberra during the final quarter of 2018 than it was midway through 2011. You can still find more affordable loaves in Brisbane and Perth, though. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said income levels, transportation costs and levels of competition were the main factors that caused discrepancies in prices between different areas. Mr Oliver said in some cases retailers were likely taking note of what Canberrans, with the highest average incomes in Australia, were willing to pay for a product and charging higher prices accordingly. He said smaller cities like the capital also generally had less competition than larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne, meaning there was not as much pressure on retailers to charge competitive prices. "My best guess is that [the products increasing in price faster in Canberra] reflect the higher income levels," Mr Oliver said. "I think that would account for a lot of it, but there are other factors that go into it." Transportation costs could explain the higher price of eggs in Canberra. The ACT government has banned battery-cage egg production, but can't prevent cage eggs produced elsewhere being sold here. with Markus Mannheim /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/1b7ba636-9b54-45bb-be06-03f45d3982ef/r0_271_5000_3096_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment So, the organisers of Canberra's Enlighten Festival have banned a hot air balloon called "Black Magic" from this year's Balloon Spectacular, calling it racist and offensive ("The 'racist' balloon banned from Canberra's Balloon Spectacular", March 1). According to the director of Events ACT, Jo Verden, "the use of words and/or visual depictions that may be considered racist and offensive by many in our community ... is not supported". While I support the pursuit of respect and harmony between all members of our community, I reject entirely the proposition that an unelected bureaucrat can dictate community standards on the basis that offence might be taken by some people within that same community. If Ms Verden and her colleagues are genuinely concerned about fostering respect and harmony within the community, they might start by treating the community in an adult fashion and occasionally consider the real sensitivities of the majority and not just the perceived sensitivities of a politically correct, anonymous, unrepresentative but vocal minority. John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW Jo Verden, director of Events ACT, is not only silly (Letters, March 1), but she is just being ridiculous. In 1953 when I was five, my grandmother hand-stitched a "golliwog" for my birthday. She was a Christian lady without a bone of racism in her body. I am now in my 70s and have had my "golly" on my bedside table since the day she died. Many Aussies grew up with golliwogs, with no racist association whatever. Jeff Day, Greenway One can only take a deep breath at the government's idea of raising London Circuit to increase the area of developable land in central Canberra but its plan to dump 1000 dwellings just west of Vernon Circuit, taken with the impending desecration of West Basin, leads one to wonder why Andrew Barr doesn't just up stakes and head off to the inner west of Sydney where congestion already exists and where they already have a tram, albeit one that serves a useful purpose. What is most amazing is the language in the tender documents intended to give lip service to the continuation of the wonderful city we live in: "A uniquely Canberra look and feel", for example, which actually would suggest the area be left alone, other than, perhaps, turning it into a park. But the best of it all is this: "In partnership with the community [that would be a first], we are creating a vibrant and vital city heart [whatever that is] through a design led, people-focused urban renewal [whatever that is too]". Stan Marks, Hawker No way should the ACT government countenance giving, leasing or selling part of Mount Ainslie nature reserve to provide a parking lot for Brendan Nelson's grandiose plan for the Australian War Memorial ("Paradise paved by memorial", February 25). Nature reserves are precious habitat for our native fauna and we can't afford to lose any of it. Added to that is that the $500million dollar expansion plan for the AWM is not needed and indeed is opposed by significant sectors of the community. The money could be better allocated to other national institutions which have been cut by hundreds of millions of dollars over recent years, the ABC for example. Kathryn Kelly, Chifley Are we really serious about protecting whistleblowers? The opening sentence of Adele Ferguson's opinion piece "ATO insider faces six life sentences" (February 27, p21) reads as follows "There's something radically wrong with a society that allows mass murderer James Gargasoulas to be eligible for parole in 46 years, locks up serial killer Ivan Milat for 181 years and then has an Australian Taxation Office employee facing 161 years in prison for blowing the whistle on a poor culture inside one of our most powerful agencies". Combine this with the appalling judicial over-reach in relation to Bernard Collaery and Witness K in the matter of the Australian government spying on East Timor to gain advantage over the Greater Sunrise oil and gas reserves. Nobody is denying Australia spied, least of all then foreign minister Alexander Downer who apparently dismissed concerns because it is the responsibility of government to act in Australia's best interests. The implication is all governments do what they need to, and the only thing wrong was being caught. Now with a very crafty Attorney-General at the judicial helm, a last-minute inclusion of a new "super closed" category of evidence has been added to the proposed orders in relation to the trial of Collaery and Witness K ("Jury could hear Collaery, Witness K case", March 1, p2). This last-minute amendment precludes Mr Collaery from having his own copy of the brief of evidence or indeed being able to instruct his lawyers because such instructions could reveal sensitive information. It would seem indeed the law and justice are certainly not one and the same when it comes to whistleblowers. Ann Darbyshire, Hughes I am all in favour of Judith Erskine's suggestion (Letters, February 27) that someone organise a house swap between Bill Deane and one of the asylum seekers in their tropical paradise. However, so he can get the full experience, he should be sent there with no idea of when, if ever, he will be allowed to come home. My first job (in 1953) was in the Immigration Department dealing with alien (ie not British) migrants. They proved to be just like dinkum Aussies: some were rude and some polite, some were educated and some not. It was not at all unusual to deal with people who were illiterate and had to sign their forms with a cross. Many were refugees, fleeing countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, which had fallen under Communist rule at the end of World War II. Many others, like the Dutch and Italian people, had probably come for economic reasons, or just a new life after the five years of hell they had endured. And in Australia, the land of the fabled "fair go" they were looked down on as "bloody Balts", "whinging Poms", "wogs" etc. But of course, thanks to the White Australia Policy, they were all "white". And these are the people who changed Australia from being the isolated English colony of my childhood into a modern nation of which I am very proud and dearly love. The refugees on Nauru and Manus are being held there by politicians desperate to hang onto their seats on the gravy train by placating the racists, which is utterly despicable. However, it now seems the detention centres involve some shadowy organisation which is so secretive it doesn't have a proper address. This is not just despicable, it is a scandal. Barbara Fisher, Cook I beg to differ with Mike Hutchinson (Letters, March 2) on reporting matters of the Catholic confessional. First, Hutchinson argues "if paedophiles do not confess ... his [Archbishop Christopher Prowse's] claim that law-abiding priests would face 'excommunication' would fall away". Hutchinson should acknowledge that the law then exemplifies the legal adage: hard cases make bad law, that is, lead to legislation for exceptions. Second, he poses the doctrines of the church against secular civil law. On what basis this controversial and arguably bad law? Anyone who has the courage to follow Catholic doctrine would shine a light on any secular civil law. Start with Pope Francis' recent encyclical "Mercy and Peace". Third, his statement that "the secrecy of the Catholic confessional has always been a post-biblical man-made doctrine" is a bit rich. It was treated in the Council of the Lateran (1216) and the Council of Trent (1563) refers to secret sacramental confession being "from the beginning". John L Smith, Farrer Prominent Catholic spokesmen continue to assert that the "Seal of Confession" is sacrosanct, that priests must be free to ignore the man-made laws of territories because priests are answerable only to a higher authority. This very disillusioned old altar boy, choir boy and college prefect can't recall Christ having much to say about confession. The concept and the "laws" that protect it emerge from dominant men who congregate in satin robes and silly hats, and aspire to infallibility. When I was bumbling through adolescent years, with hormones, emotions and physical development in teenage confusion, I had been conditioned to believe an omni-present Almighty was keeping tabs on all my thoughts and actions. With the ever-present prospect of being struck dead and going to Hell, I scurried along to confession most Saturday afternoons to plead for forgiveness for any evil and lustful thoughts that had wafted through, maybe entertained, my mind. The naive respect and trust that Catholic boys and girls innocently gave to lonely men on the darkened side of the confessional probably contributed to the abominable performance of many priests. For those who insist that confession has a cleansing purpose, government might better protect children by restricting participation to adults more than 18 years of age. Don Burns, Mawson I refer to Rosalind Carew's letter "Celibacy big problem" (March 2). It is abhorrent that there are sexual predator priests in the Catholic church (as in all sections of the community) but the hard, largely ignored, fact is that most child molestation occurs in the home by men. If Ms Carew honestly believes that what she proposes (if Catholic priests were allowed to marry) this problem would not arise in the church, what is her solution for the majority of paedophiles in the wider community who are clearly not celibate? John Popplewell, Hackett I suspect that many Catholics would agree with Rosalind Carew that current rules requiring priests to be celibate should be reconsidered (Letters, March 2): the first pope, St Peter, was a married man and the celibacy rule only came into existence in the 12th century. It would be a mistake however to blame all priestly abuse on celibacy, as the Anglican Church knows to its cost, and only the Vatican knows about the priestly behaviour that led to the need for a celibacy rule in the first place. Roger Dace, Reid In suggesting that removal of celibacy from the criteria for membership of the Catholic clergy will stop priests from raping children, Rosalind Carew (Letters, March 2) is delusional. Some married men rape children. Rape is not about sex: it is about power. Appointing married men to the priesthood will not prevent the rape of children, nor will it stop the Catholic church from hiding those rapes, and the rapists, in order to protect the "good name" of the church and its bank accounts. Paul McElligott, Aranda Twelve companies have been caught out at 17 non-compliant residential building sites in Gungahlin ("Work stopped at Gungahlin sites", March 2, p1) but consumers need the names of these companies, the ability to be informed of the quality of their actual responses to this "unusual" crack down and advice about any phoenixing that some key company personnel may pursue as a result. The serious nature of the on-site findings also suggest that such blitzes are needed all over the city as a matter of urgency since too many building companies do not appear to be willing or able to supervise their sites and workers adequately. Given the ACT government's development priorities for a much higher level of urban intensification across many suburbs of Canberra, such concentrated inspections and reporting surely will need to become the norm for years to come. To support the public interest, any industry or materials supplier whistleblower will also need protection. More needs to be done to restore public faith in the ability of the government and construction industry to deliver sound building quality for the many thousands of new dwellings planned for the near future. Sue Dyer, Downer There can be little doubt that there are many people, possibly hundreds, who are buying properties off the plan and to whom this headline ("Work stopped at Gungahlin sites", March 2, p1) will be of great concern. It seems quite extraordinary that the companies concerned or the location of the sites have not been divulged. The defects listed would seem to be far from minor and with the recent problem with Opal Tower transparency should be to the forefront so that purchasers are totally aware of exactly how the development of their purchase is progressing and whether they are in any way affected by this list of significant defects. N Bailey, Nicholls SAVOURING THE RIDE Unlike Douglas Mackenzie I dont mind at all the "slow" train to Sydney (Letters, March 2). Its a chance to chill out and relax, do some reading, have a snooze and a nice cup of tea, enjoy the view and just slow down. As for overseas visitors here on holiday, seeing the countryside, the farms, sheep, cattle, birds and kangaroos, the towns and villages along the way is a highlight. Its the main reason why they choose to travel by train, from the people Ive spoken to. If we travelled along at 350km/h thered be no way to enjoy any of this; it would all zip by way too fast, you might as well be in an enclosed capsule. So, Douglas Mackenzie, dont feel embarrassed for them, theyre enjoying themselves. R. Moulis, Hackett WHO COINED THIS? What type of Doctor Who timeshifting is enabling sitting members not to recontest at the next election? An election that has not yet happened. They are, in fact, not recontesting their seat, which they contested at the last election. But they can not recontest an election that has not yet occurred. The ABC is as guilty of this Whovian concept as any. Peter Edsor, Bungendore, NSW A JOB FOR ABBOTT I think Tony Abbott should retire from Australian politics, renew his British citizenship and go to England to help them fix the Brexit mess. Mokhles K. Sidden, South Strathfield, NSW AWAY FROM IT ALL There seems to be no shortage of electoral candidates who want to spend less time with their families. C. Williams, Forrest NO PINING FOR PYNE Who will pine for Pyne ("Reynolds promoted as Pyne, Ciobo quit) March 2, p1), a Shakespearean "slight, unmeritable man", whose main personal impact was that whatever he touched lost gravitas. Just like Mr Bean as Inspecteur Maigret. Leonard Colquhoun, Invermay, Tasmania RATS FROM A SHIP As the clock ticks closer to the election they had to have, we are seeing more and more of the government rats are or have readied themselves to get their seats in the life boats. And no doubt are ensuring there is life after politics. D.J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld BANAL QUESTIONS Much is being made of the late Mike Willesee's question to then Liberal Party leader John Hewson regarding the GST to be applied to a birthday cake. Some years later fellow journalist Ray Martin lauded his colleague's skill at such interviews, to the point of asking both John Howard and opponent Paul Keating about the cost of a loaf of bread. Australia lost two talented men because of our adulation of banal and trite questions by revered journalists. Greg Simmons, Lyons Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610. Keep your letter to 250 or fewer words. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published). /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/318ecc25-138f-4c5e-ad61-32fd6d75a8ce/r0_257_4896_3023_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Texas Motor Speedway Announces Multi-Year Renewals By Long-Term Partners Posted by: newsla on Mar 03, 2019 - 08:06 AM Texas Motor Speedway Announces Multi-Year Renewals By Long-Term Partners At Annual Media Day Luncheon Texas Motor Speedway announced three long-time partners signed on to extend those relationships during its annual Media Day event held Wednesday at the renowned motorsports facility. The Dallas Morning News, WinStar World Casino and Resort, and 95.9 The Ranch will remain in their current roles with TMS throughout these multi-year partnerships. "All business is good business, but one of the things we like best is finding a partner who meshes with us on a level where they want to keep coming back," Texas Motor Speedway President/GM Eddie Gossage said. "In all sports, but especially in racing, partners mean everything. If we can provide them an experience and a relationship that makes them want to sign with us again and again, that makes us feel like we're doing a lot of things right. Our relationships with The Dallas Morning News, WinStar, and 95.9 The Ranch are ones that mean a lot to both us and our fans." Here's a brief look at those relationships: The Dallas Morning News, based in Dallas, Texas, signed a multi-year entitlement extension for Qualifying Days during the spring NASCAR weekend. SportsDay Qualifying Day powered by The Dallas Morning News has become synonymous with the spring weekend since the early days of the partnership, which dates to 2005. SportsDay Qualifying Day powered by The Dallas Morning News is March 29 and March 30 this year, awarding pole awards to drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. The Dallas Morning News is an award-winning daily serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1885. It's one of the 20 largest paid circulations in the United States. WinStar World Casino and Resort, owned by the Chickasaw Nation and located in Thackerville, Okla., signed a multi-year renewal that will include brand visibility throughout the property and is the main affiliated partner with the Lone Star Circle Reserved Camping outside Turn 3 of Texas Motor Speedway. Connected to "The Great American Speedway" since 2006 through various race entitlements, on-site signage, and its sponsorship of the reserved campgrounds, WinStar also partners with TMS to offer its clients unique VIP experiences during race weekends. With more than 600,000 square feet of gaming WinStar World Casino and Resort is the largest casino in the world. It is home to the 1,395-room WinStar World Casino Hotel and the 3,500-seat Global Event Center. KFWR 95.9 The Ranch, signed a three-year extension to remain the "Official Broadcast Partner of Texas Motor Speedway." The Ranch, a Fort Worth-based Texas Country radio station, took over official broadcast duties three years ago, broadcasting every race during the track's NASCAR and INDYCAR weekends. The Ranch also has exclusive local access to every race winner shortly after he leaves Victory Lane at No Limits, Texas. KFWR is an FM station with studios in downtown Fort Worth. It upgraded its signal in 2013 from 80 kW to 100 kW, expanding its reach throughout North Texas. The Texas Motor Speedway season opens March 29-31 with the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR tripleheader. The race weekend features the Gander Outdoors Truck Series Vankor 350 on Friday, March 29; the Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300 on Saturday, March 30; and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, March 31. PaddockTalk Perspective The Jalgaon Health Dept. under Government of Maharashtra invites applications in online mode from eligible candidates for filling 59 vacancies to the post Workers/Helpers through direct selection to be posted across various Health Centers in Jalgaon region. The application process towards the same starts from February 26, 2019 and closes on March 18, 2019. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Workers/Helpers Organisation Jalgaon Health Department, Govt. of Maharashtra Educational Qualification Class 10/SSC or equivalent Experience Freshers can apply Job Location Jalgaon, Maharashtra Salary Scale Rs. 5,200 to Rs. 20,200 per month Industry Health Application Start Date February 26, 2019 Application End Date March 18, 2019 Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for the post of Workers/Helpers through Jalgaon Health Dept. Recruitment must have attained 18 years of age, and not exceeded 38 years, with relaxation in the upper age limit to reserved categories as per the Maharashtra Govt. guidelines. Candidates must pay a specified amount of Rs. 500 (Gen/OBC) and Rs. 300 (SC/ST) categories) respectively as application fee through online mode using net-banking/debit/credit payment gateways. Maha RDF Recruitment 2019 For 1,809 Talathi Clerk And Typist Vacancies; Apply Before March 22 Educational Criteria And Experience Desirous candidates applying for the post of Workers/Helpers through Jalgaon Health Dept. Recruitment must have passed Class 10/SSC or equivalent from a recognised Board/Organisation. Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates as Workers/Helpers through Jalgaon Health Dept. Recruitment will be done through a Written Test. Candidates selected as Workers/Helpers will be paid an emolument in the scale Rs. 5,200 to Rs. 20,200 per month with a GP of Rs. 2,400. UPSSSC Recruitment 2019 For 420 Homeopathic Pharmacists (Bhesijik); Earn Up To INR 92,300 Per Month How To Apply Candidates applying for the post of Workers/Helpers through Jalgaon Health Dept. Recruitment must submit their applications on or before March 18, 2019 through online mode only. To Register/Apply online click here For detailed notification about Jalgaon Health Dept. Recruitment for 59 Workers/Helpers visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CBTlsEBQpjFaBtfldLnM7p5aAULB44FM/view Chubb and a catastrophe modeling firm will partner to develop a new terrorism risk model for Manhattan in New York City and other dense urban environments. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is marketing new coverage in the U.K. to help companies protect their reputations in times of crisis. *** Chubb will partner with Aons Impact Forecasting to develop a new terrorism risk model for Manhattan in New York City and other dense urban environments. Risk modeling specialists from Chubb and Impact Forecasting say they are using a unique approach to model terrorism exposures that will enable more realistic quantifications of property and casualty losses than is currently possible with available risk models. The new model, which is based on a state-of-the-art approach to blast engineering, will provide more accurate insights into terrorism risk to enhance resilience for businesses and communities. Specifically, the new model uses advanced computational fluid dynamics modeling techniques to simulate thousands of blast interactions with the surrounding three-dimensional building environment. These simulations, which incorporate a range of uncertainties from explosive size to location, are then combined with a detailed engineering approach that considers the buildings structural resistance and performance from the perspective of anti-terrorism standards and progressive collapse design guidelines. This methodology enables the model to distinguish between facade and structural damage, as well as determine the likelihood that a building will collapse. By identifying the type of damage projected to be sustained by each building and the injuries and fatalities associated with it, the model leads to more accurate estimates of property and workers compensation losses, the companies said. *** Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is now marketing Reputation Protect Plus in the U.K. to help companies protect their reputations in times of crisis. Providing tangible assistance to an intangible risk, AGCS said its Reputation Protect Plus offers comprehensive crisis management services to ensure that an organizations response to a crisis is professional and timely. In addition, the product also offers compensation for the loss of profit if revenues are affected by the crisis. Under the Allianz Reputation Protect Plus product, AGCS first provides the customer with an in-depth analysis of its specific reputation risk from MediaTenor International AG, a global leader in strategic media analysis. Companies can also select an international crisis communications agency from its partner network, which includes Brunswick, Kekst CNC and Hill+Knowlton, to help clients react quickly and professionally in the event of a crisis, said AGCS. AGCS will cover the costs of communication consulting as well as the reputation monitoring service provided by MediaTenor International and for the implementation of the crisis response measures recommended by the communications agency commissioned. Such measures include the establishment and operation of call centers, cross-border advertising campaigns or the commissioning of market research institutions, AGCS explained. Finally, after the crisis, important results of the specific case will be analyzed together with the communications consultants and made available in the form of a final report. Sources: Chubb, Aon/Impact Forecasting, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Oh United Kingdom He will consider whether or not to impose diplomatic boycott "at the right time" Winter Olympic Games... Former President John Dramani Mahama in the company of some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other kingpins of the party attended a thanksgiving service at the Perez Chapel International, Sunday to give thanks to God for successful presidential primaries. Bishop Charles Agyinasare speaking on vigilantism urged that "the police and the military to be given independent and unambiguous authority to deal ruthlessly with the menace in order to make illegal party armed militias highly unattractive. I support a legislative approach to outlaw such groups and impose heavy penalties on such offenders in our society". Read his full speech below H.E. JOHN MAHAMA'S THANKSGIVING SERVICE Your Excellencies, Honourables, brothers and sisters. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines VIGILANTISM as 'the practice of ordinary people in a place taking unofficial action to prevent crime or to catch and punish people believed to be criminals'. Ghanas revered democracy appears threatened by growing inter- and intra-political intolerance. This situation is further threatened by the emergence of sponsored and trained armed groups belonging to the two main political parties, the NPP and the NDC. Ironically, we tend to associate vigilantism with these cruel, barbaric and illegal groups who have proved to be a danger even to their respective parties, as they are to their opponents and to society in general. While vigilantism often relates to unofficial and often illegal but organized way of preventing crime as noted in the CED definition of the word above, or arresting criminals by way of complementing the efforts of the police or security agencies, what we are witnessing in Ghana, however, are conspiracies to commit political crimes that would give advantage to their respective political parties. It is unrefined, it is cruel, it is illegal and unacceptable; it is inconsistent with Ghanas civilisation. This phenomenon began slowly with the beginning of our fourth Republic in 1992 when parties began to protect their ballot boxes with macho-men, it has evolved through different phases of ugliness through to 2009 and reached a climax in 2017, with memories of unwarranted attacks on police officers, judges in the courtroom, locking up of public officers, and then the events of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which is currently under inquiry. Organised armed groups of today can become tomorrows rebel groups that seek to spread their violent and extremists ideologies. These groups will become difficult and more expensive to disband, once they are able to gain a foothold and influence in the citizenry. Lets not forget what is happening in Burkina Faso where the government is struggling to control the activities of such violent extremist groups, which has developed into inter-communal conflicts. Most of these groups started as vigilante groups seeking to protect their interests. The recent alleged tapes of a very senior opposition party operative, threaten a showdown of unprecedented tango between the two leading political parties as we approach the 2020 general elections, leaving the country in no doubt of impending communal violence if immediate action is not taken. Our fledgling democracy has been taken back several years away from maturity. A sad reflection on our modern-day Ghanaian politician indeed! The only solution is for the police and the military to be given independent and unambiguous authority to deal ruthlessly with the menace in order to make illegal party armed militias highly unattractive. I support a legislative approach to outlaw such groups and impose heavy penalties on such offenders in our society. As we pray today thanking God for his grace and favour, let us also commit ourselves to rid our body politic of the nuisance of supposed vigilantes and their obscene brand of vigilantism. The political polarisation of our society is influencing and causing unnecessary and inaccurate branding of the church, making it difficult for churches to freely engage with politics. This development is very unhealthy as the church ought to be able to freely provide spiritual and moral leadership to society, which includes politics and politicians. Perez Chapel International has maintained respectable distance with all political parties in the country, whether they are in government or in opposition. We have continued to sustain relationships that reflect the general political persuasions of our congregation. We uphold our role as a moral society and a conscience to the nation but often times political mischief makers seek to label church leaders in a way that undermines our pursuits. Tagging Christian clerics with political colours, to a large extent, means gagging them. And being the moral compass of the society, gagging the cleric could well mean shutting down that very important compass, which, in turn, robs the nation of the voices of reason and caution, which are critical in steering the nation to its desired destination in peace and harmony. If the worst befall this country, the Christian cleric just as any ordinary vulnerable person, will not be spared. Therefore, why do people persistently colour the words and deeds of Christian clerics with politics to the point that they can no longer express themselves about the most basic issues of the country and its wellbeing? Paradoxically, when political parties engage at other religious houses of worship, hardly do you hear whispers of political patronage anywhere in society. It is our prayer that society would be a lot more charitable with the church, for society needs the church and especially the divine dimension it introduces in the affairs of the nation. The church is closely watching and monitoring all parties that seek to invite the Lord into their affairs so we can enrol in prayer and fasting for divine grace and favour for our beloved country and its citizens. Upholding the sanctity of our democracy is a duty for all Ghanaians. Politicians must play their part, and so must the church and every citizen. vigilantism cannot and must not be tolerated to upset the rhythm of our peace and democracy. Ghanas democracy does not need vigilantes and vigilantism! It is in this light that I welcome H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos call for the two leading political parties, the NPP and the NDC to begin a common process towards disbanding all party militias or vigilante groups in the country as soon as possible. I suggest a multi-pronged approach towards this effort; 1. A summit of the leadership of all the political parties, the apex bodies of relevant religious and civil society organisations, the Peace Council, representatives of the security agencies, the judiciary and any other key stakeholders in this matter. The objective should be to deliberate and adopt effective strategies to dismantle, dissolve and prohibit all forms of political thuggery, vigilantism, politically sponsored or affiliated militias, and criminal gangs; a zero-tolerance approach to political violence in all its forms. 2. Constitutional amendments and legislation to unequivocally outlaw, criminalise and severely punish all such activity. Severe sanctions should be prescribed for political parties that sponsor or condone vigilantism or indulge or affiliate with criminal gangs. 3. Empower the police and the military with unambiguous authority to deal ruthlessly with the menace in accordance with the laws, in order to make it unattractive, to eradicate it! 4. There is a need to effectively disarm, demobilise and reintegrate these groups into society to become productive citizens and not a burden. 5. To you my fellow Ghanaians, I want to entreat you not to just listen to those who call on you to pick up arms or mobilise for them. Remember that by doing so, you are only reinforcing the fear of the other camp to also arm themselves and this would definitely put our children and the future of our nation at risk. So be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Politicians will come and go, so please think about the future of Ghana and not the few gains of today. Lastly, the National Executive Council of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC of which I am a member) and its President Rev Prof Frimpong Manso have issued a warning that should the political parties fail to disband these vigilante groups, the Christian community would embark on continual demonstrations throughout the country. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video About 20,000 children are reportedly working as slaves on the Volta Lake in Ghana according to a CNN documentary posted on the facebook wall of the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. In his post, he said the government should find ways of addressing this issue instead of focusing on 'a leaked tape'. "Its obvious Governments entire focus this week has been on its grand diversionary strategy with that alleged leaked tape following Anas latest revelations; however, Government should now turn attention to this. It would be a fatal mistake not to closely assess the claims by CNN" he wrote. Read his entire post below; The CNN special report on child slavery in Ghana continues to air without any official response from Government. Not even a request for the raw unedited footage. This report cannot be good for our international image. Its obvious Governments entire focus this week has been on its grand diversionary strategy with that alleged leaked tape following Anas latest revelations; however, Government should now turn attention to this. It would be a fatal mistake not to closely assess the claims by CNN. Reports of this nature can have far-reaching ramifications if not strongly challenged when the claims are disputable or adequately responded to in terms of Governments remedial measures, that is, if we concede that truly 20,000 children live in SLAVERY on the Volta lake though I honestly have my doubts. Silence must not be an option. Urgent action required - Ghana first! Watch video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Each year, public schools across America celebrate National Reading Day. During this time, elected officials, public servants, and other community stakeholders visit local public and private schools and read to the students. Unfortunately, homeschool children, small children in Mothers Day Out programs, and non-school aged children, do not always have this opportunity.In order to help ensure this important community of children are included on Monday, from 10 a.m. noon, the HCSO will host an event at the West Annex at 6233 Dayton Boulevard for local homeschool and non-school age children to come and be read to by Sheriff Hammond and members of the HCSO.During this time, snacks will be provided by our local Signal Mountain Walmart and each child will receive a free childrens book courtesy of the Hamilton County READ 20 Program.Children will also receive HCSO coloring books, crayons, and a Junior Deputy Badge. We will also host a K-9 demonstration for the children, a drone demonstration provided by our UAS Division, and a small touch-a-truck area with some of our equipment including Bob, our SWAT Team Armored Personnel Carrier.Any homeschool child or non-school aged child is welcome to attend as long as a parent or guardian is present.Last year, in addition to visiting local public and private schools to read, Sheriff Hammond hosted an online Facebook Live reading via our HCSO Facebook page specifically for local homeschool and non-school aged children. This year, we will continue this opportunity as well, but we also want to host an event specifically for our homeschool and non-school aged community as we endeavor to support the importance of literacy. The Ballistic Unit of the Ghana Police Service has identified 19 bullet holes at various spots near the residence of Mr Delali Kwesi Brempong, the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election which was rocked by violence. The bullet holes were found on trees, a wall, two containers, including a hairdressing salon, a cargo truck and a pick-up. A ballistic expert of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Mr Michael Cudjoe, and other investigators walked members of the Emile Short Commission through the area on Friday. Locus visit The members of the commission, led by its chairman, Mr Emile Short, inspected the scene of the violence. The visit was meant to provide the commission with evidence or otherwise related to the testimonies given by witnesses who had appeared before it so far. It took them to the La-Bawaleshie Presbyterian Basic School, sites of bullet holes, near Mr Brempongs House, inside the house, as well as a hairdressing salon located 100 metres away from the house of the NDC candidate. Conducting the members of the commission round the area, Mr Cudjoe said the marks of the bullets indicated that they were fired from high velocity weapons, including AK47s and pistols. Guns He said from the bullet holes, it appeared that some of the gunshots were potentially aimed as warning shots hence they were fired upwards. Mr Cudjoe said the holes on the walls were not bullet holes but rather from nails meant to put a signage on the wall. The commissioners also met Mr Brempong who showed them the layout of his house, which, he said, included offices on the down floor and a church pastored by his wife on the first floor. He said the main house had his office, a garage, where he kept chemicals, including caustic soda, for his industrial work, a room for equipment for internet service. On the allegation that there was a container with weapons in the house, Mr Brempong said the police did not ask him anything. He said he was not questioned about any weapons by the police, adding that they said they were not there for that. He also offered to open his garage to the commissioners to see the content but they declined saying, it was not necessary. Briefing the media, the Executive Secretary to the commission, Mr Ernest Kofi Abotsi, said the visit allowed the commission to see things for themselves. Pictures can relay a thousand words that words cannot relay. The commission has had a first-hand opportunity to inspect bullet holes, angles of penetration, to speak to people on the ground, to inspect potential dangers that could have happened but for the intervention of God. By reason of this, the commission has had the opportunity to inspect for itself the things that weve heard and can now relate to the things weve heard in sittings to the things weve seen in practice. The commission will come up with an outcome that best supports the facts. This is a fact-finding mission and you cant conduct a fact-finding mission without visiting the locus. Todays visit is the concretisation of evidence that has been offered, he said. Source: atinkaonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department rescued six pets from a house fire at Dallas Lake Road on Saturday afternoon. At 12:15 p.m., a 911 call was made reporting a ceiling fire in a bedroom located at 1511 Dallas Lake Road. Dallas Bay VFD responded and arrived on the scene reporting heavy smoke coming from the front eaves of the home. The homeowner reported to the firefighters that her five dogs and cat were still in the house. Firefighters worked quickly to rescue the animals and save them from heavy smoke and fire. Other firefighters worked to contain the fire to the bedroom and attic area. Dallas Bay fire officials reported the homeowner was notified by the smoke detectors and went to investigate throughout the house. She eventually found smoke coming from the bedroom ceiling. Dallas Bay also reported their firefighters stopped the fire quickly and were able to save the house. There is heavy smoke damage throughout the house and fire damage in the bedroom and attic area. The cause of the fire is undetermined and will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. Damages are estimated at $20,000. Two firefighters were injured. They were bitten on the hands by two of the dogs during rescue efforts. They were treated on the scene by Hamilton County EMS. Animal Control was called to the scene to take the two dogs and quarantine them for a few days, which is standard policy. The homeowner will be staying with family. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones keeps relatively quiet about her private life with actor husband Michael Douglas. The couple has been together a long time and appears to be stronger than ever. Heres what you need to know about their marriage, their children, and their net worth. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones | Dan MacMedan/Getty Images How did Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas meet? Michael Douglas, son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas, was married previously. He met and began dating Zeta-Jones in 1998, and they married in 2000. The couple met at the Deauville Film Festival in France. The couple went through a rough patch several years back. Douglas was diagnosed with tongue cancer and Zeta-Jones spent a period of time in a hospital for her mental health, revealing her bipolar II diagnosis. They lived separately in 2013 but were back together by the next year. How many kids do they have? From his first marriage, Douglas has a son, Cameron. Zeta-Jones and Douglas have two children together. Son Dylan Michael was born in 2000, and daughter Carys Zeta followed in 2003. Now that theyre teenagers, both have a steady social media presence, so its easy to see what theyve been up to. Dylan began attending Brown University in Rhode Island in Fall 2018. Carys has an interest in fashion and has been spotted with her parents at Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana shows during Fall 2019 fashion week. Zeta-Jones took her kids out to a major event Dylan Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Carys Zeta Douglas attend The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama 2019 Gala on March 1, 2019.| Bonnie Biess/Getty Images On March 1, 2019, Zeta-Jones took Carys and Dylan with her to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama 2019 Gala in New York City. The Welsh actress was there to receive an honorary award. Its hard not to marvel at how grown up her kids are. Dylan wore a nice black suit, while Carys matched her moms burgundy gown with the floral accents of her own beautiful dress. Will Carys and Dylan join the family business? When both your parents are actors, its hard to imagine that the question wouldnt arise for kids like Carys and Dylan, especially considering their grandfathers legacy. In an interview with Town & Country, Carys talked about becoming an actor, and what it would mean to do so under her very unique circumstances. When I was younger I didnt like the idea of having this name attached to me, this kind of Douglas dynasty stuff, she said. I think what bothers me the most is that people think I dont work hard for it, that I dont need to work hard for it. That anything I do gets handed to me. When, honestly, I feel like its the opposite. I feel I need to constantly prove myself to peoplethat I am not just my parents daughter. Their net worth Zeta-Jones is reportedly worth $45 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Meanwhile, with his family wealth and a significantly longer career, Douglas is estimated to have a net worth of $300 million. However, their extraordinary wealth doesnt affect their parenting. In the Town & Country interview, while Zeta-Jones said that she is sick of being humble when it comes to her status, she expressed how important it was to her to make sure her children grew up with manners. Theres nothing worse than a privileged kid without manners. I drilled it into them like boot camp, said Zeta-Jones. [Carys] knows she cannot roll her eyes at me, or huff and puff around me. I never did it to my mother, and shes not doing it to me. Check out the Cheat Sheet on Facebook! John Mulaney | Rosalind OConnor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Former Saturday Night Live writer and current comedian/actor John Mulaney hosted SNL last night. When Mulaney hosts, its not uncommon for the SNL to feature sketches that he wrote but never made the show back when he was a writer. This episode was no different. The show featured resurrected old Mulaney sketches that were delightfully strange. The show also, though, featured some new Jussie Smollett content. SNL has the gift, burden, and duty to touch on whatevers currently in the news. Actor Jussie Smolletts been making headlines since the star first accused two men of attacking him for being a gay black man. The two men, brothers, have since come forward saying they were paid by Smollett to attack him and set the scene. Needless to say, the actors career has been tarnished, maybe for good. After the latest information about the case surfaced, Empire decided to write Smolletts character off the show. How do you write a joke about a gay black man orchestrating his own hate crime? The same way you write a joke about how the president of the United States paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their extramarital relations. SNLs Jussie Smollett sketch The sketch that features Smollet was called Shark Tank: Legal Edition, a game show where famous skeezy lawyers choose which crimes theyd like to represent. The lawyers featured were Michael Avenetti (played by Pete Davidson), former prosecutor and current Fox News banshee Jeanine Pirro ( played by Cecily Strong), Alan Dershowitz (played by Mulaney), Rudy Giuliani (played by Kate McKinnon), and the singing Cellino and Barnes duo (played by Kyle Mooney and Alex Moffat). The first case the lawyers considered taking was that of Robert Krafts, who recently pleaded not guilty to two counts of soliciting a prostitute in Jupiter, Florida, despite video evidence. As soon as Kraft (Beck Bennett) enters, Giuliani lets out an excited I already got a good feeling about this guy. The lawyers went down the line sharing why they were sympathetic to Krafts case (Cant a billionaire get a hojo in peace?!), and how theyd be more than happy to represent him. Next, in walks Jussie Smollett (played by Chris Redd). Hey everyone, you wont believe this but I was just attacked outside the studio by Donald Trump himself, said Redd as Smollett. Jussie, is that true? asked Mulaneys Dershowitz. Are there cameras outside? Yes. Then no it is not. When asked why he was here today, Redds character replied, cause I broke humanity? To convince the Shark Tank lawyers to take his case he offered Empire spoilers as a means of payment: I die. Wow! A gay black man lying about an attack. I wrote Fox News fan fiction about this but I never thought it would come true. Im recusing myself because I am just too turned on, declared Strongs Pirro. The Jussie Smollett Weekend Update joke The Shark Tank sketch wasnt the only mention of Smollett on last nights episode. Weekend Update host Colin Jost got the actor again with this zinger: Police in New York arrested a man who faked his own abduction and robbery to avoid paying the 50 grand he owed in a Super Bowl pool. Worst, the man had just lost his job on Empire. The audience let out a collective Ooohhhh. Read more: John Mulaneys Valentines Day Tribute Includes This Real Housewife Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg is known for many things. But now, hes being talked about not for one of his films, but for his stance against the Netflix platform. Many are objecting to Spielbergs opinions regarding Oscar nominations for streaming platforms, as well as his proposed plan of action. Heres what you need to know about the situation. Steven Spielberg | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Can Netflix films be nominated for Oscars? Since Netflix began creating original content, the subject of what kinds of awards it is eligible for has been a discussion. In 2013, the series won its first Emmys for House of Cards the same year that the platform received its first Oscar nomination for The Square in the Documentary Feature category. Oddly enough, it was also nominated for Emmys, as they were still trying to determine how to categorize Netflix original content. While Documentary Features and Shorts on Netflix have received nods every year since, it wasnt until last years Mudbound that the nominations began to spread into other categories, specifically those received for feature films. And in 2019, Netflix had a real player in the mix for the first time with Alfonso Cuarons Roma, which took home the Oscar in three of 10 nominated categories. Heres what Steven Spielberg is proposing According to Spielberg, this is a threat to the motion picture theatrical experience. He, along with a group of Academy members, propose that in order for a film to eligible for an Oscar, it but have an exclusive theatrical window of at least four weeks. This is for major Oscars likely referring to categories in which Roma was nominated, like Best Picture and Best Director. He argued it is about the experience While accepting a recent award, Spielberg said, I hope all of us really continue to believe that the greatest contributions we can make as filmmakers is to give audiences the motion picture theatrical experience. Im a firm believer that movie theaters need to be around forever. Roma did spend time in the theaters. Netflix has typically shown its Oscar hopefuls in select theaters for a limited period of three weeks. However, with the upcoming Scorsese drama The Irishman, there are talks of a wider theatrical release. Heres why Spielberg is facing controversy for his opinions Its possible that Steven Spielberg doesnt know how difficult it is to get movies made in the legacy system as a woman or a person of color. In his extraordinary career, he hasnt exactly produced or executive produced many films directed by them. https://t.co/i88BrApzR8 Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) March 2, 2019 There are several issues with Spielbergs arguments. In a thread on Twitter, The Blacklist founder Franklin Leonard pointed out the discrepancies in the industry that have led to movements like Times Up and the 4% inclusion challenge. Spielberg comes from a place of privilege as a white man. As Leonard said Spielberg doesnt know what its like to struggle to get a film made as a woman and/or person of color. I wish #StevenSpielberg, who has already won many awards & Oscars for his great work, would spend his energy publicly committing to the #4percentchallenge. Kay Cannon (@KayKayCannon) March 2, 2019 This also has to do with the types of movies nominated. Despite his status in Hollywood, Cuarons Roma may not have been made if it werent for Netflix. Critic Candice Frederick tweeted an article in which he spoke about the arguments of streaming services vs. theaters, in which he argued that the two should work together. As the quote below points out, black-and-white foreign language films, specifically those with no well-known actors, arent typical fare in mainstream theaters, and probably wouldnt have received the acceptance or push that his movie did at Netflix. Reminder: Cuaron's comments regarding this tired af conversation https://t.co/deYXcBBMGx "My question to you is, how many theaters do you think [would have] a Mexican film in black and white in Spanish that is a drama without stars?" Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) March 2, 2019 More well-known voices also got in on the conversation. Academy-Award nominee Ava DuVernay was in agrees with the above comments, requesting that the Academy allow her and others who disagree with Spielberg to voice their concerns if the measure is considered. Dear @TheAcademy, This is a Board of Governors meeting. And regular branch members cant be there. But I hope if this is true, that youll have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently. Thanks, Ava DuVernay. https://t.co/DFBLVWhiJj Ava DuVernay (@ava) March 1, 2019 Right now, this is simply an argument. However, with Spielbergs influence in Hollywood, it will likely continue to be addressed. There may be change on the horizon for how the Academy views nominees on varying platforms, but hopefully it will remain inclusive across the board. Check out the Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Prince William has been with Kate Middleton since their college days at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland back in the early 2000s. As soon as they went public with their relationship, cameras began following Kate everywhere. She once complained that she couldnt even so much as get a cup of take-out coffee without being followed, and William was understandably angry. Years later, when Prince Harry met his wife, Meghan Markle, history repeated itself. They announced they were a couple, and suddenly, paparazzi were camped outside of Meghans Toronto home. Concerned for Meghans safety, Kensington Palace issued a statement to the media asking them to keep their distance from the American actress. Some people might wonder, why are William and Harry so protective of Kate and Meghan? Back to the days of Princess Diana Princess Diana And Prince Charles | Patrick Riviere/Getty Images Royal fans vividly remember William and Harrys mother, Princess Diana. We look back on her with nostalgia and love, remembering the kind-hearted person she was. Wherever Diana went, flashbulbs were constantly going off. Everyone wanted to get a photograph of the princess, whether she was doing charity work or attending a formal dinner. Diana was, unfortunately, constantly being harassed by paparazzi, to the point where she could barely walk down the street without having her picture taken. She, too, issued several statements asking photographers to please allow her some privacy. Unfortunately, it did not happen. The Paris car crash In August of 1997, Princess Diana was in Paris with her friend, Dodi Fayed. After having dinner, the pair left the hotel they were staying at and noticed they were being followed by approximately 25 photographers. The car was traveling at an extraordinarily high speed, and the driver ultimately lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a pillar in the Pont de lAlma tunnel. Diana, along with Fayed, as well as the driver of the car, Henri Paul, were all tragically killed in the crash. Is this why William and Harry are so protective of their wives? At the time of Dianas death, William was just 15 years old, and Harry was only 12 years of age. The loss impacted their lives tremendously, and they still talk about it to this day. Now that they are both married, they understand the consequences of being in the public eye. Their wives are both extremely popular with royal fans around the world, and photographs of them are priceless. Both princes want to ensure their wives are as safe as possible at all times. How do Prince William and Prince Harry feel? Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex | Samir Hussein/WireImage Naturally, both William and Harry suffered quite a loss when their mother passed away at such a young age. Harry has said that he wishes that there was something he could have done to keep Diana safe, and its likely that William feels the same way. However, since they were both still children at the time of her death, there really wasnt anything they could do. Now that they are older, with wives of their own, they will stop at nothing to protect Kate and Meghan. Protecting their families Since Prince William has three children of his own and Prince Harry has a baby on the way, they may feel that photographers are even more persistent at following their wives and families. Chances are, both princes will go above and beyond to make sure there are proper security measures in place whenever Kate, Meghan, and their children are traveling or making public appearances. Its certainly understandable that the best protection possible is something that is extremely important to William and to Harry. The entire world adored Princess Diana, and she will forever be missed! Windsor Castle holds a special place in many royal family members hearts including Queen Elizabeth II herself. For most of her life, the countryside abode has served as a weekend getaway, where she and her husband, Prince Philip and other members of her royal family have escaped the hustle and bustle of city life. Its also where many royal couples have married (Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, to name a few) and live full-time. But, what will happen to Windsor Castle once Queen Elizabeth dies? Up ahead, we explore the future of Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is the queens weekend home.| Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images Will Prince Charles move to Windsor Castle? Prince Charles has made it clear: He has zero interest in moving to Buckingham Palace after he ascends the throne. In fact, even if he wanted to move there, the current renovations (which wont end until the late 2020s) would prevent him from doing so. The future king instead wishes to stay at his current London abode, Clarence House, which is located just down the road from the royal family headquarters. The main reason Prince Charles doesnt want to move to Buckingham Palace has to do with its size and upkeep. He doesnt see it as a viable future home or a house thats fit for purpose in the modern world, a royal insider told Hello Magazine. He feels its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable. Windsor Castle is not much different in comparison. Will Prince Charles continue his mothers tradition and use it as a weekend home. Its possible. The difference between the two is that Windsor Castle is not the royal headquarters and open to the public for seven months at a time (Buckingham Palace is only open for three months in the summer). And, it would serve as the future kings weekend abode, not full-time London residence. On top of that, there is much more allure to Windsor Castle, as it is located just down the road from Prince Harry and Meghan Markles new family home, Frogmore Cottage. Prince Charles likely plans to make regular trips to Windsor to spend time with his son, daughter-in-law, and newest grandbaby. What will happen to Buckingham Palace? As for Buckingham Palace, Prince Charles has big plans for the royal headquarters. And, although he might not want to live there, he certainly plans to spend a lot of time and conduct business behind its historic walls. Heres what the future king has in store for Buckingham Palace. Open it to the public Right now, Buckingham Palace is open to the public for only a few months in summer, when the royal family heads to Balmoral Castle for holiday. However, since Prince Charles wont live there, he wants to open the royal headquarters to the public for longer periods of time (perhaps even as long as Windsor Castle). A Queen Elizabeth II memorial exhibit In addition to opening the palace to the public for longer periods of time, Prince Charles also wants to curate a special memorial exhibit so that visitors can learn about Her Majestys historic reign. Business as usual Despite allowing more public access, Prince Charles plans to conduct business as usual inside Buckingham Palace. He will continue to host state dinners, knightings, and other ceremonies, as well as keep his office inside the palace. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! A tragedy in the family coincides with the arrival of a new life Editors Note: This is the second in a four-part series about the Mill family, early pioneers in the Cheney/Spangle area. The stories are researched and written by Robert Bauer, the great-great-great-great-grandson of Robert Mill. Ella Ruby Bauer, maiden name Mill, was born on her grandpa Robert Mills 160-acre homestead located on Wells Road south of Cheney in the Washington Territory on Jan. 4, 1885 in a wood-frame house that measured 16 feet by 20 feet with a loft. The house is now known as the Original Homestead House of Robert Mill. Her parents were John Mill and Emma Catherine Mill, maiden name Forsyth. John was Roberts oldest son. When Ella was born she already had three brothers, Roy, Boone and Robert. Also, there was her father and mother, John and Emma and grandpa Mill living in the tiny house. The three boys slept in the loft and her mom and dad, grandpa Mill and Ella slept on the main floor. The adults kept a close eye on their infant child. The space was tight. Grandpa Mill died on Dec. 29, 1886 and in 1891 was buried in the Spangle Cemetery, Spangle Washington, Lot 44. There were two more children born to John and Emma, a daughter named Mary and son named Perry. What a full house, full of love. Ella had an ordinary life for a typical pioneer girl. When she was five or six she started helping her mom Emma fetch water for the animals and the house from the well which was up a draw east of the house. In time Ella learned how to hitch the horses up to the wagon and drove the team to the well and back. Ella also helped in feeding the animals twice a day and helped her mother in the kitchen. Ella attended school at Wright School which is located directly north of the Mill Farm close to the corner of Wells Road and Pine Grove Road, in the Pioneer Township, Cheney, Washington. Even though Ella had her chores, she was raised by her parents to be a refined woman, home maker and loving wife. Ella meant the world to them. When Ella was 18 a neighbor man, George Ernst Bauer, started calling on her. George had a 400-acre farm around four miles east of the Mill Farm, a 10-minute ride on horseback through the fields. George purchased the farm in the early 1900s from the Kaplin Family. Today, the farm is known as The Old Smokey Kaplin Place. The couple would attend the grange hall dances, go boating at Philleo Lake, go on buggy rides and picnics at one of the other local lakes, all supervised of course. The courtship went on for close to two years until George asked the question, Ella, will you marry me? Ella said yes. She loved George so much. The wedding took place on July 23, 1905 at the brides fathers home. In the Cheney Free Press dated July 28, 1905 it states The marriage of Geo. E. Bauer and Ella R. Mill, both of whom are living a few miles south of town, was solemnized last Sunday at the home of the brides parents. The home was very prettily decorated. Rev. A.W. Roberts of the Methodist church performed the ceremony. Present at the wedding were many guests, friends and family. After the wedding Ella took up residence with her husband on McDowell Road near Plaza. Ella cleaned, cooked and helped around the farm. George milked the cow, fed the animals and worked the farm. They were both very happy. In late August or early September of 1906 Ella conceived a child. George, Ella and Ellas family were so excited. Another generation of the Mill family was going to be born. In the late afternoon or early evening of May 17, 1907, Ella went into labor. As told by Laura Helmer, maiden name Mill, daughter of Roy Mill, Ellas older brother, the labor was hard going on for hours. Ella was exhausted. The attending doctor practiced medicine in Plaza. He was young and inexperienced and felt more had to be done after so many hours of labor. He did not want to lose his patient and the baby. Sometime around 11 p.m., he reached into his black bag and brought out forceps. The infant was pulled from Ellas womb and a son named John William Bauer was born. There were complications. Ella was hemorrhaging. Ellas brother Boone and sister Mary were in the room. No one knows what was said, if anything. Ella died early in the morning, May 18, 1907. She is buried in the Spangle Cemetery, Spangle, Washington, Lot 44, The Mill Family Plot. Margie Green, maiden name Mill, youngest daughter of Roy Mill, Emmas older brother said her dad told her that his mom and papas house use to be full of Ellas pictures, one on every wall of the house. After sister Ella died the pictures disappeared from the walls of the house and no one really spoke of her. The Mill family was hurt so deeply. After Ellas death, George decided to keep his son Johnny and planned to raise him. Emma and sister Mary visited often to check on young Johnny and George, helping if needed. As Nona Hengen states in a story published in Wheat Life Magazine, Prior to harvest, 1907, Emma saddled her horse and rode to Georges farm through the fields. The ride probably took 10 to 15 minutes. Emma got off her horse and went inside to have a talk with George. What was said is unknown but after a short time Emma went outside and mounted her horse. George came out with a wooden shoebox with Johnny in the box. George handed the box up to her. Emma rode for home. After Emma got home Nona Hengen states that Emmas husband John went out in the barnyard and had a talk with the cows asking, Which one of you is going to help raise the boy? One cow raised his head and said moo. John said, youre it. The Mill family raised John William Bauer. Memorial Day weekend event could draw up to 3,000 spectators, 400 reenactors Washington State Civil War Association reenactors take part in a simulated battle in 2003 at Fort Steilacoom in Western Washington. The area is similar to the location the association and Cheney have selected near the city's wastewater treatment plant for an inaugural event over two and a half days this Memorial Day weekend. The Civil War is coming to Cheney. Or rather an historically-close reenactment of the conflict that engulfed the nation for four years during the 1860s and is the deadliest war ever fought by U.S. forces that changed the country in ways still felt today. Whether it's called the Battle of Cheney or the Battle of Minnie Creek, Cheney officials have struck an agreement with the Washington Civil War Association to host the annual Civil War reenactment over two and a half days this Memorial Day weekend. The event, which has drawn 200 - 400 reenactors and 1,000 - 3,000 spectators, will take place in a wooded area off Anderson Road near the city's wastewater treatment plant and also around Cheney itself. Two activities planned for downtown include a Saturday evening street dance downtown and a skirmish between selected troops. And while it's been billed as a reenactment, association event coordinator Mike Inman views the experience as much more than that. "You're not out here in a reenactment," Inman said. "You've stepped through a rift in time." The event is coming to Cheney partly through the efforts of city building inspector Terry Mourning - himself a reenactor as a member of a unit known as the 7th Tennessee. The reenactment began about 20 years ago, held the first year at Mukogawa/Fort Wright in Spokane and then for about 10 years down the road in a large field at Riverside State Park's equestrian area. It moved from Riverside to Deep Creek Farms northwest of Fairchild Air Force Base. After the owner of the farm passed away a couple years ago, his wife said the association could do one more year - 2018 - and then needed to look for a new location. When Mourning saw the association needed a new site for the Memorial Day event, he got busy. "I thought, yeah, I think we've got a site so I started looking around and found one," he said. The site north of Anderson Road just over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks is lightly forested, with an open field for skirmishing. Inman added its secluded location should enhance the experience of stepping back in time. "At Riverside, you'd look up and see modern houses on the hillsides," he added. According to a press release, the Washington Civil War Association has between 700-800 members, with Spokane County being the home of the largest group of reenactors. The Memorial Day event can draw reenactors from not only Washington but also Idaho, Oregon, British Columbia and as far away as Montana and Utah. According to the nonprofit association's mission statement, the objective "is to interpret and present the daily life of Confederate and Federal soldiers, and their families through living history, reenactments, first person characterizations and education." Reenactors do everything at reenactments in period-style, from what they wear to the gear they use to camp at the site to how they conduct the reenactments, which includes tactics used during the war. "Living history representatives" include Union and Confederate infantry, artillery (full-size cannons) cavalry, medical units, musicians and civilian refugees. There will also be a Memorial Day ceremony and a "lantern tour" after dark during which reenactors will fire their weapons so spectators can see how much flash is put out. Inman said they are hoping to turn this year's event into an unofficial 10-year run, or more, in Cheney. Mourning added the association is also looking at applying for city lodging tax funding to help with promotion and other aspects of the event. Both men said they hope the reenactment serves not only as a tourism boost to the city, but a chance for people to learn and come to grips with why the Civil War was fought, and how. "The fact that you can immerse yourself in the time period is nice," Mourning said of the opportunity. John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com. Kathmandu, Nepal: Final rites of Former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and senior communist leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari is going to be held at Pashupati Aryaghat on Sunday evening. Various leaders, family members and people from different walks of life have thronged at the party office to offer condolence to late Adhikari. Before the final rites event, Adhikaris body is kept at the central party office of Nepal Communist Party in Dhumbarahi for condolences. Final rite processing will begin after 12 pm, the NCP has said. Adhikari passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 82 due to ailments related to the lungs and heart. He was admitted at Dhumbarahi-based HAMS Hospital about two weeks before after he complained of chest pain. Christians need to re-examine doctrine if they think culture is too evil to redeem: Andy Crouch Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment ORLANDO If the Gospel is to be relevant for a rapidly changing society Christians must re-examine their doctrine that functions like culture is too soiled to redeem, author Andy Crouch says. Speaking before hundreds gathered at the Association of Biblical Higher Education's annual meeting held Feb. 20-22, author Andy Crouch, whose most recent book, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology In Its Proper Place, exhorted those in attendance that if their theology does not extend to redeem culture it is woefully inadequate. The theme of the conferences was "leveraging cultural insight for adaptive change" patterned after the sons of Issachar who, as it's explained in 1 Chronicles 12:32, had an understanding of the times. He showed a picture of an image of hands in yellow rubber gloves along with the words "Deliver us from culture," noting how quickly American culture has changed. In previous decades culture-shaping institutions were oriented toward the Gospel and left a distinctly Christian mark on society, he noted. "In less than a generation those institutions were handed over initially to a very different kind of Christian" Crouch said, mentioning hospitals and the YMCA, "and eventually to people who did not feel it was necessary to keep that faith perspective in those institutions." Yet it is mistaken for a Christian to regard "culture" as synonymous with "evil," he said. Praying that God "deliver us from evil," a line from the Lord's prayer, is quite different from praying "deliver us from culture." "I wonder, do we really mean that? Deliver us from culture? Because culture is a pretty big subject." To pray to be delivered from culture, he continued, is the opposite of what Jesus asked for in John 17 when He prayed: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." The church has thrived most when Christians are embedded in cultures that were not their own, he went on to say, and they need not fear getting dirty. The biblical stories of Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, and all of the Israelite exiles illustrate this, he said, as they had to learn how to be faithful to God without their familiar support structures. When Christians stop thinking culturally, they cease thinking biblically, he said, and that thinking is distinct from the thinking about how churches might strategically use something within culture for their own purposes in the church separate from the world. "The more biblical we become, the more we will be sent into culture into exactly where Jesus prayed," Crouch said. Crouch stressed that the outlook a follower of Jesus takes when engaging culture must be grounded in the entire great story of Scripture from Creation to the Fall to the restoration of all things. And if your doctrine of creation extends only to nature but not culture it is too small, he said. "The promise of the Bible is that we're going to see the restoration of all things," he emphasized, "including the salvation of persons whom God loves and their soul and body. But not stopping with the restoration of the soul and body but the restoration of the whole broken cosmos that is waiting for the revealing of the new breed of the sons and daughters of God." "What is at stake is how good of a [Gospel] story we have to tell." The author argued that in the Creation story a progression exists where God moves from pronouncing what He made as "good" to "very good" after He made human being in His image. That "very good" marks an important shift because now God's image bearers who, like God, carry creativity are unleashed to co-labor with God in His ongoing work, he said, and when they take dominion over the Earth, their cultural activity included, that world will flourish. It's so sad that Christians have become associated with a very thin piece of the doctrine of Creation. Of course we believe that God created everything that is. But we're not known [for that] and we're not prepared." Meanwhile, Scripture speaks about cultural and social definitions of sin in addition to an individual's ability to do wrong, specifically idolatry and injustice. Idolatry is the creating of cultural goods that work to replace God, and it is especially evident today in technology, Crouch said, projecting the icon for the tech giant Apple a small apple with a bite taken out of one side on a screen behind him, noting how closely it represents "forbidden fruit." We need a deeper understanding of the Fall that doesn't just get us to sin, but to negative God-substitutes. And those substitutes, because they do not work, lead us then to create systems that exploit other people to give us what the Bible didn't give us." "What idolatry leads to are systems of exploitation in which we try to grab and grasp from other human being and from God's created world the good things that we have been promised." Injustice, then, occurs as humans pursue things God never meant us to have in ways not to be pursued. We exploit humans in durable, oppressive systems in which a few do get to feel like God while the rest suffer, he said. The ABHE conference, attended mostly by small Bible school and seminary presidents and top officials, concluded Feb. 22. At Least 32 Christians killed as mob burns homes, church in Nigeria Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At least 32 Christians were killed by suspected Fulani extremists in Nigeria Tuesday, sources told a leading Christian persecution monitoring group. The early-morning attack occurred in the district of Maro in the Kaduna state of north-central Nigeria, according to reports. In addition to the loss of life, homes and at least one church were burned as hundreds were displaced. Some homes even reportedly had sleeping residents inside when they were lit on fire. Please pray for peace in Kaduna state hundreds have been displaced and hundreds killed by the Fulani jihadists, The Rev. Bakari Ibrahim, director of the ECWAs Evangelical Missionary Society, told Morning Star News. We evacuated about a hundred EMS kids from Kufana for safety. Resident Mordecai Funom Ibrahim told the persecution news outlet that about 400 armed Fulanis attacked villages around Maro around 6 a.m. Tuesday. At the time of the attack, a group of women affiliated with the ECWA had gathered for a meeting at the local church. We ran out of the church building as the shooting was going on, one of the women from the group told Morning Star News. Many have been killed, and I have not seen my family members since morning. I have escaped out of the area. A Kaduna government official confirmed the attack in a statement. Today, the Kaduna State government was briefed by security agencies of renewed attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area, and in parts of neighboring Kachia Local Government Area, Samuel Aruwan, the senior special assistant to the governor, told The Guardian. The state government has been assured that the security agencies are working assiduously to contain the situation. The government is saddened by these attacks, condemns the perpetrators and urges all residents of the area to support the security agencies in their efforts to protect communities. The incident was also condemned by the Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria. The organization warned youths in the area against responding with violence. The attackers fled later, they had already burned houses and a church. The youths came out and guard the environment, with the intervention of security. Normalcy has been restored, The Rev. Joseph Hayab, leader of the state chapter, said. We have appealed to the youths in the area that there must never be any reprisal. We want to give the security operatives in the state the benefit of the doubt to go after the killers. We dont want any reprisal attack because the circle of violence and killings will continue. The Guardian reports that one credible source puts the death toll at around 28 but noted that others were still missing. The source noted that one police officer was killed and three others were missing. As a result of the attack, a local boarding school was forced to close down. Tuesdays attack follows a Feb. 10 Fulani attack in the same district that killed 10 Catholic Christians along with an unborn child and wounded five others. A Survivor told Morning Star News that around 11 p.m. that day, a large group of Fulani surrounded the village and killed five of his family members. We heard gunshots, and this forced me and my family to remain in our bedrooms as it was difficult for us to run out of the house, the survivor was quoted as saying. The Fulani gunmen surrounded our house and were shooting and shouting, Allahu akbar [Allah is greater]. They killed my father, mother, two brothers, and one of my sisters-in-law. Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst nation in the world when it comes to persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USA's 2019 World Watch List. Last year was a deadly one for Nigerian Christians as thousands were killed by Fulani radicals. "What is happening in Plateau state and other select states in Nigeria is pure genocide and must be stopped immediately," Christian Association of Nigeria and church denominational heads in Plateau State said in a joint press release last year. Calif. Pastor Gets 24 Years in Prison for Defrauding Congregants of a Million Dollars Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A California pastor was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Friday after he was found to have defrauded members of his congregation out of a million dollars in investments. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra called Pastor Luther Feltus-Curry's case "despicable" when announcing the sentencing. "This is a despicable case in which church congregants trusted their pastor and then lost their life savings," Becerra said, according to the East Bay Times. "Today's sentence serves as a stern warning the California Department of Justice will vigorously descend on individuals who use positions of trust to scam people." Feltus-Curry, 69, was convicted in February of 27 counts of felony theft and securities fraud that he carried out at his Revival Center Ministries in Vallejo. "He and a co-conspirator, Alma Perez, created shell companies and promised their victims low risk and high returns," AP explained. "Instead they used the money for personal expenses and get-rich-quick schemes, ultimately defrauding the victims of their whole investment." Perez was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year. Earlier in September, former Tennessee lawmaker and Christian politician Larry Bates was sentenced to 21 years in prison, also for defrauding believers. Bates apparently ran a multimillion-dollar Ponzi coin scheme related to end-of-the-world predictions, and used his Christian broadcast programs to encourage listeners to buy gold and silver coins. The coins were supposed to give believers financial protection against a religious and economic collapse termed "mystery Babylon," though some of those who purchased the items never even received them. The victims included Christian pastor Charles Grimsley from Mesa, Colorado, who said that he and his wife sent Bates more than $200,000 of their retirement money, but got little in return. Judith Ponder, from Kerrville, Texas, another victim, said that she and her mother lost more than $1.8 million dollars due to Bates. The former lawmaker had apparently used the "mystery Babylon" phrase as found in Revelation 17:5 in the Bible. The Christian Post reported back in 2015 that "while there are numerous theories as to the identity of mystery Babylon whether the Bible text is describing a person, place or system, for example Larry Bates taught his viewers, listeners and readers that it was a 'demonic blend of the world system of economics, politics and religion.'" FBI Wants Victims to Come Forward After Disney Imposter Scams Church Out of $340K Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The FBI is asking any additional victims of a serial conman who defrauded some 22 investors at a Tennessee church of $340,000 to come forward after he pretended, among other things, to be the owner of Disney Animation Studios. A release from the Department of Justice said Kanwar Sarabjit Singh, a legal permanent resident who is a citizen of India, gained the trust of the pastor and his church in Pigeon Forge in 2012. His victims include elderly members whom he falsely told he owned a small company in India that provided labor for services, including data entry, to two large, international companies. He told them that for a small, upfront investment, they would see a large return on their money. Singh, 51, who also went by the name Sandy, told his victims several different stories, including that he owned Disney Animation Studios, or that he was making an animated movie for Disney, or that he had a company in India that worked for Disney and Citibank, or that he had a business in Tennessee that set up security cameras in hotel lobbies, Knox News reported. Court records say he repeatedly convinced his victims to pay him thousands of dollars which they paid in cash or with checks or through wire transfers. They would sometimes even pay money through their pastor who is identified in court records as just "Pastor Mike." His full name and the name of the church are not listed in the records. Singh strung his victims along with fake letters with Disney and Citibank logos which purportedly showed his ties to those companies. He even signed agreements to repay some of his investors but only managed to return a fraction of what he took in some cases. The FBI is urging anyone who has been victimized by Singh's fraud scheme to call their Washington Field Office at 202-278-2000. In a separate case, Singh pleaded guilty on Monday to operating a fraud scheme in which he used Facebook and WhatsApp to scam people seeking to purchase United States visas, the DOJ said. He reportedly misrepresented himself as an employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who worked in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. He told victims who were impoverished and lived overseas that he could obtain genuine U.S. visas in exchange for a fee of $3,000 to $4,000. Singh created a fake photo identification document purporting to be from DHS, which he emailed to others as evidence that he was able to obtain U.S. immigration documents. He instructed individuals seeking immigration documents to email him passport photographs, copies of their passports and other personally identifying information and to send him money via overnight delivery service or by wire transfer. After receiving these documents and the requested fee up front, Singh created and emailed fake letters purporting to be from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, which falsely represented that there was an appointment to pick up the requested visa documents. Singh pleaded guilty to wire fraud and impersonating a federal officer and now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Dec. 14. Husband and wife co-pastors are trending, but scholars dispute whether its biblical Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Its been some seven years now since Pastor Marty Anderson and his wife Robin have been serving together as co-pastors of Commonwealth Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and everything, he says, has been copacetic. Its equal, he recently told The Christian Post about the power-sharing leadership structure between him and his wife. We also have a church council that helps lead the church as well. So when we have different ideas about the church, its not just us. We dont have authority over the whole church. Our church is made up of a lot of leaders and a lot of leaders have to input and this Baptist church makes all the decisions for itself. They make the decisions of what pastors they want to have. They make the decision of how much we are going to budget. We give them direction and we help them and if we disagree on something we take it to our church council and we all work at it, he said. Marty doesnt see himself as having any greater authority over Robin when it comes to leadership of the church and she likewise has no authority over him at the progressive Baptist church. Neither one of us has authority over each other. Were more like a team, he said. I dont have authority over her. I dont make her cover her head. I dont make her be silent and she doesnt expect, demand anything from me. A few months ago, John Gray of Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina, who is listed with his wife Aventer as senior pastors on the churchs website called her a covering. I married a woman two sizes too big. I have to grow into Aventer. Shes a coat. I still cant fit her. Shes bigger than me and shes had to cover me while I grow up. I gotta grow into her. Shes a covering, not a lid. Because if a man marries a lid shell stop your dream. But if you marrying a covering, shell push you to your destiny. Let me tell you something, my wife has endured more pain birthing me than both of our children. She has sacrificed these last eight years, uncovering the painful areas of my manhood and covering the areas that could have exposed me, he said in an interview on Sister Circle last fall. While husband and wife co-pastoring teams like the Andersons and the Grays have been trending slowly at least over the last decade as a viable form of church leadership, theology experts dispute whether the model is supported by Scripture. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Jason K. Allen, a Southern Baptist who is also a professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, argues that the Bible does not support that model of church leadership. You typically see that co-pastor set-up in more charismatic churches. In the SBC, you really never see the co-pastor setup when the co-pastor means that the wife would be preaching as well as exercising some sort of leadership, directional authority with the congregation, he told CP. Pastors wives, he said, are more likely to be functioning as an extension of the pastors work in areas such as hospital visits, discipling women and working as counselors. He said the confessional statement of the SBC, which is the largest Protestant denomination in America, encompassing more than 45,000 churches, speaks to the office of the pastor or the lead elder being reserved to qualified men only. And that voice, that conviction, is taken explicitly from Scripture in places like I Timothy 3: 1-7, Titus 1: 6-9, he said. These two essential New Testament passages he said, speak the most clearly about who qualifies as a pastor or elder. Its not a point that any man is qualified and any woman is not qualified to be a pastor. Rather, the Apostle Paul goes to great lengths, spelling out the qualifications not just being a man but a one woman man, not just being a man whos only been married one time but a man whose heart and life is devoted only to his wife. Theres a whole list of character qualifications there, he said. If you were to ask me in short why the Southern Baptists do not have husband and wife co-pastors its because the Southern Baptists believe (according to Scripture) that the office of the pastor, of a senior pastor, of an elder is reserved for qualified men only, he said. Churches that use a co-pastoring model that lifts wives up to act as leaders are acting contrary to Scripture, he argued. I would say churches that do that are taking a step beyond what Scripture permits, what Scripture calls us to and theyre choosing to operate in a way that is contrary to I Timothy 3, Allen said. He pointed out that more progressive denominations are not looking toward the New Testament for specific words of instruction that defines who is a minister. He also noted that some would note that Pauls advice against women in leadership was a first century cultural expectation. He argued, however, that the guidance isnt limited to the first century and that Paul himself roots his argument not in the first century but in the creative order of Genesis 1 and 2. Thats where Paul takes his argument in I Timothy 2. He takes it back to Genesis and to the creative order. People often misunderstand what evangelicals, Southern Baptists do and practice. Sometimes that leads to stereotypes and caricatures. The Bible believes in honoring women. The Southern Baptist Convention believes in honoring women. We have women in a whole host of roles. Im president of a seminary. A significant portion of our student body is female. About 1/3 of our student body is females preparing for positions in ministry. But that step to be elder or to be pastor or co-pastor he could not support. We dont mandate what they can or cannot do after they graduate, Allen noted. Female students at the seminary, he said, are informed about what they can expect in Southern Baptist and other evangelical churches. Wed be doing a disservice to our students if we said come study, spend a bunch of money on your degree and be ready to pastor a church when you graduate. Wed be misrepresenting to our female students what they should expect after graduation, he said. Most of the female students he knows at the seminary, he said, are studying to be missionaries, counselors or other ministry roles within the confines of their understanding of Scripture. They are not really studying for that pastoral leadership role, Allen said. The Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, professor of Christian Ethics at the Howard University School of Divinity and senior pastor of the Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C., challenged Allens argument that the Bible doesnt support women in pastoral roles by pointing to the example of first century Christian husband and wife missionary couple, Aquila and Priscilla. They were a clergy couple that worked alongside Paul the Apostle. And the Bible says Aquila and Priscilla, they were together, they had the same vocation as Paul. Paul spoke very highly of them. When Apollos came preaching, he was a little erroneous in his preaching. It was Priscilla who pulled him aside and corrected him, mentored him and shepherded him to a better way of preaching, Sanders said. The office of pastor is biblical, pastor is a shepherd. Not all the ways that we identify pastors, elevate pastors, employ pastors are biblical but the concept of a shepherd who teaches and nurtures the flock, thats what a pastor is. A pastor, in my view, is not necessarily male or female. It is just a person who has the gift and the charisma, if you will, and the authority of the congregation to do that work of shepherding, she argued. She noted, however, that in many black churches, the idea of the pastors wife being referred to as first lady has complicated the true leadership roles that women can play in churches. A woman, she argued, should not be treated as a pastor simply because she is married to one. The complication is how we deal with marriage and ministry. And [in] many of our black churches, we have developed this notion of first lady. And so the wife of the pastor is the first lady of the church. But first lady nomenclature comes from the White House. The president of the United States always has a wife, at least historically Somehow in the black church we decided that we wanted to give a title to the wife of the pastor we call first lady. I think co-pastor sometimes is just an evolution of that, [saying] OK, were going to give her a higher title, make her the co-pastor. Heres my problem: if that woman is called to ministry and has the gift and the equipping to be a shepherd, there is no problem. But if she just has that position earned through the pastor then I see it in the same light as I see the first lady. Its just something from the culture and people approve of it, and its a category that they want to identify with, Sanders said. I would prefer that the co-pastor be authorized or ordained, credentialed, trained, equipped and given her assignment on the merits that she brings to the leadership position and not just by virtue of being the pastors wife." She strongly opposed the Southern Baptist interpretation of women in leadership. I disagree with the whole Southern Baptist system on women in leadership. I think that your gender does not determine your eligibility to be a pastor. I believe if you are a co-pastor its because you are qualified to be a pastor whether youre married or not and not just by virtue of the fact that you are married, that qualifies you to be a co-pastor; I dont agree with that, she said. Anderson argued that the SBCs interpretation of women in leadership is driven by their literal interpretation of the Bible, noting that it isnt a rule book. The Southern Baptists read the Bible literally, and it has commandments but its not a rule book. Its a book of faith and there are many stories of women, who have had the faith and followed Jesus, and have ministered to others, Anderson said. Even Jesus whole ministry was really financed with women. Ive always looked at the Bible as where there is timeless information, then there is timed constructed information and a lot of that is cultural. Titus and Timothy, Paul was just telling Timothy this is how it has worked. Its not saying that we dont believe that women cant be, that homosexuals cant be. We are an open and affirming church and we believe that everybody is loved by God and is worthy of being loved by God, and is worthy to minister to people. And thats Baptist principles right there, is called the Saints of believers. We believe that everybody has a responsibility to be a minister in Baptist churches, Anderson said. Robin and I, we work together. She has a perspective about God that I do not have so we believe that this can only benefit us. It cant hurt us. It doesnt mean that Gods gonna like send us to hell or anything. We look at the Bible as a book of faith, not as a bunch of rules, he said. Southern Baptist Churches, there are no women pastors and the wives are there and their role is to support the ministry of the pastor. That is not what were about. Robin ministers to different people in our congregation than I do because some people are more drawn to Robin than myself, and then the other people come to me for pastoral care, spiritual guidance and I totally support everything she does but we both have the same roles and we support each other in those roles, Anderson noted. Despite the growing trend of husband and wife co-pastors and women in more leadership roles in some churches, Allen argues that he doesnt see the SBC shifting their position on women in leadership in the next 20-30 years. The church in every generation, every age faces a challenge of how we engage the culture, how do we impact the culture, how do we influence the culture without the culture influencing us. Thats a perennial challenge. I dont think the SBC is going to turn inside out over the next 20 years over this gender issue because we are so clearly defined confessionally, he said. I do think churches, denominations that dont know what they believe, they will be more secular more open to female pastors. He noted, however, that churches that become more secular are dying pretty rapidly. I dont think the antidote to secularization is to be more secular for the church. I think the churchs responsibility is to be prophetic, look to Scripture, to be gracious, humble and loving to our neighbors and be a loving but truthful witness to our neighbors. I think thats more of a winning combination, he said. India: Christian convert beaten by Hindu villagers, beheaded by Maoist guerrillas Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Indian man who had become a Christian last year was killed and beheaded in eastern India, reports Persecution Relief. On Feb. 11, Anant Ram Gand, 40, was taken from his home in the village of Raigarh Tehsil, in the district of Nabarangapur, Odisha, by three men who killed him and left his decapitated body in the middle of the road. At the time, his wife, Sukbati, 38, was away with their four daughters and Anant was at home alone with his 6-year-old son. Since his conversion to Christianity nine months ago, Anant and his family had been harassed by the villagers, the news site reported. They were not only stopped from getting water from the public well, he was beaten twice in 2018, and excommunicated from the village. He moved his family away and was living a kilometer away from the village. Local residents said Hindu militants in the village contracted the Naxal, and Indian Maoist guerrilla group, to kill him, AsiaNews reported. At some point he had been supportive of the guerrilla group and although he was never a part of the fighters the Hindus made the Naxals believe that the Christian would reveal their secrets to the police. Instead, Anant Ram was no enemy of anyone, said Shibu Thomas of the Persecution Relief Network. India has seen a wave of anti-Christian violence in recent years, with a notable increase since Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist BJP came to power in 2014. States with so-called anti-conversion laws, such as Odisha, have been particularly affected. The laws on their face are meant to prevent forced conversions, but in effect are used as a pretext to anti-minority harassment. Those accused of attempting to convert others to another religion often face mob violence. Watchdog charity Open Doors said in a recent report that another driver of persecution in India is the Hindutva ideology, which equates Indian identity with Hinduism. This piece was originally published by World Watch Monitor here. The story was also reported by Persecution Relief here. Scammers posing as pastors: Churches nationwide issue urgent warning Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Scams in which local pastors are impersonated in order to trick their congregants out of hundreds of dollars has permeated communities across the nation. Scammers impersonating trusted pastors have fooled a number of victims nationwide. As churches are speaking out about the trend, one state government is warning that the scammers may be using information available on church websites to get a leg up on tricking faithful churchgoers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert on Friday regarding persons who allege to be pastors and priests who text or email members of various churches asking them to buy gift cards that will benefit a charitable cause. The warning from Paxton comes as several churches in his state and other states have been targetted by the scam. According to a press release from Paxtons office, a number of Texans have received deceptive texts from people pretending to be pastors of their churches. The scammers request that the recipients of the texts buy gift cards and send them the access codes. Although the scammers claim gift cards are needed to give to cancer patients, the scammers tell the victims that they can not physically pick up the gift card and that the purchaser will be reimbursed if they send access codes through text or email after purchasing. The Texas attorney generals office believes that scammers are using information found on churches website or in churches online bulletins to trick members of the church. All Texans should be aware of unsolicited calls and texts from scammers impersonating leaders in their Church, Paxton said in a statement. This is a dirty trick criminals are using to make a quick buck at the expense of people of faith. In North Carolina, a similar scam has penetrated the inboxes of churchgoers in several congregations. In Greenville, one churchgoer was tricked out $500. In Gaston County, at least one member of Venture Church was scammed out of $300. According to WITN, the initial email that parishioners received by someone they thought was their pastor asked them for a very important favor. After the congregant responds, a second email from the imposter pastor reads: "I urgently need to get a Google Play gift card for a cancer patient that I promised her as a birthday gift, but I can't do this right now. Can you get it from any store around you? I'll make sure it's refunded tomorrow. While some scammers have asked for Google Play gift cards, others have asked for iTunes gift cards. Pastor Chris Hopkins of Reimage Church in Winterville was one of the pastors that scammers impersonated. "You know people look for people with a heart to give, and so I guess churches are a pretty prime target for something like this," Hopkins told WITN. Ignite Pastor Jason Lineberger told the news outlet that his congregants who were initially fooled by the scam realized something fishy was up when the scammer impersonating the pastor asked for even more money after they had already received the gift card. [T]hey realized this is weird, this is not right and they called our offices," Lineberger explained. In the Birmingham, Alabama area, at least five churches there were targeted. Jason McCrory, the administrator at Bluff Park United Methodist Church, told ABC33/40 that this type of scam is not all that new for his congregation as these types of scams come in waves. "We thought it had died down, but starting here at the beginning of the year, they've come back in full force, with new tactics somewhat, McCrory was quoted as saying. In the past, they'd come pretending to be a pastor and reach out to the staff members inside of the church. The Catholic Diocese of Rochester in Western, New York says that about a dozen of its priests have been impersonated by scammers. A 73-year-old woman in the diocese says she bought about $500 worth of iTunes gift cards that she thought would go to a cancer patient. After sending the scammer the code for the gift card, she was asked for more gift cards to help another sick friend, according to WHAM. At least four Catholic Churches in Omaha, Nebraska were also targeted. "It's someone who obviously knows that parishioners will come to the assistance of their pastor," Tim McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese, told KETV. "So, they're taking advantage of that emotion and that affection and that relationship." In Lexington, Kentucky, Pastor Matt Falco of Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church is warning his congregants to be more careful before giving to someone online. A number of his congregants received an email from a scammer pretending to be him. In North Carolina, Hopkins warned that most churches have established methods for members to give to the church, such as giving checks during Sunday services and donating through the churchs website. It is rare to see a church ask for a donation through personal email. If you are going to give to your church the ways to do that are the ways your church communicates to you on a regular basis," Hopkins said. "If they have something set up on their website, online or in a dedicated app, that you can use. Or just by giving by being here on Sunday morning. Really those are the best ways." Churches that have been targeted have instructed congregants to call and verify donations before giving to a suspicious person online. I think everyone should be aware of any email, text or phone call, Chris Mintz, associate pastor at Venture Church in Dallas, North Carolina, told The Gaston Gazette. They should always double check and try to verify what theyre going to send their money to. Tajikistan: Children barred from attending church, 5,000 Bible verse calendars burned Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Tajik authorities implementing a new religion law are barring children from attending religious services and have burned thousands of calendars with Bible verses. Amendments to Tajikistans Religion Law came into force in January last year, giving the state greater control over religious education, and increasing the amount of information religious organizations must pass on to the state. The State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Ceremonies and Rituals now demands all kinds of information on the number of members, finances and activities, a member of a religious community told Oslo-based news agency Forum 18 anonymously, fearing reprisals. They also gather information about the number of children age 10 and younger who are attending religious meetings, using the Religion Law and the Parental Responsibility Law to put pressure on parents and religious communities. In December, Mukhiddin Tukhtakhojayev, the SCRA official responsible for non-Muslim communities, made an unannounced visit to a religious community to obtain information. Forum 18 did not reveal the name of the community, to prevent reprisals. While Tukhtakhojayev was present, a few children under the age of 10 came into the meeting to see their parents briefly, a human rights defender who wished to remain anonymous, told Forum 18. Tukhtakhojayev did not say anything during the meeting, but a few days later summoned the leaders of the religious community for questioning. He then forced them to write a statement explaining the reasons why the children were present in the meeting. A few days later, the community was fined the equivalent to almost eight months average wage for violating the Religion Law. Religious propaganda In the same month, 5,000 calendars with Bible verses, which were imported by the Baptist Church, were confiscated by custom officials and destroyed. The church also received a fine of about four months average wage for producing, distributing, importing, or exporting religious literature and items of a religious nature which have not passed through the compulsory prior state religious censorship. A customs official told Radio Free Europe that inspection had shown the calendars had elements of propaganda of an alien faith, Forum 18 reported. SCRA spokesperson Afshin Mukim told the radio broadcaster that propaganda of a religion must be done only within the Baptist Church, and the calendars had religious propaganda in them, and said the number of calendars was greater than the number of Baptists in the country, according to the news agency. Tajikistan is a Central Asian country with the highest percentage of Muslims, approximately 97 percent, but the former Soviet republic is determined to be secular and to keep Islam under control. Target of persecution Of the eight Persecution Engines the international religious-freedom watchdog Open Doors measures, Islamic oppression and dictatorial paranoia has made Tajik Christians a target of persecution. Christian converts from a Muslim background are most vulnerable to persecution in Tajikistan, in particular from family, friends and the community, Open Doors says. Non-traditional Christian communities, like the Baptist Church, also suffer from raids, threats, arrests and fines by authorities. The Central Asian country is 29th on the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. This article was originally reported by World Watch Monitor here. 5 Things to know about the Trump, North Korea summit Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi, Vietnam as part of a summit meant to pursue denuclearization and a lifting of sanctions. While President Trump expressed optimism going into the summit that a deal would be reached of denuclearization in return for a removal of sanctions, eventually the meeting ended without such a deal being reached. Here are five important things to know about the Hanoi meeting between Trump and Kim. They include reasons for why the summit ended without a deal, comments over the death of an American student, and what some are saying about the meetings results. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Inmate freed thanks to Trump's prison reform dedicates life to helping others Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One of the first prison inmates to be released under a criminal justice reform law signed by President Donald Trump has dedicated the rest of his free life to helping those in need a calling he said God has placed on his heart. In 1995, Matthew Charles was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine and for several gun violations in Clarksville, Tennessee. After hearing the Gospel in prison, Charles became a Christian, devoting his time to reading the Bible and helping other inmates. Over the next 21 years, he became a law clerk, led prison Bible studies, and managed to keep himself from a single disciplinary infraction. During this time, he became genuinely repentant of his life before encountering the Grace of Christ, not offering empty excuses about his past, but taking ownership, as a pastor would later describe him. In 2016, Charles was unexpectedly released from prison: "God moves miraculously. It was in 2016 when US Judge Kevin Sharp granted my reduction of sentence," he told CBN. Finally free, Charles created a full life for himself. He ate at his favorite restaurants, became actively involved in a local church, and started volunteering at a food pantry. But two years later, he found himself once again in prison after a court reversed the previous judge's ruling that his sentence was "unfair." Still, Charles was determined to keep the bitterness at bay: "I count that as a blessing of God, even being released for that two-year period," he said. His case soon gained national attention, with celebrities and advocacy groups backing his cause. But in the end, it was the First Step Act that granted Charles his freedom. Signed into law by President Trump December 21, 2018, the bill includes a provision to apply the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively, allowing for courts to shorten unduly harsh prison terms. On January 3, 2019, Charles left prison and immediately traveled to Washington D.C. to thank some of those responsible for his release, including the First Step Act's sponsor Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA. "When I saw the story, as I am right now, I cry. Because this is what makes this job, after everything else, this makes it good," Collins told Charles. He was also invited to the State of the Union Address, where the president said the former inmate "represents the very best of America." "Thank you, Matthew. Welcome home, President Trump said. Now home in Nashville, Charles continues to volunteer at the food pantry. He told Fox News that God placed it in his heart "to help the poor, the homeless, and single-parent families" when he first accepted Jesus, and that's what he plans to do for the rest of his life. "I'm just taking it day by day, waiting to see what doors of opportunities avail themselves for me. God placed it in my heart to help people and I want to continue to do that," he later told CBN. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with more than 2.1 million people locked up in prisons and jails across the country The First Step Act, which received bipartisan support, enables evidence-based rehabilitation programs like Prison Fellowship to be utilized in federal prisons nationwide; increases judicial discretion in certain federal drug offense cases; and allows incarcerated individuals to qualify for early release, among a number of other things. James Ackerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prison Fellowship, praised Trump for signing the criminal justice reform bill. With the stroke of his pen, President Donald Trump took a bold step in making America safer by signing into law federal criminal justice reformthe FIRST STEP Act, he said. This legislation will increase the access of faith-based and nonprofit organizations, like Prison Fellowship, to provide desperately needed programming in the federal prison system and help reduce recidivism. From our work in many states across the country, we can say without hesitation that these programs restore livesputting people on a new path and eventually reduce crime. Liberals use 'religion of social justice' to attack Christianity, says CPAC panel Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Progressives maintain a religion of social justice that leads them to attack Christians who live their faith openly, according to a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the Christian podcast Relatable who oversees The Conservative Millennial blog, was part of a panel Thursday that focused on the value of religious liberty and its contribution to overall freedom. There are people who say that secularism or the denial of religion, even the repressing of religion, will lead to more freedom, it will lead to more tolerance, it will lead to more inclusion, said Stuckey. Obviously, thats an ironic statement in and of itself. But theres actually another religion that is taking over, that is dominating, thats not a lack of religion, its a new religion of postmodernism, of moral relativism. Stuckey went on to argue that Americans who believe that religion should be practiced at home or in private do not lack religion, but rather have donned the religion of social justice. Theyve actually donned the religion of progressivism where intersectionality is one of their key doctrines and identity politics is part of their worship, she continued. So what were seeing is not this advancement of atheism or this advancement of agnosticism or secularism. Its the religion of progressivism and social justice and moral relativism that says this is the religion that needs to dominate in order for us to be tolerant. And what we see throughout history, and what were already seeing now is that progressivism is not a tolerant religion. Matthew Spalding, associate vice president and dean of Educational Programs for Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C., who was also part of the panel, agreed and then added that people still naturally yearn for truth and to learn more. Modern culture has tried to push religion into a smaller and smaller and smaller box. You got to keep it at home or you got to keep it in the confessional, explained Spalding. But as a result, a lot of people, especially young people, are still yearning to find something and they want to know that truth, which unfortunately draws a lot of people into not only crazy ideas, like the environment is the new god, but also drives them to despair. Spalding also talked about the need for American Christians to be actively involved in the fight for religious liberty, not simply trusting the Trump administration to solve the problem for them. The current administration is doing a great job of appointing good judges. The Supreme Court looks like it's going to pull back on some of these things after a long period of being very hostile, continued Spalding. But thats not going to be enough. We cant disengage, we cant leave it to other people. From the point of view of our faith we need to be engaged and outwardly focused. But from the point of view of being a good citizen, I think we also have to be engaged. U.S. Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., the third member of the panel, spoke about being in youth ministry for about 22 years before entering Congress and how he was told that he should not apply his beliefs to his elected position. I have people all the time that will catch me and say, Well, you used to be in a ministry position but now youre in Congress, now you need to set aside your faith, because youre in a secular role, said Lankford. And I enjoy smiling at them and saying, I need to introduce you to a document called the United States Constitution. And in that document, Article VI of the Constitution says theres no religious test for any officer of the United States. Last year, the term social justice was the source of much debate and controversy among evangelical circles, as some argued that the phrase was inherently anti-biblical. In August, influential California Pastor John MacArthur criticized what he called evangelicals' "newfound obsession with the notion of 'social justice'" in a series of blog posts. That was followed by a statement signed by other evangelical leaders. Specifically, we are deeply concerned that values borrowed from secular culture are currently undermining Scripture in the areas of race and ethnicity, manhood and womanhood, and human sexuality. The Bible's teaching on each of these subjects is being challenged under the broad and somewhat nebulous rubric of concern for 'social justice, read the statement in part. Other evangelicals criticized the statement. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, responded that he believed people claiming to oppose social justice don't really believe it [because they] don't act that way when it comes to the issues they care about and in most cases rightly care about." "In almost every case, we are not really talking about social justice and we are not even talking about social engagement broadly. We are almost always talking about race, said Moore. I don't even want to concede to the conceit that what we are talking about is a broader issue of social engagement because again, that is almost never the case. Some of the very people who would say this are the people who have talked about, and rightly so, abortion and the systemic public problem of abortion. SWBTS elects Adam Greenway as new president to replace Paige Patterson Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have elected a new president to replace prominent Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson, who was fired last year following accusations that he poorly handled students' sexual misconduct claims. Adam W. Greenway, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, was elected as the seminary's new president Wednesday. Randy Stinson, provost and senior vice president for academic administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was also confirmed by the trustees as the new provost for SWBTS. SWBTS search committee chair, Danny Roberts, said in a statement that he considered Greenway to be a man of impeccable character who demonstrates kindness and humility in his dealings with others. [Greenway is] a leader who surrounds himself with talented people and allows them to work within their giftedness, a bridge builder in the Southern Baptist Convention, and a true scholar with a heart for missions and evangelism, said Roberts, as reported by the Biblical Recorder. Russell Moore, president of the SBCs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, took to Twitter to congratulate Greenway and Stinson, saying they will do a stellar job. Bright days ahead for a great school. @RandyStinson has been my friend for over twenty years, through everything. I trust him with my life. @SWBTS students, you are going to love him and President @AdamGreenway. They will lead well and you will enjoy your years of study, continued Moore. Last May, the SWBTS Executive Committee voted unanimously to fire Patterson, a longtime SBC president, over allegations that he had improperly handled students' sexual misconduct claims, and for saying he had never advised couples to get a divorce, even in an abusive relationship. Of particular concern, according to a statement by Kevin Ueckert, chair of SWBTS Board of Trustees, were two incidents involving the reporting of alleged sexual assaults. One incident, which happened at SWBTS in 2015, involved a female student reporting that she had been raped, with Patterson telling the Chief of Campus Security in an email that he wanted to meet alone with the student without authorities in order to break her down because her story had changed many times. The attitude expressed by Dr. Patterson in that email is antithetical to the core values of our faith and to SWBTS, Ueckert said last year. He added that another student record "made available to me with permission, [showed] that an allegation of rape was [also] made by a female student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2003." "[T]he correlation between what has been reported and also revealed in the student record regarding the 2003 allegation at Southeastern and the contents of this email are undeniable," Ueckert added. Norman L. Geisler, chancellor and distinguished professor of Apologetics and Theology at Veritas International University in Santa Ana, California, argued that the firing was wrong. Many who opposed Dr. Patterson were apparently caught up in winds of the #MeToo movement of the day. But no doctrinal or moral charges were even offered, let alone proven by two or more credible witnesses against him. Rather, personal opinions about isolated cases were offered, wrote Geisler in a column published by The Christian Post in 2018. He did nothing worthy of being fired. No biblical grounds were given, let alone, seriously considered. For his part, Patterson has denied any wrongdoing. Following his firing, Patterson was given a position at Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina to co-teach a course on ethics. How evangelical-supported group has helped 750,000 Jews migrate to Israel Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A philanthropic organization founded by a Chicago-area rabbi but funded mostly by western evangelicals has helped over 750,000 Jews fleeing persecution or poverty in their homelands to migrate to Israel as part of a process central to Zionism called aliyah. With a total population of over 8.7 million, the 750,000 migrants brought to Israel in the last three decades with the help of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) equates to more than one-twelfth of the national population. The Fellowship was launched by the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein during the 1980s to serve as a bridge between the Christian and Jewish communities. He was inspired to launch the Fellowship after Christian leaders came to him following the neo-Nazi rally in Skokie, Illinois, in 1977 telling him that they were looking for a way to stand with Israel. Under Ecksteins leadership, The Fellowship has grown to extraordinary heights and is now the largest philanthropic organization in Israel. And today, it brings in about $130 million in donations each year, much of which comes from American evangelicals. [M]y father said he felt like he was Christopher Columbus discovering America suddenly he realized there are millions of Christians who love the Jewish people who stand with Israel, the late rabbis daughter, Yael Eckstein, who now heads The Fellowship, told The Christian Post in a phone interview Thursday. But the Jewish community had no clue about this. In the early 1990s, The Fellowship launched its On Wings of Eagles ministry. The ministry is responsible for relocating hundreds of thousands of Jewish people from non-Western countries where their lives were in danger. The first group of Jewish believers brought to Israel through the program were Jews fleeing the collapsing Soviet Union. It was in the early '90s that the Soviet Union [was collapsing] and it was the Christian community who came and said we want to help the Jewish people get out of the former Soviet Union and to bring them to Israel, Eckstein explained. Many of them were Holocaust survivors. This is part of biblical prophecy coming to fruition. Jeremiah speaks about it. Isaiah spoke about it. Over the years, The Fellowship has aided Jews by helping them escape persecution, poverty, and anti-Semitism in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Yemen and other places throughout the Arab world. Working with the Israeli government, The Fellowship has aided these migrants by paying for their airfare and by securing apartments for immigrant families to live within communities where people speak their native languages. We work with the government to make sure all of our new immigrants are aware of what they're entitled to from the government. They are so appreciative for The Fellowship, Eckstein said. We did a research study on why there are Jewish people in these dangerous situations who aren't coming home to Israel. What we found was that there are two things are holding them back. One is that they're very scared about getting an apartment and planning their kids through school. They don't know the language. They don't know anything. Eckstein explained that the government provides free Hebrew language classes that immigrants can take to help them get acclimated to their new communities. On average, Eckstein said, it costs The Fellowship an average of over $1,500 to help one person migrate to Israel. Although The Fellowship has helped boost the population of the country, Rabbi Eckstein was initially ostracized by the Jewish community because of his partnering with Christians. Over the past decade-plus, Jewish attitudes toward Christians has loosened. He wasn't allowed to pray with other people in the synagogue. He was kicked out of the Bible studies, Eckstein recalled. Today, the Jewish community is appreciative and loving and just grateful for the strongest friends we've ever had in the history of the Jewish people who are Christians. In 2000, Rabbi Eckstein himself migrated from his home in Chicago to Israel. Since her father's death earlier this month due to a heart attack, Yael Eckstein has assumed her fathers position as the head of the organization. But even without him, Ecksteins mission continues. Just last week, a chartered plane filled with about 240 Jewish immigrants fleeing Ukraine arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport as part of The Fellowships Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Memorial Flight. At least 116 families and 57 children were on the flight. Yael Eckstein, who lives in Israel, was there to greet them. While The Fellowship normally charters a plane about once a month to fly in large groups of immigrants, it welcomes an average of 17 new immigrants to Israel each day who arrive on commercial flights. In addition to helping Jews migrate to Israel, the Fellowship also provides humanitarian aid to Jews left behind in the former Soviet Union. That ministry is called Isaiah 58. There's no support network in the former Soviet Union. There's the same government stipend as during communism, $46 a month. And the prices reflect that, Eckstein explained. And so for $46 a month you are not able to buy anything. The Fellowships third ministry Guardians of Israel provides food, clothing, shelter, housing, and other humanitarian needs for impoverished Israelis. In a couple of years, The Fellowship will open its International Center for Christian Outreach in Jerusalem. It will serve as a visitors center of sorts for the more than 1 million Christians who come to Israel every year. Prime Minister Netanyahu even said a few weeks ago that in the future, the only people that we can actually rely on to help Israel are Orthodox Jews and Christians, Eckstein recalled. That is a pretty radical statement because of the shift in how Israel and the Jewish people look at Christians in Israel. Obviously, in the U.S., Christians are some of the biggest allies for [pro-Israel] policy. New kit aims to help men 'chestfeed' babies with help of banned drug Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A design student in the U.K. claims to have developed a prototype kit that could be available to the public in as soon as five years that would enable men to breastfeed with the help of a drug that's not approved for sale in the United States. Earlier this month, Marie-Claire Springham, inventor of the chestfeeding kit, told "Good Morning Britain" about her prototype that earned her the Meaning-Centered Design Award. She won the award last October despite the fact that her kit has not yet been tested on a man. Springham explained that the kit is for couples who are expecting. She was inspired to create the kit, she said, after finding out that some men experience what's called post-natal depression and feel left out of the mother-child bond. The kit includes supplies of drugs that men are supposed to take in order to help them build breast tissue and lactate. The kit also includes a pump and compression vest. Each kit comes with a nine-month supply of the drug progestin, an alternative to the female sex hormone progesterone. Springham explained that the drug changes the breast tissue so that milk can be stored. Six weeks before the birth, they start taking a drug called domperidone, which sounds very scary, she said. It was originally used to treat [gastrointestinal] conditions and realized it has a side effect which is lactation and now it is used by a lot of women who are struggling to lactate. Springham was asked by host Richard Madeley how the product works if men do not have breasts. The tissue is actually there. It is just dormant, she replied. There are several cases where lactation does occur naturally in men. It affects 60 percent of men and most people dont realize they even have it. The estrogen gets a little higher than testosterone and in extreme cases, men can grow up to the size of a B-cup and produce milk, she claimed. Springham said that she first designed the kit as an empathy tool. When asked, she said the process could be used as an alternative to breastfeeding. Quentin Wilson, a father of three, doesnt think men should breastfeed. He was on the GMB panel to debate such a technology. This is not an urge I have ever had, he explained. I dont think there is a demand for this. It goes against the natural order. The more we blur these distinctions between gender, the more messed up we become. Is this going to make us better, healthier, wiser? Madeley weighed in, stating that many women on Twitter were pushing back against the idea of men breastfeeding. A lot of women have tweeted us to say, basically, excuse me. That is my job, he said. They feel gender threatened [by] this increasing tendency to make our gender neutral. We are not gender neutral. We are very different. Madeley and Springham then debated the idea of gender norms, which Springham argued are artificial. This has nothing to do with any kind of natural development in human species, Madeley contended. Springham responded by saying that the process develops naturally in women And the changes that occur in a man when they take these are very similar to ones that occur in a woman when they take these, she argued. It is a tiny change compared to the change that goes through a woman's body when she becomes pregnant. Co-host Kate Garroway contended, however, that the concern is about the damage that these drugs can have on men. [W]omens bodies have adapted to that and actually some of those hormone changes can be very damaging, what would it do to a man? she asked. While the Springhams product might seem like a unique idea, last year it was reported that a biologically male trans-identified woman "induced lactation. This was made possible by the drugs that will be included in Springhams chestfeeding kit. Although some have cheered male breastfeeding as a medical advancement, others have warned against the harmful side effects associated with taking the drugs needed to accomplish the feat. In fact, domperidone, the drug needed to help men lactate, is not approved for sale in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration. It can only be made available to patients with severe gastrointestinal disorders. The FDA stresses that there are serious health risks associated with the use of domperidone by lactating women to enhance breast milk production. Those risks include cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. "Domperidone, the drug used to aid in production of breast milk in [a] genetic male, is not approved for any use in the United States because of significant toxicity and potential death," Quentin L. Van Meter, a specialist in pediatric endocrinology based in Georgia and vice president of the national conservative advocacy group American College of Pediatricians, told The Christian Post last year. "There are absolutely no studies in infants," he continued. "Any drug ingested by a lactating mother should be also proven to be safe for ingestion by the suckling infant. This is clearly not the case. " Long delay to Brexit not possible, says Liam Fox It is not possible that the European Union will offer Britain a long delay to Brexit because of upcoming European elections, British trade minister Liam Fox said on Sunday. Fox said it was still "entirely possible" Britain leaves the bloc as scheduled on March 29 but an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period may be necessary in order to deliver a smooth exit from the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May has said any extension should not be beyond the end of June. Asked how he would react if the EU insisted on a much longer delay of 21 months or two years, Fox told BBC TV: "I would be shocked because I think it is actually not a possible outcome." "The European Union does not want Britain to fight the European elections." Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has told Cabinet colleagues that a delay of Britain's exit date from the European Union from March 29 to June is "very likely", Ireland's Sunday Independent quoted an unnamed minister as saying. "The Taoiseach (prime minister) has privately said to us that it is very likely there will be an extension until June," the minister was quoted as saying. An Irish government spokesman declined to comment on the veracity of the report but said the Cabinet's focus was "solely on securing a deal" and pointed to a comment by Varadkar on Friday in which he said a British exit on March 29 without either a deal or an extension was unlikely. The Sunday Times newspaper reports that Brexit-supporting MPs who voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union withdrawal deal in January have outlined demands for a revised treaty to ensure their support. MPs overwhelmingly rejected May's deal in January. Many were unhappy with the "Irish backstop", insurance to prevent return of hard border controls between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland. Critics said it could leave the country tied to EU rules indefinitely. Britain, due to exit the bloc on March 29, is attempting to amend the deal to provide assurances that the backstop would not be indefinite. The Sunday Times said hardline Brexit supporters from May's Conservative Party had drawn up a document outlining three tests the deal must pass to gain their support. These are a "clearly worded, legally binding, treaty-level clause which unambiguously overrides" the text of the withdrawal agreement, with language that goes beyond emphasising the temporary nature of the backstop and a clear means to exit the backstop if subsequent trade talks fail. The paper said the plan had been drawn up with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, the Northern Irish party which props up May's minority government. If May secures the demands, she would win the backing of the DUP and the Brexit-supporting MPs in a vote on the deal which she has promised would be held before March 12, the Times said. The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday that the bloc was ready to give Britain more guarantees that the backstop was only intended to be temporary and used for a "worst-case scenario". "We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU," Michel Barnier said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt newspaper. "This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary." 1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. A woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect. 2. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James. A loner named Tracker teams up with a group of unusual characters in search of a mysterious boy. 3. Connections in Death by J.D. Robb. Eve Dallas scours tattoo parlors and strip joints for clues to the cause of Lyle Pickerings death. 4. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Jessica Farris life unravels when she signs up for Dr. Shields psychology study. 5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Theo Faber looks into the mystery of a famous painter who stops speaking after shooting her husband. 6. The Reckoning by John Grisham. A decorated World War II veteran shoots and kills a pastor. 7. Devotions by Mary Oliver. A collection of more than 200 poems spanning 50 years of the authors career. 8. Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin. The first volume of the two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros. 9. Love Poems for Married People by John Kenney. Humorous musings on the ways long-term partners tolerate each other. 10. Early Riser by Jasper Fforde. Charlie Worthing investigates an outbreak of viral dreams killing a hibernating human population. Nonfiction 1. Becoming by Michelle Obama. The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husbands political ascent. 2. Educated by Tara Westover. The daughter of survivalists leaves home for university. 3. Grateful American by Gary Sinise with Marcus Brotherton. The Oscar-nominated actor describes how he has entertained troops and helped veterans. 4. The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. The story of a secret plot to kill George Washington in 1776. 5. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. The rise and fall of the biotech startup Theranos. 6. Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher. Reflections on the ageism, misogyny and loss that women might encounter as they grow older. 7. Maid by Stephanie Land. An unexpected pregnancy forces the author to navigate challenges faced by the working poor. 8. Let Me Finish by Chris Christie with Ellis Henican. The former governor of New Jersey describes his relationship with President Donald Trump. 9. Shortest Way Home by Pete Buttigieg. A memoir of the first openly gay Democratic candidate to run for president of the United States. 10. The Point of It All by Charles Krauthammer, edited by Daniel Krauthammer. A collection of essays, speeches and unpublished writings by the late conservative columnist. New York Times Art students from the Harmony School of Innovation-Katy added some color to the lobby of the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 north annex building. Members of the National Art Honor Society designed and painted a mural featuring items associated with Katy rice silos, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad(M-K-T) locomotive and the Fort Bend County seal. The students and county officials celebrated on Feb. 25 the dedication of the wall to the hard-working people of Fort Bend County, Precinct 3, for their service, protection and commitment. Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers hosted a reception for the young artists whom he thanked for their beautiful artwork depicting what Fort Bend County is all about. Also participating in the dedication were Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Kelly Crow and Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable Wayne K. Thompson. The honor society with about 24 members used acrylic paint in a roughly 30-hour project that was completed in January, said Richard Carnley, MFA, system course leader Art 6-12. Ten students submitted designs last year for the mural. The selected mural design belongs to Sierra Chonka. Melanie Ta is president of the honor society and Kimberly Climaco serves as vice president. In addition to helping to paint the mural, Ta helped organize the schedule for painting the mural and Climaco worked with students to make sure they showed up for their painting shift. Because the annex is a busy place, the painting occurred on a Saturday, Sunday and Jan. 21, a county holiday because of Martin Luther King Day. It was three solid days of about 10 hours each, said Carnley. We finished on schedule. The annex at 22333 Grand Corner Drive is across the street from the Harmony campus. As neighbors, Thompson participated in the Harmony School of Innovations Katy STEM Festival in 2017 and got to know educators at the school. Thompson called the relationship between the school and constables office great and noted that the constables office displays artwork previously donated by Harmony students: a painting of the constables badge and car and a portrait of Lt. Veronica Martin, the departments first female supervisor. They came up with our painting on their own and did a great job, added Thompson. He noted that the painting of the car and badge are used in the background of many of the departments social media posts. Carnley worked to start the National Art Honor Society in 2017 and the first year focused on organizational matters. The group started with 10 members. Students are required to meet academic standards to maintain their membership which isnt a problem. Most of the students are honor-type students, he explained.They really dont run into issues studying. Students also are asked to commit to 7 hours of community service each semester. And Carnleys goal is for the group to donate a community art project each year. It may not always be a mural, he said. Im more the guide and allow them to run in the direction they want to go with the art. Every year its grown. Nancy Liedtke, district spokeswoman, called the retired U.S. Marine a nonstop, dedicated teacher. She added that hes a very motivating teacher whos reached a lot of students. karen.zurawski@chron.com Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials said they were "thrilled" to announce that Balmorhea State Park's spring-fed pool is open once again after months of repairs. The pool was shut down indefinitely in May after officials noticed serious structural issues and damage to the concrete apron under the diving board. Rohan Bhat has earned the highest level one can achieve in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America. On Oct. 10, 2018, Rohan Bhat, son of Ayshwarya and Chetan Bhat of Katy, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, Scoutings highest rank. Rohan is a member of BSA Troop 230 within Sam Houston Area Council. The boy-led troop is chartered with St Peters United Methodist Church and it meets regularly at the Deren-Huff Scout House on Monday evenings. For his Eagle Scout project, Rohan worked with his former middle school band director Tammy Disharoon to come up with a design that would accommodate their percussion equipment, which did not have any storage space. MORNING UPDATES: Get the news you need to start your morning. After receiving necessary approvals, Rohan finalized on a 5.5 feet high and 7.5 feet wide shelving unit design with six compartments with varying dimensions to ensure all schools equipment was able to be stored conveniently. Rohan raised money in his Scout account by participating in Flags Across America program for his troop and used this to fund his Eagle Scout project. With the help of the volunteers from Troop 230, he organized and led the work activities for the construction of the shelving unit. With the assistance of Band Director Donnie Artley, he delivered the unit at Tays Junior High School on May 4, 2018, and they have put it to good use. Upon being awarded the Eagle Scout rank, Rohan has successfully earned 37 merit badges; Gold, Silver and Bronze Eagle Palms; Conservation award; completed National Youth Leadership Training; Order of Arrow; one-mile swim; Nova award (Design to Crunch, Design to Shoot); and countless weekend camp-outs. Rohan is 16 years old and in 11th grade at Tompkins High School, where he actively participates in band activities like marching, concert and jazz band. His plans are to continue in his college studies in health field. 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. Formed around 1900, Katy First United Methodist Church offers three services for its 1,600 members as well as seven choirs, a preschool and a variety of programs that serve various groups from caregivers to adults with special needs. For the last 3.5 years, its been led by Richard White, senior pastor, and Mark Kimbrough, associate pastor. Located at 5601 5th St. in Katy, it draws its membership from the larger Katy community, said White, and not just the city of Katy. Its reaching out to its two fastest growing segments: Young families with children and retirees. Their stay has been marked by growth. City leaders embrace the growth so they can manage the growth and economic vitality of our community, said White. When did you decide to answer your calling to be a minister? It was in 1975. I was a junior at A&M. I was attending a Baptist revival with my roommates and felt that God was calling me to serve as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. How long have you lived and worked in Katy? I came to Katy in July of 2015. What brought you here? In the United Methodist Church were assigned to our congregations by our bishop. I was serving in Beaumont for six years as the district superintendent of that area working directly with the bishop and eight other superintendents. We would supervise the clergy and churches in a geographic area. Mine was the southeast district. I did that for six years. Prior to that Ive been a pastor at local churches, primarily in the Houston area. Katy is known as the City of Churches. Is that an apt description? Yes. There are churches on almost every corner. But there is also a great fellowship of pastors in Katy which I think is unique. Does a church have a community role in addition to a religious role? Yes. We have been involved. Weve had eight former mayors. We currently have three City Council persons. I dont know exactly how many schools have been named after families in the church. We have a host of public school teachers, administrators, former principals. But, I think our role in the community other than that is to be a community church thats serving in the immediate city of Katy area. What is the most rewarding part of what you do? I think the most rewarding part is working with people and meeting people within and outside the church. We are focusing our attentions on specific outreaches. The two fastest growing demographics are young families in their 20s and 30s with children. The second fastest growing demographic is older adults 65 and older. So we are focusing on those two demographics. We work with KCM very closely, Christ Clinic. We do mentoring at Hutsell Elementary School. We have a lot of individual members who work with Meals on Wheels. We have two groups (Forever Friends) that meet in the church that are specifically engaged with persons who have special needs. The other one we provide (Daybreak) I call it respite period for caregivers. We provide a lunch and a program for those older adults primarily. Whats the most challenging? I think the most challenging is probably the administrative aspects of ministry. Fundraising, working with the various committees ... the things that go into running a church. We have a great staff. I think were all pulling in the same direction to make our outreach effective in the community. Katy FUMC has hosted the annual Thanksgiving Feast several times in recent years. Why is that important to you and to the church? I think ecumenical cooperation is very important. I think there is the need to help persons during that holiday time that not only provides food and other forms of assistance but it also gives a sense of hope that the churches are working together and I believe that that unity is strong and were available for people. I think were made stronger by cooperation among churches than if we just try to operate as individual silos of ministry. Have recent headlines about the Baptist and Catholic churches regarding alleged sex abuse by church officials had a negative impact on churches in general or on your church? I think any sexual abuse scandals affect the entire church. I think that in general the church has lost its influence in culture by not addressing these concerns quickly, compassionately and with transparency. In the United Methodist Church we have been actively engaged for more than 20 years in creating safe sanctuaries for our children and youth with background checks, interviews with people that work with youth. And the United Methodist Church as a denomination has effective means in place to deal with allegations. In our conference that is done professionally outside the purview of the clergy and then upon recommendations of those investigations actions are taken. The primary focus is on the victims. But we havent been hiding about that issue. Is it difficult being part of a small community where missteps by congregation members can be viewed by the community as reasons not to become part of an organized religion? I dont really consider it a problem as much as it does happen. What I question is whether persons are just using that as an excuse to justify their own lack of participation in a local church, synagogue or mosque. Obviously, we are all humans and mistakes happen. Or persons react to others from their own point of view of what they think is proper behavior. But I think personally no it doesnt affect relationships adversely. The Katy community has grown so large with so many churches that there are variety of theological choices and also I think people are attracted to outreach programs so theyll be attracted to some things and not attracted to others. How has technology affected the church? What are you doing differently now compared to five or 10 years ago? I think its been a huge change and I think its been for the better. There are more effective ways to communicate the gospel. Churches have traditionally been slow to adopt technology. Now with the use of screens, that kind of technology I think with contemporary worship theyre more technologically driven. Social media, internet presence just have simply extended the influence of the church beyond its four walls. Were experimenting with doing a Lenten study on social media. We did it last year and had a good response. The five-week Lent Live will begin March 13. Visit www.facebook.com/groups/lentlive for details. Are there any projects planned with the church in the coming year? There are several things. Were doing Ash Wednesday and Holy Week. We observe that and, of course, Easter. Those are going to be big holiday events. Advent/Christmas seasons we have many special worship services teaching opportunities. During this Lent Im going to be teaching a class on the enneagram (The Enneagram Journey). Its an ancient discernment tool that uses basic personality profiles so that persons come to know themselves. In knowing themselves, they are going to experience knowing God in a different way and how they relate to one another and how they relate to other people is very much a big part of that. All major religions have linked self-knowledge with the knowledge of God. If were not aware of ourselves, its really hard to be aware of God and how we relate to God. Is there anything else youd like to add? We do have three worship services. Two are traditional United Methodist worships and we have a confluence, a worship service in a contemporary style that was specifically started (in January 2018) to reach out into our community for those young families with children that are not attending any local church or who dont affiliate with any local church. I think we have the advantage of having a preschool Little Peoples School is what its called that has a tremendous reputation in the community and currently has a full enrollment (125) with a waiting list which is a great way to reach beyond ourselves. They meet from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and from 9 to noon on Fridays. Basically its preschool education in a Christian context. karen.zurawski@chron.com Officials were investigating a three-car crash Friday night in Crosby that left at least seven people injured, including two pregnant women. A third woman, 21, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and appeared to sustain the worst of the injuries, officials said. Authorities arrested a 19-year-old driver who they say was intoxicated when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of Crosby Eastgate Road and Crosby Freeway. An SUV heading east on the freeway collided with the driver's Ford Crown Victoria, striking the front passenger's side door where the critically injured woman was sitting. A pickup truck traveling behind the SUV then struck the other two cars. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox. The two pregnant women were seated in the back of the Ford, officials said. They were flown to a nearby hospital by Life Flight, while five others were taken by ambulance, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. RELATED: Driver in deadly Lyft crash admits to taking tequila shots before driving, prosecutors say. The Ford driver faces a charge of intoxication assault, deputy Aric Albers said, adding that investigators found multiple alcohol containers inside the vehicle. The charge could be upgraded if any of the injured passengers' conditions further deteriorate, Albers said. The status of the pregnant women was not immediately clear, though Albers said nobody aside from the critically injured woman appeared to have sustained life-threatening injuries. 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. A man riding in the passenger seat of a pickup truck was fatally shot in west Harris County early Saturday morning, a sheriff's deputy said. A car described as a dark colored four-door sedan pulled up next to the pickup truck and opened fire, according to officials. At least two shots were reportedly fired at the truck. After more than two decades, dozens of investigators and the intervention of experts at a true crime television show, police believe they've found the killer of a Texas woman whose murder has remained unsolved. On Thursday, the Huntsville Police Department arrested Larry LeFlore for the 1991 murder of his wife, Mary Jane LeFlore. Everyone from family members to former Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler kept the cold case alive, culminating into an arrest. HAUNTING: Unsolved murders and disappearances around Houston's suburbs "We kept looking at it over the years when Mary Jane LeFlore first disappeared. It's been a long slog," said Walker County District Attorney David Weeks. "We kept working the case. To be honest, Larry LeFlore was a person of interest early on. We had some information but we just felt we weren't there yet." The cold case According to Detective Sgt. Ken Foulch of the Huntsville Police Department, Mary Jane worked as a sociologist with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She left work for the West Hill Mall on July 19, 1991, telling friends and family that she was going to pay bills. It was the last time she was seen alive. Larry LeFlore told police at the time that he went look for his wife after he hadn't heard from her for four hours. He said he found his wife's car in the mall's parking lot, abandoned. Before he was about to leave, Larry LeFlore claims he saw a van leaving the parking lot, with his wife in the passenger seat. Larry LeFlore said he pursued the vehicle, following it onto Interstate 45 south, heading toward Houston. He later told police he couldn't keep up and decided to circle back to the mall where her car was. Larry LeFlore was convinced his wife was having an affair and would eventually come back home. UNSOLVED: Missing Splendora woman's father says unsolved case is 'tearing my life apart' But Mary Jane LeFlore didn't come back. Friday turned into Saturday, Saturday into Sunday. He went to the police and filed a report with the police. He filled out two statements and became a person of interest. (Story continues below...) Mary Jane LeFlore's disappearance case stalled until February 1993, when a perspective land buyer found human remains on a lot near FM 3179, off Highway 30. Police were able to identify Mary Jane through dental records and jewelry left on the remains. Foulch said Larry LeFlore was in Abilene when his wife's remains were discovered. He declined to come back to Huntsville at the time, Foulch said. The detective sergeant added Larry LeFlore's attorney prohibited police from contacting him. A cold case heats up Police may have not been able to link Larry LeFlore to his wife's murder in the 1990's but it didn't stop people from trying to solve Mary Jane LeFlore's murder. "It was on 'America's Most Wanted' and entered into the FBI's system," Foulch said. "'Cold Case' got involved and they spent a two-week period with us. We went hard and heavy nonstop, for about 16 hours a day, with help from outside investigators and outside sources." The Huntsville Police Department received a significant boost in the case when the television show "Cold Justice" on the Oxygen network agreed to help investigate the case. Siegler is a host on the show and helped with the investigation of Mary Jane LeFlore's death. CAUGHT: After 13 years on the run, fugitive wanted for murder is nabbed "Mary Jane's case will always stand out, just as it does to the people of Huntsville, because of what her murder did to her sons and how it affected so many good people who knew her," Siegler told Chron.com. "There was a special kind of respect and affection for Mary Jane in her community everywhere we went and all of that contributed to being able to solve this case." Mary Jane LeFlore's case will be seen by the world when the new season of "Cold Justice" appears on the Oxygen Network on July 22. The arrest Investigators didn't give specifics as to what information was given to indict LeFlore, other than more people began opening up to police over the years. According to Larry LeFlore's indictment, he "intentionally and knowingly" killed Mary Jane "by strangulation and by manner and means unknown to the Grand Jury." Larry LeFlore is lodged in the Walker County Jail and is booked on a $20,000 bond. "I wish the people of Huntsville could have seen the emotions and the work and the determination that Chief Kevin Lunsford and Detective Ken Foulch and Detective Scott Mitchell and their entire department put into this investigation," Seigler said. "Because they were open to any help they could get and because District Attorney David Weeks and Stephanie Stroud were also receptive, this happened." A new Houston Chronicle investigation, "Broken Trust," reveals that the Texas Permanent School Fund at $44 billion, the country's largest education endowment should be billions larger than it is. Politically connected investment managers are collecting soaring fees while returns lag behind other comparable funds. Read the investigation on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. *** Texas politicians have a long history of trying to protect the Texas Permanent School Fund. But they haven't always succeeded in enacting reforms. Here are some proposals that lawmakers, auditors and experts have suggested would improve the administration and transparency of the state's public K-12 endowment: BROKEN TRUST: Texas' huge school endowment pays out precious little for schoolchildren 1. Amend the state constitution to create a new board charged with managing the Permanent School Fund, as suggested by the House Committee on General Investigations and Ethics in a November. 2000 report following a conflict-of-interest scandal. 2. Regularly and publicly disclose all investment fund managers, including the fees and expenses they collect, as suggested by the House committee. 3. Give an investigative body more oversight powers, as did Senate Bill 512 in 2001, which required the State Board of Education to contract with the Texas Auditor's Office to investigate complaints. It was vetoed by then-Gov. Rick Perry. 4. Give the new board the power to hire the fund's executive administrator, as recommended in a March 2003 report of the Texas State Auditor's office. Currently, the administrator reports to the commissioner of public education. 5. Create a Permanent School Fund Management Council with institutional investment experience. Rep. Donna Howard proposed this in 2009; her bill passed the House 104-42, but was never heard in the Senate. 6. Expand the School Land Board from three to five members to add expertise and reduce problems caused by abstentions and recusals, as the Sunset Commission recommended in November 2018. 7. Require more detailed investment information in the fund's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, recommended by the Sunset Commission, including returns by investment type, returns over time, investment benchmarks and asset allocation targets. MUST-READS: Be the first to know about our biggest investigations and enterprise stories 8. Require school land sales to be sold at public auction via sealed bid, as the legislature did in 1905. Now the land board can sell school land directly to anyone and for any price as long as it determines the sale is in the best interest of the fund. 9. Require the School Land Board's outside fund managers to register with the SEC so they are subject to federal pay-to-play regulations. In 2005, lawmakers required investors to meet specific criteria, but the SEC provision later was eliminated. 10. Improve transparency by requiring the disclosure of contracting information that is not specifically exempted from public records law, as proposed by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione in HB 2189, introduced on Feb. 21. Many of the fund's financial records with investors are secret because of exemptions to public records law or a Supreme Court ruling. This bill would make more records available to the public. Support our journalism Help our journalists uncover the big stories. Subscribe today. AKRON, Ohio One man is dead and another man was injured in a Saturday night shooting in a neighborhood just west of downtown Akron. The shooting happened about 10 p.m. on the 400 block of Mary Peavy Eagle Court in the citys Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, Akron police spokesman Lt. Rick Edwards said. Responding officers found a 30-year-old man inside an apartment with a gunshot wound to his head, Edwards said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Summit County Coroners Office will perform an autopsy and release his identity once family is notified. A 27-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder, Edwards said. He was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital, where he was treated and released. During their preliminary investigation, Akron detectives learned that the gunshots were fired into the apartment from outside, Edwards said. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information on the fatal shooting should contact the Akron polices Detective Bureau by calling 330-375-2490 or by texting 330-375-2TIP. Tips can also be sent to Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips can remain anonymous. If youd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio The job of overseeing American art at the Cleveland Museum of Art is now permanently endowed. William Madar, retired former president and CEO of Westlake-based Nordson Corp., and his wife, Amanda Madar, have donated $3 million to the museum to endow the position now held by Mark Cole, curator of American painting and sculpture. I think its wonderful that people care this much, to be this generous, said museum deputy director and chief philanthropy officer John Easley. It will make a remarkable difference in what were able to do over time and it really cements our leadership as one of the great museums of the world. Madar is a longtime museum trustee and his wife has volunteered in the museums Ingalls Library and has served as an honorary member of the Womens Council since 1996, the museum said in a news release. The museum named a gallery devoted to Northeast Ohio art in honor of the couple in gratitude for previous donations. Cole joined the museum in 2006 after serving as curator of American art at the Columbus Museum of Art. His department most recently oversaw the installation of Georgia OKeeffe: Living Modern, organized by the Brooklyn Museum. The shows last day is today. Coles major upcoming project is an exhibition on Magic Realism, whose adherents created meticulously precise images in which mundane scenes are rendered extraordinary or uncanny, suggesting a deeper, interior meaning beyond their outward appearance, the museum said. The show doesnt yet have a timetable. Five endowed curatorial positions are the museum are now endowed. They include the top positions in medieval European, Indian and Southeast Asian, and Chinese art, and European painting and sculpture. Endowing all 18 curatorial posts is a major objective of the museums strategic plan, announced in 2017, Easley said. Money raised for those positions would be part of the museums goal of growing its endowment from $736.7 million, its present value, to $1.25 billion by 2027, he said. Two positions in the museums conservation department, for the chief conservator and the conservator of Chinese paintings, are also endowed. Endowing curatorial positions is important because it helps the museum attract top quality talent, Easley said. It also offers donors an opportunity to show their devotion and passion for specific departments at the museum, he said. WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Cruiser crash, Crocker Road: Officers at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 responded to a call about an apparent road rage incident at Westwood and Canterbury roads. A Westlake police cruiser responding to the call with its lights and siren on and carrying a K-9 became involved in a crash with a vehicle at the intersection of Crocker and Detroit roads. Two other vehicles also were involved in the crash. Two people and the K-9 went for medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. A third person later sought medical treatment. The Westlake officer was treated at a hospital and released. The K-9 received stitches but has returned to duty. The intersection remained closed for an hour following the crash. A prosecutor will review the crash details. Other officers never found the reported road rage participants. Impaired driving and marijuana, Interstate 90: Officers arrested a 43-year-old Elyria woman Feb. 22 after receiving a call about an SUV stopped on the westbound highway near Columbia Road. The woman told police that she had pulled over to charge her cell phone. However, officers noticed that the woman had vomited on herself and on the ground outside her SUV. Officers reported that her breath smelled of an alcoholic beverage. After the woman failed a roadside field sobriety test, officers charged her with operating a vehicle while impaired. She refused to take a breath test. Police recovered a small bag of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which prompted them to file drug-possession charges. Felony drug charges, Interstate 90: An officer stopped a car at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 23 near the Cahoon Road overpass for a license plate violation. The officer noticed a marijuana pipe in plain view in the vehicle. The driver admitted to having marijuana, too. The officer also found that the driver had steroid pills, which led to a felony charge. The 27-year-old Westlake man was driving with his license under suspension. The stop resulted in felony drug-trafficking and drug-possession charges, as well as misdemeanor marijuana and traffic citations, according to police. Drug charges, Sperry Road: Another law enforcement agency contacted Westlake police at 9 p.m. Feb. 25 to report that a woman wanted for a felony drug probation violation was staying at the Super 8 motel. Westlake officers found the 22-year-old Medina woman and her 25-year-old Garfield Heights boyfriend in a motel room. Officers also found that the woman possessed heroin and a straw they suspect she used to snort it, according to police. The boyfriend was found to be intoxicated and disorderly, according to police. Officers arrested the woman on the warrant and added felony charges of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. They charged the man with disorderly conduct while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio A 19-year-old man was shot dead early Sunday in a possible robbery on the citys East Side, police said. The shooting happened just after midnight near the intersection of East 79th Street and Woodland Avenue, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. Responding officers found the victim on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics took the 19-year-old to University Hospitals, where he died. During their preliminary investigation, Cleveland homicide detectives learned that the shooting could have been related to a robbery, Ciaccia said. An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, Ciaccia said. Its unclear what charges he may face. This post will be updated if additional details are provided Sunday. If youd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio Charter schools in Ohio have long wanted more money from the state, but a history of well-publicized scandals, mismanagement and poor report card grades have made it hard to justify giving them any more tax dollars. Have they cleaned up their act enough now? Four years after the state legislature passed a charter school reform act, forcing the closure of some weak schools, and a year after the state shut down the giant Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow after a funding and attendance fight, a few charters are renewing their request. Some charter officials are pressing the state for another $2,000 per student a year for most charter schools in the upcoming state budget. Leading the charge are the Breakthrough Schools, the Cleveland based chain that has the strongest results out of all charters in Ohio. Joining them are the growing Accel Schools chain, which has grown to 40 schools in the state over the last three years. Also joining in are KIPP, the United Schools and Grand Schools in Columbus, and Dayton Early College Academy. They say that charters - public schools that are open to any student, but which are privately-run - are at a disadvantage to school districts. Charter schools rely mainly on state tax dollars to operate, leaving them with far less than districts who also seek local property tax levies from voters to add on top. Also joining the fray is the Fordham Institute, a right leaning education advocacy group that supports charters and school choice. Fordham estimated in a January study that charter schools statewide have about $2,000 less per student than districts. In urban areas, where most charters are located, that gap rises to more than $4,000 $10,556 for charters and $14,648 for districts. In Cleveland in particular, charters here have almost $6,000 less $10,554 compared to $16,500 for the district, Fordham estimated. Sadly, due in part to polarizing politics, Ohio has long under-resourced its public charter schools, shortchanging hundreds of thousands of needy students in the process and leaving them with uneven opportunities, wrote Fordham researcher Aaron Churchill. John Zitzner, one of Breakthroughs founders, says that the funding gap forces him to fundraise and seek donations from philanthropic groups just to operate as it does. Thats not sustainable, he says, and has set himself a 2020 deadline to fix funding in the state. He says that families should not be penalized by having less to cover their childs education, just because they choose a charter. This whole thing is totally unfair, Zitzner said. But supporters of school districts, who often view themselves as competing with charters for students and dollars, scoff at that argument. The whole original justification for charter schools, they note, was that privately-run schools would get better results at less cost. I seems like the charter schools have figured out that its harder than they thought, said Howard Fleeter, who analyzes finances and school funding for Ohios school, boards, school administrators and school business officials. Now they want every last dime that school districts get. Theres also an accountability issue. The state has been fighting with several charter schools the last few years over what it calls overstated attendance counts, which then lead to more money going to schools than should. The battle over ECOTs attendance and funding was the most public, though several fights with smaller schools are still ongoing. The state also has a reputation nationally of having too few controls over charters and allowing profiteering managers to fill their pockets by offering low-quality schools. A few years ago, a national charter official referred to Ohio as the Wild, Wild West of the charter school world. And four years ago, Stanford researchers found that Ohios charters performed far worse than traditional public schools, showing less academic growth than similar students in districts. Once we clean up all the problems with charter school accountability, then we can talk about money, Fleeter said. To some, the increased scrutiny over charter schools and the 2015 passage of House Bill 2, which added more rules for charters, are already starting to have an impact. The number of charter schools in Ohio decreased from 395 to 340 between the 2013-14 school year and this past year, according to the Ohio Department of Education. The number of students attending charters also decreased in that period from about 121,000 to 104,400. An updated Stanford study released last month painted a mixed picture. Researchers found no change in Ohio charter performance over the last several years, despite reform, efforts. They found, however, a vast difference between online charter schools in which students take classes at home on their computers and those with a real school building kids go to. While e-schools seriously lagged behind districts, the brick-and-mortar schools were matching and sometimes beating districts in urban areas. Those findings match state data that shows scores on state tests for charter school students in urban areas closely matching those of district students in those areas. Thats good enough to merit more money for brick-and-mortar charters some say, while a panel of legislators meets to find a better way of funding online schools. The request from charter operators excludes any increases for online schools. Theyre basically saying brick-and-mortar charter schools are doing as well or better, said Accel founder Ron Packard, If funded closer to parity with the other schools, they would do dramatically better than they do now. Packard is best known for creating and once running K12 Inc., the national online school company that provides online curriculum for e-schools in several states. Here in Ohio, Ohio Virtual Academy, the largest e-school here now that ECOT has closed, is a K12 school. Hes now running almost entirely non-online schools. What state officials are willing to do is not clear. Spokespeople for Gov,. Mike DeWine and for both state House and Senate leadership declined to comment pending DeWines March 15 release of his state budget proposal. But new House Speaker Larry Householder, a Glenford Republican, has said he may want to ban for-profit operators like K12 and Accel and like ECOT had. Packard objected to that idea, saying he charges schools 13 to 18 percent of their revenue as a management fee, so Accel would receive very little of any funding increase. Brick and mortar schools are a very low margin business, he said. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). If you majored in liberal arts, odds are you've heard your fair share of jokes at your professional expense. But choosing to study liberal arts subjects, defined traditionally as language, history, philosophy, literature and abstract science, doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of underemployment. What you chose to study does, of course, have a huge impact on your earnings later in life, but it doesn't have to define you or pigeonhole you in a certain role. CNBC Make It analyzed occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find jobs that pay a premium for liberal arts grads' skills and require a bachelor's degree to obtain. All of these jobs offer median yearly salaries of at least $55,000 that's more than $12,500 higher than what liberal arts majors' typical salaries, according to Glassdoor. In fact, these majors offer far more work opportunities than people give them credit for. Liberal art degrees emphasize soft skills, or talents that are harder to quantify such as effective communication, strong writing, critical thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence rather than hard skills, like the ability to perform open-heart surgery or Python programming. Liberal arts grads are highly adaptable, and research from The Hamilton Project found that liberal arts majors transition into a surprising variety of occupations, holding a more diverse range of jobs than most other majors' students did. "Shark Tank" investor Mark Cuban has said he expects adegree in philosophy will be worth more than a traditional programming degree in 10 years' time, because such an education encourages big-picture and critical thinking. Adaptability and soft skills can be huge assets for liberal arts majors, if they know which industries to join. Here are 10 jobs for liberal arts majors that pay $55,000 or more: Early retirement used to mean leaving the workforce at age 50. But a growing group of full-time workers are planning to quit even earlier. The desire to retire in your 30s or 40s is what's driving the so-called FIRE movement. The name is an acronym for "financial independence, retire early." FIRE appears to be gaining popularity among millennials. Two FIRE members, Tanja Hester and her husband, say they both had demanding consulting jobs. Each earned more than $100,000 a year, but both careers required long hours and extensive travel. "My husband and I had jobs that we loved, actually," Hester told CNBC's "On The Money" in a recent interview. "I think there's a common misconception that those of us pursuing early retirement are doing it because we hate work. Or we feel like we shouldn't have to work. It really couldn't have been farther from the truth for us. It was just that we felt the toll that work was taking and we knew we couldn't sustain that pace until age 65." Six years ago, they began to envision a life without daily 9-to-5 jobs. Hester said they started "saving more without a real plan, then we built out a detailed plan." That strategy included investing more of their income, while cutting spending. Simultaneously, she started chronicling their progress on a blog, "Our Next Life." It's one of many FIRE movement blogs and podcasts aimed at, for and about the group by those involved in it. The FIRE movement is "a program of extreme savings and investment that allows proponents to retire far earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans would allow," according to Investopedia. While sharing similar goals, Hester said the methods to get there differ. "Like any group of people, you've got a wide range of folks in the FIRE movement." she told CNBC. While some focus on extreme frugality, Hester said she and her husband don't share that mission. "Mark and I are much less frugal. We weren't natural super-savers. And I wanted to show folks even if you don't love counting every cent you spend on your groceries, you can still pursue early retirement or some form of it. " Although she declines to share how much they accumulated in their portfolio before quitting work, they officially began their early retirement last year. She at 38 and her husband at age 41. "Early retirement isn't magic, it doesn't make life perfect. But I do like no alarm clock." She said in their first year, "a big chunk of the year we were away traveling," to destinations including Taiwan, Mexico, France and Monaco. President Donald J. Trump walks out to announce a deal with congressional leaders to temporarily reopen the government while talks continue on his demand for border wall money, on the 35th day of the partial government shutdown, the longest in US history, in the Rose Garden at the White House on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump begins his 2020 re-election campaign with a fighting chance but fighting from behind, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows. The survey shows that Americans, by 48 percent to 41 percent, plan to vote for the Democratic candidate opposing the Republican incumbent. That represents a narrowing of the double-digit deficits the NBC/WSJ poll found in December 2017 and 2018. His standing is worse than that of his immediate predecessors George W. Bush and Barack Obama, both of whom led generically described opponents at similar points. Bill Clinton trailed by a slightly smaller margin in January 1995, though like Bush and Obama he went on to win a second term. One positive sign for the president: overall approval of his job performance has ticked up to 46 percent of Americans since the end of the government shutdown; 52 percent disapprove. In January, 43 percent approved and 54 percent disapproved of his performance. Yet the survey underscores a series of political obstacles. Trump faces double-digit deficits among voters under 50, women and independents. College-educated white women favor a Democrat by 26 percentage points, while Hispanic voters back the opposition party nominee by 40 points. Six in 10 Americans oppose his declaration of national emergency on the southern border with Mexico and believe he has not been honest about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race. And though Trump enjoys overwhelming 86 percent job approval among fellow Republicans, they are far from universally opposed to another GOP candidate in 2020. Among voters who say they plan to vote in Republican primaries, 37 percent would like to see a GOP challenger to Trump while 59 percent would not. The poll flashed a caution light for 77-year-old Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-styled Democratic socialist who recently kicked off another White House bid. Among a series of candidate attributes, "someone over age 75" and "a socialist" ranked as the least desirable. Results were more encouraging for other members of the diverse field of Democratic 2020 candidates. Two-thirds or more of Americans described themselves as either enthusiastic or comfortable with a presidential candidate who is gay, female or African-American. Overwhelming numbers said the same about a white man. Smaller majorities expressed comfort or enthusiasm about the prospect of an independent, under 40, business executive or evangelical Christian candidate. On issues, the poll found more problems for Republicans than Democrats. Fifty percent or more of Americans called the GOP stance "outside the mainstream" on climate change, abortion, health care and immigration. The worst Democrats fared on any policy area was "fiscal issues, such as taxing and spending," where 47 percent called them "outside the mainstream. An identical 47 percent called Republicans outside the mainstream on fiscal issues. The telephone survey of 900 adults, conducted Feb. 24-27, carries a margin for error 3.27 percentage points. President Donald Trump hugs the US flag as he arrives to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 2, 2019. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler said Sunday he believes that President Donald Trump has obstructed justice and announced plans to request documents from more than five dozen people in the president's circle, including his son and a top company executive. Nadler, D-NY, told ABC News' "This Week" that the committee will "begin the investigations to present the case ... about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power." The committee, which would be responsible for any impeachment proceedings against Trump, will ask for documents from people in the White House, the Justice Department, and the Trump Organization including top executives Donald Trump Jr. and Allen Weisselberg to begin presenting that case "to the American people," Nadler said. But Nadler, speaking days after Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified to Congress about multiple possible crimes by the president, pointedly stopped short of saying he would seek Trump's impeachment. "We're far from making decisions" about impeachment, Nadler said. "This Week" host George Stephanopolous asked: "Do you think the president obstructed justice?" "Yes, I do," Nadler answered. Tweet Later on "This Week," the Republican leader in the House said Trump had done nothing to warrant being impeached and accused Nadler of being set on unseating the president despite that fact. "I think Congressman [Jerrold] Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election," said House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. "Listen to exactly what he said. He talks about impeachment before he even became chairman, and then he says you got to persuade people to get there. There's nothing that the president did wrong," McCarthy said. Stephanopoulos then asked, "Nothing?" McCarthy answered: "In this process, to be impeached? Show me where the president did anything to be impeached." Last week, Cohen, 52, testified publicly for more than seven hours at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He detailed how Trump had personally reimbursed him for hush-money payments Cohen has made to porn star Stormy Daniels and directed him to lie about why those payments were made. Cohen also spoke of how the Trump Organization had inflated assets in some cases and deflated them in others to mislead entities, which would have constituted tax and insurance fraud. Cohen is due to begin serving a three-year federal prison sentence on May 6 for multiple crimes, including some related to his work for Trump. He is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion by members of the Trump campaign in that interference. The president has denied any wrongdoing. Pakistani soldiers stand next to what Pakistan says is the wreckage of an Indian fighter jet shot down in Pakistan controled Kashmir at Somani area in Bhimbar district near the Line of Control on February 27, 2019. As India and Pakistan seemingly dial down hostilities that brought the arch enemies to the brink of another war, a massive crackdown on militancy in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region is killing both militants and security personnel in big numbers. At the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the nuclear-armed neighbours, there was relative calm in the past 24 hours, their armies said on Sunday. The exchange of fire in the past few days has killed seven people on the Pakistani side and four on the Indian side, though the release of a downed Indian fighter pilot by Pakistan on Friday night has helped de-escalate tensions. "By and large the LoC was calm last night but you never know when it will become active again," said Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, a minister in Pakistani Kashmir. "Tension still prevails." Indian warplanes carried out air strikes on Tuesday inside northeast Pakistan's Balakot on what New Delhi called militant camps. Islamabad denied any such camps existed, as did some villagers in the area when Reuters visited. Nevertheless, Pakistan retaliated on Wednesday with its own aerial mission in a show of force. The countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. An Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar, arrives at Fine Gael HQ on 5 Oct. 2017, in Dublin, Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has told Cabinet colleagues that a delay of Britain's exit date from the European Union from March 29 to June is "very likely", Ireland's Sunday Independent quoted an unnamed minister as saying. "The Taoiseach (prime minister) has privately said to us that it is very likely there will be an extension until June," the minister was quoted as saying. An Irish government spokesman declined to comment on the veracity of the report but said the Cabinet's focus was "solely on securing a deal" and pointed to a comment by Varadkar on Friday in which he said a British exit on March 29 without either a deal or an extension was unlikely. Roger Stone, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, exits the Federal Courthouse on January 25, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stone announced on Instagram in January that he was coming out with the book, "The Myth of Russian Collusion: The Inside Story of How Trump Really Won." Stone's post was put online less than 48 hours after the judge, Amy Berman Jackson, ordered lawyers for the admitted Republican "dirty trickster" to explain why they did not tell her earlier about the planned publication of a book by Stone that could violate her gag order on him. Stone deleted the only image in that multi-image post that included "Who framed Roger Stone" language shortly after CNBC emailed his lawyer to ask about it. Roger Stone on Sunday suggested he has been "framed" by special counsel Robert Mueller in an Instagram post that appeared to run afoul of a judge's barely week-old gag order barring President Donald Trump's longtime friend from criticizing the prosecutors in the criminal case against him. In her gag order in U.S District Court in Washington, D.C., Jackson barred Stone from "making statements to the media or in public settings about the Special Counsel's investigation or this case or any of the participants in the investigation or the case." The gag extends to "posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other form of social media." If Stone violates the order, Jackson could order him jailed without bail until his trial. Jackson had slapped that order on Stone on Feb. 21 after he posted on Instagram a photo showing the judge's face next to a rifle scope's crosshair. Tweet Stone's new post is comprised of a rotating series of images that ask for money to support Stone's defense to charges that he lied to Congress and tampered with a witness. One says, "I am committed to proving my innocence. But I need your help." Another photo, which shows a young Stone standing behind Trump years ago, says, "I've always had Trump's back. Will you have mine?" Two other images tout a "Roger Stone Did Nothing Wrong" t-shirt and "Stone Cold Truth" sweatshirt. The post originally had an image showing Stone wearing eyeglasses under the words "Who Framed Roger Stone," a reference to the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." The image has been on the Internet for some time. Tweet A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment Sunday. Stone's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stone, who remains free on a $250,000 signature bond, was arrested in Florida in late January and has pleaded not guilty to the seven counts against him, including making false statements to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing justice. Mueller has said Stone lied to Congress about his alleged efforts to have WikiLeaks release material hacked by Russian agents from Democrats, including Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, during the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump's victory. An indictment alleges Stone was in contact with top-ranking Trump campaign officials about efforts to leak damaging information about Clinton right before Election Day. Russia is ready to take part in bilateral talks with the United States over the issue of Venezuela, Russia's foreign minister told his U.S. counterpart late on Saturday. The situation in Venezuela was the main topic in a phone call between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that took place on March 2, Russia's foreign ministry said on its website. "In connection with Washington's proposal to hold bilateral consultations on the Venezuelan topic, it was stated that Russia is ready to participate in this," the ministry said in a statement. It was "vital to be strictly guided by the principles of the UN Charter since only the Venezuelan people have the right to determine their future," the statement said. Russia and the United States have been at loggerheads over a U.S.-led campaign for international recognition of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who declared himself the interim head of state, over President Nicholas Maduro. In the phone call, initiated by the United States, Lavrov condemned the threats that Washington made towards "the country's lawful leadership," the ministry said, referring to Maduro. Earlier this month, the United States imposed new sanctions on six Venezuelan security officials and revoked the visas of dozens of associates and their families with ties to Maduro, in the latest move to pile pressure on him to step down. Lavrov and Pompeo also agreed to continues talks on the expert level regarding Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula. 1 / 7 Spectators watch fighter aircrafts perform aerobatic manoeuvres on the third day of Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File) 2 / 7 Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, does traditional "Banzai (long life)" cheers to Japanese Emperor Akihito, center, and Empress Michiko, right, during a ceremony to mark the 30th year of his reign at the National Theater in Tokyo, Japan. Akihito's Heisei era will end when he abdicates on April 30 in favour of his elder son, 59-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, beginning a new, as the yet unnamed era. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP, File) 3 / 7 South Korea's Black Eagles aerobatic flight team performs during a rehearsal for the upcoming government ceremony to mark the centennial of the March First Independence Movement Day against Japanese colonial rule (1910-45), in Seoul, South Korea. The statue, bottom, is Adm. Yi Sun-sin, the national hero who won a major naval victory over Japan in the 16th century. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) 4 / 7 Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File) 5 / 7 A Tibetan Buddhist monk uses his phone camera as he walks with another in the snow in Dharmsala. This Himalayan region saw another snowfall on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, File) 6 / 7 Participants carry torches and national flags as they march on the street during a re-enactment ceremony of the March First Independence Movement Day, the anniversary of the 1919 uprising against Japanese colonial rule, in Cheonan, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) Cabinet at War latest: Leadsom and Hunt hit back at Rudd, Clark and Gauke Those who wish to embrace no-deal are turning their backs on a far more attractive option in the PMs deal avoiding disruption and uncertainty for businesses and our people. On the other hand, the active pursuit of a delay to Brexit with no purpose beyond frustration is a betrayal of the referendum result. It would lead to an irretrievable breach of trust with those who are already cynical about the will of Westminster to deliver on the result to begin with. The uniting factor of these two options is the ruptures they will each cause. We will face more uncertainty, more debate, and deepen the distrust that the public have in politiciansWe remain energised to deliver on Brexit and with the collective efforts of our colleagues who want to work in the national interest, resolution is within our grasp. Sunday Telegraph > Yesterday: WATCH: Ellwood If it was the European Research Groups intent to take us to no deal we will stop thatWhenever. ERG keeps options open In a significant intervention, eight ERG lawyers, chaired by veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash, have drawn up a document spelling out their demands, the clearest sign yet that they are prepared to fall into line. Geoffrey Cox, the attorney-general, is seeking a new deal that would make clear that the Northern Ireland backstop, which locks the UK into a customs union with the EU, is only temporary. In private talks with Cox the Brexiteers demanded a legally binding mechanism to escape the backstop, with a clear exit route and an unambiguous rewrite of the language in the governments legal advice. Sunday Times Michael Tomlinson explained: There is a spectrum and a range of options that the attorney-general has, but Im not going to say protocol, good; codicil, bad; letter, very bad; because that would be prejudging it. We are waiting to be convinced. Sunday Times Cox has drawn up a codicil Mail on Sunday Brady, Vickers ready to back deal. Lewis says Tory MPs supporting it wont be deselected. May backs Gyimah Mail on Sunday Brady, Vickers ready to back deal. Lewis says Tory MPs supporting it wont be deselected. May backs Gyimah Mail on Sunday Gibraltars British status to be protected under tax deal which will apply even in the event of a no-deal Brexit Sunday Express Farage speaks in America Sunday Express Glenda Jackson admires May Mail on Sunday > Today: ToryDiary Our survey. Seven in ten respondents are opposed to a Commons vote on Brexit extension > Yesterday: As Barnier says: there will have to be an extension deal or no deal Barnier backed up the private positions of many of the Remainers in Theresa Mays Cabinet by saying she does not have time to make a deal. Theresa May has threatened MPs in recent weeks to back her meaningful vote on March 12 or risk further delaying Brexit or a no-deal scenario. Barnier told Spains El Mundo that Brussels would not green light a Brexit deal on March 29 even if Parliament reached an agreement. Mr Barnier suggested a technical extension of up to two months would be needed. Mail on Sunday Dan Hodges: Cox is the Cabinets Walrus of Love Coxs lyrical interventions at Cabinet meetings have already earned the admiration of his colleagues. I could listen to him for hours, swoons a female Minister. Hes the Cabinets Walrus of Love. Our very own Barry WhiteHe must convince the reluctant Eurocrats to go as far as they can on breaking the Brexit deadlock. According to Government insiders, hes having some success. They like him, a Cabinet Minister tells me. He fits their idea of what a British Minister should be. They feel theyre negotiating with David Niven. Mail On Sunday Bloody Sunday row: Williamson seeks ten year limit on the prosecution of soldiers Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, is expected to bring forward the proposed legislation in this years Queens speech after growing pressure on the government to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The disclosure comes amid claims that four army veterans are expected to be charged with murder over the deaths of Bloody Sunday protesters almost five decades agoWilliamson, who has previously described cases against ex-servicemen as a witch-hunt, said last night the case relating to Bloody Sunday completely turns the stomach of the British people. He also said the government had to do something to make sure our soldiers and veterans have the protection they deserve Sunday Times Mordaunt says that British police will be sent to trouble hotspots in Africa to stop terrorism threat Sun on Sunday Navy has more admirals than warships Sun on Sunday Truss suggests May is responsible for Corbynism Gibb says that children should be taught to read aloud The Chief Secretary to the Treasury a leading contender to succeed Mrs May told a private dinner last week: We need to confront Corbynism, not tack towards him. Her intervention comes amid mounting anger on the partys Right wing over Mrs Mays Corbyn-lite policies, including a price cap on energy bills, billions of extra NHS investment and the targeting of fat cat company bosses over pay and perks. During her speech, leaked to The Mail on Sunday, the Cabinet Minister claimed the Right had been asleep at the wheel in the battle of ideas since the end of the Thatcher government. Mail on Sunday Children should be reading books without an eye on exams, Gibb insists, but rather to be gradually introduced to some of the great literature of our country and the world. He remembers being made to read one of CS Foresters Hornblower novels in an English class, and loved it. I would have just continued reading Agatha Christie without that exposure. He goes on: One of my worries is that children in secondary schools are not reading a wide enough array of English literature in English literature lessons. Sunday Telegraph Peter Hitchens: Hinds sex education plans betray Conservative values and break a Tory pledge Hancock pro-statins intervention Mail on Sunday The supposedly Conservative government has swallowed all the tendentious liberal bilge from the jabbering victimhood pressure groups and is determined to instruct primary school children in the joys of being transgender or gay Rod Liddle, Sunday Times Falconer: We have totally lost the confidence of the Jewish community and we have to get it back Mr Hinds has openly broken a clear pledge given two years ago by a Tory government. The genuinely conservative MP Edward Leigh asked him a quietly devastating question in Parliament: All previous Conservative Governments have given an untrammelled right to parents to remove their children from sex education but here, in certain circumstances, that right has been transferred to the head teacher a fundamental shift of power to the State. Mail on Sunday Lord Falconer warned Jeremy Corbyn that he has no prospect of becoming prime minister unless he stamps out the conspiratorial world view that fuels Jewish hatred on the far left. He also said that non-disclosure agreements gagging former party staff from speaking out would be bypassed so that he can conduct his inquiry. Falconer said he does not believe Corbyn is personally anti-semitic but warned that British Jews feel they are not safe with Labour and its leader. We have totally lost the confidence of the Jewish community and we have to get it back, he said. Sunday Times Whats Watson up to? 100 Labour MPs could join Watsons army. He us said to be planning a guerrilla operation to establish a centre-Left party within a party Mail on Sunday He says Robinson should be banned from YouTube Sun on Sunday He is on manoeuvres Adam Boulton, Sunday Times The Independent Group will open talks with the Electoral Commission on Tuesday about forming a new party Allies of Jeremy Corbyn fear that Labours deputy leader, Tom Watson, is orchestrating a coup that could see him take over the opposition party and gain access to its public funding. Sources close to Corbyn say the Labour leader has become increasingly concerned by Watsons behaviour. They fear that the deputy leader is recruiting Labour MPs for a new party within a party that could eventually take control of its MPs and finances. Corbyn is far more worried about a breakaway group led by Watson than he is about the eight Labour MPs who left the party last month to form the Independent Group, many sources said. Sunday Times MPs from the group will open talks with the Electoral Commission on Tuesday to discuss what moves they must take to register as a party that can put up candidates nationwide if the current political turmoil over Brexit leads to a snap election. Following the dramatic decision by eight Labour MPs and three Tories to split off from their parties less than a fortnight ago, the group believes it must be ready at the earliest opportunity to offer voters a new option on the centre ground of British politics. Observer New party will target pro-Remain Conservative seats such as Richmond Park and St Albans Sunday Express News in Brief Andrew Selous is MP for South West Bedfordshire and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity. Last June, the Government published the second chapter of its childhood obesity plan, which set a new national ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030. Its great to see that we are now poised to make that dramatic improvement to the health of our children and future generations. And not a moment too soon. I find it scarcely believable that more than a quarter of children in the UK are overweight or obese; and a child who is obese is five times more likely to remain so as an adult. Obesity can lead to a number of devastating yet preventable diseases, including 13 different types of cancer. And if its impact on the health of our youngsters wasnt enough, its estimated that each year obesity costs the NHS 5.1 billion and the wider economy 27 billion money we can ill afford to squander. But theres a lot of work that needs to be done to realise that ambition. First, the Government must consult on the commitments laid out in the plan. The latest consultation, on the possible introduction of a ban on all TV adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) before 9pm and equivalent restrictions online, was due to be published at the end of 2018, but there is still no clear publication date in sight. According to Cancer Research UKs posters, which were displayed around Westminster tube station in January, teenagers who recall seeing junk food adverts every day are twice as likely to be obese. And those who watch more than three hours of commercial TV a day are more likely to eat a whopping 520 extra snacks a year. Recent early-stage analysis of advertising data for May 2018, also done by the charity, found that on ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky One, around half (49 per cent) of all food adverts shown between 6pm and 9pm in May 2018 were advertising HFSS products. And that fast food and delivery brands accounted for more than a quarter (27 per cent) of those HFSS adverts. So to protect youngsters from a barrage of unhealthy food adverts every time they tune in to watch popular prime time shows, its crucial Government recommends and implements a 9pm watershed as a result of the consultation. There is no one size fits all approach to reducing childhood obesity, but its time industry buckled down and took some responsibility. There will always be concerns when changes to regulation are proposed. But a watershed doesnt automatically mean that businesses and broadcasters will suffer financially. Cancer Research UK analysis has found that only a relatively small proportion of ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky Ones advertising revenue in May 2018 was derived from HFSS ads. This revenue loss would be mitigated by the fact that a watershed would only apply between 5.30am and 9pm. On top of this, many of the brands that currently advertise HFSS foods before the watershed already have non-HFSS alternatives which they could advertise instead, further reducing any potential impact on broadcasters revenue. And as demonstrated by the recent ITV partnership on the Veg Power campaign, there are other products to advertise. This fantastic new advert, which calls for kids to eat more veg, shows a willingness from the broadcasting industry to move away from HFSS advertising, but is also an admission from advertisers that prime time television is particularly impactful. This advert was designed to speak directly to kids, but rather than being showing on dedicated childrens programming, it was launched during an episode of The Voice on a Saturday evening. While this advert doesnt promote junk food, it is absolutely crucial these types of shows are regulated to prevent adverts that do we need a 9pm watershed. Besides, the cost to the long-term health of our children is what really should matter. Thats why there are no excuses for not implementing this ambitious but necessary plan to reverse the tide of obesity engulfing our country. 100% Website auctionoperation.co.za uses latest and advanced technologies like: JQuery, Boostrap and Asp.Net. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 37755 bytes (36.87 kb uncompressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-11-08, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 100% Website buyirrs.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of . This CoolSocial report was updated on 2020-11-11, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 100% Website data-max.co.jp uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 133860 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. 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Chhayly said after more than 10 years, the project to plant 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia has contributed remarkably to the countrys economic growth.With nearly 90,000 hectares of rubber trees grown so far, the project has generated jobs for locals and helped build infrastructure such as schools, medical stations, clean water systems and roads in target areas.He affirmed that the Cambodian government continues making adjustments to create a favourable business and investment environment for investors.Within the framework of the conference, Cambodian offices such as the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Customs and Excise held open and straightforward dialogues with representatives from Vietnamese companies involved in the project to help them deal with difficulties related to rubber export procedures, tax incentives and tax declaration. Vietnamplus The Viking Jupiter made her first call to Marseille, France, last week, as Viking's sixth ocean-going ship was delivered in February by Fincantieri. The 930-guest vessel was in the French port for the first time, and was welcomed by local officials, who boarded the ship for the traditional plaque and key exchange ceremony with the captain. Marseille is expecting just under 2 million cruise passengers in 2019. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant St., will offer an administration of medicine class for day care providers and camp counselors Thursday, March 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., or 6:30 to 8 p.m. for injectable medications only, in the fourth-floor Hollander Auditorium. The course is for three-year certification and teaches proper administration of oral, topical, inhalant, and injectable medications. Instruction is provided by a registered nurse. To register, call 888-357-2396 or visit www.bridgeporthospital.org/events. This is the first official friendship visit to Vietnam made by Kim, Chairman of the Workers Party and the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, since he became the countrys leader in 2011. He is also the first DPRK leader who has visited Vietnam after 55 years. Earlier, the founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung visited Vietnam in 1958 and 1964. Bidding farewell to the DPRK Chairman at Dong Dang station were Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of its Commission for Education and Information; Mai Tien Dung, member of the CPVCC and Minister-Chairman of the Government Office; Pham Thanh Ha, Vice Chairperson of the President Office; and Le Hoai Trung, member of the CPVCC and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others. Within the framework of his visit, Kim held talks with General Secretary of the CPVCC and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and had meetings with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. At the talks and meetings, both sides agreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts; as well as to expand the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisation channels to increase mutual understanding in fields of common demand. They will effectively maintain regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, including the deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Scientific-Technological Cooperation; explore the possibility of mutually-beneficial collaboration in fields suitable to each side; expand cultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges; and hold activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020. On regional and global issues, they pledged to work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and to intensify the exchange of ideas on issues regarding peace and stability maintenance in the region and the world. On this occasion, Chairman Kim and the DPRKs high-ranking delegation paid tribute to late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs. The delegation also visited several economic models of Vietnam and the UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage Ha Long Bay in northern province of Quang Ninh. GREENWICH Family Centers has earned the Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval with accreditations for its services in ambulatory health care and behavioral health care. The Joint Commission is the gold standard when it comes to accrediting outpatient medical and behavioral health centers, said Dennis Torres, Family Centers vice president of Health Care Programs. We are proud to have received this recognition in the relatively short time FCHC has been open. This accreditation gives the community members who use our services added confidence that the care they receive is of the highest quality. Greenwich-based Family Centers Health Care, the agencys Federally Qualified Health Center that opened in 2016, also received the Joint Commissions Primary Care Medical Home Certification. The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organizations commitment to meeting standards of safe, effective and quality patient-centered care. Family Centers is accredited through November 2021. The Joint Commissions accreditation covers Family Centers programs and sites providing primary medical, dental, mental health and human services. The organizations early care and education programs remain accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Family Centers underwent a rigorous on-site survey last November. During the review, a Joint Commission team evaluated compliance with ambulatory care standards related to coordination of care, infection prevention and control, management of medications and patient education and training. They also evaluated how FCHCs interdisciplinary team works with patients to provide comprehensive, coordinated and patient-centered care. The Joint Commissions behavioral health surveyors also evaluated Family Centers compliance with behavioral health care standards for care, treatment, and services; environment of care; leadership; and screening procedures for early detection of imminent harm. After receiving the honor, FCHC said it is aiming for increased patient satisfaction, improved patient outcomes and reduced overall costs. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to improve health care for the public by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org. Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families across Fairfield County. Visit www.familycenters.org for additional information. Two local students are participating in an off-campus study abroad program for the Spring 2019 semester through St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. Erin-Grace G. Carey of Old Greenwich, a member of the Class of 2020 who is majoring in statistics and psychology, is participating in a program in Denmark. Laura E. Edson of Old Greenwich, a member of the Class of 2020 who is majoring in statistics and economics, is participating in the Austro-American Institute of Education program in Vienna. Miami University students ranked in the top 20 percent of undergraduate students within each division for first semester 2018-19 have been named to the Deans List. Local students honored by the university in Oxford, Ohio, are: Abby Boyle of Greenwich, Molly Carroll of Greenwich and Peter Donovan of Old Greenwich. Jonathan Pulitano of Greenwich has been named to the Deans List for the fall 2018 session at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Students who earn Deans List honors must earn a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.899. Grace Elizabeth Raskopf of Riverside has been named to the Presidents List at Clemson University in South Carolina for the fall 2018 semester. Raskopf is majoring in psychology. To be named to the Presidents List, a student must achieve a 4.0 grade-point average. Elizabeth Rachel Brown of Cos Cob graduated cum laude from Clemson University in South Carolina with a bachelor of science in environmental and natural resources on Dec. 20, 2018. Brown was among more than 1,600 fall semester graduates from Clemson. Brown was also named to the Deans List for the fall 2018 semester. To be named to the Deans List, a student achieved a grade-point average between 3.50 and 3.99. The following students have been named to the Deans List at the University of New Hampshire in Durham for the fall 2018 semester: Elizabeth Cardini of Cos Cob, with high honors; Christian Silva of Greenwich, with highest honors; Michael Russell of Greenwich, with honors; Lisa Hryckowian of Greenwich, with high honors; and Kelly Archino of Riverside, with highest honors. Kaelan Gillick of Riverside graduated cum laude with a bachelors degree in interactive media design with a concentration in computer game design from Becker College in Worcester, Mass. Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., has released the Deans list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall 2018 semester. A student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher to receive recognition. Greenwich students earning honors include Brooke Collins, of the Class of 2020; Nick Daetwiler of the Class of 2022; Lili Kilkenny of the Class of 2021; Lily McKenna of the Class of 2021; Wyatt Rodger of the Class of 2020; Christian Ruf of the Class of 2022; Zach Tucker of the Class of 2022; Rafe Kaplan of the Class of 2019; Christina Lawrence of the Class of 2022; Andrew Liebers of the Class of 2021; and Colby Sherwyn of the Class of 2020. Old Greenwich students on the Deans List include Lauren Cohen of the Class of 2022; John Colbert of the Class of 2022; Ellie Lobrano of the Class of 2019; and Melissa Madden of the Class of 2022. Deans List students from Riverside include Tyler Dagnino of the Class of 2020; Nick Dagnino of the Class of 2022; and Nicole Vassiliou of the Class of 2021. Ben Langley of Cos Cob, a member of the Class of 2019, was also named to the Deans List. The following local students have been named to the deans list for the Fall 2018 semester at University of Vermont in Burlington: Isabella Arnaboldi, Nicholas Steinthal and Sloane Caan, all of Greenwich. To be named to the deans list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class. Select students have been named to the Fall 2018 Deans List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Deans List. Honored local students are Caroline Negrin and Jamie Salkin, both of Old Greenwich. The following local residents were named to the Deans List at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., for the 2018 fall semester: Madeleine Fargis of Greenwich, a junior majoring in history; Julia Booth of Greenwich, a senior majoring in environmental studies; Hannah Honan of Greenwich, a senior majoring in art history; Sarah Stinebaugh of Old Greenwich, a senior majoring in biology; Lucas Mangold of Old Greenwich, a junior majoring in geosciences; Henry Golden of Old Greenwich, a junior majoring in mathematics; Margaret Pierce of Greenwich, a junior majoring in environmental studies; Caitlin Stern of Greenwich, a sophomore; Konstantin Tokarr of Greenwich, a senior majoring in American studies; and Madeleine Howe of Greenwich, a first-year student. To be named to the Deans List, a student must have earned an average of 3.5 or above. Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., has announced the following local students were named to the deans list for the fall 2018 semester. All students earning a position on the deans list must have a grade-point average of 3.7 or above on a 4.0 GPA scale. The honored students are Anne Dunster, a senior from Cos Cob majoring in economics; Bizz Fretty, a junior from Greenwich majoring in art & art history and medieval & early modern studies. The Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department Twitter page is at it again. This time, the department is tweeting what is says is the most ridiculous call of 2019 (so far). In the thread post Thursday afternoon, Lawrence police said two officers were dispatched to a road rage in progress call. When they arrived, they found two cars parked facing each other in the parking lot. The drivers, dubbed Karen and Chad for the tweets, were locked in a standoff. Police said Karen wanted out of the parking lot, Chad wanted into the parking lot, and both drivers were refusing to get out of the other drivers way. Literally all they have to do is back up. Nay, all ONE OF THEM has to do is back up and the other one can go, the department said in a tweet. By the time officers arrived, police said the standoff had already been going on for 20 minutes. Police said Chad told officers, "I got nowhere to go. I can just stay here all night." Chad was apparently refusing to move because of the principle of the issue. Police then said Karen told officers, "Nope, Im not moving. He can move. Apparently, according to tweets from the Police Department, Karen claimed she couldnt back up because her minivan was too large and she would literally crash it. Mini is emphasized because the van is not particularly large, and if Karen cant back it up, maybe Karen should refrain from driving, the department tweeted. Meanwhile Chad allegedly told officers he didnt call for help, Karen did, so he wasnt going to move. So how did the story end? We may never know. Police reportedly told Karen and Chad that they were on private property and didnt have the legal authority to make either driver move. As far as we know, Chad and Karen are still sitting there, police said. And so concludes the story of the most ridiculous call of 2019 (so far). By the way, you might want to give the Lawrence Police Department a follow on Twitter for more interesting tweets like this. NEWTOWN The Sandy Hook memorial contract could have been awarded to architects with a national reputation, or to architects who have done good work here before, such as the firm that designed the new Sandy Hook School. Instead, Newtown chose two unknowns in the architectural world named Ben Waldo and Dan Affleck, whose memorial design of a walk through nature captivated the town. When they came to us, they were humble and passionate, and that really impressed us, said Dan Krauss, chairman of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission, the group that has spent five years helping Newtown decide how best to honor 26 first-graders and educators slain in the Sandy Hook shootings. They obviously thought a lot about this project, and we felt a real connection to them. The architects, in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, said part of what distinguished them from others whose designs also drew on natures connection to life, death and rebirth is that their motivations were not professional. They were personal. Both men work for San Francisco-based SWA, and have occasionally been on the same design teams for municipal parks or commercial projects. Dan and I had been talking about working on a project together on our own that was meaningful, said Waldo, 29, who grew up playing music before he could read. So this is a project we worked on after hours during weekends and lunches. We wanted to keep this personal, agreed Affleck, 40, a Hartford native who studied painting before focusing on architecture. So when they had the big public meetings for the (semifinalist) designers, we wanted our presentation to be just the two of us. The result was an interconnected design that inspired Sandy Hook families from the start a walk through the 5-acre woods of the memorial site to a circular center, where a young sycamore tree is planted in a reflecting pool. There is something spiritual about it that is aesthetic and emotional, said Alan Martin, a member of the memorial commission. It spoke to us, and we felt good about it. Newtown is in the final phase of a deliberate process to build a monument of commemoration and hope on a semi-secluded site near the new Sandy Hook School, which opened in 2016. First Selectman Dan Rosenthal is negotiating with SWA about a budget that Newtown residents would have to approve, perhaps in a referendum as soon as November. Although its too soon to say how much Newtown is prepared to spend on the monument, Rosenthal has reserved $4 million in the towns multi-year capital improvement fund to be used for the solemn site. The town has also paid SWA $250,000 to develop blueprints for the design created by Waldo and Affleck, known as The Clearing. The words resonate on two levels, Affleck said. There is the natural physical clearing of woods on the site itself, and a spiritual clearing in terms of clarity. Inviting interaction As soon as Affleck and Waldo agreed they wanted to work together on the Sandy Hook memorial, they encountered the overwhelming burden of the task. No piece of design is ever going to heal wounds as deep as a tragedy like this leaves, Waldo said. Added to that was the burden that somehow the monument had to be more meaningful than the sum of its elements. With that in mind, the duo handled the weight of the task in three ways: they tried to erase all of their preconceptions, they spoke with people they knew who lost loved ones, and they thought about the project for six weeks before starting to sketch. Their solution was a walk through nature to a circle with no beginning and no end, animated by a tree planted in water to represent the distance between life and death. People can engage in the mystery by placing an object in the water that embodies thoughts, emotions or reflections, Waldo said. When you give that away and send it across that space, it is like the culmination of a ritual. Affleck agreed, saying a floating object placed at the edge of the reflection pool will be gently carried by fountain hydraulics to the sycamore tree planted in the center. The water can be described as the unknown space between the now and the hereafter, Affleck said. We cannot cross over it, but we can send a candle over it. The hope is construction can begin next spring, and the memorial will be ready to dedicate on Dec. 14, 2020 the eighth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shootings. The architects stress they cannot say what someone might feel while walking in that space, except the memorial will have the ability to ground people. It locates you emotionally, Affleck said. By bringing people together in a circular nature, the physical form suggests a way to think about what happened. A drafted law that included protection of intersex children was revised to remove those protections. Now, intersex children in Iceland may still be subjected to unnecessary genital surgeries. The draft law would make it easier for transgender people to change their name and gender, but a committee has been set up to draft another law for intersex children, according to Reuters. This would mean an indefinite delay, where activists worry intersex children will be vulnerable. These practices are rooted in disgust, that our bodies arent good enough, that they dont look the right way, Kitty Anderson, founder of Intersex Iceland, told Reuters. Anderson also pointed out that, though Iceland is at the forefront of equal rights, the small population makes what scrutiny there is that much worse. Madonna Badillo, a 49-year-old transgender woman, helps LGBT Venezuelan refugees flee to Colombia. Badillo lives in Maicao, Colombia, near the border of Colombia, and shares her home with seven Venezuelan sex workers. She doesnt ask for rent, just that they help out with groceries, according to Aljazeera. "Because of what's happening in Venezuela, and as our neighbour country and members of the LGBT community, I find myself wanting to help them and give them refuge," Badillo said, according to Aljazeera. LGBT people in Colombia face a lot of discrimination, and some Venezuelans with HIV/AIDS cant get medicine, so Badillo has committed herself to taking care of these individuals. "No one wanted to rent them a room because there is a lot of discrimination towards our population," Badillo said. CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice. Culver City Meets Mar Vista & Palms The first CicLAvia of 2019 is coming to the Westside. Culver City, Mar Vista and Palms will host the country's largest open streets event this Sunday, March 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Streets will be closed to cars and open for cyclists, pedestrians, runners and skaters to use as a recreational space. This fun event is free to the public. With its return to Culver City and Mar Vista, the 29th CicLAvia kicks off a season with events planned every other month and visits to many communities for the first time. Metro also plans to announce the launch of its popular bike share program to Westside communities as well as the availability of new Smart Bikes for Westside riders. CicLAvia will hold a kick-off the celebration with organizational leaders, community partners, local officials and participants at 8:30 a.m. this Sunday at the corner of Main Street and Culver Boulevard in Culver City. Among the dignitaries at the kickoff will be: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Culver City Mayor Thomas Aujero Small, Los Angeles City Coucilmember Paul Koretz, Culver City Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, CicLAvia Executive Director Romel Pascual and LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. The event's route spans 6.5 miles of car-free streets for people to bike, skate, walk, skip, run and play.The route has five hubs --Arts District, Downtown Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista, and Washington West --where people can enjoy art, music, games and giveaways. There will also be free pedicabs and play zones featuring vintage board games as part of a partnership with AARP in Los Angeles and CicLAvia. CicLAvia is not a race. There is no starting point or finish line; participants can start and end anywhere they want.Participants are welcome to use any form of non-motorized transportation and all ages are encouraged to attend. For a full list of activities available along the route, visit the CicLAvia website at: https://www.ciclavia.org/activities_along_the_route_culver19 During the event, Culver CityBus will detour routes around the event. For more information on detours visit: https://www.culvercity.org/how-do-i/find/culver-city-bus/ The Los Angeles and Culver City Police Departments will provide strong security presence at CicLAvia to make sure it is a fun, safe family event. In addition, there are emergency medical technicians stationed at each hub, and other response personnel is available along the route.In case of an accident, go to the nearest hub to report it to a staff member. If you are between hubs, look for the nearest uniformed officer or responder, or event staff member. If you notice any suspicious activity or a suspicious package, immediately report it to the nearest staff member or uniformed police officer.CicLAvia works closely with local authorities to provide as safe and secure an environment as possible. It also partners with other local agencies that provide additional security elements along the route and at public transit locations. Staff can be identified by the t-shirt that says STAFF on the back. Volunteers can be identified by the t-shirt that says VOLUNTEER on the back. For concerns regarding the Los Angeles street closure permit, contact LA Bureau of Street Services, Investigation and Enforcement Division, Special Events at (213) 847-6000. For concerns regarding the Culver City street closure permit, contact the Culver City Engineering Division at (310) 253-5600. Ethos is a nationally recognized, award-winning independent student publication. Our mission is to elevate the voices of marginalized people who are underrepresented in the media landscape, and to write in-depth, human-focused stories about the issues affecting them. We also strive to support our diverse student staff and to help them find future success. Ethos produces a quarterly free print magazine full of well-reported and powerful feature stories, innovative photography, creative illustrations and eye-catching design. On our website, we also produce compelling written and multimedia stories. Ethos is part of Emerald Media Group, a non-profit organization thats fully independent of the University of Oregon. Students maintain complete editorial control over Ethos, and work tirelessly to produce the magazine. Since our inception as Korean Ducks Magazine in 2005, weve worked hard to share a multicultural spirit with our readership. We embrace diversity in our stories, in our student staff and in our readers. We want every part of the magazine to reflect the diversity of our world. A federal judge in California ruled Thursday that a twin son of a gay married couple has been an American citizen since birth, handing a defeat to the U.S. government, which had only granted the status to his brother. The State Department was wrong to deny citizenship to 2-year-old Ethan Dvash-Banks because U.S. law does not require a child to show a biological relationship with their parents if their parents were married at the time of their birth, District Judge John F. Walter found. A lawsuit filed by the boys parents, Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks, sought the same rights for Ethan that his brother, Aiden, has as a citizen. Each boy was conceived with donor eggs and the sperm from a different father one an American, the other an Israeli citizen but born by the same surrogate mother minutes apart. The government had only granted citizenship to Aiden, who DNA tests showed was the biological son of Andrew, a U.S. citizen. Ethan was conceived from the sperm of Elad Dvash-Banks, an Israeli citizen. The lawsuit was one of two filed last year by an LGBTQ immigrant rights group that said the State Department is discriminating against same-sex binational couples by denying their children citizenship at birth. The cases filed in Los Angeles and Washington by Immigration Equality said the children of a U.S. citizen who marries abroad are entitled to U.S. citizenship at birth no matter where they are born, even if the other parent is a foreigner. Only the Los Angeles case was decided Thursday. We are aware of the courts Feb. 21 ruling. We are reviewing the ruling in coordination with Department of Justice, the State Department said in a brief statement to The Associated Press. Previously the department has pointed to guidance on its website that said there must be a biological connection to a U.S. citizen to become a citizen at birth. This family was shocked and appalled and angry when they were told their family wasnt legal, said Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality. They wanted their twin boys to be treated exactly the same. Morris said the government wrongly applied a policy for children born out of wedlock to married same-sex couples. Walter agreed, writing that the State Department statute does not contain language requiring a blood relationship between the person and the father in order for citizenship to be acquired at birth. This is justice! We are hopeful that no other family will ever have to go through this again. Its like a giant rock has been removed from our hearts, Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks said in a statement provided by Immigration Equality. Andrew Dvash-Banks was studying in Israel when he met his future husband, Elad, an Israeli citizen. Because they couldnt marry at the time in the U.S. or in Israel, they moved to Canada, where they wed in 2010. The children were born by a surrogate in September 2016. Everything seemed fine until the couple brought their cranky infants to the American consulate in Toronto a few months later to apply for citizenship and the woman at the counter began asking probing questions they found shocking and humiliating. The consular official told them she had discretion to require a DNA test to show who the biological father was of each boy and without those tests neither son would get citizenship. The men knew that Andrew was Aidens biological father and Elad was Ethans, but they had kept it a secret and hadnt planned on telling anyone. After submitting the DNA test results that proved who fathered each boy, the couple received a large and small envelope from the U.S. on March 2. The big one included Aidens passport. The other was a letter notifying Andrew that Ethans application had been denied. The family has since moved to Los Angeles to be closer to Andrew Dvash-Banks family. The other case involves two women, one from the U.S., and one from Italy, who met in New York, wed in London and each gave birth to a son. The State Department didnt recognize the couples marriage, the lawsuit said, and only granted citizenship to the boy whose biological mother was born and raised in the U.S. Dear Editor: While I support many of the issues for which Citizen Action of New York advocates (i.e. Medicare for all), I have not always been in agreement with its methods and actions. Sadly, after listening to Hilary Harveys interview with Oriana Mayorga about Ulster County Legislator Hector Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, which aired on Radio Kingston on Wednesday, Feb. 13, I also take issue with its inactions. Allegedly one or more young female Citizen Action organizers, including Oriana, made complaints to their lead organizer (and perhaps others at Citizen Action) about Rodriguezs inappropriate conduct. It is unclear, however, if anything was ever done. Did Citizen Action file complaints with anyone in the Ulster County Legislature (i.e. then-Chairman Ken Ronk)? If not, then clearly Citizen Action chose to protect a legislator who supported its causes instead of these women. This matter should be investigated thoroughly, for, if true, Citizen Action didnt simply betray its organizers, but its tens of thousands of supporters across New York state. Their hypocrisy would be staggering. Neil Millens Kingston, N.Y. Aboard the space station, NASA astronaut Anne McClain, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency, and Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 58 commander Oleg Kononenko opened the hatch between the Crew Dragon and the orbital laboratory at 8:07 a.m. EST. The crew members opened the hatch to Crew Dragon following standard leak checks and pressurization since the spacecraft completed its hard dock to the station at 6:02 a.m., the first autonomous docking of any U.S. spacecraft to the International Space Station. In addition to carrying Ripley, an anthropomorphic test device outfitted with sensors to provide data about potential effects on future astronauts who will travel in the Crew Dragon. NASA also sent more than 400 pounds of crew supplies and equipment to the space station, including bulk overwrap bags containing more than 1,000 food and drink packages for the crew. For operational missions, Crew Dragon will be able to launch as many as four crew members and carry more than 220 pounds of cargo, enabling the expansion of the inhabitants of the space station, increasing the time dedicated to research in the unique microgravity environment, and returning more science back to Earth. The Expedition 58 crew members will host a welcoming ceremony for the Crew Dragon that will air on NASA Television and the agency's website beginning at 10:45 a.m. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Revolutionaries love to indoctrinate children. You can look up yourself who said these words: 'When an opponent declares, 'I will not come over to your side', I calmly say, 'Your child belongs to us already What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community.' ' But it does not really matter who it was. It is horribly true, and it is what all these meddlers think and why they are all so keen on getting control of schools and youth movements. Revolutionaries love to indoctrinate children. You can look up yourself who said these words: 'When an opponent declares, 'I will not come over to your side' This week, they took a great step towards their goal, which is the eradication of all that is left of conservative Christian opinion in this country. Some of you will be astonished (I am not) that it was a nominally Conservative government which last week announced the extension of compulsory 'relationship' education and 'sex education' throughout the school system. Of course, in our innocence-free society, there is nobody over the age of about seven who does not know how babies are made. This 'education' will be about what to think, not what to do. If you can ever get your own children's schools to disgorge the material they are using, you will find that it will cover the whole broad front of sexual liberation from condoms to sex-changes. If you can ever get your own children's schools to disgorge the material they are using, you will find that it will cover the whole broad front of sexual liberation from condoms to sex-changes Many beliefs will become unsayable, and so unthinkable. It is already the case, for instance, that you will be greeted with shock and anger in most schools if you say that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that it is better than alternative forms of family. If you are wise, you will not risk saying any such thing. Here's a small illustration of how much narrower the range of permitted speech is than it used to be. It is now 20 years since Channel Four launched its TV drama series Queer As Folk, in which the main characters were homosexuals. I was asked to watch it, and to comment on it on a TV programme, and said that it was cultural propaganda, intended to persuade viewers that homosexuality was normal behaviour. It is now 20 years since Channel Four launched its TV drama series Queer As Folk, in which the main characters were homosexuals This sounds about right to me. That's what it was. But the Left-wing commentators who have dug this out of the archives expect present-day readers to be shocked that anyone ever had the nerve to say any such thing. If I live another 20 years, the fact that I ever dared to say and think this will certainly be used to try to keep me off the internet, and quite possibly to prosecute me. If you think I am joking, stick around. The Times columnist Janice Turner, miles to the Left of me, is already feeling the cold breath of the thought police on her neck, for bravely resisting conformism on the transgender issue. This will happen because of this compulsory indoctrination in school, approved by a man called Damian Hinds, of whom almost nothing interesting is known, who has somehow become Secretary of State for Education. Mr Hinds has openly broken a clear pledge given two years ago by a Tory government. This will happen because of this compulsory indoctrination in school, approved by a man called Damian Hinds The genuinely conservative MP Edward Leigh asked him a quietly devastating question in Parliament: 'All previous Conservative Governments have given an untrammelled right to parents to remove their children from sex education but here, in certain circumstances, that right has been transferred to the head teacher a fundamental shift of power to the State.' 'How does that square with what Edward Timpson, the then Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families, said during the passage of the Children and Social Work Bill? He said, 'We have committed to retain a right to withdraw from sex education in RSE, because parents should have the right, if they wish, to teach sex education themselves in a way that is consistent with their values.' ' Mr Hinds did not answer it. So another Tory MP who doesn't toe the line, Julian Lewis, pressed the point: 'He keeps adding the words, 'unless there are exceptional circumstances'. Why have those words been added? In what circumstances would a head teacher overrule a parent? Is not the likely effect of this going to be that in some cases, instead of children getting necessary sex education in schools, more parents are going to keep their children out of school?' The genuinely conservative MP Edward Leigh asked Hinds a quietly devastating question in Parliament Mr Hinds avoided that, too. The law now sides with the State against the parent, and that is that. And this was the moment at which a vital freedom died. The 1980 prophecy of that appalling fanatic Lady Helen Brook 'From birth till death it is now the privilege of the parental State to take major decisions objective, unemotional, the State weighs up what is best for the child' has now come true, and under a Tory government propped up by supposedly ultra-conservative Ulstermen. I quite understand why people don't fancy having Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. But if this sort of Trotskyist cultural revolution carries on while the Tories are in office, I am not sure it will make all that much difference. The government provided a useless response to the petittion thousands signed, asking for an inquiry into the apparent link between marijuana and violence The Government has now provided its entirely useless response to the petition which thousands of you so kindly signed, asking for an inquiry into the apparent link between marijuana and violence. It appears to have been written by a computer, wholly unaware of the fact that the police have stopped enforcing the drug laws. Even so, some good has been done. When the crisis is so bad and bloody that even Ministers can see it, they wont be able to pretend that they werent warned. Final proof that 'justice' is now just a hollow illusion I hope that the MP Fiona Onasanya will soon turn up in the House of Commons wearing an electronic tag. I hope that the MP Fiona Onasanya will soon turn up in the House of Commons wearing an electronic tag This is because it will be educational for all the other MPs, who will then find out what everyone else has known for years that our criminal justice system is made of cardboard. I dont really care all that much about Ms Onasanya, left. Im even prepared to accept that she may be innocent (as she says she is) of the charge of which she was convicted, perverting the course of justice. But the facts are these. She was sentenced to three months in prison for what many would see as a very serious offence. And she was out after 28 days. Prison sentences, even when they are imposed, are more or less fictional. And the really odd thing is that it is precisely this weakness which persuades so many people that they, too, will get away with crime. And so they break the law, in such numbers that even our absent police and feeble courts have to catch and imprison some of them. And that is why the prisons are so full. And that is why the sentences are so short and why prisoners are let out so quickly. Which is why well, it reminds me of that old song Theres A Hole In My Bucket. Is greedy Oxbridge selling its soul? Did you know that Oxford University sometimes interviews would-be overseas students by telephone? Nor did I. I thought a gruelling face- to-face meeting was unavoidable. I am fascinated by news that the number of UK students at Oxbridge is falling, while the number of foreign undergraduates is up. I am assured, however, that there is no connection between this development and the fact that non-EU students pay fees of up to 30,000 a year while tuition fees are capped at 9,250 a year for British and EU students. It is good to know our great institutions are not influenced by the money-making frenzy which seems to have so many of our universities in its grip. Last week a group of senior Number 10 advisers convened to finalise plans for a series of public information films on a No Deal Brexit. Discussion quickly turned to who should front it. We need someone reassuring and authoritative who the public will listen to, a May aide ventured. Theres only one answer, his colleague responded. It has to be Geoffrey Cox. Civil service rules prevented the orotund Attorney General from hosting the video. Which is probably just as well, because over the coming days his efforts will be focused on preventing rather than becoming the face of impending Brexit Armageddon. Cox is an unlikely national saviour. First appointed to the Cabinet last July, he rose to prominence after a barnstorming turn during autumns Conservative Party conference, where he wowed the crowd as Theresa Mays warm-up act Geoffrey is Britains final hope, a Cabinet Minister told me, referencing his last-ditch negotiations with the EU over a change to the backstop. A backbench MP agreed. Either he gets the EU to deliver, or the Government is f*****, the Conservative Party is f***** and the country is f*****. Cox is an unlikely national saviour. First appointed to the Cabinet last July, he rose to prominence after a barnstorming turn during autumns Conservative Party conference, where he wowed the crowd as Theresa Mays warm-up act. It was Stephen Parkinson [long-standing May adviser and senior member of the Vote Leave campaign] who urged us to use him, a No 10 official recalls. He said, Hes a brilliant orator, hes a fresh face, and most importantly, hes a proper Brexiteer. Cox scribbled some notes while travelling to Birmingham on the train, briefly paced the empty auditorium to get his bearings, then proceeded to give the speech that would catapult him into the hearts of Tory activists, and the political spotlight. He was a keen actor at school, and wanted to be a poet, a Minister reveals. And you could tell he was back there when he was wandering around that stage, emoting everywhere. He was in his element. Geoffrey is Britains final hope, a Cabinet Minister told me, referencing his last-ditch negotiations with the EU over a change to the backstop It was Coxs success as a senior barrister that finally convinced Theresa May she needed him at the heart of her Brexit strategy. Coxs lyrical interventions at Cabinet meetings have already earned the admiration of his colleagues. I could listen to him for hours, swoons a female Minister. Hes the Cabinets Walrus of Love. Our very own Barry White. But it was Coxs success as a senior barrister that finally convinced Theresa May she needed him at the heart of her Brexit strategy. He was one of the highest-paid members of the House of Commons, a May aide recounts and some people thought he wouldnt give that up for a relatively junior Cabinet post. But when we sounded him out he agreed immediately. The PM liked that. Most people join to boost their salary; he took a massive pay cut. She thought that showed integrity and commitment. Indeed, some of Coxs colleagues were concerned he might possess a little too much integrity. Former Chief Whip Gavin Williamson first spotted his potential, a Minister says and he recommended him to the PM as one to watch. But he also warned he could be a little bit independently minded. Up until now this independence of mind has served him well. The AG, as he is known now, attends every one of Mays morning strategy meetings which, according to No10 insiders, is unheard of for a serving Attorney General. Invited to update last weeks Cabinet on the progress of the Brexit negotiations, he politely informed his colleagues he would keep my own council to avoid leaks. Hes one of only three or four people in Government who really know how the talks are going, a Minister said, and anyone who tells you differently is lying. Former Chief Whip Gavin Williamson first spotted his potential, a Minister says and he recommended him to the PM as one to watch. But he also warned he could be a little bit independently minded They like him, a Cabinet Minister tells me. He fits their idea of what a British Minister should be. They feel theyre negotiating with David Niven' Those talks are now reaching the pivotal moment, with Cox having a vital dual role to play. First, he must convince the reluctant Eurocrats to go as far as they can on breaking the Brexit deadlock. According to Government insiders, hes having some success. They like him, a Cabinet Minister tells me. He fits their idea of what a British Minister should be. They feel theyre negotiating with David Niven. There is now said to be real movement, with Angela Merkel taking the lead. The Germans are making a point of saying to us, I hope you notice how much more helpful were being than the French, an official reveals. Secondly, once a deal is secured, he must find a way of selling it to the anti-Chequers hold-outs in Jacob Rees-Moggs ERG. A task complicated by the fact that, as well as promoting the deal politically, he will also need to draft the advice on its formal legal standing. That was something Geoffrey found hard with the first Meaningful Vote, a friend explains. He wanted to help the PM. But he didnt feel he could compromise on his legal judgment that there was no backstop exit mechanism. According to a senior ERG member Cox is highly respected. But there is still a reluctance to allow him to effectively mark his own homework. This is a mistake Theresa keeps making, one member says. Yes, Geoffreys a genuine Brexiteer. But she thinks that by simply installing people for political purposes she can get us to roll over. And it wont work. According to a senior ERG member Cox is highly respected. But there is still a reluctance to allow him to effectively mark his own homework Thats why the ERG announced the establishment of their own Star Chamber made up eight lawyers, seven of whom are serving MPs, to provide their own legal assessment of the Cox Deal. There have been reports of splits within the ERG, and even that their will to resist Chequers has finally been broken. But there was minimal evidence of it during last weeks Brexit vote, where ERG members defied the Government whip backing Yvette Coopers amendment to extend Article 50. We got the WhatsApp message from Steve Baker to abstain just after the Division Bell rang, and 88 of us did. Our disciplines holding, an ERG member tells me. All of which underlines the scale of the challenge facing The AG. He must win concessions from our European allies the EU said were unwinnable. He must secure movement from Eurosceptics who had pledged to be unmovable. And he must deliver an improbable victory for a PM whose premiership was said to be unsalvageable. This morning the fate of the nation rests with the Walrus of Love. Geoffrey Cox is our first, our last, our everything. A mother who was left 'disturbed' by the sight of a pregnant woman smoking in a children's playground was accused of being 'judgmental' when she criticised the behaviour online. Writing on parenting site Netmums, the British mother told how she was left feeling 'upset and angry' when she saw the mother-to-be lighting a cigarette while taking her three other children to the park. She said she had considered approaching the woman but decided against it as she did not want an argument. She added: 'I don't think our poor life choices should impact a child who doesn't have a choice not to be around it.' The mother asked other users whether they thought she should have intervened - but was quickly criticised and told to 'mind her own business'. A mother told parenting site Netmums how she was left feeling 'upset and angry' when she saw a mother-to-be lighting a cigarette while taking her three other children to the park. The post sparked criticism from parents who said she should 'mind her own business'. Stock image The mother outlined the situation in a lengthy post on the website, pictured, and asked other users whether they thought she should have intervened at the time Several users pointed out smoking while pregnant was not illegal and so did not warrant a stranger saying something. Others accused the mother of being a hypocrite as she admitted to smoking even after having children. One person said: 'It's not nice to see a pregnant woman smoking but it's not really your business. It's a bit hypocritical of you if you're a smoker yourself and have children.' Another wrote: 'I don't think that you should have done anything. What she is doing is not illegal and whilst you may not approve its none of your business. The mother was blasted by other parents on the site and told it had 'nothing to do with her' 'As a smoker you should be well aware just how difficult it is to stop smoking. And also be aware that being told off by a stranger would have absolutely no impact on whether she continues to smoke or not.' Others supported the mother's inclination to say something. One wrote: 'I say something. It's vile. Anyone who cuts off their baby's oxygen supply off several times a day and increases the risk of stillbirth, breathing problems etc. doesn't deserve to be blessed with a baby.' Another user pointed out that mothers-to-be who drink often give up alcohol when pregnant, arguing smoking should be no different. Others admit they agreed smoking was wrong but said it was not the woman's place to say 'I understand it's not nice to judge people and mums judging other mums isn't great but come on are we really saying a mum should be let off the hook for smoking whilst pregnant?,' the user asked. She continued: 'I eat a lot and most of the time I'm overweight. That could be classes as an addiction but when I'm pregnant I ensure I don't put on any weight and moderate what I eat. 'I might want to fill my belly with takeaway and booze at other times in my but when your pregnant it's not just yourself to think about.' An Uber user has shared an infuriating exchange between themselves and the riding service, saying the company charged them $157 for a trip he never took and for an unjustified cleaning fee. The rider, identified online as Farrowman, took to Imgur to share screenshots of what he said was a conversation between himself and Uber. The screen grabs show him trying to explain that he was never on the ride and trying to no avail to get a full refund. In his first message, Farrowman tells Uber he has 'no idea' what the charge is for, adding: 'I never took this car / trip. I saw this charge on my credit card today and have no idea what it is for. Please refund me the amount charged.' Speaking out: An Uber user has shared an infuriating exchange between themselves and the riding service, saying the company charged them $157 for a trip he never took Instead of refunding Farrowman, Uber launched into an explanation about a cleaning fee that constituted part of the amount charged to him. The employee attached two photos from what they called 'the incident', which depict a soiled car. 'When this happens, drivers are unable to accept trips and must spend time cleaning up messes instead of picking up riders,' the employee wrote according to the screenshots. Farrowman thus told the company he could not possibly have caused the mess in question, since he was never in that car. He also pointed out that the alleged trip was supposed to have taken him from Romulus to Royal Oak in Michigan in just three minutes, which is impossible. The 32-mile trip takes closer to 45 minutes. Still, Uber responded with another explanation about how cleaning fees work, instead of addressing Farrowman's claim that he wasn't in the car to begin with. Exchange: The rider, identified online as Farrowman, took to Imgur to share screenshots of what he said was a conversation between himself and Uber 'I understand how your cleaning policy works,' Farrowman responded. 'I am saying that I do not know where this charge came from as I was never in that car. I could never have made this mess because I was never in the car. This is either an erroneous charge on the part of the driver or fraud on the part of the driver. Please refund the full amount charged.' At this point, Uber said they had 'fully refunded the cleaning fee' corresponding to the trip. A message from the company indicates: 'Adjusted fair to 6.90.' Farrowman clarified that he wanted the entire to be refunded to him, 'not just the cleaning fee', adding: 'I never rode in this vehicle, I never took this trip.' Uber then replied: 'Unfortunately, we are unable to adjust a fare more than 30 days after a trip ends.' Farrowman was confused and pointed out that Uber had just adjusted the fee by refunding the cleaning fee. Another message from Uber states: 'Mike, we would be unable to adjust a fare more than 30 days after a trip ends.' Farrowman tried once more to get his point across, telling the company: 'You clearly CAN adjust fares more than 30 days old because you just did (you adjusted the fare by refunding the cleaning fee.)' However, Uber didn't budge, reiterating that they were unable to refund him because the trip had ended more than a month prior. The rider thus asked Uber to just leave the fee as it is, adding: 'Simply give me the money that this drover stole from me using your platform. I do not see why I should be charged for a trip that I did not take.' Uber stated once more: 'Because this trip happened more than a month ago, we're unable to make any adjustments at this time.' Negociations: The screenshots show Farrowman trying to get Uber to refund him the full cost of the trip, to no avail Farromwan explained below his screenshots that he didn't notice the $157 charge because it occurred right before an actual Uber charge for a ride he ordered. 'I was only alerted when I saw that my credit card bill was suspiciously high about 30 days later,' he added. The Uber rider later announced that he was able to get a refund through his credit card company. 'They said that they receive lots of fraud claims associated with Uber,' he wrote. 'Guess they can blacklist me if they like, won't be using them anymore anyhow.' The DailyMail.com has reached out to Uber for comment. Farrowman is one of several Uber users who have claimed that drivers from the company have tried to claim extra cash from them. Some riders have warned against a tactic known as 'vomit fraud', which is being used frequently in several cities, including Miami, where drivers will falsely claim that riders vomited in the back of their vehicle. This allows them to bill customers anything from $80 to $150, depending on what the driver states happened. Passengers only know they've been a victim of the scam long after their ride has finished. The first the passenger knows of anything untoward is when they receive an email from Uber reporting an 'adjustment' in the bill and the unwelcome addition of a 'cleanup fee'. Dialogue: First, Uber responded with explanations about their cleaning policy Getting the charges reversed is easier said than done given the only way Uber's customer service can be reached is by using the 'help' button through the app. The first reply from Uber is usually a standard response from a customer service rep: 'I understand that it can be disconcerting to receive adjustments to the tariff after your trip ended In this case, your driver notified us that during your trip there was an incident in the vehicle and therefore a cleanup fee of $150 was added.' The email is further compounded with pictures of the 'evidence' vomit in the vehicle that had been sent by the driver to the company. Uber's policy is to charge $80 if a passenger vomits or spills a drink on the seats or any surface difficult to clean. But the charge can increase to $150 in cases of 'significant quantities of body fluids including urine, blood or vomit in the interior of the vehicle'. The charging of extra fees is to compensate the drivers for the time and money they would need to spend cleaning their vehicles. But now more riders are reporting that drivers are sending in the photos even when there was never any vomit. It takes customers at least three or four emails to customer service in order to resolve the issue all the while their money is held ransom by Uber while they investigate. Several victims told el Nuevo Herald about their vomit fraud cases. 'I requested an Uber. At one point the driver told me a road was closed and that he could drop me off near my destiny to avoid an extra charge. I agreed and got off,' Miami resident Andrea Perez said. But the next day Uber emailed her a bill with an additional $98 cleanup charge complete with a picture of vomit on the seat of the car she had been riding in. 'I immediately contacted Uber through the app. I told them that I was alone, sober, that I was not carrying any drinks and that it was impossible for me to have caused that damage,' she said. 'But every new email from Uber came from a different representative and always favored the driver.' Despite going back and forth, Uber never agreed to reimburse her money and she ended up having to file a dispute with her credit card company. Another Miami resident, William Kennedy, was a victim of vomit fraud twice in one night. Two $20 trips both had another $150 added onto them after claims he had thrown up in both cars. 'It was a total fraud by two different drivers. They have everything planned for the fraud,' Kennedy said to the Miami Herald. It took 'numerous emails' to persuade the company to agree to cancel the charges and reimburse $300 to his credit card. Other drivers are getting even greedier and charging passengers for trips they never even carry out - and then adding a 'vomit incident' to further boost their returns. Uber says that it is 'actively investigating reports in which fraud can be detected' and that it will 'take the appropriate measures in those accounts.' A spokesperson for the company said, 'with 15 million trips a day, Uber is unfortunately not immune to these types of incidents. Participating in fraudulent activity of any kind is a clear violation of our Community Guidelines. We are constantly evaluating our processes and technology related to these claims and will take appropriate action whenever fraud may be detected.' It is not clear how many fraud cases have been reported or whether drivers are automatically suspended by the company. Often the fraud relies on customers who don't check their credit card statements or emails in which case the driver easily pockets the $80 or $150. A red-faced mum was mortified when her five-year-old daughter drew a large picture of a woman with naked breasts right outside her neighbours' front door. Sian Hanson, 28, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, bought a 1.99 bucket of chalk for Molly Hanson as a treat for behaving well at swimming. After leaving her drawing with her 11-year-old sister Keira on the driveway in front of their house, she had a shock when she looked out of the window. Instead of seeing pretty patterns in the driveway, she discovered her children had drawn a woman with breasts right outside the neighbours' house on Monday night. Sian Hanson, 28, from Yorkshire, bought her five-year-old daughter Molly (seen centre with 11-year-old sister Keira) chalk for good behaviour this week but was mortified at the results After they initially pointed the finger of blame at each other, Molly sheepishly admitted to her mum she was the guilty party. Fortunately both Sian and the neighbours, who spotted it when they went to peg out the washing, found it hilarious. She quickly took a snap of her daughter's artistic efforts and uploaded it on social media. Shop worker Sian said: 'My kids are quite creative and they'd drawn it right outside the neighbours' house. Sian went into the house to cook dinner but when she looked out of the window she was shocked to see a large picture of a woman with breasts on the street (seen) 'It was actually my youngest daughter Molly. I gave her the chalk and went inside to cook dinner and stuff and then when I looked out of the window I saw it. 'They had been drawing people and then Molly put the boobies on. 'I guess it is anatomically correct, but I did tell her not to add anything else to it and that it looked nice as it was. 'When I went outside I asked them who did the boobies and blamed each other. 'But then Milly came over to me very sheepishly and said, 'it was me'. I think she thought she was going to get into a lot of trouble. 'But I couldn't tell her off, it was just so funny.' Instead of seeing pretty patterns in the driveway, she discovered her children had drawn a woman with breasts, which they later rubbed out, outside the neighbours' house on Monday 'I gave her the chalk and went inside to cook dinner and stuff and then when I looked out of the window I saw it', Sian said of the chalk (pictured) Molly used to draw the picture on Monday Fortunately for Sian she didn't have to spend any of her evening washing the lady off the pavement as she thought the neighbours would be able to see the funny side. Sian said: 'The neighbours thought it was funny as well. They came out of the house to hang their washing up and said, 'oh, what's this drawing?' 'I knew they would be fine. Had they been an older couple I would have washed it of but we know them well. 'Fortunately we are all close and they saw the funny side. 'It's the same with comments online. I thought I might get some bad comments over it but everyone has found it really funny.' After they initially pointed the finger of blame at each other, Molly (left) sheepishly admitted to her mum she was the guilty party and not sister Keira (seen right) Molly and Keira also drew other stick figures among their drawings, though those didn't feature any 'embarrassing' body parts to Sian's relief Sian said Molly is a talented artist and practises with her mum during the evenings on her iPad. She has since taken to adding more people to the driveway outside, but has kept her promise to her mum not to draw any more racy body parts. Sian said: 'Molly is quite good at drawing. At night we will do Doodle on the iPad and she copies me very well. 'She has been drawing some more since, but none of them have boobies on them. I've told her to draw the people and leave it at that.' 'At least it's outside the door': Sian shared a snap of the drawing to Facebook and her friends admitted it was hilarious in an influx of comments A Netflix boss has defended a forthcoming show mired in controversy since its trailer prompted critics to say it would 'cause eating disorders'. More than 200,000 people have now signed a Change.org petition slamming the trailer for the original series Insatiable, which is due to start streaming on August 10th. The two-minute trailer for the teen drama sees a high school student dubbed 'Fatty patty' bullied by her classmates about her weight. Now the streaming giant's VP of original content, Cindy Holland, has addressed the controversy, but backed the programme, insisting: 'Ultimately, the message of the show is that what is most important is you feel most comfortable.' Speaking at Netflix's Television Critics' Association presentation, Holland said: 'The creator [Lauren Gussis] felt very strongly about exploring these issues based on her own experiences, but satirically, in a very over the top way,' Deadline reported. Scroll down for video Debby Ryan stars as Patty in the forthcoming Netflix show Insatiable, as a schoolgirl bullied for being overweight (seen left), before returning after the summer vacation slimmer - and ready to take revenge on her tormenters - since having her 'jaw wired shut' (seen right) The streaming giant's VP of original content, Cindy Holland, addressed the controversy surrounding the forthcoming series Insatiable at its Television Critics' Association presentation at the weekend, after it was accused of 'fat-shaming' by critics who had seen the trailer. Holland stood by the show's creator, who she said was exploring the subject matter 'satirically, in a very over the top way' Netflix has faced calls to axe its latest original series, Insatiable, after a trailer aired which showed teenager Patty (Debbie Ryan) being bullied about her weight by her class mates The show's writer, Lauren Gussis, has also addressed the controversy on Twitter, posting a candid account of her own eating disorder battle and urging followers to 'please give the show a chance'. Her tweet posted earlier this month read: 'When I was 13, I was suicidal. My best friends dumped me, and I wanted revenge. I thought if I looked pretty on the outside, Id feel like I was enough. Instead, I developed an eating disorderand the kind of rage that makes you want to do dark things.' The show's lead actress Debby Ryan also addressed the criticism on Twitter, to insist that Patty's size is not 'used as a punchline' in the show. 'As someone who cares deeply about the way our bodies, especially women's, are shamed and policed in society, I was so excited to work on Insatiable because it's a show that addresses and confronts those ideas through satire,' the actress said in a lengthy statement she shared on social media. In her show Patty (Debby Ryan) has her 'jaw wired shut' during the summer vacation and returns slimmer - but determined to enact revenge on those who bullied her. When the trailer aired earlier this month, critics, led by social activist Florence Given, accused the show's makers of 'fat shaming' and launched a petition to cancel it. The petition has since gathered huge momentum, with social activist Florence Given, who started it, saying: 'This series will cause eating disorders, and perpetuate the further objectification of women's bodies. 'The trailer has already triggered people with eating disorders. Let's stop this, and protect further damage.' On social media, others have lent their support to the petition, with one writing: '(The show) promotes fat-shaming, teaches young people that if you don't eat you'll become skinny and desirable, romanticizes revenge fantasies, shows that you're only deserving of love and popularity if you fall into society's definition of beauty.' Creator Lauren Gussis has defended Insatiable on Twitter amid the controversy - urging her followers to 'please give the show a chance' The show's lead actress Debby Ryan also addressed the controversy around her new show with a statement on Twitter, after retweeting Gussis' post Starring alongside ex Disney star Debby in the new show is actress Alyssa Milano, who will play Patty's mother in the controversial series. The 45-year-old actress has made headlines recently for her involvement in catapulting the #MeToo movement into the spotlight. But people have now been criticizing the activist for participating in a 'problematic' TV series. When the backlash was swirling on Twitter, Alyssa defended her role with a statement that read: 'We are not shaming Patty. We are addressing (through comedy) the damage that occurs from fat shaming. I hope that clears it up.' Her statement was in response to another person who said the show was 'disgusting' and Alyssa should be ashamed because she is the 'face of the women's movement.' 'This series needs to be cancelled:' Petition lead Florence Given gives her reasons why she thinks the series should never see the light of day Concerned: One Twitter users said the show was promoting 'fat-shaming' because of its narrative about Patty once she loses weight Triggering: An issue people have about the show is that it is informing teenagers about how they should ideally look if they want respect from their peers But many others were in agreement that based on the trailer, the new show appeared to promote an ideal narrative about what would happen if someone were to lose a significant amount of weight. 'Can we get a show where a fat character gets Revenge on everyone whos sh**** to them while still being fat, and is recognized as badass and funny and super hot, because that would be something actually fresh and cool and not the lukewarm watery oatmeal that is Insatiable,' one person wrote in a long Twitter rant. Some viewers have suggested the show should be given a chance to air before judgement is made. On Twitter, @bxn_soIo wrote: 're: insatiable, there is a chance that the trailer is misleading and was purposely created this way in order to create drama over the show as a marketing/publicity stunt... its kind of unlikely, but it's not fair to petition the show to be cancelled before its aired.' Another said censorship was not the way to encourage healthy debate, @finnelcl wrote: 'The fact that there's a petition to stop #Insatiable is terrifying for me. The censorship of ideas in fiction is the start of policing imagination and once that happens we no longer live in a free society.' Netflix is no stranger to controversy within its original shows that are targeted towards teens. In the past, the streaming network was under attack for it's show 13 Reasons Why and how it portrayed issues relating to suicide and bullying. Advertisement They were filmed appearing to have a tense exchange on Easter Sunday in a video that went viral earlier this year. But Queen Letizia of Spain, 45, and her mother-in-law former Queen Sofia looked as though they had put any rumours of a dispute behind them as they took Princesses Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 11, to Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca on Tuesday. The family, along with King Felipe, have been enjoying time at the Almudaina Palace, which is their annual retreat for the summer holidays. Pictured in summery attire, the royal foursome were seen ambling through the popular market, admiring the fresh produce on offer. Scroll down for video Queen Letizia of Spain, 45, and her mother-in-law former Queen Sofia looked as though they had put any rumours of a dispute behind them as they took Princesses Leonor (right), 12, and Sofia (second from right), 11, to Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca on Tuesday Letizia, dressed in white shorts a coordinating top from this season's Mango collection, priced at a modest 25.99, smiled as former queen Sofia, Leonor and Sofia put on a stylish display as they left the hall following their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays, opting for comfortable wedges and coordinated white ensembles Former journalist Letizia, a fashion icon across the country, teamed a pair of chic white shorts with a coordinating tie-dye style top, for the day trip on Tuesday. Her mother-in-law Sofia was seen holding a small fan as she wandered around the market with her grandchildren Leonor (right), 12, and Sofia (left), 11 The royal family were all smiles for the visit. Former Queen Sofia held hands with Sofia (right) and Leonor (left) as they wandered the market with Queen Letizia of Spain on Tuesday - as onlookers took photos Former journalist Letizia, a fashion icon across the country, teamed a pair of chic white shorts with a coordinating tie-dye style top from this season's Mango collection, priced at a modest 25.99. Carrying a pair of sunglasses and sporting understated make-up, the queen consort oozed understated elegance. Meanwhile, former Queen Sofia, whose husband Juan Carlos abdicated in favour of their son Felipe VI in 2014, cut a colourful figure in a tropical-print kaftan and white jeans. Continuing the theme, Leonor wore khaki shorts and a white vest while younger sister Sofia wore white jeans shorts and a matching blouse with blue threading, as the whole family wore comfortable wedges for the outing. Carrying a pair of sunglasses and sporting understated make-up, the queen consort oozed understated elegance. Leonor (right) wore white jeans shorts and a matching blouse with blue threading. Her younger sister Sofia opted for khaki shorts (left) and a white vest, while the whole family wore comfortable wedges for the outing on Tuesday The royal visit to Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca on Monday delighted fans, and onlookers smiled and gave the royal family a warm welcome as the foursome - including Leonor (centre), 12, and Sofia (right) - made their way through the market Former Queen Sofia, whose husband Juan Carlos abdicated in favour of their son Felipe VI in 2014, cut a colourful figure in a tropical-print kaftan and white jeans for the day trip with her daughter-in-law Queen Letizia, and her granddaughters Sofia and Leonor on Tuesday They were pictured wandering the market, much to the delight of royal fans, and were even seen appearing to buy some fish. However, it must have been humid inside the market as Sofia was seen carrying a hand-held fan. The united front comes after a clip emerged in April filmed at the Palma Cathedral in Majorca on Easter Sunday, which appeared to show a very awkward exchange between Letizia and Sofia. Queen Sofia was seen standing outside the church with both arms wrapped around her granddaughters' shoulders, encouraging them to pose for pictures. Queen Letizia, Sofia, Leonor and Sofia were even seen admiring the straw hats as Sofia smiled at the cameras and Queen Sofia fanned herself during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday Putting on a stylish group display, a beaming Queen Sofia, 79, held hands with Princess Leonor, 12, and Princess Sofia, 11, during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday Wearing sunglasses, chic Queen Letizia, former Queen Sofia, Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor draw admiring glances from onlookers during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday Queen Letizia, former Queen Sofia, Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor put on a stylish display during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday Former queen Sofia took Princess Sofia's hand as Leonor trailed a little further behind with Letizia at one point during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday Letizia then joined the group and was seen trying to stroke eldest daughter Leonor's hair standing in front of the cameras, before Queen Sofia appeared to pull the little girl closer to her. Leonor appeared to then push her grandmother's arm away, before King Felipe interjected. Speaking out following the incident, Letizia's former co-worker Imma Aguilar told El circulo at the time: 'I think they are the images of a mother worried about the image of her daughters. 'I talked to Queen Letizia a while ago, and she is worried and quite desolated by this situation; she is very committed to the care of her daughters, with the protection of their image, she worries who takes photos of them. 'She worries where they come from, who approaches them It's a very motherly reaction.' Aguilar added: 'It's been silly, it's not a serious issue, nothing has happened, it's just a natural gesture.' Left to right: Leonor, Sofia and Sofia smiled for pictures as they were followed by a whole group of admirers during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays on Tuesday As they went into the blazing sun Sofia was sure to keep cool while Princess Sofia wore a pair of sunglasses after their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Letizia, Sofia, Sofia and Leonor were seen chatting and smiling during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Letizia's appearance in the Mango top follows Sunday's summer photoshoot, in which much of the Spanish royal family wore clothing from high street stores. On Sunday Letzia was seen wearing wedges by Spanish brand Mint & Rose priced at under $100 (70), while Princess Leonor wore a blue embroidered Zara dress costing a modest 22.99,and Princess Sofia matched her mother in a Massimo Dutti Linen Dress with lace trims, costing just 39.95. The royal family traditionally spend their lengthy holiday at the palace, their official summer residence, on the Balearic island. Over the years Letizia, a former newsreader, has worked hard to promote causes she is passionate about. These include education, innovation, rare diseases, and particularly in nutrition, working closely with the UNs World Health and Food and Agriculture Organisations. King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favour of his 48-year-old son, now King Felipe VI. Crown Prince Felipe ascended to the Spanish throne at the stroke of midnight, after his father King Juan Carlos tearfully signed his own abdication. Former journalist Letizia, a fashion icon across the country, teamed a pair of chic white shorts with a coordinating tie-dye style top as she led Princess Sofia (right) and Princess Leonor (left) during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Left to right: Letizia, Leonor, Sofia and Sofia are seen chatting happily during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Queen Sofia was seen beaming at the cameras as she led Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays His wife, now Queen of Spain, is originally from Asturias in the north west of Spain. The couple married ten years ago at Cathedral Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena in Madrid. The relationship began in November 2002. In 2003, just months after she had been promoted to the position of anchor on the national news channel, she quit her job and days later the royal engagement was announced. When Prince Felipe of Asturias announced his engagement to then TV presenter Letizia Ortiz in 2003, it sent tongues wagging. Letizia was seen pointing at some fresh fish as Sofia, Leonor and Sofia looked on during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Letizia and Sofia smiled as they took their little girls out and about during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays The four women Letizia, Sofia, Sofia and Lenor walked arm in arm during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Letizia, Sofia and Sofia put on sunglasses as they left the market, while Leonor braved the sunshine during their visit to the Olivar food market in Palma de Majorca as part of the summer holidays Letizia was a woman with more of a past than most princesses: a hugely impressive career, during which she reported on 9/11 and covered the Iraq War; and an ex-husband. On her big day the royal bride dazzled in an ivory gown with a 15-foot-long train and a sparkling platinum and diamond tiara, which her mother-in-law Queen Sofia wore for her wedding almost exactly 42 years previously. She is the granddaughter of a taxi driver and the eldest daughter of Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez, a journalist, and first wife Maria de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, a nurse and hospital union representative from a working-class background. She attended public high school and did a degree at the Complutense University of Madrid. She later gained an MA in Audiovisual Journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. On Easter Sunday earlier this year Queen Sofia was seen standing outside the Palma Cathedral in Majorca with both arms wrapped around her granddaughters' Leonor and Sofia's shoulders, encouraging them to pose for pictures Letizia then joined the group and was seen trying to stroke eldest daughter Leonor's hair standing in front of the cameras, before Queen Sofia appeared to pull the little girl closer to her. Leonor appeared to then push her grandmother's arm away, before King Felipe interjected at the Palma Cathedral in Majorca on Easter Sunday Looking after children all day long is a demanding job that could leave you tearing your hair out, but there's no denying that some aspects of life as a nanny or au pair has its advantages. Childcare providers have been taking to Instagram to share snaps of their enviable summer travels as they join the families they work for on summer breaks. And dealing with tantrums, scraped knees and fussy eaters is certainly a lot easier when you're doing it in the idyllic surroundings of the Turks and Caicos Islands or Cabo in Mexico. From bobbing around a pristine swimming pool in Tuscany on a unicorn pool float to relaxing in a hammock in the Caribbean during a child-free five minutes, these snaps will make your office job suddenly seem rather tedious. Colorado-based nanny Natalie Malcomson said she was enjoying 'five minutes of freedom and no kids' on her 'work vacation' to Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands Not your average day's work! A Slovene and Italian nanny admiring the view from above the Hollywood sign in LA after a hike She won't get board easily! US-based nanny Polly Isip admitted her job 'isn't so bad' as she performed a head stand on a paddle board during a sun-soaked holiday Not your average day at the office! Nanny Bruna Ferreira from Brazil whips her hair back and forth as she enjoys a dip in the sea in the Pensacola Bay Area area of Florida US-based agency goaupair shared a snap of one of their staff Doug 'chillin' on an inflatable as he enjoyed a sun-soaked afternoon at the pool Beach baby! Boston Baby Nurse and Nanny shared a snap of one of its employees enjoying a beach day with her young change - who was all tucked up in a laundry basket lined with a towel Wish your lunch break looked this relaxing? Italian au pair Anna D'astice, 20, cooling off in the pool in Albuquerque, New Mexico Bruna Ferreira from Brazil enjoying a day at the beach in the Pensacola Bay Area area of Florida, wearing denim cutoffs and an on-trend wide brimmed straw hat Great view from the office! Kat_e_lord said she was making the most of pool time with no kids as she floated around on a an inflatable unicorn in the Tuscan countryside on a trip to Italy Nanny Natalie Malcomson enjoying some down time as she sunbathes on a paddle board in Colorado Most of us find a style we like and stick to it - and it looks like the Duchess of Sussex is no different. Meghan, 37, has been spotted in an array of belted wrap coats at royal engagements over recent months - stepping out in a range of fabrics and colours. Although the royal often dons designer versions, the high street has taken note with many similar styles hitting the shelves, allowing shoppers to recreate Meghan's signature look. Marks & Spencer, H&M and Boden have all rolled out coats worthy of the Duchess. Celebrity stylist Rochelle White says this style of coat flatters most figures and can easily be adjusted, making it perfect for a blossoming bump. Rochelle tells Femail: 'The wrap around coat is a great way to help flatter and define your shape. It can help bring a define shape to the waist and the great benefit of it, is that you tie it yourself and that makes it adjustable. 'It is perfect for most figures and if you have an hourglass figure it can help add more structure and helps define and hone in the waist. This style of coat is so versatile that it can be relaxed or dressy.' CAMEL FOR CHRISTMAS Meghan, 37, wore the on-trend 1,085 camel coat from Canadian brand Sentaler on her first Sandringham Christmas back in 2017. The coat has a similar flattering tie at the waist to the version by Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer has just released a 129 coat that looks almost identical to a coat worn by the Duchess of Sussex. The coat has been selling fast and has already sold out in two sizes online M&S' offering looks almost identical to a coat worn by the Duchess of Sussex to church at Sandringham in 2017. The Herringbone Wrap Coat comes in a warm almond shade with a belted wrap style. Meghan's on-trend camel coat was from Canadian brand Sentaler. Whilst Meghan's go-to style costs 1,085, Marks & Spencer's high street version is much more affordable, coming in at 129. The high street number has a detachable belt and is made from a soft wool blend mix. The coat has been selling fast and has already sold out in two sizes online. LADY IN RED The Duchess of Sussex also has a red version of the Sentaler coat which she wore during her visit to Merseyside with Prince Harry in January You can snap up this red wrap coat, similar to a style worn by the Duchess of Sussex, from Boden for 110 The Duchess is such a big fan of her beige wrap coat, she also snapped up the exact same coat in a bold red hue. Meghan wore the Sentaler coat during her visit to Merseyside with Prince Harry in January, proving this style works during pregnancy too. Boden has released a version that comes in the same vibrant shade but will set you back just 110. CLASSIC NEUTRALS Meghan wore another 530 beige coat by Mackage during a visit to Northern Ireland in March last year Meghan wore a white belted coat following the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry. High street store H&M have a similar version for 49.99 The wrap design coat has been a wardrobe staple for Meghan for a while. The former Suits star wore a white belted coat following the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry back in 2017. She also wore another similar 530 beige design by Mackage during a visit to Northern Ireland in March last year. For those looking to try the look for themselves, there's a 49.99 version available from H&M. GREY DAY Another one to add to the collection! She was spotted in a 550 coat by Soia & Kyo during a visit to Brinsworth House, the Royal Variety Charity's residential nursing and care home in Twickenham, London last December The belted coat is a firm favourite of Meghan's. As well as a grey number, she has worn a red, cream and white version. This high street dupe is currently 45 from Vero Moda at Dorothy Perkins The Duchess also has a grey wrap coat to add to her collection. Meghan wore a 550 coat by Soia & Kyo during a visit to Brinsworth House, the Royal Variety Charity's residential nursing and care home in Twickenham, London last December. There is a high street dupe currently available for 45 from Vero Moda at Dorothy Perkins Advertisement A photographer and poet who travels Scotland in search of eerie and beautiful abandoned buildings has revealed the unexpected beauty of dereliction in haunting images. When Kenneth Allan, from Newport-on-Tay, Fife, stumbled onto a torpedo testing site in Loch Long back in 2015, he realised he was on to something. The photographer started his Life After project, which focuses on the beauty in the left behind, from derelict houses to castle taken over weeds. While working on his project, Allan stumbled upon a house that had been abandoned by its owner in the 70s or 80s. Located in Argyll and Bute on the West Coast of Scotland, he renamed it Anonymous House. All the furniture and belongings of the previous inhabitants are still there, with mugs, books, teapots and open newspapers all waiting for their owner to return. Anonymous House: Photographer Kenneth Allan from Fife was told the owner of the house had quit the UK for America 30 to 40 years ago and left all of her belongings behind and the door of the property in Argyll and Bute unlocked A torpedo testing site in Loch Long that photograph Kenneth Allan, 54, from Fife discovered in 2015. It inspired him to start his Life After project The photographer from Fife, 54, wishes to find the positive in the derelict, even though this abandoned Territorial Army building in Renfrewshire would not immediately appear like a beautiful place 'Anonymous House was a fascinating discovery. I had been informed the lady of the house left Scotland for America, 30 40 years ago, leaving all her possessions and the door unlocked,' Allan said. 'I wanted these photographs to stop time,' Allan explained, 'to open a door through which you walk as a viewer, all becoming still around you.' This is only one of the five locations Allan relentlessly visited since 2015, and he reveals that perfecting his craft over the years has taught him 'to be patient'. 'As a photographer I have learnt that I must be prepared to make relentless journeys to the same location, sit silently in awakening dawns, endure unforgiving climates, climb snow-capped mountains and discover hidden places,' he said. The furniture in Anonymous House has been there for decades after the owner went to America, leaving all her belongings behind. Allan visited the house repeatedly between 2015 and 2017 Time stands still: Broken chairs, a cabinet and mildewed wallpaper can be seen in Abandoned House, which has been uninhabited for 30 to 40 years A photograph of the kitchen of Abandoned House. Tea pots, mugs and baking trays still await the return of their owner. Allan said he found the house fascinating Allan also photographed a WW2 drill hall called TA Building. Located in Paisley, it was built in 1896 by famous Paisley architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie as the headquarters of the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers. The building served as a war office from 1896 1921 then it was decommissioned and sold to the University of the West of Scotland for academic use. It was sold to a development company in 2007 but has been lying empty for at least 20 years. Among the places he captured, was Buchanan Castle, in Stirlingshire, which Allan refers to as a 'Crumbling structure [that] falls by the twilight.' The former noble dwelling is now overtaken by weeds. This once beautiful piece of architecture was passed from one owner to the next, until it was decided in 1950 to take away its roof in order to reduce the tax bill. The castle deteriorated quickly as a result, and nature reclaimed its land. 'These works allow you to see the beauty which lies within the brutality, decay and dereliction in Scotland,' Allan explained. A Territorial Army building in Renfrewshire with shattered windows and crumbling derelict walls. Allan said he 'wanted these photographs to stop time' A view of TA building from the inside. This former drill hall is located in Paisley. It was built in 1896 by famous Paisley architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie as the headquarters of the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers Pophail Village, near Loch Fyn, Scotland. Pophail is a ghost village that was built in the 1970s as accommodation for workers employed at a concrete oil platform construction, but was never inhabited. An artistic collective drew a graffiti on its walls and structures in 2009 Roots growing on the walls of Buchanan Castle, which was built in 1852-1858 as a replacement for the Buchanan Auld House. The land used to be the seat of the Buchanan Clan, but was sold to the Graham Clan in the 17th century The ruins of Buchanan Castle photographed by Kenneth Allan. Buchanan Castle was passed on from owner to owner between 1652 and 1950 Nature quickly reclaimed the land of Buchanan Castle after its roof was taken away for tax reasons in 1950 'Both intimate and alienating at the same time, the photographs allow you to contemplate the composition and begin to construct your own narrative for the image'. Allan also captured Polphail Village, a ghost village that was built in the 1970s but never inhabited. It is located on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula, on Loch Fyn. Villages like Polphail were developed as accommodation for workers employed at a concrete oil platform construction. In 2009, following rumours of demolition, Agents of Change, an artistic collective, came to Polphail and drew a graffiti art gallery on its walls. The village was eventually demolished in 2016. Allan was given his first camera at the age of ten years old. From that point on, photography became an integral and ever-present part of Allans life. Allen wanted to 'strip away preconceived and stereotypical notions of beauty' and finds the pictures 'both intimate and alienating at the same time.' Baptiste viewers were left reeling as it was revealed that the sexy French detective has a secret lovechild with his ex-girlfriend and police chief Martha Horchner. At the end of the explosive episode, Baptiste confronts Horchner and demands to know why she hadn't told him that Niels Horchner was his son. The detective put two and two together when the police duo worked together and Niels revealed he has also suffered from a brain tumour. Baptiste is currently enjoying a new lease of life after having life-saving surgery for a brain tumour, and knows the condition can be linked to hereditary genetic factors. Baptiste viewers were stunned to discover that Niels Horchner is actually Baptiste's secret son with his ex-girlfriend Martha The French detective put two and two together when Niels revealed his blood type and was able to swipe his coffee cup to have it tested by forensics While the two are drinking coffee, Niels' mentions that he nearly died in surgery after after the hospital struggled to find AB negative blood type for a transfusion. Baptiste was able to swipe Niels' coffee cup after the conversation, and passed it on to forensics. In the cliffhanger of the episode, Baptiste heads to the police chiefs' house to confront her for keeping his son a secret. Baptiste is particularly stunned to learn that Niels' has AB Negative blood type, which is incredibly rare He is able to swipe the coffee cup from Niels and have it forensically tested after the two have a conversation about their experience of brain surgery Baptiste later arrives at police chief Martha's house to confront her for not letting him know about his son It wasn't the only family drama Baptiste suffered during the episode, as his wife Celia and daughter's family were forced to move to a safe house to protect them from the Romanian mob. The episode answered many of the questions thrown up in the first two episodes of the series. After the shocking death of Natalie in last week's episode, Baptiste confronted Stratton about his mysterious connection to the prostitute. Many of the questions from the past two episodes were answered this Sunday, with Stratton revealing all to Baptiste in the first half of the show The pair continue to work together to try to find the missing 1 million and ensure their families are safe He revealed that he had become attracted to the prostitute because she looked like his late daughter, and began to spend time with her talking. Such was his obsession with her that he went on to help her steal 1 million from Romanian mobsters in order for her to help her sister, who had been sex trafficked. After demanding the money be returned, the gang beheaded his father and deposited his head on Stratton's kitchen table. Celia Baptiste, who seemingly has no idea that he has a child with another woman, demands her husband continue working on the case Baptiste fans took to Twitter to share their shock at the BBC drama's dramatic revelation It was later revealed that this money was actually for Natalie's son, who was seen transported from a hospital to stay with his grandpa - who turns out to be the farmer from the field. Baptiste and Stratton both desperately want to find the money to ensure nobody else - including Baptiste's family - are hurt. But unfortunately it looks like it could be the end for Stratton, as the episode ends with him getting into the car with assassin Constantin. A three-year-old girl has gathered online attention after she explained why she thought it was necessary to put a friend, who asked her to marry him, in a headlock. Kynlee McFetridge was at her preschool in Saint Charles, Missouri, when a fellow classmate asked her to marry him. Speaking about the incident to her mother in a video, which has since gone viral, Kynlee said: 'Kids don't get married, so that's why I put a headlock down on him.' Viral: In a video recorded by her mother, three-year-old Kynlee McFetridge said she put a headlock on a fellow classmate and 'took him down' when he asked her to marry him Speaking in the video, which Kynlee's mother sent to Fox 2 Now, the mom can be heard asking her daughter about her day at school. 'What happened at school?' she asked. Kynlee replied: 'I took a headlock down on Jack and took him down.' 'You took him down?' her mom asked, sounding slightly surprised - while her daughter nodded to confirm. Hilarious: The funny clip sees Kynlee saying she put the boy in a headlock because 'kids don't get married' When her mother asked Kynlee for the reason she put her fellow preschool classmate in a headlock, the three-year-old responded with a matter-of-fact answer. She said: 'Because kids don't get married. So that's why I put a headlock down on him.' 'Did he say he wanted to marry you?' Kynlee's mother asked, to which Kynlee replied saying: 'Yeah!' 'But kids don't get married so that's why I put a headlock down on him, and that's why I took him down,' she added. Kynlee's mother replied, saying: 'You're not supposed to do that.' And after processing the thought for a moment, she comes to a conclusion that makes it seem as though she doesn't regret it. She said: 'But that's the greatest thing ever.' Eager to prevent Kynlee from repeating the incident, her mother said: 'Let's not put headlocks on boys.' 'Are you still happy?' the toddler asked, before her mother responded saying: 'I don't know.' 'Let's not put headlocks on boys,' Kynlee's mother said once again. Strong! Kynlee (pictured on Fox 2 News) has learned how to wrestle with her father, who wanted to get her involved in the sport to make her stronger after she had a heart operation Father-daughter bonding: The toddler's father, Scott McFetridge, said he was trying to make her stronger so she could 'catch up' with others her age Tough: When she was just five months old, Kynlee underwent open heart surgery, which left her falling behind her peers The toddler then obediently replied, saying: 'Okay.' And Kynlee's impressive wrestling moves didn't just come out of the blue. Speaking to the publication, Kynlee's dad, Scott McFetridge, said he has trained her in wrestling for quite a while in order to make her stronger after she underwent heart surgery as a newborn. Catching up: Scott said that while he was trying to toughen Kynlee up, he thinks she may have become a little 'rough' The open-heart surgery, which she had when she was just five months old, caused Kynlee to fall behind her peers. He said: 'That was my whole theory behind wrestling and roughhousing with her because she was behind the other kids. 'I was trying to make her stronger so she could catch up. In doing so, she got a little rough, I guess,' he laughed. Kynlee is now happy and healthy, although her dad said she will need a follow up procedure in a couple of years. Since the video was uploaded to the news organization's Facebook page, it has garnered 300,000 views. Similarly, the video has been flooded with comments. One Facebook user commented on the video, saying: 'I know her daddy must be proud, I know I would be.' Another said: 'If she marries that boy it would be the greatest thing ever!' A third user commented, saying: 'LOVE it!! Loved how she was so on it with her responses and didn't think she was in the wrong!! And now, all the little boys in the class now know what she can do to them!!' Advertisement Dancers showed off their vibrant costumes in a dramatic show of sequins, feathers and face paint on the day two of the five-day carnival in Brazil on Saturday. Dressed in intricate ensembles with matching headpieces, coordinating killer heels and outlandish hair and make-up to match, the carnival queens took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to take part in the festivities. Alongside members of multiple parades representing different parts of the annual extravaganza, men and women could be seen partaking in an array of fascinating dances and performances. Hundreds of thousands of revelers descended on the city to witness the famous festival, which marks the start of lent. This year's event is the first such celebration since Jair Bolsonaro took office, and it is expected that the festival will target the far-right president known for offending the LGBT community and minorities. Dancers showed off their vibrant costumes in a dramatic show of sequins, feathers and face paint on the day two of the five-day carnival in Brazil on Saturday to mark the start of lent Dressed in intricate ensembles with matching headpieces, coordinating killer heels and outlandish colourful hair and make-up to match, the carnival queens took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to take part in the festivities At Carmelitas, one of Rio's most traditional street parties, revelers sang along to a samba song titled: 'Blue or pink, it's all the same,' a reference to Bolsonaro's human rights minister, Damares Alves, who declared: 'It's a new era in Brazil, boys wear blue and girls wear pink,' soon after she took up her post. 'This parade is an act of resistance to the oppressive new government,' said Monica Machado, a percussion player in the band. The song's lyrics went, 'On the train of history, we can't go in reverse,' a reference to the Brazilian president's open admiration of Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship. Bolsonaro has famously said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son and that police who kill criminals should be given medals not prison sentences. Alongside members of multiple parades representing different parts of the annual extravaganza, men and women could be seen partaking in an array of fascinating dances and performances. Seen: A member of the Joy South (Alegria da Zona Sul) Samba School Hundreds of thousands of revelers descended on the city to witness the famous festival, which marks the start of lent. Pictured: Parade of Samba Schools Carnival Pictured left: The parade of Samba Schools Carnival put on a colourful display. Seen right: Lexa Queen of Drums of the United Samba School of Bangu during the 2019 Carnival Series Several party-goers' costumes targeted an early corruption scandal in the Bolsonaro government. Vinicius Alves, a university student, wore all orange with a headband adorned with fake money and orange slices, a nod to the Brazilian expression 'orange employee,' which refers to politicians' use of ghost employees to launder money. Just three weeks into Bolsonaro's government, questions were raised about suspicious payments to his son's and wife's bank accounts from his son's driver, who many suspect was an 'orange employee.' '(The driver) has been called to court several times and never showed up, so I'm demanding answers this Carnival,' Alves said. 'Carnival is resistance, samba is resistance.' This year's event is the first such celebration since Jair Bolsonaro took office, and it is expected that the festival will target the far-right president known for offending the LGBT community and minorities. Seen: Parade of Samba Schools Carnival A reveller of the 'Dragoes da Real' samba school performs during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo as hundreds of thousands of revelers looked on Dancers from the Aguia de Ouro samba school perform during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil as the party continues late into the night Dancers dressed in huge yellow costumes made their way through the streets with feathers and all kinds of embellishments as visitors looked on from the sidelines Pictured: Members of the School of Samba Unidos de Padre Miguel performed during the 2019 Carnival Series In the lead up to the party, one group of revelers wrote a Carnival jingle that went viral. Its lyrics read, 'Mommy, I'm going to buy a gun, Bolsonaro's already made it easier, I'm going to shoot all the communists.' At the official samba competition in Rio, one top samba school said its reaction to Brazil's sharp turn to the right was a parade dedicated to untold parts of Brazil's history. 'The Bolsonaro vote is linked to education,' explained Deivid Domenico, the co-author of the song. 'The people of Brazil don't know its history, its roots, its identity. This is why I think telling that history is important.' This photo shows a general view of the 'Mocidade Alegre' samba school performing during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo A dancer from the Mocidade Alegre samba school performs during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo Dancers from the Dragoes da Real samba school perform on a float during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Sunday A reveller of the 'Vai-Vai' samba school performs during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo, Brasil, at the city's Sambodrome early on Sunday Rio's evangelical bishop-turned-mayor, Marcelo Crivella, came under fire on the party's first day for skirting his duty to kick off the celebrations by handing over the key of the city to the king of Carnival for the third consecutive year. He told reporters that he would be turning in the keys to Carnival, not the keys to the city as is tradition. 'It's very disrespectful. I'm trying to understand why they wouldn't want to participate in this ceremony,' said Mauricio de Jesus, the president of the cultural center where the key is held. The evangelical Crivella has made negative comments about African-rooted religions, which many Brazilians practice and have great cultural influence on Carnival celebrations. 'This is disrespectful to the black population, to the black community, to our roots,' de Jesus said. The word 'carnival' originates from the Portuguese 'Carne Vale' meaning 'farewell to meat' and refers to the Christian period of abstinence, otherwise known as Lent. The Rio Carnival typically starts a week before Ash Wednesday with parties beginning in December, despite being heavily influenced by European and African traditions today. A reveller from the 'Aguia de Ouro' samba school performs during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo his photo shows a general view of the 'Vai-Vai' samba school performing during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo, Parade of Samba Schools Carnival RJ 2019: A colorfully dressed member of the United Samba School of Bangu during a Carnival 2019 This photo shows a general view of the 'Vai-Vai' samba school performing during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil Carnival celebrations began across Brazil on Friday, with revellers swarming the streets in a sea of colour, glitter and feathers. Pictured: Sao Paulo Pictured: a dancer from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school (left), and another from the X-9 Paulistana special group (right) at the Anhembi Sambodromo in Sao Paolo Friday was the beginning of the five-day festival which marks the start of Lent. Pictured: the Imperio de Casa Verde float This year's event is the first such celebration since Jair Bolsonaro took office, and it is expected that the festival will target the far-right president known for offending the LGBT community and minorities. Pictured: Sao Paulo The first Rio Carnival was held in the 1640s in honour of the Greek wine gods and saw the Romans organise events to celebrate Saturnalia and Bacchus. The Roman Catholic Church then established the basic traditions and the festival 'Entrudo' was introduced by the Portuguese. In 1840, the first masquerade carnival took place where many danced to the polka and waltz, being influenced by carnivals in Italy. This then evolved into samba in 1917, which was influenced by African culture. While the masquerade aspect of the carnival is derived from Italy, African culture also influenced the Rio Carnival costumes which are made of feathers, grass and bones. Pictured: A reveller from the X9-Paulistana samba performing in an incredible outfit featuring some very large feathers in Sao Paulo The Imperio de Casa Verde samba school created a float based on the ill-fated Titanic, complete with two dancers as Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's characters from the movie The celebrations on Friday marked the beginning of a five-day festival, timed around the start of Lent. Pictured: Sao Paulo Dancers of all ages get involved in the colourful festival, including this little girl in the Imperio de Casa Verde samba school The samba is now considered traditional Brazilian music and from the nineteenth century, neighbourhoods got caught up in the party spirit with percussionists and drummers helping the locals celebrate every year. Today, a samba school, or a group of neighbours with a similar background wanting to attend together, will introduce the school during the parade and present their 'theme' with elaborate costumes and adorned floats. There are approximately 200 samba schools that attend the carnival each year and they are divided into five divisions. Rio Carnival is considered one of the biggest carnivals in the world with more than 2 million people taking to the streets of the Brazilian city every day for a week. Pictured: Members of the samba school of Academicos do Tucuruvi perform during the Carnival of Brazil parade at the Anhembi sambodrome One group of samba dancers, from the school of Academicos do Tucuruvi, even had plastic dolls attached to their costumes Another group, from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school, performed in bright orange janitor outfits, complete with broomsticks Pictured: Dancers from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo The carnival of Brazil parade is world-famous, with hundreds of thousands of people travelling to the Latin American country A royal biographer has claimed The Duchess of Sussex may face a 'take-down plot' by royal courtiers who could see her as a 'threat' to the throne. Anna Pasternak, author of Princess Diana's autobiography, compared Meghan, 37, to Wallis Simpson, an American socialite whose relationship with the then King Edward VIII caused a constitutional crisis that led to his abdication. Anna, who is releasing a book on Wallis Simpson, even warned Meghan that Buckingham Palace advisers named 'the men in grey' by Princess Diana could 'plan her downfall' if they feel her and Harry's 'star' rises too high. Scroll down for video Royal biographer Anna Pasternak has compared Meghan, 37, to American socialite Wallis Simpson, an American socialite whose relationship with Edward VIII led to his abdication Speaking to S Magazine in the Sunday Express , she said: 'Meghan is like a grenade that's been thrown into this archaic system and there are explosions already going on which I think will continue. 'In a sense Meghan has rejuvenated the spirit of Wallis and I hope people take the view of her as a kind, witty, loyal and dignified person who unfairly became the most vilified woman in the world.' Anna then revealed that she 'worried for Meghan and Harry, who she dubbed the 'people's prince like Edward. She added: 'I worry for Meghan and Harry. 'He's the people's prince as Edward was the people's king. 'I fear if Meghan and Harry's star rises too high that will be perceived as the courtiers Princess Diana called men in grey as a threat to the heir.' The royal biographer has claimed The Duchess of Sussex, seen with Harry in Morocco last week, may face a 'take-down plot' by royal courtiers who could see her as a 'threat' to the throne Anna concluded by advising Meghan to 'toe the line and support the monarch', warning her against trying to 'set the agenda'. In December a royal expert has revealed that the Duchess of Sussex is facing something of a public backlash because she's putting herself out on a limb by trying to modernise the monarchy. Royal biographer Claudia Joseph appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC Two to discuss the public reaction to the pregnant Duchess, and claimed that Kate Middleton received less of a backlash when she joined the royal family due to her 'quiet nature'. Anna, who is releasing a book on Wallis Simpson, even warned Meghan that Buckingham Palace suits named 'the men in grey' by Princess Diana could 'plan her downfall' if they feel her and Harry's 'star' rises too high. Diana is seen in Chicago in 1996 Speaking alongside fashion designer Amal Fashanu and journalism professor Suzanneh Franks, the panel dissected just why Meghan, 37, is subject to negative rumours that she's been rude to staff and cut off friends who are no longer useful. While Amal argued that her race and background have seen her being treated differently to Kate, Suzanneh claimed that her more vigorous approach to the role of Duchess is the reason she's courted more controversy. The same month Tom Bower, unauthorised biographer of Prince Charles, spoke out about her passionate nature, appearing on Good Morning Britain. Anna Pasternak, author of Princess Diana's autobiography, is releasing a book on Wallis Simpson, Comparing her to Harry's late mother, he claimed: 'The problem is in my view that she is trying to be Diana. 'She's trying to adopt the new role, and the tragedy of the story is it'll end in the same way unless someone steps in from the Palace and says "look this is the way it's done here".' Meghan has long been vocal of her stance on feminism, politics and human rights, as well as reportedly being against the royal annual Christmas shoot, due to the duchess being an avid animal lover. At the end of last year h it was revealed Harry and Meghan would be moving out of their Kensington Palace cottage to the grounds of Windsor, to avoid their first child- due in spring 2019, growing up 'in a goldfish bowl'. Duke of Edinburgh was nowhere to be seen as she arrived at Sunday service She opted for a pastel blue hat and coat to cheer up a miserable, wet morning Queen attended a service at The Royal Chapel today but Prince Philip was absent The Queen was pictured travelling from Windsor Castle to The Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor, Great Park today. Donning a pale blue coat and hat complete with glittering broach, the monarch brightened up an otherwise wet and miserable Sunday. While usually accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, 97, it seems that the Queen's husband had remained at home as she was chauffeur-driven to the Sunday service. Even though the 92-year-old royal was being driven on public roads from the Castle, she was pictured without her seat belt on. The Queen donned a coordinated blue traveled from Windsor Castle to The Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park today The Queen was pictured without her seat belt just weeks after Prince Philip was 'left shaken' following a crash in his Land Rover near Sandringham in January It comes just week after Prince Philip was left 'conscious but very shocked and shaken' after crashing his Land Rover near Sandringham. Philip is believed to have pulled out of a side-road, coming from Sandringham House, on to the busy A149 where the Kia, travelling at up to 60mph, struck his side of the 4X4 in a so-called 't-bone' smash. It is not known where he was going but he enjoys visiting friends in the area and going to local shops. His Land Rover was flipped on to the passenger side, and then slid across the carriageway before 'somersaulting' back on to the driver's side and coming to a halt on a grass verge. Philip was pulled out of the sunroof by driver Mr Warne, who had stopped at the scene, and the Duke was breathalysed by police, which came back negative, and rushed back to Sandringham where he is recovering with the Queen by his side. The Duke of Edinburgh was clearly dazed after the crash but was uninjured, but two women inside the Kia were treated in hospital, one for a suspected broken arm, the other for an injured knee. The nine-month-old baby was unharmed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will opt for nurturing baby slings and eco-friendly reusable nappies as they care for their baby, according to one parenting expert. Emma Kendell, editor of Mother&Baby magazine, suggested Harry, with his focus on mental health campaigning, would be prepped to check on Meghan's emotional well-being after the birth, perhaps with the aid of a new hi-tech baby monitor. In a nod to Daniel Craig, who garnered public support when he was mocked for wearing a baby sling last October, Emma thinks Harry and Meghan will both opt for a 'papoose' to keep their child close. The royal baby is due to put in an appearance at the end of April or early in May, with Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, looking forward to the arrival of their first child. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will opt for nurturing baby slings and eco-friendly reusable nappies as they care for their baby, according to one parenting expert During a trip to Belfast before her pregnancy last year, Meghan was heard joking about all the baby paraphernalia the couple would need as they were shown products from the Shnuggle range by entrepreneurs during a trip to Belfast. The former Suits star laughed, gestured to a non-slip bath on view and said: 'I'm sure at some point we'll need the whole (lot)', while Harry added: 'How many have you got?'. Speaking about the products the couple would be likely to choose, Emma predicted Harry and Meghan would be 'great parents'. 'I'm confident Meghan and Harry will parent in their very own way, picking and choosing what suits their lifestyle - which is going to make their journey really interesting to watch,' she said. Emma Kendell, editor of Mother&Baby magazine, suggested they will opt for eco-friendly reusable nappies as they care for their baby (pictured) In a nod to Daniel Craig, who garnered public support when he was mocked for wearing a baby sling last October, Emma thinks Harry and Meghan will both opt for a 'papoose' to keep their child close. A baby sling is pictured 'They're going to be great parents and we're all excited to see what they get up to as mum and dad to a new royal baby. 'Their wedding showed that they're very good at giving a nod to tradition but then mixing it up big time.' Looking at parenting trends and products, Emma said a baby carrier was almost certain to be on their shopping list. 'I think we can safely assume that Meghan will be a baby-wearer, with all the cradling she's been doing of her baby bump,' she said. 'And I'm sure Harry is with Daniel Craig in knowing that dads do baby-wearing too.' Emma Kendell, editor of Mother&Baby magazine, suggested Harry, with his focus on mental health campaigning, would be prepped to check on Meghan's emotional well-being after the birth, perhaps with the aid of a new hi-tech baby monitor (seen) Emma suggested Harry and Meghan might choose the Boba X carrier, which costs 125 and allows a newborn to be carried inward-facing on the front and later as a toddler on your front or back. Other options include Boba's range of stretchy wraps, including one made of a cotton/bamboo mix, and another made of organic French Terry cotton, both costing 42. Emma also picked out the wearable Elvie Pump, costing 249, as a key choice for breastfeeding mothers. 'If Meghan chooses to breastfeed, then the new Elvie wearable breast pump is a must so Harry can help with the night feeds,' she said. 'It wowed mums in the Mother&Baby Big Test.' The 249 small, lightweight hands-free pump is silent, (seen) has no tubes or wires and fits inside a standard nursing bra and passed the magazine's tests for best pump Daniel Craig, seen in New York last April, garnered public support when he was mocked for wearing a baby sling to carry his baby daughter last October The small, lightweight hands-free pump is silent, has no tubes or wires and fits inside a standard nursing bra. It also has smart features that can be used with an app, allowing remote control, live milk monitoring and tracking of pumping session times and quantities. Emma claims the environmentally-conscious Sussexes may want to do their bit by going for reusable nappies. 'Reusable nappies from Close Parent are a must for any modern planet-conscious parent,' Ms Kendell said. A washable Pop-in newborn printed tiger nappy by Close Parent currently costs 9.99. Meghan could also choose to co-ordinate her skincare routine with her baby. Emma claims the environmentally-conscious Sussexes may want to do their bit by going for reusable nappies, pictured Kit & Kin's Mum and Baby Bundle of natural hypoallergenic products costs 54.99 and includes body butter, breast balm and stretch mark oil for the mother, as well as body oil, hair and body wash and bubble bath for baby. Emma singled out the new Bluebell smart monitoring system, priced at 299, as perfect for keeping a close eye on the royal baby and new mother Meghan. 'With Harry being so supportive of the mental health campaign Heads Together, I think he's going to be very proactive when it comes to supporting Meghan's mental well-being as she adjusts to being a mum,' she said. The state-of-the-art Bluebell includes a monitor, which clips to the baby's clothes, which can track and issue alerts on breathing, skin temperature, position, sleep, activity and when the baby cries. The parent wristband keeps count of a parent's sleep, steps and activity level, and shows updates from the baby monitor. It can also be used to record feeding and nappy changing times. Theres a certain confidence needed to wear red and purple two bold, clashing colours together, not least when youre six months pregnant. The unusual combination was a favourite of Princess Diana, who wore a red bolero with a purple skirt by Catherine Walker and matching Philip Somerville hat, on a royal visit to Hong Kong in 1989. But in the three decades that followed, few dared copy her look. Step forward the ever-stylish Duchess of Sussex, who delighted fashionistas last month when she stepped out in a flowing, bump-hugging purple dress, paired with a scarlet red wrap coat. Her look certainly turned heads; but none more so than Bojana Sentalers. For the 34-year-old fashion designer is the brains behind that red coat and during the royal couples visit to Birkenhead, Wirral, the phones in her Toronto office were ringing off the hook. Fashion designer Bojana Sentaler, 34, whose coats have been worn by A-list celebrities and royals including the Duchess of Sussex (pictured) revealed how she grew her brand from doodling designs It was such a wonderful surprise, says Bojana, a glamorous blonde mother-of-two originally from Serbia. The coat is from my new collection, so it hadnt even been released yet. To have it unveiled by Meghan was a real honour. Its not the first time Meghan has worn a coat by Sentaler, Bojanas eponymous fashion line, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. The fashion-forward royal owns the same 1,067 design, now dubbed The Meghan, in three colours. She debuted it, in army green, while filming legal series Suits in Toronto, Canada, in 2016, and wore it a second time, in chic camel, on her first festive outing with the royals at Sandringham, on Christmas Day 2017. Each time, despite the price, the coats, made from Peruvian alpaca pelt, have sold out, thanks to the Meghan Effect. The UK is our third largest market, after the U.S. and Canada, the designer explains. Meghan has played a big role in that. She could wear anything, but makes a point of wearing brands from Canada, a country she called home for several years. Her style is unique. Its classic and timeless, but she adds a twist to every outfit. So powerful is Meghans magic that this season Bojana attended London Fashion Week to show off her new collection and met with industry insiders to discuss opening her own shop in the capital. Currently, her only UK offering is in a small boutique near Bradford, Yorkshire (walkinstyle.co.uk) and, when we meet at a sleek London hotel, shes eager to make the most of her A-list endorsements. As well as the Duchess of Sussex, clients include the Duchess of Cambridge (who wore the 761 grey wrap coat in Canada in 2016), supermodel Gigi Hadid (who owns an ivory Sentaler coat), Sex And The City actress Kim Cattrall and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, wife of the Canadian Prime Minister. Bojana debuted her brand Sentaler at age 24, she recalls how a conversation with Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld inspired her despite not having any formal design experience (pictured: Duchess of Cambridge wearing Sentaler) The brand has come a long way in ten years, when Bojana, who was travelling in Peru at the time, doodled designs for seven coats she dreamed of owning. Growing up in Serbia, I was brought up to value quality, she explains. Its common in Eastern Europe to save to buy one good-quality piece, so I learned to recognise fine detail and fabrics. When we moved to Canada, I struggled to cope with the long, cold winters. They last nearly eight months and I couldnt find a stylish coat that would also keep me warm. Bojana studied marketing and finance before going into the beauty business, and in 2008 moved to Dubai to pursue a career in media. It was there, during an interview with the late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, that she got the impetus she needed to start her own brand. I told him I wanted to be in fashion, but had no formal design experience, she explains. He said, quite bluntly, You either have it or you dont. And if you have it, go for it. The next year, Bojana spent six months in Lima, the Peruvian capital, where she came across the perfect fabric for her coats: alpaca pelt. The pelt is shorn from the Suri and Huacaya alpaca. Bojana's designs feature spacious pockets, satin lining and are cinched at the waist (pictured: Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau wearing Sentaler) The shearing process, which is cruelty-free, takes place every two years and gives an essential source of income to farmers in the region. I fell in love with alpaca in Peru. Its hypoallergenic, lightweight but warm and has a natural softness. It feels like touching a cloud. Bojana, then 24, returned to Canada and launched Sentaler in 2009. Today, as her design house goes from strength to strength, her work ethic hasnt dwindled. Shes most creative at night, when her children, aged two and five, are asleep, and can often be found sketching and researching in her home studio from 10pm to 6am. I keep a pen and paper by my bed because I wake up with ideas, she explains. Bojanas designs are flattering and feminine, but, as a working mother, she understands practicality, too. Her coats have spacious pockets; colours are dyed to complement skin tones and hair colours; and the lining is satin, not silk, so it doesnt crumple. And the fabric is water-repellent ideal for soggy British weather and cinched at the waist with a belt to hug the figure in all the right places. Theres even a patented Sentaler tie, a one-sided bow, which she encourages customers to use to fasten their coats. Meghan has shown hers off several times, though on the recent outing she wore the coat open, revealing her bump. Shes not wearing maternity clothing; she just styles regular clothing in a way that works, says Bojana. Bojana recalls doing press interviews while nursing her daughter when the Duchess of Cambridge was seen in one of her coats (pictured: Gigi Hadid wearing Sentaler) She and her team have a close relationship with Meghans stylist, believed to be her long-term friend Jessica Mulroney, whom they continue to work with in Toronto. She has a sneak preview of new Sentaler collections and selects pieces she thinks Meghan might like. As a royal, the Duchess must pay for every item out of the Palace purse; in contrast to when she was lavished with gifts as an actress on the red carpet circuit. Bojana first met Meghan in 2016, when she visited the Sentaler showroom in Canada. She has a genuine interest in fashion and likes to know every detail of what shes wearing. Shes the same now she hasnt changed a bit. She is inspirational and I know shell be a great mum, she says. Bojana knows about juggling motherhood with a demanding job: she had her first blast of global publicity when the Duchess of Cambridge was seen in one of her coats, four days after the designers daughter was born. I was doing press interviews while nursing my daughter, she laughs. But women today do it all parenting, working, running their own businesses. Thats the woman I design for. GONE were last years red roses and the effusive declarations of love. Thank you for loving me the way you do and making this one Amazing Birthday, Chloe Green posted this time last year. In a comment addressed to her hot felon fiance Jeremy Meeks, she wrote: You have spoilt me beyond belief. What a difference a year makes. For while Chloe Green, who turned 28 on Saturday, was still the recipient of a floral display a spectacular arrangement of pink and white orchids tumbled behind the heiress as she posed for a photograph her happiness seemed rather muted. Its my Blooming Birthday she captioned the picture. Chloe Greens huge diamond that has decorated her wedding ring finger since last summer has been missing from her finger following a bust-up with fiance Jeremy Meeks Little wonder the birthday girl appeared rather stony-faced. For while she celebrated the big day with her parents Sir Philip and Tina Green at their luxury penthouse in Monaco, Meeks, the father of her nine-month-old son Jayden, was posting pictures from Los Angeles. Jeremy Meeks was not one of the 41 who commented on Chloes birthday picture to wish her well. He did, though, post his own message to wish her a happy birthday, declaring that he will love her forever. You are the most amazing person Ive ever met and Im so blessed to have you in my life and theres NO ONE else Id rather spend the rest of my life with, he wrote. And then, of course, theres the case of Chloes missing ring the huge diamond that has decorated her wedding ring finger since last summer but which has been missing from pictures last week. So what is going on inside the unlikely romance? For a little over 18 months, the couple have put on a long, lavish public display of affection. Canoodling on yachts in Monaco, holding hands in Beverly Hills, and snuggling up on the ski slopes of France, this has been a love story played out against a backdrop of no-holds-barred international luxury; much as you might expect when your daddy is the controversial 4 billion king of the High Street. The arrival of baby Jayden Meeks-Green on May 29 last year seemed to set a seal on their happiness. On February 19, Chloe and Jeremy were seen having an argument in a nightclub in Dubai, with reports suggesting Chloe was tearful and Jeremy had stalked off alone After legal haggling and the payment of a large settlement, Meeks secured a divorce from wife Melissa a month after Jayden was born. The couple were now free to tie the knot. They spent the festive period on Daddys yacht in the Maldives, and popped back into the northern hemisphere in order to celebrate Jeremys birthday early last month with a ski trip in Courcheval. Sadly, however, if they have not completely fallen off, then the diamond-encrusted wheels of the Meeks-Green love-wagon seem to have hit a roadblock. On February 19, they were seen having an argument in a nightclub in Dubai, with reports suggesting Chloe was tearful and Jeremy had stalked off alone. The couple had gone to the Cavalli Club as Jeremy was modelling at the launch of Extremedy, a streetwear clothes label. A source said: Jeremy was in his element. The real life and soul of the party and socialising with the other guests. Chloe was barely noticeable and in his shadows most of the night. They were all smiles posing for the pictures for the photographers but things turned sour later in the night. She has now repaired to her apartment in Monaco, where she has pointedly said on Instagram that she is having a lovely time without him. Sunshine, friends and family, the perfect Sunday, she wrote last week, minus the enormous engagement ring she used to wear. So what is going on? Friends say the Green family were downplaying rumours of a rift, saying it was not unusual for them to be apart as Meeks is working in Los Angeles while Chloe is looking after Jayden in Monaco. What is unarguable is that they are very different people. A glum looking Meeks is pictured speaking on his mobile phone in LA Privileged Chloe Green is the beloved daughter of tycoon Sir Philip, and was raised with every material advantage in the tax haven of Monaco. Jeremy Meeks is the son of a convicted murderer and rapist, who was raised by his sister in California because their mother was a drug addict. A Monaco source close to Chloe says Meeks doesnt fit in with her new life as a millionaire mum. A friend believes it is a matter of time before they break up. She said: Chloe is part of a posh expat yummy mummy and baby club in Monaco, they all go to Zumba, drink green juices and then have salad and water for lunch at the yacht club in Monaco and go shopping at Christian Dior and Chanel for new handbags. Jeremy just doesnt fit in with all their investment bankers and multi-millionaire posh other halves. His ex Melissa is hounding them constantly and, when Jeremy was in Dubai to model for Extremedy, Melissa flew in with their son to meet him. Its like this never ending low-end soap opera and Chloe just wants calm and a happy, peaceful life. Jeremy, 35, has been partying with the Hollywood crowd while his girlfriend remains in Europe. He seemed barely able to keep his eyes open on Oscars night, when he was declined entry to an A-list party hosted by Jay-Z and Beyonce. On Wednesday afternoon, he was out shopping in Los Angeles with his half-sister Carmella Jesus. The two of them popped in to jewellery store XIV Karats in Beverly Hills. He told a videographer: Of course Chloe and I are still together. One for the family: Chloe watches as dad Philip high-fives Meeks last July. A former gang member, Meeks found fame thanks to a flattering police mugshot that saw him nicknamed the hot felon However he is apparently keen for Chloe to make a break from the influence of her parents. A source said: Lets just say that the honeymoon period is very firmly over. Jeremy is trying to push ahead with his career and make his own money rather than live off Chloe, and Chloe isnt taking it well. She wants to be with him all the time and gets jealous of him modelling with female models and wants to know where he is at all times. The source added: Jeremy is spending more and more time in Los Angeles and Chloe is worried shes losing him and has even started talking about having another baby. He is not keen on that and keeps saying he wants to focus on his career and being a man who provides for his children now. She went with him to Dubai for a work thing and she hated that he was talking to [supermodel] Bella Hadids father Mohamed. Jeremy was trying to talk politely and listen and Chloe was getting testy at the idea of Jeremy maybe working with Bella or Gigi Hadid. There was a huge row after that and it underlined perfectly how very different they are. Money is an ongoing issue and her family is a huge issue. Jeremy finds it difficult that Chloes a grown woman with a child and yet does everything her parents tell her to do. It is true that Chloe is exceptionally close to her parents. Since the arrival of Jayden, she has been spending long periods in Monaco, and is now living in an apartment in the Rocabella building where her parents have the penthouse. An early interest in shoe design seems to have been put on the back burner, with her footwear no longer being sold at Topshop, which is a part of the Arcadia group run by her father. She is said to be working out what she wants to do, and of course there is no shortage of funds from her parents to keep her afloat. Meanwhile, Jeremy appears to be breaking free of some of his mentors from the early days of his modelling career. He seems to have cut ties with extrovert photographer and agent Jim Jordan Jordan and his company White Cross Management is no longer listed as his contact on Instagram. Jordan did not respond to phone calls or emails on Meeks last week. A former gang member, Meeks found fame thanks to a flattering police mugshot that saw him nicknamed the hot felon. He received a 27-month jail term in 2015 after being charged with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm in public and criminal gang activity. When he was released from prison, he met Chloe, and was embraced by her family, particularly Tina Green. She took them shopping, invited him to spend long periods on Lionheart, the familys new 100 million yacht, and even accompanied the couple to fashion shows in Paris When he was released from prison in 2016 he quickly secured a six-figure modelling job and was guided by Jordan through a series of magazine interviews and appearances at fashion shows. He then met Chloe, and was embraced by her family, particularly Tina Green. She took them shopping, invited him to spend long periods on Lionheart, the familys new 100 million yacht, and even accompanied the couple to fashion shows in Paris. However, it seems that the Green lifestyle is beginning to pall, and Meeks would sooner be recognised in his own right. A source said: Jeremy has gone from being this lovely attentive boyfriend to quite moody and blowing hot and cold. Chloe is so in love with him, but for him all the baggage that comes with her family and the pressures of a billionaire lifestyle have come as a rude awakening. After seeing the family at close quarters and how they conduct their business Jeremy has started to want to spend more time away from that world. He doesnt like the Greens having staff that wait on them around the clock. Jeremy prefers to wash and clear away his own dishes and cook his own food whereas Chloe and her family believe that theyre much better than everyone else. Its getting to the point where a decision is going to have to be made, theyre drifting apart and the gap is widening every day. Trouble in paradise: Sources close to Chloe and Meeks say their 18-month relationship was under strain after they had a row in Dubai Perhaps not surprisingly, Sir Philips recent legal travails have also had an impact on the romance. In October last year he was named in the House of Lords by Lord Hain, the former Cabinet minister, using parliamentary privilege, as the businessman who had used gagging clauses and pay-offs. It emerged that he had paid a female executive more than 1 million after she accused him of groping. He was also said to have racially abused a senior black employee, telling him that his problem was that he was still throwing spears in the jungle. Low key: Chloe Green looked glum as she was pictured for the first time in public since a tearful bust-up with fiance Jeremy Meeks in Dubai and sparking split rumours by not wearing her engagement ring The black member of staff received around 1 million. Two other female employees were paid hundreds of thousands of pounds each after complaining of Sir Philips inappropriate behaviour that included grabbing one woman by the face and putting another in a headlock. Sir Philip denies the allegations. He has since threatened to sue former staff with non-disclosure agreements if they speak out against him. Sir Philip indicated he would give up the action at the end of last month, just a few days before he was due to have given evidence in the witness box. A source said: They called off the wedding because it would have looked like a publicity stunt in the wake of the contents of the Philip Green injunction and it has all been very strained ever since. The tables have turned and instead of it being Chloe dragged down by Jeremys past, hes now tainted by her fathers reputation. Jeremy does love Chloe but he doesnt love her life and something is going to have to give. The Meg Cert: 12A, 1hr 53mins Rating: At a basic level, The Meg is a very silly film about a group of scientists accidentally unleashing a giant shark that most people believed had been extinct for more than two million years on an unsuspecting world. Of course, it being summer, a large proportion of that unsuspecting world is inevitably at the beach, happily treading water, blissfully unaware of the new and very large dangers that now lie beneath. Scientifically preposterous, its a classic B-movie thats not particularly well acted, features some truly terrible lines That living fossil just ate my friend and some of the toothy visual effects are downright comical. Scientifically preposterous, The Meg is a classic B-movie thats not particularly well acted, features some truly terrible lines and some downright comical toothy visual effects But park your brain in a low summer-holiday gear, load up with popcorn, and The Meg, while never great, is certainly a lot of end-of-pier fun. Its not a film to be taken too seriously. After all, its got Jason Statham in it. Its also a film that visibly demonstrates Hollywoods new-found appetite for attracting Asian audiences and Asian production money, particularly from China. Much of the underwater action takes place in Chinese coastal waters, its a Chinese beach resort that comes under particular attack, and the films leading lady and love interest is played by the Chinese actress Bingbing Li. But park your brain in a low summer-holiday gear, and the film, while never great, is certainly a lot of fun. Its not a film to be taken too seriously. After all, its got Jason Statham (above) in it Will that deter British audiences? I wouldnt have thought so: after all, Li playing a very modern, kick-ass single mother is decent enough and, besides, most of us have only come to see the shark, the megalodon, or Meg for short, all 25 whopping metres of it. How does it come to be released on an unsuspecting world? Deep-breath time. Backed by a larger-than-life billionaire (Rainn Wilson) a state-of-the-art underwater laboratory has been set up to test an outlandish theory proposed by the good Dr Zhang (Winston Chao) that at great depths the bottom of the sea isnt the bottom of the sea at all but a thermo-cline, a frozen layer concealing even greater depths below. And guess what, hes right. Only those greater depths arent empty. And it shows Hollywood's appetite for attracting Asian audiences with, among other things, a Chinese leading lady, Bingbing Li (above) who is on the submersible Statham must rescue Which is bad news for the first submersible that sails into them. Very soon it comes under violent attack, is badly damaged and marooned on the sea bed at a depth of over 11,000 metres. Only one man has ever mounted a successful rescue mission at a depth of over 10,000 metres and he after a rescue went tragically wrong is now a divorced drunk living, beer bottle permanently in hand, in Thailand. Ah, thatll be Jonas Taylor (Statham). Hes the only man in the world who believes the Meg is a living creature andoh yes, its his ex-wife who just happens to be piloting the wrecked mini-sub. To be fair, director Jon Turteltaub has at least half his tongue firmly in his cheek, and there are one or two very funny lines so there's still a lot of fishy fun to be had Anyone anticipating one of the best I told you so moments, however, will find the writers are ahead of them. To be fair, director Jon Turteltaub has at least half his tongue firmly in his cheek, and there are one or two very funny lines. Jonas saves so many lives so often I lost count, and were so familiar with the shark genre that the end does drag a bit. Acting-wise, this is no ones finest hour and, in this age of ultra-realism, some of the visual effects do underwhelm. But theres still a lot of fishy fun to be had. SECOND SCREEN The Darkest Minds (12A) Rating: Dog Days (12A) Rating: The Negotiator (15) Rating: Unfriended: Dark Web (15) Rating: The jump from the world of animation to live-action can be a difficult one for film-makers but its a transition the South Korea-born director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, hitherto best known as the director of Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, makes with modest aplomb with The Darkest Minds. No one, however, could say she was exactly breaking new ground. Set in a dystopian near-future (yes, another one) where 98 per cent of young teenagers have been killed by an unknown adolescent plague, its a tale of the two per cent who survive. They emerge blessed/cursed with special X-Men-like powers telekinesis, electricity, flame-throwing etc which mean the adult world is very frightened of them. Which is why they are herded into special camps, categorised according to power by colour and put to work. Until one day, a small group escapes and goes in search of a special teen army led by the legendary Slip Kid. Its very derivative, calling to mind anything from The Maze Runner to the Divergent trilogy, via The Fifth Wave, and takes a long time to get going. But it does just about get there, helped by attractive lead performances from Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson and a refreshingly colour-blind take on adolescent love. It is quite violent, though. Were used to multi-stranded films based around a single event; indeed, the late Garry Marshall made them a speciality with the likes of Valentines Day and New Years Eve. Now director Ken Marino, and screenwriters Elissa Matsueda and Erica Oyama, rework the genre with Dog Days, weaving a tangle of inter-connected Los Angeles-based stories around the therapeutic value of dogs. At nearly two hours its incredibly long for such a lightweight offering but does have an attractive cast, a deeply sentimental streak and a certain furry charm. Another week, another period spy thriller set in the Middle East. The Negotiator is set in the powder keg that was Eighties Beirut and stars Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike (above) Hot on the heels of last weeks Damascus Cover comes another period spy thriller set in the Middle East, this time in the powder keg that was Eighties Beirut. The Negotiator is definitely a step up, with a stronger cast, led by Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike, and a more polished screenplay, from Bourne franchise writer Tony Gilroy, about a former diplomat (Hamm) called in to negotiate when his friend and local CIA chief is kidnapped. Like the 2014 original, Unfriended: Dark Web unfolds entirely on a laptop screen, with Matias settling down for an evening of multi-tasking on the second-hand laptop hes somehow acquired. But who was the previous owner? Lets just say finding out was too nasty for me. Feasting outdoors calls for a stellar line-up of tasty vino that wont break the bank Ahoy! On the day this is published youll find me pouring lashings of ice cold Tio Pepe sherry to the gathered crowds at CarFest, the festival organised by Chris Evans supporting Children In Need. Aside from the splendid line-up of bands, motors, rides and activities plus merch from the Frothy Coffee Man himself, theres top grub by chefs and TV stars from Raymond Blanc to Candice Brown. Feasting outdoors calls for a stellar line-up of tasty vino that wont break the bank, so Ive prepared an all-star line-up of drinks that are perfect with picnics. Packaging in wine is finally becoming more inventive, simple and portable. If youre eating al fresco it makes life a heck of a lot easier especially when youve forgotten to pack a corkscrew. bibwine.co.uk has launched a range of decent quality bag in box wines, M&S has its tasty 20cl Petit Voyage travel size wines, with detachable plastic cups for 3, and Waitrose has brand new wines in cans check out Maris Organic Shiraz (13.5%) in a 25cl can for 3.49 stick in the cool bag and serve it chilled to enhance its fruity character. Traditional bottles abound of course, and if theres a Spar near you, its Legendary Malbec 2016 (12%) is 7.50, offering a lighter, scented Malbec that works a treat with cold roast beef sandwiches. But for the pinnacle of picnic reds, Beaujolais is the best bet for me, and one of my wines of the year is Morgon, Cote du Py, Jean Marc Burgaud 2016 (14%), 12.95 from bbr.com (30 per cent off till Friday). Its a richer, fuller, Beaujolais that delivers the wow factor and beyond. Elsewhere, regional France offers decent bargains, bubbly from Italy in the guise of crowd-pleasing Prosecco should be in your basket too, but stick Spain at the top of your list for wines with stunning character under a tenner. And if youre after a spirit that requires no mixer, Empirical from Copenhagen is the most inventive Ive ever tasted find it online at empiricalspirits.co (I love its Fallen Pony for sheer summery-scented splendour). Grab a bottle and book your place to party via carfest.org next year! Elizabeth wears: Jumper, Bella Freud. Skirt, Kitri. I sometimes worry about the age-inappropriate nature of my cultural tastes. I am 40 but I still love high-school comedies, despite the subject matter revolving around adolescent dilemmas played out by actors young enough to be my children. I still buy clothes from Topshop when I should probably be ordering sensible grip-soled slippers from catalogues, and I switch over to Radio 1 when the afternoon drama is on Radio 4 (particularly if said drama features a British actor pretending to be American; they are the worst). Lately, Ive been listening to the Ariana Grande album thank u, next, examining the lyrics with the same seriousness I imagine an opera buff might accord the libretto of Wagners Ring Cycle. There is one track, Needy, that made me think. In it, Grande sings about herself as someone who craves emotional reassurance in private, even though she puts on a good show in public. Sorry if Im up and down a lot, she sings to an unidentified paramour. Sorry that I think Im not enough. When I first heard those lyrics, I related to them so much. I think most of my female friends would understand what she means, too. Knowing what you need and asking for it is a strength not a weakness Neediness has always felt like a specifically female attribute, in much the same way as clinginess or hysteria (which derives from the word womb). It has always felt like an accusation, as if need is a negative thing. For decades, good women have been called needy by incompetent men, the term encompassing myriad supposed offences that all seem to stem from an overabundance of female emotion. The easiest thing to do when you dont understand something is to ridicule it. The path of least resistance is to not engage. So needy is a convenient tool for those who desire control in a romantic relationship. If your girlfriend or wife asks you to reply to their text/let them know when you might be home/pay her the occasional compliment, dismissing her as needy is a handy way of evading responsibility or obligation. Calling someone needy is undermining. It suggests a weakness of character when, in truth, neediness is often the expression of a simple desire for consistent communication. If you break it down, all needy means is that someone is in need of kindness; they feel insecure or as Grande sings not good enough, and require reassurance. Is wanting emotional connection from another human such a bad thing? There are exceptions, of course. A person with very low self-esteem will not feel empowered via compliments alone. They must learn how to value themselves first. But, for most of us, occasional neediness is a valid emotion that can be cured with a hug or word of love. That shouldnt be too much to ask. In his new book, Good Reasons for Bad Feelings, the evolutionary psychiatrist Randolph Nesse says that women could be more likely to suffer from anxiety because, from an evolutionary perspective, anxiety was appropriate to protect us from danger. Simply put, cavewomen had to protect their children while men went out hunter-gathering, and had to take risks in doing so. So what if our neediness actually stems from a positive source? What if it means we want to deepen our connection with those closest to us in order to protect ourselves and them? Surely thats something we should feel proud of, not ashamed. Id like to reclaim the word needy. Lets make it a compliment, because surely knowing what you need and asking for it is strength rather than weakness. I have the 25-year-old Ariana Grande to thank for that realisation. And no, I dont even care if Im (nearly) old enough to be her mother. This week Im Fierce Grace in Londons Primrose Hill, She Must Be Mad by Charly Cox, pearl earrings by Anna Lu Practising yoga at Fierce Grace in Londons Primrose Hill. Hot yoga, hotter clientele. The other day I was doing downward dogs next to a Hollywood A-lister. Reading She Must Be Mad by Charly Cox. Wise and witty poems for the millennial age. Wearing beautiful pearl earrings by Anna Lu, given to me by a generous friend as a thank you. I feel like an Edith Wharton heiress in them. In all honesty, natural haircare is something I struggle with. Not that I have an issue with its existence, but I often have difficulty with its performance: it can leave my hair feeling heavy and lank. Mind you, mainstream hair products can be disappointing too. Enter Yolanda Cooper of Northern Irish-based brand We Are Paradoxx. Yolanda used to work at the self-tanning brand Vita Liberata, where she fell in love with the beauty biz and started to care more about organic products. One day she had her lightbulb moment: I was being so careful about what I put on my body then buying anything for my hair. Super Natural Shampoo and Secret Weapon 3-in-1 Conditioner She researched the natural haircare market and found the offering limited: products not luxe enough, packaging too twee and she felt there was too much compromise, so she set out to change that. In the space of a year she found a manufacturer and worked with a chemist to create organic products that performed on all fronts: no sulphates, no parabens, PEG-free, vegan and fragrance via essential oils. Irish ingredients run throughout, from hops (think beer rinsing to give your hair gloss) to carrageen moss to condition. Eco and organic credentials aside, I love this stuff She tried to be clean in other areas, too. The packaging is all in recycled aluminium When I was about to place an order for my first 100,000 bottles I realised I couldnt bring myself to do it in plastic, she says. Shes planning to launch non-plastic recyclable tube refills and will be donating one per cent of all revenue to 1% For The Planet, a global environmental organisation. Hangover Hair Elixir Eco and organic credentials aside, I love this stuff because it works. The Secret Weapon 3-in-1 Conditioner (20) can be used as a mask and styling product. The Super Natural Shampoo (18) still lathers but they both leave my hair feeling clean, looking shiny and in tiptop condition. My hair has a natural kink that most products weigh down, but not these and though more expensive than many off-the-shelf options, you dont need a lot of it. The Hangover Hair Elixir (30, all asos.com from Thursday), complete with Irish whiskey (the only alcohol in the range), is a top-notch hair oil, treatment and frizz-tamer. Although Yolanda makes no claim about this, the products have also done wonders for the psychodermatitis (a bit like cradle cap) that I have developed in recent years. Mad about the gel If youre looking for a new squeeze on the shower gel front then Roger & Gallets Tuberose option (9.50, feelunique.com) is a glorious-smelling pick-me-up that feels good to use too. There are four other new fragrances (including Neroli) but this is my favourite. Trinny London BFF Eye High praise to Trinny London and not just because the woman herself is a columnist for this magazine. Her new BFF Eye (26, trinnylondon.com) is a fab hybrid of a good coverage concealer thats lightweight as its also part serum with hyaluronic acid for moisture and peptides to depuff. It gives a natural finish and doesnt leave the eye area feeling tight or dry. I also use it on my face if I dont want full foundation but just need to touch up here and there. Supermodel Miranda Kerr has ditched the catwalk in favour of her own organic beauty brand. And, yes, she tells Edwina Ings-Chambers, she has funded it all herself Miranda with her dog I have good news for Miranda Kerr as we sit down in her Los Angeles office. According to a new report, sales of organic beauty are up by 14 per cent. And so they should be, says the supermodel. Its good for people, good for the planet and its healthy for the skin. The reason this statistic should interest Miranda is that she owns Kora Organics, a skincare line she founded ten years ago in her native Australia, and which, from today, is on sale in the UK at Space NK. Shes passionate about her cause even if that passion is filtered through the prism of an intensely calm demeanour. Theres also a warmth to her and an almost innocent charm that belies her soon-to-be 36 years. Shes clearly loyal, too. Her PR woman, who has known Miranda since they were 16, is a close friend. Miranda as a Victorias Secret Angel on the runway in 2012 Miranda is accompanied by her eight-year-old son Flynn (from her first marriage to Orlando Bloom), who wants to play on her phone. She negotiates by asking him to draw her a picture first, and as he goes off to do so she calls after him, I love you, Flynnie. Perhaps best known for walking the Victorias Secret runway (though the last time she did this was 2012), Miranda isnt just a token famous face for her brand. This is a full-time job. She has all but given up modelling, other than getting in front of the camera for campaigns or editorial shoots to help promote Kora. Its my first child, really. I started it before my pregnancies, she says. Shes very hands-on, reading and often replying to testimonials posted on the brands site and social media. She decides which products to launch, interviewed all of her 40 staff and her ethos shapes everything. Miranda became an organic devotee at 13, when her like-minded grandmother gave her drinks made with noni, a Southeast Asian superfruit, extract of which is now Koras star ingredient. There are misconceptions that organic products are not very potent, she says. Thats why weve done clinical tests and consumer studies to show our products do get incredible results. Gwyneth Paltrow texted me saying, Oh my God. People are going nuts for this" This is a self-funded enterprise, though Miranda has a five per cent investor but hes not involved at all. The self-financing business model kept the brand small and only stocked in Australia until two years ago. There is now a range of 30 products available in 25 countries, with famous fans. Diane von Furstenberg emails me almost every week saying, Miranda that body oil Im obsessed. The world needs to know about this oil. Gwyneth Paltrow texted her after featuring the Kora gradual self-tanner on Goop, saying: Oh my God, Miranda. Weve never moved so much product. People are going nuts for this. So what changed? That would be her husband, Evan Spiegel, the tech billionaire CEO of Snapchat and father of her younger son, nine-month-old Hart. They met at a Louis Vuitton dinner in Los Angeles. Apparently, that evening Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of US Harpers Bazaar, predicted the two would marry (although Miranda tells me that they were friends first). Miranda had been approached by retailers wanting to take Kora to other countries but shed always said no, not wanting to compromise her ideals. Evan persuaded me to do it, she says. He encourages her in other ways, too as a good guinea pig for her products (he loves the noni sleep mask and turmeric scrub). When he likes something, it disappears from her carefully ordered product line in the shower. Miranda with ex Orlando Bloom (left) and her husband, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel (right) Although customers are increasingly looking for clean products, Miranda was ahead of the curve with a luxury line that has always been Ecocert certified organic. Still, she says, It was scary to put in all that [money] Ive worked so hard for. I used to work six days a week in two different countries a week before Flynn was born. Then I tried to pull back but I was still working like crazy, though now I do a lot from home. I want to be there for my kids and work around their schedule. Kora Organics Noni Glow Sleeping Mask, 43, spacenk.com That daily schedule is full on. I have half an hour to myself from 5.30am while Evans getting ready. I use that time to do my meditation. Then the kids are up and its all go. When Flynnie is with me I like to drop him at school and pick him up. Often Hart will sit with Miranda as she works and shell send a Snapchat of him to his father, saying, Hes learning. And Flynn knows this is my company and I put my all into it; he understands the importance of work. She recently told him hed better start saving now for a car as she wont be buying him one because my parents didnt for me. So he set up a homemade lemonade stall and earned $15. She may be a successful businesswoman and married to a billionaire, but theres something very grounded about Miranda. I often breathe a sigh of relief when a celebrity interview ends, but as she gets up to leave Im disappointed our conversation must wrap up. She may make good skincare, but I think shed make an incredibly good friend, too. Tesla shares tumbled last night as Elon Musks handling of the company came under fire taking losses to nearly 10bn in less than a fortnight. In an emotional interview that raised questions over the billionaires health, Musk insisted he was not on weed when he tweeted plans to take the company private. The 47-year-old went on to attack his detractors while at the same time complaining of being overworked, describing the past year as excruciating and the worst of his career. Under pressure: Musk has revealed the toll is long work weeks have been taking on his health As analysts cast doubt over the profitability the Model 3 electric car, shares plunged 9pc. The slump took losses in the last eight trading sessions to nearly 20pc or 10bn. Crispin Odey, one of the UKs most respected fund managers who has long been betting against Tesla, suggested the company could be on its last legs. He told investors: Tesla feels like it is entering the final stage of its life. Musks decision to tweet his plans for taking the company private while on the way to the airport has resulted in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. But in an interview with the New York Times, he said he did not regret his tweet. Why would I? he said. The father-of-six also rejected suggestions he had been smoking marijuana, adding: I was not on weed, to be clear. Weed is not helpful for productivity. Theres a reason for the word stoned. You just sit there like a stone on weed. He launched a fresh attack short-sellers betting Tesla shares will fall, saying they were to blame for his stress and he expected even more months of extreme torture. Theyre not dumb guys, but theyre not super smart, he said. Theyre OK. Theyre smartish. He revealed he was working 120-hour weeks and relying on medication to sleep. Musk said: This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career. Its not been great. Ive had friends come by who are really concerned. Future plans: Some investors have voiced concerns that the company may not survive Teslas board is said to be concerned about Musks erratic behaviour prompting executives to launch a search for a number-two who can take pressure off him. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks operating chief, was approached about the role a few years ago but did not take it up, Musk said. He said he remained committed to his roles of chairman and chief executive but also claimed he would step aside if a good candidate emerged, adding: Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now. Hamish Chamberlayne of Global Sustainable Equity, a Tesla investor, said it would be difficult to imagine the company without Musk running things, but backed the hiring of an operations chief. He told the Financial Times: He has made a superhuman contribution to the company and we regard him as an incredible leader. He is human, however, and it is becoming increasingly apparent he is overstretched. Ross Gerber, another vocal supporter of Musk, called on Teslas board to protect Musk. He tweeted: Makes no sense to let Elon burn out. However, in a fresh blow, it was claimed an investigation into Tesla by the Securities and Exchange Commission was wider than previously thought. The regulator is already looking into Musks tweet saying his plan for privatisation had funding secured, amid concerns he misled investors. He stunned markets by revealing he was considering taking Tesla private for $420 per share. But the Wall Street Journal said the SEC was also investigating whether Musk downplayed the companys Model 3 production problems. It is said to have issued writs to a parts supplier as part of its enquiries. Critics point out Tesla is burning through cash as it tries to ramp up Model 3 production after a series of delays. Analysts at UBS, however, questioned the profitability of the Model 3 yesterday. They said that Tesla could lose $6,000 (4,700) on every base model. And its premium Model 3 sedan will also not produce better profit margins than a conventional BMW, they added. Elon Musk was not smoking weed when he sent his infamous tweet announcing Tesla was to be taken private at $420 a share a move which caused such a high in the markets. It also sparked rumours the electric car boss was under the influence of the drug because the number 420 is code for smoking marijuana in West Coast argot. Rather Musk says he chose 420 because he wanted to offer a 20pc premium over the stock price which was $419 and rounded it because it seemed like better karma. Needs help: Musk should be supported by the Tesla board Thats sorted, then. And to be clear, he says: I was not on weed. Unlike other high-profile US figures who have smoked the stuff, he gives no nonsense about whether he has inhaled or not. Its clear he has: Weed is not helpful for productivity. Theres a reason for the word stoned. You just sit there like a stone on weed. His weed denial is one of many colourful details of his private life revealed in an emotional interview with the New York Times this week. Its a rip-roaring read, both confessional and ex-culpa, in which Musk admits hes gone through the most excruciating and painful year of his life. No wonder. He recalls working 120 hours a week trying to fix Teslas productivity problems, sleeping in the Fremont factory to meet deadlines and taking Ambien sleeping tablets to ward off sleep deprivation. Such was his stress that he nearly missed his brothers wedding at which he was best man, and spent his 47th birthday alone working in the factory. His behaviour is not surprising. Musk is a visionary, and like all brilliant mavericks, one who pushes himself to the limit. Colonising the Red Planet with his space missions to rescue humanity from AI is also on his to-do list. What this interview and the furore following the surprise tweet also suggests is a lack of rigour, if not support, from Teslas eight other board members. Its either that or Musk, who wears a triple crown as chairman, chief executive and product architect, really is a lone ranger and does what he wants. Whichever the reason for the controversy, the board has failed in its responsibilities. Corporate governance issues have been swirling around Musks role for some time. Concerns were raised after Teslas first quarter-losses of $709m, and problems with making enough of its Model 3 mass-market electric car. They came to a head in May when investor CtW Investment Group failed to block the re-election of directors Antonio Gracias, a private equity investor, James Murdoch of 21st Century Fox and Kimbal Musk, Elons younger brother. CtW claimed that none of them have the necessary experience to run a car company and were incapable or unwilling to contradict Musk. Another shareholder, Jing Zhao, has lobbied to have Musk replaced as chairman with an independent director but keep him as chief executive. Now Musk seems to accept help is needed. There is talk that someone will be brought in as his number two but more experienced independent directors would not go amiss. Musk is going to need extra muscle to deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into whether his tweet breached public company rules. Investors have complained that it misled the market as the stock rose by 11pc after his tweeting, prompting a halt in trading. Along with the number, it was his two key words Funding Secured which sent the shares higher, outwitting the short-sellers who say he was trying to destroy them. He does dislike short-sellers intensely. He claims they have tortured him, and are one of the reasons he wants to be out of the public spotlight. Yet Musk, who owns 20pc of Tesla, still maintains he has backing from investors, from Saudi Arabias sovereign fund which owns about 5pc. The Saudis have yet to confirm or deny this but they have more than enough to pay the $70bn price tag. It may be Musk has been too fast to go private. Another trigger-happy tweeter, President Trump, delighted the corporate world with his message yesterday that the SEC should look at abandoning quarterly earnings reports to help long-term business. It was one of Trumps saner tweets, and no whiff of 420. Insurers increasingly lure customers into buying home and motor cover with a low initial price, then prey on fears and tempt purchasers to take out additional cover charging extra for the privilege. Premiums for these add-ons are cleverly pitched at a low level so as not to deter buyers from making the final purchase. Such policies are a huge money spinner for insurers. Direct Line revealed earlier this month it pockets almost 6million a year from selling legal cover add-ons to home and motor customers. Insurance add-ons: Such policies are a huge money spinner for insurers Other companies cash in on the insurance extras trend, adding low premium 'optional' cover to go with purchases for theatre tickets, mobile phones and car finance loans. Martyn James, of online complaints service Resolver, says many of these policies are unnecessary. He says: 'Most are sold at the point of sale, meaning we tend to just click or tick to accept because it is not that much money and not doing it seems like a costly error.' The reality is that the majority of these policies are never likely to be claimed on resulting in big profits for the industry. James says: 'Insurers should play fair. If these extras are considered necessary, then include them in the main policy.' He adds: 'You need to be strong to resist the pressure to buy certain policies. I turned down roughly 30 small insurance products on everything from train tickets to small gifts and delivery in the run-up to Christmas last year.' Many people feel baffled by optional add-ons, are unsure of their value and are panicked into buying them. The Mail on Sunday takes a look at some of the most common extras and their benefits or otherwise. ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE Good quality home cover will include accidental damage to home and contents. But increasingly this cover is excluded for contents and homeowners need to decide whether to add it for an extra premium. Around 40 per cent of all home insurance claims are for accidental damage, according to the latest data from insurer Aviva. Common claims include accidental damage to televisions, laptops, tablets and mobile phones as well as damage to flooring, such as cracked tiles and spills on carpets. Yet just 16 per cent of home contents policies include accidental damage as standard (meaning you do not have to pay an additional amount for the cover), according to researchers Defaqto. Hannah Maundrell, of comparison website money.co.uk, says homeowners need to weigh up the costs and the risk. She says: 'It can be hard to gauge the optimum level of cover. Buying the optional add-ons may result in you paying more than you would ever need. Purchase too little and your provider might not pay out when you come to claim.' Maundrell says it is a good exercise to regularly assess the value of contents in your home particularly new larger or expensive items, such as furniture and flooring. If you know it would be a stretch to replace them, then paying an additional premium can be worth it. If you have young children or lots of guests at your home, this is another reason to think about the add-on as accidents may be more likely. Be aware that if damage is caused by paying guests for example if you are an Airbnb host then you will not be covered. Accidental damage cover is priced on your individual risk. But as an example, contents-only cover for total possessions worth up to 50,000 in a three-bedroom house in Sheffield would cost from about 46 a year, according to website Comparethemarket. Yet adding accidental damage cover would only increase this to 48 for the year. Policyholders would have to pay 350 as an excess the amount you must contribute towards any claim. So this cover may not be suitable for those who may need to make smaller claims. Opting to reduce this excess, to 200 for example, will push up the annual premium. Our 'bolt-on' policy was worth it after I lost my 3k Cartier watch at a festival For Janette Gallier, paying for personal possessions cover as an add-on to her Halifax home insurance was worth the extra cost. Janette, 62, a first-aid trainer from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, lost a treasured Cartier watch at an art festival last summer. It had been a gift from her husband Graham and was worth 3,000. Janette, a keen artist, claimed on her home policy and received 1,400 after the 100 excess. 'With the payout I have been able to replace my watch,' says Janette. 'I have had this cover for more than 15 years and this was the first time I have had to claim. There was not a big increase in the annual premium at renewal. It was great to have the extra cover in place. I was devastated to lose my watch.' Payout: Janette Gallier, who lost her watch at an art festival, received 1,400 If your home contains many expensive gadgets, jewellery or designer clothes, you may want to cover them when you are out and about. Most home contents policies will not cover loss or theft of items outside the home. To make sure they are covered, opt for 'personal possessions' cover also known as 'all risks'. Up to one in three cases where a home insurance claim is declined relates to an item outside the home when the policyholder does not have this element as part of their cover. Martyn James, at Resolver, says: 'I'd argue that if the extra cover is necessary which the number of declined claims suggests then insurers should put it in the main policy.' Cover for expensive phones, cameras, watches and jewellery could prove invaluable should the worst happen, particularly in the summer months when people are more likely to go on holiday, take weekend breaks, attend weddings, parties and festivals. But check the exclusions if something is stolen from a hotel room, for example, an insurer may only pay out if there has been forced entry. Also, typically there will be an excess to pay on the claim. If the items are worth little more than the excess, there is no point in claiming. Individually priced personal possessions cover can be expensive increasing annual contents-only premiums by as much as 50 per cent. Renewal premiums are also likely to rise following a claim so for many policyholders it may not be worth the extra outlay. For those with valuable items, consider a standalone gadget or jewellery policy do not just accept the policy pushed by the retailer you buy from. Worldwide cover for loss, theft and accidental damage to wedding and engagement rings, phones and laptops may only cost from a few pounds per month, and there is no excess when you claim, unlike with household cover. Protect Your Bubble, Switched On Insurance and Debenhams are among the best for value. LEGAL EXPENSES This cover can help when an incident requires legal input, perhaps a personal injury claim, tax disputes with the Revenue & Customs, a falling-out with neighbours over property or if you lose your job. You need to decide whether you are actually ever likely to claim. If you want advice on a row with a neighbour over noise, then a free visit to Citizens Advice might be enough. But given the potentially high cost of legal disputes and actions which can run into tens of thousands of pounds many consumers choose to purchase the cover for peace of mind. Expect to pay around 30 per year on top of your annual premium. There is usually a maximum claim limit, such as 100,000. Martin Scott, head of home cover at Churchill Insurance, says: 'Legal expenses cover can provide support, protecting householders from legal costs relating to a wide range of issues from personal injury claims following accidents at work or employment disputes for unfair dismissal to contractual disputes with builders for poor workmanship.' Claim: Philip and Christine Lee used legal cover Motor insurance legal expenses cover can be useful if you are involved in an accident being hit by an uninsured driver, for example or you want to reclaim an excess you had to pay in a claim that was not your fault. Usually a free legal helpline is included. Sometimes comprehensive cover will include legal expenses so check before purchasing separately. By choosing to add legal expenses cover for both your home and motor policies you may not necessarily be 'doubling up' on cover. Kevin Pratt, insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket says legal expenses protection for home and motor policies will cover different areas. 'Motor legal expenses are usually restricted to your car and motoring while home legal cover relates to property, employment and consumer rights.' Some bank customers with premium or packaged current accounts may already have legal cover thrown in so check before buying. Retired civil servant Philip Lee, 61, from Newcastle upon Tyne, and his wife Christine, 61, a retired nurse, made a claim under legal expenses cover on their motor policy after a serious road accident in 2016. Philip and Christine were driving home after a day trip when a motorist on the opposite side of the road blacked out, veering on to their side of the road and collided head-on with their vehicle. Philip and Christine spent more than a week in the trauma unit at hospital and suffered fractured ribs, cuts and bruising. Philip also fractured his sternum and Christine broke her collar bone and fractured her ankle. At the time the couple were both still working. Philip was off work for almost three months and Christine was away for almost five months leading to a loss of earnings. Philip says: 'The accident has had a long-term effect on us. Christine still struggles with pain in her ankle. Thankfully we were able to claim under our legal expenses cover and we both received substantial payouts worth tens of thousands of pounds. It has certainly helped during a stressful time.' HOME EMERGENCY COVER Insurance for home emergencies covers a crisis such as a broken boiler or plumbing leak but as two-thirds of households never claim, they can be a waste of money. Such policies are sold as a bolt-on to standard home insurance or as a standalone policy from providers such as British Gas, Homeserve and the AA. But behind the special offers to lure you in can be deals that offer poor value for money. For example, British Gas charges 18 a month for a HomeCare package covering the boiler, drains and plumbing that also includes an annual service. That peace of mind costs 216 a year. The money might be better salted away in a savings account with perhaps 100 a year used for an annual service and the rest kept aside for further repairs. Remember, if anything goes wrong under an emergency cover policy there is usually an excess fee of 60 or more. While the cover may boast of a 24-hour emergency hotline, that does not mean someone will fix a problem within that time. Many heating systems are also already covered under a manufacturer's warranty or home insurance policy so check first. Would you consider buying a second hand electric car not knowing what condition the battery is in? According to a new survey, Britons are more willing to take that risk with a used electric car than they are with a second hand laptop or mobile phone. Three quarters of us would consider a used electric vehicle, compared to just 63 per cent who would purchase a refurbished laptop and 45 per cent who'd have a hand-me-down smartphone, research shows. Second hand electric car? A new study found that more Britons would be comfortable with the idea of a used battery-electric vehicle than a used laptop or phone The research conducted by automotive retailer Peter Vardy is part of a wider study into Britons' perception of owning a used electric car as more models enter the market. Of 1,000 people surveyed, 76 per cent said they'd be comfortable purchasing an electric vehicle that had already been owned by someone else. They'd be enticed by the environmental benefits and cheaper running costs of a zero-emissions model, the study found. For the remaining 24 per cent who voted against the idea of buying a second hand electric car, the main stumbling blocks were the high price of vehicles - even on the used market - and concerns about the battery life after a previous owner has been driving and charging it for a sustained period. Others noted that they're not bowled over by the looks of electric cars in general, while some commented that they were concerned about the technology already being old or outdated. Some manufacturers have gone to lengths to make the prospect of buying a second-hand vehicle less daunting. Renault, for example, offers its electric cars - like the Zoe - separately from the battery. A buyer can either purchase the vehicle and battery pack outright or pay for the vehicle and lease the battery with a monthly fee separately. If the battery capacity deteriorates with time, it can then be replaced at no cost to the driver. Three quarters of the panel said they'd buy a second-hand electric car, even if they didn't know the condition of the battery after use by the first keeper The Zoe also happens to be the fastest appreciating used car of the moment. Analysis by valuations experts HPI found that 11 second-hand cars have increased in value in the last year, with the Zoe going up by 30 per cent. Had you bought one of the small plug-in cars in July 2017 for 6,300 and spent the past year putting 12,000 miles on the clock, it would be worth 1,900 more on average today, according to the research. The report comes after it was revealed that the VW Group may have to recall 124,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars it built between 2013 and last month because they contain a toxic metal. Cadmium - a poisonous material that's been linked to increasing the risk of lung cancer - has been found in the charger components of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche plug-in models, halting production at the car-maker's factories immediately. The German Federal Transport Authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt is now in discussions with the manufacturer concerning a recall of the cars it has already sold to motorists. There's a wide variety of choice when it comes to used electric models on the market today Consumers said they would be more concerned that a used laptop or phone would have limited battery life In contrast to how people felt about used electric cars in the research, battery concerns were top of the issues most had with second-hand tech devices, especially those who feared battery deterioration due to previous use. While three quarters were happy to buy a handed-down electric car, plenty were dubious that pre-owned battery-powered computers and phones wouldn't have the same longevity and lifespan of a new ones and were worried that they might be close to breaking or soon become obsolete. Interestingly, these battery concerns were not mentioned regarding electric vehicles when the panel was surveyed. Experts estimate that battery packs in electric cars won't need to be replaced for between 10 and 20 years or when the car vehicle has covered around 150,000 miles. Figures released in 2015 showed that out of 35,000 Nissan Leafs sold in Europe by that time, just 0.01 per cent - which accounted for three - of battery units had failed. Replacing a battery pack for a Leaf costs around 5,000. The Nissan Leaf (pictured) has been on sale in the UK since 2010, meaning there are plenty of used examples around Renault has been offering customers the choice of renting the battery for the electric cars the French brand sells Claire Rogan, digital marketing manager at Peter Vardy, said the growing number of high-profile motor manufacturers producing electric models was central to the growing consumer trust with battery-electric cars. 'Electric vehicles may once have been thought of as clunky and slow, but there has been a huge amount of advancements in terms of aesthetics and technology to these cars in recent years,' she said. 'Today, there are some sought-after models available, like the BMW i8 Coupe and Roadster, Porsche Panamera and Jaguar I-Pace, which have also really altered consumers opinions. 'The positive impact these vehicles are set to have on the planet, and the potential improvements that EVs can offer to both the consumer and such a wide variety of industries, really is quite monumental.' Top investing firm Invesco Perpetual has joined the 'big beasts' featured in the latest list of underperforming dog funds. Even the flagship Invesco Perpetual High Income and Income funds - previously run by superstar manager Neil Woodford before he left to set up his own firm - have ended up in the kennel. The firm has only made sparing appearances in previous 'Spot the Dog' reports, which are compiled by DIY investing platform Bestinvest. In the doghouse: UK income funds have taken a hit, while value-oriented funds - which favour unloved stocks with turnaround potential - continue to struggle The total number of funds named and shamed has more than doubled to 58 since the last publication six months ago. A shocking 33.6billion of investor cash is tied up in these funds, which have failed to beat their benchmarks for three 12-month periods running and also underperformed by five per cent or more over the entire three years. That's a five-fold increase on the 6.4billion that languished in dog funds at the start of this year. This is because UK income funds have taken a hit, while value-oriented funds - which favour unloved stocks with turnaround potential - continue to struggle compared with growth-focused contenders. The report states: 'Invesco Perpetual has muscled straight into the Top Dog slot from nowhere with both the highest number of assets included 15.1billion and the largest numbers of funds (five), bounding ahead of the previous pack leader Aberdeen Standard Investments. 'The latter still has much to howl about though as both the number of Aberdeen Standard dog funds and assets has actually gone up since the last edition.' Fund groups in the doghouse: Table provided by Bestinvest. Data in its report are sourced from Lipper for Investment Management. Performance up to 30 June 2018 is covered Bestinvest, which touts its report as 'the guide fund managers would love to ban', stresses that it is not a sell list. However, it suggests investors who own the featured funds should take it as cue to investigate their holdings further. 'It is important to delve deeper before deciding to switch and move your cash elsewhere,' it cautions. 'In some cases, bad decision making is at fault, and the case to move on makes sense but in others a previously sound investment process or an agreed mandate may be out of favour.' Seven funds that hold more than 1billion of investor assets appear this time, a big increase from the last report which contained only one. Most of those listed are still small though, with the median dog fund holding just 137million of assets. How hastily should you dump a fund losing money? The traps to avoid between tolerating negative returns and bailing out too quickly... Read more here. Bestinvest notes that Invesco's dog funds include the High Income and Income funds which hold 9.4billion and 4.5billion respectively. 'The size of the Invesco Perpetual funds are of such scale that together they account for 45 per cent of the total amount of assets in this edition,' it says. 'Three of these funds are run by UK equity manager Mark Barnett, who inherited the firms flagship UK equity funds when high profile manager Neil Woodford left to establish his own firm in 2014. 'Both Barnett and Woodford, who have broadly similar approaches, have had a torrid time over the last couple of years. 'However, both are convinced that current sentiment is overly pessimistic towards the UK economy and are therefore taking a relatively contrarian and more upbeat view towards UK domestically focused businesses.' Woodford's funds did not make the dog list, but fund house Aberdeen Standard took a prominent position again. It was formed by a merger between Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life last year. Aberdeen as a standalone company had 11 funds included at one point in the past. Aberdeen Standard has five funds featured this time, the same number as in the last report, although all but one is different from six months ago. 'Frustratingly the level of assets has actually gone up and on top of these own-brand funds, Aberdeen Standard has also been the underlying manager of two other funds in Spot the Dog, including the St Jamess Place Ethical fund from which its management contract has just been terminated,' says Bestinvest. Find out what Invesco and Aberdeen said in response below. Which fund sectors include the most 'dogs' right now? Global equities has 19 dogs, making it the most heavily represented. Bestinvest says almost half of them have income generation as part of their objective. However, 'growth' stocks in such areas as technology and new media - where firms focus on expansion rather than paying a dividend income to shareholders - have generated the greatest returns in recent years. Meanwhile, the number of dog funds in the UK equity sector has soared from two to 18 since the last report issued in early 2018. 'Most of these new entrants have income generation as part of their briefs. The surge in UK dog funds does seem to reflect a more challenging environment for equity income managers who have typically been underweight basic materials and energy companies. 'These have bounced back as commodity and oil prices have recovered. However many income managers have been under-exposed to them as their ability to sustain and grow dividends has been uncertain.' What do Invesco and Aberdeen say about their performance? 'The performance of the Invesco Perpetual UK Equity Funds has been particularly adversely affected in the period since the EU referendum,' says Nick Mustoe, chief investment officer of Invesco Perpetual. 'The strategies managed by Mark Barnett are weighted toward stocks that generate income from UK sourced revenues (rather than foreign income generators), an approach that has lost favour in a climate of political and economic uncertainty. 'We estimate that the valuation across global equity markets of each 1 of revenue sourced in the UK has declined by some 30 per cent since June 2016 as investors have lost confidence in the prospects for cash generation by companies primarily exposed to the UK economy. 'We believe that the negative market reaction has been excessive - and in many cases indiscriminate - and that there are now significant opportunities for selective investment in a number of high quality, cash generative UK companies that will deliver superior shareholder return in the medium to long term.' An Aberdeen Standard Investments spokesperson said: 'Over recent years liquidity fuelled markets have supported all share prices indiscriminately, providing a headwind to our fundamental quality driven approach. 'While we delivered in absolute terms, some of our portfolios have lagged the broader market. 'As the market environment normalises with quantitative easing taps being turned off, we are optimistic that our fundamental bottom-up research driven style of investing combined with our enlarged, strengthened equity teams based on-the-ground around the world, will deliver for investors over the long term.' What does Bestinvest say about its 'Spot the Dog' guides? When all is going well, funds are promoted heavily and managers are feted like rock stars of the City, writes the firm in its guide. Yet its hard to ignore the fact that some of these stars simply crash out of orbit. Many funds fail to beat their benchmarks over the long run, after all the fees have been taken, and investors need to consider their fund managers carefully. Surprisingly many investors continue to put up with weak or pedestrian performance and its the fund management companies that benefit. This suffering in silence can be a result of investors not reviewing their investments regularly; a lack of ongoing advice and information from the adviser who originally recommended the investment; or simply inertia and disinterest. Yet with many set to rely on the returns from Isa and pensions for future financial security, performance really does matter. Which funds and groups make the 'pedigree' list? Bestinvest includes a 'pedigree picks' list of funds in each sector where it highlights dog funds, though it stresses there is no certainty that these funds are destined to outperform in the future. You can find them in the full report here. It adds: 'Fund groups who are entirely absent from Spot the Dog and who therefore deserve a treat include Aviva Investors, Baillie Gifford, Baring, BlackRock, BNY Mellon, First State, Fundsmith, JO Hambro, Kames Capital, Legal & General, Man GLG, M&G, Old Mutual Global Investors, Royal London and Stewart Investors.' Game on: Michael Lindsell selects high quality companies including computer games giant Nintendo Japan is high on the destination wishlist of many holiday-makers with the yen more affordable than in years gone by when a single drink in a Tokyo bar would buy a whole round back home. But as far as investors are concerned, there has been something of a mental block when it comes to Japan. Many have spurned it because of poor demographics (too many older people and not enough young earners) and a rigid and hierarchical business culture. Too often small investor interests have been overlooked. But a change of government with economic reform high on the agenda in recent years has altered that stance. Investors have enjoyed a more comfortable ride. Jason Hollands, of broker Tilney, says: 'Governance reforms have seen businesses adopt more shareholder-friendly practices, with a notable improvement in dividend pay-outs and buybacks.' Shareholder perks, now rarely seen in the UK, have taken off in Japan as companies attempt to attract the ordinary investor. Michael Lindsell, manager of Lindsell Train Japanese Equity, has seen first-hand the benefits of these changes. These influences plus his own particular brand of investing, which focuses on selecting high quality companies with strong growth potential and then hanging on to them have helped the fund to growth double that of its rivals over the last five years. Nearly half the fund, which contains about 20 shares, is in consumer brands His only concern about the pro-smaller investor stance is that some of the shareholder benefits, such as generous shopping discount cards, are not available to fund managers and so they and their investors are essentially paying for perks they cannot enjoy. But that development aside, nearly half the fund, which contains about 20 shares, is in consumer brands ones that dominate the company's local markets in particular, such as beauty product company Kao Corporation. This dominant position has allowed the business to increase its dividend by 10 per cent a year over the last 30 years. Another cosmetics firm, Shiseido (8 per cent of the fund), contributes strongly partly due to the popularity of its products with Chinese visitors. Chinese holidaymakers are pouring into Japan, with numbers up from six million to 20million over the last five years, according to Lindsell. He says: 'This is fuelling purchases of high quality Japanese goods such as Shiseido products.' The Japanese taste for green tea has also sparked a boom in purchases of the canned and bottled variety. The drinks giant Ito En (5 per cent of the fund) dominates this market. Nintendo, with its long established menu of games such as Super Mario and Pokemon, features large It is also a games-mad population, which is why Nintendo, with its long established menu of games such as Super Mario and Pokemon, features large. Nintendo's share price has had a rocky ride lately because of concerns that it would not be able to repeat the strong sales last year of its Switch console. Lindsell says: 'Sales targets have not been met so far but the biggest period for sales is the run-up to Christmas. I think it will meet its targets.' In any case he will hold on as he takes a 20 to 30-year view. Tilney's Hollands praises Lindsell's fund for 'consistently outperforming the Japanese market despite the fact it has traditionally been one where 'value' managers are already performing well'. 30-year-old High Street chain Fat Face is still smiling, despite ongoing travails in the fast-changing retail sector. The Hampshire-based firm, known for its outdoor gear and weekend casuals, joined its country rival Joules on the list of retailers bucking the blues today as it unveiled both top and bottom line growth. Fat Face said its womenswear lines helped it fashion a 7.4 per cent sales surge to 238million last year, on pre-tax profits of 30.2million. Fat Face has 216 UK stores, but now generates nearly a fifth of its sales online Same store sales jumped 4.9 per cent, while online revenues climbed 11.8 per cent - accounting for nearly a fifth of the retailer's total sales. But the retailer, which trades from 216 UK stores, cautioned that there was 'no prospect' of the tough conditions on UK High Streets improving in the near future. Boss Anthony Thompson said: 'The current retail environment remains difficult and there appears to be no prospect of conditions improving in the short term. 'We will continue to be focused on quality, design and price integrity and will seek to continue the positive momentum in today's results in the coming 12 months.' The positive results make Fat Face a rare bright spot on the gloomy retail landscape, which has seen a host of firms collapse into administration this year or shut stores and axe jobs to save on costs. The retailer, which currently has 17 stores abroad, said today it plans to further expand its reach in the US, where it opened five new shops last year. 'The implementation of our longer-term strategy is on course,' Thompson thundered. 'Expansion in the US continued and the business there is trading strongly. With the initial market trial concluded, we are now undertaking a measured roll-out programme.' Homebase has bolstered its leadership team with two heavyweight DIY industry appointments as it gets started on an major turnaround under new ownership. The retailer has hired Grant Anderson a former divisional director at its main rival B&Q to be its new operations director, and Dave Elliott whose career spans both B&Q and Homebase as commercial director. Anderson parted ways with B&Q earlier this year after a 30-year tenure, and will be no stranger to Homebase's chief executive Damian McGloughlin, who served more than three decades at the Kingfisher-owned firm before switching allegiances last year. Homebase is planning to close 42 stores through a CVA and has closed 16 already this year Elliott also served eight years at B&Q, prior to joining Homebase in 2012 as trading director. He is returning to the DIY chain now, after two years at Loch Retail Consultancy. The two new directors will take up the posts this month, and work alongside McGloughlin and finance chief Andy Coleman to help restore the underperforming chain's fortunes. The embattled DIY retailer launched proposals earlier this week to shutter 42 stores through a Company Voluntary Arrangement, leaving 1,500 jobs hanging in the balance, just weeks after 303 roles were axed at Homebase's head office. The CVA is subject to a landlords' vote on August 31. This controversial form of restructuring, also adopted by the likes of Carpetright and New Look this year, will also mean reduced rents on nearly half of Homebase's 241 stores. Commenting on the store closure plans, McGloughlin said: 'Homebase has been one of the most recognisable retail brands for almost 40 years, but the reality is we need to continue to take decisive action to address the underperformance of the business and deal with the burden of our cost base, as well as to protect thousands of jobs. Under Wesfarmers ownership, Homebase stores lost their concessions and soft furnishings 'The CVA is therefore an essential measure for the business to take and will enable us to refocus our operations and rebuild our offer for the years ahead.' The DIY chain, which employs 11,000 people, was handed over to HMV-owner Hilco earlier this year for a nominal 1, after a disastrous two years of ownership under Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers. Wesfarmers hoped to cull the Homebase brand and replace it with its popular Bunnings Warehouse fascia. However, it botched the mission, causing sales and profits to plummet. The Australians took a hit of 794million on the failed UK venture, which contributed to a 58 per cent decline in Wesfarmers' group full-year profits. Bob Diamond, the former Barclays chief once dubbed the unacceptable face of banking, has come under attack from investor groups ahead of his new banks annual meeting. Two influential shareholder adviser groups have raised red flags over corporate governance issues at London-listed Atlas Mara, a bank Diamond set up to focus on Africa. Glass Lewis has recommended that investors should vote against Diamonds election as chairman because as a co-founder of the firm he is not considered independent. Under fire: Atlas Mara chief Bob Diamond Fellow adviser group ISS has raised similar concerns and recommends that investors abstain from the vote on August 29. The organisations are urging shareholders to vote against three non-executive directors including Michael Wilkerson, chief executive of Atlas Maras largest shareholder Fairfax Africa, arguing that he is not independent. The other two directors are former Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher and Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, chairman and managing director of the Commercial International Bank of Egypt. Both groups also oppose a motion that would allow Atlas Mara to sell 15 per cent of its shares without first offering them to existing investors. Diamond, who resigned from Barclays at the height of the Libor-rigging scandal in July 2012, founded Atlas Mara in 2013 and has been chairman since October 2016. Atlas Maras shares have fallen 80 per cent in five years. In 2010, the then Business Secretary Lord Mandelson criticised Diamonds rewards at Barclays and described him as the unacceptable face of banking. Atlas Mara said it takes governance very seriously, adding that Diamonds continued leadership at the board is important to delivering on our business plan and performance objectives. A well-connected oligarch who counts Tony Blair and Sir Elton John as friends has quietly snapped up a quarter of a London-listed oil firm he tried to buy seven years ago. Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk is understood to be behind an investment vehicle called Kelda that has bought 24 per cent of Regal Petroleum, a gas firm with assets in Ukraine that is listed on Londons AIM market. Pinchuk was involved in a takeover battle for Regal in 2011, but lost out to a company called Energees, controlled by Ukrainian businessmen Vadim Novinsky and Andrei Klyamko. They still control 52 per cent of Regal. Moves: Victor Pinchuk has bought a quarter of the oil firm Regal Petroleum News that Pinchuk is behind Kelda will lead to speculation he is preparing for a second London-based battle for control. The 57-year-old faced scrutiny several years ago after it emerged he secretly built a stake before the last bid through investment vehicles that were not in his name. The stock markets takeover rules state that bidders must disclose any stakes they already hold in a takeover target. Kelda has bought the 24 per cent stake from a subsidiary of Alfa Group, controlled by yet another oligarch, Mikhail Fridman. Alfa has sold its entire stake in Regal. Regal said it could not confirm whether Pinchuk was the mystery shareholder behind Kelda, but said it was investigating. Pinchuk made his fortune from steel pipes firm Interpipe, but he is better known for his ties to the rich and famous. He has given more than $1million to the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and having struck up a friendship with former US President Bill Clinton has given between $10million and $25million to the Clinton Foundation. Opponent: Vadim Novinsky won the last takeover battle between the tycoons Pinchuk has been named in the controversy over Russian interference in the 2016 US election. The New York Times reported in April that a $150,000 donation made in September 2015 from Pinchuk to the Donald J. Trump Foundation was being probed by investigators. It was the largest donation to the foundation in 2015 by anyone besides Trump himself. It was made in exchange for a 20-minute appearance by Trump via video link to a conference in Kiev. Pinchuk rubs shoulders with celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Damien Hirst. An avid art collector, he paid 10.3million for Hirsts The Golden Calf in 2008. Wife Elena is the daughter of former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma. They once owned the worlds most expensive house after paying 80million for a ten-bedroom home in Kensington, West London. Art lover: Pinchuk paid 10.3million for Damien Hirsts The Golden Calf (pictured) in 2008 Last week, the MoS revealed that Ukrainian MP and businessman Vitaliy Khomutynnik had bought nearly 20 per cent of JKX Oil & Gas, a London-listed oil firm which also has operations in Ukraine. Pinchuk has clashed with JKXs top shareholders, Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov. He sued the pair in a $2billion High Court battle over a mining deal that turned sour. They settled in 2016 for a sum thought to be more than $1 billion. In 2011, Regal was in talks with two companies controlled by Pinchuk including Geo-Alliance Oil-Gas, which has assets near Regals in Ukraine. Regal, which has a value of 120million on AIM, has a colourful history of its own. Its founder Frank Timis was twice convicted for possession of heroin before he joined the firm. Once worth more than 500million, Regals share price plunged 86 per cent in a single day in 2005 after wells it had claimed were set to be big money-spinners turned out to be dry. It led to a record 600,000 fine in 2009 as the regulator accused Regal of misleading investors. The chief executive of Brazilian mining giant Vale, Fabio Schvartsman The chief executive of Brazilian mining giant Vale has temporarily stepped down after one of its dams collapsed in January, killing 186 people. More than 120 people are still missing after the accident in the town of Brumadinho. Fabio Schvartsman and several other executives offered to temporarily resign over the weekend after Brazilian prosecutors recommended their dismissal on Friday. Vale said that its executive director of base metals, Eduardo Bartolomeo, had been appointed as its new interim head. The company did not say how long the executives would be out of their posts. Anya Hindmarch (pictured), founded her eponymous label in 1987 Anya Hindmarch, the luxury handbag brand favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge, has been put up for sale by the Qatari royal family's investment fund. A source close to the firm said the decision was a mutual one between fashion designer Hindmarch (pictured), who founded her eponymous label in 1987, and the Qataris, who bought a 27 million controlling stake in 2012. Hindmarch, 51, is expected to stay on as chief creative officer. In 2017, the latest year for which there are publicly available accounts, the London-based brand lost 28.2 million and reported a 10 per cent decline in revenue, at 37.2 million. But it is understood to have reduced losses since then by slashing costs and putting more of an emphasis on online sales. In 2016, Anya Hindmarch expanded its accessories range into the menswear market. The source said the company's cash position has now 'stabilised' and it has 'materially reduced losses', putting it on better footing. Private equity firms and rival brands are understood to be interested in buying the company, which has more than 30 stores. A former submarine scientist has entered the race to build Britain's first privately funded railway. George Bathurst wants to connect the train lines running through Windsor by building a new stretch of tunnel under the Royal Berkshire town. Windsor's two stations remain unconnected since they were built in 1849, despite being only 300 metres apart. The 370million link would improve connections for people living in the 'M3 and M4 corridors', opening up a new direct route from Slough through to London Waterloo. Connected: The home of Harry and Meghans wedding A second phase, costing around 1billion, would create direct rail links to Heathrow from the west and south of the airport, amid plans for a third runway. Bathurst believes the scheme would be the first new rail line to be fully privately funded since the railways were nationalised in 1948. His Windsor Link Railway consortium is backed by Swedish construction giant Skanska and the 6.2billion French investment fund Meridiam. They plan to recoup their investment through fares revenue and building a 'significant number' of new homes in Windsor and nearby towns. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling invited rail bids from private firms to 'relieve the burden on taxpayers and farepayers'. The DfT is expected to make a decision in the autumn. Bathurst said: 'The new links will create new rail journey opportunities in these economically important areas of the UK and complement connections to Heathrow.' Currency exchange service Revolut has been dealing with angry customers locked out of accounts, many of whom have been stranded overseas without funds. The company, which provides a fee-free currency card for users to spend overseas among other services, has had to deal with a deluge of social media comments from frustrated users at the lack of response to problems. The firm has recently gone an anti-money laundering drive which has blocked some customers and is asking for documents, such as payslips, passports and P60 forms. However, many of the customers appear to be innocent victims of the move. Revolut: The app has seen substantial growth - but it appears many customers are being locked out of accounts One reader on holiday in Spain told This is Money how he was left unable to pay for his anniversary meal with his wife and has been locked out of his account for almost two weeks. He said: 'I took my wife for lunch and I couldn't even pay. My wife was furious.' He says he has used the card on numerous trips around the world and been left confused as to why he had been blocked. He has also sent his photograph with his driving licence, payslips and bank statements and has still not had a solution, with the firm asking for his most recent tax return - a document not many are likely to travel overseas with. Other customers abroad are also facing similar problems, with some using Revolut as their main payment option abroad and unlikely to be carrying sensitive financial documents. Online chat: Revolut has locked many customers out of their accounts - some of which are overseas and do not have the documents required by the firm. Picture supplied by our reader One user - also locked out of their account - has labelled the company's support as 'disgusting' on its Facebook page. Revolut was founded in 2013 and has seen meteoric growth with customers making use of its fee free currency exchange offer. It has 2.5million users and expects this figure to rise to 3million by October. As well as offering a pre-paid debit card, it offers currency exchange, cryptocurrency exchange and peer-to-peer payments. The company has grown at a staggering rate in recent months and compliance experts have been concerned that it may not be able to keep up with its obligations. According to the company's own careers page and job site AngelList, it is hiring for a range of roles in customer service and compliance - and this includes a head of compliance. Other roles are listed such as a French speaking customer service specialist and a compliance analyst based in Krakow. According to the Sunday Times, the company is on its third head of compliance in 18 months. Locked out: The Revolut Facebook page contains many customers locked out of accounts In a telling response to posts about a new product launch, where the company asked users what they think will be announced, one social media user suggested 'a second support employee joining.' Some customers have been left frustrated at customer service agents who appear to be university students. Revolut did not deny that it uses students in its compliance team. Unhappy: There has been a flood of poor user reviews on the Google Play Store for Revolut in the last month Further customer frustration comes from the company's lack of a physical presence. Unlike traditional banks, Revolut has no bank branches or telephone call centre to make complaints to. The only way for customers to complain and get problem rectified is through a live chat app - and some are complaining that the wait times can stretch into hours. A Revolut spokesman told This is Money: 'Locked accounts only affect a small number of customers, and this is industry standard practice when dealing with potential suspicious activity. 'We're really not sure what the story is here, other than Revolut, like thousands of other financial institutions, is doing its job.' Revolut won't give a precise number of customers currently locked out. It also says most customers are responded to within 10 minutes, but it can take longer if there is a sudden spike due to a technical issue. Blocked: Others have revealed how they have had their accounts blocked What is behind the lockout? Industry insiders say problems have arisen from Know your Customer (KYC) checks. These are carried out by financial firms to confirm their customers are who they say they are. People may be familiar with the checks when opening up a bank account, with banks asking to see a passport or driving licences as well as proof of home address. Customers have been able to sign up for Revolut and deposit funds since its origins without any checks. It told This is Money that customers who haven't been through the KYC checks are unable to spend the funds, transfer funds, or otherwise use the funds. In order to use their funds, they must verify their account. It is believed these controls are now flagging innocent users, which has been denied by Revolut. Earlier in the year, its founder notified the National Crime Agency and the Financial Conduct Authority that it has discovered suspected money laundering on its system. Firms only have to report this type of activity to the NCA - but the FCA also expects to be told if the problem is 'significant'. Reputation damage TELL US YOUR STORY If you have been hit by the Revolut lockout, get in touch: joe.whitwell@mailonline.co.uk Pawel Kuskowsk, former global head of anti-money laundering at RBS, now chief executive of Coinfirm explained the tension between pressure for growth figures and the need to remain compliant. He told This is Money: 'This is a common by-product of scaling fast without a proper focus on regulations which at some later point becomes an operationally critical problem. 'The balance of customer experience and regulations needs to be re-calibrated. This is what's happening with Revolut - and unfortunately it's having a huge impact on both its clients and reputation.' Mr Kuskowsk added: 'I always say that there is not FinTech without RegTech. 'Unless companies think about compliance with regulations from the start and build it as part of their technological framework, FinTechs will face the same challenge and problems as larger, traditional players.' David Boyd lent billions of dollars to businesses as a banker and helped make clients multi-millionaires - but today he is terrified of receiving his next electricity bill. Mr Boyd says he has applied for 10,000 jobs in the 10 years since he was retrenched during the global financial crisis but has been granted only 11 interviews. 'I've got nothing,' Mr Boyd said. 'Money comes in on a Thursday and it's gone by the following Monday.' At the height of his career Mr Boyd had $500,000 in the bank and owned a beachfront home at Gordons Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs, six doors down from model Jennifer Hawkins. Today he receives $1,050 a fortnight from Centrelink and lives in a cramped two-bedroom unit with his 10-year-old daughter Kali in the city's south. David Boyd lent billions of dollars to big business as a banker and helped make clients multi-millionaires but today he is terrified of receiving his next electricity bill. 'I've got nothing,' 58-year-old Mr Boyd says. 'Money comes in on a Thursday and it's gone by the following Monday' After paying rent, internet and mobile phone bills, as well as medicine for them both, Mr Boyd is left with $75 a week for groceries and all other expenses. 'St Vincent de Paul are my angels,' he said. 'If I didn't have St Vincent de Paul I'd be dead.' Asked whether it was really Kali who kept him going, Mr Boyd looked towards her bedroom, put his hands to his face and wept. 'Kids are so innocent,' he said. Mr Boyd's tale of going from riches to the poverty line comes as polls show that cost-of-living is set to be one of the key issues in both the NSW and federal elections. He believes people like him have been forgotten by both major parties and sees no improvement in his circumstances regardless of who is elected. 'I wouldn't vote for either of them,' Mr Boyd said. While Kali goes to the local public primary school, Mr Boyd went to St Patrick's College at Strathfield, alma mater to business, political, legal, scientific and medical luminaries. One old friend from from St Pat's is former South Sydney mayor Tony Pooley, who is married to Joanna Quilty, CEO of the New South Wales Council of Social Services. 'It's a really terrible story,' Ms Quilty said of Mr Boyd's predicament. 'He's a lovely person. It's just been a highly unfortunate set of circumstances that have led to him being trapped in poverty.' Mr Boyd - whose mates call him 'Boydy' - built a high-flying financial career which began at the State Bank of NSW in 1986 and ended with ANZ in 2008, with stints at Westpac and St George in between. At his peak he was earning $500,000 from a base salary of $250,000 and that much again in bonuses each year. He also had an unlimited work credit card. 'I was on the bank's dime,' Mr Boyd said. 'I'd be taking clients out all the time. I mixed it with the "finest" people in town." Today Mr Boyd receives $1,050 a fortnight from Centrelink and lives in a cramped two-bedroom unit with his 10-year-old daughter Kali in the city's south. After paying rent, internet and mobile phone bills, as well as medicine for them both, Mr Boyd is left with $75 a week The unit Mr Boyd owned in this building at Gordons Bay (left) sold for $610,000, after which he was left with $40,000. Today it rents for $920 week while he pays $760 a fortnight at Penshurst. Mr Boyd used to drive an Audi A4 (pictured outside his former red brick apartment) He acted for some of the country's biggest businessmen and did huge deals such as organising $100million in finance for Patrick Stevedores during the 1998 waterfront dispute. Mr Boyd says he worked 72 hours straight on that deal. 'I basically worked in Martin Place for 20 odd years,' he said. 'I spent every day in a suit.' David Boyd worked as a high-flying banker until he was made redundant by ANZ during the global financial crisis in 2008 He did not like much of what he saw in the industry, calling out some of the unethical behaviour he witnessed, and does not look back wistfully on those dog-eat-dog years. 'I worked like a Trojan 20 hours a day,' he said. 'I'd leave each night and have 20 knives in my back. 'I had to bash heads, bend over, part my cheeks - everything. I wouldn't even get a thank you.' Mr Boyd's resume is loaded with corporate financing deals he arranged in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. None of that is worth anything now. 'I have lent billions of dollars over the years,' he said. 'I've made guys multi-millionaires. Here I am now and I can't scratch two bloody cents together.' By 2008 a disintegrating marriage and medical expenses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars meant his savings were down to about $100,000 and his mortgage was up from $150,000 to $400,000. When the global financial crisis hit that same year, Mr Boyd was well on his way to his own personal disaster. 'Banks were going under and ready to close,' he said. 'In 2008 the mood of the markets was Armageddon.' Mr Boyd's mobile phone costs $80 a month and he manages to spend just $30 a week on groceries. He doesn't drink alcohol or gamble and buys only the occasional pouch of tobacco The internet, which Mr Boyd needs to apply for jobs, costs him $100 a month and he spends the same on medication which includes creams for 10-year-old Kali's severe eczema ANZ, where Mr Boyd was associate director of corporate banking for NSW, let him go in a round of mass retrenchments. FROM HIGH-FLYING BANKER TO CASUAL RECEPTIONIST David Boyd has a degree in commerce, graduate diploma in applied finance and investment and a graduate certificate in applied linguistics. His last paid employment was three months' work in 2016 as a casual receptionist at Breakfast Point Country Club in Sydney's inner-west. Over the past decade he has unsuccessfully applied for jobs as: *Consul-general to Frankfurt *School crossing supervisor for the NSW Education Department *Sales co-ordinator with Coates Hire *Clerical roles with New South Wales Police *Facilities trainer with The Star casino *Bus driver with State Transit Authority *Train driver with NSW Trains *Street sweeper with City of Sydney Council *Lecturer at various universities and casual high school teacher *Receptionist at various real estate agencies *Business manager with Tabcorp Advertisement 'I understand and accept that,' he said. 'But I have to feel my retrenchment was in part because I was outspoken.' Mr Boyd, who has travelled to 60 countries and lived in five, believes he continues to pay for calling out banking practices he saw as unethical. 'I never did a corrupt thing, I never took a bankhander, but I saw it going on,' he said. Most of the colleagues and clients he had worked with for years didn't want to know him any more once he was unemployed. 'As soon I left the bank I didn't hear from them,' he said. 'They chew you up and spit you out. I found out who my real friends are.' Mr Boyd lived in a park when he briefly found himself homeless in 2011 after his marriage ended. Since then, he has tried without much luck to get full-time work, despite sending out his resume up to 30 times a week. 'I applied for 10,000 jobs over a 10-year period and nothing came through,' he said. 'I've only had 11 interviews out of 10,000 applications.' Mr Boyd has unsuccessfully applied for jobs from being Australia's consul-general in Frankfurt to driving buses and sweeping streets. Asked if it is Kali who keeps him going, Mr Boyd looks towards her bedroom, puts his hands to his face and weeps. 'Kids are so innocent,' he says. Kali goes to the local public school The first job he got was in business development for a car, truck and plant auction and valuation company in 2011 and that lasted two years. When the flat at Coogee sold for $610,000 in 2011 Mr Boyd reckons he was left with about $40,000 from the proceeds. Four years ago Mr Boyd gave up trying to get back into the banking industry. 'I gave it a good enough chance from 2008 to 2015,' he said. 'I think I've got a black mark against my name because I've got ethics. 'I've done nothing wrong. I'm an ethical person and I've never committed a crime in my life.' Daily Mail Australia has seen a doctor's letter stating Mr Boyd suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diverticulitis, sleep apnoea, asthma, depression, insomnia and right heart failure. Mr Boyd and his daughter live frugally. He is on Centrelink payments but has unsuccessfully applied for a disability support pension. He would rather be working but cannot find a job He is medically classified as morbidly obese, requires a laminectomy - major surgery on his spine - and needs both knees replaced. He has nonetheless been refused a disability support pension. The last time Mr Boyd was referred to a job via a Centrelink job agency it was as a storeman at Silverwater in Sydney's west. BUYING GROCERIES FOR $30 A WEEK David Boyd buys a bag of groceries from The Staples Bag, a social enterprise established by Settlement Services International. A $30 bag is meant to feed a family of three to four for a week. A sample bag contains: 2 x bread (loaf) 2 x litre of milk 1 x cereal or a dozen free range eggs 2 x snack items 2 x pantry staples (salt, sugar, flour, rice, noodles etc) 2 x condiments (Vegemite, sauces, mustard etc) 2 x meat varieties from basa fillets, beef mince, crumbed fish, crumbed chicken schnitzels, chicken burger patties, crumbed prawns, chicken tenders, chicken pieces, meat pies, beef sausages or lamb shanks 7 x fruit and vegetables 4 x fridge items 1 x drink Source: The Staples Bag Advertisement 'I can't really walk more than 100m,' he said. 'I can't stand for 20 minutes. 'I'm prepared to do anything to get a job and I don't big-note myself but if that's the best this job service provider can do than they are a joke.' Mr Boyd has a degree in commerce, graduate diploma in applied finance and investment and a graduate certificate in applied linguistics. His last paid employment was three months' work in 2016 as a casual receptionist at Breakfast Point Country Club in Sydney's inner-west. 'At that stage I'd given up on getting a job in finance,' he said. Mr Boyd, who drove an Audi A4 when he lived by the beach, has not had a car since last June when his 2000 VW Bora broke down for good. He moved into the flat at Penshurst in September paying $760 rent a fortnight and is on a NSW Housing waiting list. The unit he once owned is now rented for $920 a week. The internet, which Mr Boyd needs to apply for jobs, costs him $100 a month and he spends the same on medication which includes creams for Kali's severe eczema. His mobile costs $80 a month and he manages to spend just $30 a week on groceries. Mr Boyd doesn't drink alcohol or gamble and buys only the occasional pouch of tobacco. Daily Mail Australia has seen a doctor's letter stating Mr Boyd suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diverticulitis, sleep apnoea, asthma, depression and right heart failure. 'I'm way under water,' he said. 'I've got a really good friend who helps me out from time to time.' That friend is a postman. 'Friends of mine in the last couple of years have probably lent me $10,000.' The Salvation Army helped Mr Boyd convince Origin Energy to give him a two-month 'holiday' from paying for electricity but a bill will be coming soon. 'I'm really fearful of that,' he said. 'I bet you anything it's going to be $600 or $800 and I don't know what I'm going to do.' Ms Quilty said Mr Boyd's situation was an all-too-common story in Australia today. 'NSW is a rich state in a rich country, and there is no excuse for people here being left behind,' she said. 'She's amazing,' Mr Boyd says of Kali as she enters the lounge room of their small flat at Penshurst in Sydney's south. 'Obviously, she's everything. Without her, I wouldn't be here' 'CommBank's recent State of the States report went as far as to put NSW's economy as number one thanks to factors like our job market, retail spending and business investment. 'But these benefits and advantages are not spread evenly, and the evidence is clear in many areas. 'Homelessness has increased by 37 per cent since the 2011 census and we're seeing greater unmet need for essential supports and services such as community-based mental health services and tenancy advocacy services. 'In recent years we have also seen dramatic increases in the number of people with mental health issues presenting at emergency departments and homelessness services. 'We should all be working together across government, the community and private sectors to build great communities, and this requires financial investment by government as well as partnerships.' Mr Boyd has been volunteering as an English teacher to migrants on Fridays each week. 'If I stayed here all the time I'd go crazy,' he says. 'It's the most rewarding job I've had in my life' Mr Boyd apologised for the untidy state of his unit which is still crowded with unpacked boxes of belongings. 'I've got nowhere to put things,' he said. He has been volunteering as an English teacher to migrants on Fridays and hopes that might lead to permanent paid work. 'If I stayed here all the time I'd go crazy,' he said. 'It's the most rewarding job I've had in my life. 'Even though I don't get paid it's a much better job than banking. The big thing I've learnt out of it is money isn't everything. 'Despite all the problems that I have I'm a positive person. I'm optimistic. I believe that each day is a new opportunity.' A Christmas tree is still decorated with blinking lights in Mr Boyd's lounge room and Kali makes him smile when she enters the room. 'She's amazing,' he said. 'Obviously, she's everything. Without her, I wouldn't be here.' 'I applied for 10,000 jobs over a 10-year period and nothing came through,' Mr Boyd says of his attempts at finding paid employment. 'I've only had 11 interviews out of 10,000 applications' One of Australia's most notorious prisoners has won sympathy from a judge who believes the killer is already suffering by being inside the nation's toughest prison. Bassam Hamzy, 39, was appealing his 20-month sentence extension for bashing a Goulburn Supermax prison officer when a judge agreed the 'oppressive' conditions of the jail were punishment enough. The ISIS sympathiser grinned as Acting Judge Geoffrey Graham told the New South Wales District Court last week that he was quashing the additional sentence. Hamzy was originally jailed for the 1998 shooting murder of a teenager outside a Sydney nightclub and has been a menace since entering custody. He founded the Brothers 4 Life gang from behind bars and ran a drug ring from his jail cell. Acting Judge Graham told the court Hamzy had been wrongly punished twice for his 2017 attack on a prison officer, first by losing his jail privileges and secondly through the extension to his already lengthy sentence. Scroll down for video Australia's most notorious inmate Bassam Hamzy (pictured) has won his appeal against a 20-month sentence for bashing a prison officer inside Goulburn Supermax in August 2017 Hamzy, 39, claimed it was an 'extreme injustice' that he was sentenced by a court and also lost his prison privileges at Goulburn Supermax and on Thursday a NSW District Court judge agreed 'Restriction of prison privileges make existence and a quality of living intolerable (for prisoners),' Judge Graham said. 'It is a form of punishment and it can be real punishment.' Hamzy, who can not apply for release from prison until 2035, represented himself in the matter after studying the appropriate legislation behind bars. He argued that the 'parallel punishment' he received through his sentencing and the loss of privileges was an 'extreme injustice'. 'If an inmate is punished externally he is not to be charged internally your honour,' he told the court in November last year. 'It is not for the commissioner to create a parallel punishment system - the Behaviour Management Plan (BPM) - by simply giving it another name.' The court heard that at about 9.40am on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, Hamzy was in handcuffs being led back to his cell by two prison officers after making a phone call. Hamzy claims that as they walked, one of the guards made a threatening comment to him suggesting his safety inside the prison was at risk. Despite being restrained, Hamzy 'shaped up' to the officer and assaulted him before the two officers led the inmate back to his cell. The following day Hamzy was charged by police over the attack, which was caught on CCTV. 'If an inmate is punished externally he is not to be charged internally your honour,' Hamzy, who represented himself in the matter, told the court in November last year Hamzy (pictured) gives cameras the thumbs up as he walks out of court flanked by supporters in the late 1990s Acting Judge Graham said the way prisoners were punished within the four walls of the Goulburn Supermax (highlighted on the map), as well as in the courts 'constituted an extreme case of oppression' Hamzy's father Khaled (pictured) was in court on Thursday to see his son for just the second time in 12 years. He also had a smile on his face as Acting Judge Graham sided with his boy THE PRISON PRIVILEGES BASSAM HAMZY LOST FOR HIS ATTACK ON A GUARD: PRIVILEGE: - Telephone calls - Visits - Inmate associations - Exercise out of cell - Money transactions - Buy up food - Activities/buy ups - Recreational materials - Books/newspapers - Clothing - Employment - Educational materials - Religious materials - Other property BEFORE: Up to 2 per week Contact visit a fortnight One inmate at any time Minimum two hours $100 per week Up to $50 Approved items Cards in cell Up to 3 items at once CSNSW* issued clothing NIL NIL Approved items Maximum 20 photos NOW: Up to 1 per week Box visit a fortnight Loss of privilege Minimum one hour $100 per week Up to $40 Loss of privilege Loss of privilege Up to 1 item at once CSNSW issued clothing NIL NIL Approved items Maximum 5 photos *CSNSW - Corrective Services New South Wales Advertisement But less than 48 hours later he also had his prison privileges reduced to the lowest level under the prison's Behaviour Management Plan (BMP) for high-risk inmates. This meant he lost access to a toasted sandwich maker, kettle and playing cards in his cell, was only allowed one hour in fresh air each day and was kept separate to all other inmates. He was however allowed to maintain his access to a prayer mat and religious material. Acting Judge Graham agreed with the inmate in overturning the NSW Local Court's sentence on Thursday. He said the way Goulburn Supermax punished prisoners within their own four walls, as well as through the court system, 'constituted an extreme case of oppression'. 'The appellant (Hamzy) has been subjected to what he describes as a "compounding injustice" after the decision to regress him on the Behaviour Management Plan,' he said. Hamzy was sentenced to 21 years jail for shooting dead an 18-year-old boy outside a Sydney nightclub in 1998. In 2007 he received an extra 15 years for his involvement as the leader of criminal gang Brothers 4 Life, which he ran from inside jail. Goulburn Supermax is pictured Inside one of the austere cells at the High Risk Management Correctional Centre at Goulburn, which is 197km south-west of Sydney. All inmates in 'Supermax' sleep just one to a cell 'It's a breach of the statutory regime set up to govern the way correctional facilities operate.' Acting Judge Graham granted Hamzy a stay in proceedings and set aside the added jail time he received from the local court in 2018. Judge Graham also praised the way the infamous inmate had represented himself in court, comments which drew a smile from Hamzy. In court to support his son - who was appearing via audio visual link - was his father Khaled, who told Daily Mail Australia outside court the decision was a 'great result'. However the victory may be short-lived for Hamzy, with a similar argument currently being heard in the Supreme Court in relation to another matter of his. 'The Supreme Court may find I'm wrong on matters of fact or law... we'll see what happens,' Acting Judge Graham warned. Advertisement Carpets in a Wetherspoon pub can cost up to 40,000 and are made bespoke for each venue - and in appreciation of their design someone has started giving each one a rating out of ten. You wouldn't normally think twice about spilling a little of your drink on the floor during a night out, but Charlie Morel, 22, from Exeter, has taken taken it upon itself to critique the often over-looked floor coverings. And there's good reason to, with many produced by Devon-based Axminster Carpets, a luxury carpet manufacturer, and costing between 30,000 and 40,000 for each unique design. JD Wetherspoon is well-known for restoring interesting old buildings, but its the carpets that are drawing the attention of Mr Morel - in his weekly review on the Twitter account Wetherspoons Carpet of the Week. The Square Sail in Lincoln (left) is given a measly 2.4/10 when faced with its review. As the reviewer writes: 'Hard to tell what's really going on here, it's like a baroque version of pop punk.' While The Crosse Keys in London (right) is given a phenomenal 8.1/10 in its review, with comments including: 'A smart, classy entry with a wonderful pattern and tasteful colour scheme.' The Humphrey Bean in Tonbridge (left) is handed a fairly decent 7/10 in its review, where it said to feature 'a simplistic, but silky, colour scheme.' While The New Cross Turnpike in Welling (right) is given a 6.7/10 and praised for its Halloween colours, as the reviewer writes: 'The mosaic style pattern adds a lovely quirky touch.' The Bear's Head in Penarth (left) is handed a 5.8/10 for its review, again focusing on the Halloween theme. With the reviewer writing: 'The dark broody background. The gaunt grey of mystery. And of course, bold brilliant orange.' The Crowborough Cross in Crowborough (right) fares slightly better, receiving a 7.5/10. The reviewer writes: The exquisite pattern fixes you in its grasp and never lets you go with its mesmerising hypnotic design.' The Moon and Bell in Loughborough (left) is dubbed a 'very, very, nice entry' in its review and receives an 8/10. Whereas The Imperial in Exeter (right) attracts just 7.5/10 for its review. The author writes: 'This carpet uses the colours of its namesake perfectly, being wonderfully complimented by the background colours.' The Three Fishes in Worthing (left) is slated for not having any fishes in the carpet design, with the reviewer writing: 'Where are the fish? Not one, two or three present? Why does it lie?'. And so it only receives a 5.5/10. The William Stead in Darlington (right) on the other hand gets an even lower 4/10, with the reviewer writing: 'I'm getting The Shining vibes from over abundance of words everywhere.' He posts a weekly review of carpets at Wetherspoon pubs, giving it a thorough critique and review out of ten. The former University of Exeter student told MailOnline: 'I decided to set the page up after hearing from a friend that every Wetherspoons in the country had a different carpet. Charlie Morel, 22, from Exeter, has taken taken it upon itself to critique the often over-looked floor coverings at Wetherspoon pubs 'At first I didnt believe them but it wasnt until I got home from university and went to those chains nearby that I noticed he had been telling the truth. 'I did a quick search online and saw that while some social media accounts had been created for different Wetherspoons carpets, none had decided to review or rate them, and thats where I thought I could create something funny, as I just wanted it to be a silly hobby that makes people laugh in the first place. 'I originally started posting through my own personal Twitter, but after a while created a dedicated Instagram and Twitter page to the feature. The Instagram page has got even more people involved, and is where I get most of my submissions.' Mr Morel is certainly not the first to have attempted high-brow carpet criticism - with several other Twitter accounts offering similar experiences - and even a book dedicated to the intriguing designs. But his latest account has certainly got people talking, with its two line analysis of the wide variety of carpets on offer at Wetherspoon pubs across the country. He says of The Walnut Tree in Leytonstone: 'This is nice. Love the various tones of purple, indigo and violet all melding together, with a dashing floral pattern in the foreground. A charming carpet.' And finishes off his review with a rating of 8/10. While The Beehive in Guady fares slightly worse in the battle of the carpets, receiving a rating of just 7/10. With the review stating: 'This is a bold, full frontal, vibrant carpet. Sublimely regal and effortlessly lush, it screams decadence right in your face. Would let you know what car it drives constantly. Rich in looks, but in character? Not as much.' The King of Wessex in Bath (left) get a decent 7.7/10 for its review, and is praised for its 'geometric hexagonal pattern' and 'crisp orange-gold-blue colour scheme.' The Society Rooms in Maidstone (right) on the other hand attracts a solid 6/10 for its review, and is dubbed 'a good, clean carpet with a nice pattern.' The Masque Haunt on Old Street (left) is dubbed 'a jovial entry' in its review, and gets a 7.8/10 rating. While the Sir John Oldcastle in Farringdon (right) gets a 7.3/10 and is described as 'regal' The Montagu Pyke in the West End (left) gets a 6.4/10 in its review, with the author writing: 'It's great to see a rarer carpet colour like pink make an appearance, and when combined with this charcoal and cream mixture is stands out wonderfully.' The Beehive in Brixton (right) gets an even better score, raking in 7/10. It is described as 'sublimely regal and effortlessly lush.' The Willow Tree in Stowmarket is slammed in its review, and described as 'dreadful' before being handed a 3/10 score. The reviewer writes: 'Coming across as a terrible school art project, it's like when your teacher tells you to paint music.' The Walnut Tree in Leytonstone on the other hand gets a stellar 8/10 review, with the author writing: 'Love the various tones of purple, indigo and violet all melding together' The Three Fishes in Worthing only receives a meagre 5.5/10 when thrust into the spotlight on Wetherspoons Carpet of the Week. Mr Morel writes: 'Flamboyant entry this week which is always fun to see, with the leaf pattern and bold colour scheme drawing the eye. 'However. Where are the fish?! Not one, two or three present?! Why does it lie?' Kit Caless (pictured), from east London, started a blog in 2015 showing pictures of the much-loved pub chains carpets - which customers from across the country send in The art of Wetherspoons carpet criticism has a long and varied history, with one man even going so far as to produce a book on the topic. Kit Caless, from east London, started a blog in 2015 showing pictures of the much-loved pub chains carpets - which customers from across the country sent in. He writes in the foreword to Spoon's Carpets: An Appreciation, while recalling the moment he first noticed the carpets: 'I had never noticed Spoon's carpets before, other than that they were occasionally sticky. 'I had never considered that the pub chain might have paid attention to its flooring. The carpet seemed fairly standard but I wondered, does every Spoon's carpet come together to make a giant tapestry? 'Back in London I visited my local, Baxter's Court in Hackney. The carpet was, of course, completely different. 'And so the theory was turned on its head: Are all Spoon's Carpet's different? Are they all unique?' And so Mr Catless discovered that all carpets at Wetherspoon pubs across the country are indeed different. He made it his goal to catalogue the remarkable designs across the United Kingdom, reviewing premises including The Ivor Davies in Cardiff and The Raven in Liverpool. Kit Caless relates The Ivor Davies carpet in Cardiff (pictured) to Ivor Novello himself, the composer the pub is inspired by. Mr Caless writes: 'The red squares of revolution pepper his dreams. The green, green grass of home lies just out of reach. Novello would certainly have approved.' This carpet at The Raven in Liverpool is described as 'never boring' by Mr Caless who writes a poem in his book with inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven Another of the carpet's to feature in Mr Caless' book is one at The Bishop's Mill in Durham. As he writes: 'Just look at this carpet. Stare at it like you would your Magic Eye posters. Lose focus.' The Denmead Queen in Waterlooville also features in the book, with the pub named after 'a locally made model of a single-decker bus.' Mr Caless continues: 'If you spend long enough staring into the design, you may end up finding the meaning to your life.' Addressing the recent Twitter accounts which provide their own critique on Wetherspoon carpets, Mr Catless told MailOnline: 'It's funny that people want to do their own version, and in fact I encourage it. 'My book is a humour book and is very well known. I still meet people these days who say, "oh you're the carpet guy! I love that book."' JD Wetherspoon itself was happy to see people appreciating the carpets online, telling MailOnline: 'If someone wants to go to the trouble of having a twitter account, then that is great. 'The Wetherspoon carpet angle is quirky and people like that. They also like the fact that Wetherspoon pubs are all different in design even down to the carpets.' A Brexit delay is now 'unavoidable' even if MPs back a deal next week, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned. Barnier backed up the private positions of many of the Remainers in Theresa May's Cabinet by saying she does not have time to make a deal. Theresa May has threatened MPs in recent weeks to back her 'meaningful vote' on March 12 or risk further delaying Brexit or a no-deal scenario. Barnier told Spain's El Mundo that Brussels would not green light a Brexit deal on March 29 even if Parliament reached an agreement. The EU's chief negotiator has slapped down Mrs May's notion of securing a withdrawal by March 29, suggesting she take a two month extension The Prime Minister warned MPs that they would need to back her deal if they wanted to avoid a delay to Article 50 or to avoid a no-deal situation Mr Barnier suggested a 'technical extension' of up to two months would be needed. Referencing a technical extension, Mr Barnier added: 'But you'll have to ask the United Kingdom. If there is a vote on the 12th and it takes two months to carry out the procedure, it would be justified.' Mrs May has said that if her deal is rejected by Parliament, MPs will be able to vote on whether the UK can leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, and if that is rejected, the Commons can decide on whether to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit for a limited period. Today the leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a joint warning to the Prime Minister over colleagues they believe are poised to delay or block Article 50 altogether. The pair write in the Sunday Telegraph: 'The active pursuit of a delay to Brexit - with no purpose beyond frustration - is a betrayal of the referendum result.' They say this would be an 'irretrievable breach of trust' to those who voted Brexit but also warned against the ruptures that would be caused by a no-deal. The news comes as Mr Barnier said Brussels was ready to give further 'guarantees, assurances and clarifications' that the Irish backstop should only be temporary. The backstop has been a sticking point for Brexiteers who see it as undermining the very sovereignty the UK stands to gain through leaving the EU. Mr Barnier insisted that the controversial measure, intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, will not be removed from the Withdrawal Agreement. While acknowledging Brexiteer concerns that the backstop is a trap that would keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely, Mr Barnier insisted it is only 'insurance' intended for the 'worst-case scenario'. Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, Mr Barnier said: 'We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU. 'This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary.' The guarantees in question could come as an adjunct to the Withdrawal Agreement in the form of an 'interpretive document', he said. EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier attends a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Austria last week Mrs May is facing divisions across the House and in her own Cabinet as she struggles to get her deal over the line However the EU will not allow for a time limit to be placed on the backstop or give Britain the right to unilaterally pull out of it, Mr Barnier added. The development came as the president of Slovenia suggested the country and many other EU states would be willing to accept a short delay to Brexit. Borut Pahor, who sat on the European Council of leaders when he was prime minister, told Sky News: 'I think Slovenia and a lot of other countries would say yes. 'I think that nobody wants to see a hard Brexit in a chaotic way, which would damage London and Brussels and Ljubljana and every country.' However Mr Pahor said the extension should not be used simply to postpone the making of a compromise decision. Mrs May has insisted she does not want a delay Brexit and believes the UK can leave the EU as scheduled on March 29. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn confirmed Labour would now back a referendum if faced with a 'damaging Tory Brexit' or a no-deal departure from the European Union after Labour's vision was rejected in the Commons. This graphic shows the possible avenues Mrs May faces ahead of her 'meaningful vote' as the March 29 deadline looms large on the horizon Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss warned on Friday that a new Brexit referendum would provoke a 'massive crisis'. She also indicated that a no-deal exit could be better than a delay. Ms Truss told the BBC: 'I think it would be an absolute disaster if we had a second referendum after people voted so clearly to leave the European Union. 'There will be a massive crisis in this nation. And it would be terrible for business. It would leave us continuing in this limbo period.' A mother and her 22-year-old son have been charged after she allegedly allowed him to taser his seven-year-old sister for misbehaving. The pair, from Busby in Sydney's south-west, were reported to police after the Year 3 girl told a school counsellor about multiple incidents of alleged abuse dating back to Christmas time. The young girl first came forward on February 26 and told the school she was tasered by her brother because she had been 'sooking' during a trip to the supermarket with her mother, 45, in December, The Daily Telegraph reported. During that incident, the girl said she was behaving badly and had been asking her mother to buy her things. The mother then called her son to complain about her daughter's misconduct. A mother and her 22-year-old son, from Busby in Sydney's southwest, have been charged after she allegedly allowed him to taser his seven-year-old sister after she misbehaved The Year 3 student told school counsellors her brother had tasered her leg until she cried because she misbehaved at the supermarket (stock photo) When the two arrived home, the man allegedly tasered his sister's leg until she cried. The mother then advised her son to throw out or sell the weapon, according to a police statement of facts tendered in court. After the girl reported what happened to a counsellor at school, she told her mum and begged her not to tell anyone. The mother then allegedly told her son, who in turn, tasered his sister again for 'snitching,' the publication reported. The young girl went back to her school counsellor and said she was scared of her mum, at which point police were called and intervened. When police arrived at the home later that day, the girl's older brother, a cabinet maker, fled the property but was captured at a nearby park. Authorities found a taser that looked like an iPhone and a cap gun in his bedroom drawer. A Liverpool Court magistrate denied the man bail on Thursday saying he was at risk of interfering with his sister and his mother. When interviewed by police, the mum denied knowing about the taser and having talking to her daughter about it. She was charged with using an offensive weapon to commit a serious indictable offence but was later granted police bail. The case was adjourned to March 12. A Ford Mustang driver has been slammed by police after being clocked speeding at 190km/h on a road notorious for fatal and serious crashes. The driver of the American muscle car was spotted on Indian Ocean Drive, near Nilgen, Western Australia, and then pulled over by police. Police expressed dismay at the driver's actions in light of the recent publicity around crashes on the dangerous stretch of road, and its work on roads safety. 'It is hard to believethat people are still willing to put themselves and others at risk by making dangerous and stupid decisions to speed' said Western Australian Police Force on its Facebook page. A Ford Mustang driver (pictured) was clocked speeding at 190km/h on a dangerous stretch of road in Western Australia The stretch of road has seen a number of crashes in recent years. In late 2018 a car crashed head-on with a tour bus after it attempted to overtake a camper van. 'It is remarkable the driver and two passengers survived that crash and again it is subject to an investigation.' Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told Perth Now at the time. In another incident in December 2018, two men were killed and another eight people were injured after the driver of a ute went into cardiac arrest before slamming head-on into a minibus. The driver will face court for their 'reckless driving' and their Mustang has been impounded for 28 days. Bill Shorten has hit back at Julie Bishop's claims she would have defeated him in the next election if she had been made Liberal leader. The former foreign affairs minister, who decided to run for prime minister during the infamous leadership spill in August of 2018, said she would have beaten Mr Shorten at the next election if her party had voted for her instead of infighting. But Bill Shorten was quick to flatten her claims in an interview with Weekend Today, saying it was something 'we'll never know' while slamming the Liberal Party's treatment of women. Scroll down for video Bill Shorten (pictured) has hit back at Julie Bishop's explosive claims that she would have defeated him in the next election i Julie Bishop is adamant she would have beaten Labor leader Bill Shorten in the next election had she been made Liberal leader during the recent leadership spill 'We'll never know because the problem is even though she was the loyal deputy to four liberal leaders, it says a lot for the way the Liberal Party treat its women MPs, that she never got the chance to be a leader,' Mr Shorten said on Sunday. Ms Bishop's comments come shortly after she sensationally announced her retirement from politics last week, only months after losing out to Scott Morrison for the top job following the party's leadership spill. While she had secured about 28 votes heading into the spill, only 11 voted for her on the day, eliminating her from the first round and paving the way for Morrison to beat out Peter Dutton. But Ms Bishop believes her colleagues were so concerned with the turmoil within the inner circle that nobody considered the most important factor - deciding who would be best to beat Labor leader Bill Shorten at the 2019 federal election. Ms Bishop (pictured) decided to run for prime minister during the infamous leadership spill in August of 2018 that saw Malcolm Turnbull ousted from his role as Australia's leader She said retiring cabinet minister Christopher Pyne was a key driver of a push to stop the party room from voting for her. 'If I had known that was what their thinking was, I could have dissuaded them of it but also I would have pointed out that the question was: Who could beat Bill Shorten? 'And I was confident that I could beat Shorten,' Ms Bishop told The Sunday Times. She was also certain the Labor party knew it too. But Ms Bishop believes her colleagues were so concerned with the turmoil within the inner circle that nobody considered the most important factor - deciding who would be best to beat Labor leader Bill Shorten (pictured) at the 2019 federal election Ms Bishop said she was quietly confident ahead of the leadership spill, having spoken with a number of MP's over the phone who guaranteed her their vote. She said after 11 years of standing beside the multiple prime minister's as deputy leader, she felt she owed it to Australia to put her hand up when the job became available. 'And I also felt for all the women in Australia who had seen me as deputy for so long. I thought I'd be letting them down if I didn't put my hand up,' she said. Only 11 ministers voted for Ms Bishop on the day, eliminating her from the first round and paving the way for Morrison (left) to beat out Peter Dutton (right) The Morrison government have lost a handful of ministers heading into the federal election. Ms Bishop has formally announced she will not contest her long held seat of Curtain in West Australia, and she also stepped down as foreign minister earlier in the year. Christopher Pyne, Steve Ciobo, Kelly O'Dwyer, Michael Keenan and Nigel Scullion have all chosen to resign or step away from their prominent positions within the cabinet, as well. Polls are predicting the Labor party will win the federal election, despite Bill Shorten's lack of popularity. At least five homes have been razed to the ground by bushfires in regional Victoria, with firefighters warning residents the worst is yet to come. Lightning sparked the fires in Bunyip State Park, about 65km east of Melbourne, on Friday night. Authorities initially thought the fires could be maintained, but then four separate blazes merged into one, burning out of control and resulting in evacuation orders for more than 20 suburbs. The impending threat of higher temperatures and the hottest start to autumn in three decades could undo the work of more than 400 firefighters who continue to battle 25 fires across the state. But the heat could be the least of concerns, with the fire burning close to high voltage power lines. Scroll down for video A house exploding in a massive ball of fire in the Bunyip State Forest during raging bushfires About 25 fires continue to burn as of Sunday morning, with 400 firefighters battling the blazes At least five homes have been destroyed by out-of-control bushfires in regional Victoria. More than 4000 hectares have been destroyed A helicopter flew over the Bunyip State Park on Sunday to assess exactly which properties have been destroyed. About 4663 hectares of bushland has been burnt and the fire continues to spread eastwards. There is no respite in sight, with temperatures in the state's east expected to soar on Sunday afternoon. The heat has resulted in a severe fire danger rating for the state's central district and a 'very high' rating for the rest of the Victoria. Though the fire is burning close to power lines, Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp doesn't believe it poses a serious threat to Melbourne's power supply. 'We have been very conscious of the transmissions lines to the south and also to the north easy of the Bunyip fire,' he told The Age. 'We have got people from Energy actually in the state control centre with us. There is well and truly sufficient supply and there's plans in place in terms of how we continue supply into Melbourne itself even if those transmission lines are impacted.' At least five homes have been destroyed (pictured) as a result of the fires this weekend Overnight water bombing efforts were undone by soaring temperatures and high winds Residents in parts of Victoria have been urged to evacuate their homes as four out-of-control bushfires merged into one Four fires have merged at Bunyip State Park near Tonimbik about 65km east of Melbourne The Bureau of Meteorology's senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said the conditions could get the best of those fighting the fires. 'This means that if we have fires in the landscape, they could challenge firefighters,' he said. 'This is the hottest start to autumn in 30 years, following the hottest summer on record.' Overnight water bombing did little to quell the blazes, with about 25 continuing to burn Sunday morning. Earlier, locals were told to seek shelter indoors because it was 'too late to leave' in some regions, including Gembrook and Bunyip, as a fast moving fire approached the Princes Highway. Residents in Boolarra, Budgeree, Churchill, Grand Ridge, Hazelwood, Jeeralang, Jumbuk and Yinnar were told their communities could be hit by the fires at any point. Many sought shelter in relief centres located around the state in Morwell and Pakenham, arriving with no more than the clothes on their backs. Other locals were told to seek shelter indoors because it was 'too late to leave' some regions, including Gembrook and Bunyip as a fast moving fire approached the Princes Highway Early morning winds on Sunday were expected to work against firefighters Early morning winds on Sunday were expected to work against firefighters, making the fire erratic as it burns further east. 'Winds may strengthen early in the morning from the north west which will affect the movement of the fire,' a statement from VicEmergency read. 'Crews are focused on asset protection and will be on the fireline all night to support local communities.' Residents were reminded that 'leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.' 'Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.' For people who are already caught in the blaze, or choosing to remain at home, the emergency health service said they should take shelter before the fire actually arrives. Residents were reminded that 'leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous' A total fire ban has been put in place for Victoria as the temperatures begin to soar again They warned the extreme heat is likely to be deadly, and could kill somebody well before the flames even reach. 'Shelter in a room that has two exits including one directly to the outside. It is important to be able to see outside so you know what is happening with the fire,' they said. 'If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.' A total fire ban is in place. A Colorado wrestler forfeited two state tournament matches against girls due to his religious beliefs, ending his high school career in the sport. Brendan Johnston, 18, pulled out of his match against Skyview High senior Jaslynn Gallegos in the first round of the tournament last month. The senior at the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs then decided against fighting junior at Valley High Angel Rios in his third-round consolation match. He said the move - which ended his high school wrestling career - was down to his religious and personal beliefs. Brendan, who is Christian, told KDVR: 'It's so physical, physically close. I don't think that's really appropriate with a young lady. It's also very aggressive and I'm not really, I guess, comfortable with that.' Brendan Johnston, left, pulled out of his match against against Skyview High senior Jaslynn Gallegos and then decided against fighting junior at Valley High Angel Rios, right. Brendan Johnston, left, shakes hands with Angel Rios after he forfeited the third-round consolation match in the Colorado state wrestling meet Saturday in Denver He added: 'There is something that I really do find problematic about the idea of wrestling with a girl, and a part of that does come from my faith and my belief. 'And a part of that does come from how I was raised to treat women as well as maybe from different experiences and things. 'I dont think that I am looking at them as not equal. I am saying that they are women and that is different than being men, because I do believe that men and women are different and we are made differently. 'But I still believe that women are of equal value to men. I dont think that seeing men and women as different [opposes] the idea of equality.' Johnson has not wrestled a female since starting the sport in seventh grade despite wrestling not being a sanctioned sport in the state. He told The Denver Post: 'And I guess the physical aggression, too. I don't want to treat a young lady like that on the mat. Or off the mat. And not to disrespect the heart or the effort that she's put in. That's not what I want to do, either. 'Wrestling is something we do, it's not who we are. And there are more important things to me than my wrestling. And I'm willing to have those priorities.' Angel Rios of Valley High School, left, competing against James Cordova of Sheridan High School during the state wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center Rios, who placed fourth, started wrestling when she was five. Brendan decided against wrestling the junior at Valley High Angel in his third-round consolation match Rios, who came fourth, and Gallegos, who came fifth, became the first females to place at the tournament Rios, who came fourth, and Gallegos, who came fifth, became the first females to place at the tournament. Of Johnson's decision, Gallegos, who started wrestling when she was five, told The Washington Post: 'This whole time that I've wrestled, it's just me trying to prove a point that I am just a wrestler. 'And so the fact that my gender is something that kind of holds me back still is just a little nerve-racking, but I respect his decision. It's fine. 'My whole thing is that Im not a girl wrestler; Im just a wrestler. So it kind of doesnt hurt my feelings, but I do kind of take it to heart.' President Donald Trump announced Saturday he would soon sign an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal resources. Trump is highlighting concerns from some conservatives that their voices were being censored, whether on social media or at the nation's universities. 'If they want our dollars, and we give it to them by the billions, they have to allow... all people to speak. And if they don't, it will be very costly,' he said. The president spoke to the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday for more than two hours, the single longest political address of his career. President Donald Trump invites Hayden Williams to the stage, a field representative of the Leadership Institute, who was assaulted at Berkeley campus Trump offered no details about what the executive order might say about what has become a thorny issue on college campuses. But his comments immediately drew scrutiny from those who noted that public research universities already have a constitutional obligation to protect free speech. 'An executive order is unnecessary as public research universities are already bound by the First Amendment, which they deeply respect and honor,' said Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. 'It is core to their academic mission.' Trump invited Hayden Williams to join him Saturday while he addressed activists attending the Conservative Political Action Conference. Williams was punched February 19 while on the campus of University of California, Berkeley. He was recruiting for the conservative group Talking Points USA. Two men approached and one punched him during a confrontation captured on student cellphones. University of California, Berkeley police arrested a suspect, Zachary Greenberg, on Friday. Williams, who had a black eye, told Fox News that the men objected to a sign that said 'Hate Crime Hoaxes Hurt Real Victims.' Trump said Saturday that conservatives 'reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness, and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas'. He also used the stage to say that Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team are targeting him with 'bulls**t' before mocking the Green New Deal promoted by socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a coterie of the most liberal members of Congress. The president also vented at the media for taking him seriously in 2016 when he joked that he wanted Russians to release Hillary Clinton's tens of thousands of deleted emails to the public. Video from the incident shows Williams being confronted by a violent attacker who punched him in the face as he was recruiting for a conservative student group Trump hugs Hayden Williams after welcoming him on stage as a surprise guest Trump told the audience Saturday that Williams 'took a hard punch in the face for all of us.' Meanwhile, Williams said many conservative students face 'discrimination, harassment or worse if they dare speak up on campus.' 'That was a hell of a hard punch,' Trump said of video footage that rocketed around the world, and rejoiced that the young man 'got yourself a great lawyer.' 'Sue the college, the university, and maybe sue the state,' he urged. 'He took a hard punch in the face for all of us,' Trump said, predicting that Williams is 'going to be a very wealthy young man.' University police arrested 28-year-old Zachary Greenberg on Friday. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and attempting to cause great bodily injury. Neither Williams nor Greenberg are affiliated with UC Berkeley. The mother of a bullied 10-year-girl who was allegedly hung from a tree by a skipping rope fashioned as a makeshift noose has had a request for a restraining order against her dropped. Perth woman Belinda Yoon was facing a potential restraining order taken out by the parents of the girl accused of bullying her daughter, Amber Yoon. The bully's parents filed the order against Mrs Yoon after they claimed she was driving past their home in an agitated state. They also said their daughter had been the victim of trolling and online abuse. Belinda Yoon (pictured left) had an application for a restraining order against her dropped. Mrs Yoon's daugher, Amber, was left with injuries (pictured right) after an alleged bullying incident Amber Yoon (pictured), who was found hanging from a tree by a skipping rope around her neck,also suffers from a number of illnesses The case was set to go to court late last week but the application was dropped - much to Mrs Yoon's relief. She says the whole situation should never have escalated like this and she's now working on implementing comprehensive anti-bullying campaign into schools across Western Australia. 'It's shown me where there is a major flaw in our legal system, in our school system and that's where I'm going to focus on changing that because we need to protect our children, we're adults and if we're not going to do it then who is?' Mrs Yoon told 7 News Perth. Mrs Yoon denied the harassment allegations at the time, saying she had 'no idea' who the parents of the accused bully were or where they even lived. Mrs Yoon's daughter, 10-year-old Amber Yoon, was the victim of an alleged attack in which a classmate of hers made a noose from a skipping rope, placed it around her neck and hung her from a tree. The bullying incident last year left Amber (pictured with her mother, Belinda Yoon) with a damaged oesophagus Amber Yoon suffers from a number of illnesses, and had allegedly been the victim of incessant bullying from the girl accused of the rope attack. At the time police looked in to the incident but were unable to determine beyond doubt whether the alleged perpetrator knew the consequences of their actions or acted with malicious intent. Mrs Yoon said the incident had impacted her daughter's health. 'It looks like it has damaged her oesophagus and [with] the surgery she had done last year, she has started vomiting blood again,' she said. Amber has now moved schools and Mrs Yoon says she is settling in well. Sydney's top Catholic urged parishioners to be patient as Cardinal George Pell's case heads for an appeal, at the first mass since the conviction became public. Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said the process was in God's hands and people should not be 'too quick to judge' either way. 'If we are too quick to judge we can end up joining the demonisers or the apologists, those baying for blood or those in denial,' he said on Sunday morning. Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher (right) urged parishioners to be patient as Cardinal George Pell's case heads for an appeal, at the first mass since the conviction became public 'Our readings remind us that things are not always what they seem, that we must look beneath the surface and allow truth and justice to unfold in God's good time.' Pell was on Wednesday remanded in custody two months after he was found guilty of raping a choirboy and molesting another in Melbourne in 1996. Archbishop Fisher told worshipers at St Mary's Cathedral that unlike others he would not comment on the substance of the case, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. He said final conclusions shouldn't be drawn until the Court of Appeals judges reviewed the case and decided whether to quash his conviction. 'Amidst the heated emotions of the present I also pray for public calm and civility,' he said. Archbishop Fisher, who replaced Pell in his role when the 77-year-old was promoted to cardinal, admitted the case would shake the faith of many Catholics. Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher (left) and priests across New South Wales have prepared homilies for Sunday Mass that will address George Pell's (right) child sex abuse convictions '[Many are feeling] disheartened and are uncertain how to go on believing, worshipping, living the Christian Gospel. Indeed, some are not even sure they want to,' he said. 'We should not be afraid to place our bewilderment, anger or demoralisation before God. 'As he awaits the conclusion of his legal process, the Cardinal is offering this time for all innocents who suffer. We faithful can do likewise with the shame and sorrow we are feeling.' Father Smith, from St Columba & the Holy Souls Catholic Church said the scandal has threatened priests' relationship with their people Archbishop Fisher hoped the church could emerge from the case 'purified, humbled, more compassionate'. He also told victims of abuse within the church that he felt their shock and pain and the entire Catholic community was shaken by reports of 'shameful actions or inactions' towards child sex abuse by clergy. St Mary's Cathedral worshipers were some of thousands of Catholics who heard their priests address Pell's case during Sunday mass. The clergymen hoped the conversation would help assuage concerned churchgoers and enforce the relationship between Catholics and their priests. Father Smith, from St Columba & the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Sydney's Leichhardt neighborhood, told the Daily Telegraph he hopes priests will actually try to get through to their parishioners instead of 'just reading a whole lot of prepared statements that have come from the church.' He said the scandal has 'threatened' the relationship between priests and their people because its led the public to question how they deal with any of their parishioners. 'Many of us feel deep shame and hurt,' he said. Archbishop Fisher told worshipers at St Mary's Cathedral that unlike others he would not comment on the substance of the case 'Many are responding with anger and a frustration at the slow pace of change in the Church in the face of the evidence before us.' The priest said he plans to talk about the importance of caring for Pell's victims. Pell has vehemently denied the allegations and has since filed to appeal the decision. Newtown priest Father Richard Waddell told the Telegraph that the church still faces 'massive challenges' regardless of the outcome. Pell will be sentenced on March 13. A devastated couple have had their wedding day completely derailed by shambolic planners who failed to provide any of the services they promised to arrange for the big day. Tegan lakimo, 36, and Jerome lakimo, 32, from Mackay in Queensland, paid Paradise Wedding Desires, a business run by Charls Ingaua and Remi Wearing from Auckland, in New Zealand, a hefty fee of $9,900 to organise the essentials for their wedding day in September last year. But the now-married couple were left shattered when their wedding on Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, turned into a catastrophic nightmare from start to finish. Tegan lakimo, 36, and Jerome lakimo, 32, (both pictured) had paid Paradise Wedding Desires a hefty fee of $9900 Despite stumping up the full fee three months before the big day, the wedding planners failed in every aspect they had promised. The make-up artist, hairdresser and photographer, who had apparently been pre-booked, all failed to turn up on the day, leaving the couple scrambling for back-up options. The wedding reception venue was switched at the last minute, and the bride was forced to arrive in a mini-van despite requesting a traditional island method of transport in the form of a Tuk Tuk. Bizarrely, the cake maker had supposedly gone into labour, and instead of a dining on a traditional wedding breakfast, the bridal party had to make-do with a quick fix of burgers and chips from the local takeaway. 'I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying. It got to the point where I was hysterical. Everything was so bad it was funny,' Mrs lakimo told Daily Mail Australia. 'Everything went wrong, one thing after another. We were meant to have a beach front wedding on a private property with a marquee and a band, but it didn't happen. Ms lakimo, who had booked Paradise Wedding Desires based on the recommendation from a friend, said Mr Ingaua and Mr Wearing, who both also worked as flight attendants for Qantas, seemed 'relatively professional' at the start. However, Ms lakimo's opinion of the two men she'd entrusted to plan her wedding day swiftly changed when her wedding day turned into a disaster. The make-up artist and hairdresser who were supposed to arrive first thing in the morning failed to show up, so the bridal party was forced to fix their own make-up and hair (pictured) 'On the morning of the wedding it was very very windy and so the planners decided to just do the ceremony on the beach and move the reception to another location. 'The reception ended up being at a little cafe in town. From what I gather one of the wedding planners had ridden around the town trying to find anywhere that would host our reception last minute,' she said. To make matters worse, the make-up artist and hairdresser, who were supposed to arrive first thing in the morning, failed to show up. 'The make-up artist and hairdresser didn't show up. Apparently the make-up artist had a family emergency,' Mrs lakimo said. The bride-to-be and the bridesmaids were then forced to empty out their own make-up bags and make do with what they had. Mrs lakimo and one of her bridesmaids also made a quick dash to a local store to pick up some false eyelashes. 'I was very stressed, it's not what you want to be doing on the morning of your wedding day,' she said. The wedding breakfast was another fail and a replacement spread had to be sourced at the last minute (pictured, bridesmaid eating a takeaway burger) The situation continued to spiral when it became clear the photographer was also a no-show. When the bride-to-be confronted the planners about the photographer's whereabouts, they claimed she was involved with the same issue at the make-up artist. One of Mrs lakimo's bridesmaids, Jodie Kelly, enlisted the help of her husband Nic, who had brought his own camera on the day, to step in as the wedding photographer. The wedding breakfast was another fail and a replacement spread had to be sourced at the last minute. The bridal party opted for a quick and easy takeaway. 'We ordered burgers and chips from a place called Palace Takeaway. It did lovely, greasy burgers and chips. 'It's not what you want to eat in your wedding gown but it was really appreciated at the last minute,' Mrs lakimo's said. (Pictured left) The cake the lakimo's had ordered for their wedding day. (Pictured right) The cake the lakimo's were given for their wedding day Bizarrely, the wedding planners also tried to say the cake maker had suddenly gone into labour, forcing the couple to get a cake from a local bakery instead. When a mini-van showed up instead of what was supposed to be traditional Tuk Tuks, Mrs lakimo said she was hysterical. 'I managed to compose myself with about half an hour before the ceremony. 'I would never have cancelled the wedding but I was pretty devastated. 'The main thing was I was marrying Jerome, and we're both people that look on the bright side,' she added. Ms lakimo's father praised her on how she powered through the day, despite the endless disappointments. The couple were also forced to skip the speeches at the reception because of all the delays. They also missed out on a proper first dance because the replacement reception venue didn't have 'ample space'. On the couple's (both pictured) big day the make-up artist and wedding photographer simply didn't turn up, and the alcohol the planner had supposedly agreed to arrange never arrived Mrs lakimo said the day had been stressful for everyone involved, and instead of partying into the night, guests started filtering out around 9.30pm. Bridesmaid Jodie Kelly said she was heartbroken to see how the wedding planners had destroyed Mrs lakimo's day. 'It broke my heart to see my gorgeous friend crying only minutes before the ceremony, she had planned and paid for her dream wedding and one by one it looked like it was falling apart. 'Tegan and Jerome are glass half full kind of people and not at all demanding. Thanks to the wonderful attitude of the couple and beautiful guests the wedding ceremony and party was full of love. 'But the wedding planner seriously dropped the ball,' she added. The very next day, Mr lakimo met with Mr Ingaua, who admitted the whole day had been a failure and promise to provide the couple with a 90 per cent refund. However, the gesture appeared fruitless, as the lakimo's still haven't received the $8,910 refund six months later. 'We've not yet received a refund, but they keep making excuses. First they claimed they were trying to get the money back from vendors, and then they sent me a screenshot of a bank transfer stating they had transferred the money. But both times it failed,' she said. Mrs lakimo confirmed she had been in touch with Cook Island police, but said because the money they initially paid for the planners with had been transferred via a New Zealand bank account, New Zealand officials had to investigate. Messages sent by Mr Ingaua (pictured) confirm the couple have been waiting over three months to receive their refund Despite the awful experience, Mrs lakimo noted she and her husband were lucky to be surrounded by loved ones. 'We are so lucky our family and friends stepped up,' she added. It's reported that there are at least four other similar incidents involving Paradise Wedding Desires. A spokesperson for Cook Islands police confirmed an investigation into the allegations is underway. 'Police opened an investigation file last September when a complaint was made against the planners,' spokesperson Trevor Pitt told Daily Mail Australia. Mrs lakimo (pictured right) said while she wanted her promise refund, she also wanted to make sure Ingaua and Wearing weren't able to repeatedly let other couples down 'Unfortunately the two men do not reside in the Cook Islands and police were unable to locate them for questioning. 'They apparently entered and left Rarotonga on different occasions,' he said. 'Police CIB received a second complaint about two weeks ago. 'The complainants have been advised to also file complaints in New Zealand, which would assist the investigation effort in Rarotonga. 'CIB police say it would be useful if there was joint cooperation with NZ to cover both jurisdictions in order to deal effectively with the allegations,' Mr Pitt concluded. Via their lawyer, Mr Ingaua and Mr Waring admitted mistakes occurred on the day of the lakimo wedding and said they had apologised to the couple. A small amount of money had already been reimbursed and the rest would be paid back by March 15, 2019, they said. They said only two of the four weddings which they had handled were being investigated, and denied they had been approached by the Cook Islands or New Zealand police. An MP who led the revolt against anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party has been branded a Jew whore who should burn in the ovens. Joan Ryan, who quit Labour last month in protest at the partys culture of anti-Semitism, called in police after receiving two separate death threats in the wake of her defection. One was an unstamped handwritten note delivered to Ms Ryans Commons office on a week ago on Friday which branded her a ****-sucking, Jewish c*** who defected to Israel who should be raped and set on fire. Joean Ryan, pictured left with former Tory MP Heidi Allen, right, has been forced to call the police after receiving two separate death threats from Jeremy Corbyn supporters angry at her criticism of the Labour leader and his handling of the party's anti-Semitism problem Former Labour MP Luciana Berger, pictured, also quit Labour as a result of the vile anti-Semitic abuse she was subject to The other letter, received at the MPs constituency office in North London on the day before, said: Stop telling lies about Jeremy Corbyn he is a decent man, you lying Jew whore. You need to be shoved right back in the ovens. Ms Ryan has also passed to Scotland Yard the registration number of a black car that was parked near her constituency office with three men inside. She fears they were placing her under surveillance. Ms Ryan, 63, is not Jewish but has been an outspoken critic of the partys handling of the anti-Semitism crisis. She left Labour last month to join the new Independent Group in protest at Mr Corbyns failure to tackle the issue. The Enfield North MP last night spoke of her shock at the threats and her fears for the safety of her staff. She said she had decided to make public the full nature of the disgusting threats to highlight what MPs who campaign against anti-Semitism have to face whether or not they are Jewish. Ms Ryan said last night that police had taken fingerprints from both letters, given her and her staff security advice and were investigating the ownership of the suspicious car, which a local trader had alerted her to. Labour MP Chris WIlliamson, pictured, lost the whip last week after he suggested 'dark forces' were working against a party activist who criticised Jewish MP Rush Smeeth Fellow Labour defector Luciana Berger revealed yesterday that a former Labour party member even made threats against the life of her unborn child after she joined The Independent Group. Ms Ryan is also awaiting the results of a police examination of Commons CCTV to discover who managed to place another menacing hand-delivered card in her office last September. The chilling note mentioned her forthcoming visit to Cyprus sparking fears that it was placed by someone with access to her private diary. When she resigned from Labour, Ms Ryan accused Mr Corbyn of having presided over a culture of anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel and said that she could not be part of a party that allows racism to flourish. She said yesterday: That people can send such filth-laden, disgusting messages is a shocking testament to how low our politics has now sunk. But the fact that some people think they can do so explains why many of us felt we had to quit the Labour Party last week. My main concern now is for the safety of my staff who put in so much hard work in the constituency and in Parliament. However, we must never let up on the fight against the evil of anti-Semitism. The storm engulfing Labour deepened further after new remarks emerged from Corbynista MP Chris Williamson, who was suspended from the party last week for saying that Labour had given too much ground to critics of its stance on anti-Semitism. Footage obtained by The Mail on Sunday shows Mr Williamson speaking of dark forces working against a Labour activist who criticised Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth. Mr Williamson was speaking at a meeting of Labour supporters backing Marc Wadsworth, who was expelled from the party last year after his confrontation with Ms Smeeth reduced her to tears. Derby MP Mr Williamson said: Some people might find it difficult showing solidarity with Marc, for fear of being implicated, criticised and demonised. Well, I dont give a s***. Certain dark forces are using their power, using their contacts in the media, in order to take out key allies like Marc and others from the struggle. Wadsworth had accused Smeeth of working hand-in-hand with a reporter from the right-wing media to damage the Labour leader at the launch of a report on anti-Semitism in Labour. Speaking at the Justice4Marc event in Manchester, Mr Williamson insisted the anti-Semitism dispute had been weaponised by enemies of Mr Corbyn. He also claimed there was a witch-hunt of supporters of the Labour leader which echoed George Orwells 1984, the Ministry of Truth and was similar to the actions of the East German Stasi. During the meeting, one activist was loudly applauded after announcing she was suspended from Labour over anti-Semitism allegations but would not stop speaking out. Another Labour councillor drew laughs with a series of comments in which she suggested the term due process should be dubbed Jew process and also swapped Labours For the many not the few slogan to For the many as well as bad for the Jews. The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that Jewish MPs were to be offered bodyguards at the Labour Party Conference due to fears about their safety. Ms Berger was pictured arriving at the Liverpool conference accompanied by an armed police protection officer. She said at the time: We are under attack. There are Jews in this country who do not feel safe. The Liverpool Wavertree MP joined The Independent Group in protest at Mr Corbyns lack of action over the anti-Semitic abuse she received, including from within her own constituency party. A number of Labour MPs who had planned to follow Ms Ryan and Ms Berger out of the party have been urged to stay by deputy leader Tom Watson while he plots a new party within a party that could undermine Jeremy Corbyn. They are said to include Dame Louise Ellman, who is on the brink of quitting over a campaign of intimidation by pro-Corbyn party members. The Metropolitan Police were unable to comment yesterday about the threats to Ms Ryan. Mr Williamson could not be reached for comment. Labour last night said: We condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms. Police are searching for two missing sisters who vanished after walking off into a wooded area near their California home. Eight-year-old Leia Carrico and her five-year-old sister Caroline Carrico were last seen outside their home in Benbow, north west of Sacramento, on Friday at 2.30pm. Before they disappeared, the girls had asked their mother if they could go for a walk. Eight-year-old Leia Carrico and her five-year-old sister Caroline Carrico were last seen outside their home in Benbow, north west of Sacramento, on Friday at 2.30pm She said 'no' but noticed soon after that the girls were gone. They are believed to have walked off into the wooded area. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said they were notified of their disappearance at about 6pm after the mother and neighbors tried to search for the girls themselves. Authorities were unable to find the girls during their search on Friday night and continued first thing Saturday morning. Boot prints and granola bars were found in the search area on Saturday, according to Humboldt County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Fridley. The mother of the two girls told authorities she had only just purchased that same brand of granola bars. The girls had asked their mother if they could go for a walk but she said no. The sisters are believed to have walked off into the wooded area soon after Boot prints and granola bars were found in the search area near the home on Saturday The area where search teams are scouring is steep, heavily wooded terrain. Authorities said Carolina is 3 feet 6 inches tall, 40 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair with bright purple streaks. She was last seen wearing a maroon rain jacket with white horses, blue jeans and pink boots. Her sister Leia is 4 feet 2 inches tall, 85 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair, with a large freckle on her left cheek. She was last seen wearing a dark gray hooded long sleeve shirt and purple rain boots. The sheriff's office is urging members of the public to stay clear of the search area. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the girls is asked to call 707 441 5000. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appears to have moved into her new Bronx apartment a lot earlier than she had led the public to believe. Despite claims from her spokesperson that she moved into a new apartment sometime in mid-February, Ocasio-Cortez last Sunday posted an Instagram live showing her cooking from her home kitchen. The kitchen appears to be the exact same kitchen seen in similar Instagram Live videos showing her cooking on November 9, December 27, and January 1. The Instagram Live appears to contradict claims made by her spokesperson last week that Ocasio-Cortez moved to a different apartment in the Parkchester section of the Bronx a few weeks ago. In reality, it appears she has been living there for months. Corbin Trent, the congresswoman's spokesperson, was shown the Instagram Live images. He told the New York Post that he was 'not sure' when Ocasio-Cortez made the move. Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez livestreamed herself cooking from the same kitchen on February 24 (left) and December 27 (right). This contradicts her spokesman's claims that she moved to a new apartment in her Bronx neighborhood in mid-February Ocasio-Cortez, through a spokesperson, strongly denied a report last week that she does not actually live in the Bronx apartment where she is registered to vote. Then the spokesperson claimed later the same day last week that Ocasio-Cortez moved to a different apartment Ocasio-Cortez has a unit in the Bronx apartment complex, where her family lived when she was young and which remained in the family after her father passed away in 2008 The New Yorker strongly denied a report in the New York Post from last Saturday, which claimed there was scant evidence that she lives in the Bronx condo where she is registered to vote. 'She lives there,' the freshman congresswoman's spokesman Corbin Trent told DailyMail.com that day, referring to a condo in the Parkchester neighborhood that was owned by Ocasio-Cortez's late father. 'That's home, period, for her. That's where she gets her energy, her drive. She not only lives there, that's where her heart's at, period,' Trent said of the condo. Ocasio-Cortez is seen above in the same kitchen on November 9, 2018 But last Sunday, Trent said she actually lives 'a block and a half away' from the listed address in a two bedroom apartment with her boyfriend, having made the switch last month. Trent said the 29-year-old was relaxing at her new residence last Sunday afternoon, but he didn't identify the address. 'She is not living in the exact same condo,' but remains in the neighborhood, Trent said. He said that he had worked for Ocasio-Cortez for two years, and personally knew she had lived in the condo until recently. Last Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to a New York Post article questioning her actual address. I still live in my hood and literally instagrammed from my apartment tonight, she tweeted. Christopher Paul Hasson, 49, was arrested last month after he was found to have allegedly stockpiled weapons in preparation for a domestic terror attack A man was just arrested last week with a stockpile of guns specifically trying to kill me & others, so yeah Im not gonna disclose my personal address or tell people when I move. Sorry! The congresswoman was referring to Christopher Paul Hasson, the 49-year-old Coast Guard lieutenant who was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly stockpiling weapons to carry out a domestic terror attack. The feds allege that Hasson compiled a hit-list that included prominent Democrats, among them Ocasio-Cortez, and journalists. In July, DailyMail.com reported that Ocasio-Cortez had actually spent much of her youth living in upscale Westchester County, in seeming contrast with a hard-luck campaign biography touting her Bronx roots. After living in the Parkchester condo until she was around age five, her family moved to the suburban home for better schools, selling it when her father tragically died of cancer in 2008, but retaining ownership of the Bronx condo. The latest controversy deals with a more recent question: Where does Ocasio-Cortez live now? Federal agents seized 15 firearms - including several long-guns and rifles - and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition during a raid on his cramped basement apartment Hasson created the hit list in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (pictured above) that included prominent Democrats, 2020 presidential candidates, activists and media commentators. Ocasio-Cortez's name is seen next to No. 47 Since 2016, Ocasio-Cortez has listed the Parkchester condo as her residence on voter registration forms. Yet the Post claims that neighbors down the hall say they have never seen her in the building. 'I would have remembered,' one resident of 40 years told the Post, saying he'd never seen Ocasio-Cortez or her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, who also lists his residence in the unit. Employees at a nearby grocery store and pizzeria told the newspaper that they had never heard of the now-famous congresswoman patronizing the businesses - though a server at a nearby taqueria had spotted Ocasio-Cortez once, when she came in for the purpose of being filmed by a news crew. In a tweet from last week, the congresswoman said she would not 'tell people when I move' after Hasson's arrest Trent dismisses those claims, saying that while it's always possible someone might not recognize Ocasio-Cortez, she is well known in both the building and the neighborhood. 'I've watched her interact with people coming in about out of the building,' he told DailyMail.com. 'She's a frequent fixture in the neighborhood.' The mailman who has delivered to the building for a decade also told the Post that mail for her and Roberts piles up in their box for months at a time. The mailman said that no other mail was addressed to the condo, only Ocasio-Cortez and her boyfriend. Trent explained this as a fact of life for a busy candidate and then freshman congresswoman in transition, saying that Ocasio-Cortez had been gone for weeks at a time in particular during congressional orientation. Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez has also drawn criticism because she has yet to open a district office, something the other three freshman representatives from New York have manged to do. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lives with her boyfriend Riley Roberts (right) Ocasio-Cortez claimed that she wasn't able to take over her predecessor's district office because the landlord wanted to nearly double the rent, to $15,000 a month. 'That spike would have meant less caseworkers for our community,' she wrote on Twitter. 'Instead, we're making a new space with a family business!' Instead, she has rented an office space in Jackson Heights, Queens, which is currently under remodeling. Although the Post estimates the cost of that space at nearly $17,000 a month, Trent says the cost will be much lower, and less than the $15,000 her predecessor's space would have cost. Trent said that the new office will open around March 4. He said that until that time, constituents have a variety of ways to get in touch with the representative, through phone, by mail, and on her U.S. House website. A young couple who starved their pet horse to the point of it eating its own faeces have been fined $4000. The pair, both aged 20, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the Collie Magistrates Court, Western Australia, on Wednesday. Their sentencing comes after the RSPCA found the stallion, named Rio, huddled in a dirt enclosure with his ribs, hip and spine visible as a result of malnourished last May. The RSPCA found Rio, a malnourished stallion (pictured), huddled in a dirt enclosure Rio was seized by an inspector and taken to a local vet after the RSPCA's cruelty hotline received a tip. The stallion was euthanased after two days in care when the vet noticed his condition deteriorating. RSPCA WA Chief Inspector Amanda Swift said the couple underestimated how expensive it is to care for a horse and the subsequent mistreatment infuriated her. 'It angers me to see people take on horses without the means to care for them properly. Horses are high maintenance and require a level of care much higher than other pets,' she said. 'While they might be easy to come by, please don't take on a horse if you're not financially prepared for their upkeep. The couple, aged 20, were fined for animal cruelty at the Collie Magistrates Court (pictured) 'It's saddens me to think of the way Rio spent his last days. 'If you're struggling to care for your horses, please ask for help before it gets out of hand, as it did in this case.' The couple were fined $2000 apiece and hit with additional expenses, including more than $700 in veterinary bills. They were also banned from owning or caring for a horse for five years. Ten sailors are facing serious disciplinary action after carrying out sickening sex acts in a country pub in full view of members of the public triggering investigations by military and civilian police. The graphic details of their lewd conduct are contained in an incident report obtained by The Mail on Sunday. To the horror of Royal Navy top brass, the sailors also filmed the indecent acts and uploaded them on to social-media site Instagram. The sailors could be booted out of the Armed Forces for bringing the Navy into disrepute following the incident at the Red Lion pub in Helston, Cornwall, on February 24 Last night, pub landlady Hayley Nicholas branded their behaviour disgusting and completely unacceptable and explained how the drunken personnel from 820 Royal Naval Air Squadron refused her pleas to moderate their behaviour. The sailors could be booted out of the Armed Forces for bringing the Navy into disrepute following the incident at the Red Lion pub in Helston, Cornwall, on February 24. At least one of them has been removed from operational duties at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall pending the outcome of police investigations into the incident, which took place in the pubs pool room. Last night, Ms Nicholas said: They should face action for what they did. It might be their idea of a joke but it was appalling in a public place. At least one of them has been removed from operational duties at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (pictured) in Cornwall Theyve made a big mistake. Their actions were recorded on the pubs CCTV cameras and the tapes are now being reviewed by military police. Local civilian police officers have also made inquiries. Usually when they come in here the Navy guys are polite and respectful but not this time. We tried putting a stop to it when we saw one of the men take his trousers down but they didnt take any notice of us. The Mail on Sunday has seen the Royal Military Polices incident report, which describes the indecency in a public place and how the Royal Navy personnel were rowdy and disruptive. It says: CCTV footage taken within the Red Lion pub in Helston shows a Petty Officer [Identity Redacted] appearing to engage in an indecent act while in the bar lounge and in full view of the public and other Service Personnel (SP), some of whom were filming the incident on their mobile phones. The incident is known to have been uploaded on to social media (Instagram) and been discussed on Facebook. Awaiting a civilian police decision on prosecution. The group of SP were generally rowdy and disruptive and several other incidents were also captured on CCTV. Last night, a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: We have been informed by the Navy police of allegations related to an incident of public indecency. We will be liaising with them in an investigation. A Royal Navy spokesman said: An investigation is ongoing and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further. Senator Amy Klobuchar vowed on Friday to do better when it comes to how she treats her staff. The Democrat from Minnesota, who is a candidate for her partys nomination for president, has been the subject of a number of media stories in recent weeks quoting former staffers who say she can be abusive. Im incredibly proud of the work our staff has done and I would not be here without amazing staff, Klobuchar told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis on Friday. I know I can be tough, I know I can push people too hard, and I also know I can do better - and I will. Staffers who once worked for Klobuchar have described behavior that is considered extreme even for demanding bosses. The Star Tribune quoted former staffers who insisted on anonymity for fear that their comments would lead to retribution. The ex-staffers repeated assertions made in recent weeks and recounted in numerous media outlets, including Klobuchar's alleged tendency to humiliate aides over relatively minor mistakes by berating them in front of colleagues and in some cases throwing objects at them. The senator was often known to send angry emails to staffers well past midnight. Senator Amy Klobuchar (second from left) greets local residents at a campaign stop in Nashua, New Hampshire on Sunday, February 24 'Youd wake up to a string of four, five, six, seven, eight e-mails of increasing anger, with everybody copied,' said one former aide. 'It was, "This is the worst thing Ive ever seen. Naive. Stupid. Awful." 'It was just this vitriol. You didnt wake up to it every single day, but it was enough that my stomach just clenched every morning the second I woke up.' On February 22, The New York Times reported that Klobuchar once ate a salad with her comb and then asked a staff member whom she berated for not getting her a fork to clean it afterwards. The incident allegedly took place at an airport in 2008 while Klobuchar was headed to South Carolina, four people with knowledge of the episode told the Times. The aide was carrying the salad for his boss while also hauling their bags through an airport terminal when he accidentally dropped the plastic eating utensils. After they reached the gate, Klobuchar reprimanded the staff member for not having a plastic fork ready for her to use. She then allegedly stunned her team by using a comb to eat the salad. She then gave the comb to her aide and told her to clean it. The claims are especially surprising given that Klobuchar has throughout her political career cultivated an image of Minnesota nice that has endeared her to voters. Klobuchar's treatment of staff has been an open secret in Washington, D.C. and in Minnesota, but her candidacy for president has shined a nationwide spotlight on the issue. It has also called into question Klobuchar's fitness for the highest office in the land. Zach Rodvold worked on Klobuchar's first U.S. Senate campaign in 2006. He also managed her Minnesota office from 2007 until 2009. Rodvold admitted that the complaints from former staffers ring true. 'A lot of whats been said about working for Amy is true,' he told the Star Tribune, though he added: 'I just dont see it as something thats disqualifying for running for president.' The senator has repeatedly acknowledged that she can be tough and push people hard, Carlie Waibel, a campaign spokesperson for Klobuchar, told the Times. But these anonymous stories - some of which are just plain ridiculous - do not overshadow the countless experiences of people on the senators team who she has been so proud to work with. At a recent town hall hosted by CNN, Klobuchar said that her tough demeanor is because of her high expectations for her team. Am I a tough boss sometimes? Yes, she said. Have I pushed people too hard? Yes. The senator from Minnesota has been subject to a number of unflattering stories in the news media which quote former aides. These ex-staff members say that they were on the receiving end of Klobuchars chiding, which came in response to relatively minor slip-ups. The Democratic senator made a formal announcement to that effect in Minneapolis on February 10. Klobuchars tendency to humiliate and degrade her staff created a work environment permeated by fear, distrust, and paranoia, according to the Times. They even saved damaging emails from Klobuchar to use as evidence in case the senator would try to ruin their reputations in Washington, D.C. The ex-aides said Klobuchar would occasionally throw office supplies, including binder and telephones, at them in frustration. Some say the senator would make them do tasks that were not part of their job requirement, like wash her dishes or pick up her dry cleaning. Klobuchar would also fire off angry late-night emails and phone calls over minor errors, it has been alleged. After a political event, a dissatisfied Klobuchar wrote in one email to staff: In 20 years in politics I have never seen worse prep. Klobuchar tweeted a photo on February 10 of her out with her staff the night she officially announced her candidacy for president in Minnesota In another angry email, she wrote: This is the hands down worse thing you have ever given me. During an office meeting with staff, Klobuchar is alleged to have said: This is the worst press staff I ever had. Staffers said this was something Klobuchar would repeat about both predecessors and successors in the office. Klobuchar also ripped into her underlings for how they managed her social media account. 'We are becoming a joke,' she wrote in an email about the items posted on her Twitter feed, 'and it is making me a joke.' The Times also reported that Klobuchars office had an unusual paid leave policy which forced employees to remain for three times as many weeks as they had been gone once they return. Klobuchars office also required employees to pay back money earned during the weeks they were on leave, according to the Times. Klobuchars office said that it would revise the paid leave policy. We offer 12 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave for our staff and have one of the strongest paid leave policies in the Senate, said spokeswoman Elana Ross. Weve never made staff pay back any of their leave and will be changing that language in the handbook. Still, there are those who defend Klobuchar. Erikka Knuti, who once worked as a press aide to the senator, remembers being snapped at by her then-boss in front of another lawmaker in an elevator. That wasnt O.K., a contrite Klobuchar told Knuti. It made me feel valued, Knuti said. Klobuchar has had among the highest rates of staff turnover in the Senate. Her defenders say that she is being singled out because she is a woman, and that Capitol Hill is full of male lawmakers who are just as tough - if not more so - on their staff. Jonathan Becker, who once worked as Klobuchars chief of staff, said the hard-charging senator forced staffers to raise their level of performance. Isnt that what the American people want in a president? Becker said. Theyre not looking for mashed potatoes. Jeremy Corbyn has been condemned after it emerged that he dismissed the commemoration of the First World War as a piece of grandstanding by politicians. In the remarks, unearthed by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Corbyn also claimed that the history of the conflict had been rewritten to exaggerate the plucky British stand. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson led the criticism of the Labour leader, saying the commemorations were a dignified and solemn way to remember the sacrifices of a generation. Jeremy Corbyn, pictured at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday last year questioned the need for such services, describing them as a 'piece of grandstanding and celebration', during an interview in July 2014, which has been unearthed by the Mail on Sunday During the interview, Mr Corbyn, pictured beside the Prime Minister last November, suggested the commemorations did not fully credit the sacrifice of Indian and African soldiers Mr Corbyn made his comments in an interview in July 2014, when events were being held to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. In it, he said: I think whats interesting about this whole First World War commemoration is that it started out as a piece of grandstanding and celebration by the Prime Minister and its now become the opposite because people are beginning to question the history they are being taught and theyre beginning to question the point of war. Speaking about the role of Indian soldiers, he said he thought that the history of the conflict was being rewritten as though it was some plucky British stand that defeated the Germans. He added: The reality was that, had there not been an enormous contribution by Asian and African soldiers, then there was no way that Britain would have succeeded in surviving the First World War. With now Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell standing beside him, Mr Corbyn added that the UK had the big warning lesson in their defeat in the Boer War ten years earlier that the British Army was not big enough. And therefore, they dragged in millions of soldiers from colonies and commonwealth countries and the result was what? That Britain survived. Mr Williamson who is preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of Nato and the 75th anniversary of D-Day this year said: It is important to remember the immense sacrifice made by our Armed Forces. Every year tributes are paid to our war dead, where people of all political parties come together united in respectful silence for the losses suffered by Britain and our allies. This is recognised around the world as a dignified and solemn commemoration. Up to 100 Labour MPs are poised to join a new rebel movement under deputy leader Tom Watson Up to 100 Labour MPs are poised to form a new rebel movement under deputy leader Tom Watson, his allies have claimed. Mr Watson is said to be planning a guerrilla operation to establish a centre-Left party within a party with its own whipping operation that could cripple Jeremy Corbyns leadership, leaving just 145 MPs under his control. He has long been planning the move, but it has been accelerated by the civil war which has broken out over anti-Semitism, and is now expected to come in the next fortnight. Mr Watson, a veteran party power-broker and union fixer, claims he has an independent mandate because he was elected deputy leader by the membership. And he caused fury in Mr Corbyns team last week by pledging to personally log and monitor complaints about anti-Semitism and abuse within the party. Labours general secretary Jennie Formby wrote to Mr Watson, copying in all Labour MPs and Lords, to rebuke him for trying to interfere, saying: It is absolutely inappropriate for you to set up a vague parallel complaints monitoring system. An ally of Mr Watson said: There is a lot of support for Tom, including several senior figures on the front bench. There is a real sense of momentum now. But pro-Corbyn MPs say they are sceptical about the claims. Tom is trying to talk this into happening, one said. There is a lot more resistance than he is admitting. It is understood that relations between Mr Watson and Mr Corbyn have effectively broken down although the deputy leader still talks to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. However there are also tensions between Watsons social democrats and the new Independent Group, containing eight former Labour MPs. Mr Watson was furious that the MPs had not informed him of their plans to leave in advance. Tom has always told people thinking of quitting that it is better to all go en masse rather than piecemeal, said the ally. Watson has been highly critical of Jeremy Corbyn's handling of the anti-Semitism crisis In his response to Ms Formby, one of Mr Corbyns closest allies, Mr Watson said he had no intention of backing down. He said: It is my responsibility to ensure people have confidence in our complaints system and our ability to deal transparently with the scourge of anti-Semitism. I will continue to do everything I can to achieve that. In an attempt to defuse Mr Watsons initiative, Labour peer Lord Falconer, a former flatmate of Tony Blair, has been asked to scrutinise the partys disciplinary procedures. Ms Formby said she was delighted that Falconer had agreed to take the role but the peer said yesterday he would do it only if agreement could be reached on his terms. Man who never apologised for taking cash from Max Mosley Tom Watson received 500,000 in donations from the former boss of Formula One's governing body Max Mosley Tom Watsons bid to seize the moral high ground from Jeremy Corbyn will be hampered by his fateful decision to take contaminated money from disgraced racing tycoon Max Mosley, critics say. The Labour deputy leader has been challenged by ardent Corbynistas to return 500,000 in donations to the party which came from the privacy campaigner and former boss of Formula Ones governing body. But Mr Watson, who doubles as the partys culture, media and sport spokesman, has so far refused. A year ago, Corbyn right-hand man John McDonnell asked him to consider sending the cash back after the discovery of a 1960s leaflet linking immigrants with disease which listed Mr Mosley as its publisher. Mr Watsons office responded by saying the party would take no further donations from Mr Mosley, son of British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, but insisted the tycoon no longer held such views. However, former Labour MP David Winnick branded the inherited cash contaminated, saying it was the same money Oswald Mosley used for his fascist work. Mr Watson also came under fire after claiming in 2012 that there was a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10. Police investigated the claims and found no evidence of any such network. In 2015, Mr Watson was forced to apologise to Lord Brittans widow Diana for causing distress after he described the late Conservative Home Secretary as being as close to evil as any human could get after he died. There had been claims the peer was a paedophile which were later shown to be false. A much loved green used by families and dog-walkers faces being concreted over to create a free car park for council staff. Furious local residents have condemned the 300,000 taxpayer-funded scheme, which comes as they face the prospect of having to pay for permits to leave cars outside their homes. Epping Forest Council has introduced parking charges on roads near Marlescroft Way Green in Loughton, Essex, and says it needs to pave the popular spot so its employees who work at a nearby depot can park for free. Campaigners say the depot is just a short walk from an Underground station and serviced by regular local buses. Hands off our green: Campaigners are fighting to stop the popular park in Loughton, Essex from being built on Resident David Mallindine said: 'We pay to build a car park for them to have free parking and we are going to have to pay for parking permits. What are they thinking?' The park nestles between housing and the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its abundance of wildlife. More than 800 people have signed a petition against the car park plan, which goes before a full council meeting on March 18. Chris Roberts, from the Loughton Residents Association, said: 'There is already enough parking provision available on-street without destroying our green.' A spokeswoman for Epping Forest Council said: 'This area is surrounded by swathes of areas of green land and the site is in close proximity to the Roding Valley Meadow Nature Reserve.' The council last night pledged that nearby residents would be able to use the car park after office hours, but one local resident said: 'We don't want a car park, we want our green space.' Councils have slashed funding for parks by 15 million in the past two years, resulting in play areas being closed and hundreds of sites being sold off to housing developers. Thousands of readers, celebrities and MPs have rallied behind our campaign to stop the destruction and to improve the maintenance of surviving parks. Epping Forest Council is also fighting campaigners over plans to build 154 houses on Jessel Green, another of Loughton's parks. And the authority is mired in controversy over claims that its chief planning councillor John Philip was treated to a Spanish holiday by multi-millionaire Mark Anderson, owner of one of Essex's richest property developers. Martin Vickers MP, pictured, has called on his fellow Tory MPs to support Theresa May's revised deal or risk losing out on Brexit I have always supported leaving the European Union and campaigned for this in both 2016 and 1975. I was confident that my Cleethorpes constituency would vote to leave and they duly delivered by 70 per cent to 30. When I arrived in Westminster nine years ago I joined the European Research Group (ERG) and have consistently voted first to achieve a referendum and subsequently to deliver the most robust version of Brexit possible. My vision for Brexit was spelled out almost exactly by the Prime Minister in her Lancaster House speech where she outlined the following objectives: taking back control of our own laws, control of our borders, and the ability to sign new trade deals around the world. Unfortunately we are now a long way from that vision. The Withdrawal Agreement put to Parliament on 15th January was, as we know, not just defeated but slaughtered by a majority of 230, and yet, bizarre though it may seem, it remains the only deal on the table. The main concern for most MPs centres round the Irish backstop which could lead to Northern Ireland staying in the EU Customs Union, large parts of the single market and governed by EU VAT rules. The backstop could be used by the EU to achieve further concessions from the UK surrounding such areas as access to fishing waters or in relation to Gibraltar. We should not be afraid to leave without a deal, something confirmed by senior businessmen and women when I attended a dinner arranged by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce last Thursday evening. They recognised there were potential problems but could also see opportunities, even without a deal. What a pity so many members of the Government have been silent when it comes to articulating an optimistic vision for a post-Brexit Britain. So where are we now? We are faced with what I trust will be a carefully-crafted, legally binding addition to the Prime Ministers deal. Labour have already betrayed millions of their voters. We Conservatives must not do the same. Those of us who are passionate Brexiteers must now decide how we ensure we leave, and leave we must on March 29, for if we dont the Governments credibility will be in tatters. The Remainers in Parliament have undermined our negotiating position at every opportunity. Mr Vickers said: 'Sadly, I cannot see how we can achieve Brexit other than by supporting a revised version of the PMs deal' Of course no deal should remain on the table, but the PM has been forced to put that to a parliamentary vote if she fails to get a deal through and its almost certain parliament will vote to further weaken our negotiating position. So much for honouring the referendum result. Sadly, I cannot see how we can achieve Brexit other than by supporting a revised version of the PMs deal as described above. If we can reach a compromise on the backstop we have to accept the reality that this is the best we can get otherwise we could end up in a deal that prevents us from implementing trade deals, having to keep free movement or, perish the thought, remaining an EU member. If the Prime Minister can achieve this, then I believe she will find that the majority of the Commons will support her deal. No deal is better than a bad deal, and a revised version of Mrs Mays deal is better than no Brexit at all. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday he called off U.S. military drills with South Korea as an olive branch to Kim Jong Un, arguing 'reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!' The decision to end the drills was announced by both countries earlier in the day after President Trump complained about the cost of joint drills even as his high-stakes second summit with Kim collapsed last week. 'The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed. That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!,' he tweeted Sunday afternoon. President Trump said he called off U.S. military drills with South Korea as an olive branch to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un South Korea and the U.S. eliminated their massive springtime military drills and replaced them with smaller exercises in what they call an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The drills' cancellation is an olive branch to North Korea, which has viewed them as an invasion rehearsal. But some experts say it will likely weaken the allies' military readiness amid worries that tensions erupt again in the wake of the failed nuclear summit in Vietnam. The Pentagon said in a release that the U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programs. Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo 'made clear that the alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner,' the statement said. Seoul's Defense Ministry released a similar statement. Jeong expressed his regrets at the lack of agreement at the Trump-Kim summit but still hopes that Washington and Pyongyang will continue negotiations, the South Korean statement said. The new training, dubbed 'Dong Maeng,' which means 'alliance' in English, starts Monday and runs through March 12. It will focus on 'strategic operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula,' South Korea's military and the U.S.-South Korean combined forces command said in a joint statement. According to U.S. officials, the new training will be done in smaller drills, tabletop exercises and simulations, and will involve smaller units such as battalions and companies rather than massive formations involving thousands of troops, as they had in the past. Officials said the Pentagon would focus on smaller exercises and mission essential tasks, which include the ability to integrate airstrikes and the use of other weapons systems, drones, surveillance assets, logistics and communications. In November, a month before he resigned as defense secretary, Jim Mattis disclosed that the U.S. and South Korea would scale back and tone down the spring exercises. He said the aim was to avoid setting back diplomacy over North Korea's nuclear weapons. He described it as a reorganization of the exercises, not an end to maneuvers on the peninsula. Trump has long complained about the cost of military drills with South Korea. After his second summit with Kim ended without any agreement in Hanoi on Thursday, Trump spoke again about the cost of annual military drills. 'It's a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too,' Trump told reporters. Following his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June, Trump caught many in the United States and South Korea by surprise by suspending the allies' summertime military drills. He called joint drills 'very provocative' and 'massively expensive.' The United States and South Korea also have since suspended a few other smaller joint drills. Trump has also pushed South Korea to increase its financial contribution for the cost of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country as deterrence against North Korea. He previously threatened to withdraw troops from South Korea and Japan if those countries refused to pay more. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has responded with its own costly military exercises and weapons tests, including firing a new intermediate-range missile over Japan in 2017. In this March 12, 2016, file photo, Marines of the U.S., left, and South Korea, wearing blue headbands on their helmets, take positions after landing on a beach during the joint military combined amphibious exercise, called Ssangyong, part of the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle military exercises, in Pohang, South Korea North Korea's state media on Sunday didn't immediately comment on the drills' cancellation. After the Hanoi summit, the United States and North Korea blamed each other for the breakdown of the talks. But both sides stopped short of pulling out of negotiations. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. She was last week condemned as a patronising white saviour after she was pictured holding a Ugandan child to promote Comic Relief. But far from being just another passing Western tourist, Stacey Dooley has made hard-hitting documentaries in dangerous parts of Africa, and elsewhere, as she describes in an exclusive interview in The Mail on Sundays You magazine today. In it, she recounts her harrowing experiences, such as seeing dead bodies on the ground in Iraq and a catastrophically polluted river in Indonesia. Her documentaries have also included an encounter with child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ive earned my stripes; I dont need to prove myself to anyone, she says. Far from being just another passing Western tourist, Stacey Dooley has made hard-hitting documentaries in dangerous parts of Africa, and elsewhere, as she describes in an exclusive interview in The Mail on Sundays You magazine today Ms Dooley, 31, was speaking before Labour MP David Lammy claimed she was perpetuating colonialism during her charity trip to Uganda, and said she was acting like a white saviour by posing with the child Ms Dooley made her comment in response to criticism that her new BBC3 show, a make-up competition called Glow Up, was trivial. She said that after some of her more grim programmes, it seemed really important to me to be at home and enjoy some escapism. And responding to the backlash, she said: Its painfully predictable. There are always people who are desperate to put you in your one camp and never let you leave. The idea that you could be interested in the Yazidi community and also in lipstick blows peoples minds. Its a really short-sighted, Stone Age attitude its boring, actually. The Strictly Come Dancing winner, who grew up in a council house in Luton with single mother Diane, says she was a right tearaway between the ages of 13 and 20 but she never touched drugs, even though they were ubiquitous. They were everywhere, she says. A school friend died of a heroin overdose, but Mum stuck a picture of [teenage ecstasy victim] Leah Betts on the fridge and that sits with you, so I was never interested. Ms Dooley, 31, was speaking before Labour MP David Lammy claimed she was perpetuating colonialism during her charity trip to Uganda, and said she was acting like a white saviour by posing with the child. Ms Dooley hit back on social media, saying: David, is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question)... because if thats the case, you could always go over there and try to raise awareness? Comic Relief have raised over 1 billion since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids lives. Fearless reporter, feminist, Strictly victor STACEY DOOLEY is the BBCs new golden girl. But her decision to front a make-up show has prompted a Twitter backlash. Here she explains to Julia Llewellyn Smith why shes unfazed by social media spats (and Strictly snogs) 'Ive earned my stripes; I dont need to prove myself to anyone, says Stacey Dooley Conversations with Stacey Dooley can turn from deeply serious to cheerfully frivolous in seconds. One minute, the 31-year-old BBC presenter who shot to fame last Christmas when she won Strictly Come Dancing is passionately describing a recent visit to a polluted river in Indonesia for last years acclaimed documentary Fashions Dirty Secrets about the environmental damage caused by the clothes industry. It was this beautiful river that had just been trashed when people are trying to live off the land the fish are dying, the kids are covered in rashes You think, How have we failed so spectacularly? What are we doing to this planet? The next shes giggling, discussing professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec who partnered her on the recent Strictly arena tour (her partner on the show, Kevin Clifton, being otherwise engaged with the musical Rock of Ages). Aljaz is like a big, excited puppy; hes like a beautiful statue and she [his wife and fellow professional Janette Manrara] is like an angel. I say, When you have a child it will look like a supermodel; the world is going to stop spinning. These two sides of Stacey are leading to her being hailed as the BBCs newest, brightest star. Shortly after she received the coveted Glitterball, she co-presented the BBCs New Years Eve concert with YouTube vlogger and fellow Strictly finalist Joe Sugg. So many of her fans were taken aback to discover that her next project was to be neither a prime BBC gig, nor more hard-hitting reportage, but hosting Glow Up, a make-up competition for digital-only youth channel BBC Three. Some took to social media to accuse Stacey of selling out. From documentary maker to this! Wow! was a typical comment. Stacey lashed right back. For those telling me youre suddenly doing trivial work Ive been filming stories covering rape, incest, drugs, murder and war for a decade, she tweeted. Its a privilege to cover these issues, but I also need to take time out to enjoy the lighter side of life. Was Stacey shocked at the jibes? Of course not, she says, stony-faced. Its painfully predictable: there are always people who are desperate to put you in your one camp and never let you leave. The idea that you could be interested in the Yazidi community and also in lipstick blows peoples minds. Its a really short-sighted Stone Age attitude; its boring, actually. Just before Strictly and Glow Up, she says, shed reported on several really harrowing stories, particularly in Mosul, Iraq [which she visited three years ago]. I was getting out of the car and I could smell death; there were dead bodies on the ground and you had to walk relatively close to them because there were unexploded IEDs [improvised explosive devices] everywhere so you could only go in certain areas. STACEY WEARS DRESS, Natalua, reve-en-vert.com. 'Generally Im quite chilled about my looks, but Im gutted if my skins bad, says Stacey Over the past decade, Stacey has made more than 70 documentaries, meaning shes had dozens more deeply affecting moments, from confronting a convicted paedophile about his crimes in the US to encountering child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Shes never had counselling, though the BBC has offered it. But after all that, it seemed really important to be at home and enjoy some escapism. Anyway, Ive earned my stripes; I dont need to prove myself to anyone. Filmed before and during the early rounds of Strictly, Glow Ups premise is, Stacey says, like Bake Off; every week talented, aspiring make-up artists are given new challenges, such as creating prosthetics with someone whos Oscar-nominated. Stacey is genuinely admiring of the skills she witnessed. We should celebrate make-up, she adds. Its a lucrative industry; a massive employer. Were sitting in the cafe area of an East London studio where Stacey is about to be photographed for YOU. Petite in a black tracksuit and white Gucci trainers, shes surprisingly softly spoken and painstakingly polite, thanking me several times for meeting her and apologising for requesting tea with oat milk. Would that be all right? Sorry to be that person. She explains she has jettisoned dairy products not for ethical reasons but because it gives me s*** skin. Generally Im quite chilled about my looks, but Im gutted if my skins bad. As a teenager, she adds, she was obsessed with fake tan, blue eyeliner and blue mascara (I thought that was the coolest thing ever). But now, Strictly apart, she rarely wears more than concealer and mascara. In the places I go its not appropriate for me to have an immaculate, made-up face. You can go for days without washing, so I always pack baby wipes, Batiste Dry Shampoo oh, and Yorkshire Tea bags. TOP, Eileen Fisher, Fenwick. Stacey grew up in a council house with single mother Diane supporting her through cleaning and pub work Theres a relaxed quality to Stacey, who, having witnessed so many horrors, rarely sweats the small stuff. Yet, as the Glow Up Twitter spat demonstrated, shes no pushover. Does she have a temper? The older I get, the less reactive Ive become. But if someone says something unkind Ill pull them up on it. She responded to one critics carping that Strictlys line-up was a rag-tag bunch of TV D-listers by pointing out shed just been awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting, though work commitments meant shed no time to collect it from the palace. Well go some time this year, she smiles. Shes used to defending herself, having long endured snooty comments about the fact she left school at 16 and her accent, described by one sniper as whining. Some people cant believe the audacity of my covering important subjects, she says softly. Of course it hurts when people make fun of how I talk, especially when Ive probably got more life experiences than someone who studied at Oxbridge and went straight into the Beeb. Stacey grew up in a council house with single mother Diane supporting her through cleaning and pub work. Her father left when she was two and, until he died when she was in her 20s, she only saw him sporadically. Of course it would have been nice to have a relationship but sometimes these things are not meant to be, she shrugs. Diane remarried Norman, who works in IT, with whom she had a daughter, Olivia, now 25, whos studying to be a doctor. I admire my mum so much; shes principled and selfless. Im a bit selfish if I want to go away travelling I go away travelling. I dont see my family enough, she adds thoughtfully. I have got to be mindful of that. The older I get, the less reactive Ive become. But if someone says something unkind Ill pull them up on it Now living in Liverpool and working at TK Maxx, Diane cheered her daughter every week from Strictlys front row, but it sounds as if the teenage Stacey gave her a few headaches. I was a naughty child not malicious, just a free spirit, with no concept of respecting authority, she says. From 13 to 20 I was mental, a right tearaway, all over the place, drinking, smoking, going down town nicking stuff. Happily, she never touched drugs. They were everywhere a schoolfriend died of a heroin overdose but Mum stuck a picture of [teenage ecstasy victim] Leah Betts on the fridge and that sits with you, so I was never interested. She was selling duty-free perfume at Luton airport, aged 21, when Diane showed her a leaflet shed been handed from a TV company looking for young people who liked fashion, shopping and travel to go to India to see the sweatshops where their clothes were made. She was one of six picked from thousands of candidates. Aside from New York, Id never left Europe, so India was an assault on my senses. I thought: This is mad. It was the first time Id seen acute poverty. Even if I sounded ridiculous I was asking honest questions and felt they were interested in my opinions, and they might ask me to do something else. From then, the partying stopped as Stacey became focused on reporting from troublespots. She quit booze in her early 20s and has never drunk since. There wasnt any big reason, just I get p***** quickly. Her hectic schedule made romance difficult but, four years ago, she got together with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, 30. Sams very chilled and supportive, she beams. He understands when youre on top of a hill in the Democratic Republic of the Congo you cant panic because someones waiting for you to call home. TEAM GLOW UP From left: Dom Skinner, Stacey Dooley, Val Garland Meet the judges of Staceys new show Val Garland (above right) I have a feeling Im going to come across as bad cop I dont suffer fools, laughs Val, 62. Now global make-up director of LOreal Paris, shes the go-to artist for stars such as Kate Moss, and created alien-like prosthetics for Lady Gagas Born This Way album cover. I dont like make-up having a frivolous image its a tough business but with Stacey on board I knew we were coming from a serious place, she says. Dominic Skinner (above left) Global senior artist for Mac, Dominic, 41, has created looks for the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Stacey was so supportive of the contestants, he says. Halfway through filming she started on Strictly, so a few times wed have her dance partner Kevin Clifton there, tapping his foot and checking his watch. Advertisement The couple live in Staceys one-bedroom flat in Brighton, bought with her estimated 150,000 salary. I couldnt afford London and although it sounds a bit earth mother, I love being by the sea. Now, having vaulted into the BBC premier league, shes saving for a two-bedroom pad. Then Id treat myself to a cleaner once a week; that would be a real luxury, she says. And a dishwasher. If I had one of those Id feel Id landed, Id be living my fantasy life. Now I never cook because I think, No, Ill have to do all the pots. Cant Sam do the pots? No, I do most of the housework. Sams not very whizzy around the house. When Im away hell let the dishes pile up, then when he knows Im in the taxi coming back from Heathrow, he rushes about and smashes three bowls, so Im like: Just leave them. As a self-proclaimed feminist, does his ineptitude annoy her? Nah, Sams great in other ways hes patient and understanding. And doing what I do changes your perspective things like that dont fuss me. Staceys perspectives also meant she was hardly stressed by Strictly, unmoved by the scandal surrounding the kiss between comedian Seann Walsh and his married pro-partner Katya Jones. When you do what I do for a living, in the scheme of things it doesnt bother me whos kissing who. She was gobsmacked to win the show. I thought Joe had it in the bag. But I never took it too seriously; I always thought, If I dont nail the foxtrot, no one is going to die. She enjoyed the arena tour that followed, but now she says, Im itching to get travelling again; Im ready to move on. Strictlys lasted six months its a long time. With that gruelling schedule behind her, and Sam waiting at home, she must be incredibly fit. No, Im useless at fitness and the tour dances were only a minute-and-a-half long and they werent challenging ones like the jive or the charleston so Im as bad as ever, she giggles. When you do what I do for a living, in the scheme of things it doesnt bother me whos kissing who. ROBE and TOWEL, thewhitecompany.com Fans who worried she was going soft can relax: upcoming projects include Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, where she spends 72 hours with British families from different walks of life to compare the way they live. There will also be investigations into US arms dealers and Nigerian jihadists Boko Haram. Poor Diane, I say. Mum doesnt know any more where Im going, Stacey laughs. When I go to Iraq, I say Im going to Turkey and Im not lying because you have to pass through Istanbul airport on the way. But shes getting savvy; shell say, You havent been on Instagram for a few days where are you? Thats why she loved me doing Strictly. Shed say, Whats the worst that can happen in a dance studio in West London? Diane would love her to have babies. But it wont be for a bit. Theres lots to do, Stacey decrees. For now, shes besotted with her and Sams two-year-old bulldog Bernie. If it was Sam versus Bernie, Id choose Bernie every time, she jokes. I adore him. We were in the park the other day and this manky dog bit Bernies face. I wanted to kick that other dog down the hill. It was animalistic: Get off my baby! I was so angry with the owner. It frightens me how much I love Bernie, how protective I am. I think, What would I be like if I reproduce? As I said, Staceys an utter delight, but shell always fight her corner. The new series of Glow Up begins on Wednesday and will be available to watch on BBC Three via BBC iPlayer and on BBC One at 10.35pm Corbynista-in-chief John McDonnell misjudged the generational vernacular when a young female Tory special adviser held a door open for him in the Commons last week. Cheers, darling, said the gruff 67-year-old Socialist. If the millennials look could kill, Jeremy Corbyn would now be in need of a new Shadow Chancellor. Booming out of a bar during last weeks EU/Arab summit in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt was the familiar voice of Olly Robbins, Theresa Mays loose-tongued Brexit guru. Only quick thinking by No 10 minders prevented a repeat of his Brexit could be postponed gaffe in a Brussels bar last month, with Olly given a pantomime Look behind you! warning about the posse of UK hacks sneaking up on him. Eleanor maps out her plan to be Speaker So much for Eleanor Laings vow to cool the testosterone-fuelled antics of the Commons if she succeeds John Bercow. Within hours of Tory MP Eleanor, left, suggesting a female Speaker could improve behaviour in the Chamber, she was hit by decidedly macho rumours that, as one of Bercows current deputies, she needs maps to remind her which MP is which. Utter rubbish, says one of Laings allies. Clearly, Eleanor throwing her hat in the ring to be Speaker is rattling cages among potential rivals. People are dying on our streets while property speculators leave luxury flats empty, warns Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a slick new campaign video. No mention, however, of wealthy property speculators who rent out luxury flats that used to be social housing for vast profit like his son and aide Sebastian Corbyn did until he was caught by The Mail on Sunday. Liz spreads the joy Dog makes no apology for making Liz Truss his most written-about Cabinet Minister as she is the gift that keeps on giving. Fresh from declaring her love of sausages that tick all her boxes, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury sent Twitter into meltdown with an innuendo-laden cooking session tagged #buttermeup. The Governments very own Barbara Windsor strikes again. With most Tory MPs doubting that Boris Johnson has enough Commons support to win the party leadership, the former Foreign Secretary has fallen back on the old school tie approach. Boris has been seen in the Commons Tea Room throwing his arms around fellow Old Etonian Tories and urging them to back him for the sake of School. Cue three full-throated verses of the Eton Boating Song. Labour MP John Mann who is trying to help Mrs May to win lefty colleagues support for her Brexit deal plotted with No 10s communications director Robbie Gibb at Loftus Road last week when QPR beat their team Leeds in a dull 1-0 game. The things Downing Street will endure to get this deal across the line Greek police have interviewed a former Sydney bikie boss who almost died when his car blew up outside a ritzy Athens gym. Amad 'Jay' Malkoun's pristine white Mercedes was engulfed in flames when he tried to start it in upmarket suburb on Friday at about 10am local time. The 56-year-old father-of-three suffered burns to his hands, arms, and lower legs, which were operated on in hospital where he is still recovering. Former Comanchero bikie president Amad Malkoun (pictured) was injured in a car explosion He was moved from the ER to a ward room on Saturday. Police have not been able to take a statement from him yet as he recovers from surgery, but officers believe he may have been targeted. Early investigations indicate that the assassination attempt was signed off in Australia, a Greek police source told 9 News. Men believed to be associates of the former president of the Comancheros Victorian chapter stood guard outside his room along with police. The attack took place out the front of the very same gym notorious Australian gangster John Macris worked out at before he was shot to death last November. Detectives are investigating whether there is a link between the two targeted hits on known criminal identities, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. They are also liaising with Interpol and have contacted Australian police seeking more information about Malkoun's Sydney activities. Local police and the bomb squad cordoned off the area surrounding the blast (pictured) Since fleeing Australia, Malkoun lived in Dubai and Thailand before arriving in Greece where he lives in a luxury penthouse apartment in the seaside suburb of Glyfada. Neighbours said he was often visited at the home where he lives with his wife and three children by numerous people driving luxury cars with foreign number plates. They said he was an 'attentive' father often seen waiting with his children for the school bus and buying them chocolate and ice cream. Mega Gym manager Yannis Levas said Malkoun was a 'low profile' gym goer who he didn't recall speaking with Macris on the premises. 'He just exercised. I remember his white AMG Mercedes, the one that burned. But he just worked out and left, really,' he said. The police bomb squad collected residue of an explosive device, potentially dynamite, in front of Malkoun's car. Detectives are understood to have found dynamite residue out the front of the Mercedes Three adjacent cars were also damaged in the explosion, though no other injuries were reported, according to local media. Malkoun was only saved by a pair of passing young men, who opened the burning car door and dragged him out, reportedly conscious. He was left with extensive burns to his legs and arms and his clothes were in tatters. He was taken for immediate surgery at the Asklipieio General Hospital in Voula, south of the Greek capital, for serious burns. Post-surgery, doctors said he was in a serious but stable condition. Malkoun was saved by a pair of young men who opened the door of the burning car and dragged him out Malkoun is a convicted heroin trafficker and headed the Victorian faction of the Comancheros from 2009 to 2013. He then left Australia with his family before moving to Greece in 2017, reportedly living in 'exile'. The attack has a disturbing resemblance to the murder of Macris, who was also attacked in Greece The millionaire nightclub tycoon, who once dated PR maven Roxy Jacenko, was shot and killed outside his home in Voula last November. Voula is only less than six kilometres from the gym where Malkoun's car was blown up, and he is believed to have also frequented it. The attack against Malkoun draws parallels to murdered gangsters Mahmoud Hawi (left) and John Macris (right of right) A trio of gunmen allegedly attacked Macris in his car, with one overheard by neighbours shouting: 'I'm going to finish him off.' The 46-year-old was also in his car during the attack. A police inquiry remains open into Macris' murder, and authorities are yet to determine whether the two attacks were intertwined. The attack also draws parallels to another against a former Comanchero boss - Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi - who was shot and killed in 2018. Hawi was shot at least six times in broad daylight while sitting in his own luxury car outside a Fitness First gym in Sydney, in February. About six months later, two members of a rival gang known as the Lone Wolf motorcycle club were charged. Detectives found traces of dynamite near the wreckage of the car and are now investigating Police had speculated Malkoun had gotten caught up with a local gang war since his arrival in Greece. However, he has no official police record in Greece. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene to attempt to determine who laid the explosive and how they made their getaway. They are also working to clarify whether the explosion was triggered by the ignition of the car, or whether it was detonated remotely. Pet Project: Jessica Boyton pictured with the rabbit. The couple who are getting married in August are doing away with traditional presents and are asking guests to donate to an animal shelter instead Once couples getting married could look forward to presents such as teasmades and 24-piece dinner sets to set them up in their new home. But a younger generation of newlyweds is instead opting for ethical gifts that help others. Some millennials are asking friends to give blood, sign up as organ donors, plant wildflowers or just give someone a hug in place of a traditional present. Website Prezola, which lets friends and family buy pre-selected items from a couple's list or donate money towards their honeymoon or to a charity, has now created a series of 'ethical living' options, all of which cost nothing. While there are several 'random acts of kindness' pledges already on its website, including 'I promise to give more compliments', newlyweds are also given the chance to make up their own. Some of the wackier ideas put forward by couples include 'I promise to buy a chicken and give you the eggs' and 'I promise to give you big bear hugs'. Biology teacher Jessica Boyton and Andrew Kemp, a bedding plant grower, are set to marry at a Surrey nature reserve in August. The environmentally conscious couple have invited guests to hand over their old blankets to an animal shelter and to look after their French Lop rabbit Monty. Ms Boyton, 24, said: 'We loved that people could give us their time rather than their money. We've both regularly donated blood since we were 17, so asking guests to give blood was important to us. 'A lot of Andrew's friends have been reluctant to do it so I know he wanted to give them a push.' But it seems it is not only ethical options couples are going for many are cashing in on chores, too. Wedding promise: Guests are also being given the chance to give gifts that will make a difference to other people's lives at weddings now In a self-deprecating comment on the state of their home, one pair invited friends and family to 'Marie Kondo our flat' a reference to the lifestyle guru who presents a TV series on how to declutter your property. Prezola, which launched its 'social gifting' list on Valentine's Day this year, admits that it can't force a guest to fulfil the promise they've made, adding that 'a social gift is simply a written intention'. The website was founded by Dom Beaven and his wife Ali in 2008 and it has gone on to become the UK's biggest independent gift-list company, registering 20,000 couples a year. 'The idea was Ali's,' said Mr Beaven. 'It was her birthday and everyone was asking what she wanted as a present. Later she said she wanted a platform where she could put all her favourite things so that her friends would know. We thought it was a great idea.' The company now manages 50,000 presents from 500 stores. Soaring numbers of parents are being violently attacked by their own children, shocking figures show. A massive 23,000 incidents of parental abuse were recorded in London alone over the past three years (stock) Soaring numbers of parents are being violently attacked by their own children, shocking figures show. A massive 23,000 incidents of parental abuse were recorded in London alone over the past three years. The biggest rise has been among daughters accused of assaulting or ill-treating their mothers or fathers. And Scotland Yard fears the harrowing crime will become even more common as pensioners live longer, often suffering from dementia, in the same homes as their offspring. Last night, Susan Hall, a Conservative member of Londons Police and Crime Committee, told The Mail on Sunday: Clearly the Mayors crime epidemic has now reached into peoples homes, with this surge in parental abuse coming off the back of stratospheric crime levels in the capital. Too many Londoners feel they can turn to violence in Sadiq Khans lawless London even when their own parents are the target of these heinous crimes. She added: It is entirely possible that the Mayors abject failure to build enough homes has also contributed to this surge in violent crime, with young people living at home longer and often in pressurised, overcrowded conditions. In a major report, the Metropolitan Police listed parental abuse as an area of emerging demand where it is keen for victims to come forward. It said: Domestic abuse where the victim is a parent of the suspect has increased by 66 per cent between 2012 and 2015. We have engaged with Oxford and Manchester universities to improve our understanding of this particular demand. Statistics obtained by the Conservatives from Londons Mayor show that recorded offences of parental domestic abuse have risen by ten per cent in recent years. There were 7,290 such crimes in 2016; 7,716 the following year and 8,033 in 2018. The biggest rise has been where daughter of victim was recorded as a suspect up 17 per cent to 5,275 cases in the past three years. Daughters now account for 23 per cent of the children accused of parental abuse. Overall however, sons were responsible for the greatest proportion (69 per cent). Grandchildren were blamed for almost 1,000 attacks on their relatives (four per cent of the total) while stepchildren accounted for the rest. A Home Office report into adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse also dubbed battered parent syndrome said it often involves a pattern of behaviour over a long period of time. Mothers and fathers will be subjected to verbal and emotional abuse as well as physical violence and damage to their property. Sometimes drug or alcohol abuse will be blamed but in other cases families were at a loss to explain why their child was so aggressive, having raised other children who did not display such behaviour. The problem is often made worse because parents feel the shame of being victimised by their own children, and do not report it. A spokesman for the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Susan Hall is sadly playing politics with a serious issue. Parental abuse is a form of domestic abuse and the Mayor is doing everything in his power to tackle it. In the face of huge Government cuts he announced last week 15 million to help services that support women and girls who have been the victim of violence. He is also building record numbers of council, social rented, and genuinely affordable homes despite the Brexit and economic uncertainty. Holly Albert, 30, has been charged with second-degree assault after throwing a house phone at her mother's head in Potomac, Maryland A 30-year-old woman has been arrested for throwing a phone at her mother's head because she wouldn't drive her to a yoga class. Holly Albert, who is unemployed, has been charged with second-degree assault over the bloody incident at her family home in Potomac, Maryland. Albert, who was only arrested last month despite the incident occurring 18 months ago, left her mother bleeding profusely from the head following the ordeal. Her mother had called 911 to report the domestic violence incident. Police arrived to find the mother wearing a blood-soaked shirt with her hair matted down, according to court documents obtained by ABC7. She told officers that Albert had wanted to go to a yoga class but she became furious when she refused to drive her daughter there. Albert allegedly started shouting insults before grabbing the house phone and throwing it at her mother's head. Her mother suffered a huge cut on her head that caused a 'large amount of bleeding'. She used that same phone to call 911 while her daughter left the house. Police arrived at the family's home to find the mother wearing a blood-soaked shirt with her hair matted down. She had suffered a huge cut to her head when she was struck by the phone A warrant for Albert's arrest was issued that day but she was only arrested in February. It is not clear why she wasn't taken into custody sooner. Even though she initially called 911 to report the incident, Albert's mother filed a statement with the court urging a judge to allow the 30-year-old to continue living in the family home. 'I freely state that at all times since those events, up to the present, Holly Anne has lived with me and her father without any incident or reason whatsoever that would cause either of us to fear for our safety or well-being,' Albert's mother wrote. 'Moreover, I believe that it is in Holly Anne's best interest that she continue to reside with us, rather than have to make other living arrangements pending a future trial date. 'Holly Anne is currently unemployed and we are providing her with financial and other support at this time. It is Holly Anne's wish and decision to address and resolve the subject proceeding, and to that end she is voluntarily surrendering herself to the outstanding warrant. 'Knowing Holly Anne as I do, I am confident that she intends to appear at every court date necessary to bring this matter to a close.' Albert was released on an unsecured bond and is due to face Montgomery County District Court on March 19. Gibraltar's British status is to be protected under a tax deal which will apply even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it has been claimed. A source with ties to the Rock's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo says an agreement has been reached between the British, Gibraltese and Spanish authorities which will keep Spanish hands off the territory. The deal will reportedly remain sacrosanct even in a no-deal situation, despite previous attempts by the Spanish to use this as a bargaining lever. The Sunday Express reported their source as saying: 'The Spanish cabinet is to agree measures to apply in no deal and sign a tax agreement with the UK in relation to Gibraltar.' A question mark has hung over Gibraltar's sovereignty since the Brexit vote, as it remains wedded to the EU bloc despite its British sovereignty The agreement is expected to be signed on Monday and Picardo is expected to speak publicly on the deal next week. The British and Gibraltese governments have declined to comment on the agreement. Spain said on Friday it would allow British citizens living in the country to stay on if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal, giving them until the end of 2020 to apply for permanent residency and making it automatic for many. With less than a month until Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, UK Prime Minister Theresa May has yet to convince parliament to back the Brexit deal she negotiated. That leaves open the possibility of an abrupt exit with no agreement. Spain has one of the largest British expat communities in the EU and has been at pains to reassure them that their rights will be protected after Brexit. Spain's Brexit contingency plan makes clear that measures agreed by Spain would be conditional on the same terms applying to Spaniards living and working in Britain. 'Our main objective is that no British or Spanish citizen is left unprotected, neither they nor their relatives,' Foreign Minister Josep Borrell told a news conference. Spain plans at first to allow British nationals to stay if they hold a simple certificate of residency delivered to them, as to any other EU citizen, before Britain's exit, Spain's draft decree published on Friday showed. If they don't hold such a document, they can still stay on until their situation is resolved. The Rock's Chief Minister is expected to make an announcement next week on the historic agreement British nationals and their families would then have to apply for a foreigner's identity card by the end of 2020, to establish their permanent right to stay in the country. If they already had permanent residency rights in Spain, the process will be 'nearly automatic,' the draft decree said. In other cases, temporary residency will be granted. More than 300,000 British citizens are registered in Spain and an unknown number unregistered, the Spanish government said. The new residency process would apply to about 400,000 people, it estimated. The Brexit contingency legislation also applies to Gibraltar, Borrell said, while stressing that Madrid will insist on having a say on the application of any Brexit measure to the peninsula. The bill will be sent immediately to parliament, before Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government faces early elections. The Spanish government approved a decree last month to hire 1,735 new public workers to deal with the consequences of Brexit, particularly in border and customs control. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrive for dinner at the Royal Palace in honor to wedding of HRH Crown Prince Leka II of The Albanians and Miss Elia Zaharia A company owned by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent turned over 1.3 million in the past three years yet paid no tax. Accounts for Cantium Services, an umbrella firm for the couples commercial activities, show that it made a gross profit of 416,348 in 2018, 497,634 the previous year and 426,293 in 2016 adding up to a total of 1,340,275. But its costs were so high that it actually recorded net losses and therefore, the documents add, no liability to [pay] UK corporation tax arises. Although not liable for tax, Cantium also an ancient name for Kent and parts of neighbouring counties has paid more than 440,000 in salaries to its five members of staff, and spent over 100,000 on entertaining and travel, including leasing cars, in the past two years. Prince and Princess Michael, who were for years allowed to rent a plush Kensington Palace apartment for just 69 a week, do not receive funds from the Civil List. Prince Michael, 76, who is the Queens cousin, works as a business consultant, offering advice to the construction, telecommunications, insurance, finance and tourism industries. His 74-year-old wife, nicknamed Princess Pushy because of her supposedly assertive personality, has written books and earns money as a public speaker. While there is no suggestion of any impropriety, the couple may find renewed scrutiny of their financial affairs uncomfortable. In addition to criticism over the cost of their Kensington Palace home for which they now pay 120,000 a year, it emerged in 2012 that Prince Michael had received 320,000 from the controversial exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky through offshore accounts. A huge leak of banking documents three years ago showed the couple had a secret Swiss bank account. They have consistently denied any wrongdoing and insist the account was closed in 2009. In 2005, the couple were embarrassed when an undercover reporter recorded them describing Princess Diana as nasty and saying Prince Charles was jealous of his ex-wifes popularity. They have also faced allegations of trading on their titles earning them the nickname Rent-a-Kents. Cantiums earning ability will certainly be appreciated in what is likely to be an expensive year. Their daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, is to marry businessman Thomas Kingston at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on May 18. A spokesman for the Kents declined to comment. Fathers-to-be who shout at their pregnant partners could damage their unborn childs hearing, scientists believe. According to researchers, verbal abuse during pregnancy is linked to an almost 50 per cent increase in the risk of hearing problems in the baby. According to researchers, verbal abuse during pregnancy is linked to an almost 50 per cent increase in the risk of hearing problems in the baby One theory is that a loud, non-maternal voice causes discomfort to the foetus and hinders the development of the hearing system. The researchers, from Kochi Medical School in Japan, told the journal Child Abuse And Neglect: Verbal abuse should be avoided during pregnancy to preserve the newborns auditory functioning. President Trump complained about the cost of annual military drills after his second summit with Kim ended without any agreement in Hano The defense ministers stated that ending the drills was to help reduce tensions and help bring about full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo concluded the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises South Korea and the US are ending their massive springtime military drills as part of efforts to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision will likely raise worries about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the recently failed summit between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Pentagon said in a release the US and South Korean defense chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programs. Marines of the US and South Korea during a joint military combined exercise in Pohang, South Korea Tweet from Acting Secretary of Defense Pat Shanahan regarding the ending of the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of springtime joint military exercises with South Korea Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo 'made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner,' the statement said. Seoul's Defense Ministry released a similar statement. After his second summit with Kim ended without any agreement in Hanoi on Thursday, Trump complained about the cost of annual military drills. 'It's a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too,' Trump said. President Trump (left) shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (right) before a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 27 Following his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June, Trump also suspended the allies' summertime military drills, calling them 'very provocative' and 'massively expensive'. The US and South Korea also have suspended a few other smaller joint drills. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has described them as a rehearsal for invasion and responded with its own costly military exercises. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. The images of Ceon Broughton, who was last week found guilty of the manslaughter of his girlfriend Louella Fletcher-Michie, 24, and of giving her the hallucinogenic drug 2C-P, appear on the website of Stone Island Modelling shots of the man convicted of killing the daughter of Holby City star John Michie are being used by an upmarket fashion retailer, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The images of Ceon Broughton, who was last week found guilty of the manslaughter of his girlfriend Louella Fletcher-Michie, 24, and of giving her the hallucinogenic drug 2C-P, appear on the website of Stone Island. They were taken during a shoot for the fashion giants 2015 clothing range, which was a collaboration with American brand Supreme. In one image, Broughton has his arm around a woman to market lurid anoraks costing up to 1,000. Broughton gave the deadly drug to Miss Fletcher-Michie at the Bestival music festival in Dorset in September 2017. He filmed her agony on his phone but did nothing to help and she died just an hour before her 25th birthday. During the trial, Mr Michie, who has also appeared in Taggart and Casualty, described him as evil. Broughton, known also by his rapper name CeonRPG, worked at a branch of Supreme in Soho, Central London, about five years ago. Part of the Laigon Life rap group, the 30-year-old was closely linked with grime artist Skepta. Excuse Me, Broughtons biggest hit on music-streaming service Spotify, has about 550,000 plays. Broughton, who was jailed last week for eight-and-a-half years, has posted images of himself with Skepta and other members of Laigon Life on his Instagram site. In one, he is seen in a shop-window poster in Reykjavik modelling clothing. A year after Miss Fletcher-Michies death, he posted a photo on Instagram of the pair together at Bestival with the message: You gone but never forgotten, missing you. Stone Island did not respond to requests for a comment. A graphic novelist has been ordered to pay $41.6 million to the family of the fiancee he killed and mutilated in a brutal slaying that mirrored the plot to his gruesome graphic book. Blake Leibel was told he must give Iana Kasian's loved ones the sum after he was found guilty of torturing and murdering his Ukrainian fiancee, who had given birth to his daughter just weeks before. Leibel, a millionaire property heir, drained all the blood from her body and removed her scalp. He was sentenced to life in prison in June 2018. Kasian's autopsy report says parts of the right side of the 30-year-old's face - including her ear - were torn off in the brutal slaying, before she died in May 2016. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bobbi Tillmon delivered the verdict after Iana's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, The Los Angeles Times reports. Blake Leibel was told he must give Iana Kasian's family $41.6 million. The millionaire property heir drained all the blood from Iana's body and removed her scalp Iana had given birth to Leibel's daughter just weeks before he brutally killed her Prosecutors argued that Syndrome had become his 'blueprint' for the horrific murder The novel begins with the foreword: 'If you loved hurting things, what would you do?' and ends with an image of a hand dripping blood and the caption: 'In the end, we all become monsters' Jake Finkel, an attorney representing her family, said: 'This murder didn't just kill one person, it really did kill the family, it shattered the family. And the family has had a hard time crawling back from this. 'The most precious thing to take away from a little girl, from a woman, is her mother. [Diana's] mother was taken away from her before she even got a real chance to learn about her, get to know her. 'At one point, she's going to learn about the reality of her mother, and what happened to her, and her biological father and what he did to her mother.' The money would allow Iana's mother Olga to raise her granddaughter, who turns three in May, the way her daughter would have wanted in Ukraine, Finkel said. Dr. James Ribe of the L.A. County Coroner's Office said Iana's 'entire scalp was traumatically absent and was not found, was not present with the body. 'Her skull had been stripped down to the surface of the bone. There was no scalp present except for little bits in the back of the neck.' When officers finally broke into Leibel's apartment in May 2016, looking for Kasian, her naked body was found - mutilated, drained of blood, and covered with a red Mickey Mouse blanket, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Investigators found bits of flesh inside the bedroom, and part of Kasian's scalp and her ear were found in a trash bin at the bottom of the garbage chute outside the home, NBC reported. The money will allow Iana's mother Olga, left, to raise her granddaughter, center held by her mom Iana, the way her daughter would have wanted in Ukraine. Blake Leibel is right Blake Leibel was sentenced to life in prison in June 2018 for the May 2016 killing Kasian's autopsy report says parts of the right side of the 30-year-old's face - including her ear - were torn off in the brutal slaying. She was found covered with a red Mickey Mouse blanket Prosecutors said that Leibel had become jealous of the attention Kasian gave to their newborn The Los Angeles Department of the Medical Examiner ruled that the woman's cause of death was exsanguination, the act of draining a person of blood. Leibel, 37, had tried to keep police out of the apartment by barricading the door. During Leibel's trial, pathologists testified the horrific murder set a precedent in terms of the brutality and grisliness of Kasian's injuries. Graphic images of the scene and of Kasian were shown to the jury, as were images from a graphic novel called Syndrome, which Leibel helped to create in 2010. Prosecutors argued that Syndrome had become his 'blueprint' for the horrific murder. In the novel, a scientist tries to find a way to cure people of evil. One page displays a woman, lying naked on a bed with no head. The novel begins with the foreword: 'If you loved hurting things, what would you do?' and ends with an image of a hand dripping blood and the caption: 'In the end, we all become monsters'. Prosecutors District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef and her co-counsel, Deputy DA Beth Silverman argued the 37-year-old had mirrored elements of the novel in Kasian's murder. Silverman told the court there were no words to describe the depravity of Leibel's actions and the extremity of the violence. 'This was depravity. Ms. Kasian died a slow and painful death,' she said. The Ukrainian attorney had moved to Los Angeles to work as an interpreter Blake moved to California in 2004 and lived off an allowance from his parents that reportedly totaled $1.8m in seven years Leibel, 37, had tried to keep police out of the apartment by barricading the door During Leibel's trial, pathologists testified the horrific murder set a precedent in terms of the brutality and grisliness of Kasian's injuries Leibels father, Lorne, made a fortune in the home building boom of the 1980s and 90s as the president of Canada Homes, once described as the nations largest home builder. He also sailed for Team Canada in the 1976 Olympics and has since raced both boats and vintage cars, according to The Toronto Star. His mother, Eleanor Leibel, was the daughter of Paul and Leona Chitel. The Chitel family founded Alros Products Ltd, a plastics company based in Toronto that does business as Polytarp, The National Post reported. Blake moved to California in 2004 and lived off an allowance from his parents that totaled $1.8million in seven years, according to reports. He married, had a son before filing for divorce from Amanda Braun in July 2015. Just a month later, Kasian fell pregnant with his child. The Ukrainian attorney had moved to Los Angeles to work as an interpreter, immigrating to the US in 2014. Prosecutors said that Leibel had become jealous of the attention Kasian gave to their newborn daughter. Spending just 20 minutes in an urban park will make a person happier regardless of whether theyre exercising, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a study which found that urban parks allow users to experience the natural environment, which in turn yields physical and mental health benefits including stress reduction and recovery from mental fatigue. The study and its findings were published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. Overall, we found park visitors reported an improvement in emotional well-being after the park visit, said Hon K. Yuen, the studys principal investigator. Researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (above) conducted a study which found that spending 20 minutes in a public park improves mood However, we did not find levels of physical activity are related to improved emotional well-being. Instead, we found time spent in the park is related to improved emotional well-being. The studys authors said that even those who are unable to perform physical activities due to aging or disability can still derive benefits from visiting urban parks. The authors collected data from 98 adults who visited one of three urban parks in Mountain Brook, Alabama - Overton, Jemison, and Cahaba River Walk. The three parks were chosen because they are the three main public parks in Mountain Brook, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The authors of the study collected data from 98 adults who visited local parks in Mountain Brook, Alabama, including Overton Park (seen above) The feedback from the adults led researchers to conclude that green spaces in urban environments promote emotional well-being and that more of them are necessary. There is increasing pressure on green space within urban settings, said Gavin Jenkins, the studys co-author. Planners and developers look to replace green space with residential and commercial property. The challenge facing cities is that there is an increasing evidence about the value of city parks but we continue to see the demise of theses spaces. If you have recipes or tips to share, or a request, send to Conversations with Gin, P.O. Box 334, Clute TX 77531 or email ginscolumn@hotmail.com. Central American migrant parents deported by the United States are demanding asylum and to be reunited with the children from whom they were separated. The parents who were forcibly sent back to Central America after illegally crossing into the U.S. last year with their children are asking American authorities to allow them to rejoin their kids. The 29 parents sought asylum this past month, getting help from immigration lawyers, religious leaders, and aid groups, according to NBC News. One Guatemalan man who says he was separated from his child waited seven hours on Saturday for information from U.S. immigration officials. Time doesnt matter, the man said. Our love for our child has no price. Central American migrants at the Mexicali border crossing react as they wait to enter the U.S., asking for refuge and to be reunited with their children. They were separated from them by immigration authorities when crossing into the United States illegally last year Central American migrants are pictured as they wait to enter the U.S. Some of the parents have not seen their children for a year In total, the 29 parents are waiting to be reunited with 27 children who are in U.S. custody. The youngest child is five years of age. In total, the 29 parents are waiting to be reunited with 27 children who are in U.S. custody. The youngest child is five years of age. A number of parents have been separated from their children for nearly a year. Aid groups said the longest separation is 14 months. Immigration advocacy organizations said that a few of the children are in detention centers, while others have been sent either to relatives or foster families. The parents presented themselves at the port of entry in Mexicali, Mexico and asked for asylum, but U.S. border agents told them they had reached capacity and could not allow them to enter the country. The CBP says they're at capacity, Sandra Cordero, director of Families Belong Together, said. The parents presented themselves at the port of entry in Mexicali, Mexico and asked for asylum, but U.S. border agents told them they had reached capacity and could not allow them to enter the country This couple had just married on Friday night. They are hoping to be processed for asylum so they can be reunited with their 14-year-old daughter Elmer Gomez and his pregnant wife are seen above. They are trying to re-enter the U.S. to be reunited with their daughter The Trump administration may have separated 'thousands' more immigrant children from their parents than previously known but inadequate record-keeping means the exact number is still unclear, an internal watchdog said in January But they're not giving us information on what that capacity is. We're staying. Later in the day, however, Customs and Border Protection began to process the parents asylum claims five at a time. The Trump administration may have separated 'thousands' more immigrant children from their parents than previously known but inadequate record-keeping means the exact number is still unclear, an internal watchdog said in January. The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the agency had identified many more children in addition to the 2,737 that were included as part of a class action lawsuit challenging the separations brought by the American Civil Liberties Union last year. The administration implemented a 'zero tolerance' policy to criminally prosecute and jail all illegal border crossers even those traveling with their children, leading to a wave of separations last year. But the auditor said in a report that prior to the officially announced policy the government had ramped up separations for other reasons related to a child's safety and well-being, including separating parents with criminal records or lack of proper documents. Those separations were only tracked informally, making it impossible for the auditor to know the exact number. A man who allegedly fled the scene of a high-speed crash that left a 12-year-old boy dead and his family members fighting for life has been charged with dangerous driving causing death. John Pagakis, 34, was allegedly speeding in his Holden Commodore when he became airborne and crashed into six stationary cars after exiting the M2 freeway in Baulkham Hills, north-west Sydney, about 7pm on Saturday. Pagakis was arrested about 3.30am on Sunday, about eight-hours after the crash at a house on The Circle, Narraweena, on Sydney's northern beaches. Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Kernin Lambert described the scene as 'absolutely horrific' (pictured: is the driver of the car, John Pagakis, 34) He was charged with ten dangerous driving and speeding charges and subsequently refused bail. The boy, 12, who was sitting in the back seat of his family's Holden Captiva, died at the scene. His 38-year-old father, who was driving the car and was not injured, screamed 'my son, my son' when he discovered his son would not survive. His mother, 36, and five-year-old sister, who were also in the car, are in critical condition in Westmead hospital. The driver of a Toyota Corolla, a 65-year-old man, and his female passenger, 58, were also taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries. The occupants of the other four cars were uninjured, but taken to Westmead for mandatory testing before being discharged. Rebecca Simpson, who was a witness at the scene, described the father's emotional turmoil following the crash. 'He was in hysterics, he was screaming about his son,' she told Nine News. A 12-year-old boy, who was sitting in the back seat of a Holden Captiva, was pronounced dead at the scene. His five-year-old sister is in a critical but stable condition in hospital (pictured together) Another witness, Brett Simpson said: 'The first thing I saw, the car in my rear-view mirror off the ground and I heard the crash obviously, next thing and then it was just chaos'. Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Kernin Lambert described the scene as 'absolutely horrific'. 'We had to cut five people out of their vehicles,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'It was an extremely severe collision. People are fighting for their lives. We have been trying to keep people alive.' A witness who arrived at the scene after hearing the helicopters flying over his house told Seven News there was 'commotion everywhere'. A total of six people were injured in the collision (pictured) Pagakis (pictured) was arrested at about 3.30am on Sunday, hours after he allegedly fled the scene 'This one car probably got hit every angle of the car,' he said. 'It was too hard to see cause there were so many ambulances and fire brigades and they began to put tarps up'. His mother, Demitra, described the incident as a nightmare but defended her son's character. 'He's a good boy, he's sensible, he wouldn't do anything like that deliberately. It's been a nightmare... I just want to sleep,' she said. Australia's former prime minister Tony Abbott has been ridiculed by trade experts after saying Britain would experience no problems if the country left the European Union without a deal. Britain is scheduled to leave on March 29, but Prime Minister Theresa May faces pulling the country out of the EU without an agreement after her proposed deal was shot down by MPs in January. Mr Abbott, writing in a column for The Spectator, said the country would struggle with 'at most a few months of inconvenience' and any difficulties would quickly pass if no deal was reached. Tony Abbott (pictured) has been ridiculed by trade experts after saying Britain would experience no problems if the country left the European Union without a deal In his column's opening paragraph, Mr Abbott mocked those who feared the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. 'Apparently the country that saw off Hitler, the Kaiser, Napoleon and the Spanish Armada is now paralysed with fear at the very thought of leaving the EU,' he said. But former World Trade Organisation negotiator for Australia, Dmitry Grozoubinski, accused the former prime minister of attempting to frame a policy debate as a 'challenge to Britain's manhood'. Mr Grozoubinski also criticised Abbott for assuring the British public there would be 'no consequences to tearing up the world's most advanced trade arrangement with its nearest neighbors'. The criticism of Mr Abbott's stance on the issue was also echoed in the same newspaper by Henry Newman, the director of think tank Open Europe. Mr Newman said it was 'absurd' to suggest no deal wouldn't be a problem. Britain is scheduled to leave on March 29, but prime minister Theresa May (pictured) faces pulling the country out of the EU without an agreement after her proposed deal was shot down by MPs in January The writer for Conservative Home, a centre-right political blog, said the decision would destabilise Ms May's government. He added that such withdrawal terms could result in Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, stepping into the role of prime minister. Abbott also referenced Australia's no-deal relationship with the EU, saying the union was the country's second-biggest trade partner. Mr Abbott said Brexit without a deal would mean 'at most a few months of inconvenience', but he was roundly criticised by a former WTO negotiator (pictured) Mr Grozoubinski also criticised Abbott for assuring the British public there would be 'no consequences to tearing up the world's most advanced trade arrangement ' 'As a former prime minister of a country that has a perfectly satisfactory "no deal" relationship with the EU, let me assure you: no deal would be no problem,' he said. Mr Abbott also criticised the 'neurotic anxiety of the official political class about leaving the European project, which they see somehow as a civilising force'. The member for Warringah's column was also published by British pub chain Wetherspoons in their in-house magazine. In recent weeks, Mr Abbott has been busy campaigning in his electorate in an attempt to fend off independent challenger Zali Steggall ahead of the next election. Stafford Emmerson (pictured), 40, has been charged with murdering 40-year-old mother Megan Kirley The man charged with shooting a mother dead inside her own home had allegedly been hoarding weapons when police arrested him. Stafford Emmerson, 40, was charged on Saturday following investigations into the death of 40-year-old Megan Kirley. Police allege the pair were not known to one another, nor was there any relationship between Emmerson and Ms Kirley's boyfriend, Pieter Pickering. Mr Pickering found her body inside her rural property in Karawatha, an outer suburb of Brisbane, on February 9. He was planning to propose to her on Valentine's Day, later in the week. During a conference after charges were laid, Queensland Police said tip-offs from members of the public were crucial to the investigation. When police arrived at the property, he was allegedly found with an arsenal of weapons, The Courier Mail reported. Police allege Mr Emmerson was with Ms Kirley on the morning of her death and that he 'actively avoided' authorities in the weeks after. Ms Kirley (pictured) was shot dead in the early hours of Saturday morning Detective Inspector Craig Morrow previously said detectives believed 'he was present at the time of the shooting' and were searching neighbourhoods he was known to frequent. Police previously claimed the man had no known address, but have since confirmed he is from Acacia Ridge. He was charged with one count of murder and is expected to front Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, March 4. Police are still examining CCTV footage of the surrounding areas and working to identify people or vehicles from the area. Ms Kirley's boyfriend Pieter Pickering (pictured), 43, said his 'whole world' was destroyed. He had planned to propose to her that week on Valentine's Day Mr Pickering, who ran triple-zero at 3.16am after discovering Ms Kirley's body, has posted a series of tributes to his late partner since the tragedy. 'Somebody help me my Megs is gone ... my whole world is destroyed,' he wrote on Facebook. When friends asked what had happened, he replied bluntly: 'My Mrs was shot on Friday night.' He added that Ms Kirley, a passionate motorcyclist and one-time council worker, was the 'greatest woman this world was ever graced with'. 'I loved her so much and planned to ask her to marry me on Valentine's Day,' Mr Pickering said. 'I'm lost now she is gone. A schoolboy who could not get into an oversubscribed London state school and was instead offered a place at a 'failing' secondary has landed an Eton College scholarship after becoming a rowing sensation. Schuyler Audley-Williams, now 14, secured a spot at one of Britain's most elite public schools by smashing two British records in less than a year of taking to the water. And the Eton boarder, who grew up on the White City Estate in Hammersmith, has now set his sights on the equally prestigious Oxbridge universities. Schuyler Audley-Williams, now 14, smashed two age group British records shortly after learning to row at Fulham Reach Boat Club The rower (pictured speaking to broadcaster Andrew Cotter at a Boat Race event) missed out on his state school choices and was educated at home, during which time he discovered his talent for the sport He told the Telegraph: 'I am so glad I found rowing. It has helped me massively in terms of focus and my confidence. 'It has also opened so many doors for me. I never expected to get anywhere like Eton - it wasn't even in the corner of my mind.' When Schuyler missed out on all of his preferred state schools, his parents decided to home-school him after the only alternative he was offered was one deemed 'failing' by Ofsted. But free from the confines of the classroom he discovered a talent for rowing when his father, Harry, took him to the Fulham Reach Boat Club. The west London charity aims to 'unlock the potential of young people through rowing' by giving free lessons to state school children. The Eton boarder has now set his sights on the Oxbridge universities It was in the shadow of Hammersmith Bridge on the Thames where Schuyler trained to become the eventual under-12 British record holder in two divisions. His success as an athlete led Eton College, which usually charges in excess of 40,000 per year, to offer the then 12-year-old a scholarship. When Schuyler leaves the school he will join a long list of Old Etonians which includes the likes of Boris Johnson, Princes William and Harry and four-time Olympic rowing gold medalist, Sir Matthew Pinsent. And like many Etonians, he will try to secure a place at either Oxford or Cambridge universities. In 2015, the school sent 61 from 261 boys to Oxbridge and Schuyler hopes that his rowing accolades will help him win a place. Back on the Thames at the Fulham Reach Boat Club where the Eton schoolboy first picked up an oar, the charity is trying to help more pupils at state schools gain spots at top universities. It has launched a new scheme to twin London schools with Oxford and Cambridge to 'demystify Oxbridge' and persuade more state school students to apply. Her son Ewan Hope called on the Russian President 'as a human being' to give his mother justice she deserves Ms Sturgess, 44, died in July and partner Charlie Rowley is suffering from exposure to the nerve agent Dawn Sturgess fell critically ill after handling bottle believed to have been used to transport the chemical The Russian novichok attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury unfolded a year ago Advertisement The son of Salisbury novichok attack victim Dawn Sturgess has urged Vladimir Putin to hand over the Russian hitmen suspected of killing her. On the eve of the first anniversary of the incident, Ewan Hope appealed directly to the Russian president 'as a human being' to afford his mother the justice she deserves and allow British investigators to speak to the suspects. His call for cooperation from Russia in the murder probe comes after Ms Sturgess's partner, Charlie Rowley, said he wants 'someone to pay for what they've done'. Ewan Hope has appealed directly to the Russian president 'as a human being' to afford his mother (pictured right) the justice she deserves and allow British investigators to speak to the suspects Police are hunting two Russian GRU agents, named as Alexander Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga, over the chemical weapons attack Celebrating: Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2016 at their favourite restaurant, Zizzi - the last place they visited before falling ill that fateful Sunday last year The pair fell critically ill in June after handling a perfume bottle believed to have been used to transport the chemical weapon used in the botched assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 4 2018. Ms Sturgess, 44, never recovered and died in July, while Mr Rowley, 45, says he continues to suffer from the long-term effects of exposure to the nerve agent. In his open letter to Mr Putin published by the Sunday Mirror, Mr Hope said: 'The British police believe at least two Russian citizens were responsible for her death but it appears they are being protected by your state. 'I am appealing to you as a human being to allow our officers to question these men about my mother's murder. The least she deserves is justice.' Mr Hope told the Sunday Mirror: 'Putin needs to give up these killers... We've lost our mum and all we want is justice. He should be able to understand that.' On Friday Mr Skripal's house and 11 other potentially contaminated sites were ruled safe after a 355-day clean-up operation. During the course of the year-long operation, almost 800 specially trained military personnel, including the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear regiment, have been involved in the clean-up. Wiltshire Police revealed 1,200 officers from 40 different forces have been sent to help cover the 20 cordons. Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: 'Whilst (it) marks an important landmark in relation to the decontamination process, it does not however mark the end to the police investigation.' Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his meeting with Russian participants of the 29th Winter Universiade at Platinum Arena on March 3, 2019 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Dawn Sturgess's son has appealed directly to the Russian president 'as a human being' The procession of Salisbury city councilors and other representatives of Salisbury City Council make their way from Guildhall Square to St Thomas's Church today. A service was held at the parish church for the city this morning by Reverend Kelvin Inglis to remember the victims of the attacks and how Salisbury has moved on since Slide me The police presence outside Zizzi's restaurant on Wednesday March 7, 2018. And pictured today with no police and the wall has been painted white. In the hours before they were found, Mr Skripal and his daughter enjoyed a drink in Greene King-owned pub The Mill and a meal at Italian chain restaurant Zizzis Slide me A police cordon at the grave of Sergei Skripal's son Alexander pictured on March 8, 2018. A year on there is no trace of the police activity which devastated families who were unable to visit the graves of loved ones while decontamination work was carried out Slide me Police cordon at the Maltings shopping centre on March 6, 2018. Today shoppers are happily getting on with their day without a police presence. Former Russian special forces colonel Mr Skripal and his daughter were found in The Maltings shopping precinct, was cordoned off for 82 days Some 250 detectives have worked on the investigation, collecting 11,000 hours of CCTV footage, seizing 3,700 exhibits and taking 1,702 statements. Counter Terrorism Policing senior national co-coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, said officers were 'determined to bring to justice' those responsible. In September, Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence to charge two Russian nationals named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with offences including conspiracy to murder over the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Britain to boost chemical defence Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a new pot of funding to prepare for more chemical-style Salisbury poisoning attacks. The money will be spent on deploying drones into potentially hazardous areas, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. Mr Williamson said: 'After the Novichok attack in Salisbury a year ago, the nation turned to the Armed Forces and expert scientists. From the investigation to the clean-up, the military and everyone involved in the operation have worked tirelessly to decontaminate the streets of Salisbury. 'Britain and its allies have also demonstrated that they will take a stand against the use of chemical weapons, from the sanctions enforced on Russia following the reckless use of Novichok to the strikes against the chemicals used by Syrian regime.' Advertisement It was subsequently reported by Bellingcat that Mr Boshirov was actually highly decorated Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga, and Mr Petrov was a military doctor called Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin. Despite assertions from the police that efforts are continuing to bring those behind the attack to justice, Mr Hope said he feels 'betrayed and let down by the Government'. The Skripals have been under police protection since they were discharged from hospital, while Ms Sturgess's family have not had the support they need, he told the paper. He added: 'I feel the Government just wants to move on, but we can't because we haven't got justice for Mum. Until we do, we can't get closure.' A Defra spokesman said: 'The completion of clean-up work at Christie Miller Road, Salisbury marks a significant milestone in south Wiltshire's return to normality following the sickening Novichok nerve agent attack last year. 'The property was declared safe following extensive cleaning and testing by specialist teams. Wiltshire Council will shortly begin to co-ordinate work to refurbish the property, with residents of Christie Miller Road consulted on its future use.' Alistair Cunningham, chairman of the south Wiltshire recovery co-ordinating group, said this was a 'significant moment' for the area which can now 'look to the future'. He added: 'Work will begin shortly to reconstruct and refurbish the house so it can return to being a home again. We are continuing to talk to the residents on the future of the property as it is important their views are taken into account on how it is used in the future. Environment minister Therese Coffey said the 'professionalism' of all those involved in the clean-up had been 'exemplary'. Russell Brand has finally apologised to the 33-year-old after he and Jonathan Ross broadcast rude phone calls to her Fawlty Towers grandfather, Andrew Sachs. The calls to the late actor's answerphone were aired on a BBC Radio 2 show and led to the resignation of Brand and a three-month suspension without pay for Ross. Now, 43-year-old Brand has had a 'face to face' meeting with Georgina Baillie, now 33, and said sorry for 'Sachsgate'. A source said that Russell Brand decided himself to go see the former 'Satanic Sluts' dancer 'Satanic Sluts' featuring Georgina Baillie (centre) in 2008, in the Kensington Olympia, London It is reported that the father-of-two even helped the actress financially, giving her thousands of pounds. Ms Baillie accepted Brand's apology. She has in the past admitted to having a wild lifestyle and has battled with drug addiction. Recent posts on her Facebook make reference to her battle with addiction and other personal issues. Ms Baillie accepted Brand's apology. She has in the past admitted to having a wild lifestyle Brand, 44, has recently had a 'face to face' meeting with Georgina Baillie (front) to apologise A source told The Sun: 'It is great what Russell is doing for her - but why the hell has it taken so long? She went through absolute hell when the scandal erupted, and has struggled since.' 'But, to be fair, when Russell was told Georgina was having a few problems, he did the right thing and went to see her.' The source also said that Brand decided himself to go see the former 'Satanic Sluts' dancer at her home in Burton, Staffordshire. Bailie is the granddaughter of actor Andrew Sachs, pictured right as Basil in Fault Towers with John Cleese. He died in November 2016 The source added that Brand admitted the whole 'Sachsgate' saga in 2008 was his fault What took him so long? All he ever had to do was call me,' Bailie allegedly said in response He lives in a 3.5million home in Henley, Oxon, with Laura Gallacher, sister of presenter Kirsty, and their two daughters. The source added that Brand admitted the whole saga was his fault and added that Ms Bailie accepted his apology but said afterwards: What took him so long? All he ever had to do was call me.' More than 30,000 Australians have called for Facebook to follow the lead of other social media platforms and ban anti-vaccination groups. Photo-sharing provider Pinterest blocked all searches related to vaccinations last month and Youtube has also removed adverts promoting anti-vaccination rhetoric. Brisbane software developer David Brand has now started a petition calling on Facebook to get rid of groups acting 'as an echo chamber reinforcing vaccine myths'. More than 30,000 Australians have called for Facebook to follow the lead of other social media platforms and ban anti-vaccination groups Mr Brand said he wanted to take on 'anti-vax propaganda'. 'The biggest mechanism for this propaganda to spread is Facebook,' the 31-year-old told News Corp. He said the anti-vaccine movement had grown in parallel with the social media platform's rise in popularity since 2008. 'If Facebook was to remove these pages or clamp down on them, it would make a massive difference,' he said. He said his petition, which has already gained more than 33,000 signatures, has seen particular success in recent months following a string of measles outbreaks across Australia. Facebook were sent a letter last month in the US by Republican congressman Adam Schiff asking them to to reveal what steps they were taking to provide medically accurate information One of Australia's largest anti-vaccination groups, Anti-Vaccination Australia, has more than 17,000 members and Mr Brand said he wanted to take on 'anti-vax propaganda' (stock image) A Facebook spokesman said the company had already worked to reduce health-related misinformation but was looking into making additional changes. The spokesman did not however comment on the Australian voices who had asked for change. In the past fortnight, urgent health warnings have been issued by bodies in New South Wales in Queensland after people were infected with the potentially deadly disease. Other measles cases in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT have also been identified. One of Australia's largest anti-vaccination groups, Anti-Vaccination Australia, has more than 17,000 members. Firefighters have warned that the inferno raging through east Victoria could be worse than the Black Saturday bushfires almost a decade ago. Lightning sparked the fires in Bunyip State Park, about 65km east of Melbourne, on Friday night. Authorities initially thought the fires could be maintained, but then four separate blazes merged into one, burning out of control and resulting in evacuation orders for more than 20 suburbs. At least five homes have been destroyed as the out-of-control blaze continues to threaten residents. Vic Emergency issued a dire emergency warning at 7pm on Sunday for suburbs located between Bunyip and Tonimbuk, from the south to the north, and Tynong North to Labertouche, from the east to the west. 'You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,' the warning said. 'It is too late to leave. Leaving now would be deadly.' Earlier on Sunday, residents in Bunyip, Budgeree, Dargo and Licola were forced to flee their homes as the fire continued to close in. Scroll down for video Vic Emergency issued a dire emergency warning at 7pm on Sunday for suburbs located between Bunyip and Tonimbuk, from the south to the north, and Tynong North to Labertouche, from the east to the west (pictured) 'You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,' the warning said CFA fire crew are seen along the Princes Highway outside of Bunyip in Victoria At least five homes have been destroyed by out-of-control bushfires in regional Victoria. More than 4000 hectares has been destroyed Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Officer Trevor Owen said the fire is more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people and were also sparked by a lightning strike. 'It's not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it's a matter of we will,' he said. 'Under those very strong conditions experienced on that day (in 2009), it travelled neatly, whilst it damaged some property it was a very narrow finger compared to what we're facing with this fire, because this fire has been growing,' Mr Owen told a community meeting in Pakenham today. The owner of Jinks Creek Winery on Tonimbuk Road, Andrew Clarke, told the Herald Sun he found out his property was lost while watching the news in a nearby cafe. 'We've lost our livelihood, we've lost horses, we've lost our whole vineyard, we've lost our whole cellar door,' he said. 'Everything we've worked for our entire life, it's all gone in a couple of hours. 'It's surreal. I'm too scared to go back to look at it.' Tina Forte, from Tonimbuk, about 70 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, is fearful her home, which has belonged to her family since the 1800s, has burned to the ground. 'I'm just really worried about the animals because we just had to run yesterday,' she told reporters on Sunday. Tina Forte, from Tonimbuk, about 70 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, is fearful her home has burned to the ground A former Country Fire Authority volunteer and farm girl has posted a desperate plea to Facebook about how to help horses amid the blaze Fire crews are seen in discussion along the Princes Highway as the fire continues to burn 'We don't sleep, we don't care about our house we care about our livestock,' she said. A former Country Fire Authority volunteer has posted a desperate plea to Facebook about how to help horses amid the blaze. If it's too late to evacuate, the post tells residents to turn off their electric fences and strip the horse. 'Strip them down to nothing, no halter, no rugs, no fly mask, Nothing!' the post shared by Animals Voice Equine and Canine Therapy said. 'We do not want the metal to burn or anything to get attached or caught.' 'Purple spray or horse make up or your makeup even! paint your phone number onto the horse.' The advice also urges horse owners to cut the their tail so it doesn't touch the ground. Country Fire Authority assistant chief officer Trevor Owen said the blaze is more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday fire which also started from a lightning strike 'It's not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it's a matter of we will,' he said A former Country Fire Authority volunteer and farm girl has posted a desperate plea to Facebook about how to help horses amid the blaze 'Open all gates but first! Move them to a paddock with the shortest amount of grass,' the post continues. 'Horses are not dumb, don't keep them trapped, allow them to run from fire.' The advice has been shared almost 4000 times and some said they followed similar instructions during the 2009 Black Saturday fires. Kiery-Anne Clissold, from Longwarry North, said it was the right decision to leave. 'You could see flames hundreds of feet high across the whole ridge and it'd just woosh up and the flames were reaching for the sky,' she said of the Bunyip blaze. Other residents have made the difficult decision to stay behind as the fire closes in. Steven Clarke, from Garfield, about 70 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, watched the fire from his property and has decided to stay the night despite an increase in wind. Some residents have made the difficult decision to stay behind as the fire closes in The owner of Jinks Creek Winery on Tonimbuk Road, Andrew Clarke, said he found out his property (pictured) was lost while watching the news in a nearby cafe He said the sun was blocked by smoke all day on Saturday. Frank Gibbons, the owner of Robin Hood Inn, in Drouin West, said he was fully booked out as people flocked for accommodation after fleeing fires. 'Last night we had pretty much all the rooms booked ... I reckon they might be sleeping on the bloody pool tables tonight,' he said on Sunday. Mr Gibbons, who survived the Black Saturday bushfires, said: 'I never thought I'd have to do this again,' as he hosed down the pub. About 25 fires continue to burn as of Sunday morning, with 400 firefighters battling the blazes At least five homes have been destroyed (pictured) as a result of the fires this weekend Premier Daniel Andrews urged residents to follow warnings from authorities at a press conference alongside Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp. 'Don't put yourself in harm's way and potentially add to the already considerable workload our firefighters have,' he said. There are about 19 fires still burning across the entire state of Victoria and about 4663 hectares of bushland has been burnt. The hot and windy conditions are expected to linger until Wednesday. Four fires have merged at Bunyip State Park near Tonimbik about 65km east of Melbourne A total fire ban has been put in place for Victoria as the temperatures begin to soar again The Bureau of Meteorology's senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said the conditions could get the best of those fighting the fires. 'This means that if we have fires in the landscape, they could challenge firefighters,' he said. 'This is the hottest start to autumn in 30 years, following the hottest summer on record.' A total fire ban is in place. Delaying Brexit would leave Britain stuck in a 'zombie world' without knowing which direction it was heading in, a minister warned today. Prisons Minister Rory Stewart lashed out at mooted plans to keep the UK in the EU past March 29, saying it opened up other outcomes that were not good for the country. He urged MPs to back Theresa May's Brexit deal after hardline Tory Brexiteers presented Theresa May with 'three tests' any agreement will have to pass in order for them to support it. Jacob Rees-Mogg's European Research Group presented peace terms to Geoffrey Cox, the Attorney General, in the latest sign that all but the most diehard eurosceptics are prepared to accept a deal. Mr Stewart told Sky's Ridge on Sunday: 'All those other options are worse than the PM's deal and I hope people are focusing on this. Prisons Minister Rory Stewart warned that delaying Brexit made it more likely there might be a general election or a deal eventually agreed that was not as good for the country as that which Mrs May is seeking The Prime Minister, pictured leaving church today, warned MPs that they would need to back her deal if they wanted to avoid a delay to Article 50 or to avoid a no-deal situation 'Because if you think that through, extension to Article 50, which is going to be a vote which would effectively give lets say a couple of month's extension, would resolve nothing. 'It would put us in a world in which we were still in a zombie world, not knowing where we were going. 'And it would increase the chance of other options. It increased the chance either of people pushing for general elections which wouldn't solve everything, for another referendum or it would push people towards a customs union which would stop us trading with the rest of the world.' In private talks the ERG called for a legally binding mechanism to escape the backstop, with a clear exit route and an unambiguous rewrite of the language in the Government's legal advice, the Sunday Times said. It comes after senior eurosceptics appeared to dramatically soften their insistence that the Withdrawal Agreement must be rewritten to remove the Northern Irish border backstop provision. They included Mr Rees-Mogg and even the Democratic Unionist Party, who seem to have been startled by moves by MPs to delay Brexit to avoid leaving without a deal. The move by the ERG came as the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned that a Brexit delay is now 'unavoidable' even if MPs back a deal next week. Barnier backed up the private positions of many of the Remainers in Theresa May's Cabinet by saying she does not have time to make a deal. Theresa May has threatened MPs in recent weeks to back her 'meaningful vote' on March 12 or risk further delaying Brexit or a no-deal scenario. Barnier told Spain's El Mundo that Brussels would not green light a Brexit deal on March 29 even if Parliament reached an agreement. The EU's chief negotiator has slapped down Mrs May's notion of securing a withdrawal by March 29, suggesting she take a two month extension Mr Barnier suggested a 'technical extension' of up to two months would be needed. Referencing a technical extension, Mr Barnier added: 'But you'll have to ask the United Kingdom. If there is a vote on the 12th and it takes two months to carry out the procedure, it would be justified.' Mrs May has said that if her deal is rejected by Parliament, MPs will be able to vote on whether the UK can leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, and if that is rejected, the Commons can decide on whether to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit for a limited period. But International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said that there may be 'no option' but to delay leaving. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: 'It would be very unfortunate were that to happen. 'But, if we have no option, in order to deliver a smooth Brexit, then so be it.' Today the leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a joint warning to the Prime Minister over colleagues they believe are poised to delay or block Article 50 altogether. The pair write in the Sunday Telegraph: 'The active pursuit of a delay to Brexit - with no purpose beyond frustration - is a betrayal of the referendum result.' They say this would be an 'irretrievable breach of trust' to those who voted Brexit but also warned against the ruptures that would be caused by a no-deal. Tory MP George Eustice, who quit as a minister last week in protest at the PM's Brexit stance, told Sky News: 'If Parliament cannot accept this deal we have to have the confidence and the courage as a country to walk away first and talk after. 'The other thing about no deal is that it doesn't mean no deal forever more. 'It's a bit of a misnomer. No deal, probably, in effect means an informal transition period for nine months.' The news comes as Mr Barnier said Brussels was ready to give further 'guarantees, assurances and clarifications' that the Irish backstop should only be temporary. The backstop has been a sticking point for Brexiteers who see it as undermining the very sovereignty the UK stands to gain through leaving the EU. Mr Barnier insisted that the controversial measure, intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, will not be removed from the Withdrawal Agreement. While acknowledging Brexiteer concerns that the backstop is a trap that would keep the UK tied to the EU indefinitely, Mr Barnier insisted it is only 'insurance' intended for the 'worst-case scenario'. Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, Mr Barnier said: 'We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU. 'This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary.' The guarantees in question could come as an adjunct to the Withdrawal Agreement in the form of an 'interpretive document', he said. EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier attends a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Austria last week Mrs May is facing divisions across the House and in her own Cabinet as she struggles to get her deal over the line What is the 'Cox Codicil'? What is a 'codicil'? A legal term for an extra document attached to a treaty - a bit like an appendix. What does this one try to do? It won't be clear unless and until it is published, but reports suggest Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is negotiating a codicil on how the backstop works. The obvious intention will be to make clear the backstop can only be temporary. Will it work? Unclear. The EU already says the backstop is supposed to be temporary and that language already in the divorce treaty says so. Cox's legal advice on the original deal was despite this language, if there is no future UK-EU trade deal there was nothing to stop the backstop lasting forever. The intention appears to be negotiating something that allows Cox to change his legal advice. Advertisement However the EU will not allow for a time limit to be placed on the backstop or give Britain the right to unilaterally pull out of it, Mr Barnier added. The development came as the president of Slovenia suggested the country and many other EU states would be willing to accept a short delay to Brexit. Borut Pahor, who sat on the European Council of leaders when he was prime minister, told Sky News: 'I think Slovenia and a lot of other countries would say yes. 'I think that nobody wants to see a hard Brexit in a chaotic way, which would damage London and Brussels and Ljubljana and every country.' However Mr Pahor said the extension should not be used simply to postpone the making of a compromise decision. Mrs May has insisted she does not want a delay Brexit and believes the UK can leave the EU as scheduled on March 29. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn confirmed Labour would now back a referendum if faced with a 'damaging Tory Brexit' or a no-deal departure from the European Union after Labour's vision was rejected in the Commons. This graphic shows the possible avenues Mrs May faces ahead of her 'meaningful vote' as the March 29 deadline looms large on the horizon Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss warned on Friday that a new Brexit referendum would provoke a 'massive crisis'. She also indicated that a no-deal exit could be better than a delay. Ms Truss told the BBC: 'I think it would be an absolute disaster if we had a second referendum after people voted so clearly to leave the European Union. 'There will be a massive crisis in this nation. And it would be terrible for business. It would leave us continuing in this limbo period.' The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum wants to bring her and their newborn child to live with him in The Netherlands. Yago Riedijk, 27, joined ISIS when he was 15, and admits fighting for them, but despite being on a terrorist watch list in his native country he has not had his citizenship revoked. Mr Riedijk is being held in a Kurdish detention centre in north-eastern Syria and faces six years behind bars if he returns home but in an interview with the BBC he claimed he rejected IS and tried to leave. Mr Riedijk is being held in a Kurdish detention centre, pictured here speaking to the BBC Shamima Begum pictured with Jarrah in Al Hawl camp in Syria for captured ISIS wives He married Ms Begum just 10 days after meeting her in IS territory and has also come out and defended the decision to do so despite her being just 15 at the time, and him 23. Riedijk, from Arnhem, said he was initially uninterested by the prospect of marriage with the East London schoolgirl whom he met in a women's centre but decided to marry her because it was 'her choice'. He said: 'To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway.' Shamima Begum whilst living in the UK. She now wants to return but has had her citizenship revoked - her family has pleaded with Home Secretary Sajid Javid to let her return Ms Begum on ITV1 lunchtime news revealing the face of baby Jarrah to the cameras He told a BBC reporter that he wants to return to Holland with his bride and their newborn son He added that she had seemed to be 'in a good state of mind'. He conceded 'she was very young, maybe it would have been better for her to wait a bit', before adding: 'But she didn't, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her.' Riedijk said he would love to return to his country, adding: I now understand the privileges that I lived with. I understand that many people have a problem with what I did and I totally understand that. I have to take responsibility for what I did, serve my sentence. But I hope to be able to return to a normal life and to raise a family. Riedijk has admitted fighting for IS for a short period of time, but said he now realises he and his wife both definitely made a mistake in joining the barbaric terror group. He told Sky News: Technically I was part of (the group). Luckily, I did not have direct involvement in... hurting or harming people. He added: I very much regret what I did, that I lived a very miserable life in Islamic State and want to better myself and hopefully one day return to life as it was once, create a family. When asked what this meant for his wife, whom he last saw around six weeks ago, he replied: Wherever she goes, Im going to go. If my country wants me, I either take my wife or I stay with her. He said it saddens him that Begum had lost her British citizenship, adding: I understand any governments fear of foreign fighters or their wives. But to let a young girl in her position who has lost her children, who has been through horrors in Islamic State be left here to rot in a camp. 'I dont think thats a very humanitarian decision, no. He added: I know (Shamima) is not a danger to anyone whatsoever... but she made a mistake and will have to live with the consequences. She never really did anything besides being a wife. Local media in Arnhem said he was raised in a 'lovely' middle class family before converting to Islam and leaving for Syria in October 2014 to join ISIS. Ms Begum is currently in limbo with the UK revoking her citizenship on the grounds that she is eligible for citizenship of Bangladesh through her mother, who is a Bangladeshi citizen. However, Bangladesh's ministry of foreign affairs has said that she isn't a Bangladeshi citizen and that she will not be allowed into the country. Ms Begum's family last month told the Home Secretary they were going to challenge his decision to revoke her UK citizenship. Facebook picture of Dutch ISIS fighter Yago Riedijk pictured with his mother Ankie Winkelman Thick black smoke rose over the Syrian village of Baghouz, where Begum and Riedijk escaped from, as Western-backed forces closed in on Islamic State fighters this week Tasnime Akunjee, her familys lawyer, told The Guardian he was preparing to fly out to meet Begum so she could sign appeal forms from the Home Office. He said: We dont want to waste time trying to work for her remotely. She needs a lawyer and we need her to sign these forms so that we can begin the appeals process. The runaway schoolgirl and her son Jerah were forced to flee Al-Hawl refugee camp last week after they were threatened because she showed her face on television. Mr Akunjee said the move was due to safety concerns around her and her baby. It was claimed she moved to Roj camp, a cleaner, more spacious and comparatively liberal camp with de-radicalised jihadi wives near the Iraqi border. The IS fighter also told the BBC's Quentin Sommerville that he was imprisoned in Raqqa and tortured after the extremists accused him of being a Dutch spy. Ms Begum is now 19. As the IS caliphate crumbled she escaped the stronghold of Baghouz in Syria with her husband, she claims that she hasn't seen him since then. He reportedly surrendered to a group of Syrian fighters and his wife and new-born son ended up among 39,000 people in the al-Hawl refugee camp - it is said she has now been moved on from the camp. Ms Begum and Riedijk have had three children together, two of which have died due to illness and malnutrition - a fact that has led Begum and her family to plead with UK authorities to let new-born Jarrah be raised in Britain for his own well-being. Facebook picture believed to be of Dutch ISIS fighter Yago Riedijk, now 27 and detained The news comes as the town the pair fled from was yesterday the scene of a western-backed assault on ISIS fighters. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began the assault in Baghouz on Friday night after a pause in fighting to allow thousands of civilians to flee. Fighters were backed by helicopters and drones as they closed in on the terror groups last bastion close to the Iraq border. Desperate IS fighters, many of them foreigners, used booby- traps in a last-ditch attempt to stop the crushing of their self-declared caliphate. Yazidi children fleeing the last stronghold of Islamic State as coalition forces advance and attack Mustafa Bali, an SDF spokesman, tweeted yesterday morning that heavy clashes were taking place as its forces advanced. We expect it to be over soon, he said. One SDF commander told The Mail on Sunday there were about 300 IS fighters including some of its most hardened still in the besieged area on the banks of the Euphrates river. The fall of IS has been expected for weeks, but jihadis slowed the assault by using their network of tunnels and forcing civilians to become human shields. Local sources claimed Western special forces were using rapid-hardening foam to trap those hiding in caves and tunnels. Many of the jihadis tents appeared flattened and destroyed. Those escaping the enclave said food and medical supplies had dwindled, with some relying on a diet of IS bread leaves baked with animal feed. Others said they had to eat animal droppings and sticks to survive. Fighters captured over recent days include jihadis from France, Spain, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Tunisia. The Queen Mother called Wallis Simpson a 'naughty lady' and helped to ensure that the Royal Family shunned her wedding to Edward VIII and that the pair were exiled to Paris, secret letters and diaries reveal. The revelations, which have come from a two-part TV programme, Queen Mum: The Reluctant Queen, help to create a picture of a woman who was more than a dutiful wife. Instead, as reported by the Sunday Express, the letters indicate a cunning and astute monarch who at first wanted to tread carefully in the 1930s Wallis Simpson affair. Scroll down for video. The Queen Mother, pictured with her grandson Prince Charles in 1950, called Wallis Simpson a 'naughty lady' and helped to ensure that the Royal Family shunned her wedding to Edward VIII, secret letters and diaries reveal King Edward VIII had announced he wanted to marry Mrs Simpson, an American divorcee, and the 1936 crisis in which he eventually abdicated. The treatment of Mrs Simpson stands in contrast to the way fellow American divorcee Meghan Markle was welcomed to the Royal Family. Despite rumours of a rift between her and Harry and William and Kate, her arrival was considered a progressive step by the British royals. King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 because he was unable to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson and remain King. The Queen Mother wanted to 'get rid of her husband's ghosts' following the 1936 crisis and helped to ensure that fewer than 20 people attended Edward's 1937 wedding, according to a new TV programme In a letter to Queen Mary, Edward's mother, the Queen Mother caustically wrote of Mrs Simpson: '...relations are already a little difficult when naughty ladies are brought in, and up to now we have not had the lady at all.' But she then indicated that she wanted to remain 'quite outside' the saga. However, years later, she intervened again after the abdication, when Mrs Simpson's presence threatened to make her husband King George VI's position on the throne unstable. According to the documentary, she wanted to 'get rid of her husband's ghosts' and to ensure that Edward and his wife left for France. Another royal commentator in the programme, the Queen Mother wanted to ensure that 'no one' attended the pair's 1937 wedding. She apparently succeeded, with fewer than 20 guests going to the ceremony in Tours, France. The wily mother to our current Queen, described by Hitler as 'the most dangerous woman in Europe,' was also behind a plan to ensure that Mrs Simpson never became 'Her Royal Highness'. Edward and Mrs Simpson, pictured above in 1951, married in 1937 in Tours, France, at a ceremony in which fewer than 20 people attended. This came following the Queen Mother's insistence that 'no one' from the Royal Family' go to the event. Royal biographer Philip Ziegler told the programme that, after asking her why she had been so forceful in keeping Edward and Mrs Simpson out of Britain, she replied 'you can't have two kings can you?' The pair remained married until Edward's death in 1972, and lived in France for much of their life together. The Queen Mum: The Reluctant Queen, airs on Channel 5 on Saturday at 9pm. A Labour peer drafted in to put out the flames of its hugely damaging anti-Semitism crisis has warned 'clear-cut' cases where no action was taken will be reopened. Lord Falconer, a former lord chancellor and flatmate of Tony Blair, said that he was prepared to dive into the party's old cases to boot out anti-Semites who deserved it. It came as his prospective appointment caused fresh controversy in the row threatening to tear the party apart. The party claimed on Friday he had agreed to scrutinise disciplinary procedures, while he said taking on the role was still subject to agreement on the terms of his brief and it was 'not a done deal yet'. Lord Falconer told the Sunday Times: 'If there are stone cold cases where nothing has been done, they would need to be looked at again. 'There are hundreds of complaints that need to be dealt with.' And he appeared to side with Tom Watson in a civil war hotting up between the party deputy leader and its general secretary Jennie Formby. Ms Formby announced Lord Falconer's appointment in a letter to Mr Watson in which she strongly criticised the Labour deputy leader. The general secretary accused Mr Watson of 'completely unacceptable' behaviour by asking Labour MPs to forward complaints made to the party about anti-Semitism to him so they could be monitored. Mr Watson returned fire in the extraordinary public spat by insisting there had been a 'complete loss of trust' in the party regarding the complaints situation. But Lord |Falconer told the Sunday Times: 'Something has been profoundly lacking, over a very long period of time. There's nothing wrong with the deputy leader or any other MP asking for information about how complaints are going. 'To say that is a breach of data laws is obviously wrong.' Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said 'we clearly do' when asked asked if the Labour Party had a problem with anti-Semitism but rejected claims of an institutional problem. He told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday the party needs to be quicker to react, adding on some occasions it needs to be 'more ruthless, more severe, and we're doing that'. Asked if there was a blind spot for some on the left when it came to anti-Semitism, Mr McDonnell replied: 'There's blind spots on left and right - the right have been virulently, violently anti-Semitic in our community, but yes, there is an issue on the left.' John McDonnell said that Labour had a problem with anti-Semitism, saying it had to be 'more ruthless, more severe, and we're doing that' Meanwhile, the Observer reported that internal documents showed senior Labour members last year opposed recommendations to suspend several party activists accused of anti-Semitism. The correspondence, dating from March to May 2018, reveals that an official opposed recommendations from the party's investigations team to suspend the members, the newspaper said. A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'Since becoming general secretary, Jennie Formby has made procedures for dealing with complaints about anti-Semitism more robust. 'Staff in the investigations team have always led on investigations and recommendations on individual cases. 'Any suggestion that staff in the Leaders' Office opposed recommendations on individual cases is categorically untrue.' A cousin of Prince Charles and a courtier to the Queen were guests at the launch of a Russian tsarist-era society accused of links to Vladimir Putins spies, it was revealed yesterday. Colonel Christopher Mackenzie-Beevor, the most senior permanent officer of the Queens ceremonial bodyguard, gave a speech to the British branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS). Guests included Prince Charless cousin Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, the Marquess of Bristol and former Conservative MP Lady Olga Maitland, who has previously told MI5 that a Russian KGB colonel once tried to recruit her. Launch: Guests at the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society's dinner in Mayfair last month The society, founded in 1882, celebrates ties between Russia and the Middle East, but has been accused of links to Russian intelligence. Its international head, Sergei Stepashin, preceded Mr Putin as head of the FSB, the successor to the KGB, and in 2008 a leaked US State Department cable said the IOPS was not independent of the [Russian] government. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said in a 2016 interview that the IOPS was an essential instrument for consolidating Russias positions. Last year the Greek government expelled two Russian diplomats accused of trying to bribe state officials and interfere in the countrys internal affairs in order to impose the presence of IOPS in Greece. Russia denied the charges. Aristocrats and business figures (pictured) of the British establishment recently gathered in London to celebrate the UK launch of an organisation accused of being linked to Russian intelligence The chairman of the new British branch, Michael Wynne-Parker, a businessman who has previously worked with Prince Michael of Kent, said it was a religious and cultural organisation and he was not aware of any intelligence links. He told The Sunday Times that the dinner had brought together members of the Establishment who are not persuaded that Russia is the enemy, adding: The idea that we are a den of Russian collaborators is crazy. 'The people involved here are of the highest integrity and are loyal subjects of the Queen. Col Mackenzie-Beevor told the newspaper he had spoken at the request of Mr Wynne-Parker. Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia (left), who is a cousin of Prince Charles and Frederick Hervey (right), the 8th Marquess and 12th Earl of Bristol, attended the Cavalry & Guards Club dinner in Mayfair on February 21, to introduce the British branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS) There was no connection between the society and his position in the Royal Household, he added. Andrew Foxall, director of the Russia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said IOPS appeared to be a Russian influence operation. He said: This is one of the clearest cases I have seen of a Russian influence operation reaching the highest levels of British society. The dinner of the new British branch of the IOPS was held last month at the Cavalry and Guards Club in Mayfair, central London. The scholarly society - which promotes Russian ties to Christians in the Middle East - has various ex-KGB and FSB directors in senior roles, and the international head of the organisation, Sergei Stepashin (pictured), is a former Russian spy chief Guests including Moscows ambassador to London, Alexander Yakovenko, dined on a menu of beetroot-marinated salmon, rump of lamb and a stem ginger cake with mango syrup, and a message of support from Mr Stepashin was read out. Mr Yakovenkos embassy was highly critical of Britains response to the novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury, Wiltshire, last year, when this country expelled 23 diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers. Politicians yesterday called for an investigation into claims that Mr Yakovenko was expelled from the US in the 1980s following allegations that 100 diplomats at the Soviet Unions Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York posed a threat to national security. Arron Banks, a Leave donor, held three meetings with Mr Yakovenko in 2015 and 2016. He has denied that any of the millions he spent on the Brexit campaign came from Russia. A winery owner learned his vineyard has been destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire after he saw a home on his property explode on TV while he sought refuge at a cafe. Firefighters are continuing to battle the wildfire in Bunyip State Park, 65km east of Melbourne, after lightning sparked the intense blaze on Friday night. Owner of Jinks Creek Winery, Andrew Clarke, was seeking refuge with his wife Abigal and other terrified locals at a Bunyip cafe on Sunday when he saw his property engulfed in flames on the news, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Scroll down for video. Owner of Jinks Creek Winery on Tonimbuk Road, Andrew Clarke (pictured), was seeking refuge with his wife Abigal and other terrified locals at a Bunyip cafe on Sunday He learned his vineyard (pictured) has been destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire after he saw a home on his property explode on TV while he sought refuge at a cafe While emergency services haven't confirmed what exactly the winery owner has lost, he's certain the bushfire ravaged the entire vineyard 'I saw our wine cellar door, restaurant and the house next to our Airbnb cottage explode on TV. That's how we found out,' Mr Clarke said. 'We've lost everything.' While emergency services haven't confirmed what exactly the winery owner has lost, he's certain the bushfire ravaged the entire vineyard. 'Everything we've worked for our entire life, it's all gone in a couple of hours,' Mr Clarke told the Herald Sun. 'It's surreal. I'm too scared to go back to look at it.' Mr Clarke managed to escape the property on Friday night with his wife and kids, as well as many other frightened locals living in Bunyip State Park. Burnt trees are seen near Bunyip in Victoria on Sunday as the fires continue to blaze through the state Firefighters are continuing to battle an out-of-control wildfire in Bunyip State Park, 65km east of Melbourne, after lightning sparked the fire on Friday night Fire crews are seen in discussion along the Princes Highway as the fire continues to burn Burnt out Vineyards are seen on a property near Bunyip in Victoria on Sunday Despite being told to stay away, the farmer returned to rescue the family's two dogs, driving through a police roadblock to get there. The farmer said his dogs were the only two things he managed to save from the property. 'I planted that winery myself and put the first vines in back in 1979,' he said. At least five homes have been destroyed as the out-of-control fires continue to threaten residents. Vic Emergency issued dire emergency warning on Sunday at about 7pm for suburbs between Bunyip and Tonimbuk, from the south to the north, and Tynong North to Labertouche, from the east to the west. Overnight water bombing efforts were undone by soaring temperatures and high winds At least five homes have been destroyed as the out-of-control fires continue to threaten residents Country Fire Authority assistant chief officer Trevor Owen said the blaze is more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday fire which also started from a lightning strike Firefighters have urged residents to protect livestock as authorities warn the fire is 'worse' than the Black Saturday bushfires almost a decade ago. 'You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,' the warning said. 'It is too late to leave. Leaving now would be deadly.' Country Fire Authority assistant chief officer Trevor Owen said the blaze is more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday fire which also started from a lightning strike. 'It's not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it's a matter of we will,' he said. 'Under those very strong conditions experienced on that day (in 2009), it travelled neatly, whilst it damaged some property it was a very narrow finger compared to what we're facing with this fire, because this fire has been growing,' Mr Owen told a community meeting in Pakenham on Sunday. At least five homes have been destroyed by out-of-control bushfires in regional Victoria. More than 4000 hectares have been destroyed About 25 fires continue to burn as of Sunday morning, with 400 firefighters battling the blazes A man accused of importing more than three kilograms of cocaine into Australia from the Philippines was found not guilty of smuggling the drug - because he was tricked by a woman he met online. Steven Nobbs, 34, told the Queensland Supreme court he had met and fallen in love with 'Loral Williams' two years before he attempted to take the drugs into Brisbane International Airport, according to the ABC. Customs officers found 14 packages containing cocaine in the lining of a suitcase Mr Nobbs carried into the country in 2016, the court heard. Steven Nobbs was asked by someone using the name 'Loral Williams' to travel to the Philippines and bring back a bag, the Supreme Court in Brisbane (pictured) heard last week Mr Nobbs had an online relationship with 'Loral' for two years after they met on dating website Zoosk. Messages between the two presented to the court revealed that Loral had talked him into collecting the suitcase from a hotel in the Phillipines, saying it was a 'gift' for someone in Australia. 'Loral, I'm worried that the gift is something illegal,' a hesitant Mr Nobbs wrote. His ticket was paid for by someone Loral claimed was her 'sponser manager' and he was told not the declare anything when arriving in Australia. 'Baby you don't need to declare anything, OK?' Loral wrote. 'You get to Australia, just take your luggage and go home, because the sponsor manager might be very angry and upset if they open any of it, baby.' Mr Nobbs, however, did declare that he had foodstuffs and medication with him when he returned to Australia. The court was played an interview between Australian Federal Police and Mr Nobbs after he was stopped in which he said it did not occur to him that the trip may have been a scam (stock) His defence lawyer told the court Mr Nobbs had looked in the bags when he arrived at the hotel but had not seen anything as the packages were concealed. The 34-year-old had regularly sent Loral money, roughly $20,000 total. When he expressed hesitation to send the money, Loral would question their relationship. The court was also played an interview between Australian Federal Police and Mr Nobbs after he was stopped by officers. He tells them it did not occur to him that the trip to the Philippines may have been a scam. The former Army head has blasted ministers for allowing IRA's political wing to 'rewrite history' as minister proposes a 10-year limit on prosecution of veterans. General Lord Dannatt has accused the government of letting Sinn Fein create a narrative that 'Crown Forces were oppressive'. His comments followed revelations that four elderly soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday could be charged. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to bring forward legislation to have a limit on historic cases, the Sunday Times reports. General Lord Dannatt has accused the government of letting Sinn Fein create a narrative that British soldiers were 'oppressive' General Lord Dannatt told the Sunday Express: 'I believe this is part of a wider Sinn Fein agenda to rewrite history to create the narrative that Crown Forces were oppressive and that people were fighting for their rights. 'It rather overlooks the fact that the vast majority of deaths that occurred in the Troubles were criminal acts carried out by terrorists.' Fourteen people were killed and a further 14 were injured on Bloody Sunday during the civil rights protests in 1972. Williamson has described the cases against the former soldiers, which could be brought forward in the next fortnight, as a 'witch hunt'. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to bring forward legislation to have a limit on historic cases, the Sunday Times reports Last night he said the cases 'completely turns the stomach of the British people', The Sunday Times reports. Williamson also said that something had to be done to make sure ex-servicemen get 'protection they deserve'. A criminal investigation began following the 12-year inquiry led by Lord Saville, which ended in 2010. Costing 200million, it concluded troops 'lost control' and that people shot were 'not posing posing any threat of causing death or serious injury'. Demonstrators run after tear gas explosions. Fourteen people were killed and a further 14 were injured on Bloody Sunday during the civil rights protests in 1972 An IRA suspect is apprehended by a British soldier. A further 278 soldiers could face prosecution as the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) examine deaths during the Troubles The soldiers treatment stands in contrast to members of the IRA who, under the Good Friday Agreement of 1999, face a maximum of two years in prison for atrocities during the Troubles. A further 278 soldiers could face prosecution as the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) examine deaths during the Troubles. General Lord Dannatt said he was 'surprised' that Northern Ireland was continuing to investigate when the Saville enquiry accepted the blame and issued apologies to families. The Public Prosecution Service has dismissed media reports suggesting knowledge of the likely outcome of its deliberations on the Londonderry shootings. The PPS said second guessing the decisions, which will be formally announced on March 14, was likely to cause 'significant and undue distress' to families bereaved. An armed soldier attacks a protestor on Bloody Sunday. The PPS said second guessing the decisions, which will be formally announced on March 14, was likely to cause 'significant and undue distress' to families bereaved Facebook tried to influence politicians including George Osborne during a lobbying campaign against new data privacy laws. Documents seen by the Observer and Computer Weekly reveal that the social media giant tried to influence countries including Canada, Brazil and all 28 EU states. Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, asked then chancellor of the exchequer Mr Osborne to 'really help shape the proposals' about European data legislation at the time by being 'more vocal,' reports Computer Weekly. Documents have revealed Facebook tried to influence policy makers during a lobbying campaign against data privacy laws (file picture) Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, asked then chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne, left, to 'really help shape the proposals' over European data legislation and claimed to have a 'great relationship' with Ireland and its then Prime Minister Enda Kenny She even invited one of his children, who was 11 at the time, to a Facebook office when Mr Osborne told him they were 'desperate' for their own account on the site. The pair met at the World Economic Forum in 2013, in Davos, Switzerland, where Facebook staff met with numerous policy makers. The memo from their meeting reveals that Mr Osborne asked whether Facebook would be interested in investing in Tech City, in East London. More than half of young women on Facebook have been harassed while on the site A poll has found that more than half of young women who use Facebook have been harassed on the site. Research done by Survation for Level Up found 57 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old women had been harassed and 45 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds had. 1,016 Facebook users were questioned in the survey. Six in 10 women who had been harassed said they had been sent graphic or abusive content. Carys Afoko, the executive director of Level Up, said: 'It's time its executives listened to women instead of algorithms.' Jessica Stone, 26, told the Sunday Times she was stalked on Facebook. She reported the man more than 30 times but got a 'robot response.' Ms Stone had his account blocked but it wasn't taken down until a year later. She's now had a Skype meeting with the social media giants global safety policy manager to ask them to improve policies on stalking and harassment. Advertisement Towards the end of the meeting Marne Levine, then Facebook's vice-president of global public policy, is said to have brought up Sandberg's feminist book. Mr Osborne then offered to host a reception for the book, Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead, at Downing Street. Mr Osborne told the Observer he did not lobby the EU because of the meeting with Facebook while in Switzerland. The internal memo was seen after documents were seized from Ted Kramer, founder of app Six4Three, who is involved in a court case with Facebook. Also revealed in the documents was Facebook's 'great relationship' with Ireland. Facebook claimed to have encouraged the then Irish prime minster Enda Kenny, who was a 'friend' of the company, to help influence the Data Protection Directive. At the time Ireland had the six-month long presidency of the European Union and Sandberg and Kenny met again the following year, again at Davos. Ireland has an important role in regulating tech companies in Europe because its data protection commissioner acts for all the member states, reports the Guardian. Facebook has also made lots of investments in Ireland and has an office in Dublin which has created numerous of jobs. A spokesperson for Facebook told the Guardian: 'Like the other documents that were cherrypicked and released in violation of a court order last year, these by design tell one side of a story and omit important context.' Tony Blair has ruled out quitting Labour to join the rebel centrist breakaway but praised those who did quit for being 'courageous'. The former Prime Minister said he had not spoken to any of the eight Labour MPs who quit the party before they made their move almost a fortnight ago. But he admitted he had spoken to them since they formed the Independent Group along with three disaffected Tories who quit Theresa May's ranks. And he warned that people might be increasingly attracted to their ideas if the two main parties remained 'locked' in their current ideologies. The former prime minister also praised the 'really great leadership' of the current deputy leader in an increasingly bitter battle between Mr Watson and general secretary Jennie Formby. She had accused Mr Watson of 'completely unacceptable' behaviour by asking Labour MPs to forward complaints made to the party about anti-Semitism to him so they could be monitored. Mr Watson returned fire in the extraordinary public spat by insisting there had been a 'complete loss of trust' in the party regarding the complaints situation. Mr Blair told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: 'I'm staying in the Labour Party. I have been in the Labour party for over 40 years, I led it for 13 years, I was the longest serving Labour prime minister. 'I'm deeply attached to the Labour Party but do I sympathise with what they have done? Yes I do and I think they are courageous in having done it.' Former PM Tony Blair pictured outside the BBC's headquarters in London today. He told the Marr show he would not be leaving Labour but praised the 'courage' of those who had Mr Blair's comments came less than two weeks after nine Labour MPs quit the party in disgust at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. Eight of them went on to form the Independent Group Mr Blair praised Mr Watson over his move to set up a social democratic group within the party. Mr Blair added: 'As a result of what he's doing, he's encouraging people who do share a perspective of the Labour Party as a governing, modern, progressive party, he's actually encouraging them in a sense to stay because he's providing a space within which people can debate and argue.' Up to 100 Labour MPs are poised to form a new rebel movement under deputy leader Tom Watson, his allies have claimed. Mr Watson is said to be planning a guerrilla operation to establish a centre-Left party within a party with its own whipping operation that could cripple Jeremy Corbyns leadership, leaving just 145 MPs under his control. He has long been planning the move, but it has been accelerated by the civil war which has broken out over anti-Semitism, and is now expected to come in the next fortnight. Support for TIG candidates was highest among Lib dem supporters, but with Labour having a far higher number of MPs the support among its backers will alarm senior party officials Mr Watson, a veteran party power-broker and union fixer, claims he has an independent mandate because he was elected deputy leader by the membership. A Friday poll placed renewed pressure on Mr Corbyn by revealing a quarter of voters would consider backing TIG in a general election. They included almost a third (32.4 per cent) of Labour supporters said they were very likely or likely to back a TIG candidate if they stood in their local constituency, the Politico poll found. That compared to 28.8 per cent of backers of Mr Corbyns party who said they would not back the emergent group, made of of disaffected former Labour and Conservative MPs. Mr Blair added: 'I think it's absolutely inevitable that if you put the choice before the country - hard Brexit Tory party, hard-left Labour Party - it doesn't matter what I say, what I want to happen, what anyone else says, you leave that amount of fertile territory open, someone is going to cultivate it.' Lord Falconer said that he was prepared to dive into the party's old cases to boot out anti-Semites, saying: 'If there are stone cold cases where nothing has been done, they would need to be looked at again.' Mr Blair said he is 'deeply concerned' about Labour's direction and policy, adding: 'If you want to get back to winning ways, this is not the position to be in.' Meanwhile a Labour peer drafted in to put out the flames of its hugely damaging anti-Semitism crisis has warned 'clear-cut' cases where no action was taken will be reopened. Lord Falconer, a former lord chancellor and flatmate of Tony Blair, said that he was prepared to dive into the party's old cases to boot out anti-Semites who deserved it. He also appeared to side with Tom Watson, telling the Sunday Times: 'If there are stone cold cases where nothing has been done, they would need to be looked at again. 'There are hundreds of complaints that need to be dealt with.' The full extent of King Edward VIII's racist attitudes to Aboriginal Australians have been revealed in a new documentary detailing letters he wrote to his mistress. The correspondence shows the then-Prince of Wales ranting about having to see 'filthy, nauseating creatures' as he met Aborigines during his tour of 110 cities across Australia in 1920. The letters to married English socialite Freya Dudley Ward show a different side to the one he portrayed in public during the tour. Scroll down for video Racist letters about Aboriginal Australians from the future King Edward VIII (pictured) have been unearthed in a new documentary She was the future King's lover from 1918 to 1923 and they remained close until 1936, when he met American divorcee Wallis Simpson, whom he gave up the throne for later that year. In public the heir to the throne appeared to be a benevolent royal, showing sympathy to Australian soldiers who had served in the Great War, University of Sydney Royal Historian Dr Cindy McCreery said. He was extremely popular during his visit and was affectionately dubbed the 'Digger Prince' by Australians because he served during the First World War. But in private, the 25-year-old complained about having to see 'revolting black savages' as part of his tour. The letters are stored in the New South Wales State Library and were unearthed for the ABC documentary The Crown and Us: The Story of The Royals in Australia, which aired on Sunday night. In a letter dated July 16, Edward VIII, who was on board a ship from Adelaide to Hobart, excitedly wrote about the prospect of not having to see more Aboriginal demonstrations. 'The press have been hinting I'm too soft to be able to rough it on a real up-country station, which I've not had a chance of doing yet,' he said. The correspondence shows the then-Prince of Wales ranting about having to see 'filthy, nauseating creatures' during his tour of Australia in 1920 (pictured) 'I ought to see that very important side of Australian life and it will be of far more value than seeing a crowd of revolting black savages who don't yet know whether they are British or Hun, and care less.' In another excerpt dated July 11, he called Aborigines 'the lowest known form of human being and the nearest thing to monkeys I've ever seen. 'They showed us some of the native Aborigines at a wayside station in the great plain yesterday afternoon, though they are the most revolting form of living creatures I've ever seen,' he said. In public the heir to the throne (pictured during his visit) appeared to be a benevolent royal, showing sympathy to Australian soldiers who had served in the Great War, University of Sydney Royal Historian Dr Cindy McCreery said 'They danced for us and threw spears and boomerangs, though the interest of this native stunt - and you know how I just loathe any form of native stunt, sweetie was spoilt by the fact that they had all been transported, vermin and disease and all.' In one of the letters he criticised authorities for bringing him Aboriginal representatives who 'looked like they had just drifted in from a waterless district'. Edward spent 49 days conducting royal duties in Australia, which included visiting Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Married English socialite Freda Dudley Ward (pictured) was the Prince of Wales' mistress He was extremely popular during his visit and was affectionately dubbed the 'Digger Prince' by Australians because he served during the First World War. Other letters written to Freda Dudley Ward during his 1920 visit to Barbados show a similar view to those he wrote while in Australia. He reported the country as being 'ugly' and he found the 'coloured population' to be 'revolting'. A new documentary titled The Crown and Us: The Story of The Royals in Australia has shed new light on the royals (Edward VIII pictured while Governor of the Bahamas in the 1940s) He also wrote of begrudgingly dancing with various women on the trip, all of whom he insisted had to be young and vetted by his friend, Louis Mountbatten. Edward VIII, the eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary, would go on to become King of England in January 1936. He abdicated in December of that year in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. 'They are the lowest known form of human beings & are the nearest thing to monkeys I've ever seen,' Edward VIII wrote of Indigenous Australians Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) was the pilot of the doomed flight DID THE PILOT HIJACK HIS OWN PLANE? Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah planned mass murder because of personal problems, locking his co-pilot out of the cockpit, closing down all communications, depressurising the main cabin and then disabling the aircraft so that it continued flying on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel. That was the popular theory in the weeks after the plane's disappearance. His personal problems, rumours in Kuala Lumpur said, included a split with his wife Fizah Khan, and his fury that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing. But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems and other family members and his friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job. This theory was also the conclusion of the first independent study into the disaster by the New Zealand-based air accident investigator, Ewan Wilson. Wilson, the founder of Kiwi Airlines and a commercial pilot himself, arrived at the shocking conclusion after considering 'every conceivable alternative scenario'. However, he has not been able to provide any conclusive evidence to support his theory. The claims are made in the book 'Goodnight Malaysian 370', which Wilson co-wrote with the New Zealand broadsheet journalist, Geoff Taylor. It's also been rumoured that Zaharie used a flight simulator at his home to plot a path to a remote island. However, officials in Kuala Lumpur declared that Malaysian police and the FBI's technical experts had found nothing to suggest he was planning to hijack the flight after closely examining his flight simulator. And there are also theories that t he tragic disappearance may have been a heroic act of sacrifice by the pilot. Australian aviation enthusiast Michael Gilbert believes the doomed plane caught fire mid-flight, forcing the pilot to plot a course away from heavily populated areas. IF NOT THE PILOT, WAS THE CO-PILOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MYSTERY? Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, again for personal problems, was suspected by rumour-spreaders to have overpowered the pilot and disabled the aircraft, flying it to its doom with crew and passengers unable to get through the locked cockpit door. Theorists have put forward the suggestion that he was having relationship problems and this was his dramatic way of taking his own life. But he was engaged to be married to Captain Nadira Ramli, 26, a fellow pilot from another airline, and loved his job. There are no known reasons for him to have taken any fatal action. There have been a series of outlandish theories about the disappearance of the plane Others have suggested that because he was known to have occasionally invited young women into the cockpit during a flight, he had done so this time and something had gone wrong. Young Jonti Roos said in March that she spent an entire flight in 2011 in the cockpit being entertained by Hamid, who was smoking. Interest in the co-pilot was renewed when it was revealed he was the last person to communicate from the cockpit after the communication system was cut off. DID THE RUSSIANS STEAL MH370 AND FLY THE JET TO KAZAKHSTAN An expert has claimed the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was hijacked on the orders of Vladimir Putin and secretly landed in Kazakhstan. Jeff Wise, a U.S. science writer who spearheaded CNN's coverage of the Boeing 777-200E, has based his outlandish theory on pings that the plane gave off for seven hours after it went missing, that were recorded by British telecommunications company Inmarsat. Wise believes that hijackers 'spoofed' the plane's navigation data to make it seem like it went in another direction, but flew it to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased from Kazakhstan by Russia. However, Wise admits in New York Magazine that he does not know why Vladimir Putin would want to steal a plane full of people and that his idea is somewhat 'crazy'. Wise also noted there were three Russian men onboard the flight, two of them Ukrainian passport holders. Aviation disaster experts analysed satellite data and discovered - like the data recorded by Inmarsat - that the plane flew on for hours after losing contact. Careful examination of the evidence has revealed that MH370 made three turns after the last radio call, first a turn to the left, then two more, taking the plane west, then south towards Antarctica. MH370 WAS USED BY TERRORISTS FOR A SUICIDE ATTACK ON THE CHINESE NAVY This extraordinary claim came from 41-year-old British yachtsman Katherine Tee, from Liverpool, whose initial account of seeing what she thought was a burning plane in the night sky made headlines around the world. On arrival in Thailand's Phuket after sailing across the Indian Ocean from Cochin, southern India with her husband, she said: 'I could see the outline of the plane - it looked longer than planes usually do.There was what appeared to be black smoke streaming from behind.' Ms Tee's general description of the time and place was vague and she lost all credibility when she later stated on her blog that she believed MH370 was a kamikaze plane that was aimed at a flotilla of Chinese ships and it was shot down before it could smash into the vessels. Without solid proof of the satellite data, she wrote on her blog, Saucy Sailoress, the plane she saw was flying at low altitude towards the military convoy she and her husband had seen on recent nights. She added that internet research showed a Chinese flotilla was in the area at the time. While the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage and its crucial black box data recorders remains stubbornly elusive. THE JET LANDED ON THE WATER AND WAS SEEN FLOATING ON THE ANDAMAN SEA On a flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur that crossed over the Andaman Sea on March 8, Malaysian woman Raja Dalelah, 53, saw what she believed was a plane sitting on the water's surface. She didn't know about the search that had been started for MH370. She alerted a stewardess who told her to go back to sleep. 'I was shocked to see what looked like the tail and wing of an aircraft on the water,' she said. It was only when she told her friends on landing in Kuala Lumpur what she had seen that she learned of the missing jet. She had seen the object at about 2.30pm Malaysian time. She said she had been able to identify several ships and islands before noticing the silver object that she said was a plane. But her story was laughed off by pilots who said it would have been impossible to have seen part of an aircraft in the water from 35,000ft or seven miles. Ms Raja filed an official report with police the same day and has kept to her story. 'I know what I saw,' she said. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC SYSTEMS FAILURE AND CRASH-LANDED ON THE OCEAN A catastrophic event such as a fire disabling much of the equipment resulted in the pilots turning the plane back towards the Malaysian peninsula in the hope of landing at the nearest airport. Satellite data, believable or not, suggests the aircraft did make a turn and theorists say there would be no reason for the pilots to change course unless confronted with an emergency. A fire in a similar Boeing 777 jet parked at Cairo airport in 2011 was found to have been caused by a problem with the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. Stewarts Law, which has litigated in a series of recent air disasters, believes the plane crashed after a fire - similar to the blaze on the Cairo airport runway - broke out in the cockpit. After an investigation into the Cairo blaze, Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Central Directorate (EAAICD) released their final report which revealed that the fire originated near the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. The cause of the fire could not be conclusively determined, but investigators pinpointed a problem with the cockpit hose used to provide oxygen for the crew in the event of decompression. Following the 2011 fire, US aircraft owners were instructed to replace the system - it was estimated to cost $2,596 (1,573) per aircraft. It was not known whether Malaysia Airlines had carried out the change. If either pilot wanted to crash the plane, why turn it around? So the turn-around suggests they were trying to land as soon as possible because of an emergency. THE US SHOT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT FEARING A TERROR ATTACK ON DIEGO GARCIA The Boeing 777 was shot down by the Americans who feared the aircraft had been hijacked and was about to be used to attack the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean. So conspiracy theorists claim. And former French airline director Marc Dugain said he had been warned by British intelligence that he was taking risks by investigating this angle. There is no way of checking whether Dugain received such a warning or why he believes the Americans shot down the plane. But adding to the theory that the aircraft was flown to Diego Garcia, either by the pilot Zaharie or a hijacker, was the claim that on the pilot's home flight simulator was a 'practice' flight to the island. Professor Glees said: 'The Americans would have no interest in doing anything of the kind and not telling the world. 'In theory, they might wish to shoot down a plane they thought was attacking them but they wouldn't just fire missiles, they'd investigate it first with fighters and would quickly realise that even if it had to be shot down, the world would need to know.' Michael Jackson's music appears to have been dropped from BBC Radio 2's playlists following new child sex abuse claims. The decision is reported to have been made last week ahead of Channel 4 News's documentary about the star's alleged crimes, Leaving Neverland, which will be broadcast this week. In the programme, the Sunday Times reports that James Safechuck, 40, and Wade Robson, 36, claim they were sexually assaulted and raped while children by the pop star after being groomed over a number of years. BBC Radio 2 is reported to have dropped Michael Jackson's music from its playlists ahead of Channel 4 News's documentary, Leaving Neverland, about the star's alleged child sex abuse crimes, which will be broadcast this week Mr Robson said in an interview with the BBC last week that the abuse started when he was just seven. He said: 'Every time I stayed the night with him, he abused me. Fondling, touching, my entire body and my penis.' The late singers family has denied the allegations and his estate is reportedly suing HBO for $100million (75.5million). Both Mr Robson and Mr Safechuck had defended Jackson before his death by offering testimony in a court case that the star had not abused them. Some of his dedicated fans have said this is proof of Jackson's innocence. The BBC announced last week that it had commissioned a BBC 2 programme about the latest revelations, Michael Jackson: The Rise and Fall. James Safechuck, 40, and Wade Robson, 36, pictured in interview with CBS, claim they were sexually assaulted and raped while children by the pop star after being groomed over a number of years Radio 2 hasn't played a solo Jackson track since last Saturday, when they broadcast his 1979 hit Rock With You. Former pop star Gary Glitter, who was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for having sex with a 12-year-old fan, attempting to rape an eight-year-old and indecent assault, similarly disappeared from radio airwaves when earlier abuse revelations came to light. A spokesman for the corporation said: 'It is not true that Michael Jackson has been dropped off the Radio 2 playlist - which is new releases - as he hasnt been featured on it. 'We dont ban songs or artists and Michael Jackson, like any other artist could, be played on BBC Radio - as we have said, we consider each piece of music on its merits and decisions on what we play on different networks are always made with relevant audiences and context in mind.' The mother of late model Annalise Braakensiek has claimed her daughter got caught up in the 'Bondi Beach culture' and was obsessed with perfecting her Instagram in the months leading up to her unexpected death. Ms Braakensiek, 46, was found dead in her Sydney harbourside apartment by police at about 3.30pm on January 6. Officers treated her death as 'non-suspicious' and she is said to have died from a drug overdose. But friends and family of the blonde haired beauty believe she became stuck in a lifestyle she couldn't maintain. After a successful modelling career and a stint in television, Ms Braakensiek turned to Instagram to share what appeared to be a picture-perfect life with her thousands of followers and fans. But her mother, Vera Stevens, told Sunday Night she disliked the 46-year-old's social media presence because it was so far from the reality of her daughter's life. The mother of late model Annalise Braakensiek (pictured) says her daughter got caught up in Bondi Beach culture and was obsessed with perfecting her Instagram Ms Braakensiek (pictured), 46, was found dead in her Sydney harbourside apartment by police at about 3.30pm on January 6. Her death was treated as non-suspicious 'I never looked at her Instagram, I never looked at her Facebook, because it upset me,' Ms Stevens told the progam. 'It wasn't true. She'd put a post like that on Instagram, she'd ring me and say, ''I can't breathe. I'm so depressed'',' she said. Ms Braakensiek lived in the celebrity fast-lane where drug-use was common practice, according to her loved ones. Ms Stevens said the 46-year-old often got distracted by the lifestyle and would lose touch. 'I'd ring her every day and often she wouldn't answer the phone and wouldn't send a message for quite a while, and it's the hardest thing in the world,' she said. Ms Stevens said she didn't understand the environment her daughter became obsessed with. Ms Braakensiek (pictured) lived life in the celebrity fast-lane where drug-use was common practice, according to her loved ones 'She'd put a post like that on Instagram, she'd ring me and say, ''I can't breathe. I'm so depressed'',' Ms Stevens (pictured) said Ayesha Rose, a friend of Ms Braakensiek's, told Sunday Night the blonde beauty put a lot of physical stress on herself to look the part. Ms Rose, who met the model during the height of her career, said the Bondi lifestyle of 'instant gratification for a nice moment' is 'absolutely dangerous'. 'I think in any scene, there are drugs involved. There's a lot of alcohol and if that's being done regularly, you're not going to be thinking straight, you're going to be depressed,' she said. Ms Rose admitted she had tried to 'shake' her friend out of the world she was stuck in. Ms Stevens doesn't think her daughter (pictured) was killed by her depression Friends and family gather at south Bondi in tribute for Ms Braakensiek on Januar 16 Paul Fenech, the creator of TV show Fat Pizza - which Ms Braakensiek starred in - said she was a sweet, loving person who was down-to-earth. Mr Fenech referred to the old cliche of 'be careful of what you wish for' in discussing his former colleague's downfall. 'And you think it's gonna be great, but it comes with, the pressure of kind of keeping your image just weighs on you all the time. You know, for some people, it's very hard. Some people can't deal with it.' Ms Stevens and Ms Rose don't think Ms Braakensiek was killed by her depression, but rather a fatal accident, caused by the Bondi culture of drug use. 'I believe that she went out New Years Eve and she partied and partied and she made a fatal mistake with what she ingested,' Ms Stevens said. For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14. Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can contact Lifeline. Google is refusing to scrap a Saudi government app which lets men track and control women. The tech giant says that software allowing men to keep tabs on women meets all of its terms and conditions. The Absher app will remain on the Google Play store after a review found it doesn't violate any of the firm's rules. Women in Saudi Arabia require permission from men to travel and the Absher app allows men to grant and rescind their permissions (stock image) The app (pictured) will remain on Google Play despite it sending alerts when women use their passports, meaning they are captive in the Islamist nation Californian Democrat Jackie Speier joined 13 colleagues in Congress to demand the app be removed. But the app - which lets men rescind travel permission for women - will remain online, Business Insider reports. The app allows for guardians to state where women can go, for how long and which airports they're allowed to visit in the Islamist dictatorship. The app is under review from Apple but Google has said the tracking app will remain on Google Play Pictured: How the app allows the men of Saudi Arabia to monitor and control the movements of women in the country Alerts are triggered if a woman leaves a certain area. It is one of the main reasons women have difficulty trying to flee Saudi Arabia are often caught. Absher tips off male guardians and the fleeing women can be apprehended while still within the country. On another page the guardian can see easily which permissions are active and change them if needed and men receive SMS alerts when women use passports. Representative Speier and others wrote to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook on February 21 demanding the app be removed from both platforms. The politicians gave a deadline of February 28 to explain why GooglePlay hosts the app. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Katherine Clark joined Speier to say that Google and Apple are 'accomplices in the oppression of Saudi Arabian women'. The Absher app (pictured) is used to control the movements of women and sends alerts to men if they try to use a passport Apple says it is still reviewing Absher and Senator Ron Wyden has accused them of 'stalling' and is demanding a decision. Rep Speier says that the responses from both companies are 'deeply unsatisfactory'. It comes after Yasmine Mohammed, an ex-Muslim activist who campaigns and writes on women's rights, said Apple and Google are facilitating 'archaic misogyny.' 'What irony,' she said. 'In the West these technologies are used to improve lives and in Saudi Arabia they're used to enforce gender apartheid.' Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have expressed concern about the app which has been downloaded from the Google and Apple stores more than one millions times. Advertisement SpaceX's new crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, acing its second milestone in just over a day. The Dragon capsule, whose only passenger was a life-size test dummy, dubbed Ripley after the lead character in the 'Alien' movies, was launched on Saturday from Cape Canaveral on its first test flight. Three station astronauts had front-row seats as the sleek, white vessel neatly docked and became the first American-made, designed-for-crew spacecraft to pull up in eight years. TV cameras on Dragon as well as the space station provided stunning views of one another throughout the rendezvous. If the six-day demo goes well, SpaceX could launch two astronauts this summer under NASA's commercial crew program. Both astronauts - Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken - were at SpaceX Mission Control in Southern California, observing all the action. They rushed there from Florida after watching the Dragon rocket into orbit early Saturday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 'Just super excited to see it,' Behnken said minutes after the link-up. 'Just one more milestone that gets us ready for our flight coming up here.' SpaceX's new crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, acing its second milestone in just over a day The Dragon capsule, whose only passenger was a life-size test dummy, dubbed Ripley after the lead character in the 'Alien' movies, was launched on Saturday from Cape Canaveral on its first test flight If the six-day demo goes well, SpaceX could launch two astronauts this summer under NASA's commercial crew program. Pictured: SpaceX team in Hawthorne control with a photo of the Dragon capsule docked to the ISS President Donald Trump congratulated SpaceX on Twitter on Saturday night, claiming 'We've got NASA "rocking" again' While SpaceX has sent plenty of cargo Dragons to the space station, crew Dragon is a different beast. It docked autonomously under the station astronauts' watchful eyes, instead of relying on the station's robot arm for berthing. Behnken said that's the way it should work when he and Hurley are on board; they may push a button or two and will have the ability to intervene, if necessary. As part of Sunday's shakedown, the station astronauts sent commands for the Dragon to retreat and then move forward again, before the capsule closed in for good. SpaceX employees at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, cheered and applauded as crew Dragon pulled up and docked at the orbiting lab, nearly 260 miles (400 kilometers) above the Pacific, north of New Zealand. They burst into applause again, several minutes later, when the Dragon's latches were tightly secured - just 27 hours after liftoff. The station astronauts offered congratulations to SpaceX, as they got ready to open the hatches and collect the supplies stashed aboard Dragon. The capsule's lone passenger, Ripley - a mannequin wearing a white SpaceX spacesuit - also was going to be welcomed aboard. Yesterday, Elon Musk described the successful as 'super stressful' after revealing he gave the capsule just a 10 percent chance of reaching orbit. SpaceX needs to nail the debut of the capsule, which took off from Cape Canaveral in the early hours, before putting people on board later this year. Speaking at a press conference after the launch, Musk said: 'I almost thought we would fail. I thought maybe we'd have a 10 percent chance of reaching orbit starting out. I'm a little emotionally exhausted because that was super stressful, but it worked.' If the six-day demo goes well, SpaceX could launch two astronauts this summer under NASA's commercial crew program Pictured: The SpaceX Falcon rocket lifts off from pad 39A Elon Musk described the launch as 'super stressful' launch. Pictured: A life-size test dummy floating in the Dragon capsule as the capsule made orbit yesterday The Dragon capsule docked autonomously under the station astronauts' watchful eyes, instead of relying on the station's robot arm for berthing SpaceX needs to nail the debut of the capsule before putting people on board later this year. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are set to be the first pilots Pictured: the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centre, captured in this shot from Vero Beach in Florida Dragon will remain at the space station until Friday, when it undocks and aims for a splashdown in the Atlantic, a couple hundred miles off the Florida coast. Pictured: Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in Alien (1979), who was the inspiration of the dummy Riley Like Ripley, the capsule is rigged with sensors to measure noise, vibration and stresses, and to monitor the life-support, propulsion and other critical systems throughout the flight. SpaceX aims to launch Behnken and Hurley as early as July for the second space demo. Next up, though, should be Boeing, NASA's other commercial crew provider. Boeing is looking to launch its Starliner capsule without a crew as early as April and with a crew possibly in August. NASA is paying the two private companies $8 billion to build and operate the capsules for ferrying astronauts to and from the space station. Astronauts have been stuck riding Russian rockets ever since NASA's space shuttle program ended in 2011. Russian Soyuz seats go for up to $82 million apiece. An estimated 5,000 NASA and contractor employees, tourists and journalists gathered in the wee hours at Kennedy Space Center with the SpaceX launch team, as the Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the same spot where Apollo moon rockets and space shuttles once soared. SpaceX founder Elon Musk gave a post-launch news conference this morning after the test flight successfully took off The Ripley dummy was strapped into the far left seat, wearing the company's snappy white spacesuit. The other seats were empty, save for a small plush toy resembling Earth that was free to float once reaching zero-gravity This latest, flashiest Dragon is on a fast track to reach the space station on Sunday morning, just 27 hours after liftoff NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken could strap in as early as July if this test flight goes well Pictured: the Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket, ready for launch, sits on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, yesterday 'We are not in a space race,' he said. 'That race is over. We went to the moon and we won. It's done. Now we're in a position where we can take our time and make sure we get it right.' The white crew Dragon is slightly bigger than cargo versions - 27 feet (8 meters) tip to tip - and considerably fancier and safer. It features four seats, three windows, touch-screen computer displays and life-support equipment, as well as eight abort engines to pull the capsule to safety in the event of a launch emergency. Solar cells are mounted on the spacecraft for electrical power, as opposed to the protruding solar wings on cargo Dragons. 'It's an incredibly sleek looking vehicle from the inside and it's very easy to operate,' Hurley told reporters just hours before liftoff. He said he marvels at how the Dragon has just 30 buttons and touch screens, compared with the space shuttle cockpit's 2,000 switches and circuit breakers. For the test, the Ripley dummy was strapped into the far left seat, wearing the company's snappy white spacesuit. The other seats were empty, save for a small plush toy resembling Earth that was free to float once reaching zero-gravity. 'Super high tech zero-g indicator added just before launch!' Musk tweeted. SpaceX already has made 16 trips to the space station using cargo Dragons - but this capsule is slightly bigger than those at 27 feet (8 meters) tip to tip, and considerably fancier and safer The Dragon capsule features four seats, three windows, touch-screen computer displays and life-support equipment, as well as eight abort engines to pull the capsule to safety in the event of a launch emergency Liam Fox today appeared to play down safety fears over American chlorinated chicken today, insisting that opposition is simply an 'animal welfare' issue. The International Trade secretary spoke after the Trump administration's post-Brexit trade deal demands sparked fears that the UK could be flooded with low-quality food imports. The US wants 'comprehensive market access' for US agricultural products through the reduction or removal of tariffs and the elimination of 'unwarranted barriers' to food and drink imports according to a document released today. Dr Fox told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme that the UK would not accept anything 'we believe are against the interests of our consumers or our producers'. But he added: 'You take the chlorine-washed chicken, a lot of our food is already chlorine-washed, the salads that we get. 'The question is not about safety, the question is about the implications for animal welfare further down the track.' Liam Fox said the UK would not accept anything 'we believe are against the interests of our consumers or our producers' The publication of negotiating objectives for a deal by the office of US trade representative Robert Lighthizer was welcomed by the Department for International Trade as a sign that Washington is keen to start talks soon after Brexit. Liam Fox's department said the UK would insist on maintaining 'high standards for businesses, workers and consumers' in any deal. But the National Farmers' Union has raised concerns over food safety and animal welfare standards. It wants food imports to continue to meet the same standards as they do currently. Securing a free trade deal with the United States is one of the UK's top priorities after Brexit, but the administration of Donald Trump, who made a memorable visit to Britain last year (above), are demanding a high price to do business 'It is imperative that any future trade deals, including a possible deal with the USA, do not allow the imports of food produced to lower standards than those required of British farmers,' NFU president Minette Batters said on Friday. 'British people value and demand the high standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety that our own farmers adhere to. 'These world-leading standards must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of reaching rushed trade deals.' US companies have long complained that EU regulations limit American exports of food products such as chlorine-washed chicken, hormone-boosted beef and genetically modified crops. US ambassador Woody Johnson is one of a number of Trump officials to try to pressurise the UK into accepting imports of foods currently banned under EU law Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to Britain, attacked warnings that a post-Brexit trade deal will see chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-pumped beef arrive on supermarket shelves, branding them 'inflammatory and misleading' smears. In a strongly worded rebuke to critics of a proposed deal, he dismissed negative claims over agriculture as 'myths' concocted by 'people with their own protectionist agenda'. The billionaire diplomat, whose fortune derives from the Johnson & Johnson dynasty, said a transatlantic trade deal would provide a 'great opportunity' for both countries. 'But the British public has been led to believe otherwise,' he wrote in an article for the Daily Telegraph. The document published by US trade representative Robert Lighthizer was welcomed by the Department for International Trade but attacked by the National Farmers Union 'You have been presented with a false choice: either stick to EU directives, or find yourselves flooded with American food of the lowest quality. Inflammatory and misleading terms like 'chlorinated chicken' and 'hormone beef' are deployed to cast American farming in the worst possible light. 'It is time the myths are called out for what they really are: a smear campaign from people with their own protectionist agenda.' Mr Trump's commerce secretary Wilbur Ross warned in 2017 that continued adherence to EU standards after Brexit could act as a 'landmine' to UK hopes of a free trade deal with the States. But Jim Moseley, chief executive of the Red Tractor farm and food standards assurance scheme, said 'the UK's food standards are now under threat from the commercial appetites of the United States food lobby'. 'British people deserve better than having their world-leading food standards sold out from underneath them,' he added. Donld Trump's commerce secretary Wilbur Ross warned in 2017 that keeping EU food standards after Brexit could act as a 'landmine' to UK hopes of a free trade deal Mr Lighthizer's office stressed the importance of the 230 billion US dollar (173 billion) UK/US trade relationship. But it added: 'Multiple tariff and non-tariff barriers have challenged US exporters in key sectors while the UK has been a member state of the EU and therefore a part of the common trade policy of the EU. 'The UK's decision to leave the EU creates a new opportunity to expand and deepen the US/UK trade relationship... 'Our aim in negotiations with the UK is to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers and to achieve fairer and deeper trade in a manner consistent with the objectives that Congress has set out.' Britain's first 'jail within a jail' for transgender inmates will open this week, despite female prisoners' safety fears. The unit will open at Downview prison near Sutton, south London, and will be exclusively for transgender women. It will be housed in a building which had previously been named after Victorian feminist Josephine Butler, the Sunday Times reports. Britain's first 'jail within a jail' for transgender inmates will open this week at Downview prison near Sutton, south London (pictured), despite 'significant concerns' among the 320 female prisoners at the arrival of male-bodied inmates The unit comes despite 'significant concerns' among the 320 female prisoners at the arrival of male-bodied inmates, and doctors and prison governors saying that some sex criminals transition to get access to women. While around 19 per cent of the prison population are sex offenders, this figure is nearly 50 per cent for trans prisoners. However, the new unit is understood to be separated by an inner fence dividing it from the rest of the jail, with the first three residents expected this week. The president of the Prison Governors Association, Andrea Albutt said that the new unit's success would be dependent upon how effectively biologically female prisoners are protected. 'They're going to have to have some kinds of safeguards to make sure that a Karen White event doesn't happen again. That is the number one priority,' she said. Born Stephen Wood, White was a child sex abuser on remand for rape, who was sent to a women's prison after he identified as female, despite still having male genitalia. Karen White, who was born Stephen Wood, is currently locked up in HMP Wakefield. White is a child sex abuser who was sent to a women's prison after he identified as female, despite still having male genitalia. Within weeks of arriving at the prison, she had sexually assaulted two women prisoners Within weeks of arriving at the prison, she had sexually assaulted two women prisoners. Her case sparked a revision of prison guidelines, which said that the majority of trans prisoners should be allowed to be in the system in their chosen gender. The new unit is in recognition of the fact that transgender prisoners can also be at risk. Tara Hudson, who had not legally changed her gender but had lived as a woman for years, said she was 'treated like an animal in a zoo' after being placed in a men's jail. Justice minister Edward Argar said the new policy would ensure that transgender prisoners have their rights respected, while ensuring that female prisoners are safe. The new unit, which has 15 single cells and one two-bedded unit is almost enough for the estimated 20 trans prisoners who are housed across the women's estate. The president of the Prison Governors Association, Andrea Albutt said that the new unit's success would be dependent upon how effectively biologically female prisoners are protected. While around 19 per cent of the prison population are sex offenders, this figure is nearly 50 per cent for trans prisoners This raises the possibility that all other women's jails could be emptied of transgender prisoners, and they would instead be sent to the new facility. It is believed that Downview's wing could be the first in Europe, after Italy considered introducing one before scrapping the plan. The move was 'cautiously welcomed' by Nicola Williams, of Fair Play for Women, who have campaigned for reform. The Ministry of Justice said its wider policy was still in development and that no final decisions had been made. The girlfriend of a British climber who has been missing for a week on a Himalayan peak known as Killer Mountain has said there's 'no hope any more.' Italian Stefania Pederiva, who was said to have been 'crying constantly' since her boyfriend disappeared, said: 'It's pointless. No hope any more. It is hopeless.' Tom Ballard, 30, from Derbyshire, was reported missing on Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan, earlier this week with Italian Daniele Nardi, 42, and rescue attempts were suspended yesterday due to bad weather, reports the Sunday Times. Tom Ballard's girlfriend Stefania Pederiva, pictured together, has said she's given up hope after the search for her boyfriend on Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan, was suspended last night The pair last made contact a week ago, from an altitude of about 20,500ft (6,250m) on Nanga Parbat, but rescue attempts have now been called off due to bad weather. In 1995, Tom's mother Alison Hargreaves died on the same treacherous peak having become famous as the first woman to scale Everest solo. Ms Pederiva, whose father is a mountain guide, said she had not heard from Mr Ballard since February 22 and that he 'does not take the phone with him' on climbs. Speaking last night she said: 'He was quite happy to go. He was calm, fine. He had lost weight because of the altitude.' Yesterday the search had to be suspended after heavy snowfall and a planned helicopter and drone search was called off due to the adverse weather conditions. Stefano Pontecorvo said rescuers would try again today when weather is expected to improve. A map of the mountain in Pakistan (pictured above) shows where Mr Ballard went missing last week and his mother went missing in 1995 Mr Ballard, left and right climbing, became the first person to climb the north faces alone in a winter season in 2015 He said he has spoken to Basque climber Alex Txikon, who is joining the rescue mission with a three-strong team, including a doctor. If weather permits, Mr Txikon is expected to fly drones over the area where the two climbers went missing. Earlier, Mr Pontecorvo said 'Both Daniele and Tom are tough guys. We hope for a miracle... and just try our best to find them.' Initial search plans on Thursday were prevented when Pakistan closed its air space after it shot down two Indian military planes. Snow, clouds and low visibility forced proposed searches on Friday and Saturday to be called off. Mr Ballard and Mr Nardi were attempting the unclimbed Mummery Rib up Nanga Parbat, named after Albert Mummery who disappeared on the mountain in 1895. In the 1930s nine died in a storm there and in 2013 11 climbers and locals were killed by a Taliban faction at base camp, reports the Times. Another tragedy occurred in 1970 when Gunther Messner, brother of mountaineer Reinhold Messner, died on the mountain. Mr Ballard's mother Alison Hargreaves, pictured with her children left, died on the mountain in 1995. Mr Ballard, right, was just six-years-old at the time Daniele Nardi (right) and Mr Ballard (left) have not been heard from since last Sunday Mr Reinhold said: 'There is almost zero hope that it is still possible to find them [Mr Ballard and Mr Nardi] alive.' Skilled climber Mr Ballard followed in his mother's footsteps as she had previously conquered Everest solo, without an Oxygen bottle. She reached the peak of Mount Everest on May 13, 1995 and is reportedly said to have sent a radio message to her children which said: 'To Tom and Kate, my dear children, I am on the highest point of the world, and I love you dearly.' The excitement of Alison's triumph swept the media and the whole country rallied behind the explorer. However, the happiness was short-lived and exactly three months later she reached the summit of K2 in Pakistan, the world's second-highest peak. Just hours later, she and five others died when they were engulfed by a storm with fierce winds that rose up the mountain. Mr Ballard was just six-years-old when his mother died but he went on to became the first person to climb the north faces alone in a winter season in 2015. Now, temperatures on the mountain are said to be at least minus 40C, with winds ranging from 120mph to 200mph. A drag racer who was pulled from his car seconds before it burst into flames as his family watched on has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition. The driver was one of dozens taking part in Racewars, a drag race event at the Albany airport runway in Western Australia's south, on Sunday. As his family watched on, the 26-year-old driver raced a Mustang down the track at high speeds. Scroll down for video. A drag racer who was pulled from his car seconds before it burst into flames as his family watched on has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition When the car made it to the end of the track, it failed to stop and rolled into nearby bushland As the car reached the end of the track, it failed to stop and rolled into nearby bushland. The driver was luckily pulled from the car just seconds before the Mustang burst into flames, The West Australian reported. The gearbox of the car was found 20 metres away from the vehicle. Emergency services rushed to the scene about 12.10pm, where they found the 26-year-old in a very serious condition. The driver was flown to Royal Perth Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service about 2.50pm after receiving CPR on the scene. The 26-year-old was put into an induced coma as he sustained life-threatening brain injuries. The driver was one of dozens taking part in Racewars, a drag race event (pictured) at the Albany airport runway in Western Australia's south, on Sunday It was the second crash at the event within two hours, prompting organisers to call off the event. A man driving a Supra that hit a maximum speed of 338km/h in the morning had his parachute fail and crashed, injuring his neck. Racewars organisers issued a statement after deciding to cancel the event: 'Motorsport is a cruel mistress at times but we all understand the risks of participation.' 'We remain committed to grassroots Motorsport and the social and safety benefits of taking speed off the streets.' Advertisement Although many countries have recently been gripped by a wave of populism and strongman leaders, the recent election of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sent shockwaves and alarm through Latin America. Many Brazilians tired of corruption and keen to unlock the nation's obvious potential rushed to the polls to vote for the man they thought would drive their country to become a rich economic powerhouse. Yet Bolsonaro's approach of ruling with an iron fist coupled with a clear disdain for certain minority groups worries many citizens who fear they will suffer under the new regime. One of these groups is the Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe - a handful of indigenous people, some with Indian roots, who live in the villages near Campo Novo de Rondonia. While their territory has historically been protected, invaders armed with chainsaws and machetes are now hacking a path through the forest to open it up for development. These invaders are spurred on by comments made previously by the President, who said: 'There is no indigenous territory where there aren't minerals. Gold, tin and magnesium are in these lands, especially in the Amazon, the richest area in the world. 'I'm not getting into this nonsense of defending land for Indians.' This has left the people of the Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe with no choice, as they sharpen the tips of their arrows and prepare to defend their home. An indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau tribesman holds up and inspects an arrow at a meeting in the village of Alto Jamari called to face the threat of armed land grabbers A child of the tribe clutching a longbow and arrow stands on a log in the middle of an area deforested by invaders spurred on by Jair Bolonaro's election victory Another tribesman, with the distinctive black cross painted across his chest, fires a bow and arrow during the meeting in Alto Jamari During the crisis meeting of the tribe to plan how to defend their land from the threat of deforestation by marauders, a young child plays a musical woodwind instrument A Uru-eu-wau-wau tribesman called Tebu surveys a patch of forest in the Alto Jaru village chopped down by the invaders The indigenous reservation near Campo de Novo in Brazil was targeted by armed land grabbers after Jair Bolsonaro was sworn is as President. He once said: 'There is no indigenous territory where there aren't minerals. Gold, tin and magnesium are in these lands, especially in the Amazon, the richest area in the world' As rain falls, Tebu goes for a swim in the muddy waters of Alto Jaru wearing traditional tribe headgear He kicks through the water to the backdrop of the stunning Indigenous Reservation near Campo Novo de Rondonia. But the land is under threat from developers who want to hack down the forest to make way for development A woman from the Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe holds up a piece of tree bark with an ID number painted on by the invaders who want to deforest the area A tribesman butchers a pig in a bush, cutting off the animal's legs before shaving off the thick coat of hair. The Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe are hunter-gathers The man holds up the hacked off head of the pig in his blood-stained fingers which. The tribesmen of Uru-eu-wau-wau live off the land but their way of life is at risk from chainsaw-wielding developers The pig meat is prepared on a pile of leaves next to the long metal knife which slit the animal before it is cooked and eaten by the tribe A thermos bottle planted in the ground is used to determine the demarcation of an area deforested by invaders in the village of Alto Jaru Tebu stands on the fallen trunks of trees which have been brought down by the invaders who act with the tacit approval of President Bolsonaro A fallen tree which has crashed into the river is one of many to be chopped down by developers who threaten to drive the Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe from their homes A tribesman touches the charred remains of one of the trees which made their rainforest home. Jair Bolsonaro is reported to having once said: 'It's a shame that the Brazilian cavalry wasn't as efficient as the Americans, who exterminated the Indians' Two tribesmen use a fallen tree to cross the river by treading delicately across the side of its narrow trunk An indigenous man called Boatuto of the tribe surveys another area of Brazilian land decimated by the invaders who are determined to harvest the forest for development Boatuto shows an ammunition capsule which had been fired into an official Funai sign warning of the limits of the Uru-eu-wau-wau camp The sign marking the protected territory of the tribe has been blasted by gunfire in a show that the invaders do not respect the clan's land The section of Brazilian forest has started to be exploited by developers who are hacking a pathway through the trees to potential development sites Boatuto looks on at the destruction caused to his home which he shares with about 80 other tribesmen in the villages near Campo Novo de Rondonia A tribesman in colourful headgear stands tall and holds his weapons in a patch of land not yet destroyed by armed invaders A herd of cows are seen gathering at the border between farms and the Inigenous Reservation in Camp Novo de Rondonia Indigenous men of Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe, make an inspection of an area deforested by invaders, after a meeting was called in the village of Alto Jamari to face the threat of armed land grabbers A body-painted man with the tribe's black cross which all of the group bare across their chests Roseanne Barr has launched a verbal attack on the #MeToo movement. Barr, who was fired from ABC's Roseanne for a racist tweet in May 2018, sat down with far-right commentator, Candace Owens, for an interview published on Sunday. 'They were there in the room because they thought they were going to get a job 15 years ago. Cuz they're hoes,' Barr told Owens as they discussed their views on the #MeToo movement. Barr said some of the women who were in men's hotel rooms at 3am are 'pretending that they didn't go to trade sexual favors for money'. She continued mocking the victims of the movement by saying they stayed around in the hotel rooms because they thought they were going to get a job. 'Well you ain't nothing but a hoe. I know a hoe when I see one,' Barr added. Scroll down for video Roseanne Barr has launched a verbal attack on the #MeToo movement during an interview with Candace Owens (left). Barr said some of the women are 'pretending that they didn't go to trade sexual favors for money' Barr said some of the women who were in men's hotel rooms at 3am are 'pretending that they didn't go to trade sexual favors for money. Well you ain't nothing but a hoe. I know a hoe when I see one' The #MeToo movement was founded in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke, who started using the phrase to raise awareness of sexual abuse and assault. It became a broader movement in 2017 when dozens of allegations ranging from rape to sexual harassment came out against Harvey Weinstein. Barr didn't name drop Burke, but she did mention one notable #MeToo accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, who publicly accused US judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Ford, 52, tearfully testified against him before he was confirmed as a member of America's Supreme Court. She accused him of groping her at a party when she was a teenager. Barr claimed during the interview that 'nothing happened' to Ford. 'She should be in prison,' Barr said, adding that Ford used her 'white woman privilege' to rake in $1million from crowdfunding campaigns that supported her following her testimony. The #MeToo movement was founded in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke (left). Barr didn't name drop Burke, but she did mention one notable #MeToo accuser, Christine Blasey Ford (right), who publicly accused US judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct At one point she laid into California Democrat, Kamala Harris (pictured), who's running for president. 'Look at Kamala Harris, who I call Kama Sutra Harris,' Barr says. 'We all know what she did she slept her way to the bottom,' Barr continued At one point she laid into California Democrat, Kamala Harris, who's running for president. 'Look at Kamala Harris, who I call Kama Sutra Harris,' Barr says. 'We all know what she did she slept her way to the bottom,' Barr continues, apparently referring to Harris' past relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown More than a week ago, the comedian took aim at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'green new deal' and called her a 'bug-eyed b***h' in a rambling rant. In a video titled 'Bug eyed b***hes', the former sitcom actress unleashed a torrent of abuse at the Democratic firebrand. Barr also discussed a variety of issues including the environment, immigration and Israel. During the video, Barr was seemingly unable to recall Ocasio-Cortez's name but had a lot of opinions to share about the 'Farrakhan loving b***h' who 'looks like a realtor' and her 'green new deal' in particular. Barr criticized the freshman congresswoman's plan to counter climate change and claims it would 'put hundreds of people out of work and decimate communities'. More than a week ago, Barr took aim at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'green new deal' and called her a 'bug-eyed b***h' in a rant 'She got paid to do that paid to decimate communities,' the former sitcom star blasted. 'Because they breathe carbon in their air or some horse s***.' Barr declared that such an outcome was a natural result of 'socialism,' calling the economic system a 'fake f***ing con' and 'ponzi scheme'. 'Lefty dumb-asses,' Barr added, seemingly referencing Ocasio-Cortez's large following. 'Dumb as they get.' Ocasio-Cortez introduced the 'green new deal', a package of policies aimed at fighting climate change while promoting economic growth last month. She has argued that the deal could curb climate change and boost the economy. Barr's rant proceeded to offer her outlook on immigration, claiming Democrats were motivated to bring in foreigners because 'no Americans are going to vote for their ass anymore'. 'Here's why they want them immigrants,' the actress continued. 'First of all because all of their buddies are hiring them for less than minimum wage. 'That's a big draw. And second, cause no Americans are gonna vote for their ass anymore because we woke up to the s*** you're doing.' Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Green New Deal, a package of policies aimed at fighting climate change while promoting economic growth last month Barr never spoke Ocasio-Cortez's name, but her followers knew who she meant Barr criticized the Democratic party, saying that the decisions made by those representing it are 'decimating inner cities' while politicians live in 'vineyards and in a mansion'. Many of Barr's fans cheered her comments. They thanked her for speaking 'the truth' and asked her to 'preach on'. She regularly offers her thoughts via her YouTube channel on President Donald Trump and other political issues. Barr's blunt manner has caused her to land in trouble several times during her career, most notably when her reboot of her signature sitcom, Roseanne, was taken off the air by ABC after she posted a racist tweet. In the post, Barr compared Valerie Jarrett, a black woman who was a former president Barack Obama administration official, to an ape. The tweet read: 'Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes had a baby=vj.' At one point, Barr claimed she didn't know the woman was black. At another point, she told followers not to defend her and said that what she did was 'unforgivable'. A gay Sikh man was forced to dress up as a woman on his wedding day because his in-laws didn't want anyone to know he was male. Roy Singh, from Manchester, was told to wear a wig, high heels and make-up by his fiance's family to convince the community their son was not gay. The 29-year-old met his future husband when he was 18 and ended up moving to London to live in his family home. But Mr Singh says he tried to kill himself after being subjected to nine months of abuse at the hands of his British Sikh in-laws, The Mirror reports. Roy Singh, from Manchester, was told he would have to wear a wig and high heels because his fiance's family didn't want anyone to know their son was gay On the wedding day, his mother-in-law told guests Mr Singh was an orphaned widow and so had no family. He said: 'She said if I wanted to marry him I would have to dress as a woman on the wedding day. I would also need to pretend to be a woman for a while to convince the community her son isn't gay.' Mr Singh claims he almost fainted in fear of being found out at the huge ceremony of 450 guests. The following day he said he was told he would now be called Lucky and would have to dress in women's clothes. Mr Singh said: 'My mum-in-law started calling me her daughter-in-law. There was a time when I came down in slippers, not really dressed. She said I needed to maintain myself at all times and never come down again like that.' And he said he was treated like a slave in the home and was made to do 18 hours of chores a day. He ended up losing weight after only being allowed to eat a bowl of weetabix and a smoothie a day and was barely allowed to see his husband. His mother-in-law also told him he was too fat and wouldn't let him to use the toilet so he would often wet himself. And things got worse when his parents found out about the marriage on Facebook after seeing wedding photos of him dressed up as a bride. He said he was treated like a slave in the home and was made to do 18 hours of chores a day His mother-in-law forced then him to visit his family dressed as Lucky. He said: 'She wanted to sit down with my family and tell them what had happened. They took it really badly and told me never to come home again.' Mr Singh finally found the courage to leave after nine months and ended up in a homeless shelter. But four months later he found out his husband was set to marry a woman and he tried to kill himself. He said: 'I put my wedding outfit back on and I went down to the river and slashed my wrists. I felt like they made me his wife so I was going to kill the wife.' A passerby saved Mr Singh by dragging him from the water and he was taken to hospital where his parents where called. They took him back home and supported him. Brave Mr Singh now performs in drag as Lucky in a bid to take control of his identity. But he still has flashbacks about the months of abuse and wakes up screaming. His ex, who has not been named, told the newspaper: 'Me and my mum would like to apologise to Roy Lucky Singh.' A mother lay dead in her flat for two days before police found her body next to her five-month-old baby - who was rushed to hospital and treated for dehydration. Courtney Newlands, 19, from Penilee, Glasgow, was discovered lying on her couch with her youngster Declan beside her in his cot. Her mother Lorraine and sister, also Lorraine, 23, alerted officers after not hearing from the teenager, who spoke with them every day and posted daily Facebook updates of her little one. It is thought Courtney may have suffered complications from Type 1 diabetes, but so far medics have been unable to determine the cause of her death, which is believed to have happened between February 19 and February 20. Courtney Newlands (pictured), 19, from Penilee, Glasgow, was discovered lying dead on her couch with her youngster Declan beside her in his cot Declan was rushed to hospital and kept in for two days after being treated for dehydration but is now at home, being cared for by Courtney's sister, who has two children. Courtney's heartbroken mother, 43, who lives in Pollok, said: 'I think it's affecting us more because we don't really know what happened. If it had been one more day would Declan be here? It is thought Courtney may have suffered complications from Type 1 diabetes, but so far medics have been unable to determine the cause of her death 'It's a shame because he was crying the other day and I played a video of Courtney and he just stared at her phone. He stopped crying straight away.' The distraught parent added: 'We are going to keep playing them because it will make him feel as if she's still there.' Courtney was diagnosed with diabetes when she was four. Her mother explained: 'Everyone thinks that diabetes is easy but it's not as easy as what people think. You have to do daily checks, you can't eat or drink what you want. 'I managed it for her but it was more in her later years that it affected her. She fell pregnant and had two miscarriages, last year and the year before that. 'With her being pregnant there were more complications. One was at 6-8 weeks and the other was just under three months. She almost died after one of the miscarriages because she got the flu.' The miscarriages were due to complications caused by Courtney's diabetes and the teenager was said to have feared that she would never be able to have children, before falling pregnant again last year. Lorraine said: 'She was very ill and wasn't well the whole way through her pregnancy. He was taking everything out of her. They had to deliver Declan two months early by Caesarean section. 'He was born with only one kidney, which might have been to do with being premature and he spent two months in hospital but he was fine.' Courtney's family said the teenager relished being a new mother and focused all her energy into take care of her first born (pictured) Lorraine, who lives with her partner Alan, said Courtney relished being a new mother and focused all her energy into take care of her firstborn. The teenager had also recently moved into her first flat with her boyfriend Declan, yet the couple had fallen out ]the week before her death, which resulted in him moving out. The family are now planning Courtney's funeral with baby Declan being cared for by Courtney's sister Lorraine, who has two children Speaking about her concerns before her daughter's death, Lorraine said: 'The last time I spoke to her was on the Tuesday night, online. She had said she was feeling a [little ill]. She had had a cold. 'I said to her to phone the diabetes nurse and she sent me pictures of Declan and that was it. 'We were emailing her and texting her the next day and hearing nothing and it wasn't like her. She hadn't been on Facebook and she was on every day posting pictures of the baby. 'I just had this terrible feeling. I said to my daughter, phone the police and she told me she was already at the flat and there was no answer and she couldn't hear the baby. 'Then I said, just call the police. There is obviously something wrong. I was at the flat and there was ambulances and police but they wouldn't let me in. They said she was there for two days and nobody knew she was there. 'She was lying on the couch with a cover over her and her Lucozade and insulin next to her. The police were really good, they changed Declan's nappy and gave him some milk. 'They kept him in hospital for two days for observation but he was fine. It just came out of the blue. All we know is that she was there for two days.' The family are waiting for the results of more detailed tests - which will take six weeks - after the post mortem failed to shed any light on the cause of Courtney's death. Lorraine (pictured), who is known in the community for her fundraising work, said: 'They did say that if it was something related to the diabetes it would show up in the post mortem but there was nothing there' Lorraine, who is known in the community for her fundraising work, said: 'They did say that if it was something related to the diabetes it would show up in the post mortem but there was nothing there.' Courtney's mother, who is now planning her daughter's funeral, said: 'She was just a normal teen, dead bubbly. She had loads and loads of of friends, she was very popular. 'Last week, she had dyed her hair purple and it had turned orange and she was laughing about it. 'Declan was like a miracle baby to her. If you look at her Facebook page, it was just baby, baby, baby. Every single day, every minute of the day. 'Declan is one of those babies who is always smiling. He's just started to giggle now. We've got to keep going for his sake.' A fundraising campaign has been launched to help support Courtneys family. Emily Ratajkowksi and her millionaire filmmaker husband have been avoiding paying rent on a New York City loft due to an obscure law, their landlord claims. According to the New York Post, the model and her husband, producer Sebastian Bear-McClard, have a $5,000-a-month loft in NoHo, a trendy upper-class neighborhood in Manhattan. But due to a loophole, the couple allegedly has been able to avoid paying rent for the apartment at 49 Bleecker Street since 2017 and owe about $120,000. A landlord claims model Emily Ratajkowski and her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard (pictured together, March 2018) have a loft in New York City's Noho neighborhood that costs $5,000-a-month in rent The loft at 49 Bleecker Street is in NoHo, a trendy upper-class neighborhood in Manhattan The Post reports that, according to court documents, Bear-McClard, 31, and Ratajkowski, 27, sublet the 1,100 square-foot apartment on the second floor last year. The lease expired in 2017, but Bear-McClard has failed to pay rent since, lease holder Antoni Ghosh allegedly said in Manhattan Civil Court. This is due to a 1982 state law that protects tenants in New York City who are illegally living in commercial or factory buildings. In the 1970s, Noho - and the nearby neighborhood Soho - were considered among the last places in New York City for struggling artists. According to CityRealty, renters worried that, as expensive gallerists infiltrated, rent prices would spike and they'd be forced out. The law was partially made to protect struggling artists living in these units so they wouldn't be evicted. The lease expired in 2017 and the landlord claims the couple (left in March 2018 and right in February 2019) has not paid rent since - the equivalent of about $120,000. They are protected by a 1982 law, originally enacted to help struggling artists not be forced out of their lofts Landlords are unable to force tenants out if the building doesn't have a residential certificate of occupancy and landlords were required to bring converted residences up to code. The building at 49 Bleecker doesn't have a certificate of occupancy. According to Superbhub, Bear-McClard has a net worth of $11million while his wife has a net worth of roughly $6million. 'Here is a prime example, in prime NYC real estate, where an uber-wealthy celebrity couple and tenant can take advantage and exploit a law that was intended for truly struggling artists and low-income families in need of affordable housing,' Carolyn Daly, spokeswoman for a coalition of loft building owners that includes 49 Bleecker, told the New York Post. Ghosh's attorney Michael Kozek said his client is seeking to evict the couple. 'Mr McClard is fighting to save his home, which he has lived in for years,' Kozek told the Post. 'He's an artist. Born and raised New Yorker and a child of artists who themselves fought to save their homes, including under the Loft Law.' Originally the loft served as the art studio of oil painter Joanne Corneau, who vacated in the 1990s, according to the Post. A mother says she was shocked to discover a metal pellet in a pear she purchased from a local grocery store over the weekend. Jennifer Tincknell, from Queensland, said she bought a packet of pears at an IGA shop in St George, about six hours west of Brisbane, on Saturday. Ms Tincknell gave the pears to three of her four children, five-year-old Taleea, nine-year-old Tanya, and 10-year-old John. Soon after, the 32-year-old claimed Tanya rushed over to her 'panicking and worried' before showing her the metal object in her fruit. Jennifer Tincknell, from Queensland, said she bought a packet of pears (pictured) at an IGA shop in St George, about six hours west of Brisbane, on Saturday 'Tanya was just about to bite it when she noticed it,' she told The Courier Mail. 'It looks like someone's used a shotgun and shot at the fruit,' she said. The worried mother took the children to St George Hospital, concerned they may have already eaten some of the objects. The children were assessed and released and Ms Tincknell was told to bring them back if they experienced any sharp pains. Ms Tincknell returned the fruit to IGA and says she was offered a refund. The fruit was later removed from the shelves. She posted a warning to social media sites in the hopes other mothers would not be caught off guard. Daily Mail Australia has contacted IGA for comment. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, 74, reveals he sleeps in his Ford Mondeo to save money As one of the greatest living explorers, he's used to roughing it in remote spots. And it seems the same applies at home for Sir Ranulph Fiennes who opts to sleep in his old Ford Mondeo while in London rather than pay for a hotel. Sir Ranulph, who turns 75 on Thursday, said there's no money in being an explorer and is perfectly happy bedding down in the back of his estate car rather than getting room service and a hot shower. 'The car is long enough for me to stretch out. It's not uncomfortable or anything. In London I park in a residential bay between 10pm and 8am,' he told the Sunday Times Magazine. 'You save 300 for the nearest hotel or B&B. Normally, I'm parked between Ferraris and Range Rovers. I think they're all oligarchs and abroad and that's why there are spare spaces. 'I'll tell you that it's in Queen's Gate [west London] but I won't tell you more because it may not be strictly legal.' On his next expedition, which may be his last, Sir Ranulph hopes to walk five miles form Robben Island to Cape Town with no protection Sir Ranulph's expeditions have left him in debt at various points, including 100,000-worth of bills for his 1979 Transglobe expedition in which he traversed both poles. The Somerset-based Old Etonian writes and lectures to support his second wife and 13-year-old daughter. 'As the breadwinner I need to write a book every other year. But with tax and literary agent fees and the often considerable cost of research, it's not enough,' he said. 'My only regular non-literary income comes from giving lectures. I can just about cope financially between expeditions.' In contrast, he has raised 18million for Marie Curie, the cancer care charity which helped nurse his first wife Ginny, who died in 2004. Despite raising thousands of pounds for charity, the explorer's adventures have often put him in debt His next adventure will be to walk across the seabed from Robben Island to Cape Town in South Africa, equipped only with breathing apparatus and a sonic device to repel great white sharks. He aims to raise money for Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital in Johannesburg and will only have a diving suit and special technology to ward off sharks. Despite being the first pensioner to climb Everest, growing old has meant these challenges have become much harder for Sir Ranulph. He was was diagnosed with prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes and suffers from defective vision after his eyeball froze on a polar trek. The explorer famously revealed how he was convinced to cut off his own frostbitten fingers by his late wife after she accused him of being 'irritable'. He was was diagnosed with prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes and suffers from defective vision after his eyeball froze on a polar trek He was left with 'mummified' digits on his left hand after a failed solo expedition to the North Pole in 2000. On returning to Britain he was told that the fingers needed to be amputated but added that he would have to wait five months for partially-damaged tissue to heal first. For a short while the former SAS officer lived with the pain, until his former wife Ginnie said he was 'getting irritable. 'We decided we would try to cut them off with a Black and Decker and a saw,' he said in a BBC radio interview. Two weeks later the adventurer went to Frenchay hospital in Bristol where a plastic surgeon added the finishing touches to the job. The fingers healed without complications. Declaring it's 'very clear' President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the chairman of the House committee in charge of impeachment says the panel is requesting documents Monday from more than 60 people from Trump's administration, family and business as part of a rapidly expanding Russia investigation. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said the House Judiciary Committee wants to review documents from the Justice Department, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly and former White House counsel Don McGahn also are likely targets, he said. 'We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption and into obstruction of justice,' Nadler said. 'We will do everything we can to get that evidence.' Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said the House Judiciary Committee wants to review documents from the Justice Department and many close Trump associates Trump returns to the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday after his Vietnam trip Asked if he believed Trump obstructed justice, Nadler said, 'Yes, I do.' Nadler isn't calling the inquiry an impeachment investigation but said House Democrats, now in the majority, are simply doing 'our job to protect the rule of law' after Republicans during the first two years of Trump's term were 'shielding the president from any proper accountability.' 'We're far from making decisions' about impeachment, he said. In a tweet on Sunday, Trump blasted anew the Russia investigation, calling it a partisan probe unfairly aimed at discrediting his win in the 2016 presidential election. 'I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election!' he wrote. Nadler's comments follow a bad political week for Trump. He emerged empty-handed from a high-profile summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un on denuclearization and Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, in three days of congressional testimony, publicly characterized the president as a 'con man' and 'cheat.' Newly empowered House Democrats are flexing their strength with blossoming investigations. A half-dozen House committees are now probing alleged coordination between Trump associates and Russia's efforts to sway the 2016 election, Trump's tax returns and possible conflicts of interest involving the Trump family business and policy-making. The House oversight committee, for instance, has set a Monday deadline for the White House to turn over documents related to security clearances after The New York Times reported that the president ordered officials to grant his son-in-law Jared Kushner's clearance over the objections of national security officials. Nadler's added lines of inquiry also come as special counsel Robert Mueller is believed to be wrapping up his work into possible questions of Trump campaign collusion and obstruction in the Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. In his testimony, Cohen acknowledged he did not witness or know directly of collusion between Trump aides and Russia but had his 'suspicions.' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Sunday accused House Democrats of prejudging Trump as part of a query based purely on partisan politics. 'I think Congressman Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election,' McCarthy said. 'Listen to exactly what he said. He talks about impeachment before he even became chairman and then he says, 'you've got to persuade people to get there.' There's nothing that the president did wrong.' 'Show me where the president did anything to be impeached...Nadler is setting the framework now that the Democrats are not to believe the Mueller report,' he said. Nadler said Sunday his committee will seek to review the Mueller report but stressed the investigation 'goes far beyond collusion.' He pointed to what he considered several instances of obstruction of justice by the president, including the '1,100 times he referred to the Mueller investigation as a 'witch hunt'' as well Trump's abrupt firing of FBI director James Comey in 2017. According to Comey, Trump had encouraged the then-FBI director to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump has denied he told Comey to end the Flynn probe. 'It's very clear that the president obstructed justice,' Nadler said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has kept calls for impeachment at bay by insisting that Mueller first must be allowed to finish his work, and present his findings publicly - though it's unclear whether the White House will allow its full release. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who chairs the House intelligence committee, on Sunday also stressed that it's too early to make judgments about impeachment. 'That is something that we will have to await Bob Mueller's report and the underlying evidence to determine. We will also have to look at the whole body of improper and criminal actions by the president including those campaign finance crimes to determine whether they rise to the level of removal from office,' Schiff said. Nadler and McCarthy spoke on ABC's 'This Week,' and Schiff appeared on CBS' 'Face the Nation.' White House counselor Jared Kushner flouted the white tie rule on the invitation for the annual Gridiron dinner on Saturday night and wore a tuxedo instead. Ivanka Trump posted a photo of herself and her husband headed out for the evening with the caption 'hot date.' But it's a mystery why Kushner dressed down a level and donned a tuxedo - and a navy one at that - to one of the most formal events on Washington D.C.'s social calendar. Especially since he wore white tie to last year's Gridiron dinner. Jared Kushner, in a Navy blue tux, and Ivanka Trump in a ballgown headed to Saturday's Gridiron dinner Ivanka Trump shared the photo to Twitter with the caption: 'Hot date!' For the event in 2018, Jared wore a white-tie tuxedo while Ivanka wore a black-and-white ballgown Some men at Saturday's Gridiron dinner were heard giving some good natured grumbling that they were in tails and a cummerbund while Kushner was in the relative comfort of a tux. Kushner stood out in his tuxedo in a sea of men all in white tie. The exclusive, invitation-only event, specifically calls for white tie on the invite. President Donald Trump wore white tie when he attended last year's dinner. He was not present on Saturday night. Ivanka Trump, wearing a $2,750 Markarian dress, spoke in his stead. The Gridiron dinner is one of the few Washington events that keeps its white tie requirement. In comparison the popular White House Correspondents' Association dinner is a black tie event as are most state dinners - notably President George W. Bush hosted a white tie state dinner for Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. White tie for men includes a strict dress code of tails, white tie pants, a white tie shirt, waistcoat and cummerbund. The etiquette web site the Gentleman's Gazette notes: 'A regular tuxedo should never be worn for white tie events. And if that's the only option you have, either wear a waistcoat or cummerbund. Never expose your waistband and never wear belts with evening wear.' Kushner was not wearing a waistcoat or a cummerbund Saturday evening. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended last year's dinner; the president wore white tie Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at the 2014 Met Gala, where the invitation was white tie and Kushner wore a tuxedo In 2014, when Anna Wintour reinstated the white tie requirement for men at the annual Met Gala, The New York Times reported on the difficulty American men find in meeting such stringent dress requirements. Jared Kushner wore black tie to that event too. The annual Gridiron dinner features 700 journalists, politicians and members of Washington D.C.'s elite. The white-tie dinner takes place at the Renaissance Washington Hotel, with skits, songs and self-deprecation on the menu. Speeches are expected to be full of wit and mockery with a side of repartee. Bipartisanship is on the menu and cameras are not allowed inside. Also in attendance was White House senior adviser Jared Kushner; presidential press secretary Sarah Sanders; Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway; acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney; Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson; Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos; Sen. Ted Cruz; Sen. Jerry Moran; and Sen. Pat Roberts. Johnny Depp has accused Amber Heard of starting a relationship with Elon Musk just a month after they married in 2015. Depp's claims stem from a $50million defamation lawsuit that he filed against his ex-wife after she accused him of domestic violence, a claim that Depp says is 'an elaborate hoax'. In the lawsuit obtained by People, the actor alleged that Heard, 32, would receive 'late night' visits from Musk while Depp was out of the country filming. Depp also claims that the Tesla founder was allowed into the couple's Los Angeles home on the same night Heard 'presented her battered face to the public'. Johnny Depp has accused Amber Heard of beginning a relationship with Tesla founder Elon Musk (bottom right) just a month after they married in 2015 in a $50million defamation lawsuit The actor alleged that Heard, 32, would receive 'late night' visits from Musk (pictured) while Depp was out of the country filming Heard and Depp separated in May 2016. According to People, a representative for Musk claims that 'Elon and Amber didnt start seeing each other until May 2016'. 'Their relationship didnt become romantic until some time later,' the representative said. Heards attorney, Eric M. George said in a statement to the magazine: 'This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depps repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. 'She will not be silenced. Mr. Depps actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behavior.' Last December, Heard wrote an article for the Washington Post in which she said she had received death threats and lost out on work after accusing Depp of domestic abuse. 'The op-ed's clear implication that Mr Depp is a domestic abuser is categorically and demonstrably false,' Depp's lawsuit states. 'Mr Depp never abused Ms Heard. Her allegations against him were false when they were made in 2016. The Aquaman actress filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean star in May 2016 stating that he had been 'verbally and physically' abusive towards her. They are pictured together in 2014 'They were part of an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity for Ms Heard and advance her career.' The lawsuit goes on to say that the allegations made by Heard against Depp were refuted by 'two separate responding police officers, a litany of neutral third-party witnesses, and 87 newly obtained surveillance camera videos'. 'Ms Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse, she is a perpetrator,' the lawsuit states. The Aquaman actress filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean star in May 2016 stating that he had been 'verbally and physically' abusive towards her. Their divorce was finalized in January 2017, with Heard later donating a portion of her $7million divorce settlement to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. They were married for 15 months before she filed for divorce. In May 2016 Heard said that Depp had been 'verbally and physically' abusive towards her. Images emerged at the time (above) showing Heard with a bruised eye and face Heard was spotted leaving a California court in 2016 with facial bruising (above) after she was granted a temporary restraining order against Depp just days after claiming he attacked her Images emerged at the time showing Heard with a bruised eye and face. She claimed Depp threw a phone at her face and struck her in their home. Depp has long denied the allegations and has instead claimed that his ex-wife repeatedly violently attacked and severely injured him. In the defamation lawsuit, Depp claims Heard threw a glass vodka bottle at him and caused the bones in the tip of his right middle finger to shatter. He claims the incident occurred one month into their marriage and resulted in him having to have his finger 'surgically reattached'. 'Ms Heard then disseminated false accounts of this incident, casting Mr Depp as the perpetrator of his own injury'. Depp claims in the lawsuit that he was dropped from Pirates of the Caribbean just four days after Heard's op-ed was published in the Washington Post. 'Ms Heard also knew that her elaborate hoax worked: as a result of her false allegations against Mr Depp, Ms Heard became a darling of the #MeToo movement, was the first actress named a Human Rights Champion of the United Nations Human Rights Office, was appointed ambassador on womens rights at the American Civil Liberties Union, and was hired by LOreal Paris as its global spokesperson.' Jeremy Hunt has warned that 20 million people are on the brink of starvation in Yemen as visited the country for the first time. Mr Hunt used his visit to Aden to warning that a peace deal agreed in Stockholm in December was likely to die unless aid was able to enter the vital Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Yemen has been gripped by an horrific humanitarian crisis caused by the fighting between Saudi Arabia-backed forces loyal to the then-incumbent government, led by president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and Iran-sponsored Houthi rebels for the past three years. The agreement to implement a troop withdrawal in Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions facing famine, by January 7 was intended to clear the way for wider negotiations to end the four-year war but progress has been slow. Hodeidah is vital for getting aid into Yemen but rival forces are preventing it from taking place despite and agreement made in December during peace talks in Stockholm In a sign that much of the developed world has forgotten about the crisis, Mr Hunt said he was the first western foreign minister to visit the country during the four-year conflict. The Foreign Office also said it was the first by a British Foreign Secretary since 1996. In a video message from Aden that was posted on Twitter, Mr Hunt said that the war was The worst humanitarian crisis that we face right now. He added: This is really the last chance for peace. Its been over 80 days since the Stockholm agreement but it has still not been implemented by both sides. Critically we have to clear the port of Hodeidah of militia and troops. If that doesnt happen in the next few weeks the agreement is likely to die. We have over 20 million people on the brink of starvation here, over 80,000 children have already starved to death. Mr Hunt also met Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Saeed Al Khanbashi and Foreign Minister Khaled Al Yamani. In the previous 48 hours, in Riyadh and Muscat respectively, Mr Hunt met Yemeni President Hadi and Houthi Spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salem. Around 80,000 children have starved to death in Yemen during the brutal war that has raged there since 2015 Britain has been criticised by aid groups for continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia despite its actions in Yemen, which have included claims of human rights abuses and potential war crimes against civilians. Other European nations including German have halted weapon sales. Mr Hunts visit came after Britain in January pumped an extra 2.5 million into aid efforts in Yemen. The money will fund setting up the office of a United Nations civilian co-ordinator to oversee efforts in the key ports including Hodeidah, as well as Salif and Ras Isa, which provide a lifeline to bring in food and other supplies but which have been badly hit by fighting. The co-ordinator role was created in an agreement hammered out in the December talks in Sweden, and will be jointly funded by the German Government. A fire and rescue crew responding to a raging inferno in Virginia saved an American flag waving dangerously near the flames. Video footage at the fire at Hopewell Moose Lodge in Hopewell, Virginia, early Thursday morning shows two of the firefighters hurriedly working to bring the U.S. flag down as other crew members tried to douse the blaze behind them. 'That's crazy and I think it's awesome that they'd take time to do that,' lodge member Kaloeb Crockett told WTVR. 'That shows what that means to them.' Firefighters called to the building that houses the international fraternal service organization, known as Moose International, was already completely engulfed in fire and smoke. Hopewell Fire and Rescue arrived at the Moose Lodge in Hopewell, Virginia, early Thursday morning to the scene of a building completely up in flames One firefighter was initially trying to get the flag down in front of the lodge when another one ran in to help rescue it 'When I got here it was so engulfed in flames that you couldn't even really figure where it started,' Don Readshaw, lodge treasurer, said. 'It's a feeling of futility because there's nothing you can do.' The flames appeared to originate in the laundry and kitchen sections in the center of the building, and foul play is not currently suspected by investigators. 'This is one of my top ten,' Hopewell Fire Chief Donny Hunter said of the massive size of the fire. Hopewell Fire Chief Donny Hunter (left) presents the American flag that flew in front of the Hopewell Moose Lodge to the lodge governor, Brian Carpenter, after the fire was put out The fire appeared to originate from the center of the Hopewell Moose Lodge in the areas where the kitchen and laundry are located The lodge that housed the local chapter of Moose International, a fraternal service organization, was a total loss Brian Carpenter says that with help from the community, the lodge will be rebuilt 'We don't usually lose a whole building. I mean, we pride ourselves in being very aggressive and fighting fire hard.' Meanwhile, lodge governor Brian Carpenter members of the community other Moose lodges, and other social clubs are reaching out to help with future rebuilding. 'We'll be back. A little bit bigger, a little bit cleaner, a little bit neater, and we'll be able to do what we do all over again,' Carpenter said. Carpenter also received the flag back from Fire Chief Hunter after the fire, saying that it meant everything to him that the flag could be saved and returned. A Royal Marine who was in charge of the landing of troops onto South Georgia during the Falklands War has claimed the SAS shot elephant seals by mistake. Writing in the Royal Marines' journal Lieutenant Colonel Guy Sheridan said he feels obliged to share his version of the event after 'over 36 years of misrepresentation... of how South Georgia was recaptured', reports the Sunday Times. On April 25 1982 British forces launched Operation Paraquet to recapture the island from Argentine military control. Royal Marines on patrol in Grytviken Harbour, South Georgia, walking past the conning tower of the sunken Argentine submarine Santa Fe The Union Flag and white ensign are raised on South Georgia after the island's recapture, left. Two Wessex helicopters, file picture right, crashed after landing on a glacier in the operation Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher refused to answer questions on the operation, but said: 'Just rejoice at that news and congratulate our forces and the marines.' Lieutenant Colonel Sheridan claims that shortly after the SAS landed on the island, someone saw movement by the Penguin river and started shooting. However the unknown movement turned out to be elephant seals, not Argentinian forces. The operation had numerous mishaps including two Wessex helicopters crashing in bad weather on the Fortuna Glacier and the men onboard having to be rescued. Lieutenant Colonel Sheridan claims in his article in The Globe & Laurel journal that senior officers ignored his advice about the risk of landing on a glacier. Last year SAS squadron commander Cedric Delves wrote his own account of the Falklands, called Across An Angry Sea. Twenty two Royal Marines held off an Argentine invasion of the island of South Georgia. This picture was taken seconds before the 1982 day-long conflict began Marines prepare for hostilities in South Georgia near Grytviken Harbour Commandos are lifted from the decks of HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible to be transferred by Westland Sea King helicopters to other ships during the conflict Sir Cedric joined the Army in 1966 and later joined the SAS, which he commanded at every level. He led the Special Forces before serving as Commander of the Field Army. In 2003, he was medically discharged after losing a leg to a drunk driver. Sheridan doesn't agree with his account of the war and said he suspected Delves of 'going behind my back' to senior officers. He claims Delves ignored orders to not send the scouting team to the glacier which led to the men getting caught in a blizzard. The article also reveals how the Marine had an angry phone conversation that ended with him hanging up on Michael Rose, the SAS chief. Operation Paraquet ended the three-week occupation of the island and Captain Brian Young DSO commanded British forces during the key mission. An Argentine submarine, the Santa Fe, posed a major threat to the British forces. But under Captain Young's lead it was attacked and disabled in the first ever anti-submarine operation successfully conducted exclusively by helicopters. The last of the enemy garrison quickly surrendered the following day and the island was restored to British administration with only one casualty, on the Argentine side. A Lynx helicopter comes into land on a County guided missile destroyer in the recapture of South Georgia Last year SAS squadron commander Cedric Delves wrote his own account of the Falklands, called Across An Angry Sea According to the London Gazette, Captain Young 'displayed the highest standard of leadership' with use of 'bold initiative' and a 'cool appraisal of the situation'. Five days after the retaking of South Georgia on April 30 a task force arrived in the 200-mile exclusion zone surrounding Falklands. On May 2 Argentine cruiser General Belgrano was torpedoed and sunk by British submarine HMS Conqueror. More than 320 Argentine sailors were killed, making the incident the single biggest loss of life in the war. Later that month on May 19 twenty members of the SAS were killed when their Sea King helicopter lost power and plunged into the freezing South Atlantic after a freak collision with an albatross. Mick Williams, who was just 21 at the time, told how the helicopter dropped from a low altitude and filled with water as its windows smashed on impact with the sea. In the chaos, most of the passengers drowned but the survivors fought each other as they tried to reach a tiny pocket of air - and escape through one of the helicopter's hatches. Blundering Russian GRU hitmen failed to carry out orders to 'shake' a perfume bottle containing deadly Novichok poison, says an ex-Moscow scientist who co-developed the nerve agent. Vil Mirzayanov - a whistleblower now living in exile in the US - claims this is the reason Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived the horrific attack in Salisbury one year ago on March 4. Mr Mirzayanoz, who branded the Russian GRU military intelligence agents as 'terrorists', said: 'As a specialist, I want to finally clarify the reason for the non-lethal Novichok concentration of the door handle.' 'Judging by the published scheme of the bottle used by the terrorists, inside it was an isolated compartment containing Novichok, according to the English specialists.' Vil Mirzayanov - a whistleblower now living in exile in the US - claims this is the reason Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived the horrific attack in Salisbury one year ago on March 4 Celebrating: Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2016 at their favourite restaurant, Zizzi - the last place they visited before falling ill that fateful Sunday last year Just prior to the attack the fake perfume bottle - containing Novichok - was supposed to be mixed with a solution or solvent, said Mirzayanov in a posting in Russian. This allowed for the chemical weapon to be sprayed. 'In this case the target was a door handle,' he said. The agent making the attack had to push a needle or or other mechanism 'then several times shake the bottle to achieve fast and complete synthesis of the Novichok.' He claimed: 'Evidently the terrorist - in a rush - did not shake the bottle multiple times'. Police are hunting two Russian GRU agents, named as Alexander Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga, over the chemical weapons attack On the day of the attack, the air temperature was cold 'which led to a low concentration of Novichok inside the bottle' - also minimising the impact of the attack. 'This led to a relatively low, in other words, non-lethal concentration of Novichok sprayed on the door handle. 'This is why the Skripals did not die.' Despite this, the thrown away perfume bottle was later handled by Dawn Sturgess, 44, who died as a result of a more intense exposure to the nerve agent. Her partner Charlie Rowley was contaminated but survived. In September, Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence to charge two Russian nationals named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with offences including conspiracy to murder over the Salisbury nerve agent attack. It was subsequently reported by Bellingcat that Mr Boshirov was actually highly decorated Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga, and Mr Petrov was a military doctor called Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin. Mirzayanov - who after the Cold War revealed Moscow's secret chemical weapons programme in which he was a key scientist - has already attacked the GRU agents. The 83 year old scientist said earlier: 'The substance was used when it was quite foggy water droplets were in the air. 'It can be used only in dry air. 'In such weather conditions this substance could be used only by an idiot who knows nothing about the chemical characteristics of Novichok.' Last year he also revealed that Novichok was up to ten times as potent as VX, the weapon used to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, in 2017. 'A lethal dose ... and the person will die immediately. If (the dosage) is less, (the person) will go through very tortuous scenes. They will start convulsions, and stop breathing and then lose vision, and there are other problems -- vomiting, everything. It's a terrible scene,' he was quoted as saying. Novichok was developed in Shikhany, a secret Russian nerve gas laboratory near the city of Volsk on the Volga River. New York Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has clapped back after being branded a hypocrite for touting a Green New Deal but spending thousands of dollars on ride-share apps. According to election filings, her campaign spent $29,365.70 on car services and $8,335.41 on subway fares, despite her Queens headquarters being just a one-minute walk from the subway. On Saturday night, Ocasio-Cortez hit back at the New York Post for highlighting the figures, claiming she is just 'living in the world'. 'I also fly and use A/C,' she tweeted to her more than three million followers. 'Living in the world as it is isn't an argument against working towards a better future. The Green New Deal is about putting a LOT of people to work in developing new technologies, building new infrastructure, and getting us to 100% renewable energy. New York Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being branded a hypocrite for touting a Green New Deal but spending thousands of dollars on ride-share apps. Pictured: Then-candidate Ocasio Cortez sits in a vehicle after the Halloween with Alexandria event in October 2018 She took another swing at the article on Sunday, implying that her hometown newspaper is trying to create controversy where there is none. 'The Post put the fact that I get into cars (while proposing a plan to invest in better car technology) on their front page,' she tweeted. Poll Do you think Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being a hypocrite for her campaign spending money on ride-share apps while touting a Green New Deal? Yes No Do you think Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being a hypocrite for her campaign spending money on ride-share apps while touting a Green New Deal? Yes 2069 votes No 230 votes Now share your opinion 'Pack it up folks, the Pulitzer's been decided. No one can rival this kind of hard-hitting journalism.' The freshman congresswoman, representing New York's 14th congressional district, says she has a goal of a 'full transition off fossil fuels and zero greenhouse gases' within 10 years. But the New York Post says from when she announced her candidacy in May 2017 to December 2018, her campaign has relied on using Uber, Lyft, Juno and other ride-hailing apps to get around. According to federal filings viewed by the Post, Ocasio-Cortez's campaign spent $29,365.70 on vehicles that spew the very emissions she wants to be rid of. This is despite her headquarters in Elmhurst, Queens, being just a one-minute walk to the 7 train. The Post took another swing at the leftist Democrat on Sunday, writing that she arrived at a St. Patrick's day parade in her district in a gas-guzzling Chrysler Town and Country minivan, which is rated for 17 miles per gallon in the city. The federal filings claim Ocasio-Cortez's campaign made 1,049 transactions for various ride-sharing services, 505 of which were for Uber alone. In comparison, the campaign paid merely $8,335.41 on 52 MetroCard transactions, the Post reported. The fact sheet of the Green New Deal claims that the only way to completely stop using fossil fuels and greenhouse gases is to 'totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail...create affordable public transit available to all, with goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle.' But she didn't take too many high-speed rail trips, booking just 18 on Amtrak, says the Post. Her headquarters in Elmhurst, Queens is just a one-minute walk to the 7 train. But allegedly, just $8,335.41 was spent on 52 MetroCard transactions. Pictured: Ocasio-Cortez at the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January 2019 During her campaign, she also booked 66 airline trips at a cost of $25,174.54. The rising star of the Democratic Party says one of the reasons she was able to beat incumbent Rep Joe Crowley in the primaries is because she did a lot of walking. 'I knocked doors until rainwater came through my soles,' she tweeted last June. 'Respect the hustle. We won [because] we out-worked the competition.' She even donated the well-used shoes to the 'Women Empowered' exhibit at the Cornell Costume Institute. President Donald Trump on Sunday railed against the investigations being conducted into his businesses and whether his campaign had ties to Russia, arguing he is 'an innocent man being persecuted' by 'very bad, conflicted & corrupt people.' Trump has ratcheted up the rhetoric against the probes and against his former personal attorney Michael Cohen in the days since his former fixer testified before Congress. 'After more than two years of Presidential Harassment, the only things that have been proven is that Democrats and other broke the law. The hostile Cohen testimony, given by a liar to reduce his prison time, proved no Collusion! His just written book manuscript showed what he.....,' Trump wrote on twitter. President Donald Trump railed against the investigations being conducted into his businesses and whether his campaign had ties to Russia Trump's tweets featured a litany of complaints against his favorite cast of characters: his former personal attorney Michael Cohen (left), special counsel Robert Mueller (center), and deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (right), who appointed Mueller special counsel '...said was a total lie, but Fake Media wont show it. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election! Despite this, great success!,' he complained. His two tweets featured a litany of complaints against his favorite cast of characters: his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, special counsel Robert Mueller, and deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller special counsel. He also got in a dig at his favorite bete noir - the media - and revived his favorite argument: that he is the victim of a witch hunt. Trump went after Cohen on Friday after his former fixer spent three days on Capitol Hill testifying against Trump, whom he called a con man and a racist. The president on Friday demanded Congress examine a 2018 book proposal revealed Thursday by DailyMail.com that was universally friendly to the president. 'Wow, just revealed that Michael Cohen wrote a love letter to Trump manuscript for a new book that he was pushing. Written and submitted long after Charlottesville and Helsinki, his phony reasons for going rogue. Book is exact opposite of his fake testimony, which now is a lie!' the president tweeted. The Cohen proposal was a written book pitch, not a manuscript. But in light of his scathing congressional testimony Wednesday, it suggests a sudden change of heart about the president after the FBI raided his home and office a few weeks later. Additionally, Trump said Saturday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team are targeting him with 'bulls**t.' 'We're waiting for a report by people who weren't elected,' he complained in a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. 'Unfortunately you put the wrong people in a couple of positions, and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there. And all of the sudden they're trying to take you out with bulls**t, okay?' Trump was talking about the special counsel and Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who appointed him at the Justice Department. 'Robert Mueller never received a vote. And neither did the person that appointed him,' he stabbed. The president also mocked his first attorney general Jeff Sessions for handing the Russia investigation to Rosenstein by recusing himself from the probe early on without telling Trump of his plans. In his book proposal, Cohen, 52, said his most important job in his role as special counsel to the Trump Organization was 'looking out for Mr. Trump and his family.' Pictured: Cohen with Trump on the campaign trail in 2016 Taste of freedom: Michael Cohen is to report to federal prison in May and will be in Washington D.C. again within days to testify for a second day to the House Intelligence Committee 'And as you know, the attorney general says, "I'm gonna recuse myself",' Trump snarked in full southern drawl. 'And I said, "Why the hell didn't he tell me that before I put him in?" How do you recuse yourself?' Sessions said at the time that he couldn't supervise the probe because he had himself advised Trump's campaign on foreign policy. Trump angrily denounced the Washington 'swamp' that he believes has tried to kneecap him from the day he took office. 'But we're winning and they're not,' he said in a two hour and two minute speech, the longest in his political career. The Russia probe, now more than two years old, began as a counterintelligence investigation into still unproven claims that Trump's campaign plotted with Russian agents to tilt the 2016 presidential election in his favor. The president, who often argues he is the target of a 'witch hunt,' has been more focal since Cohen testified and reports indicate Mueller is wrapping up his probe. In Cohen's book proposal that DailyMail.com examined, Cohen wrote that Trump isn't 'crazy,' 'dumb or paranoid,' a 'liar,' 'addicted to TV,' or 'in over his head.' The jail-bound and disbarred former attorney shopped the proposal, offering nothing but positive reviews of his longtime former boss who had entered the White House a little more than a year earlier. Donald Trump attacked his former Michael Cohen on Friday after DailyMail.com revealed that he was shopping a book proposal in 2018 that was universally positive toward the president The working title was 'Trump Revolution: From The Tower to The White House, Understanding Donald J. Trump.' He sent his book pitch to several potential publishers last year. One, Hachette, reportedly was willing to pay him three-quarters of a million dollars for his wise words. But Cohen, who is due to start a three-year prison term in May for crimes including tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations, thought he could do better and continued to seek more money, DailyMail.com revealed Thursday. Cohen wrote his proposal on January 24, 2018, less than three weeks after the publication of the first critical book about the Trump presidency, Michael Wolff's 'Fire And Fury,' which claimed the White House was a chaotic place where '100% of the people around him' believe Trump is unfit for office. His book proposal was in stark contrast to his words to the oversight committee and to two other Congressional panels which he addressed in private. On Wednesday he said Trump 'is a racist, he is a con man and he is a cheat.' 'I am not protecting Mr. Trump anymore,' he added. 'My loyalty to Mr. Trump has cost me everything: my family's happiness, friendships, my law license, my company, my livelihood, my honor, my reputation, and soon my freedom. 'I will not sit back say nothing and allow him to do the same to the country.' He even made the startling claim that if Trump loses next year's election 'there may be no peaceful transfer of power.' Suspect: Kim Gordon (pictured), who is reportedly facing rape charges in Scotland, is suspected of faking his own disappearance in the U.S. A British man facing rape charges in Scotland is suspected of faking his own death after vanishing from a beach in the United States. Kim Gordon, from Inverness, was reported missing from California's Monastery Beach on Monday by his 17-year-old son who said his father had gone swimming. But U.S. officials believe he may still be alive, saying there was no proof he had ever gone into the water. The Scotsman, believed to be in his 50s, is facing 24 rape charges in his home country, U.S. media reports. Monterey County Sheriff's Office captain John Thornburg said dive teams had searched the water for two days but found no trace of him. U.S. detectives alleged that the son's story was inconsistent and that he had not actually seen his father enter the water. As the story unravelled police discovered the allegations against Gordon in Scotland, he said. He cannot be pictured at this stage because of Scottish law on publishing images of suspects. A spokesman for Scotland's prosecution service told MailOnline that Gordon was due to appear at Edinburgh's High Court on March 11, but did not provide details of the charges. The suspect is also known by the names Kim Vincent and Kem Vincent Avis. California police officer Mr Thornburg told The Californian: 'We don't think he went swimming and got in trouble. We think it's more related to trying to get out of the charges.' Search: Divers look for the 'missing' Scotsman in a two-day hunt in the Pacific Ocean before California police concluded he may not be missing at all He went on: 'We got a 911 call saying that he had gone swimming off one of our beaches and hadn't returned. 'This was 7.15pm, which was a little unusual to go swimming because it was dark. 'At that time we treated it as a missing person, as a swimmer in distress, so the fire department, the sheriff's office and state parks began searching. 'Monastery Beach is the area where he was reported to have gone. It's a very dangerous beach, getting out of the water is very difficult. 'For the next two days we put dive teams into the Pacific Ocean there to try and locate him and he wasn't.' The American detectives do not know where Gordon is now but hope to hand him back to Scottish authorities if they find him, it is reported. He is said to be a busker in his 50s who had raised thousands for children's charities over the years. Gordon's son, Ruben Avis (pictured), is now back in Scotland but did not comment on his father's disappearance Investigation: California police, pictured at the scene, now believe the Scotsman is still alive and say there is no proof he ever entered the water Gordon's son, Ruben Avis, is now back in Scotland but did not comment on his father's disappearance, according to the Sunday Mail. The police officer said when the incident was further examined it began to be treated as suspicious and added 'we've got to a point now that we don't believe he went into the ocean, we don't think he went swimming'. He said: 'We can't prove that he went into the water.' Mr Thornburg believes the pair were on a two-week break in the States and flew in to Los Angeles, but said there was 'no indication' of how they got to Monterey County, where they were staying or if they had a vehicle. He said the missing man's son was taken into protective custody during the rescue operation and has since returned to Scotland. Inquiries in the US are continuing and the country's Marshals Service is now involved in the case. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'Our staff are assisting the family of a British man who is missing in the United States and are in touch with the local authorities'. An Oregon man whose car was stranded in deep snow survived for five days on nothing but Taco Bell hot sauce packets. Jeremy Taylor, a 36-year-old outdoorsman from Sunriver, and his dog Ally got stuck in the snow on a US Forest Service road on February 24. Taylor said he slept in his car that night and planned to hike out the following morning. However, when he woke up the next day, even more snow had fallen, making it impossible for him to hike to get help. For the next four days, Taylor kept warm by turning his car's engine on intermittently and eating leftover Taco Bell hot sauce stashed in his car as temperatures in the area dropped as low as 3F and several inches of snow were reported in the area. Jeremy Taylor, 36, survived solely on Taco Bell hot sauce packets while stranded in the snow with his dog Ally for five days in Sunriver, Oregon, last week. Taylor's car is seen stuck in several feet of snow after he was rescued on Friday Taylor (above) got stranded on a US Forest Service road on February 24. He attempted to hike and get help but the snow was too deep, so he spent five days waiting for someone to find him Taylor kept warm by turning his car's engine on intermittently and eating Taco Bell hot sauce. In a Facebook post celebrating his return to civilization on Friday, Taylor wrote: 'Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!' (stock image) A snowmobiler came across Taylor's vehicle on Friday, and a search and rescue team transported him out of the woods, according to Sgt William Bailey with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. Taylor and his dog were both very hungry but otherwise in good health when rescued, authorities said. In a post on Facebook hours later, Taylor wrote: 'Thank you everyone, I'm safe my Ally dog is safe. I really appreciate all the help. Got lucky, lets [sic] never do that again. I'll be in touch with everyone soon.' In one of the comments, Taylor joked: 'Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!' Advertisement Ancient catacombs plagued by flooding for hundreds of years have been fully restored thanks to an American government grant that has helped their true beauty be revealed. Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities today completed their restoration of the Kom el-Shuqafa catacombs in western Alexandria, which were discovered in the first decade of the 20th century. $5.7 million (4.3 million) in funds from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) helped to secure the site against damaging flood waters and sewage, and will provide financial support for maintenance costs. 'The antiquity underwent many restoration projects, the most important of which was in the mid-nineties, which was an ambitious project supervised by the Supreme Council of Antiquities,' said Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani. 'But unfortunately, the water returned once again and complaints rolled in from parliamentarians, tour guides and archaeologists, which is what pushed us to act in cooperation with USAID.' The catacombs were carved into rock on three separate levels. The ground level was damaged by water from nearby farmland and a canal, as well as sewage water. Now stunning photos reveal the elaborate mosaics, sculptures and unique mix of ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman architectural styles used in the tomb's construction. Kom El-Shoqafa catacombs have finally been opened to the public some 110 years after they were discovered. The site includes at least three sarcophagi and multiple statues inspired by both Greek and Roman architecture. A main room (pictured) shows the ornate view that would have greeted visitors and relatives of the dead who are buried here Funding from a US government agency has ensured the site will remain open to the public. Archaeologists involved in the recovery of the site from flood waters have made minimal changes to the layout with the intention of preserving each room as it was found The catacombs are located to the west of central Alexandria, Egypt close the River Nile meets the Mediterranean sea. The city was founded as a small town by Alexander the Great around 332 BC during his reign as King of Macedonia. Alexandria is now the second largest city in Egypt, after Cairo The spiral staircase takes visitors from the hot Egyptian down through the three separately carved floors of the catacomb complex. Anterooms sit off the main circular tunnel which are open for tourists to explore The architecture of the site provides a unique mix of Greek and Roman styles which overlap on objects like the carved pillars (centre) which lead to another part of the underground tomb. Dark lines on the walls also show where water levels reached during floods from the Nile, or later due to problems from sewage No signs, illustrations or directions have been provided throughout the complex, so tourists are encouraged to hire a guide to walk them through the history of the burial site, which draws on a complex history of overlapping ancient cultures Visitor enter the main hall of the catacombs from which several anterooms and tombs lie. Architecture, paintings and sculptures in the site appear to good condition, as the site remained undisturbed for at least 1500 years until it is believed a donkey fell into the access shaft of the site Wall paintings depict powerful Egyptian men or pharaohs - Identified because of their golden headdresses - and above cattle. The paintings look well preserved, despite being in damp conditions, probably due to the fact they were sealed against nature A larger wall painting appears to depict part of the process of mummification, which involves embalming and wrapping the deceased several times after the removal of internal organs. The process was very important in Egyptian culture as it would help provide safe passage to the afterlife A detailed sarcophagus featuring gods and what looks to be the sacrifice of an animal is seen by Egyptian Ministry officials during a tour of the Kom El-Shoukafa catacombs in Alexandria, Egypt before the site is officially opened to the public A detailed bust of a male figure with voluminous curly locks of hair on display in the tombs. Statues would only have been made of people with relative importance due to the time, effort and cost involved in making them Columns were a structural device made popular thousands of years before this tomb was built. Architects would use them to extend the size of a room by bearing the weight of the ceiling within a small space, and adorning intricate details would signify the wealth of the householder or in this case the dead buried in the catacombs The catacombs were named Kom El Shoqafa, which means a mound of shards, because heaps of these broken terracotta were found in the catacombs during their discovery. Clay objects such as plates and vases were left by those visiting the tombs, who brought food and wine for their visit. However, when it came time to leave they didn't want to carry them home home - from a place of death - so they would break them. Another sarcophagus shows the embalming process. Different jars underneath the table on which the dead body is being prepared were used for holding vital organs like the heart and liver. It was believed that removing them from the body would mean they would go with you to the afterlife Tourists inspect an empty row of vaults in a long room with a low-lying ceiling. Only three sarcophagi have so far been found in the catacombs but experts believe many more remain undiscovered or have somehow been removed Visitors head for the exit of the tombs through the spiral staircase. On the first level of the complex there is a 'triclinium' which is a sort of banqueting hall for relatives of the deceased who are either attending a funeral or commemorating the day a loved one died on by visiting their tomb Egypt has been working to revive its tourism industry which was badly hit after the 2011 popular uprising that unseated former President and military leader Hosni Mubarak and was further hampered by a spate of militant attacks that sometimes targeted visitors A professional circus clown who ran for Congress last year has died in South Carolina. An obituary from the Kornegay Funeral Home of Lugoff, South Carolina, says 53-year-old Steve Lough died on February 23. The funeral home did not say how he died. Lough of Camden, South Carolina, played up his career as a clown for Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus when he ran unsuccessfully in a crowded Democratic primary for the seat of Republican Rep. Ralph Norman in the 5th District. Lough's campaign website featured photos of the candidate in full clown makeup with the slogan, 'Aim high! Vote Lough!' Steve Lough, 53, a trained circus clown with an Ivy League degree who ran for Congress in South Carolina last year, died on February 23 Lough ran in a crowded Democratic primary for a chance to challenge the Republican incumbent, Rep. Ralph Norman, who would go on to retain his seat The State reported that Lough launched his 2018 campaign saying: 'They joke that the president and Congress are all clowns. Well, in my professional opinion, they are the worst clowns I've ever seen.' The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School affected him deeply, he said, because he was working in North Carolina schools as part of anti-bullying initiative at the time. After losing his job with the schools in 2017, he decided to run for Congress on a platform that embraced gun regulation and single-payer healthcare. Lough, along with other challengers, lost to Archie Parnell in the Democratic primary to face Northam, who ultimately kept his seat. Lough graduated from Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Clown College and would tour with the circus in Japan where he would meet his wife, Rie, a fellow clown As a candidate, Lough ran on a platform of gun regulation and universal health care The candidate said his Japanese father-in-law pushed him to stay in the race as long as he could in a CBS interview. 'And my father-in-law, he told me -- my wife's translating -- he said you've got to think like a samurai, right?' Lough said at the time. 'If you have a good death fighting for the right reasons, that's a good death. So it doesn't matter whether you win or lose this fight, but it matters how you fight this fight. And so he told me to fight.' Long before the race, Lough earned a degree in Anthropology at Dartmouth College and graduated from from Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He worked in Japan for three years where he met his wife, a fellow clown, Rie 'Elizabeth' Sekine, who he married in 1996. Lough would return to the circus along with his wife and Jack Russell terriers and would eventually perform for children in North and South Carolina. He returned to his home of Camden in 2017, according to the funeral home. Steve is survived by his wife; brothers, Larry Lough and Mark (Pam) Lough; and his five nieces and nephews. Republican Sen. Rand Paul said he will vote for a resolution denying President Donald Trump emergency powers to build his border wall, a move that could set up the first presidential veto of this administration. 'I can't vote to give extra-Constitutional powers to the president,' Paul told a crowd of Republicans at the Southern Kentucky Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. 'I can't vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn't been appropriated by Congress,' he said. 'We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn't authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it's a dangerous thing.' President Trump has threatened to veto a resolution that would take away his use of emergency powers to build his border wall; it would be the first veto of his presidency GOP Sen. Rand Paul (left) said Saturday night he could not support the president's move, joining Sen. Thom Tilis (right), who has said the same GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (left) and Susan Collins (right) said they would vote against Trump's national emergency declaration Paul becomes the fourth Republican senator to cast disapproval on the president's move following Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. If all four vote with the 47 Democrats in the Senate it will ensure the legislation denying Trump the use of emergency powers will pass the Senate. It already passed the House on Tuesday. Trump has vowed to veto it should it arrive on his desk, which would be the first veto of his presidency. It takes a two-thirds majority in each chamber of Congress to over ride his veto, which is unlikely to occur in either the House or the Senate. Several Republican senators took issue with how the president made his move, arguing Trump violated the line that separated the powers of the executive and legislative branches when he declared a national emergency. Democrats used this argument for their cause in arguing why the GOP should cross the aisle to support their measure ending Trump's move. 'This isn't about the border. This is about the constitution of the United States,' Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week before the House vote. It passed the House 245-182 last Tuesday with 13 Republicans joining Democrats in their support. That number is short of the 290 votes that would be needed to override a veto, but it did move the measure to the Senate, which has not scheduled a vote on the matter yet. More Republicans could join the rebellion against the president. GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander issued a warning shot to Trump on Thursday when he took to the Senate floor to express his concerns about the president's use of emergency powers. 'I do not support the way he has been advised to do it. It is unnecessary and unwise to turn a border crisis into a constitutional crisis about separation of powers,' he said. He stopped short of saying he would support the legislation denying Trump the use of emergency powers. Several Republican senators took issue with how President Trump made his move, arguing Trump violated the line that separated the powers of the executive and legislative branches when he declared a national emergency House Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (above), voted to block the president's move to build his border wall on Tuesday night The White House has worked hard to limit Republican support for the measure. Vice President Mike Pence attended the Senate Republican luncheon on Tuesday, where the resolution was a key topic. The GOP is in a tough spot on the matter because many Republican lawmakers had privately warned the president against using emergency powers although several don't want to rebuke him publicly. 'I am very worried, prudential, about the slippery slope that could occur,' Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters last Tuesday afternoon, pausing to carefully consider his next words, 'emboldening future presidents to implement radical policies, contrary to law and contrary to the Constitution.' Cruz told DailyMail.com that he had spoken to the president about the national emergency resolution and 'time will tell' whether the White House will be able to swing enough Republican lawmakers to sustain a veto. He said that the GOP had a 'robust and productive conversation' at their luncheon with Pence. The congressional battle is the latest chapter in a long-running war between Trump and Democrats over border security, immigration policy and the border wall that Trump has pledged to build since becoming a presidential candidate. He originally promised that Mexico would pay for it, but after Mexico refused, he asked U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill for the project, which Democrats call unneeded and ineffective. In his first two years in office, Trump's Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, which under the U.S. Constitution holds the national purse strings, but lawmakers failed to provide the funding Trump wanted for his border barrier. When Congress, with the House now controlled by Democrats, refused in recent weeks to provide the money he wants, Trump declared an emergency and vowed to divert funds toward the wall from accounts already committed by Congress for other purposes. That set up a test of the constitutional separation of powers between Congress and the presidency that will likely lead to a court challenge after lawmakers deal with the resolution. A coalition of 16 U.S. states led by California has already sued Trump and top members of his administration in an attempt to block his emergency declaration. Trump declared the emergency after Congress declined his request for $5.7 billion to help build the wall. Congress this month appropriated $1.37 billion for building border barriers following a battle with Trump, which included a 35-day partial government shutdown - the longest in U.S. history - when agency funding lapsed on Dec. 22. A casino cashier who broke into a company safe and created fake winners to steal 50,000 has been spared jail. Caroline Maguire, 51, had worked at the Rendezvous Casino in Brighton Marina for ten years before she took the money to fund her lavish lifestyle, a court heard. The mother-of-two from Peacehaven, near Brighton, wanted to pay off bills and payday loan debts, but then became greedy and took nearly 49,000 to live a more expensive lifestyle, Lewes Crown Court heard. Caroline Maguire, 51, has been spared jail after stealing nearly 50,000 from the casino in Brighton where she worked Recorder Joshua Swirsky, who imposed a 16-month suspended sentence, said: 'You had the advantage of your knowledge of the system. 'It was a serious breach of trust.' Maguire, who had not told her husband or children about the case, was considered a trusted employee who was liked and respected by management. But her theft was exposed when they realised there was a big loss in the casino accounts. Maguire, who admitted the theft, tried to blame a colleague then failed to attend a disciplinary hearing and was sacked for gross misconduct. Stefan Hyman, prosecuting, said 49,000 was taken between July 2017 and May last year, where she used hand pay tickets to create a record of false winnings, and then took the money from the safe. He said: 'When she was first approached about the loss, she did suggest it might have been another colleague, shortly afterwards she was suspended. 'At one point she took 4,000 per month. She admitted to officers she had been greedy. 'She said she felt stupid, she had ruined a perfectly good job, and let other people down.' Maguire had worked at the Rendezvous Casino in Brighton Marina for ten years and was described as a trusted employee The mother-of-two had not told her husband or children about the court case despite possibly facing jail time. Recorder judge Joshua Swirsky handed her a 16-month suspended sentence Previously Judge Jeremy Gold QC ordered 6,000 to be frozen from her account, and she now faces court proceedings so the money can be reclaimed. Brian Shaw, defending, said his client has lost her previous good character 'spectacularly'. He said: 'The trigger seems to have been the death of her mother, perhaps bringing up unpleasant memories from her childhood. 'Although initially taking small amounts to pay for household bills, her expenditure increased to more expensive tastes.' Mr Shaw asked the judge not to impose a curfew because she has 'not been able to confide in her husband at this point'. The judge imposed a 16-month suspended prison sentence, and ordered Maguire to do 240 hours of unpaid work. An estimated 600 Muslim children have been withdrawn from a school in protest against lessons about homosexuality and gender equality. The pupils, aged between 4 and 11, are being kept home from Parkfield Community School in Birmingham to protest the school's 'No Outsiders' programme, which teaches children about LGBT lifestyles. The children involved in the mass exodus represent about 80 per cent of the school's entire enrolment. The Alum Community Rock Forum told Birmingham Live the pupils were pulled out of the classroom, because the school was 'undermining parental rights and aggressively promoting homosexuality'. An estimated 600 Muslim children have been pulled out of Parkfield Community School in protest against lessons about homosexuality and gender The children involved in the exodus represent about 80 per cent of the school's entire enrolment, which is 98 per cent Muslim 'Dialogue, petitioning and protests by parents have been repeated and arrogantly ignored,' the forum said. 'Our children, our choice - work with parents not against them.' Friday's action comes after weekly demonstrations against the school's programme, including one that was attended by 300 parents and children last month. The school's children joined the campaign against lessons on LGBT lifestyles at a protest last month Some Muslim demonstrators said they would rather leave the UK than allow their children to continue attending Parkfield Community School. Some joined in with the chants and held placards reading: 'Education not indoctrination.' One child carried a handwritten sign which said: 'Let kids be kids.' Parents kept their children out of lessons for the first hour of the day in last month's protest Police were called to the protest outside the primary school in the Saltley area of Birmingham The school started its programme four years ago and says it should welcome people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Parents said teaching about LGBT equality at the school is an exploitation of child innocence Some of the parents said they were not against homosexuality, but accused the teacher of promoting 'personal beliefs' Full text of leaflet handed out to parents outside Parkfield School 'Brothers and sisters, is it OK for your children to be gay? 'Are you aware of the resource being used in literacy lessons promoting homosexuality? 'Did you know Mr Moffat left his last role because parents believed he had no right coming out to children? They wanted all the lessons containing LGBT to be removed from curriculum. 'Did you know that our children are now being taught the very same thing? 'Have you asked what your children are being taught? What they are reading? 'Please join us in our petition to have the No Outsider removed from the curriculum. 'Please help us make a difference to what children are being taught.' Advertisement Parents' anger is aimed at the school's assistant head Andrew Moffat, who is behind the No Outsiders lessons. He created the scheme to teach children about the Equality Act and British values. Pupils at the school rated outstanding by Ofsted have five of these lessons a year, covering areas outlined in the Act: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. The programme was first piloted at the school in 2014 and is now also taught at dozens of other schools in the country. Mr Moffat, who is in a civil partnership, was made an MBE for services to equality and diversity in education in 2017. He is currently shortlisted for a 'world's best teacher' award. He resigned from a previous teaching post at another school after a row with Christian parents over lessons challenging homophobia and is now facing even more vocal complaints from parents at Parkfield, where 98 per cent of the 750 pupils are said to be from an Islamic background. Parents' anger is aimed at the school's assistant head Andrew Moffat (pictured), who is behind the 'No Outsiders' lessons Organiser Amir Ahmed uses a loud speaker to address the crowd of more than 300 people Protester Mariam Ahmed, whose four-year-old daughter attends the school, organised a petition against the No Outsiders project Mariam Ahmed, whose four-year-old daughter attends the school, organised a petition against the No Outsiders project. She said: 'What they are teaching is not right, they are too young. There are nine parts of the Act and they only seem to be focusing on one, homosexuality, and that is wrong. They need to have an ethos which reflects the area. 'It's not just because we are Muslims, there are Christians here too. We don't have a vendetta against homosexuals and we respect the Act. 'We respect that Mr Moffat is gay and we are happy for him to teach.' One father at the school, whose six-year-old daughter attends the school, said his wife wanted to leave the country rather than let her daughter attend the lessons. The man, who did not want to be named, said: 'My daughter has been asking questions my wife did not know how to answer. 'She is too young for this. A family who live near me have already returned to Pakistan because of it.' Some of the parents said Islam did not accept homosexuality, while others said they were not against it, but accused the teacher of promoting 'personal beliefs'. Parents and children demonstrate outside the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham Mr Moffat said he tried to meet parents, but stopped when they became 'personal and aggressive'. He has described receiving threats from parents online. He told the BBC: 'I have felt very threatened ... it's been a challenging couple of weeks. 'However, what keeps me going is the support from the school which is absolutely brilliant, Ofsted [and] the city council.' Currently, Year Five children, aged nine and ten, are taught about puberty and reproduction. Some of the protesters at the school in Birmingham said Islam did not accept homosexuality Many under-11s currently learn about relationships in Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) classes but this is not mandatory. The Government is, however, bringing in new compulsory 'relationships' education which will include teaching tolerance of same sex couples and transgender people. Parkfield Community School has said it wants pupils to be 'accepting and to welcome anybody'. In a statement it said it was 'disappointed' by the protest but had 'no plans' to drop the 'successful' No Outsiders programme. Advertisement The grieving father of the 17-year-old girl scout stabbed to death on Friday has paid a tearful visit to the scene where she died and visited the woman who attempted to save her life. Peter Chesney went to the home of Teresa Farenden, 49, who performed CPR on his dying daughter Jodie as she lay in a pool of blood on Friday evening in Harold Hill, London. The teenager was murdered while playing music with her boyfriend, 18-year-old Eddie Coyle, and four other friends in Romford on Friday evening. Police today admitted they have 'no idea' why she was targeted, as locals suggested she could have been the victim of a gang initiation dare. Mr Chesney, who turned 39 hours before his daughter was killed, was accompanied by other members of Jodie's devastated family this afternoon. He was too overcome with grief to comment, but took several moments staring into the park before heading to see mother-of-three Mrs Farenden. Jodie Chesney's father Peter Chesney, right, today paid a tearful visit to the scene - still taped off in a police cordon - where his daughter was murdered in cold blood on Friday evening Close friends and family at the scene today where Jodie Chesney, 17-year-old girl scout who posed outside 10 Downing Street and appeared on the BBC just months earlier, was stabbed to death on Friday Just hours before her death Ms Chesney posted an Instagram picture which said: 'Happy birthday Dad' and tagged Pete Chesney on his 39th (pictured left). The 17-year-old is also pictured right Today, more floral tributes were laid at the scene where Jodie Chesney, 17, was stabbed to death at a park in east London Today, Jodie's father Peter turned up on the doorstep of Teresa Farenden (pictured left), 49, who performed CPR on his dying daughter. Debbie Chesney, Jodie's grandmother (right), suggested the teenager's death may have been linked to gangs Detectives have said the attacker did not say anything to Jodie or her group of friends, and immediately ran off after the stabbing. Scotland Yard has described her killer as a black teenager and asked anyone who may have CCTV or dash cam footage between 7pm and 11pm on March 1 to come forward. Friends of Ms Chesney went online to tell her family that 'gang members were tasked with murders to gain entry to groups', or that a gang member may have been 'dared to stab a random person to show their loyalty'. Ms Chesney's grandmother, Debbie, told friends it was 'a possibility'. Today she said the family was living through a 'nightmare' and appealed to the attacker or anyone who knows him to contact police. Jodie Chesney, pictured in Downing Street during a visit with her scout troop, was brutally stabbed to death in a park in Romford on Friday Detective Chief Superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri, who is leading the police response to the murder in the local community, said on Monday that 'we still don't have any idea' why the teenager was attacked. Ms Chaudhri refused to speculate on whether the attack could have been some form of gang initiation. Local resident Jerry Carr, 57, said that gangs have been a problem in the immediate area for years, leaving locals 'scared to go out at night'. She said: 'I was told that there was an argument in that park. Then those boys came back half-an-hour and attacked her. 'To be quite truthful people are too scared to go out after dark around here. It's been going on for years. When you walk past you can always smell marijuana. You see young boys hanging outside the flats, selling drugs. 'There are so many gangs, that's why they put so much CCTV in. They barely have any in the parks, that's why they go there. 'Someone was stabbed by someone on a bike just at the end of the road recently. Someone tried to take the bike off him. 'It makes me feel scared to go out. Especially as you get older, you lose your confidence in case they do something to you.' Reverend Alan Moss, 37, who today came to lay flowers for Jodie, of young people had been relocated to the borough out of inner city areas to try and break the cycle of gang violence. Rev Moss, of nearby St Johns and St James' Church, said: 'It's not really solving the problem, it's just moving it. 'There were a lot of people who weren't gang affiliated who now are.' He continued: 'Of course this may not have been gang related, it could have just been a random attack.' Messages of condolence were left on the flowers that were placed at the scene where the 17-year-old died on Friday night Jodie Chesney, 17, (circled in red) is stood next to Explorer Scouts at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2018. Just months later she would be stabbed to death in a London park Ms Chesney's death came on a weekend of violence around the UK, with 17-year-old Yousef Makki stabbed to death in the village of Hale Barns, near Altrincham in Greater Manchester, the following night. Ms Chesney was an enthusiastic Scout Explorer who had visited Downing Street in November posting on Instagram that it was 'so much fun' and 'I'm basically famous now.' She was also selected to honour the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Albert Hall, appearing in a BBC broadcast last year in front of the Queen and Prince William. Ms Chesney's boyfriend, Mr Coyle, left an emotional message on a card at the scene, saying: 'Jodie you are the best thing that could have happened in my life. I will love you always and you will forever be in my heart beautiful.' Jodie's mother Claire Gillham also left flowers at the scene of the murder yesterday while her grandmother called for an end to 'needless violence'. Fundraising page for Jodie Chesney reaches more than 5,000 More than 5,000 has been raised within a day to help pay for the funeral costs of murdered teen Jodie Chesney. The GoFundMe page was created on Saturday and by lunchtime had received 5,520 of its 5,000 goal, Dozens of white, red and yellow flowers have been placed beside the entrance - alongside a wreath of lilies. One tribute read: 'Jodie, my heart and prayers are with you. Rest in peace Angel. Janice xxx.' The GoFundMe page has reached more than 5,000 in 24 hours. The page read: 'The whole community are still trying to come to terms with this shocking event. 'As a local charity we want to support the family as much as we can to alleviate the financial stress on this young lady's funeral. 'We are in contact with the immediate family and have agreed to support them with the cost of the funeral arrangements. 'Once a funeral directors have been chosen we will be writing a cheque to cover the costs. 'We are aware that the local community will want to help with this appeal so as well as making a financial donation towards this from our own account.' Advertisement Speaking to ITV News her uncle Dave Chesney said the family was 'devastated', adding: 'This was a totally random and unprovoked attack on a beautiful, lovely and quirky young girl with her whole life in front of her.' Her grandmother Debbie Chesney said: 'This was our youngest granddaughter. How have we come to this point where kids can't have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? 'If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. We don't want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence.' Krystle Pasha, who lives close to the scene of the stabbing, told Sky News she heard arguing and shouting before a 'disturbing' scream in the moments before the attack. Witness Mrs Farenden, 49, and her friend Kelly Smith, 36, said two men stabbed the teenage girl in front of her boyfriend before fleeing. Mrs Farenden said: 'I was trying to do my coat up in the drive and I shouted out 'is everything okay?' as I was worried it could be kids drinking. Then a boy said 'no I need help, my girlfriend has been stabbed' and I just flew over there in my flip flops. 'We tried to compress the wound to stop the bleeding but there was just so much. It was like being in a horror movie. When I got there she was breathing but it was very shallow, she was groaning and there was a slight pulse. 'The boyfriend was holding her and kissing her face. He was whispering and begging her, 'Please, please stay awake'. Romford resident Mrs Farenden said: 'The ambulance arrived and I told the 999 call handler. She asked me to stay on the phone until the crew had reached us on the park. And in that moment the girl died. 'I turned to look at her and my friend, who had come to help, just said, 'We've lost her'.' Mrs Farenden - whose house faces the park - began CPR but did not realise the blade remained lodged in Jodie's back. It is believed she was stabbed with such force that the blade snapped, meaning those who tried to help her could not see it. She added: 'The knife blade was still in her, but I didn't see it because it was dark. 'I didn't realise at the time, but then all I kept thinking once the police told me was 'have I put the knife in further by giving her compressions?'' She added: 'It was horrific, it was just the blood. There must've been two pints of blood. There was so much of it. When emergency services arrived, Jodie Chesney (left and right) still had the blade lodged in her back as horrified neighbours rushed to save her life Claire Gillham, mother of Jodie Chesney (far right) pays her respects at the scene at St Neots Road, Harold Hill where Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death Teenage girls sobbed at the scene and were comforted by friends after Jodie's death. Her mother Claire (left) placed a lantern and flowers under a tree Headmaster's tribute to 'excellent, hard-working' Jodie Paul Wakeling, the principal of Havering Sixth Form College, said today that he wanted to 'extend my deepest sympathy, and that of my staff, to Jodie's family and friends'. He said: 'It was with sadness and shock that I received the news of the tragic death of Jodie Chesney, an Upper 6th A Level student at Havering Sixth Form College. 'Jodie was an excellent, hard-working and focused student and her loss is devastating to staff and students. 'Our focus for the next few days will be on providing support for the college community as a whole with additional help, as needed, for those who knew Jodie personally.' Advertisement 'The girl was moaning, but she was mostly silent. We checked her pulse and we could hear her breathing.' Mrs Farenden went on: 'People are scared to help, but all I was thinking with my mother's instinct was I need to help. 'Her boyfriend did everything he could. When I came over she was on her back so I moved her onto her side. 'Then the boyfriend's friend came over with some kitchen roll. 'Then there was another girl and a man came over in a van to help and took his coat off to keep it on the wound and keep it compressed as much as they could. 'I think he was the dad of one of the boyfriend's friends. I was just trying to keep her legs in the recovery position because she was heavy, like a dead weight. 'Just as the ambulance crew turned up, she had gone. It was devastating. My heart is with the family how something so devastating like that could happen to a young girl.' Mrs Farenden added: 'It is so traumatic - she is not going to have any children, she is not going to get married - it has all been taken away. Ms Chesney became the 18th murder victim in London this year as the knife crime epidemic continues to ravage the capital 'She was such an attractive girl and her boyfriend was a lovely looking lad. 'It just seems so random; it must've been horrific for her boyfriend and those other young people there to experience. 'It is just unreal - I think God, it could have been my daughter.' Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, of the Met's East Area Command Unit, said: 'Yesterday a 17-year-old girl lost her life, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girl's family and friends. Two teenagers arrested over murder of A* scholarship student, 17, are also pupils at prestigious schools Yousef Makki, 17, died of stab wounds in Cheshire on Saturday night A schoolboy stabbed to death in a wealthy Cheshire village was an 'A* student' who wanted to be a heart surgeon. Yousef Makki, 17, was a sixth-form pupil at the elite Manchester Grammar School, where alumni include former England cricket captain Mike Atherton. Yousef is thought to have received a scholarship to attend the school, where fees are in excess of 12,000 a year. Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder. They are both also pupils at prestigious schools in the North West and are believed to live in multi-million pound homes in the area. Yousef was stabbed at 6.40pm on Saturday in a quiet, tree-lined residential street in Hale Barns. Advertisement 'Her death is a tragedy. I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible.' Sadiq Khan said he was 'filled with anger' and 'devastated' by the killing of the teenager. The Mayor of London said on Twitter: 'Devastated by the fatal stabbing of a 17 year-old girl in Havering. 'My thoughts are with her loved ones. It fills me with anger that violent criminals are targeting young Londoners with their whole lives before them. I encourage anyone with information to contact the police.' Today Theresa May insisted there was 'no direct correlation' between knife crime and police cuts which began while she was Home Secretary. Speaking in Salisbury she said: 'If you look at the figures, what you see is that there's no direct correlation between certain crimes and police numbers. 'What matters is how we ensure that police are responding to these criminal acts when they take place, that people are brought to justice. 'But what also matters is, as a Government, that we look at the issues which underpin, that underlie, this use of knives and that we act on those. 'That's a cross-Government approach, it's not just about the police, it's about the whole of Government and it's the whole of Government that's responding.' The Prime Minister said: 'I recognise the concern that people have about what we have seen in terms of knife crime and the terrible attacks that have taken place.' She added: 'This is something which, yes, obviously there is a police response when a crime takes place, but we actually also need to address this across the causes of knife crime - why it is that so many young people are carrying knives. 'A lot of this is gang-related, some of it will be drugs-related, there are a wide variety of issues that need to be addressed here and that's what the Government is doing.' The Met's Ms Chaudhri said: 'We are working robustly - not just here but across the whole of London. We've increased overtime, we've extended the number of officers on shift we've seen an increase in stop-and-search. 'We've carried out over 2,500 stop-and-search in the last few days, so we are working very robustly. I'd love to have more officers but I have to work with the numbers that I've got.' Che Morrison, 20, was stabbed to death outside Ilford train station in east London on Tuesday Birmingham blighted by knife crime as three stabbed to death in 12 days: Hazrat Umar, 17, was on his way to the gym when he was attacked in the Bordesley Green area Police in Birmingham are also battling to stop knife crime across the city after three teenagers were fatally stabbed in just 12 days. Student Hazrat Umar, 17, died after being knifed in Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green, at around 2pm on Monday. Hazrat Umar, 17, who is the nephew of the former chief prosecutor, was knifed to death on his way to the gym in the Bordesley Green area of the city. West Midlands Police have revealed a 16-year-old youth has now been arrested on suspicion of murder. The killing comes five days after 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was discovered fatally wounded near a park in Small Heath, on February 20. A post mortem examination found that the student, of Lindale Avenue, Hodgehill, died as a result of an assault. He was stabbed in the chest and back. Another teenager, Mohammed Sidali, also 16, died in hospital on 15 February after being attacked outside Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Highgate. A knife arch was placed outside McDonald's in nearby High Street, with officers also using stop and search powers following the deaths. Speaking in Birmingham Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he is 'very concerned' about stabbings in Birmingham. A 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital after he was knifed in the leg in Birmingham city centre on Tuesday afternoon. Police sealed off parts of Bull Street following the stabbing in a British Heart Foundation store - which has a large blood stain on the carpet inside. Shoppers crowded around the scene while police searched bushes in the area after being called to the incident at around 5.30pm today. A group of women, one identified as the mother of the victim (right) arrive at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Birmingham Police have sealed off parts of Bull Street after the teenager was knifed in a British Heart Foundation store - which has a large blood stain on the carpet inside (pictured) A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: 'Police have been called to a stabbing at a shop in Bull Street, Birmingham city centre, around 5.30pm today (Tuesday 26 February). 'A 16-year-old boy has been taken to hospital with a leg injury. 'Enquiries are at an early stage and anyone with information is asked to contact police.' Advertisement Some $500,000 in jewelry was stolen out of a car belonging to rapper Young Dolph as it sat in the parking lot of an Atlanta-area Cracker Barrel in broad daylight. The 33-year-old artist from Memphis, Tennessee, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr, was eating lunch at the chain restaurant on Wednesday when someone came in and informed him that someone had broken the window of his custom camouflage Mercedes-Benz. Among the stolen items were a $230,000 Richard Mille watch, two diamond chains worth an estimated $57,000 and $27,000, a Patek Philippe watch worth $85,000 and two pairs of Cartier sunglasses worth $24,700. Police found surveillance footage of the break-in, which they described as 'unusual'. No suspects have been arrested. Scroll down for video Some $500,000 in jewelry was stolen out of a car belonging to rapper Young Dolph as it sat in the parking lot of an Atlanta-area Cracker Barrel in broad daylight last Wednesday. The 33-year-old artist from Memphis, Tennessee, is pictured performing in 2016 Police found surveillance video of the break-in outside a Cracker Barrel in Fairburn (pictured). A police spokesman described the circumstances surrounding the crime as 'unusual' Fairburn Police Department Assistant Police Chief Anthony Bazydlo told WSB-TV the suspects could be seen in the video going to the vehicle three separate times, and that they didn't appear to break the window until the third visit. Bazydlo said investigators noticed that when Dolph first exited his vehicle, the tail lights flashed three times indicating that it was being locked or unlocked. 'That's interesting to us in terms of what was happening with the vehicle,' he said. 'Was it being locked? Unintentionally unlocked? We don't know.' Along with the jewelry, the thieves allegedly stole a Glock handgun, a Pirelli backpack, an iPad, and a $3,000 MacBook, a pair of AirPods and $2,000 in cash. This is hardly the first time Dolph has been the victim of criminal activity. In February 2017 his vehicle was shot at more than 100 times in a drive-by in North Carolina. The incident inspired his hit single '100 Shots'. Months later, the rapper nearly died in September 2017 after having been shot in front of a store on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti was later charged in connection with that shooting. Dolph has had four albums reach the Billboard Top 100, including his debut album King of Memphis in 2016. The Church of England yesterday authorised its first nationally-approved service in Farsi for the benefit of growing congregations of Iranian Christian worshippers. Its bishops, led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, said the new Communion service - the Church's central rite - 'affirms the presence of Iranians in churches as a gift'. The publication of the new Farsi service follows controversy over the arrival in some congregations of Iranian asylum seekers. The new liturgy was introduced in a 'celebration service' in Wakefield Cathedral which also included hymns sung and prayers read in both English and Farsi on Saturday In some churches, a high proportion of regular worshippers have been Iranian converts from Islam, and clergy have been given instructions on how to record regular attendance by asylum seekers and advised that they can give evidence on behalf of Iranian churchgoers at asylum tribunal hearings. Church leaders have also been told that some congregations in working class areas have 'not shared' clergy excitement about the newcomers in the pews. The new liturgy was introduced in a 'celebration service' in Wakefield Cathedral on Saturday which also included hymns sung and prayers read in both English and Farsi. The newly-approved service can be conducted in both languages, which are printed side-by-side in versions being made available to churches. Farsi services have been used locally in churches with Iranian congregations for some time, with the Iranian language in use in the North East and in Birmingham. Liverpool Cathedral has used a locally-produced Farsi order of service for communion. The development of CofE services in languages other than English has become increasingly fashionable in recent years. The Wakefield service was led by the Iranian-born Bishop of Loughborough, the Right Reverend Guli Francis-Dehqani (centre, pictured on Saturday) Services have been authorised in French to accommodate Anglican churchgoers in West London, where several hundred thousand generally high-earning French migrants have gathered since the 1990s. Officially-approved services are also available in Mandarin for Chinese-speaking Christians. The Wakefield service was led by the Iranian-born Bishop of Loughborough, the Right Reverend Guli Francis-Dehqani. She is the daughter of an Anglican bishop whose family fled the Iranian revolution in 1980 after her mother was shot in an armed raid on the family home. Her brother was later murdered in Tehran. She said yesterday: 'This translated service of Holy Communion is hugely significant within the life of the Church of England as we seek to find ways of recognising the diversity which is increasingly the reality of the Church of England. 'We have had, over the last few years, over 75 clergy contact us to ask how can we best help to integrate the Iranians who we find are coming to our churches, so in this liturgy what we're doing is formally recognising a minority community as part of our wider body and crucially enabling Persian, Farsi speaking people and English speaking people to worship alongside one another.' CofE bishops, led by Archbishop Justin Welby (pictured last November at Westminster Abbey), said the new Communion service 'affirms the presence of Iranians in churches as a gift' The asylum connection to Iranian conversion has been clear at some parish churches. One church in Stockton-on-Tees has baptised 200 Iranian asylum seekers, according to documents produced for the Church's parliament, the General Synod. Many of the converts are thought to have used their beliefs as part of asylum claims put to the Home Office and to immigration court hearings. Iranians have also been joining churches in numbers in Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Iranians are among the largest national group of people claiming asylum in the UK. The most recent official immigration figures say that in 2018 there were 3,327 asylum applications by Iranians or Iranian families, up by 757 or 29 per cent on the previous year. Advertisement The CofE has a 'Presence and Engagement Programme' which has supplied guidance to clergy on giving support to asylum seekers. Clergy are told that they should record church attendance of converts and if there is a tribunal hearing may attend court to give evidence that the conversion is genuine. Supporters should also come to court - but they are warned that 'judges are likely to react negatively if there is anything like an organised demonstration.' Where someone has already had an asylum application turned down, a conversion to Christianity may allow a new claim, clergy have been advised. A report produced for the Church in 2017 by the Bishop of Wakefield, the Right Reverend Tony Robinson, said: 'Where less affluent congregants remain by necessity rather than choice, unsurprisingly they struggle to embrace the Church's changing role in diverse communities.' It added: 'Many clergy are excited about the opportunities multi-religious contexts provide for building relationships and sharing faith, but find this attitude is not shared by their congregations.' Former Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has urged headteachers to lay on extra hours to help those struggling at school A former Ofsted chief has hit out at state schools that send children home early on a Friday suggesting they should be adding weekend classes instead. Sir Michael Wilshaw said many children need more time in school, not less and even urged headteachers to lay on extra hours in the week and on Saturdays to help those struggling. Last year it emerged 24 schools across the UK had scrapped Friday afternoon lessons, with another 200 threatening the same drastic move. Some adopted the half-day to boost the morale of overworked staff, while others said it is necessary to cut teaching costs for example, by employing fewer classroom assistants amid a squeeze on budgets. But Sir Michael, who was head of Ofsted until 2016, said the move would damage pupils education and called on inspectors to be critical of such schools. He told the Daily Mail: No good head wants a shortened school day. I feel this is a mistake it is the thin end of the wedge and would give encouragement to weak heads to do this sort of thing. They should be saying, We have got budget constraints, but our job is to make sure weve got good outcomes for students, and the only way we can do it is to lengthen the school day and give these youngsters enrichment. Forest Gate Community School, a top-performing comprehensive in East London, announced it would cut Fridays to a half-day to create a 'happier, more productive' environment I cannot believe anyone would condone sending children home and closing the school early. That is not the way to get good results. His intervention comes amid warnings that county lines drugs gangs are recruiting young children to be runners, prompting calls from charities for Ofsted and school heads to do more to protect vulnerable pupils. Sir Michael said: Particularly in areas where there may be gang crime, you do not want children being on the street, possibly getting into trouble. Many private schools and outstanding-rated comprehensives run longer hours in the week and open on Saturdays for extra tuition and sports, the ex-Ofsted chief added. They do it in the independent sector, why shouldnt we do it in the state sector? If you go into a really great school they will be open during the twilight hours, offering their facilities to the local community, he said. Forest Gate Community School headteacher Simon Elliott said the shorter week would lift the burden on overworked teachers They will be running homework clubs well into the evening and bringing youngsters in at weekends and holiday periods. Sir Michael is the former head of Mossbourne Academy in east London, which he turned from being one of Britains worst-performing schools into one of its best, despite it serving a deprived community. He said the success was partly down to keeping children late after school to help with homework and bringing them in on Saturdays. He added that while he paid teachers for the extra work, he thought staff in good schools would want to put in the added hours regardless of remuneration, because they want to see the children doing well. Last week, Forest Gate Community School, a top-performing comprehensive in east London, announced it would cut Fridays to a half-day to create a happier, more productive environment. Head Simon Elliott said the shorter week would lift the burden on overworked teachers who will receive the same pay and could boost students productivity. However, Mark Lehain, director of Parents and Teachers for Excellence, agreed with Sir Michael. He said: We know children from more vulnerable backgrounds are the ones who most benefit from being in school longer, as the additional time allows a chance for them to catch up with more affluent peers. As such, we will have to see if the gap between students widens in schools that shorten their week. But Barnaby Lenon, the former head of Harrow School and chief of the Independent Schools Council, disagreed, saying: I dont believe there is a correlation between time spent in school and results. Its about effective teaching. The quality of teachers is much more important than time spent in lessons. Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the powerful chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, claimed Sunday 'there is direct evidence' of collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 election. Schiff cited emails between Russian officials and members of the Trump team, including the president's son Donald Trump Jr., in setting up the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting where the Russians claimed they had dirty on Hillary Clinton. 'There is direct evidence in the e-mails from the Russians through their intermediary offering dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of what is described in writing as the Russian government effort to help elect Donald Trump. They offer that dirt,' Schiff said Sunday on CBS' 'Face the Nation.' Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff claims 'there is direct evidence' of collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 election Schiff cited emails between Russian officials and members of the Trump team, including Donald Trump Jr. (above), in setting up the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting 'There is an acceptance of that offer in writing from the president's son Don Jr. and there is overt acts in furtherance of that. That is the meeting at Trump Tower and all the lies to cover up that meeting at the Trump Tower and apparently lies that the president participated in,' he added. 'That to me is direct evidence but there's also abundant circumstantial evidence,' he concluded. He also cited evidence and charges in the cases of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen as part of his proof. Schiff had Cohen testifying behind closed doors for his committee for almost nine hours on Thursday. He hasn't given specifics of what Cohen talked about but Moscow's role in the 2016 election was on the agenda. The topic was also discussed in Cohen's one day of public testimony - Wednesday before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Cohen claimed he heard Donald Trump Jr. secretly tell his father ahead of time about an infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting attended by a Kremlin-tied Russian lawyer. Cohen described being present and hearing cryptic comments by Donald Trump Jr. to his father in early June of 2016 that Cohen believes referenced the Trump Tower meeting with Russians. 'I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: 'The meeting is all set.' I remember Mr. Trump saying, 'Ok good let me know,' according to Cohen. June is when Don Jr., former campaign chair Paul Manafort, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner met with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer who had promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. Trump has denied knowing about the meeting before it happened. Donald Trump Jr. has expressed confidence that he did nothing wrong. Cohen did tell lawmakers, when asked, he has no direct evidence of collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign. Additionally, Sen. Richard Burr, the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, has said his panel, which is investigating Russian election interference, has yet to find direct proof of collusion. Schiff said Cohen's claims were additional circumstantial evidence against Trump. But he didn't go as far as to say the president should be impeached. 'I made this distinction all along and that is while there is abundant evidence of collusion, the issue from a criminal point of view is whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a criminal conspiracy,' Schiff told CBS News. He said lawmakers should wait for special counsel Robert Mueller's report before making such a determination. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made the same argument. 'That is something that we will have to await Bob Mueller's report and the underlying evidence to determine. We will also have to look at the whole body of improper and criminal actions by the president including those campaign finance crimes to determine whether they rise to the level of removal from office. I have said that I think we should await the evidence from Bob Mueller as well as our own work,' he said. Donald Trump Jr. has claimed he did nothing wrong and his father, President Donald Trump, did not know about the meeting ahead of time Michael Cohen claimed he heard Donald Trump Jr. secretly tell his father ahead of time about an infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting attended by a Kremlin-tied Russian lawyer Schiff has become a leading target for Republicans since Democrats won control of the House and took control of the investigative process. The GOP are calling on him to recuse himself from the matter, citing meetings he had with Cohen before the president's former personal attorney testified before Congress and a meeting Schiff had with Glenn Simpson, the founder of Fusion GPS, which produced the unverified Steele dossier that claims the Russians have blackmail evidence on Trump. Republicans argue Schiff, last year, called on then-House Intelligence Chair Rep. Devin Nunes, one of the president's biggest defenders in Congress, to recuse himself because he met with intelligence sources in the White House during on-going investigations. That, they claim, means Schiff meets his own standards for recusal. 'Listen to what we find out about Schiff in the Cohen hearing. He talked to Cohen. He met with Glenn Simpson, we found out, even when the own committee said they had problems with the truth in his own hearing. Schiff actually tried to stop us from finding out who paid for the dossier; the Democrats. Schiff has now met Schiff's own standard of why Devon had to recuse himself. Adam Schiff needs to recuse himself for any new investigation,' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week.' Schiff brushed aside the GOP call. 'What McCarthy is upset about is that I invited Michael Cohen to testify and that he accepted, and our staff sat down and interviewed him before his testimony. That's what you do in any credible investigation,' he said. 'The extent of my contact was just inviting him to testify and also trying to lay his concerns about the presence of threats against him and his family, but our staff certainly sat down to interview him and that's what you do in any credible investigation,' he added. 'Mr. McCarthy, I think, can be forgiven for not knowing how to run a credible investigation for the last two years. They did none,' he concluded. President Trump has also attacked Schiff, calling him 'little shifty Schiff' for expanding the scope of the investigation to a deep-dive into his personal finances. 'They don't have anything with Russia. There's no collusion,' he said. 'So now they morph into 'Let's inspect every deal he's ever done. We're going to go into his finances. We're going to check his deals. We're going to check' these people are sick,' he said Saturday in his address to conservatives at CPAC. Cohen returns to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for additional closed door testimony with the House Intelligence panel. The New York Times broke the news of the now-infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting a little more than a year ago, on July 8, 2017. It has become a focal point in the investigation as to whether or not there was collusion between Team Trump and Moscow in the presidential race. Donald Trump Jr. gave the newspaper a statement at the time that said the gathering was about an adoption program. His statement did not address whether the presidential campaign was discussed. The Russian lawyer at the meeting, Natalia Veselnitskaya, has led a multipronged attack against the Magnitsky Act, an American law that blacklists suspected Russian human rights abusers and championed by financier Bill Browder, who Russian President Vladimir Putin named during a June press conference in Helsinki as someone Russians want to speak to in exchange for letting Mueller talk to Russian nationals. Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting Donald Trump Jr leaving Trump Tower in December 2016 The Magnitsky Act so enraged Putin he retaliated by halting American adoptions of Russian children. In his statement to The Times about the meeting, Donald Trump Jr. said: 'It was a short introductory meeting. I asked Jared and Paul to stop by. We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago and was since ended by the Russian government, but it was not a campaign issue at the time and there was no follow up.' He added: 'I was asked to attend the meeting by an acquaintance, but was not told the name of the person I would be meeting with beforehand.' On July 11, 2017, the existence of an email chain was reported. Those emails were about setting up the meeting and revealed that Veselnitskaya was said to have damaging information about Hillary Clinton. In the email exchange, Trump Jr. was told via an intermediary that the 'high level' information he would be offered about Clinton was 'part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump' and would be 'highly useful for your father.' Trump Jr. wrote back: 'If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer.' The president's son posted the entire email exchange on Twitter after The New York Times informed him they had the emails and were going to publish them. The emails were sent to Trump Jr via Rob Goldstone, a music publicist who represented Emin Agalarov, whose father, Aras Agalarov, is a major real estate developer close to Putin and who bought rights to the 2013 Miss Universe pageant that took place in Moscow and which Trump attended. Trump Jr. went on Fox News at the time to defend his actions, saying: 'For me, this was opposition research. They had something, you know, maybe concrete evidence to all the stories I'd been hearing about, probably underreported for years, not just during the campaign, so I think I wanted to hear it out.' He also said the meeting went nowhere, calling it a 'wasted 20 minutes.' Trump Jr. additionally told Fox News he did not tell his father about the meeting, saying, 'There was nothing to tell.' He also gave another statement to the Times about the meeting, saying: 'I was asked to have a meeting by an acquaintance I knew from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant with an individual who I was told might have information helpful to the campaign. I was not told her name prior to the meeting. I asked Jared and Paul to attend, but told them nothing of the substance.' He continued: 'After pleasantries were exchanged, the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Ms. Clinton. Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense. No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information. She then changed subjects and began discussing the adoption of Russian children and mentioned the Magnitsky Act. It became clear to me that this was the true agenda all along and that the claims of potentially helpful information were a pretext for the meeting.' When Charly King's mother was diagnosed with a fatal brain disease, her daughter was determined her children would not inherit the killer genes. And now here she is pictured with her amazing designer triplets born free from the life-threatening condition. Jack, Billie and Spencer King look like any other babies, but they were carefully chosen by doctors so they would not develop the rare illness similar to CJD, the human form of mad cow disease that killed their grandmother Jane. Charly King with Jack, Billie and Spencer, who were carefully chosen by doctors so they would not develop the rare illness that killed their grandmother Jane Mrs King is pictured with her mother Jane, who had Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease where damaged proteins called prions kill brain cells Doctors who created embryos from Mrs King's eggs and her husband's sperm removed cells to check if they carried the genetic condition. The 5,000 pre-implantation genetic diagnosis meant the triplets were guaranteed to be healthy before entering their mother's womb. A clinic in Cyprus put four embryos back in Mrs King's womb and she became pregnant A clinic in Cyprus put four embryos back in Mrs King's womb, which is not allowed in the UK, and she became pregnant with three babies. While genetic screening is used in Britain, it is extremely rare for a woman to have triplets which are all 'designer babies'. Mrs King, 30, said: 'We are just so thankful that our triplets have been born safe and well and free from this disease. It was devastating to lose Mum and now I can be sure that this disease hasn't been passed on to our babies.' The Tesco worker, who lives with her 33-year-old husband Ryan, lost her mother in April last year, when she was three months pregnant. Jane King had Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease where damaged proteins called prions kill brain cells. Charly King, from Bedford, said: 'I wasn't prepared to fall pregnant naturally and risk the baby having this condition. 'So we decided to have this treatment abroad in Cyprus and we wanted to try for a multiple pregnancy so that we could complete our family in one go.' How the lab test works Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a type of embryo testing that can be used to screen out serious inherited conditions. It can be used to prevent more than 500 genetic conditions in IVF couples. During PGD, a single cell or small number of cells is removed from the embryo, which has been created in the lab by fertilising a womans eggs with sperm. The cell DNA is tested for the dangerous gene a parent carries. Only embryos which are negative for this gene are placed into the mothers womb. Advertisement The couple flew to Cyprus in May 2017, but their first attempt at fertility treatment ended with Mrs King having a miscarriage. They flew back for a second try in January last year and an early scan showed they were going to have triplets. It was a difficult pregnancy, with one doctor advising a termination after it emerged that tiny Billie was being starved of nutrients. But all three babies were born nine weeks early, on July 28, and were allowed home two months later. Mrs King said: 'They are doing really well now. Jack and Spencer now weigh 15lb and Billie is still the smallest at 10lb, but they are all real little fighters.' The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates UK IVF treatment, recommends that clinics transfer only one embryo to avoid multiple births, and says three should be the maximum. California police have confirmed that two young sisters who were missing for two days have been found. Eight-year-old Leia Carrico and her five-year-old sister Caroline Carrico were last seen outside their home in Benbow, north west of Sacramento, on Friday at 2.30pm. Authorities said the sisters vanished after walking off into a wooded area near their home. On Sunday afternoon, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office announced that the girls had been found safely around 10.30am after they spent more than 44 hours in the woods. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said during a press conference that the girls were found 1.4 miles away from their home. He said the girls were trained in outdoor survival through their local 4-H club and that authorities believed that helped them. They were also wearing boots and had eaten granola bars at some point while they were missing, he said. Scroll down for video California police have confirmed that two young sisters, eight-year-old Leia Carrico (left) and her five-year-old sister Caroline Carrico (both pictured with their parents), who were missing for two days have been found It was an emotional scene for the Carrico family as they hugged and kissed their children The sheriff's office shared this photo of one of the girls (pictured) being rescued Leia (left) and Caroline (right), were missing for two days after they wandered off into the woods near their home 'I am pleased to report that we are all witnessing a miracle today,' Honsal said. Honsal said they were located by a a fire captain and firefighter who had been following their boot tracks in the search area. Though the girls were dehydrated and cold, they were uninjured and 'in good spirits,' Honsal said. The sheriff's office also shared a photo of one of the girls being rescued. 'Here's a first look from the scene where first responders located the girls,' the sheriff's office tweeted in the caption of the photo, which showed a first responder talking with Caroline. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal (pictured) said during a press conference that the girls were found 1.4 miles away from their home 'To have a positive outcome like this is just absolutely amazing,' Honsal said. It was an emotional scene for the Carrico family once they were reunited with one another on Sunday. Parents, Travis and Misty, were seen hugging and kissing their daughters after they were rescued. Using helicopters and tracking dogs, dozens of police and rescue personnel combed a vast and rugged rural area in the frantic search for the sisters. Several volunteers also came out to help first responders search for the sisters. One mother and son drive 1.5 hours just to help find Leia and Caroline. Before they disappeared, the girls had asked their mother, Misty Carrico, if they could go for a walk. She said 'no' but noticed soon after that the girls were gone. Authorities said the girls were believed to have walked off into the wooded areas. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said they were notified of their disappearance around 6pm after the mother and neighbors tried to search for the girls themselves. Authorities said the sisters (pictured) vanished after walking off into a wooded area near their home Boot prints and granola bars left behind by the sisters (pictured) were found in the search area on Saturday, Humboldt County Sheriff's Lt Mike Fridley said on Friday Their mother, Misty (right) told authorities she had only just purchased that same brand of granola bars. The sisters are also pictured with their father during Halloween Dozens of volunteers came out to help first responders search for the sisters over the weekend One mother and son drive 1.5 hours just to help find Leia and Caroline Authorities were unable to find the girls during their search on Friday night and continued first thing Saturday morning. The searchers included National Guard members from Fresno and the US Coast Guard, which provided one of its helicopters on top of a Black Hawk helicopter also being used. Rescuers were hopeful about finding the girls Saturday after they came across prints from the girls' rubber boots and wrappers from the granola bars, Lt Mike Fridley said. 'The wrappers showed us a direction from where they started to where the wrappers ended up at,' Fridley said. Their mother told authorities she had only just purchased that same brand of granola bars. Fridley said he was the one who got to call the girls' mother and tell them her daughters were alive. 'She melted on the phone,' he said. Honsal described the search area as a vast, heavily-wooded terrain with cold and and sporadically rainy conditions. On Sunday, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office announced that the girls (pictured) had been found safely after spending about 44 hours in the woods New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft borrowed a friend's Bentley to be driven to the Florida day spa where he allegedly paid for sexual services, court documents have revealed. On January 20, the second of Kraft's two documented trips to Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, he was chauffeured in a 2015 blue Bentley owned by his friend, the milk mogul Peter Bernon. Police say that as the unidentified driver waited in the parking lot, Kraft received oral sex from an employee inside the spa and paid with a $100 bill and one other unidentified bill. The license plate in court documents in the case links back to Bernons vehicle, and a Palm Beach source confirmed to the New York Post that the car described in the documents belongs to Bernon. Kraft (center) is seen with Peter Bernon and violinist Miri Ben-Ari at a 2014 benefit. Bernon apparently lent Kraft a Bentley in which he was chauffeured to Orchids of Asia A 2015 Bentley Flying Spur is seen in a file photo. Kraft apparently took two Bentleys on his consecutive trips to the spa, a white one that he owned and Benton's blue one The prior day, on January 19, Kraft also visited Orchids of Asia at around 4.45pm, driving his own white Bentley. Police said in an affidavit that on that visit, Kraft received a massage from two women, who 'took turns manipulating [his] genitals.' Later that night, Kraft was spotted dining with Bernon at Palm Beach hot spot Buccan. Bernon has a home on Nantucket, and like Kraft also spends much of his time in Palm Beach. Gawkers mill around in front of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft being charged with allegedly soliciting for sex on February 22 Both Bernon and Kraft belong to the exclusive Palm Beach Country Club and Belmont Country Club in Belmont, Massachusetts. Kraft has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution, and has insisted that he is innocent of the charges. Kraft, 77, was among hundreds of men charged in a crackdown on massage parlor prostitution and an investigation into human trafficking at Florida spas. Ganiou Gandonou, 27, an Uber driver from the Bronx was found stabbed to death in his car on Saturday night The New York Police Department is looking for the attacker of a 27-year-old for-hire cab driver who was found fatally stabbed in his car. Police say the car was parked on a Bronx roadway around 9 p.m. Saturday. The driver, Ganiou Gandonou was inside the black Toyota Camry with stab wounds to his neck and chest. He was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he was pronounced dead. Gandonou was bleeding heavily from the neck, but was conscious when first responders initially arrived, according to ABC 7. 'This was a savage attack on a young man who was trying to earn a living, it takes an animal, someone with no type of remorse to brutally stab someone to death simply to rob him,' the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers released in a statement. The taxi driver group is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Ganiou Gandonou was found seated in his Toyota Camry on Saturday night bleeding heavily from his neck wound but still conscious before he would be pronounced dead at the hospital The victim's wife, Latifatou Alimi, says Gandonou left their home in the Bronx at 7 p.m. to make pickups, according to News 12. Alimi was able to talk to him one last time on the phone before he was murdered. 'My husband doesn't deserve this,' she told News 12 through tears. 'I don't know how my life's going to be without him.' Latifatou Alimi tearfully recounts her last moments speaking with her husband before he was fatally stabbed The Uber driver had immigrated from Africa to find a better life according to his wife Gandonou, right, with Alimi, left, leaves behind a two-year-old son The distraught widow said she woke up at 3 a.m. unable to get her husband on the phone when police arrived at her door to tell her Gandonou was found in his car with stab wounds. The African immigrant who came to the U.S. to find a better life also leaves behind a two-year-old son. 'This is a horribly tragic incident and our hearts go out to the grieving family,' an Uber spokesman said in a statement. 'We stand ready to work with law enforcement to assist their investigation in any way possible.' A vineyard owner tearfully begged firefighters to save the last remaining house on his property after he watched his winery explode on live television. Andrew Clarke, the owner of Jinks Creek Winery in Tonimbuk, 100km southeast of Melbourne, broke down in tears as he described how his business and home were wiped out. He begged firefighters to save the last remaining building, accommodation for weddings held on the site, so he would at least have somewhere to live. Scroll down for video The owner of Jinks Creek Winery on Tonimbuk Road, Andrew Clarke, said he found out his property (pictured) was lost while watching the news in a nearby cafe There are four areas worst affected by 20 fires raging across Victoria on Monday. Mr Clarke's winery (inset) was destroyed in the Bunyip fire 'I'd like to ask if we could please get someone to go up to our last remaining house and try to do something,' Mr Clarke said on Sunrise as his son comforted him. 'Get some crews up there or something so we've got somewhere to live. We've lost everything.' Mr Clarke's desperate plea for help comes after more than 2,000 firefighters from around the state worked through the night to battle at least 19 active blazes. More than a dozen bushfires across Victoria show no sign of stopping as thousands flee their homes with no idea if they will still be standing when they return. Nine buildings have been destroyed so far, seven in the Bunyip State Park Forest bushfire and two in Yinnar South. Cooler weather is expected on Monday, but firefighters may have to contend with dry lightning - without any helpful rain - which could start more fires. Nineteen fires are listed as active statewide, including one at Yinnar South, in the Latrobe Valley in central Gippsland. The fire increased to 1,800 hectares overnight, power to the fire-affected area has been cut and emergency services say there is significant fire spotting. Forest Fire Management said the Yinnar South fire was at least 48 hours away from being contained. Farmer Andrew Clarke (left, comforted by his son) begged for firefighters to save the last remaining house on his property and blamed the government for the raging inferno His property (pictured, razed to the ground) was one of nine confirmed to have been destroyed by the bushfires devastating Victoria's east. Thousands of people have been told to evacuate their homes Before the devastation: Mr Clarke's Jinks Creek Winery is pictured above before being razed to the ground The most dangerous fire is now at Dargo, about 350km east of Melbourne, where 4,000ha has burned so far and an emergency warning is now in place. 'You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave,' the warning reads. Firefighters had so far managed to protect the town itself, but the flames are now only 3km away and bearing down on it. The emergency warning is in place for Black Snake Creek, Cowa, Dargo, Peter the Swede, Hawkhurst, Miowera, Billabong, Cowa, Crooked River, Gibbs, Hawkhurst, Howittville, Miowera, Shepherdson, Talbotville, Winchester, and Wongungarra. Dozens more areas are on 'watch and act' high alert as the unpredictable fires could change direction or speed. Farther north, another cluster of fires in Licola has burned through 15,000 hectares of bushland with residents urged to leave town. CFA assistant chief fire officer Trevor Owens said 'erratic winds' were expected to sweep through Victoria's east on Monday afternoon as a cool change hits. 'We're expecting winds to be quite erratic as the cool change filters through,' Mr Owens told ABC. 'We are sending rapid assessment teams in this morning... but it is a developing and dynamic situation.' Overnight, an emergency warning was downgraded for the fire burning in and around Bunyip state park, about 65km east of Melbourne. Mr Clarke blamed the government for the wild fires wreaking havoc across the state, claiming authorities had not carried out essential back burning. Where are the Victorian bushfires There are at least 20 fires burning across eastern Victoria. The worst affected areas are: * Bunyip State Park - About 65km east of Melbourne. Seven buildings destroyed including the Jinks Creek Winery, 12,000 hectares burned, town of Tonimbuk all but wiped off the map. * Yinnar South - About 160km southeast of Melbourne. Two buildings destroyed and 14,000 hectares burned. The most dangerous blaze on Monday with eight towns sent emergency warnings. * Dargo - About 350km east of Melbourne. 4,000 hectares burned but town itself intact so far but fire is only 3km away. Residents in the area are warned it is too late to lave and to protect themselves. * Licola - About 210km northeast of Melbourne. 17,000 hectares and a huge area under threat with residents urged to leave as it could get worse. Firefighters said it was getting increasingly difficult to handle. Weather conditions are improving but it's expected to stay hot and windy until Wednesday when some helpful rain could arrive. The fires are unpredictable and the wind could change their direction with little warning. More fires could also be started by dry lightning - without rain. There are five refuge centres which more than 500 people have visited after evacuating. Advertisement 'We've been left in the hands of these incompetent people, that's why we've lost everything,' he said. 'This fire would never have been as ferocious if the government had stuck to the rules of the Royal Commission [into Black Saturday] and done all the burning off that they should've done. 'They don't do any burning off. I've been on their backs since the the early 2000s to burn off out the back of my place... they keep saying they're going to do it.' Fire services told residents leaving now was the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. 'Again, we are urging people to heed the advice in relation to that particular warning,' Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp told the Nine Network on Monday. 'If they need to get out and they can get out, to please do that. But Yinnar is not the only fire that we are concerned about. We have actually got 19 going fires across the state, mainly in the eastern part of the state.' 'We have a challenging day ahead of us.' Eight towns had bushfire emergency warnings (in red) on Monday morning with dozens more on high alert (in orange). The worst blaze at Bunyip (left) was downgraded overnight, while fires rage at Yinnar South (centre, bottom), Dargo (top right) and Licola (second from right) Harrowing footage of a CFA volunteer driving their fire truck through burning bushland at night Slide me Satellite images from Sunday (left) and Monday (right) showed how much smoke the fires pushed into the air On Saturday night, Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Officer Trevor Owen said the fire at Bunyip was more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people and also started from a lightning strike. 'It's not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it's a matter of we will,' he said. 'Under those very strong conditions experienced on that day (in 2009), it travelled neatly, whilst it damaged some property it was a very narrow finger compared to what we're facing with this fire, because this fire has been growing.' The hot and windy conditions are expected to linger until Wednesday when rain is expected to help firefighters. Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his condolences to those whose properties were destroyed in the fires, admitting 'the news will be bad for some'. 'Those who have been experiencing the terrible bushfires in Victoria, our thoughts are with you,' he said. Cooler weather is expected on Monday, but firefighters may have to contend with dry lightning - without any helpful rain - which could start more fires Eight towns had active bushfire emergency warnings on Monday morning with dozens more on high alert should the fires veer towards them Ruth McGowan and her husband Paul decided to stay and defend their home between Labertouche and Jindivick. She was mayor of Baw Baw Shire during Black Saturday and felt a sense of history repeating itself. 'It's like facing a dragon - a dragon in the forest that breathes fire,' she said. 'You've got to be prepared and if you're not, you've got to go. A lot of people have, and that's a good thing. 'People have learnt from Black Saturday. I'm watching plumes of smoke come up. It's quite eerie.' Tina Forte, from Tonimbuk, about 70 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, is fearful her home, which has belonged to her family since the 1800s, has burned to the ground. 'I'm just really worried about the animals because we just had to run yesterday,' she told reporters on Sunday. Tina Forte, from Tonimbuk, about 70 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, is fearful her home has burned to the ground Fire crews are seen in discussion along the Princes Highway as the fire continues to burn 'We don't sleep, we don't care about our house we care about our livestock,' she said. A former Country Fire Authority volunteer has posted a desperate plea to Facebook about how to help horses amid the blaze. If it's too late to evacuate, the post tells residents to turn off their electric fences and strip the horse. 'Strip them down to nothing, no halter, no rugs, no fly mask, Nothing!' the post shared by Animals Voice Equine and Canine Therapy said. 'We do not want the metal to burn or anything to get attached or caught.' 'Purple spray or horse make up or your makeup even! paint your phone number onto the horse.' The advice also urges horse owners to cut the their tail so it doesn't touch the ground. 'It's not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it's a matter of we will,' he said A former Country Fire Authority volunteer and farm girl has posted a desperate plea to Facebook about how to help horses amid the blaze 'Open all gates but first! Move them to a paddock with the shortest amount of grass,' the post continues. 'Horses are not dumb, don't keep them trapped, allow them to run from fire.' Premier Daniel Andrews urged residents to follow warnings from authorities at a press conference alongside Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp. 'Don't put yourself in harm's way and potentially add to the already considerable workload our firefighters have,' he said. A total fire ban has been put in place for Victoria as the temperatures begin to soar again The driver accused of causing a deadly hit-and-run multi-vehicle crash that left a 12-year-old boy dead will remain in jail after he was refused bail during a court hearing on Monday. John Pagakis, 34, has been charged with 10 offences including dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop after a fatal crash and speeding more than 45 km/h over the limit. The tradesman did not apply for release during his appearance at Parramatta Local Court this morning but his bail was formally refused. Pagakis is accused of slamming his Holden Commodore into six stationary cars on Windsor Road at Baulkham Hills in Sydney's northwest Saturday night. He allegedly fled the scene on foot and arrived at this mother's house seven hours later covered in blood. He showed up at mum Demetra Pagakis' home 35km away in Narraweena, on Sydney's northern beaches, at about 2am, panting, bleeding, and covered in scratches - travelling the entire journey by foot. John Pagakis (left) was formally refused bail during a hearing at Parramatta Local Court Monday morning The 34-year-old has been charged with 10 offences including driving occasioning death, failing to stop after a fatal crash and speeding more than 45 km/h over the limit A 12-year-old boy (pictured) in a Holden Captiva was killed in the crash before Pagakis allegedly ran from the scene 'He looked like he had seen the devil,' Ms Pagakis told the Daily Telegraph. She said her son appeared 'shaken and scared' with his trousers rolled up and was bleeding from his ankle. He told her he had been 'running for hours'. Pagakis, however, did not mention the accident and just told his mother that he was tired and needed to sleep. 'He said: "Just leave me alone," and went to bed and hid under the doona,' Ms Pagakis said. TIMELINE OF CRASH Saturday March 2 7pm: Pagakis, travelling on the westbound M2 off ramp, hits a median strip before striking multiple cars on the intersection of Windsor Road Minutes later Pagakis allegedly flees the scene on foot Sunday March 3 2am: Pagakis arrives at his mother's home 35km away in Narraweena, on Sydney's northern beaches 3.30am: Police arrive at the home and arrest the driver Advertisement Pagakis was arrested at the home just one hour later after police were able to track him down with PolAir and dog units. His mobile phone and house keys were found at the scene. He was reportedly on his way to meet his girlfriend in Bossley Park west of Sydney when he allegedly caused a multi-car pileup. It is unclear how Pagakis lost control of his car, but his mother told Daily Mail Australia that 'maybe the steering wheel or his brakes were faulty.' 'John should have spoken up to the police. He was driving all the way out to Bossley Park to see his girlfriend. He was in a good mood, he was going to see his beautiful girlfriend - he wouldn't have caused an accident deliberately,' she said. 'I wish he didn't leave, I wish he stayed in his car until the police arrive. 'I'm so sorry that a little boy was killed, I can't believe that my son could cause an accident like that. We're all feeling sick to our stomach.' He showed up at his mum Demetra Pagakis's (pictured) home 35km away in Narraweena, around 2am, panting, bleeding, and covered in scratches Pagakis's mum said her son told her he had been 'running for hours' but did not mention the crash Pagakis fled the Baulkham Hills area around 7pm, leaving behind his mobile phone and keys, and arrived at Narraweena seven hours later Police said Pagakis was exiting the M2 around 7pm when he hit six cars, critically injuring the passengers of a Holden Captiva. A 12-year-old boy in the car was pronounced dead at the scene, while his mother, 36, and five-year-old sister were admitted to the hospital in critical condition. They are now said to be in serious but stable condition. The boy's 38-year-old father, who had been driving, was not injured in the crash, but was taken to hospital for assessment. The man was heard screaming 'my son, my son' when he learned the boy did not survive, according to reports. Rebecca Simpson, who was a witness at the scene, told Nine News the father 'was in hysterics.' The driver (pictured) was charged with 10 offences on Sunday including dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop after a fatal crash and speeding more than 45 km/h over the limit A 12-year-old boy, who was sitting in the back seat of a Holden Captiva, was pronounced dead at the scene. His five-year-old sister (pictured together) and his mother are now in serious but stable condition in hospital Medical teams rushed to the scene at about 7.15pm with 10 emergency crews and two helicopters in attendance. Officials said many passengers had to be 'cut out' of their cars A total of six people were injured in the collision (pictured) The driver of another car, a 65-year-old man, and his passenger, a 58-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The occupants of another four cars escaped unhurt but the drivers were taken to hospital for tests. Witness Brett Simpson said: 'The first thing I saw, the car in my rear-view mirror off the ground and I heard the crash obviously, next thing and then it was just chaos'. Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Kernin Lambert described the scene as 'absolutely horrific' and said five people had to be 'cut' out of their vehicles. 'It was an extremely severe collision. People are fighting for their lives. We have been trying to keep people alive.' Advertisement The annual Battle of the Oranges has taken place in Italy with teams pelting each other with fruit during the three-day festival. The tradition's origins are unclear but it is believed it dates back centuries. Hundreds of people attend the event in Ivrea, a town in northern Italy near Turin. It supposedly commemorates a 12th century uprising with oranges representing the head of their enemy. A festival in Italy where people throw oranges at each other has taken place today. The annual Battle of the Oranges happens on the three days leading up to Shrove Tuesday The festival takes place in Ivrea, a town near Turin in northern Italy. Thousands of orange throwers congregate for the local tradition Oranges from Sicily and Calabria are brought up to Ivrea. It is estimated that more than a million oranges that would have been otherwise thrown away are used in the festival The origin of the tradition is unclear but the townspeople divide into nine teams and castle defenders in the carts are the target for the orange throwers According to legend, the town's evil lord attempted to rape a miller's daughter named Violetta on the eve of her wedding. She then cut off his head and presented it to the townspeople who were then freed from the evil tyrant. They stormed his castle and set fire to it. Another version of the tradition's origin tells of the town's poor were given pots of beans by the feudal lords. The Ace of Spades team's colours are red and blue with a black scarf. At the end of the festival, judges announce the winning team The Chess team attack the castle defenders from their designated piazza. Spectators stand at the side wearing red hats so they don't get caught in the crossfire The tradition is believed to commemorate an uprising by the townspeople over an evil lord in the 12th century According to the legend, the evil lord tried to rape a young girl on the night before her wedding. She then cut off his head, starting the uprising They threw the beans on the floor in protest at the miserly gesture and over time the beans were swapped for oranges. The festival takes place every year on the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday. A girl from Ivrea is chosen to play the part of Violetta and many wear traditional costumes. People are divided into nine teams: the Ace of Spades, Death's Aranceri, Revolutionaries of the Borough, The Chess, Black Panther, Arduino's Scorpions, The Devils, The Mercenaries, and the Credendari. The girl's name was Violetta and every year a local girl is chosen to play her at the festival. The town is adorned with flags representing the teams and the area they are protecting The castle defenders wear helmets and pads and are the main target for the orange throwers. A team of 100 workers cleans up the oranges after the festival finishes on Tuesday The horses are not supposed to be a target for the oranges but they are often caught in the crossfire. Members from the Arduino's Scorpions team wear their traditional yellow and green kit There are 46 of the horse-drawn carriages who go round the piazzas in the town. The oranges are said to represent the head of the evil lord and the pulp is his blood Another version of the festival's history says that poor people were so dissatisfied with being given a pot of beans by their feudal lords that they started throwing them in the streets The festival ends on the evening of Shrove Tuesday when the judges declare one team the winner and a procession takes place The Battle of the Oranges has become more and more popular in recent years with some travelling from other countries to join in on the fun Most of the 25,000 population of Ivrea attend the famous battle although many watch from a safe distance rather than getting involved in the action One castle defender takes an orange to the face at Sunday's battle. It is advised that anyone with open cuts does not participate in the festival The orange throwers wear the traditional colours of their team while they defend their designated turf in the piazzas. There are 46 horse-drawn carts going around the town, each with castle defenders inside with helmets and pads. These are the targets for the thousands of throwers representing the uprising townspeople. Judges announce the best team at the end of the festival followed by a procession. More than a million oranges from southern Italy and Sicily are used in the festival that would have otherwise been thrown away. The family of a man who was abused by Cardinal George Pell as a teenager have revealed how the assault sent him into a sharp downwards spiral before he eventually died from a heroin overdose aged 30 The family of a man who died of a heroin overdose 17 years after he was sexually assaulted by Cardinal George Pell have revealed their son's downward spiral after the abuse. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in the choir at St Kevin's College in Toorak, having been admitted to the prestigious school on a choir scholarship. He loved to sing, and his father told Four Corners he had been a 'lovely boy' devoted to his family. But in December 1996, he and his friend, both 13, were caught playing in the sacristy of St Patrick's Cathedral after Sunday Solemn Mass. His friend told the County Court in Victoria Pell had walked in and said: 'Something like, "What are you doing here" or "You're in trouble",' before grabbing the boy's head and pulling it towards his exposed penis. The friend told the court Pell turned to him next, forcing him to perform oral sex before fondling him as he touched himself. Changes in the young boy were almost instant. 'His schoolwork, I noticed that it started slipping. His whole attitude changed. His whole being just, he was a different boy,' the father of the deceased choirboy said said. Within a year of the abuse taking place, the boy had left his prestigious school, as had his friend, and turned to heroin. The choirboy and his friend, both 13 at the time, had 'nicked off' after a Sunday solemn mass at St Patrick's Cathedral (pictured) in 1996 when Pell found them in the priest's sacristy and assaulted them Both boys had been given scholarships to the prestigious St Kevin's College in Toorak, but left the school shortly after the abuse His father told the program he and the boys grandparents had noticed there were burnt pieces of foil around the house, but his mother said the teenager never revealed his ordeal to them. She said she recalls asking her son twice if anyone had touched him, and both times he had denied the abuse. The heartbroken mother said it was 'devastating to watch your child spiral out like that'. 'It's very hard to watch,' she said. In 2014, the man, at the age of 30, died of a heroin overdose. His parents would not find out what had caused their beloved son's downfall until a year later. Speaking to journalist Louise Milligan ahead of the trial for her book 'Cardinal, The Rise and Fall of George Pell' the family revealed his childhood friend, who had also endured Pell's abuse but not been seen with his old friend in years, turned up at the funeral. A year later, he filed a formal complaint with Victoria Police against George Pell, both for him and his old friend. The County Court in Victoria heard Pell had told the boys 'you're in trouble' before grabbing ones head and pulling it towards his exposed penis Pell has maintained his innocence, and will appeal the trial after he is sentenced on March 13 (pictured: The sacristy at St Patrick's) The man told the mother of his friend that attending his funeral had been the straw that broke the camel's back. Sadness and regret had consumed him in the wake of the 30-year-old's death, and he knew it was time to take action. In December 2018, Cardinal George Pell was found guilty of one count of rape and four counts of indecent assault by a jury. The decision was suppressed until February, when a second trial was thrown out after issues with evidence, and Pell will be sentenced in March. Pell, who is Australia's top catholic and the most senior member of the clergy to face allegations of historical sexual assault, has said he will appeal the conviction as soon as he is sentenced. Defense attorneys for Cardinal George Pell say the jury could not have found the senior Catholic guilty 'beyond reasonable doubt' based on the testimonial evidence of just one person The father of the man who died before he could see his attacker be brought to justice said he is glad to finally know what happened to his son. 'I'm glad that it's over and it gives me an idea of why my son went through hell. Why he did the things he did,' he said 'And myself, I'm just disgusted. I'm disgusted in the Catholic Church.' For his mother, the pain is ongoing. 'I shouldn't have lost my son like that,' she told Ms Milligan before the trial. 'And nobody else should either. And it's wrong.' Her lip quivers. 'This is something I live with now. This is something that kills me a little bit every day. And it kills me.' Despite a criminal case being thrown out earlier this year, another man who says he was molested by Pell in the 70s has launched a civil case against Pell and the church in the Supreme Court in Melbourne. The suit, to be lodged on Monday, names Pell, the trustees of Nazareth House, (formerly St Joseph's), the State of Victoria and the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, The Herald Sun reported. 'This is painful news': The Vatican's full statement on the Pell verdict The Holy See agrees with the statement issued by the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference regarding the sentence of guilt in the first instance concerning Cardinal George Pell. This is painful news that, as we are well aware, has shocked many people, not only in Australia. As already expressed on other occasions, we have the utmost respect for the Australian judicial authorities. Out of this respect, we await the outcome of the appeals process, recalling that Cardinal Pell maintains his innocence and has the right to defend himself until the last stage of appeal. While awaiting the definitive judgement, we unite ourselves with the Australian bishops in praying for all victims of abuse, and reaffirm our commitment to do everything possible so that the Church might be a safe home for all, especially for children and the most vulnerable. In order to ensure the course of justice, the Holy Father has confirmed the precautionary measures which had been imposed by the local Ordinary on Cardinal George Pell when he returned to Australia. That is, while awaiting the definitive assessment of the facts, as is the norm, Cardinal George Pell is prohibited from exercising public ministry and from having any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors. Advertisement The 50-year-old man was a resident in St Joseph's Boys Home in Ballarat from February 1974 to 1978 and says he was abused by Pell during that period. He was a complainant against Pell in a second trial over allegations Pell indecently assaulted boys in Ballarat in the 1970s. The case was abandoned by prosecutors after a court deemed vital evidence inadmissible; with the man saying he was left devastated by the decision. 'It took a lot of courage and soul searching to be prepared to tell my story, accusing one of the most senior Catholics in the world of serious criminal offences, and eventually I was ready to have my day in court,' he told the paper. 'But when I was told they had withdrawn the case I felt empty, and that an injustice had occurred.' The man's lawyer Lee Flanagan said at least three other witnesses would testify they suffered similar abuse at the hands of the cardinal. 'There was a fourth witness, but he died after charges were laid against Pell. We may seek to tender his statement into evidence in this case,' Mr Flanagan said. Schools in Western Australia have been urged to include 'gender-neutral toilet options' and scrap strict dress code policies in a bid to stop discrimination against transgender students. The recommendation from Inclusive Education WA, a specialised resource for schools in the state, aims to create a 'more inclusive environment' for transgender schoolchildren. Guidelines for schools hosting Year 12 balls encourages staff to avoid implementing strict dress codes, so not to exclude or discriminate against transgender pupils. Scroll down for video (File picture) Schools in Western Australia have been urged to include 'gender-neutral toilet options', and scrap dress codes at Year 12 balls The advice also asks schools to consider 'providing gender-neutral toilet options' that should be accessible to all students who wish to use them. The guidelines are part of a wider strategy to 'establish a more inclusive environment for transgender and gender diverse students', The West Australian reported. Inclusive Education WA is funded by the state Education Department and provides resources to schools, which helps to ensure a safe environment for all genders and sexuality preferences. However, the Education Department said it did not have a policy for providing gender-neutral toilets. (File picture) The advice from Inclusive Education WA asks schools to consider 'providing gender-neutral toilet options' 'In new schools we provide universal access toilets and adult access toilets which allow schools flexibility for students,' a spokesperson confirmed. Former Liberal politician and Australian Christian Lobby director for WA, Peter Abetz, noted that unisex toilets should have separate entrances for males and females. He said it would help to prevent the different sexes from mixing in the same unsupervised toilet area. A spokesperson for Catholic Education WA, which oversees around 162 schools and colleges in the state, said its schools aimed to provide separate toilets for males and females as well as unisex toilets for general use. The guidelines come shortly after Sydney's University of Technology introduced 'all gender' bathrooms in a bid to make 'students feel safe and welcome on campus'. In the 2016 Census 1,260 people in Australia said they identified as transgender and or gender diverse. 121 of those respondents who identified as transgender and or gender diverse were from Western Australia. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Western Australia Department of Education for comment. WA Aids Council has also been reached out to for comment. Sydney's west could have more train services and travel times to the city cut in half sooner than frustrated commuters thought. Construction of the Metro West line connecting Sydney's CBD and Parramatta could be fast-tracked to start in 2020 - a year earlier than was planned when the project was announced in late 2016. The underground rail project will have the capacity to move 46,000 commuters an hour, almost double the 26,000 passengers the current line moves. Travel times between Sydney's CBD and Parramatta would be slashed to just 20 minutes. A limited stations trip on the gridlocked Western Line from Parramatta to the city takes an average 30 minutes - and more than 40 minutes on the all stations services. The Metro West project can't come soon enough for frustrated train commuters who currently use the congested Western Line to travel to work each day The New South Wales government announced it will fast-track construction on the Metro West to start next year if it's re-elected for a third consecutive term on March 24. 'We have worked our guts out to get the budget in a strong position and now we are able to deliver crucial rail projects like Metro West quicker than anyone thought was possible,' NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian said. 'This crucial project will reduce the journey between Parramatta and the city to around 20 minutes, with trains running every two minutes.' Transport minister Andrew Constance added: 'You can't build it any quicker, even if you tried.' The Metro West has been hailed 'super train for three million people in Western Sydney'. There will be stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays Precinct and the City. Investigations continue into the viability of possible stations at Rydalmere in western Sydney and Pyrmont. First announced in late 2016, the fast rail link will create tens of thousands of new jobs, according to a report published by the Committee for Sydney and Sydney Business Chamber published last year. The report assessed scenarios of 15, 20 and 25 minute travel times between Parramatta and Sydney CBD. What the proposed Metro West route map from Westmead to the city could look like A fast 15-minute travel time (with fewer stations) would be of most benefit to to Greater Parramatta and Olympic Park. 'As the travel time along the route increases to 20-25 minutes with more stations included, the benefits shift toward uplift and urban renewal opportunities in the Inner West,' the report states. Mr Constance previously described the Metro West project as a 'super train for three million people in Western Sydney'. He warned some properties will be acquired for the new rail line but vowed to keep acquisitions to a minimum. The Metro West project between Parramatta and CBD is track to open as early as 2028 The project is expected to take eight years to complete from when construction starts. It comes after NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley recently vowed to deliver Metro West 'more quickly' than the Berejiklian government if Labor is elected later this month. But he wouldn't say how the rail line would be fast-tracked or be completed by. 'During its time in office Labor promised to build 12 rail lines, but did not deliver a single one in full,' Mr Constance said. 'In fact Labor has promised a Metro to Western Sydney three times since the mid-90s and cancelled it every time. In 2010 they were so incompetent they handed $81 million back to the federal government after cancelling it once again.' What is the Metro West project *Metro West is a mostly underground rail project that will service Greater Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, The Bays Precinct and the Sydney CBD *Announced in 2016 in response to predictions that an extra 420,000 people will move into the corridor between Greater Parramatta and central Sydney over the next 20 years *Promises a 20 minute commute from Parrramatta to the Sydney CBD *Construction due to start in 2021 but the NSW Government plans to fast-track work on the project to start next year if re-elected on March 24 Source: NSW Government Advertisement Not everyone has welcomed Sunday's announcement. 'How is that calculated? Existing Express services from Parramatta to the city take 30 minutes with only 2 stops. Strathfield and Redfern. The proposed MetroWest route has a bunch of proposed stops between Parramatta and the City. There will be no express services on the new MetroWest,' one man posted on Facebook. One woman added: 'Would it not make sense to make a train line to go somewhere the train doesn't currently go - like Epping? So people commuting to North Ryde, Chatswood or North Sydney don't have to go through the city.' A bizarre rant from a woman who claimed to be a social worker has been caught on video on the Toronto subway. The confrontation occurred last Monday after a woman berated a man for bringing a cart laden with shopping bags on the train, and then turned her fury on a man who intervened. 'I'm a social worker!' the woman insists as the other passenger tells her to leave the homeless man alone. 'You're a social worker and that's how you talk to people?' the passenger replies incredulously. A woman who claimed to be a social worker launched into a bizarre rant on a Toronto subway train last week 'At least I don't f**k Instagram hos,' the deranged woman blasts back. 'I know you want to f**k me, that's what started it. I'm not stupid, eh? I make more money than you,' the woman continues in a foul-mouthed rant. When someone else on the train urges her to watch her language since children are present, the woman rejects the request. 'Children should not be on the train - they should be in school or daycare,' she says. The woman goes on to call the male passenger a 'financial prick', baffling him after she claimed to make more money than him. After threatening to slap the male passenger, the woman adds 'I have a good f**king lawyer believe me I'll get off.' 'At least I don't f**k Instagram hos,' the deranged woman shouts at another passenger, who tried to intervene when she was berating a man pushing a cart laden with bags She also accuses the other passenger of having 'no heart, no empathy, no nothing' and being a 'psychopath.' In a digression, the woman accuses the homeless man of having stolen the items on his cart, which appear to mostly be empty bottles. 'God will judge, let God judge,' the woman continues as she takes out a snack of some kind and begins to eat it. 'Let God judge you, not me.' The confrontation finally ends when the man with the cart gets off the train. The woman sits down and turns to the passenger who intervened. 'Sir, you'll be OK,' the woman tells him, adding, 'Psychiatry.' 'I'm basically famous now': The innocent caption Jodie Chesney posted on the day she visited 10 Downing Street months before she was brutally stabbed in the back in a park in Romford What kind of girl was Jodie Chesney? One photograph in particular answers that question. It was posted on her Instagram account on the second Sunday of November last year; Remembrance Sunday, in other words. Jodie is standing on the steps of 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform with a poppy pinned to her khaki shirt. She was part of a small group selected to represent the movement at events to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. Im basically famous now, she wrote under the picture. This was such a good opportunity and so much fun. On the same day, Jodie was filmed during the BBCs broadcast of the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and can be seen lining the walkway of the Chelsea Pensioners as they came on stage. Jodie Chesney, 17, (circled in red) is stood next to Explorer Scouts at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2018. Just months later she would be stabbed to death in a London park Jodie was stabbed to death as she sat on park bench with her boyfriend Eddie Coyle, 18, in the east London suburb of Harold Hill in Romford A friend of Jodie's said she was the nicest, loveliest, kindest person you could meet with everything to look forward to in life' She had been a ranger in the Girls Guides before progressing to become an Explorer Scout, a section of the Scouts for 14-to-18-year-olds, which some youngsters might not consider to be cool these days. Jodie was cool. But she was also to quote someone who knew her the nicest, loveliest, kindest person you could meet with everything to look forward to in life. The fact you are now reading about her in the past tense is not just a tragedy but a scandal that shames our country. On Friday, Jodie was stabbed to death as she sat on park bench with her boyfriend Eddie Coyle, 18, in the east London suburb of Harold Hill in Romford. She was just 17; the latest casualty of the knife crime epidemic sweeping Wild West Britain. Jodie Chesney was stabbed in the back and lay bleeding to death in a park on Friday night. Her boyfriend comforted her as neighbours of the park ran over to try and save her Shoulder to lean on: Jodie is all smiles as she snuggles up close to boyfriend Eddie Coyle Last night, Scotland Yard provided new and disturbing details about the murder, but provided no clues as to the potential motive. Jodie was with a group of five other teenagers, playing music and socialising in the park. They said they noticed two males enter the park without interacting with Jodie or her party. No words were exchanged. They left at about 9pm but returned around 30 minutes later, walking straight towards them, where one of the suspects, described as black and in his late teens, stabbed Jodie once in the back before running off. Among floral tributes at the scene was one which read: Jodie, we love you. You are so amazing. We will always remember you. Reports over the weekend described her as an innocent victim which has become a cliche to describe almost everyone who loses their life in such terrible circumstances; maybe so; but surely no one could have been more innocent than Jodie. She was from a loving family; she was studying for her A-levels; she loved photography; she had a Yorkshire terrier called Woody, who is pictured with her on her social media, and, of course, she was a Scout a Scout has self-respect and respect for others, all those who join the organisation are told. When emergency services arrived, Jodie Chesney (left and right) still had the blade lodged in her back as horrified neighbours rushed to save her life Jodie's mother left flowers and a lantern for her daughter, as friends and relatives hugged one another at the scene of the devastating killing The scene of the crime in Romford where Jodie Chesney was knifed to death. Forensic police officers search the park as flowers and lanterns are left nearby No one epitomised that ideal more than Jodie Chesney, which is why she was chosen for such an important role in the Remembrance Sunday celebrations. She has blossomed into an amazing young women, said Scout leader Anna Skipworth. She always had a smile on her face supporting the younger members where she could. She was funny, intelligent and a joy to work with. We are devastated by her loss. Indeed, a green badge worn on her arm for the Downing Street photocall is the Young Leader award for those, like Jodie, who choose to devote a large proportion of their time in Scouting service helping youngsters. Jodie lived in Dagenham not far from the scene of this utterly senseless crime with her father Peter, stepmum Joanne, and 21-year-old sister Lucy. Tributes: People lay flowers for Jodie Chesney after the 17-year-old Scout Explorer was knifed to death in London Claire Gillham, mother of Jodie Chesney (far right) pays her respects at the scene at St Neots Road, Harold Hill where Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death A message left at the park said: 'Jodie, We love you. You are so strong. We will always remember you' She was studying psychology and sociology at Havering Sixth Form College where her boyfriend Eddie Coyle was also a student. Images on her social media pages show a typical teenager. We see her enjoying a day out with her friends at Thorpe Park in Surrey, and, with her family, on a trip to Clacton Pier and on holiday in Turkey, among many other happy occasions. Cruelly, it was her fathers 39th birthday on the day she died. Jodie had posted a picture of the two of them together. Happy birthday dad, she wrote, accompanied by a red love heart. She and her sister Lucy were bridesmaids when he remarried in 2012. It is clear that Jodie was extremely close to her stepmother, who works in the accounts department of a law firm. Teenage girls sobbed at the scene and were comforted by friends after Jodie's death. Her mother Claire (left) placed a lantern and flowers under a tree Your mum isnt the person that gave birth to you or is bloodrelated, she wrote under one wedding snap of the bride cuddling her. Your mum is the person you grew up with ... the person that took care of you and listened to your problems. Such wise and insightful words, you might think, from a girl, aged around ten at the time, and hinted at the kind of young woman Jodie would become; indeed had become. Jodie had recently been presented with a Duke of Edinburgh Silver award after a trek across the Isle of Wight. In 2016, she visited Buckingham Palace with fellow Girl Guides where they met TV Presenter Philip Schofield. But the highlight of her Scouting career was undoubtedly the concert at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by the BBCs Huw Edwards, which was attended by the Queen and Prime Minister Theresa May and featured performances by Tom Jones and Sheridan Smith. How proud Jodies family must have been that she was there as well. Yesterday Jodies grandmother spoke for the rest of us when she wrote on Facebook: How have we come to this point where kids cant have a walk in the park without suffering an unprovoked attack? If anyone knows anything, please contact the police with information. We dont want anyone else to go though what our family is going through right now. This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence. Animal rights activists who stormed a pig farm in a protest on Saturday have been accused of squashing two of the piglets to death. Some 200 Meat The Victims UK supporters descended on Sandilands Pigs in Lincolnshire on Saturday and staged a sit-in protest inside a barn. Farmer Sylvia Hook claimed two of the young animals had been crushed but the demonstrators furiously denied the claims. Activist Chris Hines said the allegation was 'baseless' and said the atmosphere inside the barn had been 'very calm'. Around 200 activists, left some inside a pig hut and right a pig in a farrowing pen today, protested at Sandilands Pigs in Lincoln about the factory farming industry in the UK Mrs Hook said she was baffled over why her farm had been targeted, saying it had the highest standards of welfare. She said: 'They've already done a lot of damage and have caused the death of at least two piglets. 'Just for the fact that we have nice quiet well run rooms for our pigs, they came in mob handed about 50 of them and all piled into the barn. 'It's caused the death of two young piglets who have been squashed, two of the piglets have had to be taken away to get up and running again. 'It's ridiculous they call themselves animal rights activists and they're the ones who have caused the deaths here today it's crazy. 'Our farrowing house lady is absolutely distraught she's lost piglets today that we would never lose. 'All they've turned round and said is you would have murdered them anyway in a few weeks time. They've got no love for animals they don't understand. 'There's nothing wrong with what we're doing here, it's a perfectly normal legal farm.' The protesters had arrived at the farm near Laughterton at around 11am and remained at the farm all day. Many animal rights campaigners also stood outside the farm holding signs and posters The animal rights campaigners say they want the industry to be more 'transparent' and did not chose Sandilands Pigs for any other reason other than to show a standard practice UK farm The group say that they want to 'expose the reality of factory farming' to the public as 100 of the activists went inside a farrowing house. Footage from the scene show the activists wearing white suits and masks inside one of the huts, while another 100 people remained outside with signs and posters. However Mr Hines rejected the claim that the activists had caused the deaths of any animals. He said: 'Unless you can show definitive evidence that piglets have died because of activists being in there then they haven't got much of a case. 'The scenes I've witnessed in there everyone is calm, the pigs are calm, there's no big commotion. 'It's a baseless claim unless she can prove otherwise.' He told MailOnline yesterday that the group wants to make the pig farming industry 'more transparent' and let the public know the truth behind their meat. He said: 'Around 100 activists who have come from all over the country are inside the farrowing house now, calmly interacting with the mother pigs and piglets. People from all over the country turned up at the protest which has been going since 11am 'The mothers are in farrowing crates. The space inside a crate is enough for them to take a few steps and they can stand up and sit down, they can't turn around. 'They will be in there for about six to eight weeks while they let the pigs suckle. The idea behind them being in this is so they don't crush the piglets. 'They only have a few inches to move around - if these were dogs there would be outrage.' Mr Hines also explained that the activists did not chose Sandilands Pigs for any specific reason except to show that this is the standard type of farm in the industry. Fellow activist Joey Carbstrong said: 'The message is that these places operate in secrecy, the public are funding something and they have no idea what goes on in there. 'We are trying to bring what happens in here into the light. 'We want to advocate for a plant based lifestyle, a vegan lifestyle so that these places don't exist and animals are free.' Their home is a tented woodland camp and their neighbours are the animals Last night my twin daughters came rushing over to tell me theyd seen a scorpion outside their room. Or a Parabuthus maximus to be specific: Mayian and Luna like to use its Latin name, because they think it makes this extremely venomous and sometimes deadly little creature sound like a spell from one of their favourite Harry Potter books. Whatever you want to call them, scorpions arent unusual deep in the African bush, where my family my husband, Frank, and our three daughters, Selkie, nearly ten, and seven-year-olds Mayian and Luna came to live in 2014. Saba Douglas Hamilton and her family moved to the African bush in 2014. Their daughters Selkie, Mayian and Luna are seen feeding giraffes To say its remote is an understatement: just to the north-east of Kenyas Great Rift Valley, and north-west of Mount Kenya, the Samburu and neighbouring Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves are home to a around 1,000 elephants, and are an arid other world. Far from the suburban spread of bricks and mortar, our home is a tented woodland camp and aside from the elephants with which we work and share a habitat our neighbours are the lions, buffalo, hyenas and monkeys who roam this wilderness, and the nomadic people of the Samburu, Somali, Turkana and Borana tribes. Theres no television, and no iPads here, nor a plastic toy in sight. Instead of Barbies, my girls play with bows and arrows, and when they were little they used to wrap up baby-sized seedpods on which theyd drawn faces in pieces of cloth and rock them to sleep. Their playground is the sandy beach of a riverbank between two vast Kigelia trees, which they scale like monkeys, and a crocodile-infested river, the Ewaso Nyiro, which runs along the southern side of our camp. Climbing trees is part of the girl's everyday lives in the deep African bush As for school its a rustic hut with no glass in the windows, just chicken wire to stop the monkeys who like to bounce on the roof from getting in. Home-schooled by a series of enthusiastic volunteer teachers, my daughters study the British national curriculum but also so much more. When normal school ends at 4pm, they enrol in Samburu school, where they learn to see the world like a tribal warrior, proudly wielding the bows and arrows and knives we bought them as gifts for their sixth and seventh birthdays. Frank and I, meanwhile, pride ourselves on teaching them to pay attention to the natural world around them. Every morning, as we emerge from our sleeping quarters, weve made it a habit to try to read the tracks and spoor left by the creatures of the night. Sometimes its a porcupine, shuffling around looking for tubers, or a Genet cat thats left a pile of insect wings on the floor after a midnight feast. The most exciting of all is when the elephants come by: separated from them by nothing but a strip of canvas, we are all acutely aware of their majestic size and power. Its an unconventional childhood that is about as far from the constraints of Ofsted and school catchment areas as you can imagine which is exactly how Frank and I like it. In fact, we believe its a gift, and one that allows the girls imaginations to flourish. Mayian, best friend Tali and Luna have fun splashing around in the mud But, then, its little wonder that I have eschewed conventional schooling: my own childhood was similarly free-range, exploring the wilderness areas of first Tanzania then Kenya. My father, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, had moved to Africa as a young ethologist fresh out of Oxford and was the first person to study elephants in the wild, basing his thesis on his observation that elephants were matriarchies, something unknown until then. He married my mother, Oria, and settled there, and so my childhood home, along with my younger sister, Mara, was in Tanzanias Manyara National Park, where we played on the banks of the Ndala River alongside which my father had built his research camp. My earliest memories are of being charged by some of the formidable elephants we lived among as they came to terms with these curious interlopers in their habitat. Thundering out of the bushes at speed, trumpeting as they came, they were terrifying, and even now I can recall the visceral fear that coursed through my body. In time, I came to see them as part of our extended family, part of the furniture along with the buffalo and hyena that lived around us, not to mention two orphan genet cats who would jump onto our shoulders and drape themselves around our necks as we played in the evening. Little warriors: Luna and Mayian, enjoy playing with bows and arrows they received for their sixth birthday. At their Kenyan home, the family live among the Samburu tribe My wonderful parents would be the first to admit that they didnt, at first, put much thought into our education. My sister and I were home-schooled for a while, thanks to Mrs Grahams Postal Primary, a distance learning course that would arrive erratically through the post every few months. By the age of seven, I attended a local school in Nairobi, although I kept the natural world close, smuggling my pet egg-eating snake (and a few white-lipped snakes) into the classroom under my shirt. Then, aged 12, I was sent to boarding school in England. Given the freedoms Id enjoyed, its perhaps little surprise that I hated it. While I had visited the UK before to stay with relatives in Scotland, boarding school, with its rigorous rules and strictures, seemed alien and merciless. Surrounded by girls from some of the countrys smarter families, I stood out like a sore thumb in my third-generation hand-me-downs. I endured three miserable years before I switched to a wonderful school in Wales, followed by university in windswept St Andrews which, being close to the Highlands I knew, soothed my homesick soul. Instead of Barbies, Selkie, Mayian and Luna, play with bows and arrows. The girls are pictured on a field trip with local boys Yet Kenya was always home, and I was lucky to find a man who would come to view Africa the same way. I met Frank at a wedding, and it wasnt long before my beloved Cornwall-dwelling, surfer boyfriend agreed to come and live in a landlocked corner of Africa, where we married in 2006. We settled if you can use that word for our itinerant lives in a shack in Nairobi, living out of suitcases that accompanied me on my worldwide travels while filming for the BBC, an arrangement that continued even after our first-born, Selkie, came along in March 2009. In 2011, however, I discovered I was pregnant with twins, and it was clear we had to put down more permanent suitable roots. It was then that we discussed taking over my mothers Elephant Watch camp in Samburu, an eco-lodge where people could come to see elephants in their natural habitat and learn about conservation. By then, Frank had become involved in the elephant cause, joining the charity Save The Elephants: with ivory poaching dramatically on the rise, we knew we needed all hands on deck. I, of course, knew I could be at home in the bush. Nonetheless, I did have one profound worry about settling my family there. With no decent schools for miles, it was clear my girls would have to be home-schooled, an option that was decidedly frowned upon by some of the more traditional schools I spoke to in Nairobi. They just wont reach the standard they need to flourish, one teacher told me. I reminded myself that I had done ok despite my shaky educational start so, in March 2014, our family of five headed to the majestic splendours of Kenyas northern frontier. Artwork depicting a venomous scorpion which Luna created. Saba Douglas Hamilton is touring with her talk, A Life With Elephants, across the UK from April 1, tickets at sabadouglashamilton.com While we had never had much in the way of material possessions, we deliberately left it all behind when we came to Samburu. It was amazing and heartening to see how quickly the girls adapted: shortly after we arrived, I found Selkie wandering round clutching a rock around which she had wrapped a piece of cloth. Its my baby, she told me. It wasnt long either before I was confronted with some of the grimmer realities of our new life. Within three weeks we learned that a rabid leopard had rampaged through one of the closest towns, mauling 13 people. While we had already advertised for a home school teacher, we realised that we needed to give our girls a little more protection, so I employed a ninja manny a young warrior from the local Samburu tribe to keep an eye on them. After all, while it may be only 300m from my daughters tent to the hut where they take their lessons, a lot can happen in that short distance, as I was reminded the other day when I stumbled unthinkingly out of my tent and startled a bull elephant who had been snoozing four metres away behind a bush. Thrashing the vegetation in indignation, he charged at me at full speed, leaving me to dash away at an equally robust pace. I needed someone who could wield a spear, throw a knife and keep a sharp eye out for crocodiles, snakes and scorpions although, of course, my girls value their manny far more for his ability to teach them how to light a fire by rubbing sticks together, hit targets dead-on with rocks from a fair distance and help a goat give birth. My ninja manny puts my mind at rest, although the girls have had to learn to fend for themselves, too. Once, one of them found a red spitting cobra in the bathroom. She sensibly froze and backed slowly away. Not for nothing, meanwhile, do my daughters know those scorpions Latin names nine species in all as well as being able to identify them by sight. It could be a matter of life and death: a sting from some of them could prove lethal, especially as our remote location means we dont have speedy access to medical help. And so, in the same way that urban children are taught to look both ways before they cross the road, my girls have learned never to lift anything up without first peering underneath it, and to look where they put their feet. Not that it has put them off scorpions on the contrary. At one point, they even decided to keep one of those highly venomous Parabuthus maximus as a pet, naming her Lady P and tying bows onto the box they kept her in. When I realised Lady P was pregnant, however and therefore more likely to sting I thought it safer to relocate her to a distance away, where she could use her copious venom to hunt caterpillars. Ill admit that the scorpions are a constant worry, but that concern seems a reasonable price to pay for the freedoms we have here and are easily sorted out with a UV torch. Wild child: Saba (left) as a girl feeding a warthog in the early Eighties. Sabas daughter, Mayian (right) makes friends with another one My girls may have to tread carefully literally but here in the bush they are a world away from sinister internet chatrooms and online grooming. The reality is that there are risks everywhere, whatever corner of the world you chose to inhabit, and, as I watch my feisty trio fearlessly scale trees, scythe their way through long grass or silently stalk towards an elephant, I never doubt that we have done the right thing. In a world where childhood comes with so many constraints and pressures and is all too often cut short here in the wild my girls are just allowed to be children without prejudice. Watchful, independent Selkie, hearty Luna and her determined butterfly-in-a-hurricane twin are all distinctly different characters but what they have in common is that they are wonderfully free souls. Of course, there are times when they yearn for a more conventional childhood, one filled with contemporaries and the ponies they are desperate to own and which are the one animal we cannot keep here. But most of the time they know how lucky they are. Not long ago, wandering under the vast starlit African sky, Selkie clutched my hand and told me she loved her home so much she never wanted to leave. She will, of course, as will her sisters. But whether or not they return, Frank and I know that the childhood we are giving them will prepare them for anything. Saba Douglas Hamilton is touring with her talk, A Life With Elephants, across the UK from April 1, tickets at sabadouglashamilton.com Royal favourite: The Duchess of Cambridge holds an Anya Hindmarch clutch bag as she meets Michelle Obama in 2011 Anya Hindmarch, a luxury handbag brand favoured by Kate Middleton, has been put up for sale after losing 28.2million. The firm's Qatari owners have abandoned the London-based firm in the latest sign of struggles for the Duchess's high street favourites after LK Bennett went into administration last week. The brand, founded by fashion designer Hindmarch in 1987, made heavy losses in 2017 and reported a 10 per cent decline in revenue, at 37.2million. The Duchess of Cambridge showed her fondness for the brand in one of her earliest engagements after her 2011 wedding to Prince William. Meeting then- U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at Buckingham Palace, the newly-created Duchess carried a black clutch bag from the label. The same year she took a gold Anya Hindmarch clutch bag with her her new husband play in a charity polo game in California - while wearing LK Bennett heels. During a tour to Canada that summer she also showed off a red straw fan version, matching it with a red maple leaf hat to mark Canada Day. The following year she carried a 495 clutch designed by the luxury brand to an event in honour of the Scott Expedition to the South Pole. Within hours of the event in London the Anya Hindmarch bag - as well as her blue Rebecca Taylor suit - had sold out online. Early favourite: Kate showed off her love of the brand soon after she became a Duchess, carrying a satin clutch (left) and straw fan version (right) during a trip to Canada In 2015 Kate showed off a 450 satin black clutch by the label as she joined top female executives at a 100 Women in Hedge Funds event at London's V&A Museum. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has also been seen carrying the luxury brand's products. In 2016 she arrived in Sydney with a personalised bag Anya Hindmarch showing the faces of her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. Founder: Anya Hindmarch (pictured), began her eponymous label in 1987 The 225 tote bag featured a black-and-white photo of the two princesses in a moody pose. A similar creation - which the Duchess was seen carrying in 2015 - featured a photo of Beatrice and Eugenie as children wearing matching dresses and bonnets. Princess Eugenie herself also took a silver Anya Hindmarch clutch with her when she attended Pippa Middleton's wedding in May 2017. Her sister Beatrice has also been spotted with the brand's designs, carrying one of them to the Royal Family's Easter Sunday service in 2016. In 2016, Anya Hindmarch expanded its accessories range into the menswear market. Ms Hindmarch, 51, who received an MBE from the Queen in 2009 and a CBE from Prince Charles in 2017, is expected to stay on as the brand's chief creative officer after the sale. She also joined the Queen in the front row at London Fashion Week in February last year alongside industry heavyweights such as Anna Wintour. A source close to the firm said the decision to sell was a mutual one between Ms Hindmarch and the Qataris. The Qatari royal family's investment fund had bought a 27million controlling stake in the firm in 2012. Through the years: Kate with an Anya Hindmarch bag in 2011 (left) as she prepares to watch her new husband play polo, and carrying a 450 black clutch from the brand in 2015 (right) Around the world: Kate with a 450 Anya Hindmarch clutch in 2012 as she joined her husband William and the President of Singapore on a visit to the Asian country Favourite across the family: Princess Beatrice has also been seen with the brand's creations, left at a 2011 wedding and right at an Easter Sunday service in 2016 The source said the company's cash position has now 'stabilised' and it has 'materially reduced losses', putting it on better footing. It is understood to have reduced losses since then by slashing costs and putting more of an emphasis on online sales. Private equity firms and rival brands are understood to be interested in buying the company, which has more than 30 stores. LK Bennett was the latest in a line of big names to become casualties in the bloodbath on the high street. The UK's largest toy shop Toys R Us went into administration in February 2018, leading to an estimated 2,000 redundancies and Marks and Spencer announced plans last May to close 100 stores by 2022. Fashion brand Orla Kiely, another favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, also went out of business with debts of more than 7.25m (8.1m) last year. Billy Joe Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to first-degree rape following his March 2018 arrest after the 11-year-old victim was found pregnant An Oregon man was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday for raping a preteen girl. Billy Joe Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to first-degree rape following his March 2018 arrest after the 11-year-old victim was found pregnant. Smith raped the girl in November 2017, Herald and News reports. The Sprague River man fled the state after he was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree sex abuse and one count of incest in March 2018. He was detained in Nevada in April 2018 and extradited to Klamath County. The guilty plea brings a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison with no eligibility for early release, Klamath County District Attorney Eve Costello said. Upon his release, Smith will have supervision for life and must register as a sex offender along with having no contact with children. His other charges 'all different theories for the same act thus merging for sentencing purposes,' Costello said. Smith has a Klamath County hearing on March 18 with Judge Andrea Janney because it is believe he is an fugitive, with outstanding charges of forgery, battery of a firefighter or commission ward and resisting arrest in Wisconsin. Advertisement Six-year-old Armando Hernandez has been identified as one of the 23 people who were killed by the tornadoes that hit Alabama on Sunday. He reportedly became separated from his mother in Beauregard when a tornado touched down A six-year-old boy has been identified as one of the 23 people who were killed by tornadoes that hit Alabama on Sunday. Armando Hernandez, known as AJ, became separated from his mother in Beauregard when a tornado struck and was later found dead. His mother, Kayla Melton, had earlier appealed for information on his whereabouts on Facebook, writing: 'Please look for my baby he's 6 years old his name is Armando Hernandez he goes by AJ last seen on lee road 38. Anyone in the area please help me find him please!!!!!' His death was later confirmed by friends and family on social media. Relative Tina Melton wrote on Facebook: 'Little AJ didn't make it. He was found but he didn't survive... He was always eager to give hugs and loved his family. 'They are headed to the children's hospital with his brother. They also lost their home in the tornado with all belongings. Fly high AJ. You have your wings!' Lee County coroner Brian Harris confirmed at least 23 people had died, including three children aged six, nine and ten. Family members told WSFA 12 another one of the fatalities was an eight-year-old girl from Beauregard. At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Harris said that 17 of the victims have been identified and their families will be notified later in the day. The six remaining victims will be identified via fingerprints. Harris said that they are all suspected to be persons who were reported missing. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said rescue crews have canvassed areas with the worst damage, but the search is ongoing and the death toll could rise. Rescuers in Alabama resumed search operations on Monday morning after at least two tornadoes killed 23 people, uprooted trees and caused 'catastrophic' damage to countless buildings and roads. A man is seen surveying the damage at his home Devastating images show the extent of the destruction caused by an F4 tornado that tore through Beauregard on Sunday Family members can be seen consoling each other outside their damaged mobile home in Beauregard on Monday The remains of a home that was torn from its foundation are seen scattered across a wooded area several dozen feet away National Weather Service spokesman Chris Darden announced that the tornado had been upgraded from an F3 to an F4 on the Fujita scale as preliminary assessments indicated that winds reached up to 170mph. The tornado was the deadliest to hit the US since 2013, when an F5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, killed 24 people. Darden said the twister left a path of destruction 24 miles long and nearly a mile wide along Alabama Highway 51 in Lee County, about 60 miles east of the state capital in Montgomery. Sheriff Jones said of the damage: 'It looks almost like someone took a giant knife and just scraped the ground. 'There are slabs where homes formerly stood. Whole forested areas, trees are just snapped and lying on the ground.' Darden said the NWS is assessing at least two other tornado paths from F1 twisters in Macon County and Barbour County. He said the Macon County twister appeared to cross paths with the one in Lee County. At least a dozen tornadoes were reported in the southeastern US on Sunday afternoon as a massive storm system tore across parts of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, leaving more than 40,000 people without power. Darden noted that the NWS had begun issuing tornado warnings 72 hours early on Thursday morning. Volunteers from the community worked to clear debris from an area affected by the F4 tornado on Sunday afternoon Beauregard resident Julie Morrison looks through a mountain of debris at her destroyed home on Lee County Road 63 Brittney Downs surveys the damage at a family member's property where a home was completely obliterated by the tornado A home with broken windows and part of its roof torn off stands among splintered trees snapped by the devastating winds Buildings were razed, trees uprooted and power lines torn down by winds clocking in at up to 170mph Debris is seen strewn across the interior of the Buck Wild Saloon in Smiths Station, Alabama, after the storms blew through Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones (above) told reporters on Monday morning that the death toll is expected to rise as the search resumes. He said emergency crews are committed to finding everyone reported missing or possibly trapped in the rubble A search and rescue team made up of law enforcement and volunteers is seen Monday morning in Beauregard President Trump reacted to the tornado reports on Twitter First Daughter Ivanka Trump also tweeted about the storms At the Monday afternoon press conference, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey thanked state and federal emergency response teams for their support thus far. She described how President Donald Trump called her in the morning to extend his condolences and ask if there was anything he could do to help. Trump announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was on the ground in Alabama in a tweet on Monday morning, writing: 'FEMA has been told directly by me to give the A Plus treatment to the Great State of Alabama and the wonderful people who have been so devastated by the Tornadoes. '@GovIvey, one of the best in our Country, has been so informed. She is working closely with FEMA (and me!).' The president first reacted to reports of the tornadoes on Sunday night, writing on Twitter that his thoughts and prayers were with all those affected. 'To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe,' he wrote. 'Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!' His daughter Ivanka later wrote on Twitter: 'Keeping all affected by the tornados in Georgia and Alabama in our prayers.' A tornado is seen in Dothan, Alabama, on Sunday. At least 23 people have been killed by the tornadoes that hit the state Homes were completely destroyed in Talbotton, Georgia, and the death toll is feared to climb after a deadly tornado One Twitter user shared this photo of her grandmother's house in in Pine Mountain, Georgia, after a tornado hit Jack Tibbs, mayor of Eufaula, Alabama, shared photos of an airport on Facebook, writing: 'Eufaula was hit by a pretty strong tornado. Fortunately, we have had no injuries reported. The Eufaula airport and northern industrial park were hit pretty hard' Mayor Tibbs said Lieutenant Ethan Parrish and Engineer Corey Crozier of the Eufaula Fire Department were inside the station when the tornado hit, so they took shelter in a bathroom A Eufaula Fire Department engine is seen buried under rubble in this image shared by Mayor Tibbs on Facebook An aerial view shows trees snapped like toothpicks after a 'catastrophic' tornado roared through Talbotton, Georgia First responders attempt to search for survivors in Georgia after a deadly tornado ripped through the area A vehicle is pictured under downed trees along Lee Road 11 in Beauregard, Alabama, on Sunday Powerful winds ripped the roof off of the Buck Wild Saloon located on US Highway 280, east of Smiths Station, Alabama Dozens of emergency responders were called in to assist in Lee County amid reports of at least 40 people injured in Beauregard and surrounding areas. 'We've got about 150 first responders out there,' Rita Smith, spokeswoman for the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press. 'They are doing a phenomenal job. Sadly, we know that we have two known confirmed fatalities and many, many injuries.' Radar and video evidence showed what looked like a large tornado crossing the area near Beauregard shortly after 2pm Sunday, according to meteorologist Meredith Wyatt with the National Weather Service's Birmingham office. The destruction was captured in harrowing photographs that show roofs ripped off of buildings, toppled trees with their roots torn from the ground and debris littered across miles. An emotional video shows 72-year-old Beauregard resident Earnestine Reese sitting in the ruble of her home after it was destroyed along with her daughter's trailer. Reese suffered a broken hip and was scheduled to go in for surgery this morning. She can be heard in the video talking to her grandson, who is away at college, via FaceTime and telling him to thank God for sparing her life. 'I thank the Lord. You tell God: "Thank you God." You hear me? You hear me? Tell God thank you. Tell God thank you,' she tells him. Reese' niece Delrico Eiland shared the video on Facebook. AP spoke to another resident, Dax Leandro, who was helping clean up his friend's mom's property, where two structures were obliterated, including the family's house. Leandro sifted through debris scattered in surrounding trees looking for valuables. He said some people who were inside the house ended up 'hundreds of yards away' beneath rubble but survived. An emotional video shows 72-year-old Beauregard resident Earnestine Reese sitting in the ruble of her home after it was destroyed along with her daughter's trailer. Reese, who suffered a broken hip and was scheduled to go in for surgery Monday morning, can be heard in the video thanking God for sparing her life A fallen cell tower lies across US Route 280 highway in Lee County, Alabama, outside the town of Smiths Station The roof of a house in Beauregard can be seen lying on the ground after being completely torn off by a tornado A piece of sheet metal torn off a structure by 165mph winds can be seen wrapped around a tree in Beauregard The roof of the Buckwild Saloon is seen ripped clean off after a tornado touched down in eastern Alabama on Sunday In rural Talbotton, Georgia, about 80 miles south of Atlanta, a handful of people were injured by either powerful straight-line winds or a tornado that destroyed several mobile homes and damaged other buildings, said Leigh Ann Erenheim, director of the Talbot County Emergency Management Agency. Televised broadcast news footage showed smashed buildings with rooftops blown away, cars overturned and debris everywhere. Trees all around had been snapped bare of branches. 'The last check I had was between six and eight injuries,' Erenheim said in a phone interview. 'From what I understand it was minor injuries, though one fellow did say his leg might be broken.' She said searches of damaged homes and structures in that area had turned up no serious injuries or deaths. Beauregard resident Scott Fillmer posted this photo of a large tree ripped from the ground lying in the middle of a road Emergency crews worked to remove mangled trees from a roadway in Beauregard on Sunday afternoon The National Weather service shared these images, writing: 'TORNADO EMERGENCY for southern Lee & northern Russell Counties! Large & EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO ON THE GROUND near Dupree, moving East. PLEASE TAKE SHELTER NOW if you live between Dupree & Smiths Station!!' Henry Wilson of the Peach County Emergency Management Agency near Macon in central Georgia said a barn had been destroyed and trees and power poles had been snapped, leaving many in the area without power. Authorities said a tornado was confirmed by radar in the Florida Panhandle late Sunday afternoon. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones updated reporters Sunday night as the search for survivors was suspended until morning A portion of Interstate 10 on the Florida Panhandle was blocked in one direction in Walton County in the aftermath, said Don Harrigan, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. 'There's a squall line moving through the area,' Harrigan told AP. 'And when you have a mature line of storms moving into an area where low level winds are very strong, you tend to have tornadoes developing. It's a favorable environment for tornados.' The threat of severe weather was expected to continue until late Sunday. A tornado watch was in effect for much of eastern Georgia, including Athens, Augusta and Savannah. The tornado watch also covered a large area of South Carolina, including the cities of Charleston and Columbia. In Lexington County, South Carolina, about 150 people hunkered down together at the Red Bank Baptist Church to wait out the storms. The State reported that children sang 'Jesus Loves Me' during a regular Sunday night service before the group had to move from the sanctuary to a long hall during the storm, which knocked a column down in the front of the building and damaged another. Derrec Becker with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said no deaths or serious injuries have been reported in the state because of the storms, but about 8,000 people lost power. A view of a tornado seen in the distance beyond a truck stop in Warner Robins, Georgia, on Sunday Multiple homes have been destroyed or damaged in Beauregard, a community about 60 miles east of Montgomery He has just stepped down from his hosting role on US showbiz segment Extra. So naturally, Mark Wright is overjoyed to be lapping up the spoils of home life as he spoke to MailOnline about his homecoming, his marriage to wife Michelle Keegan and his career plans since returning to the UK. The 31-year-old TOWIE alum, who is gearing up to host the new series of The Batchelor UK, spoke candidly about the struggle to be taking seriously with a reality star background yet attributed the show for helping him meet his wife. Opening up: Mark Wright has spoken to MailOnline about his homecoming, his marriage to wife Michelle Keegan and his career plans as he prepares to host The Bachelor UK Mark shot to fame as one of the original stars of TOWIE in 2010, however departed after two series following a host of dramas including the serialisation of his relationships with Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh. Following his stint on the show, he appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, hosted Take Me Out: The Gossip and danced on Strictly. His career highlight however was scoring the role on Extra in 2017, where he hosted alongside Mario Lopez and interviewed some of the world's top stars - including Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. Plenty to talk about: The 31-year-old admits he struggled to be taking seriously with a reality star background after beginning his career on The only Way Is Essex Despite the good times, it has now been revealed that Mark is returning to the UK after nearly two years across the pond and will no longer be in a long-distance relationship with his wife - who has also spent years on location. Discussing his decision to return, Mark said: 'Weirdly, every time I came home for a week or two I missed it and I really regret it. 'I'm so happy to be home and I love London more than ever, I've been using it more if that makes sense... 'I love England. It made me realise A - How English I am, and B - How amazing it is. We moan about our country but it's the best country.' Old times: Mark shot to fame as one of the original stars of TOWIE in 2010, however departed after two series following a host of dramas including the serialisation of his relationships with Lauren Goodger On moving from the UK, where he as been famous for years, to Los Angeles, where he was relatively little known he said: 'I wouldn't say it was hard going to LA and being lesser known, I would actually say it was nice... 'Going over there was keeping my head down. Americans are workaholics they don't take breaks and everyday is relentless and my job was relentless... 'All morning on set and then a 45 minute drive across town to interview somebody and then I'd go to a premiere that night. 'I just got my head down and went to the gym, went to work so I didn't really notice my real life not being like that.' I'll ask the questions: His career highlight however was scoring the role on Extra in 2017, where he interviewed some of the world's top stars (pictured, with Iggy Azalea) On the highlights of the job, he said: 'I was most starstruck when I interviewed Denzel Washington. 'That was the one because I love every one of his movies and he was so nice and down-to-earth and he just made it so you don't feel like it's an interview... 'The Kardashians were good because the first time I interviewed Kim was in her friend's house and it was just really intimate and we had no team around her and off-camera she was talking about general life and wanted to know about my life... 'When you interview in a carpet or a junket there's a wall up and it's a job but with that, that was surreal.' Welcome back: Despite the good times, it has now been revealed that Mark is returning to the UK after nearly two years across the pond and will soon be back on British TV with The Bachelor UK During their long-distance love, the state of Mark and Michelle's romance has been widely discussed, yet he admits things will now go better once they are together. He said: 'It will be easy getting back in the swing of things! We won't have to travel 11 hours every week. 'It's perfect and it makes it more fun knowing we're seeing each other and settled back home.' While things may be working well in their romance, he insisted kids were not on the menu, saying: 'We have no plans for babies yet, we're both busy with work and have no plans at all at the moment but obviously at some point in the future.' Cautious: While he is proud of The Only Way Is Essex, Mark admits he doesn't want the show attached to his work as a presenter Describing their home life, Mark said: 'We love home life, I said it last night while we were cooking dinner. We love cooking and watching films... 'Normal life for us is like date night. We go to the shop, we get our food and we cook it and we choose our film and we just love it. 'It's like an event for us, just real life we love it. Doors shut, with the dogs, it just never gets old.' On what made his decision for his return, he said: 'Michelle was my main factor in coming back and she was always visiting me and I was visiting her, she was one of the main factors for sure... Devoted: The state of his marriage to Michelle Keegan has been widely discussed, yet he admits things will now go better because they are no longer making transatlantic trips to be together 'I wanted to spend more time with her instead of travelling and coming back for weeks at a time. 'Also, my family, Michelle, work, England itself, everything really. I couldn't do it forever unless she moved there. I was there for nearly two years.' When asked about his reality star roots and distancing himself from the TOWIE name, Mark said: 'I wouldn't say I want to shed my TOWIE label and I'm no ashamed of TOWIE one bit. 'I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for TOWIE. No, I wouldn't be [with Michelle now without TOWIE]... Homesick: 'I wanted to spend more time with her instead of travelling and coming back for weeks at a time. Also, my family, Michelle, work, England itself, everything really,' he explained of his decision to return to the UK 'I always say this phrase is a show like TOWIE can propel you into earning money for many years it's only a short period of time that that can feed you then you have to think what you're gonna do after it, what's next?... 'What am i gonna do here? It's the easiest way to make money on a show like that but if you want to do something more serious it's not so easy.' While he is clearly proud of The Only Way Is Essex, Mark admits he doesn't want the show attached to his work as a presenter. He went on: 'I didn't want to shake off the TOWIE name but I wanted to be taken more seriously. If you're a talented presenter you're a talented presenter... Bearer of bad tidings: Alex Marks, the new Batchelor, revealed the bevy of stunners on the show 'hate' Mark due to him always baring bad news - yet the star hit back at the comments 'But if you're a reality star and a talented presenter they don't want to give you that until you've really proved yourself.' With his role on The Batchelor, Mark revealed he could have had a wholly different role on the show, saying: 'They asked me to be The Batchelor about six years ago when Spencer or Gavin did it... 'I turned it down because I didn't think it was right for me. I'd just come out of TOWIE and it was either that option or go into the jungle and I didn't want to carry on that ladies man image and I wanted to peel away from it as soon as possible. Alex Marks, the new Batchelor, revealed the bevy of stunners on the show 'hate' Mark due to him always baring bad news - yet the star hit back at the comments. Not true: 'They didn't hate me. I had an amazing relationship with the girls. If you look at their Instagrams they put up pictures of me and are like "OMG Mark is the nicest guy!" he said Coming soon: The Bachelor UK starts on Monday, March 4 at 10pm on Channel 5 He said: 'They didn't hate me. I had an amazing relationship with the girls. 'If you look at their Instagrams they put up pictures of me and are like "OMG Mark is the nicest guy!" because I was always there for them and putting my arm around them when they were upset. What he meant was I was the bearer of bad news... 'Me and Alex got on really well, we had a bromance. He needed me! He had him alone and 17 women fighting over him and I know that sounds amazing and the dream. I was there for him to talk to as he was away from his family and friends and he's never been to South Africa so it was nice to have a mate.' The Bachelor UK starts on Monday, March 4 at 10pm on Channel 5. Married At First Sight's Ines Basic has slammed co-star Lauren Huntriss after the blonde claimed she 'suffers some real underlying mental health issues'. Lauren, 32, had speculated about Ines, 29, during a recent interview with The Kyle & Jackie O Show, and also accused her of being a 'paid actress'. 'Can this b**** never speak on my behalf again,' raged Ines in the Instagram comments under Lauren's interview on Saturday night. 'Never speak on my behalf again': MAFS' Ines Basic, 29, has slammed 'bi***' Lauren Huntriss, 32, for claiming in a recent interview that the star 'suffers some real underlying mental health issues' 'Does she have a psychology degree now too?' Ines then questioned. During the interview, which broadcast on February 19, Lauren said: 'You've got to feel for the girl, I mean she obviously suffers some real underlying mental health issues.' 'And I don't know, initially I'm like, 'You're such an evil human', but there has to be a reason for someone to behave the way she behaves.' Hitting back! Lauren, 32, revealed her feelings about Ines, 29, during an interview with The Kyle & Jackie O Show last moth, prompting the brunette to hit back on Instagram this Saturday Lauren also explained that she confronted Ines while they were filming the Nine show together in October. 'I said to Ines when we were off set, I said 'Ines look me dead in my eyes right now and tell me you're not a paid actress'', explained Lauren. Lauren said to her surprise Ines denied the rumours. 'She's like: 'Why does everyone think I'm a paid actress, do you really think I would be this stressed out and have lost this much weight if I was a paid actress, no!'' 'I said, 'Ines look me dead in my eyes right now and tell me you're not a paid actress'': Lauren revealed she also confronted Ines (pictured) while filming and asked if she was acting On Saturday, Ines also poked fun at the fact Lauren had likely received no fee for chat. After a fan commented that 'people will say anything for a 5 grand fee', Ines responded: 'The best part about it is. She wouldn't have got a dollar for it.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Nine for comment. She's carved out a successful career in the male-dominated television industry. Now Sandra Sully is pouring her years of experience into new coffee table book to help Australian women. The Ten star's literary effort 'AGENDA Empowering Australian Women' will feature interviews with female trailblazers including Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell and first female Governor General of Australia, Dame Quentin Bryce 'I've always been a passionate feminist!' Sandra Sully has revealed how her glossy new coffee table book will empower Australian women. Pictured at the International Women's Day Long Table Luncheon at Hyatt Regency Sydney on March 01, 2019 in Sydney, Australia 'I've always been a passionate feminist and I wanted to find out what's relevant to Australian woman specifically,' she told this weekend's Stellar. 'I wanted to know what we are doing well and how we can change things. She added: 'I hope this book captures what we need to change.' Power: The Ten star's new release 'AGENDA Empowering Australian Women' will feature interviews with female trailblazers including Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell and first female Governor General of Australia, Dame Quentin Bryce (pictured right) The media veteran has long been a vocal supporter of women's rights. And her new release comes after Sandra revealed her first professional brush with gender inequality in the workplace. Speaking on the Osher Gunsberg podcast last year, she admitted standing up to her boss at her first job in television after he tried to get her to make him tea and coffee. Warrior: The media veteran has long been a vocal supporter of women's rights. Pictured at the Network Ten 2018 Upfronts on November 9, 2017 Speaking on the Osher Gunsberg podcast last year, the Ten news veteran admitted standing up to her boss at her first job in television after he tried to get her to make him tea and coffee 'The first job I got in television, my boss at the time said, 'this is how I like my tea and coffee and water,' Sandra explained. 'And I said, 'I don't do any of that.' He went, 'are you serious?' And I laughed and said, 'I'm not here to make your coffee. I'm here to learn about television.' It comes after Sandra suffered a terrifying health scare in January 2018 when doctors found white spots on her brain during an MRI scan. She went onto reveal she was enduring migraines without a headache. But doctors have since given her a clean bill of health. A busy few weeks of runway presentations does not show any signs of abating anytime soon for the model. And Winnie Harlow looked sensational as she took to the runway during the Tommy Hilfiger show for Paris Fashion Week on Saturday. The former America's Next Top Model star, 24, had all eyes on her as she donned a gold, pleated dress with a plunging neckline and cut-out on the abdomen, creating a bow style design. Glamour: Winnie Harlow, 24, looked sensational as she took to the runway during the Tommy Hilfiger show for Paris Fashion Week on Saturday She added height to her frame with a pair of platform heels and accessorised with a variety of gold bracelets and a matching necklace. Her raven locks styled into loose curls, she added a touch of glamour to her look with a striking red lip. In another look, Winnie walked the runway in a figure hugging white and red striped dress with a scooped neckline. Completing the look with a matching belt that gave her a cinched waist, Winnie also sported a gold sleeveless top underneath. Style: In another look, Winnie walked the runway in a figure hugging white and red striped dress with a scooped neckline Style: The model had all eyes on her as she donned a gold, pleated dress with a plunging neckline and a cut-out on the abdomen, creating a bow style design Elegance: Completing the look with a matching belt that gave her a cinched waist, Winnie also sported a gold sleeveless top underneath Accessorising with a red clutch bag, Winnie again donned her platform shoes for her second look. The model, who was born Chantelle Brown-Young, recently defended herself over comments she made about her time as a contestant on America's Next Top Model and perceived criticism of host Tyra Banks. Speaking on Watch What Happens Live, Winnie admitted she felt the show did nothing to advance her modelling career. Outfit: Winnie added height to her frame with a pair of platform heels and accessorised with a variety of gold bracelets and a matching necklace (pictured rehearsing the runway) She said: 'I really started [modeling] after the show because that really didn't do anything for my career... which it doesn't do for any model's career realistically.' She noted that it was a respected photographer who noticed her on Instagram afterward that led to her modelling career. Winnie later wrote on Instagram: 'After being on the show no one would book me and no agency would sign me because of the reality TV stigma.' Expert: Showing off her model physique, Winnie looked breathtaking as she gave a striking look to the cameras at the end of the runway Look: Her raven locks styled into loose curls, she added a touch of glamour to her look with a striking red lip Speaking out: Winnie recently defended herself over comments she made about her time as a contestant on America's Next Top Model 'It has nothing to do with being ungrateful, and more over nothing to do with "shade" to Tyra. 'She was the first person of higher status to make me feel like I could be a model and not only am I grateful for that, it's something I'll never forget.' Away from fashion she has also become a public speaker about her experiences with vitiligo and also speaks out against bullying. She said: 'After being on the show no one would book me and no agency would sign me because of the reality TV stigma' Rita Ora celebrated Sydney's Mardi Gras with a gig at Big Top on Saturday night. And during the packed out performance inside Luna Park, the global superstar, 28, halted her stage show to address a male heckler. 'Should we stop the show... everyone stop. Everyone stop the show, no one play anything,' announced Rita while playfully singling out the concert-goer. 'Everyone stop the show, no one play anything': Rita Ora halted her first ever headline Sydney show on Saturday night at Big Top after a male heckler shouted something unexpected As a brief silence swept over the venue, the male first revealed his name to Rita. 'Adam has a question,' Rita then announced, as she tried to converse with him. Adam then asked if he could come closer to the stage, with Rita responding: 'You're being a bit picky, darling. Everyone has paid for a ticket to this show. Sorry, guys.' 'Everyone has paid for a ticket to this show. Sorry, guys': While interacting with the crowd, a playful Rita apologised for pausing proceedings to find out what the man had been shouting With the attendee then shuffling closer, Rita was able to hear the surprisingly sweet statement he was shouting moments earlier. 'Well, Adam has just admitted that he came to the show not knowing what to expect, and now I have won a fan over,' a proud Rita declared to the crowd. 'Thank you very much, Adam. We've got to get on with the show, sorry everybody.' 'Adam has just admitted that he came to the show not knowing what to expect, and now I have won a fan over': Rita was left impressed after discovering that the man was praising her Rita wowed fans in Sydney during her first headline show in the city on Saturday. The beauty belted out 19 songs, including huge hits Anywhere, For You and Girls. Following her show in Sydney, Rita will perform at Brisbane's Eatons Hill on Tuesday and Perth's Metro City on Thursday. She kicked off her Australian tour at Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Friday night. 'Sydney I had so much fun thank you for coming to party with us tonight you were all dressed so amazingly!' wrote Rita on Instragram after her show on Saturday. Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie are reportedly being considered to play the lead in a new Foxtel series. The Sunday Telegraph believes that the two actresses are part of a possible list, that also includes Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Debicki and Asher Keddie. Foxtel has commissioned an eight-part series, Lawyer X: The Story of Informer 3838, based on the life of gangland lawyer and police informant Nicola Gobbo. In the running? The Sunday Telegraph believes that Nicole Kidman [left], 51, and Margot Robbie [right], 28, are being considered to play Nicola Gobbo in a new Foxtel TV series Foxtel's executive producer of TV Brian Walsh, told The Sunday Telegraph that the new series will feature 'cops, crims, capers, sex and betrayal.' He also revealed that the lead star will need to be someone 'brave' and 'ready' to portray such a complex character. 'Our ambition is to cast someone who is brave and ready to embody this complex and controversial character and her story,' Brian said. Lawyer X: The Story of Informer 3838, is based on the life of gangland lawyer and police informant Nicola Gobbo, 46. The Sunday Telegraph understands that the series will be based on articles published by The Herald Sun, with journalists acting as consultants. Role: Foxtel's executive producer Brian Walsh, said the lead star needs to be someone ready to portray such a complex character. Pictured is former gangland lawyer Nicola Gobbo, 46 On Friday, Nicola was finally unveiled as the mysterious 'Lawyer X' who for years had passed confidential information from her gangland clients - including Carl Williams - on to police. For years, her dangerous double-life was kept a secret until it was lifted by the High Court last week. Victoria Police argued that identifying Nicola as 'Lawyer X' would put the lives of her and her two children at risk. The full bench of High Court judges agreed, but said there was more at stake. 'Large though those considerations may be, they do not detract from the conclusion that it is essential in the public interest for the information to be disclosed,' they told the court. Immediately after the decision, Nicola and her two children went into hiding. They have dated for five years online. But Dina Lohan is now finally making plans to actually meet her 53-year-old investment consultant boyfriend Jesse Nadler in the flesh in Los Angeles. Jesse, who claims to FaceTime the mother of Lindsay Lohan daily, gave TMZ an interview and gushed: 'She's gonna be my Bonnie And Clyde.' Lucky in love?: Dina Lohan is now finally making plans to actually meet her 53-year-old investment consultant boyfriend Jesse Nadler in the flesh in Los Angeles He took exception to being called a 'catfish' by a couple of Dina's fellow contestants on Celebrity Big Brother recently, he told the website. 'And then I saw the "catfish" term that those two ladies that she's in the house with used on me, and I was like really, you know, not happy about that, 'cause I'm real.' Jesse, now a resident of California, shared: 'Dina and I, we're both Long Islanders, and we met and we became friends on Facebook.' The thrill of it all: Jesse, who claims to FaceTime the mother of Lindsay Lohan daily, gave TMZ an interview and gushed: 'She's gonna be my Bonnie And Clyde' He went on: 'Then we started talking on the phone and sending private movies and videos, 'cause I have a movie camera - I have a Sony HD - so if I was downtown, I'd let her see my town and she would send me pictures of Sag Harbor and places that I grew up in when I lived out there.' Said Jesse: 'So, one thing led to another, and we just started having feelings that were more than just Facebook friends.' In fact, Jesse now has his mind set on relocating to the east coast, to the point 'I already have a real estate lady in Westhampton Beach.' Throwback: Jesse's (pictured) identity went public after the 'catfish' remarks went viral, and he received a seal of approval from Lindsay's father Michael Lohan The silver fox gushed that he and Dina are 'gonna be walking beaches from Westhampton Beach to Montauk Point. Oh, she's gonna be my Bonnie And Clyde.' Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow infamously embarked on a joint life of crime including murder and theft before dying in hail of bullets from Texas lawmen in 1934. Jesse's identity went public last month after the 'catfish' remarks went viral, and he received a seal of approval from Lindsay's father Michael Lohan, who tweeted Tuesday that he had 'Just spent an hour on the phone with him. Blessings Dina!' She's no stranger to strutting her stuff on the catwalk. And Jourdan Dunn put on a sensational display as she sauntered down the runway on Saturday at the Tommy X Zendaya Paris Fashion Week show in a very risque number. The British-born model, 28, bared all as she went braless in a sheer silver dress complete with one shoulder design and single flowing sleeve. Stunning: Jourdan Dunn put on a sensational display as she sauntered down the runway on Saturday at the Tommy X Zendaya Paris Fashion Week show in a very risque number She paired the look with strappy gold heels and went jewel free as she took her place on the star-studded catwalk. The former Model Of The Year wore her brunette locks in tight ringlets to cascade down her back while showing off her two quirky arm inkings. Jourdan was in high spirits as she flashed a smile on the runway despite a packed schedule which saw her stun at the Balmain show on Friday. Wow: The British-born model, 28, bared all as she went braless in a sheer silver dress complete with one shoulder design and single flowing sleeve Runway queen: She paired the look with strappy gold heels and went jewel free as she took her place on the star-studded catwalk She teased her ample cleavage at the show as she went braless beneath a black leather boilersuit with flared sleeves to storm the runway. The British star recently spoke of the 'dangerous' pressure placed on young girls to look picture perfect as they are confronted with Photoshopped images on social media. She said: 'Some young girls don't know how to separate reality from Instagram. They're comparing themselves to a Photoshopped image, but how can you compare yourself to something that's not real? It can be very dangerous.' Model material: Jourdan was in high spirits as she flashed a smile on the runway despite a packed schedule which saw her stun at the Balmain show on Friday Beauty: She teased her ample cleavage at the show as she went braless beneath a black leather boilersuit with flared sleeves as she stormed the runway Jourdan was scouted at the age of 15 by Storm Model Management and has gone on to find fame across the globe. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline last year, the mother-of-one admitted that being in the spotlight means she finds it hard to form friendships - and she trusts her instincts to filter out the disingenuous people. She said: 'I've made strong friendships in the spotlight and you're meeting new people all the time. 'But you soon become wary and realise that some people just want to get near you for your name. 'I have developed good judgement and go off vibes now. Anyone with bad energy is cut off straight away.' Mark Wahlberg has never been one to be shy when it comes to showing off his ripped physique. And he proved that once again, when he stopped to take a sweet snap snuggled up next to his eldest daughter, Ella Rae. Dressed only in a swimsuit, the 47-year old actor locked arms with his 15-year old as they stood on a scenic tropical beach. Rock solid: Mark Wahlberg, 47, showed off his ripped abs while on a tropical beach alongside his eldest daughter Ella Rae, 15 The action-hero star showed he's still in tip-top shape in winter-themed shorts. He added a pair of dark sunglasses, while sporting a full beard for his holiday getaway. Flashing a similar smile as her famous dad, Ella Rae wore a pair a navy blue bikini top with a pair of Daisy Duke's. She also showed off a bit of her edgier side with her dyed purple shoulder-length locks. Doting dad: The actor has admitted that parenting Ella Rae as a teenager has been a challenge; father and daughter are pictures together in September 2016 The Daddy's Home star has been very open about his struggles with his little girl as she has gotten older and more independent, admitting that parenting her as a teenager 'is a challenge' in a lot of ways. 'It's tough, but people say that they pass through it and they come back to you,' he said in an interview with People. 'She wants to go be off and doing her thing.' He added: 'Theres a lot of attitude, a lot of aggression, a lot of, Youre the worst, you ruin everything! Hands on: The Daddy's Home star confessed he keeps a tight rein on Ella Rae; he is pictured with wife, Rhea Durham, and Ella Rae at an LA Lakers game in December 2015 Wahlberg has even joked about 'keeping the reins pretty tight' on the high school sophomore when it comes to her dating. But during an interview with Us Weekly he had a more practical perspective. 'As long as we can give her the kind of tools to know she should be treated with the utmost respect, kindest and love and find a good boy, then there you go,' he said. Along with Ella Rae, the A-list actor shares three other children with wife Rhea -- sons Michael, 12, and Brendan, 10, and another daughter Grace, nine. The couple are going to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary August 1. She's was crowned Australia's Next Top Model back in 2011. And on Friday, Montana Cox proved she's still at the top of her game when she strutted down Sydney's Bondi Beach in a high-cut bikini. The 25-year-old turned heads in a burgundy and white two-piece as she emerged from the surf. Beach beauty: Model Montana Cox, 25, revealed her model figure in a burgundy and white high-cut bikini, as she emerged from the surf in Sydney's Bondi on Friday Montana looked every inch the beach babe as she made her way back to her towel. Sporting a one-shoulder bikini top, the Melbourne-born star showed off her tiny waist. The high-cut design of Montana's swimmers, also drew the eye to her long and lean legs. Trim and terrific: The Melbourne-born star showed off her tiny waist in the bikini top's one-shoulder design, while coordinating high-cut briefs highlighted her long and lean legs Montana's short brunette locks were slicked back from the surf, and her complexion appeared blemish-free and without makeup. The good pal of Jordan Barrett later worked on her already golden tan. Montana told News.com.au in October 2017 that Australia has a much more 'healthy' attitude towards body image, compared to the US. Soaking the sun's rays: Montana later worked on her already golden tan 'I've always found it is a bit more pressure [in the US]. Australia is very healthy body image, and really pushes that. Overseas is a bit of a different story,' she said. 'I personally haven't had too many issues... but sometimes they will measure you up and ask you to lose an inch or two,' Montana also revealed. 'You get told things all the time by different people, but I just see it as people want what they want, and if you don't fit that criteria, it's nothing against you,' she added. Ryan Seacrest experienced a whole new kind of Oscar snub Sunday. The 44-year-old TV and radio personality told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show Friday about his interesting experience - or lack thereof - at Hollywood's biggest show of the year, as he didn't get to stay to watch it after opening the proceedings for ABC. Seacrest explained about his experience Sunday at the annual ceremony, which he covered for both E! and the show's home network, ABC, adding that he fully expected to take a seat at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood for the proceedings based on what he'd been told. The latest: Ryan Seacrest, 44, told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show Friday that he didn't get to stay to watch the show after opening it for ABC Seacrest said that he's been doing red carpet coverage for E! for 15 years, and this year he was offered a chance to cover part of the show for ABC, which opened a new door. 'They said you're going to get to go in the theater for the first and broadcast for a second in there, right before the Oscars,' he said. 'I thought, "This is cool, Im going to see the Oscars with all the movie stars,"' he recalled. 'So I get in, and I'm there, and I said, "Coming up next, Queen will open the Oscars right after this." And I look back for my seat and the ushers and stage managers come and say, "Mr. Seacrest, your car is ready."' Seacrest said he reminded them he 'just essentially opened the Oscars' in introducing Queen, but it wasn't enough to sway organizers. Adjustment: Seacrest said that he's been doing red carpet coverage for E! for 15 years, and this year he was offered a chance to cover part of the show for ABC Oops! Seacrest, with host Jimmy Fallon, said that police surrounding the area noticed him and tried to redirect him back, thinking he was headed to the ceremony 'They said, "We dont have a ticket for you ... next thing you know Im on Hollywood Boulevard going away from the Oscars."' He said that police surrounding the area noticed him and tried to redirect him, thinking he was headed to the ceremony. 'The windows down and they say, "Hey Ryan - youre going the wrong way,"' the veteran host explained. 'I said, "No, Im going the right way, they've sent me home to watch on television like everyone else."' Seacrest said he salvaged his night: 'I ordered Postmates and had pizza and watched the Oscars at home.' Seacrest was on to promote the new season of American Idol, which debuts Sunday at 8/7c on ABC. Decked out: Seacrest was snapped backstage at the Oscars the annual show with mic in hand This is the moment Gemma Collins was escorted from her Essex home after revealing she is being stalked by a man who previously fat-shamed her. The Dancing On Ice star, 38, was chaperoned from her home by officers and close protection security detail on Friday evening. Gemma masked her face with huge shades as she departed amid claims the TV personality has been left feeling 'scared and anxious' following the ordeal. Come with us: This is the moment Gemma Collins was escorted from her Essex home after after revealing she is being stalked by a man who previously fat-shamed her Concerned police and security officers were seen assisting Gemma with her luggage before flanking her as she made her way to a waiting car. The reality star was eventually driven to a secure, undisclosed location after climbing into the passenger seat. A source told The Sun: 'Poor Gemma is traumatised by this entire episode. She is really upset and anxious, and has been scared to even leave her house. Assistance: The Dancing On Ice star, 38, was escorted from her home by officers and close protection security detail on Friday evening Let's go: Gemma masked her face with huge shades as she departed amid claims the TV personality has been left feeling 'scared and anxious' following the ordeal 'Gemma is always incredibly friendly and open to all her fans so to have someone abuse her in this way, and threaten her so horrifically, has left her incredibly shaken.' The insider added that the situation is being taken seriously by police who have offered her advise on how to proceed going forward. In November last year a video emerged of two men calling the reality star a 'fat c**t' as she enjoyed a cafe lunch outside. Gemma is now apparently 'petrified' and 'fearing for her life' as she fears that one of the horrific bullies has been 'waiting outside her house since Saturday'. The TOWIE vetera took to her Instagram on Friday to share several pictures and videos of a man. She's off: Gemma was surrounded as she left the property, after which she was transported to an undisclosed location Helping hand: Security officers handled the TV personality's luggage She's off: Gemma was accompanied by a friend as she made her way towards a waiting car Shoulder to shoulder: Two burly close protection security officers flanked the former TOWIE star Low key: Despite the worrying scenes Gemma looked relaxed as she left her Essex home Despite the reason for the person's appearance outside her home unknown, Gemma alleges that a man has been waiting around her property since Saturday. Videos show a man walking up and down a street opposite while later footage sees him sat in his car as police approach him. Gemma claimed that his appearance has left her scared to leave her home, threatened and unsafe, resulting in her calling the police who she praised for being 'amazing'. Drama: Police and security officers moved in and out of the property on Friday evening Let's talk: A protection officer spoke to a waiting policeman after helping Gemma to her car Incoming: The TV personality was surrounded by watchful security guards as she climbed into the front seat Farewell: The TV personality was transported to a safe, unknown location on Friday evening She said: 'Do you all remember that shocking video of two boys horrifically ABUSING ME well I am now petrified for my LIFE he has now found my home I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE. 'I am so grateful for how amazing the police have been I am actually scared for my life ..... has been here since SATURDAY why would you abuse someone then find out where they live and make them petrified I can't leave my home through FEAR..... I don't feel safe and I feel very THREATENED and UNSAFE.' (sic) MailOnline has contacted Gemma's representative for further comment. In November, a 'disgusting' video emerged of two men filming themselves fat-shaming Gemma from a car window. Accusations: Despite the reason for the person's appearance outside her home unknown, Gemma alleges that a man has been waiting around her property since Saturday Speaking out: Videos show a man walking up and down a street opposite while later footage sees him sat in his car as police approach him Horrific! In November, a 'disgusting' video emerged of two men filming themselves fat-shaming Gemma from a car window The duo put the video on social media only to be branded 'pathetic bullies'. The video, captioned 'Essex bound with the furious midget! Gemma Collin's [sic] we're coming for ya!', begins with the pair grinning at the camera. One man says: 'Steve, shall we go tell Gemma Collins what we think of her?' with his pal replying 'I think so'. After pulling up outside the cafe, the man shouts 'Alright you fat c**t?' before the other passenger shouts: 'You're eating again, aren't you, you fat f**king pig?' Gemma, believed to be worth 2.7million, initially waves at the pair before the abuse begins, and the video ends with her responding via a rude hand gesture. Danielle Staub caused a stir after announcing her new engagement just days after finalizing her divorce from husband of only 10-months Martin Caffrey. So now her ex has a few questions about why the Real Housewives Of New Jersey alum was so eager to get hitched again. Caffrey hinted that Staub's rush down the aisle may be related to the terms of their divorce while catching up with TMZ on Saturday. During a video chat with the site he said: 'I don't know what the urgency is [but] I suspect it's tied to the house,' referring to the part of their agreement which stipulates she purchase their $2million New Jersey home. Life moves fast! Danielle Staub's ex Marty Caffrey (above in 2017) reacted to new his ex was set to marry again, just days after finalizing their divorce. He suggested she might have ulterior motives for rushing down the aisle Though Caffrey said he was 'surprised' by news that Staub was tying the knot with new beau Olivier Maier he admitted that his ex does have a flair for the dramatic. 'I was surprised. I was very surprised but knowing Danielle as well as I know her, she's capable of the shock value, so this is her shock value,' he said. He went on to suggest that Danielle's new union was more about money than love, saying: 'I don't know what the urgency is [but] I suspect it's tied to the house.' But Marty tried to stay optimistic , continuing: 'I hope it's not, I hope it's really true love but I don't know how you can have real true love when the only time you've been together was for five days in St. Barts. I'd love anybody I was with in St. Barts!' Staub's camp was not amused by Marty's comments and quickly called him out for trying to extend his time in the limelight. Rep Steve Honig told TMZ: 'Marty needs to stop trying to parlay his 15 minutes of fame into a career in reality television.' 'He should be spending his time addressing his own issues, of which there are many, rather than providing commentary on Danielle.' Surprise: Danielle Staub has confirmed to People that she is getting married again, after new beau Olivier Maier proposed during a romantic getaway in St. Barth. Wasting no time: It will be the fourth marriage - and 21st engagement! - for the Bravo reality star who plans to exchange vows with Maier on Monday in New York City Thursday Danielle confirmed to People that her new beau Olivier Maier proposed during a romantic getaway to St. Barth last week and they plan to tie the knot on Monday in New York City. 'I'm madly in love,' Staub told People. 'I'm feeling elated and excited for the next stage of my life,' she said. 'I'm going to marry the man of my possible dreams and hopefully I'll spend the rest of my life in bliss.' The couple reportedly plan to return to the US to exchange vows before a Justice of the Peace at a ceremony in front of friends including Staub's RHONJ co-star Teresa Giudice. It will be the fourth marriage - and 21st engagement! - for the Bravo reality star and the second for Maier, who is a managing director of Speyside Equity, a private equity firm based out of New York. Moving on: Staub only finalized her divorce from third husband Marty Caffrey on February 21 after a turbulent 10-month marriage. They're pictured in May 2018 According to People, Maier, who is German and French, is also minor royalty. He told the publication he is the Duke of Provence and that his family own 15 vineyards in the South of France and two castles. It's certainly been a whirlwind romance. The two only met last October when Maier was dating a friend of Staub's. In fact, they only began a romantic relationship earlier this month, Staub said, after she'd gotten to know the financier a little better. Hint: Staub seemed to suggest something was up with this swimsuit Instagram post on Wednesday in which she declared she'd found happiness in St. Barth 'I quite frankly couldn't stand him when I first met him,' she told People. 'He's so strong-willed, and at first, I read that as rude, and arrogant and entitled. It wasn't until I got to know him that I saw the other side,' she explained. For his part, though, Maier insists he knew straightaway he wanted to be with the three-time divorcee. 'Danielle's one of the smartest people I've met,' he said. 'People have preconceived notions about her from reality TV, but she's a smart women. And I was instantly attracted to that.' As for the future, the New Jersey native is now getting ready to live the high life on the other side of the Atlantic. 'Most likely we'll be spending a lot of time in France,' she explained to People. 'We'll be going to castles and all that, and living in Paris for a certain amount of months out of the year. It's going to be far different than Jersey, that's for sure,' she added. Staub has two daughters from her second marriage to Thomas Staub which lasted from from 1993 to 2007. Maier is reported to be the father of a 12-year-old daughter whom he shares with his ex-wife. Witness: Among the guests at the planned low-key wedding ceremony Monday in NYC will be Staub's good friend and RHONJ co-star Teresa Giudice. Pictured together February 8 She's the former Bachelorette who is known for her playful side. And on Saturday for Mardi Gras, Sophie Monk did her best Freddie Mercury impersonation. A video shared to her pal Oscar Gordon's Instagram Story, saw the 39-year-old with a draw-on moustache, miming the words to Queen's hit Bohemian Rhapsody. What a Queen! Sophie Monk, 39, was a good sport for Mardi Gras night on Saturday, as she did a Freddie Mercury impersonation for best pal Oscar Gordon The hilarious moment saw Sophie dressed in a white singlet top, and with her blonde locks tied up. Turning to face the camera, Sophie drew attention to a teeth-shaped lolly placed in her mouth, as she mimed the word 'Mama' from Queen's hit Bohemian Rhapsody. The Love Island Australia host was clearly a good sport as a moustache had also been drawn onto her face. Oscar, who is a long-time friend of Sophie, captioned the post: 'I made @sophiemonk do a #freddiemercury impression for #MardiGras,' alongside a laughing face emoji. Preparation: In a video shared to Oscar Gordon's Instagram Story on Saturday, Sophie sported a white singlet top and turned her back to the camera Having a laugh: Sophie turned to face the camera, drawing attention to a draw-on moustache and a teeth-shaped lolly in her mouth, as she mimed lyrics to Queen's hit Bohemian Rhapsody Sophie re-posted the video to her own Instagram Story, asking fans to vote on whether she 'nailed it' or not. The impersonation comes amidst rumours that Sophie is ready to tie the knot with boyfriend Joshua Gross. Sophie met Joshua on a business class flight from Italy to Sydney last August, and has been dating the marketing executive ever since. However it seems wedding bells won't be ringing anytime soon for the blonde, with her beau yet to pop the question. Love life: The impersonation comes amidst rumours that Sophie is ready to tie the knot with boyfriend Joshua Gross [pictured]. Sophie met Joshua on a business class flight from Italy to Sydney last August Speaking on the Kyle & Jackie O show on Tuesday, Sophie clarified: 'He's not my fiance.' 'I've just said we're getting married but he hasn't asked, so that's the only problem with this scenario,' she laughed. 'There so much press saying I'm getting married once he gets a divorce. And I'm like, 'he hasn't even asked me'.' Before finding love with Joshua, Sophie called it quits with pub baron Stu Laundy after falling for him during her season of The Bachelorette in 2017. Emily Atack was reportedly axed from The Inbetweeners reunion after James Buckley told producers 'it's her or me' following a past fling they had when they were both single, claims The Sun. The publication suggested that James, 31, was afraid his wife, Clair Meek, would find out about the brief relationship they had during their days in the show during 2008 to 2010. The I'm A Celebrity star, 29, who was cast as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the hit series, was told the day before she was set to appear on the reunion that she wasn't required. Axed! Emily Atack was reportedly axed from The Inbetweeners reunion after James Buckley told producers 'it's her or me' following a past fling they had when they were both single A source told The Sun: 'Emily got a call from producers 24 hours before she was due on set. They were deeply embarrassed and apologetic. They had to explain that James had asked she be taken off the show. 'The pair had a couple of cheeky snogs back in the day when they were both single. But James didn't want it to become a major issue on the reunion, or with his wife Clair.' The insider added that the past kisses she shared with James meant nothing and she was shocked and upset to learn that she wasn't needed on the show. Past fling? The publication suggested that James, 31, was afraid his wife, Clair Meek, would find out about the brief relationship they had during their days in The Inbetweeners (pictured in 2010) James, who played Jay Cartwright on the show, also apparently took umbrage with Emily's recent appearance in the jungle and claimed it didn't sit well with the Inbetweeners' 'brand'. Emily, who came runner up on the programme, was apparently hurt when she heard James' comments, where he claimed that her reality show stint was 'tacky'. The star's career has soared since the show and she is allegedly hoping to move on from the ordeal which she hoped wouldn't come out in the first place. Not needed! The I'm A Celebrity star, 29, who was cast as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the hit show, was told the day before she was set to appear on the reunion that she wasn't required The show Emily was uninvited to, dubbed The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited, hosted the four lead characters James, Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Blake Harrison. Jessica Knappett, Lydia Rose Bewley and Lauren O'Rourke who all starred in the first of the two Inbetweeners' films also appeared on the show, leaving viewers confused by Emily's absence. The comedian was noticeably absent from the 10th anniversary special, and she previously reportedly said there was a lot of 'snobbery' surrounding it. MailOnline has contacted Emily's representative for comment, James' representative declined to comment when approached. A source revealed: 'Emily got a call from producers 24 hours before she was due on set. They were deeply embarrassed and apologetic. They had to explain that James had asked she be taken off the show.' (pictured in January 2019) Emily apparently revealed the information during Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast last month. A source told The Sun: 'Richard asked about Joe Thomas, saying it couldnt be him as hes a lovely man. 'He then bought up James Buckley, and Emily hesitated and then shouted out "James F***ley!" which got a huge laugh from the audience. Full cast: The show Emily was uninvited to, dubbed The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited, hosted the four lead characters James, Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Blake Harrison (James pictured in 2018) 'Emily then said that there was a "lot of snobbery" and then said she didnt want to say anything else.' Emily first revealed in December that she had been axed last minute from the reunion show, she said in an interview on Capital FM that she had 'no idea' why she was scrapped. She said: 'I don't really know what happened here. I was booked to do it, very much looking forward to do it. I think it was kind of the day before I was told I was no longer needed for it.' Clueless: Emily first revealed in December that she had been axed last minute from the reunion show, she said in an interview on Capital FM that she had 'no idea' why she was scrapped Her revelation led to audible gasps of shock from Capital presenter Rob Howard, with Emily assuring the DJ: 'It's OK, it's alright... 'These things do happen and I think they just decided to go a different route with it or it was to do with production timings and things.' Insisting there is no bad blood, Emily continued: 'I wish them all the best and I know it's going to be great. The fans won't be disappointed by it.' Emily's past celebrity relationships are rumoured to include comedian Seann Walsh, however she has never publicly confirmed the romance. The star is said to have enjoyed a 'string of dates' and became 'totally wrapped up in each other' after clicking at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016. British comedian Seann was dating ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries at the time, Rebecca has since parted ways with him, following his kiss scandal with Strictly dance partner Katya Jones. She became one of Time's Up's earliest voices when she accused veteran actor James Woods of trying to 'pick up' her and a friend when they were just 16. And Amber Tamblyn was front and center of the movement again on Saturday, when the 35-year-old headed the TIME'S UPx2 panel at the Athena Film Festival in Harlem, New York. The House actress took to the festival's red carpet in a black sweater with the words 'Time's Up' scrawled across the front. Amber Tamblyn [R] was front and center of the Time's Up movement again on Saturday, when the 35-year-old headed the TIME'S UPx2 panel at the Athena Film Festival in Harlem, New York. Seen with actress Alysia Reiner The Ring actress was clad in head-to-toe black for her red carpet turn. Apart from her statement sweater, Amber wore black trousers and patent leather shoes. Her blonde streaked wavy tresses were worn loose and cascaded down the General Hospital star's shoulders. She was joined by Orange Is The New Black actress Alysia Reiner, who also clad herself in black for the event. The 48-year-old was decked out in a dark jumpsuit and black boots. 'Time's Up': The House actress took to the festival's red carpet in a black sweater with the words 'Time's Up' scrawled across the front During the panel, Amber was joined by Reiner, Nithya Raman, the Executive Director of Time's Up Entertainment, and the movement's co-founder Nina Shaw. Tamblyn was asked about her recent appearance at Harvey Weinstein's hearing for rape allegations. The actress described the feeling of seeing the media mogul in court as 'profound'. 'To watch what is given to [Weinstein], that's justice.' She then spoke of how best to help sexual assault survivors. 'Sometimes our activism... does not have to be much more than just showing up for each other.' Back to black: The Ring actress was clad in head-to-toe black for her red carpet turn In 2017, Tamblyn claimed actor James Woods had made suggestive comments about her and a friend when the pair were just 16. In an open letter to the Casino actor, published by Teen Vogue, the Joan Of Arcadia actress recalled the moment Woods approached her and her friend at a Los Angeles restaurant and invited them to Vegas. According to Tamblyn, she told the now 70-year-old actor how old she was in hopes of deterring his advances, but after finding out she was a teenager, he said: 'Even better.' [L-R] Chloe Melas, Alysia Reiner, Nithya Raman, Nina Shaw and Tamblyn 'Since you've now called me a liar, I will now call you a silencer. I see your gaslight and now will raise you a scorched earth,' she wrote in the latter, after saying she hoped Woods will use this controversy as a 'redefine the man he is'. Tamblyn then gave her account on what happened that night nearly 20 years ago, sharing that her and her friend Billy went to get burgers at Mel's diner on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood after seeing a band they loved at the Roxy. She had just gotten her driving license and remembered being nervous to park. Accused: In 2017, Tamblyn claimed actor James Woods had made suggestive comments about her and a friend when the pair were just 16. Woods seen here in 2017 Upon leaving the restaurant, a then 52-year-old Woods and a friend approached Tamblyn and Billy. 'At one point you suggested we should all go to Las Vegas together. "It's such a great place, have you ever been?" You tried to make it sound innocent,' she wrote of the encounter. 'This is something predatory men like to do, I've noticed. Make it sound innocent. Just a dollop of insinuation. Just a hair of persuasion. Just a pinch of suggestion. "It will be so much fun, I promise you. Nothing has to happen, we will just have a good time together."' The actress claimed she told Woods her age 'kindly and with no judgment or aggression,' thinking he would be 'horrified' and take back his offer. 'You laughed and said, "Even better. We'll have so much fun, I promise,"' Tamblyn wrote of Woods' response. He turned 50 at the end of last year. But Hugh Jackman showed no signs of slowing down as he flaunted his muscle-bound physique while hitting Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday. The Greatest Showman commanded attention as he charged along the sands in a pair of aqua-coloured board shorts after taking a refreshing dip. He's still got it! Hugh Jackman, 50, showed no signs of slowing down as he flaunted his muscle-bound physique while hitting Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday And he later thrilled passers-by while enjoying an al fresco shower. His energetic display comes after a gruelling early-morning workout session at the gym. Hugh appeared to pay extra attention to his bulging biceps as he performed a series of lifts and curls. Refreshing: Hugh later thrilled passers-by while enjoying an al fresco shower The New York-based star recently revealed that he'll again be back in Sydney later this year, stopping by on his world tour The Man. The Music. The Show. Joining him Down Under will be his wife Deborra-lee Furness raise their two children: son Oscar, 18, and daughter Ava, 13. He told Sylvia Jeffreys on Tuesday's A Current Affair: 'Deb and I miss (Australia) desperately. As a parent, you face this decision early on of 'where are we going to base ourselves?' Let's get physical: His energetic display comes after a gruelling early morning workout session at the gym Gun show: Hugh appeared to pay extra attention to his bulging biceps as he performed a series of lifts and curls 'We've been out of the country a lot, and a lot more than I would like, so it's a great excuse to get back.' Hugh also told Sylvia: 'I've got to tell you, if Deb and I have done anything right as parents, our kids are really proud Australians. They'll tell everyone they know, 'Oh, I'm Australian.' And I'm like, 'Yes!'' The Man. The Music. The Show kicks off in Europe in May, before heading to America in June and July. Australian fans will then have the chance to see Hugh up close and personal when he performs the show Down Under in August. She's the professional ballroom dancer who acts as a judge on Network Ten's revamped series Dancing With The Stars. And Sharna Burgess flaunted her fit figure at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Friday. The 33-year-old wore a neon abstract bikini that showed off her dancer curves. Sizzling hot! Dancing With The Stars judge Sharna Burgess, 33, flaunted her enviably toned figure in a skimpy neon bikini at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Friday Sharna's bandeau-style bikini top accentuated her lean midriff, while high-cut briefs drew attention to her toned legs. Tying her red locks into an effortless topknot, Sharna concealed her gaze behind aviator sunglasses. The Channel Ten personality appeared to sport a light coating of foundation and a slick of pink gloss on her plump pout. Svelte: The professional ballroom dancer's bandeau-style bikini top accentuated her lean midriff, while high-cut briefs drew attention to her toned legs Wading into the surf, Sharna showed off tattoos on her back and right arm, one of which is of a large treble clef. Sharna debuted as one of the new judges on Network Ten's revamped Dancing With The Stars last month. The Wagga Wagga-born entertainer has joined Irish dancer Tristan MacManus and Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood on the judging panel. Sharna certainly has experience on the Dancing With The Stars franchise, having won the 2018 season of the US version with her celebrity partner Bobby Bones. Inked: Wading into the surf, Sharna showed off tattoos on her back and right arm, one of which is of a large treble clef She has also starred in 11 other seasons of the US franchise, having placed second in three of them. Prior to her judging debut, Sharna told People magazine that she 'can't wait' to see what the dancers have in store. 'Having been a pro on America's Dancing With The Stars for the last 12 seasons, I am so excited to be coming home to bring my knowledge and passion from the U.S. to this stellar line up of Aussie talent,' she told the US-based publication. 'I can't wait to see what these amazing dancers have in store for us all.' Sharna will return to the US for season 28 of the ABC show, which is expected to premiere in the fall. The Australian Dancing With The Stars continues Monday at 7.30pm on Ten Kourtney Kardashian was spotted out with her son Reign in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 39-year-old reality star cut a casual figure in black jacket and white pants as she held hands with her four-year-old son. The outing comes amid the family drama of sister Khloe blaming her current cheating scandal on love rat Tristan Thompson. Doting mom: Kourtney Kardashian, 39, was spotted out with her son Reign, four, in Los Angeles on Saturday Daring to impress, Kourtney looked every inch the doting mom as she led her son into a pottery painting class called Color Me Mine. Kourtney was recently seen out with ex Younes Bendjima, 25. The former couple shocked fans when they reportedly split in early August. Trouble seemed to brew after their trip to Italy when she posted a photo of her bottom. He posted a comment which read: 'Is that what you need to show to get likes?' Casual chic: The reality star cut a casual figure in black jacket and white pants as she held hands with her son He later deleted the comments. The racy picture was taken while they were travelling around Europe together with Kourtney's children Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign. The pair started dating in October 2016 but they didn't make their relationship public until the following May out of respect for Kourtney's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, whom she shares children Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign. Meanwhile, Kourtney has been supporting her sister Khloe after news broke that she split with love rat Tristan Thompson after he kissed another woman. The Hollywood Unlocked reported last week that Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn Woods was spotted getting cozy with Tristan at a house party. Exes: Kourtney was recently seen out with ex Younes Bendjima, 25 (pictured March 2018) Jordyn later admitting on Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talks that he had kissed her, but the situation wasn't passionate, 'No tongue kiss, no making out.' Earlier in the day, Khloe tweeted her frustration surrounding the latest cheating allegations against her love-rat ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson. 'This has been an awful week & I know everyone is sick of hearing about it all (as am I). Im a rollercoaster of emotions & have said things I shouldnt have. Honestly, Tristan cheating on me & humiliating me, wasnt such a shock as the first time,' she wrote to her 27 million followers. Happier times: Khloe Kardashian is said to have broken up with Tristan Thompson for good this time after he is said to have got cosy with Jordyn Woods at a house party in LA last week When they were happy: Khloe had initially blamed Jordyn for breaking up her family but on Saturday she had calmed down and laid the blame with baby daddy Tristan 'Whats been harder & more painful is being hurt by someone so close to me. Someone whom I love & treat like a little sister. But Jordyn is not to be blamed for the breakup of my family. This was Tristans fault.' Taking a step back from her very public pain, Khloe wrote, 'I have to move on with my life & count my blessings, my family, my health, & my beautiful baby True.' DailyMail.com broke the news in April that the Cleveland Cavaliers power forward was spotted kissing a mystery woman (who was later identified as model Lani Blair) just days before Khloe gave birth to their baby girl. Danielle Staub is pressing pause on her whirlwind wedding plans. After announcing she was engaged to new beau Olivier Maier just days after finalizing her divorce with husband of ten-months Marty Caffey, the Real Housewives Of New Jersey personality has decided to postpone her nuptials, which were planned for Monday. Though Staub, 56, told TMZ that she decided to slow things down after getting 'push back' from her daughters Jillian and Christine, she and Maier still went wedding ring shopping at Van Cleef & Arpels on Saturday. Hold up! Danielle Staub (above February 8) told TMZ she was temporarily pumping the brakes on her wedding to new beau Olivier Maier and the pair would not be getting wed Monday, as previously planned The star did not elaborate as to why her daughters were 'pushing back' at the union. But she did tell the site that she was sure it was true love. 'Yes, he is the one,' the Jersey girl told a TMZ photog. That same day the star showed off her fantastic five-carat ruby engagement ring to People. Surprise: Two days ago Danielle Staub has confirmed to People that she is getting married again, after new beau Olivier Maier proposed during a romantic getaway in St. Barth. Wasting no time: It will be the fourth marriage - and 21st engagement! - for the Bravo reality star who plans to exchange vows with Maier on Monday in New York City Thursday Danielle confirmed to People that her new beau Olivier Maier proposed during a romantic getaway to St. Barth last week and they plan to tie the knot on Monday in New York City. 'I'm madly in love,' Staub told People. 'I'm feeling elated and excited for the next stage of my life,' she said. 'I'm going to marry the man of my possible dreams and hopefully I'll spend the rest of my life in bliss.' The couple reportedly plan to return to the US to exchange vows before a Justice of the Peace at a ceremony in front of friends including Staub's RHONJ co-star Teresa Giudice. It will be the fourth marriage - and 21st engagement - for the Bravo reality star and the second for Maier, who is a managing director of Speyside Equity, a private equity firm based out of New York. Moving on: Staub only finalized her divorce from third husband Marty Caffrey on February 21 after a turbulent 10-month marriage. They're pictured in May 2018 According to People, Maier, who is German and French, is also minor royalty. He told the publication he is the Duke of Provence and that his family own 15 vineyards in the South of France and two castles. It's certainly been a whirlwind romance. The two only met last October when Maier was dating a friend of Staub's. In fact, they only began a romantic relationship earlier this month, Staub said, after she'd gotten to know the financier a little better. 'I quite frankly couldn't stand him when I first met him,' she told People. 'He's so strong-willed, and at first, I read that as rude, and arrogant and entitled. It wasn't until I got to know him that I saw the other side,' she explained. Hint: Staub seemed to suggest something was up with this swimsuit Instagram post on Wednesday in which she declared she'd found happiness in St. Barth For his part, though, Maier insists he knew straightaway he wanted to be with the three-time divorcee. 'Danielle's one of the smartest people I've met,' he said. 'People have preconceived notions about her from reality TV, but she's a smart woman. And I was instantly attracted to that.' As for the future, the New Jersey native is now getting ready to live the high life on the other side of the Atlantic. 'Most likely we'll be spending a lot of time in France,' she explained to People. 'We'll be going to castles and all that, and living in Paris for a certain amount of months out of the year. It's going to be far different than Jersey, that's for sure,' she added. Life moves fast! Danielle Staub's ex Marty Caffrey (above in 2017) reacted to new his ex was set to marry again, just days after finalizing their divorce. He suggested she might have ulterior motives for rushing down the aisle And though the romance certainly reads like a fairy tale, Danielle's newly minted ex Martin Caffrey told TMZ he was wary of her reasons for walking down the aisle again so soon. Caffrey hinted that Staub's rush to be wed may be related to the terms of their divorce while catching up with TMZ on Saturday. During a video chat with the site he said: 'I don't know what the urgency is [but] I suspect it's tied to the house,' referring to the part of their agreement which stipulates she purchase their $2million New Jersey home. Though Caffrey said he was 'surprised' by news that Staub was tying the knot with new beau Olivier Maier he admitted that his ex does have a flair for the dramatic. 'I was surprised. I was very surprised but knowing Danielle as well as I know her, she's capable of the shock value, so this is her shock value,' he said. He went on to suggest that Danielle's new union was more about money than love, saying: 'I don't know what the urgency is [but] I suspect it's tied to the house.' But Marty tried to stay optimistic , continuing: 'I hope it's not, I hope it's really true love but I don't know how you can have real true love when the only time you've been together was for five days in St. Barth. I'd love anybody I was with in St. Barth!' Witness: Among the guests at the planned low-key wedding ceremony Monday in NYC will be Staub's good friend and RHONJ co-star Teresa Giudice. Pictured together February 8 Staub's camp was not amused by Marty's comments and quickly called him out for trying to extend his time in the limelight. Rep Steve Honig told TMZ: 'Marty needs to stop trying to parlay his 15 minutes of fame into a career in reality television.' 'He should be spending his time addressing his own issues, of which there are many, rather than providing commentary on Danielle.' Staub has two daughters from her second marriage to Thomas Staub which lasted from from 1993 to 2007. Maier is reported to be the father of a 12-year-old daughter whom he shares with his ex-wife. She has only been professionally modelling for a year. But Australian beauty Hannah Wick has already walked the catwalk for high fashion designers including JW Anderson, Jill Sander, Altuzarra and Dior. And the half-Sri Lankan 22-year-old believes her diverse background her been secret to her success. Catwalk queen! Australian model Hannah Wick credits diverse background for runway success after walking for Dior at Paris Fashion Week. She's pictured at the Altuzarra show as part of the PFW Womenswear Fall/Winter 2019/2020 on March 02, 2019 in Paris, France 'There are definitely older models being picked up, as are South Asian models,' Wick told Courier Mail on Saturday. She added: 'I think I have made it so quickly because I have had key people who have really believed in me and have really pushed for me to do well.' 'I think that's how I was able to ascend so quickly, because I had that support behind me. Otherwise I don't know. A bit of luck maybe. Right place right time.' 'There are definitely older models being picked up, as are South Asian models,' Wick told Courier Mail on Saturday, citing a growing diversity in the industry as the secret to her success At the end of 2017, the beauty was approached by a model scout in Sydney. A year later, she was signed with Chic Management, which also represents top models Alyssa Miller and Amy Pejkovic. And this weekend, Hannah was cast in her first Paris Fashion Week catwalk for Dior. Runway success: At the end of 2017, the beauty was approached by a model scout in Sydney. A year later, she was signed with Chic Management Hannah called the couture show, which was held at the French capital's Rodin Museum, a 'pinch me moment.' In her spare time, she's studying her psychology degree. But Hannah admits modelling has 'taken up a lot of my life.' It appears Lena Dunham has a new puppy. The Girls star showcased the tiny little pooch in pictures and videos that she shared on her Instagram story. She also used the new posts to share a message of love with her fans as well as make light of her skin disease. Sweet message: Lena Dunham sent her love to her fans while showing off new puppy In one photo, the Girls star appeared to be laying in her bed as she held her tiny hairless pooch close to her cheek with the headline: 'literally love you all so much.' She followed that one with a close-up selfie and added, '& my rosacea loves you too,' which is a reference to the skin disease that typically manifests with red circles around the cheeks. The actress developed the condition more than a year ago. Sense of humor: The Girls star also made light of her skin condition Trippy: The actress/writer used a filter for a video of her dog she shot from bed Under the covers: Dunham also shot video of the dog under her sheets with a reference of the Eliie Goulding song, Love Me Like You Do Some of the video she shared showed her in bed playing with her puppy with a dark snow-like filter that was added to the clip. There were also shots of her dog playing under the bed sheets near her bare legs. She even got cute with the video and dropped in a reference to Ellie Goulding's song, Love Me Like You Do, which was part of the soundtrack for the 2015 film Fifty Shades Of Grey. Feeling nostalgic, the 32-year old also shared a throwback snap of herself walking through the woods with the caption: '2002 was weird.' Blast from the past: Dunham also shared a throwback photo with the caption: '2002 was weird' The New York City native had previously shared a snap of her playing with the pooch back on February 10. The self-professed animal lover revealed last August that she adopted a new cat after her Yorkie and previous cat passed away. The previous month, she let her fans know that she gave up her dog Lamby after four years to a facility that specializes in behavioral issues in dogs. On the career front, Dunham most recently served as the creator, writer and executive producer of the HBO series, Camping. She also has a role in in Quentin Tarantino's much-anticipated mystery crime film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, staring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Married At First Sight's Jessika Power raised eyebrows this week while flirting with intruder 'groom' Dan Webb in front of his 'wife' Tamara Joy at the dinner party. And on Sunday, Jess was grilled by her 'husband' Mick Gould, 31, about her behaviour during Sunday night's commitment ceremony. The Queensland farmer kept his distance from his 26-year-old 'wife' and complained that she is 'always front and centre' when it comes to drama. Awkward! On Sunday night's episode of Married at First Sight, Mick Gould (right) grilled his 'wife' Jessika Power (left) about her shameless flirting with another man During Wednesday night's dinner party, Jess admitted she was attracted to the ex rugby league player. Wearing a racy lace-up dress flaunting her sizable chest, she turned to him and said: 'As soon as I say you come in, I thought, 'he not a snack, he's a meal.'' Subsequently, on Sunday, Mick called out his wife for flirting with another man. A visibly annoyed Mick said: 'Got something you want to say to Dan and Tamara?' Dan and Tamara both looked uncomfortable as Mick told Jess: 'You were saying last night how attractive Dan is!' Jess was unapologetic and replied: 'Dan is a very attractive man!' Inappropriate: Earlier this week, MAFS viewers watched Jessika (right) make advances towards Dan Webb (left) by undoing her dress and complimenting his appearance in front of his 'wife' Tamara Joy Mick then asked his wife, 'How do you think that makes me feel?' to which she replied 'I tell you that you're attractive.' Mick explained: 'I haven't looked at a woman any other way, I'm not looking anywhere else. I'm married to this bloody thing here [talking about Jess].' Mick went on to say that their 'marriage' has gone 'downhill.' Tense: Dan (right) and Tamara (left) both looked uncomfortable as Mick told Jess: 'You were saying last night how attractive Dan is!' 'I'm just about at the finish line,' he told the experts. Jess claimed she didn't think Mick was upset going into the ceremony: 'The comments that Mick throws out at these commitment ceremonies are always a first for me.' She went on to say there appears to be miscommunication between the two of them because he always replies 'fine darl' when she asks about his feelings. Bold: Jess did not seem to care that Dan's 'wife' Tamara (left) was present when she proceeded to flirt with him With tears welling up in her eyes, Jessika said: 'Then I sit down on the couch and just get ripped into by him.' Mick chose to 'leave' the experiment, while Jess chose to 'stay.' She soared to fame during her stint on the 2016 series of Love Island. And Katie Salmon flaunted her incredible bikini body once again as she hit the beach in Tenerife with her friend India Jennings on Sunday. The reality star, 23, caught the eye in a hot pink two-piece which showcased her jaw-dropping cleavage. Beach babe: Katie Salmon flaunted her incredible bikini body once again as she hit the beach in Tenerife with her friend India Jennings on Sunday Katie ensured all eyes were on her as she strolled down the beach in the halterneck bikini top, which drew attention to her ample bust due to its plunging neckline. The bronzed beauty also highlighted her enviably-taut waist and peachy posterior in the matching teeny-tiny embellished tie-side bottoms. She wore her raven tresses in braids and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of purple-tinted aviators. Busty display: The reality star, 23, caught the eye in a hot pink two-piece which showcased her jaw-dropping cleavage Strike a pose! Katie ensured all eyes were on her as she strolled down the beach in the halterneck bikini top, which drew attention to her ample bust due to its plunging neckline Skimpy: The bronzed beauty also highlighted her enviably-taut waist and peachy posterior in the matching teeny-tiny embellished tie-side bottoms The reality starlet finished off her beach look with heavy strokes of bronzer, highlighter and a dark pink lip. Katie appeared in her element as her pal India took an impromptu photoshoot, with the reality star posing up a storm as she showed off her killer curves and tattoos. The pair appeared to be having the time of their life as they larked around on the beach, with India, who was clad in a mint green lace bikini, giving Katie a piggy back down to the shoreline. Glam: The reality starlet finished off her beach look with heavy strokes of bronzer, highlighter and a dark pink lip Giggly: The pair appeared to be having the time of their life as they larked around on the beach Incredible figure: Katie appeared in her element as her pal India took an impromtu photoshoot, with the reality star posing up a storm as she showed off her killer curves and tattoos Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance. She is best known to viewers of the ITV2 show for pairing up with the late Sophie Gradon on the reality dating series. Sophie was originally partnered with Tom Powell but later coupled up with Katie after he quit the show. Feeling the heat: Despite it only being 18 degrees in Tenerife, the pair couldn't resist stripping down to their bikinis Girls' holiday: India gave Katie a piggy back down to the shoreline Get that Instagram snap! The pair knelt on the sand as they tried to get a selfie Head-turner: Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance Toned: India looked incredibly svelte as she headed to the beach in a mint green lace bikini However, Sophie later dumped Katie and bowed out of the show to be with Tom again, leading Katie to pair off with Adam Maxted. Their romance was short-lived, lasting just two weeks after the series drew to a close. Katie 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. 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.' Comedian James Acaster has revealed he found out his girlfriend Louise Ford had dumped him for Rowan Atkinson by reading it in the newspaper. Having been an item with Louise, 36, for two years, James, 34, opened The Sun On Sunday on weekend to discover the news - which happened after Louise became close to Rowan, 64, during a play they did together. 'I got left for Mr Bean,' James said during a stand-up routine this week. 'I found out a year after we split up. I opened the newspaper and there was a full-page story. No one else in the history of time has ever been left for Mr Bean.' Left for Mr Bean: Comedian James Acaster has revealed he found out his girlfriend Louise Ford had dumped him for Rowan Atkinson by reading it in the newspaper James - who appears on shows such as Mock The Week and Hypothetical - noticed a distance forming between himself and Louise after she took the role alongside Rowan in Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre in 2013. He was living Louise at the time - which was also after Rowan left his wife Sunetra Sastry, 62, after 24 years. Rowan and Louise moved fast, with the actors moving in together the following year, with Louise giving birth to his third child, Isla, in December 2017. Rowan is father to Ben, 26, and Lily, 24, with ex-wife Sunetra. James went on: 'I'm a goddamn saint to have kept this in the back pocket so long. Its my job to say things that are funny and the funniest thing thats ever happened to anyone, happened to me and I put it on the back-burner out of respect. Read all about it! Having been an item with Louise, 36, for two years, James, 34, opened The Sun On Sunday on weekend to discover the news - which happened after Louise became close to Rowan, 64, during a play they did together Co-stars: James noticed a distance forming between himself and Louise after she took the role alongside Rowan in Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre in 2013 [pictured] 'Until you get left for Mr Bean, you dont realise how frequently he pops up. Theres a shop two streets from my house that sells masks of his face. Theres nowhere where Im going to go that hes not there.' This comes as it was recently reported Rowan shocked friends with the news he is taking a year off from acting to focus on looking after his youngest daughter. According to The Sun, Rowan told pals: 'I am going to take care of Baby Bean while Louise has the chance to concentrate on acting.' The actor has starred in the lead role of Chief Inspector Jules Maigret on the ITV series Maigret from 2016 to 2018 and he also starred in Johnny English Strikes Back last year. Louise's acting career has gone from strength to strength recently after she appeared as Kate Middleton in the royal spoof, The Windsors. Relationship: The Mr Bean star, 64, is father to Ben and Lily with ex-wife Sunetra Sastry while his girlfriend Louise Ford, 35, gave birth to daughter Isla in December 2017 Rowan has told pals: 'I am going to take care of Baby Bean while Louise has the chance to concentrate on acting' A source told the publication: 'Rowan has a habit of surprising people and he has done it again with this announcement. 'He has said he will take a back seat from work to be with Isla, and this will obviously allow Louise to focus on her career which is going well.' The insider added that it is a kind gesture from the actor as it means his other half will have more time to focus on her own burgeoning career. Family: The insider added that it is a kind gesture from the actor as it means his other half will have more time to focus on her own burgeoning career In 2017, it was reported that Atkinson had moved Louise into his 4.65 million cottage in North London just weeks after his divorce. Atkinson, who attracted almost 19 million viewers in his role as Mr Bean at its peak, has amassed a fortune of an estimated 70 million. Rowan first took on the role as an awkward secret agent alongside Natalie Imbruglia in the first installment of Johnny English in 2003. She's at the centre of a stream of rumours surrounding her love life. However, Naomi Campbell didn't appear to have a care in the world as she stepped out in a chic ensemble during Paris Fashion Week on Sunday. The supermodel, 48, was snapped leaving her hotel in the French capital in the early hours as she made her way to a party via a minibus. Carefree: Naomi Campbell, 48, didn't appear to have a care in the world as she stepped out in a chic ensemble during Paris Fashion Week on Sunday The star rocked an unusual green and brown glittery mesh dress, which revealed her trim figure underneath. She added a long silver-grey raincoat to her ensemble, as well as a pair of stylish sunglasses. Naomi also donned a pair of thigh-high black socks, which she teamed with a pair of black trainers which had straps and a glittery sole. Amid the fashion icon's ever-changing hairstyles, Naomi wore her black locks in a long, sleek style with a parting down the middle. Chic: The supermodel was snapped leaving her hotel in the French capital in the early hours as she made her way to a party via a minibus Her carefree outing comes after she reportedly was seen 'getting close' to rapper Drake, according to The Mirror - despite having apparently been enjoying a 'mind-blowing' relationship with Liam Payne. The English model was allegedly having the time of her life and flirting with the American star while attending Jay Z and Beyonce's annual Gold Oscar party at Chateau Marmont in LA. An onlooker told the publication: 'Naomi was having the time of her life. At the party she was getting quite close to Drake they ended up dancing together. 'She doesn't want to be in a serious relationship and hasn't been inviting Liam to events. She just doesn't seem that fussed and likes her space.' MailOnline have contacted Naomi's representatives for comment. Is it over? Naomi's head was reportedly turned by rapper Drake, who she spent the evening 'getting close' with recently, according to the Mirror Flirting up a storm! The supermodel, 48, was allegedly having the time of her life and flirting with the American star while attending Jay Z and Beyonce's annual Gold Oscar party at Chateau Marmont in LA Amid the swirling romance rumours, Naomi and Liam are both confirmed to have attended the WE Day charity bash at Wembley Arena on Wednesday evening. However the source speculated that because it is a work commitment they are unlikely to draw attention to their relationship and will likely leave separately. They have done little to quash rumours of a relationship in recent weeks, with both parties regularly liking the other's social media snaps. In one image, the former One Direction star looked typically dapper as he hit the red carpet at the BRIT Awards at London's O2 last month. Fuelling romance rumours: In one image, the former One Direction star looked typically dapper as he hit the red carpet at the BRIT Awards at London 's O2 last month Compliments: Rumours of the pairs fledging relationship have been circulating the showbusiness circuit since Liam flirted on a snap posted to Naomis Instagram account, commenting: Perfection in a person...dont give me those eyes' Rumours of the pairs fledging relationship have been circulating the showbusiness circuit since Liam flirted on a snap posted to Naomis Instagram account, commenting: Perfection in a person...dont give me those eyes. The catwalk queen then wrote alongside a shirtless picture of Liam, Beautiful soul, to which he replied: Takes one to know one, and added a kiss emoji. They were later seen together at Londons O2 Arena where they were trying to stay under the radar during afrobeat artist Davido's concert. Soon after it emerged that they were enjoying a mind-blowing time together, with one friend claiming: Liam thinks shes amazing and beautiful. She's Married At First Sight's 'intruder' bride, who has been been paired with former rugby league player, Dan Webb, 35. And Tamara Joy flaunted her pert derriere in a skimpy black G-string bikini to Instagram on Sunday. The busty human resources manager, 29, left little to the imagination in the racy snap, which showed off her sensational curves. Sun's out, buns out! MAFS 'bride' Tamara Joy showed off her pert derriere in a G-string bikini on Sunday... after 'husband' Dan Webb bragged about their sex life Posing on a rooftop, Tamara flaunted her slender back and trim pins in the risque snap. The reality TV star wore her raven hair up in a bun, while she completed the outfit with a pair of stylish gold-rimmed sunglasses. 'Summer turning it on,' she captioned. Selfie queen! Tamara is no stranger to racy selfies and often flaunts her figure on Instagram Tamara was left red-faced during Sunday night's commitment ceremony, when husband Daniel Webb revealed details of the couple's sex life. To the group's surprise, Daniel bluntly confessed they had sex. After relationship expert John Aiken asked the pair how their honeymoon went, Dan responded with: 'Yeah the honeymoon was very romantic, yeah.' Intimate: Tamara's husband Daniel Webb revealed details of the couple's sex life at Sunday night's commitment ceremony, confirming they got physical during their honeymoon Giggling, Tamara chimed in: 'It was very intense, just so much romance!' before her 'husband' told the group that the two had sex. 'We got intimate pretty quick as well so, yeah. If that's what you're asking, yeah,' Dan said as the group burst out in laughter. 'I just jumped the gun then, didn't I? Straight through,' he added. Kiss and tell: 'We got intimate pretty quick as well so, yeah. If that's what you're asking, yeah' Daniel (R) told the gathered group during Sunday night's commitment ceremony The couple's sex life became a controversial topic with viewers this week, with Dan appearing very preoccupied about the pair getting physical. During their Hunter Valley honeymoon, the couple walked into a room decorated with rose petals, champagne and he made a beeline towards a box of condoms. He picked up the condoms and flashed a smile at Tamara, who replied: 'You wish!' He then jumped onto the bed and playfully demanded that Tamara 'get on top' of him after she refused. As Hollywood movie stars, they are no strangers to turning heads wherever they go. And it was business as usual for Chloe Grace Moretz and Elle Fanning as they touched down in Charles De Gaulle airport, Paris on Sunday in the midst of fashion week. Actress Chloe, 22, looked glam in a long, black wool coat, which she layered over a black and white polka dot blouse. Hello: Chloe Grace Moretz and Elle Fanning touched down in Charles De Gaulle airport, Paris on Sunday in the midst of fashion week The star teamed this with a pair of wide-legged black trousers, adding a 70's vibe to her look. The Kickass star added a pair of black boots and a brown Louis Vuitton rucksack to her ensemble as she made her way through the airport in the French capital. Chloe, who smiled and waved to waiting photographers, went make-up free for her day of travelling, while keeping her blonde locks loosely flowing on her shoulders. Meanwhile, also in the terminal was Elle, 20, who cut a chic appearance with her flight attire, rocking a double-breasted tan mac. The Mary Shelley actress donned a pale blue shirt underneath, which she matched with a pair of loose-fitting distressed jeans and tan ankle boots. Chic: Actress Chloe, 22, looked glam in a long, black wool coat, which she layered over a black and white polka dot blouse All black: The star teamed this with a pair of wide-legged black trousers, adding a 70's vibe to her look Style Queen: The Kickass star added a pair of black boots and a brown Louis Vuitton rucksack to her ensemble as she made her way through the airport in the French capital Elle added a pair of quirky red glasses to her ensemble, while like Chloe, kept her blonde tresses loose. Meanwhile, Justin Theroux was also spotted walking through the airport, keeping a low profile in a pair of dark shades. Jennifer Aniston's husband loped dapper in a khaki coat, which her wore over a black bomber jacket, dark grey t-shirt and grey jeans. Hailey Bieber also made an an appearance at the airport, after taking an early morning flight from New York. Cool: Elle, 20, also cut a chic appearance with her flight attire, rocking a double-breasted tan mac Stylish: The Mary Shelley actress donned a pale blue shirt underneath, which she matched with a pair of loose-fitting distressed jeans and tan ankle boots Low key: Justin Theroux was also spotted walking through the airport, keeping a low profile in a pair of dark shades Blinding: Hailey Bieber also made an an appearance at the airport in a bright yellow coat, after taking an early morning flight from New York The model put on an eye-catching display in a seriously bright yellow coat. Greta star Chloe recently opened up about the opportunities she's had due to growing up in the public eye. Speaking to ET Online, she said: 'It's been like, 13 years now, and I think the biggest thing is trying to outweigh the pros with the cons. She continued: 'As many things that there's been with being in the spotlight, I've also had the ability to have a really wonderful platform, and now a massive breath of fans that have grown with me and that I feel like I know personally in a lot of ways. 'That is a massive opportunity, and to also kind of jump out of film and use it in my human rights activism and going to the more political side of it, has been a massive coup for me.' Former Bachelor star Tim Robards recently turned his guest stint on Neighbours into a permanent role. And as he prepares to move to Melbourne for the gig, his wife Anna Heinrich has spoken candidly about the pair's living situation. 'There will be times where it's tough,but I'm keeping busy here [in Sydney],' Anna told The Sunday Telegraph. 'There will be times where it's tough': Anna Heinrich has revealed how she and her husband Tim Robards are going to make a long-distance marriage work after he landed a permanent role on Neighbours in Melbourne 'I think he's got it harder because he's moved to a new city. He has to make new friends and adapt to a new job.' 'I've got it easy. I'm surrounded by everything I know. I'm standing by my man,' Anna added. Tim will be living in Melbourne from Monday to Friday and will return home to Anna on the weekends. The move comes after Tim made his debut on Neighbours as Pierce Greyson - a handsome and wealthy investor - on October 5 last year. After successfully turning his guest stint on the popular soap into a permanent role, he recently gushed over his full-time job during an interview with The Daily Telegraph, saying: 'I'm so excited'. Long distance: Tim will be living in Melbourne from Monday to Friday, and will return home to Anna on the weekends. Pictured: Tim (L) and Anna (R) 'When I first started on set [it was] like the first few seconds of jumping out of a plane - you forget to breathe while everything is coming at you 100 miles an hour,' he said. The role comes after a psychic told Tim, who always dreamed of a career in acting, that he's destined to become a Hollywood star. 'It's really something I've always wanted to do but I've never had the guts to give it a proper go,' he admitted during an interview with Today Extra in October, 2018. In love with the new gig! Former Bachelor star Tim Robards recently turned his guest stint on Neighbours into a permanent role Pictured as Pierce Greyson with Chloe Brennan, played by April Rose Pengilly Meanwhile, both Tim and Anna rose to fame after appearing on the first season of The Bachelor in 2013. More than 1.2 million people watched the Network Ten finale, which saw Tim declare his love for his now-wife Anna on the clifftop of a Thai resort. Five years after falling in love on reality TV, the pair tied the knot at the Masseria Potenti hotel in Italy in June, 2018. Tim and Anna moved in together in mid-2014, and are based in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi. While filming his guest stint on Neighbours, the couple temporarily lived apart as Tim travelled to Melbourne to film scenes. Tim and Anna spent even more time apart, with the handsome chiropractor heading to Hollywood in October last year to chase his dreams of stardom. It was revealed by NW at the time that Tim was headed to Tinseltown in an attempt to crack the big time. The lothario said he is heading to Los Angeles to get as much work in as possible, starting with shooting a short film. They met and fell in love on the set of their movie The Light Between Oceans in 2014, before going on to tie the knot in Ibiza in 2017. And the Michael Fassbender, 41, and Alicia Vikander, 30, have been jet setting again as they were seen in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week on Saturday. The couple put on a stylish display as they stepped out of the Ritz hotel in high-end tailoring and sunglasses. Sleek: Michael Fassbender, 41, and Alicia Vikander, 30, put on a stylish display as they stepped out of The Ritz hotel in Paris on Saturday Michael looked debonair in a tweed blazer which he paired with a camel coloured cable knit jumper and brown chinos. Upon his return to the plush hotel, the German actor could be seen sporting a bold blue cap as he listened to music with his earphones in. Tomb Raider actress Alicia cut a sophisticated figure in a long-line navy blue coat and she carried her essentials in a large camel and navy leather handbag. High-end: The couple were spotted as they stepped out of the plush hotel in the city of love The brunette beauty wore gold disc earrings by Cornelia Webb and shielded her eyes behind round sunglasses. Showcasing her radiant complexion, the Swedish star opted for minimal make-up for here outing in the French capital. Her mocha locks were styled in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck and she teased a few pieces of hair around her face to soften the hairstyle. Suave: Michael looked debonair in a tweed blazer which he paired with a camel coloured cable knit jumper and brown chinos Classic: Tomb Raider actress Alicia cut a sophisticated figure in a long-line navy blue coat and she carried her essentials in a large leather handbag Fashion capital: The brunette beauty wore gold disc earrings by Cornelia Webb and shielded her eyes behind round sunglasses as they took to the Paris pavement The gorgeous couple made their couple debut together on the red carpet at the 2016 Golden Globe Awards. Things went from strength to strength and the pair went on to tie the knot in a romantic ceremony in Ibiza in 2017, with film director Steve McQueen among those on the seclusive guest list. Alicia and Michael relocated to Lisbon together, of which the actress told Elle: 'When I met my husband three and a half years ago, he had mentioned hed been to Lisbon and loved it, and I knew friends who were moving out there. 'And that was a time when I was just starting to feel really at home in London. But after Brexit I think I was like, "Meh, you know what, I want to stay in Europe."' Effortless: Her mocha locks were styled in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck and she teased a few pieces of hair around her face to soften the hairstyle They have just returned from a sun-drenched holiday in Dubai. And sisters Chloe, 25, and Lauryn Goodman, 27, seemed keen to continue parading their golden tans as they stepped out in barely there outfits for Sunday lunch at Fucina in London. Looking as if they were dressed for a night on the town, the pair put on a glamorous display in the capital. Barely-there: Chloe, 25, and Lauryn Goodman, 27, stepped out in barely there outfits for Sunday lunch at Fucina in London Chloe exposed her enviable cleavage in a barely-there top that crossed over her chest. She wore wide leg trousers that were in the same gold pleated material as her striking top for the weekend outing. Keeping away the inevitable chill, the reality TV star covered up in a peach long-line coat that she draped over her shoulders. Lauryn also showcased her midriff in a black bralet and asymmetric leopard print skirt that had a thigh-high split. Jaw-dropping: Chloe exposed her enviable cleavage in a bandeau top that cris-crossed over her chest She layered up a host of gold necklaces that cascaded down her decolletage. The sisters paraded their perfectly applied make-up that was similar in that they both went for bronzed eye shadow and plump nude lips. They also both kept their long ombre locks styled straight and sleek. Chloe is no stranger to a glamorous outing or two with her sisters Lauryn and Amelia. The television personality led the way to stardom when she starred on the first series of MTV's Ex On The Beach in 2014. She returned to the show in 2016 for the fifth season, while also appearing in CBB in 2015. Her reality appearances have always been steeped in controversy, starting with her locking lips with Ashley Cain in the inaugural series of Ex On The Beach, with her aggressive behaviour eventually leading her to be ejected from the show. She also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and hit the headlines following a devastating incident, in which she was groped by fellow housemate Jeremy Jackson. Starlet: The television personality led the way to stardom when she starred on the first series of MTV's Ex On The Beach in 2014 Since then Chloe has admitted that the incident made her feel unsafe living in the star-studded compound. Meanwhile Lauryn recently confessed she's had a 'reality check' about the cruelness of the world after her boyfriend was beaten up and robbed at gun point. The beauty blogger took to Instagram to share a poignant message after her beau Dane Rashford was attacked alongside Tyler Alexander-Arnold while eating breakfast at a Caribbean restaurant. The late Heath Ledger was playing a didgeridoo the first time that he met his 10 Things I Hate about You co-star Andrew Keegan, the actor revealed on Friday. Keegan, 40, who played Joey Donne in the 1999 American teen romantic comedy-drama, told the hilarious anecdote of their first encounter at a 20th anniversary reunion of the cast, in Los Angeles, according to TooFab. Speaking of his first impressions of Ledger, who died in 2008 of an accidental drugs overdose, he explained: 'We were in this hotel in Tacoma, Washington, I think we were coming back from rehearsals because he came late. Fond memories: The late Heath Ledger was a disheveled didgeridoo-playing youngster when he first met his 10 Things I Hate About You co-stars - they revealed at 20 year reunion 'At that time there was no internet, I didn't really look, I think I probably had seen a head-shot. I was getting on the elevator and right as the doors were closing, one of those classic moments, and the door just stops. 'This guy gets on and he's got a Didgeridoo. I could just remember I was in character too and I was like, "This f***ing guy. Really? Long hair, Didgeridoo, Australian accent." And that's the memory of meeting him.' He added: 'He was absolutely such an epic part of this project ... We love Heath.' Cast: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, David Krumholtz and Susan May Pratt all starred in the 20-year-old teen flick Together again: The stars of the hit teenage film were reunited for a fan Q&A on Friday in Los Angeles at the Wisdome The stars of the movie, which include Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt - which was a loose modernization of William Shakespeare's late-16th century comedy The Taming of the Shrew, retold in a late-1990s American high school setting - explained that they remember filming the '90s romcom like it was yesterday. Gordon-Levitt, 38, (who played new student Cameron in the movie), credited the bond between the cast both on and off screen for making filming different than any movie he has worked on. 'Genuinely, I don't remember rehearsing,' he told the audience at the charity event at the Wisdome in downtown L.A. Star: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (left) said he had fond memories of working on the film Q&A: The 10 Things I Hate About You Cast were talking about their memories for the 20th Anniversary 'But what I do remember is that we all spent basically every day and every night together and that's really rare, ' he continued. 'Normally when you shoot a movie you come together, and you work and then you go back home and we were all I think because of our age or because we were not in our hometown and because maybe in Tacoma there wasn't a lot for us, being underage, there wasn't a lot for us to do. 'We all just hung out so much. I think we all just kind of fell in love with each other like we all just really loved hanging out genuinely and I think that's, if I had to guess, I think that's why the movie turned out so good and why people like it so much is because we really, really liked hanging out together and that kind of thing doesn't actually always happen. 'This is, of all the movies that I've done, probably the most outstanding example of that. Of a whole cast all like actually liking each other and hanging out with each other all the time. And that kind of thing shows through.' Kyle Cease - who had the small but memorable role of Bogey Lowenstein - explained that he had no idea what he was doing when he auditioned and yet he 'nailed it.' Beginnings: The late Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles starred together in 10 Things I Hate About You On screen: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Krumholtz pictured in the movie, which is 20 years old this month It was his first audition and he recalled: 'I didn't know what I was doing. I took a casting director class and was just weird in the class and then they called me later and said "Hey, we just want to bring you, in we have this part for a total nerd." And I was like, "Oh, thanks for thinking of me right off the bat."' Caese added that when he got to the audition, he was faced with 'five hundred of the nerdiest people.' 'Someone's obviously going to beat me for this,' he said he had concluded, however, 'And then I nailed it! They were just like, "Yeah we don't have to change your clothes or your hair. You look like s**t. You won."' Producers Andrew Lazar and Mark Irwin decided to film the teen flick in Seattle after they found the perfect high school, after initially intending shooting in Los Angeles. 'We had heard that there was a school in Tacoma, Washington that was built as this beautiful, luxury hotel, it built in 1895,' recalled Lazar. 'By 1898, it was bankrupt and then the school board bought it, so it's been functioning as a high school since 1898 and it literally looked like this beautiful castle from Taming of the Shrew and it just fit like the whole Shakespearean time,' he explained. She's enjoying some well-earned time away from the catwalk. And Candice Swanepoel is certainly letting loose as she showed off black star nipple covers while flashing the camera during Carnival festivities in Rio, Brazil. The 30-year-old supermodel was all-smiles as she rocked a tiny gold glitter top just days after soaking up the sun in a revealing thong bikini from her line of swimwear, Tropic of C. Seeing stars! Candice Swanepoel is certainly letting loose as she showed off black star nipple covers while flashing the camera during Carnival festivities in Rio, Brazil Candice appeared to be in great spirits during the celebrations as buddy Eduardo Bravin grabbed a quick snap of the stunner before they headed out to dance the night away. Her tanned and toned torso was on display in the revealing photo, with a tiny black skirt worn high atop her hips and tied along the side to reveal her thigh. She kept her long blonde hair tied back into two top buns and showed off her gorgeous, makeup-free face. Sun-seeker: The 30-year-old supermodel soaked up the sun in a revealing thong bikini from her line of swimwear, Tropic of C Stunning: She added flirty blue feather earrings to her ensemble as she cozied up next to her pal while dancing on a float during a parade She added flirty blue feather earrings to her ensemble as she cozied up next to her pal while dancing on a float during a parade. Candice later shared a photo of her Jamaican-themed night wearing a sheer red, yellow, green and black dress with a thigh-grazing slit. The Victoria's Secret Angel rocked a pair of comfortable black Converse trainers for the festivities as she kicked up her leg for a photo. Candice previously admitted that raising two young children is 'pretty intense' - but it's also an experience she's relishing. Girls just want to have fun! Candice later shared a photo of her Jamaican-themed night wearing a sheer red, yellow, green and black dress with a thigh-grazing slit A look! Candice was making the most of her time off with friends and wore a series of revealing outfits for Carnival She walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November after welcoming her son Ariel in June. The model - who also has son Anacan, two, with ex-fiance Hermann Nicoli - revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting, adding that 'taking care of two kids will get you in shape real quick.' The couple met in Paris when she was 17 and he was 23 and got engaged in August 2015 but reportedly parted ways in November. Swanepoel launched her swimwear range last year and, as ever, is the best model for her brand. Work of art: Swanepoel launched her swimwear range last year and, as ever, is the best model for her brand On a day dedicated to high fashion it was fitting that one of the worlds most celebrated supermodels stole the show as the Vogue party topped off another triumphant afternoon at Paris Fashion Week. Making an entrance at the glamourous event, Naomi Campbell commanded attention in an elegant black and white gown with a distinctive caped detail. The model, 48, added to her look with a pair of black leather boots, while a black leather handbag proved to be her only notable accessory. Here she comes: Naomi Campbell commanded attention in an elegant black and white gown with a distinctive caped detail as she attended the Vogue party in Paris on Sunday evening Her latest outing comes after she reportedly was seen 'getting close' to rapper Drake - despite having apparently been enjoying a 'mind-blowing' relationship with Liam Payne. The English model was said to be flirting with the American star while attending Jay Z and Beyonce's annual Gold Oscar party at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. An onlooker told The Mirror: 'Naomi was having the time of her life. At the party she was getting quite close to Drake they ended up dancing together. Looking good: On a day dedicated to high fashion it was fitting that one of the worlds most celebrated supermodels stole the show after another triumphant afternoon at Paris Fashion Week Strong look: The model added to her look with a pair of tasteful black leather boots 'She doesn't want to be in a serious relationship and hasn't been inviting Liam to events. She just doesn't seem that fussed and likes her space.' Amid the swirling romance rumours, Naomi and Liam will both attend the WE Day charity bash at Wembley Arena on Wednesday evening. However sources speculate that because it is a work commitment they are unlikely to draw attention to their relationship and will likely leave separately. Finishing touch: A black leather handbag proved to be her only notable accessory Claims: Her latest outing comes after she reportedly was seen 'getting close' to rapper Drake - despite having apparently been enjoying a 'mind-blowing' relationship with Liam Payne Rumours of the pairs fledging relationship have been circulating since Liam commented on a social media snap posted by the supermodel, writing: Perfection in a person...dont give me those eyes. The catwalk queen then wrote alongside a shirtless picture of Liam, Beautiful soul, to which he replied: Takes one to know one.' They were later seen together at Londons O2 Arena where they were trying to stay under the radar during afrobeat artist Davido's concert. MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment. It was a regular trip to the movies on a rainy night. Except that when your mom is Kourtney Kardashian, it also means showcasing a pricey designer outfit. Kourtney, 39, was spotted taking six-year-old daughter Penelope - who was wearing a $520 Gucci zip-up top - to see the The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, in Los Angeles on Saturday. Rainy evening: Kourtney Kardashian, 39, was spotted taking six-year-old daughter Penelope - who was wearing a $520 Gucci zip-up top - to see the The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, in Los Angeles on Saturday They were joined by four-year-old son Reign for the evening outing in Calabasas. Kourtney kept it casual for the night out with her kids, as she appeared to be make-up free - and was sporting a tan. Her top was a charcoal limited edition Tyler the Creator Camp Flog Gnaw hoodie with Kanye West's I See Ghosts featured on the front. New kicks? She was also sporting Balenciaga sock sneakers which retail for $275 As well as Penelope's cute designer top, she was sporting Balenciaga sock sneakers which retail for $275, and Reign copied his sister's footwear choice. Her nine-year-old son Mason didn't appear to be with them. Kourtney shares her three children with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. Got connections: Kourtney kept it casual in a hoodie which was limited edition The eldest Kardashian - who will celebrate her 40th birthday next month - made the most of the rainy Los Angeles' weekend, cosying up in bed with her children on Sunday morning. She shared a image on Instagram, which showed her snuggle is real as she relaxed on a pillow next to Penelope. Penelope appeared to be engaged with her iPad and they are framed by a stunning mosaic headboard. The snuggle is real: The eldest Kardashian - who will celebrate her 40th birthday next month - made the most of the rainy Los Angeles' weekend, cosying up in bed with two of her children on Sunday morning Reign appeared to be perched in the centre, above their heads. The outing comes amid the family drama of sister Khloe blaming her current cheating scandal on love rat Tristan Thompson. Meanwhile Kourtney was reportedly recently seen out with ex Younes Bendjima, 25. While her ex Disick, 35, is dating 21-year-old Sofia Richie. She's a style sensation who knows how to dazzle. And Alexa Chung pulled it out of the bag yet again as she attended the Maison Valentino show for Paris Fashion Week on Sunday in a glamorous ensemble. The model, 35, made sure all eyes were on her in a black sequin dress short enough to highlight her toned limbs, before posing with pal Pixie Geldof. Pretty as a picture: Alexa Chung pulled it out of the bag yet again as she attended the Maison Valentino show for Paris Fashion Week on Sunday in a glamorous ensemble Alexa paired her dress with long black socks and added height to her slender frame with her black shoes with chain trimming. The beauty left her signature cropped locks in loose waves while her statement dress sparkled. Meanwhile Pixie, 28, oozed sophistication in a ruffled black number paired with a lace sweater. BFFs: The model, 35, made sure all eyes were on her in a black sequin dress short enough to highlight her toned limbs, before posing with pal Pixie Geldof Style: Alexa paired her dress with long black socks and added height to her slender frame with her black shoes with chain trimming Heading out: The beauty left her signature cropped locks in loose waves while her statement dress sparkled as she later attended the Vogue Americans in Paris party She completed her look with a chunky velvet hairband and opted for minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through. The blonde added a touch of bling to her look with her gold rings and statement earrings. Later in the day Alexa attended the Vogue Americans In Paris event organised by editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Effortlessly chic: Meanwhile Pixie, 28, oozed sophistication in a ruffled black number paired with a lace sweater Picture perfect: She completed her look with a chunky velvet hairband and opted for minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through While last month Alexa debuted her eponymous brand's autumn-winter collection at London Fashion Week. Alexa turned her hand to designing in 2016 when she launched her line Alexachung, and most recently designed an eyewear collection with Sunglasses Hut. Despite being a model, a designer and a style icon, Alexa confessed she has felt like an 'imposter' in the fashion spheres. She told BBC News: 'It's not exclusive to fashion, I've felt it with everything I've done. 'Writing for Vogue, that's a huge imposter syndrome. Television, every day before we went live, I'd be like, "am I equipped to do this? I don't know".' She's the comedian and actress known for her effortlessly chic style. And Rebel Wilson demonstrated her sartorial prowess yet again on Sunday when she arrived on the red carpet with Sam Smith at the Givenchy runway show in Paris. The Isn't It Romantic star, who turned 39 over the weekend, wore a custom mini-dress designed by Givenchy's creative director Clare Waight Keller. Scroll down for video Fancy seeing you here! Rebel Wilson (left) looked stylish in a monochrome mini-dress while posing with her friend Sam Smith (right) at the Givenchy runway show in Paris on Sunday Her famous curves were on display in the bold frock, which featured long sleeves and black and white panels down the front. The Pitch Perfect star completed her ensemble with a quirky white leather belt bag and a pair of open-toe pumps. For makeup, Rebel enhanced her pout with a dark taupe shade of lipstick and added a swipe of apricot-hued blush to her cheeks. So chic! The blonde actress wore a custom mini-dress designed by Givenchy's creative director Clare Waight Keller Bold look! Rebel's famous curves were on display in the bold frock, which featured long sleeves and black and white panels down the front Meanwhile, Sam looked typically dapper in a white duster coat layered over an electric pink dress shirt and white T-shirt. Rebel and Sam beamed as they posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet, before embracing for a friendly hug. Meanwhile, Rebel is celebrating the success of her new film, Isn't It Romantic, which arrived on Netflix last week. Black-and-white on the mark! The Pitch Perfect star completed her ensemble with a quirky white leather belt bag and a pair of open-toe pumps Fashionable friends: Meanwhile, Sam looked typically dapper in a white duster coat layered over an electric pink dress shirt and white T-shirt Rebel, stars as Natalie, a woman who grew up idolising the 1990 film Pretty Woman, only to be told by her mother she is 'no Julia Roberts'. Her life changes when she's mugged on the NYC subway system, causing her to run into a pole and knock herself out while trying to escape her attacker. When she finally comes to, she notices 'someone has put a beauty filter across New York City'. Suddenly, Natalie finds herself living in one of the romantic comedies she grew up watching - and it isn't long before she attracts an impossibly handsome suitor. Bring it in! Rebel and Sam beamed as they posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet, before embracing for a friendly hug South Korea's total fertility rate has hit a record low of 0.98 in 2018, a clear warning Asia's fourth-largest economy may face a population decline. The 2018 figure is far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 51 million and also represents a sharp drop from the 4.53 of 1970, when the government began to compile data. South Korea's crude birthrate - the number of births per 1000 people per year - also came to an all-time low of 6.4 in 2018. "Total fertility rate of less than 1 is extremely low and means the population could decline at a very fast pace in the next 30 to 60 years," Kim Jin, director of Statistics Korea's vital statistics division, said. South Korea is the only country among members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development where the total fertility rate fell below 1, Kim pointed out, though there's no OECD data on 2017 and 2018. The average total fertility rate of the group of 36 mostly rich nations stood at 1.68 as of 2016, the latest year for which statistics are available. The number of newborns in South Korea came to 326,900 in 2018, down 8.6 per cent, or 30,900, from 2017. Last year's figure also marked the lowest number of newborns since record keeping began. The decline in childbirths is blamed on a sharp fall in the number of marriages and a growing number of women who are unmarried in recent years. The number of people tying the knot hit a record low of 257,700 in 2018, marking the seventh-straight year of decline. Some young South Koreans are opting to distance themselves from life's three major milestones - dating, marriage and having children - because they cannot find decent jobs amid a prolonged economic slowdown. Kim said the portion of single women aged 30 to 34 jumped to 37.5 per cent in 2015, up from 10.7 per cent in 2000. The NSW government has promised to deliver an extra 100,000 free TAFE courses for young job seekers and mature workers looking to upskill or return to the workforce. The latest pre-election sweetener comes less than a month before NSW voters head to the polls, and includes a pledge to build a new $80 million TAFE campus in western Sydney. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said the additional courses will be delivered over the next four years and help address the unprecedented demand for more skilled workers in the state. Of the 100,000 free courses, 70,000 will be for young job seekers and 30,000 for mature-aged workers. "We know the costs associated with further education and training can be prohibitive, so these additional free courses will ensure people who wish to access training to start their career or secure another job have the best opportunity," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement. The new western Sydney TAFE will produce 700 new tradies each year and will deliver training in key areas of skills shortage like carpentry, construction, electrical and plumbing. NSW Opposition skills spokeswoman Prue Car was critical of the announcement arguing the coalition has made TAFE unaffordable and inaccessible. "They have intentionally tried to create a market where TAFE has had to compete with private providers and that has put TAFE at such a disadvantage that it has almost been entirely destroyed and now at the last minute they come in with all this money, it is disingenuous to say the least," Ms Car told AAP on Wednesday. As Bradley Button neared the end of the rice in his Singapore Airlines meal, there was a sickening crunch. He spat out what was in his mouth and there it was - a tooth that was not his. "I threw my guts up," Mr Button told AAP. "For the rest of the flight I was not well, just the idea of having someone else's body part in my food is not nice." Mr Button was on his way home to Melbourne from Wellington aboard flight SQ248 on Tuesday after a short trip visiting a friend, when the stomach-churning incident occurred. "The flight attendant that attended to me was adamant that she needed to take it away for testing and was trying to tell me that it was a small rock, when it was without a shadow of a doubt a tooth," he said. "Then I was given a $75 voucher that I could only use on duty free in Singapore Airlines flights." Mr Button said he talked to the passenger next to him who also thought it was a chipped tooth and has confirmed the story to AAP. Mr Button took photos which show a small object resembling a molar tooth. Singapore Airlines has apologised to Mr Button for the experience and the object will be tested in Melbourne. "We are currently investigating this incident and have sent the object for analysis. Once the results of the analysis are known, we will determine what the most appropriate course of action to take is," a spokesman said in a statement. "We expect all of our meals to meet a consistently high standard and we are disappointed in this discovery." A Darwin surgeon who held a knife to the throat of a taxi driver in a road-rage incident has received a jail sentence, but will be allowed to spend it in home detention. Orthopaedic surgeon Karthik Thangaraj, who appeared in court in handcuffs, was described by his lawyer Peter Maley as someone with a strong work ethic and "caring bedside manner". He has been in custody for almost four weeks and was sentenced in Darwin Local Court on Tuesday to six months jail. But it was suspended, with the surgeon ordered to spend two months in home detention. Thangaraj was driving into the Casuarina Club bottle shop car park on June 22 last year as taxi driver Gurinder Singh was exiting in his taxi van and there was not enough room for both cars. A stand-off ensued with neither giving away. "You pulled out a steel folding knife, walked up to the driver's side of the taxi, shouting and arguing, held the taxi driver's arm and held the knife against his throat," Judge Elisabeth Armitage said in sentencing. "This was a very serious incident of aggravated assault in that it involved a weapon and an attack on a taxi driver, which is a vulnerable position in the community." Mr Singh was pinned to his car seat and said he could feel the blade against his skin. A nearby bottle shop worker intervened, confronting Thangaraj who took the knife away from Mr Singh's neck and drove off. Police quickly caught up with Thangaraj and spoke to him, but he initially denied any involvement and in a full interview later made only some admissions, Judge Armitage said. Mr Maley said colleagues and friends had provided strong references for Thangaraj, describing his conduct as "outrageously out of character". He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon. However, he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said his lawyer, who provided documents that Thangaraj's surgeon wife had helped collate about his mental health issues and "stressors" in his life at the time. It was also revealed in court on Tuesday that Thangaraj is facing a separate criminal charge of obtaining benefit by deception. He previously faced court in 2014, when he was convicted for high-range drink driving after blowing 0.215 - more than four times the limit - at 11am after a big night out drinking sake, the Japanese rice wine. THE NRL'S OFF-SEASON FROM HELL * September 4 - Pictures are published of Canterbury players dancing nude during their Mad Monday celebrations. The club was fined $250,000 and Adam Elliott and Asipeli Fine both pleaded guilty to wilful and obscene exposure. * September 30 - Jarryd Hayne is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman after travelling to her home in the Hunter region on NRL grand final night. He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty. * October 1 - Greg Inglis is charged with speeding and drink-driving while returning from an indigenous tournament in Dubbo. He was stripped of the Australian captaincy and handed an 18-month good behaviour bond. * October 13 - Parramatta's Jaeman Salmon is charged with drink driving after a traffic accident in which he flipped his car and hit three parked vehicles. He was convicted and disqualified from driving for six months. He has also been stood down from round one and fined $10,000. * November 24 - Wests Tigers' Zane Musgrove and Penrith's Liam Coleman are involved in an alleged incident at a Coogee hotel. The pair have pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman. * December 2 - Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti suffers a broken leg after being knocked out in a fight outside a pub. He was not charged by police but is fined $25,000. * December 6 - Dylan Walker is charged with common assault following an alleged domestic violence incident at his Dee Why home. He has pleaded not guilty. His partner has retracted her original statements made to police in which she claimed he pulled her hair, causing her to fall. * December 13 - Jack de Belin is charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman. He has pleaded not guilty. * December 21 - Six Cronulla lower-grade players are involved in a scuffle at the Cronulla Sailing Club. The nightclub banned the entire Sharks playing group. The six players were all fined. * December 25 - Brisbane's Myles Taueli shatters a man's jaw with a coward punch only weeks after being drafted into the Broncos' top 30 squad. He has been convicted of assault, jailed for two years and has had his Broncos contract torn up. * December 26 - Newcastle's Tautau Moga allegedly slaps a taxi driver. He has been charged with common assault and will appear in court on March 21. * December 30 - Wests Tigers utility Michael Chee Kam is alleged to have punched a ride share driver. He has been charged with common assault. * January 7 - Scott Bolton pleads guilty to common assault after grabbing a woman's upper thigh at a Sydney bar. He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond. * January 11 - The first of three lewd videos involving Dylan Napa emerge on the internet, all of which show the Queensland prop engaging in a sexual act. * January 15 - A video emerges of Corey Norman watching on as a man snorts a white substance off a plate. Norman was sanctioned by the NRL for the video in 2016. * February 1 - Ben Barba is sacked by North Queensland after the club views CCTV of an alleged domestic incident at a Townsville casino. He has been handed a life ban by the NRL. * February 20 - Brisbane's Payne Haas is stood down for four games and fined $20,000 for failing to comply with an integrity unit investigation. Aboriginal residents from a remote community have won compensation after suing the Northern Territory government over the state of their houses. The case that could lead to many millions of dollars more in taxpayer funds going to claims if some of the NT's other communities also sue. The Eastern Arrernte people of Santa Teresa near Alice Springs sued on the basis that their homes were uninhabitable due to neglect. The NT's Housing Department failed to action more than 600 urgent repairs in often overcrowded houses, the class action said. One of the worst proven cases involved resident Jasmine Cavanagh having a blocked toilet and leaking shower for 269 days, during which time sewage water leaked through her family's home. Enid and Gerald Young's household did not have an air conditioner for at least 540 days, in a region where heat is extreme. Alice Springs had 16 days in a row above 42 degrees last month. The government counter-sued for unpaid rental debts and was at one stage claiming $2 million, or an average $21,000 for each of Santa Teresa's households. However, the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) ruled that the government had breached its tenancy agreement and failed its legal obligations to provide safe, healthy and habitable public housing in remote communities. Four households were examined but the compensation will apply to all 70 Santa Teresa households part of the class action, with rough estimates of about $350,000 in taxpayer funds to be paid. NTCAT tribunal member Les McCrimmon also ruled that NT Housing had no evidence to prove its counterclaim about the specific amounts of unpaid rent it claimed it was owed by tenants. The residents' lawyer Dan Kelly was highly critical of the government accusing it of not even maintaining a rental register - which was "extraordinary" - to prove those debts and acting like a "law unto themselves". "They need to act, comply with the residential tenancy act .... doing repairs and maintenance in a timely fashion, signing up vulnerable people to a whole bunch of agreements and not taking care to make sure they do understand." he told AAP. There are about 70 remote indigenous communities in the Territory that would also be entitled to compensation, he said, exposing the government financially to those with similar issues. Litigation funders Grata's head of strategic litigation Lou Dargan warned it would work with Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights to investigate the potential for similar action in other communities. The department would not comment, while Housing Minister Gerry McCarthy blamed the previous Country Liberal Government which was in power when the class action started in 2016. "The Territory Labor Government acknowledges the historic underfunding of remote housing and went into the election with a 10-year, $1.1 billion plan to reduce overcrowding and improve housing in remote communities," he said. The Commonwealth has committed $550 million, but a spat has broken down over that money between Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and the Territory government. Today's Birthday, February 28: Wife of Australia's 22nd prime minister Tamie Fraser (1936-) For a woman who openly admitted she didn't enjoy politics, Tamie Fraser was a force to be reckoned with in Canberra. The wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was often dismissed, sometimes by herself, as decorative and "boo boo" prone but in reality she was a sparkling asset to a man who was thought to be one of the nation's more stern leaders. Born on February 28 1936, Tamara Beggs grew up on a grazing property in western Victoria. After attending boarding school at Hermitage Girls' Grammar she returned home, where she met Malcolm Fraser, then federal parliament's youngest MP, at a woolshed dance. The pair married in 1956, making a pact that politics would be his responsibility and family would be hers. But during the crucial election campaign of 1975, following the dramatic dismissal of the Whitlam government, it was Tamie who deputised for her ill husband. Despite having four children to care for, Tamie gave speeches, shook hands and carried the torch on behalf of the Liberal Party - a role she continued into her husband's prime ministership. "Once your husband is prime minister, you have an obligation to let the people know what you are like," she once told the Australian Women's Weekly though she had previously labelled the experience hard and admitted she felt like public property. Tamie was the first prime minister's wife to engage an official secretary and spent much of her time answering the voluminous correspondence that came her way. When contacted with pleas for help in dealing with government bureaucracy she would often send on the request to the appropriate department before phoning to follow up on the status of the case. On arriving at The Lodge, the Canberra home of Australia's prime ministers, Tamie pronounced it "drab". Following a trip to the US where she was inspired by the work of Jacqueline Kennedy in furnishing the White House with items of historical significance, she established The Australiana Fund in 1977 and became its first president. The fund aimed to raise money to help buy items of historical significance to furnish Australia's official residences so they could become places Australians could be proud of. For her services to the community, including her exhaustive charity work, Tamie was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004. Despite losing her beloved husband in 2015, Tamie carried on his work, especially as an advocate for refugees, becoming a patron of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, of which her husband had long been a supporter, in 2017. That same year she used World Refugee Day to criticise the current Liberal government's stance on refugees - showing she still carried political clout. "It's not ok to treat refugees as they're being treated in Australia at this time," she told the ABC. Sam Kerr nabbed her first goals as Australian captain and Lisa De Vanna erased any doubts about her worth to the Matildas in Sunday night's 4-1 defeat of South Korea. The Matildas are set to win the Cup of Nations after a second morale-boosting result of Ante Milicic's tenure, sealed by a super strike by Emily Gielnik. In Brisbane, pace was the difference. Kerr stole in front of Korean defenders twice in the first half, winning a penalty for an early opener before racing onto a poor backpass to blast into the net in stoppage time. Lisa De Vanna's back-post finish was also the result of hard work - bustling runs through the middle from Hayley Raso and Tameka Butt before the veteran arrived to tap home a saved shot from Butt. The goal ended a run of 12 internationals without a goal for De Vanna, Australia's leading scorer. De Vanna was sharp but, on Kerr's performance, it won't be long until the Western Australian, nine years her junior, takes over her mantle. The Matildas' superstar was a constant menace to the Korean defence and, courtesy of Emily van Egmond's superb lofted deliveries, also had headed chances to add to her tally. Milicic made six changes to his team who defeated New Zealand 2-0 in Sydney on Thursday without a major performance drop-off, although Alanna Kennedy's absence with calf tightness left Australia's defence wanting on a couple of occasions. That was evident when a communication breakdown left Ellie Carpenter conceding a free kick just outside the box for South Korea's goal. Chelsea stalwart Ji So-yun, who scored a double in South Korea's 5-0 rout of Argentina on Thursday, produced a curling strike from the deal ball that beat Mackenzie Arnold. There was no shortage of chances in the second half, although it wasn't until Milicic made his sixth substitution that the Matildas added a fourth. Gielnik, in career-best form, dummied her marker and unleashed a strike from wide that left Kim Jung-mi no chance. The emphatic result means Australia need only to avoid defeat against Argentina on the final match day to claim the tournament. The South Americans, the world No.36, lost to New Zealand 2-0 in the opening match at Suncorp Stadium. A long-awaited free trade deal between Australia and Indonesia is set to be signed in Jakarta. The landmark deal to bring new access to markets for agriculture and education will be signed on Monday by Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, and his Indonesian counterpart Enggartiasto Lukita. This is a good deal for Indonesia in terms of growing their economic opportunity and investment," Senator Birmingham told reporters in Launceston on Friday. "This is a great opportunity for our education providers, health and financial services providers as well, to be able to have easier access into Indonesia, better regulatory conditions to do business." The trade deal was meant to be signed last year, with negotiations concluding in August. But the signing was delayed when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government was considering moving Australia's Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. The free trade deal is Indonesia's first major agreement of its type and will allow Australian-owned universities to operate in the country. Senator Birmingham said Australian frozen meats, live cattle, feed grains, dairy, citrus and rolled steel would receive favourable treatment under the agreement. Mr Morrison said on Twitter that the deal would take the economic relationship between the nations to a new level, while his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull was pleased the agreement was to be signed "at last". Election observers have reported instances of vote-buying, intimidation and violence Muhammadu Buhari was on Wednesday re-elected Nigeria's president after a delayed poll that angered voters and raised political temperatures - but the opposition immediately vowed to challenge the "sham" result in court. It was the second victory at the ballot box for Buhari, a one-time military ruler who in 2015 was elected to lead Africa's most-populous nation and leading oil producer. With ballots counted in all of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Buhari, 76, triumphed with some 15.2 million votes over his nearest rival Atiku Abubakar, who trailed by nearly four million votes. "Muhammadu Buhari... is hereby declared winner and is returned elected," Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced early Wednesday. However, Abubakar on Wednesday rejected the result of the vote, which has been marred by claims of rigging and corruption. "If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South," he said in a statement. "I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court." Buhari, meanwhile, thanked Nigerians for re-electing him "for the next four years", saying he was "deeply humbled and profoundly grateful. Addressing supporters and party leaders at his All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign headquarters, he called his win "another victory for Nigerian democracy." "The new administration will intensify its efforts in security, restructuring the economy and fighting corruption," he said. - 'Up we go!' - Supporters had gathered outside the party's offices in the capital Abuja late Tuesday as it became clear that Buhari had an unassailable lead, dancing and singing "We're popping champagne!" Supporters gathered outside the party's offices in the capital Abuja as it became clear that Buhari had an unassailable lead Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo appeared in a video clip singing "Up we go!" in a reference to Buhari and his "Next Level" campaign slogan. But there were none of the spontaneous street parties that marked his victory four years ago, when he became Nigeria's first opposition candidate to beat an incumbent president. To win the presidency, a candidate needs a majority of votes nationwide and at least 25 percent of support in two-thirds of the states plus the FCT. The results showed Buhari won 15,191,847 votes (56 percent) while Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 11,262,978 votes (41 percent). Buhari won in 19 states -- including the two most populous, Lagos and Kano -- while Abubakar was victorious in 17 states and the FCT. - Legal challenge? - In 2015, president Goodluck Jonathan won plaudits for conceding to Buhari in a phone call, when the results indicated he could not win. The concession is acknowledged as having prevented a repeat of the deadly violence that has marked previous elections in Nigeria. This year's election -- the sixth in the 20 years since the return of civilian rule after decades of military government -- was initially scheduled for February 16. But INEC postponed them for one week just hours before polls were due to open, citing logistical difficulties in delivering ballot boxes and other election materials. People watch a live broadcast of election results in Port Harcourt, in the south of Nigeria Voting took place on Saturday after a week in which the APC and PDP intensified their war of words, accusing the other of conspiring with INEC to rig the result. The PDP claimed data from handheld devices used to authenticate voters' identities at nearly 120,000 polling units had been altered in favour of the ruling party. It called for the results in at least two states to be re-run and for a reversal of the cancellation of tens of thousands of "valid, legal" votes elsewhere. Observers also pointed out discrepancies in declared tallies. - Voter apathy - The vote was marred by violence, including 53 deaths, according to the Situation Room, an umbrella group of more than 70 civil society groups that monitored polling. Muhammadu Buhari Some observers reported instances of vote-buying, intimidation and violence towards voters and officials, which have been a problem in previous polls in Nigeria. The issues will likely prompt calls for electoral reform, including the introduction of technology capable of directly transmitting results from polling units. A total of 72.7 million people were eligible to vote in the presidential poll as well as parliamentary elections held at the same time. Low voter turnout -- in some places as low as 18 percent -- was blamed on a combination of apathy because of the delay, organisational and logistical problems, as well as unrest. Cardinal Pell is the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell will spend his first night behind bars Wednesday following his historic conviction for child sex crimes, capping an extraordinary fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. Once among Pope Francis' closest advisers and the most senior Catholic cleric ever found guilty of child sex crimes, Pell returned to court for a pre-sentencing hearing a day after his conviction was made public on Tuesday. The 77-year-old is facing up to 50 years' jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault of two choirboys in the sacristy of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in 1996-97, shortly after Pell became archbishop of Melbourne. Pell, who has lodged an appeal against the verdict, will be sentenced on March 13. His lawyers earlier Wednesday withdrew an application for bail following his conviction, saying the cleric "believes it is appropriate for him to await sentencing". At Wednesday's hearing, Chief Judge Peter Kidd blasted Pell's behaviour at Saint Patrick's as "callous, brazen offending". "I think it did involve breach of trust... he exploited two vulnerable young boys. They were entrusted into the care of the church... and the person who stood at the top of that was your client," he said. Arguing that Pell should receive a substantial punishment, Crown Prosecutor Mark Gibson said the cleric had "shown no remorse" nor "taken responsibility for his actions". Australian Catholic church sex abuse findings "There has been a breach of trust... Cardinal Pell was the driving force... and in charge of the cathedral, and these choristers were cogs in the cathedral wheel," Gibson said. But defence lawyers issued a statement following the hearing insisting that "despite the unprecedented media coverage, Cardinal Pell has always and continues to maintain his innocence. "Like any person he has the right to pursue his legal rights and will do so." Pell's barrister, Robert Richter, argued in court for a short prison sentence, saying that even if Pell had committed the crimes, they were no more than a "plain vanilla sexual penetration case where a child is not volunteering". He stressed that Pell had received 10 supporting character references from individuals such as former prime minister John Howard and that "none of them believe him capable of" the crimes for which he was convicted. "This is a court of law, not a court of morals," he told Judge Kidd. - 'Breach of trust' - The conviction of Pell, long a prominent and conservative voice in Australia, has rocked the nation and dominated the news. In chaotic scenes, a large media pack and crowd confronted the cardinal as he arrived at court Wednesday morning, with one protester screaming: "You're a maggot, Pell, you rot in hell." "You're the devil," You're evil... you're a paedophile," "criminal", "monster", "May you rot in hell," protesters shouted. It was just after Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti announced on Twitter that Pell had been removed from his position as chief of Vatican finances, the third-most powerful position in the Church. Protesters outside court where Cardinal George Pell was due for a pre-sentencing hearing Pell was found guilty in December of assaulting the two choirboys, but the verdict was only revealed Tuesday after a second trial against him was abandoned by prosecutors, allowing a gag order to be lifted. Pell's appeal will be based on three grounds -- that the jury verdict was unreasonable, that there were issues with how the jury was formed and that the defence had not been allowed to show jurors an animation illustrating the movements of people in the cathedral on the day of the alleged assault. The Court of Appeal process, which could last up to a year, will see a bench usually made up of three judges review the same evidence that the jurors were presented with in the earlier trial. Criminal law expert Jeremy Gans of the University of Melbourne told AFP the judges could question the jury's conclusions based on the fact that the case was based on only one person's -- the surviving victim's -- testimony. The other choirboy, who died of a drug overdose in 2014, had never told his parents he was abused. The Catholic Church could face a civil suit from the father of the deceased victim, who said via his lawyer Tuesday that the cleric had "blood on his hands". During the trial, the court had heard that Pell abused the two boys after catching them swigging from a bottle of sacramental wine. He exposed himself and forced one of them to perform oral sex on him, and fondled the boy's genitals while masturbating. US Vice President Mike Pence (right) meets in Bogota with Venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared acting president Juan Guaido A month after Donald Trump declared Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro to be an illegitimate president, the leftist firebrand is still clinging to power and options for the United States look increasingly narrow. President Trump, in a rare global crisis in which he has enjoyed strong international backing, on January 23 recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president as Venezuela's economy collapses and millions flee to neighboring countries. The Trump administration has recently taken more brazen action. It has blocked the Maduro government's lifeblood by freezing accounts of Citgo, Venezuela's oil company in the United States, and over the weekend backed efforts to force in badly needed aid through Colombia and Brazil, sparking a border melee in which four people were killed and hundreds injured. Yet while Maduro is deeply weakened, the military has largely stood by him. And he still enjoys the diplomatic support of China and Russia, with Beijing in particular worried whether an opposition-led Venezuela would repay billions of dollars in loans. "We're in a situation where we have effectively used all the levers we have to pressure the Venezuelan regime in terms of not recognizing President Maduro, imposing sanctions on members of the regime and then effectively taking the nuclear option, which was stopping imports -- given that the United States was the largest cash-paying customer for Venezuelan crude," said Mark P. Jones, a Latin America expert at Rice University. "That was the last lever we had and if Maduro is able to effectively remain in power for a month or two more, he will likely be able to stay for the foreseeable future," he said. Venezuela's long-fractious opposition has rallied around the fresh leadership of 35-year-old Guaido, who met Monday in Colombia with US President Mike Pence. But Jones said Maduro is calculating that the opposition will again fragment if the crisis drags on long enough and that he can eventually find new sources of revenue. A US official said Washington was looking at new sanctions, explaining, "We can't have another Cuba." But a full-out blockade of Venezuela, as the United States pursued for decades in Cuba, would likely draw resistance in the region. - Threats of force - A Brazilian army soldier talks to Venezuelans who crossed into the country at Roraima state, among the millions who have fled Venezuela's crumbling economy Trump has openly mused of military intervention but has faced vocal pushback from allies including Canada, which took a leading role in recognizing Guaido, as well as Brazil's new right-wing government which has sought close ties with Washington. Few observers expect an outright US attack, which would rekindle memories of violent US meddling in Latin America -- and could be an operation more like Iraq than Grenada, considering Venezuela's size and complexity. The United States, however, has increased reconnaissance flights off Venezuela, a US official told AFP, while saying that all have been in international air space. "The fact that the military option is gaining more steam is indicative of the fact that there are few clear paths to resolve the current crisis," Risa Grais-Targow, the Eurasia Group consultancy's Latin America director, wrote in a risk report. "Still, even if the possibility of US military intervention has grown at the margins, it remains unlikely," she wrote, noting Trump himself had non-interventionist instincts and little to gain at home through a risky military deployment. For Trump, removing Maduro has offered a politically attractive cause around which to rally the growing Venezuelan American community in the key state of Florida -- and a way to send a message to Maduro ally Cuba. Trump has also vigorously sought to use Venezuela to tarnish domestic foes, trying to link Maduro's socialism to Democrats pushing to reduce US income inequality. - Weakened opposition? - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a pro-government march in Caracas But one side that may have believed Trump on the military option -- the opposition. Guaido had hoped that Saturday's aid mobilization with the support of the United States and Colombia would deliver the "knockout blow" to Maduro, said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank. Instead, Colombia says 300 troops defected from the Venezuelan army. The aid did not get through despite warnings to Venezuela of the Trump administration, which in effect made clear it wants a political, rather than military, solution. "Somehow, they did not coordinate properly with the Venezuelan opposition and were caught in their own bluff regarding military action," said David Smilde, a senior fellow specializing in Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank that promotes human rights. "The result is a seriously weakened opposition, without a clear direction." Shifter said that Guaido will have to persevere despite the pressure, "which is no easy task." "Support for the regime is no doubt eroding, but its collapse may take more time than initially thought." A premature baby boy, who weighed 268 grams at birth, is shown at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo A baby born in Tokyo weighing the same as a large onion has gone home healthy, becoming the smallest newborn boy in the world to leave hospital safely. The tiny tot weighed just 268 grams -- under 10 ounces -- when he was delivered at 24 weeks, reportedly after he stopped growing in the womb. He was so small he fit in an adult's cupped hands. But after five months of treatment, he now weighs 3.238 kilos, is feeding normally, and has been discharged, Keio University Hospital said. "I can only say I'm happy that he has grown this big because honestly, I wasn't sure he could survive," the boy's mother said. Doctor Takeshi Arimitsu, who treated the infant, said he wanted to tell people that "there is a possibility that babies will be able to leave the hospital in good health even though they are born small". Keio University Hospital said the boy was believed to now hold the record for the smallest newborn boy to be discharged from a hospital in good health. The record was previously held by a boy born in Germany in 2009 weighing just 274 grams, the hospital said, citing a registry put together by University of Iowa for the world's tiniest surviving babies. After five months of treatment, the baby boy now weighs 3.238 kilos, is feeding normally and has been discharged from Keio University Hospital The smallest surviving girl was born in Germany in 2015 weighing 252 grams, according to the registry. The survival rate of the smallest babies is substantially lower for boys compared with girls. Experts are still not entirely sure why, though there have been suggestions it could be partly related to the slower development of lungs in male babies, Keio hospital said. The baby was discharged last week, two months after his initial due date, local media said. Japan has one of the world's lowest rates of infant mortality, according to UNICEF. More than three dozen people may still be trapped at the site in the Bolaang Mongondow after an illegal gold mine collapsed Indonesian rescuers scrambled Wednesday to find dozens buried in the collapse of an illegal gold mine that killed at least four people, the disaster agency said. The effort to save survivors at the remote site on Sulawesi island was hampered by steep terrain and unstable soil conditions after the collapse triggered a landslide Tuesday evening, it said. Four people have been found dead while 19 others were pulled from the rubble alive on Wednesday with minor and serious injuries, according to officials. "Dozens of people were mining for gold at this location when suddenly beams and supporting boards broke due to unstable soil conditions," said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Efforts to evacuate the victims were hampered by unstable ground conditions due to the large number of holes dug by the miners More than three dozen people may still be trapped at the site in the Bolaang Mongondow region of North Sulawesi, where some five miners were killed in December after an illegal gold mine accident. The mineral-rich Southeast Asian nation has scores of unlicensed mining sites and safety regulations are routinely flouted. Some of the still-buried victims were responding to rescuers' calls but it was not clear how many were still alive. Ground conditions at the mine were unstable due to the large number of holes dug by the miners, officials said. "We still have hope. When we called them they still responded from down there, asking for help," local disaster agency official Abdul Muin Paputungan said. "We can't use heavy machinery because the location is very steep... it could endanger the victims," Paputungan said. Rescuers were trying to get water to the buried miners but feared a wrong move could make the situation worse. "There are a lot of challenges because the rocks that fell are in a very dangerous position," Paputungan said. "We're trying to be extra careful." Local hospital chief Wahdiana Mantang said nine patients had been released after the accident and several others were being treated for injuries. "They're suffering from lacerations, gashes and some have broken bones," she added. Environmentalists called on local officials to enforce regulations and safety measures in response to the accident. "We predicted this was going to happen," said Theo Runtuwene, a local director for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment. "The area is mountainous and (miners) dug holes there, which is extremely risky... There are dozens of sites in North Sulawesi where the ground is very unstable, especially during the rainy season," he added. In 2016, 11 miners died after a mudslide engulfed an illegal gold mine in Sumatra's Jambi province. A year earlier, 12 people were killed when a shaft collapsed after they tunnelled into a disused gold mine on Java island. The wife of one of the policemen killed wept at the hospital where the bodies were taken Two Thai policemen were executed after being abducted from a tea shop in the kingdom's violent southern borderlands, police said Wednesday, as bloodshed again spikes in a 15-year insurgency. Clashes between ethnic Malay-Muslim rebels and the forces from the Buddhist-majority Thai state which annexed the region a century ago have killed nearly 7,000 people since 2004, mostly civilians. The death toll dropped to a record low last year as Thailand's junta tightened its security web and militant attacks on civilians have become less frequent. But tit-for-tat violence has spiralled in recent weeks leaving imams and Buddhist monks dead and hitting security forces protecting schools. On Tuesday around eight suspected militants stormed a tea shop in Narathiwat province, near Malaysia's border, Lieutenant Sarayuth Khotchawong told AFP. "The kidnappers abducted the two policemen, took their guns and forced them to get into a pick-up truck," Sarayuth said. The bodies were found later a few hundred metres away. One of the victims was Buddhist while the other was Muslim, he said. The wife of the Muslim policeman wept inconsolably as she arrived Wednesday at the hospital where the bodies were taken. The bodies of two Thai policemen were found near the tea house in the country's south, where they were abducted The killings occurred several hours after a bomb exploded in neighbouring Yala province, killing a Thai ranger on patrol. Authorities said the attacks were likely retaliation after authorities launched raids in nearby mountains to pursue those responsible for recent assaults on soft targets. In January black-clad assailants shot dead two monks. Militants also killed four civil defence volunteers in a drive-by shooting outside a school. Security forces injured a boy as they gunned down rebels in counter-operations. Claims of responsibility are rare in a conflict where the militants melt into remote communities or cross the porous border into Malaysia. Peace talks have gone nowhere with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), who command the majority of rebel foot soldiers refusing to join discussions with the Thai side. Thailand remains unwilling to cede ground in public on demands for greater autonomy or allow international observers to mediate talks. In a rare public statement on January 4 the BRN vowed to "keep fighting". On July 4 North Korea tested an ICBM capable of reaching Alaska, calling it an independence day gift for 'American bastards' North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday for a second summit with US President Donald Trump on the nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles Pyongyang has spent decades developing. Here are the key steps in Pyongyang's banned military programmes, that have seen multiple sets of sanctions imposed on the regime. - The beginnings, 1970s - North Korea starts working in the late 1970s on a version of the Soviet Scud-B missile with a range of around 300 kilometres (200 miles), carrying out a first test in 1984. Between 1987 and 1992, it begins developing longer-range missiles, including the Taepodong-1 (2,500 km) and Taepodong-2 (6,700 km). The Taepodong-1 is test-fired over Japan in 1998 but the following year, Pyongyang declares a moratorium on such tests as ties with the United States improve. - First nuclear test in 2006 - It ends the moratorium in 2005, blaming the Bush administration's "hostile" policy, and carries out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006. In May 2009, there is a second underground nuclear test, several times more powerful than the first. Kim Jong Un succeeds his father Kim Jong Il -- who dies in December 2011 -- and oversees a third nuclear test in 2013. - 2016, Japanese waters reached - Pyongyang carries out its fourth and fifth nuclear tests in January and September 2016. In between, it test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile and launches a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time. - 2017, missiles and threats - The North carries out a series of missile launches, with progressively longer ranges and some falling into the Sea of Japan. Kim Jong Un celebrates after the successful test of the ICBM in 2017 On July 4 it tests an ICBM capable of reaching Alaska, calling it an independence day gift for "American bastards". Hours after US President Donald Trump threatens Pyongyang on August 8 with "fire and fury", the North says it is considering launches towards US strategic military installations in Guam. - Biggest blast yet - On September 3, North Korea conducts its sixth and by far its largest nuclear test. Estimates of the yield vary with some ranging as high as 250 kilotons, 16 times the size of the 15-kiloton US bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. On November 20, Washington declares North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism, a day before hitting the isolated regime with fresh sanctions. The same month, the North launches a new Hwasong-15 ICBM, which analysts agree is capable of reaching the whole US mainland, although they voice scepticism that Pyongyang has mastered the advanced technology needed to allow the warhead to survive re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. - 2018 Olympic detente triggers thaw - In his New Year speech in 2018, Kim says the North has completed the development of its nuclear force. South Korean President Moon Jae-in uses the Winter Olympics in his country to catalyse a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. At a party meeting on April 20, Pyongyang declares a moratorium on nuclear blasts and ICBM launches and says the atomic test site at Punggye-ri is no longer needed and will be dismantled. In May the North invites a handful of foreign media to see the site's entrances blown up. - Singapore swing - At his landmark summit with the US president in Singapore on June 12 last year, Kim signs a vague deal on the "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". But in the following months both sides disagree about what the term means. Celebrations in Pyongyang in 2017, after North Korea tested a bomb some experts say is 16 times the size of the one that destroyed Hiroshima After a summit between Moon and Kim in Pyongyang in September, the South Korean leader says the North has offered to dismantle a key nuclear complex in Yongbyon -- if the US takes "corresponding measures". A 2019 report by the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation says Pyongyang has continued to produce nuclear material, estimating its arsenal at 35 to 37 atomic bombs. Church officals insist they are not helping foot the bill for George Pell's legal defence Cardinal George Pell has been represented by one of Australia's most experienced, and expensive, defence attorneys during a year of legal proceedings, racking up a bill experts estimate will top Aus$3 million. Pell may have been in charge of the Vatican finances until this week's revelation that he had been convicted of sexual assault against two choirboys in the 1990s, but church officials insist they are not helping pay the bill. Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli said neither his archdiocese, where Pell served at the time of the assaults, nor "any other church body" was paying the legal costs. "I imagine it is very expensive, but as far as I understand, that's come from private sources," Comensoli told the national broadcaster, ABC. Pell's lead attorney, Robert Richter, is one of Australia's most well-known defence barristers, and has represented the Cardinal since before committal hearings began in early March, 2018. Legal sources familiar with Richter's practice say he charges clients Aus$15,000 (US$10,800) per day, and works with two to three junior associates who cost an additional Aus$5,000 per day each. That team represented Pell through two weeks of committal hearings, preparations and court appearances through one trial in September which ended in a hung jury. They also represented Pell in the second trial which ended with his unanimous conviction in December on five charges of sexual and indecent assault against the choirboys in Melbourne's Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The team also defended Pell in this week's sentencing hearings and will represent him on appeal, a process expected to last several more months. Richter raised eyebrows Wednesday when he urged the court to impose a short prison sentence -- arguing even if Pell had committed the crimes, they were no more than a "plain vanilla sexual penetration case where a child is not volunteering". Legal experts said the total bill for his defence would likely exceed Aus$3 million. In the absence of Church funding, Pell -- the son of a publican who has spent his professional life in the Church -- has turned to private donations to pay those bills. Supporters set up a fund to gather donations shortly after Pell was first charged by Victoria state police in June 2017. The fund had the support of the Institute for Public Affairs, a well-connected conservative think tank, and the Catholic Weekly magazine published by the Archdiocese of Sydney, where Pell also served, has regularly advertised for donations. Donors to the fund have remained anonymous, but high-profile supporters of Pell have included figures like former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard and a stable of conservative media commentators. Howard was one of 10 people who submitted character references in favour of the disgraced cleric to a pre-sentencing hearing on Wednesday. Yangon has lent its colonial-style buildings and golden temple spires to Line Walker 2 Cars dangling from cranes, street shootouts and actors rappelling from roofs -- Yangon residents were transfixed this week by the filming of a big-budget Hong Kong action movie around the city's iconic Sule pagoda. Yangon has lent the charm of its colonial-style buildings and golden temple spires to Line Walker 2 -- the sequel to the 2016 blockbuster of the same name which grossed $90 million worldwide. Line Walker 2 stars Hong Kong heartthrob Louis Koo and Nick Cheung. The final day of shooting drew hundreds of locals wearing the sarong-like longyi as well as a long line of robed monks crowding onto overhead pedestrian passes, craning for a view of a choreographed gunfight. The final day of shooting near Sule Pagoda drew hundreds of curious locals "It is amazing to see cars flying in the air, like in the big films," Sai Mine, who was visiting Yangon from northern Shan State, told AFP. The 25-year-old had heard about the filming and begged her sisters to take her to Sule Pagoda where the smouldering remains of a car lay nearby. Myanmar actors were cast as well, and Aung Myint Myat said he got the "amazing" opportunity to play a SWAT team leader in the film. "I'm really proud of it," he told AFP. Amateur filmmaker Thar Nge expressed delight at the chance to witness the day-long process to film a scene that plays out in seconds on the silver screen. Myanmar actors were cast as well, with one saying played a SWAT team leader in the film "I am a big fan of action and adventure films and it is amazing for me to be able to see these moments," the 22-year-old told AFP. Some were hopeful a big-budget film featuring Yangon's sights could boost tourist numbers. While the number of Chinese tourists increased in 2018, Myanmar has seen a drop in Western visitors following news of the army's crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority in northern Rakhine state. People in Pyongyang gather to read a copy of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showing coverage of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arriving in Vietnam ahead of a Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump North Korea's state media on Wednesday showcased Kim Jong Un's arrival in Hanoi ahead of his second summit with US President Donald Trump, praising the host country's economic development as Kim seeks sanctions relief. Images of Kim are carefully controlled and managed in the isolated North, and swift and detailed coverage of his trips unusual. But more recently -- for his most recent journeys to China and the Singapore summit in June -- reports have been more timely, even featuring fulsome praise for the staunchly capitalist city-state after Kim went on a walkabout ahead of his first meeting with Trump. The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper splashed 13 pictures across its front page and five more on page two as it reported Kim's arrival in Vietnam and his visit to the North Korean embassy in Hanoi. "A jovial atmosphere filled the train station with numerous onlookers including teenage students, cute children and women in traditional dress," it said after his olive green armoured train trundled into a border station. North Korean students read a copy of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper in Pyongyang The Rodong said Kim had received a "detailed report" on preparations for the summit, a photo showing him cigarette in hand, talking to officials including Kim Hyok Chol, Pyongyang's special representative for the US, and Choe Son Hui, vice minister of foreign affairs, who jotted down his words. And with Trump touting Vietnam as a model for the isolated, impoverished North, the paper also lauded the southeast Asian nation's economic development. "Today, Vietnam's ruling party and the government are ... striving for economic reform along with strengthening the socialist regime," it said. "Vietnam has huge potential for economic development." One group picture at the embassy showed Kim sitting in the middle of the front row surrounded by employees and their family members, his arms around two young girls -- one in traditional Korean clothes and the other in a Western-style dress. North Korean diplomats stationed overseas are usually required to leave some family members -- usually children -- behind in Pyongyang to stave off defections. The paper also carried a photo of Pyongyang's Juche tower illuminated against the night sky, reminiscent of the poster for hit Hollywood movie "Sleepless in Seattle" -- although that film, along with all American movies, is banned in North Korea. "Sleepless night in the capital city, wholeheartedly longing for the respected leader," read the caption. Mohammad Javad Zarif has served as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's foreign minister since 2013 and was lead negotiator of a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers that was the marquee policy of his first term Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's resignation on Wednesday, the government's official website said. "I believe your resignation is against the country's interests and do not approve it," Rouhani wrote in a letter to Zarif, the website said. "I consider you, as put by the leader, to be 'trustworthy, brave and pious' and in the forefront of resistance against Americas all-out pressure," he added. referring to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Zarif abruptly tendered his resignation on Instagram on Monday, seemingly over being left out of meetings with visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier in the day, Iran's Entekhab news agency reported. Assad, a major recipient of Iranian aid during his country's nearly eight-year civil war, met with both Khamenei and Rouhani on his rare foreign visit, but not with Zarif. Rouhani praised Zarif's "relentless efforts and endeavours" in bearing the "heavy responsibility" of the foreign affairs portfolio. He stressed that Zarif was the pointman in the conduct of Iran's foreign policy. "As ordered several times, all bodies -- including government or state bodies -- must be in full coordination with this ministry with regards to foreign relations," the president said in his letter. Entekhab said it tried to reach Zarif after Assad's visit and received the following message: "After the photos of today's meetings, Javad Zarif no longer has any credibility in the world as the foreign minister!" French tourist Arthur Desclaux covers his face while leaving in a police car after a court appearance in Naypyidaw. On Wednesday he was been sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour for attempting to fly a drone near Myanmar's parliament A French tourist has been sentenced to one month in prison with labour for attempting to fly a drone near Myanmar's parliament, a court official said Wednesday. Arthur Desclaux, 27, was detained on February 7 in the capital and charged under an export-import law which forbids the use of "banned goods" brought in from abroad without obtaining a license. Myanmar has tight restrictions on drones used in the country, especially around religious and government sites. Desclaux "confessed" his ignorance about these laws, Judge Sulab Yadanar Oo told the courtroom after the hearing. "We gave him a light sentence -- one month imprisonment with labour was given to him as he confessed with sincerity that he was guilty," the judge said. Speaking outside court after the verdict was delivered, a French embassy official said they were "satisfied that his good faith" was taken into account by the judge in the sentencing. "That said, a month in prison is still a lot for a simple tourist," said consul Frederic Inza, adding that the embassy will start making sure tourists know the risks. "We fear that other people might be in the same situation because the use of drones are becoming more and more common." The harshest sentence for the law could see offenders spending up to three years in prison. In 2017 journalists Lau Hon Meng from Singapore and Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia were making a documentary for Turkish state broadcaster TRT when they were detained in October 2017 along with Myanmar reporter Aung Naing Soe and driver Hla Tin. They were flying a drone outside the sprawling parliament complex, and confessed to the act thinking that they would receive a fine. Instead, the four were sentenced to two months in prison under Myanmar's aircraft act. Wang Yi says the Hanoi summit between US President Trump and North Korean leader Kim can lead to peace on the Korean Peninsula China's foreign minister said Wednesday the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can be an "important step" towards advancing denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Beijing is North Korea's sole major ally and Kim travelled for more than two days by train across China on his way to Hanoi. The North Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a fourth time in January, showing that Beijing retains a key role in the diplomatic shuffle. "In this Hanoi meeting, we can not only increase the hard-won warming up of the situation, but we can also take an important step towards advancing the denuclearisation of the peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after talks with his Russian and Indian counterparts in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen. Trump was due to meet Kim for dinner later Wednesday and meet again on Thursday. Following a historic first meeting in Singapore in June that produced a vaguely worded statement about denuclearisation, analysts say the second summit in Vietnam's capital Hanoi must this time put substance ahead of bonhomie. Fire fighters at the scene of a train crash in the Egyptian capital on February 27, 2019 A fiery train crash killed at least 20 people at Cairo's main station on Wednesday, security and medical sources said, in the latest disaster to strike Egypt's rundown railways. The train engine appeared to have slammed into the buffers at the end of the track at high speed, sparking a major blaze at the Ramses station and leaving 40 more people injured. Egyptian state TV confirmed the casualty figures. Firefighters were seen hosing down the charred wreckage of the train inside the station, whose walls were left blackened by the fire, as security forces guarded the site. CCTV footage circulating online showed the train's locomotive hurtling into the barrier without slowing down. People walking on the platform were enveloped by smoke. Other photos from the scene showed a thick cloud of black smoke billowing in the station. The train crash sparked a major fire at Cairo's Ramses station Charred objects were scattered on the ground at the scene. Separate footage filmed inside the station showed a fire engulfing the train and a nearby platform and people rushing to help the casualties. Ambulances and rescue teams were dispatched to the site, medical sources said. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli was quick to visit the scene, promising a tough response. "Any person found to be negligent will be held accountable and it will be severe," he said. Egyptians have long complained that the government has failed to deal with chronic transport problems in the country, where roads are as poorly maintained as railway lines. The train engine appeared to have slammed into the buffers at high speed Officials often blame the rail network's poor maintenance on years of negligence and a lack of funds. The government has on several occasions promised to take steps to upgrade the sector especially after several derailments and collisions in recent years. The official statistics agency says there were 1,793 train accidents in 2017, up from 1,249 in 2016. In August 2017 two passenger trains collided near Egypt's Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing more than 40 people and injuring scores. The next year a train crash in the northern province of Beheira killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more. Months later 60 people were injured when another train derailed. Egypt's transportation minister sacked the head of the railway authority at the time. The deadliest accident on Egypt's railways dates back to 2002 when 373 people died when a fire ripped through a crowded train south of the capital. Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem is a highly sensitive holy site that has been a frequent scene of conflict between Palestinians and Israelis Israeli police on Wednesday arrested a senior Palestinian official after recent scuffles at a highly sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, officials said. The Palestinian governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Gheith, was among 22 Palestinians arrested overnight in raids in east Jerusalem, official Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Police spoke of two arrests, including "a senior official from the Palestinian Authority," over suspicions of fraud and forgery. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP they were also arrested in connection with "recent incidents" at the Haram al-Sharif, or Holy Sanctuary, which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock. The suspects were being questioned, Rosenfeld said, without providing further details. The arrests risked further raising tensions surrounding the site holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. There have recently been scuffles between worshippers and police there over access to a side building in the compound closed by Israel since 2003. Arguing there was no longer any reason for it to remain closed, Palestinian officials reopened the building on Friday and crowds of worshippers prayed inside despite an Israeli order barring access. The building is known as the Golden Gate or Gate of Mercy in Arabic. On Sunday, police arrested and later released a top Palestinian Muslim official, Abdel Azeem Salhab, and his deputy after the holy site incidents. Salhab is the head of the council of the Waqf in Jerusalem, the religious authority that governs the site in the disputed city. The arrest drew condemnation from Jordan, the custodian of the holy compound. The site is the third-holiest in Islam and a focus of Palestinian aspirations for statehood. It is also the location of Judaism's most holy spot, revered as the site of the two biblical-era Jewish temples. It is a frequent scene of conflict between the two sides. Palestinians fear Israel will seek to assert further control over it, while Israel accuses Palestinians of using such claims as a rallying cry to incite violence. Access to Golden Gate was closed by an Israeli court order in 2003 during the second Palestinian intifada over alleged militant activity there, police say. Waqf officials argue that the organisation that prompted the ban no longer exists. The site is located in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community. Palestinian Authority activities are barred from Jerusalem by Israel. As a result, the PA has a Jerusalem governor located in Al-Ram, just on the other side of Israel's separation wall from the city in the occupied West Bank. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Tehran in front of a smiling President Hassan Rouhani who rejected his top diplomat's resignation Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's resignation on Wednesday, saying the departure of the public face of the Islamic republic's detente with the West would be against its best interests. Zarif's abrupt announcement on Instagram late on Monday that he was quitting had sparked rumours of mass resignations in the country's diplomatic corps and a petition from parliament urging Rouhani to turn it down. "I believe your resignation is against the country's interests and do not approve it," Rouhani wrote in a letter to Zarif, according to the government's official website. The president cited Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in praising Zarif's work as foreign minister. "I consider you, as put by the leader, to be 'trustworthy, brave and pious' and in the forefront of resistance against Americas all-out pressure," he added. In his few public comments after his resignation, Zarif had complained that the work of the foreign ministry was being undermined by political interference and expressed determination to see it regain its proper statutory role. Iranian reports said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif felt undermined by his absence from official meetings during a surprise visit to Tehran on Monday by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad The last straw appears to have been his exclusion from meetings with visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier in the day, Iran's Entekhab news agency reported. Assad, who has relied heavily on Iranian military and financial support during his country's nearly eight-year civil war, met with both Khamenei and Rouhani on his rare foreign visit, but Zarif was not present at either meeting. - 'Full coordination' - In his letter to Zarif, Rouhani stressed that he was the pointman in the conduct of Iran's foreign policy. "As ordered several times, all bodies -- including government or state bodies -- must be in full coordination with this ministry with regards to foreign relations," the president said in his letter. Zarif, 59, who has served as Rouhani's foreign minister since August 2013, has been under constant pressure from hardliners who opposed a landmark deal he reached with major powers in 2015 curving Iran's nuclear programme in return for an easing of international sanctions. The pressure has only intensified since US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in May last year and reimposed crippling US sanctions. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has battled hardline resistance in parliament to new legislation tackling money laundering and terrorism financing which has been vital to securing EU backing for a mechanism to skirt US economic sanctions Resistance from hardliners against new anti-money laundering legislation hampered his efforts to secure a mechanism from the European Union to allow continued trade and investment skirting the unilateral US measures. Zarif had told ministry staff on Tuesday that he hoped his resignation would "act as a spur for the foreign ministry to regain its proper statutory role in the conduct of foreign affairs," the official IRNA news agency reported. In a new Instagram post on Wednesday, Zarif expressed gratitude for the "generous affections and unsparing support" of officials and the people. He expressed hope that the ministry "can carry out all its responsibilities within the framework of the constitution (and) the countrys laws" with the "cooperation of... and supervision by the supreme leader and the president." State television broadcast images of Zarif carrying out his duties as normal on Wednesday, taking part in the welcoming ceremony for visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashiniyan. - 'Supported by supreme leader' - The pointman for Iran's engagement in Syria and Iraq, where it has played a major role in training paramilitaries for both countries' successful campaigns against the jihadists of the Islamic State group, said Zarif was in full charge of Iranian foreign policy. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seen here in July 2018 flanked by President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, has the final say over all matters of state General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, was present on Monday for Assad's meetings with both Khamenei and Rouhani. Zarif "is indeed in charge of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy", Soleimani said in comments carried by the Guards' official website Sepah News. The foreign minister is "supported and approved by the system's top authorities, from the supreme leader down," he added. "There was no deliberate attempt to leave Dr Zarif out (of the Rouhani-Assad meeting)" the general underlined, blaming a "lack of coordination in the president's office." - 'Enemies' glee' - The prospect of Zarif's departure had been swiftly welcomed by Iran's arch foe Israel. His ready smile and mastery of both the English language and social media has made him a formidable diplomatic rival. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, a bitter opponent of Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers, held repeated briefings claiming Tehran was duping UN verification teams in his successful campaign to persuade Washington to abandon the deal "Zarif is gone. Good riddance," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. Soleimani blasted the "enemies' glee" and said it would have no effect on Iran's determination to "safeguard its national interests and the glorious victory of the Islamic resistance front." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had tweeted that it made no difference to Washington, whether Zarif stays or goes. "Either way, he and @HassanRouhani are just front men for a corrupt religious mafia," he said, adding that Khamenei "makes all final decisions". Spotify is offering Indian users a free trial period followed by subscriptions for $1.68 a month -- a fraction of the cost for European and US customers Spotify announced Wednesday its much-anticipated launch into India, offering Bollywood and regional content as it seeks to attract millions of new users onto the world's largest music streaming platform. The Swedish company enters a fast-growing and competitive market, with Asia's richest man among the entrants trying to tap into the appetite for music by tech-savvy Indians. Spotify is offering Indian users a free trial period followed by subscriptions for 119 rupees ($1.68) a month -- a fraction of the cost for European and US customers. Company founder Daniel Ek promised a "custom-built experience" with all-new features tailored for the Indian music lover. "Not only will Spotify bring Indian artists to the world, we will also bring the world's music to fans across India," Ek said in a statement. The launch was stalled earlier this week as Warner Music Group filed an injunction in a local court over a licensing dispute. Streaming has rapidly transformed the music industry around the world by providing unlimited, on-demand songs online. Spotify will offer its music recommendations in four regional languages, new playlists specifically for Indian listeners and trending tracks from the country's vibrant film scene. Spotify's foray into India -- where cheap smartphones and data packages are bringing millions online for the first time -- excited industry watchers keen to reach new markets. "India is a big market and a huge opportunity for Spotify," Blaise Fernandes, president of Indian Music Industry, an industry body, told AFP. It is the latest expansion for Spotify, which most recently launched in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and boasts 200 million users in 79 markets. Spotify, the global leader, will compete against Google, whose online music-app currently dominates in India. There are also other players searching for their cut, including Reliance Jio which acquired Indian music streaming platform Saavn in late 2018. Reliance -- launched by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani in 2016 -- said the integration of Saavn with its own music app, Jio Music, was worth $1 billion. Saavvn offered a vast catalogue of songs across 15 languages but like many streaming apps, including Spotify, Saavn struggled to turn rapid growth into profit. The controversial Israeli extreme-right Jewish Power party which many view as racist is led by former MP Michael Ben Ari, a follower of late anti-Arab rabbi Meir Kahane Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to boost an extreme-right party many view as racist in April elections could be blocked if his opponents succeed in a bid to disqualify its candidates. A range of politicians seeking to oust Netanyahu have supported a petition seeking to have candidates for the party, Jewish Power, barred from participating in the election on the grounds of incitement to racism. Netanyahu last week brokered a deal that saw Jewish Power join with two other far-right parties to form one list to boost its chances of making it into parliament after April 9 elections. The prime minister, with an eye on his next coalition government should he win, says the move was necessary to ensure enough seats in the next parliament for right-wing parties. But Netanyahu has received harsh criticism both at home and abroad over the move, with many accusing him of easing the path for anti-Arab "racists" to make it into parliament. Left-wing party Meretz filed a petition to the central election committee on Tuesday to have Jewish Power candidates disqualified. Centrist party Yesh Atid as well as the Labour party have said they support the petition. A Meretz spokesman told AFP on Wednesday they had collected the 12 votes needed to have the request debated by the committee. "A terror organisation has no place in the Knesset," or parliament, Meretz said in a statement. The central elections committee, headed by a supreme court justice, is comprised of representatives of the parties in parliament. A spokesman for the committee said the deliberations on disqualifying lists would take place between March 6-10. Israel's supreme court has the final word on whether candidates can be disqualified. Jewish Power leaders are followers of late racist rabbi Meir Kahane. Kahane founded Kach, a far-right movement that wanted to chase Arabs from Israel and which was eventually banned. Kahane was assassinated in New York in 1990. Kach has been listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Australian national Brendon Luke Johnsonwas arrested last year with almost 12 grammes of cocaine hidden at his rental home An Australian man charged with selling cocaine in Bali was jailed for more than five years on Wednesday. A court on the Indonesian resort island handed down the sentence to Brendon Luke Johnson, arrested last year with almost 12 grams of cocaine hidden at his rental home. Johnson, who is reportedly 43, and his Indonesian girlfriend Remi Purwanti were each given five years and four months in prison by the Bali court. Foreigners are regularly arrested for drugs offences in Bali, which attracts millions of visitors to its palm-fringed beaches every year. Indonesia has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws and traffickers can be sentenced to death. Earlier this year, a Tanzanian man was arrested in Bali for trafficking after more than a kilogram of methamphetamine was found in plastic baggies inside his stomach, according to police. In Lombok, an island next to Bali, Frenchman Felix Dorfin is facing a possible death sentence case. He was caught in September allegedly carrying a false-bottomed suitcase filled with four kilogrammes (8.8 pounds) of drugs -- including cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines -- at the airport. Several foreigners and Indonesians have been executed by firing squad in recent years, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015. The accused ringleaders of the Bali Nine drug syndicate were caught attempting to smuggle heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Civilians evacuated from the last jihadist holdout in Syria say Islamic State group fighters still trapped inside are divided with some wanting to flee and other to fight to the end Some want to fight till the end and others want to flee: a split is emerging among jihadists as starvation grips their imploding "caliphate" in eastern Syria. Thousands of men, women and children, including hundreds of jihadists, are believed to be trapped in the Islamic State group's last patch of territory in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border. The hundreds evacuated from the riverside hamlet on Tuesday are gathered at a screening point run by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the village. Ahmad al-Joura, a 32-year-old man from central Homs province is among the small handful of men that are allowed to speak to journalists at the outpost. He claims he never fought with jihadists but says that they "were living among us," in a makeshift camp in Baghouz smaller than a half a square kilometre. "The (remaining) territory is so small that they are forced to live with us," he says, his face covered with a scarf. The imploding Islamic State group "caliphate" in eastern Syria has become a death trap of disease and starvation according to those who have fled He says conditions inside the redoubt are dire: food and drinking water are scarce. Holed up in a death trap of disease and starvation, the remaining jihadists are now torn between fighting, fleeing and surrendering to US-backed forces. "Some want to fight, some don't want to fight, and some want to escape," Joura says. "But they don't have what it takes to put up a fight because there is no food," he says. "Weapons need strength to be carried." - 'Guns, bombs and explosive belts'- Staggered rows of rudimentary tarpaulin tents and a small cluster of buildings are all that remain of IS's once-sprawling caliphate declared in 2014 across large swaths of Syria and neighbouring Iraq. Holdout jihadists roam the settlement arms in hand. "The fighters are everywhere," says Nour Ghroush, a 20-year-old Syrian woman from the northeastern province of Hasakeh. "They walk in the streets with their guns, bombs and explosive belts," she says. Tens of thousands of people have streamed out of the last patch of IS territory in Syria but some say a large number of Syrians and Iraqi jihadists remain in the Baghouz pocket as well as foreign fighters A large number of Syrians and Iraqis remain in the Baghouz pocket, but also a significant number of foreigners, says the Syrian woman. "Some were not affected by the siege, while others have died because of it," she says. "Some (IS) supporters and foreigners" have a steady supply of money and resources and "they can buy whatever they want," she says. Syrians, however, "have nothing", she claims. Her sister-in-law sits nearby. Aisha Abdulazim, leaves her daughter to wail as she speaks with intent. "There are so many families still inside that we had to use blankets as tents," she says. "We lack a lot of necessities," says the women in her thirties. "Only those who have money can buy them, but as for us, one day we eat and one day we don't." - 'We were convinced'- Around 50,000 people -- mostly women and children -- have streamed out of the area since early December, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The SDF have carried out four rounds of evacuations since last week, trucking thousands of women, men and children out of the ever-shrinking IS enclave. A fighter with the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stands guard as people queue at a scanning area for people evacuated from the last IS holdout in eastern Syria on the lookout for suspected jihadists The Kurdish-led force says it wants to pluck all remaining civilians out before launching a final military push. The SDF evacuated around 30 truckloads of people from Baghouz on Tuesday. A few days earlier, the Hisbah (Islamic police) told those trapped inside that they could leave if they wanted to, especially families and the wounded, women who quit the redoubt tell AFP. According to previous accounts from evacuees, the IS leadership has called on women and children to flee the "caliphate". Ismahan, an Iraqi woman, says the decision to leave was not an easy one. "Yes, there was hunger inside, but we were convinced with what we were doing," the mother of three tells AFP. Israa, a 37-year-old Iraqi woman from Baghdad says she was also reluctant to leave. When asked why she left, she says she did so when jihadists called on those inside to head to a nearby hilltop, from which the SDF had opened a humanitarian corridor. Pointing to her nephew, she says: "There was no milk and he is very ill because of hunger." "The doctor prescribed him cow milk, but there are no cows" in Baghouz. The rally drew hundreds wearing headbands and T-shirts calling for reform of the military-scripted constitution Hundreds gathered Wednesday in downtown Yangon for a rally urging reform of Myanmar's controversial constitution gifting the army sweeping powers, a move Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government will discuss ahead of 2020 elections. The event follows the formation of a committee last week to discuss amending the military-scripted constitution, an unprecedented move as debates over it are highly sensitive. Authored by the junta in 2008, the charter allows the military control over security ministries, and gifts them with a quarter of parliamentary seats -- effectively allowing them to veto any constitutional change proposed. The committee's formation -- voted in by a parliament dominated by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party (NLD) -- pits her in open opposition against the powerful army, with which she has been in an uneasy power-sharing agreement since the 2015 elections. Wednesday's rally, featuring a band and speeches from pro-reform activists, drew hundreds to the iconic Sule Pagoda sporting red headbands -- NLD's signature colours -- and T-shirts saying "#WeWantChanges". The controversial charter allows the military control over security ministries, and gifts them with a quarter of parliamentary seats "We cannot accept the constitution as it was not written by the representatives of the people," Mya Aye, a prominent pro-democracy leader, told the crowd. The intent of the charter was clear to attendants, as it also bans anyone married to a foreigner from becoming president -- a clause analysts believe was aimed at Suu Kyi, whose late husband was British. "The current constitution is for the junta to maintain power, and not allow state counsellor (Aung San Suu Kyi) to be president," said Thein Myint Tun, 58. However, he feared "it is too late" for the document to be changed with only a year until the next election. Than Than Win, 61, called it a "one-sided draft for the protection of the generals," adding she was "very worried" about how the military would react. Debates over the constitution are highly sensitive in Myanmar Military officials over the weekend issued a sharp rebuke in a rare press conference after the committee was formed, saying they would oppose any changes to the "essence of the constitution". Academic Melissa Crouch told AFP this "core essence" was always meant to include the military playing "a leading role" as it continues to fight ethnic armed groups in border regions. "They have made very clear that until the ethnic armed organisations are no longer active, the military still sees it as a necessity to be involved," said the associate law professor from University of New South Wales, an expert on the Myanmar constitution. She added the NLD-majority committee should make the deliberation process "more transparent" and allow for public participation. Rally attendant Myint Soe agreed. "This committee is not for NLD, not for the government, and not for the MPs in parliament, but for all the people of Myanmar," the 46-year-old told AFP. Israel says it has arrested on February 27, 2019 Zakaria Zubeidi, the former head of the Palestinian Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militant group seen here in a March 2007 picture over "terror" allegations Israeli security forces arrested a prominent former Palestinian militant and a lawyer on Wednesday in a West Bank raid over "terror" allegations, officials said. "Zakaria Zubeidi and Tareq Barghout were arrested over their involvement in current severe terror activity," the Shin Bet domestic security service said in a statement, refusing to provide further details. The Palestinian Prisoners Club said Zubeidi, the former head of the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades militant group, was arrested in a village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The arrests come with Israeli security forces concerned over increased tensions in the West Bank after recent scuffles at a Jerusalem holy site and Israel's decision to withhold tens of millions of dollars in tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority. Israel is withholding $138 million in tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority over its payments to the families of prisoners, or prisoners themselves, jailed for attacks on Israelis. Israel is also gearing up to hold elections on April 9. Zubeidi had faced charges in the past from the Palestinian Authority for taking part in a shooting attack on the residence of Jenin governor Qaddura Musa in 2002. Musa died after suffering a heart attack during the incident, and Palestinian security forces arrested dozens of people, including Zubeidi, shortly afterwards. Zubeidi had helped found Jenin's Freedom Theatre. In 2011, the Freedom Theatre's well-known Israeli-Palestinian director Juliano Mer-Khamis was gunned down in Jenin's refugee camp, in an attack that remains unsolved. Shelling across the heavily militarised border sent many seeking shelter, even before India and Pakistan both claimed they had shot each other's warplanes down Thousands of Kashmiris have fled their homes, some bailed water out of disused bunkers, while others dug in -- determined to see out the latest flare up of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Shelling across the heavily militarised Line of Control which divides Kashmir between the two South Asian countries sent many seeking shelter Wednesday, even before India and Pakistan both claimed they had shot each other's warplanes down, igniting fears of an all-out conflict. Pakistani officials said four people were killed on Tuesday by shelling from the Indian side of the ceasefire line. The death toll mounts on both sides each time sabre-rattling between India and Pakistan turns into conflict. This time, Kashmiris have watched warplanes fighting overhead and cowered under the shelling. At least 2,000 people left their homes near the unofficial border in the Kotli and Jhelum Valley districts on the Pakistani side, and authorities closed all public schools, said officials. Other districts also saw an exodus. "More people are leaving their homes and moving to safer places," said Umar Azam, a senior government official in Kotli. Internet was also cut in some zones near the frontier -- often a sign of military activity. Women, men and children, loaded with cases and bags, could be seen on roads. Some pulled cattle or carried other animals. Habib Ullah Awan, a 46-year-old grocery store owner in the nearby border village of Chakothi said shells were still falling when he left his home with eight members of his family early Wednesday. "My house was not safe because of the shelling, God forbid, nothing will be left if a shell hits my house," he told AFP. Most people leaving Chakothi went to Muzaffarabad, the main city in Pakistani Kashmir, or to stay with relatives in other villages. Those with no family to house them went to the Hattian Bala camp set up by the local administration. Mushtaq Ahmed said he was taking his wife and children to Muzaffarabad. "But I will come back, I can't afford to leave my home and belongings unguarded," he told AFP. At Kamalkote, on the Indian side, residents said they had also faced heavy shelling. "We spent the night in total horror. Shells did not land in the village, but fighter jets are still flying above us," said a man who gave his name as Tariq. There was also heavy shelling at Poonch further south on the Line of Control. While no casualties were reported there, authorities have told villagers to prepare bunkers. Some, fearing hostilities, took buckets underground to bail out complexes near the main city of Jammu that had been left flooded by melted winter snow. Some residents have also left villages. "It happens regularly," said one at Poonch who declined to be named. "My relatives know my family will be arriving." Baseer Khan, a senior government official in Indian-administered Kashmir, said authorities are always prepared to evacuate border residents but no order to do so has yet been given. burs-str/tw/st/tom/rox Vietnamese police have hauled off several dissidents during the summit in Hanoi between Trump and Kim Jong Un Several dissidents were detained in Hanoi on Wednesday as North Korea's Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump kicked off their second summit in the Vietnamese capital. Vietnam, a one-party state with little tolerance for dissent, is working hard to control every aspect of the closely-watched meeting to avoid even the most minor embarrassment on the world stage. At least three dissidents were hauled off by police Wednesday as they tried to catch a glimpse of the leaders' motorcades in the streets of Hanoi. "We were just taking photos then seven (plainclothes) men jumped into us and brought us here to the station," said Le Dung, livestreaming from a police post in Hanoi. He was locked in a room with two other activists, he said, adding: "We are now guarded by only one militiaman, who knows nothing." His live feed suddenly died late Wednesday and he could not be reached on his mobile phone. Other dissidents said they were closely followed by plainclothes police or kept under de-facto house arrest with officers standing guard outside their homes. "They are stationed outside my house and follow me whenever I go out," said Nguyen Chi Tuyen, an activist better known by his online nickname Anh Chi. "For activists like me, the summit just means more trouble." Vietnam routinely locks up its critics, and has seen a spike in arrests since a hardline administration came to power in 2016. Amnesty International called on Trump to press Kim on North Korea's dismal rights record at the summit. The US president's "silence in the face of relentless and grave human rights violations has been deafening", said Francisco Bencosme, advocacy manager for Asia-Pacific at Amnesty's US branch. Hanoi authorities deported Kim impersonator Howard X earlier this week after he appeared in public with Trump lookalike Russell White. On Wednesday another Kim doppelganger, Thai Uthen Lueangsaengthong, was put on a plane home after he went on a walkabout in Hanoi, Thai press reported. Mali has been struggling with a surge in jihadist violence but also from inter-communal bloodshed between hunters and herders Seventeen civilians were killed and 15 were wounded in a blast caused by a booby-trapped corpse in central Mali, security sources and a local official said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Diankabou, a small town about 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the city of Mopti, they said. A local official told AFP it was caused by "an explosive device which was planted on the body of a man who had been shot dead." A security source confirmed the information, saying: "The body exploded, killing 17 people." Among the victims were the parents of the man whose body had been booby-trapped, he said. The man had gone to find food for his cattle and had never returned. His parents then found the corpse. "They rather unwisely approached the body which exploded, killing 17 people. The gunmen who killed him had planted explosives on his body and around it," the source said. "This is a method that jihadists use to cause maximum deaths," another security source said. The attack was the first incident of its kind in Mali. On February 14, jihadists in neighbouring Burkina Faso used an identical method, rigging a corpse dressed in military fatigues with explosives. The blast killed two police officers and an army doctor. Mali has been struggling to return to stability after Al-Qaeda-linked extremists took control of the north in early 2012, prompting a military intervention by France. Although they were routed in the French operation in 2013, large stretches of the landlocked African state remain out of government control. Most of the violence is centered in Mali's central and southern regions but it has also spread across its borders, affecting neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. The country has also been blighted by inter-communal violence between farmers and herders which last year killed more than 500 civilians, UN figures show. Sudanese troops with a military coalition in Yemen backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates search for land mines at the Red Sea Mills in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida on January 22, 2019 War-weary residents of the flashpoint Yemeni port city of Hodeida have little hope of peace even as the UN regains control of vital food aid warehouses on the front lines. The United Nations has since September been unable to reach the Red Sea Mills -- carrying grain estimated to feed 3.7 million people for a month -- in a government-controlled area near the city, just metres (yards) away from where the Huthi rebels are stationed. The mission on Tuesday came after an agreement struck on February 17, in which the sides in Yemen's conflict agreed to redeploy their fighters outside the ports and away from areas crucial to the humanitarian relief effort. The ports are in the Huthi-held west of the country, and the agreement especially set out free access to the grain warehouses at Red Sea Mills, under the control of the Saudi-backed government forces. On Wednesday, however, the streets of the city were empty amid rising tension as gunfire was heard overnight coming from the south, residents said. "There is no hope as long as we can hear the sound of gunfire," said 26-year-old Eman, a Hodeida resident. - Stop and search - The Huthi rebels -- which took control of the lifeline port of Hodeida in 2014 -- were stopping pedestrians as well as motorists and searching their vehicles, another resident said on Wednesday. Since a ceasefire went into effect on December 18, there have been intermittent clashes between the Iran-aligned rebels and the government -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition. The UN's World Food Programme says desperately needed wheat stored in the silos of Yemen's Hodeida is infested with weevils and needs to be fumigated The two parties continuously accuse each other of violating the truce. Hani, a bus driver in the city, said he did not expect the situation to change any time soon. "I expect that the humanitarian situation will change a little and aid will reach some citizens, but I don't think there will be major change to the current situation," said the 40-year-old. "The fighting never stopped in the first place." The conflict has created what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with around 24 million Yemenis -- more than three quarters of the country's population -- now dependent on some form of aid for survival. Ten million are one step away from famine, according to the UN. The UN's World Food Programme said on Wednesday that access to the Red Sea Mills was "a great first step", adding that samples of the wheat were sent to labs to test the quality. "The wheat is infested with weevil, which is something we anticipated. We need to fumigate the wheat," said Herve Verhoosel, a WFP spokesman, in a statement. - 'Failed step' - On Tuesday, a convoy of white vehicles carrying a WFP team to assess the wheat headed towards the grey warehouses, where a group of armed pro-government men greeted them. Workers and some UN personnel wore safety helmets, as some wheat could be seen pouring out of the silos. "We need sustained access to the mills in order to fumigate the wheat and then start milling it," said Verhoosel. "To do that we need safe passage to the mills for WFP staff and the mill workers. "It will take weeks of sustained access to the mills to get the facility back to normal operations." Piles of grain lie at a damaged warehouse of Yemen's Red Sea Mills in the port city of Hodeida on January 22, 2019 Both the Huthis and the government forces are accused of failing to protect civilians in the conflict in Yemen, which has long been the Arab world's most impoverished country. Around 10,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed and more than 60,000 wounded since 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government, according to the World Health Organization. Human rights groups say the real figure could be five times as high. "Yes, reaching the mills seems like an important step," said the resident Eman. "But we hope that this momentum continues and it is not just a 'failed' step." Washington is considering new tariffs on steel beams and other products from China, Canada and Mexico The United States has threatened fresh import duties on nearly $2 billion in structural steel from Canada, Mexico and China, according to the Commerce Department. The latest investigation into possible dumping and unfair subsidies, announced late Tuesday, comes on top of sweeping tariffs on steel imports from all countries that President Donald Trump imposed last year ahead of major trade negotiations. But it also comes after the White House reached a new North American trade deal with Ottawa and Mexico City, and has called a truce in its trade dispute with Beijing. The American Institute of Steel Construction called for the investigation, alleging that imports of fabricated structural steel -- such as beams, frames, columns joists -- have been dumped on the US market at less than fair value and benefited from unfair subsides. The organization claims Canadian, Chinese and Mexican producers benefit from scores subsidy programs, including tax abatements, grants, loans and export insurance, debt restructuring, and can receive cut-rate local goods and services. In 2017, imports of these products from the three countries amounted to $1.9 billion, according to the Commerce Department. That was the year before Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on national security grounds. If the Commerce Department agrees with the charges on the US market it will impose extra duties on the imports. The alleged dumping margins are 30.41 percent for Canada, 222.35 percent for China, and 30.58 percent for Mexico. The independent US International Trade Commission can overturn if finds that no American industry has been harmed by the imports. In the first 10 months of last year, total US steel imports fell 10.6 percent compared to 2017, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. 14 candidates vie for Chicago mayor in unusual election Chicago is poised to elect its first black female mayor, after first-round voters narrowed a wide field of candidates vying to address rampant gun violence and other vexing problems in America's third largest city. Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle received the highest share of the votes in Tuesday's election -- 17.5 percent and 16 percent, respectively -- to advance from a wide field of 14 candidates and compete in an April run-off. Since 1837, Chicago has chosen only one other black mayor and one other female mayor. If Lightfoot wins, she would also become the city's first openly-gay mayor. "It's true that (it's) not every day that a little black girl in a low-income family from a segregated steel town makes the run-off to be the next mayor of the third-largest city in the country," Lightfoot told supporters Tuesday night. Lightfoot, who has never before held elected office, is a former federal prosecutor who headed a panel investigating the city's policing problems. Preckwinkle is currently the chief executive of Cook County in which Chicago is located. "I know how gratifying it is when our efforts bend the arc of history a little closer to justice day by day," Preckwinkle said Tuesday night. Analysts said the election results suggested voters were looking to shake up city hall with new leadership. Voters had left little doubt they want the eventual victor to tackle the disparity in living conditions among the sprawling city's diverse communities. "The top issues are who's going to take care of the entire city," Lateef Moody told AFP after voting Tuesday. Some areas, such as the tourist-magnet downtown business district, are prosperous, while many predominantly African American neighborhoods struggle with economic decay and alarming levels of gun violence. "We're seeing wealthier, college graduates move to the city for jobs. And, we're seeing people leave the South and West sides -- which in many cases are predominantly African American," Laurence Msall, head of Chicago watchdog group The Civic Federation, told AFP before the results were in. More than 550 people were killed in Chicago last year -- a higher number than the combined total in America's two most populous cities, Los Angeles and New York. No candidate generated the more than 50 percent of the vote necessary to win outright. Among the candidates voters rejected was Bill Daley, a member of a political dynasty that ruled the city for a combined 43 years, and former police chief Garry McCarthy who was fired after an incendiary police shooting case in which 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was killed. Lucha is a pro-democracy civil rights movement in DR Congo whose name means "Struggle for Change" Dozens of people were arrested during rights protests in DR Congo on Wednesday, activists said, in an incident likely to pose a fresh challenge for new President Felix Tshisekedi. Writing on Twitter, the pro-democracy Lucha movement said police in the eastern city of Goma had swooped on its members as they held a protest march over the "savage killing" of more than 20 people there since the start of the year. Timothee Muissa Kiense, mayor of Goma which lies in the conflict-hit North Kivu region, told AFP the march was "unauthorised" and "disturbed public order." Another 30 people from civil society groups were briefly arrested in Kinshasa as they demanded that former president Joseph Kabila who stood down in January be prosecuted for abuses during his 18-year reign, Lucha said. "We believe (Kabila) committed many crimes and these should not go unpunished," Lucha spokesman Stephie Mukinzi said. "We are also asking for compensation and reparations for all victims of repression under the Kabila regime." Tshisekedi, who heads the UDPS, Democratic Republic of Congo's largest and oldest opposition party, made history on January 24 when he took over from Kabila. It was the country's first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Tshisekedi, in his inaugural address, vowed to make respect for rights a cornerstone of his presidency, which follows an 18-year period under Kabila when demonstrations were routinely and bloodily dispersed. On Tuesday, six police officers convicted of deadly violence against a student demonstration in Lubumbashi, DR Congo's second city, were sentenced to jail terms ranging from six months to 20 years. During the incident in late January, three students and a police officer died when police broke up a demonstration demanding the restoration of water and electricity to the city's university campus which had been cut off during a storm. The incident occurred just days after Tshisekedi was sworn in, with the new president immediately ordering the arrest of those involved. Twelve officers went on trial on various charges including murder and attempted murder, with six convicted and six acquitted, a defence lawyer said. Tshisekedi took office after being declared victor of the December 30 elections, with fellow opposition candidate Martin Fayulu coming a very close second in an outcome he has repeatedly insisted was rigged by outgoing president Kabila. Syrian journalists check what the Syrian army says are packs of C-4 explosives that were found in the southern province of Daraa on February 27, 2019 during a government-organised trip Syria's army on Wednesday displayed a huge cache of what it said were powerful explosives left behind by rebels in Daraa province, the birthplace of the uprising that sparked the country's civil war. During a government-organised trip for journalists to the area, an AFP correspondent saw thousands of sealed containers wrapped in dirt-covered sheaths. A source who asked not to be named said they contained C-4, a highly explosive chemical. He estimated that around eight tonnes of explosives had been recovered. "The destructive force of one kilogram of this material is equivalent to 13 kilograms of TNT," he told the correspondent during the visit, as Syrian soldiers watched on. He said rebels used to "stuff C-4 into rockets" and then launch them towards government-held areas. "Each rocket used to destroy an entire building because of the potency of this chemical, which was also used to rig cars, vehicles and armoured vehicles that targeted positions and checkpoints of the Syrian Arab Army," he said. The source said the explosives had entered Syria through "neighbouring countries", without specifying which ones. "These explosives are very, very expensive. Usually, they are delivered exclusively to armies," he said. He said rebel fighters had buried the explosives in "underground warehouses" before surrendering the area to the Syrian government. Syrians took up arms after a deadly crackdown by regime forces on anti-government protests that began in Daraa province in March 2011. The fighting exploded into an all-out war that has killed an estimated 360,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and drawn in world powers. With the help of regime ally Russia, government forces recaptured southern Syria from rebels in July last year. In a report published on Monday, the International Crisis Group said the Syrian government has "committed insufficient resources to the souths restabilisation, restricted humanitarian access and re-established authoritarian rule" since retaking the area. "As a result, security and living conditions remain precarious, militating against safe refugee returns," the Brussels-based think-tank said. Thousands of students protested against Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term, with rallies in and around the capital Algiers and other cities Algeria's ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika remains at a Swiss hospital as protests grow in his country against his bid for a fifth term, the Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported Wednesday. Citing what it described as multiple and well-informed sources, the TdG reported that Bouteflika has been at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) since Sunday. HUG is a public teaching hospital, but has a private wing that could accommodate VIPs seeking privacy, according to the hospital's website. A HUG spokesman declined to comment on the report. Bouteflika, who uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, announced on February 10 that he would seek re-election in the April 18 vote. The 81-year-old has repeatedly received medical care in Switzerland since the 1980s. His office had previously announced that the president was scheduled to travel to Switzerland for "routine medical checks" ahead of the election. No caption Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen said Wednesday the US president had no medical reason for his military deferment during the Vietnam War, telling the lawyer: "You think I'm stupid? I wasn't going to Vietnam." Cohen made the claim in prepared remarks released before a public congressional hearing in which he is expected to accuse the president of being a liar and a racist. Trump, who is in Hanoi for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, received a medical deferment from serving in the Vietnam War in 1968 because of bone spurs in his heels. But Cohen is expected to say Mr Trump told his former attorney, and right hand man for more than a decade that there was no real medical excuse behind his deferral. "Mr. Trump tasked me to handle the negative press surrounding his medical deferment from the Vietnam draft," Cohen said. "Mr Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none and said there was no surgery... He told me not to answer the specific questions by reporters but rather offer simply the fact that he received a medical deferment." The deferment was one of five Mr. Trump received during Vietnam. The others were for education. Cohen said Trump then added: "You think I'm stupid? I wasn't going to Vietnam." The New York Times reported in December that the family of the podiatrist who wrote the letter attesting to Trump's medical condition had done so as a favor to the future president's father, a New York real estate developer who owned the building where the doctor practiced. Cohen, 52, worked closely with Trump for more than 12 years, rising to vice president of the Trump Organization, where he was the billionaire property magnate's behind-the-scenes "fixer." Cohen has been sentenced to three years in jail for crimes related in part to his work for Trump. He testified to the Senate in a closed-doors session on Tuesday and was due to appear Wednesday in an open session before House of Representatives Oversight Committee. Joel Karekezi's road movie focuses on the wars in Congo through the eyes of two soldiers lost in the jungle Rwandan director Joel Karekezi's "The Mercy of the Jungle" on Saturday scooped best film at Africa's top film festival, following a fierce debate about gender equality and sexual aggression in the continent's movie industry. The film was among 20 vying for the top Golden Stallion of Yennenga award at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco). A road movie focusing on the wars in Democratic Republic of Congo through the eyes of two soldiers lost in the jungle, it also picked up the best actor award for Belgian Marc Zinga. Egyptian director Khaled Youssef won second prize for his drama "Karma", while third prize went to Tunisia's Ben Hohmound for "Fatwa" about a father who discovers that his dead son had been a jihadist. In the half century since it was established, Fespaco has never awarded its top prize to a female director -- a fact that faced uncomfortable scrutiny during the week-long event. Only four of the films in competition at the festival were directed by women. "Where are the women?" asked South African actress Xolile Tshabalala, who starred in "Miraculous Weapons" made by Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo. "Can it be that in 50 years, there hasn't been a single woman capable of telling a great story to win the Fespaco?" Of the 20 full-length films showing at the festival, just four have been directed by women, one of which was made by Burkina Faso's Apolline Traore Burkinabe director Apolline Traore whose film "Desrances" won a special prize on Friday said recognition had to be on merit, not a token gesture in the fight against discrimination. But she added: "Of course there's a problem" in gender equality for directors. "There's no equality for the craft of a woman director, not just in Africa, but in the world," she said. Encouraged by the #MeToo movement, some took the opportunity to use the festival to also highlight alleged sexual abuse within the African film industry. "It's time to speak out," said French actress Nadege Beausson-Diagne, who told AFP that she was setting up the movement called #Memepaspeur ("Not even scared") to help women speak out in Africa. Actress Azata Soro from Burkina Faso is comforted by France's Nadege Beausson Diagne after denouncing sexual harassment in Africa's film industry Violence "is everywhere -- against actresses but also directors, scriptwriters and technicians, who live with harassment, sexual aggression and rape," she said, adding that she had twice been assaulted during film shoots in Africa. An online petition was launched urging Fespaco to exclude a TV series from the competition after an actress accused its director of assault. The director, reached by AFP, refused to comment. New Zealand's Trent Boult (C) celebrates the wicket of Soumya Sarkar during day four Defiant centuries from Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah were in vain as Trent Boult's five-wicket haul gave New Zealand a crushing victory over Bangladesh in the first Test by an innings and 52 runs in Hamilton on Sunday. After the stubborn double-century partnership took Bangladesh to 361 for four in their second innings, Boult opened the final chapter of the Test when he bowled Soumya for 149. The crucial wicket ended a 235-run stand with Mahmudullah (146) for the fifth wicket and saw Bangladesh cave in with the Test all over 68 runs later, just after tea on day four. "The fight today was as tough as Test cricket does get," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said after Boult's lethal spell with the second new ball trumped the 54-over battle by Soumya and Mahmudullah. It was Soumya's maiden hundred and the fifth and highest century for Mahmudullah as they pounded the boundaries and took control of the short-ball barrage that decimated their first innings. "That plan didn't work very well for us today and we had to go back to trying to stop some scoring for a period of time, because they were scoring quickly," Williamson said. "There was some fantastic batting. "When the breakthrough came with the second new ball, which was obviously a fairly long time coming, it was great that we were able to open up an end from that point on." The match had belonged to New Zealand long before they declared their first innings at a colossal 715 for six -- a first innings lead of 481 -- but Soumya and Mahmudullah were determined to make crossing the finish line as difficult as possible for the hosts. Mahmudullah called it a "gutsy innings" as they batted together for nearly three sessions and produced the sixth best partnership by a Bangladesh pair. When Boult finally bowled Soumya, the 26-year-old left-hander stood motionless for several seconds as he realised the significance of his wicket before departing the ground. The remaining five wickets lasted only 18 overs. When Bangladesh resumed Sunday on 174 for four they faced a Herculean task to score a further 307 just to make New Zealand bat again. New Zealand's Kane Williamson leads the team off after their win Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis proved with their (rain-assisted) match-saving 274-run stand in Wellington before Christmas it is possible to defy the odds in New Zealand. But, Soumya could not hold out that long and when the new ball was taken he lasted 14 more deliveries before Boult ended his resistance and the tenacity left the innings. Boult finished with five for 123 and Tim Southee took three for 98. Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, which has been gripped by ongoing violence for two decades Bandits shot dead six people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo overnight, sparking angry protests by residents who blockaded the main street running through Goma city on Sunday, officials said. In a separate incident in South Kivu meanwhile, the army said they had killed six members of a former rebel militia. In North Kivu, the deputy prosecutor of Goma, Claver Kahasa, told AFP: "We have just recovered the bodies of five civilians and a soldier who were killed" during an overnight gun battle. "Armed bandits came into Goma to the Ndosho neighbourhood and have left the town bereaved by shooting dead five civilians," said city mayor Timothee Muissa Kiense. In a separate incident in South Kivu meanwhile, the army said they had killed six members of a former rebel militia. Since the start of the year, at least 25 people have been killed in a string of shootings in Goma by unidentified gunmen, often referred to as bandits. "The population is very clearly angry, there is a lot of tension," said the mayor, whose city is the capital of North Kivu province and home to one million people. Residents furious at the ongoing violence ravaging the country's east blocked off the main road leading to the western Ndosho district, halting traffic, an AFP correspondent said. The incident occurred just hours after a group of newly-elected regional MPs met with local officials, the police and the army to discuss the growing insecurity in the city. "It is unacceptable that they can continue to kill people like that in Goma," MP Jean-Paul Lumbulumbu, who was leading a group of lawmakers, told AFP. North Kivu, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, has been gripped by violence for decades, with numerous militia groups and armed gangs roaming the province and fighting for control of territorial and natural resources. In neighbouring South Kivu meanwhile, the army said Sunday they had shot dead six milita members because they had been mistreating civilians. Soldiers had launched an assault Saturday on a rebel camp in the village of Kafulo, where they had made their base after recently surrendering, said army spokesman Captain Dieudonne Kasereka. The group were followers of rebel chief Ebwela Mutetezi Kibukila who at the end of January surrendered to the authorities along with 300 of his men. Speaking on local radio Sunday, Ebwela Mutetezi said they had decided to end their fight after former president Joseph Kabila handed over power to his successor, Felix Tshisekedi, in January. They been gathered at Kafulo awaiting word from the government when the soldiers attacked, taking them by surprise and killing his wife and six of his men, he added. Kasereka said the former rebels had mistreating local people and stealing from them. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump shake hands in Hanoi, where their summit was seen as disappointment US national security advisor John Bolton denied Sunday that last week's nuclear summit with North Korea was a failure, despite President Donald Trump coming home empty-handed. A high-stakes second meeting to strike a nuclear disarmament deal between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and Trump broke up in disarray Thursday, without even a joint statement. But Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" Trump's failure in getting commitments from Pyongyang on destroying its nuclear capability should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." The White House aide said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected." The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of the pre-meeting expectations, after critics said their initial historic meeting in Singapore -- which produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" -- was more style over substance. Others pointed to a lack of preparation, with the two sides unable to bridge the gaps between them in time. According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all the UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - National Security Advisor John Bolton said President Donald Trump protected American national interests by walking away from his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement In return, Pyongyang was only offering to close a portion of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple different facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downcast Trump told reporters on Thursday, adding that he would "rather do it right than do it fast." After returning to Washington, the US president tweeted Friday that his relations with Kim were "very good". "What President Trump was trying to do was look at what was possible for them overall," Bolton told CBS. "He remains optimistic this is possible. Kim Jong Un himself said in our last meeting, you know, we're going to go through many stations before we achieve this deal. The meeting in Hanoi was one such station." Bolton repeated the US position that it would help North Korea's economic progress if it committed to complete denuclearization and closing its chemical and biological weapons programs. Compounding criticism of the summit, Trump sparked a firestorm by his remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. The president said he believed Kim's claim that he didn't know what happened to 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, who died days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. After a stern rebuke from Warmbier's parents, Trump took to Twitter, insisting he held North Korea responsible for the student's death -- but without directly blaming Kim or even mentioning him. "The president's been very clear he viewed what happened to Otto Warmbier as barbaric and unacceptable," Bolton told CBS. "And I think the best thing North Korea could do right now would be to come up with a full explanation of exactly what happened to him." Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), pictured here at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing US diplomats have visited a dual US-Saudi national who was reported to have been tortured while imprisoned in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, a top White House official said Sunday. The New York Times, citing the detailed account of an unnamed friend, said guards dragged Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained doctor, to a room in the hotel where he was slapped, blindfolded, stripped to his underwear and bound to a chair. They then proceeded to torture him with electric shocks in a session that lasted about an hour, according to the friend, the Times said. John Bolton, the White House national security advisor, was asked about Fitaihi's treatment, in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union." "As of this moment, my understanding is we've had what's called consular access, meaning American diplomats in Saudi Arabia have visited with him. "Beyond that, we don't really have any additional information at this point," Bolton added. President Donald Trump has faced sharp criticism for favoring the Saudi crown prince as a key regional ally even after the October 2 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident, by Saudi agents in Istanbul. US intelligence has concluded Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing despite Riyadh's insistence it was a rogue operation. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and White House advisor, met last week with the crown prince in Riyadh to rally support for a Middle East peace proposal. Fitaihi, 54, was one of about 200 prominent Saudis who were locked up in the Riyadh luxury hotel as part of a sweeping crackdown on corruption under Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler. Many of those detained were reported to have been tortured and abused, and some were forced to turn over large sums of money to gain their release. Fitaihi was one of about 60 who were held for prosecution after the 15-month-long crackdown, which was seen as cementing Prince Mohammed's power. Fitaihi, who received undergraduate and medical degrees from George Washington University and a master's in public health from Harvard, founded a private hospital in Jeddah after his return from the United States around 2006. He has no record of political activism inside the kingdom, according to the Times. The Times said the reason for Fitaihi's detention was unclear, but the friend who described his torture said he was primarily asked about a relative by marriage, Adel Fakeih, a former top aide to the crown prince who had also been detained. jm/bbk North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump shake hands in Hanoi, where they held a summit that was seen as a disappointment President Donald Trump said Sunday that the congressional questioning last week of his former lawyer may have contributed to the failure of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- even as his national security advisor claimed the Hanoi meeting was a success. A high-stakes second summit to strike a disarmament deal with Kim broke up in disarray in Vietnam Thursday, with Trump saying: "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times." The summit took place at the same time a Democrat-led congressional committee was grilling Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, who labelled his ex-boss a "racist", "conman", and "cheat". On Sunday, Trump said the hearing may have contributed to the "walk". "For the Democrats to interview in open hearings a convicted liar & fraudster, at the same time as the very important Nuclear Summit with North Korea, is perhaps a new low in American politics and may have contributed to the 'walk'," he tweeted. "Never done when a president is overseas. Shame!" Still, US National Security Advisor John Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday that the summit should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." He said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely -- or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected," Bolton added. The summit's collapse followed the leaders' historic meeting in Singapore that produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Seat of its pants' - In return, Pyongyang was offering only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. What happened to Otto Warmbier? North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, however, disputed the US account, saying Pyongyang offered to dismantle all "nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area" in exchange for partial sanctions relief. Bolton's evocation of progress was dismissed by leading Democrats, however, including House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, who described the Hanoi meeting as a "spectacular failure." "The president did give up a great deal, by going to that summit, by enhancing Kim Jong Un's prestige on the world stage, by giving up those military exercises in the last summit and getting nothing for it," Schiff told CBS. "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kinds of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and is essentially flying by the seat of its pants." Much of the criticism of the summit was sparked by Trump's remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - Trump said he believed Kim's claim that he did not know what happened to Otto Warmbier, who died at age 22 days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. Bolton said Trump had been clear that Warmbier's death was "barbaric and unacceptable," although Schiff countered that the president's "obsequious comments" had compounded the summit's failure. Bolton was touring the Sunday political shows the morning after the US and South Korea announced an end to key annual large-scale military exercises. The maneuvers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- condemned by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for war. Trump has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises and -- since 2017's Singapore summit -- the Washington and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint exercises. Opponents of scrapping the drills warn that it could affect the combat readiness of US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula. Bolton sought to play down Saturday's announcement, however, saying the policy remained unchanged since Singapore. BALAKOT, Pakistan (AP) - Tensions escalated sharply on the Asian subcontinent Tuesday with nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India trading accusations and warnings after a pre-dawn airstrike by India that New Delhi said targeted a terrorist training camp. Pakistan said there were no casualties, while New Delhi called the attack a pre-emptive strike that hit a terrorist training camp and killed "a very large number" of militants. The airstrike followed a suicide bombing in India's section of the disputed territory of Kashmir on Feb. 14 that killed more than 40 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack but vowed to respond to any Indian military operation against it. Several reporters, including an Associated Press journalist, trudged up the Kangaran Nallah hill to the site of Tuesday's bombing near the town of Balakot, close to the border with Pakistan's sector of Kashmir. They saw several large craters, a few upended trees and villagers wondering why they had been targeted. "There are only mud-brick homes here. There is no madrassas. There isn't even a concrete house," said 55-year-old Noor Shah who lived about a half-kilometer (a third of a mile) from the site. When the bombs struck, Shah said residents of his village of Jabba stayed indoors. It wasn't until morning when "we saw soldiers and learned from them that Indian planes dropped bombs in our village," he said. Pakistani reporters and troops visit the site of an Indian airstrike in Jaba, near Balakot, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Aqeel Ahmed) Two of the dried mud structures were damaged in the explosions but no one was hurt, said Tahir Khan, 45, of the same village. He added that his frightened children refused to let him leave their side to go to work. "No one has been killed, no one has been seriously hurt. But we want to know, what have we done that we were attacked?" asked Khan. Pakistan's military spokesman, Maj. Gen Asif Ghafoor, said Indian planes crossed into the Muzafarabad sector of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. He said Pakistan scrambled its warplanes and the Indian jets released their payload "in haste" near Balakot. India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters in New Delhi that Indian fighter jets targeted Jaish-e-Mohammad camps in a pre-emptive strike after intelligence indicated another attack was being planned. "Acting on intelligence, India early today struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot," he said. "In this operation, a very large number of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and jihadis being trained were eliminated." Balakot Police Chief Saghir Hussain Shah said he had sent teams to the area where the Indian bombs reportedly hit, which he described as a mostly deserted wooded area. He said there were no casualties and no damage. There was no immediate explanation for the differing accounts, although India and Pakistan routinely contradict one another. The Feb. 14 attack was the worst on Indian forces since the start of the 1989 insurgency in Kashmir and came as anticipation rises for an Indian general election, which is due by May. Addressing a rally of former soldiers in the Indian state of Rajasthan hours after the airstrike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was in "safe hands." "I vow that I will not let the country bow down," he said. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned Tuesday's incursion, saying New Delhi had "endangered" peace in the region for political gains. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan dismissed India's account of the airstrike on a terrorist training camp as "self-serving, reckless and fictitious." Earlier this month, Khan had authorized the army to "respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure" by India, after New Delhi vowed a "jaw-breaking response" to the Kashmir suicide bombing. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged both countries to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. A statement from his spokesperson's office said Pompeo spoke to government ministers of both countries and underscored to Pakistan the urgency of taking meaningful action against terrorist groups on its soil. Pakistan has vowed to help investigate the suicide bombing and to take action against anyone found to be using Pakistani soil for attacks on India. It also offered to hold a dialogue with India on all issues, including terrorism. Kashmir, which is split between the two countries but claimed by each in its entirety, has been the cause of two wars between the neighbors. They fought a third war in 1979 over East Pakistan, which gained independence with the help of India and became Bangladesh. Insurgents in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been demanding either outright independence or union with Pakistan. India routinely accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants who cross the mountainous Himalayan region. The Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. The bomber, who made a video beforehand, was a resident of Indian-controlled sector of Kashmir. Muhammad Amir Rana, a security analyst and executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, urged the international community to move quickly to de-escalate tensions. "It's quite critical and it is important that the international community intervene quickly to start a peace process between India and Pakistan," he said, adding that the United States, China and Russia should take the lead. China, a close ally of Pakistan, urged both sides to show restraint. "We hope that both India and Pakistan can ... take actions that will help stabilize the situation in the region and help to improve mutual relations," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang. Pakistan has outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad and seized its property in south Punjab's Bawahalpur area, including religious schools and mosques. India has demanded that Jaish-e-Mohammad's leader, Azhar Masood, be listed as a terrorist by the U.N., but that has been stymied by China. After the airstrike, Lt. Col. Devender Anand, an Indian army spokesman, said Pakistani soldiers attacked Indian positions along the boundary in Kashmir, the so-called Line of Control. He called the attack an "unprovoked" violation of the 2003 cease-fire. He said there were no casualties and refused to discuss India's incursion into Pakistan. Residents of Chikhoti, on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, said they heard the roar of Indian jets overhead. They said they had been expecting an Indian response to the suicide bombing. "We built bunkers near our home years ago and we will use them if there is any attack from India in our area," said Mohammad Shafiq, 55. Later Tuesday evening, Anand said Pakistani soldiers fired mortar shells and small-arms fire along the Line of Control at the Nowshera, Poonch and Akhnoor sectors, prompting Indian troops to "strongly and befittingly" respond. Shakir Ahmed, a resident of Poonch in Indian-controlled Kashmir, said people heard loud sounds of shelling. "People are afraid. It's getting dark," he said. "We pray it doesn't escalate into war." ___ Hussain reported from Srinagar, India. Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon, Zarar Khan and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Roshan Mughal in Muzafarabad, Pakistan, contributed to this report. Pakistani Kashmiri residents climb out of a bunker built outside their home in border town of Chakoti situated at the Line of Control in Pakistani Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Abdul Razaq) Pakistani Kashmiris walk past India-bound cargo trucks, parked as road is closed to Indian Kashmir, in the border town of Chakoti at Line of Control in Pakistani Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Abdul Razaq) Pakistani Kashmiris walk through the border town of Chakoti at the Line of Control in Pakistani Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Abdul Razaq) Pakistani protesters shout anti-Indian slogans in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih) Crackers burst beside a giant Indian national flag as supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party celebrate reports of Indian aircrafts bombing Pakistan territory, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. A pre-dawn airstrike inside Pakistan that India said targeted a terrorist training camp and killed a "very large number" of militants ratcheted up tensions on Tuesday between the two nuclear-armed rivals at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party shout slogans as they celebrate reports of Indian aircrafts bombing Pakistan territory, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. A pre-dawn airstrike inside Pakistan that India said targeted a terrorist training camp and killed a "very large number" of militants ratcheted up tensions on Tuesday between the two nuclear-armed rivals at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party shout slogans as they celebrate reports of Indian aircrafts bombing Pakistan territory, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. A pre-dawn airstrike inside Pakistan that India said targeted a terrorist training camp and killed a "very large number" of militants ratcheted up tensions on Tuesday between the two nuclear-armed rivals at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party shout slogans as they celebrate reports of Indian aircrafts bombing Pakistan territory, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. A pre-dawn airstrike inside Pakistan that India said targeted a terrorist training camp and killed a "very large number" of militants ratcheted up tensions on Tuesday between the two nuclear-armed rivals at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, center, gives a press conference with Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, left, and Finance Minister Asad Umar after a recent Indian airstrike, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) A Pakistani soldier stands guard in the area where Indian jets strike in Jaba near Balakot, in Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Riaz Khan) Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, right, gives a press conference with Defense Minister Pervez Khattak after an Indian airstrike, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Pakistan said India launched an airstrike on its territory early Tuesday that caused no casualties, while India said it targeted a terrorist training camp in a pre-emptive strike that killed a "very large number" of militants. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) House OKs Democrats' bill blocking Trump emergency on wall WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats ignored a veto threat and rammed legislation through the House Tuesday that would stymie President Donald Trump's bid for billions of extra dollars for his border wall, escalating a clash over whether he was abusing his powers to advance his paramount campaign pledge. The House's 245-182 vote to block Trump's national emergency declaration fell well below the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override his promised veto. Top Republicans worked to keep defections as low as possible - 13 backed the Democrats' resolution - underscoring their desire to avoid a tally suggesting that Trump's hold on lawmakers was weakening. The vote also throws the political hot potato to the Republican-run Senate, where there were already enough GOP defections to edge it to the cusp of passage. Vice President Mike Pence used a lunch with Republican senators at the Capitol to try keeping them aboard, citing a dangerous crisis at the border, but there were no signs he'd succeeded. "I personally couldn't handicap the outcome at this point," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who's planning a vote within the next three weeks. He even said Republicans remained uncertain about the legality of Trump's move, telling reporters, "We're in the process of weighing that." Senate passage would force Trump's first veto, which the House vote demonstrated that Congress would surely fail to overturn. But the showdown was forcing Republicans to cast uncomfortable votes pitting their support for a president wildly popular with GOP voters against fears that his expansive use of emergency powers would invite future Democratic presidents to do likewise for their own pet policies. ___ Cohen says he will tell 'my story' in public hearing WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, said Tuesday that the American people can decide "exactly who is telling the truth" when he testifies Wednesday to the House Oversight and Reform committee, setting the stage for a blockbuster public hearing that threatens to overshadow Trump's summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Cohen, once Trump's loyal attorney and fixer, has turned on his former boss and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He begins a three-year prison sentence in May after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in 2017 and committing campaign finance violations while he was working for Trump. "I look forward to tomorrow, to be able to in my voice to tell the American people my story," Cohen told reporters Tuesday. He made the comments after meeting with the Senate intelligence committee for more than nine hours behind closed doors. Cohen said he appreciated the opportunity to "clear the record and tell the truth" to the Senate committee after acknowledging he lied to the panel in 2017. It was the first of three consecutive days of congressional appearances for Cohen. After the public hearing Wednesday, he will appear before the House intelligence panel Thursday, again speaking in private. ___ Trump, Kim to hold second nuclear summit with world watching HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - President Donald Trump is paying a courtesy call on his Vietnamese hosts while North Korea's Kim Jong Un was expected to take in some sights Wednesday before the leaders open their second nuclear summit with a one-on-one meeting and private social dinner. But the carnival-like atmosphere in the Vietnamese capital, with vendors hawking T-shirts emblazoned with the leaders' faces, stood in contrast to the serious items on their agendas: North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Trump and Kim first met last June in Singapore, a summit that was long on historic pageantry but short on any enforceable agreements for North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal. North Korea has spent decades, at great economic sacrifice, building its nuclear program, and there is widespread skepticism that it will give away that program cheaply. Trump has praised Pyongyang for ceasing missile tests and has appeared to ease up on demanding a timeline for disarmament. Trump hopes that Kim, who is seeking relief from crushing U.S. sanctions, will opt to give up his nuclear weapons program in exchange for help revitalizing his country's economy. ___ Trump touts prosperity, but is that what North Korea wants? HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - President Donald Trump's message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been simple and clear: give up your nuclear weapons and a flood of wealth will soon be yours for the taking. But here's a nagging question: Is that really what Kim wants? With Trump and Kim descending on Hanoi for their second summit , there has been a persistent suggestion that Kim will look around at the relative prosperity of his Vietnamese hosts - who are certainly no strangers to U.S. hostility - and think that he, too, should open up his country to more foreign investment and trade. Trump himself has been the primary cheerleader. Before boarding Air Force One, he tweeted that "Chairman Kim realizes, perhaps better than anyone else, that without nuclear weapons, his country could fast become one of the great economic powers anywhere in the world." ___ Nigeria's president is declared winner after bumpy vote KANO, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's president was declared the clear winner of a second term in Africa's largest democracy early Wednesday, after a campaign in which he urged voters to give him another chance to tackle gaping corruption, widespread insecurity and an economy limping back from a rare recession. While many frustrated Nigerians had said they wanted to give someone new a try, President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator, profited from his upright reputation in an oil-rich nation weary of politicians enriching themselves instead of the people. Supporters began dancing in the streets of the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday night as vote counting stretched his lead from the weekend election to nearly 4 million votes over top opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president who made sweeping campaign promises to "make Nigeria work again." Buhari received 15.1 million votes, the electoral commission said in making its official declaration before dawn Wednesday. Abubakar received 11.2 million. The average national turnout was 35.6 percent, continuing a downward trend. In a failed last-ditch effort to stop the official declaration, Abubakar's party claimed that election data had been manipulated and demanded fresh elections in four of Nigeria's 36 states. ___ Ex-federal prosecutor advances to runoff for Chicago mayor CHICAGO (AP) - A former federal prosecutor running as an outsider advanced Tuesday to a runoff for Chicago mayor, a transitional election for a lakefront metropolis still struggling to shed its reputation for corruption, police brutality and street violence. Lori Lightfoot, who could become the first African-American woman to lead the nation's third-largest city, was the top vote-getter in a field of 14 that included a member of the Daley family that has dominated Chicago politics for much of the last six decades. She advances to a runoff against the candidate with second-highest vote. Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's decision not to seek a third term drew some of the biggest names in state and municipal government as would-be successors, along with some political newcomers with strong support. But none figured to get enough votes to avoid a two-candidate faceoff on April 2. "What do you think of us now?" Lightfoot said Tuesday night to a crowd of her supporters. "This is what change looks like." Lightfoot, the first openly gay woman to run for Chicago mayor, has been critical of efforts to reform the Chicago Police Department in the wake of the 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald by a white police officer. ___ Australian Cardinal Pell faces abuse sentencing hearing MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse could face his first night in custody after a sentencing hearing Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. A Victoria state County Court jury unanimously convicted Cardinal George Pell in December of abusing the two 13-year-olds in a rear room of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996 weeks after becoming archbishop of Australia's second-largest city. But unusually, Pell wasn't taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled to have both knees replaced. Chief Judge Peter Kidd continued Pell's bail until his sentencing hearing, but warned Pell that did not indicate he would avoid a custodial sentence. Pope Francis removed Pell as a member of his informal cabinet in October. He had remained prefect of the Vatican's economy ministry, but his five-year term expired this month, acting Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said. ___ United Methodist delegates reject recognizing gay marriage ST. LOUIS (AP) - The United Methodist Church, America's second-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance after delegates at a crucial conference voted Tuesday to strengthen the faith's divisive bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. Emotions were high throughout the third and final day of the UMC's meeting. Some supporters of greater LGBT inclusion were in tears, while others vented their anger when, midway through the session, delegates defeated a proposal that would have let regional and local church bodies decide for themselves on gay-friendly policies. "Devastation," was how former Methodist pastor Rebecca Wilson of Detroit described her feelings. "As someone who left because I'm gay, I'm waiting for the church I love to stop bringing more hate." After several more hours of debate, the conservatives' proposal, called the Traditional Plan, was approved by a vote of 438-384. Opponents unsuccessfully sought to weaken the plan with hostile amendments or to prolong the debate past a mandatory adjournment time set to accommodate a monster truck rally in the arena. One delegate even requested an investigation into the possibility that "vote buying" was taking place at the conference. The Traditional Plan's success was due to an alliance of conservatives from the U.S. and overseas. About 43 percent of the delegates were from abroad, mostly from Africa, and overwhelmingly supported the LGBT bans. ___ GOP candidate in disputed US House race not running again RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Republican candidate whose narrow lead in a North Carolina congressional race was thrown out because of suspicions of ballot fraud announced Tuesday he will not run in the newly ordered do-over election, saying he needs surgery late next month. The withdrawal of Mark Harris could help Republicans try to keep the competitive 9th District seat by enabling the GOP to distance itself from the scandal. The Harris announcement focused on his health problems without mentioning the absentee ballot scandal. He didn't say what kind of surgery was planned. Harris had led Democrat Dan McCready by just 905 votes after November's election, but the outcome was never certified. State election officials grew concerned about reports that an operative working for Harris was illegally tampering with absentee ballots. A hearing last week into the allegations took an unexpected turn when Harris said while testifying that he agreed a new election should be called. He gave up attempts to be declared winner, citing a blood infection that required hospitalization and led to two strokes. It is unclear when the strokes occurred. ___ Dozens buried by landslide at unlicensed Indonesia gold mine JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - The collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province has buried dozens of people, disaster officials said Wednesday, as emergency personnel struggled to rescue victims in a remote location that's inaccessible to heavy earth-moving equipment. Local disaster official Abdul Muin Paputungan said one person is confirmed dead and at least 13 people with injuries ranging from light to serious have been rescued. Dozen could be buried, he said. "It is estimated that as many as 60 people are buried under landslide and rock material," he said in a statement released by the national disaster agency. Makeshift wooden structures in the mine in Bolaang Mongondow district collapsed on Tuesday evening due to unstable soil and the large number of mining holes, burying people in the mine pit. Informal mining operations are commonplace in Indonesia, providing a tenuous livelihood to thousands who labor in conditions with a high risk of serious injury or death. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer is preparing to tell a House committee Wednesday that Trump knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks had emails damaging to his rival Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and that he is a "racist," a "conman" and a "cheat." Michael Cohen suggests in prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press that Trump also implicitly told him to lie about a Moscow real estate project. Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the project, which he says Trump knew about as Cohen was negotiating with Russia during the election. Cohen says Trump did not directly tell him to lie, but that "he would look me in the eye and tell me there's no business in Russia and then go out and lie to the American people by saying the same thing." Cohen said that "in his way, he was telling me to lie." In the testimony, Cohen apologizes for his actions and says "I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump's illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience." On WikiLeaks, Cohen says he was in Trump's office in July 2016 when his longtime adviser Roger Stone called Trump. He says Trump put Stone on speakerphone and Stone said that "within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton's campaign." Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, speaks with the media as he departs after testifying before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Trump responded by saying "wouldn't that be great," according to Cohen. "A lot of people have asked me about whether Mr. Trump knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time," Cohen says in the testimony. "The answer is yes." Cohen also says that Trump made racist comments about African-Americans, saying at one point that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid. Cohen says that he and Trump once drove through a struggling neighborhood in Chicago and that Trump remarked that only black people could live that way. He also says Trump once asked him to name a country run by a black person that wasn't falling apart, though he says Trump used a vulgarism. At the time Barack Obama was America's president. Looking ahead to his public testimony, Cohen said Tuesday that the American people can decide "exactly who is telling the truth" when he appears Wednesday before the House Oversight and Reform committee, setting the stage for an explosive public hearing that threatens to overshadow Trump's summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Cohen, once Trump's loyal attorney and fixer, has turned on his former boss and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He begins a three-year prison sentence in May after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in 2017 and committing campaign finance violations while he was working for Trump. He met with the Senate intelligence committee for more than nine hours behind closed doors on Tuesday. Cohen said he appreciated the opportunity to "clear the record and tell the truth" after acknowledging he lied to the committee in 2017. It was the first of three consecutive days of congressional appearances for Cohen. After the public hearing Wednesday, he will appear before the House intelligence panel Thursday, again speaking in private. Republicans are expected to aggressively attempt to discredit Cohen, given that he has acknowledged lying previously. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement Tuesday it was "laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word, and pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies." One Republican House member did more than just question Cohen's credibility. Florida Republican Matt Gaetz tweeted Tuesday that the world is "about to learn a lot" about Cohen and suggested he knew of disparaging information that could come out during the hearing. The Trump ally offered no evidence to support his remarks and waved off the notion that he appeared to be threatening or intimidating a witness. After a barrage of criticism, Gaetz apologized and said he was deleting the tweet and should have chosen better words to show his intent. Lanny Davis, one of Cohen's lawyers, said in a statement that he wouldn't respond to Gaetz's "despicable lies and personal smears, except to say we trust that his colleagues in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, will repudiate his words and his conduct." Democrats have been alternately suspicious of Cohen and eager to hear what he has to say. Sen. Mark Warner, the intelligence panel's top Democrat, suggested in a brief statement to reporters outside Tuesday's interview that Cohen had provided important information. "Two years ago when this investigation started I said it may be the most important thing I am involved in in my public life in the Senate, and nothing I've heard today dissuades me from that view," Warner said. In addition to lying to Congress, Cohen pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations for his involvement in payments to two women who allege they had affairs with Trump. Federal prosecutors in New York have said Trump directed Cohen to arrange the payments to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal in the run-up to the 2016 campaign. Cohen told a judge that he agreed to cover up Trump's "dirty deeds" out of "blind loyalty." In his prepared testimony, Cohen says he will present the committee with a copy of the check Trump wrote from his personal bank account after he became president to reimburse him for the hush money payments. Trump has denied the allegations and said Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence. Cohen is not expected to discuss matters related to Russia in the public hearing, saving that information for the closed-door interviews with the intelligence committees. House Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings has said he doesn't want to interfere with Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and links to Trump's campaign. Members of the Oversight panel are expected to ask questions about the campaign finance violations, Trump's business practices and compliance with tax laws and "the accuracy of the president's public statements," according to a memo laying out the scope of the hearing. ___ Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman and Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington. Michael Cohen, left, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, arrives to testify before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee accompanied by his lawyer Lanny Davis of Washington, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks after hearing some of the testimony from Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee arrives for testimony from Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, enters to hear testimony from Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats have ignored a veto threat and passed legislation that would stymie President Donald Trump's bid for billions of extra dollars for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The move has escalated a clash over whether he has abused his powers to advance the signature pledge of his 2016 campaign. The House's 245-182 vote Tuesday to block Trump's national emergency declaration fell well below the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override what would be the first veto of Trump's presidency. Thirteen Republican backed the Democrats' measure as top Republicans worked to keep defections as low as possible, wanting to avoid a tally suggesting that Trump's hold on lawmakers was weakening. The issue is now before the Republican-run Senate, where there already were enough GOP defections to edge the resolution to the brink of passage. Vice President Mike Pence used a lunch with Republican senators at the Capitol to try keeping them aboard, citing a crisis at the border, but there were no signs he had succeeded. "I personally couldn't handicap the outcome at this point," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who plans a vote within the next three weeks. He even said Republicans remained uncertain about the legality of Trump's move. The showdown was forcing Republicans to cast uncomfortable votes pitting their support for a president popular with GOP voters against fears that his use of emergency powers would invite future Democratic presidents to do likewise. House Republicans who joined all voting Democrats to support the resolution included moderates from competitive districts such as Fred Upton of Michigan and libertarian-leaning conservatives like Thomas Massie from Kentucky. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., accompanied by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, left, and others, speaks about a resolution to block President Donald Trump's emergency border security declaration on Capitol Hill, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 in Washington. House Democrats have introduced a resolution to block the national emergency declaration that President Donald Trump issued last week to fund his long-sought wall along the U.S-Mexico border, setting up a fight that could result in Trump's first-ever veto. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The White House, in a letter to lawmakers threatening a veto, said blocking the declaration would "undermine the administration's ability to respond effectively to the ongoing crisis" at the border. Republicans said Democrats were driven by politics and a desire to oppose Trump at every turn. They said Trump had authority to declare an emergency to protect the country and they defended his claims of a crisis. "We are at war on the southern border with the drug cartels," said Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas. Trump has asserted that barriers would stop drugs from Mexico from entering the U.S. In fact, government figures show that 90 percent of drugs intercepted from Mexico are caught at ports of entry, not remote areas where barriers would be constructed. Democrats said Republicans repeatedly accused former President Barack Obama of flouting the Constitution, which gives Congress control over spending, but are ignoring Trump's effort to do the same. "Is your oath of office to Donald Trump, or is your oath of office to the Constitution?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asked Republicans. Trump's push for the wall reflected a continuation of the anti-immigrant views that helped fuel his election, some Democrats said. "Since when do we call human beings in need a national emergency?" said Mexican-born Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, D-Ill. "Is he running out of insults for people like me?" Democrats said the crisis is a fiction manufactured by Trump to evade Congress' vote this month to provide less than $1.4 billion for barrier construction. That was well below the $5.7 billion Trump demanded as he forced a record-setting 35-day federal shutdown. "The president does not get to override Congress in a raucous temper tantrum over his inability to broker a deal" with lawmakers for more money, said Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, sponsor of the one-sentence measure blocking the declaration, called Trump's move "constitutional vandalism." Trump used a 1976 law to declare a national emergency and ordered the shift of $3.6 billion from military construction projects to wall building. Citing other powers, he intends to shift an additional $3.1 billion from Defense Department anti-drug efforts and a fund that collects seized assets. The money would be used to build steel barriers up to 30 feet tall and other barriers and for "law enforcement efforts," said a White House statement. In the Senate, three Republicans have said they will back Democrats' drive to block the emergency declaration: Maine's Susan Collins, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and North Carolina's Thom Tillis. One more GOP defection would provide enough votes to approve the Democratic measure, assuming all Democrats and their independent allies back it. Republicans said senators asked Pence numerous questions about which projects Trump would divert to pay for the wall, with Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., saying the discussion was "hearty." Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which controls spending. said the committee would quickly "backfill" money for military construction with other funds he did not identify. "That issue won't stay alive long," Shelby told reporters. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the chief GOP vote counter, said there may be GOP attempts to amend the House measure, saying Republicans "think they have amendments that would improve it." That suggests that McConnell may try finding a way to add language that could sink the Democratic resolution or, perhaps, make it more palatable for Republicans. The law requires the Senate to vote on a measure within 18 days of receiving it from the House. Though presidents have declared 58 emergencies under the law, this is the first aimed at acquiring money for an item Congress has explicitly refused to finance, according to Elizabeth Goitein, co-director for national security at New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice. This is also the first time Congress has cast votes on whether to annul an emergency declaration, she said. Several lawsuits have been filed aimed at blocking the money, including by Democratic state attorneys general, and progressive and environmental groups. Those suits are likely to delay access to those funds for months or years. ___ AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters he can't say whether the Republican-controlled Senate will approve a resolution to block President Donald Trump's emergency declaration on immigration, during a news conference after a closed-door GOP meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The House later voted to block President Trump's emergency declaration, a measure intended get him billions of extra dollars to build his border wall. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y. with Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's president was declared the clear winner of a second term in Africa's largest democracy early Wednesday, after a campaign in which he urged voters to give him another chance to tackle gaping corruption, widespread insecurity and an economy limping back from a rare recession. While many frustrated Nigerians had said they wanted to give someone new a try, President Muhammadu Buhari , a former military dictator, profited from his upright reputation in an oil-rich nation weary of politicians enriching themselves instead of the people. Speaking shortly after the announcement of the official results and as many Nigerians awakened to the morning prayer, Buhari told colleagues that he was "deeply humbled" by the win. He also said he regretted the loss of dozens of lives in election-related violence. Supporters began dancing in the streets of the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday night as vote counting stretched his lead from the weekend election to nearly 4 million votes over top opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president who made sweeping campaign promises to "make Nigeria work again." Buhari received 15.1 million votes, or 55 percent, the electoral commission said in making its official declaration. Abubakar received 11.2 million, or 41 percent. The average national turnout was 35.6 percent, continuing a downward trend. In a failed last-ditch effort to stop the official declaration, Abubakar's party claimed that election data had been manipulated and demanded fresh elections in four of Nigeria's 36 states. Supporters of Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari dance to Lady Gaga songs anticipating a win as they wait for the results to be officially announced in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Anxious Nigerians on Tuesday awaited a second day of state-by-state announcements of presidential election results in a race described as too close to call. Buhari is facing opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Buhari's party rejected the accusations. It also called on Abubakar, who hasn't made a public appearance since Saturday's election, to accept his loss gracefully and concede. "Let this nation move forward," campaign spokesman Babatunde Fashola said. "There's no opposition that will roll over and play dead. Anybody that lost an election will always complain," Hameed Ali, the ruling party agent attending the vote declaration, told reporters. The election, once described as too close to call, suffered from a surprise weeklong postponement and significant delays in the opening of polling stations. While election observers called the process generally peaceful, at least 53 people were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province extremist group and other violence, analysis unit SBM Intelligence said. It remained to be seen whether Abubakar will follow through on pledges to accept a loss, or challenge the results. A former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, said the troubled election had given the candidates grounds to go to the courts. That route could take months. Many Nigerians have prayed for peace. They were surprised in 2015 when President Goodluck Jonathan took the unprecedented step of conceding to Buhari before official results were announced. It was the first defeat of an incumbent president by the opposition in the country's history. "Jonathan set the benchmark on how electoral outcomes should be handled," Chris Kwaja, a senior adviser to the United States Institute of Peace, a U.S. government-backed institution promoting conflict resolution worldwide, told The Associated Press. "Accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship. This is a critical vehicle for democratic consolidation." Nigerians were praised for their patience and resilience in this bumpy vote. ___ Anna reported from Kano, Nigeria. Associated Press writer Sam Olukoya in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of the Nigeria elections here: https://www.apnews.com/Nigeria ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa Supporters of Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari pour champagne anticipating a win as they wait for the results to be officially announced in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Anxious Nigerians on Tuesday awaited a second day of state-by-state announcements of presidential election results in a race described as too close to call. Buhari is facing opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Supporters of Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari take selfies at Buhari's campaign headquarters as they wait for the results to be officially announced in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Anxious Nigerians on Tuesday awaited a second day of state-by-state announcements of presidential election results in a race described as too close to call. Buhari is facing opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Supporters of Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari party anticipating a win as they wait for the results to be officially announced in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Anxious Nigerians on Tuesday awaited a second day of state-by-state announcements of presidential election results in a race described as too close to call. Buhari is facing opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Supporters of Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari party anticipating a win as they wait for the results to be officially announced in Abuja, Nigeria, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Anxious Nigerians on Tuesday awaited a second day of state-by-state announcements of presidential election results in a race described as too close to call. Buhari is facing opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) A man takes a call on his cellphone as he stands between two billboards showing Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and other party officials, in Kano, northern Nigeria Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Buhari's election lead grew on Tuesday during a second day of announcing state-by-state election results in Africa's largest democracy. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 file photo, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari speaks to the media after casting his vote in his hometown of Daura, in northern Nigeria. Nigeria's president was poised to win a second term in Africa's largest democracy, with unofficial results on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 showing a victory, his campaign spokesman said. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina man who bought more than 120 boxes of Girl Scouts cookies to help the scouts escape the cold has been arrested on drug charges. News outlets report the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says 46-year-old Detric Lee McGowan was arrested Tuesday on charges including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. The agency says McGowan is the same man who appeared in a photo that garnered thousands of views and shares online. Mother Kayla Dillard had shared the photo on Facebook, saying the man paid $540 in cash for all the girls' cookies so they could escape the cold outside a store near Greenville, South Carolina. She said she didn't get the man's name. An indictment issued last week says McGowan, also known as "Fat," is one of several suspects in an ongoing drug investigation. It says he and 10 other people conspired to import drugs from Mexico in late 2018. The U.S. Attorney's Office says authorities are still searching for one of the suspects. The vice president of recruitment and marketing for Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands, Karen Kelly, says the organization will cooperate with authorities. She says in a Tuesday statement that the organization had no reason to believe McGowan was "anything other than one of our valuable customers." McGowan was being held at a Spartanburg County detention center. It's unclear if he has a lawyer. Greenville is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump and his national emergency declaration(all times local): 6:30 p.m. The House has voted to block President Donald Trump's emergency declaration, a measure intended get him billions of extra dollars to build his border wall. Democrats pushed the measure through the chamber by 245-182, with 13 Republicans joining them. Passage by the GOP-led Senate seems possible next month. At least four Republican senators may back the Democrats' resolution. Trump has formally issued his veto threat. Congress seems unlikely to amass the two-thirds majorities needed to override the veto, which would be his first. The battle makes GOP lawmakers choose between backing Trump and defending Congress' control over spending. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after a closed-door GOP meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Trump says there's a border crisis and he needs more than the $1.4 billion Congress provided for barrier construction. Democrats say there's no crisis and Trump is trying to work around Congress. __ 3:05 p.m. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he can't say whether the Republican-controlled Senate will approve a resolution to block President Donald Trump's emergency declaration on immigration. The Kentucky Republican told reporters he "couldn't handicap" the outcome of the vote. Three Republican senators - Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - have said they will vote against Trump. If one more Republican joins them, the resolution disapproving of Trump's order would likely pass. The president has said he would veto the measure. McConnell said Republicans had a "fulsome" discussion about Trump's order at their private lunch Tuesday, which was attended by Vice President Mike Pence and a Justice Department lawyer. The House is expected to pass its resolution disapproving of Trump's order on Tuesday afternoon. __ 12:55 p.m. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will vote to terminate President Donald Trump's emergency declaration on border security. The Alaska senator told reporters on Tuesday that Trump's declaration to unlock billions of dollars beyond what Congress has approved crosses a constitutional line giving Congress decisions on federal spending. Murkowski said that Trump is "overstepping into the legislative prerogative." She added, "I'm going to be voting yes on the resolution of disapproval." Murkowski's vote means only one more Senate Republican is needed to side with all the Democrats for the measure to pass and go to Trump, who is expected to veto it. The other two Republicans who have said they'll vote to disapprove of Trump's declaration are Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. ___ 11:25 a.m. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump is trying to "bend the law" with his declaration of a national emergency on the southern border. Schumer is calling on lawmakers to "speak up with one bipartisan voice" to put a check on the executive branch as the founding founders envisioned. He asked, "What would stop a future president from claiming an emergency every week?" The House is expected Tuesday to pass a resolution to block Trump from redirecting billions of military dollars toward construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Senate could pass the resolution as well. Even if Congress votes to terminate the president's emergency declaration, Trump is likely to veto the measure. It is doubtful that Congress could muster the votes to override him. ___ 11:20 a.m. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says opposition to President Donald Trump's emergency declaration isn't about politics, but about protecting the country from executive overreach. Pelosi was speaking Tuesday at the American Legion's annual conference. She said Trump's action "steals billions of dollars" from the military construction projects- including possibly family housing and child care centers - to build the wall with Mexico. She says if there was a true emergency at the border, Congress would provide funding. But Pelosi says Trump's action undermines the separation of powers by tapping money Congress already allocated to other projects. "It's not about politics," Pelosi said. "It's about patriotism." The House is voting Tuesday to terminate Trump's action, with Senate to follow. But the president is expected to veto the measure. ___ 12:20 a.m. Democrats are moving quickly to try to roll back President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to siphon billions of dollars from the military to fund construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tuesday's vote in the Democratic-controlled House comes on legislation to revoke Trump's executive order from earlier this month and would send it to the Republican-held Senate, where it would take only a handful of GOP defections to pass it. Trump is likely to prevail in the end since he could use his first-ever veto to kill the measure if it passes Congress, but the White House is seeking to minimize defections among the president's GOP allies to avoid embarrassment. DETROIT (AP) - Fiat Chrysler on Tuesday announced a $4.5 billion plan that includes building the first new auto assembly plant in Detroit in almost three decades and increasing its workforce in the area by about 6,500 jobs, an investment officials touted as an uncommon opportunity to revive the region's economy. Under the plan, the company said it would reopen a shuttered engine plant in the city and convert another in the same complex into a future assembly plant for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new, three-row, full-size Jeep SUV and plug-in hybrid models for all. The Motor City was once home to about a dozen massive auto production plants, but a rash of closures helped to push Detroit's unemployment rate to a peak of almost 29 percent a decade ago. The new Chrysler plant would be the first since 1991 and is expected to add 3,850 jobs. The company said in a news release that it would add another 1,100 new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit, and roughly 1,500 new jobs at facilities in the neighboring suburb of Warren. The investment would roughly double FCA's hourly workforce in the city and the expected average wage for the new jobs is about $58,000 a year. Speaking at a news conference after the announcement, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan called the deal a "once in a generational chance to change the economic" fortunes of Detroit. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said it has been a long time since Michigan has seen an automotive investment as "big and transformative" as Fiat Chrysler's plan. The investment will also have a ripple effect, boosting the automotive industry and helping other non-auto businesses elsewhere in Michigan and other Midwest states, Whitmer said. Jeep vehicles are parked outside the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Fiat Chrysler announced plans on Tuesday for a new Jeep factory, the city's first new auto plant in a generation, as part of a $4.5 billion manufacturing expansion in southeast Michigan. FCA said it would convert the Mack Avenue Engine factory to an assembly plant for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and make an investment at Jefferson North Assembly Plant to retool and modernize the factory for continued production of the Dodge Durango. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Fiat Chrysler said the additional investments are subject to tax incentive packages it was working out with the city and state of Michigan. The automaker would need about 200 acres (80 hectares) of land for the project, most owned by the city, Great Lakes Water Authority, DTE Energy and the Moroun family, which owns significant amounts of city real estate and the Ambassador Bridge that connects Michigan to Ontario, Canada. Most of the needed land would be for expanding the footprint of the existing facility, parking and other uses. City officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the automaker, and they were ironing out a deal to assemble land for the project over the next 60 days. If enough land is acquired and the tax incentives approved, construction is expected to start later this year and the first new vehicles could be in production by the end of 2020. The automaker's injection of money and jobs into the Motor City contrasts sharply with news from rival General Motors Co., which announced plans to shutter its Detroit-Hamtramck plant next year and plans to close four others in the U.S. and Canada. City officials insisted they would help bring those 5,000 new jobs to the city without displacing any residents. In the early 1980s, thousands of people were relocated and a black and Polish neighborhood known as Poletown was razed for what became GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant. The company also said Ram heavy duty pickup truck production will stay in Mexico, despite a previous announcement that it would move to a factory in Warren. Instead, the Warren plant will get the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer large SUVs, plus it will continue to build the previous generation Ram light-duty pickup at least through this year. Fiat Chrysler's massive, multi-layered investment calls to mind online retailer Amazon, which last year had more than 230 municipalities competing for its second headquarters and offering billions of dollars in inducements. Northern Virginia and New York ultimately won the competition, but Amazon recently canceled the New York project - and some 25,000 promised jobs - after running into fierce opposition to those incentives from lawmakers and political activists on the left. Fiat Chrysler's industrial overture to the Detroit area is not the same, said Kristin Dziczek, of the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For the automaker, she said, it's akin to "investing with friends in Michigan they know very well." She noted that the city and state are likely to "come to the table with something good" because they see a realistic return on their investment. The city said it's offering $12 million in tax credits. "You wouldn't find local opposition to this issue like in New York - people in Detroit and Michigan want auto jobs," Dziczek said. "(Fiat Chrysler) is not out there waving their dollars around saying, 'Who will give us the most incentives?' ... They weren't playing an incentive game. They were looking at a business case, and what makes sense." Company officials said SUVs remain in demand, with strong sales and growth potential in domestic and overseas markets. The company's chief financial officer told investors in June that trucks and SUVs would account for 80 percent of revenue by 2022. Union leaders also praised the announcement. "It is especially exciting because these are good union jobs that have been achieved through collective bargaining," United Auto Workers Vice President Cindy Estrada said in a statement. "We now look forward to working with the city and other community leaders on a community benefits agreement that reimagines our city and empowers our citizens to create sustainable communities with long-term viability." Detroit's history has long been intertwined with the U.S. auto industry, with its attendant peaks and valleys. Historically, Detroit's job losses have been reflected in its plummeting population. About 1.8 million people lived in Detroit in the 1950s and Detroit was the nation's fourth-biggest city in 1960. By 2016, it would rank 21st as the tens of thousands of the middle class fled to the suburbs. More whites moved away following a riot in 1967. The black middle class made a similar exodus in the following decade. About the same time, the car plants that provided jobs and helped keep the city running were hiring fewer people. Around 1970, Detroit's unemployment rate was just over 7 percent. It reached 25 percent by 1990. In 2009, the unemployment rate was close to 29 percent. Today, Detroit has fewer than 700,000 residents. But the city's unemployment rate last fall was down to about 8 percent. Fiat Chrysler says it's cutting about 1,400 jobs at a plant in Belvidere, Illinois, that makes Jeep Cherokees - a move the automaker says is unrelated to a major investment in the Detroit area that could add 6,500 workers. Company officials say the cuts are because of softening demand globally for the SUV, and not related to the Detroit-area investments. The Illinois plant will continue with its remaining 3,760 workers. The company adds in a statement it will work to place laid off workers in open, full-time positions as they become available. ___ Associated Press writers Corey Williams in Detroit and David Eggert in Lansing contributed to this story. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the representative from the Center for Automotive Research is called Kristin Dziczek, not Kristen. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces plans for Fiat Chrysler to build a new assembly plant include $12 million in tax abatements over a dozen years and 200 acres of land during a news conference in Detroit, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Duggan's office said that the city will work with the state on other incentives for the automaker's $1.6 billion investment to convert its Mack Avenue Engine Complex into a new facility. The city has 60 days to get the land, 170 acres of which is owned by the city, a power utility, a public water authority and a family of prominent wealthy businessmen. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Fiat Chrysler Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart stands with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as he announces plans for Fiat Chrysler to build a new assembly plant include $12 million in tax abatements over a dozen years and 200 acres of land during a news conference in Detroit, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Mayor Mike Duggan's office said that the city will work with the state on other incentives for the automaker's $1.6 billion investment to convert its Mack Avenue Engine Complex into a new facility. The city has 60 days to get the land, 170 acres of which is owned by the city, a power utility, a public water authority and a family of prominent wealthy businessmen. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) "Never Tell" by Lisa Gardner (Dutton). What seems like a slam-dunk case turns into something mysterious in Gardner's latest featuring Boston Detective D.D. Warren. The police receive a report of shots fired inside a home, and when they arrive find a woman holding a gun and standing over a man's dead body. It is soon determined that the woman is Evie Carter, and her husband is the victim. Warren arrives on the scene and her initial investigation reveals a weird anomaly: the husband has three bullet holes, but his laptop has 12, making the contents unrecoverable. What makes even less sense is that Warren recognizes the woman from years earlier. Evie was one of her first cases when she joined the police force, which involved her accidentally shooting and killing her father. That case was corroborated by the evidence and an eyewitness. Evie initially confesses to the crime of murdering her husband, but then claims that she came home to find her husband's body. She picked up the gun and shot the computer until the gun ran out of bullets. If her story is true, why did she feel the impulse to do something so strange? To make things more complicated for both the case and Warren, a woman named Flora Dane has some potentially damaging information. Dane was kidnapped for almost two years, and her rescue has compelled her to help the police. She tells Warren that the husband is someone she recognizes from a time when her kidnapper took her to a bar to try to sell her services. Was Evie's dead husband friends with the man who kidnapped Dane? This cover image released by Dutton shows "Never Tell," a novel by Lisa Gardner Gardner knows how to weave a deeply moving and psychological thriller that pulls no punches in its authenticity. She is one of the masters when it comes to crime fiction. Fans of her novels will consider this one of her best, and newcomers will be in awe of the compelling story and unpredictability of the proceedings. WASHINGTON (AP) - A House Republican taunted former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen ahead of a congressional hearing, suggesting in a tweet that the public appearance will expose damaging personal information about Cohen. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., tweeted on Tuesday without offering any evidence that the world is "about to learn a lot" about President Donald Trump's former lawyer and that Cohen should talk to his wife ahead of his testimony Wednesday. "Hey @MichaelCohen212 - Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she'll remain faithful when you're in prison. She's about to learn a lot..." the tweet said. It was not clear what prompted the allegation. Gaetz, a Trump ally, is not a member of the committee questioning Cohen. Still, the tweet was extraordinary because his remarks appeared to be threatening or intimidating a witness on the eve of a highly anticipated public hearing. Gaetz later apologized and said he was deleting the tweet. Cohen is due to testify Wednesday before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about payments to buy the silence of women who allege they had sex with Trump ahead of the 2016 election. His testimony is expected to be sharply critical of Trump, alleging lying, cheating and criminal behavior. "We will not respond to Mr. Gaetz's despicable lies and personal smears, except to say we trust that his colleagues in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, will repudiate his words and his conduct," Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said in a statement. Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, arrives to testify before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Asked whether his tweet to Cohen should be perceived as a threat, Gaetz responded: "Absolutely not." "We're witness testing, not witness tampering, and when witnesses come before Congress their truthfulness and veracity are in question, and we have the opportunity to test them," he told reporters outside his office. Later Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that the Ethics Committee ought to "vigilantly monitor" House members' "comments made on social media or in the press (that) can adversely affect the ability of House committees to obtain the truthful and complete information necessary to fulfill their duties." In response, Gaetz said that he also wanted to get to the truth and that he didn't mean for his tweet to imply a threat. "While it is important 2 create context around the testimony of liars like Michael Cohen, it was NOT my intent to threaten, as some believe I did," Gaetz tweeted. "I'm deleting the tweet & I should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I'm sorry." Trump's fixer-turned-foe was testifying to the Senate intelligence committee behind closed doors on Tuesday when Gaetz fired off his initial tweet, drawing immediate criticism from fellow lawmakers. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., called on the House Ethics Committee to launch an investigation for what he called a "grossly unethical and probably illegal" attempt to intimidate a witness. Cohen had previously delayed his public testimony, blaming threats from Trump and the president's attorney-spokesman, Rudy Giuliani, and citing his ongoing cooperation in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Cohen, who was a key power player in the Trump Organization for more than a decade and a fixture in Trump's political life, is a central figure in the Mueller investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump's campaign. He also played a pivotal role in buying the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, who both alleged they had sex with Trump. The president has denied their claims. Cohen has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations connected to the payments and lying to Congress. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed Cohen to make the payments during the campaign. He's scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in May. ___ Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman in Washington and Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse was sent to prison on Wednesday and will wait two weeks to learn his sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. Victorian state County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd revoked Cardinal George Pell's bail at the end of a sentencing hearing in a packed, standing room-only courtroom. Kidd said he would deliver his sentence on March 13. The 77-year-old Pell, who could face 50 years in prison, showed no expression as he walked from the dock with a cane escorted by three court security officers and a prison guard. Pell paused at the door, turned to the judge and bowed. He was taken by prison van from the court to the Melbourne Assessment Prison, a maximum security facility where inmates new to the state penal system are assessed. All prisoners are strip-searched on arrival and Pell, like all pedophiles, will be kept in protective custody, where he will remain alone for up to 23 hours a day. A jury unanimously convicted Pell in December of abusing the two 13-year-olds in a rear room of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996 weeks after becoming archbishop of Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. But Pell wasn't taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled to have both knees replaced. Pell faced an abusive crowd Wednesday as he entered court half an hour before his sentencing hearing began. Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) "I hope you burn in hell!" one man shouted while pushing against a cluster of police officers trying to shield the cardinal as he walked into the courthouse. "You're a pedophile! You're a criminal! You're a monster!" Pell's lawyer Robert Richter was heckled by members of the public during the lunch break, prompting Kidd to warn people in the gallery that they could be charged with contempt of court for such behavior. Kidd said such acts directed at Pell and Richter showed that Pell was being blamed for the sexual abuse and cover-ups within the Catholic Church recently exposed by a government-commissioned investigation into Australian institutions' handling of abuse allegations. "The Catholic Church is not on trial ... I'm imposing sentence on Cardinal Pell for what he did," Kidd said. The court had until Tuesday forbidden publication of any details about the trial because Pell had faced a second trial in April on charges that he indecently assaulted two boys aged 9 or 10 and 11 or 12 as a young priest in the late 1970s in a public pool in his hometown of Ballarat. Those charges have now been dropped. Pope Francis removed Pell as a member of his informal Cabinet in October. He had remained prefect of the Vatican's economy ministry, but his five-year term expired this month, acting Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said. Gisotti tweeted that Pell "is no longer" the Holy See's economy chief. On Wednesday, Gisotti said that the Vatican office that handles sex abuse of minors has taken over the case as well. The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has the power to remove Pell from the priesthood, as it did recently with former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked earlier this month after the Vatican office found him guilty of sexually abusing minors and adults. The Vatican spokesman says that the Vatican office that handles sex abuse of minors has taken over the case involving Cardinal George Pell following his conviction for molesting two choir boys. Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said Wednesday that the Australian cardinal, the highest Catholic cleric convicted of sex abuse, was being investigated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which has the power to remove him from the priesthood. The move was expected as the Church must conduct its own canonical investigation whenever there is a credible allegation of sex abuse. Pell was jailed Wednesday pending his sentencing in the decades-old molestation case. Pope Francis removed Pell as a member of his informal Cabinet in October, and the Vatican confirmed he is no longer its economy minister. Pell will be sentenced for five convictions of sexual penetration and indecent acts involving the boys. Each conviction carries a maximum 10-year prison term. The judge said Pell was guilty of a breach of trust with an element of brutality and had had a sense of impunity. "I see this as callus, brazen offending - blatant," Kidd said. "At the time, he thought he was going to get away with it. Otherwise he wouldn't have done it," Kidd added. Richter had told the jury during the trial that "only a mad man" would take the risk of sexually abusing two boys in a cathedral room with the door open and people likely to wander in. On Wednesday, Richter described the abuse as a "temporary loss of judgment" in response to an "irresistible impulse." Pell had maintained his innocence throughout, describing the accusations as "vile and disgusting conduct." His lawyers have appealed the convictions and were scheduled to appear in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday afternoon to apply for bail. But the bail application was later withdrawn, and no date has been set for an appeal hearing. Pell lawyer Paul Galbally said the cardinal had decided against applying for bail. "He believes it is appropriate for him to await his sentencing" in prison, Galbally said in a statement. The victim who testified at Pell's trial said in a statement that since the conviction was revealed, he has experienced "shame, loneliness, depression and struggle." The man said it had taken him years to understand the impact the assault had on his life. The other victim died of a heroin overdose that his father attributed to the aftermath of the abuse. Neither victim can be named under state law. The revelations in the Pell case came in the same month that the Vatican announced that Francis approved the expulsion from the priesthood of a former high-ranking American cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, for sexual abuse of minors and adults. The convictions were also confirmed days after Francis concluded his extraordinary summit of Catholic leaders summoned to Rome for a tutorial on preventing clergy sexual abuse and protecting children from predator priests. Protesters hold placards outside the County Court where Cardinal George Pell is to arrive in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Protesters hold placards outside the County Court where Cardinal George Pell is to arrive in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's appearances this week before Congress (all times local): 1:20 a.m. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer is preparing to tell Congress that the president made racist comments about African-Americans, Trump saying at one point that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid. Michael Cohen makes that allegation in written testimony prepared for a House committee hearing on Wednesday. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the prepared statement ahead of the hearing. In the statement, Cohen says that he and Trump once drove through a struggling neighborhood in Chicago and Trump remarked that only black people could live that way. Cohen also says Trump once asked him to name a country run by a black person that wasn't falling apart, though Cohen says Trump used a vulgarism. At the time Barack Obama was America's president. Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, back center, leaves after a closed door Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) ___ 12:45 a.m. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer is preparing to tell a House committee that his former boss knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks would release emails damaging to his rival Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Michael Cohen says in the prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press that Trump also implicitly told him to lie about a Moscow real estate project. Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the project, which he says Trump knew about. Cohen says Trump didn't directly tell him to lie, but that "he would look me in the eye and tell me there's no business in Russia and then go out and lie to the American people by saying the same thing." ___ 11:45 p.m. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, says the American people can decide "exactly who is telling the truth" after he testifies publicly in a highly-anticipated House Oversight and Reform committee hearing Wednesday. Cohen, once Trump's loyal attorney and fixer, has turned on his former boss and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He begins a three-year prison sentence in May after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in 2017 and committing campaign finance violations while he was working for Trump. ___ 7 p.m. President Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has left the Senate intelligence committee's offices after more than nine hours behind closed doors. Cohen said after leaving the interview that he appreciates the opportunity to "clear the record and tell the truth." Cohen pleaded guilty last year to lying to the panel in 2017 about a real estate project in Moscow. He has since turned on the president and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. He is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in May. Cohen says he is looking forward to testifying at the House Oversight and Reform Committee Wednesday so he can "tell the American people my story." He says he is "going to let the American people decide exactly who is telling the truth." __ 2:50 p.m. President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer is now an ex-lawyer. Michael Cohen was officially disbarred on Tuesday while he was in Washington giving closed-door testimony to the Senate intelligence committee. A New York court ruled that Cohen's guilty plea last November automatically stripped him of his eligibility to practice law. A spokeswoman for Cohen did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to the House and Senate intelligence committees and to campaign finance violations for his involvement in payments to a former Playboy model and porn actress who allege they had affairs with Trump. Cohen is due to start a three-year prison sentence in May. Cohen had been practicing law in New York since 1992. ___ 9:50 a.m. The White House is seeking to discredit President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer as he makes a series of appearances on Capitol Hill. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders issued a statement Tuesday, saying Michael Cohen was "going to prison for lying to Congress and making other false statements." Sanders says it's "laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word, and pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies." Cohen arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday to begin three days of congressional appearances. The public will hear from him Wednesday when he testifies before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Cohen is set to serve time in prison for lying to the House and Senate intelligence committees in 2017. ___ 12:25 a.m. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen will start a three-day gauntlet of congressional appearances by giving a closed-door interview to the Senate intelligence committee, where he is expected to detail what he claims to know about Trump's contacts with Russians and other sensitive matters. Senators are suspicious of Cohen, who is set to serve time in prison for lying to the committee in 2017. But they are also eager to hear what Trump's former loyal fixer has to say. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr tells The Associated Press that senators will have staff ask questions in Tuesday's session but will be there to observe. He says no topics will be off limits and that Cohen "should expect to get any question from anywhere about anything." Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, arrives to testify before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) BOLAANG MONGONDOW, Indonesia (AP) - A grueling search and rescue effort has saved 19 people from the debris of a collapsed illegal gold mine in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province but officials said Wednesday that several dozen remain trapped. The national disaster agency said four people are confirmed dead and an estimated 37 are still buried beneath soil and rocks in an area that is difficult to access because of its remoteness and steep terrain. "The land contour is worrying with an 80 degree slope, so it's pretty steep, and we don't want any unwanted things to happen," said local police chief Gani Fernando Siahaan. "We will continue the rescue process until night as long as weather permits." Emergency personnel used their bare hands and farm tools to search for the victims. Video showed rescuers struggling to bring out a body bag in nearly vertical terrain. Makeshift wooden structures in the mine in Bolaang Mongondow district collapsed on Tuesday evening due to shifting soil and the large number of mining holes, burying people in the mine pit. "Unstable soil conditions make us extra careful lifting rocks because it can lead to new landslides," local disaster official Abdul Muin Paputungan said. Rescuers heard voices crying for help from beneath the debris, he said. Rescuers carry a survivor from inside a collapsed mine in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in Indonesia buried dozens of people, and rescuers dug desperately with their bare hands and farm tools on Wednesday to unearth victims calling for help from beneath the rubble. (AP Photo/Harry Tri Atmojo) The disaster agency said at least 140 people from different agencies are involved in the rescue effort. It said there is an urgent need for body bags. Informal mining operations are commonplace in Indonesia, providing a tenuous livelihood to thousands who labor in conditions with a high risk of serious injury or death. Small artisanal and often unauthorized mining is rising in many parts of Asia and Africa. A study by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development found the number of people engaged in such mining had risen to over 40 million, up from 30 million in 2014 and 6 million in 1993. Landslides, flooding and collapses of tunnels are just some of the hazards. Much of the processing of gold ore involves use of highly toxic mercury and cyanide by workers using little or no protection. Rescuers carry the body of a victim of a collapsed mine in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in Indonesia buried dozens of people, and rescuers dug desperately with their bare hands and farm tools on Wednesday to unearth victims calling for help from beneath the rubble. (AP Photo/Harry Tri Atmojo) In this undated photo released by Indonesian Search And Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) rescuers evacuate a survivor from a collapsed gold mine in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province has buried dozens of people, a disaster official said Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, as emergency personnel used their bare hands and farm tools in a desperate attempt to reach victims calling for help from beneath the rubble. (BASARNAS via AP) HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - The stereotype of artists as eccentric is a common one, and the work of Vietnamese artist Tran Lam Binh seems to support that view. Since 2015 he has turned out painting after painting of Donald Trump. Many can be seen this week in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, where Trump is holding a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Binh has also fashioned a statue of the American president that's almost 2 meters (6 feet) tall, more or less life size. Don't assume Binh is single-minded, however. In 2017, he began diversifying his portfolio of roughly 50 depictions of Trump by painting portraits of Kim Jong Un as well. So this week is kind of a perfect storm for 36-year-old Binh with his two favorite subjects coming to his homeland to discuss peace on the Korean Peninsula. To mark the event, Binh has created about 10 pop-art portraits of Trump and Kim on canvas and paper in bright pink, blue, orange and yellow colors decorated with hearts and the words "Love" and "Peace." In this Feb. 25, 2019, photo, Tran Lam Binh poses for a photo with part of his creations in Hanoi, Vietnam. Binh's portrait series of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is to mark the two leaders' second summit to be held in Hanoi this week. (AP Photo/Tran Van Minh) Binh said he won't sell the portraits and instead will keep them as a souvenir of the historic event. He may not be turning a profit, but has been reaping a motherlode of publicity as the summit has brought foreign and local media in droves to see him and his work. Binh started painting Trump portraits in 2015 when the American real estate mogul launched his campaign for the presidency. After Trump's election victory, Binh staged an exhibition of his works on a sidewalk near the White House. Binh's style, with garish colors and casual brush strokes, somewhat recalls the paintings of Canadian comedian Jim Carrey, another Trump obsessive. Carrey's barbed caricatures, posted on the internet, make no secret of the fact that he is a fierce critic of Trump and his politics. Binh, on the other hand, is a fan. "I liked his expression when he was running for president," Binh said. "He seemed like the world's most contemporary artwork. He's at a relatively advanced age, but very youthful, dynamic, fashionable and with inner strength that shows the greatness of a man who can change the world - and so I began my paintings." Binh said he wants to invite Trump and Kim, "if they have time," to visit his studio and view his work. "I will invite them for coffee and paint portraits of them and give them the paintings as a token with a message of love and peace," he said. Tran Tuan Anh, the owner of the cafe where Binh's works are being displayed, said he hopes Trump and Kim can strike a deal at their meeting in Hanoi. "With a message of peace in the city of peace, I'm very hopeful that the two leaders will achieve peace for the two countries as well as for the whole world," he said. ___ Follow all of AP's summit coverage: https://apnews.com/Trump-KimSummit WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) - Two commuter trains traveling in opposite directions collided with a vehicle on the tracks in Westbury, killing all three occupants in the vehicle before one of the trains derailed and tore into a concrete platform Tuesday night, according to officials. Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the vehicle was "trying to beat the gate" when it was struck just before 7:30 p.m. He said one of the trains, which was carrying about 200 passengers and headed for Manhattan, was going at "full speed" when it crashed. "The train then leaves the track and takes out the platform and the hits the north side of the platform and takes off about 30 yards of concrete, which goes through the train," Ryder said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a "full investigation into the collision," which also sent seven people on the trains to local hospitals with non-fatal injuries and forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 passengers and crew on the two trains. Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng said the vehicle went around the grade crossing and was struck by the train that was leaving Westbury station. He said the gates at the crossing were properly functioning. "The gates were down, the lights were flashing. We've confirmed that they were functioning," he said. "Witnesses have said the vehicle went around the gates, at which point the train that was leaving, heading eastbound, and the vehicle collided. Firefighters work the scene of a collision involving a Manhattan-bound commuter train and a vehicle in Westbury, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The Long Island Rail Road says service was suspended Tuesday evening in both directions on the Ronkonkoma and Huntington/Port Jefferson branches. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday via AP) A westbound train traveling toward Westbury then struck the vehicle, he said. The vehicle was pushed and that's when the front two cars of the westbound train came off the rails, Eng said. Local TV news helicopter video showed the train cars standing upright after the wreck, but with the forward cars off the rails. One end of one the trains struck a station platform, crushing part of it. Many emergency vehicles were on the scene, including some ambulances. The doors of the train were open and firefighters and other emergency workers could be seen entering and moving through the cars. Service was suspended in both directions on the Ronkonkoma and Huntington/Port Jefferson branches. Passenger Kiara Jackson told Newsday she heard the sound of metal dragging along the concrete platform. "I knew something was wrong. We were in a panic," Jackson said. "There was a screech and then there was a thud. They told us to walk westerly and there were two small fires. Smoke was kind of coming in so they told us to just keep walking." Another passenger, April Frazier, 31, of Brooklyn, was heading to Manhattan's Penn Station. "I was sitting on the left side and all of a sudden the train really started rocking hard," Frazier told Newsday. "Flames flared up on my side. I heard the conductor yell 'Brake, brake!' That's when I saw the flames." Tuesday night's crash was the fifth incident at the crossing in the last 40 years, and the second involving a train hitting a vehicle, according to federal safety data. In the others, a person walking or standing on the tracks was hit by a train. As part of the LIRR expansion and modernization project, the railroad's "A Modern LI" website said it planned to eliminate the School Street grade crossing, saying it "poses a safety risk to drivers, pedestrians and LIRR customers," and replace it with a "two-way grade separated underpass." After a spike in deaths at railroad crossings in 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched a public awareness campaign with the slogan "Stop! Trains Can't." The Federal Railroad Administration developed a crossing-finder app and persuaded technology companies to add grade-crossing warnings to GPS devices and mapping applications. In 2017, there were 2,115 grade-crossing crashes in the U.S., resulting in 271 deaths. That was the highest yearly grade-crossing death toll in a decade (2008 had 290). Full-year data isn't available for 2018. First responders work the scene of a collision involving a Manhattan-bound commuter train and a vehicle in Westbury, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The Long Island Rail Road says service was suspended Tuesday evening in both directions on the Ronkonkoma and Huntington/Port Jefferson branches. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday via AP) In this image taken from video provided by WNYW TV, officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority work the scene of a collision between an commuter train and a motor vehicle in Westbury, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Two commuter trains traveling in opposite directions collided with a vehicle on the tracks in Westbury, killing all occupants in the vehicle before one of the trains derailed and tore into a concrete platform Tuesday night, according to officials. (WNYW TV via AP) In this image taken from video provided by WNYW TV, first responders work the scene of a collision between an commuter train and a vehicle in Westbury, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Two commuter trains traveling in opposite directions collided with a vehicle on the tracks in Westbury, killing all occupants in the vehicle before one of the trains derailed and tore into a concrete platform Tuesday night, according to officials. (WNYW TV via AP) MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australian authorities said Wednesday they've seized chemicals which could have been used to make 1 ton of methamphetamine and arrested four men in a joint operation with China. Australian Federal Police said they seized 1.4 tons of the drug precursor ephedrine, which could have been used to make meth with a street value of nearly 700 million Australian dollars ($500 million). Investigators said they were tipped off by Chinese authorities about a syndicate suspected of importing commercial quantities of drugs into Melbourne. Border authorities intercepted a container arriving from China labelled as ceramic tiles and glue, but which police said contained 260 bags of ephedrine. Police said they switched the ephedrine with an inert substance and delivered the consignment. Police arrested two Australian men, aged 53 and 55, as well as two Chinese nationals, both aged 26. All four were scheduled to appear Wednesday in a Melbourne court. Police said they arrested the 53-year-old Tuesday at Melbourne International Airport as he tried to board a flight to China, while the older Australian was arrested near a local shopping center. The two Chinese men were arrested at the address where the consignment was delivered, police said. Police guard some of the 1.4 tons of seized ephedrine that is piled up during an Australian Federal Police press conference in Melbourne, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Australian authorities say they seized chemicals which could have been used to make one ton of methamphetamine and arrested four men in a joint operation with China. (Erik Anderson/AAP Image via AP) Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill said organized crime groups that were once bringing in finished meth appeared to be reverting to importing the ingredients and then making meth in clandestine backyard labs. He said that since 2015, Australian and Chinese authorities had jointly seized 24 tons of drugs and precursor chemicals. "The strength of this partnership is clear in operations like this, which would not have been possible without the close cooperation," Hill said in a statement. The Australian men have each been charged with importing commercial quantities of precursors, while the Chinese men were each charged with attempting to import commercial quantities of precursors. If found guilty, the men each face maximum prison sentences of 25 years. BEIJING (AP) - China has unveiled draft regulations on gene editing and other potentially risky biomedical technologies after a Chinese scientist's claim of helping to create gene-edited babies roiled the global science community. Under the proposed measures released Tuesday, technology involving gene editing, gene transfer and gene regulation would be categorized as "high-risk" and managed by the health department of the State Council, China's Cabinet. The measures follow assertions in November from scientist He Jiankui that he altered the DNA of twin girls born that month using a powerful new tool. The technology, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to supply a needed gene or disable one that's causing problems. The revelation that it may have been used to conceive children elicited widespread outcry over the procedure's ethical implications. Researchers said He's actions exposed the twins to unknown health risks, possibly including a higher susceptibility to viral illnesses. Gene editing for reproductive purposes is effectively banned in the U.S. and most of Europe. In China, ministerial guidelines prohibit research on embryos that "violates ethical or moral principles." Ethical guidelines published in 2003 say that gene editing is permitted for research, but that the experimental embryo cannot be nurtured for more than 14 days. He Jiankui said he edited the babies' genes at conception in hopes of making them resistant to the AIDS virus, as their father is HIV positive. His lab was in Shenzhen, China's southern tech hub, and he recruited study participants through an AIDS advocacy group. He said his goal was to rewrite DNA before birth to make some children immune to HIV during their lifetime. FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2018, file photo, Zhou Xiaoqin installs a fine glass pipette into a sperm injection microscope in preparation for injecting embryos with Cas9 protein and PCSK9 sgRNA at a lab in Shenzhen in southern China's Guandong province. China has unveiled draft regulations on gene-editing and other new biomedical technologies it considers to be "high-risk." The measures follow claims in November 2018 by Chinese scientist He Jiankui that he helped make the world's first genetically-edited babies. That roiled the global science community and elicited widespread outcry over the procedure's ethical implications. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) China immediately halted He's experiments after his announcement. He also pursued international experts at Stanford and Rice universities, where he had done graduate studies work, and elsewhere, seeking advice before and during the experiment. In an interview with The Associated Press the month before his project was publicized, the 34-year-old scientist said he believed gene editing of human embryos resulting in live births was legal in China because the country has no law specifically forbidding it. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported last month that He had breached national guidelines and would be punished for any legal violations. Xinhua didn't say which laws He might have violated, but noted that he had fabricated an ethical review. Along with the birth of the twins, another embryo yet to be born reportedly resulted from He's experiment. All three will remain under medical observation with regular visits supervised by government health departments, Xinhua said. Late last year, China's education ministry sent notices to universities requiring self-checks on research related to gene editing. In an email, the ministry told the AP that it called on educational institutions to strengthen management of scientific research ethics and inspect research involving gene-editing technology. Kehkooi Kee, a Tsinghua University researcher who conducts gene editing on stem cells, said the volume of paperwork he must now fill out has increased as a result of being subject to more checks. "He (Jiankui) is an irresponsible scientist," Kee said in late December after the Education Ministry issued its notification. "I don't even want to call him a scientist - he is an irresponsible man." While He's work was widely condemned by his fellow scientists in China, it has had repercussions for others studying gene editing. It has also become more difficult to get gene-editing research approved, Kee said. "The industry will develop at a slower pace," Kee said. "The government will be more cautious with research funds, and private organizations, such as charities and startups, will be less likely to invest." MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The Latest on Cardinal George Pell (all times local): 11:25 p.m. The Vatican spokesman says that the Vatican office that handles sex abuse of minors has taken over the case involving Cardinal George Pell following his conviction for molesting two choir boys. Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said Wednesday that the Australian cardinal, the highest Catholic cleric convicted of sex abuse, was being investigated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which has the power to remove him from the priesthood. The move was expected as the Church must conduct its own canonical investigation whenever there is a credible allegation of sex abuse. Pell was jailed Wednesday pending his sentencing in the decades-old molestation case. Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Pope Francis removed Pell as a member of his informal Cabinet in October, and the Vatican confirmed he is no longer its economy minister. ___ 6:40 p.m. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse has been sent to prison and will wait two weeks to learn his sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. A Victorian state court judge revoked Cardinal George Pell's bail at the end of a sentencing hearing Wednesday in a packed courtroom. The judge said he would deliver his sentence on March 13. The 77-year-old Pell, who could face 50 years in prison, was taken from the court to the Melbourne Assessment Prison, a maximum security facility where inmates new to the state penal system are assessed. A jury unanimously convicted Pell in December of abusing the two 13-year-olds in a rear room of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996 weeks after becoming archbishop of Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. But Pell wasn't taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled to have both knees replaced. ___ 2 p.m. A judge has revoked Cardinal George Pell's bail and said he would announce the disgraced cleric's sentence on March 13. The bail revocation means the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse will be jailed while waiting to learn his sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. Victorian state County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd said Pell was guilty of a breach of trust with an element of brutality and had had a sense of impunity. He said, "I see this as callus, brazen offending - blatant." The 77-year-old former Vatican economy minister showed no expression as he walked from the dock with a cane escorted by three court security officers and a prison guard. A jury unanimously convicted Pell in December but the verdict was suppressed until Tuesday. ___ 10 a.m. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. Victoria state County Court jury unanimously convicted Cardinal George Pell in December of abusing two 13-year-olds in a rear room of St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996. But unusually, Pell wasn't taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled in Sydney to have both knees replaced. Pell's sentencing hearing is set for Wednesday. Pell could face 50 years in prison. His convictions were suppressed by a court order until Tuesday. Pell's lawyers lodged an appeal and will apply for bail in the Court of Appeal later Wednesday. No date has been set for an appeal hearing. Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Protesters hold placards outside the County Court where Cardinal George Pell is to arrive in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Protesters hold placards outside the County Court where Cardinal George Pell is to arrive in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse faces his first night in custody following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Cardinal George Pell's lawyer Robert Richter leaves the County Court as protesters hold placards in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse could face his first night in custody after a sentencing hearing Wednesday that will decide his punishment for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) - A new generation of athletes is coming to one of the world's more colorful sporting spectacles: the fighting cholitas of Bolivia, who take to a wrestling ring in the traditional billowing skirts, bowler hats and leather shoes of Aymara women. The sport - known by the English-derived name catchascan - has delighted foreign tourists and photographers for years while building a sense of pride among indigenous women. But the group of competitors has gradually dwindled over time to just seven. Among the most famous is Reyna Torrez, the ring name of Leydi Huanca, who has entertained spectators for a dozen years, her moves inspired by Mexican wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio. Now 29, Torrez is training a new cohort of wrestlers, ages 16 to 19, in hopes of keeping the sport alive. "I love those leaps of Reyna, and it's a dream that she's teaching us," said 17-year-old Nieves Laura Tarqui, who wrestles as Nelly Pankarita, a last name that means "Little Flower" in Aymara. Pankarita and the other trainees are still a year away from their full professional debuts while training in matches against the established athletes. Young cholita wrestler Dona Chevas, 16, top, holds the legs of her rival, fellow trainee Simpatica Sonia, 24, as they compete in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2019. A new generation of athletes is coming to one of the world's more colorful sporting spectacles: the fighting cholitas of Bolivia, who take to a wrestling ring in the traditional billowing skirts, bowler hats and leather shoes of Aymara women. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) "It's hard to wrestle," said 19-year-old Noelia Gonzalez - aka Natalia Pepita. "You need a lot of bravery, strength and training to make a good fight. We fall and we hurt, but that doesn't matter because the public has fun." As a match is about to start, the contenders peer into a mirror, apply makeup and perfume and then enter the ring dancing to folkloric music. This time it's Pepita taking on her teacher. And of course it doesn't start well. As the audience chants "Pepita! Pepita!" the rookie finds herself paralyzed between the ropes as Torrez strangles her with her own pigtails. Then the tide turns. Pepita slips away, leads Torrez on a race around the ring and then uses a flying kick to the chest - a move Torrez taught her - to knock her down. Within minutes, Torrez is pinned to the floor and the public rises to applaud as Pepita pulls at her pigtails in emotion. "The girls who want to do this sport have to have guts, will, because this is a sport that demands a lot of discipline," Torrez said. About 50 young women are training at three schools to take up the sport, some at an institution known as Independent Wrestlers of Enormous Risk. "Time is passing, and you have to make way for a new generation," said Benjamin Simonini, director of the school in the sprawling highlands city of El Alto, which has seen a boom in recent years and where the fighting cholitas have emerged as a tourist attraction. Tatiana Monasterios of the city's tourist department said the shows "also assert the role of the Ayamara woman, showing her as enterprising, that she, too, can take part in a risky sport." Young cholita wrestler Dona Chevas strikes a pose for a portrait before competing in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. A new generation of about 50 young women like Dona Chevas, 16, are training at three schools to take up the sport. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Reyna Torrez stands in the corner of the ring as she competes with teen fighter Dona Chevas in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. Now 29, Torrez is training a new cohort of wrestlers, aged 16 to 19, in hopes of keeping the sport alive. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Cholita wrestler Natalia la Pepita, 19, lifts her trainer Reyna Torrez, 29, as they compete in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. "You need a lot of bravery, strength and training to make a good fight. We fall and we hurt, but that doesn't matter because the public has fun," said fighter in training Natalia Pepita, whose real name is Noelia Gonzalez. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Jennifer dos Caras, 45, holds a cement block over teen wrestler Lucero la Bonita in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Trainees of cholita wrestling are still a year away from their full professional debuts while competing in matches against established athletes. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Lucero la Bonita strikes a pose for a portrait before fighting in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. "I love to promote the culture of my country," said the 16-year-old fighter, one of 50 from a new generation of cholita fighters in training. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Cholita wrestler Natalia Pepita, 19, is held down by fellow fighter in training, Wara, 22, in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. A new generation of about 50 athletes are training to a wrestle in traditional billowing skirts, bowler hats and the leather shoes of Aymara women. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Leydi Huanca strikes a fighting pose for a portrait before entering the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. "The girls who want to do this sport have to have guts, will, because this is a sport that demands a lot of discipline," said Leydi Huanca, 29, whose real name is Reyna Torrez. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Reyna Torrez, a veteran cholita wrestler who uses the ring name Leydi Huanca, carries her daughter Lydia after an interview at her home in El Alto, Bolivia, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. Torrez, 29, is teaching a new generation of female wrestlers as her generation of fighters gradually dwindled to just seven. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Reyna Torrez is reflected in a mirror next to a poster of Mexican professional wrestler Rey Mysterio during an interview at her home in El Alto, Bolivia, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. Torrez, who competes in the ring as Leydi Huanca, is among the most famous cholita wrestlers who has entertained spectators for a dozen years. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Leydi Huanca, 29, dances as she enters the ring area to compete in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. As a match is about to start, cholita wrestlers apply makeup and perfume and then enter to ring dancing to folkloric music. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Natalia Pepita, 19, watches through a hole in the curtain backstage during female wrestling competitions in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. Pepita will compete with veteran fighter, 29-year-old Leydi Huanca, who is also her trainer. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestlers Wara, left, and Natalia Pepita compete in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. About 50 young women like Pepita and Wara are training at schools to take up the sport, some at an institution known as Independent Wrestlers of Enormous Risk. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Tourists film cholita wrestlers in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. In recent years fighting cholitas have emerged as a tourist attraction in the sprawling highlands city. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Veteran cholita wrestler Jennifer Dos Caras, 45, competes in the ring with Randy Four in El Alto, Bolivia, Jan. 21, 2019. The sport, known by the English-derived name catchascan, has delighted foreign tourists and photographers for years while building a sense of pride among indigenous women. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Eleonor strikes a fighting pose for a portrait before competing in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. "I started wrestling when I was 15 and I love it," said the 19-year-old wrestler. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Wara puts her makeup on before competing in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. Wara, 22, and the other trainees are still a year away from their full professional debuts while training in matches against the established athletes. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) A tourist takes a selfie with cholita wrestlers after they competed in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. The sport, known by the English-derived name catchascan, has delighted foreign tourists and photographers for years while building a sense of pride among indigenous women. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Nelly Pankarita jumps over her young rival Eleonor as they compete in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. "I love those leaps of Reyna, and it's a dream that she's teaching us," said 17-year-old Nieves Laura Tarqui, who wrestles as Nelly Pankarita, a last name that means "Little Flower" in Aymara. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) Young cholita wrestler Nelly Pankarita strikes a pose wearing her mask after competing in the ring in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. The 17-year-old Nieves Laura Tarqui wrestles with the ring name Nelly Pankarita, with Pankarita translating as "Little Flower" in Aymara. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Three well-known Republicans are staying out of a North Carolina congressional race that had to be re-run because suspicions of ballot fraud tainted the first try, leaving lesser-known candidates to try to maintain the GOP's 50-year hold on the seat. Mark Harris, the apparent winner of the 9th Congressional District race before ballot fraud allegations surfaced, said Tuesday he will not run in the new election the state elections board unanimously ordered last week after an evidentiary hearing. Harris, who was hospitalized last month by a blood infection that led to two strokes, said he needs surgery next month. He did not mention the absentee ballot scandal. Former U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, whom Harris defeated in May's Republican primary, told The Associated Press he wouldn't run to reclaim his old job. Former Gov. Pat McCrory said Monday he wouldn't seek the seat. He was previously mayor of Charlotte, a part of which is in the congressional district. The absence of those proven fundraisers gives lesser-known Republicans the opportunity to vault to Congress. But any GOP candidate who runs will have to steer carefully around the taint left by Harris' campaign, Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer said. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, file photo, Mark Harris, Republican candidate in North Carolina's 9th Congressional race, prepares to testify during the fourth day of a public evidentiary hearing on the 9th Congressional District voting irregularities investigation at the North Carolina State Bar in Raleigh, N.C. Harris, whose narrow lead in the North Carolina congressional race was thrown out because of suspicions of ballot fraud, announced Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, he will not run in the newly ordered do-over election, saying he needs surgery in late March. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP, Pool, File) "I think it certainly opens up an opportunity for somebody that doesn't have the name recognition," Bitzer said. "But they have to understand the dynamics of the district, and how are they going to distance themselves from the issues that we've just survived." Harris had led Democrat Dan McCready by just 905 votes after November's election, but the outcome was never certified as state election officials responded to reports that an operative working for Harris was illegally tampering with absentee ballots. Harris last week stopped a special state elections board hearing by declaring he couldn't continue to testify, citing confusion and memory problems. He acknowledged there were substantial doubts about the November election's fairness and reversed his previous calls to be declared the winner. Shortly after Harris spoke last week, the elections board ordered a new contest . A date for the new election has not been announced. On Tuesday, Harris encouraged his supporters to rally around Stony Rushing, a local official from the Charlotte suburbs. The Union County commissioner would "stand firm on so many of the issues that concern us, including the issue of life, our national security, and religious freedom," Harris said. Rushing, a firing range owner and gun seller, has been a county commissioner off and on since first taking office in 2002. Rushing told The Associated Press in a phone interview he attended last week's hearing and he questioned the credibility of some witnesses alleging absentee ballot fraud "It was disgusting that we had to go through the whole thing," he said. Former state Sen. Tommy Tucker of Union County said Tuesday he's "95 percent sure" that he will run for the seat. McCready announced his intention to run Friday. He had already been assembling a new campaign staff and raising money to run again in the district that stretches from Charlotte through several counties to the east along the South Carolina border. His campaign finance report showed McCready raised $487,000 during the final five weeks of 2018. It's not clear how McCready would fare in a low-turnout general election, likely held this summer or fall, in the Republican-leaning district. It's also not clear whether the Republican nominee will be marred by his party's to-the-bitter-end support for Harris, who sought out and signed up to his campaign the Bladen County political operative who had been accused of ballot fraud in the 2016 elections. The state elections board turned over evidence of Leslie McCrae Dowless' actions in 2017 to federal prosecutors, who took no action. According to testimony and other findings detailed at the hearing, Dowless conducted an illegal "ballot harvesting" operation in which he and his assistants gathered up absentee ballots from voters by offering to put them in the mail. Dowless' workers in rural Bladen County testified that they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots, forge signatures on them and even fill in votes for local candidates. It is against the law in North Carolina for anyone other than the voter or a family member to handle someone's completed ballot. No criminal charges have been filed in the case . Dowless declined to testify last week after the elections board refused to grant him immunity from prosecution based on what he might say. ___ Follow Emery P. Dalesio on Twitter at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/emery%20dalesio. ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Drew contributed to this report. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, file photo, Mark Harris, Republican candidate in North Carolina's 9th congressional race, makes a statement before the state board of elections calling for a new election during the fourth day of a public evidentiary hearing on the 9th congressional district voting irregularities investigation at the North Carolina State Bar in Raleigh, N.C. Harris, whose narrow lead in the North Carolina congressional race was thrown out because of suspicions of ballot fraud, announced Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, he will not run in the newly ordered do-over election, saying he needs surgery in late March. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP, Pool, File) FILE - In this May 8, 2018 file photo Ninth Congressional district Democratic candidate Dan McCready smiles as he speaks with U.S. Rep. Alma Adams outside Eastover Elementary School in Charlotte, N.C. The Democratic candidate in the nation's last undecided congressional race will address his supporters now that a new election has been called. McCready was planning a rally and news conference Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on a tweet by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz taunting President Donald Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen, ahead of his congressional testimony (all times local): 1:05 a.m. A House Republican who taunted former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen ahead of a congressional hearing is apologizing and says he did not intend to threaten Cohen. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeted Tuesday without offering any evidence that the world is "about to learn a lot" about President Donald Trump's former lawyer. Gaetz tweeted that Cohen should talk to his wife ahead of his testimony Wednesday. Later Tuesday, after Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that House members' social media comments could hurt the ability of House committees "to obtain truthful and complete information," Gaetz tweeted that he also wanted to get the truth. He says that it wasn't his intention to threaten Cohen and that he was deleting the tweet and "should have chosen words that better showed my intent." Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, arrives to testify before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ___ 6:10 p.m. A Republican House member is taunting Michael Cohen ahead of a congressional hearing Wednesday, suggesting the public appearance will expose damaging personal information. Florida Republican Matt Gaetz tweeted Tuesday that the world is "about to learn a lot" about President Donald Trump's former lawyer. He tweeted that Cohen should talk to his wife ahead of his testimony. Gaetz, a Trump ally, is not a member of the committee questioning Cohen. He did not offer any evidence. Still, the tweet was extraordinary because his remarks appear to be threatening or intimidating a witness. Cohen is due to testify Wednesday about payments made to buy the silence of women ahead of the 2016 election. His testimony is expected to be sharply critical of Trump, alleging lying, cheating and criminal behavior. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the signing of several trade deals in Hanoi on Wednesday, including agreements to sell the booming Southeast Asian country 110 Boeing planes worth billions of dollars. The deals give Trump tangible progress to take home ahead of meetings expected for later in the day with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the Vietnamese capital. Those talks , which follow an initial summit in Singapore last year, are focused on North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula. Trump has downplayed the likelihood of a breakthrough at the summit. "Hopefully great things will happen later on with our meeting but a lot of good things are happening before, and that's the signing of trade deals with the United States, and we appreciate it very much," Trump told Nguyen as the trade agreements were being unveiled. In the biggest of the deals, Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. said it is selling 100 of its 737 MAX planes to Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet. The privately owned carrier operates domestic and regional flights using Airbus planes. Boeing and Vietjet said their deal was worth $12.7 billion at list prices. Airlines typically negotiate discounts for bulk orders. In this Feb. 19, 2019, photo, a Vietjet airplane taxis on the runway in Noi Bai airport, Hanoi, Vietnam. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong have presided over a signing ceremony for several commercial trade deals in Hanoi, including agreements to sell 110 Boeing aircraft worth billions of dollars to the booming Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo) Vietjet is doubling down on its bet for the 737 MAX, which is an updated version of the workhorse single-aisle 737 model. It already had 100 of the planes on order following a 2016 deal, though none have been delivered so far. The deal marks a major confidence boost for Boeing, which has faced questions about the plane's safety since a 737 MAX 8 operated by Indonesia's Lion Air plunged into the Java Sea, killing all on board, just minutes after taking off from Jakarta on Oct. 29. Boeing sealed a second sale to Bamboo Airways of 10 787 Dreamliners, which they valued at $3 billion. The startup airline was founded in 2017 and began operating domestic flights in January. It is owned by Hanoi-based conglomerate FLC Group and already had 20 Dreamliners on offer. U.S.-based aviation technology company Sabre also inked a deal with the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines during Trump's visit. It said the memorandum of understanding has a "potential value" of $300 million. The deals follow a determination by the Federal Aviation Administration earlier this month that Vietnam now meets international standards for aviation safety. That decision, which follows an assessment by the agency in August, would allow Vietnamese airlines to fly to the United States and to cooperate with U.S. carriers. There are currently no direct flights between the two countries. ___ AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed reporting from Bangkok. Follow Schreck on Twitter at @adamschreck President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong watch as VietJet President Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, right, and Kevin McAllister, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, left, sign a business agreement at the Presidential Palace, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) A Vietjet airline logo is seen at a street in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the signing of several trade deals in Hanoi on Wednesday, including agreements to sell the booming Southeast Asian country 110 Boeing planes worth billions of dollars. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) In this Feb. 19, 2019, photo, a Bamboo Airways airplane taxis on the tarmac at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong have presided over a signing ceremony for several commercial trade deals in Hanoi, including agreements to sell 110 Boeing aircraft worth billions of dollars to the booming Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's president rejected the resignation of his foreign minister on Wednesday, throwing his full support behind the diplomat who negotiated the country's nuclear deal with world powers as both men face growing pressure from hard-liners as the accord unravels under American pressure. President Hassan Rouhani earlier gave a speech praising Mohammad Javad Zarif after the foreign minister's sudden resignation shocked the Islamic Republic late on Monday night. His rejection of the resignation, reported by the state-run IRNA news agency, continued that praise. "Since I consider you in the front line of resistance against broad pressures by the U.S., I consider acceptance of your resignation against the expedience of the country and I do not agree with it," Rouhani reportedly told Zarif. Zarif responded the same way he offered his shock resignation: Via Instagram. "I hope that the Foreign Ministry, with coordination of all and supervision of the supreme leader and the president, will be able to carry out its responsibilities rigorously in the framework of constitution, law and general policies of the system," Zarif wrote in a caption overlaid on a waving Iranian flag. He later was shown on state television at an event with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, signaling his return to work. It remains unclear what sparked Zarif's resignation. However, it came after Zarif was not present for a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday. Assad was warmly received by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard. FILE- In this Nov. 24, 2015, file photo, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, listens to his Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif prior to a meeting in Tehran, Iran. On Monday Feb. 25, 2019, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has resigned. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) The Guard's website later quoted Soleimani as offering his support to the foreign minister. "Definitely, Zarif is in charge of foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and he has been always supported by top officials including the supreme leader," Soleimani reportedly said. Analysts say Rouhani faces growing political pressure from hard-liners within the government as the nuclear deal unravels. Iranian presidents typically see their popularity erode during their second four-year term, but analysts say Rouhani is particularly vulnerable because of the economic crisis assailing the rial, which has hurt ordinary Iranians and emboldened critics to openly call for his ouster. The son of a wealthy family, Zarif overcame hard-line objections and Western suspicions to strike the accord with world powers that saw Iran limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal was later challenged by the administration of President Donald Trump, which pulled America out of the accord. In doing so, Trump also fueled Iranian suspicions about U.S. intentions dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Zarif had faced withering criticism at home after he shook hands with President Barack Obama. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, long a critic of Iran, welcomed his departure. "Zarif is gone, good riddance. As long as I am here Iran will not get nuclear weapons," he wrote in Hebrew on Twitter. Iran has always said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and U.N. inspectors say it is still complying with the 2015 nuclear accord. Rouhani cited that Israeli response in his support of Zarif. "The happiness and rejoicing of the real enemies of the people such as the Zionist regime over your resignation is the best indication of success of Mohammad Javad Zarif and the biggest reason for continuation of your activity in the post of foreign minister," Rouhani said. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The Swedish domestic security agency says a person has been arrested on suspicion of having been recruited by Russia to carry out "illegal intelligence activities against Sweden." Daniel Stenling, head of SAPO's counter espionage unit, says the person "works in the Swedish high-tech industry" and has information that the agency knows is of interest to foreign intelligence services. Stenling said in a statement Wednesday that SAPO has worked on the matter "for a long time" and that the present crime has been going on at least since 2017. The person was recruited by a Russian intelligence officer who works at Russia's Embassy in Stockholm under a diplomatic cover, he said. The suspect was arrested Tuesday evening during a meeting in central Stockholm. No other details were available. The SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service, would not comment. HAT YAI, Thailand (AP) - Two police officers in southern Thailand were abducted and later found dead in a ditch, with the pickup truck of one of the officers stolen and set on fire, police said Wednesday. Police are investigating whether the killings Tuesday night in Narathiwat province involved a personal dispute or were part of a Muslim separatist insurgency that has claimed about 7,000 lives since 2004. Pol. Lt. Sarayuth Kachawong, deputy investigator of the Joh I Rong district station, said four heavily armed attackers clad in black and camouflage outfits kidnapped the two officers from a house where they were socializing Tuesday evening. They also stole a rifle and two pistols belonging to the officers before escaping in the pickup truck. Police later discovered the bodies of the officers in a ditch with gunshot wounds, and then found the pickup truck in flames at the entrance to a nearby village. The insurgency affects the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country. In a separate incident Tuesday morning, a remotely detonated explosive device killed a paramilitary ranger and injured two others in Yala province, said police Capt. Narongchai Vechnil, deputy investigator of the Banangsta police station. He said the ranger was patrolling the area on foot when the device exploded. There has been an upsurge of violence in recent months attributed to a hardcore separatist faction seeking to derail peace talks between the government and other factions. LONDON (AP) - Britain's ITV said Wednesday it is in the final phase of discussions with the BBC to create a new on-demand video platform to rival the likes of Netflix in the U.K. The service, called BritBox, will provide a home for British-made shows, offering television box sets and original series in one place. The new offering will not be identical to the service of the same name which has been offered in North America, which has half a million subscribers. "BritBox will be the home for the best of British creativity - celebrating the best of the past, the best of today and investing in new British originated content in the future," ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said in a statement. Plans are to launch the service in the second half of 2019. ITV, a free-to-air British network, plans to invest up to 25 million pounds ($33 million) in BritBox this year and about 40 million pounds in 2020. ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkish and international human rights organizations have called on Turkey to end what they term an "orchestrated campaign of intimidation and judicial harassment of civil society," after prosecutors moved to indict 16 prominent activists. Turkish state media have reported that prosecutors are seeking life prison terms without parole against philanthropist businessman Osman Kavala and 15 other people they accuse of "attempting to overthrow the government" for supporting mass anti-government protests in 2013. Nine human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday and called the accusations "absurd." They said Turkey is obliged to protect human rights defenders under international law. The 2013 protests started with an environmental cause - protecting Gezi Park in central Istanbul. They quickly broadened into demonstrations opposing the government. Members of Turkish and international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, pose for the media following a joint press conference to condemn attacks on civil society groups in Turkey, in Istanbul, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The organisations have called on Turkey to end what they termed as an "orchestrated campaign of intimidation and judicial harassment of civil society", after prosecutors moved to indict 16 prominent activists. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - A helicopter flying in bad weather crashed into a mountain in Nepal on Wednesday, killing all seven people on board, including the country's tourism minister, officials said. Home Ministry spokesman Ram Krishna Subedi said rescuers had reached the crash site. The bodies of Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari and his bodyguard were identified, but the other five bodies were charred, Subedi said. Government administrator Gita Kamari Rai said it was snowing and raining when the helicopter crashed into a mountain in northeastern Nepal. Adhikari, 49, became tourism minister in March 2018 after the Nepal Communist Party won parliamentary elections. The rescue coordination office at Kathmandu airport said two smaller helicopters had made earlier attempts to land near the crash area, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. However, the poor weather conditions made it difficult. The helicopter belonged to Nepal-based Dynasty Air. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana man accused of killing three people and wounding another in 2017 has been found competent to stand trial. The Advocate reports Ryan Sharpe's defense attorney, Tommy Damico, says his client was moved over the weekend to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison from a state mental facility. Doctors at the state facility in Jackson say Sharpe understands the nature of the charges against him and is able to assist his attorney. Sharpe was initially found to be incompetent to stand trial in competency rulings that did not address his sanity during the slayings. Damico says his client has no memory of the time periods when the slayings happened, and he may plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Sharpe is charged with first- and second-degree murder and attempted murder. ___ Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com BERLIN (AP) - Germany's Bayer AG, which bought Monsanto Co. last year, has underlined its determination to fight cases involving the Roundup weed-killer in the face of more than 11,000 lawsuits so far. In August, a San Francisco jury awarded a man $289 million after determining Roundup, part of the Monsanto stable of agrochemical products, caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A judge later slashed the award to $78 million, and Monsanto has appealed. A second case in which a man claims the weed-killer caused cancer went to trial this week. Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said while presenting the company's annual earnings report that, as of Jan. 28, 11,200 lawsuits had been filed and proceedings in another six cases are scheduled this year. "We will need to have legal proceedings completed in a certain number of cases to be able to assess what direction things are going in," he said. "We will continue to defend ourselves resolutely in all proceedings." Monsanto says studies have established that the active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, is safe. The logo of the Bayer company displayed at a company's building in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. ( Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) Baumann hammered home that point on Wednesday. "As far as our perspective is concerned, we are crystal clear," he said. "It is a safe product. It has an excellent regulatory approval status, and on this basis we will defend ourselves resolutely." BERLIN (AP) - A German court has acquitted an Afghan charged with having belonged to the Taliban in his homeland after he retracted statements made during his asylum proceedings. The Stuttgart court on Wednesday acquitted the 22-year-old of membership in a terror organization and violating arms control laws for lack of reliable evidence. He was accused of having spent at least six months with the Taliban in 2013, checking cars at a roadblock and being sent to train as a suicide bomber in Pakistan. He later fled to Germany. The court said the charges were based entirely on statements the defendant made during an asylum hearing. During the trial, he retracted those statements, saying he had invented his Taliban membership and had hoped to secure refugee status by saying he was persecuted. MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday that reports that the U.S. military carried out a cyberattack in Russia ahead of the U.S. midterm elections proves that the country needs to create its own, self-controlled segment of the internet. Russia's parliament this month passed the first reading of a bill that proposes all internet traffic be routed through servers in Russia. Opponents fear the measure would lead to widespread censorship. Dmitry Peskov was reacting on Wednesday to a recent report in The Washington Post that quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying that the U.S. military remotely blocked internet access to a Russian "troll farm" ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. Several employees of the troll farm - a group that tries to sow discord through the internet, often with a political motive - have been indicted in the United States. Special counsel Robert Mueller has charged 13 individuals, most of whom are the troll farm's employees, with a conspiracy to spread disinformation on social media and mobilize supporters of Donald Trump during his successful presidential bid. St. Petersburg businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin, was indicted by the U.S. last year on charges that he was funding the Internet Research Agency, alleged to be a troll farm. Prigozhin has denied the accusations. JERUSALEM (AP) - A senior Israeli Cabinet minister is calling on President Donald Trump to reveal his much-anticipated "Deal of the Century" for Middle East peace before the upcoming Israeli election. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner says his plan will address all "final status" issues, including borders, and require compromises by all sides. He made no mention of establishing a Palestinian state and said the plan would focus heavily on offering economic "opportunities" to the Palestinians. Details will be unveiled after the April 9 Israeli elections. But Naftali Bennett, a hard-line rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused the Israeli leader of conspiring with Kushner to establish a Palestinian state. He says Tuesday that Trump is leaving Israelis in the dark before a crucial election and "friends do not keep secrets" from each other. BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's prime minister says his country could help repatriate captured Islamic State group fighters to their countries if asked. At his weekly presser late Tuesday, Adel Abdul-Mahdi says Iraq would put on trial foreign fighters who participated in terror attacks in Iraq. "It is one battle and Iraq should fulfill its duties and obligations," he said. During a visit to France this week, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said among the militants who will be put on trial in Iraq are 13 suspected French nationals who have been transferred to Iraq from Syria. Iraq has received more than 200 Iraqi IS militants from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militia in two successive batches last week, out of an estimated more than 500. DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) - A court in Bali has sentenced an Australian man and his Indonesian girlfriend to five years and four months in prison each for possessing cocaine. Presiding Judge Ketut Kimiarsa told the court Wednesday that the panel of judges had exercised leniency in their sentencing, based on both defendants having no prior criminal records and expressing regret for their crime. Brandon Johnson, from Brisbane, and his girlfriend, Remi Purwanti, were arrested with 11.6 grams (0.4 ounces) of cocaine separated into 13 plastic bags. Kimiarsa said the crime was serious because it went against the government's program to combat the spread of narcotics and damaged the image of Indonesia's main tourist destination. Johnson and Purwanti, who were each fined 800 million rupiah ($57,000) or an additional two months in prison, are not appealing. Asked by reporters if he accepted the sentence, Johnson replied "yes, already." The couple was arrested in August and faced up to 20 years in prison. Johnson, 43, had been living in Bali for four years and was described by police as a designer. Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traffickers can be executed by firing squad. Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, key members of the so-called Bali Nine drug trafficking ring, were executed in 2015 for attempting to smuggle heroin from Indonesia to Australia in 2005. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Swedish prosecutor has launched an investigation into one of Sweden's largest banks in connection with a sprawling money laundering scandal at Danish bank Danske Bank. Thomas Langrot, chief prosecutor at Sweden's Economic Crime Authority, says the probe will look at whether 15 of Swedbank's largest shareholders received information that the bank was connected to the money laundering scandal before a TV report last week broke the news. Swedish broadcaster SVT reported that Swedbank customers had been able to funnel at least 40 billion kronor ($4.3 billion) between Swedbank and Danske Bank in Estonia. Langrot said Wednesday the probe will establish whether the shareholders illegally received insider information. Estonia has ordered Danske Bank to shut its local subsidiary after the bank admitted massive amounts of money had been laundered. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Poland is open to a meeting with Israel also involving other countries from central Europe, after it pulled out of a similar meeting last week, Poland's foreign minister said Wednesday. Jacek Czaputowicz said after talks with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest that there are "no obstacles" to the meeting, although "some things still have to be cleared up with the Israeli side." Poland pulled out of the Feb. 19 meeting after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Poles had cooperated with the Nazis during the Holocaust and Israel's acting foreign minister referenced a quote from former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, who said that Poles "suckled anti-Semitism with their mothers' milk." Regarding Brexit, Czaputowicz said Poland would support delaying the European Union-Britain breakup "if it helps work out a better position." "What is very important for us is that there should not be a no-deal Brexit," Czaputowicz said. "This would not be advantageous for the European Union, for Great Britain or for Poland." Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the two countries "were proud" that they were the first in Europe to oppose the United Nations' compact on migration and were still opposed to any even partial implementation of the deal endorsed in December by the U.N. General Assembly seeking to ensure safe and orderly migration. The U.S., Israel and the Czech Republic also voted against the deal. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, receives Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Zoltan Balogh/MTi via AP) "We won't allow the stealthy advance of the migration package," Szijjarto said. "We were the first to block the U.N. from presenting this as the greatest decision in the history of humanity." At the same time, Szijjarto said the two countries would split the costs of rebuilding an orphanage in the Syrian city of Homs which houses 130 children and provides day care services for 250. Szijjarto was also defiant on the procedures launched by the EU against Poland over the alleged erosion of judicial independence and against Hungary over concerns about the rule of law and a perceived threat to European values. Poland and Hungary "are two countries against which the Brussels bureaucracy is carrying out a revenge campaign ... but we will never give in," Szijjarto said. "Hungary will always veto any sanctions against Poland that the EU would want to introduce." Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, receives Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Zoltan Balogh/MTi via AP) Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz hold a joint press conference at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Zoltan Balogh/MTI via AP) Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, right, and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz, left, attend a meeting at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Zoltan Balogh/MTi via AP) BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union expressed concern about Italy's debt levels Wednesday and warned the government in Rome to push through measures to shore up the public finances. In a review of Italy's economic performance - one of the 28-nation bloc's biggest economies - the European Commission said Rome faces "quite considerable challenges" due to high debt, slow growth and high unemployment. "The lack of progress in addressing these challenges unfortunately leads us to conclude that Italy's macroeconomic imbalances remain excessive," Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters. He said Rome "must take steps to improve the quality of its public finances, increase the efficiency of its public administration, and also of (its) justice system, enhance its business environment, and strengthen its labor market as well as the financial system." "The urgency of doing so is all the greater given Italy's weakening economic outlook," Moscovici added. Italy's debt burden - how much it owes - is the second-highest in Europe, after Greece, relative to the size of its economy. European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici talks to journalists at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. The European Union says it's concerned about Italy's debt and is warning the government in Rome to shore up its public finances. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Italy expects its debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 131.7 percent, but the EU's executive body warned it might be higher "due to the weak macroeconomic outlook, underachievement of privatization targets and a worsening primary balance." "It is critical that debt doesn't start growing again," Moscovici said. As with the case of Greece in the first half of this decade, many are concerned about potential financial turmoil in Europe should Italy lose control of spending. Saving Greece was hard enough; bailing out Rome would be all but impossible. It's the second budget warning shot fired from Brussels in three months, and comes at a time of heightened tensions - the populist Italian government has vowed to defy any orders coming from what it considers to be an unelected commission of bureaucrats. In December, the commission forced Italy to submit a new budget plan after it assessed that the previous draft would break rules governing use of the euro single currency. However, it noted that even the revised plan was "not ideal." The direction of Italy's debt will depend hugely on how the Italian economy performs - more growth should lead to more tax receipts. And here there is a divergence of opinion. Italy has forecast 2019 growth at 1.0 percent, but Brussels says it might only reach 0.2 percent at best. The commission said it will "closely monitor developments" and warned that it could take action against Italy later this year, based on the EU's spring economic forecasts. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU fears that Italy's "public debt ratio is not expected to decline in coming years due to the weak economic outlook and government fiscal plans." Dombrovskis said "reform momentum has stalled" and noted "some reversals," particularly on pensions. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Authorities say a pizza deliveryman was shot and killed when he made a delivery to a home under construction in Philadelphia. The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. Tuesday just outside the home. Authorities believe the gunman broke into the home so he could arrange for the delivery there and rob the deliveryman. The 30-year-old deliveryman was shot once in the chest and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. His name has not been released. The gunman fled the scene and remained at large Wednesday. Perhaps the sheer mind-bending spectacle of seeing North Korea's secretive, dynastic leader Kim Jong Un together with the mercurial U.S. President Donald Trump on the world stage for the first time, smiling and pressing the flesh, can never be replicated. But here we are. Eight months after the historic - but heavily criticized in some quarters as substance-free - summit in Singapore, the two men met in the Vietnamese capital for a one-on-one-discussion, followed by an intimate dinner. Earlier in the day, Trump had diplomatic duties of the respect and courtesy to the host nation variety to attend to. But Kim, staying in Vietnam through Saturday, was secluded in preparation. Thursday sees the full gamut of high-stakes denuclearization bartering, with predictions of some significant and splashy American concessions in return for maybe not very much at all besides a global feeding frenzy on events there rather than Trump's Washington woes. Here's a look at what happened in Hanoi on Wednesday: ___ President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) DATE NIGHT - Trump has been fulsome, almost gushing, about his correspondence with Kim since their Singapore meeting. He told a political rally last fall: "He wrote me beautiful letters and they're great letters. We fell in love." Tonight, the once star-crossed leaders met again in the city previously carpet-bombed by American B-52s in 1972 for what was cast as a cozy "social dinner" with only two aides each at the table and translators. The venue was the Sofitel Legend Metropole - neutral hotel territory with each staying in different properties. - Their initial greeting - handshakes, small talk familiarity born of their previous encounter and some laughter - appeared to capture positive body language. EARLIER DIPLOMATIC NICETIES FOR TRUMP, NO SIGN OF KIM - Trump, who has zeroed in on socialism as a scourge in America to cudgel the Democrats with from now until the 2020 U.S. presidential election, was in congenial form as he met with the general secretary of the communist party and president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong. Trump said the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam is an "example" of what can become of North Korea if it gives up its nuclear weapons. "This is a great, great honor and I send our warmest regards from all Americans." He touted trade deals being signed with Vietnam, including Boeing, as well his own stewarding of the U.S. economy, and added, "I very much appreciate the hospitality. It was really something special." - In an off-the-cuff moment, a smiling Trump briefly waved a Vietnamese flag at a meeting with Vietnam's prime minister and prompted him to do the same with an American flag. As when Trump saluted a North Korean general in Singapore last June, it seemed both spontaneous and outside usual protocol. - North Korean officials toured Vietnam's scenic Halong Bay and a nearby industrial site while Kim spent his second morning in Hanoi inside a hotel preparing for his meetings with Trump. - Hanoi's mayor urged residents to be on their best behavior during the summit, asking them to dress well and decorate the city with flags and flowers to welcome all of the visitors this week. With an estimated 3,000 journalists in Hanoi, the mayor said residents shouldn't fleece the guests by "hiking prices of goods and services during the summit." THE MOOD IN PYONGYANG A people with the tightest-controlled supply of information in the world is now getting used to hearing scripted news about Kim's overseas travels and meetings with Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping or South Korean President Moon Jae-in. But the stilted, and unfaltering, praise remains the same: "Our respected supreme leader comrade Kim Jong Un is now traveling far away to a foreign country and it makes me feel that I have to do my job as hard as I can to support and satisfy our supreme leader, comrade Kim Jong Un, " said one citizen to The Associated Press. TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS - There are any number of scenarios that could emerge Thursday. With expectation set low by Washington for a major breakthrough on North Korea's denuclearization, all of them appear to be centered on a grand Trump gesture that will grab the headlines and deflect from domestic turmoil at home, while Kim may offer some piecemeal agreement on how to start work on dismantling his country's plutonium and uranium enrichment facilities. There is worry among experts that Trump will effectively leave North Korea recognized as a de facto nuclear power and lose the strongest card the U.S. has to ever get Kim to scrap all its nuclear weapons. - The grand U.S. gesture? That could be a formal move toward a peace declaration ending the Korean War, which halted in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Or there could be some easing of stringent and pervasive international sanctions that have helped keep the North Korean economy in a prolonged comatose state. Stay tuned. ___ Tamer Fakahany can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TamerFakahany ___ Follow all of AP's summit coverage at https://apnews.com/Trump-KimSummit President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump waves a Vietnam flag before a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Office of Government Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Hanoi. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Security keeps watch near the area where U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet for dinner in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) - A court in Myanmar on Wednesday sentenced a French tourist to one month in prison with hard labor, but he is expected to be released in about a week because of time he served while awaiting trial. Arthur Desclaux was arrested on Feb. 7 for flying a drone close to the capital's parliament complex, and for bringing the device into the country. He was convicted under the Illegal Export-Import Act, which has a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment. French consular official Frederic Inza, who attended the trial, said Desclaux, 27, admitted his guilt but said he was unaware of the restriction. "We're satisfied that his good faith and the fact that he imported this drone without having the intention of breaking the law was taken into account by the court," Inza said. "That's important." Inza said he expects Desclaux to be released March 8. "That said, one month in prison is nevertheless a lot for a simple tourist," he said. French consular official Frederic Inza speaks to journalists outside a court in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Myanmar sentenced one month labor and imprisonment to Arthur Desclaux , 27 years old French tourist who allegedly flew a drone near the Parliament. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) In 2017, a film crew working for Turkish state television was jailed for two months for trying to fly a drone over the parliament in Naypyitaw. A Singaporean and a Malaysian working for broadcaster TRT, along with two Myanmar assistants, were convicted under a 1934 law covering aircraft. Threatened prosecution under the export-import law was dropped. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A Romanian prosecutor has won backing from two European Union committees to head a new prosecutor's office fighting fraud, despite fierce opposition from her own government. The European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday gave the most votes to Laura Codruta Kovesi, placing her above a French candidate and a German one. On Tuesday, the parliament's Budgetary Control Committee also selected Kovesi as the top candidate. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is due to become operational at the end of 2020 and will investigate fraud involving EU funds, and money laundering. The final appointment will be made after negotiations between the European Parliament and the European Council. Kovesi successfully prosecuted hundreds of officials including ministers, mayors and state company directors during her five-year tenure as chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. But she drew the ire of the Romanian government, which is itself under criticism for a judicial overhaul critics say will make it harder to prosecute top officials for graft. Justice Minister Tudorel Toader recently wrote to EU justice ministers accusing her of signing "anti-democratic pacts" with Romania's intelligence agency in corruption and national security probes. But political commentator Cristian Tudor Popescu said the government campaign to stop her backfired as it was perceived as "attacks against European" institutions and values. FILE -- In this Jan. 31, 2017 file photo, Romanian chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania. A European Parliament committee on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, has picked Kovesi to head a new prosecutor's office fighting fraud, despite fierce opposition from her own government. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) Popescu said Kovesi was considered suitable for the post because "she has the experience of fighting under pressure, in very difficult conditions, at a high level." She was removed from her post last year by the justice minister, who cited mismanagement and asserted she overstepped her authority. Her dismissal came as the government embarked on a contentious judicial overhaul that critics say was designed to protect top officials from corruption probes. The legal changes have sparked huge protests and drawn criticism from the U.S. and the EU amid concerns about backsliding on the rule of law in the East European nation. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Four teens are in custody following a shooting that wounded a fellow student at an Alabama high school. Montgomery police say one of the suspects will be charged with attempted murder, and three others will be charged with having a gun at school. A 17-year-old student was treated and released for a gunshot wound to the arm following the shooting at Lee High School on Tuesday. Authorities haven't said what prompted the violence, and they haven't released any names. News outlets report that Mayor Todd Strange told a news conference the shooting wasn't random. The prepared testimony of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, as obtained by The Associated Press before his appearance Wednesday: Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today. I have asked this Committee to ensure that my family be protected from Presidential threats, and that the Committee be sensitive to the questions pertaining to ongoing investigations. Thank you for your help and for your understanding. I am here under oath to correct the record, to answer the Committee's questions truthfully, and to offer the American people what I know about President Trump. I recognize that some of you may doubt and attack me on my credibility. It is for this reason that I have incorporated into this opening statement documents that are irrefutable, and demonstrate that the information you will hear is accurate and truthful. Never in a million years did I imagine, when I accepted a job in 2007 to work for Donald Trump, that he would one day run for President, launch a campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance, and actually win. I regret the day I said "yes" to Mr. Trump. I regret all the help and support I gave him along the way. Michael Cohen, left, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, pauses before speaking to the media as he departs after testifying before a closed door hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) I am ashamed of my own failings, and I publicly accepted responsibility for them by pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York. I am ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty - of the things I did for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him. I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump's illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat. He was a presidential candidate who knew that Roger Stone was talking with Julian Assange about a WikiLeaks drop of Democratic National Committee emails. I will explain each in a few moments. I am providing the Committee today with several documents. These include: - A copy of a check Mr. Trump wrote from his personal bank account - after he became president - to reimburse me for the hush money payments I made to cover up his affair with an adult film star and prevent damage to his campaign; - Copies of financial statements for 2011 - 2013 that he gave to such institutions as Deutsche Bank; - A copy of an article with Mr. Trump's handwriting on it that reported on the auction of a portrait of himself - he arranged for the bidder ahead of time and then reimbursed the bidder from the account of his non-profit charitable foundation, with the picture now hanging in one of his country clubs; and - Copies of letters I wrote at Mr. Trump's direction that threatened his high school, colleges, and the College Board not to release his grades or SAT scores. I hope my appearance here today, my guilty plea, and my work with law enforcement agencies are steps along a path of redemption that will restore faith in me and help this country understand our president better. Before going further, I want to apologize to each of you and to Congress as a whole. The last time I appeared before Congress, I came to protect Mr. Trump. Today, I'm here to tell the truth about Mr. Trump. I lied to Congress about when Mr. Trump stopped negotiating the Moscow Tower project in Russia. I stated that we stopped negotiating in January 2016. That was false - our negotiations continued for months later during the campaign. Mr. Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress. That's not how he operates. In conversations we had during the campaign, at the same time I was actively negotiating in Russia for him, he would look me in the eye and tell me there's no business in Russia and then go out and lie to the American people by saying the same thing. In his way, he was telling me to lie. There were at least a half-dozen times between the Iowa Caucus in January 2016 and the end of June when he would ask me "How's it going in Russia?" - referring to the Moscow Tower project. You need to know that Mr. Trump's personal lawyers reviewed and edited my statement to Congress about the timing of the Moscow Tower negotiations before I gave it. To be clear: Mr. Trump knew of and directed the Trump Moscow negotiations throughout the campaign and lied about it. He lied about it because he never expected to win the election. He also lied about it because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the Moscow real estate project. And so I lied about it, too - because Mr. Trump had made clear to me, through his personal statements to me that we both knew were false and through his lies to the country, that he wanted me to lie. And he made it clear to me because his personal attorneys reviewed my statement before I gave it to Congress. Over the past two years, I have been smeared as "a rat" by the President of the United States. The truth is much different, and let me take a brief moment to introduce myself. My name is Michael Dean Cohen. I am a blessed husband of 24 years and a father to an incredible daughter and son. When I married my wife, I promised her that I would love her, cherish her, and protect her. As my father said countless times throughout my childhood, "you my wife, and you my children, are the air that I breathe." To my Laura, my Sami, and my Jake, there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect you. I have always tried to live a life of loyalty, friendship, generosity, and compassion - qualities my parents ingrained in my siblings and me since childhood. My father survived the Holocaust thanks to the compassion and selfless acts of others. He was helped by many who put themselves in harm's way to do what they knew was right. That is why my first instinct has always been to help those in need. Mom and Dad . I am sorry that I let you down. As many people that know me best would say, I am the person they would call at 3AM if they needed help. I proudly remember being the emergency contact for many of my children's friends when they were growing up because their parents knew that I would drop everything and care for them as if they were my own. Yet, last fall I pled guilty in federal court to felonies for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in coordination with Individual #1. For the record: Individual #1 is President Donald J. Trump. It is painful to admit that I was motivated by ambition at times. It is even more painful to admit that many times I ignored my conscience and acted loyal to a man when I should not have. Sitting here today, it seems unbelievable that I was so mesmerized by Donald Trump that I was willing to do things for him that I knew were absolutely wrong. For that reason, I have come here to apologize to my family, to the government, and to the American people. Accordingly, let me now tell you about Mr. Trump. I got to know him very well, working very closely with him for more than 10 years, as his Executive Vice President and Special Counsel and then personal attorney when he became President. When I first met Mr. Trump, he was a successful entrepreneur, a real estate giant, and an icon. Being around Mr. Trump was intoxicating. When you were in his presence, you felt like you were involved in something greater than yourself - that you were somehow changing the world. I wound up touting the Trump narrative for over a decade. That was my job. Always stay on message. Always defend. It monopolized my life. At first, I worked mostly on real estate developments and other business transactions. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Trump brought me into his personal life and private dealings. Over time, I saw his true character revealed. Mr. Trump is an enigma. He is complicated, as am I. He has both good and bad, as do we all. But the bad far outweighs the good, and since taking office, he has become the worst version of himself. He is capable of behaving kindly, but he is not kind. He is capable of committing acts of generosity, but he is not generous. He is capable of being loyal, but he is fundamentally disloyal. Donald Trump is a man who ran for office to make his brand great, not to make our country great. He had no desire or intention to lead this nation - only to market himself and to build his wealth and power. Mr. Trump would often say, this campaign was going to be the "greatest infomercial in political history." He never expected to win the primary. He never expected to win the general election. The campaign - for him - was always a marketing opportunity. I knew early on in my work for Mr. Trump that he would direct me to lie to further his business interests. I am ashamed to say, that when it was for a real estate mogul in the private sector, I considered it trivial. As the President, I consider it significant and dangerous. But in the mix, lying for Mr. Trump was normalized, and no one around him questioned it. In fairness, no one around him today questions it, either. A lot of people have asked me about whether Mr. Trump knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time. The answer is yes. As I earlier stated, Mr. Trump knew from Roger Stone in advance about the WikiLeaks drop of emails. In July 2016, days before the Democratic convention, I was in Mr. Trump's office when his secretary announced that Roger Stone was on the phone. Mr. Trump put Mr. Stone on the speakerphone. Mr. Stone told Mr. Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr. Assange told Mr. Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton's campaign. Mr. Trump responded by stating to the effect of "wouldn't that be great." Mr. Trump is a racist. The country has seen Mr. Trump court white supremacists and bigots. You have heard him call poorer countries "shitholes." In private, he is even worse. He once asked me if I could name a country run by a black person that wasn't a "shithole." This was when Barack Obama was President of the United States. While we were once driving through a struggling neighborhood in Chicago, he commented that only black people could live that way. And, he told me that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid. And yet I continued to work for him. Mr. Trump is a cheat. As previously stated, I'm giving the Committee today three years of President Trump's financial statements, from 2011-2013, which he gave to Deutsche Bank to inquire about a loan to buy the Buffalo Bills and to Forbes. These are Exhibits 1a, 1b, and 1c to my testimony. It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed among the wealthiest people in Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes. I am sharing with you two newspaper articles, side by side, that are examples of Mr. Trump inflating and deflating his assets, as I said, to suit his financial interests. These are Exhibit 2 to my testimony. As I noted, I'm giving the Committee today an article he wrote on, and sent me, that reported on an auction of a portrait of Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit 3A to my testimony. Mr. Trump directed me to find a straw bidder to purchase a portrait of him that was being auctioned at an Art Hamptons Event. The objective was to ensure that his portrait, which was going to be auctioned last, would go for the highest price of any portrait that afternoon. The portrait was purchased by the fake bidder for $60,000. Mr. Trump directed the Trump Foundation, which is supposed to be a charitable organization, to repay the fake bidder, despite keeping the art for himself. Please see Exhibit 3B to my testimony. And it should come as no surprise that one of my more common responsibilities was that Mr. Trump directed me to call business owners, many of whom were small businesses, that were owed money for their services and told them no payment or a reduced payment would be coming. When I advised Mr. Trump of my success, he actually reveled in it. And yet, I continued to work for him. Mr. Trump is a conman. He asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair, and to lie to his wife about it, which I did. Lying to the First Lady is one of my biggest regrets. She is a kind, good person. I respect her greatly - and she did not deserve that. I am giving the Committee today a copy of the $130,000 wire transfer from me to Ms. Clifford's attorney during the closing days of the presidential campaign that was demanded by Ms. Clifford to maintain her silence about her affair with Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit 4 to my testimony. Mr. Trump directed me to use my own personal funds from a Home Equity Line of Credit to avoid any money being traced back to him that could negatively impact his campaign. I did that, too - without bothering to consider whether that was improper, much less whether it was the right thing to do or how it would impact me, my family, or the public. I am going to jail in part because of my decision to help Mr. Trump hide that payment from the American people before they voted a few days later. As Exhibit 5 to my testimony shows, I am providing a copy of a $35,000 check that President Trump personally signed from his personal bank account on August 1, 2017 - when he was President of the United States - pursuant to the cover-up, which was the basis of my guilty plea, to reimburse me - the word used by Mr. Trump's TV lawyer - for the illegal hush money I paid on his behalf. This $35,000 check was one of 11 check installments that was paid throughout the year - while he was President. The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws. You can find the details of that scheme, directed by Mr. Trump, in the pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. So picture this scene - in February 2017, one month into his presidency, I'm visiting President Trump in the Oval Office for the first time. It's truly awe-inspiring, he's showing me around and pointing to different paintings, and he says to me something to the effect of . Don't worry, Michael, your January and February reimbursement checks are coming. They were Fed-Exed from New York and it takes a while for that to get through the White House system. As he promised, I received the first check for the reimbursement of $70,000 not long thereafter. When I say conman, I'm talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores. As I mentioned, I'm giving the Committee today copies of a letter I sent at Mr. Trump's direction threatening these schools with civil and criminal actions if Mr. Trump's grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without his permission. These are Exhibit 6. The irony wasn't lost on me at the time that Mr. Trump in 2011 had strongly criticized President Obama for not releasing his grades. As you can see in Exhibit 7, Mr. Trump declared "Let him show his records" after calling President Obama "a terrible student." The sad fact is that I never heard Mr. Trump say anything in private that led me to believe he loved our nation or wanted to make it better. In fact, he did the opposite. When telling me in 2008 that he was cutting employees' salaries in half - including mine - he showed me what he claimed was a $10 million IRS tax refund, and he said that he could not believe how stupid the government was for giving "someone like him" that much money back. During the campaign, Mr. Trump said he did not consider Vietnam Veteran, and Prisoner of War, Senator John McCain to be "a hero" because he likes people who weren't captured. At the same time, Mr. Trump tasked me to handle the negative press surrounding his medical deferment from the Vietnam draft. Mr. Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none and said there was no surgery. He told me not to answer the specific questions by reporters but rather offer simply the fact that he received a medical deferment. He finished the conversation with the following comment. "You think I'm stupid, I wasn't going to Vietnam." I find it ironic, President Trump, that you are in Vietnam right now. And yet, I continued to work for him. Questions have been raised about whether I know of direct evidence that Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia. I do not. I want to be clear. But, I have my suspicions. Sometime in the summer of 2017, I read all over the media that there had been a meeting in Trump Tower in June 2016 involving Don Jr. and others from the campaign with Russians, including a representative of the Russian government, and an email setting up the meeting with the subject line, "Dirt on Hillary Clinton." Something clicked in my mind. I remember being in the room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his father's desk - which in itself was unusual. People didn't just walk behind Mr. Trump's desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: "The meeting is all set." I remember Mr. Trump saying, "Ok good . let me know." What struck me as I looked back and thought about that exchange between Don Jr. and his father was, first, that Mr. Trump had frequently told me and others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any significance alone - and certainly not without checking with his father. I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign, without Mr. Trump's knowledge and approval. So, I concluded that Don Jr. was referring to that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary with the Russian representative when he walked behind his dad's desk that day - and that Mr. Trump knew that was the meeting Don Jr. was talking about when he said, "That's good . let me know." Over the past year or so, I have done some real soul searching. I see now that my ambition and the intoxication of Trump power had much to do with the bad decisions I made. To you, Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, the other members of this Committee, and the other members of the House and Senate, I am sorry for my lies and for lying to Congress. To our nation, I am sorry for actively working to hide from you the truth about Mr. Trump when you needed it most. For those who question my motives for being here today, I understand. I have lied, but I am not a liar. I have done bad things, but I am not a bad man. I have fixed things, but I am no longer your "fixer," Mr. Trump. I am going to prison and have shattered the safety and security that I tried so hard to provide for my family. My testimony certainly does not diminish the pain I caused my family and friends - nothing can do that. And I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump. And, by coming today, I have caused my family to be the target of personal, scurrilous attacks by the President and his lawyer - trying to intimidate me from appearing before this panel. Mr. Trump called me a "rat" for choosing to tell the truth - much like a mobster would do when one of his men decides to cooperate with the government. As Exhibit 8 shows, I have provided the Committee with copies of Tweets that Mr. Trump posted, attacking me and my family - only someone burying his head in the sand would not recognize them for what they are: encouragement to someone to do harm to me and my family. I never imagined that he would engage in vicious, false attacks on my family - and unleash his TV-lawyer to do the same. I hope this committee and all members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will make it clear: As a nation, we should not tolerate attempts to intimidate witnesses before Congress and attacks on family are out of bounds and not acceptable. I wish to especially thank Speaker Pelosi for her statements in Exhibit 9 to protect this institution and me, and the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff and Chairman Cummings for likewise defending this institution and my family against the attacks by Mr. Trump, and also the many Republicans who have admonished the President as well. I am not a perfect man. I have done things I am not proud of, and I will live with the consequences of my actions for the rest of my life. But today, I get to decide the example I set for my children and how I attempt to change how history will remember me. I may not be able to change the past, but I can do right by the American people here today. Thank you for your attention. I am happy to answer the Committee's questions. BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand's Constitutional Court announced Wednesday it will issue a ruling on whether to dissolve a political party opposed to the country's military government on March 7, less than three weeks before long-delayed elections. The Thai Raksa Chart Party has been threatened with dissolution for having nominated King Maha Vajiralongkorn's sister as its candidate for prime minister, an unprecedented move that the monarch declared was inappropriate and unconstitutional. The board overseeing the March 24 general election voided the nomination. Thai Raksa Chart had quickly accepted the king's order and said it would argue to the court that the nomination was made with good intentions. Separately, the attorney general's office said it will decide after the polls whether to prosecute Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the youthful founder of the Future Forward Party, on charges filed against him by the ruling junta for online remarks saying that it had unfairly lured other political parties to be allies of the military. He is accused of violating the Computer Crime Act by allegedly putting false information online, and could be punished with a five-year prison term. The state prosecutor's office did not ask for Thanathorn to be detained Wednesday, noting that he had turned himself in and had shown no signs of seeking to evade prosecution. After the prosecutor's announcement, Thanathorn tweeted: "Thank you for everyone's support. From today on, I and the Future Forward Party will continue with our work in full force. However, I believe what happened is not the last effort to stop us. May all you #Futurista help be the eyes and ears to make sure that this election will be free and fair." Thanathorn could also face a threat from a complaint that his party's website posted a false detail about his career, an infraction punishable by a fine, imprisonment and a ban from politics for up to 20 years. The incorrect entry described him as the head of a national industrial organization rather than of one of its regional branches, and his party said it was the result of a clerical error. AMSTERDAM (AP) - Dutch prosecutors say they have arrested a 48-year man on suspicion of preparing a terror attack, and a pistol and ammunition were found at his home in the northern city of Groningen. The National Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest Wednesday and said an investigating judge has ordered the man detained for 90 days while investigations continue. In a statement, prosecutors say the man, whose identity was not released, was arrested after a Dutch intelligence agency alerted authorities that he was a supporter of the Islamic State group and that he owned a weapon. Police found the gun, hidden in a child's backpack, when they searched his home. A day earlier, the Dutch counterterror coordinator maintained the country's alert level at four on a scale that tops out at five. NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (AP) - A proposed $2 billion wind farm planned for federal waters off Martha's Vineyard has received key approval from Rhode Island regulators. The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council in a unanimous vote Tuesday determined that the project is consistent with state policies. Vineyard Wind plans an 84-turbine, 800-megawatt wind farm about 14 miles south of the Massachusetts island. The project was approved despite opposition from commercial fishermen, who say their livelihood is being destroyed because they would effectively be blocked from accessing productive fishing grounds. But the Fishermen's Advisory Board, which advises the council on fishing issues, accepted a package from Vineyard Wind that includes the creation of two funds totaling almost $17 million to compensate the fishing industry. The project still needs approval from Massachusetts regulators. SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) - North Macedonia and Albania have agreed to support each other in their bids to join the European Union, with the neighbors hoping to open accession talks this year. North Macedonia's European affairs minister Bujar Osmani and acting minister Gent Cakaj of Albania said Wednesday their countries share the goal of starting membership negotiations. North Macedonia has been an EU candidate since 2005, but hadn't managed to start accession talks because of a poor performance in required reforms. Both countries must reform their judiciaries and public administration, among other criteria, in order to start negotiations. Osmani said the two "have a few more months to aggressively address our obligations and to persuade the EU's member states that we have the capacity and that we deserve the start of negotiations." BALTIMORE (AP) - A police advocacy group has asked the Trump administration to modify the Baltimore police consent decree, saying it "does a tremendous amount of harm." The Baltimore Sun reports the National Police Association called the federal consent decree's requirements burdensome and accused it of creating unrealistic expectations that contribute to violence in a letter last week to President Donald Trump. National Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director Jim Pasco says he's not familiar with the Indianapolis-based nonprofit, but he agrees with the letter. The consent decree between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice came after a federal investigation found officers routinely violated residents' civil rights. A federal court would have to approve changes to the agreement. The White House didn't respond to the newspaper's request for comment. ___ Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com JACKSON, Mich. (AP) - In a story Feb. 26 about a Michigan transgender, gay rights activist charged with arson, The Associated Press reported erroneously that police said the man tried to fabricate a hate crime by setting his home on fire. The FBI initially investigated the arson as a possible hate crime but police have not provided a motive. A corrected version of the story is below: Gay rights activist accused of setting own home on fire Michigan police say a transgender, gay rights activist set his own home on fire JACKSON, Mich. (AP) - Michigan police say a transgender, gay rights activist charged with arson set his home on fire in an incident initially investigated by the FBI as a possible hate crime, but the man's attorney is questioning the evidence. Attorney Daniel Barnett said the evidence is circumstantial and doesn't provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Nikki Joly set the August 2017 fire that killed five pets at his home in Jackson. The 54-year-old Joly was charged last year with first-degree arson. A hearing is scheduled for March 8 in Jackson County Circuit Court, The Detroit News reported. "We determined it pretty quickly to be an arson," Elmer Hitt, Jackson's director of police and fire services, said Monday. "We investigated it over what probably was a year's time before the prosecutor ended up issuing charges." MLive.com obtained the arson investigation report that says gas station surveillance video shows Joly buying gasoline the day of the fire and traces of gasoline were found on his clothes. Phone records and witness statements show Joly was home around the time the fire was set, the report said. "The timeline shows a window of less than five minutes for another person to enter the residence, splash gasoline around, ignite the fire and then leave without being seen," police detective Aaron Grove wrote in the report. Hitt declined to provide a potential motive for the arson. Barnett said the lack of motive causes doubt in the prosecutor's case. "It doesn't make sense," Barnett said. "(Joly) was citizen of the year." A local newspaper selected Joly as Jackson's citizen of the year in 2018. Joly helped open the city's first gay community center, organized its first gay pride festival and helped pass a nondiscrimination ordinance. Chicago police last week charged the black and gay "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett with disorderly conduct for falsely reporting a racist and homophobic attack. Theresa May has issued a plea to MPs to back a Brexit deal, telling Parliament to do its duty ahead of another series of votes on the Governments negotiating strategy. The Prime Minister said she had found a real determination in Brussels to find a way through the deadlock to allow the UK to leave with a deal, and claimed engagement with the European Union had already begun to bear fruit. Mrs May accepted for the first time on Tuesday that the UK may not leave the EU on March 29, offering MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal is rejected again next month. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mrs May said Parliaments absolute focus should be on working to get a deal and leaving on March 29 and reiterated her opposition to delaying Britains departure. She said: By committing Labour to holding a second referendum, despite promising to implement Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn has shown once again that he cannot be trusted to keep his promises. His cynical political games would take us back to square one. Instead, Parliament should do its duty so that our country can move forward. We want to leave the EU with a deal that gives us the best of both worlds: a close relationship with our nearest neighbours and the chance to make the most of our talents and resources by building new relationships with growing economies around the world. MPs will vote on the Prime Ministers negotiating strategy for Brexit and a series of amendments on Wednesday evening, ahead of another meaningful vote on Theresa Mays Withdrawal Agreement next month. Mrs May was warned by a ministerial aide that she faces an enormous defeat in the Commons on Wednesday unless she gives in to demands to seek a treaty on citizens rights after Brexit. More than 60 Conservatives are understood to have signed an amendment tabled by Alberto Costa calling for a separate agreement with the European Union to protect the rights of expats even if there is a no-deal Brexit. Labour is also supporting the amendment and Mr Costa said it would be a farce if the Government did not back down. He told the Press Association his amendment, which already has support from 130 MPs ranging from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to Tory arch-Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg, would give the Prime Minister a mandate to push for a change with her fellow EU leaders. More than 60 Conservatives are understood to have signed an amendment tabled by Alberto Costa (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) He said his own job as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Scottish Secretary David Mundell was on the line as a result of his actions. Labour former minister Yvette Cooper will table an amendment seeking to pin the Prime Minister down to her commitment to give MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal falls again. It came after: A Government paper revealed that almost a third of the Governments most critical no-deal Brexit preparation projects are not on track for completion in time for the scheduled date of EU withdrawal on March 29. Tory MP Matt Warman said he would vote against an extension to Article 50 if Mrs Mays deal, which he said he would support, was defeated again next month. Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said there was still no enthusiasm for backing the PMs deal without changes among members of the influential European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptics. (PA Graphics) International Trade Secretary Liam Fox told BBC Twos Newsnight that he believed there was a very good chance of the Government being able to win the meaningful vote in March. Elsewhere, Mr Rees-Mogg told a Spectator event that delaying Brexit beyond the European elections could lead to a surge in right-wing extremism. If we try to stay and we stay beyond the European elections, there will only be one winner from that, and that would be Tommy Robinson, he said in comments reported by The Telegraph. I think this country has been very fortunate in not having extremism throughout our history weve avoided the very far left and the very far right and I think that has been good for us as a nation but I think that if you decide that 17.4 m people voting is insignificant and should be overridden by MPs, then you create the atmosphere for extremism. MPs will be given another chance to vote on the Governments negotiating strategy for Brexit on Wednesday night. The Commons will vote on a series of amendments to the Government motion ahead of another meaningful vote on Theresa Mays Withdrawal Agreement next month. It will be down to Speaker John Bercow which proposals are selected for a vote. John Bercow (House of Commons/PA) Any successful amendments will not have the force of law but will carry heavy political weight as a signal to Downing Street and Brussels of what kind of Brexit MPs are likely to approve. Heres a look at the key amendments: Costa Tory backbencher Alberto Costa is demanding Mrs May seeks a treaty on citizens rights after Brexit. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said the Government backs his amendment. 1/4 Cant begin to say how brilliant it is to see my amendment in black and white on the order paper today. Im hugely grateful to those colleagues who have very kindly supported my amendment to ringfence rights for those EU citizens in the UK and those in UK citizens in the EU. pic.twitter.com/zrhwN9ljpw Alberto Costa MP (@AlbertoCostaMP) February 27, 2019 His amendment, which has the backing of more than 140 MPs from across the House, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, calls for a separate agreement with the European Union to protect the rights of expats even if there is a no-deal Brexit. Cooper Labour former minister Yvette Cooper has tabled an amendment seeking to pin the Prime Minister down to the commitments she made to the Commons on Tuesday. Mrs May offered MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal is rejected again next month, in a move which closely matched demands put forward in a plan by Ms Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin. We have tabled a cross party amendment to pin down PMs commitments from today & another to get a further day for Commons debate when amendments/options can be put. Weve also all still laid paving amendment for Bill just to ensure there is no backtracking from anyone in Cabinet Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) February 26, 2019 While Sir Oliver said there was now no need for the Cooper/Letwin Bill, Ms Cooper said she would lay a cross-party amendment to secure confirmation of the Prime Ministers commitment. Spelman/Dromey Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman and Labours Jack Dromey, who last month tabled a successful amendment opposing a no-deal Brexit, have tabled an amendment to pave the way for the Cooper/Letwin Bill to give MPs the opportunity to extend the two-year Article 50 negotiation process. Jack Dromey and Caroline Spelman last month tabled a successful amendment opposing a no-deal Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The pair said they would seek assurances from ministers to secure confirmation of the Prime Ministers commitments during the debate on Wednesday. They said if they receive the assurances they will not push the amendment to a vote. Indicative votes A second amendment tabled by Dame Caroline and Mr Dromey would require MPs to be given an opportunity to vote on March 19 on a range of alternative Brexit outcomes. Labour Jeremy Corbyns amendment seeks support for his partys five Brexit demands. Jeremy Corbyn (Aaron Chown/PA) The party is calling for a permanent and comprehensive customs union with the EU; dynamic alignment on rights and protections; commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; unambiguous agreements on the detail of future security arrangements; and close alignment with the single market. Liberal Democrats have tagged their own amendment on to Mr Corbyns proposals, calling for an extension of Article 50 to provide time for a referendum. Independent Group MPs from The Independent Group (TIG), with support from the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, have tabled an amendment to pave the way for a second referendum. It would instruct the Prime Minister to table a motion for debate and a decision before March 8, setting out the steps to prepare for a public vote on whether to leave the EU on terms agreed by Parliament or remain a member. Our cross party @TheIndGroup amendment to the PMs Brexit motion which we have tabled and hope to put to a vote in the @HouseofCommons today - with numerous signatories from 4 different parties #ChangePolitics pic.twitter.com/i1sfFJvqAt ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) February 27, 2019 TIG member Chris Leslie said the amendment would require Mrs May to take the steps needed now so the public could take control and break through the Brexit gridlock. Liberal Democrats Backed by some Labour and Independent MPs, Sir Vince Cables party is calling on the Government to create a Brexit Support Fund of at least 7.5 billion to mitigate job losses caused by uncertainty over EU withdrawal, a no-deal Brexit or the PMs deal. SNP The SNPs amendment requires the PM to immediately rule out a no-deal Brexit under any and all circumstances and regardless of exit date. BREAKING: The SNP have tabled an amendment, with cross-party support, seeking to reject a no-deal Brexit in any circumstances. No-deal would disproportionately hit Scotland and would be the height of irresponsibility. Scotland will never accept it. pic.twitter.com/jq2N7APes8 The SNP (@theSNP) February 27, 2019 The partys Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Parliament must take control and force the UK Government to do the right thing by immediately ruling out a no-deal Brexit under any and all circumstances. Revoke Article 50 An amendment tabled by the SNPs Angus MacNeil and backed by Father of the House Kenneth Clarke calls on Parliament to bring forward legislation to require Theresa May to halt Brexit by revoking the Article 50 letter informing the European Council of the UKs intention to leave. Green Green MP Caroline Lucas has tabled an amendment, backed by MPs from several parties, calling for environmental protections to be prioritised in future relations with the EU. Plaid Cymru An amendment from the Welsh nationalist party calls on the Government to extend the period for Brexit negotiations to the end of 2021. Keep no deal on the table An amendment tabled by Tory backbencher John Baron seeks to make clear that an extension to Article 50 cannot take no deal off the table. The US House of Representatives has voted to block President Donald Trumps emergency declaration, a measure intended get him billions of extra dollars to build his border wall. The Houses 245-182 vote to block Mr Trumps national emergency declaration fell well below the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override his promised veto. Top Republicans worked to keep defections as low as possible 13 backed the Democrats resolution underscoring their desire to avoid a tally suggesting that Mr Trumps hold on politicians was weakening. The vote now goes to the Republican-run Senate, where there were already enough defections to edge it to the cusp of passage. Vice President Mike Pence used a lunch with Republican senators at the Capitol to try keeping them aboard, citing a dangerous crisis at the border, but there were no signs he would succeed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speak to reporters after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Mike Pence (J Scott Applewhite/AP) I personally couldnt handicap the outcome at this point, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is planning a vote within the next three weeks. He even said Republicans remained uncertain about the legality of Mr Trumps move, telling reporters, Were in the process of weighing that. Senate passage would force Mr Trumps first veto, which the House vote demonstrated that Congress would surely fail to overturn. But the showdown was forcing Republicans to cast uncomfortable votes pitting their support for a president wildly popular with Republican voters against fears that his expansive use of emergency powers would invite future Democratic presidents to do likewise for their own pet policies. There is a crisis at our border, but its not an emergency when Congress doesnt spend money how the President wants. The Presidents constitutional remedy is to veto spending bills that arent suitable to him, yet he has chosen to sign many bills that did not fund the wall. Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 26, 2019 House Republicans who joined all voting Democrats to support the Democratic resolution included moderates from competitive districts such as Fred Upton of Michigan and libertarian-leaning conservatives such as Thomas Massie from Kentucky. The White House wrote to politicians formally threatening to veto the legislation. President Donald Trump issued the emergency declaration last week to fund his long-sought wall along the US-Mexico border (AP) The letter said blocking the emergency declaration would undermine the administrations ability to respond effectively to the ongoing crisis at the Southern Border. Republicans said Democrats were driven by politics and a desire to oppose Mr Trump at every turn, and said Mr Trump had clear authority to declare an emergency to protect the country. They also defended the presidents claims of a security crisis along the boundary with Mexico, which he has said is ravaged by drug smugglers, human traffickers and immigrants trying to sneak into the US illegally. We are at war on the Southern border with the drug cartels, said Representative Pete Olson. Democrats said the crisis is a fiction manufactured by Mr Trump to dance around Congress vote this month to provide less than 1.4 billion dollars (1bn) for barrier construction. That was well below the 5.7 billion dollars (4.3bn) Mr Trump demanded as he forced a record-setting 35-day federal shutdown. The president does not get to override Congress in a raucous temper tantrum over his inability to broker a deal with politicians for more money, said Representative Hank Johnson Representative Joaquin Castro, sponsor of the one-sentence measure blocking the declaration, called Mr Trumps move constitutional vandalism. Mr Trump used a 1976 law to declare a national emergency and ordered the shift of 3.6 billion dollars (2.7bn) from military construction projects to wall building. Citing other powers, he intends to shift another 3.1 billion dollars (2.3bn) from Defence Department anti-drug efforts and a fund that collects seized assets. The money would be used to build steel barriers up to 30 ft tall and other barriers and for law enforcement efforts, said a White House statement. Murder detectives are probing the death of a man in east London amid a rash of stabbings in the capital. The victim, believed to have been in his 20s, was stabbed near Ilford Station on Tuesday night and died at the scene. The man is thought to have been the fifth person to be stabbed in London on Tuesday and the fourth in less than eight hours. There have now been 17 homicides in London so far this year, six of which happened in nine days. An urgent investigation has been launched after a fatal stabbing at 8.48pm in Cranbrook Road #Ilford. The victim, in his 20s, died at the scene. No arrest made at this early stage. Were working to confirm ID and inform family. Anyone with info pls call 101 ref 7377/feb26. Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 26, 2019 The Metropolitan Police said it was called to reports of a stabbing at Cranbrook Road in Ilford, east London, at 8.48pm. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene about half an hour later. Zamirullah Stanikzai, 21, who works in a phone shop close to where the attack took place, said he saw two men brandishing knives. I saw people running up and down the station when I went out, he said. Shocked and saddened to hear of fatal stabbing of a young man in Cranbrook Road, near Ilford Station around 8.45 this evening. Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting ref 7377/feb26. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Mike Gapes (@MikeGapes) February 26, 2019 Ilford South MP Mike Gapes tweeted that he was shocked and saddened by the killing. The Met said a murder probe had been opened, while no arrests had yet been made. Tuesday in the capital got off to a bloody start when a 25-year-old man was left critically injured in a stabbing in Enfield, north London. Police were called to Green Street at 12.40am and the man was taken to hospital for treatment, while three men aged 24, 26 and 27 were arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers responded to another incident in Enfield on Tuesday afternoon where a man in his 30s was stabbed in the thigh following an altercation on Parsonage Road at around 1.50pm. The man was later discharged from hospital, while a man arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm was taken into custody. (PA Graphics) A few hours later a male, reported to be a teenager, was stabbed at South Ruislip Underground in west London. British Transport Police said it was called to reports of a disturbance at the station shortly before 4.30pm. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for a stab wound to his abdomen, which was not thought to be life threatening. Around two hours later police were called to a stabbing in Victoria Road in Romford, east London. An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Crazy ilford as always @metpoliceuk should do something serious now, theres always stabbing and now a young man died in front the station #Ilford #Redbridge pic.twitter.com/mZhYln8Iza zamirullah Stannekzai (@stanikzai_19) February 26, 2019 The fatal stabbing later on Tuesday night was the fifth homicide in London in nine days. On February 18 Bright Akinleye, 22, died in the lobby of a luxury hotel in Euston Street in Camden, central London, after being stabbed outside. Glendon Spence, 23, died after being stabbed at a youth club in Brixton, south London, on February 21. The following day a 19-year-old man was stabbed to death in Wood Green, north London, while on February 25 a man was fatally stabbed in a fight in Tower Hamlets, east London. Nigerias president has been declared the clear winner of a second term in Africas largest democracy. While many frustrated Nigerians had said they wanted to give someone new a try, President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator, profited from his upright reputation. Speaking shortly after the announcement of the official results and as many Nigerians awakened to the morning prayer, Mr Buhari told colleagues that he was deeply humbled by the win. He also said he regretted the loss of dozens of lives in election-related violence. Supporters began dancing in the streets of the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday night as vote counting stretched his lead from the weekend election to nearly four million votes over top opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president who made sweeping campaign promises to make Nigeria work again. Mr Buhari received 15.1 million votes, the electoral commission said in making its official declaration before dawn Wednesday. Mr Abubakar received 11.2 million. The average national turnout was 35.6%, continuing a downward trend. Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari party in Abuja, Nigeria (Jerome Delay/AP) In a failed last-ditch effort to stop the official declaration, Mr Abubakars party claimed that election data had been manipulated and demanded fresh elections in four of Nigerias 36 states. Mr Buharis party rejected the accusations. It also called on Mr Abubakar, who has not made a public appearance since Saturdays election, to accept his loss gracefully and concede. Let this nation move forward, campaign spokesman Babatunde Fashola said. Oppositions presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his wife when casting their votes (Sunday Alamba/AP) The election, once described as too close to call, suffered from a surprise week-long postponement and significant delays in the opening of polling stations. While election observers called the process generally peaceful, at least 53 people were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province extremist group and other violence, analysis unit SBM Intelligence said. It remained to be seen whether Mr Abubakar will follow through on pledges to accept a loss, or challenge the results. A former US ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, said the troubled election had given the candidates grounds to go to the courts. That route could take months. Many Nigerians have prayed for peace. They were surprised in 2015 when President Goodluck Jonathan took the unprecedented step of conceding to Mr Buhari before official results were announced. It was the first defeat of an incumbent president by the opposition in the countrys history. Jonathan set the benchmark on how electoral outcomes should be handled, Chris Kwaja, a senior adviser to the United States Institute of Peace, a US government-backed institution promoting conflict resolution worldwide, told The Associated Press. Accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship. This is a critical vehicle for democratic consolidation. The collapse of an unlicensed gold mine in Indonesias North Sulawesi province has buried dozens of people, a disaster official said. Emergency personnel used their bare hands and farm tools in a desperate attempt to reach victims calling for help from beneath the rubble. Local disaster official Abdul Muin Paputungan said one person was confirmed dead and 14 people with injuries ranging from light to serious had been rescued. As many as 60 people were buried, he said. Unstable soil conditions make us extra careful lifting rocks because it can lead to new landslides, Mr Paputungan told The Associated Press. We still hear voices crying for help from people beneath the rubble, he said. Survivors estimated about 60 people are trapped in the rubble of the mining pit, Mr Paputungan said. Rescuers evacuate a survivor from inside of a collapsed gold mine in Bolaang Mongondow (BASARNAS via AP) Makeshift wooden structures in the mine in Bolaang Mongondow district collapsed on Tuesday evening due to unstable soil and the large number of mining holes, burying people in the mine pit. Police, search and rescue agency workers, military and Indonesian Red Cross personnel were all taking part in the rescue effort but the remote location was complicating the operation. Mr Paputungan said the mine and a village connected to it are in a steep area that can only be reached by foot. Earth-moving equipment and ambulances cannot reach the location, he said. The most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex abuse is to face his first night in prison while he waits two weeks to learn his sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two decades ago. Victorian state County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd revoked Cardinal George Pells bail at the end of a sentencing hearing. Mr Kidd said he would deliver his sentence on March 13. The 77-year-old Pell, who could face five decades in prison, showed no expression as he walked from the dock with a cane escorted by three court security officers and a prison guard. A jury unanimously convicted Pell in December of abusing the two 13-year-olds in 1996 weeks after becoming archbishop of Australias second-largest city. But Pell was not taken into custody immediately because he had surgery scheduled to have both knees replaced. Cardinal George Pell at the County Court in Melbourne, Australia (Andy Brownbill/AP) Pell faced an abusive crowd on Wednesday as he entered court half an hour before his sentencing hearing was scheduled. I hope you burn in hell! one man shouted while pushing against a cluster of police officers trying to shield the cardinal as he walked into the courthouse. The court had until Tuesday forbidden publication of any details about the trial because Pell had faced a second trial in April on charges that he indecently assaulted two boys aged nine or 10 and 11 or 12 as a young priest in the late 1970s. But prosecutor Fran Dalziel told the court on Tuesday that the charges had been dropped and asked for the suppression order to be lifted. The move came days after a judge ruled out two key prosecution witnesses. I can confirm that Cardinal George Pell is no longer the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy Alessandro Gisotti (@AGisotti) February 26, 2019 Pope Francis removed Pell as a member of his informal Cabinet in October. He had remained prefect of the Vaticans economy ministry, but his five-year term expired this month, acting Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said. Mr Gisotti tweeted that Pell is no longer the Holy Sees economy chief. Pell faces a potential 50-year prison sentence for five convictions of sexual penetration and indecent acts involving the boys. The judge said Pell was guilty of a breach of trust with an element of brutality and had had a sense of impunity. I see this as callus, brazen offending blatant, Mr Kidd said. Pell had maintained his innocence throughout, describing the accusations as vile and disgusting conduct. His lawyers have appealed the convictions and were scheduled to appear in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday afternoon to apply for bail. But the bail application was later withdrawn. No date has been set for an appeal hearing. President Donald Trump hoped for great things from his second meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un as he paid a courtesy call on his Vietnamese hosts. Mr Kim was expected to take in some sights before the leaders open their second nuclear summit with private talks and a social dinner. Anticipation for what will come out of the summit is running high in Hanoi. But the carnival-like atmosphere in the Vietnamese capital, with street artists painting likenesses of the leaders and vendors selling T-shirts emblazoned with their faces, stands in contrast to the serious items on the agenda: North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and peace on the Korean Peninsula. President Donald Trump waves a Vietnam flag as he meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Evan Vucci/AP) We have a very big meeting planned tonight as you know, with North Korea, Chairman Kim, and I think it may very well turn out to be very successful, Mr Trump told the top leaders of Vietnam. I look forward to the meeting tonight with Chairman Kim and hopefully its going to be successful. Well see what happens, but he wants to do something great, Mr Trump said, adding that Mr Kim could use Vietnam as a model for economic revitalisation. If you look at what youve done in a short time, he can do it in a very, very rapid time make North Korea into a great economic power. The president sounded a similar message about Vietnamese prosperity in a tweet before he left his heavily guarded hotel. Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth. North Korea would be the same, and very quickly, if it would denuclearize, Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday, hours before he and Mr Kim were to meet again. The potential is AWESOME, a great opportunity, like almost none other in history, for my friend Kim Jong Un. We will know fairly soon Very Interesting! Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton listen as Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Evan Vucci/AP) Mr Trump said at a separate meeting with Vietnamese officials that hopefully great things will happen later on with our meeting with Mr Kim. Mr Trump and Mr Kim first met last June in Singapore, a summit that was long on historic pageantry but short on any enforceable agreements for North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal. North Korea has spent decades, at great economic sacrifice, building its nuclear program, and there is widespread scepticism that it will give away that program without getting something substantial from the US. That could be a declaration to end the Korean War. While Mr Trump wants Mr Kim to agree to dismantle his nuclear sites in a verifiable way, Mr Kim is seeking relief from crushing US sanctions hobbling his economy. Other items being discussed are opening liaison offices in both North Korea and the United States. North and South Korea also want sanctions dialled back so they can resurrect two major symbols of rapprochement that provided much-needed hard currency to North Korea: a jointly run factory park in Kaesong and South Korean tours to the Norths scenic Diamond Mountain resort. Manufacturing giant Ineos is to invest 1 billion in the UK in projects it says will keep its British operations world-class for a generation. The biggest investment of 500 million is in the Forties Pipeline System (FPS), which will transform the asset and extend the life of the pipeline by at least 20 years, into the 2040s. Ineos said it intends to overhaul the reliability of the 310-mile (500km) North Sea pipeline system, including modernising the environmental systems. Through significant #investment, INEOS is: > Extending the life of @INEOS_FPS by 20+ years, > Making @INEOS_GM more reliable and energy efficient, > Bringing production of an important raw material back to the UK, doubling our Hull workforce in the process. #jobs #r4Today INEOS (@INEOS) February 27, 2019 Opened in 1975, FPS is a strategic UK asset that can transport up to 600,000 barrels of North Sea oil onshore for refining every day. The pipeline transports 40% of the UKs oil and gas to the mainland. Ineos is investing 350 million at its Grangemouth site in Scotland to develop a new steam and power plant, delivering significantly improved energy efficiency and long-term reliability. Ineos will also invest 150 million in a new plant in Hull. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of Ineos, said: Ineos is a supporter of British manufacturing and this 1 billion investment underlines our confidence in our business in the UK. These investments will ensure that our UK assets continue to be world-class for many years to come. Ineos chairman and chief executive Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Ineos/PA) Andrew Gardner, chief executive of Ineos FPS, said: North Sea oil and gas producers are telling us that they want to be in the North Sea well into the 2040s, so we are making this commitment to be there with them. Following acquisition of FPS in 2017, we are now embarking on a period of investment that will guarantee that the system can support them for decades to come. Commenting on the Grangemouth investment, Tobias Hannemann, of Ineos, said: This investment forms part of our wider plans to secure a bright future for manufacturing at Grangemouth and will continue its renaissance as a world-class petrochemicals site while supporting the refinery, FPS and wider UK economy. Chemicals giant @INEOS to build new 150m plant at Saltend Chemicals Park on eastern edge of #Hull. Excellent news for the Humber region and UK manufacturing. https://t.co/8dmMNcFozn #INEOS #ukmfg John Meehan (@MeehanMedia) February 27, 2019 A new Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) plant will be built in Hull, which Ineos said will bring production of an important raw material back to the UK. VAM is a key component in a wide range of products including laminated windscreens, toughened glass, adhesives, coatings, films, textiles and carbon fibre. Graham Beesley, chief executive of Ineos Oxide, said: This is an exciting time for Ineos and great news for manufacturing in the region. We are proud to be bringing production of this important material back to the UK. This will not only strengthen UK manufacturing but boost exports from the UK to Europe and the rest of the world. Around 300 jobs will be created building the new plant in Hull and it will employ around 30 people when it is operational. Ineos asked the Government for financial support towards the project but has not received anything. Group director Tom Crotty told the Press Association: We are still in debate. Ineos closed its operation in Hull a decade ago because it was uncompetitive but Mr Crotty said the market for its products was much healthier. The new plant will be built on the same site and products will mainly be exported. The investment at Grangemouth will mainly be spent replacing a 40-year-old power station. Friends of the Earth Scotland director Richard Dixon said: The last thing the climate needs is yet more fossil fuels. Instead of prolonging our dependence on oil and fuelling our ocean of plastic waste, Ineos should be helping transform Grangemouth into a centre of zero-carbon industry. With concern about climate change at an all-time high, new emissions targets being agreed, petrol and diesel cars being phased out and a crackdown on using plastic, Ineos are investing in the technology of the past instead of the future. Pakistans military said it has captured two Indian pilots after the Pakistani air force shot down their aircraft on its side of the disputed region of Kashmir. The civil aviation authority of Pakistan announced that it has shut its airspace to all commercial flights amid rising tensions with its neighbour. The dramatic escalation came hours after Pakistan said mortar shells fired by Indian troops from across the frontier dividing the two sectors of Kashmir killed six civilians and wounded several others. Major General Asif Ghafoor said one of the captured Indian pilots is injured and is being treated in a military hospital, while the other pilot is in custody. Supporters of a Pakistani religious group Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba hold a rally against India (AP) The military said an Indian Air Force plane was downed on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control in Kashmir a boundary separating the disputed Himalayan region between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Indian air force spokesman Anupam Banerjee in New Delhi said he had no information on Pakistans statement. Earlier, senior Indian police officer Munir Ahmed Khan said an Indian Air Force plane crashed in Indian-controlled sector of Kashmir and that it was not immediately known if there were casualties. Pakistani reporters and troops visit the site of an Indian air strike in Jaba, near Balakot, on Tuesday (Aqeel Ahmed/AP) Another police officer, SP Pani, said firefighters were at the site in the Budgam area where the Indian warplane crashed. Eyewitnesses said soldiers fired into the air to keep residents away from the crash site. Indian news reports said airports in the Indian portion of Kashmir closed for civilian traffic shortly after the air force jet crashed in the area. The Press Trust of India news agency said these airports were located at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh. Indian authorities declined to comment. Indian administrator Baseer Khan confirmed that the airport in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, was closed and said it was a temporary and precautionary measure. Kashmiri villagers gather to look at the wreckage of the Indian aircraft (AP) The Press Trust of India said Indian authorities also closed two airports in northern Punjab state, which borders with Pakistan. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said the countrys air force was carrying out air strikes from within Pakistani airspace across the disputed Kashmir boundary, but that this was not in retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. The ministry said Wednesdays strikes were aimed at avoiding human loss and collateral damage. It said the Pakistanis have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. That is why we undertook the action with clear warning and in broad daylight. According to local Pakistani police official Mohammad Altaf, the six fatalities in Wednesdays shelling included children. The shells hit the village of Kotli in Pakistans section of Kashmir. Kashmir is split between Pakistan and India and claimed by both in its entirety. Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks after the Indian air strike (Anjum Naveed/AP) Though Pakistani and Indian troops in Kashmir often trade fire, the latest civilian casualties on the Pakistani side came a day after tensions escalated sharply following a pre-dawn air strike and incursion by India on Tuesday that New Delhi said targeted a terrorist training camp in north-western Pakistan. Residents on both sides of the de facto frontier said there were exchanges of fire between the two sides through the night. In Pakistans part of Kashmir, hundreds of villagers have fled border towns. The situation was no different in villages along the Line of Control in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where residents were moving to safer places following the intense exchange of fire. In New Delhi, Indian officials said on Wednesday at least five of their soldiers were wounded in firing by Pakistani troops along the volatile frontier. Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand, an Indian army spokesman, said Pakistani soldiers targeted dozens of Indian military positions across the Line of Control throughout the night. A Pakistani soldier watches movement of Indian forces along the Line of Control earlier this month (MD Mughal/AP) An Indian military statement said that out of anger and frustration, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation. The statement said Indian troops retaliated for effect and claimed to have destroyed five Pakistani posts. It accused Pakistani soldiers of firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shields. In Tuesdays pre-dawn strike by India, Pakistan said Indian warplanes dropped bombs near the Pakistani town of Balakot, but there were no casualties. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to convene the National Command Authority on Wednesday to discuss Islamabads response to the incursions by Indian warplanes. On Wednesday, Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told state-run Pakistan Television he was in touch with his counterparts across the world about the Indian aggression, adding that New Delhi had endangered peace in the region by launching an air strike on Pakistan. In New Delhi, Indias external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said her country does not wish to see further escalation of the situation with Pakistan and that it will continue to act with responsibility and restraint. She said the limited objective of Indias pre-emptive strike inside Pakistan on a terrorist training camp on Tuesday was to act decisively against the terrorist infrastructure of the Jaish-e-Mohammad group. The tension between Pakistan and India erupted again after Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of a convoy of Indias paramilitary forces in the Indian portion of Kashmir on February 14, which killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan has said it was not involved in the attack and stands ready to help New Delhi in its investigations. An ally of Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised by several Labour MPs for saying the party has been too apologetic over anti-Semitism. Chris Williamson suggested that Labours response to complaints of anti-Semitism had contributed to the party being demonised. In a clip published by the Yorkshire Post, the Derby North MP told a meeting hosted by grassroots group Momentum that the party had given too much ground. Mr Williamson also said he had celebrated the resignation of former Labour MP Joan Ryan, who defected to join the Independent Group of MPs last week. Jewish MP Luciana Berger, who quit Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism, wrote on Twitter of the video: This is what I have left behind. Its toxic. Our country deserves so much better. #ChangePolitics. This is what I have left behind. Its toxic. Our country deserves so much better. #ChangePolitics https://t.co/a7AZYzeF5z Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) February 26, 2019 Labour deputy leader Tom Watson described Mr Williamsons behaviour as deliberately inflammatory. Meanwhile, Cardiff South MP Stephen Doughty tweeted: This conduct is unacceptable and has no place in our party. I have made clear to both the leaders office and our whips that I expect urgent action to be taken. Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said Mr Williamsons comment seemed specifically designed to upset, adding: Must be disciplined. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said anti-Semtitism has to be expunged not ignored, tweeting: Those who perpetuate it or minimise it bring the party into disrepute. No ifs, no buts. #standupspeakup. Yesterday Chris Williamson complained about a toxic culture in Labour. I told him about the toxic culture anti semitism created and why had to be expunged not ignored. Those who perpetuate it or minimise it bring the party into disrepute. No ifs, no buts. #standupspeakup stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) February 26, 2019 And Ilford North MP Wes Streeting tweeted: Stomach-turning. No action will be taken. In the video, recorded at a meeting in Sheffield, Mr Williamson said: The party that has done more to stand up to racism is now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party. I have got to say I think our partys response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion we have backed off on too much, we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic. Mr Williamson also said he had sung Celebration by Kool & The Gang after hearing of Ms Ryans resignation. Joan Ryan was one of nine MPs who quit Labour in protest at Jeremy Corbyns leadership (Katie Collins/PA) She was one of nine MPs who quit in protest at Mr Corbyns leadership last week, with his handling of anti-Semitism in the party among their central grievances. The video of Mr Williamson emerged as he came under fire for booking a room in Parliament for a screening of a film about anti-Semitism and activist Jackie Walker. She was suspended by Labour over allegedly anti-Semitic comments in 2016. Mr Watson said he reported the matter to the chief whip and general secretary as soon as he found out about it. A Labour Party spokesman said Mr Williamsons actions had been completely inappropriate and fell below the standards it expects of MPs. During a visit to Derbyshire in January, Mr Corbyn said Mr Williamson was a very good, very effective Labour MP. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Chris Williamson is a `very effective MP who is `not anit-Semitic in any way (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Labour leader told Derbyshire Live: Hes a very strong anti-racist campaigner. He is not anti-Semitic in any way. Mr Williamson was first elected MP for Derby North in 2010, but was unseated in the 2015 general election. He ran again in 2017, this time receiving a visit from Mr Corbyn during the general election campaign, and won. Mr Williamson was later made a shadow fire and emergency services minister. He left the post by mutual agreement six months later after commenting on policy outside his brief to suggest that council tax should be doubled for better-off homes. Donald Trumps former personal lawyer is planning to tell a US congressional committee that the president knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks had emails damaging to his rival Hillary Clintons election campaign, and that he is a racist, a conman, and a cheat. Michael Cohen suggests in prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press that Mr Trump also implicitly told him to lie about a Moscow real estate project. Mr Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to US congress about the project, which he says Mr Trump knew about as Mr Cohen was negotiating with Russia during the election. Mr Cohen is set to brand the president a racist, a conman and a cheat (AP) The lawyer says in his testimony that Mr Trump did not directly tell him to lie, but he would look me in the eye and tell me theres no business in Russia, and then go out and lie to the American people by saying the same thing. Mr Cohen said that in his way, he was telling me to lie. He added that lawyers for Mr Trump had reviewed and edited the statement in which Mr Cohen falsely said a proposal for a Trump Tower in Moscow had been abandoned in January 2016. Mr Cohen has since acknowledged he continued pursuing the project for months after that. In the prepared testimony, Mr Cohen apologises for his actions. I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr Trumps illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience, he said. Ahead of his appearance, Mr Cohen said on Tuesday that the American people can decide exactly who is telling the truth when he testifies before the US House Oversight and Reform committee. Mr Cohen will claim the president knew about the WikiLeaks email dump concerning his presidential rival, Hillary Clinton (AP) This sets the stage for an explosive public hearing that threatens to overshadow Mr Trumps summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On WikiLeaks, Mr Cohen said in the prepared testimony that he was in Mr Trumps office in July 2016 when longtime adviser Roger Stone called his client. Mr Trump put Mr Stone on speakerphone, and Mr Stone told him that he had communicated with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clintons campaign, according to Mr Cohen. Mr Trump responded by saying wouldnt that be great? Mr Cohen says. That month, WikiLeaks released thousands of emails hacked from the Democratic National Committees server. Mr Cohen says in his testimony: A lot of people have asked me about whether Mr Trump knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time. The answer is yes. Mr Cohen said he does not have direct evidence that Mr Trump colluded with the Russian government during the election, but that he has suspicions. Of a meeting in Trump Tower between campaign advisers, including Mr Trumps oldest son and a Russian lawyer, Mr Cohen says that Mr Trump had frequently told him that Donald Trump Jr had the worst judgment of anyone in the world and he would never set up any meeting of any significance alone and certainly not without checking with his father. Mr Cohen said he had lied to the US first lady out of `blind loyalty to Mr Trump (AP) Mr Cohen, once the presidents loyal attorney and fixer, has turned on his former boss and cooperated with special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. He begins a three-year prison sentence in May after he pleaded guilty to lying to US congress in 2017 and committing campaign finance violations while he was working for Mr Trump. He met the US senate intelligence committee for more than nine hours behind closed doors on Tuesday. Mr Cohen said in brief remarks afterwards that he appreciated the opportunity to clear the record and tell the truth to the committee after acknowledging he lied to the panel in 2017. It is the first of three consecutive days of congressional appearances for Mr Cohen. After the public hearing on Wednesday, he will appear before the House intelligence panel on Thursday, again speaking in private. Republicans are expected to attempt to discredit Cohen, given that he has acknowledged lying previously. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that it was laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word, and pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies. Democrats have been alternately suspicious of Cohen and eager to hear what he has to say. Senator Mark Warner, the intelligence panels top Democrat, suggested in a brief statement to reporters outside Tuesdays interview that Mr Cohen had provided important information. In addition to lying to congress, Mr Cohen pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations for his involvement in payments to two women who allege they had affairs with Mr Trump. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels (AP) Federal prosecutors in New York have said Mr Trump directed Mr Cohen to arrange the payments to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal in the run-up to the 2016 campaign. Mr Cohen told a judge that he agreed to cover up Trumps dirty deeds out of blind loyalty. He says in his prepared testimony that he lied to the first lady, Melania Trump, about the affairs. Mr Trump has denied that he had the affairs. Lying to the first lady is one of my biggest regrets, Mr Cohen says. She is a kind, good person. I respect her greatly and she did not deserve that. On the matter of racism, Mr Cohen says the president made racist comments disparaging African-Americans, saying at one point that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid. The first tomatoes are ready to be harvested at a high-tech glasshouse that should produce more than 150 million per year. A quarter of a million plants were put inside the 15 million glasshouse at Bramford, near Ipswich, and 10 weeks on, the first baby cherry tomatoes are ready for picking. Richard Lewis, horticultural director of Sterling Suffolk, said it is the only semi-closed glasshouse in the UK and is designed to produce more fruit using less energy. Cooled air is piped in from the sides, instead of opening roof vents which wastes energy and carbon dioxide. Roof vents are occasionally opened to release air pressure and humidity, with levels monitored by an advanced computer system. The glasshouse is heated by natural gas boilers, with hot water running through 62km of pipe on the ground which doubles as a rail track for trolleys used by workers tending plants. It is 26C in the glasshouse, an ideal temperature to maximise on the growth of the plant, Mr Lewis said. Richard Lewis inspects vines of cherry tomatoes (Joe Giddens/PA) The plants grow around a foot per week, will reach around 15m in length, and were imported from the Netherlands as two-month-old saplings. Each plant should produce one truss of tomatoes per week, with workers cutting trusses of 12 tomatoes to ripen on the vine. They are planted in a natural fibre extracted from coconut husk instead of soil and are irrigated with rainwater collected from the roof in a 61 million-litre reservoir. A computer monitors when plants need to be watered by weighing their growbags to see how much water they have used and by monitoring the amount of light, from UV lights and sunlight. Part of the ethos of this nursery was ecology, said Mr Lewis. The temperature in the glasshouse is 26C (Joe Giddens/PA) The land that were on was very low agricultural land, it was poorly producing, not great soil. What weve done is taken that and built a high-tech glasshouse on it and moved it to being very intensive and very, very productive. Bumble bees pollinate the plants, with 60 cardboard box hives and 9,000 bees in the glasshouse. Few can be seen at ground level as they focus on the flowers. Mr Lewis, who started his career as an 18-year-old picker in 1984 and worked his way up, said he stuck a sign on the gate to advertise for workers. Richard Lewis monitors the glasshouse conditions in the control room (Joe Giddens/PA) The current workforce of 32 could increase to 150 by the third phase of the project, which would see the site expand from 5.6 hectares (13.8 acres) to 17 hectares (42 acres) of glasshouse. Mr Lewis said the project was funded by individual investors, with the lowest investment at 100 and the highest at 1.5 million. Once harvesting starts, within days it will be perpetual, he said. Mr Lewis said it is too early to know the impact of Brexit, but has stocked up on fertilisers in case of transport delays. Six people, including three children, have been taken to hospital following a suspected gas explosion at a terrace house. Fire crews were called shortly before 10.40pm on Tuesday to a blaze in Milnrow, Greater Manchester, which had spread to four neighbouring properties. Firefighters used eight breathing apparatus, two hose reels, a covering jet and an aerial platform o contain the blaze in Lilac Avenue. Three adults and three children were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). Our crews have done a great job in tackling this fire and the incident is now being scaled back to four engines and an aerial platform Firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the night Updates on our website https://t.co/dTqrY1tOLn Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) February 27, 2019 Crews worked through the night to keep the blaze under control and two fire engines remained at the scene on Wednesday. In a statement, GMFRS said: Work is ongoing to isolate the gas supply so firefighters can continue fighting the fire. The fire in Milnrow spread to neighbouring properties (Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service/PA) A cordon remains in place. A man who died after a disturbance in Edinburgh has been named by police. Alasdair Forsyth, from the city, was found with serious injuries at an address in Clearburn Road, Prestonfield, on Thursday February 21. The 67-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service. Three males aged 15, 16 and 19 have been charged in connection with the death and remanded in custody following a court appearance. Police say they are not looking for anyone else over the incident. We can now confirm that the man who died following the disturbance in Clearburn Road on Thursday 21st February was67-year-old Alasdair Forsyth. Three males aged 15,16 and 19 have been charged in connection with his death and were remanded in custody after appearing in court. EdinburghPolice (@EdinburghPolice) February 27, 2019 Detective Inspector Bob Campbell said: Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Forsyth as they come to terms with their loss and our specialist officers will provide them with all the support they need at this time. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident (David Cheskin/PA) The three teenagers charged have now appeared in court in connection with this incident and we are satisfied that we arent looking for anyone further. The family of Mr Forsyth have asked that their privacy be respected at this time. Pakistans air force said it has shot down two Indian warplanes after they crossed the boundary between the two nuclear-armed rivals in the disputed territory of Kashmir, with two Indian pilots being captured. The civil aviation authority in Pakistan later shut all airspace in the country to commercial flights. The dramatic escalation came hours after Pakistan said mortar shells fired by Indian troops from across the frontier dividing the two sectors of Kashmir killed six civilians and wounded several others. Pakistans army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said Pakistani troops on the ground captured the pilots. He added that one of the downed planes crashed in Pakistans part of Kashmir, while the other went down in Indian-controlled section of the Himalayan region. The injured pilot is being treated at a military hospital. Maj Gen Ghafoor said the pilots are being treated well, but made no mention of them being returned to India. He struck a conciliatory tone, saying: We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. Indian air force spokesman Anupam Banerjee in New Delhi said he had no information on Pakistans statement. Indian army soldiers arrive near the wreckage of an Indian aircraft (AP) Earlier, senior Indian police officer Munir Ahmed Khan said an Indian air force plane crashed in Indian-controlled sector of Kashmir and that it was not immediately known if there were casualties. Another police officer, SP Pani, said firefighters were at the site in Budgam area in Indian-controlled Kashmir where the Indian warplane crashed. Eyewitnesses said soldiers fired into the air to keep residents away from the crash site. Indian news reports said airports in the Indian portion of Kashmir closed for civilian traffic shortly after the air force jet crashed. The Press Trust of India news agency said these airports are located at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh. Indian authorities declined to comment. Supporters of a Pakistani religious group Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba condemn what they say is Indian aggression (AP) Indian administrator Baseer Khan confirmed that the airport in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, was closed and said it was a temporary and precautionary measure. The Press Trust of India said two airports in northern Punjab state, which borders Pakistan, were also closed. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said the countrys air force was carrying out air strikes from within Pakistani airspace across the disputed Kashmir boundary, but that this was not in retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Maj Gen Ghafoor said the strikes were aimed at avoiding human loss and collateral damage. According to local Pakistani police official Mohammad Altaf, the six fatalities in the Indian shelling earlier on Wednesday included children. The shells hit the village of Kotli in Pakistans section of Kashmir. The disputed territory is split between Pakistan and India and claimed by both in its entirety. Though Pakistani and Indian troops in Kashmir often trade fire, the latest casualties came a day after tensions escalated sharply following a pre-dawn air strike and incursion by India that New Delhi said targeted a terrorist training camp in north-western Pakistan. Pakistani watch news bulletins on television in Karachi (AP) In Tuesdays strike by India, Pakistan had said that Indian warplanes dropped bombs near the Pakistani town of Balakot, but there were no casualties. Residents on both sides of the de facto frontier, the so-called Line of Control, said there were exchanges of fire between the two sides through the night. In Pakistans part of Kashmir, hundreds of villagers fled border towns. The situation was no different in villages along the Line of Control in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where residents were moving to safer places following the intense exchange of fire, which began on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday. In New Delhi, Indian officials said at least five of their soldiers were wounded in firing by Pakistani troops along the volatile frontier. Indian army spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said Pakistani soldiers targeted dozens of Indian military positions across the Line of Control throughout the night. An Indian military statement said that out of anger and frustration, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation. Kashmiri villagers gather near the wreckage of one of the aircraft (AP) The statement said Indian troops retaliated for effect and claimed to have destroyed five Pakistani posts. It accused Pakistani soldiers of firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shields. Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan is expected to convene the National Command Authority to discuss Islamabads response to the incursions by Indian warplanes. On Wednesday, Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told state-run Pakistan Television he was in touch with his counterparts across the world about the Indian aggression, adding that New Delhi had endangered peace in the region by Tuesdays air strike on Pakistan. Supporters of Indias ruling Bhartiya Janata Party shout slogans as they celebrate reports of Indian aircraft bombing Pakistani territory (AP) In New Delhi, Indias external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said her country does not wish to see further escalation of the situation with Pakistan and that it will continue to act with responsibility and restraint. She said the limited objective of Indias pre-emptive strike inside Pakistan on a terrorist training camp was to act decisively against the terrorist infrastructure of the Jaish-e-Mohammad group. The latest wave of tensions between Pakistan and India first erupted after Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing of a convoy of Indias paramilitary forces in the Indian portion of Kashmir which killed 40 Indian troops on February 14. Pakistan said it was not involved in the attack and was ready to help New Delhi in its investigations. The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane has lost a Supreme Court challenge over the decision not to hold a public inquiry into his killing, but won a declaration that an effective investigation into his death has not been carried out. Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 by loyalists in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state. The 39-year-old was shot 14 times while enjoying Sunday lunch at home with his family. His widow Geraldine claimed the Government unlawfully reneged on a promise to hold a public inquiry into the killing one of the most notorious of the Troubles when former prime minister David Cameron instead ordered an independent review. Pat Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 (PA) An investigation by former UN war crimes prosecutor Sir Desmond de Silva QC found shocking levels of state collusion involving the army, police and MI5, but ruled out an overarching state conspiracy. On Wednesday, just over 30 years on from her husbands murder, the Supreme Court in London ruled that Mrs Finucane had been given an unequivocal undertaking to hold a public inquiry into Mr Finucanes death, but that the change of heart on the part of the government was made in good faith. Giving the judgment of the court, Lord Kerr found that the decision not to hold a public inquiry into the murder was a matter for the Governments political judgment. He also dismissed Mrs Finucanes contention that the decision was predetermined, stating: There is simply no sustainable evidence that the process by which the decision was taken was a sham or that the outcome was predetermined. But the court also ruled that the de Silva review was not compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which required the investigation to be provided with the means where, if they can be, suspects are identified and, if possible, brought to account. Mr Finucanes widow Geraldine claimed the Government unlawfully "reneged" on a promise to hold a public inquiry into his killing (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Lord Kerr declared that there has not been an effective investigation into Mr Finucanes murder, but added: It does not follow that a public inquiry of the type which (Mrs Finucane) seeks must be ordered. It is for the state to decide what form of investigation, if indeed any is now feasible, is required in order to meet that requirement. At a hearing in June, Barry Macdonald QC said Mr Finucane was a victim of a policy of systemic extra-judicial execution that was as cynical and sinister as can be imagined. He told the Supreme Court that loyalist terrorist organisations were infiltrated, resourced and manipulated in order to murder individuals identified by the army and the police as suitable for assassination. Mr Macdonald said this policy was widened to include lawyers such as Mr Finucane, who represented a number of high-profile republicans. He concluded: The police, the army and the security service, MI5, are all implicated in a policy that entailed identifying lawyers with their clients and legitimising them as targets for assassination. He added: In other words, state-sponsored terrorism. Nigerias top opposition candidate has rejected the results of what he called a sham election and said he will be challenging the outcome in court. The statement by Atiku Abubakar was shared by supporters on Wednesday morning, a few hours after the electoral commission declared President Muhammadu Buhari the winner of Saturdays poll by nearly four million votes. Mr Abubakar said he could have conceded within seconds if the vote had been free and fair, but he alleged there had been manifest and premeditated malpractices in many of Nigerias 36 states. President Muhammadu Buhari arrives to speaks with his supporters after the result was declared (AP) His statement asserts that voting was suppressed in Mr Abubakars strongholds in the south and that states where an extremist insurgency continues had generated much higher voter turnouts than in peaceful states. He also objects to the deployment of the military in some areas. Mr Abubakars statement adds that I have never seen our democracy so debased. He did not say when a court challenge would be lodged. Labour MP Chris Williamson has apologised after he suggested the party had given too much ground in its response to complaints of anti-Semitism. The Derby North MP, who had faced a furious backlash over the remarks, said he deeply regretted his choice of words. A personal message and sincere apology from me regarding my recent remarks on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/2qaNCOVqGk Chris Williamson (@DerbyChrisW) February 27, 2019 He issued his apology as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was facing Theresa May at Prime Ministers Questions. Mrs May seized on the issue during the exchanges in the Commons, saying: Perhaps if the Labour leader actually wants to take action against racism he would suspend (Mr Williamson). Labours deputy leader Tom Watson immediately dismissed the MPs apology, saying it was not good enough. He tweeted: Chris Williamson has produced a long-winded and heavily caveated apology. It is not good enough. If it was in my gift I would have removed the whip from him already. Chris Williamson MP (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Chris Williamson has produced a long-winded and heavily caveated apology. It is not good enough. If it was in my gift I would have removed the whip from him already. pic.twitter.com/IuEpDM1Ak2 Tom Watson (@tom_watson) February 27, 2019 Video footage showed the MP telling a meeting of the grassroots Momentum group that Labours reaction to anti-Semitism allegations had been too apologetic and had led to the party being demonised. He had already provoked the partys ire by booking a room in Parliament for the screening of a film about an activist suspended for alleged anti-Semitism, something which a Labour spokesman described as completely inappropriate. The video, obtained by the Yorkshire Post, was recorded at a meeting in Sheffield in the wake of last weeks resignation of eight Labour MPs to join the Independent Group. Mr Williamson was also filmed saying he had celebrated the resignation of MP Joan Ryan, who quit Labour in protest over the handling of anti-Semitism and bullying complaints. Responding to the video on Twitter, Jewish MP Luciana Berger who also quit Labour for the Independent Group said: This is what I have left behind. Its toxic. Our country deserves so much better. #ChangePolitics. This is what I have left behind. Its toxic. Our country deserves so much better. #ChangePolitics https://t.co/a7AZYzeF5z Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) February 26, 2019 In a personal message and sincere apology from me regarding my recent remarks on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Mr Williamson said: The Labour Party is an anti-racist party. It is the only party that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with religious and ethnic minorities in their decades-long fight against racism, discrimination and prejudice in the United Kingdom. On a personal level, I have been an anti-racist all my life. As a former member of the Anti-Nazi League, I participated in direct action to confront foul anti-Semites in the streets. I reject racism ethically and morally. It has no place in the Labour Party or in our country. It pains me greatly, therefore, that anyone should believe that it is my intention to minimise the cancerous and pernicious nature of anti-Semitism. I deeply regret, and apologise for, my recent choice of words when speaking about how the Labour Party has responded to the ongoing fight against anti-Semitism inside of our party. I was trying to stress how much the party has done to tackle anti-Semitism. Our movement can never be too apologetic about racism within our ranks. Whilst it is true that there have been very few cases of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party something I believe is often forgotten when discussing this issue it is also true that those few are too many. It is precisely because of our partys historic struggle against racism that we have taken it upon ourselves to strengthen our rules, to improve our disciplinary procedures and to redouble our efforts to take on anti-Semites. We have held ourselves to a higher standard than any other political party when it comes to anti-racism and rightly so. I am therefore sorry for how I chose to express myself on this issue within our party. This is a fight that I want to be an ally in. In future, I will take it upon myself to be more considered in my remarks, and ensure they reflect the Labour Partys unswerving and unfaltering commitment to anti-racism and the fight against anti-Semitism. Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl rejected Mr Williamsons apology, which she described as half-hearted, and called for Mr Corbyn to remove the whip. She said: Chris Williamson trolls those who oppose anti-Semitism, repeatedly siding with the anti-Semites over the Jews. The two issues reported yesterday were just the latest in a long series of offences. Today we have submitted a formal complaint to the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn must remove the whip at once if he wants to retain the faintest image of himself as an anti-racist. Anything less removes any semblance of leadership and reveals only the most naked moral cowardice. Ruth Smeeth, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, branded Mr Williamson a disgrace and said he needs to go. She told BBC Radio 5 Live: Those views are incompatible with the aims and values of the Labour Party. He has no place in my party. He should leave. I really hope that well see the whip removed today. I think that that is the least that they can do to start salvaging the reputation of the Labour Party on this issue. He is now becoming notorious for Jew-baiting, for saying things which are completely and utterly outrageous, for aligning himself with people who are incredibly offensive. This man consistently puts himself on the side of people who have abhorrent views and who have no place in the Labour Party. He needs to go. Mr Williamson was first elected MP for Derby North in 2010, but was unseated in the 2015 general election. He ran again in 2017, this time receiving a visit from Mr Corbyn during the general election campaign, and won. Mr Williamson was later made a shadow fire and emergency services minister. He left the post by mutual agreement six months later after commenting on policy outside his brief to suggest that council tax should be doubled for better-off homes. Hardline Tory Brexiteers have signalled taking a more flexible stance on demands for legal guarantees limiting the Northern Ireland backstop. Prominent Leave backer Jacob Rees-Mogg indicated he could swing behind the Governments exit deal if binding legal assurances were added to an appendix to the Withdrawal Agreement, rather than put in the treaty itself. The EU has consistently rejected demands from arch-Brexiteers to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement over the Northern Ireland issue. (PA Graphics) The move comes as the Commons was set to clash again over EU withdrawal during a series of votes on Wednesday. MPs are debating Theresa Mays Brexit stance in the wake of the Prime Minister accepting for the first time that the UK may not leave the EU on March 29. Mrs May bowed to pressure from pro-Europe Cabinet members and offered Parliament a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal is rejected again next month. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay (Stefan Rousseau/PA MPs will not get the chance to vote on Mrs Mays withdrawal deal until March, but will be able to table amendments to a neutral Government motion on Brexit on Wednesday. Mr Rees-Mogg, who heads the strongly pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs, told Sky News that legal assurances on the backstop would need to be binding to win support. (PA Graphics) He said: It has to have equal weight to the Withdrawal Agreement. So, if it were to be an appendix that would be satisfactory, but then the backstop is itself an appendix, so you can add to the Withdrawal Agreement without re-opening it, it seems to me. So, that would work, but it must be of equal legal standing. Mr Rees-Mogg insisted most Eurosecptics could not support the deal as it stands as the backstop would mean the UK obeying EU customs rules indefinitely if no wider trade deal has been agreed after a transition period. The prospect of Parliament being able to delay EU withdrawal next month has been described as an option on sanity by the CBI. The business organisations director general Carolyn Fairbairn told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: It is a small step forward to have a mechanism for delay. It feels like an option on sanity, if you like. CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn (John Stilwell/PA) Because, here we are 30 days out from March 29, business is not ready, Government is not ready. It would be a wrecking ball on our economy. So, that is a small step forward. However, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told the BBC: No-deal is still on the table. It will be for Parliament to decide. Ahead of MPs debating the Governments negotiating strategy, the PM issued a plea to back a Brexit deal, telling Parliament to do its duty. Mrs May said she had found a real determination in Brussels to find a way through the deadlock to allow the UK to leave with a deal, and claimed engagement with the European Union had already begun to bear fruit. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mrs May said Parliaments absolute focus should be on working to get a deal and leaving on March 29 and reiterated her opposition to delaying Britains departure. She said: By committing Labour to holding a second referendum, despite promising to implement Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn has shown once again that he cannot be trusted to keep his promises. His cynical political games would take us back to square one. Instead, Parliament should do its duty so that our country can move forward. Mrs May was warned by a ministerial aide that she faces an enormous defeat in the Commons on Wednesday unless she gives in to demands to seek a treaty on citizens rights after Brexit. More than 60 Conservatives are understood to have signed an amendment tabled by Alberto Costa (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) More than 60 Conservatives are understood to have signed an amendment tabled by Alberto Costa calling for a separate agreement with the European Union to protect the rights of expats even if there is a no-deal Brexit. Labour is also supporting the amendment and Mr Costa said it would be a farce if the Government did not back down. He told the Press Association his amendment, which already has support from 130 MPs ranging from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to Tory arch-Eurosceptic Mr Rees-Mogg, would give the Prime Minister a mandate to push for a change with her fellow EU leaders. He said his own job as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Scottish Secretary David Mundell was on the line as a result of his actions. Labour former minister Yvette Cooper will table an amendment seeking to pin the Prime Minister down to her commitment to give MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal falls again. It came after a Government paper revealed that almost a third of the Governments most critical no-deal Brexit preparation projects are not on track for completion in time for the scheduled date of EU withdrawal on March 29. The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane have called for his killing to be properly and publicly investigated in a public inquiry after the UKs highest court ruled that an effective investigation into his death has not been carried out. Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 by loyalists in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state. The 39-year-old was shot 14 times while enjoying Sunday lunch at home with his family. Geraldine Finucane, the widow of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, accompanied by her sons John (right) and Michael (left) speaks with reporters outside the Supreme Court His widow Geraldine claimed the Government had unlawfully reneged on a promise to hold a public inquiry into the killing one of the most notorious of the Troubles when former prime minister David Cameron instead ordered an independent review. The Supreme Court in London ruled on Wednesday that there has been no effective investigation into Mr Finucanes murder, and that previous inquiries had not complied with the Finucane familys human rights. But the court also found that, while Mrs Finucane had been given an unequivocal undertaking that there would be a public inquiry into the murder, the Government was justified in later deciding against holding one. Speaking after the ruling, Mrs Finucane said: This is a historic moment. I stand before you today outside the United Kingdom Supreme Court with one simple message: we won. Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane She added: The British Government now knows that it cannot conceal the truth any longer. They have now been told this by the highest court in the land. It is time for the murder of Pat Finucane to be properly and publicly investigated in a public inquiry. Nothing less will suffice. Mr Finucanes son John said: Today is a very significant victory along the road of our campaign for truth and justice. His brother Michael added: This is no longer just a campaign of moral force. This is now a campaign that has the force of law. It is not an option for the Government to ignore our call for a public inquiry anymore. It should never have been an option, but it is one that they chose to push to its absolute limit. We have reached the limit. Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has vowed to avoid a culture of acceptance on hate crime as a new report showed nearly half of recorded offences took place in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Around a fifth of Scotlands population lives in these cities (21%) but they accounted for 48% of all hate crimes, Police Scotland recorded in 2017/18. Glasgow had the highest rate of hate crimes in that period at 30 crimes per 10,000, followed by Edinburgh at 26, compared to a Scottish average of 12. The Scottish Government report suggested this could relate to a relatively higher level of ethnic diversity, with other factors suggested including greater nightlife, the amount of daily workers, visitors and tourists and the number of demonstrations and large events. The Northern and Western Isles had the lowest rates at under 0.5 hate crimes per 10,000 population. Hate Crime may not always be apparent to victims. If something does not feel right and you think it might be a hate crime report it! Visit our website for more info https://t.co/9DL29PtKQ7 pic.twitter.com/dPUPA9yMmh Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) February 26, 2019 A total of 6,736 crimes were recorded on Police Scotlands hate crime database in 2017/18, the report states. The vast majority 67% were racist, while the second most common target was sexual orientation. A further 7% were based on religion, with 4% victimising those with disabilities and 1% targeting transgender people. These proportions remained relatively consistent between 2014-15 and 2017-18. More than half of all hate crimes the force recorded in 2017/18 were for threatening or abusive behaviour at 45%, with racially aggravated conduct accounting for just under a quarter (23%). A total of 13% of hate crimes were for common assault, 5% were offences relating to the 2003 Communications Act such as such as sending indecent or menacing text messages, and 2% were for serious violence or sexual crimes. Since 2014-15, the number of hate crimes recorded by the police in Scotland has fluctuated between 6,600 and 7,000. Humza Yousaf said hate crimes will not be tolerated in Scotland (Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA) Mr Yousaf, said: We are committed to tackling all forms of bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in Scotland and I welcome the new information in this report. This shows that around two-thirds of hate crimes are race-related, underlining the importance of our on-going efforts to tackle racism wherever it occurs. While the overall volume of hate crime dealt with by the police has remained stable, we also know that many incidents go unreported and we are determined to avoid a culture of acceptance. We all have a role to play in stamping out all forms of prejudice and ensuring Scotland is the inclusive and forward-thinking society that we want to be. Our message to perpetrators is clear this kind of hatred will not be tolerated in Scotland. We will continue to support Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority as they work to develop more detailed information on hate crime. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have exchanged greetings as they kicked off their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two leaders exchanged handshakes, laughs and small talk at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, where they were scheduled to meet for 20 minutes before sitting down for what the White House has described as a social dinner. Mr Trump told reporters of the meeting: We look forward to it, we both do. Asked whether he might formally end the Korean War, he responded: Well see. Mr Trump has made the case that North Korea could thrive economically like Vietnam if the North ends its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Mr Trump said: Well see what happens, but he wants to do something great. President Donald Trump waves a Vietnam flag as he meets with Vietnamese prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Evan Vucci/AP) There has been a carnival-like atmosphere in the Vietnamese capital, with street artists painting likenesses of the leaders and vendors selling T-shirts emblazoned with their faces. It stands in contrast to the serious items on the agenda: North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking earlier to his Vietnamese hosts, Mr Trump said: We have a very big meeting planned tonight as you know, with North Korea, Chairman Kim, and I think it may very well turn out to be very successful. The president hailed Vietnam as a model for North Korea to follow in his remarks to his hosts, saying: If you look at what youve done in a short time, he can do it in a very, very rapid time make North Korea into a great economic power. In a tweet earlier Mr Trump said: Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth. North Korea would be the same, and very quickly, if it would denuclearise. The potential is awesome, a great opportunity, like almost none other in history, for my friend Kim Jong Un. We will know fairly soon Very Interesting! Last years meeting between the two leaders in Singapore was a historic encounter which had followed sustained and personal insults between the pair over Pyongyangs nuclear programme. Donald Trump meets Kim Jong Un in Hanoi (Evan Vucci/AP) With tests halted since the thaw in relations, Mr Trump hopes for more progress on denuclearisation from Mr Kim. Reflecting on Singapore, Mr Trump said: I thought the first summit was a great success and I think this one, hopefully, will be equal or greater than the first. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Kim said he is confident of achieving the great results that everyone will welcome. Scotlands Brexit Secretary has pledged to resist any attempts by Westminster to impose common policy frameworks in the event of the chaos of a no-deal Brexit. Mike Russell insisted that the Scottish Government would not cooperate with such a move. While the Scottish and UK administrations had been in talks to draw up common UK frameworks to cover areas such as food hygiene and animal health and welfare, Mr Russell said discussions on these had effectively been suspended as officials and politicians try to deal with the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. Mr Russell told MSPs on Holyroods Finance and Constitution Committee: Its hard, unless you spend time as I do in Whitehall, to realise how the entire machinery of government has been captured by the issue of no-deal and the chaos that presently exists. Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell. (Jane Barlow/PA) Common frameworks are needed to allow the UKs internal market to continue to operate after Brexit, ensuring companies face the same regulations north and south of the border. But Mr Russell said he had no answer about what would happen if the UK left the European Union on March 29 with no Brexit deal in place and with no frameworks agreed. The Constitutional Relations Secretary said: We would be in a position presumably where the UK Government would attempt to imposeI hope that that would not be the case because we would not cooperate. He stressed the Scottish Government was not opposed to UK-wide frameworks which will replace existing European regulations after Brexit, but said these should be in Scotlands interests. Mr Russell also insisted: These should be negotiated and not imposed and that is the policy we continue to pursue. With no deal yet in place for Brexit, and little prospect of one being agreed, the cabinet secretary said the UK was in a period of flux. He added that he did not believe the issue of common frameworks would be resolved unless and until there is an agreement on an orderly departure, or until Article 50 has been suspended or preferably revoked. Andy Anderson, who played drums for The Cure, has died aged 68 after being diagnosed with cancer, according to his former bandmate. Best known for his short stint in the English rock band, Anderson went on to collaborate with artists including Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop and Mike Oldfield. Anderson died before 6pm at home on Tuesday after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, according to Lol Tolhurst, who played keyboards in the band. It's with a heavy heart, I have to report the passing of a Cure brother. Andy Anderson was A true gentleman and a great musician with a wicked sense of humor which he kept until the end, a testament to his beautiful spirit on the last journey. We are blessed to have known him. Lol Tolhurst (@LolTolhurst) February 26, 2019 On Twitter, Tolhurst described Anderson as a true gentleman and a great musician with a wicked sense of humour which he kept until the end. He added: It is a small measure of solace to learn that he went peacefully at his home. Anderson played on The Cures famous track, The Love Cats, which bucked the Robert Smith-fronted groups reputation for doom-laden sonics in favour of a jaunty beat. Andy Anderson was part of The Cure, fronted by Robert Smith (Yui Mok/PA) A post on Andersons Facebook page from earlier this month said there was no way of returning back from his cancer diagnosis. It said the disease was totally covering the inside of my body but urged fans to be cool, adding that Anderson was totally fine with the situation. The message also confirmed he had asked to not be resuscitated. It read: Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy will be discussed over the next few days, hopefully Ill be able to get back to get to you in the next few days about the outcome, and please, No Boo, Hooing, here, just be positive. For me its just another life Experience and Hurdle, that one has to make yet another Choice in life, be cool, I most definitely am and positive about the situation. Anderson was born Clifford Leon Anderson in West Ham, east London. He joined The Cure in 1983, appearing on the albums Japanese Whispers, The Top, and Concert, as well as the singles The Love Cats and The Caterpillar. A man who spat on a Catholic priest in a disgusting, cowardly and provocative act as an orange walk passed a church has been jailed for 10 months. Father Thomas White was targeted outside St Alphonsus Church in London Road, Glasgow, on July 7 last year, when he was speaking to parishioners. Bradley Wallace, 24, from Uddingston in South Lanarkshire, admitted assaulting Father White a charge aggravated by religious prejudice when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court last month. He was ordered to spend 10 months behind bars when he returned to the court for sentencing on Wednesday. The court was told that Wallace, who was intoxicated with alcohol that day, accepts that his behaviour was utterly reprehensible and quite frankly disgusting. Passing sentence, Sheriff Andrew Cubie said: This is about the courts reflecting disapproval of the depressingly still deep-seated and widespread social issue of sectarianism which generates at the very least tension and at worst both hatred and conflict, and which disfigures civilised society. Bradley Wallace, 24, was jailed for 10 months (Jane Barlow/PA) The courts in Scotland still deal all too frequently with cases of sectarian abuse which serve to harden and perpetuate divisions in society. He also told the offender: In my view, this entire incident was not so much aggravated by as entirely motivated by, religious prejudice. The court heard how the assault happened amid a grotesque spectacle as the clergyman sought sanctuary in his own church to avoid the behaviour of a crowd outside, but he was unable to return to the building. Father White was in his clerical garb at the time, following a church service. Wallace was arrested days after the incident and the court heard that DNA tests confirmed his guilt. The attack on a respected member of the local community drew widespread condemnation, including from cross-party politicians, at the time. Sheriff Cubie told Wallace: You could have acted with restraint but rather, no doubt emboldened by (and thinking that you were under the cover of) this aggressive and threatening crowd, you took the decision to spit on the priest, an act which is disgusting, cowardly and provocative, which demonstrates contempt and hostility and is designed to humiliate and demean. The whole situation must have been, as you recognise, very frightening for the complainer and those around him. Sheriff Cubie said the social context in which the offence happened could not be overlooked. He told Wallace: You are at an age when you must realise that such behaviour serves to maintain the sectarian divide. How could any 24-year-old from Scotland not know that it is wrong to peddle sectarianism? It is no doubt partly because of the echo chamber effect of much social media, where your loyalties are displayed and perhaps your motivation identified. Defence lawyer John Coogan told the court on Wednesday: Bradley Wallace properly acknowledges that this offence is utterly reprehensible and, quite frankly, disgusting. He said the accused, who had consumed alcohol to excess that day, recognises the impact his actions have had on the priest and the wider public. Wallace has also been seeking a meeting in which he can apologise directly to Father White, the court was told. The sheriff said a custodial term was the only appropriate sentence in the case and the 10-month sentence he imposed was reduced from a possible 15-month term to take account of Wallaces early guilty plea. Sheriff Cubie told the court: Those tempted to act in a sectarian way must understand societys repugnance of and weariness of that kind of behaviour and must expect to be dealt with accordingly. An Irish government committee has heard that there will be a number of potential legal issues following a no-deal Brexit despite contingency plans. The committee discussed at length The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019, which proposes legislative action Ireland could take under a range of scenarios, including a no-deal Brexit. Irish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said on Wednesday: I have to concede that in a no-deal crash scenario there will be a number of potential problems. The entire regime may be regarded as less than satisfactory, so we must ensure that contingency is in place, in so far as they can be. Ultimately, the certainty will only be evident when an agreement is reached between the EU and UK, in respect of future relationship arrangements. Obviously while the EU have been a negotiating party, there have been certain areas in terms of our relationship with the UK that we need to discuss. We have set forward proposals but there have been, and continue to be, instances where we have to fall back on older legislation, less modern and potentially more challenging. But what were putting forward in the Bill is urgent areas which are likely to prove immediately challenging, and as time passes well continue discussions under the EU umbrella. Mr Flanagan said the common travel area would continue (Brian Lawless/PA) Our objectives and the UK are broadly similar, ensuring protection of our people and the legal framework that existed between our countries will continue, notwithstanding withdrawal of UK from EU instruments. The minister told the committee that the biggest issues facing legislation post-Brexit will be immigration and extradition. To avoid those arrested on a European Arrest warrant being released at 11pm on March 29, the government will enact an older convention measure, and then plans to further legislate for a new agreement between the two states in the future. The Bill provides for two amendments of the Extradition Act, to ensure effective extradition arrangements are maintained between Ireland and the UK, the minister said. The optimal solution is to apply the 1957 Council of Europe Convention on extradition to which both Ireland and UK are party to extradition arrangements. While the procedure is not as effective or as efficient as an EU arrest warrant, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it will provide a workable solution. The intention would then be to legislate for an extradition arrangement with the UK similar to the EU warrant. It was also noted that UK citizens wishing to join the Irish police force An Garda Siochana, was dependent on EU membership, and regulations will need to be amended to allow for recruitment to continue. The minister added he hoped to have that done at an early stage. Citizenship rights were also raised by a number of representatives. Mr Flanagan assured them that the common travel area will remain. The common travel area will continue, and that includes in a no-deal scenario, the British government and ourselves have confirmed that neither Irish citizens in the UK or British citizens in Ireland will be required to take any action to protect their status or rights. All of the current arrangements will continue and of course the guarantees under the Good Friday Agreement. Huddersfield defender Terence Kongolo kept his emotions in check after his sides last-gasp win over Wolves halted their wretched Premier League run. Steve Mounie struck in the first minute of added time as Huddersfield clinched their first victory in three months, having registered just one point from their previous 14 matches. We did well. We fought until the end and now we finally have some (more) points, Kongolo said. Im happy for everyone. Everyone is fighting, so on to the next game. Its good for the confidence. But we have to take this to the next game. We have to stay focused. This game is over, we must focus on the next one. The Terriers travel to Brighton on Saturday 11 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table and the Holland international refused to be drawn on whether they can pull off a Great Escape. Terence Kongolo, right, was a commanding presence at the back for Huddersfield against Wolves (Martin Rickett/PA) Game after game we will look. We dont look too far, he said. This (win) is nice. Everyone is happy, the fans, the staff, everyone, so it was good to see. The supporters lift us every week, even when we lose. They are always with us and Im happy about that. Its very positive. But we have to keep this going and the next game we have to try and do the same. Kongolo was delighted for manager Jan Siewert, who had lost his first four games in charge after replacing David Wagner in January. Im happy for him that he has his first win, Kongolo added. Im happy for the new manager that he got these points at the John Smiths Stadium and lets hope in our next game away he can get some more points. Huddersfields previous win, on November 25, was against Wolves at Molineux. Wolves defender Ryan Bennett said Huddersfield deserved to win that day, but felt they were lucky to snatch all three points on Tuesday night. The first game we played them they played well. We came away from it thinking theyd outplayed us, Bennett was quoted on the clubs official website. (Here) was a different story, it was sloppy from both teams, it couldnt have been a good game to watch, it felt like that. Wolves missed the chance to climb seventh after their five-game unbeaten run was ended. We werent at the races and we know that, its something to work on, Bennett added. It was one of those games where, if youre not going to win, you hold out and unfortunately we didnt do that. Brexit will begin with a whimper, not a bang, an MP has said, with no official ceremonies planned for exit day on March 29. No street parties, EU flag-lowering ceremonies or bongs from Big Ben have been planned, the Government has confirmed to the SNPs Patrick Grady. The news came after Theresa May abandoned her refusal to countenance any delay to Brexit with confirmation that she will hold a vote for a short extension if votes on her deal and no deal fail. Despite the Prime Ministers claim of healing the divisions caused by the EU referendum, Mr Grady said the only people likely to be celebrating on departure day were European Reform Group (ERG) members, the arch-Brexiteers led by Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. It seems if Brexit does actually happen on March 29 this year, it will be a with a whimper, not a bang, said Mr Grady. There will be very little to celebrate when or if Brexit day finally arrives, but the news that there are no flag-lowering or any other official ceremonies planned will perhaps disappoint Brexiteers who are convinced a glorious new era of splendid isolation awaits the UK. There may be some champagne supped by elite members of the ERG, but I doubt there will be parties or rejoicing on the streets of towns and cities across the UK if the country crashes out with no deal, or even a version of the woeful deal negotiated by the PM. Jacob Rees-Mogg (The Spectator/PA) Responding to a series of parliamentary questions, culture minister Michael Ellis ruled out funding for communities to hold Brexit festivals, street parties or other events. There are no plans to make funding available for such events, he said. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom confirmed there are no plans for MPs to mark Brexit in the Commons on March 29 or 30. She said: There are currently no plans for the House to sit on either March 29 or 30. Any changes to the sitting hours of the House would need to be agreed by the House in the usual way. (PA Graphics) Cabinet Office minister David Lidington confirmed Parliaments famous bell Big Ben would not be ringing, as it does for the new year and other special occasions. There are currently no arrangements for Big Ben to chime to mark the UKs departure from the EU, he said. Mr Lidington also confirmed there were no plans for any ceremony involving the lowering of EU flags in or around Parliament Square He said: We have no plans to seek to lower the EU flag on leaving the European Union, as it is already the case that the EU flag is not flown in Westminster or Whitehall. The only official plans to mark the occasion appear to be the creation of a new 50p coin by the Royal Mint. Patrick Grady (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Grady said: Perhaps the real reason there are no plans for March 29 is because the Tory Government have known for some time that the date is completely unrealistic. The House of Commons has already ruled out no deal, and the Prime Minister has now conceded that it will need to have a formal opportunity to extend Article 50. Any extension period should include a Peoples Vote so that now the true cost of Brexit is clear, people can choose to keep the deal we already have by remaining a member of the EU. New Roman graffiti has been discovered by experts recording carvings which were made centuries ago by soldiers quarrying stone to repair Hadrians Wall. Inscriptions left by the Roman army at the remains of a quarry at Gelt Woods in Cumbria are being recorded before they are lost forever as a result of erosion of the soft sandstone in which they were made. Archaeologists from Newcastle University are descending 30ft (9m) down the quarry face to record the written rock of Gelt, in a project funded by government agency Historic England. The carvings are at risk of being lost to erosion (Historic England/PA) Carvings on the rock face include a caricature of the commanding officer in charge of the quarrying and an inscription dating to 207AD, a period when Hadrians Wall had a major repair and renewal programme. The experts now say they have uncovered new graffiti while carefully clearing vegetation off the rock to record the inscriptions, including a phallus which would have been a general good luck symbol to the Romans who carved it. A shallow relief of a left-facing bust, new writing and lettering which was thought to have been lost to erosion were also uncovered on the first day of surveying of the site. The archaeologists have to descend 30ft down the quarry face to record the inscriptions (Historic England/PA) The markings were first discovered in the 18th century, but have suffered in recent years from the gradual erosion of the sandstone into which they were cut, prompting the decision to record them. The site is one of a handful of Roman quarries in England to feature these kind of carvings, and the information is important because it gives the names of men, and in some cases their rank and military unit. One carving which refers to the consulate of Aper and Maximus can be dated to 207AD and offers proof of rebuilding and repair work to the Roman frontier in the early 3rd century. The difficult terrain that archaeologists faced (Historic England /PA) The collapse of a path up to the site in the 1980s put a halt to the public being able to view the inscriptions, so the project will make a 3D record of the graffiti for people to be able to see them. In order to record the carvings, the archaeologists from Newcastle University are working with rock climbing specialists to gain access to the graffiti on a system of ropes and pulleys. They are using an imaging technique known as structure from motion photogrammetry to produce a 3D record of the writings for the public, and to help them better understand the condition the markings are in. Roman quarry inscription which was reached by abseiling from above (Historic England/PA) Mike Collins, inspector of ancient monuments for Hadrians Wall at Historic England, said: These inscriptions at Gelt Forest are probably the most important on the Hadrians Wall frontier. They provide insight into the organisation of the vast construction project that Hadrians Wall was, as well as some very human and personal touches, such as the caricature of their commanding officer inscribed by one group of soldiers. Ian Haynes, professor of archaeology at Newcastle University, said: These inscriptions are very vulnerable to further gradual decay. This is a great opportunity to record them as they are in 2019, using the best modern technology to safeguard the ability to study them into the future. Venezuelas foreign minister has floated the idea of talks between President Nicolas Maduro and US President Donald Trump to seek common ground over his countrys escalating crisis. Jorge Arreaza told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday: Were calling for dialogue, dialogue with the United States why not between Presidents Maduro and Trump? Why shouldnt they meet so that they could try to find common ground and explain their differences? Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro (Boris Vergara/AP) He also called for dialogue between Venezuelan citizens. Mr Arreaza spent much of a speech to the top UN human rights body denouncing what he called US aggression against his country. The US and over 50 other countries have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas interim president. Mr Trump is in Vietnam for a summit meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Three new routes connecting Scotland and the south east of England have been announced by the airline Loganair. The services will connect Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis to London Southend Airport in Essex from May onwards. Operators said the Western Isles route is the first direct service from a Scottish island airport to the UK capital. Loganair said the plan, will significantly increase Scotlands overall connectivity with London. Aberdeen and Glasgow will have three non-stop flights each way every weekday, together with a selection of weekend services. Flights connecting Stornoway and the south east will run on every day of the week except Saturday. Loganair has unveiled three new routes in an out of Scotland (Roddy Scott/PA) Aberdeen flights will start on May 12 and the Glasgow and Stornoway services are scheduled to begin on May 28. Loganair said the announcement comes after it reached an agreement with Stobart Group, the owners and operators of the London airport. Loganairs managing director Jonathan Hinkles said: Were incredibly excited to be offering the first new routes between London and Scotland in many years, linking three Scottish airports to London Southend. These new fast and frequent flights to Londons favourite airport, together with our inclusive checked baggage allowance and on-board service, make this a hugely significant development for both Scotland-London air links and Loganair itself. Were already looking at adding Edinburgh to this portfolio of London routes later in the year. Its also a great honour to launch the first ever island air service direct to London, a huge boost to Stornoways overall connectivity. Stobart Aviation chief executive Glyn Jones said: All of us at London Southend Airport look forward to welcoming Loganair as our newest airline in May, when these flights begin. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. The Irish premier has urged Theresa May to do the honourable thing and hold a public inquiry into the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane. The Supreme Court in London ruled on Wednesday that there has been no effective investigation into Mr Finucanes murder and that previous inquiries had not complied with the Finucane familys human rights. Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 by loyalists in an attack which an official report later concluded had involved collusion with the UK state. The 39-year-old was shot 14 times while enjoying Sunday lunch at home with his family. Mrs Finucane claimed the Government unlawfully reneged on a promise to hold a public inquiry into the killing one of the most notorious of the Troubles when former prime minister David Cameron instead ordered an independent review by former war crimes lawyer Sir Desmond de Silva QC. His review concluded that there had been collusion between the killers and the state and Mr Cameron later apologised. Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane (Handout/PA) During Leaders Questions on Wednesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was asked by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald whether he would ask his UK counterpart to hold an inquiry to address what she labelled one of the many broken commitments of the peace process. Mr Varadkar hailed the family of Mr Finucane. I never had the opportunity to meet Pat Finucane, but Ive read about him, I know he was an honourable man, a lawyer and human rights activist long before people even used that term. I had the opportunity in recent weeks to meet with Geraldine Finucane and her family, Mr Varadkar said. Geraldine made a real impression on me, particularly her dignity and steely resilience seeking justice and truth for three decades now. Mr Varadkar said: The position of the Irish government is that the British government should now honour its commitment to now carry out a public inquiry in accordance with the inquiries act, into the murder of Pat Finucane. The British Government should keep the promise made by Prime Minister Cameron back in Weston Park in 2001 (Mr Varadkar later corrected the record that this was Tony Blair), and accept the judgment made by the Supreme Court today. It is the honourable thing to do, the right thing to do, and I believe the British government should do that. I will certainly be raising it in my meetings with the Prime Minister. He concluded his answer by stating: I will be pressing my counterpart Theresa May to honour the commitment made by her forebear. The Supreme Court ruled that the de Silva review was not compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which required the investigation to be provided with the means where, if they can be, suspects are identified and, if possible, brought to account. But the court also found that, while Mrs Finucane had been given an unequivocal undertaking that there would be a public inquiry into the murder, the UK Government was justified in later deciding against holding one. Three brothers who funnelled drug money into family bank accounts to pay for luxury cars and pay off their mortgages have been ordered to pay back 1.3 million. Sakander Riaz was jailed for 13 and a half years in 2016 for his part in the major importation of heroin to the UK from Pakistan. His brothers, Asif and Saqib Riaz, were also jailed for five and four years, respectively, for passing crime profits through their bank accounts. They were able to make significant renovations to the family home and officers from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) discovered photos on Saqibs mobile phone showed an overseas villa under construction. A judge at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday ordered the fraudsters to repay 1.3 million or face more jail time. Thousands of pounds were recovered at the family home (West Midlands Police/PA) West Midlands Police said 80,000 in cash had been found during a search at the family home. The brothers must repay 400,000 in the next three months or Sakander, Asif and Saqib, of Belchers Lane in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, will spend an extra 36, 18 and four months, respectively, in prison. The force added that the rest of the debt will hang over them for life and police can seize any cash or assets they accrue in the future. ROCU Detective Chief Inspector Ronan Tyrer said: Around 500,000 was paid into the family bank accounts despite them having not declared income. They were making high-end purchases, extending their home and making major improvements and all funded through drug money and others suffering. Its important that police go after offenders even after they have been convicted in order to recoup any ill-gotten gains and illustrate our determination that crime doesnt pay. Mr Tyrer added: The money recovered through POCA (the Proceeds of Crime Act) is used to pay for crime prevention and crime-fighting schemes, plus local community projects. Hundreds of children may have been born to foreign fighters who fled Britain to join Islamic State, the Home Secretary has suggested. Sajid Javid said females account for a significant proportion of around 900 individuals who left the UK to travel to territory held by extremist groups in Syria and Iraq. Some may have taken their offspring with them, he said, while others may have had children whilst overseas. We are now live, taking evidence from the Home Secretary @sajidjavid and the Permanent Secretary @PhilipRutnam at the Home Office. Watch the session here: https://t.co/glCFKi1zs7 pic.twitter.com/600AB5c8j1 Home Affairs Committee (@CommonsHomeAffs) February 27, 2019 Mr Javid confirmed that a child born to a British-born mother anywhere in the world is also British, so long as the woman was British at the time of the birth. His remarks came as he was quizzed by MPs about the case of Shamima Begum, who left east London to join IS also known as Daesh in 2015. Earlier this month, she declared that she wanted to come back to the UK with her child. Home Secretary Sajid Javid was asked about his power to revoke British citizenship (Dominic Lipinski/PA) But in an effort to block her return, Mr Javid stripped Ms Begum of her British citizenship. The Home Secretary said he had taken the childs interests into account when making the decision. While repeatedly declining to address the specific case, he told the Commons Home Affairs committee: I can confirm that if you are a British-born mother and you have a child anywhere in the world, that child, so long as you are British at the point that child is born, is British. Asked whether there was any plan for Ms Begums son, Mr Javid said: Sadly, there are probably many hundreds of children that have been born to foreign fighters. As I mentioned, 900 people have gone out, we dont have a breakdown between men and women, but a significant proportion have been female foreign fighters. Some of them may have taken children with them, and many of them would have had children out there whilst in Syria and working with Daesh. He said it would be incredibly difficult to facilitate the return of a child from Syria. If its possible somehow for a British child to be brought to a place where there is a British consular presence, Turkey for example, in those circumstances I guess potentially it is possible to arrange some sort of help with the consent of the parent, Mr Javid told the committee. But inside Syria, there is no British consular presence. The 900 figure relates to the estimated number of people of national security concern who travelled from the UK to engage in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Of those, approximately 20% have been killed overseas, while around 40% have returned to the UK. A significant proportion of returnees are assessed as no longer being of a security concern, according to the Home Office. Mr Javid hit back at suggestions his decision to revoke Ms Begums citizenship was politically motivated. He said: This power has been used by successive home secretaries and governments of different political persuasions. These decisions are never political in any way. Its all about the job the Home Secretary has to protect the British public. This is not some sort of new national security tool that I just invented or just rolled out. It goes back over 100 years. He also denied he was attempting to export a problem created in Britain. It is thought the decision was made in the belief Ms Begum qualifies for Bangladeshi citizenship, but authorities there have said they will not allow her into the country. The British Nationality Act 1981 provides the Home Secretary with the power to strip someone of their citizenship if they are satisfied such action is conducive to the public good. Mr Javid acknowledged that it might be a blunt tool, adding: It should only be used in the most exceptional circumstances and cannot be used lightly. He said many people with similar heritage to mine have absolutely supported his decision. He added: No-one in the British Muslim community, and I include myself in that, wants to see people taking the name of their great peaceful religion and twisting it for their own wicked means. A nationwide scheme has been launched to help stamp out prejudice and discrimination in Scotlands schools. A new award to recognise efforts of schools in promoting inclusion and diversity has been developed by young people, supported by Action for Children. The Inclusion and Diversity Charter Mark will be piloted in Edinburgh before being rolled out across the country. The mark will help schools examine policy, practice and legal obligations on equality for all young people and the charity has created equality indicators for schools so they can mark progress towards recognition. Pupils will be encouraged to share experiences with each other and help teach the next generation of youngsters to reject prejudice and discrimination. Labours Anas Sarwar, chairman of the Scottish Parliaments Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia, attended the launch at Broughton High School in Edinburgh. A new scheme has been launched to promote inclusion and diversity in Scotlands schools (David Jones/PA) The MSP said: Everyday racism can be found in our classrooms and playgrounds across the country, and too many young people in Scotland face bullying and discrimination. Teachers play a vital role in changing this culture, but the best lessons for children often come from fellow children, building confidence and better understanding. This Charter Mark focuses on pupil-led education and the real-life experiences of pupils, providing support to the next generation so that together we can build a Scotland free of prejudice and discrimination. Great morning at @BroHighOfficial as we launch our @AFCHeritageIncl 'Charter Mark' with @AnasSarwar. The 'Charter Mark' is a recognition for schools for their efforts in tackling discrimination and prejudice. pic.twitter.com/COnlmWgOyN Action for Children Scotland (@Actn4ChildrScot) February 27, 2019 One of the pupils involved in developing the new award, Toqa Abdel Motalab, 16, from Edinburgh, said she felt our voices were being heard. She added: It was such a special day to think that my work, my experiences and my dedication was going to help other young people who suffer from isolation and racism in Scotland. Action for Children Scotland director Paul Carberry said: We are very proud to be launching the Inclusion and Diversity Charter Mark with some of the young people behind creating it. We believe this pupil-led award will encourage schools to further develop social justice and inclusion for Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) young people while promoting equality and anti-racist education. Furthermore, it will demonstrate to all BAME young people that their school includes and supports them to identify their rights and provides understanding and support to their individual needs. Our vision is for schools across Scotland to achieve accreditation against the Inclusion and Diversity Charter Mark for their commitment to promoting the inclusion and identity of all young people. YouTube is under increased pressure to follow Facebook in banning activist Tommy Robinson from its service, the last mainstream platform the former EDL leader is able to use. On Tuesday, Facebook took the decision to permanently ban Mr Robinson across its social network and Instagram for posting in ways that violate our policies around organised hate, the company said. The activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is already banned on Twitter, leaving Google-owned YouTube as the last big online space that the 36-year-old is able to post on, where he has more than 300,000 subscribers to his channel. I believe YouTube should also ban Tommy Robinson from their platform, said MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. His YouTube channel has hundreds of thousands of followers and includes films viewed by millions of people. Far-right groups are exploiting social media to spread their messages of hate, and the YouTube next up feature helps them by directing viewers to even more of this content once, as soon as, they start to engage with it. YouTube operates a hate speech policy which removes content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on attributes including religion, race, immigration status or nationality. Facebook said the content Mr Robinson posted called for violence targeted at Muslims. It is understood that the videos posted on his YouTube channel are different and do not currently breach its own hate speech rules. YouTube also uses strikes, giving offending users a warning and removing the specific video, before going into a three-strike process that eventually leads to the channel being terminated if policies are repeatedly violated. YouTube (John Stillwell/PA) Following Facebooks decision, Stephen Lennon (Tommy Robinson) is only able to spew his anti-Muslim hate on YouTube and Gab, said Matthew McGregor, campaigns director of advocacy group Hope not Hate. Is YouTube really happy to be in that company? Lennon has shown time and again that he will use any platform he can to engage in hate speech, whipping his supporters up. Its past time YouTube acted. A spokeswoman for Momentum, the grassroots movement supportive of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party, said: YouTube has dragged their feet for far too long, and they should follow Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by banning Tommy Robinson from the platform. Robinsons supporters have rallied behind the activist on social media, saying his banning on Facebook and Instagram goes against the right to free speech. Reacting to the move on Tuesday, Mr Robinson claimed the corrupt media and the establishment were trying to silence any opposition to their globalist plans. Ive breached no laws of Facebook, everyone is going to know that Ive breached no rules, what Ive done is shown people the truth and that is what they are removing, the truth. People will still find me, he said. In January, YouTube suspended adverts on Mr Robinsons channel for posting material around controversial issues and sensitive events that breach the sites advertising guidelines, effectively cutting off one of his revenue streams. He is already banned on Twitter and PayPal. Former US vice president Joe Biden has said his family, including his grandchildren, are encouraging him to launch a White House bid. Theres a consensus, Mr Biden told an excited crowd during an appearance at the University of Delaware. The most important people in my life want me to run. The veteran campaigner who served as Barack Obamas vice-president did not explicitly say he was running. Former US vice-president Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA) In fact, the 76-year-old lifelong politician conceded he may not be popular enough to win over the Democratic Party of 2020. Yet roughly 10 months before the first primary votes are cast, Mr Biden sent an unmistakable message to prospective rivals and voters alike that the already-crowded Democratic field is far from set. Should he run, he would instantly become a front-runner, the best-known option for primary voters and perhaps the best-respected by elected officials and donors, who in many cases have a decades-long relationship with the longtime Democratic leader. Mr Bidens potential rivals had little to say publicly about his latest comments on potentially joining the field, but in private, their camps conceded that he would be a political force who could scramble the evolving field. Mr Biden could erode Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders popularity with working-class voters in the Midwest, California Senator Kamala Harris standing with African-American voters in South Carolina and New York billionaire Michael Bloombergs claim to the political centre. Uncle Joe is absolutely beloved within the Democratic Party and for good reason, said Zac Petkanas, an aide to former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. However, this isnt a popularity contest. Not only is he going to have to prove hes got fresh, bold ideas, but that hes tough enough to stand up to (Donald) Trump. While he would be the oldest US president ever elected, toughness has never been an issue for Mr Biden, a native of working-class Pennsylvania, who suggested last year that he would beat the hell out of President Donald Trump for his comments about women if the two were in high school. It is unclear, however, if Mr Bidens profile, politics and policies are in line with todays liberal base, a relatively small slice of the electorate that holds outsized sway in presidential primary elections. Air Force One (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Biden would stand out as an old white man just months after Democratic voters sent the most diverse class to Congress in history. He would also be viewed as an establishment-minded moderate unwilling to wholly embrace litmus test issues like free universal health care, free college and the so-called Green New Deal. He is the biggest, best-known candidate in the race, said veteran Democratic strategist Gary Pearce. Personally, I have mixed feelings. Joe Biden said he would `beat the hell out of Donald Trump over his remarks about women (Niall Carson/PA) For all the respect I have for him, I dont know if hes the right thing for the Democratic Party right now. Still, Trump allies have long considered Mr Biden among the most formidable possible general election opponents given his working-class appeal. Despite more than four decades in Washington, most of it as a Delaware senator, he has long played up his upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr Biden also has far more international experience than his would-be Democratic opponents and the president. At a global security conference in Germany this month, he told an international audience that a US leader stands up to the aggression of dictators. Yet he has struggled to develop a strong base of political support in two previous presidential runs. An image of teenage IS bride Shamima Begum has been used for a target at a childrens shooting range alongside others depicting Donald Trump and Justin Bieber. The target, designed by the Ultimate Airsoft Range in Wallasey, Wirral, received a record number of requests from customers, who would shoot at the target with BB guns. The company deleted a video posted on Twitter showing printed copies of the target accompanied by the hashtag no remorse, following a backlash from social media users. A UK shooting range is defending using images of Shamima Begum as target practice because of a record number of requests from its customers. It allows people to have some light-hearted fun bringing out the inner child in all theyve told @VictoriaLIVE. pic.twitter.com/fJgbKw5ST3 Catrin Nye (@CatrinNye) February 27, 2019 Photographs showing bullet holes around Begums face on the target also circulated online. The Ultimate Airsoft Range told the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme that the range was intended for people to learn the importance and safety of handling weapons, while having fun. Our targets provide some fantastic reactions and conversations bringing out the inner child in all, a spokesman said. Shamima Begum fled the UK to join IS (Laura Lean/PA) The guns were available for use by children as young as six. The spokesman also said: The targets we provide do not necessarily always reflect our personal opinions, stating that Ultimate Airsoft Range LTD does not condone terrorism. After watching footage of Shamima Begum being interviewed and the lack of remorse and empathy she shows, we chose to go ahead and run the targets, he added. One user tweeted: An airsoft shooting range in the UK is using pictures of Shamima Begum as target practice. I am genuinely disgusted that this was even allowed to happen. Other target images include Margaret Thatcher, Jose Mourinho, Theresa May and Kim Jong Un. Angela Eagle, the MP for Wallasey, disagreed with the idea of real faces being used as targets saying it could be misinterpreted. They shouldnt be using living people as targets especially as six-year-olds might be playing, she added. The establishment offers the airsoft rifles and pistols to shoot at the image alongside other targets, with packages starting at 7. Airsoft guns, more commonly known as BB guns, enable replica weapons to fire 6mm plastic BB bullets. Begum, who left her east London home to join IS in Syria in 2015, wants to return to the UK for the sake of her newborn third child, but has been stripped of her British citizenship. Ultimate Airsoft Range did not respond when asked to comment by the Press Association. The UK Government cannot make changes to Northern Irelands abortion laws, a parliamentary committee has heard. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley said she did not have the power to enforce legislative changes to the regions strict laws because the Northern Ireland institutions were not suspended, even though they have not functioned in two years. They exist. They could come into being tomorrow if the parties chose that they wish to go back into powersharing, she said. Because of that, I, as Secretary of State, have no executive powers to direct the civil servants, the officials in Northern Ireland. Ms Bradley was giving evidence to the Commons Women and Equalities Committee about abortion law in Northern Ireland alongside women and equalities minister Penny Mordaunt. The UK Cabinet ministers were questioned about breaches of womens human rights as a result of the law, and other evidence heard during the inquiry so far. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Ms Bradley said she understood that people were frustrated by the situation but she said it was the reality of the legal position. We have not had a declaration of incompatibility (with human rights) in a court judgment and, therefore, there is no obligation on the UK Government or the UK Parliament to take action that makes sure we comply as the body that is responsible for upholding human rights. She added that she was focused on the restoration of the devolved institutions, which she described as the most appropriate way to bring about change to the laws. An abortion is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a womans life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her physical and mental health. The 1967 Abortion Act, which governs the rest of the UK, was not extended to Northern Ireland. Two stars of Channel 4s Derry Girls delivered a 60,000-strong petition to the Secretary of State on Tuesday demanding the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland. Nicola Coughlan, who plays Clare Devlin, and Siobhan McSweeney, who plays Sister Michael, joined 26 other women in a march at Westminster. The campaign, organised by Amnesty UK, is calling on the UK Government to intervene and change the law in the region in the absence of ministers at Stormont. Maura McCallion, of the Office of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, told the committee that it was the Attorney Generals view that no action was required at the moment. Our law is different from what it was in the Republic of Ireland before laws were changed there, Ms McCallion said. Our law does allow for people to have an abortion when their life is at risk, so it shouldnt be that someones life is at risk because an abortions not been offered to them. But the committee heard that if the law was clear then Cabinet minsters would not be before a committee in Westminster discussing the matter. Ms Mordaunt said it was absolutely clear that even with the law allowing for services in certain circumstances, that womens lives are being put at risk. Were really talking about what constitutes good care in my limited experience, women dont choose to have these procedures without compelling reasons. She added that if women do access services, they should receive the best care possible. This is about a duty of care we have to the citizens of our country, she said. Ms Mordaunt said she believed there was something wrong when a 12-year-old rape victim from Northern Ireland has to travel to Liverpool for a termination and has to be accompanied by police officers in order to gain DNA evidence, as in the recent case of a young girl. She added that typically if there were failings in hospital care in a devolved country, that systems would kick in to rectify the matter, but she said because this is not regulated as a healthcare issue, its regulated as a criminal issue, those things do not kick in. Frances President Emmanuel Macron has said the UK needs a good reason to seek a delay of its scheduled March 29 departure from the European Union. Speaking in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on Wednesday, Mr Macron reiterated that the withdrawal agreement cannot be renegotiated. Any delay request would need to be justified by a clear perspective on the goal, he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a press conference (Gonzalo Fuentes/AP) We dont need time, we need decisions. Mrs Merkel said that Germany and France agree completely that the already-negotiated withdrawal agreement stands. If Britain needs a bit more time, we will not refuse that, but we are aiming for an orderly solution, an orderly withdrawal by the British from the European Union, she said. Irish premier Leo Varadkar has urged the Britsh Government to honour its commitment to hold a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 by loyalists in an attack judged by an official report to have involved collusion with the UK state. The Supreme Court in London ruled on Wednesday that there had been no effective investigation into Mr Finucanes murder and previous inquiries had not complied with the Finucane familys human rights. Judgment has been handed down this morning in the case of In the matter of an application by Geraldine Finucane for Judicial Review UKSC 2017/0058 https://t.co/9CUvTVfOAP UK Supreme Court (@UKSupremeCourt) February 27, 2019 Following the judgment, Mr Varadkar said holding a full inquiry into the killing one of the most notorious of the Troubles is the right thing to do, and the honourable thing to do. He added that he would certainly be raising it in my meetings with Prime Minister Theresa May. During Leaders Questions on Wednesday, the Taoiseach was asked by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald whether he would press the UK Government to uphold one of the many broken commitments of the peace process. Leo Varadkar (Finbarr ORourke/PA) Mr Varadkar responded: The position of the Irish Government is that the British Government should now honour its commitment to now carry out a public inquiry, in accordance with the Inquiries Act, into the murder of Pat Finucane. I will be pressing my counterpart Theresa May to honour the commitment made by her forebear. In the light of the judgment in the UK Supreme Court and the British Governments political commitments made in 2001, a Public Inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane must be established Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) February 27, 2019 An official statement from the Taoiseachs office said an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane should be established, in line with the political commitments made by the British and Irish governments at Weston Park in 2001. Mrs Mays official spokesman said after the ruling: We recognise the suffering of Mrs Finucane caused by the appalling murder of her husband. In 2012, the then prime minister apologised for the collusion which took place and which should never have happened. In relation to the Supreme Court, we are considering that judgment. We will consider it in detail before determining our next steps. The spokesman added that the judgment makes it clear that it is for the state to decide what form of investigation, if indeed any is now feasible, is required in order to meet the investigative requirements. Ms McDonald called the judgment a watershed moment in the campaign for truth and justice. Finucane judgement a watershed moment in campaign for access to truth and justice - @MaryLouMcDonald https://t.co/N55d6uy3SV pic.twitter.com/I1E7yW3bdT Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) February 27, 2019 The withholding of information on the part of the British Government and the disregard shown to victims in the courts is a feature of many other cases also this must stop, she said. At Weston Park in 2001, the British Government agreed to a public inquiry into Pats murder. That has not yet happened. The British Government should now immediately fulfil its obligation to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane. In its judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that Mrs Finucane had been given an unequivocal undertaking that there would be a public inquiry into her husbands murder, but also found that the UK Government was justified in later deciding against holding one. Speaking outside the court, Mrs Finucane said: This is a historic moment. I stand before you today outside the United Kingdom Supreme Court with one simple message: we won. The British Government now knows that it cannot conceal the truth any longer. They have now been told this by the highest court in the land. It is time for the murder of Pat Finucane to be properly and publicly investigated in a public inquiry. Nothing less will suffice. The grandson of a woman incarcerated in one of Irelands notorious Magdalene laundries has spoken of his familys pride as he attended an emotional commemoration. Frank Brehany, from Wales, discovered his familys deep secret after promising his late father he would find his mother. Mr Brehanys grandmother Mary spent many years in High Park laundry in Dublin. From the 18th century right up to the mid-1990s, tens of thousands of women were put to work in laundries run by Catholic orders of nuns. Unmarried mothers and girls from troubled backgrounds suffered years of abuse inside the grim facilities. Flowers laid at the grave for the residents of Our Lady Of Charity Residential Home in Sean McDermott Street (Niall Carson/PA) On Sunday, Mr Brehany was at a memorial event in Glasnevin cemetery, Dublin, to commemorate the women who died inside the walls of the laundries. There, he embraced 88-year Mary Merritt, who credits his grandmother with looking after her during her 14 years in the laundry. I am deeply moved and privileged to be standing here in the company of giants its a cliche but its a true cliche, Mr Brehany said. My journey started in 2010 to uncover the secret, the deep secret of my family. Before my father died I promised I would find his family, that I would find his mother. The other part of that promise is I would find justice for my family, justice for Mary and I am delighted to be able to tell you that I am luckier than most because my father had a birth certificate and, as a result of that, I have not only found my family history going back to the late 1700s, but I have surviving family in the Irish Republic, in Northern Ireland, in London, in Connecticut, in Chicago. People make their way to the memorial plots (Niall Carson/PA) We are united as a family again and we are proud, we are not ashamed, we are not hiding away Marys past she did no wrong, my father did no wrong. She was a Magdalene woman, he was a Magdalene child. Ms Merritt gave thanks that Ireland had been transformed since the days of the laundries. I am 88 years of age now and I hope to be able to come every year until I am 100 or more to pay my respects to the Magdalene women because I love each and every one of them, and I love all of you who come here and pay respects to them, she said. Its a great day for Ireland that its all changed. After the February 14 attack on Pulwama, India has exercised the right to self-defence in international law against Pakistan which actively supported military interventions by its own troops and in harbouring others to guiding armed attacks on India and Indians. The facts from 1947-2019 are that Pakistan has been involved in continuous armed activity against India other than the four wars between the nations. No way out for Pakistan In the millennia, it has upped the ante. Indias counter-attack on the terrorist sites of Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi on February 26, portrays Pakistan in denial to say that there was no attack; there was an attack; the attack was not in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) sites, but on Pakistani territory; and Pakistan will counter-attack which it did on February 27. There is no denying Kargil happened. There have been some 967 incursions into India. Pulwama and 26/11 happened on Indian soil. Despite Pakistans constant denials: We know. They know we know. We know they know we know. Was India right in international law? Pakistans attack on February 27 was self-confessedly a planned retaliatory incursion into Indian territory. (PTI photo of CRPF personnel) Article 2(4) of the charter of the UN represents a customary rule of international law enjoining a member to refrain... from threat or use of force against the territoriality or political independence of any state. To this is added: or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. This last badly drafted clause imposes further limitations, admitting circularity. Prima facie, India has not violated either the first two parts of Article 2(4) or even the last clause. Nor is India in violation of the UN General Assembly Friendship Relations Declaration of 1970, as it has not gratuitously used force but has been restrained and, now, exercised its right to self-defence. For that we have to turn to Article 51 of the charter which states, Nothing in this charter shall impair the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence in an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council (UNSC) has taken measures to maintain international peace and security. Since the opening of Article 51 is non-obstante (nothing in the charter), it overrides even Article 2(4) as an exception. There is also a duty to inform the UNSC which can pursue its own actions. Pulwama satisfies the condition of if an armed attack occurs. The Spanish text of this phrase supports the English text but the French text is that a state can be the object of an attack if the attack occurs. Some have also argued that the inherent right individual and collective self-defence includes anticipatory self-defence often used to justify unwanted aggressions.. India has exercised the right to self-defence in International law against Pakistan. (AP image of Balakot village) Balakot was legit USs Daniel Websters famous formulation in the Caroline incident (1837), where the British destroyed an insurrectionary steamer in Canada, detailed: necessity of self-defence, instant, overwhelming leave no choice of means and no moment of deliberation (and not) unreasonable or excessive. In this, moment of deliberation cannot mean thoughtlessness. Indias reaction falls within the concept of necessity and proportionality as detailed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Nicaragua v United States (1986) where the latter was supporting armed resistance in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Versions of these principles were used in the Corfu Channel case (1949) where the ICJ held Britains mine sweeping exercise (Operation Retail) excessive. The US did not invoke self-defence in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) for fear it would be exposed to Russian retaliation on Nato missiles in Europe. But it did so against the Dominican Republic (1965) and Granada (1983). Talk to Imran In 1986, the US invoked anticipatory self-defence against Libya which it was claimed attacked US soldiers in Germany. Israel bombed a nuclear reactor in Iraq as anticipatory action in 1981; using both self and anticipatory defence the US claims to be the keeper of the peace and attacked in Kuwait, Iraq and Libya claiming refuge in international law. The US claims to be the true interpreters of international law doctrine. In Indias case, self and anticipatory defence are part of a continuum. The basis of any principle lies in its objective application. We must stress the assumption that terrorism is banned by a series of covenants and agreements, targets innocents and is legally unacceptable. Indias attack of February 26 was a self-defence measure hoping that some future effect will result. After 26/11, India wanted the terrorists who planned it to be handed over. This was never done. The Kargil attackers were not punished. Continuous requests to punish Pakistani terrorists failed. Post-Pulwama is a classic example of self-defence of those terrorists who fuelled terrorist attacks against India and will continue to do so. The objective factors are that Pakistan supported the attack; protected the attackers. Pakistan has tried to evade all this by denial and affirmation. Its admissions trump denials. Pakistans attack on February 27 was self-confessedly a planned retaliatory incursion into Indian territory. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also Read: Why nothing will change on the ground even after Balakot airstrike The Catholic Church today seems globally beseeched, with hundreds of skeletons tumbling out of its cupboard as far as sexual abuse is concerned. Rumours and whispers about the church and child sex abuse have been around for decades. But the recent reports of the conviction of Cardinal George Pell number three in the Vatican in Australia, is the biggest blow yet. Considering that this comes on the heels of Pope Francis's promise to tackle Child Sexual Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, this conviction is almost providence. The Pope compared child sexual abuse to human sacrifice. (Photo: AP/file) The Pope said that priests who sexually abuse children are tools of Satan and he pledged to face every case with utmost seriousness. Child Sexual Abuse, he said, reminded him of the ancient practice of child sacrifice. The Pope was speaking at the end of a four-day Roman Catholic Church Summit on paedophilia held in the Vatican City on February 21-24, attended by 130 country cardinals and archbishops. Just days before the summit was held, Pope Francis defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians. McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington DC, is the highest ranking priest to be removed from priesthood in recent times. Closer home in India, Father Robin Vadakkumchery from Kerala was convicted of raping and impregnating a minor girl who was then 16 years of age, and was a student of a school where the accused was teaching. This case revealed the lengths that the Roman Catholic Church in India, in seeming contrast to the news above, was apparently willing to go to protect their own. The pressure that the victims family allegedly faced from the Mananthavady Diocese in Kannur district, Kerala, of which Father Robin is a part, is unbelievable. The whole family of the victim lied to the court and turned hostile. In fact, the father of the victim falsely told the court that he had raped his own daughter and that she was pregnant with his child. One can only imagine the amount of pressure that the family was allegedly subjected to for the father to claim thus to the court that he had raped his daughter. It was only because the DNA of the victims baby matched with Father Robin that he was even convicted. Also, the birth certificate of the girl revealed that she was 16 at the time the rape occurred, though both the victim and her mother told the court that she was actually 18 at that time. All the other accused in the case the five nuns and one administrator accused of conspiracy to hide evidence were acquitted for lack of evidence. The priest has still not been defrocked despite his conviction. Father Robin was convicted after the DNA of the minor rape victim's child reportedly matched his. (Photo: ANI) The victim delivered the baby in a church-run hospital and they were then shifted to a church-run orphanage, though other reports say that the victim was told that her baby died in childbirth and that the baby was sent to the orphanage. Then the family tried to prove that the victim was 18 when the alleged rape occurred and the victim even told the court that she was willing to marry Father Robin and live with him. Also, Father Robin apparently tried to leave for Canada on February 27, 2017. It seems Father Robin didn't at any time think of his own priestly duty to confess to the crime, despite the Roman Catholic Church having a strong culture of confession. This, when Father Robin knew very well that the DNA of the child would prove the truth of the matter all along. It is telling that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a former Vatican Ambassador to the US, said in his testimony in the McCarrick case said there was a conspiracy of silence not so dissimilar from the one that prevails in the mafia. Instead of standing with the weak and voiceless and instead of protecting victims, which is what the church should be doing, it is apparently choosing repeatedly to stand with the abusers. Another case in point is that of Bishop Franco Mullakal of the Jalandhar diocese, whom a nun has accused of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. The victim was allegedly confined to her convent in Kuravilangad in Kerala and raped. Five fellow nuns of Missionaries of Jesus, the convent to which the rape victim belongs, have been supporting her by protesting publicly against the Bishop. These protests have been joined by many. People lined up with flowers and garlands to welcome Bishop Franco Mulakkal after he came out of jail on bail. (Photo: India Today) However, all these nuns and whoever else has been supporting the victim have reportedly been facing intense pressure, transfers and even threats and notices of expulsion. Also, Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, who was a witness in the rape case, was found dead in Jalandhar last year while another priest, Father Augustine Vattoly, was apparently warned of action against him if he didn't stop participating in the stir against Bishop Franco. While those who are supporting the victim are being harassed, Bishop Franco was given a warm welcome with garlands and fanfare when he was released from jail on bail. Earlier in the month, Pope Francis admitted that clerics sexually abused nuns and in one instance, also kept them as sex slaves. The Pope said that though the church was trying to address this problem, it was still going on in the Roman Catholic Church. What needs to be seen is how badly the Roman Catholic Church has fallen from its mandate to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Though the Pope has said that there needs to be an 'all-out battle' against child sexual abuse, activists have accused the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church of not doing enough. The nuns who supported Bishop Mulakkal's accuser reportedly face threats and massive pressure. (Photo: PTI/file) When the rot is so deep, the Roman Catholic Church needs to take really drastic steps. After all, the Roman Catholic Church consists of 1.2 billion members globally and it is the largest religious institution in the world as well as the most powerful and wealthiest. It professes to be the holder of the legacy of Jesus Christ. But instead of obeying the laws of the holy Bible given forth by God, the church seems to be more committed to obeying the laws of the institution where silence and obedience to the Church seems to be held in higher esteem than speaking the truth and standing up for the rights of the weak and abused. The RC Church in Kerala has issued guidelines for priests and said it will have a zero tolerance police, just a day after Pope Francis admitted to sexual exploitation of nuns by the clergy on February 6, 2019. The guidelines said it would reduce the priests to lay status if found guilty, but it reportedly didn't specify penal action when the crime is first reported. No superficial bandaging will stem this rot it needs radical, urgent, corrective and punitive measures. Whether the RC church will have the courage and will to do it, only time will tell. Also read: How Gujarat's Christians are rallying for peace and the Pulwama martyrs Every battle, every war, every strike is followed by a question. At what cost? A question were either too charged up to ask or notice, or just plain disillusioned, and therefore dont consider. When a car bomb wrecked havoc on a convoy of the CRPF at Pulwama on 14 February, 2019, killing 40 CRPF personnel, our first reaction was rage. When a dastardly terrorist group, nurtured by our most hostile neighbour, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed credit for the dreadful act, our angry eyes almost popped out of our heads. When Hows the Jaish started climbing Twitter trends with a student from Aligarh Muslim University reportedly being the first one to tweet the same, who was immediately suspended and arrested the sweat beads on our foreheads were turning to steam. We were literally seething. This is what Pulwama looked like on 14 February, 2019. (Source: Reuters) Twelve days later, on 26 February, 2019, we woke up to the result of that rage. India had struck back 12 Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force had penetrated deep into Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and had reportedly eliminated several JeM training camps. They dropped about 1000 kg bombs in that area and reportedly snuffed out several terrorists' lives. Then, Hows the Jaish resurfaced on Twitter only, this time, no one was getting suspended for it. There are always two kinds of people on Twitter those who act before they think, the other being their antithesis. But there is the third kind that is particularly dangerous the ones who wait for the most precise, most opportune moment to strike. Recently, and shamefully, many of us fell into that category. Partaking in the 'Hows the Jaish' narrative in the process, didnt we turn into the very monsters we were fighting? After all, were fighting terrorism. Jaish-e-Mohammed is a terrorist group. Yes, nurtured by Pakistan, but our fight is still against Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist organisations like it. Did we forget that when we mouthed their name, their words in the context of the Indian Air Force and all the valour they stand for? Fighting terrorism, not by tweets. (Source: Reuters) So engrossed we were in cashing in on the perfect hashtag to get the pulse of the moment right that we forgot to ask: Now what? Now, this: Three PAF F-16 fighter jets violated Indian airspace in Nowshera sector, circling our skies, one of which was shot down in the Rajouri sector of Jammu. This, after night-long firing and mortar shelling across LoC. Pakistan restricted its domestic and international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad airports, affecting Indian and Pakistani airspace. As a result, flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Dehradun were temporarily suspended, throwing hundreds of people and plans out of gear. And an IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan. That moment, of the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan, perhaps brought us back to the sobriety we seem to have thrown to the winds when we happily participated in 'How's the Jaish', making the JeM trend all over again instead of ensuring it receives the totally disdainful silence from us it deserves. For if we're fighting a terror group, we need to fight it consistently, and make no exceptions to the rule that it cannot be treated with any favour, any dignity or any levity as well. Whether the josh around it is low or high. Also read: Surgical Strikes Part 2: This works, war does not Indias reserves are already under a lot of stress, they cannot afford more losses in biodiversity as it happened in the Bandipur fires. Its a wake-up call for the Government and officials Last weeks forest fires in Karnataka must serve as a reminder that forest management in our country is in urgent need of attention. More than 3,000 hectares of forest land were gutted in the inferno in the Bandipur National Park in Mysuru district of Karnataka. The Bandipur National Park is spread over more than 900 sq km area and bears dry deciduous forests, which are vulnerable to fires. Bandipur is one of the most vital habitats for the tiger and has the highest density area wise, almost one tiger per 7 sq km. It is home to around 80 tigers besides several elephants, deer, bisons and antelopes. It shares a contiguous landscape with the Nagarhole National Park And Tiger Reserve, which in turn connects with the unique ecosystem of the Niligiri hills and ultimately merges with the rich forests of Kerala. The fires are very damaging to the ecosystem as they kill the entire gamut of ecological capital built over thousands of years. With India being most vulnerable to climate change and hosting sensitive tropical ecosystems, it is all the more necessary for us to pay adequate and immediate attention to the prevention of forest fires. These not only cause irreparable ecological damage to life-sustaining natural resources for both humans and wild animals but also threaten the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, and particularly results in destabilising the agriculture and water sources. In recent times, forest fires have become a regular phenomenon in our country. Over the last few years, Uttarakhand and the hills in the Northeast have seen forest fires with regular frequency, causing severe damage to the vegetation and precious bio-diversity. Similar incidents have been noticed in other States, too. If fires continue ravaging our forest resources, days are not far enough when the country will be in the vortex of social strife as the life sustaining resources will be gradually lost and precious bio-diversity may become extinct. It is essential that we draw up an actionable plan to control forest fires so that remedial steps can be taken with all seriousness by the Government as well as the civil society. Forest fires are but a national calamity and must be classified as a disaster of the highest magnitude. The Bandipur fires were so severe that more than 1,000 village people and the available forest guards were not able to control it. The Karnataka Chief Minister had to seek the support of the Defence Minister, who readily obliged and deployed two helicopters of the Indian Air Force, who due to the availability of water bodies inside the park, were able to spray 30,000 litres of water to douse the fire. There are three main reasons why such infernos are occurring so frequently. First, is climatic vagaries and recalcitrant local weather conditions. Last year, Bandipur received ample rains in September, which allowed the grass to grow very tall and soon after the end of the rainy season, they became a veritable fuel load, waiting to set the forest afire. The second reason is the culpability of the local population, who lit the fires accidentally by throwing cigarette butts and sometimes deliberately to facilitate the timber mafia. It is said that in Bandipur, the fire was set off by graziers. However, what contributed a great deal to this inferno was the sheer negligence of the forest staff and officers of Karnataka, who failed to take timely action as per the fire control protocol sent to all States regularly by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In forest fire management, the best strategy is prevention rather than fire-fighting and control. The moot point to ask is: Are the foresters of Bandipur, or for that matter all over the country, prepared with a fire management plan? Each year, a strategy has to be made with respect to the actual fuel load, maintenance of fire lines, burning the forest fuel load and involvement of the local population. Based on this, early warning systems must be prepared, vulnerable areas mapped and strategies suggested. It is also to be ascertained if the Forest Survey of Indias (FSI) fire warning system reached the field officers. The FSI is well-equipped to detect the forest fires through satellite within seconds and once a fire incident is detected, it sends SMSes to field divisional forest officers and wildlife wardens and other officers. Yet another cause of a galloping blaze, which many foresters rightfully argue for, is the lack of adequate funds to place a sound forest fire management system in place. The Government of India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as also the Karnataka Government must inquire into these lapses, find the real cause of fires and fix responsibility. In most cases, the incident is forgotten after sometime when the matter subsides, especially in the media. Now, the time has come that the MoEFCC must take a call and put a national programme in place on forest fire management and pin-point the role of officers at various levels, including of those who are responsible for providing funds. Without control of forest fires, we are putting up hiccups in achieving our targets for climate change. It is felt by a large number of people and professionals within and outside the forestry circles, that fires happen due to the lackadaisical attitude of policy planners and programme implementers. The Compensatory Planning and Management Authority (CAMPA) has huge funds parked with it and a portion of it must be earmarked for fire prevention. The Governments Disaster Management authorities in respective States should in collaboration with financial support from MoEFCC (for which CAMPA funds could be lined up), FSI and forestry research organisations come out with a proposal to develop a three-month course for all field formulations of the forests and other departments on fire prevention and control. For senior and middle level officers, special modules of one to two weeks duration should be created and mock drills conducted. Similar programmes should be arranged for local people and every year, District Magistrates should constitute a committee for coordination in fire prevention, planning and control. All of those, who receive emoluments from the Government, must be duty-bound to assist the forest department for fire control. At the State level, the Chief Secretary should monitor the preparation at the beginning of the fire season. Incentives must be given to the local people for fire prevention and punitive action must be taken against those who deliberately set twigs fire. It is high time that MoEFCC takes these initiatives and the country is rid of the menace of forest and bio-diversity destruction. (The writer is a retired civil servant) Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan post-Pulwama, conveyed to the Air Force brass that he wants to return to the cockpit and resume flying as soon as possible. After his hand over on Friday night by the Pakistani authorities, the pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here for the last two days as part of a cooling down process. Through debriefings, the security agencies are seeking to know the kind of questions put forth by the Pakistani agencies during his captivity there, sources said. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders visiting him at the hospital and the doctors treating him that he wants to resume duties at the earliest, officials said. On Wednesday, Varthaman became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet, a fourth generation aircraft, during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force with a second generation MiG 21 Bison fighter which is a second generation jet. This besides, the pilot of the downed F-16 fighter jet could not even eject whereas Varthaman was able to do it as soon as it was hit by the Pakistani ground forces. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his ejection from MiG-21 Bison jet following the dogfight with the F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. He returned to India to a heros welcome on Friday night through Attari-Wagah border. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Armys Research and Referral hospital. Efforts have been taken to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon, said an official. Varthaman has been unfazed by either the ejection from the hit aircraft he was flying and custody by an army of an adversary country, officials said. Soon after his arrival here at 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border, he was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME) for medical evaluation. Later, he was taken to the Armys Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured by the Pakistan army, Varthaman displayed poise and courage while facing questions from the captors. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he faced during his captivity in Pakistan. After Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammeds biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday, Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday, following which the two countries have a tensed relation. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. India hit the JeM camp 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir in which 40 paramilitary men were killed. A 28-year-old woman doctor was found dead inside a room of Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in west Delhis Punjabi Bagh early Sunday morning. The doctor has been identified as Astha Munjal resident of Panchsheel Park in Delhi. A syringe was found lying on the floor near the body of Astha Munjal who worked in the neurology department. The door was locked from inside and was forcibly opened by guards early morning, police said. According to Monika Bhardawaj, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, West district, a Police Control Room (PCR) call was received regarding the incident at around 5.50 am following which police team went to the spot where the body of Astha was found it inside the doctors cabin of the Neurology ICU in the first floor of the building During initial investigation, it was revealed that the syringe was jabbed on the left arm. Her bag and mobile phone was also found near the body, the DCP said, adding Munjal was married to Dr Udai Dhingra of Guru Teg Bahadur hospital in Shahdara district. All India women conference 2019 under the auspices of all India Malayalee Association MP Chapter held here on Sunday at Hotel Palash Residency. Women delegates from more than 20 states and union territories have participated in this event. Various subject and topics like women for empowerment, child abuse, self help group, women health, international womens day, safety and protection of women, mind management session etc were taken up. There was an interactive session as well. In the inaugural function in the evening was inaugurated by Honble Minister of Culture and Medical Education Dr.Vijaylaxmi Sadho, guest of Honble PR Minister Shri. P.C Sharma, Shri. Gokulam, National President All India Malayalee Association were present on the occasion. Various culture programs like classical dance by Kalanjali and Natyashri group and orchestra by Kochu Babu and group. Dr Sarla Menon, Medical Director, JK Hospital, Bhopal, PN Sreekumar. National General Secretary, RS Pillai, Sr Vice- President, AIMA. Minister of Culture and Medical Education Vijaylaxmi Sadho said, "It is my pleasure that I could be a part of the association's celebrations. It is one of the biggest associations in the country and doing great service to the society. I wish them all best for their future endeavour." Gokulam Gopalan, National President, AIMA said, "We are happy that we are celebrating our first national womens' conference and award 2019 in Bhopal. I am very happy that members from different regions could take time off their schedule and ensure their presence for the celebration. I thank one and all for their participation and support. Adv Prema Menon, Chairperson, Ladies wing, AIMA, Dr Bina J Kurian, Convenor, RS Pillai, Secretary, C Ashokan, President and coordinator, AIMA MP Chapter was also present on the occasion. Claiming that Amethi is a true reflection of BJP governments slogan Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Gandhi family for neglecting the region. Amethi suffered because of the apathy of one family that gave false assurances of development but actually did nothing, the Prime Minister said after dedicating to the nation the ordnance unit which will manufacture worlds best assault rifle, AK-203, and launching development projects worth over Rs 538 crore here at Korwa . One family is solely responsible for the backwardness of Amethi as they launched development projects only to fulfil their vested interests. A glaring example is a cycle factory whose land was transferred to a trust run by the family, the PM said without taking any name. In an apparent reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his Amethi constituency, Modi remarked: Some people keep giving Made in... speeches, but Modi walks the talk. We have made Made in Amethi a reality. This factory should have come into being 8-9 years back but the full potential of the initiative was never realised. Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas is our mantra. Everyone belongs to us irrespective of whether they voted for us or not. After five years, I humbly say that Smriti Irani was a new face to people in Amethi but your love has made us popular and has helped Smriti Irani develop Amethi on a large scale, he said, and added, Though Smriti Irani could not win from here, she won your hearts. Modi charged that land was taken for food park but no industry came up and he land was transferred in the name of the family through the back door. He said houses given to Dalits in 2008 had started crumbling. They sat on Rafale deal for years. Now, they do not want to see the deal through due to their vested interests. They wanted their cut in the deal and hence they were obstructing it. But the first Rafale jet will be flying soon (in India), he said. They sat on Rafale for years. We are trying to bring in the jets and some people are trying to object to the purchase. The Supreme Court too is supporting the governments decision on the Rafale deal, the PM said, and added, Was it not unfair not to provide latest weapons to our forces? The previous government did not bother about our armed forces. People should be reminded how the government delayed acquisition of bullet-proof jackets for our forces. Who were these people who delayed production of weapons and acquisition of bullet-proof jackets? Claiming that Amethi would get an international recognition when the forces would use rifles made in Amethi, the PM said this work should have started 8-9 years ago. Our forces had then made a request to the government mentioning their needs. It was the reason this factory was sanctioned. How can someone trust those who cannot do this much. They could not even decide on the arms to be manufactured here. They could not decide upon the land to be allotted, the PM said. Modi said 12 lakh farmers in Amethi would be benefited through the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme. They (UPA) never tried to establish and empower farmers. Their farm loan waiver scheme only benefited middlemen. But the NDAs Kisan Nidhi scheme has in true sense benefited farmers, the PM said. He said cooking gas connection, free electricity connections had been given to poor households by the NDA government because it was trying to help them develop and come above the poverty line. The meeting was also addressed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. City paid homage to its founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata on his 180th birth anniversary on Sunday. Tata Sons chairman, N Chandrasekaran paid tribute to the greater visionary and promised a better city and a better tomorrow. Chandrasekaran arrived at the Tata Steel Works along with Koushik Chatterjee, executive director and chief financial officer, Tata Sons and Tata Steel CEO and managing director, T.V. Narendran. Also present was former Tata Steel managing director J.J. Irani and other dignitaries. The Founders Day programme inside the Tata Steel Works kicked off at 7:30 am. Chandrasekaran along with others also visited Tata Motors before they arrived to celebrate it here. Tata Steel showcased its tryst with Technovation . The theme of this years celebration was Technovation. More than 35 departments and subsidiaries of Tata Sons participated pageantry to pay homage to the founder. Jamshedpur FC players also participated in the parade as a part of corporate services. About 10 subsidiaries also presented beautiful tableau representing their area of improvement and achievements. Founders Day was first instituted by Tata Steel on March 3, 1932. It was DN Madan, Chief Accountant, Tata Iron and Steel Company, who first conceived the idea of observing and celebrating an annual gathering to commemorate the birth anniversary of J.N. Tata. Founders day provided him with an opportunity of expressing his regard for the memory of the genius to whose faith and adjustment, energy and perseverance, the works, the towns and the environs of Jamshedpur bear enduring witness. I feel great to be here on this occasion. I am happy that Jamshedpur has completed its 100 years with the support of the entire community. We hope that it continues for the next 100 years as Tata Steel is already on growth chart, said Chandrasekaran in a media briefing. On the occasion Narendran said, We have continued investing in the city in some or the other form and dont wait for 100 years. The chairman also flagged off the pageantry later which was organised from the Bistupur Postal Park. A number of social organisations participated in the pageantry with colourful display of how the vision of J.N. Tata gave birth to this industrialisation. The chairman also addressed the denizens here. On the occasion, Chandrasekaran also felicitated mountaineer Bachendri Pal who recently was awarded the Padma Bhushan, Indias third highest civilian award. The chairman along with Narendran and other executives also released Reaching for the Sky: When Everest Calls at the Bistupur Postal Park. The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh and the main Opposition BJP were at the loggerheads over a letter released by State police asking police stations to collect information about Hindu Organisations active in their respective areas. The official twitter handle of Chhattisgarh BJP on late Saturday night tweeted an order from Gariaband district Superintendent of Police directing Station House Officers in the district to collect updated information about Hindu organisations active in their police station limits. Interestingly in the tweet BJP also demanded SIT probe in incident. The SIT demand by the BJP is basically intended to mock Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel who has constituted a series of SITs since the Congress came to power in December last. BJP State President Dharamlal Kaushik while commenting over the order said, it clearly indicates the mindset and thought process of the current (Congress) Government towards the Hindu organisations. If they required information, then they should have collected info about all kinds of religious organisations working in any particular area. But specifically targeting Hindu organisations is not right. It can be used to instigate fear in those groups and such things need to be corrected, Kaushik told The Pioneer. On being asked whether such information gathering had happened during the previous BJP regime, he denied of having knowledge about any such activity. Meanwhile, Spokesperson Chhattisgarh Congress, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi while terming it a routine policing activity and claimed that in 2015 when Raman Singh-led BJP Government was in power, they did a similar exercise. The sleuths of Delhi Polices Special Cell have arrested four Afghan Nationals for allegedly trying to smuggle heroine in national Capital. The accused were arrested from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and are admitted in Safdarjang Hospital where doctors have extracted 920 grams of heroine from their body. Police said more heroine is expected to be extracted from these accused and it may take few more days to excrete all the capsules of heroin from their abdomen. The accused have been identified as Abdul Haq Noorzai, Mohammad Naeim Noorzai , Mohammad Esmael Noorzai and Mohammad Nasim Noorzai all residents of Farah in Afghanistan. According to Pramod Singh Kushwaha, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, on February 23, specific inputs were received regarding international gang indulgingin smuggling of suspicious articles in India from abroad is active in Delhi-NCR would be arriving at Delhi airport following which a trap was laid and all four accused were detained. All the four suspects were taken to Safdarjung Hospital and a written request was made for their medical examination to verify the suspicious material, if any, in their bodies. The doctors prepared the MLCs of all suspects and carried out their X-Ray & other examination and found suspicious capsules in their body. Thereafter all suspects were given medical treatment for excretion of these capsules from their stomach by the doctors, said the DCP. Doctors excreted 21 cylindrical capsules from suspect Abdul Haq Noorzai, 20 cylindrical capsules excreted by Mohammad Naeim Noorzai, 21 cylindrical capsules excreted by Mohammad Esmael Noorzai and nine cylindrical capsules excreted by Mohammad Nasim Noorzai. 520 grams of Heroin recovered from 71 capsules. All the four accused are still admitted in Safdarjung Hospital and further recovery of capsules is expected, said the DCP. During interrogation, it is revealed that the accused had come to Delhi on the pretext of medical treatment on medical visa but were actually smuggling heroin. This Norco drug cartel is headed by Drug lords based in Kandhar, Afghanistan. They are using this method to smuggle contraband on a frequent basis to India. The accused persons have also stated that a consignment of heroin was further to be supplied to African nationals, said the DCP adding that so far 122 capsule containing, 920 grams of fine quality heroin has been excreted from their abdomen and a case under section 21/23/29 of NDPS Act at Special Cell police station. Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that the recent surgical strike amidst massive tension between two nations has proved Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the strongest Prime Ministers in the world. Not only that, international support for Modi during the release of WC Abhinandan from Pakistan captivity has once again attested Modi is continued to be favourite statesman in global diplomacy, said Thakur while addressing a gathering at the annual day festivity of Himachal Mahasabha in Chandigarh. Thakur said the people of the country have not only witnessed the change in polity but the mindsets of generation which is surely steering nation to a bright future. Also, present of the occasion as Guest of Honour included Anurag Thakur, MP, Hamirpur, Jagatram Sharma, Direector PGIMER, Devender Kumar Sharma, Chairman BBMB among others. Thakur said that the people of Himachal Pradesh throughout the world are known for their honesty, hard work and humbleness and every Himachali living outside the state is the brand ambassador of Himachal. The Chief Minister said that the Himachal Mahasabha is doing a commendable service in providing a platform for the Himachali people living in the tri-city. Thakur said that the State Government has completed over a year in office and this tenure has been dedicated to the welfare of the every section of the society and equitable development of every area of the state. He said that during the very first cabinet, the State Government decided to lower the age limit for getting old age pension without income limit from 80 years to 70 years, thereby benefitting over 1.30 lakh old persons. The Chief Minister said that the due to the benevolence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state has succeeded in getting developmental schemes worth Rs 10,500 crore sanctioned from the Centre. The State Government is open to suggestions from general public for welfare and development of Himachal, Thakur said. He also urged the people of Himachal Pradesh living in Chandigarh to come forward with valuable suggestions to ensure that their state forge ahead on the path of progress and prosperity. He added that the State Government would provide all possible help the Himachal Maha Sabha for getting land for construction of its own appropriate Bhawan for smooth running of their activities. The Chief Minister released souvenir of the Sabha on the occasion. He also honoured several people of the state living in Chandigarh for excelling in different fields. Mahashivratri: Badnore greets people Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, VP Singh Badnore extended greetings to the people on the sacred occasion of Mahashivratri the main festival in honour of Lord Shiva. In a message, the Governor said that this holy festival reminds us of our pursuit of truth and understanding and symbolizes salvation, devotion, dedication and fulfillment, in human life. The Governor appealed to the people to celebrate this festival collectively, rising above considerations of caste, creed and religion, in the true spirit of harmony. Cabinet to meet on March 5 Chandigarh: Haryana Cabinet will meet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal in the Committee Room, fourth floor, Haryana Civil Secretariat here on March 5 at 3 pm. Food safety teams conduct 3k raids in 3 months Chandigarh: Punjab Health Departments food safety wing kept the guard on against unscrupulous food business operators even after the festival season was over. Under Mission Tandrust Punjab, the Commisionerate of Food and Drug Administration conducted 3,000 inspections of food items in last three months. Department filed 650 cases in the competent court against those indulging in food adulteration. Few cases, where the food items were found to be unsafe, were also filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrates. The state Food and Drug Administration commissioner KS Pannu warned of stricter action against those still indulging in selling of substandard food items. Two IPS, Six HPS officers transferred Chandigarh: Haryana Government has issued transfer and posting orders of two IPS officers and six HPS officers with immediate effect. Alok Kumar Roy, IPS has been Additional Director General (ADG), Haryana Police Academy, HPA Madhuban has been given the additional charge of ADGP, State Vigilance Bureau (SVB). Y Puran Kumar, IPS, IG Home Guards has been transferred as IG, HAP, Madhuban. Vinod Kumar, HPS, AIG/ Admin has been given additional charge of AIG, Provisioning and Welfare in addition to his present duties. Vinay Partap Singh SP/PTC Sunaria has been transferred as SP, Fatehabad vice Deepak Saharan, who goes as SP/ PTC Sunaria. Adarshdeep Singh has been transferred as ACP, Faridabad, Mahesh Kumar goes as DSP, 4th Battalion, HAP Madhuban and Joginder Sharma is posted as DSP, HIsar. Chairman Haryana Yuva Aayog appointed Chandigarh: Haryana Government has appointed Yadvinder Singh Sandhu, resident of Sardar Kulbir Singh Marg, NIT, Faridabad as chairman, Haryana Yuva Aayog with immediate effect. Notably, Haryana Cabinet had recently, approved the Haryana State Youth Policy with an aim to empower the youth of the state to achieve their full potential to facilitate all round development of the society. The objectives of the policy is to create productive work force that can make a sustainable contribution to the states and Indias economic development. It also aims to develop a strong and healthy generation equipped to take on future challenges. 5th PGI-AIIMS international course Chandigarh: The PGIMER has started the 5th PGI-AIIMS international course on public health approaches to non communicable diseases which is being attended by delegates from all over India and abroad. The second day of the course started with the reflection of the first day sessions by two of the participants who informed the highlights of each session and expressed their complete satisfaction on content, comprehensiveness and quality. In the first session of day Population level interventions, Prof. J S thakur emphasized on the school-based approaches and trim and fit programme of the young and highlighted the need to prevent the NCDs by catching them young. A need was urged for population-based intervention to prevent NCDs. Four arrested with 100gm heroin Ludhiana: Khanna police on Sunday arrested four drug peddlers and recovered heroin weighing 100 gram from their possession. Khanna SSP Dhruv Dahiya said that a police party saw an Indica Vista car bearing registration number CH-01-AL-9591 coming from the Khamano side at a spot opposite Heddon Police Post. When the police party signalled the car to stop, the vehicle driver tried to flee. Later, the cops managed to stop the vehicle. During checking, 100 grams of heroin was recovered from the possession of the accused persons, identified as Tony of Hargobind Nagar in Ludhiana, Sikandar of Daddumajra near Mohali, Pritosh of Sarupah in Uttar Pradeshs Ajamgarh, and Monu Kumar of Dinak Deewa of UPs Gonda. CBI serious for recovery in NPA accounts Chandigarh: A spokesman of the Central Bank of India said that fraudulent borrower of banks Industrial Area, Ludhiana branch, Gulshan Pahwa Prop. M/s Pahwa Steel, who in the year 2012 fraudulently borrowed Rs 1crore from the bank on the basis of fake land documents, has been arrested by the police. Ultimately, with the untiring efforts of ASI, Balbir Singh-Police Booth Incharge, Millerganj, Pahwa has been arrested. This is a strong message to the other defaulters of Central Bank of India, the spokesman said. 3-day workshop on echocardiography ends Chandigarh: The 13th Annual perioperative and critical care echocardiography workshop, organized by the Society of transesophageal echocardiography and Department of Anesthesia and Intensive care, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research concluded on Sunday. The workshop achieved its two main goals of taking the beginners in this field through a series of narrative lectures and promoting knowledge sharing among the experts. On Sunday, the workshop focused on examination in patients in whom the decision is taken based on a combined discussion between the patient, cardiologist, anesthetist and the cardiovascular surgeon. Subsequently, 3D echocardiography was elaborated upon and the workshop ended with evaluation and certification of the participants. First of its own kind in tricity - Fire Escape Chute installed Zirakpur: DD Builders promoted Altura Apartments, a 14-storey residential towers have installed the "Fire Escape Chute" - an exit that permits rapid, mass evacuation from high-rise structures during the life threatening emergencies. In times when residential towers are getting taller, this come as a welcome relief. Such increasing attempts to employ state-of-the-art technologies that benefit and protect residents create good instances for other developers to follow. Present on the occasion, BS Sandhu, Chief Fire Safety Officer, Mohali welcomed the move of builder. Hoshiarpur based tractor maker - Sonalika made global mark Chandigarh: Sonalika International Tractors while surpassing the industry growth of approx 10.9% has registered an overall growth of 17.8% with a sale of 1,02,693 tractors from April18- Feb19 as compared to 87,210 tractors same period last year. In Exports, the company for the month of February19 has recorded an extraordinary growth of 20.3% with a sale of 1507 tractors as compared to 1253 tractors same period last year, said Raman Mittal, Executive Director Sonalika ITL. Numero YONO held in Pkl Chandigarh: The team of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali emerged victorious at the regional rounds of Indias biggest inter-college quiz contest - Numero YONO held in Panchkula on March 2. IISER team bagged annual scholarship of Rs 2.16 lakh that witnessed participation of 198 teams from various colleges from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh besides Chandigarh. The first runner up of this competition was NIT Kurukshatra that won annual scholarship of Rs 1.44 lakh whereas the second runner up, another team of IISER Mohali again received a onetime amount of Rs 12000. Numero YONO - presented by State Bank of India, is conducted across all 17 cities where SBI Local Head Offices are located. CGRF members to hear complaints Panchkula: The members of the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam will make extensive visits in March 2019 for hearing grievances of the consumers and to entertain new complaints. A spokesman said, the proceedings of the CGRF will be held in Yamuna Nagar on March 5, BBMB Rest House Panipat hearing on March 6, Panchkula on March 8, Rohtak on March 11, Kurukshetra on March 12, Karnal on March 14, Sonipat on March 15, Ambala on March 19, Panipat on March 20, Kaithal on March 26 and Jhajjar on March 28 respectively. Hundreds of girls are trafficked from various districts of the State to big cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad and Mumbai every month. Being identifying it as a huge menace, the Jharkhand police started a crackdown against human trafficking and has managed to arrest as many as 743 traffickers in six years. The latest data released by CID Jharkhand shows that a total of 743 traffickers have been arrested between 2013 to 2018 of which 473 were men and 270 women. A total of 855 cases of human trafficking were registered during this period at various police stations across the State. CID ADG Ajay Kumar Singh said that the Jharkhand police are taking a numerous steps to combat trafficking. The complaints are being immediately considered at the local police station level. The police are also collaborating with NGOs for sensitization which has led to a number of arrests of traffickers and also, rescue of a huge number of trafficking survivors, he said. A huge crackdown against wanted traffickers was started by the Jharkhand police in 2013 and the arrest of Baba Bamdev and trafficking kingpin Pannalal Mahato, who has allegedly trafficked over 10,000 girls from Jharkhand alone, in 2014 was a big achievement. The most recent big arrests were that of another wanted trafficker duo, Prabha Muni and Rohit Muni, in September and November 2018, respectively, by Simdega police. Of the total arrests made, the highest number of traffickers, 105, was arrested by the Simdega Police, followed by 92 arrests by Gumla Police and 87 by Latehar police. Sharing their strategy, Simdega SP Sanjeev Kumar said, As the cases of trafficking are really high in district, we have a special team working only on this aspect. Our team does not just work inside the State but also in the destination States from where a number of arrests are made. Kumar pointed out that the coordination of Simdega police with the police of destination States has helped them in nabbing the traffickers. Talking about the information gathering strategies he said, We are working with Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthis NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan to train the chowkidars and Anganwadi Sevikas in information collection. They interact with the villagers to know whether there are children missing and if yes then who was responsible behind taking them away. Member of child welfare committee, Khunti and social activist, Baidnath Kumar who has been working against human trafficking for a long time and supported the rescue of hundreds of girls of the State said that the huge number of arrests has created fear among traffickers. With the high number of arrests, the traffickers have definitely gone on a back foot and the cases of trafficking have reduced but more is still needed to be done, he said. The CID data also shows that 1422 persons were rescued since 2013 to 2018, of which 774 were male and 646 were female. Mahashivratri is celebrated all over India and also in some countries abroad. But it has a special significance in Mandi, the independent erstwhile state of Himachal Pradesh where it is being celebrated since centuries with religious fervor and fanfare since the birth of the present Mandi town. The world famous week-long Shivratri fairs are being celebrated in this temple town of Himachal Pradesh since the rule of Raja Ajber Sen who ruled the state in 1500 AD. Legend has it that that land on which the present town has been established was once a dense forest where cows and cattle used to graze. A villager was astonished to observe that his newly calved cow was not yielding the desired milk. He kept a regular vigil on the cow and was astonished to note that she was spilling her milk on a stone in the forest. The news spread in the town like a wild fire and also, reached the king, who personally verified it. Mandi rulers were the devotees of Lord Shiva. In the meantime a strange thing happened. Lord Shiva appeared in a dream of Ajber Sen and ordained him to dig beneath the stone where the cow used to spill milk. He did so and his joy knew no bounds when he unearthed large-size Shivalinga. He decided to build a big Shiva Temple on the site known a Bhutnath Temple. Simultaneously, he decided to shift Mandi town to the new place from Bhiuli on left bank of Beas to the present site on the right bank on the sacred day of Shivratri. All hill deities of Mandi of the adjoining independent states were also invited to grace the occasion. In the beginning, the mega fairs of Shivatri used to be celebrated for over a month, but with the passage of time the duration of the fairs kept on shrinking. Now, the fairs are celebrated only for a week. Presently the role of the king has been taken over by CHIEF MINIster or by the Deputy Commissioner in his absence. This year, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur will on March 5 inaugurate the Shivrari Fair successively for the second time after assuming power. Another interesting development took place during the rule of Raja Surya Sen (164-1679) All his 18 sons had died during his lifetime. He vested the sovereignty to Lord Vishnu ( Madho Rai). In the subsequent years, Madho Rai used to grace the Ratha instead of the king. Madho Rai now leads the grand Shobha Yatra followed by over 200 deities, bands of Army, home guards, contingents of Police adding to the grandeur of the divine march to the sprawling Padal Stadium, the venue of the week long fairs. Deputy Commissiomer Rugved Thakur and SP Gurdev Sarma claimed that security arrangements have been made for the fair. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the AK 203 assault rifles to be manufactured in Amethi would be exported after supplying more than seven lakh for the Indian security personnel. This is my first trip to Amethi. This project has been possible because of the collaboration between Indian Ordnance Board and Russia. Both of them agreed to set up the project at Amethis Korwa town, Sitharaman said in Amethi on Sunday. She said the manufacturing unit in Amethi would produce AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the latest series of the AK manufactured by Russia . Initially, the components would be imported but in the next three years all the equipment would be manufactured locally, giving a boost to employment in this area, she said. The Defence Minister said with the AK-203 assault rifle manufacturing unit, Amethi would join six other cities of the state in the defence industrial corridor already announced by the Centre. In her speech, Sitharaman also read out Russian President Vladimir Putins statement over the setting up of the joint venture. Welcome Russian-Indian entrepreneurship in manufacture of Kalashnikovs. For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality defence products and technology to India, Putin said in his written statement . Putin further said in his statement: During one of my visits, me and my friend Modiji signed up for the initiative. This will help strengthen Indias economy, defence and India-Russia ties. My best wishes. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, in her welcome speech, accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of using derogatory language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She also accused the Congress president of not raising one issue of Amethi in the Lok Sabha during the entire five-year term. Referring to a woman of Amethi who lost her son in a foreign land, Irani said the woman found help from Bharatiya Janata Party but not the local MP (Rahul Gandhi). Irani said that despite losing the Lok Sabha poll in Amethi in 2014, the BJP had continued to work for Amethi during the past five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and inaugurated a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles, an India-Russia joint venture. Modi, who landed in the city after addressing a rally some 350 km away in Bihar's Patna, said Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto and his government has done full justice to the constituency in terms of the development. "We were not able to win elections the last time (2014) but won your hearts. Smritiji worked for the development here and did more work than that done by the one who (Rahul Gandhi) has won from here," he said, referring to Union minister Smriti Irani who unsuccessfully contested the last election from Amethi. "Those who voted for us and those who did not, all are ours...This is the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," Modi said. The Congress president has been alleging that his constituency was receiving step-motherly treatment from the Centre with various projects being stalled since the BJP-led government came to power. The prime minister, who announced development projects worth Rs 538 crore for the constituency, said Amethi will get a new identity now and be known by the new venture of AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles which will be made at the Korba ordnance factory here. The AK-203 will replace the INSAS rifles being used by the Army and other forces. The immediate target is to produce 7,00,000 AK-203 rifles in the facility, official sources said. "The AK-203 rifles will be manufactured in Amethi under Russia-India joint venture...These rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists," Modi said. In a message read out by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Russian President Vladmir Putin said the joint venture will be able to fulfil Indian security agencies' requirement for small arms. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, "Some people go around giving speeches of 'made in Ujjain', 'made in Jaipur', 'made in Jaisalmer'...This is Modi. Now 'Made in Amethi' will be AK-203 rifles. It will help our jawans." He said the rifles will be made in bulk and exported also, thus presenting employment opportunities to the local youths. Alleging that the delay in carrying out development works in Amethi has been because of previous governments, he said, "This work should have been started eight to nine years ago. The Korba ordnance factory was set up for making modern rifles but it was not fully used. This factory is an example of how the needs of our armed forces was neglected earlier." The PM said that in 2005 the army had raised its requirements after which work was started on this factory. "When the foundation was laid by your MP, it was said that work will start in 2010. It was his government but it did not happen. Why believe such a person? For three years, it was not decided what kind of weapons will be made here and land was also not made available," he said. Attacking the Congress chief, Modi said he promised jobs to 1,500 people but only 200 could get employment and he claims he never tells a lie. "He keeps giving speeches all over the country on employment." Modi alleged the previous government neglected the forces and they were not provided with bullet-proof jackets and made to wait for Howitzers, fighter planes. "These people sat on the Rafale deal for years and when it was time for their government to go, they pushed it in cold storage," Modi said. "They are still using the Rafale deal for their personal selfish gains. From the Supreme Court to the CAG, all are saying that the government has taken the right decision at the right time and right deal has been struck in national interest but they are telling lies. It is the frustration of not getting the commission in the defence deal which can be seen on the faces of some people," he stressed. "When our government assumed office, we finalised it in one-and-a-half years...And the first Rafale aircraft will be in our skies soon," he added. Modi also blamed the previous government for Amethi losing out on the steel factory, mega food park, cycle factory. "When power turns into selfishness and taking the family ahead becomes the only aim then it is natural that needs of the country are left behind. This is what happened with Amethi," he said. "Forgetting people after taking votes is the attitude of some families and people," he said. "They do not want development of the poor so that their generations can raise the slogan of 'garibi hatao." He said his government, on the other hand, is working for the poor. "What was done with the poor was also done with the farmers. They never tried to strengthen them and when farmers used to get fed up of their policies, they were lured by loan waivers. In 2008, they waived Rs 52,000 crores and its benefit remained confined to some over 3 crore farmers while the real benefit was taken by their cronies," he said. Buoyed by the surging crowds and slogans being raised against the local MP, he said Amethi and its people are going to make history and its echo of which will be heard across the country. He thanked Irani, who contested the 2014 polls from Amethi unsuccessfully, for carrying out development works here. Defence Minister Sitharaman and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also spoke on the occasion. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. The following companies are subsidiares of ABB: A88 for Electrical Industries (ABB ARAB) S.A.E., AABB Business Services Sp. z o.o., ABB (China) Investment Limited, ABB (China) Ltd., ABB 0y, ABB A/S, ABB AB, ABB AG, ABB AS, ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, ABB Australia Pty Limited, ABB Automacao Ltda., ABB Automation GmbH, ABB Automation Products GmbH, ABB B.V., ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co. Ltd., ABB Beijing Switchgear Limited, ABB Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsges. MbH, ABB Bulgaria EOOD, ABB Canada EL Holding GmbH, ABB Capital AG, ABB Electrical Control Systems S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Electrical Industries Co. Ltd., ABB Electrical Machines Ltd., ABB Electrification Canada ULC, ABB Electrification Norway AS, ABB Elektrik Sanayi A.S., ABB Eletrificacao Ltda., ABB Engineering (Shanghai) Ltd., ABB Engineering Trading and Service Ltd., ABB Finance (USA) Inc., ABB Finance B.V., ABB France, ABB Global Industries and Services Private Limited, ABB Group Investment Management Pty. Ltd., ABB Holding AS, ABB Holdings (Pty) Ltd., ABB Holdings B.V., ABB Holdings Inc., ABB Holdings Limited, ABB Inc., ABB Inc., ABB India Limited, ABB Industrial Solutions (Bielsko-Biala) Sp. z o.o., ABB Industrial Solutions (Klodzko) Sp.z o.o., ABB Industries (L.L.C.), ABB Information Systems Ltd., ABB Installation Products Inc, ABB Installation Products International LLC., ABB Investment Holding 2 GmbH, ABB K.K., ABB Limited, ABB Ltd., ABB Management Services Ltd., ABB Mexico SA. de C.V., ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc, ABB N.V., ABB Norden Holding AB, ABB Pte. Ltd., ABB S.A., ABB S.p.A., ABB SAS, ABB Schweiz AG, ABB Shanghai Free Trade Zone Industrial Co. Ltd., ABB Shanghai Motors Co. Ltd., ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd., ABB Sp. z o.o., ABB Stotz-Kontakt GmbH, ABB Treasury Center (USA) Inc., ABB Xiamen Low Voltage Equipment Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB s.r.o., APS Technology Group, ASTI Mobile Robotics, Asea Brown Boveri S.A., Asea Brown Boveri S.A.E., Asea Brown Boveri SA. de C.V., B + R Industrie-Elektronik GmbH, B&R Holding GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation, B&R Industrial Automation GmbH, Baldor Electric Company, Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, Chargedot, Codian Robotics, Cylon Controls, DynaMotive Ltd., ELBI Elektrik, Edison Holding Corporation, Envitech Energy, Epyon, GE Industrial Solutions, Gomtec, Gresin Grupo Estudios Industriales, Industrial C&S Hungary Kft., Industrial C&S of RR. LLC, Industrial Connections & Solutions LLC, KEYMILE - Business, Kuhlman Electric Corp., Lorentzen & Wettre, Los Gatos Research, Mincom, NUB3D S.L., Newave Energy Holding, Newron System, Power-One, Powercorp, RGM - Rail vehicle power business, SVIA, Spirit IT, Thomas & Betts, Trasfor, Tropos Networks, Validus DC Systems, Vectek Electronics, and Ventyx. Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More iShares Russell 1000 ETF's stock was trading at $151.41 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IWB stock has increased by 72.5% and is now trading at $261.18. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 10 hours ago 3 Reasons Why a Robust Retirement Plan Matters Even More in 2022 (and What it Means for You) This year, 401(k) plans held an estimated $7.3 trillion in assets and represented nearly one-fifth of the $37.2 trillion U.S. retirement market, according to the Investment Company Institute. This refers to employer-sponsored retirement plans (both defined benefit and defined contribution plans), individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and annuities. That's a lot of money. Read Article Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC. CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. Read More Croda International Plc creates, makes, and sells specialty chemicals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Asia, and Latin America. The company operates in four segments: Personal Care, Life Sciences, Performance Technologies, and Industrial Chemicals. It offers adhesives; crop protection additives and adjuvants, seed enhancement and animal health chemicals, chemical bio-stimulants, and specialty additives for agricultural films; and lubricant additives, coatings and polymers, vehicle cleaning chemicals, and products for automotive textiles and fibers, as well as specialty additives for plastics, and battery and catalyst industries. The company also provides specialty ingredients for self-tanning, color cosmetics, bath and shower, deodorants, anti-perspirants, depilatories, men's grooming, and oral hygiene, as well as skin, hair, sun, body, and baby care applications; construction chemicals and bitumen additives; dietary supplements; and advanced materials, and polymer additives for electronics and devices. In addition, it offers chemistries, emulsifiers, fuel and power generation additives, and polymer additives; food additives; specialty polymer additives for furniture and wood applications; household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; lubricants; oleochemicals; and packaging, print, and paper chemicals. Further, the company provides paints and coatings; active pharmaceutical ingredients; thermal management products; plastic and rubber products; skin health products; hygiene and industrial nonwovens, botanical extracts, tissues, and textile auxiliaries; and water treatment chemicals. Additionally, it offers bio-based phase change materials for buildings and ventilation, clothing and healthcare, electronics and devices, food and refrigeration, energy storage and recovery, temperature controlled packaging, and vehicles and automotive applications. The company was incorporated in 1925 and is headquartered in Goole, the United Kingdom. Read More oOh!media Limited operates as an out of home media company in Australia and New Zealand. The company's portfolio includes large format classic and digital roadside screens; classic and digital signs in shopping centers, airport terminals, and lounges, as well as in cafes, pubs, universities, office buildings, and gyms; classic and digital street furniture signs; digital and classic format advertising in public transportation corridors, such as rail; and online sites for millennials, students, flyers, small businesses, and city-based audiences. It also engages in content production and digital printing operations. The company serves advertisers, landlords, leaseholders, community organizations, local councils, and governments. oOh!media Limited was founded in 1989 and is based in North Sydney, Australia. Read More Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in global investment banking, securities, and investment management, which provides financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. The Investment Banking segment serves public and private sector clients around the world and provides financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. The Global Markets segment serves its clients who buy and sell financial products, funding and manage risk. The Asset Management segment provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. The Consumer & Wealth Management segment helps clients to achieve their individual financial goals by providing a wealth advisory and banking services. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More The Williams Cos., Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company, which explores, produces, transports, sells and processes natural gas and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Transmission and Gulf of Mexico; Northeast G&P; and West. The Transmission and Gulf of Mexico segment comprises of interstate natural gas pipelines, Transco and Northwest Pipeline, as well as natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region. The Northeast G&P segment includes midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation businesses in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment consists of gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of south Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins. The company was founded by David Williams and Miller Williams in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Read More Valley National Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Lending; Commercial Lending; Investment Management; and Corporate and Other Adjustments. The Consumer Lending segment consists of residential mortgage loans, automobile loans and home equity loans, as well as wealth management and insurance services. The Commercial Lending segment includes the floating rate and adjustable rate commercial and industrial loans as well as fixed rate owner occupied and commercial real estate loans. The Investment Management segment refers to investments in various types of securities and interest-bearing deposits with other banks. The Corporate and Other Adjustments segment represents the income and expense items not directly attributable to a specific segment. The company was founded on November 12, 1982 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Horizonte Minerals Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral projects in Brazil. The company primarily explores for nickel deposits, as well as cobalt deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Araguaia ferronickel project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt project located in the south of the CarajAs mineral district in northern Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More A new survey from MTV Entertainment Group and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 46% of Americans in Generation Z, those age 13 to 24, said the pandemic has made it harder to pursue their education or career goals, compared to 36% of Millennials and 31% of Generation X. Have you experienced similar negative impacts from the pandemic? You voted: iStar, Inc. is a real estate investment trust company, which engages in financing, investing, and development of real estate and related projects. It operates through the following business segments: Real Estate Finance, Net Lease, Operating Properties, Land and Development, and Corporate and Other. The Real Estate Finance segment includes all of the activities of the company related to senior and mezzanine real estate loans and real estate related securities. The Net Lease segment comprises activities of the company and operations related to the ownership of properties generally leased to single corporate tenants. The Operating Properties segment focuses in the activities and operations related to its commercial and residential properties. The Land and Development segment refers to the developable land portfolio of the company. The Corporate and Other segment represents all the corporate level and unallocated items, joint venture, and strategic investments, which are not included in the other reportable segments. The company was founded by Jay Sugarman in 1993 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More KBR, Inc. engages in the provision of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life-cycle within the government services and hydrocarbons industries. It operates through the following segments: Government Solutions, Technology Solutions, Energy Solutions, Non-strategic Business, and Other. The Government Solutions segment provides full life-cycle support solutions to defense, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies. The Technology Solutions segment combines KBR's proprietary technologies, equipment, and catalyst supply and associated knowledge-based services into a global business for refining, petrochemicals, inorganic, and specialty chemicals as well as gasification, syngas, ammonia, nitric acid, and fertilizers. The Energy Solutions segment provides full life-cycle support solutions across the upstream, midstream and downstream hydrocarbons markets. The Non-strategic Business segment represents the operations or activities which the company intends to exit upon completion of existing contracts. The Other segment includes corporate expenses and general and administrative expenses not all Read More Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. Read More NCI Building Systems, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets metal products for the nonresidential construction industry in North America. It operates in four segments: Engineered Building Systems, Metal Components, Insulated Metal Panels, and Metal Coil Coating. The Engineered Building Systems segment offers engineered structural members and panels; and self-storage building systems under the Metallic, Mid-West Steel, A & S, All American, Mesco, Star, Ceco, Robertson, Garco, Heritage, and SteelBuilding.com brands to builders, general contractors, developers, and end users directly, as well as through private label companies. The Metal Components segment provides metal roof and wall systems, metal partitions, metal trims, doors, and other related accessories for use in new construction, and repair and retrofit applications; roll-up doors; and interior and exterior walk doors under the MBCI, American Building Components, Eco-ficient, Metal Depots, and Doors and Buildings Components brands to manufacturers, contractors, subcontractors, distributors, lumberyards, cooperative buying groups, and other customers. The Insulated Metal Panels segment offers insulated metal panels for architectural, commercial, industrial, and cold storage end-market applications under the Metl-Span and CENTRIA brands. The Metal Coil Coating segment engages in cleaning, treating, and painting flat-rolled metals in coil form, as well as in slitting and/or embossing the metal, before the metal is fabricated for use by industrial users. It also cleans, treats, and coats heavy and light gauge metal coils for use in construction products, heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters, lighting fixtures, ceiling grids, office furniture, appliances, and other products; and provides toll coating and painted metal package services under the Metal Coaters and Metal Prep brands. NCI Building Systems, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company. It provides financial and investment banking services. The firm offers a range of investment banking products and services in all capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, market making in cash securities and derivative instruments, and brokerage and research. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking, Corporate and Investment Bank, Commercial Banking, and Asset and Wealth Management. The Consumer and Community Banking segment serves consumers and businesses through personal service at bank branches and through automated teller machine, online, mobile, and telephone banking. The Corporate and Investment Bank segment offers a suite of investment banking, market-making, prime brokerage, and treasury and securities products and services to a global client base of corporations, investors, financial institutions, government and municipal entities. The Commercial Banking segment delivers services to U.S. and its multinational clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions, and non profit Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. South Africa: South Africa and France strengthen bilateral relations South Africa and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations following their 8th South Africa France Forum for Political Dialogue (8th FPD). International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and her French counterpart, Jean-Yves le Drian, co-chaired the meeting that took place in Tshwane on Thursday. It was the first time that the forum was led at ministerial level. During the meeting, the two Ministers expressed the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Frances commitment to regular, structured bilateral meetings at ministerial level; defend the democratic values which they share and promote strong multilateralism, said DIRCO in a statement. The Ministers also agreed to increase cooperation within the framework of the G20 and in the United Nations Security Council, of which South Africa is a non-permanent member for the period 2019 to 2020. In addition, the Ministers further agreed to reduce global inequality, in partnership with Africa, under Frances G7 Presidency, and continue to support the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the common vision on the environment and human rights. The Minister agreed to a number of bilateral interactions and cooperation, which include: Regular interaction and deliberation on addressing peace, security and development concerns in Africa; Deepen the working relationship between the African Union, European Union and the United Nations to bolster peace keeping, security, governance and promoting democracy in Africa; Increase cooperation in the Indian Ocean and continue discussions about Frances role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association; Conclude arrangements for the 2019 Ministerial Joint Economic Commission in South Africa, to advance trade and investment relations; Conclude the implementation of the South Africa France Partnership Framework 2016 to 2019 and to renew the Framework during the 9th Forum for Political Dialogue in 2020. During the forum, the Ministers signed new agreements, namely the: Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Basic Education; Declaration of Intent on Establishing a Co-funded Scholarship for Masters and PhD Students; Framework Agreement between the South African National Space Agency and the Centre National dEtudes Spatiales in Space Cooperation; Credit Facility Agreement between the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD); Financing Agreement between the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited and Agence Francaise de Developpement; Memorandum of Understanding between La Reunion National Park (PNR) and South African National Parks (SANParks); Cooperation Protocol between the Association pour le Centre de ressources et dappui sur le risque requin a La Reunion (ACRAR) of the French Republic and the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board of the Republic of South Africa. Ministers also agreed to continue exploring joint opportunities in the areas discussed during the 8th FPD, including: Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) development support to South Africa; Basic Education Cooperation; Higher Education and Training Cooperation; Public service capacity development notably between the National School of Government (NSG) and Ecole Nationale dAdministration (ENA); Science, Technology, Innovation and Research Cooperation; Trade and Investment Exchanges and regular bilateral reviews; Energy Cooperation with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy; Transport Cooperation; Health Cooperation; Arts and Culture Cooperation; and Support to South African civil society organisations. Concluding the meeting, the Ministers agreed to schedule the next FPD meeting in Paris on mutually agreed dates during the course of 2020. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. There is not enough analysis data for Revolution Bars Group. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 285 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 83 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Revolution Bars Group has received 77.45% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Revolution Bars Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe RBG will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe RBG will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. The following companies are subsidiares of Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. There is not enough analysis data for Minoan Group. 4.7 Community Rank Outperform Votes Minoan Group has received 76 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Minoan Group has received 32 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Minoan Group has received 70.37% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Minoan Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MIN will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MIN will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next iShares MSCI EAFE ETF's stock was trading at $56.05 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EFA shares have increased by 41.7% and is now trading at $79.41. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. By Trend: In 2019, Italy will become a new export destination for Azerbaijan's Ganja Aluminum Plant, a source at the company told Trend. The source noted that presently, almost all of the plant's production is exported. "The company's products are exported to a number of European countries and the former USSR countries, and in the coming months, exports to the Italian market will be arranged. In order to ensure continuity of exports, the Ganja Aluminum Plant plans to increase production volumes as well," the source said. The company plans to increase production volumes to 52,447 tons. This figure amounted to 51,967 tons in 2018. The company produces primary and final aluminum products, as well as semi-finished products, such as rolled aluminum. Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through five segments: Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, and Group Development. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. The company also provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and business customers; sells mobile devices and other hardware products; and sells mobile services to resellers and to companies that purchases and markets network services to third parties, such as mobile virtual network operators. In addition, it offers internet services; internet-based TV products and services; and information and communication technology systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions with an infrastructure of data centers and networks under the T-Systems brand, as well as call center services. The company has 242 million mobile customers and 22 million broadband customers, as well as 27 million fixed-network lines. Deutsche Telekom AG has a collaboration with VMware, Inc. on cloud-based open and intelligent virtual RAN platform to bring agility to radio access networks for existing LTE and future 5G networks; and partnership with Microsoft to deliver high-performance cloud computing experiences. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany. Read More There is not enough analysis data for WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust has received 3 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust has received 0 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust has received 100.00% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe WIR will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe WIR will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Yum China: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. The contribution of the SME sector to the UAEs GDP of the country is estimated at 53 per cent, up from about 49 per cent in 2018, said a top official, citing the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authoritys report. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy and chairman of the UAE SME Council was speaking at the recent 9th UAE Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises & Innovation was held in Dubai. The federal government aims to increase this rate to around 60 per cent by 2021, underscoring the importance of this contribution in supporting the countrys economic diversification, he added. Al Mansoori emphasized that the UAEs progress in accelerating the establishment of a robust SME sector according to highest standards stands out at both regional and international levels. This is achieved through building strategic partnerships with developed countries and establishing strong partnerships with the private sector. The support offered to small and medium-sized entrepreneurs enables them to succeed and contribute to the competitiveness of the national economy at the global level. He added that the conference aims to facilitate sharing of experiences, identify best practices followed by the participating countries, and discuss the best solutions for SMEs that target new market by focusing on smart technology solutions in trade finance, services, production and marketing . These efforts are in line with the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 to build a diversified competitive economy based on innovation and knowledge led by competent nationals. This objective also aligns with the goals set under the UAE Centennial 2071 for the future development. Al Mansoori reaffirmed the Ministrys and the UAE SME Councils commitment to follow up the efforts during the next phase to support the entrepreneurs and SMEs. He further emphasized facilitating access to facilities and incentives granted by the law and by government laws, the most important of which is citizens' easy access to financing. While the allocation of 10 per cent of the procurement contracts and services is required by federal agencies and companies, the government bears more than 50 per cent of the fee for SMEs in order to support them. The facilitation and acceleration of financing processes, increasing incentives, intensification of training programs and external partnerships, building of fruitful partnerships for entrepreneurs with various promising markets were also highlighted. Furthermore, the Minister underscored the importance of the contribution of the private sector in supporting these efforts, and in providing opportunities for fruitful partnerships for entrepreneurs in the fields of innovation, R & D and smart technologies, and in employing them commercially in various vital fields, particularly food security and production, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, water solutions, transportation, tourism, health care, and education. The conference also featured two interactive sessions. The first one discussed smart technologies and the UAE-international cooperation. The session witnessed discussions on the most prominent experiences and initiatives, which contribute to the development of the sector in light of the developments in the modern economy; link SMEs in areas of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies; and strengthen international partnerships through them. The second session discussed new markets and opportunities for SMEs and focused on the relevance of innovation to entrepreneurship and emphasized the significance of harnessing the potential of modern technologies in enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. TradeArabia News Service There is not enough analysis data for Aurex Energy. 4.4 Community Rank Outperform Votes Aurex Energy has received 41 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Aurex Energy has received 22 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Aurex Energy has received 65.08% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Aurex Energy and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CPC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CPC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Galway Metals Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. It explores for zinc, gold, copper, silver, and lead. The company holds a 100% interest in the Clarence Stream project that covers an area of 61,000 hectares located in south-western New Brunswick, Canada. It also holds a 100% interest in the Estrades mine, related Newiska concessions, and adjacent Casa Berardi claims covering an area of 20,915 hectares in western Quebec, Canada. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin has written down $910 million in oil and gas assets amid continuing uncertainty over trade relations with Saudi Arabia, said a report. The Canadian engineering giant had picked up a string of major contracts in the kingdom before a diplomatic dispute between the two countries last summer clouded the outlook for future orders, reported Arab News. The firm said that near-term prospects for the business were worsening in the face of rising trade challenges in the kingdom. The writedown contributed to a C$1.6 billion ($1.2 billion) fourth-quarter loss at the contractor. The engineering company also faces headwinds in Latin America, where it reported a C$346 million loss related to what analysts understand to be Chilean state-run miner Codelcos Chuquicamata copper mine. It is also expecting lower annual revenue from its metals and mining business, said the report. "We disclosed back in August the potential effects of the Canadian-Saudi issue, and I think that in itself doesnt affect the work we do today and the backlog we have," said SNC-Lavalin CEO Neil Bruce in a video presentation accompanying the companys full-year results. But it does put a lot of uncertainty into the future prospects because Saudi have been pretty clear that they are looking wherever they choose to maybe omit us from bidding things that traditionally we would have bid, he added. The following companies are subsidiares of BlackRock: Acero Cooperatief U.A., Acero Holdings I B.V., Amethyst Merger Sub LLC, AnalytX Hosting LLC, AnalytX LLC, AnalytX Software LLC, Aperio, Aperio, Aquila Heywood, Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund I (GenPar) Ltd., BAA Holdings LLC, BFM Holdco LLC, BLK (Gallatin) Holdings LLC, BLK SMI LLC, BR Acquisition Mexico S.A. de C.V., BR Jersey International Holdings L.P., Beijing eFront Software Company Limited, BlackRock (Barbados) Finco 1 SRL, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Limited, BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco II Pte. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Limited, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, BlackRock AP Investment Holdco LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte. Limited, BlackRock Alternative Advisors GP Holdings LLC, BlackRock Alternatives Management LLC, BlackRock Argentina Asesorias Ltda., BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Investor Services Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Asset Management UK Limited, BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd., BlackRock Brasil Gestora de Investimentos Ltda., BlackRock Cal 1 Investor LLC, BlackRock Canada Holdings LP, BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC, BlackRock Capital Holdings Inc., BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors LLC, BlackRock Capital Management Inc., BlackRock Cayco Limited, BlackRock Cayman 1 LP, BlackRock Cayman Capital Holdings Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 3 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited, BlackRock Cayman Z Limited, BlackRock Channel Islands Holdco Limited, BlackRock Chile Asesorias Limitada, BlackRock Colombia Holdco LLC, BlackRock Colombia Infraestructura S.A.S., BlackRock Colombia SAS, BlackRock Company Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, BlackRock Corporation US Inc., BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc., BlackRock Enterprise Management Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Europe Development Management Limited, BlackRock Execution Services, BlackRock Finance Europe Limited, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., BlackRock Finco LLC, BlackRock Finco UK Ltd., BlackRock First Partner Limited, BlackRock France SAS, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Fund Management Company S.A., BlackRock Fund Managers Limited, BlackRock Funding International Ltd., BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC, BlackRock Germany GmBH, BlackRock Group Limited, BlackRock HK Holdco Limited, BlackRock Holdco 2 Inc., BlackRock Holdco 3 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 4 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 5 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 6 LLC, BlackRock Hungary Kft, BlackRock Index Services LLC, BlackRock Infrastructure Management I LLC, BlackRock Institutional Services Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company National Association, BlackRock International Holdings Inc., BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Dublin) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Investment Management (Taiwan) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management Ireland Holdings Limited, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock Investments LLC, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd., BlackRock Japan Holdings GK, BlackRock Jersey Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Latin America Holdco LLC, BlackRock Latin American Holdings B.V., BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Lux Finco S.a r.l., BlackRock Luxembourg Holdco S.a r.l., BlackRock Mexican Holdco B.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura I S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager S de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Operadora S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures LLC, BlackRock Niagara LLC, BlackRock Operations (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., BlackRock Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock PC Holdings LLC, BlackRock Pensions Limited, BlackRock Peru Asesorias S.A., BlackRock Property Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Property France S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Lux S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., BlackRock Realty Advisors Inc., BlackRock Saudi Arabia, BlackRock Scale Holdings LLC, BlackRock Services India Private Limited, BlackRock Singapore III Pte. Ltd., BlackRock Slovakia s.r.o., BlackRock Strategic Investors GP LLC, BlackRock Strategic Investors LP, BlackRock Trident Holding Company Limited, BlackRock UK (Alpha) Limited, BlackRock UK (Beta) Limited, BlackRock UK (Delta) LP, BlackRock UK (Gamma) Limited, BlackRock UK (Sigma) Limited, BlackRock UK 2 LLP, BlackRock UK 3 LLP, BlackRock UK 4 LLP, BlackRock UK A LLP, BlackRock UK Holdco 2 Limited, BlackRock UK Holdco Limited, Blackhawk Investment Holding LLC, CIE Automotive, Cachematrix Holdings, Cachematrix Holdings LLC, Cachematrix Integrations Private Limited, Cachematrix Software Solutions LLC, Cachematrix UK Limited, FutureAdvisor Inc., Glass Mountain Pipeline, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Advisors LLC, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors LLC, Grosvenor Alternate Partner Limited, Grosvenor Ventures Limited, HLX Financial Holdings LLC, MGPA (Bermuda) Limited, MGPA (Exec) Limited, MGPA Limited, Mercury Carry Company Ltd., Mercury Private Equity MUST 3 (Jersey) Limited, Object Capital Technology Inc., Phoenix Acquisition B.V., Phoenix Acquisitions Holdings LLC, Portfolio Administration & Management Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios Integrales BlackRock Mexico S.A. de C.V., SVOF/MM LLC, St. Albans House Nominees (Jersey) Ltd., State Street Research & Management, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tlali Acero S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Trident Merger LLC, eFront, eFront, eFront (Jersey) Limited, eFront DMLT Holdings LLC, eFront DMLT Holdings S.R.L, eFront DR S.R.L, eFront Do Brasil Solucoes Informaticas Para Sistemas Financeiros Ltda., eFront FZ-LLC, eFront Financial Solutions Inc., eFront GmbH, eFront Holding II SAS, eFront Holdings SAS, eFront Hong Kong Limited, eFront II SAS, eFront Kabushiki Kaisha, eFront Ltd, eFront SAS, eFront Singapore Pte. Ltd, eFront Software Luxembourg S.a r.l., eFront Solutions Financeieres Inc., eFront d.o.o. Beograd, iShares (DE) I Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries. National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment provides investment solutions, trust and estate services, banking services, lending services, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and other wealth management solutions through internal and third-party distribution networks. The Financial Markets segment offers risk management products and services; and debt and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance expertise; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and the activities of targeted investments in certain emerging markets. The company also offers credit cards. It provides its services through a network of 483 branches and 1,573 banking machines. The company was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. engages in the exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum concentrates. It primarily holds interests in the Morrison property located in British Columbia. The company was formerly known as Booker Gold Explorations Limited and changed its name to Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. in February 2000. Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Read More UAE-based Pantheon Development said work was progressing well at its Pantheon Elysee, an affordable luxury development located in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) in Dubai. Signalling a major milestone, the developer said nearly 12 per cent of the structural work had been completed, while work related to Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) stood at three per cent completion. Pantheon Elysee is the second project in JVC for the Pantheon Group, following the successful launch of Pantheon Boulevard at District 13. The UAE-based firm has offices in Latin America, Far East and India with an annual turnover of more than Dh1.2 billion ($325 million). Group Founder and Chairman Kalpesh Kinariwala, while expressing delight at the progress of the project, said: "We are pleased that the work for Pantheon Elysee is well on track. As an organisation, delivering on time has been our distinguishing factor, which has led customers to trust in us." "Given the way the project is shaping up, we are confident that the tenants will be able to move to their residential and retail units by end of 2020," he noted. Kinariwala said the UAEs construction and realty sector were experiencing a dramatic shift, with affordable luxury forming the next level of demand. "The new trend will accelerate further growth of the sector, consolidating the UAEs position as a construction and realty giant on the global map," he noted. Pantheon Elysee, the $49 million project consists of 268 residential units and retail outlets, with CJTech Contractors being appointed as the contractor on the project, as well as Al Khawajah Engineering Cosultants serving as the project consultants.-TradeArabia News Service Stantec Inc. provides professional consulting services in the area of infrastructure and facilities in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company provides consulting services in engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics. It also offers water, transportation, and public works; transportation planning and traffic engineering; and resource assessment, mine development, reclamation, hydrology, and geotechnical and infrastructure engineering services, as well as urban planning, traffic assessments and optimization, environmental impact assessments, and public consultation services. In addition, the company provides structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and hydraulics engineering services. It serves urban regeneration, infrastructure, education, public and private sector, tourism and leisure, and waste and water sectors, as well as office and commercial, residential, and retail and town centers. The company was formerly known as Stanley Technology Group Inc. and changed its name to Stantec Inc. in October 1998. Stantec Inc. was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Read More Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Read More The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Treasury Wine Estates Limited operates as a wine company primarily in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It engages in the viticulture and winemaking; and marketing, sale, and distribution of wine. The company's wine portfolio includes luxury, masstige, and commercial wine brands, such as Penfolds, Beringer, Lindeman's, Wolf Blass, 19 Crimes, Chateau St Jean, Beaulieu Vineyard, Stags' Leap, and Sterling Vineyards. It also provides contract bottling services to third parties. The company owns and leases 8,676 planted hectares of vineyards primarily in Barossa Valley and Coonawarra, Australia; 498 planted hectares of vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand; and owns and operates 3,213 planted hectares in various viticultural regions in California, including Napa and Sonoma Valleys, as well as 193 hectares in Italy. It markets and sells its products to distributors, wholesalers, retails chains, independent retailers, and on premise outlets, as well as directly to consumers. The company was founded in 1843 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: (Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company), Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Adaptec Manufacturing Singapore, Alverix, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Colombia S.A.S., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VI LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bdn., Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Ltd., Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Ltd., Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard, C. R. Bard (Portugal)-Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brazil Productos Medicos Ltds., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion BH 335 d.o.o. Cazin, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Germany 318 GmbH, CareFusion Iberia 308 S.L., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cubex, Cytopeia, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences, GeneOhm Sciences Canada Inc., Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Ionotophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., LifeBond, Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics, NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C.(Isialys)Societe a responsabilitie limitee(Societe a associe unique), PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med, Safety Syringes, Safety Syringes Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical, Straub Medical, Straub Medical (US) LLC, Straub Medical (United Kingdom) Ltd., Straub Medical France, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical, TVA Medical GmbH, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha, Touchstone Medical Limited, Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging, TriPath Imaging Inc., Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Y-Med Inc., and Y-Med LLC. Thirty innovative EdTech startups have been named as finalists of the Next Billion EdTech Prize, which recognises the most innovative use of technology that has the potential to radically impact education in low income and emerging economies. The 30 finalists will compete in a pitch contest taking place at the Global Education & Skills Forum (GESF) 2019 from March 22-24 in Dubai. The forum brings together over 1,500 delegates from around the world to solve the most pressing issues in global education, culminating in the award of the Next Billion Edtech Prize and the $1 million Global Teacher Prize. While at the forum, the finalists will also have an opportunity to meet some of the most important players from the spheres of both education and technology from venture capitalists to education ministers, foundations, academics and some of the worlds best teachers. They will be able to draw on their expertise and support to build products that will work as well in the classroom as they do at a pitch competition, said a statement. The Next Billion Prize was named to remind the world of the billion young people a number growing every day that are being denied an education that allows them to make the most of their talents. Vikas Pota, Group Chief Executive of Tmrw Digital, which runs the Next Billion Prize, said: Congratulations to these startups for making the final 30 that will compete in the Next Billion Prize 2019. The Next Billion Prize was created to shine a light on those gifted entrepreneurs that are not only ingenious, but also bold and persistent enough to bring forward the revolutionary ideas that are desperately needed to transform education in those parts of the world where there is limited access to high quality teaching. Our fervent hope is that the prize inspires this new breed of entrepreneur the world over to come forward with the fresh thinking that is needed to help give every child their birthright; access to a great education. The 30 startups come from across the globe, including North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. The 30 finalists will pitch to an expert panel of judges, made up of venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, educators, and experts in EdTech and learning sciences. They will also pitch to a live audience of GESF delegates made up of leading education figures from public, private and social sectors. Six of the startups will be selected to return to the main GESF stage for the grand final in front of judges and a live audience. The best three will each be awarded $25,000 and the winner will be awarded the Next Billion Prize trophy. Finalists from last years Next Billion Prize have gone from strength to strength over the past year, using the contacts made at GESF to sign country-wide distribution contracts, receive new investment and achieve rapid growth. For example, after connecting at GESF 2018, Learning Machine and the University of Bahrain have partnered to launch one of the first blockchain credentialing initiatives in the Middle East. BizNation meanwhile has since been named by the World Economic Forum as one of the 50 companies reshaping the future of LATAM, has hired 11 new staff and seen revenues grow by 55%. Sunny Varkey, founder of the Next Billion Prize, added: The Next Billion Prize highlights technologys potential to tackle the problems that have proven too difficult for successive generations of politicians to solve. The power to change education systems at all levels no longer lies exclusively in the hands of the political and business elite through the traditional models of global policymaking. Changemakers can be those who work away from the spotlight in startups located across the world. The final 30 startups selected for the Next Billion Prize are: Talk2U, OxEd, Whetu, Signa, SimBi, Moi Social Learning, Kuwala, Etudesk, PraxiLabs, Langbot, Seppo, Lesson App, Eneza, Aveti Learning Pvt. Ltd., Utter, Dost, Solve Education, M-Shule, eLimu, Wizenoze Ltd, ScholarX, Sabaq, Silabuz, Zelda, MTabe, Ubongo, Fineazy, TeachPitch, Big Picture Learning/Imblaze, and AugLi. - TradeArabia News Service The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: AG Holding UK, APL France SAS, APL Management Pte Ltd, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Group Holding B.V., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Ackerman International Holland B.V., Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth, Aggregate Plant Products Co., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding, Ameron Singapore Poly Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron Trading Holdings Pte. Ltd., Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback, Andergauge USA, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Axiom Process Limited, Belco Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Bowen Downhole Inc., Bowen Downhole LLC, Brandt Interests, Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, CSI Inspection, Camco Drilling Group Limited, Chemineer, Coil Services Middle East LLC, Containment Solutions, Containment Solutions Services, Couoperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Couoperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Denali Incorporated, Denali Management, Devin International, Dreco Canada L.P., Dreco DHT, Dreco Eastern Europe ULC, Dreco Energy Services ULC, Dreco International Holdings ULC, Dreco LLC, E.C. Motors, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Enerpro de Mexico, Environmental Procedures LLC, Ershigs, Fabricated Plastics Acquisitions Limited, Fabricated Plastics Limited, Fiber Glass Systems, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co., Fiber Glass Systems Holdings, Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiber Glass Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fiberspar Corporation, Fiberspar Linepipe Canada Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co., Fjords Processing 1 AS, Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GOT German Oil Tools GmbH, GP USA Holding LLC, GPEX, German Oil Tools (Middle East) FZE, Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co., Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco AB TCA Holding LLC, Grant Prideco European Holding, Grant Prideco Holding, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco L.P., Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco USA, Grant Prideco de Venezuela, Greystone Technologies Pty. Ltd., GustoMSC B.V., GustoMSC U.S., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co., Hitec AS, Hydralift AmClyde, Hydralift France SAS, Hydralift Holdings UK Limited, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas, IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv International Holding, Intelliserv LLC, Interval LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co., Merpro Group Limited, Merpro Products Limited, Merpro Tortek Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., Moyno de Mexico S.A. de C.V., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia), NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans), NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV ASEP Elmar Mexico, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Completion Tools AS, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV DH de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV DHT Canada Holding ULC, NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Europe B.V., NOV Downhole Germany GmbH, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand, NOV Dreco GP LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Elmar NL B.V., NOV Elmar Pte. Ltd., NOV Enerflow ULC, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV European Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services, NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Fiber Glass Systems Fabricacao De Tubos E Conexoes Ltda, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Floating Production AS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GP Holding L.P., NOV GP1 Holding LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Germany GmbH & Co KG, NOV Holding Germany Management GmbH, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV Hydra Rig Pte. Ltd, NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading), NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Inc., NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Mexico, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mission Products UK Limited, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding C.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding LLC, NOV North America I/P, NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV Process & Flow Technologies US, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico, NOV Subsea Products AS, NOV TV2 LLC, NOV TVI LLC, NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals, NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide C.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW Downhole Tools, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell DHT, National Oilwell Middle East Company, National Oilwell Services de Mexico, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico, National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions, National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela, National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pipex Structural Composites Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Pridecomex TA Industries, Procon Engineering Ltd., Profab Engineering Pte. Ltd., Profab Services Pte Ltd, Quality Tubing FSC, R&M C.V., R&M Canada Cooperatief U.A., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd., R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela, R&M Environmental Strategies, R&M Singapore Holding LLC, R&M UK Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog, ReedHycalog International Holding, ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers, Robbins & Myers (Suzhou) Process Equipment Company Limited, Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STBH2O TUNISIE, STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Seabox AS, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, Smart Drilling GmbH, Soil Recovery A/S, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico, T-3 Energy Services, T-3 Energy Services Cayman, T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings, T-3 Energy Services India Private Limited, T-3 Energy Services Mexico, T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings, TVI Holdings, Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tube-Kote, Tubo-FGS, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela, Tuboscope Machining Services AS, Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Pipeline Services Inc., Tuboscope Services, Tuboscope Vetco (Deutschland) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Oesterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Canada ULC, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS, Varco Canada ULC, Varco I/P, Varco International de Venezuela, Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Coating GmbH, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets, Wilson International, Woolley, XL Systems, XL Systems Antilles, XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International, voestalpine Middle East Free Zone Establishment, voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG. Avivo Group, one of the fastest growing healthcare organisations in the GCC, is planning to expand its presence in the Gulf countries and North Africa amid growing opportunities and strong demand for healthcare services in these countries, said its top official. The group includes two highly reputed hospitals, 29 clinics including 10 high-end dental centres attached with sophisticated dental labs, six pharmacies and distribution centres besides two training centres and state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities across the UAE. It already has a strong presence in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Kuwait, but is still open to expanding in the region in months to come, said CEO Dr Dilshaad Ali during a media roundtable recently. "We are always on the growth path and keep looking to expand. We see the Middle East itself is growing, so our geographical expansion looks at Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to a large extent and also looking into North Africa for the existing facilities and other new opportunities that come our way," Dr Ali said. According to him, the Avivo Group is also in discussion on some private-public partnerships in some countries. The group is also expanding its speciality line, which will include neuro-spinal, anti-ageing and some other key areas such as urology and advanced gastroenterology. Dr Dilshaad said the growth would come from hospital segment of the healthcare delivery system as the current state of the platform will have a robust referral network to fill-up future in-patient occupancies. We have launched a Centre of Excellence in Plastic Surgery run by resident and visiting doctors from the US and Europe. We also have plans to launch a global Rhinoplasty Centre of Excellence soon comprising with five best nose surgeons from around the world, noted Dr Ali. We have segmented our assets into low-end and mid-to-high end clinics. Some of our clinics are currently being transformed into speciality clinics offering surgical services that will help us in increasing our revenue base significantly, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) Line 6 Expansion Project has gained further momentum with the handover of 172 pots for commissioning on March 1, bringing Alba one step closer to becoming the worlds largest smelter. Commenting on this occasion, Albas chairman of board of directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, said: We are pleased to announce that Potline 6 is now in full ramp-up mode with the handover of the next set of 172 pots for commissioning. Once the start-up of the additional 172 pots is complete, Alba will have commissioned a total of 212 pots (50 per cent of Potline 6 capacity). We look forward to seeing the positive financial benefits that this additional capacity will bring to our bottom-line, he said. The first hot metal from Potline 6 was achieved on December 13, 2018, placing Alba among the 1 million metric tonne smelters in the world. Upon completion in 2019, the Line 6 Expansion Project will boost Albas per-annum production by 540,000 tonnes, bringing Albas total production capacity to 1.5 million tonnes per year, an Alba statement said. Albas Line 6 Expansion Project is one of the biggest brownfield developments in the Middle East region. With a Capex of approximately $3 billion, the project involved the construction of a sixth potline using EGAs proprietary DX+ Ultra Technology, a 1,792 MW Power Station (Power Station 5) utilising the worlds first H-class General Electric (GE) 9HA Gas Turbine (GT) and other industrial services. Bechtel is the EPCM contractor for the Line 6 Expansion Project smelter. For Power Station 5 (PS 5), GE and GAMA Consortium was awarded the EPC contract, while Siemens is the Power Distribution System contractor. JP Morgan, Gulf International Bank (GIB) and National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) are the financial advisors for this project. As of January 31, 2019, Line 6 Smelters overall progress advanced by 83.5 per cent (Engineering progressed by more than 98 per cent, while contracts and procurement advanced by 98 per cent); Power Station 5 & Power Distribution System Overall Progress exceeded 85 per cent and by over 97 per cent, respectively. The Line 6 project is expected to be transformational for Bahrain as it will significantly boost employment opportunities for Bahrainis at both Alba and the local downstream market. It will also present many co-investment opportunities through local and foreign aluminium investments in Bahrain, the statement said. TradeArabia News Service Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), in its effort to enable subscribers who have not registered their prepaid SIM-cards, has extended the deadline by three more months to June 2. TRA warned that the failure to register within the specified period will result in suspension of the service on a temporary basis and further delay on the part of the customer will lead to final deactivation. This initiative is part of the Authoritys on-ongoing efforts to protect and safeguard subscribers from fraud and identity theft. TRA also called upon subscribers to visit their service providers and present verification documents to complete registration and avoid deactivation.-TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Time Hotels Management has announced the signing of a new agreement to operate Dunes Hotel Apartments three properties located throughout Dubai. Time Hotels took over day-to-day operations of the properties following the signing of a management agreement on January 24 in Dubai between Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, Time Hotels and Abdallah Mohamed Jaber Al Harbi, owner, Dunes Hotel Apartments. Commenting on the new management agreement, Awadalla said: Our partnership with Dunes Hotel Apartments further reinforces our growth strategy to expand our footprint in the UAE with further openings in Dubai, and Sharjah, as well as other properties across the region in Saudi Arabia and Egypt taking our total portfolio to 20 properties by the end of 2020." Time Hotels has a great deal of experience across the UAE, and more importantly an in-depth understanding of how to add value and drive in business, he said. Dunes Hotel Apartment Al Barsha comprises 83 rooms, while Dunes Hotel Apartments Al Qusais features 108 rooms and Dunes Hotel Apartments Oud Metha has 80 rooms in total. All three properties include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with the Al Barsha property also offering three-bedroom penthouse apartments. Each property features Dunes Delight restaurant which serves Middle Eastern, Arabic, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Guests also have access to a health and fitness centre with a fully-equipped gym and separate male and female steam rooms; heated outdoor swimming pool; a business centre and 24-hour reception and maintenance service. All three properties will undergo a rebrand this month, becoming Time Dunes Hotel Apartment Al Barsha, Time Dunes Hotel Apartments Oud Metha and Time Dunes Hotel Apartments Al Qusais. Al Harbi, owner, Dunes Hotel Apartments, said: Time Hotels was appointed to manage all three Dunes Hotel Apartments in Dubai, because it is a dynamic and flexible hospitality company, with a wealth of experience, successfully running midscale properties in the UAE and across the Middle East, delivering a consistently high-quality hospitality experience." Time also has a solid marketing proposition. It is excellent at cross-selling its properties and has exceptional relationships with GCC travel agents, as well as international tour operators, he added. - TradeArabia News Service What does it mean when Dal closes? Courses and instruction In the event that weather conditions or emergency interruptions lead to a campus closure, delivery of courses (in-person or online) related to that campus (Halifax or Truro) would be suspended and would not resume until the university re-opens. Any communication from the university would specify impacts as best as possible. Be advised that access to some supports and services may be impacted as well. Employees In the event of a university closure due to weather, or any other emergency interruption, faculty and staff: who are already working remotely should continue to work provided they are able to. who are working on campus but who can work remotely should continue their work remotely. whose work is deemed essential and is required front-line work (including those referenced in the Policy on University Closure or Class/Examination Cancellation) will be expected to remain at work on campus. (Those faculty and staff who are working on campus and who cannot work remotely will be permitted to go/stay home without loss of pay.) For more information, review the Guidelines for University Emergency Interruptions (Login required.) A campus closure may apply separately to different campuses in Halifax and Truro. Dal closures in Halifax also apply to classes and offices at the University of Kings College. Sometimes, the Halifax campuses and the Agricultural Campus in Truro will close only for part of the day (for example, until noon), with a time announced for when conditions will be re-evaluated and the decision updated. How will I know if Dal is closed? The university has a number of different channels that may be used to communicate storm closures. A DalSAFE Campus Alert may be: The DalSAFE Campus Alert message will specify whether the closures apply to the Halifax campuses, the Truro campus or both. Media outlets (radio, TV, news websites) are encouraged to share Dals status, and a message is also typically placed on the Dal switchboard phone line (902-494-2211). For the Agricultural Campus, you can check the emergency phone line (902-893-6027 or 877-672-2363). In cases where Dal remains open but there may be isolated closures or cancellations on campus, the DalSAFE website may be updated should there be closures or a reduction to services at facilities such as Dalplex or the Libraries. How and why Dal closes due to weather The decision to close is made by the vice-president finance and administration in consultation with the universitys director of security and senior staff in Facilities Management. (In the case of a Truro closure, the decision is made by the campus principal in consultation with Security and Facilities.) Factors considered include: current and forecasted weather conditions feedback from Facilities Management on the condition of campus roads, sidewalks and entrances status of roads and public transit more generally disadvantages of sending individuals back into the weather once they have arrived on campus, as well as consideration to the anticipated conditions during commute periods In the event of a closure before the start of regular office hours, the university will make and communicate the decision by 6 a.m. If a closure takes place during office hours, Dal will announce the time at which classes are cancelled and employees are excused to depart. (Where possible, this will be at least one hour prior to the cancellation going into effect.) If Dal remains open but you have concerns about your ability to make it to campus, please contact your professor or, for employees, your supervisor. While in metros, it expects a rise in the demand for premium range of water dispensing products. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Shapoorji Pallonji Group firm Eureka Forbes, a leader in electric water purification segment, is looking to further consolidate its position on account of focus on non-metro and semi-rural markets, a top company official has said. The company sees non-metro and semi-rural markets as a major growth driver going ahead. While in metros, it expects a rise in the demand for premium range of water dispensing products. "We would like to consolidate our position in the segment and grow the market," Eureka Forbes Chief Transformation Officer Shashank Sinha told PTI. Sinha claimed Eureka Forbes held nearly 60 per cent share of the entire electric water purifier market that is pegged at around Rs 4,500 crore. "We are closer to 60 per cent market share in the electric water purification market," he said, adding that the market penetration of water purifier is less in the country and would expand in coming years as the awareness about benefits of pure drinking water is increasing. The domestic water purifier market will witness consolidation in coming years at the bottom of the pyramid, where lots of unorganised players are operating, according to Sinha. Eureka Forbes sells water purifiers with brand names like Dr Aquaguard, Aquaguard AquaSure and AquaSoft. The company, which had a gross group turnover of Rs 3,000 crore in 2017-18 (April-March), gets over half of its revenue from the water purifier segment. The remaining revenue comes from other verticals such as vacuum cleaner, air purifier, security solutions and other segments. It has manufacturing units at three locations -- Bengaluru, Dehradun and Baddi -- with a manufacturing capacity of around 12 to 15 lakh units per annum. The company sells its range of water purifiers in around 40 countries with its Swiss arm Lux International. As per market reports, the water purifier segment in India is expected to grow at 11.5 per cent CAGR during 2018-2025. Kent RO, Livpure, Tata Swach and HUL are among the other top brands in the segment besides Eureka Forbes. New Delhi: The government has approved a Rs 14,000-crore special economic zone (SEZ) project of Adani Power in Jharkhand, which will export entire power generated to Bangladesh, an official said. The project was approved by highest decision making body on SEZ - Board of Approval - chaired by the commerce secretary, in its meeting on February 25, the government official said. Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd has sought approval for setting up of sector specific SEZ for power at villages - Motia, Mali, Gaighat and adjacent villages in Godda district, Jharkhand over an area of 425 hectare. It has received formal approval for the land in possession of 222.68 hectare area and in principle approval for remaining 202.32 hectare. Two supercritical units of 800 MW each would be set up with an investment of Rs 14,000 crore which would include setting up of a water pipeline and power evacuation system. It will be ready by the end of 2022. The company has already signed power purchase agreement for supply of 100 per cent power generated from this plant to Bangladesh. The SEZs are major export hubs in the country as the government provides several incentives including tax benefits and single window clearance system. The developers and units of these zones enjoy certain fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as no licence requirement for import, full freedom for subcontracting, and no routine examination by customs authorities of export/import cargo. They also enjoy direct and indirect tax benefits. Exports from special economic zones grew by about 15 per cent to Rs 5.52 lakh crore in 2017-18. New Delhi: A total of 16 ministers negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on Saturday called for addressing specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes. The mega trade deal is being negotiated by 16 countries--the 10-member ASEAN group (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), besides their six free trade pact partners--Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu attended the 7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting held at Siem Reap in Cambodia. It was chaired by Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Acting Minister of Commerce of Thailand, and reviewed developments since the 2nd RCEP Summit held on November 14, 2018, in Singapore. About 25 rounds of talks have been concluded so far but the members are yet to finalise the number of goods on which customs duty will be eliminated. Issues are also pending in the services sector as India is demanding greater flexibility to promote trade in services. "The ministers recalled the leaders determination to conclude a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial RCEP in 2019, and resolved to exert utmost effort to achieve this target," said a joint statement issued after the meeting. It said the ministers commended the RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee for the progress on both market access and text-based negotiations, but at the same time recognised that more work needs to be done to advance both aspects of the negotiations. "The ministers urged all RPCs to address specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes. The ministers remained confident that with collective commitment and pragmatism, the chapters and annexes that would comprise the RCEP Agreement can be concluded soon." The ministers said it is the collective responsibility of all participating countries to ensure progress by overcoming negotiation challenges and finding a resolution to the remaining issues through constructive engagement.A total of 16 ministers negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on Saturday called for addressing specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes. The mega trade deal is being negotiated by 16 countries--the 10-member ASEAN group (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), besides their six free trade pact partners--Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu attended the 7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting held at Siem Reap in Cambodia. It was chaired by Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Acting Minister of Commerce of Thailand, and reviewed developments since the 2nd RCEP Summit held on November 14, 2018, in Singapore. About 25 rounds of talks have been concluded so far but the members are yet to finalise the number of goods on which customs duty will be eliminated. Issues are also pending in the services sector as India is demanding greater flexibility to promote trade in services. "The ministers recalled the leaders determination to conclude a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial RCEP in 2019, and resolved to exert utmost effort to achieve this target," said a joint statement issued after the meeting. It said the ministers commended the RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee for the progress on both market access and text-based negotiations, but at the same time recognised that more work needs to be done to advance both aspects of the negotiations. "The ministers urged all RPCs to address specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes. The ministers remained confident that with collective commitment and pragmatism, the chapters and annexes that would comprise the RCEP Agreement can be concluded soon." The ministers said it is the collective responsibility of all participating countries to ensure progress by overcoming negotiation challenges and finding a resolution to the remaining issues through constructive engagement. By Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: Mohammad Hussain, 50, spent about two months in an open field in the Kaksar area of Kargil during the Kargil war between India and Pakistan in 1999. It was during the months of June and July he says, and people were able to move to safer places. The government was also active and helped the locals. This time, however, the situation is different. Hussain says if war broke out now when snow is around 10 ft deep, they will die inside their houses and there will be no one to bury even their dead bodies. We are living in fear ever since Indian jets crossed the LoC and vice-versa, and only those people who live around the LoC know the true cost of war, as we are the first casualty, Hussain, a Sarpanch from the Congress party, says while talking to TwoCircles.net via phone. Support TwoCircles He says the temperature in Kargil during the day is -10 degrees Celcius. When you dont have water to bath, how can you think of surviving a war? he asks. Hussain says he along with his family are having sleepless nights these days as they worry where they will go in this bone-chilling cold if a war breaks out. It must be mentioned that the Ladakh division of the state remains cut-off from the rest of the country due to snow. The road remains blocked for around six months every year. Hussain says the provisions stored for the winter are often not enough during normal times and if war breaks down it will be disastrous for the people of Leh, Kargil, and Ladakh. Another local, Subhan Jaffari, says Ladakh shares 130 kilometres of the border area with Pakistan and even security forces are under 10ft snow. We will suffer heavy damage and we have suffered in past too. It will be impossible for us to shift right now to better places, Jaffari says. Jaffari says he has four daughters and is extremely worried for them. Those who are beating the drums of war while sitting in their cosy rooms should see the conditions of the people living in the border area, he adds. Bodraj Suchetgarh of Jammu sectors RS Pura says people in his area are of the opinion that war can break down anytime and they are moving towards safer places along with their family members. Boadraj, a government school teacher by profession, lambasted the Indian media for creating a war-like situation. People are panicking because of the India media, the way they have created war hysteria has affected the people here. It is very unfortunate that the government is not able to handle them, Bodraj says. He also slammed the government for failing to construct bunkers that were promised to them. The tall claims of the government of constructing the bunkers remain only in papers. These bunkers could have been of use this time easily, he says. It is pertinent to mention the Central Government approved the construction of 14,460 bunkers along the 740-km long border with Pakistan at a cost of Rs 415.73 crore last year. However, the project is far from complete and hence of little use to the locals. The dwellers alongside the LoC always face the brunt of cross-border shelling. In the last three years alone, 100 civilians have lost their lives and 300 civilians have been injured in border skirmishes. The government has ordered all government and private schools within a range five km from the International Border in Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch to remain closed since Thursday. The nervousness is also visible in the town of Uri in Baramulla district after shelling continued late Tuesday night for several hours in the nearby villages of Kalgai and Kamalkote. We have not slept since the last three days due to shelling between Indian and Pakistan. We only pray that this tension comes to an end once and for all, says Nazeer Ahmad Teli of Uri town via Phone. He adds that locals have been advised to stay indoors and switch off the lights during night Mohammad Dilawar of Gurez sector, North Kashmir, while speaking to TwoCircles.net said the locals constructed the bunkers themselves a few years ago and many families have shifted to their underground bunkers. Although there were no reports of cross-border shelling in that region, there is a lot of fear among the locals. According to latest reports, at least 60 families comprising around 300 people have fled their homes after firing from the Pakistan side killed 3 civilians in Poonch Village. The civilians fled for safety as Indian and Pakistani armies continued to pound the Line of Control. We are poor people and cannot afford the loss of houses. We are tired of living under the fear of getting killed or our houses getting destroyed in the shelling, said an elderly person Ghulam Hussain of Poonch to a Srinagar-based news agency. He urged both India and Pakistan to resolve their issues peacefully. Tension escalated between India and Pakistan after a Kashmiri suicide bomber belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit blew up a bus killing 40 CRPF troopers on February 14 which prompted Tuesdays air strike by India on a JeM camp across the LoC. New Delhi: Electric three-wheelers could be the "low hanging fruit" that can accelerate faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India due to their "unparalleled relevance" in first and last mile connectivity in some urban areas, according to a Deloitte report. The report -- Recharging India's electric vehicle ambition by electrifying public transport -- also said while the government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for EVs to be successful in India, it should not initially consider taking all the risk. The government should rather be more of a facilitator by providing support such as subsidies and developing policy framework, it added. Emphasising on the importance of electric three-wheelers or e-rickshaws in the Indian context, the report said urban transport systems generally end up servicing the major route networks leaving first/last mile connectivity unattended. "Provision of public transport services for these cities or areas by electrification of auto-rickshaws appears to be one of the optimal solution...The electric three wheelers also termed as e-rickshaws could, thus, be the low hanging fruits in EV adoption due to lower lifecycle cost," it said. These electric three wheelers are expected to complete the value chain for public transportation by providing first/last mile connectivity or urban public transport services to the commuters, the report added. The relevance of e-rickshaws in providing first/last mile connectivity and/or public transport services in some urban areas is unparalleled, it said. However, for e-rickshaws to be successful the stakeholders, which include government, vehicle and battery manufacturers, and private operators, will need to work in tandem. The business models should aim at promoting acquisition, deployment, usage, and monitoring and control of these vehicles effectively, the report said. "The business models for e-rickshaws ideally should be such that they help in furthering adoption of EVs in the cities by ensuring better connectivity of services. These business models would need to promote accessibility, adequacy, affordability, safety and reliability of passenger services and facilitate efficient last mile connectivity," it added. Additionally, it should aim at managing the risk among the involved parties, allowing to operate them to attain cost efficiency, the report said. Stressing on the importance of the government's role in promotion of overall EVs in India, the report said support in terms of regulatory framework, reduction in battery cost, and widespread availability of charging infrastructure are expected to be the key pillars for mass adoption. "Government should initially not consider taking all the risk and should rather be more of facilitator in developing the conducive environment for growth of players and electric mobility by providing funds, subsidies, developing policy framework, etc," it said. The private players are expected to be able to bring innovation in the era when technology is evolving, the report noted. Thus, government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for larger participation of private operators at all stages of EVs adoption such as manufacturing, operation, charging systems, among others for a total shift to EVs progressively, it said. The Indian economy of the upcoming decades of 21st century is going to be distinctive compared with that of the last decades of 20th century. And the differentiator would be the demographic dividend-- the average age of Indian population is 27 compared with 48 in Japan, 46 in the US and 42 in Europe. But there will be one condition: the youngsters get proper education and the right skill sets. And the role of the government in ensuring this is multifarious. UNESCO says higher education provides the link between the intellectual and educational role of universities on one hand and the development of society on the other. Raising skills holds the key to higher living standards and well-being. Investing in knowledge creation and enabling its diffusion are key to creating high-wage employment and enhancing productivity growth, points out OECD. Higher education sector in the economy is responsible for generating quality workforce, supporting the primary, secondary and service sectors as a whole, carrying out research and generating new knowledge and stimulating technologies. India's enrollment rates in higher education have been very low compared to those of developed nations. All India Survey on Higher Education 2017-18 indicated that over 70 per cent of the young population aged between 18 and 23, covered under enrollment rates, does not join in higher learning centres. Focus on improving the enrollment rate is essential since it has been vigorously linked to poverty alleviation. On an average, one year of education results in 10 per cent increase in wage earnings, said 2014 UNESCO report. It also offers a cushion for the working population against exploitation by boosting the band of opportunities, improving health, reducing income disparities and driving economic progress, adds the report. The union government has allocated an average of 1.62 per cent of the budget on higher education for the past five years. The Union budget 2019-20 has earmarked Rs 93,847.64 crore for the education sector, an increase of over 10 per cent from the last budget allocation of Rs 85,010 crore. Of this, Rs 37,461.01 crore has been allocated to higher education and Rs 56,386.63 crore for school education. This share of higher education in the total pie is alarmingly low and if this trend continues, the future of our youngsters may not be all that bright. Among public universities, around 97 per cent of students study in state universities and only the remaining 3 per cent in central universities. However, it is dismal that 57.5 per cent of the allocation for education in the Union budget goes to central universities and premier institutes such as IITs and IIMs. It is extremely essential for the state universities to grab more funds and resources considering the student load they carry. The state of affairs prevailing in the present system is that the state universities are funded partially by the Union government through the University Grants Commission and Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA/National Higher Education Scheme) and the other part by the state governments. However, owing to resource crunch, the state governments are not able to support higher education the way it demanded. Indian universities have consistently ranked low in global university rankings. Not even a single Indian university has ranked in the top 200 in various surveys; only five institutes make it to the top 500. These rankings are mainly based on the number of teachers, quality of teaching and the amount and quality of research. Universities in India endure acute dearth of faculty: 33 to 50 per cent of vacancies remain open at a given time. Also, India's expenditure on research is 0.62 per cent of the GDP, lower than all the nations in the BRICS group and less than one-third of the United States (2.74 per cent) and Europe (1.85 per cent). Higher education will stand meaningless without quality publications and research, and it is time we expand research from just specialised and premier institutes to Central and state universities, too. The state universities are in a really bad state. If the government continues to give more funds to the institutes that are doing better, then it is abandoning the state universities and the students who most need good quality higher education. Almost all developed nations earmark more than 6 per cent of their GDP on education. Considering the boundless inequality and poverty in India, education has a vital role to play in accomplishing social and economic mobility and government investment in higher education is the most effective tool for this. In the absence of a quality-oriented government-sponsored higher education system, it is unworkable to envisage moving towards a fair, ethical, non-discriminatory, generous and supportive economy. In short, quality education needs to be made available to all if we are aiming at creating a equitable world for our future generation. The advice given to the youth in India by Philip Kotler, who is considered the father of modern marketing, in his last visit to India, needs special attention. He advised them to get into more entrepreneurial and innovative ventures so that they can be job providers rather than job seekers. He added that the youth should put efforts on reviving traditional industrial activities through innovation and improvisation and establishing Indian brand in the global market for their high quality products. It is disturbing that the University-led research doesn't bring about meaningful results with practical utility. We must look for research contributions of universities that are highly useful in the fields of science and technology, social sciences and humanities. The major problem the universities, especially state universities, confronts is the paucity of funds and dearth of qualified and committed faculty. With more funding, the universities will be able to conduct meaningful research in areas of great potential such as health sciences, bio-medical sciences, genomics, data sciences, machine learning, agriculture, fisheries sciences, food production, space and astrophysics and so on. The research findings of the universities can bridge gap between ideas and practical applicability in various spheres of economic and scientific activities of national significance. The higher education sector should be streamlined so as to raise the quality of skills to the levels demanded by a potential employer as entrepreneurs or required by persons to start one's own business. The higher education sector can be strengthened so as to drive career counseling and guidance initiatives as it has been a pressing need of the hour at the ground level. This is more true in the light of drastic transformation in the employment market with the entry of new jobs showing exit sign to the redundant jobs. It is wistful that currently India lags behind even backward nations such as Sudan when it comes to its investments in higher education, an indicator to measure the commitment towards economic growth. It is high time to change this sad state of affairs. In order to reap maximum benefits out of the potential demographic dividend, it is imperative that union budget shares not less than three per cent of GDP exclusively for higher education. (The writer is former dean and UGC Emeritus Professor, University of Kerala) Adverse conditions at a time when the bookings for the upcoming season have started will significantly affect the summer prospects. (Budha Chandra) Chennai: Continuing the trend since 2016, Kashmir is set to lose its tourism revenues this summer as well with the situation in the state remaining tense. After the issuance of travel advisories by some of the leading source countries, travel service providers are also dissuading tourists from choosing the destination. Adverse conditions at a time when the bookings for the upcoming season have started will significantly affect the summer prospects. "Our central tour management team is closely monitoring the current situation in Kashmir. Our teams are in touch with customers and are assisting them with optional destinations, postponing travel dates or providing a future travel voucher should they prefer to reschedule,' said Rajeev Kale, president and country head-leisure travel, MICE and Visas at Thomas Cook India. In 2018, Kashmir witnessed the lowest arrivals in seven years. Only 8.5 lakh domestic and foreign tourists visited the valley last year, a decline of 23 per cent from 2017. Tourist arrivals have been declining since 2016 due to the political unrest. In 2012, the state had received 13 lakh visitors. Some of the key source countries like the US, UK and Canada have released travel advisories for their citizens visiting the region. The US has strongly recommended avoiding travel to Jammu and Kashmir "because of the potential for terrorist incidents as well as violent public unrest". The advisory has exempted eastern Ladakh region and its capital Leh. "In the current situation, summer travel to Kashmir will come down as holidaymakers are exploring other holiday destinations in North India. Tourists are switching to places in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Bhutan and Nepal are also gaining more tourists due to the altered preference and rate of enquiries for these two countries also have gone up significantly. The impact on Ladakh is less and we see no cancellations as of now. A good numbers of tourists are also travelling to cooler places in south India like Coorg, Munnar and Ooty," said Neelu Singh, CEO and Director, Ezeego1. Karan Anand, head, relationships, Cox and Kings finds that Leh, Ladakh and Nubra Valley will stand to gain in the coming summer holiday season. "For the upcoming season we expect people to switch to destinations that share the same topography and those that receive a fair bit of snowfall. Hill stations such as Manali and Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, Katao and Zero Point in Sikkim are expected to see a spike in the number of domestic Indian tourists. We expect a 20 per cent increase in numbers to these destinations," he said. Mumbai: Actor Arshad Warsi says he is clear that he will never be a part of an adult comedy as he is not only uncomfortable in that genre but also does not want his kids to see him do that. Arshad, who has featured in many hit comedies such as the "Golmaal" series and most recently "Total Dhamaal", says he is comfortable watching adult comedies but does not judge anyone who choose it. "I don't want to do a sex comedy because I'm not comfortable doing it. I've never been and can't even foresee myself doing it. I don't have a problem with other people doing adult comedy, I don't judge them. "Sometimes I can watch it too but I can't do it. Not only the fact that I'm uncomfortable doing it personally but I've also got kids. I don't want them see me doing that," Arshad told PTI. The actor said since his motivation of choosing a film is not money, he has no qualms of turning down projects which make him uncomfortable. "I'm not the kind of person who's greedy about money so it's not even on my nature that I'll do films for money. I was offered a lot of money for certain films which I wasn't comfortable being a part of and I said no." Though Arshad started his career with romance and drama in the 90s, he found his groove and fame with comedy, starting with "Munna Bhai MBBS". The actor says comedy as a genre is so strong that it will never be replaced by any trend. "Comedy is a genre that'll never go away. You'll have phases of everything, romance, action, but not of comedy. There's never going to be a moment or time where people stop seeing comedy. "No one will say 'we aren't going to watch comedy anymore we will watch only drama.' It might be the other way around but never that people don't turn up for a good comedy. Who doesn't to laugh. Comedy is a loyal friend. Washington: A new Dr. Seuss book, titled 'Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum,' is being released 28 years after the acclaimed author died. The book, which comes out in September, celebrates art and "how we all see the world in different ways," publisher Random House said in a statement, reported CNN. The book will feature reproductions of famous horse artwork by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and other artists, Random House said. Classic Dr. Seuss characters, including the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and Horton the Elephant will also be seen making cameos in the book. The manuscript for 'Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum' was discovered in the late author's La Jolla, California; home 21 years after his death. Using Geisel's original sketches and taking inspiration from his past work, Australian illustrator Andrew Joyner completed the unfinished artwork. Were so excited to have Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum to share with readers," said Susan Brandt, President of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. adding, This new book will not only entertain as only Dr. Seuss can, but is sure to inspire conversations about the countless ways we each view the world around us." The US government came up with the Orphan Drug Act to encourage pharmaceutical companies that manufacture orphan drugs by giving them exclusive rights. Hyderabad: India has more than nine crore people suffering from what are called rare diseases, which amounts to about one-quarter of all patients suffering these diseases worldwide. Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type II (HSAN2) and thalassemia are two such diseases. Families affected by rare diseases are isolated in their communities with little or no access to disease specific information and treatment or care. They must be properly educated about their disease to cope with it, say doctors. Dr Ramaiah Muthyala, president and CEO of the Indian Organisation for Rare Disease (IORD), says there is no proper definition of a rare disease. In 1980, the USA defined a rare disease as one affecting less than 20,000 people in the whole population. However, that was a definition in the 1980s. At present it is not applicable as many changes have occurred, he said. Many western countries have defined a rare disease according to the prevalence of it in their individual countries so it could be that if 1 in 50,000 or 1 in 20,000 of the population is affected, then it is classified as a rare disease. There is no definition of a rare disease in India, nor is it officially known how many people are suffering from such diseases. Orphan drugs are used to treat rare diseases, that is, drugs that are underdeveloped, since they are required by fewer people. Dr Muthyala says pharmaceutical companies are not interested in manufacturing drugs for these diseases as 10 years may be spent on researching drugs that will not yield much profit. The US government came up with the Orphan Drug Act to encourage pharmaceutical companies that manufacture orphan drugs by giving them exclusive rights. No patent is required, the government foots the bill for 50 per cent of the research and development cost, and the company is exempted from paying user fee. Dr Muthyala said, There are around 7,000 rare diseases in the world and only 400 orphan drugs are available, which is less than five per cent of the drugs we required to address the problem of rare disease. There are ample opportunities in the field of manufacture of orphan drugs. There are very few diagnostic centres for rare diseases. Rare diseases usually have a genetic cause and could therefore be hereditary. As they tend to recur in particular families, identifying such families and then getting them to see a genetic counsellor, and educating them about the disease is a way of addressing the disease. Dr Krishnaji Rao said, The burden of rare disease is several times more than the burden of diseases such as TB. Other diseases can be treated with medicines for a period of time and can be cured. However, the scenario is totally different in rare diseases, where starting from the patients all the family members suffer. The knowledge of rare diseases and orphan drugs needs to be improved even among the medical fraternity so that they can identify patients early and refer them to the right doctor and point of care. Much time is lost in diagnosis and that delay can be avoided. IORD has requested Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and health minister J.P. Nadda to include questions pertaining to rare diseases in the 2021 National Family and Health Survey so that an estimate of the number of people affected can be arrived at. When the young girl did not return from school on the evening of February 27, her parents searched for her and when they could not find her, lodged a police complaint with Periyapalayam police, said a police officer. Chennai: A 22-year-old man is under arrest for allegedly holding his 14-year-old sister-in-law as a hostage and raping her several times. According to the police, Ajith Kumar, 22, a resident of Periyapalayam, runs a mobile sales shop in Arani, Tiruvallur and married a girl in Erukuvai village 20 days ago. His sister-in-law is studying in class 7 at a government higher secondary school a few kilometres away from her village. When the young girl did not return from school on the evening of February 27, her parents searched for her and when they could not find her, lodged a police complaint with Periyapalayam police, said a police officer. Investigations revealed that Ajith Kumar had picked the girl up from school and taken her to his mobile shop, where he held her hostage for four days and raped her several times, the officer said. At first Kumar did not admit to the crime, but confessed on further questioning. The girl was rescued from the shop and sent to the Tiruvallur government hospital for medical examination. Ajith Kumar was arrested under the POCSO Act by the Periyapalayam police on Saturday. He was produced in Ponneri court and is now in Puzhal prison. Vijayawada: BJP demanded that Jana Sena chief Mr K. Pawan Kalyan reveal the source who informed him about the war between India and Pakistan before the elections. BJP MP and national spokesperson Mr G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said that Pakistan was using the statement of Mr Kalyan for their defence and such objectionable statements from the Jana Sena leader were unethical. Recalling the statement of Mr Kalyan that two years ago somebody had told him about BJP carrying out an attack against Pakistan before the elections to benefit in the elections, Mr Rao demanded that Mr Kalyan reveal the source who informed him about the alleged war strategy for polls or to withdraw his statement. Mr Rao claimed that people severely objected to the statements of Chief Minister Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal CM Ms Mamata Banerjee expressing suspicions over the terrorist attack on soldiers at Pulwama and said that observing the public anguish, Mr Naidu had taken a U-turn on his statement. Mr Rao addressing a press meet at Vijayawada said that BJP Government led by PM Mr Modi had created new history by carrying out a huge attack on extremists which created fear in Pakistan and made them retaliate. He praised Mr Modis diplomacy and said it worked to restrain world countries from supporting Pakistan. He said that Mr Modi and all India had praised the heroic efforts of Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. He alleged that some leaders objected to the surgical strikes to turn as heroes in Pakistan which was severely objectionable. Mr Rao added that Mr Kalyan was speaking heedlessly about the surgical strikes, PK stands for Pakistan in shortcut hence Mr Kalyan was thinking of himself as a hero of the neighbouring country. He expressed suspicion that earlier Telugu cine actor Mr S Sivaji used to talk in support of TD. and now the CM was using Mr Kalyan and alleged the colluding of Mr Kalyan and Mr Naidu against BJP. He demanded that Mr Naidu and Mr Kalyan should refrain from going against national protection to get votes and to support the Government to eradicate extremists. Mr Narasimha Rao alleged that Mr Naidu was doing politics in the new railway zone issue fearing the good name and fame earned by the BJP. He claimed that Mr Naidu put TD stickers on the BJP government-sponsored welfare schemes and projects but there was no chance to put TD sticker on new railway zone hence Mr Naidu had turned against BJP. He stated that there was no use of regional parties and there was a threat to the country and appealed to the public to support BJP in the election for a strong country. Chidambaram said, 'I certainly will not allow Kashmir to secede from India, that is not allowed, that is a no go area.' (Photo: File) Chennai: The offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which has entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said in Chennai Saturday. Pitching for talks with Pakistan, he said though dealing with that neigbouring nation was "very complicated," there was no other option to avoid war. "Plebiscite was offered under very different conditions, please understand that," he said adding, that since then the conditions have changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Fielding a question from a member of the audience DMK functionary at the launch of his book, "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India" in Chennai, he said plebiscite was offered to a "united Kashmir". Since then the conditions have changed and nearly about one half of Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan occupied now." The top Congress leader said for about 70 years now Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir were being governed by India and Pakistan respectively and "the entire ground conditions have changed." The senior DMK functionary, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, wanted to know about the "promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru," referring to the offer of plebiscite. "Plebiscite was offered to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir...now Jammu thinks differently, Ladakh, Leh and Kargil think differently today..." The "problem" was essentially confined to the Kashmir valley and there was no problem in regions like Leh and Kargil, he said and recalled his visit to these two regions. "I don't think that conditions for plebiscite are any longer relevant. The conditions have changed so much that the offer of plebsicite (made) then is valid today, I don''t think so," he said. Pointing out that he was only talking about healing the divisions in Kashmir, he said: "I certainly will not allow Kashmir to secede from India, that is not allowed, that is a no go area." He said that within the Indian Union, "what they are asking is and as far as I have understood is a large degree of self-government, which I think we should give them and we can give them." To another question from a Congress MLA Vijaya Dharani, he said dealing with Pakistan was more complex, which involved a mixture of areas like foreign, defence and security policies. "Pakistan does not have a single authority government like India has," he said and added that there was the State, the Army, and non-state players, the militant outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Such outfits are sometimes as powerful as the government itself and they acted on their own. "So it is very complicated dealing with Pakistan..but as Vajpayeeji once said and Dr Manmohan Singh repeated, Pakistan is our neighbour, we can change our friends, we cannot change our neighbours." The former Union Minister said hence, "we have to live with Pakistan forever and ever." "Ultimately, we have to talk to Pakistan...you may get nothing out it, you may call me a pacifist, I am firmly of the view that war does not solve any problems," Chidambaram said and recalled the wars India had fought with Pakistan in the past, including the Kargil conflict. "We have to talk...it is a painful task, but there is no option we have to keep on talking and avoid war," Chidambaram said, adding he was more concerned about bringing back peace in Kashmir. The JeM commander shared the details of the incident and said that the enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on Islamic 'Markaz' (a religious center). (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Saturday confirmed that their training camp was bombed by the Indian Air force. An audio clip was released which bore the voice of Jaish-e-Mohammed commander, Maulana Ammar, who had been identified as the brother of JeM founder Masood Azhar. An open confession by the commander can be heard about the aerial strike conducted by the Indian forces. Addressing his followers Ammar talked about Indias pre-emptive strike. The JeM commander shared the details of the incident and said that the enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on Islamic 'Markaz' (a religious center). By doing so, the enemy has declared the war against our country. They bombed the center where students were trained to understand the concept of 'Jihad' so as to assist the oppressed Kashmiris, he said. Ammar also urged the followers to take-up the weapons and retaliate to show jihad is still an obligation or a duty. JeM commander's admission comes as a counter to the Pakistan government and militarys statement that denied India's pre-emptive strikes and the claim of heavy casualties. Earlier Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi admitted to the presence of Masood Azhar in Pakistan. In an interview, he had claimed that the JeM chief is in Pakistan and is unwell to an extent that he cannot move out of his house. Moreover, Qureshi had also demanded a potential evidence from India to prove the JeM's involvement in the Pulwama terror attack so that subsequently Pakistan can take action against the outfit. India's opposition also demanded the proof from the Central government about the Indian air strike on Pakistans Balakot. A few hours later, Indian Foreign Secretary of MEA, Vijay Gokhale confirmed the Indian Air Forces (IAF) aerial strike across the LoC. Gokhale said, In an intelligence lead operation, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot." Later, a senior air force official on Thursday said there was ample indication that the objective of the bombing, carried out a couple of hours before daybreak on Tuesday, had met its objective. Indian Air Force had launched the pre-emptive air strike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 26 February. 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets launched an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in retaliation against Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were martyred. By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net After a lifetime of trials, imprisonment, prayers, and patience, Hadiya is now Dr. Hadiya Asokan (BHMS). A sweet victory for the 26-year old Kerala girl who made her own choices and traveled to the appellate court to live as per her convictions. Hadiyas husband Shafin Jahan posted a congratulatory note on his Facebook page announcing her achievement. Hadiya came to the limelight in the national and even international levels by her conversion to Islam, marriage and subsequent incidents. Akhila, the only daughter of Asokan and Ponnamma of Vaikkom (Kottayam district), got attracted to Islam while studying homeopathic medicine at a college in Salem, Tamil Nadu, and converted to the religion in 2016 January. When she did not come back to her home, father Asokan moved a habeas corpus petition at the Kerala High Court and there began her life of visiting courts. Akhila presented herself at the High Court on January 19 with her mentor AS Zainaba and the Court allowed her to stay with the latter and attend the Islamic course for new converts at the institution named Sathya Sarani in Malappuram. Support TwoCircles She then changed her name to Hadiya and, with the help of Zainaba, began searching for a groom registering her name in a matrimony website. On knowing this, Asokan filed a writ petition at the High Court expressing his fears that his daughter may be taken out of the country. Hadiya was presented before the court on August 22, which then sent her to a hostel for a short stay before sending her again with Zainaba at the next sitting in September 2016. Shafin Jahan, basically from Kollam and working in Oman, met Hadiya on the matrimony website and married her on December 19, 2016, at Zainabas house in Malappuram. On December 21, two days after the wedding, Hadiya went to the Court with Shafin Jahan and the Court refused to let her go with him, instead sent her to the hostel and instructed Shafin not to have any contact with her at all. And on May 24, 2017, the High Court nullified their marriage and ordered a probe. Hadiya was sent with her parents and put under police surveillance, thus beginning her house arrest which lasted for six months, during which time she was allegedly tortured and allowed to be visited by only a select few who tried to re-convert her. In August 2017, Shafin Jahan approached the Supreme Court against the HC order and the SC ordered an NIA probe into the matter including the religious conversion. The Court later allowed Hadiya to return to the college and continue her education. In all this time, 24-year old Hadiya was not made a party to the proceedings. At last, she was included when the Court considered the case in January 2018, and the Court refused to investigate the marriage looking into the character of the person she chose, terming it would set a bad precedent. Hadiya got a say in the case deciding her own fate. The marriage was restored by the appellate Court on March 8, 2018. The Hadiya case brought out several discussions and discourses as well as new revelations in the state. While some termed this as a case of love-jihad, some media persons revealed the existence of Ghar vapasi centres in the state where Hindu women who either converted to other religions or married/were in relationships with men of other religions were tortured and forced to re-convert. A few female activists who tried to visit Hadiya at her home during her stay there were attacked and sent back. Many who tried to visit her were not allowed while state BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan and others had an easy entry. Recently, Hadiyas father Asokan, who was known to be an atheist, joined the BJP. New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said Sunday. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a heros welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon, said a military official. The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Varthaman arrived in the national capital on an IAF flight around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment, a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances. A local farmer spotted the legs of the victim protruding from the abandoned biogas tank in the village, a senior district police officer said. Bhopal: In a shocking and ghastly incident, a ten-year-old girl in a Madhya Pradesh village was raped and then strangulated to death. Her body was later dumped in an abandoned biogas tank, police said on Sunday. Though the horrific incident took place in the village of Bariha in Katni district on February 28, it came to light late on Saturday night when a local spotted the body in the biogas tank. A local farmer spotted the legs of the victim protruding from the abandoned biogas tank in the village, a senior district police officer said. According to him, the girl was last seen being accompanied by her uncle, her neighbour, in the afternoon of February 28. New Delhi: The Congress party on Sunday took on the Modi government over the 57-nation grouping of OIC countries adopting a resolution that supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue saying that with this the NDA dispensations claim that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) inviting India to attend its plenary was a diplomatic success had fallen flat. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj attended the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi. The NDA-BJP government touted it as a huge diplomatic success for India that it has been invited to attend the plenary... But what happened in Abu Dhabi is extremely disturbing for India, Congress spokes-person Manish Tewari told the media. Mr Tewari said that the Congress would like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Swaraj whether this was the diplomatic achievement. The Pakistan Foreign Office had on Saturday said the conference concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. In a resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that J&K remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia, it claimed. New Delhi had reacted to the resolution by asse-rting that J&K is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country. Ms Swaraj had become the first Indi-an minister to address the OIC meeting when she attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC on Friday. AISMK founder and actor R. Sarath Kumar called on his long-term friend and DMDK founder Vijayakanth at the latters residence in the city on Sunday. Later, speaking to reporters Sarath Kumar said he had called on his friend Vijayakanth and enquired about his health. Vijayakanth had recently returned from the US after undergoing medical treatment. Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth was the first to call on him on Feb. 22 and a few hours later DMK president M. K. Stalin too called on Vijayakanth at his Saligramam residence, triggering speculation of change in alliance. The AIADMK leaders have been insisting that the alliance with the DMDK would be finalised soon. CHENNAI: State Revenue Minister R. B. Udayakumar took pot shots at the DMK for attempting to rope in Vijayakanths DMDK. He said the two parties are like oil and water and they would never bond. DMK and DMDK are like oil and water. The two will never bond, Mr. Udayakumar sarcastically remarked. Participating in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a building for the Madurai District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) at an estimated cost of Rs 5.5 crore on Sunday, the Minister told reporters that Vijayakanth would take a good decision on aligning with the AIADMK and announce it. Elder brother Vijayakanth hails from Madurai and was married to Premalatha in Madurai.those in Madurai possess good knowledge of politics, Mr. Udayakumar said indicating that he would align with the AIADMK. There will be good news soon. It will be a happy ending, as the talks are being held cordially. We will soon form a mega alliance and our front will register an overwhelming victory, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said and added that the AIADMKs political foes will spend sleepless nights. Speaking to reporters here he said, the alliance would be finalised before March 6 and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address a joint rally of the allies in the city soon. Replying to a query, he felt sad for the left parties, which by aligning with the DMK have become the sacrificial goats for the DMK. We have the strength of an elephant. No one can defeat us nor dare to come near us, Mr. Jayakuamar said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a public rally to launch a Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility, in Amethi on Sunday (Photo: AP) Amethi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first public address since 2014 in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi dedicated Ordinance rifle factory and launched various projects on Sunday. In a veiled attack on Congress, Mr Modi said that the needs of security forces were ignored and promises of the people were never fulfilled in Rahul Gandhis home turf. He said, We might have lost election here but we won your hearts. In the last five years, Smriti Irani has worked so hard for the development of this region. She never made you feel whether you made her win or lose, she worked more than the person who won. While dedicating Ordin-ance factory, Mr Modi sa-id that this will be Ame-this new pride. World's most advanced AK-203 gu-ns will be manufactured in Korwas Ordinance factory, he said. Mr Modi also alleged that the Ordinance Factory Board unit nearby has been lying idle for the last several years, and lashed out at the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the previous governments for neglecting Amethi. In his speech, Mr Modi stated that the requirement of advance weapons were put forward by Army in 2005. Your MP (Member of Parliament) laid down the foundation stone of the factory in 2007. That time they promised to start work by 2010. Even after three years of laying down the foundation stone, they were not able to decide how to manufacture these advanced weapons, the prime minister added. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being instrumental in the signing of the deal for setting up a plant to manufacture AK-203 rifles in Amethi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all efforts for this deal. He talked to US President Vladimir Putin about it. We are going to make the world-famous AK-47 assault rifle here, she said, while addressing a rally. Patna: Launching the NDAs Lok Sabha campaign in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led Opposition accusing it of focusing solely on trying to finish him off while he is working to quell terrorism, ensure national security, eradicate poverty and corruption, and generate employment. Sharing the dais with JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the first time in nine years, Mr Modi came down heavily on Opposition parties for their skepticism over the surgical strikes by the Army after the Uri terror attack, and the air strikes in Pakistans Balakot after the Pulwama suicide bombing. Addressing a massive Sankalp rally at Patnas Gandhi Maidan, Mr Modi said, They want to get rid of Modi, but I say lets join hands to eliminate terrorism. Shouldnt terrorism be eradicated? But their priority is to get rid of Modi. My priority is to eliminate terrorism. First they asked for evidence of the surgical strikes (in Uri). Now they are demanding evidence of the air strikes by the Air Force. Why are the Congress and other parties working towards destroying the morale of the armed forces? he asked. The Prime Minister said that at a time when the country needs to show that it is standing together against terrorism, the Opposition has joined hands to condemn the Centres actions. The NDA rally was organised exactly a month after the Congress held an impressive Jan Sankalp rally at the same venue. Is it appropriate for these parties to speak in a language that suits Pakistan? Leaders of the neighbouring country are using it as a shield to protect themselves against the charge of promoting terrorism. They are clapping gleefully," he said, slamming the 21 Opposition parties decision to pass as censure motion against the NDA government after the air strikes. Without naming Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has coined the slogan "Chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman is the thief), Mr Modi said, "Those who run their political shops in the name of the poor and care for nothing except for their dynasties, are having problems with the chowkidar. But the chowkidar is alert and on the job." Mr Modi also took a veiled dig at jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, saying, "The people of Bihar have seen a lot in the name of purchase of fodder. Our government has worked for doing away with middlemen who siphon off public money." This was Mr Modis second visit to Bihar in less than a fortnight. He had earlier visited Begusarai in Bihar on February 17 and launched several projects. While showcasing the achievements of NDA government the Prime Minister said that for the first time in 50 years India was invited to the OIC meeting which is an influential grouping of 57 Islamic countries. He also said that the Saudi Crown Prince after meeting him last week increased the Haj quota to two lakhs and ordered for the release of 850 Indian prisoners in his country. "The achievements which I have been speaking about became possible because you chose the NDA in 2014. Our government had the courage to take decisions and this will continue if we return in 2019," Mr Modi said. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has been instructed to check the passengers thoroughly and ensure proper screening at the airport. Patrolling outside airport area has also been intensified. Chennai: In view of the tension between India and Pakistan following the terror threat after the Pulwama attacks, a red alert notice has been issued to all the international airports including Chennai airport. A 7-tier security has been put in place and entry of visitors is banned. Passengers are allowed inside after a thorough check, airport sources said. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has been instructed to check the passengers thoroughly and ensure proper screening at the airport. Patrolling outside airport area has also been intensified. The terror attack on security forces at Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir on February 14 killed 40 jawans. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a pre-emptive strike against terror by crossing LoC at Balakhot. This has led to tension at the border between the two nations. Following this, BCAS issued the alert and marked it to senior police officials of all states, in-charges of security at all airlines and airports, and officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). In view of the intelligence input in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack and subsequent developments, it is imperative to enhance the existing security measures being taken at all the civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools, aviation training institutes, so that no untoward incident takes place, the alert notification read. As a result, a strict vigil is being maintained at the Chennai airport. Seven-tier security has been put in place. No vehicle should be parked in front of the terminal building, and there should be intensive vehicle checks entering the car parking area, according to the alert notification. The BCAS has suggested enhanced screening of passengers, staff and hand baggage and strengthening of anti-terrorism measures and placement of quick response teams at all airports. An enhanced random check at the entry of the terminal building, including utilization of bomb detection and disposal squads and dog squads at the entry point has been suggested. A strict ground monitoring of regulatory guidelines for operations of a non-conventional aerial platform like microlight aircraft, aero models, paragliders, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), drones, power hang gliders and hot air balloons is also done. Coimbatore: President Ram Nath Kovind landed in the textile city on Sunday. Security in Coimbatore has been stepped up in view of his two-day visit and the city police have announced traffic diversions. The Presidents engagements here include the presentation of colours to two units of the Indian Air Force and also to participate as chief guest for Maha Shivaratri celebrations organised by Isha Yoga Center. While the former will be organised at the Air Force Station in Sulur here on Monday morning, the latter will be hosted at the Velliangiri foothills on the outskirts here from Monday evening to Tuesday early hours. More than 5,000 police personnel are providing security cover to the President during his two-day stay at the Circuit House here. Nearly 2,000 police personnel will create security cover for President Kovind in the city limits and another 3,700 police personnel will be on-duty for the two scheduled visits of the President. a source familiar with the developments told DC. Traffic diversions are also announced by the police. Vehicles heading to the Isha Foundation from Mettupalayam must reach Boluvampatti via Avinashilingam University, GCT junction, Lawley road, P N Pudur and Vadavalli. Vehicles from Avinashi road must reach Cowley brown road through brook bond road and are advised to use the same lawley road, P.N Pudur, Vadavalli route to reach Isha Yoga Center. Meanwhile, vehicles from Pollachi road must travel through the L&T by-pass road, Madukkarai market road, Kovaipudur pirvu, Madampatti via Sundakkamuthur and from Pachapalayam reach Isha Yoga Center. Similarly, vehicles travelling on the Palakkad road can use the Sundakkamuthur to Pachapalayam route to reach Isha Yoga Center to participate in the Maha Shivratri celebrations. When the President returns to Circuit house after attending the Maha Shivratri celebrations, the Circuit House road will be closed for public, police said. New Delhi/ Lahore: Indian intelligence agencies were on Sunday trying to ascertain reports on the social media about death of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group chief Masood Azhar in Pakistan even as Pakistani media reports dismissed the speculation and claimed that the Pulwama attacks mastermind is alive. Intelligence officials said they had no information other than that Azhar, 50, was undergoing treatment at an Army hospital after suffering renal failure. The social media is filled with reports that Azhar has died, but there is no confirmation as of now, an official said in New Delhi. There was no word on Azhars fate from the Pakistan government. I dont know anything at this moment, federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry said when asked about social media reports claiming that Azhar had died. Pakistani media, quoting unnamed sources close to his family, denied the reports. The media reports claiming that JeM leader is dead are false, Geo Urdu News reported. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistans Punjab province, Azhar formed the JeM in 2000. He was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814. The JeM chief was also the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly and attack on Pathankot IAF base. In an interview to CNN, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in Pakistan and is very unwell. Meanwhile, media reports in Islamabad said that Pakistan may take decisive action against all proscribed organisations, including the JeM, and even withdraw its opposition to the move to include the terror outfits chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list. He came back about one-and-a-half-years ago and started working for the Opposition YSR Congress, which had formed a team to filter out bogus voters from the electoral list. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: After working in the USA for over a decade, data analyst, Thummala Lokeswara Reddy returned to India after he learnt of alleged illegal practices were being carried out in Andhra Pradesh, with regards to electoral data. Mr Reddy, who completed his engineering from Tirupati and masters in Anantapur, worked in multi-national companies in the US for a long time before returning. He came back about one-and-a-half-years ago and started working for the Opposition YSR Congress, which had formed a team to filter out bogus voters from the electoral list. He filed a complaint with the Madhapur police on March 2, alleging that mobile applications developed by IT Grids India Pvt Ltd, on behalf of Telugu Desam, had collected the details of residents of Andhra Pradesh to analyse who was in its favour. He alleged that TD had ordered the company to delete names of voters against the party. He gave details of four voters as an example. U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner flew to the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. Their agenda contained a range of issues, but Kushner's main goal was to talk about his controversial peace project for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Besides that, they also discussed increasing Turkey-U.S. cooperation and ways to boost economic conditions in the region. As Daily Sabah writes, for a while, Kushner has been attempting to be involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Kushner's project even involves changing the regional borders, a significant change since the U.S. moved its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, one of the most risky decisions in world politics in recent times. In this context, it is worrying how the Trump administration will shape its "peace" plan. Erdogan was among the critics of the U.S. Embassy move and showed his objection, saying, "The United States has chosen to be a part of the problem [between Palestine and Israel] rather than of the solution." It can be assumed that the Trump administration sending a senior adviser to meet with the Turkish president means that the U.S. has decided to change its firm pro-Israeli approach to a more balanced rational stance. Kushner's trip has another meaning: Turkey's geopolitical importance has once again been observed by the U.S. administration. However, in an interview with Sky News Arabia on Monday, Kushner didn't specifically mention a Palestinian state, but he said that the long-awaited peace proposal would build on a lot of past efforts, including the 1990s Oslo accords that provided a foundation for Palestinian statehood. Along with the Palestinian cause, Kushner's Ankara meeting is a strong sign that Trump's team tends to consider Turkey a key player in the region. Concurrently, the U.S. is reportedly withdrawing from Syria, and Turkey is an influential state in the Syrian theater. Its good ties with the Kremlin enables it to balance Russia's power and position in Syria, making Ankara more crucial than ever. Ankara owes this situation to its multidimensional foreign policy. With that, Ankara can keep relations both with the United States and Russia at the same time and balance opposing views. Kushner's Middle East plan has not been unveiled yet; however, it is known that he will declare it following Israel's April 9 elections. According to what he has implied so far, it can be said that the "peace" plan focuses on economic opportunities for the Palestinian people rather than a separate state. Before coming to Turkey, Kushner and his peace plan partner, Jason Greenblatt, Trump's Middle East envoy, met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). It is obvious that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will approve whatever plan comes from the Trump administration since the U.S.-backed crown prince is in a tight corner due to the brutal assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khassoggi. At this point, Turkey's position is more than crucial. Erdogan has always been an advocate for the Palestinians. Kushner needs to embrace the Palestinian people to get Erdogan's approval for the plan. I think that was what was discussed in the Kushner-Erdogan gathering in Ankara. Mayawati called the meeting to give guidelines to BSF workers on the partys alliance with SP. (Photo: ANI) Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP of trying to cover up their failures by using the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The country is worried about the terror attacks happening in Jammu and Kashmir for the last few days. It is not hidden from the people how BJP and especially PM Modi are trying to hide their failures in the garb of what is happening there, she said while addressing party workers in Lucknow. Mayawati called the meeting to give guidelines to BSF workers on the partys alliance with SP. Earlier, she had criticised PM Modi for ignoring matters of national security and trying to serve political interests. At a time when India is facing hostility and the country needs firm leadership, PM Narendra Modi, instead of concentrating on the matters of national security, is trying to serve political interests by addressing BJP workers. It is ridiculous, besides betrayal of national sentiments, she had said. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to contest 37 and 38 Lok Sabha seats respectively in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has gone to the SP kitty. UP has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats. The two parties have also agreed not to put up candidates from Rai Bareli and Amethi, represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi respectively. Congress has decided to contest all the 80 seats after the party was not made a part of the SP-BSP alliance. The Congress leadership has said that the party will fight the Lok Sabha polls with full force in Uttar Pradesh. TMC national spokesperson Derek O'Brien lashed out at BJP president Amit Shah for his criticism of opposition parties which questioned air strikes in Pakistan. (Photo: File) Kolkata: Hitting out at BJP president Amit Shah for his criticism of opposition parties which questioned airstrikes in Pakistan, the TMC on Sunday said the saffron party leader should refrain from "lecturing others" on patriotism as he was a "proponent of divisive and hatred politics". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should stop taking credit for the airstrike as the armed forces belong to India, not to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Shah, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said. "Amit Shah and the BJP are the nastiest proponents of divisive and hatred politics. We will not listen to his lectures on patriotism. Our armed forces belong to India, not to Modi-Shah's BJP," Brien, who is also a TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha, said. Those who had cowered down during the Independence movement are giving sermons on patriotism, O' Brien stated. "Khaki-chaddi wearing men who were hiding under desks during the entire Independence movement are now handing out certificates of patriotism. Thanks. But no thanks," he said in an apparent reference to the RSS, the ideological parent of the saffron party. Shah on Saturday had said the ones who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers, when in power, were raising doubts on the recent airstrike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made Pakistan happy. "The armed forces have said in a press conference that they have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it? You should desist from such cheap politics," Shah said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally in Madhya Pradesh. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force. She also said that the opposition parties wanted to know the details of the operation. Amethi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first public address since 2014 in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi dedicated Ordnance rifle factory and launched various projects here on Sunday. In a veiled attack on Congress, Modi said that the needs of security forces were ignored and promises of the people were never fulfilled in Rahul Gandhi's home turf. He said, "We might have lost election here but we won your hearts. In the last five years, Smriti Irani has worked so hard for the development of this region. She never made you feel whether you made her win or lose, she worked more than the person who won here." While dedicating Ordnance factory, Modi said that this will be Amethi's new pride. "World's most advanced AK-203 guns will be manufactured in Korwa's Ordnance factory," he said. PM Modi also alleged that the Ordinance Factory Board unit nearby has been lying idle for the last several years, and lashed out at the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the previous governments for neglecting Amethi. In his speech, Modi stated that the requirement of advance weapons were put forward by Army in 2005. "Your Member of Parliament (MP) laid down the foundation stone of the factory in 2007. That time they promised to start work by 2010." Even after three years of laying down the foundation stone, they were not able to decide how to manufacture these advanced weapons. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was here to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the plant which would manufacture AK-203 rifles. Sitharaman credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being instrumental in the signing of the deal for setting up a plant to manufacture AK-203 rifles in Amethi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all efforts for this deal. He talked to US President Vladimir Putin about it. We are going to make the world-famous AK-47 assault rifle here, she said while addressing a rally here. Union Minister Smriti Irani, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and others were present on the occasion. Modi attacked opposition stating that it is the tendency of some to forget the voters after attaining votes. They want to keep the poor in poverty so they can say ' gareebi hatao ' generation after generation. We are giving strength to the poor to bring them out of poverty. Russian President Vladimir Putin also extended his support to the newly launched Russian-Indian joint venture for Kalashnikov assault rifle production. Russian Pres: New joint venture will produce Kalashnikov AR's of newest 200 series&eventually reach full localization of production. Thus, Indian defence-industrial sector will have opportunity to fulfill needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms. #Amethi pic.twitter.com/fbbjurk9qE ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 Modi also emphasised on the ordnance factory's role in creating job opportunities for youth. CHENNAI: AIADMK Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar lashed out at DMK president MK Stalin for criticising the one-time financial aid to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and dared him to clarify if he is opposed to giving aid to poor families. He also refuted the DMK president's charge that the scheme was launched with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha election. It has become a habit for him (Mr Stalin) to oppose all the schemes brought out by the AIADMK. Even in the Assembly he opposes each and every initiative brought by the AIADMK government for the well-being of the people. Also, he has a track record of approaching the court to stay the implementation of government welfare schemes, Mr Jayakumar said. Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Mr Jayakumar demanded that Stalin clarify if he opposed the distribution of one-time cash dole to BPL families. On another accusation of the DMK president - that this sum was tantamount to bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha election - the minister shot back, this is a state that upholds social justice. There is no need to bribe anyone. Taking strong exception to the state government's announcement of distribution of special grant for 60 lakh BPL families across the state, Mr Stalin tweeted that the special aid of Rs 2,000 each to 60 lakh BPL families is aimed to benefit the affluent class supporting the AIADMK. He also questioned the rationale of distributing the sum when the state is reeling under the debt burden of Rs 4 lakh crore. Forms were distributed to many residents of multi-storied apartments in the city, especially in the southern suburbs, in which they had to declare that they did not require the Rs 2000 doled out by the state government. The Chennai Corporation staff in Zone 14 distributed printed forms to us asking us to sign the declaration that we dont need Rs 2,000, and return the forms immediately. Many of us have signed and returned the forms saying we dont require it, a resident in South Chennai said on Sunday. The form distributed to the residents states that the residents dont wish to avail of the one-time financial aid (of Rs 2,000) as they pay income tax, professional tax, property tax and possess other amenities. Congress MLAs stage protest wearing black badges outside the Assembly on Sunday, accusing the TRS of poaching MLAs ahead of MLC polls. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: Worried over the stream of defections, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to work for the amendment of the anti-defection law for quick disqualification of those who jump ship. The Congress Legisla-tive Party, which met at the Assembly committee hall on Sunday in the backdrop of two party MLAs Athram Sakku and Rega Kantha Rao quitting the party, resolved to stage protests in the constituencies of the two legislators. After the CLP meeting, the Congress MLAs staged a protest outside the Assembly, wearing black badges. During the meeting, CLP members decided to work for the amendment of the anti-defection law. Speaking to this newspaper, LB Nagar legislator D. Sudheer Reddy said, We came to the conclusion that the present anti-defection law has many defects. Recalling the recent action of Legislative Council chairman A. Swamy Goud of disqualifying TRS members for their defection to the Congress while recognising the defection of Congress MLCs to the ruling party, he said the power of disqualification resting with the Speaker of the Assembly and Chairman of the Council has been misused. This was not good for a healthy democracy, and to reform the current defection law, a strong movement is required. Members of the CLP also felt that an MLA should be deemed disqualified the moment she of he changes parties and has to go for fresh elections, he added. Of the 17 MLAs remaining in the party, 15 attended the emergency meeting. Tandur MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy informed party leaders that he was out of station. Speaking to mediapersons, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said, We expected that unlike in his first term, KCR will behave honestly, but he continues to play cheap politics. He has bought our MLAs with money. Earlier too, he bought MLCs of the Congress. Mr Reddy said the party would stage protests on March 5 in Pinapaka and Asifabad constituencies against the MLAs who won on the Congress ticket and joined the TRS. CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had chosen an undemocratic path. The debate on defections should take place across the state. The Speaker should take action on the defecting MLAs immediately, Mr Bhatti said. CHENNAI: Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal will visit Tamil Nadu on Monday to invigorate the party workers ahead of the Lok Sabha election. On a busy day, he would also lay the foundation stone for the new railway line - Morappur to Dharmapuri in Dharmapuri, besides dedicating the NTPL power plant in Thoothukudi and inaugurate 150 MW solar plant. Mr. Goyal would address a meeting of the partys Karyakarthas in Thoothukudi where the BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan is expected to contest in the Lok Sabha election. Dr. Tamilisai, daughter of senior Congress leader Kumari Anandan, had unsuccessfully contested from the North Chennai LS constituency during the 2009 election. Her migration to the southern constituency is expected to consolidate the votes of her party and the AIADMK with which it has aligned for the upcoming LS poll. Unlike her, party senior and Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan would seek re-election from his native Kanyakumari constituency. Among the party leaders who contested in the 2014 LS election, only Mr. Radhakrishnan has succeeded in romping home the winner and he was rewarded with a berth in the Cabinet. This time, the saffron party is determined to improve its tally and also ensure the victory of the combine from over 30 constituencies. Since the BJP has been allotted only 5 seats during the seat-sharing negotiations with the ruling AIADMK, the party is getting geared up to present a tough fight this time and improve its tally. We hope to make it in large numbers along with our allies, to the Parliament, a BJP senior said. During the negotiations, the AIADMK had presented a pragmatic picture of the strength and weaknesses of the saffron party and conveyed to the BJP leaders that they could choose only five winning constituencies. The AIADMK being a major player in State politics and also at the helm of affairs, we allowed the AIADMK to lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu. Our alliance with the AIADMK will reverse our electoral fortunes and help to improve our image as a national party with regional presence, he pointed out. Hyderabad: A day after meeting Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Telugu Desam MLA from Sathupalli constituency, Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, announced on Sunday that he would soon join the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. The MLA said that he has decided to join hands with Chief Minister K. Chandra-shekhar Rao for development of Sathupalli constituency and the rest of erstwhile Khammam district. He said that he would submit his resignation after discussing the matter with his followers and supporters. He said that with the failure of the Praja Kutami in the last Assembly elections, the TD has lost its presence and relevance in Telan-gana state. The TD won only two seats in the last Assembly elections, and with Mr Veeraiahs exit, it has been reduced to only one member in the House. The latest India-Pakistan face-off started with the terrorist attack in Pulwama, which killed over 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on February 14, followed by the February 26 retaliatory aerial raid on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp at Balakot in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and the intrusion of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets into Jammu and Kashmir, in which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, shot down a F-16 in a dogfight, but had to eject from his aircraft after that and land in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir from where he was taken a prisoner of war on February 27, and finally ended with his return to India on Friday, March 1. The political reverberations have overshadowed the substantial issue of terrorist attacks. India's newly-demonstrated ability to target terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and Pakistans token gesture of intruding into Indian airspace are simply sideshows. Whatever the political motives of the Narendra Modi government behind the Indian airstrikes against the Jaish camps in PoK and Pakistan, it is meant to show that India can, and will, try to destroy the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The question is whether India can do this without triggering a war with Pakistan, which, like India, is a nuclear power. India has been very clear that it is not fighting a war with Pakistan. That is why no military and civilian targets were chosen in the Indian aerial attack in Pakistan. Pakistan too is not willing to open a war front with India. Pakistan too claimed that its F-16s did not target military bases though India has said that the Pakistan aerial attack was targeted at Indian military bases, but that they failed in their attempt. Whether the Jaish-e-Mohammed was responsible for the Pulwama attacks, as the JeM claimed in the beginning, and the Pakistan foreign minister has now denied on behalf of JeM, is an important issue both for India and Pakistan, but in different ways. What India needs to know is the modus operandi of the JeM-engineered terror attack and the way to shut off the terror source. The key issue for India is whether JeM is using Indian recruits to achieve its goal of creating mayhem. JeM cannot hope to do more than that. It cannot hope to wrest the Kashmir Valley from the Indian security forces. It is necessary for India to find ways to deny it the use of any local recruits. Increasing local surveillance would be one of the ways. The question cannot be avoided as to how to stop JeM from penetrating into India. Those who talk of a political solution in Kashmir do have a point, but that is going to be a long-drawn out affair. There is a vicious cycle in operation here. Any movement towards political normality is always disrupted by a terror attack. The Army inevitably steps up its local surveillance and leaves the people alienated. This in turn becomes fertile ground for recruiting suicide bombers. The security forces have the unenviable task of eliminating the terrorists, without rubbing the local people the wrong way. The JeM terrorises the local populace and they are thus not in a position to help the security forces. The political parties in Jammu and Kashmir the National Conference, the People's Democratic Front, the Congress and the BJP, among others as well as the Hurriyat Conferences various factions have to connect with the local people and to respond to their needs, restore local governance by involving more and more people from the villages and towns to govern themselves. The security forces simply cannot do this. This will lead to the marginalisation of the hotheads among the local people. India will still have to fight the war against terror groups like the JeM and the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT). Pakistan is unlikely to help India in this. No country ever would. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) survived in Sri Lanka because there was tacit international support for it when governments in Britain, Canada and elsewhere in the European Union (EU) allowed the supporters of the LTTE to raise funds from their territories. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) lasted because it has tacit support from Irish sympathisers in the United States, and partly within Ireland itself. It will be an ideal solution if Pakistan were to turn away even as India quietly bombs out all the terrorist bases inside Pakistan. The one way out is for India to do the job of bombing the terrorist bases inside Pakistan without the war cries. That will be a face-saver for Pakistan. But if it wants to support the Jaish, Lashkar and other terrorist groups to raise the pressure on India over the Kashmir issue, then Pakistan will have to come out into the open and retaliate against India to protect these terror groups. India must continue to wage war against the terror groups based in Pakistan, and with Pakistan. India can sustain the battle. Pakistan will find it difficult to continue because both the United States and China will not lend support beyond a point. While waging the war against the terrorist groups in Pakistan, India must stop bleating about it in global forums. It should deal with the terror groups without making noise. The only way out for Pakistan is to stop harping on the Kashmir issue, and India should stop raising the temperature over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. That would effectively end the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan, as we know it. The world is really not interested in the India-Pakistan face-off, and their tiresome enunciations about Kashmir. Pakistan's economic growth will be faster if it turns its back on the Kashmir dispute. It should take care of its so-called Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and Chiral. Pakistan had committed its first blunder by supporting the Pathan raiders in 1947, and it is continuing the blunder now by allowing JeM and LeT to operate from its territory. Partition is over and done with. The rhetoric over Partition on the part of both Pakistan and India needs to end, and the sooner the better. We are in grave danger of becoming a nation that snoops freely on its citizens, if we arent that already. The tone and tenor of the Centres arguments before the Supreme Court last week betrays the intention of the establishment to seek total surveillance of citizens. Its all very well to say that the powers sought are legitimate in the national interest. The challenge lies in who can undertake the task of ensuring that the surveillance provisions arent misused. Remember that 10 agencies are authorised to intercept, monitor and decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored on any computer in the country, which makes it difficult to believe the letter of the December 20, 2018 notification doesnt seek to arm government agencies with sweeping powers. The fight against the notification is the arbitrary nature of powers sought to monitor any computer or device. While lawful interception of data, encrypted or not, may be necessary in Indias national security interest and for crime detection, the all-encompassing legitimate state interest seems to suit the States surveillance apparatus. While 24x7 watchfulness on terror, drugs and arms-running is welcome in todays age, these provisions are often used to spy on political opponents of those in power, and to protect the image of rulers when it comes to social media posts. So far, most of the information sought from communications platforms offering encryption is to do with criticism of political leaders. One hopes the Supreme Court will swiftly come to the rescue of citizens, whose privacy appears to be in grave danger. Probably because he is a former Army Chief, Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd), now a Union minister, understands better the importance of national unity when relations with Pakistan are strained to the point of military hostility. This is why he ticked off B.S. Yeddyruppa, a former Karnataka chief minister, on whom rests the saffron partys hopes of reclaiming power in the state. The minister of state for external affairs responded sharply to Mr Yeddyurappas public observation that the IAFs Balakot airstrike and the return by Pakistan of Wing Commander Abhinandan Vartaman would help the BJP win 22 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karataka. A time of military tension is not for playing partisan politics, the retired Army Chief reminded the top-flight politician. He also underlined the need for emotional and political unity. But it seems Gen. Singhs viewpoint has few takers at the top tiers of the ruling party and government. BJP president Amit Shah had said on Saturday that the coming Lok Sabha election was going to be about how to give Pakistan a fitting reply. After Mr Yeddyurappas statement, this appears to be the most flagrant display of partisanship. From the very start of the recent cycle of hostility with Pakistan, as various elements of the government at top levels sought to hog the credit for what the Air Force had done, 21 Opposition parties met to criticise the blatant politicisation of the airstrike by ruling party politicians. This was attacked by two Cabinet ministers Prakash Javedkar and Arun Jaitley. The former said the observations of the BJPs opponents were being picked up by Pakistani politicians to embarrass India. The latter spoke of the Oppositions statement being ill-advised. In effect, both were asking Opposition parties to join the jingoistic chorus which has been unleashed by the television news channels apparently at the governments goading. The self-congratulation following the Balakot strike flowed from the figure put out in the news stream that around 300 Jaish-e-Mohammed top guns, trainers and recruits had been killed in the IAF attack. This figure was not cooked up by journalists, but obviously fed to them in a calculated act of circulating propaganda to squeeze out political benefit from the military action. However, answering pointed questions last week, Air Vice-Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor, the assistant chief of air staff, who briefed the media as a part of a tri-services group, was categorical that information on fatalities at Balakot was yet to be ascertained. All details of the impact of this IAF action appear murky, with respected Western news platforms suggesting no serious damage had been done at the Balakot facility of JeM. Contrary claims also exist. It might be best if the government released before and after satellite imagery for the sake of an informed public discussion. One of the peculiarities of centuries-old history of Iran after collapse of the caliphate and before the beginning of the XX century is predominant role of the Turkic sedentary-nomadic tribes in the political and economic life of this state. One of these tribes, the Shahsevan, are Turkic-speaking nomads living in northwestern Iran. They are moving across the coutry about seven months a year, moving from summer pastures to winter camps and back. Shahsevans go through long journeys regardless of weather conditions. In the summer, their tribes stay at the green pastures of the unactive Savalan volcano, and at the Mugan steppe in the winter. As of today there's no exact data on how many nomads live in Iran, but experts estimate their number at around one and a half million. Just like several centuries ago, regardless of weather conditions, Shahsevans travel with cattle and camels, and their shepherds are keeping about 1000 sheeps. The more animals family has, the richer it is. Once a year, they pay taxes to the state. A couple of decades ago, Shahsevans rode on camels, put on their best outfits, and all of it looked incredibly colorful and beautiful. But over time, they began to travel by cars. Today, not all Shahsevans live lifes of nomads, some of them have settled. Their history began in the 16th century, when Shah Abbas from the Safavid dynasty, after unitung tribes of different origin, created his own guard. Apparently, this tribe's took its name after that guard, because the word "Shahsevan" means "loyal to Shah." According to other sources, this name means that they were guarding one of the remote borders of Iran in the north. But representatives of Shahsevans themselves say these legends aren't true, claiming that they moved to Iranian lands from Anadolu (Turkish name of Anatolia, western Turkey). Throughout history, Shahsevans' women have fought along with men. Today, they mainly do carpet weaving or knit wool socks and gloves. In 1926, Shahsevans rebelled against Shah Reza Pahlavi, father of the last Iranian Shah who was overthrown in 1979 as a result of the Islamic Revolution. Shah considered lifestyle of non-Persian nomads a political threat and tribes were discriminated against. Honorary professor of anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London, leading expert on Shahsevans, Richard Tupper, wrote in his book The Nomadic Peoples of Iran: We got used to moving together with Muganly, (another nomadic tribe), and when the government took our weapons, we decided to separate. In addition, we couldn't pay taxes for two years. Muganly offered to sell pastures, but we refused, we said that we will sell women's and children's cloth, but not our land." In the mid-1930s, Shah Pahlavi adopted strict policy against nomadic tribes in order to "strengthen statehood". Nomad leaders were imprisoned, executed, or exiled. They were forced to settle in the villages and abandon their nomadic lifestyle. Shahsevans' homes were burned. However, territories allocated by the authorities to nomads were insufficient for agriculture. This forces Shahsevans and other nomadic tribes to resume their migration and revived the free tribal confederation. After decades of relative peace under the Pahlavi dynasty, Shahsevans took part in the 1979 revolution, but, despite all losses, they didn't play a significant role in it. New regime called them "Elsevans" - "those who love their homeland." Since then, Shahsevans are living less nomadic lifestyle. This transition helps the governments nomad control policy. Since ancient times, Shahsevans preserved close contacts with part of the Azerbaijani population. Although Shahsevans had to become a community with classical tribal traditions dictated by military-nomadic way of life over time, their militant patriotism and desire to be always close to the ruling Turkic-Azerbaijani dynasties, which at certain stages of history became a symbol of the unification, always defining Shahsevans lifestyle. The company has asked the court to bar the companies from creating and promoting the sale of fake accounts, like, and followers on Facebook and Instagram. (Photo: ANI) Facebook and Instagram have sued four China-based companies for promoting the sale of fake accounts, likes, and followers. The measures arrive in light of the constant criticism faced by the social networking giants for not curbing the menace of fake accounts and misinformation on the platform. In its official blog, Facebook revealed that the companies engaged in the fraud with respect to other online companies as well, including Amazon, Google, LinkedIn, and Twitter. In the lawsuit, the company has asked the court to bar the companies from creating and promoting the sale of fake accounts, like, and followers on Facebook and Instagram. It has also asked the court to restrict the companies from infringing on the trademarks and engaging in cybersquatting in which fraudulent companies use Facebook-branded domain names to operate their websites. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Activists have called the legislation cyber martial law, saying it would sacrifice privacy and the rule of law, and warning compliance burdens could drive foreign businesses out of Thailand. Thailand on Friday defended a controversial cybersecurity law approved this week, following an outcry from rights groups and internet users over privacy and surveillance concerns. Thailands rubber-stamp parliament approved the Cybersecurity Act unanimously on Thursday, the latest in a wave of new laws in Asia that assert government control over the internet. Activists have called the legislation cyber martial law, saying it would sacrifice privacy and the rule of law, and warning compliance burdens could drive foreign businesses out of Thailand. The government said the law was intended to protect networks from cyber attacks and would not enable state surveillance or violate rights. We have made sure that it would not allow for violation of individuals rights and arbitrary use of power, Ajarin Pattanapanchai, permanent-secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, told reporters. The law will not be used to regulate social media, or computers or devices belonging to the people. But experts argued the vague language of the laws would still allow for broad interpretations of actions authorities could perform, which may end up infringing on rights. The scope of the law is so broad, its like Big Brother, Kanathip Thongraweewong, Director of Digital Media Law Institute at Kasembandit University, told Reuters. Thailands military government has pushed for several laws it said would support the digital economy, including an amendment to the Computer Crime Act in 2017, which was intended to prosecute cyber crimes like phishing but has been used to crack down on dissent. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Schubert said the evidence, including their reactions captured on body cameras, supported the officers statements that they thought Clark was pointing a gun. It turned out Clark was holding only a cellphone. (Photo: AP) Sacramento(US): Two Sacramento police officers wont face criminal charges for the fatal shooting of a black man following a chase that ended in his grandparents yard and started a series of angry protests that roiled Californias capital city, the countys top prosecutor announced on Saturday following a nearly yearlong investigation. Officers Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet acted within the law when they shot 22-year-old Stephon Clark seven times, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert concluded, noting that the evidence supported their account that Clark was moving toward them when they opened fire. Schubert said the evidence, including their reactions captured on body cameras, supported the officers statements that they thought Clark was pointing a gun. It turned out Clark was holding only a cellphone. His family and their supporters expressed anger and disappointment, and accused Schubert of unnecessarily revealing grim details of Clarks personal life. Whatever his character is or his actions prior to those officers gunning him down, is no ones business, said Clarks mother, SeQuette, who had a brief and contentious meeting with Schubert before the DA made her announcement. Its not justification. That's not a permit to kill him. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. (Photo: AP) Lahore: Pakistan's Opposition Leader and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif met his elder brother, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in jail here and briefed him on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India, according to a media report. Sharif, 69, is serving seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. "The purpose of the meeting on Saturday was to brief him (Nawaz) on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India," the Express Tribune reported, quoting party sources. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. Shehbaz also inquired about Nawaz's health, the paper said. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Sharif was the prime minister during the Kargil conflict in 1999. Last week, Sharif was sent back to jail after his 10-day stay in Jinnah Hospital Lahore in connection with his treatment. According to a Punjab government official, the three-time prime minister asked the doctors to shift him back to jail after his bail petition on medical grounds was rejected by a court. Three corruption cases - Avenfield properties, Flagship investment and Al-Azizia steel mills - were registered against the Sharif family by the anti-graft body in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfiled case in July 2018 which was related to his properties in London. Later he was given bail in September. In December, the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia case but acquitted him in the Flagship reference. London: UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays hopes of winning parliamentary approval for her Brexit deal grew last night with the leader of Conservative backbenchers softening his opposition. Graham Brady and his 1922 committee suggested he will recommend that MPs back it if the prime minister secures new assurances on the Irish backstop. The move is a significant shift and came as senior government sources predicted that May could hold the crucial meaningful vote as early as this week. Only weeks ago Brady successfully championed a Commons amendment that instructed May to return to Brussels to negotiate the complete removal of the backstop from the withdrawal agreement and find another way to solve the Irish border issue. Brady and other leading Tory backbenchers who fear the alternative to Mays deal would be a no-deal Brexit, a lengthy delay or a second referendum now seem prepared to drop their demand on condition that they win reassurances that the backstop will be temporary and does not risk locking the UK into a permanent EU customs union. Brady told media last night that his intention had always been to ensure that the backstop could not assume a permanent status, trapping the UK in the EU customs union. Mays decision last week to hold a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal is rejected again, coupled with Labours coming out more clearly in support of a second referendum, have been key factors in persuading many Conservatives to consider switching their vote to support the prime minister. Other senior Tories say that while May still faces an uphill struggle to win over many of the most hardline Tory opponents of her deal and the 10 Ulster Unionists many others who helped inflict the 230-vote defeat in January are now looking for ways to back down and support it. Air travellers possessing tickets on cancelled flights of Jet Airways will no longer be able to fly on Air India planes as the national air carrier has terminated a pact with the beleaguered airline. With immediate effect and till further notice, Jet Airways (India) Limited and Jet Lite Limited documents (including FIM and endorsed/involuntary rerouted/rebooked/exchanged/reissued documents) are not to be accepted for travel on Air India flights, an internal letter signed by Madhu Mathen, General Manager (Marketing), Air India said. An FIM is a document issued by an airline as an alternate ticket that permits a passenger to take another airline in case the original flight gets cancelled. Generally, when an airline cancels a flight due to some exigencies, other airlines accommodate the former's passengers in their flights. The airline whose flight is cancelled has to pay other airlines for accommodating its passengers. Jet Airways has recently grounded 21 of its aircraft due to non-payment of dues to lessors. Congress workers staged demonstrations and waived black flags during the visit of prime minister Narendra Modi to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi on Sunday. Congress workers also carried a replica of the Rafale fighter jet. The workers also had a scuffle with the police, when the latter tried to snatch the replica, sources said. Samajwadi Party (SP) also put up posters in Amethi accusing Modi of withdrawing developmental projects from the Congress bastion. ''Give an account of five years.....tell us why were projects for Amethi scrapped'', said one of the posters. Hitting back, Congress on Sunday said it had never questioned the armed forces on the air strikes in Pakistan but it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was raising doubts over the success of the action. What does the Prime Minister mean, when he says that the results would have been different had the air force got the Rafale fighter jets, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here. His remarks came after Modi shredded the opposition for questioning the air strikes in Pakistan while addressing a rally in Bihar. Tewari also brought up the statement of Union Minister S S Ahluwalia, who had claimed that the intention of the air strikes was to warn Pakistan that India can hit targets deep inside its territory but not to inflict human casualties. The Congress leader said the Prime Minister and the Union Minister were dampening the morale of the armed forces by their remarks. He also demanded the sacking of Ahluwalia as union minister for his remarks Tewari said had the chowkidar been alert terror attacks such as the ones at Gurdaspur, Pathankot Air Base, army camp at Uri would not have taken place. Did you know Turkmenistan has a Ministry of Carpets? In fact, it also has a national holiday called Carpet Day. Not just that, its flag features five traditional carpet designs representing the countrys five major tribes. Central Asia abounds in magical handicraft. One of these is the art of carpet-weaving. And of the five countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that make up the region, its the last one thats the heart of carpet-making. Weaving carpets has been an integral part of Central Asian culture. The carpet has an almost-sacred place in the regions culture and its myriad designs express a shared artistry passed down the ages. For valuable keepers of culture and customs, looking at carpets is like viewing pages of history. Theyre almost a pictorial script. In a category of their own, these floor coverings have become a priceless basis for ethnographic research with experts being able to gauge migration patterns, customs, community habits and social standing based on woven patterns. Knotted up The weaving of pile carpets is all about knotting. The two most common tying techniques are symmetrical knot, also called Turkish knot, and asymmetrical knot or Persian knot. Central Asian carpets use both techniques. However, they dont boast of knot-count elegance that creates refined pieces. These are more about bold colours and large, arresting motifs. They represent a certain style of carefree nomadic weaving that echoes across the neighbourhood, too. The reason similar patterns can be found in the Middle East, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mongolia and even Russia. Traditionally, carpets have always been made in village homes by women of the family who carded the wool and spun it. The men have usually set up the warp and been involved in the dyeing process. Primitive looms were used along with a few rudimentary tools, mainly scissor, comb and a hooked knife. Designs have typically been passed down the generations and were almost-always re-created from memory. Central Asian carpets are rectangular and have a central field surrounded by a delicate border. The ground is classically filled with a symmetrical design, usually a stylised geometrical motif. Some carpets, though, have a design running from top to bottom those used for prayers and pictorial ones for instance and are viewed from only one end, most others have a central medallion around which is woven a recurring motif or a complex trellis pattern. Woven songs Most carpets that you see on the stands are Turkmen pattern. Their copies are made across Central Asia and in Afghanistan. Thats because a Turkmen carpet is like a joyous song, Hamayoon, a carpet dealer from Turkmenistan visiting India, tells me with passion. For us, carpets are an essential part of every occasion. The patterns reflect our emotions, rituals, beliefs and traditions. In our flag, the five conventional carpet designs along the hoist represent our major tribes: Tekke, Yomud, Saryk, Chowdur and Arsary, he adds. The classic Turkmen carpet is in all shades of crimson, which is complemented with the use of brown, blue and black colours for the patterning. The pure wool used is dyed with vegetable colours, the reason these carpets have an unmatchable lustre. Carpet designs of Turkmenistan are usually named after the nomadic tribes that have created them over generations. In the eastern side of the country were Tekke, Salor and Saryk; in the western part were the tribes of Chowdur, Yomud and Goklen; while in the north, the Arsary held sway. All are known for their high quality of woven carpets. As seen across Central Asia, geometric patterns dominate the field and the most popular Turkmen motif is the Tekke or the stylised octagonal gul (flower). These guls can vary in number, from maybe just two large ones in the entire field or 10 smaller guls being knotted in a repetitive sequence, lending a grid-like appearance to the carpet. Interestingly, the Tekke design and its variants are popularly called bukhara, not because it was created in the Uzbek city, but as it was sold in bulk from this trading outpost on the Silk Route. The shift to chemical colours and large-scale factory production has dimmed the quality of carpets available these days, but Turkmenistan has such a wealth of weaves that there will always be that sparkler amidst the ordinary. The harvest of bananas in Turkmenistan is carried out by the Ferkhar private economic company (CW) in the south of the country, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan reports. According to experts, the exotic plant has taken root well in the conditions created for it in the Sakarchagin district of the Mary region. The saplings were imported from Turkey. Last year, the Ferkhar employees built a greenhouse for bananas. Criminal incidents on or near Philadelphia university campuses were the subject of a recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday, Feb. 17. This report was certainly newsworthy, and unfortunately, my alma mater, La Salle University, was at the top of the list with seven criminal incidents (five at gunpoint) this year. La Salle students are certainly concerned. So too are university administrators who will undoubtedly be introducing some new approaches and initiatives to curtail such criminal activity. The Philadelphia Police Department also has a major partnership role to play here along with enhancements to La Salles campus security and electronic surveillance. But there are no easy answers to the problems faced by any inner-city university campus. And here is an untold story about La Salle which is largely unknown. In the 1970s, I was working at La Salle College (then not yet a university) in administration. At a meeting of La Salles leaders at which I was present, there was a serious discussion about moving the campus out of its city environs to an available spacious green suburban area. As a young man, I thought this idea made great sense. But this idea never got off the ground. The Christian Brothers at this meeting argued that La Salles egalitarian philosophy and principles should never be about running away from its inner-city neighborhood. End of discussion. So La Salle dug into its environs. The struggling Germantown Hospital was acquired by La Salle and renovated into offices and also the La Salle nursing school. La Salle has kept a Neighborhood Nursing Center at the former hospital site. It received the 2017 Public Health Recognition Award from Philadelphias College of Physicians for their substantial contributions to the health community. Operated for more than 25 years by LaSalles School of Nursing and Health Sciences, it is one of the oldest nurse-led community wellness centers in the country and cares for at-risk families through screenings, immunization programs, disease-prevention services, and specialist referrals. In another innovative endeavor, abandoned lots adjacent to the campus have long ago been developed into a shopping center for area residents and students. The overall campus at La Salle has been greatly expanded and is greener than ever. La Salles relatively new Business School is as functional and beautiful as can be found anywhere. Once an all-male institution, La Salle is now 60 percent female with a dynamic female president (the first ever non-Christian Brother). True to its Lasallian mission, 30-plus percent of La Salles students are the first in their families to pursue higher education. More than 40 percent of the student body describe themselves as diverse. There are 39 undergraduate programs and 28 graduate programs of study. La Salle students are annually engaged in about 60,000 hours of community service. La Salle University has been ranked in the top 6 percent in the U.S. by The New York Times for median income of graduates by age 34 ($58,700). Out of more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education once again ranked La Salle in the Top 300 in its second annual college rankings. La Salles full-time MBA programs has the fourth highest employment rate in the nation, according to a recent report from U.S. News and World Report. Among the MBA programs considered for the study, La Salles employment rate for graduates three months after graduation is 96.4 percent, compared to an average of 88.3 percent. So here is the bottom line. Yes, La Salle is having some problems with campus security. And, undoubtedly these issues will be addressed. But, to me, a more important part of this story is about a university with Lasallian values that decided against moving out of the city even through the opportunity was there. The legacy of Jean Baptiste de La Salle, a Catholic saint dedicated to quality teaching and outreach to all continues to shine brightly. With 57,000-plus graduates, including the mayor of Philadelphia, La Salle University continues to be a positive force for good in its urban Philadelphia location. The United States is creating pretexts for militarizing space, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister Army General Valery Gerasimov told a conference on military strategy, TASS reported. Gerasimov said Washington continues its course on expanding military presence in close proximity to Russian borders and on destroying the system of treaty relations on issues of arms reduction, which has a negative effect on strategic stability. "In 2002 the US unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Their next step after demonstratively suspending their participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty could be the withdrawal from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty," he noted. "The Pentagon has lately stated repeatedly that they intend to use space for their military purposes. For this, a new type of forces is formed - space forces, which creates a pretext for militarizing space," Gerasimov stressed. In the end "all these actions may lead to an escalation of the military-political situation and emergence of new threats, to which Russia will have to respond with reciprocal and asymmetrical measures," he added. With less than two weeks to go in the legislative session, lawmakers are bearing down on tax reform while finishing up other priorities. We examine session issues, leadership and trends. In every legislative session, a tug-of-war breaks out between state lawmakers and local governments. In this session, legislation considered would limit local government regulation of plastic bags and gravel pits and restrict county choice on forms of county government, among other things. Is the Legislature picking on local government too much? Pignanelli: "If you can't legislate, you can't deal with problems. Lloyd Blankfein When describing actions of lawmakers, for ease, commentators refer to "The Legislature, incorrectly implying this group is a collective hive that moves and reacts as a single unit. Actually, individual legislators serve in multiple roles at the same time of mediator, referee, combatant and counselor. They partner with external organizations and form temporary alliances with colleagues in pushing or thwarting issues. The process is a multidimensional reality show with infinite plot twists. The Legislature does not target anyone including local government. In response to concerns of their communities or neighbors, legislators and citizens on either side of these issues appeal to a broader spectrum of lawmakers who make the ultimate decision acting as mediators or umpires. Cities impact the daily lives of Utahns, which compels lawmakers to arbitrate multiple municipal and county matters. The only activities "The Legislature" performs in unison is eating, attending boring meetings and grumbling about lobbyists along with everyone else in the state. Webb: It is common for more powerful levels of government to assert their will on lower levels. Some legislators point out that local governments are creations of the state, so they can impose whatever they wish on local governments. That is true, but state leaders are also fond of saying government closest to home is the best government, and that government ought to be decentralized, enabling local autonomy to the extent that is practical. Just because state legislators can lord it over local governments doesnt mean they should. Those of us who greatly resent centralization at the federal level ought also to be leery of centralization at the state level. We ought to be consistent. We also should accept the fact that a handful of Utah cities are much more liberal than the rest of the state. I know this for a fact because Im a mainstream conservative but also a downtown riser who lives in the heart of Salt Lake City. If cities want to impose goofy liberal policies, conservative legislators, for the most part, ought not get in their way. We can vote with our feet, if we wish. In their rookie session, new Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilson are confronting difficult issues like tax reform, Medicaid expansion, air quality and rapid growth. Are they too ambitious as new leaders in their first session? Pignanelli: These sons of northern Utah are well-known for their deliberative balanced approach. Wilson raised eyebrows when he chose Magna Democrat Sue Duckworth to serve as a vice-chairwoman of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee. This is a wonderful bipartisan measure that allows Duckworths blue-collar sensibilities to scrutinize those highfalutin academics. Utah's efficient and technologically advanced transportation system is a direct result of Adams vision and influence. Further, his promotion of strong management principles is paying dividends to taxpayers. The Medicaid expansion issue illuminates their styles. Caucus members are complimentary of strong leadership by both, but without bullying. There was sensitivity to Democrats and Republicans with different opinions. Despite the fierce media bombardment, Adams and Wilson exuded dignity and never wavered from the ultimate goal. These strengths demonstrates they are willing and competent to consume tough issues. Webb: I like leaders who think big and grapple with hard issues. Meaningful tax reform is about as tough as it gets. Leaders have talked for many years about the need to broaden the sales tax base. These guys, along with Gov. Gary Herbert, are actually fighting the good fight. If there was a flaw in the tax reform battle, it was not starting early enough. With so many stakeholders fighting on behalf of their industries, this is a monumental task and it requires a great deal of time to work through all the concerns and reach compromises. But even if they dont achieve consensus on all the details, if they can approve principles and parameters of tax reform, and set a timeline, that will be good progress. Are there any new trends or unexpected developments occurring in this session? Pignanelli: There have been fewer rallies and public demonstrations. I suggest Utahns still care about issues but are using social media to express their opinions. The one constant is lousy parking, and I am exceeding 10,000 steps most days. Webb: For the most part, lawmakers have avoided huge partisan battles and message bills. Air quality legislation could become a significant achievement in this session. SALT LAKE CITY Less than a week after Pioneer Theatre Company announced Tony-nominated producer Christopher Massimine as its new managing producer, artistic director Karen Azenberg shared the company's 2019-20 season. And it's a season that Utah audiences can feel excited about, with Broadway hits, a pre-Broadway tryout, a Utah premiere and a world premiere. The 2019-20 season will kick off with the off-Broadway hit musical "Cagney," which will run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5. The six-person cast will tap dance through a story that follows the life of actor James Cagney and his rise to fame as Hollywood's "tough guy." With music and lyrics by Christopher McGovern and Robert Creighton, the score also includes the familiar tunes "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Along with co-writing the musical, Creighton will join PTC's cast in the title role in this pre-Broadway tryout. Next, the comedic drama "The Lifespan of a Fact" by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell will run from Nov. 1-16. The play is based on the 2012 book of the same name by John D'Agata and Jim Fingal and follows a national magazine's fact-checker, originally played on Broadway by "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe. December will bring a comedy that many PTC patrons have hoped to see on this season's bill. Running from Dec. 6-21, PTC will stage "The Play That Goes Wrong." The Play That Goes Wrong was the most requested play on our 2019-2020 season survey, Azenberg said in a press release. We are honored that PTC is one of a select group of professional companies in the country who have been given the opportunity to produce this complicated, hysterically funny piece. 2020 will start with the politically charged historical drama "Mary Stuart," which will run from Jan. 10 to 25. The show follows the rivalry between the two monarchs Mary, Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I. The Utah premiere of "Once on This Island" will run from Feb. 21 to March 7. The Tony Award-winning musical tells of the adventure of a woman traveling through a Caribbean backdrop to find the man she loves. Following this Utah professional premiere, PTC will present the world premiere of "ASS" from March 27 to April 11. PTC first introduced this family comedy, written by Ellen Simon, as part of its 2017-18 Play-by-Play new play reading series. Utah audiences have the opportunity to see it as a full stage production for the first time. PTC will close the 2019-20 season with the Broadway musical "Something Rotten!," which will run March 8 to May 23. This comedy follows Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers trying to compete as playwrights with their contemporary William Shakespeare. We have a great lineup in store, stated Azenberg. Salt Lake has a wonderfully sophisticated theatre audience; they know what is playing on Broadway, what is touring and what they want to see. Were delighted to provide a unique opportunity offering our patrons productions that would otherwise be unavailable to statewide theatergoers. In my 14 years of university administration (department chairman, dean and provost), I learned some of the fundamental principles of university leadership. One is that a universitys success or failure depends completely on the performance and behaviors of the people in it. A second is that any new or existing policies, procedures and aspirations mean nothing if administrators, faculty and staff are not effective in implementing them. The University of Utah police chief, the president and the board of trustees are paying insufficient attention to these fundamental principles. There is, of course, no question that some personnel were negligent, incompetent or secondarily complicit in the tragic and preventable murder of Lauren McCluskey, yet the resolute position of the university is that no one should be fired. This was stated in previous comments by President Ruth Watkins and emphatically reaffirmed at the recent Feb. 12 board of trustees meeting, where Watkins stated: I do not believe it serves the ultimate mission of enhancing campus safety to fire anyone who acted in good faith. Moreover, it was also previously stated by Watkins, and affirmed by H. David Burton, chairman of the board of trustees, that there were no plans to pursue disciplinary actions or hold individuals personally accountable. To date, they have issued no explicit statements to the contrary. Really? Lauren contacted the campus police more than 20 times during the 10 days leading up to her murder, and nothing of any substance was done to assist her or protect her. She was on her own. Was that a good faith effort from authorities? On the day of her murder, the detective assigned to her case was on leave and did not have the good sense to make provisions for forwarding critical time-sensitive messages to other on-duty officers. Laurens very last plea for help hours before her death was to an officer who explicitly verified for Lauren that a message she received was someone impersonating a police officer (a crime) and the message was an ominous attempt to lure her out of her apartment. The officer did nothing. That is neglect of duty, reckless endangerment, if not criminal negligence. As documented in the Offender History Report of the Adult Probation and Parole Office, an officer from University Police called them minutes after Lauren was shot to death seeking information about the murderer, where from the report, that officer stated the offender was a suspect in a homicide that just took place on the campus and if I had anyone out who could possibly help them locate the offender. The campus police claimed for the entire time Lauren was seeking help that they did not know the murderer was on parole, but yet minutes after Laurens murder they knew to call the parole office to ask for location and contact information about the offender? Housing authorities were explicitly alerted to the fact that the murderer intended to bring a gun to campus and was violating university policies but alerted no one and did nothing. Lauren was meeting with university counselors regarding her issues and did not receive any material assistance to support her safety or security. The University Police chief has been leading a department that was found to have at least 16 glaring deficiencies impairing its effectiveness and functionality and contributing to the probability of Laurens death. In my view, Watkins dismissed the most important component of addressing safety and security problems at the university: the personnel who are charged with providing it. Only board member Phillip Clinger addressed the critical personnel question in the recent trustees meeting, asking, How can you reassure us as trustees that with the specific circumstances that happened in the McCluskey case there has been proper accountability for the people involved in those incidents? after which Watkins answered she was guided by my best judgment. She also stated she implemented awareness, training and education that happened at a minimal cost. I must say that I am neither reassured nor inspired by the idea that the investment in safety and security was implemented at minimal cost. On Oct. 25, Gov. Gary Herbert said, if theres mistakes made take corrective action, and then initiated an investigation of how Utah corrections and parole officers handled the case. The time has come for the governor to extend his investigation of personnel to the behaviors of police officers, administrators and other personnel at the university, beginning with the board of trustees, the president, the chief of police and on down the chain of command. Surely the governor does not believe that the multitude of deficient and missing processes and procedures, and the myriad performance and behavioral errors by individuals, were simply due to some mystical unidentifiable force for which no persons were responsible or accountable. Without engagement by the governor, and likely necessary regardless, a truly external review of this catastrophe by outside entities such as the U.S. Department of Justice is warranted. As it stands, all of the individuals whose errors in judgement, deficient performance and negligent behaviors that fatally failed Lauren McCluskey remain in place, and it is unclear that they are even being held accountable for their actions, let alone facing any form of discipline. In good faith, it is difficult to feel reassured that some of the same fatal mistakes would not happen again. SALT LAKE CITY We are the gatherers and You can do this were the common, repeated themes offered by Elder David A. Bednar and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, during their Saturday keynote address during Family Discovery Day at RootsTech 2019. In a 50-minute conversation on the main stage of the conference, Elder Bednar, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Sister Bednar reviewed the importance of the restored gospel and its saving ordinances including those done in temples. They also spoke of being covenant-keeping disciples of the Savior. We have the responsibility to help gather together in one all things in Christ, Elder Bednar said. We are the gatherers. The Bednars shared several examples in two types of gathering the collecting of family names, information, memories and stories for family history, and the linking of eternal families through temple ordinances for ancestors. They also shared what Sister Bednar called non-tech and high-tech methods of gathering. She first asked her husband to share a little about one of his ancestors. He spoke of Luke Syphus, a third-great-grandfather from England who was baptized in the Latter-day faith, married and while immigrating to Australia became acquainted with Joseph Ridges. Baptized in Australia and going into the lumber business in Australia with Syphus, Ridges built an organ that he later donated and delivered to the church for its old adobe tabernacle on Temple Square. He later was asked to design and help construct a newer, larger organ for the new Salt Lake Tabernacle. Sister Bednar asked Elder Bednar to summarize his feelings sharing that story in two or three words. He responded: Gratitude, simplicity and love. She then allowed several minutes for attendees to share a relatives story with someone sitting nearby and to summarize their feelings in a word or two. Said Elder Bednar: Notice how these very simple conversations stimulated by inspired questions can invite our friends and family members onto a path of discovery, giving them an opportunity to act and thereby open their hearts to the power of the Holy Ghost and the spirit of Elijah. The Bednars then guided attendees to open the Family Tree app on mobile phones, first going to the Find A Relative feature. He said that of the 7,822 attendees using the app, he was related to 3,702; she noted her relatives totaled 4,152. Elder Bednar also pointed out the apps Ordinance Ready feature for church members to take names to the temple for ordinance work such as proxy baptisms and sealings of spouses and of children to parents. These are just two of the many features on the Family Tree app that allow you to discover, to gather and to connect with each other, he said. In her conclusion, Sister Bednar said: I know God lives. I know that he is anxious to help us discover, gather and connect. It is part of his plan for this latter day, and we are the gatherers. Underscoring the we are the gatherers, statement, Elder Bednar added several promises: I promise that as you consistently act and do the very simple things you know you should do, you will become ever more effective in the work of the gathering of Israel and you will help many individuals and families on both sides of the veil. Your capability and service will be magnified. I promise the doors will open, heavenly help with be available to you and you will be blessed to know that you can do this. The Bednars presentation served as the featured event of Saturdays Family Discovery Day, the free, final-day event concluding RootsTech 2019. It was also live-streamed on lds.org. I want to state one obvious fact, Elder Bednar said. RootsTech is the premier family conference in the whole world. With classes, activities and booths featuring family history tools, technology and resources, RootsTech is hosted by FamilySearch, the family history arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The four-day event drew an estimated 25,000 attendees in person and another 100,000 viewing online through live broadcasts. Tyler Stahle, RootsTech marketing communications manager, said event organizers were thrilled with the successes of this years event and grateful for attendees who participated. For us, weve loved seeing the growth of the conference, he said. Interest in ones family history is growing throughout the world, and RootsTech provides a platform for the industry to come together and celebrate connections." The event is going global itself, with the recent announcement of a first international expansion RootsTech London, scheduled for Oct. 24-26. We look forward to the chance to take the magic of RootsTech to people throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled the Bednars' name as "Bendars." SALT LAKE CITY February's winter storms brought high snowpack numbers and precipitation, which Utah hydrologists say could bode well for spring runoff. "And that's what we need this year, because we're coming off the heels of the driest year on record in 2018," said Brian McInerney, senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City. As of Saturday, Bear River had 112 percent of normal snow water equivalency, Weber River showed 120 percent of normal, and southeastern Utah was at 142 percent of normal, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Utah Snow Report. "I think if you were to paint a picture for February, on a wish list, we got what was on the wish list," McInerney said. "We got cold temperatures, very active storm pattern, and 200 to 300 percent precipitation in the form of snow down to low elevation." Low-elevation snowpack is high so far a promising sign, according to Troy Brosten, hydrologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "We had pretty good coverage all the way across the state," he said. "We really need it. Last year was an abysmal year. It was half the snowpack, we had heavy use on reservoirs, and everybody was gritting their teeth hoping for a good snow year, and it's turned out to be a good snow year. So that's certainly going to help reservoirs recover and help us through summer, no doubt." The 2019 snowpack still isn't back up to 2017 numbers, but it has surpassed the low 2018 numbers. Brosten noted that southern Utah is doing just as good as the north, something 2017 didn't see. But he said it's still early, and if March brings less-than-average precipitation numbers, southern Utah snowpack numbers could taper off just like they did in 2017. "If March turns out to be a real dud and we don't get a normal precipitation, then a lot of our snowpack numbers will drop below normal," Brosten added. "Then the runoff will become less efficient and there will be less of a snowpack to fill the reservoirs." If the numbers stay high throughout March, the reservoirs have a good chance of recovering from last year's dry spell. "It will make up for a lot of water we used last year," Brosten said. The weather pattern this year has helped snowpack, according to McInerney. "We don't see high pressure dominating the weather pattern," he explained. "Anytime you have high pressure parked over the West, you get an absence of storms, you get inversions, you get poor air quality, you have snowpacks that are really quite low. And we haven't had that this year. We've had an active weather pattern. February we had around 200 to 300 percent precipitation across the state, that was phenomenal, we had one storm after another moving in." Things are much more optimistic compared to last year, but the weather pattern needs to hold, McInerney said. "We need to keep it cold and wet all the way through May. If we start melting early, this could change," he warned. "We could lose a significant amount of our snow water equivalency to evaporation. It could go south pretty quick, but so far we don't see a rapid warming." Brosten said things are hopeful. "We still certainly aren't out of the woods yet, but every day that a storm comes in, it brings us closer to a more promising runoff period," he said. WASHINGTON Lawyers for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort are asking a judge in Virginia for leniency ahead of a sentencing hearing next week. Manafort is to be sentenced next Thursday after being convicted last summer of eight financial crimes. Probation officials have calculated a sentencing guideline range of between 19.5 and 24 years in prison for Manafort. Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's office have endorsed that calculation. On Friday, Manafort's lawyers called that calculation "clearly disproportionate" for the crimes Manafort was convicted of. Manafort's lawyers did not recommend their own sentence, but asked for one substantially lower than what's suggested by probation officials. They asked the judge to take into account the fact that Manafort is a "first-time offender." Manafort faces a separate sentence in the District of Columbia. SRINAGAR, India Indian and Pakistani soldiers have again targeted each other's posts and villages along their volatile frontier in disputed Kashmir, killing at least six civilians and two Pakistani troops, officials said Saturday. But in a sign that tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals could soon ease, a Pakistani Cabinet minister said a key train service between Pakistan and neighboring India would resume on Monday. Tensions have been running high since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan this past Tuesday, carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a fighter jet Wednesday and detaining its pilot, who was returned to India on Friday in a peace gesture. Fighting resumed overnight Friday. Pakistan's military said two of its soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with Indian forces near the Line of Control that separates Kashmir between the rivals. It marked the first fatalities for Pakistani troops since Wednesday, when tensions dramatically escalated between the nuclear-armed countries over Kashmir, which is split between them but claimed by both in its entirety. Indian police, meanwhile, said two siblings and their mother were killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The three died after a shell fired by Pakistani soldiers hit their home in the Poonch region near the Line of Control. The children's father was critically wounded. In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, government official Umar Azam said Indian troops with heavy weapons "indiscriminately targeted border villagers" along the Line of Control, killing a boy and wounding three other people. He said several homes were destroyed by Indian shelling. Following a lull lasting a few hours, shelling and firing of small arms resumed Saturday. A Pakistani military statement said two civilians were killed and two others wounded in the fresh fighting. The Indian army said Pakistani troops attacked Indian posts at several places along the militarized line. Since tensions escalated following last month's suicide attack, world leaders have scrambled to head off an all-out war between India and Pakistan. The rivals have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since their independence from British rule in 1947. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Saturday that Russia had offered to serve as a mediator to ease tensions. He said Pakistan was ready to accept the offer, but he did not know whether India would agree as well. Qureshi also said a top Saudi diplomat would soon visit Pakistan and India. Pakistani officials said China is expected to send an envoy to Pakistan and India this coming week. The current violence marks the most serious escalation of the long-simmering conflict since 1999, when Pakistan's military sent a ground force into Indian-controlled Kashmir. That year also saw an Indian fighter jet shoot down a Pakistani naval aircraft, killing all 16 on board. The latest wave of tensions began after the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the Feb. 14 suicide bombing by a Kashmiri militant on Indian paramilitary forces. India has long accused Pakistan of cultivating such militant groups to attack it. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the suicide attack. Pakistan's minister for railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, told reporters Saturday that the Samjhauta Express train service linking the Pakistani city of Lahore with the Indian border town of Atari would resume on Monday. The service was suspended by Pakistani authorities this past week. Thousands of people on both sides of Kashmir have fled to government-run temporary shelters or relatives' homes in safer areas to escape shelling along the frontier, which is marked by razor wire, watch towers and bunkers amid tangled bushes, forests and fields of rice and corn. "These battles are fought on our bodies, in our homes and fields, and we still don't have anything in our hands. We are at the mercy of these soldiers," said Mohammed Akram, a resident in the Mendhar area in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Sakina, a young woman who fled to a shelter with her two children, said the frequent shelling had made them "homeless in our own land." In Pakistani-administered Kashmir, many displaced families urged the international community to help resolve the issue of Kashmir so that they can live peacefully. "Whenever India fires mortars, it's we who suffer," said Mohammad Latif, a laborer who took refuge at a government building that was vacated for sheltering displaced families. "I don't care whether the Indian pilot is gone or not, I don't care who released him and why, but I want to know whether peace will return to us after his return to India," said Mohammad Sadiq, a shopkeeper who also was among the displaced. He said the latest tensions between Pakistan and India rose so suddenly that some people sold their sheep, cows and buffaloes at throwaway prices in his native Chikothi town. "We did not know whether we will get any shelter and how could we take our animals" with us, he said. Meanwhile, Indian police said two paramilitary soldiers and two counterinsurgency police officials were killed in a gunbattle with militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir, while troops fatally shot a civilian during anti-India protests. Rebel groups have been fighting Indian rule since 1989 and demand that Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. ___ Mughal reported from Muzafarabad, Pakistan. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. This session, the Utah state Legislature can take an important step toward protecting our freedom. SB103 (Victim Targeting Penalty Enhancements sponsored by Sen. Daniel Thatcher) recognizes the unique impact of a crime targeting individuals or institutions on the basis of how they pray, the color of their skin or their sexual orientation or identity, among other characteristics. The heinous nature of such crimes and the greater impact on the community is absolutely deserving of an enhanced punishment. The proposed hate crime statute does not favor some over others or seek to punish speech or thought. The attorney generals office and Anti-Defamation League, the agency that innovated hate crime legislation, stand united to set the record straight about this bill and hate crimes laws in general. Fact: Hate crime laws do not police or punish speech or thought. Speech is protected under the constitution and cannot and should not be criminalized. A hate crime law like SB103 does not punish speech or thought. Instead, it may provide a penalty enhancement for a crime where it is proven to be motivated by prejudice. Fact: Hate and bias is often the primary, if not sole, motive for a hate crime. The perpetrators animus toward race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability actual or perceived is the reason for the crime. In the vast majority of cases, absent the victims personal characteristic, no crime would occur. Fact: Hate crimes are message crimes. The purpose of a hate crime is to send a message to the victim and the victims community. Men beaten outside of a gay bar are rarely robbed. Vandals do not typically spray-paint messages like gang tags on the side of synagogues; instead the vandalism frequently consists of threats or a swastika. Bigots do not burn random shapes on the front lawns of African-American families who moved into a previously all-white neighborhood. The message of such shapes would mean nothing. But the charred remains of a burned cross send a clear message. The message is one of intolerance, exclusion and hate. Fact: Hate crimes affect entire communities, in addition to individuals. The alleged perpetrator of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in October 2018 aimed to deliver a message of hate to all Jews. He did not know his victims. He harbored animus toward the community and his attack impacted Jews nationally and globally. Members of the Jewish community around the world envisioned themselves in the pews in Pittsburgh. In the following weeks, synagogues across the country and around the world increased security to reassure members of their safety. Allies attended services at congregations to demonstrate solidarity. This is not a new phenomenon. More than one hundred years ago, in the aftermath of the only documented lynching of a Jew in American history, half of Atlantas Jewish community, the largest in the American South, fled the state. Many of those who remained hid aspects of their Jewish observance. The American Psychological Association confirms that hate crimes cause targeted communities to feel unwelcome and unsafe. Hate crime statutes send a countervailing message that society will not accept the intimidation and terrorization of segments of our community. Fact: Hate crimes are more violent than other crimes. A Northeastern University study found that hate crimes are more likely to involve physical injury and, compared to other assaultive crimes, are three times more likely to lead to hospitalization. The severity of and motivation for a crime are legitimate sentencing considerations. Fact: Hate crime statutes are constitutional. Over the past 40 years, federal and state hate crime laws have been upheld against a variety of challenges under the 14th Amendments equal protection and due process clauses, and under the First Amendment. In 1993, in Wisconsin v. Mitchell the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of hate crimes statutes in an opinion written by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The Supreme Court found the statute was intended to address conduct that the state legislature thought would inflict greater individual and societal harm. It also held that the statute was consistent with established anti-discrimination laws, narrowly tailored, and that enhanced penalties for racially motived crimes do not violate First Amendment rights. Fact: Hate crime laws protect us all. In the case of Wisconsin v. Mitchell, the court upheld the conviction and enhanced sentence when a racist assault by a group of young black men targeted a white boy. Protected classes enumerated in a hate crime statute shield individuals or groups on all sides selected on the basis of race (e.g. Caucasian or Latino), gender (e.g. male or female), sexual orientation (e.g. straight or gay) or religion (e.g. Christian or Muslim), and so on. On a personal level, we have both felt the terror of being threatened or assaulted for racial, religious or other reasons motivated by hate. These experiences have left us and our families fearful of leaving our homes and caused sleepless nights worrying about when the hate will strike next. While crimes motivated by hate may not meet the legal definition of terrorism, that is exactly what they represent. Thankfully, these crimes do not occur every day in Utah. But when they do happen, they tear at the very fabric of our society. All Utahns deserve robust protection from crimes inspired by hate. Russia is calling on Turkey to meet its commitments under a joint memorandum on de-escalation in Syrias Idlib, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Sunday, TASS reports. "Certain hotbeds of terrorist presence remain in the country. First of all, this concerns the Idlib de-escalation zone, where most territory is controlled by militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (one of names of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) carrying out provocative raids against civilians, Russian and Syrian military," Lavrov recalled. "Against this background, it is necessary to continue efficiently fighting against terrorism. We encourage our Turkish partners to meet their commitments under the September 17, 2018 memorandum on stabilizing the situation in Idlib." Russias top diplomat underlined the importance to prevent a further growth in terrorist presence under the pretext of observing the ceasefire reached with Turkey. "So far, the documents provisions envisaging the creation of a demilitarized zone and the withdrawal of all radicals and military hardware from it have not been fully implemented," he noted. In general, after a number of successful operations by the government forces with the support of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces the situation in Syria on the ground has significantly stabilized, Lavrov said. Statement from Tanaiste Simon Coveney on Pakistan-India relations Press release "I have previously expressed my concern at the terrorist attack in Pulwara, Kashmir. The increase in military activity between Pakistan and India since then has been alarming. The calls for restraint made by leaders around the world must be heeded. "However, the dangers for the people living in the region are very serious and the situation must be immediately de-escalated and peacefully resolved, to the satisfaction of both countries, as quickly as possible. "Ireland will always work with the international community to promote peace and reconciliation, as the impact of violence and conflict on people and societies can be devastating. "I hope that Pakistan and India will work together to prevent further acts of terrorism in the region and pursue diplomatic solutions to the issues they face." ENDS Previous Item | Next Item The Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has drawn criticism from some European countries, as well as the US, with the latter insisting that the EU should reduce its dependence on Russian gas and buy more expensive American Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The CEO of the Austrian state-owned energy company OMV, Rainer Seele, has said in an interview with Neue Zurcher Zeitung that Russia has shown itself to be a reliable partner in terms of gas supplies even in the toughest years, something which is confirmed by the fact that the EU has struck contracts with the gas giant until the year 2040. The OMV CEO added that new suppliers to the EU need to uphold the same standards. "We, as Europeans, are well advised to sign contracts for natural gas supplies from other regions of the world. However, these suppliers must be as reliable as Russia has been in terms of gas supplies for the last 50 years", he said, Sputnik reports. Commenting on the prospects of LNG on the EU market, especially coming from the US, Seele noted that American liquefied natural gas would not add to the competitiveness of the European market. The head of the OMV explained that US LNG is too expensive and would increase the costs for EU industrial companies, rendering them uncompetitive versus their American rivals. Seele also denied the idea that the Nord Stream 2 project could divide the EU, pointing out that it is more likely to happen due to more pressing European issues. "Russia can't divide Europe. There's no reason to say that. The EU can only be divided if it doesn't resolve its internal issues. We Europeans should focus on ourselves and seek unity. The upcoming Brexit can do much more [harm] to the EU", he said. The Russian aviation authorities are investigating an incident with an Uzbekistan Airways Boeing 767 (UK-67008) that ran off the end of runway 28L at the airport of Saint Petersburg. On 2 March, the airline operated flight HY631 from Tashkent and carried 8 crew members and 241 passengers. No injuries have been reported and everybody safely left the aircraft. There was heavy snowfall at the time of the incident, Aviation24 reports. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 27, 2019 | 08:38 PM | PADUCAH Commissioner Sandra Wilson told West Kentucky Star that she trusts the application process that everyone must go through in order to be eligible to serve on any boards. Commissioners Gerald Watkins and Richard Abraham, although voting no, both seemed to think that this was not a major issue. Abraham said his no vote was that he believed inexperience was coming into play with this appointment, and there was nothing else involved. Commissioner Brenda McElroy and Mayor Brandi Harless were not available for comment. Sarah Stewart Holland is a former city commissioner, but did not win re-election in 2018. After questions by a local media outlet concerning the appointment of Sarah Stewart Holland to the Board of Ethics, West Kentucky Star reached out to several commissioners for their opinions. Advertisement By The Associated Press Mar. 02, 2019 | FRANKFORT By The Associated Press Mar. 02, 2019 | 11:30 AM | FRANKFORT Kentucky lawmakers approved a bill Friday to let people carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training. The measure sparked impassioned debate in the House that veered between gun ownership rights and fears of more gun violence. The bill won final passage on a 60-37 vote and goes to Gov. Matt Bevin. This comes down to a constitutional right. We have a right in this country to own and bear arms, Republican Rep. John Blanton said in supporting the measure. Under the legislation, Kentuckians able to lawfully possess a firearm could conceal their weapons without a license. A gun-carrying permit in the state now carries a fee and a gun safety training requirement. Objections from opponents included dropping the training requirement as a condition for carrying concealed weapons. The right to carry a weapon in our society as with all rights comes with responsibility, Democratic Rep. Maria Sorolis said. And this bill provides no protection for responsibility by gun owners to know their weapon, to be able to use them well. Bevins office did not immediately respond to an email asking if the governor will sign it into law. Bevin, a staunch conservative, is seeking re-election this year. If Senate Bill 150 becomes law, Kentucky would become the 16th state to allow adults statewide to carry concealed firearms without permits, according to the NRA who backed the legislation. Kentucky now requires people to get a permit before they can carry a concealed firearm in the state. To do that, they have to undergo a background check, complete some gun safety training and pay a $60 fee. The legislation would allow people who are at least 21 years old and meet other legal requirements for gun ownership to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Supporters said the measure makes no changes regarding where and when people can possess concealed weapons. The bill sailed through the Republican-led Senate on a 29-8 vote last month. Supporters of the bill said Kentuckians already can carry weapons openly without any training. But if they carry a gun under a coat, they currently need a permit. Wearing a jacket and concealing the firearm should not create a legal requirement for training, said Republican Rep. Savannah Maddox, who took the lead in shepherding the measure through the GOP-dominated House. Nor does the Second Amendment allow for the government to assess fees in order to do so. While supporters characterized it as enabling people to defend themselves, opponents said having more people armed with concealed weapons without a permit or safety training would create more dangerous situations, including for law enforcement. A series of attempts by the bills opponents to amend the measure were defeated or ruled out of order on parliamentary grounds. Many of the bills supporters and opponents described themselves as gun owners as they joined in during the long debate. But some Republicans from suburban districts joined in opposing the bill, pointing to their concerns about waiving training requirements for carrying concealed guns. This is very difficult, Republican Rep. Kim Moser, a gun owner and NRA member, said in explaining her vote against the bill as the debate wrapped up. But I just believe that carrying a concealed weapon carries with it a higher responsibility and it should have a higher threshold. By The Associated Press Feb. 28, 2019 | 07:25 AM | FRANKFORT Public schools in Kentucky would have to display "In God We Trust" in a prominent location next school year under a bill that has cleared the state House of Representatives. The Republican-dominated chamber approved House Bill 46 on Wednesday by a vote of 72-25. It would require public schools to display the national motto in a prominent location beginning with the 2019-'20 school year. There are no penalties if schools don't comply, but someone could sue to force them to do it. Bill sponsor Republican Rep. Brandon Reed said the motto reflects an essential part of what it means to be an American. But Democratic state Rep. Kelly Flood voted against the bill, saying lawmakers should practice tolerance, saying people are called to be citizens, not comparatively better Christians. As a capstone to its 50th annual SIGCSE Technical Symposium, leaders of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) are celebrating the ideas that have shaped the field by recognizing a select group of publications with a "Top Ten Symposium Papers of All Time Award." The top ten papers were chosen from among the best papers that were presented at the SIGCSE Technical Symposium over the last 49 years. As part of the Top Ten announcement today in Minneapolis, the coauthors of each top paper will receive a plaque, free conference registration for one co-author to accept the award and up to a total of $2,000 that can be used toward travel for all authors of the top ranked paper. "In 1969, the year of our first SIGCSE symposium, computing education was a niche specialty" explains SIGCSE Board Chair Amber Settle of DePaul University, of Chicago, USA. "Today, it is an essential skill students need to prepare for the workforce. Computing has become one of the most popular majors in higher education, and more and more students are being introduced to computing in K-12 settings. The Top Ten Symposium Papers of All Time Award will emphasize the outstanding research that underpins and informs how students of all ages learn computing. We also believe that highlighting excellent research will inspire others to enter the computing education field and make their own contributions." The Top Ten Symposium Papers are: "Identifying student misconceptions of programming" (2010) Lisa C. Kaczmarczyk, Elizabeth R. Petrick, University of California, San Diego; Philip East, University of Northern Iowa; Geoffrey L. Herman, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Computing educators are often baffled by the misconceptions that their CS1 students hold. We need to understand these misconceptions more clearly in order to help students form correct conceptions. This paper describes one stage in the development of a concept inventory for Computing Fundamentals: investigation of student misconceptions in a series of core CS1 topics previously identified as both important and difficult. Formal interviews with students revealed four distinct themes, each containing many interesting misconceptions. "Improving the CS1 experience with pair programming" (2003) Nachiappan Nagappan, Laurie Williams, Miriam Ferzli, Eric Wiebe, Kai Yang, Carol Miller, Suzanne Balik, North Carolina State University Pair programming is a practice in which two programmers work collaboratively at one computer, on the same design, algorithm, or code. Prior research indicates that pair programmers produce higher quality code in essentially half the time taken by solo programmers. The authors organized an experiment to assess the efficacy of pair programming in an introductory Computer Science course. Their results indicate that pair programming creates a laboratory environment conducive to more advanced, active learning than traditional labs; students and lab instructors report labs to be more productive and less frustrating. "Undergraduate women in computer science: experience, motivation and culture" (1997) Allan Fisher, Jane Margolis, Faye Miller, Carnegie Mellon University During a year-long study, the authors examined the experiences of undergraduate women studying computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, with a specific eye toward understanding the influences and processes whereby they attach themselves to or detach themselves from the field. This report, midway through the two-year project, recaps the goals and methods of the study, reports on their progress and preliminary conclusions, and sketches their plans for the final year and the future beyond this particular project. "A Multi-institutional Study of Peer Instruction in Introductory Computing" (2016) Leo Porter, Beth Simon, University of California, San Diego; Dennis Bouvier, Southern Illinois University; Quintin Cutts, University of Glasgow; Scott Grissom, Grand Valley State University; Cynthia Lee, Stanford University; Robert McCartney, University of Connecticut; Daniel Zingaro, University of Toronto Peer Instruction (PI) is a student-centric pedagogy in which students move from the role of passive listeners to active participants in the classroom. This paper adds to this body of knowledge by examining outcomes from seven introductory programming instructors: three novices to PI and four with a range of PI experience. Through common measurements of student perceptions, the authors provide evidence that introductory computing instructors can successfully implement PI in their classrooms. "The introductory programming course in computer science: ten principles" (1978) G. Michael Schneider, University of Minnesota Schneider describes the crucial goals of any introductory programming course while leaving to the reader the design of a specific course to meet these goals. This paper presents ten essential objectives of an initial programming course in Computer Science, regardless of who is teaching or where it is being taught. Schneider attempts to provide an in-depth, philosophical framework for the course called CSI -- Computer Programming I -- as described by the ACM Curriculum Committee on Computer Science. "Constructivism in computer science education" (1998) Mordechai Ben-Ari, Weizmann Institute of Science Constructivism is a theory of learning which claims that students construct knowledge rather than merely receive and store knowledge transmitted by the teacher. Constructivism has been extremely influential in science and mathematics education, but not in computer science education (CSE). This paper surveys constructivism in the context of CSE, and shows how the theory can supply a theoretical basis for debating issues and evaluating proposals. "Using software testing to move students from trial-and-error to reflection-in-action" (2004) Stephen H. Edwards, Virginia Tech Introductory computer science students have relied on a trial and error approach to fixing errors and debugging for too long. Moving to a reflection in action strategy can help students become more successful. Traditional programming assignments are usually assessed in a way that ignores the skills needed for reflection in action, but software testing promotes the hypothesis-forming and experimental validation that are central to this mode of learning. By changing the way assignments are assessed--where students are responsible for demonstrating correctness through testing, and then assessed on how well they achieve this goal--it is possible to reinforce desired skills. Automated feedback can also play a valuable role in encouraging students while also showing them where they can improve. "What should we teach in an introductory programming course" (1974) David Gries, Cornell University Gries argues that an introductory course (and its successor) in programming should be concerned with three aspects of programming: 1. How to solve problems, 2. How to describe an algorithmic solution to a problem, and 3. How to verify that an algorithm is correct. In this paper he discusses mainly the first two aspects. He notes that the third is just as important, but if the first two are carried out in a systematic fashion, the third is much easier than commonly supposed. "Contributing to success in an introductory computer science course: a study of twelve factors" (2001) Brenda Cantwell Wilson, Murray State University; Sharon Shrock, Southern Illinois University This study was conducted to determine factors that promote success in an introductory college computer science course. The model included twelve possible predictive factors including math background, attribution for success/failure (luck, effort, difficulty of task, and ability), domain specific self-efficacy, encouragement, comfort level in the course, work style preference, previous programming experience, previous non-programming computer experience, and gender. Subjects included 105 students enrolled in a CS1 introductory computer science course at a midwestern university. The study revealed three predictive factors in the following order of importance: comfort level, math, and attribution to luck for success/failure. "Teaching objects-first in introductory computer science" (2003) Stephen Cooper, Saint Joseph's University; Wanda Dann, Ithaca College; Randy Pausch Carnegie Mellon University An objects-first strategy for teaching introductory computer science courses is receiving increased attention from CS educators. In this paper, the authors discuss the challenge of the objects-first strategy and present a new approach that attempts to meet this challenge. The approach is centered on the visualization of objects and their behaviors using a 3D animation environment. Statistical data as well as informal observations are summarized to show evidence of student performance as a result of this approach. A comparison is made of the pedagogical aspects of this new approach with that of other relevant work. Annual Best Paper Award Announced Today SIGCSE officers also announced the inauguration of an annual SIGCSE Test of Time Award. The first award will be presented at the 2020 SIGCSE Symposium and recognize research publications that have had wide-ranging impact on the field. ### About SIGCSE The Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM SIGCSE) is a community of approximately 2,600 people who, in addition to their specialization within computing, have a strong interest in quality computing education. SIGCSE provides a forum for educators to discuss the problems concerned with the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of computing programs, curricula, and courses, as well as syllabi, laboratories, and other elements of teaching and pedagogy. About ACM ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking. UPDATE: With Sterling's gains capped in the wake of dismal construction data, a lack of fresh Brexit impetus saw the Pound Sterling US Dollar (GBPUSD) exchange rate slide through Mondays session, losing 0.22%. Senior market analyst, Fiona Cincotta of City Index commented, Despite a strong start for the pound, dismal construction sector data and a strengthening dollar saw sterling drop below $1.32. Tuesdays session saw the GBPUSD cross trading at $1.31740. For the GBP, out-with Brexit news-flow, the UK services PMI is due (0930 GMT) with a forecast of 50.0 indicative of nil expansion, following last months marginally positive 50.1 release. Later in the session (1535), Bank of England governor Mark Carney is expected to testify before the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on Brexit, inflation and the UK economy which could prompt some volatility in GBP markets. For the Greenback, the latest ISM non-manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) is due (1500) with the release expected to print an increase to 57.4 from a previous 56.7. UPDATE: The Pound US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate opened this weeks session on strong footing, climbing to around $1.3231 on the back of Donald Trumps criticism of the Federal Reserve. USD fell back at the opening of Mondays trading session as Trump complained that the strength of the US Dollar was hurting US economic growth while also taking a jab at Fed Chair Jerome Powell for raising interest rates. However Sterling was forced to give some of this ground during the European session following a surprise contraction in the UKs latest construction PMI. Analysts at Scotiabank commented "Cable peaked near 1.3350 last week after running steadily higher from the upper 1.27s through mid/late Feb. Loss of minor support in the low 1.32 area suggests that near-term risks are geared towards a retracement to the 1.3100/30 area now. We spot resistance at 1.3225." UPDATE: The to $ exchange rate clinched a second week of appreciation, spurred higher by a wave of Brexit-based optimism. Against the US Dollar, the cross gained 1.15% and was seen edging higher into Mondays session, trading at $1.32416 at the time of writing. Its a quiet session in terms of economic data with the relatively low-impact UK construction PMI due expected to edge lower but remain above 50 at 50.5 from a previous 50.6. For the Greenback, construction spending data is expected to show a slackening in the pace of spending within the sector with a forecast of just 0.2%, down from 0.8%. The GBP remains Brexit-focused MPs are expected to participate in a series of votes from March 12th 14th to determine the UKs route out of the European Union. With that in mind, this week is likely to see UK lawmakers canvassing for support for their respective positions. US labour market statistics are due on Friday with unemployment forecast to dip to below 4% while wage growth accelerates to 0.3% m/m. Commenting on the USD-implications, Danske Bank analyst, Daniel Brdsgaard wrote For USD, it is not least about the US jobs report, which could prove a small USD positive if it supports, as we expect, the Fed to move on with more hikes this year. UPDATE: The Pound US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate started the week on a strong footing, gapping 47% higher and currently trading at $1.32367. Analysts at Maybank are wary at current levels, saying "Bullish momentum on daily, weekly and monthly chart remains intact however near term risks skewed to the downside as stochastics on the daily chart shows signs of turning lower from overbought conditions." GBP/USD fluctuated wildly this week as Brexit optimism soared and then came back down by the end of the week, as doubts set in following the former Brexit secretarys criticism of the EU and Prime Minister Theresa Mays withdrawal deal. However, could we see the Pound rise further next week as Brexit deadlock looks like it is being increasingly challenged? Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Begin to Tumble on Brexit Realities as Raab Criticises Mays Deal The Pound benefited at the beginning of the week after Prime Minister Theresa May delayed Wednesdays meaningful vote until 12 March, saying that debates with the EU were ongoing but progressing well. Meanwhile Labour MP Yvette Coopers amendment which would allow MPs to extend Article 50 should Mays withdrawal agreement fail to gain parliamentary backing was increasing gaining favour and buoying market confidence in the Pound. Tuesday saw the no-deal Brexit scenario challenged as Tory MPs threated to resign unless May removed it from the table. This came after the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also voiced his backing of a second referendum. As the Brexit deadlock was increasingly challenged, the Pound began to soar against most of its competitors. Wednesday saw the Pound soar further following Mays concession to MPs which enabled a possible extension to Article 50 or a removal of a no-deal if Mays deal was rejected on 12 March. Thursday, however, saw the Pound begin to slip as UK GfK consumer confidence figures failed to hold back creeping Brexit doubts. As Brexit optimism began to dry up, GBP traders instead turned to the possible options should Mays deal be rejected on 12 March, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, supporting a possible extension under strict conditions markets became increasing jittery. Friday saw the former Brexit secretary begin to doubt the EUs intentions, calling their method of handling the Northern Irish backstop dishonourable and retracting his support of Mays deal. US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Wracked by Weak Economic Data as US-China Trade Talks Ongoing The US Dollar began the week weakened by President Donald Trumps delaying of tariffs on Chinese imports, which diminished the US Dollars safe-haven demand. Meanwhile the US Chicago National Activity Index figures for January decreased. Tuesday saw USD continue to weaken as US-China trade discussions still failed to show any signs of progress, while US housing starts figures for December fell disappointingly. The Chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, delivered a cautious speech that was dovish by his standards, in which he further urged patience with regards the US economy. The US Dollar was continually hounded by domestic political tensions on Wednesday with the House of Representatives pushing to revoke Trumps declaration of a national emergency over funding for the controversial Mexican border wall. The Greenback managed to recover some of its losses on Thursday as risk appetite diminished following inconclusive talks between the US and North Korea. However, the US also saw some weak economic data on Thursday with GDP figures for the fourth-quarter slipping to 2.6% while jobless claims also increased, further dampening confidence in the US economy. Friday saw USD begin to weaken following a raft of weak economic data, with the US ISM manufacturing PMI figures for February falling below at 54.2 against Januarys 56.6. GBP/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Pound Could Rise on Signs of a Delay of Article 50 Pound traders will be looking ahead to Mondays release of the UK Markit construction PMI figures for February, which, however, are expected to decrease. Tuesday, meanwhile, will the publication of UK Markit services PMI figures for February, which are expected to increase, and may provide the Pound with some further uplift. USD traders will be looking ahead to Tuesdays publication of the US ISM non-manufacturing PMI figures for February, which are inspected to improve. Wednesday, meanwhile will see the release of the US trade balance figures for December followed by the US new home sales figures for January, and with any signs of an increase in either this could prove Greenback-positive. Thursday will see the publication of the US nonfarm productivity figures for the fourth-quarter. Sterling traders, however, will be looking ahead to Fridays printing of the UK industrial production figures for January. The GBP/USD exchange rate is likely to remain fixated on Brexit developments next week, and with any signs of a possible extension of Article 50, or a conclusion of the US-China trade talks, it is likely well see the Pound rise further. Thanks for the bus info -MattHanson1990. Seemed like the bus ride would only be a bit longer from Phoenix judging by the distances on the interactive map. But maybe the bus does a lot more stops on the Phoenix to Albuquerque route. Greyhound is always making stops and running slow. I did Amtrak train once for a long haul and decided never again. Also did greyhound a few times and was never inspired to want to do it again if i had other options(including the option to cancel the trip because the only option were to go greyhound). I drive to Mexico from a lot farther away than Los Alamos and i go through Albuquerque sometimes and other times take the long lonely back highway through Alamagordo. I will be driving all the way to upstate NewYork this year going back from Puerto iVallarta, almost all the way to Canada border. Will likely take the Albuquerque route because it lets me go through Denver and Kansas city where i get better food options along the way. I hope you work out a good alternative if it comes to needing that. You obviously have a better sense than i do, of what your options are. I'm anticipating a move to Samut Sakhon and would like to know where people prefer to rent. Some have advised midway between Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. Others have suggested along the beach on the Gulf. An occasional Saturday or Sunday trip in to Bangkok is likely. I'd like affordable housing with no mould. It can be small (larger than 50 meters square) and must allow pets. I have a cat and a small dog. I prefer a kitchen with running hot water and a propane stove and a bathroom with a western toilet. Anyone have any suggestions? My timeline is the third week of April. UPDATED AT 6 A.M. SUNDAY: Crew Dragon successfully docked to the International Space Station. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk struggled to find words early Saturday after the successful launch of the spacecraft that soon could carry astronauts to the International Space Station. To be frank, Im a little emotionally exhausted because that was super stressful, Musk told reporters in Florida after Crew Dragon left Earths atmosphere. But it worked. So far. The launch is a first for NASAs Commercial Crew Program, which aims to launch Americans from American soil for the first time since the Space Shuttles were grounded in 2011. Since that time, the U.S. has relied on Russian to ferry its astronauts to and from the space station, at a cost of $81 million per seat. THE FIRST NINE: NASA names astronauts to fly on commercial vehicles by Boeing, SpaceX The Crew Dragon that rocketed out of Earths atmosphere Saturday did not have humans on board unless you count Ripley, a mannequin named after Sigourney Weaver's character in the Alien movie series. Instead, it essentially is a dress rehearsal for the crewed flight tentatively scheduled for July. It will test all the systems aboard the spacecraft to ensure that it is safe for humans. But Saturdays event marks an even bigger milestone for the U.S.s history-making space agency, ushering in a time when companies play an even bigger role in the countrys human exploration portfolio. What today really represents is a new era in spaceflight: An era when we are looking forward to being one customer, as an agency and a country, of many customers in a robust commercial marketplace in low Earth orbit, where the space station flies, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during the Saturday morning news conference. So we can drive down cost and increase access in ways that, historically, has not been possible. The commercial crew program is part of NASAs overall plan to commercialize low Earth orbit, where the space station has flown since 1998. But NASA officials and the companies they hired to help them have a long way to go before that becomes a reality. True success of SpaceXs test flight Saturday will not be known for about a week. It docked to the space station Sunday morning, but it still must re-enter Earths atmosphere, splashing down near Florida, March 8. And Boeing the other company hired by NASA in 2014 to build and launch a commercial spacecraft still must conduct its test flight, currently scheduled for April. Weve passed some of the riskiest items, Musk said. Were only partway into mission, but so far, it seems to be looking very good. Seventeen years in the making When Musk started SpaceX in 2002, his ultimate goal was human spaceflight. I really believe in the future of space and I think its important we become a space-faring civilization and be out there among the stars, Musk said. And I think thats one of the things that makes people really excited about the future. But 17 years later as he sat in front of a group of reporters trying to express what Crew Dragons launch meant to him Musk admitted he never thought this day would come. When I started SpaceX, [people] said Youre going to fail, and I said I agree, I think we probably will fail, he said. Yea. It was worth trying anyway. This wont be Musks first trip to the space station.. SpaceXs Dragon 1 has been transporting cargo to the orbiting laboratory since 2012. MORE DELAYS: NASA announces setbacks to SpaceX, Boeing commercial flights Crew Dragons mission is much more difficult, however. The spacecraft needs to safely transport humans out of Earths atmosphere, dock to the space station without the assistance of Canadarm2 a robotic arm built by Canada that performs maintenance, moves equipment and supplies and attaches visiting vehicles to the station and then return to Earth five days later. Musk said Saturday morning that docking to the space station without Canadarm2 will be challenging because the company has never done it before, as will re-entry and proper parachute deployment. But Sunday morning, Crew Dragon docked successfully. But thousands of simulations have been conducted since NASA awarded the company a contract in 2014, he added, and things should go smoothly. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, currently scheduled to fly on SpaceXs first crewed flight, were in the control room during the flight. Behnken said he was feeling pretty good about flying with SpaceX after watching the launch. Seeing success like this gives us confidence in the future, Behnken said. This is about predicting what the vehicle will do and testing it to make sure thats what it does. More work to be done Despite Saturdays success, SpaceX and the entire Commercial Crew Program has suffered numerous setbacks since NASA awarded contracts totaling $6.8 billion in 2014. Both Musks company and Boeing initially were expected to launch crewed test flights in 2018, but the schedules of both companies have slipped. Now, SpaceX hopes to launch their crewed flight in July, while Boeing hopes to send humans to the space station in August, after its uncrewed test flight in April. If these schedules hold, the companies could, theoretically, meet the deadline to take over flying U.S. astronauts to the space station before NASAs contract with the Russians runs out in November 2019. But a July report from the Government Accountability Office warned that NASA might need more wiggle room. The U.S. currently pays Russia $81 million per seat on the Soyuz spacecraft, a cost that includes the seat, the training, the spacesuit, and the search and rescue team, among other things. BUDGET OFFICIALS: NASA could see 5 percent cut in funds next year NASA officials previously have said they could adjust their Soyuz flights to the space station to bleed into 2020, but the agency now is considering buying two more seats on the Soyuz to take astronauts there while SpaceX and Boeing complete their spacecrafts. A per-solicitation notice released Feb. 13 stated that past experience has shown the difficulties associated with achieving first flights on time in the final year of development. This notice follows a report released in October by a NASA safety panel that called into question both companies' timelines and construction. It found that Boeing had not completed several important tests on the parachute systems, heat shield and other components of the spacecraft, for example, and that SpaceX was struggling with the parachute system. The commercial crew program also is on shaky ground because of an investigation by NASA into the workplace culture, including drug use, at both Boeing and SpaceX. This investigation does not appear to have impacted the flight schedules. President Donald Trump wants to transition the space station to commercial operation by 2025 ending federal funding by late 2024 but Congressional leaders have fought back against that notion. LONGER LIFE: U.S. Sen. Cornyn files measure to extended U.S. operations on space station to 2030 U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, last week filed a measure to extend U.S. operations of the space station until 2030. A similar measure was filed last year by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, also a Republican from Texas, but it failed to make it to the presidents desk. By The Associated Press Feb. 28, 2019 | 10:32 AM | FRANKFORT At least six Kentucky school districts were forced to close on Thursday including the two largest systems in the state as a wave of teachers called in sick to protest what one leader called "half-truths" and "shadiness" at the state legislature. The "sick out" was organized by the group KY 120 United, a reference to the state's 120 counties, which encouraged teachers in a Facebook post Wednesday night to call in sick. Within hours, the state's two largest school districts in Jefferson and Fayette counties announced they would close because they did not have enough teachers to cover classes. Districts in Marion, Carter, Letcher and Boyd counties were also closed on Thursday. In Fayette County, officials said at least 40 percent of teachers called in sick. The protest comes on the same day lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state legislature were scheduled to discuss House Bill 525, a proposal that would change how people are nominated to the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System's board of trustees. But Nema Brewer, one of the group's leaders, said the protest is not targeting one specific bill. "This is (about) a series of kicks in the teeth. And the dog is now ready to fight back," she said. Specifically, Brewer said teachers are angry that GOP leaders suspended a bipartisan working group that was examining potential changes to the pension system. They also are concerned about Senate Bill 257. It adds gender neutral language to the state's pension law, but Brewer said teachers worry that lawmakers will use it as a vehicle for a more expansive pensions overhaul. Kentucky's pension systems are among the worst funded in the nation. State officials are at least $39 billion short of the money required to pay benefits over the next 30 years. Lawmakers have made changes to the system that oversees state and local government employees. But they have been unable to make changes to the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System. Teachers are well organized and oppose anything they see as a threat to their profession. Thousands marched at the state Capitol last year to protest a Republican-backed bill that would have put all new teacher hires into a hybrid pension system. Lawmakers passed the bill anyway, but the state Supreme Court struck it down in December on a procedural issue. Republican lawmakers appeared dismayed on Thursday as teachers gathered in the committee room. Republican state Rep. Ken Upchurch, who sponsored House Bill 525, said "It is staggering that people would strike so early in the process, and more astonishing that the organization that says they represent teachers' best interests has called for it." Right now, the Kentucky Education Association controls nominations for seven of the pension board's 11 members. House Bill 525 would change that, letting groups like the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association, the Kentucky School Boards Association and the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents nominate members. Upchurch said he has been working on an amendment to the bill that would "increase the say teachers have." Republican Rep. Jason Nemes told WHAS radio he was on the phone with teachers in his district on Wednesday until after midnight, saying they "are scared." "They need to get engaged in the process rather than call for a teacher strike," Nemes said. "If you're going to call for a teacher strike, please make it something that is, one, based on fact, and two, of sufficient magnitude. That's not this." Thursday's protests are likely to stir up the Democratic primary for governor, where several candidates are courting the support of teachers upset with the Republican-dominated state legislature and Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Democratic candidate Adam Edelen called House Bill 525 "political retribution against Kentucky's teachers for having the guts to stand up to Matt Bevin and Frankfort politicians." Another candidate, Attorney General Andy Beshear, was on his way to the scene. If youve ever dreamed of living in the King William Historic District, theres a wish book for you recently reissued in a bigger format, with new photographs and rich detail for many more homes. Effectively a catalog and capsule history of each house on the neighborhoods major streets, the original The King William Area: A History and Guide to the Houses, by Mary V. Burkholder with photos by Graham B. Knight, was published by the King William Association in 1973 and updated four years later in a second edition. After four decades, the classic reference was ready for a redo. The book of the same name, this time by Burkholder and Jessie N.M. Simpson, with photos by Al Rendon, was published last year, also by the King William Association. For wistful wannabe owners of historic homes, its a compendium of 19th-century period details - the gingerbread woodwork, the fairytale-house gables, the original gaslights that still work. For researchers, tourists and tour guides, Burkholders book is a handy reference, with the houses identified by address and original or best-known owners name, easy to use as you walk along King William, Washington, Madison and several other streets, looking back and forth at the mostly Victorian houses and the text that traces their ownership and notable features. In recent years, the actual facades might not always be a perfect match to the original books photographs by Knight because the neighborhood part of whose story was featured here Feb. 16 - has continued to change, as new owners renovated the old houses, building onto them or removing the exhausted parts. As the credits of the new edition reveal, its not just a new edition to sell more copies of an old favorite. The new book features a noticeably larger format watch your step if you walk down the street with it and it adds a lot to the story of our first suburb, adjoining the city of San Antonio, as it was described in an 1853 document. That quote and nearly every other detail from Burkholders original are respectfully preserved in Simpsons update. Recognizing the 1970s book as a foundational text in neighborhood preservation, a foreword by The Burkholder Book Committee notes that The historic district was newly minted and fragile, and in those times of urban renewal and disdain for anything old (Burkholders) work provided a first attempt at documenting the neighborhood and the houses, the premise being that houses with documented history were more difficult to deface or destroy. The larger new version is more inclusive, documenting 60 more houses on more than twice as many streets. They include what might have been called infill - structures newer than King Williams late 19th-century norm - purpose-built apartment houses and other non-residential buildings. Some houses have then-and-now photos, juxtaposing historical and current views. Taken by longtime San Antonio photographer Al Rendon, the new photos are all in glorious color, while the original book had photos in black and white. The 21st-century pictures arent just more striking; with color and the larger format, they add a lot more information - the painted-lady paint colors chosen by some present-day owners, architectural details that pop, landmarks that make a cameo appearance in the background. The text also is fuller. While Burkholder and Simpson had some important qualities in common - both longtime King William residents and retirees who committed to years of painstaking research - advances since the 70s have made this kind of work a lot easier. In an age before computers and the internet, says the new books foreword, Burkholder spent untold hours in a musty basement at the County Courthouse with no air-conditioning, poring over old, dusty deed records to establish chains of ownership to a significant portion of the houses. Theres more information available now, and Simpson has corrected a few errors, made some points more precise (an owner moved in not later but in 1902), added copious architectural identifications and personal histories throughout and extended the books reach to a wider concept of the King William neighborhood. Simpson has looked up everything that can be looked up, and all those facts are deposited here for a rich bank of information that will be useful to researchers of topics well beyond these houses and streets. Included for the first time are the Braunnagel House, at 212 City St., a Richardson Romanesque brick mansion built by Dr. Julius Lucian Alexander Braunnagel, founder of the Santa Rosa Hospital training school for nurses, for his second wife after divorcing his first one. (Oh, and it survived a 1900 lightning strike.) The Wueste House, 125 City, like Braunnagels, was designed by Albert Beckmann and not previously known as his work; a later owner, Dr. Ariel Hernandez, was named physician to Pope John Paul II for his 1987 visit to San Antonio. Asked what about her research surprised her, Simpson - who has been involved in renovation and preservation of historic houses since the original book was new - said it was the number of women who bought real estate, built houses and lived on their own. Many were young widows forced to fend for themselves. Consuelo Maurer, after her husband William died in 1919, accumulated houses and turned them into apartments, even developing an apartment complex - the Maurer Apartments, in Spanish Eclectic style, at the corner of Madison and Beauregard streets. Another impoverished young widow, Carolina Garza, worked as a stenographer and invested in real estate. She acquired houses and held onto them tenaciously, said Simpson, not allowing them to be demolished, protecting (what became) many historic properties. Trained nurse Grace Crawford, daughter of Bexar County Sheriff John C. Crawford, bought the lot at 128 City in 1907 and built a house there a few years later as a rental property. Together, Burkholder and Simpson represent a combined 70 years of personal experience of the area and dedication to telling its story. Rendons photos add a further human dimension - the houses come as they are, with seasonal decorations, a few marks of age and time and contemporary touches that suit the current owners. Burkholder won a San Antonio Conservation Society Publication Award for the original edition in 1975, and she and Simpson are among the authors of books on San Antonio and Texas history to receive the same award March 29 in the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, 205 W. Houston St. The event, which starts at 10:30 a.m., is open to the public, and books will be available for sale and to be signed by the authors. Reservations are $55 per person; for details or to register online, visit www.saconservation.org/publication-awards or call the Conservation Society at 224-6163. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn APASEO EL GRANDE, Mexico - A new notch in central Mexico's automotive belt rises in the central state of Guanajuato amid irrigated crops, multiplying industrial parks - and deadly gangland warfare. By year's end, Toyota's assembly plant in Apaseo El Grande, a rapidly transforming township of farmers and factory laborers, will begin producing some 100,000 Tacoma pickup trucks a year, according to industry reports, with many of them for shipment across the Rio Grande and through Texas. Toyota currently produces the Tacoma in San Antonio and in Tijuana, the Mexican city bordering San Diego. A spokesman said Toyota declined requests to comment about the plant and the companys plans. With any luck, and perhaps a prayer, the violence that has been racking the state for several years now also will have slackened, with the rival gangs subdued and the corruption that nurtures them corralled. Imagine a plant of this size operating amid so much violence. Thats not going to work, says Francisco Rodriguez, 59, who grows alfalfa not far from the Toyota plant. The government has to get this under control. The cradle of Mexico's independence from Spain two centuries ago, Guanajuato today stands as an emblem of both the country's promise and its peril as leftist-nationalist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes the helm for a six-year term. Conservative Guanajuato was the only of Mexico's 32 states that Lopez Obrador did not win in last July's election. Now, as he struggles to both maintain industrial-driven growth and bring criminal gangs to heel, few corners of the country have more at stake in the outcome. Exports to the U.S. of vehicles and auto parts turbo-charge the state's economy - it has grown by more than 4 percent annually this decade, about twice the national rate. Officials say Guanajuato, which is Mexicos sixth-most important state economically, will lead the country in automotive production by next year. The state produced about a fifth of the nearly 4 million cars and light trucks foreign automakers produced in Mexico in 2018. But gangland killings and other violent crimes have spiked as well, claiming more than 2,300 lives last year and making Guanajuato the deadliest state of Mexico. In all, a record 33,000 people nationwide died violently last year, most of them at the hands of organized crime, officials say. Though nearly 600 miles from the Rio Grande at Laredo, the fates of Apaseo El Grande and Guanajuato's long have been meshed with that of Texas. Like other nearby factories, the Toyota plant will use energy made possible by natural gas from the Eagle Ford field of south Texas, shipped through a recently completed pipeline that terminates a few miles away. Many of the vehicles Toyota will build here like those made by Honda, Mazda and BMW in nearby plants will be shipped to U.S. and Canadian customers on trains crossing the border at Laredo and other Texas cities. San Miguel de Allende, the colonial jewel thats at least a part-time home for some 15,000 foreigners, including many Texans, huddles in low mountains scarcely an hour away. In turn, many migrants from Guanajuato through recent decades have made their homes in Texas. The Toyota plant is certain to make the bonds tighter still. There are going to be a lot of links between Apaseo and San Antonio, says Alejandro Garcia, a municipal economic development official in Apaseo El Grande. Gangs tapping pipelines Criminal bands traffic narcotics and pillage trains carrying locally made auto parts and cargo from Asia passing through from the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas. But officials blame most of the killing on the rivalries between gangs that tap pipelines to steal gasoline and other distillates for sale on the black market. Mexican officials estimate that some $3.7 billion a year worth of fuel is stolen nationwide. We know that our murder problem derives from the fuel theft, Gov. Diego Rodriguez, who took office last fall, said in a recent video message. With a major refinery in the city of Salamanca and some 700 pipelines of every variety crisscrossing the state, Guanajuato has suffered an outsize share of it. Police and soldiers last year discovered more than 1,000 pipeline taps, making Guanajuato one of the top three most affected by the crime. Lopez Obrador launched a nationwide campaign against the fuel thieves, known as huachicoleros, shortly after taking office three months ago. Soldiers have seized refineries nationwide; patrols of pipelines have been increased; the bank accounts of suspects have been frozen. In Guanajuato and elsewhere, the bloodshed has spiked. A bomb was placed at one of the main gates of the Salamanca refinery in late January, accompanied by a message purportedly written by one of the warring gang bosses calling on Lopez Obrador to withdraw the army and other federal forces from the state. If not, I am going to start killing innocent people so you see this is not a game, the message read, The accused gangster later claimed he had not placed the bomb nor issued the threat. Lopez Obrador shrugged off the incident and said the government would not alter its policy. The U.S. State Department last fall warned that visitors should exercise increased caution when visiting Guanajuato, but noted that most of the violence occurs in southern zones of the state, that include Apaseo El Grande. Guanajuato isnt among the five states, including neighboring Michoacan, that U.S. officials warn should not be visited. The townships police chief was assassinated, gangland style, two years ago and another in 2014. The mayoral candidate of Lopez Obradors party was gunned down last spring in a neighboring township. His wife won the seat in his place. Meanwhile, Lopez Obradors campaign against fuel theft has taken jobs from a lot of people who are looking for other sources of income, said Marco Ramon, president of Amistad Industrial Developers, which operates industrial parks in Apaseo El Grande sheltering Japanese and other foreign auto component makers. This is something that should be temporary, Ramon, whose company is headquartered on the central Texas border and operates across northern Mexico, said of the violence. Its a shame to say it, but we are used to it. Others, including the Americans and other foreigners who have made San Miguel de Allende their home, face getting used to it as well. A tourism destination for more than seven decades, the city of 70,000 is expecting 2 million visitors this year, many of them deep-pocketed people drawn by its ranking as one of the premier destinations in the world. Im convinced that so much of it is a reaction to the money that has come into town, David Bossman, a retired New York City teacher and 20-year resident said of San Miguel de Allende's growing crime problem. This town has gone from a quiet bohemian town to a major international destination. Bossman edits a Facebook page - More Security in San Miguel de Allende - that monitors the crime situation for some 11,000 followers. In addition to more infrequent murders, the page documents highway assaults, home invasions and street muggings. We have had a significant amount of assaults, Bossman said, referring to a rising number of armed highway attacks on residents returning to San Miguel from shopping trips to the nearby city of Celaya. A lot of it was a growing epidemic of small gangs. Hundreds of factories Toyota's will be the fourth assembly plant to operate along a 70-mile stretch of four lane highway in Guanajuato. Each company brought with them their own suppliers, totaling hundreds of factories employing tens of thousands of people, according to state officials. The state's auto boom began in 1985 when General Motors began producing SUVs and light trucks in the town of Silao. Honda opened its factory in Celaya and Mazda another in nearby Salamanca in early 2014. In addition, Volkswagen builds motors in Silao and Ford makes transmissions near the city of Irapuato. Combined with large Japanese and German assembly plants in neighboring Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosi state, analysts project that central Mexico will produce half of Mexico's cars and light trucks by sometime next year. Though employment has boomed, wages have remained low. Line workers in some Japanese assembly plants in Guanajuato make little more than $12 a day. Those employed at suppliers factories earn even less. It's unclear what wages Toyota will pay once the factory starts production. President Donald Trump's threat to renegotiate or cancel the North American Free Trade Agreement which provides duty-free commerce between the U.S., Mexico and Canada slowed investment in new plants in recent years. Scrapping the trade pact would have meant slapping a 25 percent U.S. import tax on the pickup trucks made in Mexico. As the first left-leaning president of Mexico in decades, Lopez Obrador's arrival to office has set some executive stomachs churning anew. But he so far has proved less antagonistic toward business than many feared. They were two-and-half years of a lot of doubt, first with Trump's arrival and then with Lopez Obradors, said Ramon, the industrial park manager. It was a perfect storm. The three country's leaders signed a new trade pact late last year that looks much like the old one. While the agreement needs to be ratified by each country's legislators, investors are hitting the gas again, Roman said. Toughened requirements that more auto components be made within North America are drawing more Asian and European companies to Mexico, executives said. Mexico is a very important hub for suppliers and assemblers, thats why we need to be here, said. Peter Oberparleiter, chief executive of GKN Sinter Metals, a British company that supplies the auto and other industries. We are already supplying a lot of parts from Europe and the U.S. and that should end, he said. We dont need to ship many thousands of miles. While the ongoing violence in Guanajuato is a concern, Oberparleiter said, We see Mexico as something that wont go away. The Serbian government has announced the opening of Kraljevo's Morava Airport on June 28, making it the country's third commercial airport after Belgrade and Nis. The state has committed 8.5 million euros to overhaul the runway, equip the terminal building, as well as hire and train fifty employees, all of which will be completed within the following three and a half months. During that time, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will carry out the airport's certification process in order to enable it to handle international flights. Earlier this week, the state-owned Airports of Serbia company became Morava Airport's operator, taking over from the Serbian military which had solely run the airport over the years. The Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlovic, said, "Everything should be ready by June 28 so the airport will be capable of handling ATR and Boeing 737 aircraft. From its opening in late June, until the end of this year, we expect several carriers to introduce flights. We will also work on developing cargo traffic at Morava Airport". Located in central Serbia, it is projected that Morava Airport would significantly boost the local economy since it lies between several industrial cities and is in close proximity to the Italian-run Fiat-Zastava car manufacturer. Furthermore, the airport is expected to stimulate the local tourism industry and benefit health tourism in particular which is already developed in the area. Wizz Air had previously expressed interest in serving Morava Airport and said it was "monitoring developments". Furthermore, the Serbian government previously announced it was willing to enter into a public-private partnership agreement with a German company which would operate services from Kraljevo to both Frankfurt and Istanbul. The name of the company was not specified. The state had missed numerous deadlines for the airport's opening, primarily over issues concerning its joint use for military and commercial purposes, however, these have now been resolved. Morava Airport boasts a passenger terminal and control tower built in 2012 and valued at 22 million euros, as well as a 2.200 metre-long and thirty metre-wide runway, which will now be expanded to 2.500 metres long and forty metres wide. There is not enough analysis data for Pacific Booker Minerals. 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes Pacific Booker Minerals has received 47 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Pacific Booker Minerals has received 27 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Pacific Booker Minerals has received 63.51% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Pacific Booker Minerals and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe PBMLF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe PBMLF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Source: The Cambodia Daily FILE PHOTO - A Cambodian army soldier looks at Chinese military vehicles displayed before a handover ceremony at a military airbase in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. FILE PHOTO - A Cambodian army soldier looks at Chinese military vehicles displayed before a handover ceremony at a military airbase in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phnom Penh Cambodia held annual joint military exercises with China on Thursday amid increasingly tight-knit relations between the two countries. The Dragon Gold exercises were held in Kampot provinces Chumkiri district on land controlled by Infantry Brigade 70, an elite reserve force for Prime Minister Hun Sens bodyguard unit. The joint exercises included tanks, armored personnel carriers, combat helicopters, howitzers, surveillance technologies and methods of defending against biological weapons, according to the defense ministry. Disclaimer: This article was originally produced and published by The Cambodia Daily. View the original article at The Cambodia Daily. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More 1 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad in the last year. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" Tenaga Nasional Berhad stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in TNABY, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad or view top-rated stocks. iShares Latin America 40 ETF's stock was trading at $22.49 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, ILF stock has increased by 12.1% and is now trading at $25.21. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Read More Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE:TCO) issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November, 9th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.49) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of $0.58 by $1.07. The real estate investment trust earned $130.99 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.10 million. Taubman Centers had a net margin of 30.09% and a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 94.88%. Taubman Centers's revenue for the quarter was down 19.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.86 earnings per share. View Taubman Centers' earnings history. Defra's farming minister George Eustice has resigned after the Prime Minister promised to allow MPs a vote on extending the Brexit date. Mr Eustice said his resignation is with 'tremendous sadness' following the decision this week to allow the postponement of the UK's exit from the EU. I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country, he said in a statement. We cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk through the door. Mr Eustice added: If the position of Parliament is now that we will refuse to leave without an agreement then we are somewhat stuck. This is uncomfortable for everyone, but we cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk through the door. We must therefore have the courage, if necessary, to reclaim our freedom first and talk afterwards. George Eustice's resignation letter pic.twitter.com/ljVf0FlFgg Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) 28 February 2019 The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said it is 'saddened' to hear of Mr Eustice's resignation. CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: He has held the position since 2015, and has maintained a strong voice on behalf of the farming industry during that time. His farming background and first hand knowledge and experience have been invaluable in the many areas of his brief. The farming community has lost a key ally at this critical time for the industry, which faces significant uncertainty and change. Mr Eustice grew up on his parent's farm near Hayle, Cornwall. He was elected MP for Camborne and Redruth in 2010. In October 2013, as part of David Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment. On 11 May 2015 he was promoted to Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. As a Brexiteer, he argued that Britain 'would be better off' if it left the European Union. He said British farmers would benefit from access to a European market while not bound by 'regulatory burdens'. So sorry to see George go. He has been a brilliant minister and will remain a dear friend. He leaves an outstanding legacy, with the Agriculture and Fisheries Bills setting domestic policy for the first time in nearly 50 years. He will be very much missed. Michael Gove (@michaelgove) February 28, 2019 Mr Eustice stressed that if Britain left the EU, it would stop giving 18 billion a year and would have more resources to support farmers and the environment. His resignation comes after Theresa May's statement to parliament on Tuesday (26 February), saying that the government has planned to hold the next meaningful vote on her Brexit deal by 12 March. If it is defeated again, it will be followed by a vote on 13 March on leaving the EU with 'no deal'. If this is rejected by MPs, a vote on 14 March will take place looking to extend the date the UK leaves the EU. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. DUBAI, UAE, March 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OPPO - a leading global smartphone brand - and Ericsson have signed a multi-year global patent license agreement, including collaboration on a number of business projects. Ericsson is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the world. The deal with Ericsson is the latest in a series of patent license agreements by OPPO with key telecommunication industry partners including Qualcomm, Dolby and Nokia. Adler Feng, Head of OPPO Intellectual Property Department, said that the agreement will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation between the two companies in the 5G era. "OPPO has always placed intellectual property rights as our top priority. We look forward to working with Ericsson to drive cutting-edge innovation in products and services." Gustav Brismark, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson, said: "This important deal confirms the value of our patent portfolio and further validates the Ericsson FRAND licensing program. Ericsson has signed more than 100 patent license agreements to date, and we are delighted to sign a mutually beneficial agreement with OPPO." Following a patent-first strategy, OPPO always attaches great importance to the patent and reserve accumulation. As of January 2019, the company has filed more than 33,000 patent applications worldwide and owns more than 8,000 granted patents. OPPO will continue to work closely with leading industry partners to bring the best products and experiences to consumers globally. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smartphone brand, dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of young, trend-setting and beauty, OPPO brings consumers delighted experience of digital life. For the last 10 years, OPPO has been focusing on manufacturing camera phones, while innovating mobile photography technology breakthroughs. OPPO started the era of Selfie beautification, and was the first brand to launch smartphones with 5MP and 16MP front cameras. OPPO was also the first brand to introduce the motorized rotating camera, the Ultra HD feature and the 5x Dual Camera Zoom technology. OPPO's Selfie Expert F series launched in 2016 drove a Selfie trend in the smartphone industry. In 2017, OPPO was ranked as the number 4 smartphone brand globally, according to IDC. Today OPPO's business covers 40 countries and regions, and has 6 research centers worldwide, providing excellent smartphone photography experience to more and more young people around the world. About OPPO MEA In 2015, OPPO entered the Egyptian market. In 2016, OPPO set up its Middle East & Africa Sales Center in Cairo. The markets OPPO has entered in the Middle East and Africa include: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kenya and Nigeria. OPPO set up its factory in Algeria in 2017, which made OPPO the first Chinese brand setting up factory in North Africa. Now, the factory goes into production. Based on the insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO MEA has started the progress of localization. And the localization includes all the perspectives towards each market - product localization, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localization, to better communicate with local young customers; and team localization, to know our local consumers further and provide better service to the consumers. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X smartphone and the introduction of the OPPO R Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to young consumers in the region. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO) from November 8, 2018 through December 20, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period") of the important March 4, 2019 deadline in the securities class action lawsuit filed against the company. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Perrigo investors under the federal securities laws. To join the Perrigo class action, go to https://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1518.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. or Zachary Halper, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or zhalper@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. AN INVESTOR'S ABILITY TO SHARE IN ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE RECOVERY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON SERVING AS LEAD PLAINTIFF. The Complaint alleges that on December 20, 2018, Perrigo filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing that it had received an audit finding letter from the Irish tax authorities on October 30, 2018 stating "that IP sales transactions including the sale of Tysabri, were not part of the trade of Elan Pharma and therefore should have been treated as chargeable gains subject to an effective 33% tax rate, rather than the 12.5% tax rate applicable to trading income." Although Perrigo had revealed to investors on November 8, 2018 that it had received the audit finding letter, it did not disclose material details. On this news, Perrigo securities plummeted $15.33 or over 29% to close at $37.03 on December 21, 2018. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 4, 2019. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to https://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1518.html or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact Phillip Kim, Esq. or Zachary Halper, Esq. of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at pkim@rosenlegal.com or zhalper@rosenlegal.com. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190303005040/en/ Contacts: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com zhalper@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Oil regulator rejects Adani Gas' application for CNG retailing in Jaipur, Udaipur; says not in compliance with regulations On Adani Gas' claim of having made substantial investment in the two cities, PNGRB said 'no documentary evidence has been presented by Adani Gas to show the mammoth expenditure it has supposedly incurred on the project.' Press Trust of India March 03, 2019 12:18:35 IST Adani Gas had bid for setting up the city gas distribution (CGD) network in Udaipur and Jaipur The Rajasthan government on 20 March, 2006 gave a no objection certificate, subject to certain conditions In compliance with the Supreme Court order, PNGRB held personal hearing with Adani Gas representatives New Delhi: Oil regulator PNGRB has rejected Adani Gas Ltd's application for authorisation to retail CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to households in Jaipur and Udaipur, saying the company was not in compliance with regulations for a licence. In a 23-page order, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Board (PNGRB) on 28 February gave detailed reasons for rejecting Adani Gas Ltd's (AGL) claim of having 'deemed authorisation' to operate a city gas distribution (CGD) network in the two cities before the regulator came into existence. "Based on the analysis and deliberations of the Board after hearing and considering the submissions of AGL and keeping in mind the observations/directions of the Supreme Court of India, the application of AGL for Jaipur and Udaipur cities for CGD authorisation is herby rejected," it said. Adani Gas had, in response to a November 2005 invitation of Rajasthan government, bid for setting up the city gas distribution (CGD) network in Udaipur and Jaipur. The state government on 20 March, 2006 gave a no objection certificate, subject to certain conditions, to the company for retailing CNG and piped natural gas in Udaipur and Jaipur. Adani Gas in the same month deposited the commitment fee of Rs 2 crore. Subsequent to this, the central government in October 2007 appointed PNGRB as the regulator for the sector. Soon after, PNGRB sought application from companies operating CGD networks before its appointment as the regulator. PNGRB on 31 March, 2008 issued a notice to Adani Gas stating "it did not have the requisite authorisation from the central government," the order said, adding the company submitted separate applications for authorisation for Jaipur and Udaipur to the regulator on August 28, 2008. On 18 May, 2011, the Rajasthan government withdrew the NOC given to Adani Gas. Subsequently on 19 May, 2011, PNGRB rejected Adani Gas' application for both the cities. The company challenged the decision of PNGRB before Rajasthan High Court which dismissed its petition. It then filed an appeal before the Supreme Court. "Supreme Court vide order dated 29 January, 2019 quashed the order dated 19 May, 2011 passed by the Board and directed the Board to take a fresh decision in the matter within four weeks," the order said. In compliance with the Supreme Court order, PNGRB held personal hearing with Adani Gas representatives. The company contended that "it was entitled to be granted authorisation by the Board in view of the provision of 'deemed authorisation' as contained in Section 16 of the (PNGRB) Act" for entities operating before the regulator came into existence. In its order, PNGRB said Adani Gas meets the minimum eligibility criteria but did not comply with the requirement of making committed investments and physical progress in rollout of CGD network in both the cities. Also, it had not tied up gas for supply through the CGD networks. "The conclusion of the Board is that Adani Gas is in non-compliance with a substantial part of the criteria," it said. On the company's claim of having made substantial investment in the two cities, PNGRB said "no documentary evidence has been presented by Adani Gas to show the mammoth expenditure it has supposedly incurred on the project." BJP president Amit Shah Sunday hit out at opposition parties, alleging their demand for proof of the IAF air strike brought a smile on Pakistan's face Surat: BJP president Amit Shah Sunday hit out at opposition parties, alleging they "raised doubts" on the courage of the armed forces and their demand for proof of the IAF air strike brought a "smile on Pakistan's face". He said these parties should "keep quiet" if they were unable to appreciate what Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's armed forces had achieved through the air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. Praising the PM's leadership, Shah claimed Modi went about his work routinely even as he thought up a plan to punish the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack on February 14 which killed 40 CRPF personnel. He claimed Modi made the country understand what "zero tolerance" for terror meant by ordering the surgical strike and air strike. "Opposition leaders do not know what happened. Mamata di asks for proof. Rahul baba says it is being politicised. Akhilesh asks for a probe. Be ashamed that your statements have brought a smile on Pakistan's face," Shah said. "Pakistan smiled only after the press conferences of the opposition leaders where they raised questions on the courage of the armed forces," Shah claimed. "We can understand that you do not have the courage of Modi ji, but if you cannot support and praise what Modi ji and the armed forces did, then at least keep quiet," he said. "After the Pulwama attack, people said surgical strike was not possible, as army could not go (to bust terror camps). Modiji, while going about his routine work quietly, decided and planned (the counterattack) and our brave air force jawans killed hundreds of terrorists in an air strike and came back safely," he said. He said with these strikes on terror camps, India has become only the third country in the world after the US and Israel to avenge attacks on its armed forces personnel. "Now the world accepts that India cannot be taken lightly. The entire world accepts that one cannot tamper with India's borders. The entire world now accepts that it is not easy to touch Indian soldiers. They will get the response for a bullet with a cannon," he said. Addressing a gathering of PM's Modh Vanik community here, Shah said Modi had come from a humble background and had become the PM of the world's largest democracy. He said while Modi "does not believe in casteism", the fact remains that he comes from the same community which has made its presence felt across the country through sheer hard work and good behaviour. Shah said he knew Modi since 1980, when the latter was an unknown political entity to most, and claimed the PM has worked tirelessly to ensure ordinary workers like him (Shah) rose in the party. "Modi ji does not believe in casteism. Ever since he accepted public life, he always worked to remove the pollution of caste from politics. But it a fact that Modi ji also comes from the same community," he told the gathering. Shah said the Modi government took several decisions to promote small businesses like waiving GST for firms with a turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh. BJP workers clashed with the police at several places of West Bengal Sunday as the saffron party was prevented from holding its 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally. Kolkata: BJP workers clashed with the police at several places of West Bengal Sunday as the saffron party was prevented from holding its 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally. Police said they prevented the rallies as permission had not been granted to them because of the ongoing school board examinations. The 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally is part of the BJP's countrywide pre-poll exercise to establish contact with people. Clashes between BJP workers and policemen took place at Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district, Midnapore town and Goaltore in West Midnapore, and Balurghat in South Dinajpur when they took out the motorcycle rallies. At Goaltore, a DSP level officer and four other policemen were injured, police sources in West Midnapore said. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the saffron party workers at Asansol and Goaltore leaving some people from both sides injured. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of using the police and administration to prevent the party workers from holding peaceful rallies out of fear of losing political ground in West Bengal. Claiming that it is a new BJP in the state which will not take intimidation lying down, Ghosh said if the TMC leaders think they can frighten saffron party workers by using force, then they are mistaken. "Hundreds of Sankalp yatras were arrested.... It will be held even if the police arrest us," Ghosh said in the morning at Durgapur. Saffron party leaders engaged in arguments with police in the city as they were prevented from taking out rallies owing the lack of permission. An officer of Kolkata Police said 135 persons were arrested and 59 motorcycles were seized from different places of the city as a preventive measure. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday urged the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. Indore: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday urged the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. He also "congratulated" Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan for the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Speaking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. But the pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence before the world on (the killing of) Osama bin Laden," he said. Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) thwarted their plans. "I also congratulate the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan that he showed a new way of being a good neighbour and returned the brave officer of Indian Air Force to us," the Congress leader said. "Now he should show courage by handing over (terrorists) Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to us," he added. Singh said Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, and leaders of Khan's own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, wanted their government to "bargain" with India for releasing Abhinandan. Khan was criticised in Pakistan for releasing the Indian pilot without demanding anything in return, he said. The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh also refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim on Friday that after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the Indian Air Force (IAF) wanted to conduct a surgical strike against Pakistan, but the Congress-led UPA government nixed the idea. "I can only say that we have not seen a bigger liar than Narendra Modi," Singh said when asked about Modi's statement in Kanyakumari. Today's top stories: Samjhauta Express to resume operations today from New Delhi, Narendra Modi slams Opposition over criticism for Rafale deal, India beats Australia by 6 wickets in ODI; day's top stories Samjhauta Express to resume service today The Samjhauta Express will leave for Pakistan from Delhi on Sunday, for the first time since the two neighbours agreed to resume operations at their end, a senior railway official told PTI. The announcement came a day after Pakistan released Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The official said the first train from India will leave on Sunday. While Pakistan had cancelled its services right after air strikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on a terrorist training camp on the intervening night of 25 and 26 February, India cancelled the operations of the Samjhauta Express on 28 February. The Railway Board, in an order, had said all operations of the Attari Special Express (Delhi-Attari-Delhi), which is known as the Samjhauta, or friendship, Express together with the Pakistani line from Wagah-Lahore, will remain cancelled. But the board had said that the cancellation was due to "purely operational reasons". Sources said after the missive about Pakistan's resumption of services was conveyed to the board, it was decided that services on the Indian end would resume, as well. The train will start running from the Indian side on Sunday, and on the Pakistan side, it will leave Lahore on Monday for its return journey, the official said. Rafale would have made a difference, says Narendra Modi Days after IAF air strikes against a terror camp in Pakistan and the tensions that followed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets, and that the results would have been different if India had the aircraft. He made the statement in response to the Congress party's tirade against his government over the Rafale deal. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today that if we had Rafale, the results would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he said at a media conclave. Modi said he wanted to tell all those opposing him that they were free to criticise him and point out shortcomings, but they should not harm the country's security interests. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favourtism towards a private defence manufacturer. The government has denied the charges. Tearing into the Congress, Modi alleged its rule saw many defence scams. "They began with jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, helicopters. The defence sector suffered in the process," he said. "Those who ruled the country had interests in two things doles and deals. The culture of doles and deals has harmed the country," he said targeting the Congress. The Congress responded, alleging that the country witnessed Modi's "monologue, fake bravado and narcissistic lies". Party chief Rahul Gandhi accused the prime minister of being "solely responsible" for the delay in the arrival of Rafale jets. South Korea, US to end springtime military drills to back diplomacy South Korea and the US are eliminating their massive springtime military drills and replacing them with smaller exercises as part of efforts to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision announced by both countries on Sunday is an olive branch to North Korea, but it will likely raise concerns about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the recently failed summit between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. India beat Australia by six wickets in 1st ODI Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni hit gritty half-centuries to anchor India's chase and beat Australia by six wickets in the first one-day international on Saturday. Jadhav, top-scoring with 81, and Dhoni, batting on 59, put on an unbeaten 141-run stand as the hosts achieved their target of 237 in Hyderabad to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Steven Spielberg criticises Netflix films contesting at Oscars Steven Spielberg is going to take his criticism of Netflix films contesting at the Oscars to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reports said. All his efforts are being devoted to ensuring that the Oscars don't see a film like Roma, a Netflix movie, in the Best Picture race. According to the Academy, "Awards rules discussions are ongoing with the branches, and the board will likely consider the topic at the April meeting." Based on credible input about the presence of terrorists in Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and the security forces in the area on Friday. Kupwara: The 56-hour encounter between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Handwara district ended on Sunday afternoon. Two militants, five security personnel, including a CRPF officer and a civilian were killed in the encounter at Babagund village of Langate, PTI reported. Bodies of both the militants were recovered from the site of the encounter and their identities are yet to be ascertained, a police spokesperson told PTI. The number of security personnel who lost their lives in the encounter climbed to five after CRPF jawan Sham Narayan Singh Yadav succumbed to injuries on Sunday. Two CRPF jawans Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod and Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah were killed during the gunfight. A civilian named Waseem Ahmad Mir was also killed in the encounter, officials said. The wreath-laying ceremony of the two CRPF jawans Inspector Pintu and Vinod of 92 Battalion in Srinagar was held on Saturday. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the encounter site, PTI reported. The police spokesperson also said that the encounter lasted for 56 hours due to the areas topography. Based on credible input about the presence of terrorists in Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and the security forces in the area on Friday. An encounter between the terrorists and the security forces broke out after the terrorists fired indiscriminately at the search party. "Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any," the police had said in a statement. The Maharashtra government on Saturday made it clear officially that a Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery project will not come up at Nanar in the coastal Ratnagiri district. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Saturday made it clear officially that a Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery project will not come up at Nanar in the coastal Ratnagiri district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later said his government was keen that the refinery come up in the state, and an alternative site will be made available. Earlier, Shiv Sena leader and industry minister Subhash Desai said the chief minister had signed a proposal to de-notify the land which was to be acquired. As the Sena was opposed to Nanar refinery citing local opposition, Fadnavis, while announcing a tie-up between the BJP and Sena for coming polls, had announced that the project would be shifted. "The Sena had promised the people of Konkan region that the project will not come up there as long as they were opposed to it. Today we have fulfilled our promise. Even the alliance with the BJP was sealed on the condition that the project at Nanar would be scrapped," Desai told reporters. The government had issued a notification in May 2017 to acquire 5,932 hectares of land across 14 villages in Ratnagiri district and two villages in Sindhudurg district. Due to opposition from the local people, the government had stayed the land acquisition process. "In April 2018, I sent a proposal to the chief minister seeking de-notification of the land that was to be acquired," said Desai. The file was pending with Fadnavis for long but the chief minister signed it Saturday, he said. "A gazette notification will be issued by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to cancel the notification of land acquisition in two days," Desai said. State-run oil majors have tied up with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the mega refinery project. Fadnavis told PTI that his government wants the refinery to come up in Maharashtra, because it will power the state's growth for the next ten years. "We will find an alternative site taking everybody in confidence and will not let this investment opportunity, which will create one lakh jobs, go anywhere else," he said. A fake account, named after Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, has been created on micro-blogging site Twitter New Delhi: A fake account, named after Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, has been created on micro-blogging site Twitter, according to government sources. Varthaman returned home from Pakistan on Friday, two days after he was taken into custody by Pakistan Army when he bailed out from a MiG 21 fighter jet and landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Twitter handle "@Abhinandan_wc", which was formed last month itself, has over 2,000 followers. Several posts have been made from this account in English and Tamil. However, government sources confirmed that the account does not belong to Varthaman. In one of the photographs shared on the account, Abhinandan can be seen with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two met on Saturday. After a delay of over five hours, Varthaman stepped on the Indian soil through Wagah border, Amritsar in Punjab, on Friday night at 9.20 pm. Government sources confirm that this is a fake Twitter account #AbhinandanVarthaman pic.twitter.com/4mxahDz7Gn ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 The pilot was captured by Pakistan Army on Wednesday after his fighter jet crashed in an air duel with a Pakistani F-16. He shot down the plane before his own went down, forcing him to eject. A day after his return from Pakistan, he informed the top IAF brass that he was subjected to a lot of mental harassment, though he was not physically tortured by Pakistan military authorities, said a source. India must also do everything to convince Pakistan that it also has a second-strike nuclear capability that would make the neighbour's first-strike far too risky to even contemplate. Editor's note: This article, originally published in March 2019, is being republished in view of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's comments that India's long-stated 'no-first-use of nuclear arms' policy was open to review based on future circumstances. 'Nuclear deterrence' would have been a lovely phrase, if there wasn't a ring of menace to it. After all, it's meant to stop wars between nuclear-powered nations because one country doesn't want to be reduced to rubble and ash by the atomic bombs of another. Nobody wants "mutually assured destruction". Although it may deter wars without often guaranteeing total peace, the resulting "no-war-no-peace" stalemate is still better than bloodshed and mayhem. That's the essence of nuclear deterrence, which has been talked about since the Cold War. But since then, nuclear deterrence has acquired as many connotations as there are atomic weapons today. The one that exists in the Indian sub-continent is easily the most bizarre of them all. That's only because the nuclear doctrines of both India and Pakistan policy declarations on their "red lines" for using nuclear weapons fail on the essential ingredient of credibility, as noted by independent experts around the world. Fundamental to the success of deterrence theory are two things: whether a country 'can' harm another, and whether a country 'will' harm another. The absence of fear that a nation will actually drop nuclear bombs on the enemy country takes away the effect of deterrence. The ability of India and Pakistan to damage each other with their respective nuclear arsenal has never been doubted. But there has been much disagreement within each country on whether, or to what extent, the other will harm it. In India, though successive governments didn't respond with violence to the terror attacks from Pakistan, fearing escalation and a nuclear conflict, many consider the fears to be grossly exaggerated. And in Pakistan, few believed that India would indeed be prepared to launch retaliatory air raids, leave lone an all-out conventional war for fear of a nuclear conflict. India's attacks on the Balakot terror base on 26 February may have finally served the purpose of calling Pakistan's nuclear bluff to some extent, but the larger question of the nuclear imbalance between the two countries, in terms of both the size of arsenals and retaliatory policies, remains unresolved, to the disadvantage of India. Look at the nuclear doctrines of each country. To begin with, Pakistan refuses to accept the No-First-Use (NFU) rule, unlike India. This means, Pakistan retains the choice to be the first to deploy nuclear weapons. India will use nuclear weapons only when it's attacked with nuclear weapons. Pakistan's 'Full Spectrum Deterrence' Pakistan's nuclear "policy" is supposedly centred around the so-called doctrine of "Full Spectrum Deterrence", which means possessing "all" kinds of weapons to have "all" Indian targets within striking range. Pakistan claims this is in line with the policy of "Credible Minimum Deterrence and avoidance of arms race". In 2002, Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, who was then the head of Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division, had listed four circumstances in which his country, while retaining the option of striking first, could launch a nuclear attack on India: - When India attacks Pakistan and occupies a large part of its territory; - When India destroys a large part of Pakistan's armed forces; - When India strangulates Pakistan's economy; - When India causes political destabilisation, or creates internal subversion in Pakistan. India's 'massive' retaliation In 2003, the Atal Behari Vajpayee government came up with a nuclear doctrine with eight points. The first three are important: - Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrent; - A posture of 'No First Use' nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere; - Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage. India has never officially explained what it means by "massive retaliation". By Cold War definition, it's presumed to mean targeting Pakistan's cities and eliminating millions of people, an implication that Pakistan has dismissed as no more than a silly bluff. In other words, Pakistan doesn't take India's nuclear threat seriously enough. The word "credible" in the first point in India's nuclear doctrine is not credible enough to cause any deterrence in Pakistan. Since 2004, India has been talking about a Cold Start war doctrine, which means quick attacks on Pakistan without risk of escalation. But from 2015, Pakistan has been threatening to use Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs), short-range nuclear powered missiles, on any advancing Indian troops. This is an idea copied from a strategy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation against the large army of the erstwhile Soviet Union. TNWs, though not as deadly as the bigger nuclear weapons, can eliminate large numbers of armed personnel more quickly and effectively than non-nuclear weaponry. Pakistan finds it unbelievable that India would stick to its current doctrine and respond to its deployment of TNWs with "massive" destruction by targeting its cities. 'Second Strike' capability Since India has abjured the option of first strike, there can be valid questions about the country's ability to launch second strikes, as well. For a country to launch a second strike, it must be left with enough nuclear weapons after destruction in the first attack by the enemy. At the last count, India has 135 nuclear warheads and Pakistan has 145 and counting. It has been acknowledged that Pakistan has the world's fastest growing nuclear arsenal. It's not surprising that Pakistan has been continuing with hostilities towards India without any fear of reprisals. Cross-border firing is a default state of affairs along the Line of Control, and an occasional terror strike against India is an integral part of its foreign policy. India's 2016 surgical strikes proved too insufficient. Although the latest air raids by India constitute a welcome departure in India's counter-terrorism policy, the country will continue to mull over its position of nuclear disadvantage and the escalatory consequences of any future decision to hit back at Pakistan at a level bigger than what it did at Balakot. For India to come out of this difficult situation, Pakistan's nuclear threat must weaken or must be proved to be not as strong as it seems. A good thing is that, according to some experts, TNWs may not be enough to completely rout an advancing army from India. There are some who point out that if Pakistan, indeed, deploys these, it may suffer more from radiation hazards than any damage it may inflict on India since it has urban centres, including Lahore, not far from the border. At the same time, India can also make its nuclear doctrine more muscular and credible. Knee-jerk reactions from some hardliners might favour India giving up its No-First-Use clause. The BJP's 2014 election manifesto promise to review India's nuclear doctrine was interpreted by many to mean that the party would do away with the clause if it came to power. But Narendra Modi ruled out any change after he took over as prime minister. Doing away with the No-First-Use policy might deny India its position on the high moral pedestal, which made possible the 2008 India-US nuclear deal. What could work better for India instead is to shift its nuclear retaliation from "massive" to "flexible". as former US president John F Kennedy did in 1961. A flexible line of action including causing retaliatory damage to Pakistan to an extent that is somewhat proportional to the initial havoc it inflicts may be more credible and may deter the generals of that country from needless adventurism. India must also do everything to convince Pakistan that it also has a second-strike capability that would make the neighbour's first-strike far too risky to even contemplate. The author tweets @sriniprasadindia The flare up between India and Pakistan appeared to be easing on Saturday after the Islamic country handed back Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday night. Muzaffarabad (Pakistan/Srinagar): A top Indian minister said on Saturday the government would not share proof that "a very large number" of militants were killed in air strikes inside Pakistan, after doubts were raised there were any casualties in the attack that stoked tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. The flare up appeared to be easing on Saturday after Pakistan handed back a "captured" Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot on Friday night, amid efforts by global powers to prevent another war between the arch enemies. However, shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) that acts as a de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region, a frequent feature in recent weeks, continued, said military officials on both sides. Hostilities escalated rapidly following a suicide car bombing on 14 February that killed at least 42 Indian paramilitary police in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of harbouring the Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit that claimed the bombing. Indian aircraft carried out air strikes on 26 February inside northeast Pakistans Balakot and three other locations on what New Delhi called "militant camps". Islamabad denied any such camps existed, as did local villagers in the area when Reuters visited. Nevertheless, Pakistan retaliated the next day with its own aerial mission. Pakistan said the Indian bombs hit a largely empty hillside without hurting anyone. Some Indian Opposition leaders have asked the Central government to share evidence of the strikes. But Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, one of Prime Minister Narendra Modis top lieutenants, said "no security agencies ever share operational details". "Its a very irresponsible stand," Jaitley said at a conference organised by the India Today media group. "The armed forces must have, and our security and intelligence agencies must have, a full leeway in dealing with situations, and if anybody wants operational details to be made public ... he certainly does not understand the system," said Jaitley. IAF officials said earlier it was up to the political leaders to decide when and how to release evidence of the Balakot strike. Jaitley dismissed suggestions that the rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan had anything to do with Indias domestic politics ahead of a general election due in May. Pollsters expect the ruling party to benefit from the nationalistic passion sweeping the country. Pilot walks across the border IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face and symbol of the biggest clash between India and Pakistan in many years, walked across the border just before 9 pm on Friday in a high-profile handover shown on live television. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met him at a New Delhi defence hospital on Saturday, where he was seen in his air force jumpsuit. He will undergo medical examination before re-joining active duty, officials said. Pakistans military said on Saturday its air force and navy "continued to be alert and vigilant", while two of its soldiers were killed after exchanging fire with Indian troops along the LoC. Indias military said that Pakistan was firing mortar shells across the LoC. Pakistan touted Abhinandans return as "as a goodwill gesture aimed at de-escalating rising tensions with India" after weeks of unease that threatened to spiral into war. Global powers, including China and the United States, have urged restraint to prevent another conflict between the neighbours who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistani leaders say the ball is now in Indias court to de-escalate the tensions, though the Pakistani army chief told top military leaders of the United States, Britain and Australia on Friday that his country would "surely respond to any aggression in self-defence". On a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, Indias army chief asked soldiers to remain vigilant to "counter the nefarious designs of the enemy and anti-national elements". India has signed a deal with a Russian firm to manufacture 750,000 of the AK-203 assault rifles, which is the latest derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle New Delhi: AK203 is the latest derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. India has signed a deal with a Russian firm to manufacture 750,000 of these assault rifles which would be given to the Army's infantry troops. According to officials, the guns would replace the existing India-made INSAS assault rifles in the Army, Air Force and Navy. After the rifles are supplied to the defence forces, the government, in the next phase, would provide them to paramilitary and the state police forces. There is a possibility that 15 to 20 years down the line, all the forces would be using this assault rifle as their standard weapon. Apart from this, the Defence Ministry has already signed a contract with American Sig Sauer for the supply of 7.69mm 59 calibre advanced assault rifles. These would be given to soldiers directly engaged in counter-insurgency and other operations. The idea behind having two different assault rifles is that the troops who are engaged regularly in combat with terrorists or Pakistan Army on the Line of Control, should have very advanced weapons while the others can also have an advanced rifle which is lighter and can meet all the requirements. After a string of complaints on INSAS rifles were received from ground troops deployed across the country on all frontiers, India about 10 years ago had started looking for new rifles for its infantry troops but the efforts could not materialise due to retraction of tenders issued for the purpose over different issues. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country, New Delhi asserted on Saturday, in reaction to a resolution on the matter by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in its two-day foreign ministers' conclave in Abu Dhabi. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country, New Delhi asserted on Saturday, in reaction to a resolution on the matter by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in its two-day foreign ministers' conclave in Abu Dhabi. "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India," spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar said. Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign Office said that the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC concluded with a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "In a resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia," it claimed. The resolution also "expressed deep concern" over the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, the Pakistan Foreign Office claimed, adding that the resolution also reminded the international community of its obligation to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute. The OIC is a grouping of 57 countries, majority of which are Muslim-dominated. It has usually been supportive of Pakistan and, often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC on Friday. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to Swaraj to address the grouping which was turned down by the host UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary. Swaraj attended the meeting in Abu Dhabi on 1 March as the guest of honour at the invitation extended by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. "We deeply appreciate this historic gesture on the 50th anniversary of their first meeting," the MEA spokesperson said. The OIC also called for "restraint and de-escalation" in South Asia as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. The commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas, was given the task in light of disputes in various denominations of the church. Bowing under pressure from the Church, Keralas Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has decided to bury a bill mooted by the Law Reforms Commission to ensure fair and transparent administration of church properties and funds besides a mechanism to adjudicate disputes within the Church. The commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas, was given the task in light of several disputes in various denominations of the church over alienation of the church properties by the members of the clergy and prelates. The government took a U-turn following protests and threats from various quarters of the Church. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the decision to hold back the bill, which was published in the commissions website, on the eve of protests against the move called by various denominations of the Church. As part of the protests, prayer meetings and rallies were held across the state on Sunday. A circular issued by Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) the apex body of bishops belonging to three Catholic rites in the state calling for united struggle against the move was read out in all Catholic churches in the state on Sunday. Earlier, the Inter Church Council, a common platform for all Christian churches in the state, had warned of dire consequences if the government went ahead with the legislation. A bishop had even threatened to launch a liberation struggle on the lines of the 1958 struggle, which brought down the first democratically elected Communist government in the state. The chief ministers assertion came a day after CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan clarified that the government would not pursue the bill. The U-turn has come as a shock to the reformists, who have been demanding transfer of power on temporal affairs of the Church now vested with the bishops to the laity. Various laity organisations demanding the law are not happy with the bill prepared by the Thomas-led commission. They want the bill mooted by the previous commission headed by Justice late VR Krishna Iyer in 2009 to be enacted since it provides for a democratic system for managing the properties. While the 2009 bill proposed trusts comprising elected members of the laity at the parish, diocese and state levels to administer the churches and its properties like schools, colleges, hospitals, estates, charitable institutions, commercial complexes etc, the current bill seeks only to establish a tribunal to adjudicate disputes regarding church properties and funds besides a system to subject the accounts to auditing. The churches and its properties are now governed under the Canon Law, which empowers bishops to legislate, interpret and enforce a law related to Church administration. It also allows the bishops to impose tax on the faithful on the basis of their income. The Church in Kerala adopted the Canon law-based administration after the Portuguese took control of the Church in the 16th century. Before that, the church and the properties were administered by church assemblies consisting of elected representatives of the laity. After the departure of the Europeans, the Vatican Council, which is the topmost body of the Catholic Church, had allowed regional churches freedom to go back to their old traditions. However, the Church authorities in Kerala preferred to go by the European system as it vests vast powers with the bishops. The reformists have been demanding implementation of the Church Act following several instances of gross misuse of the power by the bishops. Reji Njallani, national convenor of the Open Church Movement, which is in the forefront of the struggle for the Church Act, said that the power has also been leading to evils and aberrations in the Church resulting in erosion of the faith. Sexual scandals and financial scams rocking the Church of late have been alienating the faithful from the Church. If the Act is implemented, the bishops and the clergy will be able to concentrate solely on spiritual affairs. This will bring peace and unity in the Church, he said. He pointed out that there are less disputes over property among Hindus and Muslims since they are governed by the Devaswom Board and Waqf Board. Christians are the only religious community that is allowed to manage their properties. The Church authorities have been opposing the Act, terming it as an encroachment into the rights of the community. A meeting of the Inter Church Council held at Changancherry in Kottayam district last week noted that the Church has been acting as per the Constitution and, therefore, there was no need for a law to govern them. The Constitution allows freedom of religion and freedom of holding properties and carrying out its administration. When various religions are enjoying the rights for freedom of faith and protection of their assets, making law only for Christians is not in accordance with secularism. Vested interest groups are behind the current move, a joint statement issued after the meeting said. The statement claimed that the Church has proper and transparent methods for the administration of its assets. These systems have been in place for centuries and have been abiding the laws of the country and church rules. There are platforms in the Church to settle disputes among its members regarding assets and properties. Such issues are coming before the courts in the country also. In such a situation there is no relevance or need for a new law," said the statement. Church activists believe that the government may have gone back on the move with an eye on the Christian vote bank. Christians constitute 18 percent of the population in the state. Shyju Antony, convenor of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT), said political parties in the state are in the false notion that the members of the community would vote according to the diktats of the bishops. The times when Christians voted as per the directions of the bishops and churches have gone. They have been doing this by exploiting the faith of the people. A vast section of the community has realised this and has started coming out openly against the authorities, said Shyju. Political observers fear that the governments decision to put the Church in the cold storage would help the Sangh Parivar and the Bharatiya Janata Party create communal divison in the state. They have been trying to consolidate the Hindus, citing minority appeasement by the successive governments in the state. The BJP has already made maximum use of the Sabarirmala issue to bring the Hindus under its fold. NM Pearson, a Left-leaning analyst, said that the BJP may use the government decision on the Church Act in the coming Lok Sabha election to consolidate the Hndu votes further. This, he said, will cost the Left parties dearly in the state. Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said he will not change his constituency, making clear he would contest again from Patna Sahib seat Lucknow: Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said Sunday he will not change his constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election "whatever the situation", making clear he would contest again from Patna Sahib seat irrespective of the party decision. "Situation kuch bhi ho, location wahi hogi (Whatever the situation, location would be same)," Sinha told PTI on the phone from Ranchi. The sitting Patna Sahib lawmaker has been at loggerheads with the current BJP leadership since the 2015 Bihar election, over several issues. He has often taken a stance at variance with the official party line, including on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax, and shared the stage with opposition leaders at an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata in January, where he was projected as the "star speaker". On a recent visit to Lucknow, he had held a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, giving rise to speculation his wife Poonam Sinha may enter active politics from the Uttar Pradesh capital, currently represented in Lok Sabha by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Asked about it, the actor-turned-politician said he will neither confirm nor deny this. "Poonam Sinha has been busy with social work for long. She is liked by all. People want her to contest but whether this will happen or not only time will tell," Shatrughan Sinha, 72, said. Following his meeting with Yadav, there was also a talk that Sinha could contest the general election, which must be held by May, on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He had also visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters and joined Yadav on Jai Prakash Jayanti programme with Yashwant Sinha. The SP and Bahujan Samaj Party have forged an an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the general election, deciding to contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. They have left Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and three other seats ostensibly for RLD. Pakistan asked India to immediately share findings of the inquiry, post-mortem report of a Pakistani prisoner who was allegedly killed by fellow prisoners Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday asked India to immediately share findings of the inquiry and post-mortem report of a Pakistani prisoner who was allegedly killed by fellow prisoners in an Indian jail last month. The prisoner, identified as Shakirullah, was allegedly killed last month in a brawl with other prisoners in the Jaipur Central Jail. The 50-year-old was serving life sentence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His body was handed over to the Punjab Rangers at the Wagah-Attari border by the Border Security Force on Saturday. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India "failed to discharge its duties" towards the Pakistani prisoner. "It is complete failure of India and in sharp contrast to what we did to its pilot," he said, referring to the release of an Indian pilot on Friday. "The Government of Pakistan condemned the incident (killing of Shakirullah) and requested India to immediately provide the details of inquiry of the murder and post-mortem report, which have not been provided so far," Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. "Pakistan reiterates its demand that the culprits must be taken to task, findings of the inquiry and post mortem report may be shared urgently and to ensure safety of all Pakistanis, especially Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails to prevent recurrence of such tragic and reprehensible incidents," he said in a statement. Shakirullah's family claimed he inadvertently crossed the border in 2003 and was arrested. Shah further outlined the growth of India under NDA rule and said, 'Earlier we had an economist prime minister who had left the country on the 9th place and only after NDA formed government we came to the 6th place.' Surat (Gujarat): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Sunday said Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned from Pakistan within 24 hours owing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's willpower. Addressing a gathering in Surat, Shah said, "Earlier our jawans used to be beheaded and insulted, but today situation is such that when our jawan fell in Pakistan while shooting down an F-16, within 24 hours he was back. This change is because of Narendra Modi's will power." Speaking about his long association with Modi and the latter's working style, Shah said, "I know Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 1980. I learned a lot of things from him. He had nurtured party workers all over India. When Narendra Modi took the post of chief minister of Gujarat, he didn't even have the experience of winning a village headman election. However, even at a time when the state was affected by the massive earthquake tragedy, he provided excellent leadership and took it on a path of development. Within 14 years the whole country got to know how a chief minister must perform." Asserting that India has seen a historic transformation under Modi's leadership, he said, "Despite getting a full majority, Modi wanted NDA allies to be kept along. During the Sonia-Manmohan 10-year stint, everyone knew the state of security. Now we have zero tolerance against terrorism. When the first surgical strike happened after Uri, they knew what zero tolerance is." Speaking about the IAF air strike at terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, Shah said, "After Pulwama, everyone thought that surgical strike is very difficult this time because they all would be very alert now. But Modi kept on working as per his schedule, took a decision and our brave air force officers killed hundreds of terrorists and came safely back to India." Shah also lambasted the Opposition for raising questions over the credibility of the air strike and said, "Mamata Banerjee is asking for proof, Rahul Gandhi is saying it's being politicised, Akhilesh is demanding for inquiry. They should be ashamed of their statements which is bringing a smile on the face of Pakistan. I know they do not have calibre as much as Modi ji have, but if they cannot support it, they should at least learn to remain silent." Shah further outlined the growth of India under the NDA government and said, "Earlier we had an economist prime minister who had left the country on the 9th place and only after NDA formed government we came to the 6th place. Now I can assure that the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be sworn on the prime minister post again, we will climb to 5th position." An MRI scan revealed that no bugs have been found implanted in Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a source said on Sunday New Delhi: An MRI scan revealed that no bugs have been found implanted in Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a source said on Sunday. The security agencies were understood to have been checking for any bugs which could be present in Varthaman, who was returned by Pakistan on Friday. The scan also showed an injury in his lower spine which could have happened following his ejection from the MiG-21 fighter plane after a dogfight with Pakistani F-16 jets on Wednesday, the source said. He also has a rib injury due to an assault by the Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after his aircraft was shot down. Varthaman will undergo more check-ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment for the next 10 days, the source said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa had met the pilot on Saturday. On Wednesday, Varthaman, flying a MiG 21 Bison, was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, his plane crossed over to the Pakistani side and was shot down. Abhinandan ejected safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16. On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Varthaman, calling it a peace gesture. India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Varthaman unconditionally, according to top sources in New Delhi. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources said. The External Affairs Ministry also exerted pressure on Pakistan through the Arab world, they said. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, 'The offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which have entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant.' Chennai: The offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which have entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant, senior Congress leader P Chidamabaram said on Saturday. Pitching for talks with Pakistan, he said though dealing with that neigbouring nation was "very complicated," there was no other option to avoid war. "Plebiscite was offered under very different conditions, please understand that," he said adding, that since then the conditions have changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Fielding a question from a member of the audience a DMK functionary at his "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India" release event in Chennai, he said plebiscite had been offered to a 'united Kashmir. Since then the conditions have changed and nearly about one half of Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan-occupied now." The top Congress leader said for about 70 years now Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were being governed by India and Pakistan respectively and "the entire ground conditions have changed." The senior DMK functionary, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, wanted to know about the "promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru," obviously referring to the offer of plebiscite. "Plebiscite was offered to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir...now Jammu thinks differently, Ladakh, Leh and Kargil think differently today..." The "problem" was essentially confined to the Kashmir valley and there was no problem in regions like Leh and Kargil, he said and recalled his visit to these two regions. "I don't think that conditions for plebiscite are any longer relevant. The conditions have changed so much that the offer of plebsicite (made) then is valid today, I don't think so," he said. Pointing out that he was only talking about healing the divisions in Kashmir, he said: "I certainly will not allow Kashmir to secede from India, that is not allowed, that is a no-go area." He said that within the Indian Union, "what they are asking for, as far as I have understood, is a large degree of self-governance, which I think we should give them and we can give them." To another question from a Congress MLA Vijaya Dharani, he said dealing with Pakistan was more complex, which involved a mixture of areas like foreign, defence and security policies. "Pakistan does not have a single authority government like India has," he said and added that there was the State, the Army, and non-state players, the militant outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Such outfits are sometimes as powerful as the government itself and they acted on their own. "So it is very complicated dealing with Pakistan..but as Vajpayeeji once said and Dr Manmohan Singh repeated, Pakistan is our neighbour, we can change our friends, we cannot change our neighbours." The former Union Minister said hence, "we have to live with Pakistan forever and ever." "Ultimately, we have to talk to Pakistan...you may get nothing out it, you may call me a pacifist, I am firmly of the view that war does not solve any problems," he said and recalled the wars India had fought with Pakistan in the past, including the Kargil conflict. "We have to talk...it is a painful task, but there is no option we have to keep on talking and avoid war," he said, adding he was more concerned about bringing back peace in Kashmir. WHY DONT YOU READ THESE? The Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire for over 60 times during the last one week by targeting over 70 civilian and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, also leaving nine persons, including some army personnel, injured. Jammu: Pakistani troops on Saturday once again violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting strong and effective retaliation by the Indian Army, a defence spokesman said. The shelling from across the border started in Nowshera sector around 12.30 pm, ending over 12-hour-long lull in the border skirmishes, which intensified after India's pre-emptive strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camps at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan on Tuesday. A young woman and her two children were killed and several others, including two Army personnel, were injured in heavy shelling along the LoC in lower Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district on Friday night, raising the death toll in the exchange of firing on the Indian side to four. "Pakistan continues with nefarious designs and at about 1230 hours, again initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector," the spokesman said. "The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively," he said, adding that there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side in the latest round of firing. Meanwhile, all educational institutions within a five-kilometre radius of the LoC remained closed for the fifth day on Saturday as a precautionary measure, officials said. They said the Indian forces are on high alert and keeping a close vigil along the LoC and the International Border (IB). A police official said the shelling from across the border stopped around 11 pm on Friday after intense firing which left 24-year-old Rubana Kosar, her five-year-old son Fazan and nine-month-old daughter Shabnam dead and her husband Mohammad Younis injured in Salotri village of Poonch district. "The panic-stricken border residents in some worst-hit villages fled to safer places. There was no report of mass migration and people are staying back at their homes although the district administration had made necessary arrangements in case people are forced to flee their homes," the official said. Poonch Deputy Commissioner Rahul Yadav said the health institutions are open and working round-the-clock to meet any eventuality. "All ambulances have been mobilised and moved to the areas close to the LoC with special teams to help people in need," he said. The Pakistan Army has violated the ceasefire for over 60 times during the last one week by targeting over 70 civilian and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, also leaving nine persons, including some army personnel, injured. Amid high tensions along the LoC, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh visited forward posts in Rajouri Sector to review the operational preparedness on Thursday. The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violation 2,936 by Pakistani troops, in the last 15 years. Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides. Punjab has been plagued by a drug menace for years, with political parties bringing up the problem at every election rally but with no solutions. Editor's Note: A network of 60 reporters set off across India to test the idea of development as it is experienced on the ground. Their brief: Use your mobile phone to record the impact of 120 key policy decisions on everyday life; what works, what doesn't and why; what can be done better and what should be done differently. Their findings straight and raw from the ground will be combined in this series, Elections on the Go, over a course of 100 days. Read more articles from the series here *** Moga, Faridkot: Sitting on her bed in a small room of her decrepit house in Moga district's Daulewala village in Punjab, Baljit Kaur (name changed) sheds silent tears. The reason: her 21-year-old daughter became a drug addict and is now undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation centre. What worries Baljit is not the addiction alone but the stigma that she and her husband will have to carry even if their daughter recovers. Heroin addiction is generally perceived as a problem that plagues urban areas, but the scenario in Punjab is quite the opposite most heroin addicts are from rural areas. Also, the problem of drug addiction in the northern state is not limited to men either; it even has women in its grip, destroying not only homes but also the futures of many. In fact, some women began to abuse drugs while living with their addict husbands. Even as hundreds of women in these areas undergo treatment at rehabilitation centres, there is no end to the deaths caused by overdoses. And the inescapable social stigma ensures that such deaths are not reported to the police, because of which there is no precise record of these deaths. Baljit said her daughter's classmates were drug addicts and offered her heroin popularly known as 'chitta' in Punjab. "My daughter was always good at studies and sports. Some of her male friends, who were addicts, asked her to try it for fun. But fun turned into addiction when my husband and I found out about it and admitted her to a rehabilitation centre in Ludhiana. She has been there for the past five months," she added. Why is Punjab's youth getting high? Daulewala had become infamous as the drug capital of Punjab, where people used to buy and sell heroin openly. While strict police vigilance and awareness have brought down the number of cases, the problem is far from being eradicated completely. With lack of employment opportunities and agriculture a less than lucrative business the way it was after the green revolution more and more frustrated youths in Punjab have been taking to narcotics in the hope of forgetting their troubles. Punjabi music is another factor attributed to the high drug consumption in the state. It has been criticised for promoting gun and drug culture in Punjab. The state's proximity to Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, too, has resulted in it becoming a transit route for drugs to be distributed in the rest of the country. The Punjab and Central governments have often accused Pakistan of pumping drugs into the state through illegal routes. As a result, districts like Gurdaspur that border the neighbouring country have a large number of addicts, and on a number of occasions, Border Security Force personnel have nabbed drug smugglers and recovered large consignments of contraband from such border areas. A report by Red Cross Drug De-addiction-cum-Rehabilitation Center in Gurdaspur states: "The geographic location of the district makes the area an important and only passage for all drugs, such as opium, smack and heroin, from every direction across the international as well as inter-state borders. This further makes the district a soft target for all kinds of addictions, affecting not only those who handle them for smuggling Easy availability of these drugs, which are sold cheap, fuels addiction to such substances, preying upon the natives regardless of caste, creed, colour, sex, race, profession or education." Politics over drugs The drug menace remains a favourite among the issues Punjab's political parties like to bring up at election campaigns. Before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and 2017 Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had promised to tackle the problem and also take action against senior leaders of the then ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders allegedly involved in drug trade. The Congress, too, had launched scathing attacks on SAD for not being able to tackle the menace that had claimed several lives and ruined countless homes. After coming to power in the state, the Congress set up a Special Task Force to fight the drug problem. It has since arrested a number of smugglers and seized tons of drugs, but the problem still prevails. AAP's Sadhu Singh, who had defeated SAD's Paramjit Kaur Gulshan in 2014, represents the Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency, under which Moga falls. Despite repeated attempts, he remained unavailable for a comment on how his party is tackling the grave drug menace. Congress no better? Other areas of Punjab fare no better when it comes to this, with deaths due to overdose becoming a common phenomenon statewide. Last year, a video had gone viral of a mother crying over the body of her son, who had died of a suspected drug overdose, lying on a garbage dump. It had invited biting criticism of the Congress-led state government. The anger all around stemmed from the fact that the ruling party had not practised what it had preached ahead of the Assembly polls it had accused SAD of not curbing the drug menace, resulting in the latter losing power in the state in the elections. Now, SAD is leaving no opportunity to attack the Congress with regard to this problem, claiming that the government has failed to tackle the drug menace despite promising to. SAD's senior vice-president Maheshinder Singh Grewal said it is shocking that the Congress, which used to claim it would nip the menace in the bud within weeks of coming to power, had failed at the task so miserably. However, Congress MLA from Moga, Harjot Kamal Singh, claimed that the problem of drug addiction in the region had decreased manifold. "Effective measures by the police in Moga have brought the area out of the clutches of drugs. Even villages like Daulewala aren't drug havens anymore," he added. Damning drug findings A study funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states: "0.27 million (2.5 percent of the source population) in the state were estimated to be opioid dependent, of which nearly 78,000 (0.7 percent) were injecting opioid users, predominantly heroin and buprenorphine, 60 percent of whom exhibited high-risk behaviour. But only 14 percent of the RAS sample had ever visited any de-addiction centre, and only 2.8 percent of individuals had been admitted to a de-addiction centre in the past year." Dr Madhumeeta Banerjee, who runs NGO Sadhbhavna in Ludhiana's Raikot that helps drug addicts recover, said drug addiction carries such a heavy stigma in Punjab that people are not ready to accept that their own family member is an addict. Her analysis rings true at this Ferozepur household Sukhwinder Kaur still cannot believe that her husband Surjit Kumar died at 35 due to a suspected drug overdose last year. Surjit, who worked at a local shop as a helper, and Sukhwinder, a homemaker, got married in 2012. It was all rosy till the secret of his drug addiction came to light. "He (Surjit) used to come home on time every day and talk to me at length about his day. Then four years into our marriage, he started coming home late regularly. One day, I found out that he had started taking a white powder through a syringe," she said. Sukhwinder has been leading a miserable since her husband's death. She is now forced to work as a helper at a landlord's house in Bazidpur village of Ferozepur. The situation at some of Punjab's villages is so terrible that women have resorted to carrying out vigil marches, armed with batons, every evening to keep an eye on drug peddlers and addicts. In Mansa district, the regularity of these vigils has brought the women face to face with hostile addicts. Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, during the recent Budget Session of the Punjab Assembly, said an Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) project had been launched in all districts. "Presently, 168 OOAT clinics are functional, akin to community health centres, where medicines are being provided to patients for free. A total of 62,943 patients hace registered at these clinics, and another 65,000 are getting treatment at registered private de-addiction centres," he added. The government has also started a 'buddy programme', wherein students are taught about the ill effects of drugs, and they, in turn, teach the same to the younger pupils. So far, the state has formed 5.5 lakh buddy groups, with the aim to cover at least 40 lakh students in Punjab. With inputs from Gaurav Monga The author is an Amritsar-based freelance-writer and state editor of 101Reporters The Samjhauta Express will start running from the Indian side on Sunday, while on the Pakistan side it will leave Lahore on Monday on its return journey. New Delhi: The Samjhauta Express will leave for Pakistan from Delhi on Sunday after the two neighbours agreed to operationalise services at their ends, a senior railway official told PTI. The announcement came a day after Pakistan released Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The official said the first train from India will leave on 3 March. While Pakistan had cancelled its services right after an air strike by the Indian Air Force, India cancelled the operations of the Samjhauta Express on 28 February. The train will start running from the Indian side on Sunday, while on the Pakistan side it will leave Lahore on Monday on its return journey. On the Indian side, the train runs from Delhi to Attari and from Lahore to Wagah on the Pakistan side. Seeking de-escalation of already strained Indo-Pak relations, Indian and Pakistani scholars and students of Oxford University demonstrated solidarity at the Radcliffe Camera, Oxford on Saturday at 3:30 pm. Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan, while some have focused on a warmongering narrative, Indian and Pakistani scholars and students of Oxford University demonstrated solidarity at the Radcliffe Camera, Oxford on Saturday at 3.30 pm. Hostilities between the two countries increased following a suicide car bombing on 14 February that killed at least 42 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of harbouring the Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit that claimed responsibility of bombing. Indian aircraft carried out air strikes on 26 February inside Pakistans Balakot and three other locations on what New Delhi called "militant camps". The next day, Pakistan retaliated with its own aerial mission. The Oxford South Asian Society also issued a joint statement by Indian and Pakistani students, calling for de-escalation of tensions. Here's the full text of Indian and Pakistani Oxford Students' joint statement in Solidarity for Peace: We are a group of Indian and Pakistani students at the University of Oxford who are deeply disturbed by the escalation of tensions about an impending war between India and Pakistan. We strongly condemn the suicide bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir on February 14, 2019 which claimed the lives of around 44 Indian soldiers. We denounce terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As students in a land that is foreign to our homes - India and Pakistan - weve always marvelled at how we seamlessly gravitate towards each other, and how we are able to come together in community in ways we cant back home. We often talk about the similarities we share in our food, culture, histories and the challenges we face. The Indo-Pak community has emerged as a place of refuge and comfort for us. However, when we imagine visiting each others homes we realise all the ways in which visas and politics restrict us. As we sit together now, watching the increasingly violent direction the current discourse is taking, we are frightened. We come from parts of the world where the rhetoric of war isnt new, and its consequences arent abstract. War only benefits a handful of influential profiteering interests who feed on hatred and fear. It is the people who never wish for war that face its repercussions. It is a luxury to be able to debate the possibility of war when the death, grief, and loss that accompany it are not part of your everyday. For some people, especially the already dispossessed, the human cost of war is no cliche. It is lived reality. We urge our fellow Pakistanis and Indians both within and outside the subcontinent to stand together in unity, focus on our commonalities, and reject divisive narratives. We call upon the leaders of our countries to develop de-escalation protocols, organise constructive peace talks and dialogue for the resolution of all bilateral issues. War and warmongering are always unequivocally deplorable. At a time when India and Pakistan are lurching from crisis to crisis, we condemn the irresponsible rhetoric flooding the media in both countries in the strongest possible terms. We dare to imagine a future that is free of divisions and violence, and unshadowed by the politics of war. We refuse to succumb to this environment of fear and suspicion. We refuse to see our friends as enemies. We refuse to hate those we hold dear. This is not our war. The full text has been reproduced from Oxford South Asian Society and has not been edited by Firstpost for style and clarity. In a setback to Congress in Telangana, two party MLAs announced joined TRS in the interest of Adivasis and for the development of their constituencies Hyderabad: In a setback to Congress in Telangana, two party MLAs Saturday announced their decision to join TRS in the interest of Adivasis and for the development of their constituencies. In a press statement, the two MLAs Rega Kantha Rao (Pinapaka) and Atram Sakku (Asifabad) said they recently met Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and discussed the problems relating to education, health and 'Podu' farming, facing STs, especially Adivasis. Rao had assured that the issues would be addressed and that he would personally visit areas inhabited by Adivasis, they said. They also believed that the issues of Adivasis would be addressed under the leadership of Rao. Hence, they have decided to join TRS. They further said they would quit their Assembly memberships and contest as TRS candidates, if necessary. With the two MLAs quitting the party, the strength of Congress in the Assembly would be down to 17. In the 7 December assembly elections held last year, the Congress had won 19 seats. The TRS had returned to power in the elections, winning 88 out of the total 119 seats. The Special Investigation Team of the Uttar Pradesh Police filed a chargesheet on Saturday against 38 people in connection with the Bulandshahr mob violence in which police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a civilian were killed. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police looking filed a chargesheet on Saturday against 38 people in connection with the mob violence that broke out in the state's Bulandshahr district on 3 December, 2018, in which police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a civilian were killed. Of the 38, five have been charged with Singh's murder. However, the key accused, Bajrang Dal convener Yogesh Raj, is among the 33 others who have been charged with "rioting and violence", reports said. The SIT filed the charges at a court in Lucknow, which will take note of the 3,000-page chargesheet on Monday. The five who have been charged with the police inspector's murder include Prashant Natt, who was arrested by the police in January. The police said that those charged with the murder had "surrounded" Singh and shot him dead, NDTV reported. On 27 January, the police had recovered Singh's mobile phone from Natts house. #NewsAlert Uttar Pradesh SIT files charge sheet against 38 people. Out of the 38, 5 have been charge-sheeted for the murder of Inspector Subodh and the other civilian. 33 others including Bajrang Dal convener Yogesh Raj have been charged with rioting and violence. pic.twitter.com/wyzl2Emn3g News18 (@CNNnews18) March 3, 2019 On 14 January, the Bulandshahr district administration had invoked the National Security Act against three people arrested in connection with the alleged cow slaughter that had triggered the violence in Siyana tehsil. Cattle carcasses were found strewn in the fields outside Mahaw village, after which a mob went on a rampage, attacking the local Chingrawathi Police Post. Besides Subodh Singh, a civilian identified as Sumit Kumar also died in the violence. Two separate FIRs one for the mob violence, in which nearly 80 people, including 27 unidentified, were named as accused, and the other for the alleged cow slaughter were registered at the Siyana Police Station. With inputs from agencies Putin said he is convinced that commissioning of Kalashnikov rifles will contribute to stronger defence potential of India and to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy. Amethi: The new joint venture between India and Russia to manufacture the Kalashnikov assault rifles' 200 series will be able to fulfill Indian security agencies' requirement for small arms, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message read out by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Amethi on Sunday. Sitharaman read out the message during an event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi where he laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for the AK-203 assault rifles. "The new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localisation of production. Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies," Putin said in his message. He said military and technical cooperation has traditionally been one of the key areas of the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. "For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality armaments and equipment to Indian friends. Around 170 military and industrial facilities have been set up in India with assistance from our country," Putin said. It was during his official visit to India in October, 2018, that Putin and Modi reached an agreement on producing Kalashnikov rifles in India. The inter-governmental agreement was prepared and signed in the shortest possible time. "In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to Russian and Indian specialists, to all those who so promptly made this project happen," the Russian president said. Putin said he is convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India and to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy. "It will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for a qualified work force and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training," he said. "The plant itself will become another symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries," he said in his message read out by the defence minister. Adityanath said the supreme sacrifice of these brave jawans will not go in vain and that the entire nation is standing with them. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the kin of each of the two CRPF personnel who lost their lives in an encounter in Kupwara area of Jammu and Kashmir. Five security personnel were killed in an encounter with militants on Friday in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir while a civilian died in clashes near the site. The slain personnel included a CRPF inspector and a jawan, two army men and a policeman. Expressing profound grief at the death of Vinod Kumar of Ghaziabad and Shyam Narain Yadav of Ghazipur, the chief minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for their families, an official spokesperson said. Adityanath also said that one kin of each of the slain CRPF personnel will be given a government job and one road in their native districts will be named after them, he said. The chief minister said the supreme sacrifice of these brave jawans will not go in vain and that the entire nation is standing with them. Terming the resolution passed by 21 Opposition parties as inappropriate, Jaitley said, it gave a handle to the enemy and Pakistan's media used the statement as a trump card. New Delhi: Accusing the Congress-led UPA of running a "terrible" government and even a "more terrible" Opposition, finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said their statements have hurt India's national interest and have given a handle to Pakistan to discredit the country. Within days of India's air strike at Balakot, 21 Opposition parties led by the Congress passed a resolution accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. "Statements made by Opposition parties (after IAF's counter terror operation in Balakot) hurt India's national interest. They give smiles to Pakistan and become an instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India's operation against terrorism," Jaitley said in a blog, stressing that on such occasions the nation ought to speak in one voice as was done by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jan Sangh during the 1971 war. Terming the resolution passed by 21 Opposition parties as inappropriate, he said, it gave a handle to the enemy and Pakistan's media used the statement as a trump card. The government had twice taken the leaders of Opposition parties into confidence, he said. Referring to the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the finance minister said that he sought to elevate himself to the status of a neutral third party while raising doubts about India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. "I was most disappointed with a brief but a highly objectionable statement of the former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh," Jaitley said. While receiving the PV Narasimha Rao Award for lifetime achievement, Singh had stated that he was disturbed with the "mad rush of mutual self-destruction" by the two nations. Singh further went on to argue that poverty, ignorance and disease were the real problems in the two countries and that saner counsel on both sides needed to think on the issue. Jaitley said that there was no condemnation of terrorism in that speech of the former prime minister. Implicitly, he doubts India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism, he said. Jaitley further said: "The Congress-led UPA Government from 2004 to 2014 ran a terrible government. From 2014 to 2019, it was even a more terrible Opposition". Pointing that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went a step further, he said, she started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. "The credibility of both the government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions," he said in a Facebook post titled 'India's Opposition Has A Lot To Learn.' Jaitley emphasised that the Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but that restrain and statesmanship are also essential ingredients of public discourse. He expressed hope that India's Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation. Jaitley also pointed that the retaliatory attack by Pakistan's F-16 was a botched-up operation and the neighbouring country was globally isolated. "Not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of its terrorism has reached the Security Council. So helpless was the situation that it was in no position to even admit the attack at Balakot. If it had admitted the attack and its consequences, the evidence of a terrorist camp in existence and the list of dead terrorists would have been an international issue," he said. Reacting to Jaitley's post, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a tweet said: " 'Blog Minister' continues his antics as a self styled 'Caricaturist' to stay relevant by attacking Dr Manmohan Singh. "At least 5 surgical strikes took place under Dr Singh's charge but he didn't make bravery of jawans a political pamphlet for votes". Earlier on Sunday, Narendra Modi kickstarted the NDA government's campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with his rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed his first rally in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, since the NDA government came to power in 2014 and laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles. Addressing a rally in Amethi's Gauriganj, Modi said that Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his government's Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (together with all, development for all) motto. "Those who voted for us and those who did not all are ours," Modi said. After laying the foundation stone of the unit, he said the modern rifles will be manufactured in Amethi under a Russia-India joint venture. They will be known as 'Made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with Naxals and militants, the prime minister said. "One of the most advanced rifles in the world AK-203 will be made in Amethi. It will be made by a joint-venture of India and Russia. I express my gratitude to my friend President Vladimir Putin. This venture was made possible in such a short time by his support," he said while addressing a gathering. Modi also accused the previous governments of neglecting the armed forces and their needs. He also said the UPA government sat on the Rafale deal for years. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in the Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. Union Minister Smriti Irani, who has been looking after the Amethi constituency, is likely to contest from here in the upcoming general election. Earlier on Sunday, Modi kickstarted the NDA government's campaign for 2019 Lok Sabha polls with his rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. Hitting out at the Opposition for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, the prime minister said that the armed forces were busy quelling terror, but the Congress and its allies are not convinced with their act of bravery. The statements made by the rival parties after the pre-emptive air strike on terror camps have made only people of Pakistan happy, he claimed. India conducted an air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 26 February. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 Opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," said Modi. He alleged that the Opposition were "conspiring" against him. "While I want to eliminate terror, opposition parties are conspiring to finish me. At a time when our armed forces are fighting enemies across the border, within India, some people are making statements to please Pakistan. This is New India, it does not remain silent on killings of its jawans," the prime minister stated. Talking about development work in Bihar, Modi praised the Nitish Kumar-Sushil Kumar Modi combine for their achievements in the state, asserting that the NDA government wants to ensure that all sections in the state gain access to the best of facilities. "The NDA government is working on all departments, including roadways, railways and airways, to improve infrastructure in the state," he said. With inputs from PTI Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of trying to cover up their failures by using the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of trying to cover up their failures by using the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The country is worried about the terror attacks happening in Jammu and Kashmir for the last few days. It is not hidden from the people how BJP and especially the prime minister are trying to hide their failures in the garb of what is happening there, she said while addressing party workers in Lucknow. Mayawati called the meeting to give guidelines to BSP workers on the partys alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP). Earlier, she had criticised Modi for ignoring matters of national security and trying to serve political interests. At a time when India is facing hostility and the country needs firm leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of concentrating on the matters of national security, is trying to serve political interests by addressing BJP workers. It is ridiculous, besides betrayal of national sentiments, she had said. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to contest 37 and 38 Lok Sabha seats respectively in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has gone to the SP kitty. Uttar Pradesh has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats. The two parties have also agreed not to put up candidates from Rai Bareli and Amethi, represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi respectively. Congress has decided to contest all the 80 seats after the party was not made a part of the SP-BSP alliance. The Congress leadership has said that the party will fight the Lok Sabha polls with full force in Uttar Pradesh. NDA Sankalp Rally LIVE Updates: In a series of tweets, Bihar's deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi welcomed Prime Minister Narendra to Bihar, and expressed confidence in the BJP winning all 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Auto refresh feeds The prime minister will officially kick-start the NDA's election campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the NDA government's Sankalp Rally in Bihar's Patna on Sunday. This is the first time that state prime minister Nitish Kumar and Modi have shared a stage since 2009. Nitish Kumar promised the prime minister that every village in Bihar will have proper sanitation by 2 October, 2019. He also lauded Modi for bringing electricity to villages across the country. "We are working to better education, youth employment, farmers' conditions, and citizens' concerns," he said. Addressing the Sankalp Rally in Bihar's Patna, the prime minister said that the NDA government is committed to the development of the state. "These days, a competition is underway to abuse the chowkidaar," he said, adding that citizens of the state need not worry because "the chowkidaar is as alert as ever," the prime minister said in an attack on the Congress. He added: "Please remember when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister, he worked for the benefit of the people. He set up schemes to better the highways, building roads in villages, youth education programmes. He began so many welfare schemes. But when Congress took power, progress slowed on all those projects." Modi, continuing his attack on the Opposition, said: "If there was a "mahamilaavati" government leading the nation, there would neither be any decisions nor would the poor be taken care of. Their disposition is for their own progress, and not for the progress of the nation." "This has happened after 50 years," he said, adding that Congress was at the helm of the nation for most of these 50 years. "Why have they not maintained India's integrity on international platforms? Should they not answer this question?" he asked the cheering crowd. Referring to the OIC meeting earlier this week, where EAM Sushma Swaraj was invited as the chief guest, the prime minister said that India was acknowledged and honoured. Modi asks why Congress did not maintain India's international integrity during its rule He added that no other country's quota has been extended except India's. Modi also spoke about Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's recent visit to India. "I told him that more and more of our Muslim brothers and sisters are hoping to complete the Hajj pilgrimage. But their quota is not sufficient, so I asked him to increase it. And he did, to 2 lakh!" "Go on, men, keep trying, zoom the camera in some more," the RJD supremo wrote. In a tweet, former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said that "Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, and Ram Vilas Paswan have gathered a crowd at Gandhi Maidan using government machinery, which I gather when I stop at a shop to buy paan." This will be Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. Following his visit to Patna, Narendra Modi will travel to Uttar Pradesh's Amethi , which is Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency. He will address a rally at 3.30 pm. The party also said it had neither sought proof of such strike earlier nor is it asking for it now. "The prime minister has himself questioned the air strike. He said had the Rafale jets been there (with the IAF), the results would have been different. What is the meaning of this?" Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari posed during a press conference in New Delhi. Adding to Mehbooba Mufti's attack on the prime minister, Congress claimed that Modi has himself "questioned" the recent anti-terror air strike in Pakistan by his remarks that the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. Looking forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Amethi today. https://t.co/0ykWiviZiZ via NaMo App pic.twitter.com/uLt1P2lCFR Modi had previously visited Amethi on 5 May, 2014 and the BJP, which had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against Gandhi in 2014 general election, had managed three lakh votes. Irani has been nurturing the constituency since and is expected to contest again in the coming poll, expected to be held in April-May. The prime minister is also scheduled to launch several projects in the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family for long. According to official sources, Modi will address a public meeting in Kauhar area of Gauriganj and will launch some projects besides laying the foundation stone of a new unit of the Munshiganj Ordnance Factory, where assault rifles will be made in collaboration with Russia, on Sunday. According to The Quint , Modi was received at the airport by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union ministers Smriti Irani and Nirmala Sitharaman. The prime minister is scheduled to address a public rally in Kauhar area of Gauriganj and inaugurate Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Amethi: When 7,50,000 AK-203 rifles made here will be in the hands of our jawans, the condition of the enemies will be the same as it was after #AirStrikes and #SurgicalStrike . pic.twitter.com/k3wUNFekN9 Condition of enemies will be same after AK-203 rifles are made in Uttar Pradesh for jawans: Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Amethi: When 7,50,000 AK-203 rifles made here will be in the hands of our jawans, the condition of the enemies will be the same as it was after #AirStrikes and #SurgicalStrike . pic.twitter.com/k3wUNFekN9 Condition of enemies will be same after AK-203 rifles are made in Uttar Pradesh for jawans: Yogi Adityanath PM Modi in Amethi: One of the most advanced rifles in world AK-203 will be made in Amethi. It will be made by a joint-venture of India & Russia. I express my gratitude to my friend President Vladimir Putin, this venture was made possible in such a short time by his support. pic.twitter.com/D2MhSrGTCr The prime minister said that the rifles will be made by a joint venture of India and Russia. Modi also expressed his gratitude to Russian President Vladmir Putin. One of the most advanced rifles AK-203 will be made in Amethi, says Modi "Under UPA, the needs of India have been ignored and Amethi was cheated of an opportunity. During the four and half years of NDA, there were efforts to develop farmers. They were assured loan waivers," said Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Amethi: Some people have the habit of forgetting the public after getting votes. They want to keep the poor in poverty so they can say 'gareebi hatao' generation after generation. We are giving strength to the poor to bring them out of poverty. pic.twitter.com/F6jvF3tfyq Modi in Amethi's Gauriganj address accused the Congress of keeping the poor in poverty so that they can talk about 'gareebi hatao' generation after generation. 'Made in Amethi' AK-203s will be of great help to Indian troops during encounter with militants and Naxalites, said Modi. NDA Sankalp Rally LATEST Updates: In a series of tweets, Bihar's deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi welcomed Prime Minister Narendra to Bihar, and expressed confidence in the BJP winning all 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "In 1999, the BJP, JDU and LJP had won 40 out of 54 seats; in 2009 the BJP and JDU had 32 out of 40 seats in 32; and in 2014 alone BJP and LJP had 31 seats in the Lok Sabha. Now, Nitish ji's engine has also been added to the NDA train. Once again, Narendra Modi will be the prime minister by winning all 40 seats," he wrote. Following his visit to Patna, Narendra Modi will travel to Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, which is Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency. He will address a rally at 3.30 pm. This will be Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. In a tweet, former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said that "Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, and Ram Vilas Paswan have gathered a crowd at Gandhi Maidan using government machinery, which I gather when I stop at a shop to buy paan." "Go on, men, keep trying, zoom the camera in some more," the RJD supremo wrote. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav took to Twitter to criticise the prime minister's speech minutes after it was over. Using the hashtag #BiharRejectsModi, he said that the prime minister "didnt speak on Special Status, Special Package, Srijan Scam, Unemployment, Smart Cities, Agrarian Crisis, Corruption, Jobs, Black Money and his earlier promises. He is unsuccessfully trying to pull Army in his narrow-minded politics to garner votes." The prime minister, who attacked the Oppositon Congress over a variety of topics, also criticised them for asking for proof of the IAF's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. "Now they have even started asking for proof of the air strike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralising our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies?" he asked. Referring to the OIC meeting earlier this week, where EAM Sushma Swaraj was invited as the chief guest, the prime minister said that India was acknowledged and honoured. "This has happened after 50 years," he said, adding that Congress was at the helm of the nation for most of these 50 years. "Why have they not maintained India's integrity on international platforms? Should they not answer this question?" he asked the cheering crowd. Modi, continuing his attack on the Opposition, said: "If there was a "mahamilaavati" government leading the nation, there would neither be any decisions nor would the poor be taken care of. Their disposition is for their own progress, and not for the progress of the nation." He added: "Please remember when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister, he worked for the benefit of the people. He set up schemes to better the highways, building roads in villages, youth education programmes. He began so many welfare schemes. But when Congress took power, progress slowed on all those projects." Addressing the Sankalp Rally in Bihar's Patna, the prime minister said that the NDA government is committed to the development of the state. "We are working to better education, youth employment, farmers' conditions, and citizens' concerns," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the NDA's election campaign in Bihar on Sunday from the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. At the 'Sankalp Rally' in Patna, Modi said saluted the soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack, and that the whole nation is standing with the families of the jawans. He also said he was addressing people from the same platform from where Mahatma Gandhi launched the Champaran movement, which is significant. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar first addressed the crowd. The two leaders shared the stage for the first time since May 2009. "Our alliance was formed for the development of Bihar," Nitish said. "We worked for the development of all sections of society. We connected all the villages by road." Nitish also promised Modi that every village in Bihar will have proper sanitation by 2 October, 2019. He lauded the prime minister for bringing electricity to villages across the country. This is also the first joint rally of the NDA in Bihar after more than years 13 years. Union minister Ramvilas Paswan also addressed the Samkalp Rally. "We are happy that you have done in just five years what could not be done in the past 70 years. You have built homes for the poor, toilets in every household, distributed 6 crore gas connections and electrified all the remaining 18 thousand villages. What else one needs to live," he said. Bihar is a significant state for the NDA as the state has 40 Lok Sabha seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting and lay the foundation stone of an ordnance factory unit in Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Amethi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting and lay the foundation stone of an ordnance factory unit in Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. The constituency is being given a saffron hue ahead of the visit, during which the prime minister will launch several projects in the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family for long. This will be Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. According to official sources, Modi will address a public meeting in Kauhar area of Gauriganj and will launch some projects besides laying the foundation stone of a new unit of the Munshiganj Ordnance Factory, where assault rifles will be made in collaboration with Russia, on Sunday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Amethi earlier this week to review preparations for the prime minister's visit. Modi previously visited Amethi on 5 May, 2014 and the BJP, which had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against Gandhi in 2014 general election, had managed three lakh votes. Irani has been nurturing the constituency since and is expected to contest again in the coming poll, expected to be held in April-May. State BJP general secretary Govind Narain Shukla, who is the convenor of the prime minister's public meeting, said, "It will be a historic meeting in Kauhar with over 1.25 lakh people likely to attend it." In 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP had won four of the five assembly constituencies under Amethi Lok Sabha seat, with SP winning one. Congress had failed to open account in the Gandhi bastion. Meanwhile, Congress workers have objected to the white-washing of the wall paintings of their leader, Rahul Gandhi, near the meeting venue. Gandhi's representative, Chandrakant Dubey, said white-washing the paintings of the local MP was "very sad and unfortunate" and only shows the intolerance of BJP leaders and workers. The underlying message from the 'Sankalp rally' was that the NDA will use the India-Pakistan standoff as an issue in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Patna: The NDA's "Sankalp rally" at Gandhi Maidan on Sunday was all about assertions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "56-inch chest." The underlying message from the rally was that the NDA will use the India-Pakistan standoff as an issue in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said to the large crowd at the venue, "The way the prime minister handled the terror attack in Pulwama, I will say that his chest is not of 56 inches but of 156 inches." Not a single NDA leader who spoke at the rally missed out on applauding Modi for taking on terrorism. The Patna rally signifies shifting of gears by the BJP. Modi did not disappoint the crowd, as he attacked 21 Opposition parties for holding a meeting to censure his government amid tensions between the armed forces of India and Pakistan. Modi told the crowd, "They were demoralising the armed forces. Their images were broadcast on television in Pakistan, and they were applauded in that country...The chowkidar is fully alert in terms of ensuring the country's security and battling corruption." Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also congratulated Modi for his "appropriate response" to the Pulwama terror attack. However, the NDA's promise to make the Sankalp rally the mother of all rallies did not work, as the crowds were spread over only half of the 62-acre Gandhi Maidan. There were more of the JD(U)'s green flags than the BJP's saffron ones. BJP minister Pramod Kumar, who hails from West Champaran, said, "There was uncertainty over the rally due to the war-like situation at the borders. We thought that the event would be cancelled. I started making preparations for the rally quite late." The NDA has been seeking votes on the basis of the law and order situation and a 11.03 GSDP growth in the state. However, after the standoff with Pakistan, the fight against terrorism has become the priority. State BJP president Nityanand Rai remarked, "Terrorism is a major issue, and Modi is the only person who can fight it." Not surprisingly, posters and banners put up in Patna after the surgical strike by the Indian Air Force highlighted the "56-inch chest" of the prime minister. Prior to the rally, the RJD had been questioning Modi and Nitish Kumar for failing to give Bihar special status, and for failing to combat crime and corruption. On Sunday, a post by Lalu Prasad Yadav read, "I pull crowds like the one at the NDA rally even when I stand outside a paan shop." However, RJD MLAs are concerned. An MLA from the party who hails from Vaishali district remarked, "Before the Indian Air Force's surgical strike, when I visited villages which had voted for the NDA in 2014 and taunted them about the 56-inch chest, they remained silent. But after the strike in Pakistan, the same people began to taunt me. They said that Modi ji is a man who has the guts to fight terrorism." Agence France-Presse Chinese gaming giant Tencent on Friday announced new curbs on underage video-game playing as part of a government crackdown on youth gaming addiction that has cast a cloud over the company's biggest revenue source. Tencent said it had imposed a digital lock on some games that require players under 13 years to ask their guardians to open. The new restriction will be piloted for the Chinese versions of the two hit games "Honor of Kings" and "PUBG Mobile". The government last year announced new controls on the number of games that can be played online, limited new releases, and imposed rules on underage players to reduce their screen time. The government justified the new curbs as a way to counter worsening near-sightedness among minors, shortly after President Xi Jinping called for greater national attention on optical health. Tencent already has launched a real-name identification system for "Honour of Kings" to enforce playtime restrictions on youths. China is the world's biggest video game market and Tencent the planet's biggest game company. US president Donald Trump accused his former lawyer Michael Cohen of perjury on Friday, saying a manuscript Cohen wrote last year that complemented Trump contradicted his scathing testimony to Congress this week. New York: US president Donald Trump accused his former lawyer Michael Cohen of perjury on Friday, saying a manuscript Cohen wrote last year that complemented Trump contradicted his scathing testimony to Congress this week. "Wow, just revealed that Michael Cohen wrote a 'love letter to Trump' manuscript for a new book that he was pushing," Trump tweeted on Friday. "Book is exact opposite of his fake testimony, which now is a lie!" "Michael Cohen's book manuscript shows that he committed perjury on a scale not seen before." Cohen, who worked for the president for a decade as his top "fixer" at the Trump Organization, assailed his ex-boss as "a racist... a conman... a cheat" in testimony on Wednesday to the House Oversight Committee. But in a book proposal Cohen sent to publishers in early 2018 before he was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes related to his work for Trump the attorney promised a glowing picture of the real estate billionaire. The manuscript was titled "Trump Revolution: From the Tower to the White House, Understanding Donald J. Trump" and according to the Daily Beast, it was aimed at offsetting books deeply critical of the president. The book proposal was pulled back after FBI agents raided Cohen's home and offices in April 2018 in an investigation that spanned the attorney's taxes as well as hush payments he arranged for women who claimed affairs with the president. Over the following months Cohen went from being a close ally of Trump to a foe, providing evidence that the president ordered him to make one hush payment and repaid him for it in a plea deal with prosecutors. Trump scorned him as "a rat." Cohen eventually pleaded guilty to felony charges of misuse of campaign funds in the hush payment, tax evasion and lying to Congress. In five hours of testimony on Wednesday, he compared working for Trump to working for a "mobster." Republican lawmakers however attacked Cohen as an unreliable witness, citing his earlier false testimony, and accused him of trying to cash in on his work for Trump with book and film deals. Cohen said there were no deals in the works, but confirmed he had been approached and was open to the idea. ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Bedecked in lion mane collars, warriors' headdresses and military fatigues, thousands of Ethiopians descended on Addis Ababa's main squares to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Adwa - one of Ethiopia's finest hours in the battlefield. It was in the northern town of Adwa 123 years ago that poorly-armed Ethiopians - clad in such attire - routed an Italian force that sought to expand Rome's fledgling 19th century colonial empire. ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Bedecked in lion mane collars, warriors' headdresses and military fatigues, thousands of Ethiopians descended on Addis Ababa's main squares to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Adwa - one of Ethiopia's finest hours in the battlefield. It was in the northern town of Adwa 123 years ago that poorly-armed Ethiopians - clad in such attire - routed an Italian force that sought to expand Rome's fledgling 19th century colonial empire. The victory that preserved Ethiopia's independence in 1896 resounded elsewhere in Africa, becoming a rallying point for Africans a generation later as they bid to end colonial rule. "I call myself independent because my fearless fathers fought the battle from all corners of the country," said 27-year old Bonsa Kuma, who arrived in the capital on horseback. "I rode for two days to get here to remember my heroes," he told Reuters. The event was also used by some Ethiopians to call for unity at a time of persistent ethnic strife that has left over 2 million people displaced due to violence in the last two years. "Adwa for me is a sign of freedom and a sign of unity of the country. Today's generation should learn the importance of unity and abstain from clashing on the basis of ethnicity," said Tiki Gebreab, a 36-year old Addis Ababa resident who attended the celebrations. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also joined a chorus of calls to end violence. "The young generation of today should repeat the victory of Adwa by defeating current challenges and barriers," Abiy said in remarks published by state-owned media. (Writing by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Ros Russell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. India is a very high-tariff nation, US president Donald Trump alleged on Saturday, stating that he wants a reciprocal tax or at least some kind of tax. Washington: India is a very high-tariff nation, US president Donald Trump alleged on Saturday, stating that he wants a reciprocal tax or at least some kind of tax. "India is a very high-tariff nation. They charge us a lot," Trump said in his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the Maryland suburb of Washington DC. In his speech that lasted for more than two hours, Trump touched a wide range of issues including domestic, global and bilateral relationship with countries like India. Referring to his often-cited example of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, he said, "When we send a motorcycle to India, it's a 100 percent tariff. They charge 100 per cent when India sends a motorcycle to us, we brilliantly charge them nothing." "So, I want a reciprocal tax or at least, I want to charge a tax. It's called the mirror tax, but it's reciprocal," Trump asserted. Early this year, at a White House event to announce his support for reciprocal tax, Trump had said he was satisfied with the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 percent. "Even this is not enough, this is okay," he had said. "Look at motorcycles as an example. (In) India, it was 100 percent. I got them down to 50 percent just by talking for about two minutes. It's still 50 percent vs 2.4 percent (on imported motorcycles to the US). Again, other than that, it's a very fair deal," the president had told reporters at the White House on 24 January. On Saturday, he used the Indian example of how other countries were imposing high taxes on American products and now it was time for the US to impose a reciprocal tax. To prove his point, Trump said, he was using India as an example. "But India is a very high-tariff nation. And they charge tremendously. So they charge a hundred. So I say, I'm not going to charge you a hundred, but I'm going to charge 25 percent, and I hear this turmoil in the Senate because we are charging 25 percent," he said. Trump told his supporters that there was resistance to his move from the Senate. "I say, fellows, listen, they are charging us a hundred per cent. For the exact same product, I want to charge them 25 percent. I feel so foolish charging 25, because it should be a hundred. But I'm doing 25 only because of you. I want to get your support," he said. Thereafter, Trump mimicked the response from the lawmakers. "Sir, that's not free trade. Where did these people come from? Where do they come from? I need your help, I need your help, the voters' help. Where do they come from?," he said. Trump said the US could not allow a country to charge it 100 percent while it got nothing for the exact same product. "For one thing, they don't respect us. They think we're stupid. They don't respect us. But let me tell you something, the world respects our country again," he said. "America is now booming like never before. Other countries are doing very poorly." Trump said. By Ellen Francis OUTSKIRTS OF BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) - Islamic State faces final territorial defeat as the U.S.-backed Syrian force battling the jihadists said on Saturday it was closing in on the jihadists' last bastion near the Iraqi border, capping four years of efforts to roll back the group. While the fall of Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village on the bank of the Euphrates River, would mark a milestone in a global campaign against Islamic State (IS), they remain a threat, using guerrilla tactics and holding some desolate land further west. An array of enemies, both local and international, confronted IS after it declared a modern-day 'caliphate' in 2014 across large swathes of territory it had seized in lightning offensives in Syria and neighbouring Iraq By Ellen Francis OUTSKIRTS OF BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) - Islamic State faces final territorial defeat as the U.S.-backed Syrian force battling the jihadists said on Saturday it was closing in on the jihadists' last bastion near the Iraqi border, capping four years of efforts to roll back the group. While the fall of Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village on the bank of the Euphrates River, would mark a milestone in a global campaign against Islamic State (IS), they remain a threat, using guerrilla tactics and holding some desolate land further west. An array of enemies, both local and international, confronted IS after it declared a modern-day "caliphate" in 2014 across large swathes of territory it had seized in lightning offensives in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. Thousands of IS fighters, followers and civilians, who had retreated to Baghouz as the group was gradually driven out of those lands, have poured out of the tiny cluster of hamlets and farmlands in Deir al-Zor province over the last few weeks. Their evacuation held up the final assault until Friday evening when the SDF said it had advanced and would not stop until the jihadists were defeated. "We expect it to be over soon," Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), told Reuters shortly after sunrise. He said the SDF were advancing on two fronts using medium and heavy weaponry. IS responded with drones and rockets, and seven SDF fighters have been wounded so far, said commander Adnan Afrin. The SDF has previously estimated several hundred IS insurgents - believed mostly to be foreigners - to be still in Baghouz, and the U.S.-led international coalition has described them as the "most hardened" militants. The SDF's final advance was slowed for weeks by the jihadists' extensive use of tunnels and human shields. It has not ruled out the possibility that some militants have crept out, hidden among civilians. "COMPLICATED SITUATION" When reporters arrived at the village outskirts around midday, columns of smoke could be seen rising from inside but the scene appeared calm. Warplanes hovered in the sky, but no air strikes were observed. A spokesman for the coalition, which supports the Kurdish-led SDF, said it was too early to assess the battle's progress "as it is a complicated situation with many variables". The SDF commander-in-chief said on Thursday that his force would declare victory within a week. He was later contradicted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the SDF had retaken 100 percent of the territory once held by IS. Washington has about 2,000 troops in Syria, mainly to support the SDF in fighting IS. Trump announced in December he would withdraw all of them, but the White House partially reversed itself last month, saying some 400 troops would stay. Some 40,000 people bearing various nationalities have left the jihadists' diminishing territory in the last three months as the SDF sought to oust the militants from remaining pockets. The number of evacuees streaming out of Baghouz surpassed initial estimates of how many were inside. Afrin told Reuters on Thursday that many of the people leaving the enclave had been sheltering underground in caves and tunnels. An 27-year-old Indonesian widow who emerged on Friday said she would have liked to stay in IS territory but conceded that conditions had become untenable. "I have no money, I have no food for my baby, no medicine, nothing for my baby, so I must go out," she told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Issam Abdullah; Writing by Stephen Kalin and Tom Perry; Editing by Mark Heinrich) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Indian officials said they had no information other than that Masood Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. Lahore/New Delhi: India's most wanted terrorist and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is "alive", a Pakistani media report said on Sunday, quoting unnamed sources close to his family. "The media reports claiming that JeM leader is dead are false," Geo Urdu News reported. The report came amid speculation on social media that JeM founder has died. However, there was no official confirmation. Quoting unnamed sources close to the family of the JeM chief, the channel said Azhar is "alive", without elaborating on his health condition. There was no official word on Azhar's fate from the Pakistan government. "I don't know anything at this moment," Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told PTI, when asked about media reports claiming death of Azhar. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000. The 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base in 2016 and the 14 February Pulwama terror strike. Meanwhile, Intelligence agencies in New Delhi were trying to ascertain reports on the social media about the death of Azhar in Pakistan. The Indian officials said they had no information other than that Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. Jaish terror group's Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the Pulwama terror attack in which over 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The Indian government has claimed that it achieved a spectacular success by destroying the facility. In an interview to CNN, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in his country and is "very unwell", but said the government can act against him only if India presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. The US, the UK and France last week moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. The proposal was moved Wednesday by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will have 10 working days to consider the fresh proposal submitted by the three permanent members. By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali government troops shot dead three Islamist militants holed up in a building in central Mogadishu on Friday, police said, ending a day-long bomb and gun attack that killed at least 29 civilians. Islamist al Shabaab fighters launched the assault with a suicide car bomb outside the Maka Al-Mukarama hotel on Thursday evening, destroying other structures, igniting a huge fire and leaving people wounded in the rubble. The militants - who are fighting to overthrow the Western-backed government - fled to a neighbouring building and opened fire on special forces and other soldiers sent to flush through out throughout Friday By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali government troops shot dead three Islamist militants holed up in a building in central Mogadishu on Friday, police said, ending a day-long bomb and gun attack that killed at least 29 civilians. Islamist al Shabaab fighters launched the assault with a suicide car bomb outside the Maka Al-Mukarama hotel on Thursday evening, destroying other structures, igniting a huge fire and leaving people wounded in the rubble. The militants - who are fighting to overthrow the Western-backed government - fled to a neighbouring building and opened fire on special forces and other soldiers sent to flush through out throughout Friday. "The operation is over and the building is now controlled by the security forces. The three militants were shot dead, their bodies are inside the building," police officer Captain Osman Mohamed told Reuters late on Friday afternoon. It was the longest that the militants had held a position in Mogadishu since Somali troops backed by African Union peacekeepers forced them out of the city in 2011. "Our special operation in Mogadishu successfully concluded after almost 24 hours. It targeted a hotel frequented by the members of the apostate government. Dozens of them eliminated, more injured," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, told Reuters on Friday. He gave a different figure to police, saying: "Four of our Mujahideen were martyred, others managed to come back after the operation." The attack on the hotel came the same day that U.S. forces said they carried out an air strike that killed 26 militants in the Hiran area, north of the capital - part of an escalation of Washington's fight against the al Qaeda-linked group. Somalia's government had earlier said the gunmen took hostages, but there were no immediate details on their fate. "There are no civilian casualties in this building. But there may be dead civilians under the collapsed Hilco UK restaurant which is also nearby," Captain Mohamed said. DEATH TOLL MAY RISE Health officials said it was too early to estimate the full impact of the attack. "The death toll may rise and rise," said Abdikadir Admen, the director of the privately-run Amain ambulance service. Al Shabaab said it had repulsed three government raids on the building. Soldiers manned roadblocks around the site during the fighting and fired into the air to keep back relatives who shouted out the names of missing loved ones. "I have been running to and fro from the blast scene to hospitals since yesterday (Thursday) evening in search of my husband and brother ... I have just seen them in hospital. They are in a critical condition," mother-of-three Hallam Omar told Reuters. Somalia has been convulsed by lawlessness and violence since 1991, and a further layer of chaos was added in 2015 with the formation in the north of a splinter group of former al Shabaab insurgents who pledged allegiance to Islamic State. At least 25 people have been killed this week in clashes between the two militant groups, a military official from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland told Reuters. Al Shabaab has also carried out attacks in neighbouring countries contributing to the African Union gatekeeper force inside Somalia, including one on a hotel and office complex in Kenya in January that killed 21 people. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington has stepped up attacks against the group, and U.S. Africa Command has announced six air strikes in recent days that it said killed a total of 83 militants since Feb. 23. (writing by Katharine Houreld and Omar Mohammed; Editing by John Stonestreet, Andrew Heavens and Andrew Cawthorne) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The decision announced by the US and South Korea is an olive branch to North Korea. But it will likely raise worries about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the recently failed summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Seoul: South Korea and the US are eliminating their massive springtime military drills and replacing them with smaller exercises as part of efforts to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision announced by both countries Sunday is an olive branch to North Korea. But it will likely raise worries about how the allies will maintain their readiness in the event that military tensions erupt again in the wake of the recently failed summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The Pentagon said in a release the US and South Korean defence chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programs. Acting US Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo made clear that the alliance's decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. Seouls defense ministry released a similar statement. According to US officials, the new training will be done in smaller drills, tabletop exercises and simulations, and it will involve smaller units, such as battalions and companies rather than massive formations involving thousands of troops, as they had in the past. Officials said the Pentagon will focus on smaller exercises and mission essential tasks, which include the ability to integrate airstrikes and the use of other weapons systems, drones, surveillance assets, logistics, and communications. In November 2018, a month before he resigned as defence secretary, Jim Mattis disclosed that the US and South Korea would scale back and tone down the spring exercises. He said the aim was to avoid setting back diplomacy over North Koreas nuclear weapons. He described it as a reorganisation of the exercises, not an end to manoeuvres on the peninsula. Trump has long complained about the cost of military drills with South Korea. After his second summit with Kim ended without any agreement in Hanoi on Thursday, Trump complained about the cost of annual military drills. Its a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too, Trump told reporters. Following his first summit Kim in Singapore last June, Trump caught many in the US and South Korea by surprise by suspending the allies summertime military drills. He called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills largely computer-simulated war games very provocative and massively expensive. The US and South Korea also have since suspended a few other smaller joint drills. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has described them as a rehearsal for invasion and responded with its own costly military exercises and weapons tests, including firing a new intermediate-range missile over Japan last year. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. Income investors love the combination of income and growth that dividend stocks offer. The only thing better than a dividend stock with a healthy yield is a stock that combines strong dividends with attractive valuations. Sometimes, investors beat down a dividend stock so far that it just gets embarrassingly cheap. Below, I'll take a closer look at Bank of Nova Scotia ( BNS 1.72% ), Valero Energy ( VLO 1.73% ), and Ford Motor ( F 3.85% ) -- all of which have attractive dividend yields, low valuations, and the potential to restore shareholders' faith in their long-term business prospects. Look north U.S. investors often neglect Canadian banks, but the biggest financial players north of the border have a lot to offer. Bank of Nova Scotia (also known as Scotiabank) has a reputation for excellence, and with its current yield coming in at around 4.5%, dividends have played a key role in keeping Scotiabank's shareholders happy. Yet Scotiabank has faced some challenges lately, with its stock down 11% over the past year. Domestic banking performance has largely been to blame, as the bank has missed earnings expectations for three straight quarters despite seeing solid growth in its international banking operations. Rising expenses and higher loan losses have become somewhat problematic, and Scotiabank is seeing pressures that many of its Canadian peers aren't seeing -- a troubling sign for the bank. Nevertheless, Scotiabank has confidence in its future, and it's expressed that confidence through higher payouts. The bank made a 2.4% increase to its dividend in February, and despite a cooling housing market in Canada and the challenges of integrating large acquisitions to its wealth management division, Scotiabank appears primed to take advantage of recovering stock markets and concentrate on its best international opportunities. At an earnings multiple of just 11, moreover, Scotiabank's shares aren't out of line with what you'd pay for high-quality banks across North America. Check out the latest earnings call transcripts for Bank of Nova Scotia, Valero Energy, and Ford Motor. Energetic dividends Valero Energy also has a healthy dividend yield of 4.2%, but like Scotiabank, the refining giant's stock has been under pressure over the past year. Shares are down 9% since this time last year, with much of the decline coming in the last quarter of 2018. That's brought earnings multiples down considerably, into the 11 to 12 range recently. The thing to remember about Valero is that its exposure to energy is in some ways the reverse of what most companies in the space experience. Valero likes low oil prices as long as it can sell refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel at relatively healthy prices, because crude oil is the refinery company's input rather than output. Yet the steep plunge in markets for refined products outpaced oil's drop in late 2018, and that sent the stock tumbling. Even so, the refiner has continued to produce good results. In its most recent quarter, Valero saw operating income jump more than 50%, with strong gains in its refinery operations offsetting weakness in its ethanol business. Efforts to provide infrastructure to move cheap domestic crude to its refinery locations have paid off handsomely, and high utilization rates indicate that Valero's taking maximum advantage of current conditions. Refining is cyclical, but a high dividend and good prospects make Valero look like a bargain. Ford revs its engines Finally, Ford Motor has been high on the list of dividend payers for a long time. With a regular quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, the automaker's yield has climbed to nearly 7% -- yet the stock currently fetches just 10 times trailing earnings and less than seven times what Wall Street expects Ford to earn in 2019. The main problem for Ford is that its business has hit hard times. In 2018, operating profit for the automaker was down 28%, and revenue managed only a 2% gain. Ford shipped almost 10% fewer vehicles in 2018 than it did in 2017, and conditions were especially weak internationally, as the automaker suffered substantial losses in South America, Europe, and China. Efforts to innovate in areas like autonomous vehicles haven't yet paid dividends, and pension charges also weighed on profits. But Ford has prospects to bounce back. The company thinks that higher steel prices, a strong dollar, and other headwinds are likely to ease up in 2019, and that should help its international results. Investors have been waiting for a turnaround to take shape, but the odds look better that Ford will make it a reality in the near future. Put the odds in your favor Cheap dividend stocks aren't surefire winners, as there are always things that can happen to hurt a business further. Yet given their potential for success, Ford, Valero, and Scotiabank all look embarrassingly cheap right now -- and you can get paid a handsome dividend even as you wait to see share prices go back up. Tariffs have long weighed on shares of whiskey distiller Brown-Forman ( BF.A -0.28% ) ( BF.B -0.22% ), which exports more than half of its spirits to international markets, led by its best-selling Jack Daniel's whiskey. In its most recently-reported quarter, net sales were flat at $910 million due to tariff-related inventory reductions. That followed a big sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, when customers were racing to stock up ahead of the imposition of retaliatory tariffs by Europe. Concerns about further near-term tariff increases have eased. That has helped Brown-Forman's stock bounce about 10% off the lows it hit in January. Nevertheless, the damage may already be done for the distiller's fiscal third-quarter earnings, which will be released on Wednesday, March 6. Here are four things investors should keep an eye out for in the report. Check out the latest earnings call transcript for companies we cover. The tariff toll U.S. whiskey exports jumped 28% in the first half of 2018 compared to the year before, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, but fell 8% year over year for the July through November period. In all, some $763 million worth of U.S. spirits exports are currently subject to tariffs. Brown-Forman's then-incoming CEO Lawson Whiting warned in December that tariff-related pressures could hurt profits in the second half of fiscal 2019. The distiller has been "buying time" by not passing the tariffs' costs on to customers, in the hope that they would be short-lived. This will negatively impact gross margin in the short term. However, it's clear that Brown-Forman will eventually have to take pricing actions that could hurt sales. Europe is among its most important markets, and the EU imposed tariffs of 25% on whiskey imports back in June 2018. Domestic competition Although Brown-Forman sells most of its spirits overseas, the U.S. is the distiller's single largest market. In the first half of fiscal 2019, underlying net sales rose 3% year over year in the U.S. Because of the continued growth in popularity of whiskey -- and particularly premium and super-premium spirits -- the company's Woodford Reserve and Old Forrester brands enjoyed particular success. The former was the largest contributor to domestic sales growth during the first half of the year, delivering double-digit underlying net sales growth. Jack Daniel's remains a leader, but it is under more competitive pressure, especially from Japan's Suntory, which has been lowering the price on its Jim Beam whiskey brand to drive sales growth. Similarly, Diageo and Pernod Ricard are making substantial investments in their brands. The former is spending heavily on marketing its Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, even opening its first retail store, while the latter is spending some $174 million to upgrade production facilities in Ireland for its leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson. The earnings impact Brown-Forman cut its full-year earnings outlook after the first quarter, lowering its guidance to a range of $1.65 to $1.75 per share from its initial forecast of $1.75 to $1.85 per share, due to the tariffs, as well as foreign currency headwinds. It maintained that outlook after the second quarter. Keep an eye on whether the ongoing impact of tariffs in foreign markets reduces management's confidence for the rest of the fiscal year. Dividend should still be solid Brown-Forman has paid regular quarterly cash dividends for 73 consecutive years and has increased its dividend for 35 consecutive years. Although tariffs and competition are taking a toll on sales and margins, this shouldn't affect the dividend. Final thoughts Trade wars have few winners, and the collateral damage from waging such battles often impacts industries far removed from those initially targeted. The current strife is a perfect example. President Trump tried to make a point about steel and aluminum, but the EU retaliated against whiskey and motorcycles to have the greatest impact. Brown-Forman obviously isn't immune to the repercussions, and investors should watch to see how large the ripples are and whether they'll begin to diminish with time. Times have been tough for retail real estate investment trusts (REITs) lately. The normally reliable industry has been hit by twin concerns about the "retail apocalypse" and the rise of e-commerce, which has eroded traffic at malls and shopping centers, especially at downscale class B and C malls. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers (NYSE:SKT), one of the biggest outlet center operators in North America, has seen its stock fall 34% over the last three years amid concerns about rising vacancy rates and broader pressures in the industry. Even if brick-and-mortar retail proves to be more durable than some think, there's still the risk that Tanger will struggle to pass along rent hikes as landlords generally like to do. For income investors, Tanger remains appealing with a 6.6% dividend yield, and the company's occupancy remains high at 96.8% as of its fourth-quarter report. Tanger is also solidly profitable, but its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) -- the preferred metric in the REIT industry -- fell slightly last year, and the company faces a debt burden of $1.7 billion, which cost it $64.8 million in interest expense last year, eating up more than half of its operating income. Let's take a closer look at where Tanger stands today and whether or not the stock is a buy. Check out the latest earnings call transcript for Tanger. Tanger today Tanger owns 36 outlet centers across the country, mostly focused in the South and Northeast, and has eight other joint ventures around North America. Given the broader pressures on the retail and shopping mall industry, the company has just one new shopping center in development, in Nashville, Tennessee, where it has begun the early due diligence process. With only one new center planned, investors should expect slow growth over the coming years. In 2018, revenue increased just 1.3% as operating income fell, even excluding a $49.7 million impairment charge. Same-center tenant sales were up 1.9% last year, indicating some ability to pass along rent hikes, and average sales productivity was up from $380 to $385. However, AFFO was down from $245.3 million to $243.3 million, but rose from $2.46 to $2.48 per share due to fewer shares outstanding. Based on that figure, Tanger has a reasonable payout ratio of 57%, though the company may struggle to raise its dividend over the long term if it's unable to grow AFFO. Looking ahead, Tanger's guidance for 2019 was uninspiring, as the company sees occupancy falling to 94% to 94.5%, as it projected store closings equivalent to 150,000 to 200,000 square feet, and saw net operating income declining 2% to 2.75%. As a result, it sees funds from operations falling from $2.48 to $2.31-$2.37 this year and adjusted per share slipping from $1.03 to $0.90-$0.96. As a result of the weak outlook, investors pushed Tanger shares down 2% on the earnings report. Is Tanger a buy? In addition to Tanger's underwhelming guidance and slow development growth, there are other reasons to be wary of the company's future. Its two biggest tenants, Ascena Retail Group (the parent of apparel chains including Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant) and Gap Inc., have both announced store closures recently, and Ascena, which is struggling to generate a profit, is in the midst of a long-term store optimization plan. A number of Tanger's other retail tenants are also in the process of closing stores, or could be on the verge of doing so. Besides the threat from tenants closing stores, there's also the risk of recession, which many analysts think could happen within the next two years. Such a downturn could force many of Tanger's retail tenants to shutter stores or even go bankrupt. As an outlet center, which draws consumers with discounted merchandise, Tanger may be at an advantage over some of its landlord competitors, but that makes little difference to the retail tenants its business depends on. And with debt making up three-quarters of its assets, leverage and interest expenses remain risks as well. Tanger stock isn't about to collapse, as its 6.6% dividend yield should put a floor on the stock, and its model is less macroeconomically sensitive than the retailers it depends on, but its future prospects look modest at best. Even dividend investors should be able to find a better combination of yield and growth elsewhere. No matter how much you earn, you surely want to keep your tax burden as low as possible, and one good way to do that is to capitalize on the different deductions you're entitled to. Now as a reminder, when you claim a deduction on your tax return, what you're effectively doing is exempting a portion of your income from taxes. And while many key deductions did go away as part of the massive 2018 tax overhaul, one valuable one that still exists is the home office deduction. Are you eligible for a home office deduction? To claim a home office deduction, you must meet two criteria. First, you must have a dedicated space in your home that's used solely for business purposes. This means that if you're a graphic designer who sets up shop at the kitchen counter, that doesn't qualify, since your kitchen is used for purposes other than work. In addition, your home office must constitute your primary place of business. If you rent office space and use it for 30 hours a week, and only work from home 10 hours a week, you're not eligible. Here's another important requirement with regard to the home office deduction: You must be self-employed to claim it. It used to be that if you were a salaried employee who worked from home, you could claim your home office as part of the miscellaneous deduction provision that once existed under the tax code. That deduction, however, was eliminated in the 2018 tax overhaul, which means that if you're considered somebody else's employee, you're not allowed to take it. How to claim your home office deduction There are two methods you can employ for claiming a home office deduction. The first is the simplified method, which gives you $5 per square foot of office space you maintain, up to a maximum of 300 square feet, or $1,500. The second, and potentially more lucrative method, is the standard method, which lets you deduct expenses related to having a home office. There are two different types of expense you can claim: direct expenses and indirect expenses. Direct expenses include items necessary to maintain your home office and do your job, like printer ink and paper. Indirect expenses are those needed for your home in general, like heat, electricity, and water. Calculating your direct expenses is easy, because you just copy the amounts your receipts show and call it a day. For your indirect expenses, you'll need to total those numbers and claim a proportionate amount based on how much space your office takes up within your home. For example, if you rack up $20,000 in indirect home expenses during the year (keeping in mind that things like property taxes also count), and your office takes up 200 square feet within your 2,000-square-foot home, you can claim 10% of $20,000, or $2,000. In this example, you're better off using the standard method to claim your home office deduction than the simplified method. Don't get burned by the home office deduction Because the home office deduction is often abused by taxpayers, claiming it might increase your chances of an audit. Your best bet, therefore, is to be as truthful as possible when claiming your deduction, and only write off expenses you have proof of via receipts or paid bills. Furthermore, be careful when claiming direct expenses for your home office. If you earn $80,000 a year and buy a $8,000 office furniture set, that's technically a valid deduction, but the IRS might take note of the fact that you're spending 10% of your income on it. That said, don't be afraid to claim expenses that are valid. If you buy new computer equipment for $3,000 that's used for work, there's no reason not to write it off. Just don't be shocked if the IRS asks to see a copy of that receipt. In each issue of Franchise Update magazine, we profile franchise CEOs and presidents, asking each the same set of questions. Throughout the year, we'll be selecting one of those questions - and providing answers from the previous year's profiles. If you'd like to learn more about these franchise leaders and what they have to say on other topics, just click the link to read to their full profile. This week they tell how they transmit their culture throughout their organization. Brian Petranick, CEO and President, RiseMark Brands That has to start at the top. Culture must be understood, defined, and communicated. It needs to be a focus area every day. We talk about our culture all the time. It is infused in every aspect of our company. We have a whole session on our culture during discovery day and again during training. It's reinforced at staff meetings, talked about with potential new employees throughout the selection process, and one of the yardsticks we use when making tough decisions. In other words, we ask ourselves, Are we living our values and our culture? Read full profile here. Shannon Hudson, CEO and Co-Founder, 9Round Franchising This is another challenge I find myself facing for sure. I constantly wonder, "How do I make sure I connect with each and every employee?" We have created several things in the past six months to help with this, including regional trainings I personally teach at, and online training modules with tests included to help make all of our trainers what we like to call "Champion Trainers." Read full profile here. Jon Nobis, CEO, Two Men and a Truck First, I would say that it is not "my" culture to transmit. You see, I've never been on the trucks for a full summer in 100-degree heat doing the heavy lifting and making a customer's day. That space is reserved for our move heroes. However, I do know franchising, and what works in franchising is replicating and scaling what is successful. We have tremendous franchisees throughout our system who have created environments that front-line employees are passionate to be a part of. And part of my role is to set up an environment where those ideas are shared and implemented. Another big component is recognition, and one of the many different things we do is monthly live broadcasts to our teams where we get to recognize those front-line employees. Read full profile here. Larry Oberly, CEO and President, SpeedPro Imaging Our home team is located Centennial, Colorado. There are only 16 of us. Our front line is our entrepreneurial studio owners and their team members. Most of what I did in my first months was travel to as many of our markets and locations as possible. I'm going to continue to learn the business, the challenges, and the opportunities as I continue to travel to our studios. I'm absorbing the culture and learning what works and what needs to be improved for the future. I'm doing, on average, one webinar every three weeks for our regional developers and our studio owners. These webinars are geared toward sharing ideas and providing education in the attempt to reach common understandings. Read full profile here. Tammy Whitworth, Chair and CEO, Window World I go back to that family atmosphere. When I'm in the office my door is always open. I don't want anyone to feel tense or guarded around me. Everyone in the corporate office knows they can ask questions and share their concerns with me. That mentality spreads throughout the entire system and is shared with our store owners and their teams. Furthermore, we make an effort to arrange trips outside of work for our entire staff. It is an excellent opportunity for store owners, office staff, and corporate employees to get to know one another better, and it helps break down the barriers that can spring up between the corporate office and our stores. Read full profile here. Rob Price, CEO and President, School of Rock Our culture does not come from our office. It begins in our lessons, rehearsal rooms, and performances. Our franchisees and school teams are incredibly passionate, so I do not find culture transmission a challenge. Rather, we have to work hard to systematize and automate our business to allow all of us to focus more time on building our culture, and less time on minutiae and bureaucracy. Read full profile here. Nicole Ossenfort, CEO and President, Liberty Tax Liberty Tax has always had a family feel, and nothing can change that. The tone is set at the top. We treat each other with respect. We acknowledge each other in the hallways. Our employees know that we care about them and that we trust them to do great work. Read full profile here. The company sees non-metro and semi-rural markets as a major growth driver going ahead. While in metros, it expects a rise in the demand for premium range of water dispensing products. (Photo: Twitter) New Delhi: Shapoorji Pallonji Group firm Eureka Forbes, a leader in electric water purification segment, is looking to further consolidate its position on account of focus on non-metro and semi-rural markets, a top company official has said. The company sees non-metro and semi-rural markets as a major growth driver going ahead. While in metros, it expects a rise in the demand for premium range of water dispensing products. "We would like to consolidate our position in the segment and grow the market," Eureka Forbes Chief Transformation Officer Shashank Sinha told PTI. Sinha claimed Eureka Forbes held nearly 60 per cent share of the entire electric water purifier market that is pegged at around Rs 4,500 crore. "We are closer to 60 per cent market share in the electric water purification market," he said, adding that the market penetration of water purifier is less in the country and would expand in coming years as the awareness about benefits of pure drinking water is increasing. The domestic water purifier market will witness consolidation in coming years at the bottom of the pyramid, where lots of unorganised players are operating, according to Sinha. Eureka Forbes sells water purifiers with brand names like Dr Aquaguard, Aquaguard AquaSure and AquaSoft. The company, which had a gross group turnover of Rs 3,000 crore in 2017-18 (April-March), gets over half of its revenue from the water purifier segment. The remaining revenue comes from other verticals such as vacuum cleaner, air purifier, security solutions and other segments. It has manufacturing units at three locations -- Bengaluru, Dehradun and Baddi -- with a manufacturing capacity of around 12 to 15 lakh units per annum. The company sells its range of water purifiers in around 40 countries with its Swiss arm Lux International. As per market reports, the water purifier segment in India is expected to grow at 11.5 per cent CAGR during 2018-2025. Kent RO, Livpure, Tata Swach and HUL are among the other top brands in the segment besides Eureka Forbes. According to the actress Kriti, the reason behind their chemistry was actually flirting, albeit the harmless and the platonic kind. Usually, when two actors work together in a romantic comedy set-up, they become the subject of speculation by people who are aching for a real-life romance to transpire. So when Luka Chuppi co-stars Kriti Sanon and Kartik Aaryan successfully depicted impeccable chemistry between their characters, it gave enough food for gossipmongers to get hooked on. According to the actress Kriti, the reason behind their chemistry was actually flirting, albeit the harmless and the platonic kind. Talking about it, she says, Until we have fun and share positive vibes with our co-actor, the result (chemistry) will not be shown positively. Thus, having fun, sharing good vibes, and also enjoying on the set while sharing the same screen space is important. If you feel its flirting, then fine, I say there is no harm in healthy flirting. Kartik too was quick to agree with her, saying, Healthy flirting is not bad. She further adds that it keeps the momentum alive and makes shooting for long hours stress-free, then there is not harm. When we shoot for a particular film, sometimes it takes a few days, but at times, it also takes more than 100 days to complete a film. We should not get the feeling that we felt while grudgingly going to school. Similarly, until we feel happy to go to that set on a daily basis, we will not be able to give our best to the scenes, she elucidates before signing off. Indian Officials, Red Cross Greet Freed Pilot At Border Crossing By RFE/RL March 01, 2019 Indian officials, accompanied at a border crossing by representatives of the Red Cross, greeted a pilot who had been freed minutes earlier by Pakistan. "The nation is proud of your exemplary courage," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter on March 1 after Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman walked across the Wagah crossing point into Indian territory. The handover took several hours, delayed because of procedures including a quick check of his medical condition before he was turned over to Indian officials. An official told reporters his first words were "it is good to be back in my country." Varthaman, sporting a black eye, was scheduled to receive another, more-detailed medical exam before taking a flight from nearby Amritsar to New Delhi for a debriefing about his captivity. "He will be taken for a detailed medical checkup," said Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor. "The officer has had to eject from a plane which would have put his body under immense strain," he added, reading from a statement. Well-wishers had gathered along the road on the Indian side of the border, but with the delay, most had left when Varthaman finally crossed over around 9 p.m. The release of Varthaman, whose warplane was shot down in the disputed region of Kashmir, was described as a "peace gesture" by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. "While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Pakistan's military said its air force shot down two India Air Force jets in its airspace and captured a pilot on the ground in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on February 27. India confirmed the loss of one of its MiG-21s and the capture of its pilot. It said it also foiled an attack by Pakistan warplanes over Kashmir and shot down one Pakistani plane. Islamabad denies any of its aircraft were shot down. During his captivity, Varthaman was shown on Pakistani TV in his green flight suit saying he was rescued by two Pakistani military personnel after he ejected and found himself surrounded by a group of angry residents in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. The aerial confrontation came after India on February 26 struck what it said was a militant camp in northeastern Pakistan in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed at least 41 Indian troops in the India-controlled part of Kashmir. A Pakistan-based group, the Jaish-e Muhammad (JeM), claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack -- the deadliest to take place during a three-decade insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan of having a "direct hand" in the attack and providing sanctuary to the militants. Islamabad denies involvement. India's air strikes in Pakistani territory on February 26 were the first since the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and NDTV Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-greets-pilot- released-by-pakistan/29798785.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen targets southern S. Arabia with missiles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 2, IRNA -- Yemen targeted positions of Saudi Arabia's army in Najran, south of the country with missile and artillery. According to Yemeni media 'Al-Masirah', Yemeni forces fired three Zelzal-1 missiles at Saudi Arabia's positions in west of Al-Sadis region, killing and injuring a number of them. In the meantime, Yemeni forces targeted military vehicle in Al-Jasher desert, killing a number of Saudi agents. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing back the government of Mansour Hadi back to power. Some 20,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression. The assaults of the Saudi-led coalition forces have failed to stop the Yemenis from resisting the aggression. 8072**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian, Pakistani Forces Continue Deadly Artillery Fire In Kashmir By RFE/RL March 02, 2019 Indian and Pakistani forces continued their fierce artillery barrages in the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir, with both sides accusing the other of initiating the deadly shelling. Pakistan's military said two of its soldiers were killed on March 2 in an exchange of fire with Indian forces near the Line of Control that separates the disputed region between the rivals. Earlier, Indian police on March 2 said a mother and two children were killed overnight after a shell fired by Pakistani soldiers hit a home near the Line of Control (Loc) that divides the bitter nuclear rivals in the Muslim-majority Kashmir region. The family members a 24-year-old woman, her 5-year-old son, and 9-month-old daughter -- were killed in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, said a senior police official. The Indian military said its forces returned the fire. A police official told AFP that Indian troops also surrounded a house in Handwara district of Kashmir after believing they had killed two militants inside. However, the official said, one of the insurgents survived and when security forces went in to retrieve the bodies, the man opened fire, killing four soldiers before he was shot dead. The official said a civilian was killed in later protests over the clash. Meanwhile, Umar Azam, a Pakistani government official, on March 2 said Indian troops with heavy weapons "indiscriminately targeted border villagers" along the LoC, killing a boy and wounding three others. He added that Pakistani troops were "befittingly" responding to the Indian shelling. The exchange of artillery fire came despite some signs of an easing of the latest crisis between the two bitter rivals. On March 1, Pakistan released a captured Indian pilot in what its prime minister said was a "peace gesture." Pakistan's military said its air force shot down two India Air Force jets in its airspace and captured a pilot on the ground in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on February 27. India confirmed the loss of one of its MiG-21s and the capture of its pilot. It said it also foiled an attack by Pakistan warplanes over Kashmir and shot down one Pakistani plane. Islamabad denies any of its aircraft were shot down. The aerial confrontation came after India on February 26 struck what it said was a militant camp in northeastern Pakistan in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed at least 41 Indian troops in the India-controlled part of Kashmir. Also, on March 2, India handed over the body of a Pakistani prisoner who was beaten to death by inmates at an Indian jail on February 20. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qurehsi accused India of failing "to protect the Pakistani prisoner." Shakir Ullah was allegedly killed in retaliation for a February 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers. Pakistan has formally lodged a complaint with the Indian government. It was unclear on what charges Shakir Ullah had been held at the jail. Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both sides claim all of the divided territory. With reporting by AP, AFP, ANI, and Times Now Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-pakistan -artillery-fire-deaths-kashmi r/29799313.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Released Indian Pilot Says He Suffered 'Mental Harassment' in Pakistan - Report Sputnik News 21:27 02.03.2019 The Indian pilot was released by Pakistani authorities as "a peace gesture" several days after he was captured amid heightened tensions between the two states. Prior to his release, Pakistan published a video where the pilot praised the professionalism of the Pakistani military. It was perceived in India as heavily "edited" and "scripted". Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was recently released from Pakistani custody after his MiG-21 was downed over Pakistan, told the Indian Air Force that although he had not been subjected to physical violence during his captivity, he had still suffered "a lot of mental harassment", the news agency ANI reported, citing an anonymous source. Varthaman spent around 58 hours in custody prior to his release on 1 March, when he was returned to his homeland. Ahead of the pilot's return, Pakistan released a video where Varthaman appeared to praise the Pakistani military's professionalism. The video provoked outrage among some social media users and journalists in India, who claimed that the video was "scripted" and heavily edited, thereby alleging that Islamabad was trying to hide what the pilot really intended to say. Varthaman's MiG-21 was downed as a result of a dogfight with Pakistani Air Force jets along with another Indian aircraft. The Indian Air Force reported that a Pakistani F-16 was also downed, but Islamabad denies losing a plane. The downing of the Indian planes follows reports of an air raid against the positions of the Pakistani-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The latter carried out an attack on a convoy with Indian security forces on 14 February 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 40 paramilitary servicemen. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The EDs Special Public Prosecutors D.P. Singh told the court that Vadra has not cooperating in the matter although he has joined the investigation. Robert Vadra leaves after appearing before the ED for questioning in a money-laundering case in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI/File) New Delhi: Robert Vadras interim bail was Saturday extended till March 19 in a money laundering case by a Delhi court, which asked him to join the probe whenever asked to after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that he was not cooperating in the matter and it needed to question him further. Special judge Arvind Kumar granted the relief to Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and said the interim orders of protection from arrest will continue till the next date of hearing. The court also extended the protection from arrest granted to his close aide and co-accused in the case, Manoj Arora, till the next date of hearing i.E. March 19 and directed him to join investigation. The EDs Special Public Prosecutors D.P. Singh told the court that Vadra has not cooperating in the matter although he has joined the investigation. The agency submitted that further interrogation of the accused was needed and sought 15-16 days time so that the entire questioning could be completed. Senior advocate K.T.S. Tulsi, appearing for the businessman, however, denied the charge and said Vadra has already joined the investigation and cooperated during investigation. Algerian President Bouteflika in Critical Condition in Geneva Hospital - Reports Sputnik News 20:43 02.03.2019 DAMASCUS (Sputnik) - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who announced that he would seek a fifth term, sparking mass protests, is currently staying in a hospital in Geneva, and doctors cannot allow him to continue working, since he is in critical condition, Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed medical source. The broadcaster specified that 82-year-old Bouteflika, who has been ruling Algeria since 1999, was taken to the Geneva University Hospitals instead of the hospital where he regularly undergoes medical examination. Security has been reportedly strengthened on the hospital floor on which Bouteflika's ward is located. "Bouteflika is in an intensive care unit, no one is allowed to visit him Bouteflika is in critical condition, he is nearly unconscious. Treating doctors cannot give him a license authorizing him to continue working," the source said, as quoted by Al Mayadeen. The Geneva University Hospitals declined to confirm to Sputnik that Bouteflika was undergoing treatment there. "We can neither confirm nor deny this information," the press service of the hospital said. The Algerian presidential election is scheduled for April 18. The opposition forces have not agreed upon a common candidate so far. On Friday, thousands of people across Algeria took to the streets to protest against Bouteflika's nomination, with the protests resulting in clashes and multiple detentions and injuries. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and has since then been wheelchair-bound, rarely making public appearances. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colombian Border to Be Closed as Long as Threat Remains - Venezuelan Minister Sputnik News 08:47 02.03.2019(updated 08:52 02.03.2019) CARACAS (Sputnik) The Venezuelan authorities will not open crossings on the country's border with Colombia as long as there is a risk of aggression toward Venezuela from its neighbour, Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's minister of Communication and Information, has told Sputnik. "We will continue keeping the border closed as long as there are intentions to cross into Venezuela from Colombia", Rodriguez said. The minister called to respect Venezuela's border and urged Ivan Duque, the president of Colombia, to "stop any aggressive attempts against Venezuela, stop supporting violent or aggressive groups that are currently [operating] near the border". The three bridges, connecting Venezuela and Colombia, a long-time ally of the United States in Latin America, were closed by Caracas on 23 February. On the same day, the Venezuelan opposition, supported by Washington, tried to force US-sponsored aid into Venezuela through its borders with Colombia and Brazil, both of which reportedly back the opposition as well. The failed attempt sparked clashes between Venezuelan National Guard officers, who prevented trucks from crossing the country's border without permission, and pro-aid protesters. Colombia has also subsequently announced the partial closure of its border with Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denounced the unauthorised aid delivery as part of Washington's attempts to intervene in Venezuela and oust him from power, saying the opposition and Colombia had gathered gangs of bandits at the border to attack Venezuela. The country is currently in the midst of a political crisis as on 23 January, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president". Maduro, who was sworn in for a second presidential term on 10 January after winning a May 2018 election that part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup orchestrated by Washington. The United States immediately recognised Guaido, after which some 50 other countries, including Colombia, followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have also refused to recognise Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and promoting a crisis settlement via dialogue. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deadly Pakistan-India Border Skirmishes Continue in Kashmir By Ayaz Gul March 02, 2019 Pakistan confirmed Saturday that two of its soldiers have been killed in ongoing military skirmishes with India across the disputed Kashmir border, known as the Line of Control (LoC). This comes a day after Pakistan, in a "gesture of peace," returned an Indian pilot who was captured alive when his plane was shot down. The overture does not seem to have affected the situation in Kashmir, which continues to be the scene of relentless heavy mortar and artillery shelling between Pakistani and Indian militaries. The army's media wing said the fatalities occurred in the Nakiyal sector on the LoC, which separates the Pakistani and Indian portions of the divided Himalayan region. Sources in the area say the soldiers were killed in the early hours of Saturday morning. Also Saturday, India repatriated the body of a Pakistani prisoner who was killed by angry inmates in an Indian jail following a February 14 suicide bombing in Pulwama. A Pakistan foreign ministry statement issued after receiving the body of Shakir Ullah said he was killed in the Indian jail in Jaipur. It reiterated Islamabad's demand that New Delhi urgently share findings of the inquiry and post-mortem report and that the culprits be taken to task. Within the past two days at least six Pakistani civilians have died in shelling from India, the statement noted. It went on to claim there were reports of troop casualties and damage to outposts on the Indian side "due to an effective response by the Pakistan Army." It was not possible to independently verify the assertions, nor was there any reaction from Indian military officials. Indian authorities said heavy mortar and artillery shelling from Pakistani forces Friday night killed a woman and two children, raising the overall civilian death toll to four. They also confirmed two Indian soldiers were injured. Indian media reported that all education institutions within a five-kilometer radius of the LoC remain closed Saturday for a fifth consecutive day. Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan have escalated since Tuesday when Indian aircraft launched a cross-border airstrike at what New Delhi alleges are terrorist camps run by a militant outfit blamed for the suicide car bombing in Kashmir. On Wednesday, Pakistani forces retaliated and said they shot down two Indian jet planes for violating the Kashmir LoC, pushing the two countries to the brink of another war. The tensions were only escalated after Pakistan captured the Indian pilot. The Pakistani government condemned the Indian cross-border airstrike as a violation of international laws. It strongly rejected as baseless the claims the so-called strikes hit "terrorist camps" and caused casualties or material damage. But the threat level remains dangerous, with Pakistani ground and air forces on high alert, said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday. Authorities have partially opened Pakistani airspace for commercial flights after several days of closure. The February 14 blast in India's Kashmir's Pulwama district targeted a military convoy and killed 40 security personnel in the deadliest-ever attack in the region. Islamabad denied involvement and demanded India share "actionable evidence" to allow authorities to bring to justice any Pakistani who was linked to the violence. Pakistan confirmed on Thursday it received a dossier from India containing "evidence" about the Pulwama bombing. Officials said they are examining the dossier and promised to take action if it contained enough evidence. Islamabad maintains that the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the militant group New Delhi has blamed for plotting the Kashmir attack, is a proscribed organization in Pakistan. The founding leader of the group, Maulana Masood Azhar, lives freely in Pakistan and authorities say they would need solid evidence acceptable to Pakistani courts to prosecute Azhar if he has played any role in the violence. Pakistan and India have fought three wars, two over Kashmir. They have both armed their militaries with nuclear weapons since their last war 50 years ago, raising fears another conflict could escalate into a nuclear exchange. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Protests Grow in Algeria as Aging Leader Eyes 5th Term By Lisa Bryant March 02, 2019 Algeria is facing its biggest demonstrations in years, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to protest another re-election bid by ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. For the moment, Boutelika is expected to formally present his candidacy by Sunday's deadline. He also announced he had selected Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalane to replace former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal as his campaign chief for the upcoming presidential poll, according to a statement published by state press agency APS on Saturday. Algeria will hold its presidential election on April 18. The protests have been largely peaceful, but on Friday there were reports of violence that left at least one person dead. Citing health officials, the state-run Algerian Press Service reported Saturday that 183 people were wounded. Several dozen protesters were arrested. Other media described witness accounts of police hitting demonstrators with batons and lobbing tear gas at them. Also Saturday, Bouteflika announced he had selected Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalane to replace former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal as his campaign chief for the upcoming presidential poll, according to a statement published by state press agency APS on Saturday. Algeria will hold its presidential election on April 18. The anti-government protests that erupted in several cities and towns after Friday prayers are the biggest in years. Protesters oppose Bouteflika running for a fifth term in office, but there is also anger at the country's high joblessness and alleged government corruption. Bouteflika turned 82 on Saturday, and is reportedly undergoing medical tests in Geneva. Rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, he is paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Sorbonne University North Africa expert Rhadija Mohsen-Finan says Algerians feel both humiliated and infantilized by being expected to vote for Bouteflika once again regardless of the true state of his health. The political structure is aging, she said, noting the president has been part of Algeria's power system since its independence from France in 1962. Since taking office in 1999, Bouteflika is credited for restoring peace in Algeria following a brutal civil war that killed upwards of 100,000 people. The so-called Arab Spring that began in neighboring Tunisia in 2011, and swept across the region, left little mark on Algeria. Oil dollars helped the government maintain stability and few Algerians wanted to revisit their violent past. This past week, Algeria's prime minister recalled the chaos that followed the Arab Spring uprising in Syria. Oil prices have plummeted since 2011, however, and Algeria's economy is struggling. Today, nearly one-third of Algerians under 30 are jobless and the country's largely young population has little memory of the civil war. Analyst Mohsen-Finan, who co-authored a new book on dissent in North Africa, says the country's ruling elite is divided on a way forward, while demonstrations driven by social media are unified in opposing Bouteflika's re-election bid. She says Algeria's regime might still present an alternative candidate to the president. The big question is whether the public will accept it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan's President Hands Party Leadership to Deputy By VOA News March 02, 2019 Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has stepped down from his position as chairman of the ruling party. The National Congress Party made the announcement late Thursday, following weeks of protests against Bashir's rule. The president transferred his party leadership role to NCP deputy chairman Ahmed Harun, until the party's next general convention. A NCP party statement said a new president would be chosen at the next general convention. A date for the convention, however, has not been set. The NCP enjoys a sweeping majority in parliament. The party's chief becomes its candidate for the presidential elections, according to the party's charter. Harun's deputy chairmanship appointment happened in recent days. Like Bashir, Harun is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region. Bashir recently declared a state of emergency for Sudan, following the wave of protests. The president also recently established emergency courts to deal with any violations during the state of emergency. On Thursday, the emergency courts in Khartoum sentenced eight protesters to prison, with sentences ranging from five years to six months. The protests initially erupted over rising prices and shortages, but quickly transformed into a call for Bashir to step down from the presidency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM Lodges Protest Over Huawei CFO Extradition to US, Slams Canada Sputnik News 05:30 02.03.2019(updated 08:52 02.03.2019) BEIJING/MOSCOW (Sputnik)- The Canadian Department of Justice has said that Ottawa had decided to grant authorisation to proceed with the extradition process in Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's case. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that Beijing expressed opposition to Canada's decision on Meng Wanzhou extradition to the United States. "The Chinese side has expressed its extreme discontent and decisive protest to the Canadian side due to its persistent promotion of the so-called judicial procedures on the extradition of Ms Meng Wanzhou. Beijing has already lodged stern representations [with Ottawa]", the ministry's spokesman, Lu Kang, said in a statement. China's high-tech giant Huawei said a statement, issued by its lawyers on 2 March, that Canada's decision to initiate the extradition of the company's Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, to the United States was disappointing. "The allegations of the US side are politically-motivated. The US president [Donald Trump] has repeatedly said that if the case of Ms Meng Wanzhou helps reach a [trade] deal between the United States and China, he will intervene in this case. Despite that, the Canadian Justice Department still decided to issue the relevant order. We are very disappointed by these actions", the company said in a statement. The telecoms giant noted that Meng's actions, considered as offences by the United States, were not offensive under the Canadian law. Thus, Canada's authorisation of extradition procedures violates the dual criminality principle the main requirement for extradition, under which a person can be handed over for trial by one state to another if similar laws, which have been violated by the suspect, exist in both countries, according to Huawei. "Ms Meng Wanzhou did nothing illegal. The United States abused judicial procedures by initiating criminal procedures and asking for her extradition", the company noted. The British Columbia Supreme Court has scheduled an appearance date for 6 March to confirm the extradition authorisation and to set the date for the extradition hearing. Meng, the daughter of the founder of Chinese telecoms giant, was arrested in Vancouver on 1 December 2018 at the United States' request, reportedly for failing to comply with US sanctions against Iran. The arrest was decried by Beijing, which demanded that Canadian authorities immediately release the Chinese national. Chinese-Canadian relations were further strained following the detention of two Canadian citizens, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, in China shortly after Meng's arrest. While the detentions have been widely regarded as Beijing's retaliation for the arrest of the Huawei executive, Chinese authorities have denied the allegations, insisting that the two men posed a threat to national security. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China calls on all parties concerned to play active role in solving Korean Peninsula issue People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:19, March 02, 2019 BEIJING, March 1 -- China called on all parties concerned to take a constructive attitude and play an active role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue together, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Friday. In responding to a question about the fact that no agreement was reached during the second summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam, between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States, Lu Kang, the spokesperson, said at a daily news briefing that it is a positive sign that both sides showed their willingness to maintain contact and continue dialogue. It represents the general trend as well as the wide aspiration and consensus of the international community to realize the denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Lu said. "Thanks to concerted efforts of all parties concerned, seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue has been recognized as a general direction, which is to realize the denuclearization and establish a peace mechanism on the peninsula," Lu noted. "We hope the DPRK and the United States will continue talks, meet each other halfway, accommodate each other's legitimate concerns on the basis of mutual respect and advance the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue." China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in the process, the spokesperson stressed. On early Friday morning, DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told a news conference in Hanoi that his country only asked for a partial lifting of sanctions that may impede the livelihood of its people at the meeting with the United States, not what the U.S. side said the DPRK asked for -- lifting sanctions against Pyongyang "in their entirety." In commenting on that, Lu said although the two countries had contradictions on the issue, both of them agreed the lifting of sanctions represented an important part of realizing the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. China has always proposed that the Security Council of the United Nations needs to consider modifying sanctions based on the positive development of the Korean Peninsula situation, Lu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Officials Believe Sanctions Lead to Boost in DPRK's Cyberattacks - Reports Sputnik News 07:43 02.03.2019 MOSCOW (Sputnik) North Korea's lack of funds, caused by international US-led sanctions, has prompted the increase in the number of cyberattacks by the country's hackers on financial institutions and businesses in the United States and across the world, the CNN broadcaster reported, citing US officials. They told the outlet that the failure of the recent US-North Korean summit, which finished without any agreement or declaration partially due to Pyongyang's demand to lift the restrictions, might result in a surge in cyberattacks. "The North Koreans have quickly become the world's most advanced and persistent digital bank robbers It's clear that global economic penalties are working and have forced the North Koreans to turn to alternative approaches to create revenue," Anthony Ferrante, a former FBI and White House cybersecurity official, who currently works as a head of cybersecurity at the FTI Consulting company, told CNN. John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security at the US Justice Department, told the broadcaster that cyber bank theft formed a major part of North Korean hackers' activities in cyberspace. "They need hard currency. That's a good way to get it, and then if you're going to choose among the banks you're not going to start with the largest, most sophisticated bank with the most sophisticated cyber defenses, you're going to look around and see maybe who you think might be more vulnerable," Demers explained. North Korea has been subject to international economic and diplomatic sanctions for years due to its nuclear and weapons tests, held in violations of UN resolutions. The topic of sanctions has been addressed at the second summit on denuclearization between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, held on Wednesday and Thursday in Hanoi, Vietnam. After the talks, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said his country had asked for partial US sanctions relief, which he called a "realistic" offer. Trump, in his turn, has said that North Korean officials have asked for a complete removal of sanctions, adding that he is not ready for this unless a "real" program for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is agreed upon. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kim Proposed New US-DPRK Summit Following Meeting With Trump in Hanoi - Reports Sputnik News 03:37 02.03.2019 MOSCOW (Sputnik) North Korea's official news agency KCNA said in its report about the recent summit between the country's leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump that Kim had expressed readiness for the next meeting with the US president. The agency noted that Kim had also expressed his gratitude to Trump for the US president's efforts during their successful talks and for the long journey he had made to Vietnam's capital Hanoi, where the summit had been held. The outlet noted that the two leaders' appreciation of their talks, both in the one-on-one and extended formats, and emphasized that significant progress had been made in the implementation of their commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, expressed at their first summit in Singapore last June. Moreover, the material noted the constructive discussions held by the two leaders and the opening of a new era in US-North Korean relations. Notably, the article made a mention of the existing confrontation between the United States and North Korea due to their decades-long hostility. However, it noted that Kim and Trump had appreciated the summit in Hanoi as an opportunity to deepen their mutual trust and had agreed to maintain dialogue on denuclearization. The summit between Trump and Kim was held in Hanoi on Wednesday and Thursday. The meeting finished abruptly several hours before schedule without any agreement or declaration. After the talks, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said his country had asked for partial US sanctions relief, which he called a "realistic" offer. Trump, in his turn, told reporters he had to walk away after Kim asked for a full sanctions removal upfront. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Experts: 'Experience Matters' in Negotiating With North Korea By Christy Lee March 02, 2019 The American team's lack of experience in negotiating with North Koreans, as well as a lack of preparation, may have contributed to the collapse of this week's Hanoi summit between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, who favors top-down diplomacy, according to experts. The two-day summit that began Wednesday ended when Trump walked out on Thursday without a denuclearization deal or a declaration of peace to end the Korean War, a move met with approval in Washington, even though the summit began with hope of concrete agreements on denuclearization. "Sometimes, you have to walk, and this was just one of those times," Trump said at a press conference Thursday. The talks broke down because, according to Trump, North Korea demanded all sanctions imposed on the country be lifted in exchange for its offer to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear facility. Later, at a separate press briefing in Hanoi, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said North Korea had asked for partial sanctions relief in exchange for continuing to halt its nuclear and missile testing. The Hanoi summit was the leaders' second, taking place eight months after their first summit in Singapore last June, which produced a widely criticized vague agreement. 'Correct decision' Experts agree that Trump did the right thing. "I think sometimes the best deals are the ones you walk away from," said Christopher Hill, a chief negotiator with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration. Joseph DeTrani, a former special envoy for nuclear talks with North Korea, said, "The president made the correct decision." Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council said, "Trump deserves credit for that moment of realism." But according to experts, the summit collapsed in part because Trump's top-down style left little room for U.S. negotiators to reach agreements during working-level meetings with their North Korean counterparts who have much more experience in denuclearization talks. Sung-yoon Lee, a professor of Korean studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, emphasized that North Korea's "chief full-time America-handlers" average three decades of on-the-job experience, while the current U.S. negotiators have logged about 2 years of dealing with North Korea. "Who has the advantage?" Lee asked. Many of the State Department's most experienced North Korea experts have retired recently from government. The final agreement on denuclearization was left for the two leaders, who failed because "both Trump and Kim overestimated their respective ability to take the other side into a deal they wanted," Manning said. 'Top-down approach to negotiating' "This was the risk you take when you do a top-down approach to negotiating," said Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council's senior director for East Asia affairs during the George W. Bush administration. "In other words, clearly, an agreement hadn't been made before the men got to Hanoi." Wilder said Kim misjudged Trump and "overplayed his hand" and "overreached in the negotiations," thinking that he could "get something big for putting very little on the table," which was based on his previous experience in dealing with Trump, who was "quite easy on the North Korean leader and did not demand a great deal of him" at the first summit. "The failure of the Hanoi summit shows the downside of top-down diplomacy," Manning said. "I would have insisted on having the basic framework and some minimal nuclear-for-benefit trade-off agreed to before I agreed to a summit." Hill said, "I think it kind of speaks to some of the preparation, which I thought was inadequate." He added, "There needs to be a clearer understanding about [reaching agreements prior to talks] before they ask the president, before the president gets involved." Wilder said U.S. negotiators probably "knew perfectly well what North Korea's position was," but think Trump felt his chemistry with Kim would enable him to strike a deal that perhaps he thought Special Representative for North Korea Steve Biegun and lower-level North Korean negotiators "wouldn't have [had] the latitude" to strike. "I think [the Trump administration] decided to somewhat gamble, to roll the dice to see what they could get," Wilder said. Manning, of the Atlantic Council, thinks Biegun tried to make an agreement before the summit, but that the North Korean side probably refused because Kim wanted to deal directly with Trump at the summit. "Steve Biegun did make a major effort to learn from past Korea diplomacy, meeting with dozens of those previously involved in the diplomacy, and tried to build on the lessons," Manning said. "But North Korea would not negotiate a minimal nuclear deal at that level because they thought Trump was a soft target." Hill said, "To have it just fall apart" signifies that the diplomacy was not quite ready "to be brought out of the diplomatic oven, if you will." 'Experience matters' In dealing with North Korea, Manning said, "Experience matters." Wilder said, "On the North Korean side, you have people very, very, very expert in negotiating with the United States." He continued, "They've spent their entire career doing this, whereas on the American side, they're relatively less steeped in all of this." According to Korean studies professor Lee, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has two years of dealing with North Korea, and Biegun, has half a year and National Security Adviser John Bolton had five years of dealing with North Korea, including time in the George W. Bush administration. Former South Carolina Congressman Mick Mulvaney, Trump's current acting White House chief of staff and director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, has little foreign experience. On the North Korean side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri has 35 years of dealing with the U.S., while Kim Yong Chol, head negotiator on nuclear talks, has dealt with the U.S. for 30 years. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui has 25 years of experience with the U.S. And Kim Kye Gwan, a leading negotiator during the Six-Party talks who is also believed to be working behind the scenes advising current negotiators, has 30 years of experience with the U.S. Going forward, Wilder thinks Trump "is going to be "a little more wary" of having another summit with Kim "without some understanding beforehand." He added, "So I would guess that he is now going to give Mr. Pompeo and Steve Biegun more authority to negotiate." As for North Korea, Lee thinks "Kim was taken aback" and is likely to "regroup and dangle another sweet carrot to Trump." Lee said Trump will most likely "take the bait and settle for only a partial freeze of Kim's vast nuclear and missile programs while bomb-making goes on in other undisclosed locations." "For Kim, two steps forward and one step back is still progress," Lee said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Centre's support Bihar government will build toilets for all and houses in every corner of Bihar, said CM Nitish Kumar. The New India will not keep quiet after the martyrdom of our brave jawans. Our enemies will have to pay the ultimate price of their every misdeed, said PM Modi. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Sankalp rally at Patnas Gandhi Maidan along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The two shared the dias after a decade. Last time they were seen together in a political rally in Ludhiana in 2009. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar addressed the Sankalp rally first. Nitish Kumar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the security forces a free hand in dealing with Pakistan-based terror organisations and thanked the Indian Air Force for their action against terrorists. "I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for forcing Pakistan to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with a short span," said Nitish Kumar while praising the government's diplomacy. With Centre's support Bihar government will build toilets for all and houses in every corner of Bihar by October 2, 2019, said CM Nitish Kumar. "By this Gandhi Jayanti 2019, Bihar will be open defecation free," said Nitish Kumar. He praised PM Modi for bringing electricity to most of the villages across the country. The vision of the NDA is to eliminate illiteracy in Bihar and to guarantee education and health schemes for all. NDA government will work for development in Bihar, said PM Narendra Modi. Competition is ongoing to abuse the 'Chowkidar', but be assured, your 'Chowkidar' is as alert as ever, said PM Modi. People of Bihar are very much aware of what all happened in the name of fodder. Only we have dared to end the culture of corruption and middlemen which had been a normal practice in the country for decades, said PM Modi. Now they have even started asking for proof of the Balakot Air Strike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralising our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies,? asked PM Modi. The New India will not keep quiet after the martyrdom of our brave jawans. Our enemies will have to pay the ultimate price of their every misdeed, said PM Modi. Read: PM and Nitish Kumar to flag off NDA's Poll Campaign in Bihar Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Makes Official Goodwill Visit to Socialist Republic of Vietnam Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Date: 03/03/2019 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Lays Wreath before Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, laid a wreath before the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh on Saturday morning. Among the visitors were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and foreign minister, No Kwang Chol, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Yo Jong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Son Hui, vice minister of Foreign Affairs, and other cadres. Present at the wreath-laying ceremony were Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Le Ba Binh, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK. Supreme Leader of the Party, state and army Kim Jong Un laid a wreath before the mausoleum. He paid a silent tribute to the memory of Ho Chi Minh. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Lays Wreath at Monument to Heroic Martyrs Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Saturday morning. Among the visitors were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and foreign minister, No Kwang Chol, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Yo Jong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Son Hui, vice minister of Foreign Affairs, and other cadres. Present at the wreath-laying ceremony were Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Le Ba Binh, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un laid a wreath at the monument and paid a silent tribute. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army kills scores of terrorists in Hama IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 2, IRNA -- Syrian Army units operating in Hama northern countryside inflicted heavy losses on terrorists in terms of personnel and equipment in retaliation to their frequent breaches of the de-escalation zone agreement in Idleb. The Syrian Army's units conducted bombardments against positions of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in al-Hawiz village to the east of al-Ghab plain in retaliation to their attacks on military posts and safe villages in the northern countryside, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. The reporter added that scores of terrorists were killed in bombardments and others were injured, in addition to destroying their weapons and ammunition. The reporter indicated that an army unit eliminated terrorist groups affiliated to the so-called "al-Ezza Brigades" in Latmin village in Hama's northern countryside after they opened fire on military posts in Taibet al-Imam town. Meanwhile, An army unit destroyed a mortar launch-pad for Jabhat al-Nusra in the farms between Kafar Zeita and Mourek in Hama's northern countryside. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chlorine Used In Attack On Syria's Douma, Watchdog Says March 02, 2019 The global chemical weapons watchdog said March 1 that chlorine was used against the rebel-held Syrian town of Douma last year, in a long-awaited final report on the attack that killed 43 people. The report by the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was based on a visit by a fact-finding mission to the site of the attack. The mission's mandate does not include laying blame, but Western powers led by the United States said the regime of President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the attack and launched air strikes on Syrian military installations in response. The OPCW said two cylinders likely containing chlorine smashed into a housing block in the town. The report said there were "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon has taken place on 7 April 2018. This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine." It said, however, that it found no evidence of the use of nerve agents in Douma, which had been previously alleged by some parties in the conflict. The Russian Embassy in The Hague rejected the report, claiming the attack was "staged" by Syrian rescue volunteers known as the White Helmets. Russia is Assad's main international backer. The report will now go to the UN Security Council. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/chlorine-used -in-attack-on-syria-s-douma-watchdog -says/29799691.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Blocks Evacuation Convoys at Syria's Rukban Camp - Russian MoD Sputnik News 22:14 02.03.2019(updated 22:36 02.03.2019) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States has refused to let bus convoys, set to evacuate refugees from the Rukban camp, enter the US-controlled zone in Syria's At-Tanf, where the camp is located, Russian Defense Ministry Center for Syrian Reconciliation head, Lt. Gen. Sergei Solomatin, said Saturday. "The US side has rejected the demand of the joint Russia-Syria coordination center on refugee repatriation to allow the transport convoys enter the territory of the At-Tanf zone", Solomatin said at a news briefing. The Rukban camp, which houses about 40,000 displaced people, is located in the southern part of Syria, close to Jordan. The area that became a refugee camp for Syrian residents 2014 is now in the US-controlled zone. Alexander Marchenko, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Friday that Washington was delaying the relocation of refugees from the Rukban camp, as it aspires to organize convoys with international humanitarian assistance that will enable the further existence of the camp. US Department of State deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino on Friday called for for coordinated efforts on refugee evacuation. "The United States supports the UN call for a durable solution for Rukban in line with protection standards and coordinated with all parties", Palladino tweeted on Friday. "Unilateral Russian initiatives, not coordinated with the UN and regional parties, do not meet these standards. The US and UN are ready for coordinated efforts on safe, voluntary, informed departures for those who wish to leave". The Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation noted, however, that all information on the evacuation has been communicated only to Ayaki Ito, the UN Refugee Agency's envoy to Syria. The Rukban camp is located within the US-controlled zone surrounding the Pentagon's military base in Syria's At-Tanf. In February, media reported citing a UN survey that most Syrian refugees from Rukban wanted to return to their homeland but feared detention and forced military conscription, among other issues, and sought information and guarantees of safety. According to the Russian military, the total number of refugees living in the Rukban camp is estimated to be about 42,000. According to an earlier UN and Red Crescent survey, 85 percent of refugees in Rukban would like to return home. In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) described those residing in the camp as "trapped," adding that they live "in deplorable conditions." Limited water supply, bitterly cold weather and poorly-functioning health care facilities contribute to the rise of diseases, including influenza, measles, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory diseases, the WHO stated. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Backed Forces: Last Remnant of IS Caliphate to Fall Soon By Heather Murdock, Jeff Seldin March 02, 2019 Time is running out for fighters defending the last shred of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Syria. About 15,000 U.S.-backed forces in Syria launched their final assault on the small IS enclave in the northeastern Syrian village of Baghuz late Friday, supported by U.S. and coalition warplanes and artillery. By Saturday morning, despite heavy fighting, officials were confident the battle would not last much longer. "We expect it to be over soon," Syrian Democratic Force spokesman Mustafa Bali tweeted Saturday. Street fighting Earlier, Bali told VOA that SDF forces were fighting street-to-street against the IS fighters defending a patch of land covered by tents and broken buildings. "Heavy weapons are being used," Bali said. "Militants are still planting and using IEDs and bombs are exploding as the SDF forces are advancing." According to a spokesman with the Kurdish YPG militia, which has also been taking part in the battle against IS, at least four U.S.-backed troops had been injured. SDF officials said many IS fighters had been killed but declined to give an estimate. Both U.S. and SDF officials had been bracing for a difficult fight, warning those IS fighters who remained in Baghuz were among the most dedicated and hardened that the terror group had to offer. And as in past battles, officials expected IS to make heavy use of booby traps, improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers. Sources close to SDF officials on the ground told VOA there was also grave concern that an unknown number of IS fighters were hiding below ground in a network that may extend for more than 2 kilometers. Civilian estimates SDF and coalition officials had estimated more than a week ago that Baghuz held about 300 IS fighters, as well as a few thousand civilians. But according to United Nations officials more than 13,000 civilians fled the enclave in the past week alone, many having hidden initially in the tunnels. As late as Thursday, some of those fleeing Baghuz civilians were saying hundreds more civilians were still in hiding. But SDF officials rejected those accounts. "There aren't any civilians left in Baghuz, so it's a matter of time before we take a full control of it," SDF spokeswoman Lilwa Abdullah told VOA late Friday, describing the initial fighting as intense. "We will keep fighting until we break into their last defense line," she added. Trump says caliphate fallen The final assault on Baghuz comes just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump told U.S. soldiers that the final shred of the IS caliphate had already fallen. "We just took over, you know, you kept hearing it was 90 percent, 92 percent, the caliphate in Syria. Now it's 100 percent," he said while visiting with U.S. troops at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Thursday. But commanders with the U.S.-backed forces have until now been skeptical of a quick fight. The SDF's commander-in-chief on Thursday predicted it could take a week to clear the remaining IS fighters from Baghuz. Another official cautioned, "Victory doesn't seem to be coming in next days." Despite having been reduced to a small patch of land, IS has held on by using civilians as human shields and by using the tunnels and caves to launch occasional counterattacks against SDF forces. "It is a very difficult and complex situation," coalition spokesman, Col. Sean Ryan, told VOA Tuesday. "The threat remains as long as Daesh (IS) fighters have not given up in Baghuz and have the will and weapons to fight." Sirwan Kajjo in Washington contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Nearly 2 in 3 Syrians in Need of Humanitarian Aid By Lisa Schlein March 02, 2019 The United Nations reports 11.7 million people or nearly two-thirds of Syria's population is dependent on international humanitarian assistance for survival. The U.N. has drawn up a so-called humanitarian response plan detailing the staggering needs in advance of an international pledging conference for Syria in Brussels March 12 to 14. The U.N. has not yet come up with a dollar amount for its humanitarian plan for Syria. But based on last year's $3.36 billion-dollar appeal, the cost of caring for millions of destitute civilians in 2019 will not be cheap. The Syrian government, with the aid of its Russian allies, has made large military and territorial gains. Despite this, the U.N. says neither the war nor the humanitarian crisis affecting the civilian population is over. The U.N. reports an estimated 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced. It says more than 80 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, suffering from chronic levels of deprivation. Spokesman for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, says eight years of warfare has turned Syria into one of the biggest protection crises in the world. "Despite an overall reduction of violence in some areas, people continue to be exposed to brutality every day. Women, children, adolescent girls, older people, widows and female-headed households, and people with disabilities, face distinct protection risks and have specific needs," he said. In addition, Laerke said people face the threat of explosive hazards as the country is littered with landmines and a variety of explosive ordnance. He said more than 10 million people are estimated to be living in contaminated areas. The U.N. response plan details the key survival needs including food, shelter, health care, water and sanitation. It stresses the importance of education in a country where more than two million boys and girls are out of school. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Rejects US Patriot Offer Amid Row Over Russian S-400 - Reports Sputnik News 12:50 02.03.2019 The United States has been pressing Turkey, its NATO ally, to reject a plan to purchase Russia's cutting-edge S-400 missile systems, which Turkey estimates to be three times cheaper than a $3.5 billion order for US anti-aircraft weapons. Turkey has rejected the offer by the United States on the sale of US long-range surface-to-air Patriot missile systems until the end of 2019 providing that Ankara refuses to purchase Russia's S-400 air defence system, Bloomberg reported citing official Turkish sources. The statement comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on 16 February that Ankara was not satisfied with the United States' reluctance to give Turkey a loan needed to buy Patriot air defence systems or organise joint production of the weapon. Earlier, Ismail Demir, head of the main state body dealing with arms procurement and production told NTV television that "it is not possible for us to accept the content and details of the proposal as it is at the moment. The conditions must be discussed, there are a series of issues that must be clarified and a compromise must be reached". Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency on 1 March that the United States had offered to sell the Patriots and that "the delegations are negotiating". The United States has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if it purchases missile systems from Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An open confession by the commander can be heard in the released audio clip about the aerial strike. The JeM commander shared the details of the incident and said that the enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on Islamic 'Markaz' (a religious center). (Photo: File) New Delhi: Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Saturday confirmed that their training camp was bombed by the Indian Air force. An audio clip was released which bore the voice of Jaish-e-Mohammed commander, Maulana Ammar, who had been identified as the brother of JeM founder Masood Azhar. An open confession by the commander can be heard about the aerial strike conducted by the Indian forces. Addressing his followers Ammar talked about Indias pre-emptive strike. The JeM commander shared the details of the incident and said that the enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on Islamic 'Markaz' (a religious center). By doing so, the enemy has declared the war against our country. They bombed the center where students were trained to understand the concept of 'Jihad' so as to assist the oppressed Kashmiris, he said. Ammar also urged the followers to take-up the weapons and retaliate to show jihad is still an obligation or a duty. JeM commander's admission comes as a counter to the Pakistan government and militarys statement that denied India's pre-emptive strikes and the claim of heavy casualties. Earlier Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi admitted to the presence of Masood Azhar in Pakistan. In an interview, he had claimed that the JeM chief is in Pakistan and is unwell to an extent that he cannot move out of his house. Moreover, Qureshi had also demanded a potential evidence from India to prove the JeM's involvement in the Pulwama terror attack so that subsequently Pakistan can take action against the outfit. India's opposition also demanded the proof from the Central government about the Indian air strike on Pakistans Balakot. A few hours later, Indian Foreign Secretary of MEA, Vijay Gokhale confirmed the Indian Air Forces (IAF) aerial strike across the LoC. Gokhale said, In an intelligence lead operation, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot." Later, a senior air force official on Thursday said there was ample indication that the objective of the bombing, carried out a couple of hours before daybreak on Tuesday, had met its objective. Indian Air Force had launched the pre-emptive air strike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 26 February. 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets launched an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in retaliation against Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were martyred. Abhinandan used to mean congratulations, but it will change, he said while inaugurating a conference on construction technology. New Delhi: The meaning of Abhinandan will change now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, referring to the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Vartha-man, who was released by Pakistan on March 1. Abhinandan used to mean congratulations, but it will change, he said while inaugurating a conference on construction technology. The world takes note of what India does and the nation has the power to change dictionary meanings, he added. His remarks came a day after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days. He was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfight between the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down. Take it for fact, the world watches carefully what India does. The country has the strength to change the meaning of words in the dictionary. Abhinandan once used to mean congratulations in English. And now the meaning of Abhinandan will change. This is the strength of this country, Mr Modi said amid applause by the audience. The PM said the country has to move ahead with valour. Meanwhile Mr Modi declared April 2019-March 2020 as Construction-Technology year and stressed on use of advanced technology to meet the increasing demand of housing in the country caused by rapid urbanisation. He also sought the support of the private sector in fulfilling the governments mission of providing brick house to every Indian by 2022. At the inauguration of the Construction Technol-ogy India-2019 Expo-cum-conference, the PM said his government has given a major thrust on affordable housing and brought changes in laws governing the real estate sector. MATHESON, a wholly owned subsidiary of TNSC Group, has completed its acquisition of the divested Linde HyCO business in the United States that became available as a result of the global business combination of Linde and Praxair. The United States Federal Trade Commission approved MATHESON as the buyer of the divested HyCO business on 27 February. HyCO is an industry term covering the production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The HyCO business includes a Remote Operations Center in LaPorte, TX that supports HyCO plants in the states of Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, Washington and pipeline Customers near the Houston Ship Channel. The addition greatly expands MATHESONs capabilities to serve the petrochemical and refining industry. The acquired business will be responsible for developing new opportunities and supporting MATHESON HyCO operations in the United States and across TNSC Groups global footprint. MATHESON is a single source for industrial, medical, specialty and electronic gases, welding and safety supplies, gas handling equipment, high performance purification systems, engineering and gas management services, and on-site gas generation with a mission to deliver innovative solutions for global customer requirements. MATHESON is the largest subsidiary of the TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION Group, one of the four largest suppliers of industrial, specialty, and electronics gases in the world. Taking a dig Congress, Amit Shah wondered why the party had failed to take action against Pakistan after 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Umaria: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah on Saturday said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can build a strong India, economically and militarily. Who can ensure security of nation? Who can ensure rapid economic development? Who can give a befitting reply to Pakistan? Answer to all the questions is Prime Minister Narendra Mo-di, Mr Shah said while launching a bike rally, part of the nationwide Vijay Sankalp, ahead of forthcoming Lok Sabha elections at Umaria under Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh. He termed return of Wing Commander Abhinandan captured by Pakistani forces after his Mig 21 Bison crashed in Pak occupied Kashmir, as huge diplomatic victory for India. Taking a dig Congress, Mr Shah wondered why the party had failed to take action against Paki-stan after 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Pakistan had taken India for granted after 26/11 Mumbai attack, thinking India will not strike back. But, the Modi government gave befitting reply to Pakistan with the surgical strike after the 2016 terror attack in Uri. Pa-kistan carried out Pulwa-ma attack thinking India will not respond due to fast approaching LS elections. But, we replied with surgical strike two, he added. He lambasted poeple who questioned airstrike by India in PoK.Mamata didi questions if the airstrike at all took place, he said. It was very difficult time for Pakistan for four days after airstrike on February 26. But, Rahul Gandhis press conference finally gave a chance to Pakistan to be happy, he added. Reading out a joint statement after a meeting of Opposition parties-led by Congress on Friday, Mr Gandhi said they expressed deep anguish over BJPs blatant politicization of the sacrifices made by Indian armed forces. Mr Shah said elections were not priority for his party but the security of the nation was. But elections hold different significance for some, he said. Because one is now old enough to become PM, or because a dynasty wants their heir to become PM, he quipped. The Pakistani officials reported the death of two of their soldiers and two civilians and injuries to two others including a woman in the firing. The Army said that it retaliated to unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops strongly and effectively. (Representational Image) Srinagar: A 24-year-old woman and her two minor children were killed and two other civilians injured in Pakistani mortar shelling and use of heavy calibre weapons along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Saturday. The Army said that it retaliated to unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops strongly and effectively. The Pakistani officials reported the death of two of their soldiers and two civilians and injuries to two others including a woman in the firing. The Army and police officials in Jammu said that a woman resident Rubana Kounsar and her son Faizan (5) and nine-month-old daughter Shabnam were killed and her (Rubanas) husband Muhammad Yunis and another civilian Parvaiz Akhter injured in the Pakistani shelling in Salotri area of Poonch. Earlier, a woman, identified as Naseem Akhtar, was injured in the firing by Pakistani forces in nei-ghbouring Mankote area. In-charge police post Jhullas, SI Rasheed Kasana that the woman and her two children were killed on the spot and two other persons including Yunis suffered injuries when a mortar shell fired hit their house at Salotri. He also said that two Army soldiers including an officer of Major rank of 39 Rashtriya Rifles were also injured in the Pakistani shelling. Besid-es these two areas, shell-ing took place also in Krishnagati and Balakote areas in Poonch district. Though the exchanges of mortar guns and weapons between the facing armies in different sectors of the LoC particularly Poonch, Rajouri and Uri have been going on for past eight days. On Thursday, a woman was killed and an Army jawan was injured when Pakistani Army heavily shelled civilian areas and forward posts in six sectors along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army. The exchanges took place also in Kamalkote area of Uri sector in Baramulla district. A large number of private houses and other properties in these sectors have been damaged in the Pakistani shelling and firing, prompting residents to flee their homes and relocate to safer locations including makeshift accommodations provided by the government. Muhammad Rafiq, a resident of Kamalkote who is along with dozens of families putting up in a government school in Uri town said, Many houses in our area were damaged in the Pakistani shelling. We somehow escaped unhurt and reached here. We got food and shelter here but not sukoon (peace of mind). Please, do something about it, please resolve issues amicably. Were victim of this cross-border frenzy since 1998. Another resident, Khalida, demanded construction of bunkers in her area so that we can instead of fleeing to far off places shift to these shelters when firing occurs. After all, we too are humans. A report from Poonch said that more than 300 people comprising 60 households left their homes in Balnoie in Mankote sector. This appeared in Sunday's Washington Post. - - - When a Maryland state lawmaker let fly a racial slur in January, saying that a white colleague had been campaigning in a "n----- district," her casual racism, once reported, triggered a backlash. Public officials in Annapolis and elsewhere professed themselves shocked and demanded her resignation, with good reason. But the really shocking thing may have been her initial reaction, which was not exactly contrite. "I'm sure I have [used the slur]," Del. Mary Ann Lisanti, a Democrat who represents a suburban district near Baltimore, told The Post. "I'm sure everyone has used it. I've used the f-word. I used the Lord's name in vain." Well, no, everyone does not use the n-word. It remains, as it has been for decades, a raw expression of bigotry and hatred. That's why Lisanti, a two-term delegate, has been stripped of her subcommittee chairmanship and censured on a 136-0 vote in the House of Delegates. Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George's County executive whose jurisdiction includes the district for which Lisanti expressed her contempt, said the delegate's remarks reflected "dinosaur's views." Alsobrooks, who is African-American, is a highly capable and thoughtful public official. Yet it's fair to wonder whether those "dinosaur's views" are in fact as contemporary as ever. In the past year, those who have uttered the n-word in public include an Emory University law professor, a former member of a city commission in Georgia and actor Viggo Mortensen, among many others. In Cincinnati, two police officers - one white, the other black - were caught on body-camera video footage using the word during separate incidents late last year. Both face disciplinary action; the police union that represents them is fighting to keep their jobs. Then, in dog-whistling territory, there's Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who, during Wednesday's congressional testimony of President Donald Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen, wallowed in indignation at the suggestion that he (Meadows) might be a racist. Meadows, let's remember, told a rally in 2012 that "we're going to send Mr. Obama home to Kenya or wherever it is." Good luck explaining how that's not racist, Meadows. Lisanti, who represents thousands of African-American constituents, is a disgrace to the Maryland legislature. When expressions of cavalier racism are something like a quotidian norm in the public space, however, it suggests that in private, plenty of Americans may not regard them as so disgraceful. No doubt, President Trump has exercised a powerful legitimizing influence with his own long and well-documented history of racially incendiary remarks, not least by characterizing the white-nationalist marchers who sowed chaos in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 as "very fine people." Alsobrooks was surely right when she said Lisanti's comments are "unenlightened and ignorant." They may also reflect views that never went out of fashion to the extent some may have hoped. That's not just Maryland's disgrace. It's America's. The Cabinet has also approved the greenfield airport project for Rajkot recently. Ahmedabad: Amid tensions at India-Pakistan border, PM Narendra Modi is visiting Gujarat for two days on March 4 and 5. This will be his third visit of his home state in two months. During the visit, he will attend four official events including inauguration of a Metro rail project in Ahmedabad and also address a public gathering. Earlier, there was suspense over his visit in wake of the current situation, but it remains unchanged now. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani confirmed the same with media persons after he had a video conference with Mr Modi earlier this week. Mr Modi will arrive at Jamnagar in Saurashtra on March 4, where he will inaugurate Gujarats first desalination plant at Jodia village. In the afternoon, he will inaugurate the first phase of the much awaited Metro rail in Ahmedabad and later dedicate a new civil hospital building. On March 5, he will flag off the Shramyogi Mandhan Scheme at Vastral area in Ahmedabad. He may hold discussions with party leaders to assess political situation in the state later. While his earlier visits, which include the inauguration of the Statue of Unity and Gandhi Smarak at Dandi, were focused on South Gujarat, in this visit the focus will be on central Gujarat and Saurasthra region. The Central government has already announced AIIMS for Rajkot. The Cabinet has also approved the greenfield airport project for Rajkot recently. Both these steps are being seen to woo Saurasthra voters where Congress had performed well in the last Assembly election. There is also a buzz that PM Modi may contest the Lok Sabha election from Rajkot along with Varanasi. This will be a boost for BJP in Saurashtra. Besides this, he will lay the foundation stone of the Rs 1,000 crore Maa Umiya Dham temple complex at Jaspur and also perform the foundation stone laying ceremony of the religious-educational projects of Maa Annapurna Dham trust. These programmes are being organised by the leaders of Kadva and Leuva Patidar communities respectively. Incidentally, BJP had suffered badly due to Patidar reservation agitation in the last Assembly election. He had already addressed the partys Mahila Morcha National Convention on December 22 at Gandhinagar in his effort to keep the women vote bank intact. However, many believe that the situation has changed after the airstrike on Pakistan. Mr Modi has emerged as a leader who doesnt compromise on national security and in this case he and BJP will have an easy match on home turf. When we first got wind of the Nokia 9 PureView and its multi-camera system, we were sure Nokia had hopped on the ultra-wide-regular-telephoto bandwagon with a time of flight 3D and monochrome auxiliary cameras to fill the quota up to five. We were wrong. Nokia surprised just about everyone with the camera selection on the Nokia 9 PureView - five 28mm 12MP f/1.8 snappers, three of which are black and white, two of which are RGB, and a TOF 3D camera on the side. So what do five cameras with identical fields of view do for the one clicking the shutter button? Nokia has gone for a few inherent advantages of the 9 PureView camera system - great dynamic range thanks to the combination of three monochrome cameras and two color ones, native black and white photography, flexible RAW DNG files to extract the most of the sensors through Lightroom on the phone and superior scene depth mapping with refocusing possible after the shot. We think the biggest leap forward might actually be in the quality of the scene depth mapping. You see, having five cameras with different vantage points aimed at the same scene gives the Nokia 9 PureView a highly accurate depth map of said scene. It's not only the resolution of the depth map - there's plenty of phones with high-res imagers. The key is in the levels of depth that can be recognized - Nokia says that while most phones can recognize up to around 10-15 focal planes, the Nokia 9 PureView captures up to 1,200 and through AI extrapolates those into infinite numbers of layers. This leads to two advantages - the ability to create photos with a realistic defocus effect and the ability to snap a shot and choose a different focus point later (so if you've missed focusing on a person's face it could be fixed, potentially). Now let's put the Nokia 9 PureView's theoretical abilities to practice. You can see in the image below that compared to the iPhone XS, the Nokia 9 PureView has created a more accurate depth map with improved subject separation from the background. The pointy pines of the pineapple have been blurred out by the iPhone but are preserved on the Nokia image. This second example stands to show something else - whereas the iPhone was mostly able to separate the plate of croissants from the background, it has blurred out bits of the subject it couldn't correctly place in the focal plane. The Nokia 9 PureView has read the scene more accurately and has produced a gradual blur with more accurate falloff. The Nokia 9 PureView's shot looks as if taken with a proper camera with a proper lens. The glass plate is blurred in the foreground and background with focus in the middle. In the iPhone image the plate and croissants are both in focus and look as if stamped onto a simulated blur layer. Both phones produce a depth map and apply software blur to the out of focus areas but the Nokia 9 PureView clearly has a more detailed and accurate depth map. What's curious, you can actually extract the depth map from each image. Here's what the depth map for the images above looks like. And here's a 3D simulation of a photo taken with all five of the Nokia 9 PureView's cameras we created through Depthy. Most phones will be able to capture a horizontal plane of a scene by using multiple cameras but the Nokia 9 PureView's array allows for both horizontal and vertical information to be captured. Using this 3D plane the Nokia 9 PureView can map a very accurate focal plane. Keep in mind that most phones do a much better job when simulating potrait mode shots of human faces. There the Nokia 9 PureView won't offer as big an advantage over phones like the iPhone XS or the Samsung Galaxy S10 since the phones are getting a lot better in recognizing faces and defocusing the background behind them. But this potential for natural-looking bokeh like the one we get from large-sensor cameras is there. We were only able to play around with a pre-release Nokia 9 PureView unit and will go into further testing once we get a retail-ready unit. As we said, depth-sensing is only one aspect of the Nokia 9 PureView's potential. The pre-production samples we saw a few days ago promise a wide range of possibilities from image stacking and RAW editing. At the moment the Nokia 9 PureView is unlikely to overtake the best smartphone cameras around. From our early impressions dynamic range isn't on par with the likes of the iPhone XS or the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the Nokia 9 PureView is noticeably slower to process a photo. But we expect things to improve with time and updates. For now you can at least expect one of the best bokeh simulations around. Week 9 in review: Aftermath of MWC 2019 - Xperia 1, Galaxy S10 and more The Mobile World Congress came and went and now that the dust has settled it's time to take a look at some of the hottest topics of this very busy week. We won't be focusing as much on the phone launches of MWC 2019 here - you can check out ourcomprehensive list of all the new phones here. The unveil of Sony's 21:9 4K OLED Xperia 1 made huge waves this week and for good reason. It's Sony's first phone with a triple camera, it ushers in a whole new naming scheme and it's the only device with such a screen. Samsung announced its new-look A series with the Galaxy A10 as well as the Galaxy A50 and A30. The new Galaxy A series of phones will rely on big batteries and aggressive pricing to win back the midrange from Samsung's Chinese rivals. Speaking of, Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 7 Pro with a 48MP camera and 128GB of onboard storage. Oh and remember Redmi President Lu Weibing's campaign to show how tough and durable the Redmi Note 7 is? Well JerryRigEverything's durability test showed quite the opposite - ouch! Huawei didn't show the P30 and P30 Pro at the MWC and instead will announce the duo in a month but we still saw a hands-on of the P30 Pro an detailed press renders of both plus a few rogue camera samples. It looks like the P30 and P30 Pro will have triple cameras, slimmer bezels and the latest Kirin 980 chipset. Finally nubia showed a device that's folded, if not exactly foldable - the nubia Alpha smartwatch-slash-phone. See you in a week! Redmi Note 7 Pro arrives with 48 MP camera and 128 GB storage The Redmi Note 7 appeared in India with a lower price tag and a downgraded 12 MP camera. Huawei P30 Pro hands-on appears a month before the official unveiling It looks a lot like the P20 Pro but feels like the Mate 20 Pro. Redmi Note 7 fails spectacularly at an actual durability test The phone has plenty of weak build points, despite what some Chinese influencers suggested earlier. Realme 3 first camera samples are in, just look at that dynamic range A quick comparison between the new Realme 3, the Samsung Galaxy M20 and the Redmi Note 7. Samsung Galaxy A10 is now official The phone will have Exynos 7884 chipset and 2 GB RAM. Asus reveals which Zenfones will be updated to Android 9 Pie It's a pretty long list that goes back to the Zenfone 4 series from 2017. A couple - the Zenfone 5 and 5z - are already on Pie. Huawei P30 and P30 Pro press renders leak in full The Pro version will have curved edges on the display and unique four-camera setup. Haiti - Politic : Death of the Deputy of the Northeast Elience Petit Frere (Famni Lavalas) On Saturday, March 2, 2019, Elience Petit-Frere (Fanmi Lavalas), the Deputy of the Commune of Ferrier/Les Perches (Northeast), died at the age of 49 following a discomfort that required a hospitalization in emergency. The General Secretariat of the Lower House will announce shortly the funeral arrangements. Sympathy Messages : "The office of the Lower House extends its condolences to all his family, his friends, his political family, his sympathizers and all those affected by this mourning." "I regret to announce the death of the Honorable Mr. Petit-Frere Elience [...] I take this opportunity to express my sympathies to his family, his colleagues, his allies and his constituents. Elience was a man of integrity and an exemplary deputy," Deputy Gary Bodeau, Speaker of the Lower House "I am deeply saddened by the death of the member for Fanmi lavalas, Elience Petit-Frere, who passed away this Saturday, March 2nd. My deepest sympathies to his family, his friends and the 50th Legislature. The Parliamentarian was a great friend and a consequent deputy !" Former Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant. S/ HaitiLibre The officials said Wg. Cdr. Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Sunday underwent debrie-fings by security agencies even as his medical check-up continued for the second day at a military hospital here, officials said. A number of senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officers also met Wg. Cdr. Varthaman who was brought to Delhi after he returned to India from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night. Wg. Cdr. Varthaman also underwent several medical tests as part of a cooling down process, the officials said. "Efforts have been made to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," a military official said. The IAF pilot was captured by the Pakistani Army on Wednesday after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat. He downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan before his plane was hit. Wg. Cdr. Varthaman arrived in the national capital by an IAF flight around 11.45 pm Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for the aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital. After he was captured, Wg. Cdr. Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affa-irs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and the people in general. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa met Wg. Cdr. Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nations gratitude for his selfless service. The officials said Wg. Cdr. Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bom-bed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammeds biggest trai-ning camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. Howe-ver, the IAF thwarted its plans. The strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Haiti - Education : The Ministry of Education is looking for ways to implement budget cuts After a meeting earlier this week on the budget cuts envisaged in the 2018-2019 budget https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27053-haiti-education-important-meeting-around-budget-cuts.html in the investment budget of the Ministry of Education, a second meeting which brought together, among others, Jackson Pleteau, the Minister's Chief of Staff, his Coordinator Jacques Yvon Pierre and his deputy Harold Narcisse, as well as coordinators of the Directorate General and senior officials of the Directorate of Administrative Affairs, was held Thursday, this time around the operating budget of the Ministry. The main purpose was to share information on the budgetary restrictions envisaged by the Government through the Ministry of Finance and the measures to be adopted to try to comply with them. How to apply budgetary restrictions and respect the various commitments of the Ministry to teachers as well as the recent appointments that must be made to emerge from the state budget ? Was one of the main issues discussed during this meeting. How to achieve better management of the operating budget and better share information on the operations carried out, are two other issues that have also been the subject of intense discussions. At the end of the exchanges, a set of provisions were adopted in order to reach the set objectives. A follow-up committee has been set up and must present its report within one week for the follow-up. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27053-haiti-education-important-meeting-around-budget-cuts.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26955-haiti-flash-prime-minister-ceant-reveals-9-emergency-measures.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26868-haiti-politic-texts-of-the-resolution-of-the-state-of-emergency-and-the-11-measures.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26855-haiti-flash-jovenel-moise-declares-the-state-of-economic-emergency-in-the-country.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : At the 30th meeting of CARICOM, Haiti asks for help... Foreign Minister Bocchit Edmond chaired the Haitian delegation to the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of State and Government, which was being held this week in Basse-Terre (St. Kitts and Nevis) This meeting was organized around a number of topics of interest for the advancement of the integration process at the level of the Caribbean region, including the implementation of CARICOM's Single Market and Economy (Caribbean Single Market and Economie - CSME) and its corollaries that are maritime and air transport (connectivity at Community level, free movement of people, especially professionals and skills, integration of the regional labor market, as well as the issue of security, trade in services, investment and food security. CARICOM Heads of State and Government highlighted the main challenges facing the region, such as the effects of climate change, volatile commodity prices, extreme vulnerability to natural hazards , transnational organized crime and the problem of mobilizing the resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The situation in Venezuela has been intensely debated by Heads of State and Government and other delegates. The development of the situation in Haiti in recent weeks has also been on the agenda. Chancellor Edmond gave an update on the socio-political situation that prevails in the country since February 7 with serious repercussions on the national economy and has left at least 26 dead and 77 injured https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27051-icihaiti-social-at-least-26-dead-and-77-wounded-in-protests.html . He requested the help of the International Community and the Caribbean Community, to contribute to the lasting resolution of the fundamentally economic problems of Haiti, which necessarily involves political stability, the strengthening of democratic institutions and of the rule of law and the creation of wealth and productive employment. The Conference adopted a Declaration recognizing that the situation in Haiti, fueled by radical opposition groups and armed gangs, is due to a combination of political, economic and financial factors. It expresses its support for the Haitian Government while welcoming the return to calm and the decision taken by the President of the Republic to launch a national dialogue with the aim of addressing the root causes of the crisis and creating a climate of lasting stability in the country. See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27072-icihaiti-politic-caricom-reiterates-its-call-for-calm-in-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27051-icihaiti-social-at-least-26-dead-and-77-wounded-in-protests.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26919-icihaiti-crisis-the-caribbean-community-concerned-about-the-situation-in-haiti.html HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2019/03/03 | Source Korea's total fertility rate dropped to 0.98 last year, or less than one child likely to be born to Korean women over their lifetime. Advertisement Korea is the only country in the OECD whose fertility rate has dipped below 1. The rate dwindled even though the government spent more than W58 trillion to encourage childbirth over the past two years (US$1=W1,119). Statistics Korea released the data on Wednesday, saying the country's total fertility rate in 2018 plunged from 1.05 in 2017, which was already a record low. Only 326,900 babies were born last year, 30,000 fewer than the previous year. Signs for the future are not encouraging. Last year, the birthrate fell among those in their 20s and 30s, the peak fertility age, to 24.4 and 66.1 babies per 1,000 women, down 13 percent and six percent. Women in their late 30s had more children than those in their late 20s, the first full reversal of the traditional pattern. Only 10 years ago, the birthrate among those in their late 20s was nearly four times as high as among those in their late 30s. The average age for childbirth therefore rose to 32.8 years, up 0.2 on-year. Those aged 35 or older accounted for 31.8 percent of all new mothers, up 2.4 percentage points over the same period. There are complex reasons for the dismal rate. First of all, the fertile female population has been declining. The number of the most reproductive women aged 30-34 decreased from 1.65 million in 2017 to 1.57 million in 2018. The number of marriages has also been falling for seven straight years. Only 257,700 couples tied the knot last year, an all-time low. More people also choose to get married later in life, so there remain fewer years when they are likely to have kids. The marriage rate per 1,000 people in their late 20s was 31.5 for men and 57.1 for women last year, down two and 3.5 on-year. "The low total fertility rate below 1 suggests that childbirth and marriage are losing their value", said Prof. Lee Sam-sik of Hanyang University. "Many young people seem to think that they're just a pain". Published on 2019/03/03 | Source Thirty-nine descendants of independence fighters against Japanese colonial rule were granted Korean citizenship on Wednesday. Advertisement The Ministry of Justice invited them for a ceremony ahead of the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement and Korean government in exile in Shanghai. Since 2006, the Justice Ministry has searched descendants of independence fighters who live abroad, mostly in the Central Asia and Russia where their ancestors fled, and has so far awarded fast-track Korean citizenship to 326 people. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ... And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Faith! Faith? Faith can be a struggle whether the struggle is intellectual or based on hard life experiences with withering losses. How can we find faith? In finding faith, can we also find ourselves in a better story? Jesus had just revealed himself to Peter, James, and John in his heavenly glory during his transfiguration. These three closest disciples had been startled into a new understanding of their Teacher. Moses was Israel's greatest leader and lawgiver. Elijah was considered Israel's most important prophet. They appeared next to Jesus in his glory. Then, Moses and Elijah suddenly disappeared from their sight. Only Jesus was left for his closest three to see. God then forcefully spoke to these disciples and told them that Jesus was his beloved Son and that they must listen to him (Mark 9:2-13). Jesus must be the goal of his disciples' faith. His words must be his disciples' guide to their lives. As Jesus and his three disciples descended from this glorious experience, they were met by the rest of the twelve caught in the middle of an embarrassing mess (Mark 9:14-21). These other disciples couldn't help a man whose son was controlled by a demonic spirit. As a group of teachers of the law and Jesus' disciples argued with them, a crowd had gathered. The father was frustrated at these other disciples because they could not help his son. The father of the boy begged Jesus: "[I]f you can do anything, take pity on us and help us" (Mark 9:22). Jesus responded by saying, "If you can? ... Everything is possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23). To which the father immediately exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). The father's words ring through the centuries and bring you and me back to the core issue of life. Faith! Faith? Faith can be a struggle whether the struggle is intellectual or based on hard life experiences with withering losses. How can we find faith? In finding faith, can we also find ourselves in a better story? Today's video with James Nored focuses on C.S. Lewis' early struggle with unbelief. This struggle was rooted in a series of painful losses, emotional wounds, and intellectual doubts all experienced at a young age. Despite this unbelief, common mythic stories appealed to Lewis' heart. Their common themes challenged his scholarship. With the help of friends, the call of God gradually led him back to faith. This faith then sustained him through late life challenges and losses. His life of honest struggle with belief and unbelief has, in turn, blessed countless thousands. If you can't see the video, and you sure don't want to miss it, view it online. For additional ideas to consider and some things to discuss with others, we encourage you to see the Study Guide. Struggling with faith is a challenge nearly every believer goes through at some point in life. That struggle can leave us crying out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" That struggle can also leave each of us unwilling to continue our search for sustaining faith during the dry times in our heart and in our dark nights of the soul. Life, however, drags us in and out of experiences whether we are ready to face or not. The Holy Spirit can use these experiences to reawaken us of our need to make sense of life with faith. Our Father in heaven can use the beauty of creation to call to our hearts. He can use the arts and stir them and beckon them through music, dance, sculpture, and painting. He can invite us closer through the timely presence of friends who bring us comfort, help us process our intellectual doubts, and survive our most painful experiences. God even uses the stories of books and movies to tap into our heart and pull us back to his unfolding saga of grace. Many of the best secular stories echo the hope we find in Jesus' story. This parallel doesn't discount Jesus' story but rather reminds us that God wired us to respond to these kinds of stories so that we could connect with his great story of grace. These stories help us long for the day when our story could be caught up in God's grand story! C.S. Lewis would go on with his group of friends "The Inklings" to write beautiful, imaginative, and faith-awakening stories to make us think of faith for this very reason. Our final step toward faith, or back to faith, can be clothed in mystery. A seeking heart may never be able to discover precisely how this faith happens, just as C.S. Lewis' trip to the zoo began with him not believing and ended with him believing before he arrived. However, the final destination of our faith journey often depends upon the orientation of our hearts. Are we seeking the truth? Jesus promised us: So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10). Do we recognize our yearning for God? Paul told the philosophers in Athens: God [created us] so that [those he created] would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. "For in him we live and move and have our being." As some of your own prophets have said, "We are his offspring" (Acts 17:27-28). The final destination of our journey to faith often depends upon the orientation of our hearts. Are we seeking a better story than the one in which we find ourselves? The apostle Paul promised us long ago that faith in Jesus offers us a fresh start for a whole new story: Jesus answered this father's cry for help and changed his story for the better, forever. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). Like the father who desperately wanted his son healed by Jesus, each of us can cry out to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Our Savior waits longingly to meet each of us personally on our unique journey. He longs to do for us what he did for that desperate father: He answered his cry for help and changed his story for the better, forever. Please continue to join us in seeking faith and celebrating God's grace as we journey together to find our story joined to Gods story of redemption. Aslan, C.S. Lewis' powerful mythic character of a powerful, yet sacrificial lion, awaits us! As John reminds us in the book of Revelation, Jesus is both conquering lion and sacrificial lamb! A HAIRDRESSER is using biodegradable towels in an effort to reduce the impact of the business on the environment. Nicole Hewitt, director of Salon of Chi in Reading Road, Henley, has also stopped using foil when highlighting customers hair, switching to an environmentally-friendly paper instead. Mrs Hewitt already uses only ethical products and avoids the use of plastics wherever possible but wanted to do more. She first embraced greener business practices after seeing a shampoo bottle washed up on a beach in Jamaica and realising it was a brand she stocked. Mrs Hewitt said: These towels are biodegradable and compostable and take eight weeks to break down. They are made from sustainably sourced fibres of cedar and eucalyptus wood which are certified by the two organisations responsible for the stewardship of forests. The manufacturer, Scrummi Salon Towels, says it plants three trees for every one it harvests. Mrs Hewitt said: They say that the energy used in the entire lifecycle of a Scrummi towel, including its manufacture, is less than the energy used by washing one cotton towel in a washing machine. We had to wait until we had worn our old towels out but we have recycled them and sent them off to a dog groomers. The business is also using a product created by Paper Not Foil, made from building waste, in the hair-colouring process. It can be used several times before breaking down. Mrs Hewitt said: Instead of using foils when we highlight, we have started using this. It breaks down like an egg shell but its totally safe for animal and plant life theres nothing toxic at all. You can recycle foil but its quite difficult. I would have to have had a waste licence. Four years ago, Mrs Hewitt had eco-heads fitted to her taps, which helps cut water usage by 65 per cent, and she uses ecologically sound cleaning products, including soapnuts. Her customers have been impressed with the initiatives. She said: Our clients know that were making an effort to be more sustainable and they love it and its raising awareness for them of different products. A couple of them took the towels home to put in their compost bins! At the moment were trying to look for biodegradable gloves so we dont have to use plastic ones, which we have to wash and reuse. Last year, Mrs Hewitt won the business environment award at the inaugural Henley Heroes awards. She said: The environment is a cause close to my heart. We cant keep going as we are we all have to make changes as a matter of absolute urgency. Ive got the team on board and they want to invest that time and energy into learning about these products. It cant all be about commerce, we have to be more ethical and conscious about what were doing. Just small changes can make a difference do you need to take a car? Can you turn the heating down? Can you get an electric car when you replace your car? Do you need to buy a plastic bag? At the end of the day what we want to do is create beautiful hair, thats our focus, but we just want to make sure were not hurting the planet while we do that. Whats the point of having beautiful hair if we havent got a planet to be on? It might sound daft but thats the reality. My personal view is were getting to crisis point. I would encourage other businesses to look at what they do and do what they can to make a difference. Tewari said that the Congress would like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Swaraj whether this was the diplomatic achievement. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj addresses as guest of honour at the 46th foreign ministers meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Congress party on Sunday took on the Modi government over the 57-nation grouping of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries adopting a resolution that supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue, saying that with this the NDA dispensations claim that the OIC inviting India to attend its plenary was a diplomatic success had fallen flat. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj attended the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi. The NDA-BJP government touted it as a huge diplomatic success for India that it has been invited to attend the plenary...But what happened in Abu Dhabi is extremely disturbing for India, Congress spokes-person Manish Tewari told the media here. Mr Tewari said that the Congress would like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Swaraj whether this was the diplomatic achievement. The Pakistan Foreign Office had on Saturday said the conference concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. In a resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia, it claimed. New Delhi had reacted to the resolution by ass-erting that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country. Ms Swaraj had become the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting when she attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Cou-ncil of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC on Friday. The Congress party had on Saturday also hit out at Mr Modi alleging that the country witnessed his monologue, fake bravado and narcissistic lies, as Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused him of being solely responsible for the delay in arrival of Rafale jets. Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Crore and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets, he tweeted YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets, Mr Gandhi said on Twitter. The response came after Modi said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale and results would have been different if India had the fighter jets as he attacked the Congress for its tirade against his government over the aircraft deal. The JeM had taken responsibility for the attack in a statement to a local news agency in Kashmir. New Delhi: Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammads (JeM) deadly terror attack in Pulwama on February 14, was part of its Ghazwa-e-Hind (Holy War Against India) against India. At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his car, laden with explosives, into the CRPF convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on February 14. The JeM had taken responsibility for the attack in a statement to a local news agency in Kashmir. The group had also identified the suicide bomber as a resident of Kashmirs Pulwama. The most deadly terror strikes of the JeM in the past 20 years include attacks on the Pathankot airbase, the Army brigade headquarters in Uri, the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar and the bombing of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, sources said. India and Pakistan were almost on the brink of war in 2001 when the JeM attacked the Indian Parliament, and again now after the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama, said a security official. The terrorist group, with close links with al-Qaida, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in Pakistan on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its Ghazwa-e-Hind irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties, the official said citing an intelligence report. The JeM, which had close links slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, was formed after the release of terror mastermind Masood Azhar from an Indian jail on December 31, 1999 after the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999. Azhar was released along with rouge British secret service MI6 agent Omar Shaikh, who was responsible for the killing The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in January 2002 and the funding of 9/11 terror attacks in the US. According to him, the girl was last seen being accompanied by her uncle, her neighbour, in the afternoon of February 28. Police has registered a case against unidentified accused in connection with the incident. Bhopal: In a shocking and ghastly incident, a ten-year-old girl in a Madhya Pradesh village was raped and then strangulated to death. Later, her body was dumped in an abandoned biogas tank, police said on Sunday. Though the horrific incident took place in the village of Bariha in Katni district on February 28, it came to light late on Saturday night when a local spotted the body in the biogas tank. A local farmer spotted the legs of the victim protruding from the abandoned biogas tank in the village, a senior district police officer said. According to him, the girl was last seen being accompanied by her uncle, her neighbour, in the afternoon of February 28. She was staying with her mother. Her father, a daily wage earner, used to visit their house every 15-16 days. Her mother had later enquired her uncle about her when she did not return home on February 28. But, her uncle said he thought she had returned home. Postmortem report of the body has suggested that the girl was raped and then murdered, the investigating officer said. Police has registered a case against unidentified accused in connection with the incident. Modi Shares dais with Nitish after 9 yrs; says only dynasts hate chowkidar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flanked by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, being garlanded during the Sankalp Rally at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) Patna: Launching the NDAs Lok Sabha campaign in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unleashed a blistering attack on the Congress-led Opposition accusing it of focusing solely on trying to finish him off while he is working to quell terrorism, ensure national security, eradicate poverty and corruption, and generate employment. Sharing the dais with JD(U) chief and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for the first time in nine years, Mr Modi came down heavily on Opposition parties for their skepticism over the surgical strikes by the Army after the Uri terror attack, and the air strikes in Pakistans Balakot after the Pulwama suicide bombing. Addressing a massive Sankalp rally at Patnas Gandhi Maidan, Mr Modi said, They want to get rid of Modi, but I say lets join hands to eliminate terrorism. Shouldnt terrorism be eradicated? But their priority is to get rid of Modi. My priority is to eliminate terrorism. First they asked for evidence of the surgical strikes (in Uri). Now they are demanding evidence of the air strikes by the Air Force. Why are the Congress and other parties working towards destroying the morale of the armed forces? he asked. The Prime Minister said that at a time when the country needs to show that it is standing together against terrorism, the Opposition has joined hands to condemn the Centres actions. Is it appropriate for these parties to speak in a language that suits Pakistan? Leaders of the neighbouring country are using it as a shield to protect themselves against the charge of promoting terrorism. They are clapping gleefully, he said, slamming the 21 Opposition parties decision to pass as censure motion against the NDA government after the air strikes. Without naming Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has coined the slogan Chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is the thief), Mr Modi said, Those who run their political shops in the name of the poor and care for nothing except for their dynasties, are having problems with the chowkidar. But the chowkidar is alert and on the job. Mr Modi also took a veiled dig at jailed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, saying, The people of Bihar have seen a lot in the name of purchase of fodder. Our government has worked for doing away with middlemen who siphon off public money. The NDA rally was organised exactly a month after the Congress held an impressive Jan Sankalp rally at the same venue. This was Mr Modis second visit to Bihar in less than a fortnight. He had earlier visited Begusarai in Bihar on February 17 and launched several projects. While showcasing the achievements of NDA government the Prime Minister said that for the first time in 50 years India was invited to the OIC meeting which is an influential grouping of 57 Islamic countries. He also said that the Saudi Crown Prince after meeting him last week increased the Haj quota to two lakhs and ordered for the release of 850 Indian prisoners in his country. The achievements which I have been speaking about became possible because you chose the NDA in 2014. Our government had the courage to take decisions and this will continue if we return in 2019, Mr Modi said. Sinha held a meeting with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, giving rise to speculation of his wife entering active politics from UP. Notwithstanding his differences with BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said that he will not change his constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election. (Photo: File) Lucknow: Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said on Sunday he will not change his constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election "whatever the situation", making clear he would contest again from Patna Sahib seat irrespective of the party decision. "Situation kuch bhi ho, location wahi hogi (Whatever the situation, location would be same)," Sinha told PTI on the phone from Ranchi. The sitting Patna Sahib lawmaker has been at loggerheads with the current BJP leadership since the 2015 Bihar election, over several issues. He has often taken a stance at variance with the official party line, including on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax, and shared the stage with opposition leaders at an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata in January, where he was projected as the "star speaker". On a recent visit to Lucknow, he had held a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, giving rise to speculation his wife Poonam Sinha may enter active politics from the Uttar Pradesh capital, currently represented in Lok Sabha by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Asked about it, the actor-turned-politician said he will neither confirm nor deny this. "Poonam Sinha has been busy with social work for long. She is liked by all. People want her to contest but whether this will happen or not only time will tell," Shatrughan Sinha, 72, said. Following his meeting with Yadav, there was also a talk that Sinha could contest the general election, which must be held by May, on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He had also visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters and joined Yadav on Jai Prakash Jayanti programme with Yashwant Sinha. The SP and Bahujan Samaj Party have forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the general election, deciding to contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. They have left Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and three other seats ostensibly for RLD. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Spains La Tomatina is a one-of-a-kind festival, full of fun and energy. I came to know about La Tomatina for the first time when I was a child, while browsing through channels. I was amazed to see people throwing tomatoes at each other and having fun, but I had no clue what it was and where it was happening as I was too young to understand TV programmes. Later, I saw the festival again in films and news. After growing up, I set it as one of my life goals to take part in it. After graduation, when I got a chance to study in Poland, the first thing that came to my mind was this, since Spain is also a Schengen country. So, I started doing part-time jobs and saving money to travel to Spain. Tomato fight La Tomatina has been taking place on the last Wednesday of August at Bunol, since 1945. It originated from a quarrel between local boys who pelted fruits and vegetables at each other. The boys came back next year on the same day and engaged in a preplanned quarrel. They had brought tomatoes with them. Although the police stopped them, the tomato fight went on to become a tradition. Even though the festival was banned in late 50s, the protests gave way to making it official in 1957. In 2002, it was declared as Festivity of International Tourist Interest by the Secretary, Department of Tourism. However, due to overcrowding, participation has been restricted through tickets only since 2013. The festival lasts for only two hours and is strictly monitored by the police. Train to Bunol I flew down to Barcelona and spent the day touring around Camp Nou, Gothic Quarter and other beautiful parts of the city. As a budget traveller, I got in a night bus to Valencia so that I don't have to spend for accommodation in Barcelona. I reached Valencia by early morning and took the first train to Bunol. The train was full of tourists, all dressed in white T-shirts and carrying small bags that contain action cameras, selfie sticks etc. I reached Bunol by half past 7 in the morning. The streets were almost getting filled up with people who were queuing up to collect tickets and lockers. A party mood had already captured the entire area. As I had booked my tickets online from the official site, I could skip the long lines, but had to collect the bands from the venue. There were also waterproof cases for sale at the venue, which are a must if one wants to take mobile phones and other valuables inside. The festival happens on a narrow street near the town square. I got into the premises with my action camera and mobile phone inside the waterproof case. The welcoming and friendly nature of the local people of Bunol needs a mention. This also helped me forget my nervousness and tension of being alone and I was soon imersed in the spirit and fun of the festival. I understood that everyone present there is only concerned about fun and that there is no reason to stand out of the crowd. The festival starts with getting a slice of ham hung on the top of a greasy pole in the town square. The goal is to climb the pole and retrieve the slice while being showered by water. A siren rings by 11 am and four trucks full of tomatoes entered the streets and then began the real fun. Around 150 tonnes of tomatoes were thrown at around 25,000 people present during the festival. The tomatoes used for the festival are low grade and are generally not used for consumption. The festival ends with another siren at 1 pm. By the end, one will be tomatified from top to bottom as you can see in my photos. Locals pump water and arrange public showers for the tourists. They also sell authentic Spanish dishes and drinks like paella, sangria etc to quench the thirst and feed the stomach, which is very essential after a n action-packed two hours of pelting tomatoes on people around you. After two hours of fight with tomatoes, hunger took me down, and I devour a portion of paella which tasted very similar to biryani. Apart from this, parties are also arranged by the officials. At 3 in the evening, I took a train to Madrid, from where I flew back home the day after. Altogether it was a lifetime experience. The people who attend the festival make it great. Surprisingly, there were many tourists from Asia, which shows the popularity of this European festival across the continents. An uneasy holiday season began here in 1941. Then the war crashed in. Investigators also summon Matrix Fertilizers chief Nishant Kanodia. Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued to grill former ICICI bank chief Chanda Kochhar for the third day in a row in connection with the alleged Rs 1875 crore-bank fraud case. The investigators also summoned Matrix Fertilizers chief, Nishant Kanodia, for questioning on alleged business dealings with Nupower Renewables, promoted by her husband Deepak Kochhar. The ED officials questioned Deepak Kochhar and Videocon Group chairman Venugopal Dhoot for 12 hours. They left from the ED office on Sunday after which questioning of Chanda Kochhar and Nishant Kanodia began. The investigators said that Nishant Kanodias companies, which are based in Mauritius, kept investing money in Nupower Renewables despite the venture registering losses, a matter, which is under investigation. The officials added that the money-laundering probe is also underway to ascertain these transactions. The money was diverted allegedly via a web of companies in Mauritius. Chanda Kochhar has been grilled in connection with quid pro quo for sanctioning loans to these ventures. If needed we will summon the accused person for questioning again, the ED officials said. On Friday, the ED raided at least six locations, including residences of Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot in Mumbai and Aurangabad, respectively. The agency began questioning the trio based on the documents seized in the raid. The first round of questioning was concluded at around 4am on Saturday and later began in afternoon. The ED has also issued lookout notices against Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar, Dhoot with the immigration authorities restricting them from leaving the country. Apart from the documents, computers and hard disks seized during the searches will also be analysed for accessing the data stored in them. The ED has registered a criminal case under the the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA) early this year against Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar, Dhoot and others to probe alleged irregularities and corrupt practices in sanctioning of Rs 1,875-crore loans by ICICI Bank to the corporate group. Parliament is now engaged in passing an Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill which is also called Finns Law. Every year, just before the holidays, there is usually a story in the papers about why there is going to be some uncertainty over the fate of the vacationers. In the past, the worry would be about the holiday rush and the inability of the airlines to cope. Or about the vagaries of the weather. But this year the narrative has completely changed, as the real cost of Brexit is now coming home. No one can say for sure if the UK will be out of the EU by March 29, 11 pm. (midnight in Europe) as the legislation says. Easter Holidays are slotted between April 8 to 22. To go abroad or to stay at home is the question? Should you buy your Euros now or wait till later when the Pound is up. Holiday companies are cutting their prices as much as they can. For instance, the fortnightly package to Greece now costs less than 300. And then the final worry is will the British be treated like foreigners and need a visa or be waved through as is the case now? Far too many questions so booking tickets in advance is becoming a problem! Its a girl! And what are the chances that she will be called Brexit? Hmm well, lets see whether she arrives post Brexit! As the countdown to the royal baby looms the mom-to-be, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, had an expensive American-style baby shower in Manhattan, and flew back using the private jet belonging to George and Amal Clooney. And, at the shower, which was also attended by Serena Williams among others, everything was reportedly in pink! Eyebrows were raised at the extravagance but fortunately, it is said, her friends paid for it all! But later, on a trip to Morocco, she charmed everyone by speaking French and Spanish (better than the royals do). She also acquired a henna tattoo for good luck. So hopefully the criticism will be forgotten. If there is anything the British love more than themselves, it is their pets cats and dogs mostly. Parliament is now engaged in passing an Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill which is also called Finns Law. Finn is a police dog and was attached with P.C. Wardell, when the policeman was attacked by an armed criminal. Finn intervened and saved the officers life but was unfortunately stabbed by the thug. He had to be taken to the hospital and it took serious treatment and weeks of hospitalisation for him to recover. But Finns assailant could not be punished properly as Finn was classified in law as the property of his master and being an old dog nearing retirement was not worth much. The sentence passed on the assailant was mild. This decidedly annoyed everyone. So from now on, under the amended law, animals dogs and horses assisting the Police or prison officials will be treated as serving their person in charge. Anyone causing unnecessary harm to the animal will be severely punished. Finns Law has passed the House of Commons. Last Friday, the Bill was introduced in the House of Lords as a Private Members Bill with Finn and P.C. Wardell watching from the gallery. In future, anyone hurting police dogs will not be let off lightly. A favourite dream of mine is to find a very valuable painting in the attic. Alas, all we can stumble upon in our attic is a variety of books books and more books. And that is the story throughout our house as well. So I can only take vicarious pleasure when something marvellous like this happens to someone else. Now that a lost Caravaggio has been found in an attic in Toulouse one wonders how it got there? But more importantly, it is now in London and Judith beheading Holofernes will go on display this week at a gallery in Mayfair, London, before it is auctioned. The Louvre will not purchase it as it already has three remarkable Caravaggios, and so this one will be expected to pick up at least 100 million Euros , a windfall for the Museum. There have been some doubts over the authenticity of the painting but biblical themes were popular in the 17th century, and the artist has done at least one more similar painting. But like his other work this is fairly gory, and blood oozes out liberally at the beheading. It is not for the faint hearted. The painting depicts the biblical story of Judith, a widow in the city of Bethulia who seduces and beheads the general Holofernes, to save her city. Catch a glimpse while it is here in London because who knows which private collector will snap it up! Lastly, while there has been a lot of discussion on Kashmir and the recent attack in Pulwama in the British media, definitely much more needs to be done to explain that India has been the victim of terrorist attacks and aggression. There is some amount of empathy, as the UK has also suffered from terrorism but the situation needs further exposition. Ottawa has until midnight on Friday (0500 GMT Saturday) to announce whether it will issue an authority to proceed. Chinas Foreign Ministry grabbed a chance to question the state of judicial independence in Canada on Friday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government faced accusations at home that it had tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial. Trudeaus domestic troubles have attracted attention in Chinese state media due to his previous assertion that his government cannot interfere in the case of a senior Huawei Technologies Co Ltd executive arrested in Canada and now fighting extradition to the United States. China has repeatedly called for the release of Meng Wanzhou, the telecommunication giants chief financial officer, arrested in Vancouver in December at Washingtons request. In late January the US Justice Department charged Huawei and Meng with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran. At a regular daily news briefing in Beijing, Chinas Foreign Ministry took the opportunity to take Canada to task over possible double standards, by commenting on a domestic Canadian political issue that does not otherwise involve China. Trudeau has disputed allegations by his former justice minister that government officials inappropriately pressured her to help the SNC-Lavalin construction firm avoid a corruption trial. Asked by a state media journalist if it was contradictory for Trudeau to say he couldnt interfere in Mengs case and yet his government be accused of trying to intervene in the SNC-Lavalin case, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he really liked this question. Of course I think that this is a question that should be asked of the Canadian government, Lu said. In fact on this case you have mentioned, people in Canada are paying it a great deal of attention, he added. In fact, not only Chinese and Canadian citizens, but the whole world are extremely interested to hear how the Canadian government answers this question. Both Meng and Huawei have denied the US allegations. Ottawa has until midnight on Friday (0500 GMT Saturday) to announce whether it will issue an authority to proceed, which would allow a court in the Pacific province of British Columbia to start a formal extradition hearing. Pakistan information mins resolution states decision to release Indian pilot makes Pak PM Nobel-worthy. Islamabad: Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday submitted a resolution in National Assembly Secretariat, demanding to award a Nobel Peace Prize to Prime Minister Imran Khan for wisely handling the soaring Pakistan-India tensions. The resolution stated that the premiers decision of releasing arrested Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had de-escalated the hostility between both the countries. It added that Indian aggression towards Pakistan had risked lives of several people. Imran Khan had responsibly acted in the current situation for which he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, the resolution demanded. The step came day after Pakistan handed over captured Indian pilot to Indian authorities at Wagah border in a peace gesture. Abhinandan Varthamans MiG-21 jet was shot down over Kashmir on Wednesday, after a dogfight in the skies over the disputed Himalayan region which sent tensions between Pakistan and India to their highest levels in years and alarmed world powers, who issued calls for restraint. Finance minister Qureshi, meanwhile, announced he was boycotting a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Abu Dhabi, as India had been invited. The latest confrontation between the neighbours erupted after a suicide bombing in Kashmir killed over 40 Indian troops on February 14. Twelve days later Indian warplanes crossed into Pakistan and dropped payload. It was the first such aerial raid since their last war in 1971 - before either country had nuclear weapons. Pakistan denied casualties or damage in the incident and shot down Indian jets, capturing its pilot. Prime Minister Imran Khan unexpectedly announced that Abhinandan Varthaman would be released a day later in the first sign of a potential thaw. The winter carnival organised by Mukesh Ambani in Switzerland that saw a huge gathering of film stars continues to make headlines even days later. The Bollywood brigade returned home a few days ago but the pictures from the starry bash continue to keep their fans back home updated about their activities. Now, unseen pictures of Khushi Kapoor from the party are here and are worth a look. The daughter of late actor Sridevi and film producer Boney Kapoor stole the attention in a sequinned ivory Manish Malhotra gown with a thigh-high slit. She paired it with a matching embroidered jacket to brave the Swiss winter. Khushi had decked up in a strapless, rose gold Bazza Alzouman gown for another party. Meanwhile, Shweta Nandas daughter and Amitabh Bachchans granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda wore a glittery blue gown with a side slit and a fur shrug. Alia Bhatt, who had attended the event with her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, chose a red sweater and matching bell-bottoms to enjoy her time in the sun and snow. Paired with white cat-eye shades, the pictures of the actor proves she had a lot of fun in St Moritz. Actor Jacqueline Fernandez also flew along with her industry friends for the extravaganza. She attended one of the parties in a grey Manish Malhotra lehenga. Also read: Priyanka Chopra reveals her character in The Sky Is Pink will age from 22 to 60, says it was a challenge Among others who attended the pre-wedding celebrations of Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta were Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor and many others. International bands Coldplay and The Chainsmokers had performed at the do. Akash and Shloka will tie the knot on March 9 in Mumbai and several Bollywood celebs are expected to be a part of the wedding celebrations as well. Follow @htshowbiz for more With the weekend coming to an end, several Bollywood actors were spotted at the Mumbai airport on Sunday. For some it was a working weekend while others returned to the city to get back to work. Actor Kangana Ranaut was spotted at the airport as she returned from Delhi where she attended the India Today Conclave 2019. She was seen in a blue striped shirt, white pants, brown jacket and carrying a stylish bag. She smiled for the cameras as she walked out of the airport. Also spotted at the airport was Hrithik Roshan in a blue T-shirt, black leather jacket and blue jeans. Actor Sara Ali Khan was seen in a white kurta pyjama and actor Kartik Aaryan was also seen in a grey T-shirt and beanie. Actor Shraddha Kapoor, who celebrates her birthday on Sunday, was seen walking out of the airport in a cute T-shirt and a pair of lilac pants. Also read: Priyanka Chopra sings Sucker for husband Nick Jonas in this behind-the-scenes video Actor Kareena Kapoor also returned from Kochi after attending an event. She was seen in a blue shirt and denims. Actor Sunny Leone was also seen at the airport in a yellow shirt and blue culottes. She even bought a bouquet of flowers from a shop at the airport. Veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini were spotted together by the paparazzi. Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khans son Arhaan was spotted at a restaurant in Mumbai. Actor Ananya Panday was also seen at the restaurant with her parents and even clicked selfies with her fans. Check out more celeb pics here: Ananya Panday with a fan. (Varinder Chawla) Arhaan Khan with friends at a restaurant. (Varinder Chawla) Dharmendra and Hema Malini spotted in Mumbai. Malavika Mohanan and Ananya Panday spotted by paparazzi in Mumbai. (Varinder Chawla) Nushrat Barucha and Kareena Kapoor at the airport. (Varinder Chawla) Ileana DCruz with a friend. (Varinder Chawla) Yami Gautam and Shraddha Kapoor at the airport. (Varinder Chawla) Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan at the airport. (Varinder Chawla) Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan at the airport. (Varinder Chawla) Sunny Leone at the airport. (Varinder Chawla) Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Kangana Ranaut was in her usual take-no-prisoners mode as she went on to say that The Mr Johars of Bollywood will end up looking like a bunch of idiots one day. The Manikarnika actor was speaking at the India Today Conclave in Delhi and commented on everything from nepotism, her dispute with Hrithik Roshan and more. According to a report on India Today, Stressing on the need for chyawanprash for Karan, Kangana spoke about an incident, Karan mocked me on the IIFA stage and said that I am jobless and I am looking for jobs from him or something like that. I mean, look at my talent and look at your movies. I mean, really? He really called me jobless on some platform? I think some people need a dose of chyawanprash. The actor made it clear that despite her clashes with so many celebrities, she doesnt feel left out at all. She went on to say, I really feel I stand out. When you talk about actresses, heres a three-time National Award-winning actress. The Mr Johars of the world try to present a list of people whose acting abilities are questionable. Its brain-feeding of another magnitude. There was a time when we liked bell-bottoms and neon shades that people wore in the 70s but when we look back, we find it funny. This is what is going to happen to these people. They are going to look like idiots. she added. On being asked how she would react if she swapped places with Karan and Hrithik, she said, He will never be where I am. The actor also spoke about how Hrithik has completely denied even knowing her. Giving her justification, Kangana said, Talking about this so-called case which never actually happened, heres a person I have worked with in two films. He is completely denying even knowing me and getting away with it. How does that even happen? She went on to add, This is absurd. Even to think that you can get away with something like that is in itself a sign of powerdrunkness. The actor said the system in place in Bollywood helps people with privilege and repels when it is challenged and her many fallouts in the industry happened because she was always presented do-or-die situations in which she always fought her survival. I come from a situation where I really do not have a backup plan. I dont have a plan B. Its not like I wake up in the morning and think about Oh wait a minute. How many people can I offend today and how to make my life difficult? Thats not how it is. ... The kind of story I have I wasnt left with an option. I wish they did. I wish they let me do my thing and I wish there wasnt this do or die situation. I would have preferred it like that. But if one of us has to do die I will make sure that it is not me, Kangana said. A couple of her past few films have been plagued by controversies. Her 2017 film Simran was marred by a spat between her and screenwriter Apurva Asrani, who claimed that she poached his writing credit. Her latest release Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi was also embroiled in multiple controversies. Kangana said the credit for her success is hers only as she is the only actor in the film industry who has not worked with a big production house or a big hero. We all know that Bollywood, the film industry is classist and so is the rest of the society. The system works for certain people the way it is. It is definitely going to resist when you are going to challenge it. The three-time National Award winner said after her debut film Gangster, she struggled a lot for work. When I came to the industry with a film like Gangster, I won the Best Actress award in entire Asia and then I did not have any work at all. They did not know what to do with an actor like that. Item numbers were prevalent and so were the patriarchal and chauvinist sort of male depiction in films where actors and actresses are just showing up to get pinched in their butt or get mocked. So I did not had any work. So I like said if it is a do-or-die situation Im going to ensure that I survive, Kangana said. She said the power players of Bollywood tried to suppress her voice but she fought every time. Also read: Priyanka Chopra reveals her character in The Sky Is Pink will age from 22 to 60, says it was a challenge When you question so many things, they will try to shut your voice because the system has been working for them. It is your prerogative as a person to see what you want to do. Of course they will do what they can to ensure that people like us who question the system do not survive, she said. On the topic of women empowerment, Kangana lamented that there are women actors in the industry who believe that they do not deserve pay on par with their male counterparts. I think you are as empowered as you think you are. Its a very individual choice. I know some women who openly say that I dont think I deserve the kind of remuneration my male counterpart does. It is an individual choice. If you believe that you are not an equal then of course nobody can change that, she said. Kangana also said that feminism is the most misused word in the current times. Feminism is a word which is misused and especially in todays time and age. I know so many people who know nothing about equality and they wear these badges of feminism, pay parity and fighting cause..., she said. I dont go by the book definition of feminism. I have made my own definition. Though the word is derived from feminine but why should there be only equalities which is influenced by or related to sex. There should be equality of life... I think with time we need to evolve the definition, she added. (With PTI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Priyanka Chopra not only saw the release of her Hollywood film Isnt It Romantic this week but also featured in Jonas Brothers new music video Sucker. The actor is now set to resume work on her Bollywood film, The Sky Is Pink, and her character will be seen ageing from 22 to 60 years in the film. Talking to Mid-Day.com about the film, Priyanka said, Though the film is about parents losing their child to an incurable disease, its a unique take on death one that celebrates peoples lives instead of mourning their death. It was a challenge to go from 22 to 60 after 7 Khoon Maaf (2011). I was able to sink my teeth in the part. The Sky Is Pink is scheduled to hit the theatres on October 11 this year. Directed by Shonali Bose, the film also stars Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. Priyanka has been away from Bollywood since long and was last seen in the 2016s Jai Gangaajal. She had signed Bharat opposite Salman Khan but had walked out from the film soon afterwards as she was marrying Nick Jonas at the time the film was being shot. The actor, however, made it clear that she doesnt prefer Hollywood over Bollywood. She said, I have missed the madness of Hindi movies. I dont look at it as a choice between Hollywood and Bollywood, its the magic of movies. The first thing I did after Quantico was a Hindi movie. My career in both countries is dear to me, and as long as people want to watch me, Ill stay! Also read: Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas collaborate in Jonas Brothers music video Sucker, Sophie Turner is there too. Watch Then what made her say yes for a supporting role in Isnt It Romantic. Priyanka justifies in the report saying, That was never a concern. My yardstick of choosing stories is strictly based on whether I want to watch the film. I finished reading this script in one go. Isnt It Romantic released in India on Netflix on February 28. Follow @htshowbiz for more After parting ways with the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) due to disagreement over seat sharing, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), a breakaway faction of the SAD, has decided to join hands with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to contest Lok Sabha polls in Punjab. Punjab AAP president and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, along with party colleagues, met SAD (Taksali) president and Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at his house on Friday. The meeting between senior leaders of both the parties lasted around two hours. We successfully held talks with the AAP for an alliance. We will meet again in two-three days to make a formal announcement, said Brahmpura on Saturday. His son and former Khadoor Sahib MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura said the Taksalis have expressed their desire to contest four seats Khadoor Sahib, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Anandpur Sahib. While Mann was not available for comments, leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said both the parties have in principle agreed to enter into an alliance. The final decision, including seat sharing, will be announced soon, he said. Earlier, the Taksalis were in talks with the PDA, a conglomerate of Sukhpal Singh Khaira-led Punjabi Ekta Party, Bahajun Samaj Party, Lok Insaaf Party and Punjab Manch. But differences emerged as the Taksalis wanted to field former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh from the Anandpur Sahib seat, while the PDA insisted to give the seat to the BSP. When questioned that the AAP has already announced Narinder Singh Shergill as its candidate from Anandpur Sahib seat, Brahmpuras son said: Cheema has assured us that the AAP can withdraw its candidate from any seat if need arises. I hope the Anandpur Sahib seat would not be a hurdle in the alliance. Earlier, the January 10 talks between Mann and Brahmpura failed as the Taksalis wanted to join hands with the PDA. The PDA has already decided to field candidates on nine of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. The BSP will contest Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur seats, Punjab Ekta Party Bathinda and Fardikot, Lok Insaaf Party Ludhiana, Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib and suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhis Punjab Manch will contest Patiala. Kharar MLA opposes tie-up Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu on Saturday opposed the proposed poll alliance between the AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sandhu, who was suspended by the AAP from its primary membership four months ago for anti-party activities, urged AAP leaders to oppose the move. How can @AAPPunjab which swears by secularism think of forging an alliance with a Panthic outfit like akali dal taksali? All those in Punjab committed to @AAP ideology must oppose the decision of self serving leaders who are doing this (sic), he tweeted. The Kharar MLA also asked Punjab AAP chief Bhagwant Mann and leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema if the AAP would also align with SAD (Taksali) when they contest the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) polls. Can there be an alliance between parties which work on different ideologies? he posted on Twitter. In November 2018, Sandhu and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira were suspended from the AAP for continuously attacking the party leadership. Khaira has formed his separate Punjabi Ekta Party and was in talks with the SAD (Taksali), set up by a breakaway faction of the Akali Dal, for a poll tie-up until last week. The Delhi cabinet on Saturday approved the procurement of 1,000 low-floor electric buses. The first lot of buses is expected to hit the road before the end of the year. Tenders for the e-buses is expected to be released within a week, the government said in a statement. Congratulations Delhi. Cabinet approves 1,000 electric buses. Several obstacles were created. All obstacles cleared. Delhi will become the first Indian city to have such a large no of electric buses, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. Calling it a historic day for Delhi, transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the decision will help in ensuring a cleaner, greener future for the residents. Last year, the government had given in-principle approval to the project at an estimated cost of 2,500 crore and had appointed Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) as consultant. The complete oll-out, including operations and maintenance over a period of 10 years, is likely to cost up to 6,000 crore. The electric buses would be parked and charged overnight at six depots called as parent depots developed at East Vinod Nagar, Burari, Rohini Sector 37, Mudhela Kalan, ITDR Sarai kale Khan and Bamnauli. Four young, educated men, including a management graduate and a techie, have been arrested for running an online lottery racket and cheating at least 500 people of at least 5 crore . The four men were identified as Narender Sharma (32), an MBA graduate, Rakesh Abrol (41), a graduate from Jammu University, Sunil Kumar Yadav (31) a BA graduate from Delhi University, and Tanuj Talwar (32) a B.Tech from IP University, Delhi. Police said all four had met at an IT firm where they decided to cheat people and earn easy money. On February 28, the police got information that a gang of cheats that has allegedly cheated more than 500 people across India was hiding in Delhi, additional commissioner of police (crime) Rajiv Ranjan said. It was learnt that two serving lieutenant-colonels of the Indian Army had lodged a complaint against the gang. After gathering information about one of the gang members, a team raided a premises in Sarai Julena near New Friends Colony and arrested Narender Sharma, Ranjan said. The additional commissioner said after Sharmas interrogation, his team arrested his three associates Abrol, Yadav and Talwar from different locations in the city. Sharma told police during interrogation that in 2009, he had joined a call centre in Noida as a tele-caller where he became friends with Abrol, Talwar and Yadav, said Ranjan. Later, Sharma and the others started an e-commerce and online shopping portal named Shopit. All the four accused were appointed as directors of their company. They used to cheat people by luring them to invest in their company and promising good returns. They used to run a lottery system through which they cheated hundreds of victims across country over the years, Ranjan said. Four men from Afghanistan, who were detained by the Delhi Polices special cell on suspicion of being drug smugglers a few days ago, turned out to be carrying heroin capsules in their abdomen, police said on Sunday. Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital have so far extracted 122 capsules containing 920 grams of heroin and much more is expected to be brought out in the coming days, said Pramod Kushwaha, deputy commissioner of police (special cell). The revelation prompted the police to register a first information report. On February 23, sleuths from the special cell received a tip-off that some Afghan men carrying drugs for supply to Delhi-NCR were arriving at the Delhi airport. We detained them near the exit gate of Terminal 3 at 7pm. They were carrying bags, but were not found in possession of any drugs, Kushwaha said. But during interrogation, the men were visibly uncomfortable and showed signs of dizziness, the DCP said. The police got them admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and put in a request for a full-body check-up to know if they were concealing drugs in their bodies. The doctors carried out their X-rays and other examinations, and found suspicious capsules in their bodies. They were then given medical treatment for flushing out these capsules from their stomach, said the DCP. Sharif, 69, is serving seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case in Lahore's Jail. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. (Photo: AP) Lahore: Pakistan's Opposition Leader and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif met his elder brother, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in jail here and briefed him on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India, according to a media report. Sharif, 69, is serving seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. "The purpose of the meeting on Saturday was to brief him (Nawaz) on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India," the Express Tribune reported, quoting party sources. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. Shehbaz also inquired about Nawaz's health, the paper said. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Sharif was the prime minister during the Kargil conflict in 1999. Last week, Sharif was sent back to jail after his 10-day stay in Jinnah Hospital Lahore in connection with his treatment. According to a Punjab government official, the three-time prime minister asked the doctors to shift him back to jail after his bail petition on medical grounds was rejected by a court. Three corruption cases - Avenfield properties, Flagship investment and Al-Azizia steel mills - were registered against the Sharif family by the anti-graft body in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfiled case in July 2018 which was related to his properties in London. Later he was given bail in September. In December, the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia case but acquitted him in the Flagship reference. A woman was shot dead in a bid to save her husband following an argument over the music being played during a wedding in outer Delhis Mangolpuri during the early hours of Saturday. The deceased, 36-year-old Sunita Devi, was the aunt of the groom, Sumit. The accused and his accomplice were arrested from Chandigarh where they had fled after committing the crime. Deputy commissioner of police (outer) Seju P Kuruvilla said preliminary enquiry revealed that Sunita and her husband Sajjan Kumar, 39, were at Sumits wedding when Kumar had an altercation with two brothers Akash (24) and Sandeep (25), who were invited by the brides family. One of the two men fired a shot at Kumar but Sunita came in between and the bullet hit her in the head. Seeing the woman collapse, both the men fled the wedding procession, the DCP said. Kuruvilla said the woman was then rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police said Sunita is survived by, apart from her husband Sajjan, her three children. The Central Board Of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday notified its policy or mechanism to address the problem of anomalies in the board exams question papers. CBSE is presently conducting the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations across the county and abroad for lakhs of students. CBSE every year conducts the board examination in about 5000 examination centres in India and in 25 countries abroad. The CBSE said if any anomaly is noticed after Question Paper is administered on the day of examination the board address issues in the following manner: 1. Observations are obtained from subject experts on the day of examination. 2. Observations on the Question Paper are obtained from all schools within 24 hours of the conduct of examination 3. Information received within 24 hours of the conduct of examination from other sources is also taken into consideration All observations are compiled and provided to the group preparing Marking Schemes to make the provision to address the anomaly in such a manner that students interest is protected. The board further said if any anomaly is noticed after the question paper is administered on the day of the examination, it is not possible to communicate the solution of the same to all the centres. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing last Decembers violence in Syana (Bulandshahr) in western Uttar Pradesh and the killing of a police inspector filed a charge sheet on Saturday in a local court naming five men for the murder and 33 others including Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Raj, BJP leader Shikhar Agarwal and VHP leader Upendra Raghav for inciting violence and arson. The SIT submitted a 3,400-page case diary and 103-page charge sheet against the 38 accused in the court of Bulandshahar chief judicial magistrate. Bulandshahars Superintendent of Police (SP) Atul Kumar Srivastava said Prashant Natt, Rahul, David, Johny and Lokendra were guilty of killing inspector Subodh Kumar Singh of Syana police station while he was trying to pacify the angry mob, near Chingrawathi village, after an incident of cow slaughter in the night of December 2 last year. Also read: Planted: Bulandshahr accused Prashant Natts wife on recovery of slain cop Subodh Singhs phone A village youth named Sumit also sustained bullet injury in the violence and died on way to hospital. Srivastava said the 33 other accused, including Yogesh Raj, Shikhar Agarwal, Upendra Raghav and armyman named Jeetu have been charged for attempt to murder, inciting violence, arson, damaging public property etc. Investigation against one accused, who is jail, was still underway, said Srivastava adding that non-bailable warrant (NBW) had been issued against five other accused who are still at large. The SP said investigation was on and teams were in the process of identifying those who were involved in violence. Also read: UP police donate Rs 70 lakh for family of Subodh Kumar, inspector killed in Bulandshahr violence An angry mob had blocked Bulandshahar- Garhmukteshwar road near Chnigrawthi police post in Syana area on December 3 protesting an incident of cow slaughter in nearby Mahav village in the night of December 2. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh reached at the spot and made a futile attempt to pacify the mob and lift the blockade but they refused. When police tried to remove them forcibly, the crowd pelted stones on them and during the clash Sumit Choudhary of village Chingrawthi sustained bullet injury and died. An angry mob then chased inspector Singh and lynched him in an open field. They also set Chingrawthi police post on fire and damaged many vehicles. The encounter in north Kashmirs Handwara which began on Friday morning ended 54 hours later Sunday noon with security forces killing two terrorists, one of who was a Pakistani. Three CRPF personnel, two Jammu and Kashmir policemen and a civilian were also killed in the three-day encounter. Bodies of both the terrorists were recovered from the site of encounter, the Jammu and Kashmir police spokesman Manoj Kumar said in a statement. One jawan of CRPF identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav who was injured earlier has attained martyrdom. IG CRPF (operations), Zulfiquar Hassan said that the CRPF jawan succumbed on Saturday night increasing the death toll of security forces to five. A civilian was also killed during the gun battle on the first day. DIG north Kashmir M Suleman Choudhary said that they have identified one of the terrorists who is a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant from Pakistan. His code name is Kabullah while we are ascertaining the identity of second terrorist, he said. Police said the operation posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter, the statement said. DIG Choudhary said that the area was largely built up and congested. There are many lanes and by-lanes. Our approach has been to exercise restraint to avoid damage or any civilian causality. That is why it took time, he said. We evacuated all the civilians. Every home was searched so that nobody is left behind and then operation was started. Police also claimed that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Incriminating materials retrieved from the site of encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases. The death toll of the security forces rose to five with a CRPF trooper succumbing to his injuries Saturday night. A civilian was also killed in the gun battle on the first day. The operation at Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, 72 km north of Srinagar had started on Friday. A militant presumed to be dead emerged from the rubble of a house opened fire and inflicted casualities on security forces. Two CRPF personnel and two police men were killed on Friday during the encounter which started after police, army and CRPF cordoned Baba Gund area after information about the presence of militants. As the searches were going on, the terrorists fired indiscriminately on the search party. In the process, two police personnel, two CRPF personnel and one individual sustained critical injuries and succumbed, a police spokesman said. The two police personnel were identified as Naseer Ahmad Kholi and Ghulam Mustafa Barah and two CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Pintu and constable Vinod. Kholi is survived by his parents, wife, a daughter, 4, and a toddler son. Barah left behind his aged mother, wife and two daughters and two sons. The spokesman said that an individual identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir also sustained bullet injury and died at a hospital. Locals said that security forces used pellets and bullets to disperse protesters near the site of encounter. On Sunday again, villagers around Baba Gund threw stones on security forces as they were carrying out final searches at the site of the gunfight. They said that a few houses and cattle sheds have been damaged in the encounter. The locals said that the area is congested making it easy for militants to shift nearby houses. On February 18, in a major operation against the Jaish-e-Mohammad leadership, three top militants, including two Pakistanis, were killed in south Kashmirs Pulwama. Four army personnel, including a major, and a policeman were killed in that encounter. The JeM militants were killed within 100 hours of a suicide bomb attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14. Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack, which was done by a local, who rammed a explosive-laden car into a bus carrying the personnel. Since the attack, 13 militants (11 from JeM and 2 from LeT) have been killed in various encounters across the Valley while security forces have lost four policemen including a DSP, six army jawans including a major and three CRPF men, including an inspector in these gunfights. IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman suffered an injury in his lower spine when he ejected from his MiG-21 fighter jet last week after an aerial engagement with an F-16 that had transgressed into Indian air space, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying on Sunday. The MRI scans revealed that though no bugs had been found on the IAF pilot, there were signs of two injuries. While one injury was on his lower spine when he ejected from his plane, the other injury was on a rib, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying. The second injury was possibly suffered when he was assaulted by some locals when he parachuted into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) after his plane was shot down. The agency also reported that Wing Commander Abhinandan will undergo some more check ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was repatriated to India on Friday after spending more than 50 hours in the custody after the Pakistan Army after he ejected out of his fighter jet over Pakistani territory when his MiG-21 was shot down. Also read | IAFs Abhinandan Varthaman says he went through a lot of mental harassment while in Pak custody: Report The 35-year-old IAF pilot Abhinandan was among the first fighter jets that had been scrambled to repulse a package of nearly 24 fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force that had transgressed into Indian airspace with a view to target Indian military installations in the Rajouri sector. The PAF assault came a day after Indian Mirage 2000 jets bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp at Balakot in an unprecedented, peace-time cross-border air strike. Immediately after he stepped onto Indian soil at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar, Wing Commander Abhinandan was brought to Delhi where he met his family for a few minutes before he was taken to the medical facility at Delhi Cantonment to undergo tests. Wing Commander Abhinandan is currently in cooling down phase and is being kept under medical observation and being given counselling. He will also undergo various medical tests to ensure he is physically fit before he gets back in a fighter jets cockpit. Abhinandan is the first Indian pilot to have shot down the US-made F-16 fighter jet. During the course of his medical tests, and psychological evaluation, he is reported to have told the authorities that though he was not physically harmed, he had undergone a lot of mental harassment in Pakistani custody. Early on Saturday, he met Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and before that he had met IAF chief Air Marshal BS Dhanoa and had apprised him of his detention in Pakistan. Also read | Abhinandan Varthaman is first IAF pilot to down an F-16: Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy The nation is celebrating the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India on Friday after two days in Pakistani custody. We wish him an early return to the cockpit for that is what he would want. He is the first combat pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to shoot down an F-16. He flew the first MiG-21 to achieve this feat. Varthaman was part of an IAF team that, through timely intervention, repulsed a Pakistani air raid into the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir on Wednesday. In the process, the IAF defenders also managed to destroy a valuable air asset of Pakistan, an F-16, possibly a two-seater that is hard to replace. Also, media reported that the pilot of the F-16 was killed. If true, that would be a great loss to the Pakistan Air Force. The MiG-21 Bison, although the most advanced variant of the aircraft, is not a match against the F-16, designed as an Air Superiority Fighter. For decades, the IAF has been conveying its concern to the government about the depleting strength of its combat squadrons. It had projected an urgent need for 100 combat aircraft , the acquisition of which is yet to be approved. IAFs SU-30 MKIs are two decades old and require upgrading. Regrettably, a complex acquisition process and politicization of every acquisition has stalled the government from taking a decision. Pakistan, a much weaker economy, has managed it better. The belief that there wont be any war seems to have made us complacent. When will the government decide and sign a contract? It would take at least five years after a contract is signed to get an upgrade. In the meanwhile, we have to manage with what we have, perhaps for another decade. The governments that stalled the process year after year and delayed our modernisation programme are directly responsible. At times, a significant portion of the budget allocated to modernisation is returned unspent. But today is not the time for o a blame game. We must have faith our current assets and our action plans. On Wednesdays dogfight over the LoC, the MiG-21 Bison is a potent weapon system that has nearly all the capabilities of the F-16, and in an air defence role, it carries similar weapons as the F-16 does. But, the Bison is less manoeuvrable than the F-16. BIison pilots practice combat against the Mirage-2000 and are tested periodically. On occasions, they get the opportunity of training against F-16s from friendly foreign air forces Our Bison operational pilots are a confident bunch and are well-trained. In addition, the Air Force has professional Institutions like the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) that oversees squadron training. Squadrons are evaluated annually for their skills and abilities.Any corrective actions that are needed are firmly implemented. Also read | IAFs Abhinandan Varthaman says he went through a lot of mental harassment while in Pak custody: Report In an operational scenario, the Commander decides on the strategy and tactics to follow given the area of responsibility and the force at his disposal. Typically the plan would be to mix a highly manoeuvrable aircraft like the SU-30 MKI, the MiG-29 or the Mirage-2000 with the MiG-21 Bison in an air defence missions. They do combat in a coordinated manner in a fast developing aerial situation. The PAF also has a limited number of F-16 and had to combine the aircraft with others in its fleet in air missions. Air battles are usually intensely and are over in a matter of minutes. Decisions are made in split seconds. The LoC is a difficult terrain and from the air, the border between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir is not easily distinguishable. While chasing enemy planes, it is possible to cross the LoC inadvertently. I believe that once a fighter pilot sets his eyes on his target, which is often hard to come by, he would not take his eyes off it. We do not know yet about what hit Varthamans aircraft. Was it ground fire? Or a surface-to-air missile? Or a missile launched in air? The AIM-120 missile evidence that Indian forces have picked shows that the missile had been fired. Quite likely that it was aimed at IAF aircraft. Now that Varthaman is back, the IAF would be eventually debriefing him on the details. As observers and as citizens, we need to have patience and trust the government and our military to get on with what they ought to do. Public opinion would always prevail. For now, it must be supportive and not demoralize those who face the brunt. (Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy) Also read | Before cooling down and medical tests, IAF pilot Abhinandan meets family in Delhi Amid questions by opposition leaders about the casualty figures in Indias air strikes in Pakistan, Union minister of state, electronic and IT, S S Ahluwalia said that the strikes were meant to scare and warn and not to take human lives. Has Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the 300 figure (of casualty), or did any spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party say so? Did Amit Shah give any figure even once? The air strikes were designed to demonstrate that we can enter your home, despite your (Pakistans) elaborate security arrangements, and can strike at will at terror locations that we have properly identified, said Ahluwalia, the Darjeeling MP, in Siliguri on Friday. We did not want any human casualty, the minister said in Bengali. Ahluwalia, who spent his student years in Bengal and studied in Calcutta University, speaks the language fluently. He was responding to Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees remarks on Thursday questioning the number of casualties in the Indias strike in Balakot on February 26. We have the right to know how many people were killed in the air strikes launched by India. Is it 300, or 350? I read in the international media that the bombs landed somewhere else. How many actually perished? Or, did anyone die at all? the Trinamool Congress chief had asked. Also read: We dont need war for the sake of politics: Mamata Banerjee Following Ahluwalias remarks, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) asked on Twitter whether the government was now backtracking from its claims that it took out a terrorist camp in Pakistan. Minister of State in Modi's cabinet, SS Ahluwalia is saying @narendramodi or @AmitShah never claimed that our #AirStrikes killed 300+ Terrorists & we didnt want any "Human Casualties". Is the Govt now backtracking from its claims that they took out a Terrorist Camp in Pakistan? pic.twitter.com/nstgsWF6sZ CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) March 2, 2019 Incidentally, on Saturday, speaking at a public rally in Madhya Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah criticised Banerjee for her Thursday remarks. Hours after the air strikes on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said in a briefing, Credible intelligence was received that JeM was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country, and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary. India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In this operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated. This facility at Balakot was headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ghouri), the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar , Chief of JeM, he said. He did not mention any specific number of casualties. Also read: IAF airstrikes across LoC in Balakot: Govts full statement The Jammu and Kashmir government late on Sunday clarified that Jamaat-e-Islami affiliated schools, mosques and orphanages have been kept outside the purview of the ban on the organisation. #JeI Ban# J&K Government Spokesman, Rohit Kansal @kansalrohit69 clarifies: Schools, mosques & orphanages so far kept outside the scope of seizure, said a tweet by department of information and public relations, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir. Almost all regional mainstream parties had expressed outrage after Centre on Thursday banned the Jamaat-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir for five years on grounds that it was in close touch with militant outfits and was expected to escalate secessionist movement in the state. National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference (PC) have demanded revocation of the ban and also expressed concern over the fate of schools run by the JeI. While the government may take some time to review the need to ban JeI, there is a need to urgently review the ban on schools and the sealing of mosques, tweeted former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday. There is nothing to suggest sealing mosques will improve the security environment. Sealing schools risks forcing so many young kids out on the streets rather than studying to make a future for themselves, he said. People are being turned away from mosques where they usually congregate for prayers. Schools with 10s of 1000s of students, employing 1000s of teachers are being sealed, he said. There is anxiety among thousands of parents and students of hundreds of JeI-run schools as they fear the administration may seal educational institutes as well. According to an unofficial estimate, around 100,000 students are studying in 300 schools run by the JeI. On Saturday, PDP leaders and activists took out a protest march against the ban in Srinagar. The protest came as authorities in Kashmir started sealing properties of JeI and residences of some of its activists. Bank accounts of JeI leaders have also been frozen. These schools have been providing education to the poorest of the poor and they have been getting positions. They are meritorious students. Where will these kids go? The government is playing with their future. This is very bad, said PDP leader and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. Indo-Pak tension played spoilsport on Saturday, scuttling a Rajasthan mans plan to cross the border for his marriage on March 8. Mahendra Singh (23), a resident of Khejad Ka Paar village in the border district of Barmer had planned to take the Thar Express to Pakistan on Saturday to tie the knot with Chagan Kanwar of Sinoi village in Amarkot district of Sindh province. Five other family members were also set to travel with him. But soaring tension between India and Pakistan forced the family to cancel the marriage for now. Mahendra and Chagan Kanwar were engaged about three years ago and both the families recently decided to solemnise the marriage on March 8. The groom and five members of his family had obtained Pakistani visas for 90 days. The visas came into effect from February 14, the day on which Indo-Pak tension began to spiral following the suicide bombing in Pulwama in Kashmir which killed 40 CRPF troopers. The tension reached a peak following an Indian air strike on a Jasih-e-Mohammad camp in Pakistan and the subsequent downing of an Indian Air Force fighter plane over Pakistan and the capture of its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman before he was released. With no sign of tension easing, Mahendras family decided to cancel the marriage and spoke with the brides family which also had the same opinion. The grooms family eventually cancelled their tickets for Pakistan. My marriage was fixed about a month back. After that we made all preparations and distributed invitation cards to the relatives, Mahendra said. We got the visas for Pakistan and also booked tickets in the Thar Express. We will now plan the marriage during a peaceful time. Cross-border marriages are common among Rajput, Meghwal, Bheel, Sindhi and Khatri communities in the Border districts Barmer and Jaisalmer. Across the border in Pakistans Sindh province, many people in places like Meethi, Khokhrapar, Chachro and Mirpur are related to Rajasthanis through marriage. The Thar Express is a preferred mode of transport for such families on either side of the border to visit each other. The government has decided to directly transfer cash subsidies into bank accounts of farm produce exporters, in an attempt to make Indian agricultural produce globally competitive and boost exports of branded farm products, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity. The scheme came into effect on March 1 and will be valid till March 31, 2020. Depending on the response, it could be extended, the officials added. In order to make the process transparent and plug any leakages in distribution of the subsidy, the government has decided that the scheme will provide transportation and marketing assistance through direct bank transfer, the officials said. The scheme covers freight and marketing assistance for exports via sea and air routes. The assistance amount will, however, be reimbursed only if payments for exports are received in foreign exchange through normal banking channels, said a commerce ministry official, one of the officials cited above. The scheme, Transport and Marketing Assistance covers the export of specific agriculture and farm produce, and to specific markets. The products covered include marine and plantation products as covered under chapters 1 to 24 of the Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN). The scheme, however, excludes certain items including live animals, meat, shrimps and prawns, milk, butter, cheese, curd, onion, shallot, garlic, wheat, rice, lac, gums, resins and vegetable saps, the commerce ministry official added. The scheme will benefit only exports to specified markets including the European Union, West Asia, North America, South America, Russia, China, and certain ASEAN countries. While a break-up of agricultural exports to these countries wasnt immediately available, the cabinet in December last year approved an agriculture export policy to achieve $60 billion exports by 2022 and $100 billion in next few years from the current level of $30 billion. The scheme will help in mitigating the disadvantage of higher costs for transportation and marketing of Indias agricultural products to specified overseas markets, the commerce ministry official said. The Cash financial assistance will vary according to the region of exports, mode of transport (sea or air) and size of the container. The amount of the assistance ranges from 8,400 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) of normal shipping container for the Gulf region to 28,700 per TEU for shipping to North America. For air transport, the rate ranges from 840 per tonne for West Africa to 2,800 per tonne for North America. The list of specified countries includes, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. Exporters must be registered with the relevant export promotion council to avail the benefits offered under the scheme, the commerce ministry official said. Farmers leader and Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers Commission chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar said, It is a good move. It is easy to give freight subsidy on the basis of weight, but providing the marketing support appears difficult. There must be explicit and transparent eligibility criteria so that benefits can reach to all and not just some influential exporters. Amritsar-based agriculture economist and senior fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, SS Chhina said that the move would not benefit the farmer. The public money will go to the companies and exporters and not to the farmers, who are indirect, but real partners of the exporters. All farm sector export incentives must also help the farmers, the real stakeholders, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Delhi court Saturday summoned Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, The Caravan magazines editor in-chief, Paresh Nath and reporter Kaushal Shroff, in a defamation case filed by Vivek Doval, the younger son of NSA Ajit Doval. Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Samar Vishal listed the matter for April 25. Doval, an overseas citizen of India and a UK national, had moved the court against Ramesh and The Caravan. The case concerns an article published by The Caravan on January 16 in which it reported about purported hedge funds controlled by Vivek and its activities following the November 2016 demonetisation exercise. Following the publication, Congress leader Ramesh held a press conference on January 17 urging the RBI to investigate and disclose details of all FDI made from tax havens. The court issued the order after Doval recorded pre-summoning evidence along with his friends Nikhil Kapoor and business partner Amit Sharma. He had said the magazine and Ramesh had attempted to deliberately malign and defame him to settle scores with his father. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman would have blacked out for a couple of seconds, felt his body being pulled in different directions and heard a few loud bangs while ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison moments before the fighter jet crashed on February 27 after an aerial skirmish, said Anil Chopra, who became the first Air Marshal in the world to eject from a fighter plane seven years ago. The body is racked by punishing forces of up to 20g and even the fittest of fighter pilots will black out for two to three seconds in those conditions. The body takes a lot of beating and you see stars flash in your head, said Chopra, now retired. Varthaman, who will turn 35 in June, returned to India on Friday night, two days after he was captured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where he landed after a dogfight between his MiG-21 and a Pakistani F-16 that he shot down. Chopra, 66, said the ejection sequence from the squeezing of the ejection handle to the opening of the parachute would have lasted less than three seconds on the MiG-21. A whole lot of cartridges/rockets fire in a sequence during an ejection. Each has its own functions such as jettisoning the canopy or separation of the pilot from the seat. Its like someone is bursting crackers near your ears. All the sequences, separated by a fraction of a second, are detailed in the ejection manual, he said. The rockets/cartridges fire sequentially so that the pilot doesnt go out like a bullet but the thrust is good enough to clear the aircrafts tail section, he said. Also read | IAFs Abhinandan Varthaman says he went through a lot of mental harassment while in Pak custody: Report Shortly after taking off from the Gwalior air base, Chopra and another pilot, Wing Commander Ram Kumar, ejected from a Mirage 2000 in February 2012 after the French-origin fighters engine turbine blades failed. Making an emergency escape from a fighter during a peacetime mission is not the same as ejecting after being hit during a dogfight, Chopra said. When Abhinandan was chasing the Pakistani F-16, only two things would have been on his mind. He would only have been thinking about getting into the right position to shoot a missile and making sure his MiG-21 is not hit, he said. After his MiG-21 was hit, Varthaman must have quickly assessed the damage to his jet and ejected realising that it was no longer possible to recover it and return to base, Chopra said. A safe ejection is considered to be a rebirth in military aviation. Like me, he will now celebrate two birthdays, he said. Chopra said Varthaman would have felt relieved only after the parachute deployed and he began descending to the ground. Before that, the seat is separated from the pilot. When the parachute opens, theres total calm. And the first thoughts are that you have lived to tell the story, he said. He said several air forces had lost fighter pilots who delayed the decision to eject. Sometimes pilots tend to feel more secure in the aircraft and they are uncertain about what will happen when ejection takes place, he said. Chopra and Kumars wives brought them cake and champagne bottles when they were in the intensive care unit of a military hospital after the ejection. We did cut the cake but couldnt eat it. The squadron guys enjoyed it and the champagne too, said Chopra. Also read | Before cooling down and medical tests, IAF pilot Abhinandan meets family in Delhi Fewer doctors are training to become surgeons these days and non-surgical courses such as cardiology, endocrinology, urology, nephrology and medical oncology have emerged as the big draw for young health professionals, according to Union health ministry data on admissions to so-called super-speciality courses. In the 2018-19 academic year, 189 of the 2,029 seats in the superspeciality courses had no takers, according to data on candidates who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to such disciplines. Of the 189 unfilled seats, 168 belonged to the four main surgical disciplines of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS), paediatric surgery, plastic surgery and neurosurgery. In the 2017-18 academic session, 290 of the 571 seats that had no takers belonged to these four surgical disciplines. The trend is a largely marketdriven phenomenon, said Dr NN Mathur, principal of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, which is attached to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. An increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancers has caused rising demand for endocrinologists, nephrologists and medical oncologists. A decade ago, CTVS was chosen by doctors with high ranks in the qualifying exam, but over the past few years, those opting for it are the lowest rankers, said Dr Mathur. Open heart surgeries have been replaced with stents to open vessel blockages. Theres more demand for interventionists as there are more patients there. Same goes for other disciplines. This trend is totally market driven, added Dr Mathur. The health ministry is now considering restricting the number of seats available in surgical super-speciality courses in medical colleges. There is a shortage of medical seats in the country, so there is no point in increasing seats in those disciplines that doctors are not interested in pursuing, said a health ministry official, asking not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to media. In India, 137 medical colleges offer 2,029 seats in 41 super-speciality courses. According to government data, around 15,000 candidates took the entrance test in 2018-19, of which 10,143 qualified on a 50 percentile basis. It is being considered to restrict letters of permission [LOPs, which are issued to increase medical seats] to medical colleges in the surgical disciplines, the official cited above said. Faculty members at medical colleges agree that most surgical disciplines are no longer the first preference of candidates applying for super-speciality courses. Dr VK Bahl, dean of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, attributes the shift to advances in treatment modalities. This trend is seen not just in India, but also in developed countries. Another reason for not choosing surgical disciplines in the West, and which will soon catch up in India too, is that threat of being dragged into medico-legal cases, which is higher for surgeons, said Dr Bahl. Inadequate infrastructure is cited as another reason for doctors moving away from surgical disciplines. Even in Delhi, which is the national capital, only a handful of its 40-plus government hospitals have the infrastructure needed for complex surgeries. There werent enough operation theatres and most doctors end up referring patients [to other hospitals] which can get really frustrating for a surgeon, says Dr Pankaj Solanki, former president, Federation of Resident Doctors Association, who trained as a general surgeon. As a result, theres a general shift towards non-surgical branches. I also think I would have been better off specialising in, say, dermatology or radiology, rather than general surgery, added Solanki. Bahraich MP Savitri Bai Phule, who quit the BJP in December last year, joined the Congress in New Delhi on Saturday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi inducted her into the party fold in the presence of party general secretary (east UP) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and general secretary (west UP) Jyotiraditya Scindia. Former Samajwadi Party MP from Fatehpur Rakesh Sachan also joined the party. BJP MLA Avtar Singh Bhadana had joined the Congress in the presence of Priyanka and Jyotiraditya in Lucknow on February 14. When contacted, Phule said she left the BJP because of its anti-Dalit policies. Phule accused the BJP of working out a plan to abolish reservation at the behest of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. I will travel across the country to tell the people about the BJPs anti-Dalit policies, said Phule. Asked why she did not opt for the SP-BSP alliance, Phule said she was looking for various options after deciding to leave the BJP. She said she heard Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav in parliament when he spoke about Modi returning to power in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. As I want to ensure the BJPs defeat, I decided to join the Congress. I am sure only Congress can defeat the BJP in 2019 polls, she said. A prominent Dalit leader, Phule had been raising her voice against the saffron camp for more than a year now and was positioning herself as a leader in her own right. She had also billed the BJP as anti-Dalit. With the party pushed to the sidelines in the state, the entry of these two leaders is being seen as a renewed effort of the Congress to establish itself as a serious contender in the state politics. Presence of Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia is being seen as an indication that the duo played a role in bringing them from rival camp to the party. (With agency inputs) West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) left the final decision on seat sharing with the Left Front in the state with the party high command on Sunday following differences over three seats, two of which are held by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders. The seats are Raiganj and Murshidabad where CPI(M) leaders Md Salim and Badaruddoza Khan won in 2014 and Purulia where the Trinamool Congress emerged victorious. The All India Forward Bloc, one of the parties that are a constituent of the Left Front insists that it should field its candidate from Purulia. According to state Congress president Somen Mitra, they wanted to contest the three seats. However, the CPI(M) is unwilling to cede Raigunj and Murshidabad since they have sitting MPs from these two. So we have left the decision to the partys high command. The state unit will accept whatever AICC decides, said Mitra. On Sunday, the WBPCC has sent a letter to AICC requesting it to decide. Incidentally, the two camps had an electoral understanding before the assembly polls in 2016 but were trounced by Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress that won 211 of the 294 seats. According to a leader of Left Parties in Bengal assembly, Sujan Chakraborty, any decision on arrangement with Congress will be taken after further discussion at the partys ongoing two-day central committee meeting in New Delhi. Our formula is simple, seat sharing agreement will be for those seats where neither Left nor Congress has sitting MPs, he said. On February 27, Mitra told the media that a final decision on the three seats in question will be taken by Sunday and, in case Left Front is unwilling to give up their stakes for the three seats, Congress will field candidates in all the 42 seats in the state. People in Raiganj and Murshidabad constituencies have switched from CPI(M) to Congress in large numbers over the past five years, but there are no instances of our workers joining the CPI(M). Given the present scenario, Congress deserves the seats, Mitra said on February 27. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said Sunday. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a heros welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Armys Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon, said a military official. The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Also read | IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman suffered spine, rib injury after ejecting from plane: Report Varthaman arrived in the national capital on an IAF flight around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Armys Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nations gratitude for his selfless service. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammeds biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Also read | IAFs Abhinandan Varthaman says he went through a lot of mental harassment while in Pak custody: Report An audio message issued by a senior leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed appears to confirm that Indian jets hit the militant training camp run by the Pakistan-based outfit in Balakot and inflicted significant damage, one of the clearest contradictions yet to Islamabads version that the Indian operation hit only a patch of trees. The message bears the voice of Maulana Ammar, who has been identified as the brother of JeM founder Masood Azhar. It was first tweeted out by a Pakistani journalist who lives in France and has been verified by Indian security agencies, officials said. The enemy announced a war by crossing its borders to enter an Islamic country and launching bombs on Muslim schools. So, raise your weapons and show them if jihad is still an obligation or a duty, the man is hearing saying in the recording, which officials believe was made two days after the Balakot air strike and played out as an address to militants at the Madrassah Sanan bin Salma in Peshawar. Also read | Plan to target JeM base conceived a decade ago: Source Let me remind you that the Indian aircrafts did not bomb the safe house of any agency, they didnt attack any headquarters, they didnt attack the meeting points of agencies (JeM), they attacked the schools where students were being trained to understand jihad better and vowed to help oppressed Kashmiris. By entering our territories and attacking our schools, India has ensured the beginning of jihad against them, he said. A senior Indian security agency official said the address was a clear confirmation of the effectiveness of the airstrikes. The tone and tenor of the message also indicate that the strikes have hit the group hard forcing a senior functionary to issue a message to their cadre, this official said, asking not to be named. Foreign secretary VK Gokhale, while announcing the Indian air strikes, said the action was meant to pre-empt further fidayeen style attacks on India. New Delhi decided to hit the JeM training camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because the facility was to start the training and indoctrination of fresh group of recruits and senior JeM functionaries were to be present as well, the officer quoted above added. India has not made public the casualties in the strike. A senior air force official on Thursday said there was ample indication that the objective of the bombing, carried out a couple of hours before daybreak on Tuesday, had been achieved. Days after the airstrike against terror camp in Pakistan and subsequent events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale and results would have been different if India had the fighter jets as he attacked the Congress for its tirade against his government over the aircraft deal. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi later tweeted, that PM Modi is solely responsible for the delay in arrival of the Rafale jets. India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, that if we had Rafale, the results would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale, he said at the India Today conclave. Modi said he wanted to tell all those opposing him that they were free to criticise him and point out shortcomings but they should not harm the countrys security interests. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favourtism. The government has denied the charges. Tearing into the Congress, Modi alleged its rule saw many defence scams. They began with jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, helicopters. The defence sector suffered in the process, he said. Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Cr and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets. YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets. https://t.co/BrzAuFTlFu Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 2, 2019 Those who ruled the country had interests in two things - doles and deals. The culture of doles and deals has harmed the country, he said targeting the Congress. Why is it that those who ruled the nation for so many years have so many defence scams in their era? If a deal could not happen, defence modernisation could not happen. Who is every middle-man close to, he asked, adding the entire nation knows. And Lutyens Delhi, surely knows. Modi said during his tenure, 2.3 lakh bullet proof jackets were bought while previous Congress-led government ignored the proposal since 2009. In our tenure, the corridors of power are also free from middlemen because they know, this government will not tolerate any corruption, he said. Modi said his governments 55 months in power and 55 years of others rule had given two contrasting approaches to governance. Previous governments had a token approach, we have a total approach, he said. A day after the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, Modi said the life of every jawan was valuable to us. He also said that there was fear in the neighbouring country of the bravery and valour of Indian armed forces and it was good. He also criticised the previous Congress governments for not doing anything to implement the OROP (One rank, one pension) scheme for armed forces and asked why there was no war memorial for the soldiers. Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammeds biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. IAF pilot Varthaman shot down an F-16 fighter of the Pakistan Air Force shortly before his jet was hit during the fierce dogfight. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers. The joint venture between India and Russia to manufacture Kalashnikov assault rifles 200 series will be able to fulfil Indian security agencies requirement for small arms, Russian President Vladmir Putin said in a message read out by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Amethi on Sunday. Sitharaman read out the message during an event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi where he laid the foundation stone of a manufacturing unit for the AK-203 assault rifles. The new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and will eventually reach full localisation of production. Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfil the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies, Putin said in his message. He said military and technical cooperation has traditionally been one of the key areas of the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality armaments and equipment to Indian friends. Around 170 military and industrial facilities have been set up in India with assistance from our country, Putin said. It was during his official visit to India last October that Putin and Modi reached an agreement on producing Kalashnikov rifles in India. The inter-governmental agreement was prepared and signed in the shortest possible time. In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to Russian and Indian specialists, to all those who so promptly made this project happen, the Russian president said. Putin said he is convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India and to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy. It will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for a qualified work force and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training, he said. The plant itself will become another symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries, he said in his message read out by the defence minister. Top government officials have confirmed that the internal security establishment has been alerted to a possible terror strike in the hinterland by the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in retaliation to the Indian air strike on February 26 on the groups Balakot terrorist camp in Pakistan. The JeM is known for its back-to-back terror attacks. It targeted the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly (in October 2001) and the Indian Parliament (in December 2001) using similar tactics, within two months, a senior official in the Narendra Modi government said on condition of anonymity. The group tried to assassinate then Pakistan President using suicide bombers and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in a span of 11 days in December 2003. After (the) Pulwama (terror attack), they may strike again using the same car bomb tactics. On February 14, a JeM suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers, killing at least 40 men, in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. The bus was part of a convoy headed to a CRPF transit camp in Srinagar from one in Jammu. Also read | Jaish chief Masood Azhar is in Pak, admits foreign minister, then says he is very unwell The past 24 hours may have seemed smooth after the rollercoaster ride that started with Indian jets bombing a Jaish-eMohammed facility in Pakistan at 3.45 am on Tuesday and ended with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman being released by Pakistan at 9.00 pm on Friday, but all is still not quiet on the western front. According to officials in the armed forces and the government, the Indian military machine continues to be in the highest state of operational readiness along its western borders after foiling a full-fledged revenge strike by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on military installations in the Nowshera sector on February 27. Things could have been worse, the officials say. Piecing together information from senior Indian Air Force (IAF) commanders on the PAFs foiled February 27 attempt, it emerges that the intruding fighter jets launched three laserguided bombs targeted at the Nangi Tekri brigade and a forward ammunition dump. Despite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans overt peace overtures, it is evident that Islamabads claims that February 27 was just a show of strength in broad daylight does not hold any water, the officials added. According to them, as many as 24 aircraft, a mix of JF-17, Mirage F-5 and F-16 planes, were flown from the Chaklala base in Rawalpindi and the Sargodha base to attack Indian military installations in the Nowshera-Rajouri sector.The attack was launched at 9:45 am, they added. IAF officials said the situation was saved because the enemy aircraft were picked up early by Indian radars and intercepted by Indian fighters, among them the Mig-21 Bison flown by Wing Commander Varthaman With Varthaman taking on the intruding F-16s, the other PAF aircraft turned back, even as IAFs multi-role SU-30 MKI and upgraded Mirage 2000s were poised for an attack from higher altitudes. Had the Pakistanis hit the military targets, there would have been a vertical escalation as IAF would have been forced to retaliate on military targets across the Line of Control (LoC). Even though there were instructions not to target Pakistani military installations, the attacks by intruding planes was to provoke IAF fighters. The PAF lost its nerve after veteran Wing Commander Abhinandan put down an F-16 amidst a harsh dogfight, said an IAF official on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and the Saudi leadership diplomatically forced Pakistan to back off from a further escalation. Still, the Modi government remains worried about a JeM strike in the hinterland. According to senior Jammu and Kashmir police officers, JeM founder Masood Azhars nephew Mohammed Umair, Pulawama attack handler Mudassar Khan and local Sajjad Bhatt, who supplied the vehicle for the attack, are still in the Kashmir Valley with the terror group deciding to engage the security forces. We have killed 22 JeM terrorist this year including Kamran, who took over from Mufti Waqas after he was killed in February 2018. We killed key JeM commander Noor Mohammed Tantray in December 2017. The Pakistani terrorists of the same group are now putting up a fight at Handwara, said a senior police officer from Kashmir who asked not to be identified. Also read | Unwell Jaish chief Masood Azhar undergoes dialysis in Pakistan Army hospital Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar shared the dais at a political rally on Sunday for the first time since 2009 at NDAS Sankalp rally at Patnas Gandhi Maidan on March 3. This was PM Modis second visit to the state within a fortnight, the first being on February 17 in Begusarai, from where he inaugurated and launched projects. The rally comes days after air strikes at terror bases in Pakistan and the release of IAF officer Wing Commander Abhinandan from Pakistan on Friday. We welcome his return and want to thank and congratulate the PM over the manner in which he raised the matter at world forum. The world has united against terrorism, said Bhupendra Yadav, BJP MP and the partys in-charge of Bihar, on Saturday. All union ministers from Bihar, including Ramvilas Paswan, will share dais with Modi. Modi and Kumar had last attended a rally together in Ludhiana ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Kumars party JD (U) left the NDA in June 2013 and formed a Grand Alliance with the RJD and Congress before the 2015 Assembly elections. In July 2017, he joined the NDA again. On Friday, Modi greeted Kumar on his birthday and referred to him as my friend and praised him for pulling the state out of the shadows of years of misrule. The sankalp (resolution) rally, which will be a show of unity for the NDA, will also kick off the alliances poll campaign in the state for the Lok Sabha elections likely to be announced soon. This rally is not only important for Bihar, but will also send a message to the nation that Modi has shown how to work under crisis, said JD (U) state president Bashistha Narain Singh. It will also send a message that Bihar has changed under the present regime, he said. Its a rally to show unity, reiterate our resolve for all-round development, to vow for a developed India, developed Bihar and to vow take India into a front ranking nations, said BJP state president Nityanand Rai. Rai rejected suggestions of the opposition to cancel the rally in the wake of heightening tension between India and Pakistan. The rally was planned two months back, he said. LJPS state president Pashupati Paras praised PM Modi for his dynamism. He is a revolutionary PM and NDA will return to power with two-third majority, said Paras. Huge billboards, hoardings and posters with pictures of the NDA leaders have sprung up along Patnas main roads and lanes. Party leaders and legislators have been asked to arrange accommodation to enable people from their constituencies to come to the city for the rally. State presidents of BJP, JD (U) and LJP have appealed people to come to the rally to make it historic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stormed into the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi with a slew of projects and accused the Congress leadership of compromising on national security. Announcing the launch of a joint venture between India and Russia for the manufacture of AK 203 Kalsahnikov assault rifles in Amethis Ordnance factory, Modi said Amethi was the perfect example of the BJPs policy of Sabka saath, sabka vikas. Now, Amethi will not be known for a famous family but for AK 203, Made in Amethi. These rifles will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists, he said and added that those who cheated Amethi also ignored the countrys defence needs. The PM alleged that the Rafale deal was bitterly opposed by the Congress for the sake of commission and added that the first Rafale jet would be seen flying on Indian skies soon. Despite clean chits, they opposed the Rafale deal due to their own vested interests. But Rafale jets will fly soon, the PM said as defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman applauded. Sitharam also read out a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing the joint venture with India. The PM flayed the Congress for misusing the countrys resources saying that the Amethi ordnance factory, launched in 2007, was supposed to begin production from 2010 but nothing happened. Tall promises were made. Your local MP promised that he would ensure employment to 1,500 locals in this ordnance factory but merely 200 got jobs. Imagine those who couldnt ensure jobs to people in Amethi are now lecturing on employment, Modi said, adding that the AK-203 would be the best publicity for Amethi. Also read | India-Russia joint venture to manufacture Kalashnikovs will fulfil needs of security forces: Putin AK 203 is the latest derivative of the famous AK 47 assault rifles which will help in arming the security forces besides giving Amethi a new identity, he said. Beginning his address with Jai Ramji ki (a common way to greet each other in rural India) after making people chant slogans hailing the country and the security forces, Modi said the Congress leadership lied on all matters, including those of national security. Even demands for bullet proof jackets for our security forces were ignored. It is only now that the BJP government has begun procuring these jackets, he said. As he paused to have water, a section in the audience began chanting, Rahul Gandhi chor hai (Rahul is a thief). The Congress has coined a similar slogan against Modi over the Rafale deal. Virtually pitching Union textile minister Smriti Irani as the BJP candidate from Amethi in 2019, Modi said: We lost Amethi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls but won your hearts. Smritiji has continuously worked with you and for you. Amid accusations by the Congress of whitewashing its slogans hailing Rahul Gandhi as future PM, the BJP peppered the Congress bastion with hoardings and other publicity material announcing in local rural dialect, Abki baar, Amethi hamaar (Amethi ours this time). Modi also raised the issue of Samrat cycle land which he alleged was taken from farmers to set up a bicycle manufacturing unit which never happened. Modi also unveiled projects including steel processing unit worth Rs 9,200 crore and various upgradation and repair projects. The projects included upgradation of Amethi bus station and reconstruction of depot workshop at a cost of Rs 496.80 crore, construction of rest houses and shops at Amethi bus station at Rs 139 crore and construction of main building of primary health centre at Rs 167 crore. Also read | One chowkidar has defamed all others: Rahul Gandhi renews attack on PM Modi Union minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday hit out at opposition parties for questioning the Balakot attack and playing into Pakistans hands to discredit India by dividing Indias political opinion. Referring to a remark made by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Jaitley accused him of neglecting Indias interests and equating India with Pakistan, the victim and perpetrator of terrorism. In a blog posited on his Facebook account, the finance minister pointed out that Atal Bihari Vajpayees and the Jana Sanghs support to the Congress government during the 1971 war was a case where politicians and leaders rose to the level of statesmanship and the nation spoke in one voice. However, he noted that after initially supporting the Air Force for the Balakot attack, Congress tried to create a divide in Indias political opinion. From the Congress and its friends, we have witnessed three recent statements. In a meeting of the 21 Opposition Parties, a resolution was passed, accusing the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) of politicizing the Pulwama and Balakot incidents, he said, although no evidence was given. Calling the statement inappropriate, Jaitley said it gave a handle to the enemy. The media in Pakistan used this statement of 21 Opposition Parties as a trump card. It took the statement as an endorsement of the Pakistani position that India had taken the Balakot action because of the compulsion of its domestic politics and not as a part of its policy to defend the country against terrorism, he said. Accusing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders of doubting the veracity of the Balakot attack, he said he was most disappointed by a highly objectionable statement of the former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Jaitley said Singh had elevated himself to the status of a neutral third party rather than be concerned about Indias interest. He (Singh) further developed a theory of parity and equivalence between both India (victim of terrorism) and Pakistan (perpetrator of terrorism), he said. Holding that violence and terrorism were of no consequence to Singh and he had not condemned terrorism, Jaitley accused the former Prime Minister of doubting Indias right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. While receiving the PV Narasimha Rao Award for the lifetime achievement, Manmohan Singh had stated that he was disturbed with the mad rush of mutual self-destruction by India and Pakistan and argued that poverty, ignorance and disease were the real problems in the two countries and that saner counsel on both sides needed to think on the issue. Stating that the opposition leaders statements hurt Indias national interest, Jaitley said, Not only do they give smiles to Pakistan, they become an important instrument in Pakistans hands to discredit India. The minister hoped that the opposition would ensure restraint and statesmanship in public discourse and not let the nation down. Hours after he launched a stinging attack at the opposition parties at a rally in Bihars Patna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack at the Congress in Rahul Gandhis own constituency Amethi. The Congress chief won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections defeated BJPs candidate Smriti Irani. Dedicating projects worth nearly Rs 600 crore, the PM said, Amethi is the perfect example of sabka saath, sabka vikas. Those who voted for us and those who didnt, they are all our people. Smriti Irani was your candidate. Though we could not win, but we won your hearts. In five years, Smriti Irani has done so much for the development of this region. She did more work that the candidate who won the 2014 elections. This ordnance factory is proof how the requirements of our security forces were ignored, PM Modi said. Modi said, When your MP laid the foundation stone for the ordnance factory at Korwa in 2007, he said work will begin here from 2010. Nothing happened. Why trust someone who cannot keep his word? He claimed that the previous government at the Centre could not decide which ordnance to manufacture at the factory in Korwa. They did not even allocate land for it. The building was finally built in 2013, ahead of the 2014 elections and some work begun. But they still did not manufacture modern rifles here, the PM said. Also read | In message to cadre, Jaish chief Masood Azhars brother confirms Balakot camp strike Criticising the Congress he said, They had promised to give jobs to 1,500 people at the factory, but they didnt keep their promise. They gave jobs to only 200 people and now they are raising questions about employment. Amid chants of Rahul Gandhi chor hai, PM Modi said, I am not naming anyone, but you know who I am talking about. Referring to the armed forces requirements for bullet proof jackets and modern equipment, the PM said, that the previous government had ignored those requirements. In 2009, the army had asked for 1,86,000 bullet proof jackets. Our soldiers faced terrorists without those jackets. From 2009 to 2014, the previous government did not buy those jackets. It is our government that placed an order for more than 2,30,000 bullet proof jackets. Who were these people who did not think of the soldiers, of the countrys security?, Modi said. Modi went on to raise the issue of the Rafale fighter jets. Our IAF had been asking for fighter jets. The previous government did not do anything, instead they sat on the Rafale deal for years and then put the deal on the backburner. Now, they want the deal to fail for their vested interests. They are upset because they are not getting any commission from a defence deal and it is visible on their faces, he said. Also read | Air strikes were meant to warn, not kill. says Union minister Ahluwalia Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Amethi on Sunday to set the ball rolling for various projects worth 11, 856.47 crore in the Congress bastion. It will be Modis first visit as the PM to Congress chief Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha constituency. The PM is also scheduled to dedicate Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited, a joint venture (JV) between an ordnance factory and a Russian firm. It will manufacture Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa ordnance factory in Amethi. BJP leaders said, it would bring in local employment. Among the other projects are a steel processing unit in Jagdishpur worth 9,200 crore, upgradation of Amethi bus station and reconstruction of depot workshop worth 496.80 crore, construction of rest houses and shops at Amethi bus station, worth 139 crore and construction of main building of primary health centre worth 167 crore. Congress leaders alleged the local administration was busy whitewashing the walls around Modis rally venue at Kauhar in Amethi. They claimed that the officials and BJP cadre cleaned the walls carrying slogans hailing local MP and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as future PM. In adjacent Rae Bareli the Lok Sabha constituency of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi hoardings carrying the slogan toot jayega danka, phuss ho jayegi Priyanka (the hype wont last as Priyanka Gandhis bubble would burst) have come up, Congress leaders said. The BJPs dirty tricks department is behind it. Its clear that the BJP is getting desperate now, said Congress leader Piyush Mishra. We expect nearly 1.5 lakh people, said senior party leader Govind Narayan Shukla. On May 5, 2014, Modi then the BJPs PM candidate had broken the unwritten code of top leaders avoiding campaigning in constituencies of the counterparts of rival parties. Pakistans foreign minister, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, may have admitted that the founder and chief of the terror group behind the Pulwama attack, Masood Azhar, is in Pakistan, but he conveniently forgot to mention that the entire family of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) emir is involved in terror operations controlled from a swank second HQ at Bahawalpur in Punjab province that the group moved to in 2017. According to the intelligence dossier provided to Pakistan by India after the latters preemptive strike on a Jaish camp in Balakot, Pakistan, the new HQ is located at Markaz Usman-o-Ali, Railway Link Road, Bahawalpur, officials in Indias intelligence establishment said, asking not to be identified. The entire decision-making body of the Deobandi terrorist group functions from within the complex under the direct command of Maulana Masood Azhar. A rabid India hater, Azhar has not been seen in public since 2017 as he has a life-threatening condition of spinal cancer, but his is still the final word in his sprawling terror empire, the officials added. The HQ is a huge, modern building, and used for special events and meetings by Azhars brothers, the operating chiefs responsible for terror strikes in both India and Pakistan, and also Afghanistan, according to the officials. Masood Azhar, officials said, still lives in the first headquarters of the group. Also read | Plan to target JeM base conceived a decade ago: Source Azhars elder brother, Ibrahim Azhar, was the principal orchestrator of the hijacking in December 1999 of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar with the help of Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence and the Taliban. India freed Masood Azhar and two other jailed militants in return for the passengers and crew taken hostage. Ibrahim Azhar is involved in JeMs Afghan operations in support of its ideological affiliate, the Taliban. Ibrahims elder son Usman Hyder was killed on October 30, 2018 in Jammu & Kashmirs Tral area, only 10 days after he infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley. Ibrahims younger son Umair is hiding in the Pulwama area today and there are desperate attempts being made to ex-filtrate him with Pakistani JeM terrorists engaging the Indian security forces almost on a daily basis. Pulwama is where, on February 14, a Jaish suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men, killing at least 40 troopers. Masood Azhar himself has two sonsAbdullah and Waliand two daughters. Both the sons are involved in radicalising cadre for Islamic jihad in Kashmir. Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar is another brother of Masood Azhar and the head of JeMs operations against India. Rauf has four sons (the oldest is only 16), and two daughters. Masood Azhar has two more brothers, also younger than him. Maulana Ammar and Talha Saif are both believed to be involved in the terror factory of JeM. While Masood Azhar is believed to have lost his brother-in-law Yusuf Azhar in the Balakot strike, according to Indian intelligence officials, Talha Rasheed, the son of Azhars other brother-in-law Abdul Rasheed Kamran, was killed by Indian security forces in an encounter in Pulwama on November 6, 2017. Given his clout with the Taliban and the Rawalpindi GHQ, Masood Azhar is running terror camps in Balochistan and in the Taliban stronghold areas in Afghanistan around the Khyber and Spin Boldak passes for action on either side of Durand or Radcliffe lines, said a senior Indian official. Also read | Pakistans doubts on JeM role in Pulwama invites India ire Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a strong attack against the opposition parties and accused them of working towards getting rid of him even as he worked towards eliminating terrorism from the country. Addressing an election rally in Patna, Modi said, The opposition wants to get rid of Modi, I want to get rid of terrorism. Saying that opposition parties had no work left other than to abuse Modi, he said, They want to get rid of Modi, but I say lets join hands to eliminate terrorism. Shouldnt terrorism be eradicated? But their priority is to get rid of Modi. My priority is to eliminate terrorism. They want to get rid of me, but I say lets join hands to rid the country of poverty. They want to get rid of Modi, I say, lets join hands to rid the country of corruption and black money. Lets join hands to create new opportunities for the youth. I say lets join hands to rid the country of malnourishment and filth. At the Sankalp rally, where he shared the dais with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Modi also launched a scathing attack on the Congress with reference to the recent air strikes against terror camps at Balakot across the Line of Control. Also Watch | Opposition demoralising our forces by asking for air strikes proof: PM Modi Claiming that the questions being raised by the Congress over the air strikes were only pleasing those in Pakistan, he said, First they asked for evidence of the surgical strikes (in Uri). Now they are demanding evidence of the air strikes by the Air Force. Why are the Congress and other parties working towards destroying the morale of the armed forces? OPINION | Patience with terrorism is wearing thin Not holding back, the PM said that at a time when the country needed to show that it was standing together against terrorism, the opposition had joined hands to condemn the centres actions. When there was a need to speak in unison against terror factories, 21 parties had gathered in Delhi to pass a censure motion against the NDA government at the centre, he said. You are all witnesses, when our countrys competent army was crushing terror, whether it was from within the border or outside, what were some people within the country doing at such times? Instead of increasing the morale of the armed forces, they were doing things that are pleasing the enemy, he said. Praising the armed forces for their valour, he said, This is a new India with a new policy. Now India will not remain silent on the sacrifices of its heroic youths, it will strike back every single time, he said. Saying that opposition parties were in such a disarray that they had begun a competition to abuse the chowkidar, he said, your chowkidar is fully alert. Also Read | New India will pay back terrorists with interest, says PM Modi This is the first time since 2009 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar have shared a dais together. This was PM Modis second visit to Bihar in less than a fortnight. He had earlier visited Begusarai in Bihar on February 17 and had launched several projects there. Modi and Nitish Kumar had last attended a rally together in Ludhiana ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Kumars party JD (U) left the NDA in June 2013 and formed a Grand Alliance with the RJD and Congress before the 2015 Assembly elections. Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA fold in July 2017. On Friday, referring to him as my friend, the prime minister greeted the Bihar chief minister on his birthday and praised him for pulling the state out of the shadows of years of misrule. Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said Sunday he will not change his constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election whatever the situation, making clear he would contest again from Patna Sahib seat irrespective of the party decision. Situation kuch bhi ho, location wahi hogi (Whatever the situation, location would be same), Sinha told PTI on the phone from Ranchi. The sitting Patna Sahib lawmaker has been at loggerheads with the current BJP leadership since the 2015 Bihar election, over several issues. He has often taken a stance at variance with the official party line, including on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax, and shared the stage with opposition leaders at an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata in January, where he was projected as the star speaker. On a recent visit to Lucknow, he had held a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, giving rise to speculation his wife Poonam Sinha may enter active politics from the Uttar Pradesh capital, currently represented in Lok Sabha by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Asked about it, the actor-turned-politician said he will neither confirm nor deny this. Poonam Sinha has been busy with social work for long. She is liked by all. People want her to contest but whether this will happen or not only time will tell, Shatrughan Sinha, 72, said. Following his meeting with Yadav, there was also a talk that Sinha could contest the general election, which must be held by May, on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He had also visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters and joined Yadav on Jai Prakash Jayanti programme with Yashwant Sinha. The SP and Bahujan Samaj Party have forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the general election, deciding to contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. They have left Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and three other seats ostensibly for RLD. India has shown what women empowerment is: Modi India has shown what women empowerment is. Our defence minister, a woman, has shown to the world how to act in times of need: Modi Farm loan waiver announced by UPA govt was a farce: Modi Farm loan waiver announced by UPA govt was a farce. Only few people received the waiver anyway. Rest was appropriated by their relatives and brokers: Modi Land was taken for food park, but no industries came up: Modi Land was taken for food park. But no industries came up. Land was transferred in their name through the back door. Houses given to Dalits in 2008 started crumbling: Modi First Rafale jet on Indian skies soon: Modi They sat on Rafale deal for years. Now they do not want to see the deal through due to their benefit. But the first Rafale jet will be on Indian sky soon: Modi Earlier govt was least bothered about our armed forces: Modi Wasnt it unfair not to provide latest weapons to our forces? That govt did not bother about our armed forces. People should be reminded how the govt delayed acquisition of bulletproof jackets for our forces. Who were these people who delayed production of weapons and acquisition of bulletproof jackets: Modi Last govt delayed arms factory in Amethi: Modi Our forces will use rifles made in Amethi. This work should have started 8-9 years ago. Our forces had then made a request to the govt mentioning their needs. This was the reason this factory was sanctioned. Those who cannot do this much, how can someone trust them? They could not even decide on the arms to be manufactured here. They could not decide upon the land to be allotted: Modi We have made Made in Amethi a reality: Modi Thank Russian President Vladimir Putin for the joint venture. Possible in very short time due to him. Also thank Russian friends associated with the project. Some people roam all over the world and then in rallies, say Made in Ujjain, Made in Indore, etc. But we have made Made in Amethi a reality: Modi Smriti Irani worked more than the candidate who won: Modi The rain god has been kind today. Amethi is an example of sabka saath sabka vikas. Those who voted for us and those who didnt, they are all our people. Smriti Irani was your candidate. Though we could not win, but we won your hearts: Modi PM inaugurates projects in Amethi 17 projects worth 538 crore inaugurated by PM Modi. Sitharaman reads out Russian President Vladimir Putins statement Welcome Russian-India entrepreneurship in manufacture of Kalashnikovs. For more than seven decades, we have been supplying defence products and technology to India: Sitharaman reads out Russian President Vladimir Putins statement. 2 lakh farmers in Amethi and Raebareli benefitted from PMs schemes: Yogi 73,000 farmers in Amethi and 1.24 lakh farmers in Raebareli benefitted from Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme launched by PM Modi from Gorakhpur. Surgical strikes show that this is a new India: Yogi Terror attacks happened earlier too. But surgical strikes in Myanmar and after Uri has showed that this is a new India. Northeast is peaceful now: Yogi Yogi lists out achievements of NDA govt PM Modi has ensured that money is transferred directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries. Amethi was a VIP area, but cooking gas was not made available to women here: Yogi Swachh Bharat extended to Pakistan now: Yogi Adityanath Kumbh is becoming more and more successful. Since independence, no leader paid attention to Kumbh. But beliefs should always be respected. Under PMs leadership, Kumbh was brought under Swachh Bharat. He is the first PM to wash the feet of sanitation workers. Swachh Bharat has now been extended to Pakistan where terror camps are being eliminated: Yogi Adityanath Defence company will produce AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles: Sitharaman My first trip to Amethi is because of the Indo-Russian collaboration between Indian Ordnance Board and Russia due to which the ordnance factory at Amethis Korwa was set up, says defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She says the company would produce AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles. Six UP cities will be connected to the UP defence corridor, she says. 1.25L people benefitted from Ayushman Bharat: Irani Smriti Irani says 1.25 lakh people benefitted from Ayushman Bharat scheme. More than 2.11 lakh women in Amethi got izzat ghar (toilets), she says. BJP helped Amethi despite losing the seat: Smriti Irani Smriti Irani raises issue of a local Amethi woman who lost her son in foreign land. She said the woman found help from BJP but not from local MP. She says that in the last five years, despite losing Amethi, the BJP has continued to help Amethi. Irani accuses Rahul of derogatory language against Modi Smriti Irani accuses Congress president Rahul Gandhi of using derogatory language against PM Modi. Smriti Irani takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi PM Modi claps as Smriti Irani says that present on stage is Indias woman defence minister N Sitharaman despite the fact that the Amethi MP hurled abuses at her. PM Modi arrives in Amethi PM Narendra Modi arrives in Amethi along with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, defence minister N Sitharaman and Union textile minister Smriti Irani. Oppn wants to get rid of me, I want to get rid of terrorism: PM Modi Opposition tries to bring down Modi, while I insist on joining hands in countering terrorism and bringing an end to it, said PM Narendra Modi at Patna rally. Opposition let soldiers down in hour of need: PM Modi When there was a need to speak as one against terror-factories, 21 parties in Delhi came together to protest against the NDA. Citizens wont forgive it. Rather than encouraging the forces, theyre doing and saying things that are making the enemies smile They let our soldiers down in the hour of need by questioning and seeking proof of IAF air strike on Jaish camps in Pakistan, said PM Modi at NDAs Sankalp rally in Patna. PM thanks Saudi crown prince for deciding to release 850 detained Indians After talks with Saudi crown prince, only Indias quota for Haj increased, no other country has been extended this honour. Also, I thank Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince for deciding to free 850 Indians detained on various counts, said PM Narendra Modi at Patna rally. Eliminated role of middlemen: PM Modi People of Bihar are very much aware of what all happened in the name of fodder. Only we have dared to end the culture of corruption and middlemen which had been normalised in the country for decades, said PM Narendra Modi at NDAs Sankalp rally in Patna. NDA at Centre, Bihar ensures fast-paced development of state: PM Modi Because of NDA govt both at the Centre and in Bihar, the development work in Bihar has picked up a fast pace. Development of infrastructure is our priority, said PM Narendra Modi at Sankalp rally in Patna. The NDA government wants to ensure that all sections of the society in Bihar gain access to the best of facilities, he added. PM Modi addresses NDA Sankalp rally PM Narendra Modi today began addressing the NDA Sankalp rally in Bihars Patna. Will win all 40 seats in Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar assures PM Modi We will win all 40 seats, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar assured PM Narendra Modi today at NDA Sankalp rally. A move to ensure Bihars development,: Bihar CM on JD(U)-BJP tie up Our alliance is for the purpose of ensuring development in the state of Bihar, said CM Nitish Kumar on JD(U)-BJP tie up. Govt will always take effective steps to counter terrorism: Nitish Kumar With PM Narendra Modi at Centre, I am sure that the government will always take effective steps to counter terrorism, said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at NDA Sankalp rally. Modi, Nitish share dias after a decade The stage is set for NDAS Sankalp rally at the Gandhi Maidan on March 3, which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar share the dais at a political rally for the first time since 2009. This is PM Modis second visit to the state within a fortnight, the first being on February 17 in Begusarai, from where he inaugurated and launched projects. PM Modi set to address rally in Bihars Patna PM Narendra Modi today reached Patna. He is set to address a poll rally along with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. PM Modi to address rallies in Patna, Amethi Ahead of Lok Sabha elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold public meetings in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi and Bihars Patna. Comedian Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, who received widespread criticism over his controversial joke about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, has defended his comments. The 35-year-old comedian took to his Twitter handle to state that he finds it amazing that his joke about the conflict between the two countries is trending more than the actual conflict. Its amazing to me that my joke about the conflict in India and Pakistan trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself. Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself, he wrote. A Twitter user wrote, Its sad when someone whos had a violent past mocks war through a Bollywood stereotype. @Trevornoahs mother was shot in the head by her husband (Trevors stepfather).Imagine someone making fun of it with a Xhosa stereotype - the tribe his mum belongs to. It's amazing to me that my joke about the conflict in India and Pakistan trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself. Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself. Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 2, 2019 Actually if you watch my stand up you'll see that I did make jokes after my mother was shot in the head. As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that's not what I was trying to do. https://t.co/OuVnkHyIfG Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 2, 2019 Noah responded to the tweet, saying, he uses comedy to process pain and discomfort, and added that he made jokes about his mother being shot in the head. Actually if you watch my stand up youll see that I did make jokes after my mother was shot in the head. As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, thats not what I was trying to do, he tweeted. The Daily Show host faced backlash for the comments he made on the American satirical television show. Noah, during an episode, joked about the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Agree! Im actually a big admirer of his but this one was just lazy, arrogant writing! https://t.co/jPloSJrZNJ Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 1, 2019 In the video, which was shared widely on social media, Noah said that while he hopes India and Pakistan do not go to war, it would be the most entertaining war if they did. He also did an impression of a soldier singing and dancing like a Bollywood star. Mocking army personnel, Noah likened their war cry to Punjabi songs. Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker later took to Twitter to call out the comedian and told him that neither is war funny, nor Hindi gibberish. Comedian Mallika Dua too slammed Noah over his remarks. Again @Trevornoah pls drop this America centric condescension. the topic of the conflict was the ONLY thing trending in India & Pak this past week & numerous liberal Indians & Pakistanis petitioned their govt.s to de-escalate the conflict & sued 4 peace. This is not about YOU! https://t.co/9hCui1jz6v Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 3, 2019 The comedian, however, is not new to controversy. The Daily Show host recently introduced the best picture nominee Black Panther at the Oscars and played with the idea that people think the fictional setting of the country of Wakanda is real, reported CNN. Noah joked about knowing the movies main character, TChalla, played by Chadwick Boseman and said, that growing up as a young boy in Wakanda, he would see TChalla flying over their village, and he would remind them of a great Xhosa phrase, adding, He says abelungu abazi uba ndiyaxoka -- which means, In times like these, we are stronger when we fight together than when we try to fight apart. However, those who know the dialogue realised Noah actually said, White people dont know Im lying. Follow @htshowbiz for more India does not consider the Taliban as the dominant force in the Afghan peace process, but if the group were to represent Afghan voices, it would need to leave safe havens in Pakistan and cut-off covert support from Islamabad, a former Indian envoy to Kabul has said. Gautam Mukhopadhaya, former ambassador to Afghanistan, told a gathering at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) that the Taliban becoming a nationalist force could not be ruled out, but that would mean independence from Pakistan, which is not visible. Addressing diplomats, policy-makers and researchers on Democratisation in Afghanistan, Mukhopadhaya said the Taliban exerted power only through external support and the use of terrorism, which made the expectation that the ongoing peace talks would yield an endgame to the conflict unrealistic. The Taliban needs to make a break with external support from sanctuaries outside Afghanistan, but having achieved international recognition through the US and Russian-led peace talks, and sensing blood, it is in no mood to compromise, he said. One cannot escape the feeling that the Talibans concessions including on womens rights - being offered on the table are just a smokescreen to grab power, Mukhopadhaya said, adding that any negotiated deal that was not entirely controlled by Pakistan would be acceptable to India. According to him, the first step should be for the people and political parties in Afghanistan to come together with the government to establish their own position on what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable with the Taliban. Delivering a strong critique of the dominant western narrative on the ongoing U.S.-led peace process with the Taliban, he said that under no circumstances should the Afghan government be undermined, delegitimised or marginalised, since it would erode the entire structure and institutions of post-2001 Afghanistan. It is also premature for the US to talk about a withdrawal process without coming to some agreement on a negotiated settlement, the former envoy said, warning that both could result in a repeat of the post-Soviet withdrawal period, leading to anarchy at large. To a query from Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, IISS senior fellow for South Asia, Mukhopadhaya said India is not opposed to the peace process with the Taliban as long as it was Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, but , as yet, there was no consensus within the Afghan establishment on the terms for a negotiated end to the conflict. The Afghan people wanted peace, but peace on their terms and at their pace; at the very least they wished to preserve the gains of the last 17 years, including those of womens rights, the former envoy added. Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and told him to act against terror groups, days after expressing deep concern over tensions between India and Pakistan prompted by the recent Pulwama attack. A Downing Street Spokesperson said: The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan today. She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. May and Imran discussed the need to address the causes of the conflict, the spokesperson said, and added: The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism. India has blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed for the Pulwama attack, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The group is banned in the United Kingdom since 2001. The House of Commons held an extended debate last week on Jammu and Kashmir, while May called for urgent restraint and de-escalation of hostilities between the two countries. May said on Wednesday: We are in regular contact with both countries urging dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability. We are working closely with international partners, including through the UN Security Council, to de-escalate tensions and are monitoring developments closely and considering implications for British nationals. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded: We strongly support rapid dialogue between India and Pakistan in order to reduce the tension and deal with the root causes of the conflict before more lives are lost. An economy facing downward pressures amid a grinding trade war with the US will be under sharp focus as Chinas rubber-stamp Parliament gathers in Beijing for the two-week annual session beginning this week. Nearly 3,000 members of the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas rubber-stamp Parliament and more than 2000 members of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), the top advisory body in China, have gathered in the Capital to take part in the meeting, called the Two Sessions. In 2018, the Chinese economy grew 6.6 per cent year-on-year, the slowest pace in 28 years: the forecast in state media is that the growth target will be lower this year at around 6.5 per cent. The international community will scrutinise the sessions for signs and announcements to reforms in the state-owned companies and for changes - if any - in the business environment for private companies. Also read: Military reforms have put Chinas combat capability way ahead of Indias Government reports will be tabled, policy directions will be charted, the annual budget - including the defence outlay - will be announced and the economic and GDP outlook will be shared - all under the gloomy shadow of a slowing economy. Official news agency Xinhua listed job creation, regulating the property market, poverty alleviation, fiscal deficit and trade growth as among the important focus areas of the session The Chinese economy expanded 6.6 per cent in 2018, meeting the official target as high-quality development accelerated. Stable growth in 2019 is essential as this year is a key year in Chinas goal to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the Xinhua report said. Also read: As world economy stumbles into 2019, eyes turn to China As an overall indicator of economic expansion, Chinas GDP growth target has been set unchanged at around 6.5 per cent for two consecutive years from 2017 to 2018. On the provincial level, the majority of Chinas local governments have lowered the number this year, while over ten provincial regions set the target within a range, it added. Economic topics are usually the hottest topics during the two sessions each year, but given the tremendous internal and external challenge we face, there will be even greater focus on economic policies this year, Li Daxiao, chief economist at Shenzhen-based Yingda Securities, told the state-controlled tabloid Global Times. I think the hottest topic will be the business environment for private companies, Wang Jun, an expert at the China Center for International Economic Exchange, said, adding: It is an issue that has attracted a great deal of debate in the past year and touches on deeper, broader issues in the country from employment to the reform of state-owned enterprises. Focus will also be on creation of jobs. Employment comes first in the six fields the country aims to stabilise in 2019. China first set the goal of surveyed urban unemployment rate in government work report in 2018. Over 13 million urban jobs were created last year, beating the official target of 11 million, the Xinhua report said. NPC deputies will vote on a draft law on foreign investment, which if passed, will ensure greater market access to foreign companies and provide equal protection. This could be one of the most significant legislative efforts from this years two sessions, economist Li Daxiao said. No, this is not a synopsis of the BlacKkKlansman plot. One of the United States' largest neo-Nazi groups has been infiltrated by a black man who had plans of taking the organization down all along. It is the National Socialist Movement that earns the distinction of being the organization that most recently elected a 54-year-old African-American pastor and activist from California to become its newest president. It is James Hart Stern who told CNN that infiltrating the NSM was a long-time ploy set up to take it apart. "As a black man, I took over a neo-Nazi group and outsmarted them," Stern tells the outlet, adding that his plan is to "change it, reverse it, and ultimately destroy it." In his first step as president, Stern addressed a lawsuit against the NSM, requesting that a Virginia judge find the organization guilty of conspiring to instigate violence at the 2017 Charlottesville riots. He also plans to change the group's website into a source for Holocaust history lessons. Stern's predecessor, Jeff Schoep, allegedly appointed Stern as a means of protecting the group from allegations of hateful activity and tendencies, including their alleged role in Charlottesville. Following his appointment, Schoep sent a letter to other members of the group saying that Stern had, indeed, deceived him. Apparently, it isn't the first time Stern has duped a white supremacist. While serving time for mail fraud, Stern's cellmate was former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Edgar Ray Killen, who was convinced to give Stern power of attorney over his estate. Stern then used this power to dismantle Killen's KKK organization. In February, North California rapper Willie Bo was murdered by police when they found him napping in his car. Real name Willie McCoy, the 21-year older rapper was parked near a fast food drive through when the shooting occurred. Allegedly, an employee at Taco Bell called police after he or she witnessed McCoy passed out in his vehicle. Six officers arrived on the scene and startled McCoy awake. The officers claim that McCoy reached for a gun on his lap when they woke him up, which caused them to shoot at him multiple times. McCoy was pronounced dead on site. Now, CNN is reporting that the family of McCoy has filed a wrongful death claim against the city of Vallejo. "You all executed my brother Willie," McCoy's sister, Simone Richard, stated at a news conference where lawyers declared that the incident was part of a series of suspicious shootings, excessive force, and racial profiling connected to the Vallejo Police Department. "You all didn't give him a chance to put his hands up," Simone added. Lawyers for the McCoy family claim that Willie was shot over two dozen times and that the entire situation was "bungled from start to finish" by the police involved. The family's wrongful death claim against the city states that some responding officers were not wearing uniforms, and that a "six-person firing squad" shot Willie approximately 25 times in the, "head, ear, neck, chest, arms, shoulders, hands, and back." The ensuing drama between Khloe Kardashian, Tristan Thompson, and Jordyn Woods has the entire culture locked onto social media. The most recent update has Khloe backtracking from her Woods hatred, and instead placing the full blame of the cheating scandal on Thompson. Originally, Khloe was enraged with Jordyn Woods over her Red Table Talk segment with Jada Pinkett Smith. "Why are you lying @jordynwoods ??," tweeted Khloe angrily. "If youre going to try and save yourself by going public, INSTEAD OF CALLING ME PRIVATELY TO APOLOGIZE FIRST, at least be HONEST about your story." The reasoning for her change of heart is unclear. https://twitter.com/_/status/1101534599627198464 https://www.instagram.com/p/BuhD2UbB-iZ On Friday (March 1), the infamous Perez Hilton took to social media to suggest some hypocrisy coming from Khloe. He suggested that the Kardashian dated French Montana while he was still in a relationship with Trina. "Did Khloe Kardashian start dating French Montana when he was still with Trina? And wasn't Khloe friends with Trina???," tweeted Hilton. French immediately caught wind of the tweet though and squashed the rumor. "I was single like a dollar bill ," he responded to Hilton. Obviously, French wants to distance himself from any conversation concerning the Kardashian/Thompson/Woods drama right now. Marcus Emerson: Will sign and discuss Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid, 3 p.m., Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet; 713-523-0701 or brazosbookstore.com. Thomas Mallon: Will sign and discuss Landfall, 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. TUESDAY Christian Robinson: Will sign Another, 5 p.m., Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial; 281-497-8675; bluewillowbookshop.com. Becky Crouch Patterson: Will sign and discuss Luckenbach Texas, 6 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. Phillip Margolin: Will sign and discuss The Perfect Alibi, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet; 713-524-8597 or murderbooks.com. Annie Leibovitz: Will discuss At Work, 7 p.m., University of Houstons Cullen Performance Hall, 4800 University. Tickets, $53 each, include a copy of the book; purchase at brazosbookstore.com. WEDNESDAY Harriet Tyce & Amy Gentry: Will sign and discuss Blood Orange and Last Woman Standing, respectively, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. Mary Adkins: Will sign and discuss When You Read This, 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. FRIDAY Steve Berry : Will sign and discuss The Malta Exchange, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. Soren Urbansky: Will sign and discuss Yellow Peril, 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. SATURDAY Crystal Allen: Will read and sign her young readers series The Magnificent Mya Tibbs, 10:30 a.m., Brazos Bookstore. Ana Khan Before taking the stage at Toyota Center Saturday night, former first lady Michelle Obama met with 20 women of the HTX Book and Brunch book club at Graces on Kirby to talk about her New York Times best-seller, Becoming. She shared with the women about how she learned to carve out me time during and after life in the White House. (The book club was selected to meet with Obama through an online contest.) HANOI, Vietnam As President Donald Trump settled into the dining room of a French-colonial hotel in Hanoi on Thursday morning, the conversation with Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader with whom he had struck up the oddest of friendships, was already turning tense. In a dinner at the Metropole Hotel the evening before, mere feet from the bomb shelter where guests took cover during the Vietnam War, Kim had resisted what Trump presented as a grand bargain: North Korea would trade all its nuclear weapons, material and facilities for an end to the U.S.-led sanctions squeezing its economy. A U.S. official later described this as a proposal to go big, a bet by Trump that his force of personality, and view of himself as a consummate dealmaker, would succeed where three previous presidents had failed. But Trumps offer was essentially the same deal the United States has pushed and the North has rejected for a quarter-century. Intelligence agencies had warned him, publicly, Kim would not be willing to give up the arsenal completely. North Korea itself had said repeatedly that it would only move gradually. Several of Trumps own aides, led by National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, thought the chances of a grand bargain for total nuclear disarmament were virtually zero. Some questioned whether the summit should go forward. Trump disagreed. He had taken to showing what he called Kims beautiful letters to visitors to the Oval Office, as evidence he had built a rapport with one of the worlds most brutal dictators. While some in the White House worried Trump was being played, the president seemed entranced even declaring we fell in love. As Trump and Kim parted company, nearly a year of optimism and flattery was left poolside at the Metropole, steps from a meeting room with two empty chairs and flags that had been carefully prepared for a signing ceremony. Trump and senior diplomats say they hope negotiations will continue, though nothing has been scheduled. Kim has promised not to resume weapons testing, and the Pentagon continues to hold off on large-scale military exercises with South Korea. In interviews with a half-dozen participants, it is clear Trumps failed gambit was the culmination of two years of threats, hubris and misjudgment on both sides. Trump entered office convinced he could intimidate the man he liked to call Little Rocket Man with tough talk and sanctions, then abruptly took the opposite tack, overruling his aides and personalizing the diplomacy. Kim also miscalculated. He bet Trump might accept a more modest offer that U.S. negotiators in Hanoi had already dismissed: The North would dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear complex, 3 square miles of aging facilities at the heart of the nuclear program, for an end to the sanctions most harmful to its economy, those enacted since 2016. It is unclear whether Trump was tempted to take that deal, which could have turned headlines away from the damaging testimony of his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in Washington. But Pompeo, who knew the details of the North Korean program intimately from his days as CIA director, opposed it. The president was told that if he settled for Yongbyon alone, he might appear to have been duped by the young leader of a country renowned for hiding pieces of its nuclear program in tunnels around the country. Pompeo said later that Kims offer still leaves missiles, still leaves warheads and weapons systems and a senior State Department official argued that sanctions relief would fund the production of more weapons. It also would have let the North continue to produce uranium, a key ingredient for nuclear weapons, at a hidden enrichment center near the capital, Pyongyang one of several suspected nuclear sites beyond Yongbyon that the United States has been monitoring from afar for nearly a decade. I think that they were surprised that we knew, Trump said. In the end, the president took a brief walk with Kim around the hotels pool, shook his hand and then canceled lunch in a glassed pavilion. This kind of opportunity may never come again, Ri Yong Ho, North Koreas foreign minister, told reporters later that night. For a president who often complains that his predecessors only let the North Korea problem fester, the 8,000-mile trek from Washington to Hanoi was a crash course in why those past presidents failed. Many around Trump believe he will, too. A Growing Nuclear Crisis North Korea was the first international crisis of the Trump administration, and discussion about how hard to press the country sometimes got heated. At one point, aides said they heard Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the national security adviser, and Jim Mattis, the defense secretary, shouting at each other behind closed doors. McMaster was intent on signaling to both North Korea and allies that Trump was serious about enforcing sanctions and that he would not tolerate a nuclear North Korea. In a series of Situation Room meetings, the administration reviewed options to ramp up sanctions and covert operations, including an Obama-era program of cybersabotage against North Korean missiles. War plans were rewritten, and McMaster spoke openly about the possibility of a preventive war if the threat grew. The shouting was prompted by McMasters insistence that Mattis intercept North Korean ships on the high seas to determine whether they were engaged in sanctions busting. But Mattis resisted, worried that the outbreak of a firefight at sea could quickly escalate out of control. Kim, for his part, turned up the pressure, launching missile after missile, including new intercontinental ballistic models that appeared capable of hitting the United States. There was also another nuclear test, which some experts believe may have been a hydrogen bomb, as the North claimed. But for more than a year, Trump shut down efforts at diplomacy. When Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state at the time, told reporters during a visit to Beijing that we have a couple, three channels open to Pyongyang, Trump lashed out, declaring on Twitter that only one thing will work and casting his own secretary of state as naive. Tillerson fumed and was later ousted. Early in 2018, though, Trump suddenly changed course along the lines Tillerson had advocated. To the shock of Trumps own advisers, he accepted on the spot when envoys sent by South Koreas president, Moon Jae-in, passed on an invitation to meet Kim. After that first summit in Singapore in June, the talk of hostilities ended. Trump declared Kim an honorable partner gliding past the killing of his half brother, his uncle and an American student in North Korea, Otto Wambier and promised to improve relations and suspend military exercises around Korea. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea, Trump declared on Twitter, despite the absence of any timetable for denuclearization. Some of his aides, starting with Bolton, the new national security adviser, were appalled. But with Trump repeating that he should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, no one wanted to argue. Bolton told colleagues not to worry. The negotiations, he said, would collapse on their own. Diplomacy in the Dark There were signs of trouble from the start. Pompeo flew to Pyongyang in early July to turn the Singapore discussion into a timetable for the North to produce an inventory of weapons, the first step toward disarmament, but Kim declined to see him. Instead, Pompeo met with Kim Yong Chol, a former spy chief with hard-line views on the United States. After the visit, the North said the Americans had pushed a unilateral and gangsterlike demand for denuclearization. But it also said Kim Jong Un still wanted to build on the friendly relationship and trust with Trump. The message was clear: A real breakthrough was only possible if the two leaders got together again. The North Koreans seemed to believe Kim could get a better deal from Trump than they could from his State Department negotiators. Then in August, Trump abruptly canceled a trip by Pompeo to Pyongyang, saying there had not been enough progress in the talks. This stymied the new special envoy, Stephen E. Biegun, who had planned to accompany Pompeo. Meanwhile, diplomacy between South Korea and North Korea was progressing quickly. Moon and Kim had already met twice before the Singapore summit, and in September, Moon made a historic visit to Pyongyang. The result was the Pyongyang Declaration, which outlined a peace process for the peninsula and dangled a potential concession by North Korea. The North, it said, would agree to dismantle the Yongbyon complex if the United States took corresponding measures. Suddenly, Yongbyon was in play. But what did North Korea want? Some analysts said they believed then that the North was seeking an end-of-war declaration as a prelude to legally replacing the armistice that halted the Korean War, an idea that Trump told Kim in Singapore he supported. And Moon was pushing for the end-of-war declaration. U.S. officials were worried it could lead too quickly to a peace treaty and then negotiations to draw down the 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula a longtime goal of the North. Then, a few days before the midterm elections in the United States, North Korea released a belligerent statement that said the country would return to a policy of strengthening its nuclear force if the United States did not lift sanctions. In retrospect, it was an important message that was obscured by the discussion of an end-of-war declaration. What really mattered to Kim were the sanctions, which, after three new rounds in 2017, were strangling his nations already pitiful economy. The United States had even cut off critical humanitarian aid to the country by barring American aid groups from traveling there. A Grand Bargain With diplomacy stalled, Trump decided to weigh in again. Bolton announced in December that Trump wanted another summit in early 2019 because North Korea had not lived up to the commitments it made in Singapore. To some diplomats and analysts, that seemed like a reason not to meet again. The North Koreans appointed a former ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok Chol, to lay the groundwork with Biegun, 55, a pragmatic former senior aide to Condoleezza Rice in the Bush administration who had been passed over for the national security adviser position in favor of Bolton. The first meetings in Pyongyang did not go smoothly. And when the two sides met in Hanoi starting six days before the summit, the North Koreans kept demanding that the five most recent rounds of sanctions imposed by the United Nations since March 2016 be lifted. Ri, the foreign minister, said later that North Korea chose those sanctions because they affected ordinary citizens. These sanctions, imposed to punish Pyongyang for new weapons tests, differed from previous restrictions that were focused on weapons and nuclear-related equipment. Instead, they covered entire export sectors, including minerals, metals, coal, agriculture and seafood. They also banned energy sales to North Korea. Altogether, they held back billions of dollars of trade, a senior State Department official said. The far-reaching nature of the sanctions and the suffering they were causing were exactly why hard-line administration officials wanted to keep them up. After Trumps surprise decision at Singapore to suspend military exercises with South Korea, these officials worried the United States was losing leverage. That camp, led by Bolton, regarded Pompeo and his diplomats with suspicion. Would they give away too much for too little? Would they give in to the North Korean entreaties to loosen sanctions? A Stanford speech by Biegun in January appeared to the hawks to be a red flag: He suggested then that North Korea might not need to immediately hand over a complete declaration of nuclear assets, which U.S. officials had demanded as a first step. But behind closed doors, Biegun and his team told the North Koreans that giving up the aging facilities at Yongbyon was not nearly enough for such extensive sanctions relief. At the same time, the North Korean negotiators were inconsistent about which of the facilities inside Yongbyon they were offering to dismantle at one point saying that only Kim Jong Un could decide. The negotiating teams were still deadlocked even as Kim boarded a train for a two-day journey to Vietnam and Trump took off on Air Force One. The U.S. team thought their North Korean counterparts would warn Kim that the demand to lift the five sanctions was a nonstarter, so the two leaders would work on hashing something else out during the summit. But soon after the two men arrived at the Metropole, the North Korean leader began arguing for relief from the five rounds of sanctions in exchange for Yongbyon. While North Korea had suspended operations at Yongbyon under agreements in 1994 and again in 2007, and later offered various moratoriums that were never fully executed, Kims proposal appeared to go further than ever toward dismantling the entirety of the complex, officials said. But the exact terms were still vague. Trump countered with the grand bargain. The divide was underscored by the fact that, at one point, he presented Kim with a document laying out his definition of denuclearization. Kim objected that there was not enough trust between the two countries to give up everything at once. At a rare news conference shortly after midnight Thursday, Ri argued that his country mostly needed security guarantees related to U.S. military forces on the peninsula, and portrayed the sanctions-for-Yongbyon trade as a step to build trust. In the end, Trump flew back to Washington with nothing no agreement on a peace declaration, and no ban on producing more nuclear fuel meaning the Norths arsenal will keep expanding while the two sides argue. There were only promises to keep talking. On Friday, as Trump woke up in the White House after his grueling trip, the long wooden table that had been moved into a meeting room of the Metropole Hotel for the signing ceremony still sat there, unused. This article originally appeared in The New York Times Amid the bookshelves in the small, refurbished library, an overflowing crowd gathered Saturday to commemorate the community heroes of Acres Homes and beyond. This years 6th annual Shepard-Acres Homes Legends essay contest received a record number of submissions over 100 from students ranging from pre-K to high school seniors. The contestants were allowed to pick people they admired outside of community members, but many picked people who have made an impact in their hometown, including Beulah Shepard, the librarys namesake. We were trying to help the kids at school learn about the importance of writing, said Diane Shepard, daughter of former political activist, Beulah Shepard. They (wrote essays) on their pastors, they did some on Slim Thug, Carmelo Anthony, people from the neighborhood. Second grader Magan Winston, 8, began her essay at the beginning of February. She chose to focus on Beulah Shepard because her mother, Charlesley Watt, 41, had worked with her on a few occasions. My essay was about when she was born, where she moved, and how she helped people, like (Mayor) Sylvester Turner, said Winston. She helped people vote also. Winston wrote a letter inviting former First Lady Michelle Obama, who was in Houston Saturday for a book signing, to the library ceremony. The Obama family sent Shepard a letter wishing every contestant luck in the competition. After Winston received her framed letter, Mayor Sylvester Turner, an Acres Homes native, was introduced as the guest speaker. He reminisced on his time with Shepard, saying she was the one who pushed him to be a politician. I told her I wasnt interested and before she asked me she was telling people Sylvester is running, and she never asked me, said Turner, a former state representative. I ran into some people who wished me well and I had no clue what they were talking about until I ran into Mrs. Shepard. The Friends of Beulah Shepard Legacy hopes their foundation will be in a position to offer scholarships to students by 2021. They also want to expand it to students outside of the neighborhood. We basically wanted to just keep this history because theres so much, and history is important, she said. George H.W. Bush did it. So did Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Herbert Hoover. It probably wasnt easy, yet they knew this was what the moment demanded and democracy required. So each of them took that ceremonial ride to the Capitol with the man who had defeated them, and then sat there politely as he took power that had been theirs. Which brings us to Donald Trump. Can anyone, even in their most fanciful imaginings, see him doing that? Michael Cohen cant. Given my experience working for Mr. Trump, Trumps former fixer, lawyer and toady told the House Oversight Committee Wednesday, I fear that if he loses the election in 2020, there will never be a peaceful transition of power. Let that marinate a moment. And ask yourself: What happens if this guy whose self-definition, whose entire psychological structure, is founded upon a self-image as a man who always wins, loses? Can you see him quietly accepting it with dignity and grace? One can more readily imagine Mitch McConnell twerking in Times Square. And if Trump does refuse to accept the verdict of the electorate, what do the people who have followed him slavishly, renouncing common sense, simple decency and the evidence of their own eyes, do then? Will they reject the legitimacy of the new president? Will violence follow? You may think the entire scenario far-fetched. But in the Trump age, that term hardly has meaning anymore. Indeed, it is a measure of how extraordinary this era is that this fear, expressed by a man who knows Trump better than almost anyone, was not the top takeaway from the hearing. No, most of the chatter has had to do with whether Trump is, as Cohen painted him, a racist, a liar, a con man, and a crook all important things to know. But surely it is just as important to ponder whether the racist, liar, con man and crook is also a threat. One wonders if, in largely failing to grapple that question, news media and the electorate are not, yet again, failing to appreciate what an outlier Trump is. Its worth remembering how some of us spent the first six months of his term waiting for him to turn some metaphorical corner and become presidential. That never happened, and the people who thought it would seem silly in retrospect. They underestimated his willingness and capacity to explode our every expectation and sacred norm. And they may once again be making that same mistake. John Dean, you will recall, famously warned Richard Nixon of a cancer on the presidency. But in 2019, the cancer is the presidency. So there is a need for us to be clear-eyed and sober about what we face. I dont know that were there yet. In the impassioned soliloquy with which he closed the hearing, committee chair Elijah Cummings spoke of the need for America to get back to normal. In those words, there was a probably unintended echo of Lincoln, early in the Civil War, yearning to restore the Union. But what Lincoln later came to realize is that the Union had been so profoundly sundered it could never be returned to what it had been. The same seems true of us now. Normal is gone. If America is to survive this cancer intact, it will have to embrace what Lincoln famously called a new birth of freedom. In other words, we will have to cobble together a different America one hopes, a better America from the broken shards of what used to be. As the election of 2020 bears down, our ability and willingness to do that is the one great hope this country still has. With any luck, it will be the only one we need. Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com. I am Catherine Chen, a Director of the Board at Huawei. Im in charge of public and government affairs. The US is a shining example of how to inspire passion for technological innovation and development. We too have been inspired by your history of creativity and hard work. I am writing to you in the hopes that we can come to understand each other better. In recent years, the US government has developed some misunderstandings about us. We would like to draw your attention to the facts. We operate in more than 170 countries and regions, including countries like the UK, Germany, and France. We provide innovative and secure telecoms network equipment and smartphones to more than three billion people around the world. Huawei was founded over 30 years ago, and we are proud of our peoples willingness to work in the worlds most difficult and dangerous regions. We have put our hearts and souls into connecting the unconnected and bridging the digital divide in underserved locations around the world places where many other companies arent willing to go. We build base stations in the harshest environments, like the Arctic Circle, the Sahara, rainforests in South America, and even on Mount Everest. In the wake of disasters like the tsunami in Indonesia, the nuclear disaster in Japan, and the massive earthquake in Chile, our employees were some of the first on the ground, working tirelessly to restore communications networks and support disaster relief. We work with many leading US companies on technology development, business consulting, and procurement. In addition, we support university research programs in the US, helping them make significant progress in communications technologies, which we believe will benefit the whole world. There are only so many people we can reach out to. On behalf of Huawei, I would like to invite members of the US media to visit our campuses and meet our employees. I hope that you can take what you see and hear back to your readers, viewers, and listeners, and share this message with them, to let them know that our doors are always open. We would like the US public to get to know us better, as we will you. If you would like to visit us, please send an email to corpcomm@huawei.com Dont believe everything you hear. Come and see us. We look forward to meeting you. Sincerely, Catherine Chen Corporate Senior Vice President Director of the Board Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Huawei HQ | Huawei Base, Bantian, Longgang District, Shenzhen, China | +86 755 28780808 PDF download >> Imperial Valley News Center Innovators Selected to Advance in Competition Designed to Boost Solar Manufacturing Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Energy announced that a group of 20 teams were invited to advance to the next stage in the American-Made Solar Prize, a $3 million competition to revitalize U.S. solar manufacturing. Each team will receive a $50,000 cash prize and is eligible to compete in the next two phases of the competition. Through a rigorous evaluation process, teams were chosen for the novelty of their ideas and how their solutions address a critical need for the solar industry. The innovations represented by the competitors include advances in photovoltaic and concentrating solar-thermal power technologies, new power electronics devices, and innovative manufacturing techniques. We are impressed by the caliber of ideas submitted by competitors, said Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). These teams represent the next frontier for solar innovation and were excited to see the teams work with our partners in the American-Made Network and at NREL to make these ideas a reality. In the end, the best ideas and collaborators will win. The teams will tackle a variety of solar challenges, including the development of new PV cell designs that can increase efficiency and improve manufacturability, new devices like inverters that use low-cost silicon carbide or tools that ease PV installation, and new hardware and module designs that enable new applications for PV. The teams from 15 states will work to design a proof of concept over the next three months. Competitors will then pitch their work to a team of expert judges at a national demonstration day in May. Then, five to ten finalists will compete for two final prizes at a second demonstration day this fall. This program is funded by EEREs Solar Energy Technologies Office and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Learn more about the American-Made Solar Prize. Imperial Valley News Center Presidential Proclamation on Womens History Month Washington, DC - During Womens History Month, we celebrate the countless women whose courage and resolve have contributed to the character and success of our Nation and the entire world. The equal opportunity of women in every facet of daily life is an essential feature of a free and prosperous society. This month, we honor women who have fought for equality and against the status quo, and who have broken the bonds of discrimination, partiality, and injustice for the benefit of all. These women created a legacy that continues to inspire generations of women to live with confidence, to have a positive impact on their communities, and to improve our Nation every single day. Throughout our history, women have dedicated their lives to achieving equal rights for all Americans. They envisioned a society where women could pursue a formal education, start a business, serve in the military, or run for elected office. The example of each of these women motivates successive generations to aspire to greatness and to stand tall in the face of adversity. We remember all the American women, past and present, who have inspired and empowered todays women to advocate for their beliefs and pursue their dreams without hesitation. Catherine Brewer, who in 1840 became the first woman to earn a bachelors degree, and Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who graduated from medical school to become Americas first recognized female physician, are in the pantheon of great American women. Both pursued their passion to learn and to achieve advanced degrees in an unprecedented way. Their achievement marked the beginning of our societys move toward equality among men and women in education. They would be proud to know that, today, female students constitute the majority of undergraduates in our colleges and universities. Women also have a rich history of civilian and military leadership, service, and sacrifice. The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), for example, were remarkable pioneers in military aviation. Founded by Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran in 1942, WASP grew to a fleet of 1,102 women pilots who flew every type of World War II military aircraft for non-combat missions domestically. These women were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, and they paved the way for women pilots like Captain Rosemary Mariner, the Navys first female fighter pilot and first woman to command a naval aviation squadron. Over the course of her 24 years of honorable service, Captain Mariner broke many barriers for women in the military. When she passed away on January 24, 2019, the Navy conducted an allfemale flyover in her honor, a first in the history of the Armed Forces and a fitting honor for a woman of her stature. Leaders of our Nation also stand on the shoulders of women like Jeannette Rankin, who became the first woman to hold Federal office in 1916. She predicted: I may be the first woman member of Congress, but I wont be the last. This year, a century after the Congress passed the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote, more women are serving in the Congress than at any time in our history. My Administration continues to empower women by creating unprecedented opportunities for them. The United States economy is booming like never before. An all-time record number of women are employed, and, just last year, women filled 58 percent of new jobs. Our economic agenda, including the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the elimination of unnecessary and burdensome regulations, has driven womens unemployment to the lowest level in 65 years. My Administration fought to provide tax relief to parents by doubling the child tax credit and preserving the child and dependent care credit. To help women thrive in the labor force and provide for their families, we developed a tax credit for employers who offer paid family and medical leave, and I have called on the Congress to pass a nationwide paid family leave program. Prioritizing the economic empowerment of women has also helped to boost our Nations economy and security. My Administration is committed to working with States to reform occupational licensing laws, which disproportionately affect women. States and licensing boards can and must do more to eliminate unnecessary barriers to career opportunities and improve license portability to facilitate career continuity. Promoting womens economic empowerment abroad enables developing countries to increase their global financial stability. When women are fully empowered to reach their economic potential, they invest back into their families and communities, which helps their countries thrive. That is why I signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to launch the Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP), which is the first-ever whole-of-government approach to advancing global womens economic empowerment. The W-GDP Initiative aims to benefit 50 million women across the developing world by 2025. It will help women prosper in the workforce by improving their access to quality education and skills training, funding and supporting womens entrepreneurship and access to capital, and working to address legal, regulatory, and cultural barriers that hinder women from fully and freely participating in the economy. This month, we express our gratitude for all American women who continue to strengthen our families, communities, and workforce. Our future is brighter because of their contributions. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2019 as Womens History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Womens Day on March 8, 2019, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP Imperial Valley News Center Winning the War Against Terrorist Messaging Washington, DC - Last October, the Administration published the first National Strategy for Counterterrorism since 2011, encouraging governments, private industry, and civil society to work together to combat terrorist radicalization and recruitment, including that enabled by online terrorist propaganda. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, we have accelerated efforts to defeat terrorists posing a threat to the United States and have made significant progress in this area. The Administrations policy is consistent with long-standing political ideals, encouraging technology companies to enforce their terms of service and community standards that forbid the use of their platforms for terrorist purposes. Last year, industry leaders publicly launched the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, which aims to advance ways to achieve this goal. Their results have been substantial, with Facebook now asserting it is removing over 99 percent of ISIS and al-Qaida content before users flag it, blocking most within a minute of posting. Similarly, YouTube states that it has quadrupled the percentage of terrorist-related videos taken down before they receive ten viewsfrom eight percent of takedowns a year ago, to nearly 50 percent today. But despite these successes, the U.S. Government and our industry partners know we will not succeed if we only react. Instead, we must grow our efforts to enable credible voices promoting alternative narratives to those who otherwise might be susceptible to terrorist messaging. On February 26, 2019, we joined His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordanone of our most capable and effective partners in developing credible, alternative narrativesalong with companies, civil society organizations, and foreign partners to advance our collective terrorism prevention efforts. Simultaneously, the 9/11 Commission co-chairs published a critical new report noting that our fight against terrorism is far from over, echoing the refrain that we must now focus on preventing the emergence of new terrorists. We must continue to be proactive in our efforts to combat terrorist content and counter violent extremist ideology on the Internet. We must also do this while continuing to respect the democratic ideals that allow and encourage authentic freedom of expression. This is a challenging task. Despite our continued success against ISIS and al-Qaida around the globe, we know they will try to use the Internet as a means to regroup and rebuild. In addition to this, we are continually working to combat violent domestic extremist movements and malign foreign influenceincluding from Iran and its terrorist proxies. Our success combating radical Islamist terrorist content online, however, should encourage faith that these efforts are not in vain. Protecting our freedom of expression on a free, open, and interoperable Internet is notand should notbe an easy endeavor, but collectively we will prevail. Imperial Valley News Center How and where will food be produced in 2040 Sacramento, California - Adapt or die. That saying, made famous in the early 1970s by then-Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz as he encouraged farmers to look for ways to be more efficient and responsive to market signals, still rings true for many in agriculture today. Butz, who grew up on a small Indiana farm and graduated from Purdue University during the depths of the Great Depression, understood that farmers would need to change to stay in business. He didnt advocate for farmers to necessarily get larger but maintained they would need to adopt new business models to be more efficient. During his lifetime (he died in 2008 at the age of 98), Butz witnessed significant advancements in plant and animal breeding, mechanization, specialization, the advent of biofuels and the rise of organic agriculture, as well as increased urbanization and globalization just to name a few trends. Indeed, throughout the last century, U.S. farmers have adapted in response to market demands, new technologies, government decisions and the weather. Agriculture is getting incredibly more sophisticated, notes Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State Professor Emeritus. You have no choice but to adapt and change with the times if you are going to survive. He also foresees less and less commodity production and more crops grown with specific attributes desired by customers. Consider just a few key changes in U.S.cropping patterns over the last 100 years: Oats: One of the first major U.S. crops, oats initially were grown primarily as feed for horses and mules pulling farm equipment. Acreage peaked at 45.5 million and continued in the 35-40 million range until 1955, according to USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service. By 2018, growers planted less than 3 million acres. Soybeans: Soybeans were first planted in the U.S. in the early 1920s and reached 1 million acres by 1930. But as interest grew in the plants ability to fix nitrogen in the soil and market demand ramped up, growers again responded. Last year, farmers sowed over 89 million acres with the oilseed. At the same time, new seed varieties have enabled production to move north. North Dakota growers planted almost 7 million acres in 2018, compared to only 44,000 acres in 1950. At the same time, new seed varieties have enabled production to move north. North Dakota growers planted almost 7 million acres in 2018, compared to only 44,000 acres in 1950. Grapes: Before Prohibition made alcohol illegal in 1920, Iowa was the nations sixth-largest wine producer. A movement toward the production of more row crops, the development of new herbicides in the mid-1900s, coupled with a severe blizzard in 1940 all knocked down the amount of grapes grown in Iowa, according to the Iowa Wine Growers Association. Now the industry is making a comeback, with about 100 commercial wineries across the state. Still, the majority of U.S. grapes are grown in California, Oregon and Washington. California changing: Until the 1950s, Los Angeles County was the top agricultural producer in the U.S, with an estimated 10,000 farms raising cattle, wheat and a variety of other crops, according to an oral history of California Agriculture. As the countys population grew, agriculture moved to other parts of the state. The growth of irrigated farming in the Central Valley and Imperial Valley, watered by the Colorado River, bumped California to first place among all states in value of agricultural products in the 1950s, a position it holds to this day. Hemp: Used primarily for its fiber and seed oils, hemp was a prominent crop in the early years of the U.S. According to the February 1938 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine, hemp, which is related to marijuana, could be used in 25,000 different products and was on the verge of becoming the billion-dollar crop. However, lawmakers proposed prohibitive tax laws in 1937 and hemp production was banned later that year. Lawmakers reversed course in 1942 when they needed hemp for the war effort and released a documentary called Hemp for Victory, encouraging farmers to grow hemp to support the war. This led to over 400,000 acres of hemp being planted during 1942-1945. Last year, hemp production was legalized in all 50 states as part of the 2018 farm bill, and more U.S. growers are expected to enter the market. In 2018, global hemp retail sales reached $3.74 billion, with an annual growth rate of 15 percent, according to New Frontier Data. These historical trends provide important perspectives on how growers have adapted in the past and will continue to adapt with new crop varieties and production methods as they make room for a new generation in 2040. As the amount of U.S. cropland continues to decline due to urbanization, there will be a focus on growing more on less acreage and doing so in a sustainable fashion. Read more here President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees, a United States Attorney Nominee, and United States Marshal Nominees Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate judicial nominees, a United States Attorney nominee, and United States Marshal nominees, as follows: Robert J. Colville of Pennsylvania, to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Robert Colville is a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, where he currently presides over a civil litigation calendar, including complex commercial litigation matters. Prior to joining the bench in 2000, Judge Colville practiced at Piertragallo, Bosick & Gordon, where he handled all manner of civil litigation, including products liability and insurance defense cases. Upon graduation from law school, Judge Colville clerked for Justice Ralph J. Cappy of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Judge Colville received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law and his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Stephanie L. Haines of Pennsylvania, to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Stephanie Haines is an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Ms. Haines serves as the sole prosecutor in the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Branch Office and handles a wide variety of federal criminal matters. Ms. Haines has also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Prior to joining the Justice Department, Ms. Haines was a member of the United States Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps, where she served as both a prosecutor and defense appellate specialist. Ms. Haines remains a reserve member of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate Generals Corps. Ms. Haines received her J.D. from Ohio Northern University College of Law and her B.A. from Juniata College. Jason K. Pulliam of Texas, to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Jason Pulliam is Of Counsel with Prichard Young, where his practice focuses on complex civil litigation matters. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Mr. Pulliam served as a Justice on Texas Fourth Court of Appeals and a judge for the Bexar County Court at Law, handling both civil and criminal matters. Mr. Pulliam has also served as a member of the United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate Generals Corps, serving as defense counsel. Mr. Pulliam received his J.D., cum laude, from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and an M.A. and B.A., cum laude, from Brooklyn College. Matthew H. Solomson of Maryland, to serve as Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Matthew Solomson is Chief Legal Officer for the Federal Government Solutions business unit of Anthem, Inc. Prior to joining Anthem in 2015, Mr. Solomson served as Associate General Counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton, in private practice at various Washington, D.C., law firms, and as a Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Division. Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Solomson served as a law clerk to Judge Francis M. Allegra of the Court of Federal Claims. Mr. Solomson received his J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of Maryland School of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland R.H. Smith School of Business, and his B.A., cum laude, from Brandeis University. David A. Tapp of Kentucky, to serve as Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. David Tapp is a judge on the Kentucky Court of Justices 28th Judicial Circuit. While on the court, Judge Tapp has served as Chairman of the Circuit Judges Education Committee and a volunteer drug court judge. Before joining the bench in 2005, Judge Tapp was both a solo practitioner and prosecutor in the Commonwealths Attorneys Office. Judge Tapp received his J.D. from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, his M.S. from Chaminade University, and his B.A. from Morehead State University. Timothy J. Downing of Oklahoma, to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Timothy Downing is Counselor to the Oklahoma Secretary of State. From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Downing served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives where he was an Assistant Majority Floor Leader, an Assistant Majority Whip, and Vice-Chair of Judiciary Committee. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Downing was an Assistant Attorney General for Oklahoma, where he represented the State of Oklahoma in criminal appeals, was a member of the Opinion Conference, and was Director of Legislative Affairs. Since 2011, Mr. Downing has also served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve. In this capacity from 2013 to 2014, he served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney at Fort Hood, Texas, working with the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. Mr. Downing received his J.D. from Regent University School of Law, his M.Mgt. from Oral Roberts University, and his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Michael East of North Carolina, to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Michael East is a Forensic Investigator in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Section for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorneys Office, he served with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) for 28 years, where he was on the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force Prevention Team and the SBI Crisis Negotiation Team. Mr. East received his B.A. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Brent R. Bunn will serve as the United States Marshal for the District of Idaho. Brent Bunn was most recently Sheriff of Bear Lake County, Idaho. He was elected Sheriff of Bear Lake County in 1985, and he served eight consecutive terms until his retirement in 2017. During his term as Sheriff, Mr. Bunn served as a President of the Idaho Sheriffs Association and as a President of the Idaho Association of Counties. Mr. Bunn received his B.S. from Brigham Young University. Presidential Proclamation on Irish-American Heritage Month, 2019 Washington, DC - During Irish-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the indispensable contributions Irish Americans have made to every chapter of our Nations history. Generations of Irish immigrants have carried to our shores character, culture, and values that continue to play pivotal roles in the strength and success of America. Irish Americans helped define and defend our great Nation in its earliest days. The Continental Congress appointed more than 20 generals of Irish descent to lead the Continental Army through the Revolutionary War. The courage of these Irish generals on the battlefield was as inspiring as it was fierce. The Pennsylvania Line, the backbone of George Washingtons Army and one of its largest and hardesthitting units, consisted of so many soldiers of Irish descent that it was often called the Line of Ireland. After they fought for our Independence, Irish Americans helped enshrine the visionary principles of selfgovernment outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Many Irish Americans immigrated to the United States during the terrible years of Irelands Great Famine in the middle of the 19th century. Despite facing discrimination and poverty, Irish Americans persevered thanks to their industry, leadership, and integral involvement in society. In 1868, IrishAmerican businessman Edmund McIlhenny grew his first commercial crop of peppers in Avery Island, Louisiana, and created Tabasco hot sauce. Andrew Mellon, the grandson of Irish immigrants, built a thriving business empire before becoming the Secretary of the Treasury, during which time he advocated for economic policies that sparked the tremendous prosperity of the 1920s. In 1937, he funded the construction of the National Gallery of Art and donated his extensive art collection to the museum. Today, more than 31 million Americans look back with pride on their Irish heritage and the legacy of their ancestors. The faith, perseverance, and spirit of Irish Americans across our country is indelibly woven into the tapestry of the American story. As we spend this month honoring the incredible history of Irish Americans, especially on St. Patricks Day, we look forward to a bright future of continued friendship and cooperation between the United States and Ireland. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2019 as IrishAmerican Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the achievements of Irish Americans and their contributions to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP Vice President Pence at CPAC 2019 National Harbor, Maryland - Remarks by Vice President Pence at CPAC 2019: THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Matt. And hello, CPAC! (Applause.) It is great for us to be back at CPAC 2019, the largest gathering of conservatives anywhere in America. (Applause.) Thanks for coming out. And Im honored to be joined here by thousands of conservatives in our nations capital, but I also want to give a shout-out to all those great conservatives watching across this country, especially all of our friends joining us live from Lynchburg, Virginia at Liberty University. Ill see you in May! (Applause.) And to all of them, and to all of you, I bring greetings from a friend of mine a man who restored American leadership at home and abroad, and a man who cant wait to be with you tomorrow. I bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.) You know, its the greatest honor of my life to serve as Vice President to a President who gets up every day and fights to keep the promises that he made to the American people. (Applause.) I mean, think about it: This President promised to get this economy moving again. And working with Republican majorities in the Congress, in our first two years, President Trump has cut more federal red tape than any President in American history. (Applause.) Weve unleashed American energy, and now the United States is the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world. (Applause.) Under the Presidents strong leadership, weve forged new trade deals that finally put American jobs and American workers first. And with the support of this generation of conservatives, President Trump signed the largest tax cut and tax reform in American history. (Applause.) Thats promises made and promises kept! We cut taxes across the board for working Americans, for American businesses, and we cut out the core of Obamacare. The individual mandate is gone. (Applause.) And the results have been amazing. As I stand before you today, the American economy is booming. (Applause.) In just over two years, businesses large and small have created 5.3 million new jobs, including over 480,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs that the other side said would never come back. (Applause.) Unemployment has hit a 50-year low. And more Americans are working today than ever before in the history of this country. (Applause.) The unemployment rate for women has hit a 55-year low. And the unemployment rate for Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans have reached the lowest level ever recorded in American history. (Applause.) And the wages of working Americans are rising at a faster pace than they have in more than a decade. Under President Donald Trump, working Americans are winning again. The forgotten men and women of America are forgotten no more. (Applause.) Everywhere you look, confidence is back, jobs are coming back. In a word, America is back and were just getting started! (Applause.) But for all the progress weve made, President Trump has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people. And from the first days of this administration, this President has worked to make the strongest military in the history of the world stronger still. And last year, President Trump signed the largest investment in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) Were modernizing our nuclear arsenal, updating missile defense, and before the year is out, President Donald Trump will launch the sixth branch of our armed forces, the United States Space Force. (Applause.) Under this Commander-in-Chief, well make sure that America is as dominant in space as we are on land and air and sea. So, were rebuilding our military, were restoring the arsenal of democracy, and were once again giving our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard the resources they need to accomplish their mission and come home safe. (Applause.) And were also standing with our veterans and all the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States. And we restored accountability to the VA. (Applause.) Were finally giving our heroes access to the world-class healthcare they earned in the uniform of the United States. Veterans Choice is here! (Applause.) And in this administration, were also standing every day with the brave men and women of law enforcement, and weve been giving all those who stand on the Thin Blue Line the resources and the respect they deserve every single day. (Applause.) And that includes the courageous men and women of Customs and Border Protection (applause) who put their lives on the line every single day. Under this President and this administration, we will never abolish ICE. (Applause.) You know, as the President has said many times: If you dont have a border, you dont have a country. And since day one of our administration, weve been working to remove dangerous criminals from our streets in record numbers, enforcing our immigration laws, and working to secure our border. And weve already started to build that wall. (Applause.) And Ill make you a promise: Before were done, were going to build it all. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: Build that wall! Build that wall! Build that wall! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Oh, were building it. (Laughter.) As the President often says, Dont worry about it. (Laughter.) Make no mistake about it, folks: No matter what you hear from the Democrats and their allies in the media, we have a crisis at our southern border, and its like nothing weve ever seen before. For the first time ever, the majority of illegal immigrants coming into our country are unaccompanied minors and families families that are being exploited by drug cartels and human traffickers, encouraging them to make the long and dangerous journey north at a great financial price, and often at a great price to themselves and their safety and well-being. You know, when President Obama, in 2014, said we had a humanitarian crisis at southern border, 120,000 minors and families crossed our border illegally. Last year, there were 145,000. And in the last four months alone, more than 120,000 unaccompanied minors and families have been apprehended at our southern border. Now, Democrats want to say its a manufactured crisis, but the only thing thats manufactured is their outrage. (Applause.) Every day we dont secure our border, were allowing the crisis to worsen, more lives to be endangered, and more people to be exploited, and more drugs to flow into our country. Thats why President Trump used his authority under the law to declare a national emergency on our southern border. (Applause.) But now now Democrats are trying to stop the President from exercising the authority that the Congress gave him to address this real crisis. So today we call on every member of Congress: Stand up for border security, stop playing politics with the security of the American people, and stand with President Trump for a stronger and safer America. (Applause.) With his renewed commitment to law and order, this President has also been busy seeing to our judicial branch. President Trump has appointed more men and women to our federal courts in the last two years than any administration in American history. And they are all conservatives, like Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh! (Applause.) And theyre conservatives who will uphold all the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution, like the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. (Applause.) You know, the freedom of religion is not just enshrined in our Constitution; its enshrined in the hearts of the American people. But make no mistake about it: Freedom of religion is under attack in our country. Lately, its actually become fashionable for media elites and Hollywood liberals to mock religious belief. My own family recently came under attack just because my wife Karen went back to teach art to children at a Christian school. Let me say, before all of you, I couldnt be more proud of my wife. (Applause.) Shes a Marine Corps mom. Shes a great schoolteacher. And Karen Pence is a great Second Lady for the United States of America. (Applause.) But let me be clear on this point: This is not about us. Its about all of you. Its about the sincerely held belief of millions of Americans who cherish their Christian faith and Christian education. And so Ill make you a promise: Under this President and this administration, we will always stand with people of faith. We will always defend the freedom of religion of every American of every faith, so help us God. (Applause.) And as we reflect on our God-given liberties, I got to tell you, I couldnt be more proud to serve as Vice President to the most pro-life President in American history. (Applause.) Since the first days of this administration, President Donald Trump has stood without apology for the sanctity of human life. In one of his very first acts, the President reinstated the Mexico City Policy, preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion or abortion providers around the world. And here at home, President Trump signed a law to allow all 50 states to defund Planned Parenthood. (Applause.) Life is winning in America once again. But for all the progress were making tragically, at the very moment that more Americans than ever before are embracing the right to life, leading members of the Democratic Party are embracing a radical agenda of abortion on demand. In state legislatures across the country, Democrats have endorsed late-term abortion. The Democrat governor of Virginia openly defends infanticide. And just four short days ago AUDIENCE: Booo THE VICE PRESIDENT: Democrats in the Senate, including every Democratic senator running for president, voted against a bill that would prevent newborn babies who survived failed abortions from being killed. You know, Ive long believed that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable: the aged, the infirmed, the disabled, and the unborn. With Democrats standing for late-term abortion, infanticide, and a culture of death, I promise you this President, this party, and this movement will always stand for the unborn. We will always defend the unalienable right to life. (Applause.) So weve restored American strength and security at home, and were doing the same thing around the world. And today, under the leadership of President Trump, the United States of America is once again standing proudly as leader of the free world (applause) like when this President kept his promise to our most cherished ally and moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel! (Applause.) So weve stood with our allies and weve stood up to our enemies. Weve taken the fight to radical Islamic terrorists on our terms, on their soil. In Iraq and Syria, thanks to the courage of our armed forces and our coalition partners, the ISIS caliphate has been decimated, and our troops have liberated 5 million men, women, and children. (Applause.) To see the extraordinary progress theyve made in liberating millions from the vicious grip of ISIS, I say with conviction, again, what has been said throughout history: The Armed Forces of the United States are the greatest force for good in the history of the world. (Applause.) At this very hour, along the Euphrates River, the last mile of territory, where the black flag of ISIS once flew, is being captured. And in the wake of these gains, President Trump has announced that the United States will begin to hand the fight off to our partner and bring our troops home. (Applause.) But be assured of this: We will keep a strong presence in the region. We will get our allies to do more in the fight against ISIS. And together, we will hunt down and destroy the remnants of ISIS wherever and whenever they rear their ugly head (applause) so they can never threaten our people or our allies again. (Applause.) And with that strong leadership on the world stage, President Trump has also confronted the greatest threat to peace and security in the Middle East when he withdrew the United States of America from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. (Applause.) The Islamic Republic of Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world. Iran supports terrorist proxies, fuels conflicts in the region, plots terrorist attacks on European soil, and openly advocates the destruction of the State of Israel. Two weeks ago, Karen and I stood and prayed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp in Poland. The history of that time must never be forgotten. We mourn with those who mourn, and grieve with those who grieve. But we say from our heart: Never again. (Applause.) As we stood in that place, I thought, when authoritarian regimes breathe out vile anti-Semitic hatred and threats of violence, history teaches we must take them at their word. Anti-Semitism is not just wrong; its evil. (Applause.) Anti-Semitism must be confronted wherever and whenever it arises, and it must be universally condemned. (Applause.) The Iranian regime openly advocates another holocaust and seeks the means to achieve it. But I can assure you, under President Donald Trumps leadership, America will continue to stand strong. We will continue to oppose Iran, its malign influence. And I promise you: Under this President, America will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. (Applause.) So as the world has witnessed over the last two years, under this President, the United States will continue to seek every opportunity to achieve peace, even as we stand strong on the world stage. Well approach every challenge with our eyes wide open. President Trump deals with the world as it is, not as we wish it would be. And the truth is, that effort for peace is nowhere more evident than in the progress that weve made in the Indo-Pacific over the last two years. Its remarkable to think that when I stood at this podium two years ago, North Korea was engaged in regular nuclear tests, launching missiles over Japan, threatening the United States and our allies. Faced with this threat, President Trump rallied the world around an unprecedented pressure campaign. And the world has witnessed the results: No more nuclear tests. No more missiles being fired. Our hostages are home. And Karen and I had the privilege to be present in Hawaii as the remains of our fallen Korean War heroes began to be returned to American soil. Thanks to President Donald Trump, our boys are finally coming home. (Applause.) Now, last night, President Trump returned from a second historic summit with North Korea in Vietnam. And as the President said, it was a productive two days, and discussions among teams will continue. But as President Trump said as he departed, Sometimes you have to walk. (Applause.) And I can assure you, after decades of failure with North Korea, under President Trumps leadership, America will not repeat the mistakes of the past. We will keep seeking peace. But for the sake of our security, the sake of the people of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump will stand firm until we achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea. (Applause.) So in just two years under this Presidents leadership from the world stage to here at home just in case you havent noticed, America is winning again. (Applause.) And I dont know about the rest of you, but Im not getting tired of it. (Applause.) But to keep on winning, my fellow conservatives, we have a choice to make in the next 20 months. Will we reelect a President whos making America great again for four more years? (Applause.) Or will we let the Democrats take America on a hard left turn and lose all the gains that weve fought so hard to make? AUDIENCE: No! THE VICE PRESIDENT: There you go. You know, America was founded on a simple idea, and that idea is freedom. (Applause.) But over my lifetime, the support for liberty, a strong national defense, free enterprise, inalienable rights, has principally fallen to our party and to this movement. Today, Democrats openly advocate an economic system that has impoverished millions of people around the world. Under the guise of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, Democrats are embracing the same tired economic theories that have impoverished nations and stifled the liberties of millions over the past century. That system is socialism. Remarkably, a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination is an avowed socialist. But its not just him. Bernie has been joined by a chorus of candidates and newly elected officials who have papered over the failed policies of socialism with bumper-sticker slogans and slick social-media campaigns. But what theyre actually offering is just more of the same: more taxes, more spending, more government, and less freedom. It was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the most prosperous economy in the history of the world. (Applause.) It was freedom, not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars, and stands today as the beacon of hope for all the world. (Applause.) It was freedom, not socialism, thats moving us beyond the prejudices of the past to create a more perfect union and extend the blessings of liberty to every American regardless of race or creed or color. (Applause.) It was freedom. And it was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the highest quality of life, the cleanest environment on Earth, and improved the health and well-being of millions around the world. It was freedom. What Medicare for All really means is quality healthcare for none. The only thing green about the so-called Green New Deal is how much green its going to cost taxpayers if these people ever pass it into law. (Applause.) You know, Margaret Thatcher probably said it best: The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money. (Applause.) The truth is, we want people to make poor people richer; they want to make rich people poorer. We want to make poverty more rare; they want to make poverty more comfortable. And thats the choice we face today, men and women, between freedom and socialism, between personal responsibility and government dependence. Where freedom encourages investment, socialism stifles growth. Where freedom welcomes diversity, socialism demands conformity. And as President Trump said in his State of the Union Address, America was founded on liberty and independence, and not government coercion, domination, and control. (Applause.) The moment America becomes a socialist country is the moment that America ceases to be America. (Applause.) And as the President said 24 days ago, so we must say with one voice, America will never be a socialist country. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! THE VICE PRESIDENT: We know where socialism leads. If you want socialism, just look at Venezuela. Venezuela was once one of the richest and most vibrant democracies in the Western Hemisphere, but under Maduros socialist rule, its become one of the poorest and most despotic. Today, more than 9 out of 10 people live in poverty in that once-rich country. More than 3 million Venezuelans have abandoned their homes and fled the brutality of the Maduro regime. But the struggle in Venezuela is between dictatorship and democracy. The struggle in Venezuela is between socialism and freedom. And as I told world leaders in Colombia just this week, Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power, and Nicolas Maduro must go. (Applause.) The truth is Venezuela needs what America has. Venezuela needs freedom. (Applause.) Freedom is about enabling people to live their lives as they see fit, not government control. Freedom produces more and better goods than any system in any other place and time in American world history. Freedom is more generous, more helpful, and more humane than any other social or economic model ever attempted because its the only philosophy that respects the dignity and worth of every single life and sees every man, woman, and child as made in the image of God. (Applause.) Thats freedom. Thats our heritage. (Applause.) And freedom works. This is what we believe. This is who we are. But this is the choice we face in the next 20 months. So, men and women of CPAC, weve got work to do. I came here to say thanks; to look back over the shoulder and make sure you knew just how much weve accomplished with this President and with your support in just two short years. AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Mike! (Applause.) THE VICE PRESIDENT: But now we have more work to do. (Applause.) But now we have more work to do. And just as we did in 2016, 20 months from now the American people are going to face a choice once again. You know, two years ago, in Poland, President Trump declared, and I quote, The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. As we gather here today, we must ask our movement the same question. As the President went on to say that day, in his words, Do we have [the] confidence in our values to defend them? AUDIENCE: Yes! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? AUDIENCE: Yes! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization? AUDIENCE: Yes! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Looking out across this room, looking out across this great movement, I know we do. (Applause.) We have the strength, we have the determination, we have the courage to stand for freedom. Because I have faith faith in the American people that if we go out and speak freedom to the people of this nation every day in the next 20 months, that if we lay out a vision for a boundless American future based on timeless American principles, if we lay out a choice between freedom and socialism, the American people will choose freedom every single time. (Applause.) The President and I both know that if we hold the banner of freedom high, if we put into practice those words of Scripture inscribed on the Liberty Bell to proclaim liberty throughout all the land [and] unto all the inhabitants thereof, the American people will rally to our cause once again. (Applause.) We will keep on winning. We will keep on growing. And we will preserve freedom for this generation and the next. (Applause.) So, as you go from this place, go with confidence. Confidence that you have a President thats fighting every day for the ideals and the values that are at the heart of American greatness. Confidence in the goodness of the American people and the rightness of our cause. And confidence that if we will ask for the blessings of Him who established this miracle of democracy on these wilderness shores so long ago, that we cannot fail. For where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. So freedom always wins. (Applause.) The men and women of CPAC, it was great to be with you today. But times a wasting. (Applause.) Weve got work to do. But I leave here with renewed confidence that, if all of us do all that we can between now and November of 2020 to hold up freedom, to protect our people, to defend our values, and with President Donald Trump in the White House, with more conservatives elected to our nations capital and to state houses across this nation, and with Gods help, we will make America safe again. (Applause.) We will make America more prosperous than ever before. And to borrow a phrase from a friend of mine, we will make America great again. Thank you very much. (Applause.) God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. Simon Pegg has undergone a drastic body transformation for a role in forthcoming thriller, Inheritance. The 49-year-old actors personal trainer Nick Lower posted photos of the Shaun of the Dead star on Instagram, revealing hes lost 19 pounds and four per cent body fat over the past six months. Peggs fans were impressed by the photos with some commenting he was channelling Christian Bale in reference to the Batman actor who has undergone several transformations throughout his career. You can see the results of Peggs transformation below. In 2004, Bale lost 63 pounds for the role of Trevor Reznik in The Machinist, and recently piled on the pounds for Oscar-winning drama Vice, in which he played Dick Cheney. Peggs transformation is for new film Inheritance, which also stars Lily Collins, Kate Mara and Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford. The biggest body transformations for a role Show all 12 1 /12 The biggest body transformations for a role The biggest body transformations for a role Matthew Fox in Alex Cross Lost star Matthew Fox underwent a staggering transition for the little-seen thriller Alex Cross, shedding 40 pounds for the role while also adding muscle mass. He said his mother hated it. Getty/Lionsgate Films The biggest body transformations for a role Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour While Darkest Hour may have been a run-of-the-mill biopic (with all the requisite fawning scenes of the subject), Gary Oldmans performance was substantially better than the actual film. The actor spent 200 hours in make-up over the shoot, hoping to emulate the wartime Prime Minister time well spent, as the Academy awarded the Oldman a best actor Oscar. AFP/Getty/Universal Pictures The biggest body transformations for a role Jared Leto in Dallas Buyer's Club The 30 Seconds to Mars frontmans casting caused controversy with his role as an HIV-positive transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club, where he starred opposite Matthew McConaughey. He lost about 40lb to play Rayon, and then I stopped counting, Leto said, adding that it changed the way he walked, talked, thought and moved. It changes you inside and out. Getty/Focus Features The biggest body transformations for a role Tom Hanks in Pahiladelphia Before Leto, Tom Hanks underwent dramatic weight loss for his starring roles in Philadelphia and Cast Away, which the actor later revealed may have been a factor in his diagnosis with type 2 diabetes. Since then, he has committed to avoiding roles that require significant weight gain or loss, because of the sheer physical toll it put on his body. AFP/Getty/TriStar Pictures The biggest body transformations for a role Tilda Swinton in Suspiria While some eagle-eyed film fans (and paparazzi) guessed it relatively early on, it took a while for Suspiria filmmaker Luca Guadagnino and Tilda Swinton to admit that she was the one playing 82-year-old male psychoanalyst Josef Klemperer in the 2018 horror remake. Academy Award-winning makeup artist Mark Coulier gave her a fake penis and balls at Swintons request: She had this nice, weighty set of genitalia so that she could feel it dangling between her legs, he said. Apparently she was so convincing that many of the cast and crew were confused about what this unknown German actor was doing on set. AFP/Getty/Amazon Studios The biggest body transformations for a role Leonardo DiCaprio in J Edgar The prosthetics he wore may have been widely mocked or criticised, but its hard to deny that Leonardo DiCaprios role as J Edgar involved one of the most drastic physical changes of his career. It took six to seven hours to apply his makeup each day, including fake teeth, a bald cap, latex body pads, and layers of silicone applied to his face. Getty/Warner Bros The biggest body transformations for a role John Travolta in Hairspray It took John Travolta a long time to say yes to the iconic role of Edna Turnblad in the film adaptation of the musical Hairspray. In the end, he was so determined to get it right that he rejected several versions of the padded suit weighing more than 30lbs designed for him until he felt the character was suitably voluptuous. Getty/Rex The biggest body transformations for a role John Hurt in The Elephant Man John Hurts portrayal of the deformed John Merrick is one of the most tender and humanistic performances of all time. Of course, you would not know that was John Hurt underneath the layers of make-up and prosthetics if it were not for the credits. So brilliant is the make-up design that the Oscars introduced the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling the year after. Getty Images The biggest body transformations for a role Nicole Kidman in The Hours Kidman may be almost unrecognizable in her new film Destroyer, but the transformation that most fans recall is for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours. The Australian star sat in the makeup chair for three hours every day while artists added a large prosthetic nose to Kidmans face. She won the Oscar for Best Actress the following year. Getty/Miramax Films The biggest body transformations for a role Cate Blanchett in I'm Not there Blanchett was one of six actors to play characters inspired by facets of Bob Dylans persona. She received critical acclaim for her turn as Jude Quinn, an embodiment of Dylan when he controversially played electric guitar on a rock version of Maggies Farm to outraged fans at the Newport Folk Festival. Blanchetts translucent skin, delicate fingers, slight build, and pleading eyes all suggest the previously invisible vulnerability and fear that fueled Dylans lacerating anger, one review said. Its hard to imagine that any male actor could have lent such rich texture to the role. Getty/The Weinstein Company The biggest body transformations for a role Christian Bale in Vice AP/NBC/Annapurna Pictures The biggest body transformations for a role Russell Crowe in The Loudest Voice The actor has transformed himself into the late Fox News founder Roger Ailes for Showtime's upcoming series The Loudest Voice. The show takes its basis from Gabriel Shermans bestselling book The Loudest Voice in the Room, alongside his extensive work for New York magazine on the allegations of sexual harassment that led to Ailess 2016 departure from Fox News. Getty/Showtime The film, due for release later this year, explores what happens when the patriarch of a wealthy and powerful family suddenly passes away, leaving his wife and daughter with a shocking secret inheritance that threatens to unravel and destroy their lives. Pegg will reprise his role of Benji Dunn in two brand new Mission: Impossible films alongside Tom Cruise. The most recent outing, Fallout, was one of the franchise's most critically-acclaimed since Brian De Palma's 1996 original. Hollywood is fighting back against Steven Spielbergs efforts to block films released on streaming services such as Netflix from the Oscars. The director, who is the current governor of the Academys directors branch, is said to be proposing changes to eligibility rules that will see films released on streaming services unable to compete at the ceremony. According to a spokesperson for Spielbergs production company Amblin, its something he feels very strongly about. IndieWire reports that Spielberg believes films that arent shown in cinemas for longer than four weeks should qualify for inclusion at the Emmys but not the Academy Awards. The news comes a week after a impressive awards circuit for Alfonso Cuarons Netflix film Roma, which was beaten to the Best Picture Oscar by Green Book, a film that found distribution thanks to Spielberg. Roma went on to win three Oscars, including Best Cinematography. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Show all 47 1 /47 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination American Psycho (2000) Starring future Oscar-winner Christian Bale, Mary Harrons adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel in which the Vice star plays the psychopathic Patrick Bateman - didnt receive a single nomination. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Before Sunrise (1995) While the final two chapters of Richard Linklaters Before trilogy earned screenplay nominations, the film that introduced the world to future married couple Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) was criminally overlooked. Columbia Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Big Heat (1953) Fritz Lang had a number of films overlooked by the Academy; this noir, starring Glenn Ford, Lee Marvin and and Gloria Grahame, was one of them. Columbia Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Big Lebowski (1998) The Academys generosity to the Coen brothers peaked when No Country for Old Men beat There Will Be Blood in one of the ceremonys closest Best Picture races of all time. It remains surprising that one of their few films to evade any nominations is this endlessly quotable mistaken identity comedy starring Jeff Bridges as The Dude. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Blow Out (1981) Brian De Palma doesnt exactly make films in the hope of winning award, but his political thriller - based on Michelangelo Antonionis Blow Up would have deserved any Oscar it was nominated for. Filmways Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Breathless (1960) Breathless' failure to receive a nomination is proof that the Oscars cant be trusted. Despite being one of the most studied films in the world, Jean Luc-Godards French masterpiece has an Academy Award tally of zero. Films Around The World 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Bringing Up Baby (1938) The Academy rewarded many notable screwball comedies, though this Howard Hawks-directed standout starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn - whod go on to hold the record for most wins - wasn't one of them. Courtesy of BFI 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Don't Look Now (1973) Nicolas Roeg, who directed this Venice-set chiller, is one of the most unfairly overlooked directors in Oscars history. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Donnie Darko (2004) Richard Kellys science-fiction mind-bender, which made a star of Jake Gyllenhaal, was a festival favourite upon its debut in 2004. Many expected a screenplay nomination to manifest. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) It wouldnt be until the 1990s that western films found favour with the Academy. It was ironically thanks to Unforgiven, a film directed by Clint Eastwood whose career flourished after starring in this Sergio Leone film that many consider to be the genres peak. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination La haine (1995) Mathieu Kassovitzs black-and-white drama translated in English as Hate follows three young friends and their struggles living in the suburbs of Paris. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Halloween (1978) The Academy may not be frothing at the mouth to nominate horror films, but do have previous (see: The Exorcist and The Silence of the Lamb), which makes the absence of John Carpenters influential Halloween a glaring oversight. Aquarius Releasing 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Harold and Maude (1971) This offbeat romantic drama was a critical and commercial flop at the time of release, which probably accounts for its lack of Oscar nominations. Today, though, its cult following ensures it remains in good favour with film fans. Paramount Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Heat (1995) On paper, the big screen union of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Michael Manns cop drama was a shoo-in for awards, but no Oscar nominations manifested. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination His Girl Friday (1940) Yet another Howard Hawks screwball comedy starring Cary Grant that criminally failed to secure a single Oscar nomination. L/Columbia/Koba/Rex/Shutterstock 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Insomnia (2002) While falling short of Christopher Nolans best, modest drama Insomnia made years before Batman Begins had enough strong performances (Al Pacino, Robin Wiliams, Hilary Swank) to warrant acting nominations. Alas, it received none. Warner Bros Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Local Hero (1983) Bill Forsyths beloved comedy-drama follows the mishaps of an American man sent to buy up a Scottish village where the oil company he works for wants to build a refinery. Forsyth won the Bafta for Best Director, but the film received no such love from the Academy. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination M (1931) Youd be mistaken for thinking the M stands for masterpiece in Fritz Langs German drama that follows the manhunt for a serial killer - not that the Academy agreed. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination A Man Escaped (1956) Robert Bressons adaptation of Andre Devignys memoirs charts the French Resistance members time as prisoner of the Germans during World War II, and is even more enthralling considering Bresson himself was held captive years before. Gaumont Film Company 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Margaret (2011) Kenneth Lonergan would go on to win an Oscar for Manchester but he Sea, but Margaret - his three-hour plus drama featuring a searing performance from Anna Paquin - failed to secure a single nomination. Fox Searchlight Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination In the Mood for Love (2000) Wong Kar-wai set the benchmark for romance in film with his acclaimed Hong Kong drama following a man and woman (Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung) who develop feelings for one another after suspecting their respective spouses of having an affair together. defd Deutscher Fernsehdienst 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The King of Comedy (1982) It may have taken him decades to win an Oscar, but the Academy has rarely balked at nominating Martin Scorsese films especially for films starring Robert De Niro. The King of Comedy was an exception. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Long Goodbye (1973) Robert Altmans superior thriller stars Elliott Gould as Raymond Chandlers private investigator Philip Marlowe in one of the directors most entertaining films. The director would go on to be the recipient of the Honorary Award in 2006. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Man With Two Brains (1983) He may have hosted several times, but Steve Martin has never been nominated for an Oscar. One film he deserved recognition for was Carl Reiner's 1983 sci-fi comedy, The Man with Two Brains. Warner Bros. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination A Matter of Life and Death (1946) The Academy Film Archive may have preserved A Matter of Life and Death in 1999, but voters failed to recognise the Powell & Pressburgers fantasy-romance at the time of its release in 1946. Eagle-Lion Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Mean Streets (1973) It may not be credited as his debut, but Mean Streets is very much the first true Martin Scorsese film. The director would go on to win a belated Oscar for The Departed in 2007, but hed have to wait until 1975 for his first nomination (Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore). Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Melancholia (2011) No Lars von Trier film has ever been nominated for Best Picture, though Dancer in the Dark came close (it settled for a Best Original Song nomination). He came close with Melancholia, but ultimately, the drama didn't get Canal+ 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Miller's Crossing (1990) Despite being revered as a Coen brothers favourite, not to mention its notable performances from Gabriel Byrne and Albert Finney, Millers Crossing is one of few Coen brother films not to receive a single Oscar nomination. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Though it's by no means a masterpiece, its staggering to think that Sergio Leones gangster epic - starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci - didnt acquire any Oscar nominations (the film's music was disqualified from consideration after Warner Bros accidentally omitted the composer's name from the opening credits when trimming the films lengthy running time for its American release). Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Paterson (2016) Critics assumed Jim Jarmuschs Paterson would have been a shoo-in for awards recognition - most notably in the Best Actor category, thanks to a quietly fantastic performance from Adam Driver - but no such luck. Amazon Studios 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Paths of Glory (1957) Stanley Kubrick never won Best Director despite being nominated four times. One of his films that didnt make the Oscars cut in any category was his black-and-white anti-war film, Paths of Glory. United Artists 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Play Misty for Me (1971) Clint Eastwood would go onto become something of an Oscar darling thanks to Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River, but his directorial debut was ignored by the Academy. Univeral Pictures/Courtesy of Getty Images 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Reservoir Dogs (1992) Reservoir Dogs may not touch Quentin Tarantinos best, but it remains a surprise that the filmmakers debut didnt get recognised in the screenplay category, at least. Miramax Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Rider (2018) Of all the 2018 films to be snubbed at this years Oscars, Chloe Zhaos drama - which stars a real-life rodeo cowboy and his family - smacks as the most unfair. Sony Pictures Classics 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Searchers (1956) The role of Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards might be considered John Waynes best role, but the Academy didnt agree: he would win his sole Oscar for True Grit in 1970. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Shining (1980) Another Kubrick film that was completely ignored by the Academy is the directors Stephen King adaptation, The Shining. Today, its considered one of his finest works as well as being one of the most revered horror films of all time. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Shop Around the Corner (1953) It may have endured as one of the best loved romcoms of all time, but it has zero Oscar nominations to its name. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Still Walking (2008) Japanese director Hirokazo Kore-eda's portrait of a family over roughly 24 hours as they commemorate the death of the eldest son was a glaring oversight by the Academy. IFC Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Swingers Before he became Disney's go to, Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Jungle Book and the forthcoming live-action Lion King) wrote this independent film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living in Hollywood, California during the 1990s swing revival. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination This Is England (2006 The 2007 ceremony would have been far better had Shane Meadows' coming-of-drama been in contention for awards. Optimum Releasing 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Three Kings (1999) The Academy deemed Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle worthy of nominations, but not David O Russells Three Kings, which remains one of his greatest films to this day. Warner Bros Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Tokyo Story (1953) Tokyo Story is deemed Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu's masterpiece and was named Sight & Sound's best film of all time in 2012. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Touch of Evil (1958) Orson Welles' classic noir wasn't as well loved at the time of release as it is today. BFI 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Tyrannosaur (2011) Olivia Colman may be in contention for Best Actress at this years ceremony, but the fact she failed to earn a nomination (or Bafta, for that matter) for her role in Paddy Considines hard-hitting drama Tyrannosaur is one of the biggest oversights in awards history. StudioCanal UK 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Walkabout (1971) Another exceptional achievement in filmmaking from Nicolas Roeg that somehow failed to receive any Oscar nominations. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination You Were Never Really Here (2018) Notch it down to bad timing, but Lynne Ramsays You Were Never Really Here - starring Joaquin Phoenix - is a sensational piece of work worthy of reward. Amazon Studio 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Zodiac (2007) Three years later, David Fincher would go head-to-head with The King Speech's Tom Hooper for The Social Network. In truth, serial killer drama Zodiac is every bit as good as the Facebook drama. Warner Bros Pictures Hollywood figures, including Selma and The 13th director Ava DuVernay, criticised Spielbergs expected motion, writing: Dear Academy, this is a board of governors meeting. And regular branch members cant be there. But I hope if this is true, that youll have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently. Evil Dead actor Bruce Campbell also expressed his frustration, hailing Roma as impressive as anything out there. He continued: Platforms have become irrelevant. Spielberg also faced heavy criticism from film fans on Twitter. The directors most recent film, Ready Player One, was released in 2018. His next film will be a remake of West Side Story. In March last year, Spielberg said that Netflix films should not be awarded Oscars. Once you commit to a television format, youre a TV movie, he said at the time. You certainly, if its a good show, deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar. I dont believe films that are just given token qualifications in a couple of theatres for less than a week should qualify for the Academy Award nomination. Netflix has seemingly responded to Spielberg's actions with an indirect message on Twitter. Britains most valuable fish stock has lost its sustainable status after overfishing has driven mackerel stocks to the brink of collapse. As of this weekend, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has warned people against purchasing mackerel caught in the North East Atlantic, which will no longer bear its blue label. The body charged with assessing the health of wild fisheries said its decision came after stocks had crashed due in part to quotas that exceeded the best scientific advice. Accounting for around a third of the seafood landed in the UK, the mackerel fishery is worth over 200m. This news will be a disappointment for the fishermen as well as for mackerel loving consumers, said Camiel Derichs, Europe director for the MSC. Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Show all 6 1 /6 Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Scalloped hammerhead shark Scalloped hammerhead shark fins were among those found being sold by an Asian food retailer in the UK. These sharks are endangered, and in parts of the Atlantic Ocean, their populations have declined by over 95% in the past 30 years. Istock/Janos Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Spiny dogfish In the samples of takeaway fish and chips sampled, spiny dogfish made up 90% of those sold under the names huss, rock salmon and rock eel. Doug Costa, NOAA/SBNMS Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Shortfin mako shark Another vulnerable species found in the dried shark fins tested in the British Asian wholefood retailer was the shortfin mako shark. Istock/Alessandro De Maddalena Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Blue shark Blue shark was also found on sale in UK shops. This species is not as vulnerable as the others but is still listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Istock/Howard Chen Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Nursehound Around a quarter of the sharks being sold in UK fishmongers were nursehounds, another relatively safe species that is nevertheless classified as near threatened. Mario Antonio Pena Zapateria Endangered sharks being served up in British fish and chip shops Misleading names in fish shops The scientists behind the study investigating the prevalence of endangered shark meat on sale concluded that shops must stop selling these species under "umbrella terms" that hide their true origin. Istock However, factors including declining stocks, quotas set above new scientific advice and poor recruitment have combined to mean that the fisheries no longer meet the MSCs requirements. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) states that mackerel populations have been in freefall since 2011, dropping from a high of 4.79 million tonnes to 2.75 million tonnes last year. Council experts advised that current catches must be cut by over two thirds to allow the stock to recover to a sustainable level over the next two years. Despite these warnings, the EU and neighbouring nations have consistently set quotas far higher than ICES guidelines. A landmark policy shift coming to force next year will mean EU nations are legally bound to set quotas within a maximum sustainable yield, which should aid the recovery of fisheries. However, there have been concerns in the UK that the government will not match this target after Brexit, putting fish populations in British waters at risk. When the news was first announced in February, many mackerel sector figures said they were confident the MSC certification would not significantly impact the market, and would be reinstated by the time vessels began targeting mackerel again in the autumn. We are hoping that would happen pretty quickly, and certainly before the fishery begins again, Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group, told Undercurrent News. Mackerels MSC certification has flipped back and forth in recent years, previously losing it in 2012 only to have it reinstated four years later. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Derichs said he was confident that the relevant organisations would be able to work on a plan to improve the existing situation. There is already work underway to review the way mackerel stocks are assessed, he said. The fisheries have confirmed that they will work with management authorities to, as appropriate, adopt measures enabling recovery of the stock. In 1919, there was a lot of talk in Germany about building a better world. The First World War had ended in crushing defeat and political chaos, and so much was literally in ruins. The need for new homes alone was acute, and it wasn't only a matter of what the buildings should look like, but also how quickly and cheaply they could be built. The talk extended beyond practicalities. The urge to fix things, to put the pieces back together, affected everything. The question wasn't just: "What sort of government do we want?" It was: "What does it mean to be human?" and "How should we therefore live together?" The Bauhaus art school rose out of all this. Its aim was to revolutionise everyday life. You are living with its legacy. And so, for better or for worse, are the residents of Brasilia, Beijing, Tehran and Tel Aviv. Bauhaus, 100 years old this year, is the subject of celebrations and reappraisals around the world. The anniversary is already igniting passionate debates, because no other institution is more closely identified with modernist architecture and design. If you like airy, light-filled buildings, functional furniture, elegant, affordable design, sans-serif typography and clean-lined graphic design, you care about the Bauhaus. Equally, if you hate boxy, flat-roofed buildings, relentless standardisation, the death of curves, ornament, the ironing out of cultural differences and overly rational planning, you care about the Bauhaus. Harvard Art Museum owns the finest collection of Bauhaus material outside Germany. Its new show, The Bauhaus and Harvard, illustrates the full range of Bauhaus activities during the school's 14 years of existence in three locations in Germany. After the school was dissolved under Nazi pressure in 1933, several of its key figures emigrated to the United States, so the show also traces the Bauhaus's impact on education and design there at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, the New Bauhaus in Chicago, Brooklyn College in New York, Newcomb College in New Orleans and Harvard. There are almost 200 objects in the exhibit: from art class exercises on paper and architectural studies to furniture, textiles, photographs and paintings. There are impressive large-scale works, but the overall emphasis is on small-scale works and ephemera, which might leave you guessing at the scope of the Bauhaus's impact. It was, in a word, vast. Marianne Brandt, Untitled (with Anna May Wong), 1929 (Harvard Art Museums; Artists Rights Society, New York) (Artists Rights Society, New York) The Bauhaus opened in 1919 in Weimar, the home of Goethe and Schiller, not 20 minutes' drive from where, 18 years later, Buchenwald, the largest concentration camp within Germany's borders, would be established. If the crisis from which the Bauhaus emerged was caused by things falling apart individuals fractured from communities, workers cut off from profits, neighboring nations at war the solution, it seemed, was to reunify. "Today the arts exist in isolation, from which they can be rescued only through the conscious, cooperative effort of all craftsmen," wrote the architect Walter Gropius, Bauhaus's first director. He established the school by merging a fine art academy with an applied arts and crafts school. In this new, unified take on art and design, the Bauhaus echoed the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement, which cherished handcrafted things as an antidote to factory-made objects and the wider effects of industrialisation. Bauhaus under Gropius initially followed suit. Early influential Bauhaus teachers, such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and Johannes Itten, cultivated the intuitive, spiritual side of art and learning. But by 1923, the emphasis had changed. Gropius announced a determined focus on designing for industry. Factories the "dark Satanic mills" of the Industrial Revolution were no longer the enemy. Industry was to be the solution. And industry also would determine the aesthetic. The boxy buildings Gropius designed, with large windows and open plans, were remarkable for their resemblance to factories. "Enough with thinking, dreaming and hiding away from the world," they seemed to announce. "It is time to live with purpose!" The Bauhaus's influence on pedagogy was as profound as its impact on actual design. Every student who studied there had to participate in a preliminary course. In the beginning, it was taught by Itten, whose methods were holistic, combining composition and color theory with calisthenics, and later by Josef Albers and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, who both had an outsize impact on the teaching of art and design in the US. Their approach exemplified the Bauhaus's search for a new unity not just of art and craft, but also individual and society. The keynote was simplicity. If you stayed focused on fundamentals, went the thinking, expertise would be less likely to splinter off into areas of specialisation. The Harvard show, curated by Laura Muir, begins with examples of preliminary course exercises. These demonstrate how, in a spirit of experiment, students were encouraged to discover the properties of shape, color and materials to learn, for instance, how the visual impact of colored pieces of paper could change according to such simple things as the color of the background, the pattern of overlap or shifts in tone, and how illusions of spatial recession or transparency might be similarly affected. The exhibition continues with a display of the Bauhaus's radical designs for houses and furniture, then sections devoted to the school's weaving and photography classes, as well as its spread beyond Germany, first to Paris and then to the US. Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Carl Jakob Jucker, Table lamp, 1924 (Artists Rights Society, New York) We see works by modernist figures whose reputations transcend their association with the Bauhaus, from the painters Kandinsky and Klee to the architects and designers Marcel Breuer, Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. There also are remarkable creations by such dynamic figures as Albers, Herbert Bayer, Lyonel Feininger and Moholy-Nagy. Bauhaus was dominated by men, but Muir has made an effort to foreground the influential textile artists Anni Albers and Gunta Stolzl, as well as works by lesser-known women, among them the weaver Otti Berger and the photographer Lucia Moholy. "The Bauhaus and Harvard" culminates in a display of murals and wall sculptures commissioned for the Gropius-designed Harvard Graduate Centre, erected in 1950. The most impressive is "Verdure", a stunning, 20-foot-wide study in dynamic rolling forms and shades of luminous green by Bayer. Gropius and his colleagues wanted artists to be useful and to help rebuild society along rational lines. Industry offered Bauhaus designers a chance to conceive anew what it meant to be human - liberated from the humiliating inheritance of the past, from absurd, old-fashioned ornaments and, as Gropius called it, "romantic prettification and cuteness." But that meant Bauhaus designers were impatient with cultural variations and with the idiosyncrasies of individual lives. "The individual declines increasingly in significance," Mies wrote, "his fate no longer interests us." Even as we celebrate all that the Bauhaus contributed, these words should sound an alarm for anyone conscious of the course of the 20th century and, for that matter, anyone worried about the conveniences today made possible by algorithms and artificial intelligence. (As Lionel Trilling once warned: "Some paradox of our natures leads us, when once we have made our fellow men the objects of our enlightened interest, to go on to make them the objects of our pity, then of our wisdom, ultimately of our coercion.") Bauhaus modernism is discussed these days as if it were just another style, like Art Deco. But it also was an ideology of conviction. Its roots were in the European Enlightenment, but its founders were convinced it could transcend history. Everything was to be about truth, transparency and the outward manifestation of reason. Outdated symbols were to be jettisoned. The repressed was to be made visible. The healthy ideal of unification, however, quickly became a ruthless drive toward uniformity. The Bauhaus's progeny produced millions of buildings of unparalleled ugliness, blighting urban environments worldwide. Wherever local differences were encountered, they were suppressed. Behind the Bauhaus's admirable idealism, you sense a kind of disgust with difference, and with humanity as it is. The Bauhaus itself disgusted not only Hitler's Nazis, who associated it with communists and Jews and forced its closure shortly after they came to power, but also with Stalin's Soviets, who rejected modernist aesthetics as abstract and elitist. In the long run, persecution by both the totalitarian right and the left helped make Bauhaus-style modernism the preferred aesthetic of the democratic left, magnifying its influence and perhaps prolonging people's blindness to its inherent flaws. Washington Post As our collective thirst for photo-ready interiors is baited on Instagram and Pinterest, so is it quenched by the myriad design hotels and members clubs materialising across the globe. From the international Hoxton chain to largely millennial pink, velvet-centric independent joints, the modern western metropolis cannot compete in the hospitality sector without such spaces. The success of these design hotels, according to Marlon Roosblad, marketing manager at the design-led eco-hotel QO Amsterdam, is that they strike a balance between the aspirational and the achievable. This is down to the simple fact that as the accessibility of and exposure to interior design increases on social media platforms, so does the publics confidence in creating more exciting schemes at home. The design-savvy public is drawing further inspiration from hotels like the QO, and according to Roosblad are more likely to visit hotels that they feel have an aesthetic they would like in their own homes. In his own words: Great design feels like home. Eco-friendly: the top-floor restaurant in QO Amsterdam serves recycled cocktails The QO Amsterdam hotel and its contemporaries hit the nail on the head for this market, creating highly photogenic design schemes with feasible aesthetic touchstones that guests can look to for inspiration. Not only this, but the hotel is eco-friendly, from its innovative living windows to the recycled (yes, recycled) cocktails it creates in the sleek top-floor restaurant, complete with a sweeping verdigris bar and brass seating, 21 storeys into the sky. Since the hotel opened its doors this time last year, it has won several awards for its outstanding design and sustainable approach to hospitality. Roosblad talks about the design process, which involved overseeing design studios Conran and Tank as they put together the interiors for the aspirational eco-hotel of the moment. He believes the focus of the hospitality interiors industry should not focus on the colour and material trends themselves, but contribute to the overall trend of beautiful, achievable design. Recreate an environment: Urban Collectives range of dressing gowns are soft and organic To get the hotel look at home, much of your focus will be on creating a bedroom that fits the bill. Rooms at the QO feature crisp white linens that emphasise the dramatic design in the surrounding space. Sheridan Australia has cottoned on to this trend, creating a line of bed linen to mimic the feeling of a sumptuous hotel bed. Jo Ross, the brands general manager of design, says: Nothing compares to a restorative weekend getaway. Its that decadent feeling of waking up on a hotel bed with crisp, airy sheets against your skin. With the right bedding you can slip into the luxury of a five star hotel bed every night from the comfort of your own home. Lighting can elevate the mood of a room substantially, and in a hotel as much as at home the aim is to achieve the ultimate level of relaxation. Soft lighting should comprise a mix of table lamps, pendant lights and backlighting where possible the most impactful hotel-style lighting. An unexpected and innovative design accent is to include low-hanging pendant lights above desks or bedside tables, for example. For something similar, try Arams online selection. Designed for comfort: the bed linen at QO Amsterdam The hotel experience isnt complete without an indulgent bathroom, and this is easy to recreate at home. Firstly, hotel-worthy towels should be soft and generous in size. Urban Collective, a premium eco-conscious brand from Sweden, provides a great range of 100 per cent organic cotton towels in a selection of muted jewel tones. For an uber-modern hotel feel, opt for dark grey or icy white. Of course, you could always pick up the matching dressing gowns from the brands clothing line for the ultimate pampering session. Getting the hotel look at home shouldnt stop at beautiful lighting and soft furnishings, but extends right down to products on display in the bathroom. There is an emphasis on display: it is important the handwashes, shampoos and conditioners look great on the counters. New Zealand modern-day scent company brand Ashley & Co puts just as much thought into the design of its bottles of handwash as it does into the architecture of the fragrances of the products. The sleek, dark pumps can take pride of place next to your bathroom sink, providing a great alternative to more mainstream brands. In celebration of International Womens Day on 8 March, luxury fashion e-tailer Net-a-Porter has launched a limited-edition collection of T-shirts in collaboration with six female designers. The exclusive range of T-shirts feature each designers interpretation of female empowerment with all profits made going to Women for Women International a charity that provides practical and moral support to female survivors of war. The collection includes six different designs created by Victoria Beckham, Isabel Marant, Ellery, Rosie Assoulin, Alexa Chung and Perfect Moment. Alexa Chungs offering features the slogan Divine Feminine in red font, while Victoria Beckhams reads I am her in the designers own handwriting. Rosie Assoulins version was inspired by the education gap promoting coding and tech literacy for girls and women, and features the message happy international womens day written in binary. International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Show all 6 1 /6 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Victoria Beckham T-shirt, 175 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Alexa Chung T-shirt, 86 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Rosie Assoulin T-shirt, 155 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Isabel Marant T-shirt, 95 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Ellery T-shirt, 200 International Women's Day Designer T-Shirts Perfect Moment T-shirt, 145 The language of the future needs womens voices to be heard, the designer wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Nicole Kidman wearing her T-shirt. It is imperative that we promote tech coding literacy and education among young girls, and women and give them complete and equal opportunities for success. In the same way that women were and still are discouraged, and even prohibited! from learning to read and write we must make sure to help bridge this gendered education gap. Last year, Net-a-Porter ran a similar campaign and raised enough money to support more than 170 women through the charitys year-long training programme. Speaking to Vogue, Victoria Beckham encouraged people to support women in finding their voice. To me, International Womens Day is more than women supporting women, she told the publication. Its about men and women supporting, respecting and empowering women and educating future generations. By purchasing this tee, you are supporting a charity that helps vulnerable women living in some of the worlds most dangerous places. Generally, I think we could all start by being a little kinder to one another. Everyone has a duty to support women in finding their voice and surely kindness is a good place to start. The T-shirts are available to buy at Net-a-Porter.com now. Prices range from 86 to 200. In 2004 The Independent published two profiles of Andrea Levy, who has died aged 62. The first one, which came before she won the Orange prize for Small Island, is reproduced below. When Andrea Levys first novel, Every Light in the House Burnin, appeared in 1994, it was still difficult to interest mainstream publishers in new black British writing. Although this was a fresh, quirky story about the family life of a second-generation black Londoner, Levy says that the main problem was that they perceived it as being just about race, and thought it would only appeal to black readers. How wrong could they be? Not only did it sell well to a diverse readership but, two years later, her second novel, Never Far From Nowhere, was longlisted for the Orange prize. Back then Levy was something of a pioneer, a situation thats hard to imagine now, when British-born black and Asian writers such as Hanif Kureishi, Meera Syal, Zadie Smith and Monica Ali have redefined concepts of Englishness and stormed their way into the bestseller charts. It took a book like Zadie Smiths White Teeth to really blow that perception out of the water, says Levy, who is a tall, fair-skinned, striking woman with a mane of dark curly hair and an infectious laugh, and we needed somebody to do that. Its made an enormous difference. Things have changed so much in the last 10 years. For Levy, who lives in an elegant Edwardian house just a few miles and a world away from the north London council estate where she grew up, everything has changed. That Highbury estate provided the setting for her first two semi-autobiographical novels, but as Levy became more aware of her Jamaican ancestry, the family tree proved to be a source book of ideas. Im still English, she laughs, but I also have this wonderfully rich heritage which I would like more people to understand and acknowledge. And thats become very important to me. She explored its diversity in her third novel, Fruit of the Lemon, and it more than informs her new book, Small Island, which looks at the outcomes of war and migration on her parents generation immediately after the Second World War. Levys father and his twin brother (who had been among the thousands of West Indians serving in the wartime RAF) were among the first wave of Jamaican immigrants to arrive at Tilbury on the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. Her mother followed six months later. They had been brought up as children of the British empire, and England was the mother country on which they pinned their hopes for a better life. But far from welcoming them, postwar London, still in the process of surfacing from five years of bombing and privation, was cold, prejudiced and hostile. The author with her Orange prize trophy in 2004 (PA) Against all the odds, they somehow made it work. Her mother, who had been a teacher in Jamaica, had to take a sewing job to make ends meet. But she did go back to college, says Levy, and got a degree with the Open University. One of the first. She was a plucky woman, my mother. Levys father died from lung cancer in 1987. Two years later, she visited Jamaica for the first time, where she discovered even more about her colourful family background. There was a red-haired Scottish great-grandfather, and her fathers father who was born Jewish married out and became a Christian while fighting in the First World War. Even further back, her mothers mothers mothers mother was born a slave. Every Light in the House Burnin was, in part, a moving elegy to her father, as well as a voyage around her own identity, but its easy to see that all three of her novels have been progressing steadily towards Small Island. The arrival of the Windrush pioneers was a watershed in British history, and a period that Levy was eager to examine from all sides. In a vivid and skilful piece of storytelling that defines a time of irreversible change, Levy uses four individual voices to pilot her narrative. In 1948, Gilbert and Hortense, a pair of ill-matched Jamaican newlyweds, rent a shabby room in an Earls Court house owned by Queenie Bligh and her husband, Bernard, who spent his war in India with the RAF. Queenie (always drawn to outsiders) is virtually prejudice-free but Bernard is not, and declares open warfare on his lodgers, with unforeseen results. Small Island took four-and-a-half years to research and write, and became a labour of love. I tried to find areas and aspects that hadnt been explored in depth, Levy says, recalling long days spent in the RAF Museum, the Imperial War Museum and community-centre archives. She talked to Londoners who lived through the trauma of bombing, rationing and homelessness, to her family and to former servicemen who had survived India and the Burma front, as well as RAF life in the UK. I felt very humbled by the experience, she says quietly. The more I researched, the more I thought what an incredible thing these people had gone through. They were so young, and marriages were just ripped apart by husbands being sent away for five years and then coming home and being expected to pick up the pieces. It was shocking. I dont know how they coped. I wanted to do justice to those stories. And it has changed me in some way. Like her previous novels, Small Island addresses both black and white experiences of race, class, gender and identity, but on a much broader canvas. I like that point of contact between black and white. The fission. For me, thats where the energy is. Immigration is a dynamic process. The people who come are as changed by it as the people they come to. Racism was part of the landscape when she was growing up, but it was never discussed at home. Much later, when she persuaded her mother to talk about her early experiences (many of which were used in Small Island), the subject still remained in the margins. My mum would say, I dont think I encountered any real racism. Theyd call me things like darkie, but then of course I was dark. And shed say, When I was a teacher, some of the parents took their kids out of my class, but I was glad to see the back of them. Levy laughs ironically. But no, she didnt encounter any racism. With her Man Booker-nominated novel, The Long Song, in 2010 (Getty) She says she could have written an entire book about Bernard, which is intriguing given that he is a white racist bigot. But Levy saw Bernard as a challenge, and wanted to climb inside his mind. This is a process she applies to all her characters, and it is why she likes the immediacy of writing in the first person. For me, its akin to acting. Whenever I started to write Queenie, I had her voice in my head. I knew how she talked and what she was thinking. And it was the same with Gilbert and Hortense. I like to live that person. Every time Ive started a new novel, she continues, Ive said, Im going to write this one in the third person, but when I begin its like a sheet of glass between me and whats happening. As soon as I switch back to the first, it disappears and Im there. What Im not interested in is my opinion. A lot of writers like being present in their own narrative, but I hate it. I want to show you what is going on and hope that youll form your own opinions. If you can understand something then youre part of the way to changing it. Levy didnt start writing until her early thirties. There had been nothing before to indicate that she might become a writer. She was the youngest of four siblings and grew up liking television, music (Julie Andrews was an early role model) and the company of her white friends. There were no burning ambitions, though she would have liked to try acting, and she says that she drifted through those early years. As it was, she went to art school to study textile design and stepped into a parallel universe of creative and political awareness. Id never read a book with any interest until I was 23, and then somebody bought me [Marilyn Frenchs] The Womens Room, and that was the first time I realised a book could be enjoyable. It was a revelation, and it turned me into an avid reader. She devoured all the popular African-American writers, but it left her hungry for books that would illuminate her own experience of being born black and English. There was nothing, so I thought Id try and I joined a writing class at the City Lit and loved it. With the added encouragement of her partner, Bill Mayblin, a graphic designer, she has never looked back. Weve been together for 22 years, she says, and we got married two years ago. I dont like to rush into these things. Surprisingly, Levy doesnt see herself as a predominantly London writer, nor as part of a London migrant writing fraternity that began with post-Windrush classics such as George Lammings The Emigrants, Sam Selvons The Lonely Londoners and Caryl Phillipss The Final Passage. I dont get a sense of being part of any particular group. What I do feel is that Im still learning my craft. I just hope Im an accessible literary writer, and more and more Im beginning really to enjoy storytelling. Levy is determined and passionate about her work, and by telling stories she says she is able not only to filter her observations through fiction, but to watch herself grow as a writer. None of my books is just about race, she stresses. Theyre about people and history. Basically, I love people. The greatest thing I could ever do would be to walk into a room with all my characters in it and mingle with them. Biography How this profile appeared on Friday 6 February 2004 (Independent) Andrea Levy was born in London in 1956 to Jamaican immigrant parents. After grammar school, she went to Middlesex Polytechnic where she studied textile design and weaving. When she left college, she began work as a woven-textile designer and assistant buyer in various shops; she later worked at the BBC and Royal Opera House wardrobe departments. Levy began writing in 1988 and attended a writing course at the City Literary Institute, taking one day off a week to write her first book, Every Light in the House Burnin (1994). Her second novel, Never Far From Nowhere (1996), was longlisted for the Orange prize. Her third work, Fruit of the Lemon (1999), drew on her Caribbean family history, as does her new novel, Small Island (2004). Levy also wrote short stories which have been anthologised and broadcast on Radio 4, and has been a judge for the Saga Prize and the Orange prize. She lives in north London with Bill Mayblin, a graphic designer, and has two grownup stepdaughters. Update: Having won the Orange and Whitbread prizes in 2004, Small Island won the Commonwealth literature prize the following year. In 2005 it was also named best Orange prize novel in a decade. Her 2010 novel The Long Song won the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction and was shortlisted for the Man Booker. The novel was adapted as a three-part BBC1 television series broadcast in December. In 2014 she published Six Stories and an Essay. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years before her death. She is survived by Bill and two stepdaughters. Andrea Levy, novelist, born 7 March 1956, died 14 February 2019 A black hole has been identified hiding in the depths of space after scientists noticed its effects on a neighbouring cloud of gas. There are thought to be over 100 million of these mysterious objects lurking across the galaxy, but they are difficult to spot because they do not emit any light. This makes it tricky for scientists to verify their existence, but by looking for the effects of their gravity on other objects it is possible to pinpoint them. A team led by Dr Shunya Takekawa at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan realised a gas cloud around 25,000 years away from Earth was moving strangely. To understand what was going on, they employed the ALMA observatory in Chile to zoom in on the cloud and realised it was swirling around an invisible object near the centre of the galaxy. 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 The scientists found that an enormous mass around 30,000 times greater than the sun was the cause of this unusual motion. This and the lack of any observed object at that location strongly suggests an intermediate-mass black hole, said Dr Takekawa. By analysing other anomalous clouds, we hope to expose other quiet black holes. Recommended Scientists may have seen birth of a black hole for first time Black holes can be relatively small, around five times the mass of the sun, or they can be supermassive meaning they are millions of times more massive than the sun. While astronomers think smaller holes group together to form medium-sized ones of the variety observed by Dr Takekawa and his team, it has been difficult to find evidence of these intermediate black holes. The team hopes that by looking out for more strange movements in distant gas clouds, they will be able to successfully hunt for more black holes. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Professor Tomoharu Oka of Keio University, who co-led the team, said it was notable that the intermediate black hole they discovered was a mere 20 light years away from the supermassive black hole known to exist at the galactic centre. In the future, it will fall into the supermassive black hole, much like gas is currently falling into it. This supports the merger model of black hole growth, he said. The groups results were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. SpaceXs new capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first American-made designed-for-crew spacecraft to pull up in eight years. The unmanned Dragon capsule was launched on 2 February on its first test flight. Only an instrumented dummy was onboard the capsule while it docked at the ISS, where three astronauts are currently present. If the six-day demonstration goes well, SpaceX could launch two astronauts this summer under Nasas commercial crew programme. Both astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were at SpaceX mission control in southern California, observing all the action. SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Show all 15 1 /15 SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Space X Dragon departs from the International Space Station and heads for earth AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Space X Dragon undocks from the International Space Station NASA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Crew Dragon is pictured about 20 meters (66 feet) away from the International Space Station Nasa/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on March 2 2019 Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronauts aboard the Space Station preparing to open hatchet to the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a instrumented dummy after it successfully docked with Space Station Nasa TV/EPA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A dummy(L) named Ripley onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard after the opening of the hatch during the Demo-1 missioN Nasa TV/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission The SpaceX team watches as the SpaceX Crew Dragon docks with the International Space Station Nasa/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket docked with the International Space Station during the Demo-1 mission Nasa/AFP/Getty SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronaut David Saint-Jacques taking a look inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a instrumented dummy Nasa TV/EPA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off on an uncrewed test flight Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on an uncrewed test flight Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX's new crew capsule approaches just before docking Nasa TV/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronaut Eric Boe, assistant to the chief of the astronaut office for commercial crew, left, and Norm Knight, deputy director of flight operations at Nasa's Johnson Space Center watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft Nasa/AP Just super-excited to see it, Mr Behnken said minutes after the link-up. Just one more milestone that gets us ready for our flight coming up here. SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk, had previously sent cargo capsules to the space station, but a spacecraft designed for crew is a new milestone. The Dragon capsule docked autonomously at the ISS instead of relying on the stations robot arm. Mr Behnken said that is the way it should work when he and Mr Hurley are on board but they may push a button or two and will have the ability to intervene, if necessary. The stations astronauts also sent commands for the Dragon to retreat and then move forward again, before the capsule closed in for good. SpaceX employees at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, cheered and applauded as the Dragon pulled up and docked at the orbiting lab, nearly 260 miles above the Pacific, north of New Zealand. They burst into applause again, several minutes later, when the Dragons latches were tightly secured. SpaceX launches unmanned rocket capable of carrying astronauts The capsules lone passenger a mannequin wearing a white SpaceX spacesuit also was going to be welcomed on board. The test dummy or Smarty as SpaceX likes to call it, given all the instrumentation is named Ripley after the lead character in the science-fiction Alien films. Dragon will remain at the space station until 8 February, when it undocks and aims for a splashdown in the Atlantic, a couple of hundred miles off the Florida coast. Like Ripley, the capsule is rigged with sensors to measure noise, vibration and stresses, and to monitor the life-support, propulsion and other critical systems throughout the flight. Additional reporting from agencies EU databases have become so integral to British policing that most officers are using them on a daily basis without even realising. When police search for a suspects history on the Police National Computer, their equipment automatically scans the EU-wide Schengen Information System (SIS II) database at the same time currently amounting to 539 million searches a year. But if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March, that system and several others will instantly be switched off. Lawyers representing a Syrian boy who was attacked at school have served a legal letter at Tommy Robinsons home in an attempt to sue him for defamation. Members of the public donated 10,300 for legal action against the anti-Islam activist after he posted a series of videos and Facebook posts about the incident in October. Footage of the 15-year-old victim being pushed to the ground and having water poured on his face sparked outrage, and police continue to investigate the incident in Huddersfield. Amid prominent media coverage, Mr Robinson posted a series of videos on his Facebook account accusing the boy of bullying and claiming lots of Muslim gangs are beating up white English kids in Britain. The anti-Islam activists page, which was deleted last week as he was permanently banned from Facebook, had more than 1 million followers and the posts on the Huddersfield incident were viewed up to 900,000 times each. Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Show all 16 1 /16 Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter in London after former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson left the Old Bailey where his contempt of court case was adjourned PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter outside the Old Bailey in London where the former English Defence League (EDL) leader is accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters outside the Old Bailey in London before former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson arrives accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, or 'Tommy Robinson', who was jailed for contempt of court in May and later released, wait for him to arrive at the Old Bailey to attend a court hearing Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson arrives for his hearing at the Old Bailey Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right spokeseman Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the right-wing EDL (English Defence League) wave flags as they demonstrate outsise The Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Robinson gestures to supporters from inside the Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey EPA Lawyers representing the Syrian teenager allege that the posts were defamatory, and that Facebook allowed them to spread around the world. Solicitor Tasnime Akunjee told The Independent: Our submission is that Mr Robinson, in tandem with Facebook, engaged in defamation of our client. The lawyer said the family were not demanding a specific amount of compensation, but that the case was in unique territory because of the teenagers young age and the claims being repeated numerous times across the world. A pre-action letter was delivered by hand to Mr Robinsons family home on Sunday afternoon, and he has two weeks to reply. The delivery, by YouTuber Dick Coughlan, came after the 36-year-old travelled to Finland for the launch of a film on refugees. On a page raising money for the case Abdulnaser Youssef, of Farooq Bajwa and Co solicitors, wrote that allegations that the teenager was involved in the beating of a young English girl was false. Tommy Robinson boasts about being able to score drugs in video We say that Tommy Robinson [whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon] ... defamed the young boy, he added. Lawyers hope to use part of the crowdfunded money to penetrate the veil surrounding Stephen Yaxley-Lennons finances to ensure compensation can be sought if the lawsuit succeeds. They allege that Mr Robinsons social media posts caused the teenager to become the focus of countless messages of hate and threats from the extreme right wing, and a police safety warning. Mr Robinsons Facebook page had a donate button to transfer him money at the time, but it was removed amid concern that a tool the social media giant says is for charities was abused. Police Community Support Officers walk past Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield (PA) Facebook deleted several of Mr Robinsons videos for violating community standards, after the boys family announced their intention to sue in November. On Tuesday, the page was removed as Mr Robinson was handed a permanent ban from Facebook and Instagram for repeatedly breaking hate speech policies. The English Defence League founder has previously been banned from Twitter and Paypal over his activities, and his website was deleted in December. The latest threat of legal action comes as the attorney general decides whether to launch new proceedings against Mr Robinson over alleged contempt of court that saw him jailed last year. West Yorkshire Police said the incident at Almondbury Community School remains under investigation. The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, has been summonsed to court for alleged assault. The teenager had shared numerous posts from Mr Robinsons Facebook account in the months before the incident, as well as from Britain First and other far-right accounts. Tommy Robinson should be banned from YouTube as a matter of utmost urgency, says Labour deputy leader Tom Watson. The EDL founder was removed from Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday for violating their policies on organised hate and the targetting of Muslims. He responded by posting videos to Youtube the only major social media platform he can still use claiming he was the victim of censorship. In a letter to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai on Friday, Mr Watson described Robinson real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon as a violent, racist, Islamophobic campaigner. He wrote: I am now writing to implore you as a matter of utmost urgency to follow the lead that has been, belatedly, set by Facebook, and remove forthwith all Tommy Robinson and related pages from your YouTube platform. Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Show all 16 1 /16 Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter in London after former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson left the Old Bailey where his contempt of court case was adjourned PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter outside the Old Bailey in London where the former English Defence League (EDL) leader is accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters outside the Old Bailey in London before former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson arrives accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, or 'Tommy Robinson', who was jailed for contempt of court in May and later released, wait for him to arrive at the Old Bailey to attend a court hearing Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson arrives for his hearing at the Old Bailey Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right spokeseman Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the right-wing EDL (English Defence League) wave flags as they demonstrate outsise The Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Robinson gestures to supporters from inside the Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey EPA Mr Watson said that social media platforms need to be accountable and not avoid their social responsibilities. He added: I have recently been making the argument that the social media companies have failed to regulate hate speech and harm on their platforms. I would ask that you immediately close down all of Yaxley-Lennons sites on YouTube before the virus of his views grooms countless more followers via your platform. Mr Watson said that Robinson had gained more than 30,000 new subscribers to his video channel since he was banned on Facebook and Instagram. Youtube has previously suspended adverts on Robinsons videos but is coming under increasing pressure to remove them altogether. He has already been banned by Paypal and Twitter. On Wednesday Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, joined calls for Robinson to be banned from Youtube. Mr Collins said: His YouTube channel has hundreds of thousands of followers and includes films viewed by millions of people. Far-right groups are exploiting social media to spread their messages of hate, and the YouTube next up feature helps them by directing viewers to even more of this content once, as soon as they start to engage with it. Recommended Tommy Robinson permanently banned by Facebook and Instagram YouTube operates a hate speech policy which removes content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on attributes including religion, race, immigration status or nationality. It uses a three strikes system, giving offending users a warning and removing the specific video. Channels are only terminated if policies are repeatedly violated. Following his removal from Facebook, Robinson insisted he would continue his campaigning even if YouTube deleted his account. You thought deleting us from Twitter would stop us it didnt, he said during a 16-minute video. You thought removing our PayPal would stop us. It affected us, they stopped our donations by 70 per cent. Did it stop us? No it didnt. If you think deleting us from Facebook or Instagram will stop us no it wont. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Reacting to the move on Tuesday, Robinson claimed the corrupt media and the establishment were trying to silence any opposition to their globalist plans. He said: Ive breached no laws of Facebook, everyone is going to know that Ive breached no rules, what Ive done is shown people the truth and that is what they are removing, the truth. People will still find me. Additional reporting by PA A British cathedral has held a service in Farsi to cater for the growing Iranian population in a first for the Church of England. Bishops used a new Persian-language translation of Holy Communion in the historic service at Wakefield Cathedral in Yorkshire. The congregation of about 450 heard the new Farsi liturgy and joined in hymns and prayers in both English and Farsi. The service was led by the Iranian-born Bishop of Loughborough, the Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani, whose brother was murdered for being a Christian in the countrys revolution. Her family then fled Iran when she was just 14, in 1980. Revolution in Iran: In pictures Show all 11 1 /11 Revolution in Iran: In pictures Revolution in Iran: In pictures A demonstration against the Shah in 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Armed women on guard in one of the main squares in Tehran at the beginning of the Iranian Revolution Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Demonstrators hold a poster of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in January 1979, in Tehran, during a demonstration against the Shah AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Iranian rebels pose with a U.S. flag they bayonetted upside down on trees at Sultanabad Garrison northeast of Tehran on February 12 2019 AP Revolution in Iran: In pictures A gun battle in Khorramshahr during the revolution, 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah among tear gas. The "black friday" caused the death of 200 people according to the Iranian government, 2000 according to the opposition, September 8 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Women wearing the traditional Chador demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah on September 7 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Demonstrators in Tehran calling for the replacement of the Shah of Iran during the Iranian Revolution, 1979. They carry placards depicting Ayatollah Mahmoud Talaghani, one of the leading revolutionaries Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters demonstrate in the streets of Tehran against the Shah. The "black friday" caused the death of 200 people according to the Iranian government, 2000 according to the opposition, September 8 1978 AFP/Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures Thousands of the Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters on the streets of Tehran calling for the religious leader's return in January 1979 Getty Revolution in Iran: In pictures The Iranian Islamic Republic Army demonstrates in solidarity with people in the street during the Iranian revolution. They are carrying posters of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian religious and political leader Getty The Church of England said the Farsi translation was launched to help growing numbers of Iranians in congregations who are learning English. Bishop Francis-Dehqani, whose role focuses on supporting black, Asian and ethnic congregations, said: Weve had, over the last few years, over 75 clergy contact us to ask how can we best help to integrate the Iranians who we find are coming to our churches. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The former BBC radio producer added: So in this liturgy were formally recognising a minority community as part of our wider body and crucially enabling Persian Farsi-speaking people and English-speaking people to worship alongside one another. The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, an Islamic scholar, said it was possible to be Persian and Christian, because the country had a long, proud history that predates Islam. Theresa May has been accused of offering meaningless empty rhetoric on workers rights to win support for her Brexit deal, while quietly eroding vital protections in a no-deal scenario. The prime minister is expected to formally announce a package of measures on workers rights next week, as she scrambles to woo Labour MPs to support her Brexit plan. But without much fanfare, ministers have amended key employment laws in the event of a no-deal Brexit, including regulations that enshrine the rights of workers if their company is taken over and the existence of union-style works councils for workers in multinational firms. Labour and union leaders said these legal tweaks known as statutory instruments (SIs) actually amount to significant changes to the law if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal, and could leave British workers at a disadvantage. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told The Independent: The prime minister has waxed lyrical about protecting workers hardwon rights after we leave the EU. Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit supporters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a peoples vote Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz AP Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament EPA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An Avaaz campaigner holds a Peoples Vote life float Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament Reuters However, as these employment statutory instruments show, it was nothing but meaningless empty rhetoric. After eight years of crippling austerity, workers are forced to work in increasingly precarious conditions. By rushing these changes to legislation, they are leaving British workers at a severe disadvantage compared to their EU colleagues. The SIs have now been approved in the Commons, despite concerns raised by MPs that the loss of European Works Councils would prevent British workers from large multinational companies having a voice in line with European colleagues. Shadow minister Justin Madders told MPs in the debate that the change clearly constitutes a loss of valuable workers rights in contravention of the PMs promise to maintain existing workers rights at current levels. Business minister Kelly Tolhurst was also warned that the changes risked watering down Tupe protections, which protect workers when a business is taken over by a new employer. Mr Madders said ministers could not nod through changes when thousands of employees could be affected, as it will apply to public sector services, PFI and outsourcing contracts. But Ms Tolhurst argued the SIs were only minor changes to language and would protect workers from uncertainty if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The Trades Union Congress said the move would would make it easier for UK workers to fall behind their European counterparts. A spokesperson said: The prime minister has promised that workers rights will be protected and enhanced after Brexit. But these regulations show that, despite her warm words, her governments actions are taking us in a different direction. The regulations would erode valuable rights relating to European Works Councils. And they would remove powers that allow ministers to keep UK law in line with EU law. This would make it easier for UK workers rights to fall behind those in the rest of Europe. The prime minister is eager to cast herself as a champion of workers rights. But the reality is that her Brexit deal puts rights at risk. The new government legislation comes as the prime minister was expected to make a last-ditch attempt to win over Labour politicians in Leave-voting areas with a package of measures on workers rights ahead of the meaningful vote on 12 March. Electronic balloting for trade union members is another issue reportedly being considered by Downing Street, allowing union leaders to organise strike action more efficiently. Ms May also confirmed at prime ministers questions on Wednesday that there would be a fund to ensure our towns can grow and prosper after widespread speculation she was planning to offer cash to MPs in former industrial heartlands. A government spokesperson said: This legislation provides certainty and legal clarity to employers and workers in the event of a no-deal scenario. As we leave the EU, we will protect workers rights and continue to enhance them. The prime minister has made clear that parliament will get a vote on whether it wishes to follow suit whenever EU standards in areas such as workers rights are judged to have been strengthened. Jeremy Corbyns decision to support a fresh Brexit referendum enjoys the overwhelming backing of Labour voters in Leave-voting areas, new research has found. Only 21 per cent of those in the north and the midlands who voted Labour at the last election said they opposed the dramatic policy shift a figure dwarfed by the 66 per cent in favour. In a further boost for Mr Corbyn, 35 per cent said it made them feel more favourable towards Labour, compared with just 14 per cent who said it made them feel less positive. Peter Kellner, former president of YouGov, said the survey scotched the myth that the Labour leader would pay a heavy price for the move, pointing out that Labour voters in Leave areas now back Remain by a margin of more than three to one. If a new referendum is held, 69 per cent would back Remain rather than leaving with the deal Theresa May has negotiated a figure rising to 72 per cent if the alternative was a no-deal Brexit. Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Show all 18 1 /18 Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well These billboards were plastered by campaign group Led By Donkeys @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well PA Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter The YouGov poll for the Peoples Vote campaign surveyed Labour voters in the northeast, northwest, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and West Midlands. The findings will bolster efforts by pro-referendum Labour MPs to persuade their colleagues to deliver the crucial Commons votes that would make a second referendum a reality. Dozens of MPs who are pro-EU but represent Leave areas fear a backlash from being viewed as attempting to overturn the 2016 result, with many having vowed to vote against moves for another public poll. But Bridget Phillipson, MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, where more than 60 per cent of people voted for Leave, said: This poll shows why Jeremy Corbyn has done the right thing by our country and our party to follow through and implement Labours Brexit policy which was agreed at our party conference last year. Recommended Corbyn under pressure to back plan to give public fresh Brexit vote Far from suffering in our heartlands if we back a peoples vote, we would have been badly damaged if we had not. Ms Phillipson said the survey revealed voters common sense and debunked what she said was a media stereotype of people in northern areas as caricatures and all the same. Labour is expected to table an amendment backing a fresh public vote when Theresa May puts her revised Brexit deal in front of MPs, which she has vowed to do by 12 March. Two of the partys backbenchers, Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, are also working on a motion that would see MPs agree to support Ms Mays plan providing the prime minister agrees to put it to a public vote. The Labour leadership is understood to have concerns about the Kyle-Wilson text in its current form because it would involve voting for Ms Mays deal, which Labour opposes. Efforts are under way to redraft the motion to find a form of words that MPs from across the party can support. But writing for The Independent, two of the three Labour MP representatives on the partys National Executive Committee said it was compatible with Labour Party policy. Margaret Beckett, a former deputy Labour leader, and George Howarth said the plan is the most credible way forward and offers a sensible compromise. Mr Corbyn is facing a battle to convince many of his MPs to back Labours new policy, with dozens in Leave-supporting areas threatening to rebel and vote against any second referendum. His efforts are likely to be boosted by the new poll, which found that Labour voters in northern and midlands seats want another referendum so they can vote against Ms Mays proposed Brexit deal. Fifty-four per cent are opposed to the prime ministers withdrawal agreement, compared to just 14 per cent who support it. Fifty-two per cent say they want their MP to vote against the plan when it comes back before parliament. If a referendum were held on the deal, 16 per cent say they would vote to leave the EU on the terms of Ms Mays plan, while 69 per cent would want to remain in the EU. Support for a fresh public poll also reflects concerns about the impact of EU withdrawal, and particularly a no-deal Brexit, the survey found. Seventy-five per cent of Labour voters said they would feel either concerned or scared if Britain left the EU without a withdrawal agreement. No-deal would not be on the ballot in second referendum backed by Labour, says Keir Starmer They are almost as pessimistic about the consequences of EU exit even if a deal is agreed. Sixty-nine per cent thought Brexit would damage the economy, 59 per cent said the NHS would get worse and 52 per cent thought taxes will rise. Fifty-eight per cent said leaving the bloc would result in a worse standard of living for them and their family, while 64 per cent thought it would make the next generation worse off than the current one. Mr Corbyn will hope that his pivot to support a fresh referendum will increase his partys performance in the polls. Worryingly for the Labour leader, the YouGov survey found that only 58 per cent of people who backed his party at the 2017 election say they would definitely do so next time around equating to just 2,830 of the 5,000 voters polled. Theresa May has received a major boost after an influential Tory backbencher said he was ready to back her Brexit plan. Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, previously voted against the prime ministers deal in January but said he was likely to support a revised version. The influential MP urged his colleagues to pull together behind the prime minister when her deal returns to the Commons. It comes amid reports that dozens of Eurosceptics who voted against Ms Mays deal in January are now ready to step into line. Theresa May has vowed to put her amended deal before MPs by 12 March. Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, is leading efforts to secure fresh guarantees from the EU about the temporary nature of the backstop, which would see the UK enter into a customs union with the EU if a trade deal cannot be agreed. Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Brexit supporters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a peoples vote Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz AP Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament EPA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An Avaaz campaigner holds a Peoples Vote life float Reuters Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge PA Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament AFP/Getty Brexit deal vote: Opposing groups of protesters gather by parliament Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament Reuters Sir Graham said he was ready to support a revised plan if the right compromise is offered. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: The whole country is tired of vacillation and delay. When the right compromise is offered, we should pull together behind the prime minister and help her to deliver our exit from the European Union. Sir Graham described the governments handling of Brexit as lions led by donkeys but said MPs increasingly wanted to reach an agreement. He said: This is not a time to make the best the enemy of the good, and most MPs are in a mood to compromise, but the danger of this backstop becoming permanent is a real one and it has to be tackled. My conversations with senior diplomats and politicians from across Europe have given me cause for optimism that a breakthrough is near. He continued: Those who have pressed for delay or for no deal to be taken off the table have weakened Theresa Mays hand and made a deal less likely, but I still believe a compromise is fundamentally in our interest and that of the EU. We know what is needed to shift the logjam. The attorney general needs to give a legally binding guarantee that the backstop is temporary. Once we have that, my colleagues in parliament need to recognise the strength of feeling. Justice minister Rory Stewart also claimed that a growing number of MPs were ready to back Ms Mays plan. Asked if he was confident the deal would be approved by the Commons, he told Sky News Ridge on Sunday: I dont think one can ever say that one is confident in this particular world, but I think theres been a huge amount of movement. I think that people are becoming more pragmatic theyre recognising much more than they did in the past that there are a limited number of alternatives to this and that the alternatives are worse. MPs were also increasingly of the view that Ms Mays deal will allow us to move on, it will give business certainty, it will bring investment into the country, he added. The European Research Group (ERG) of Eurosceptic Tories has established a panel of MP lawyers to assess whatever new compromise Mr Cox brings back from Brussels. The group has reportedly put together three tests that must be met in order to secure their support. According to the Sunday Times, they are: a clearly worded, legally binding, treaty-level clause that overrides the text of the withdrawal agreement, wording that goes beyond simply re-emphasising/re-interpreting the temporary nature of the backstop, and a clear and unconditional route out of the backstop if trade talks fail. Ms May has said MPs will be given a choice between a no-deal Brexit and an extension to the Article 50 period if they reject her deal for a second time. Labour will table its own bid for second Brexit referendum within a fortnight says McDonnell But writing in the Sunday Telegraph, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said any delay to the EU withdrawal would be a betrayal of Brexit. They wrote: Those who wish to embrace no deal are turning their backs on a far more attractive option in the PMs deal avoiding disruption and uncertainty for businesses and our people. On the other hand, the active pursuit of a delay to Brexit with no purpose beyond frustration is a betrayal of the referendum result. Recommended Corbyn under pressure to back plan to give public fresh Brexit vote It would lead to an irretrievable breach of trust with those who are already cynical about the will of Westminster to deliver on the result to begin with. Their intervention is likely to be seen as an attack on pro-EU ministers including work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, justice secretary David Gauke and business secretary Greg Clark, who have been privately calling for a delay in order to prevent a no-deal exit. On Saturday, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said a delay to Brexit would be needed even if Ms May gets her deal through parliament this month. He said there is now not enough time for the EU to ratify the agreement before the UK is due to leave the bloc on 29 March. The son of the former prime minister of Algeria has died while taking part in anti-government protests. Tens of thousands of people have gathered to take part in demonstrations to demand current president Abdelaziz Bouteflika drop his plans to stand for a fifth term. Interior minister Noureddine Bedoui confirmed that Hassan Benkhedda, the son of Benyoucef Benkhedda, who led the country from 1961-1962, died during the protests. Mr Benkhedda, who is believed to have been in his fifties, died after a clash between the police and thugs unrelated to the protesters, the minister said in a statement, according to Al Jazeera. Algerians have been taking to the streets calling on Mr Bouteflika to step down for the last 10 days. 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 Mr Bouteflika, 82, submitted his official election papers at the Constitutional Council in Algiers on Sunday, the deadline for candidates. Mr Bouteflika, rarely seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013, was at the weekend still in Switzerland for unspecified medical checks, according to Swiss media. He was not required to submit his official papers in person. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Algerias weak and divided opposition and civic groups had called for more protests were Mr Bouteflika, who has been in power for 20 years, to confirm his re-election bid. Opponents say that he is no longer fit to lead, citing his poor health and what they call chronic corruption and a lack of economic reforms to tackle unemployment that exceeds 25 per cent among people under the age of 30. Additional reporting from agencies The grand imam of Egypts top Islamic institution, Al-Azhar, has stirred up controversy after saying that polygamy is an injustice for women. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Sunni Islams highest authority, said those who say that marriage must be polygamous are all wrong. He made the comment on his weekly television programme and on Twitter. Mr Tayeb said polygamy is restricted in Islam and requires fairness. If there is not fairness it is forbidden to have more than one wife, he said. He added that polygamy came from a lack of understanding of the Quran and the tradition of the prophet. 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 Mr Tayebs comments, broadcast on Friday on state TV, sparked a heated debate on social media, with some siding with scholars calling for a ban on the practice. Al-Azhar sought on Saturday to clarify the comments, saying that Mr Tayeb wasnt calling for a ban on polygamy. AP A motorist who was stranded in deep snow for five days told his rescuers he survived by eating packets of taco sauce. Jeremy Taylor, 36, and his dog Ally got stuck after he drove his Toyota 4Runner down a forest road in Sunriver, Oregon, on 24 February. When he failed to return from his trip, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office launched an appeal for help on Facebook. He was eventually found by a snowmobiler on 1 March and a search and rescue team hauled his car out of the woods using a large snow tractor. "Jeremy and Ally were found to be in good condition, but hungry after being stuck in the snow for five days," said sheriff's office spokesman Sergeant William Bailey. 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 "He told investigators he had gone up the service road on Sunday, but became stuck in the snow. Recommended Seal rescued after getting stuck on pillbox for 24 hours "He awoke Monday to even more snow and was unable to get his vehicle unstuck. Jeremy had attempted to walk out on Monday, but the deep snow made it very difficult and he and Ally returned to his vehicle. "Jeremy stayed warm over the next four days by periodically starting his vehicle and used a few taco sauce packets he had as food." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events After returning home, Mr Taylor joked on Facebook: "Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!!" He added: "Thank you everyone, I'm safe my Ally dog is safe. I really appreciate all the help. Got lucky, lets never do that again. I'll be in touch with everyone soon." Two US police officers who shot and killed an unarmed black man in his grandmothers backyard will not face criminal charges, prosecutors say. Stephon Clark, 22, was shot at least seven times by officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet last year in Sacramento, California. The officers had been dispatched to investigate a vandalism complaint. Within 10 minutes of their arrival, after a brief pursuit, Mr Clark was dead. Mr Clarks death took on national significance amid continuing tensions over discriminatory policing in black neighbourhoods and excessive use of force by officers. Was a crime committed? Theres no question that a human being died, District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said on Saturday in Sacramento. 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 But when we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities, the answer to that question is no. And as a result, we will not charge these officers. Ms Schubert said the officers had probable cause to stop and detain Mr Clark. She added that police officers are legally justified in using deadly force if the officer honestly and reasonably believes he is in danger of death or injury. We must recognise that they are often forced to make split-second decisions, she said. We must also recognise that they are under tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances. Recommended Sacramento PD announce new body cam rules after Stephon Clark death The officers fired their weapons 20 times within seconds of turning a blind corner. Both officers believed that he was pointing a gun at them, Ms Schubert said. She added that police video showed Mr Clark was advancing on the officers. Mr Clark was later found to be unarmed; his mobile phone was found under his body. The police department released body camera footage within days of the shooting. Daniel Hahn, the citys first black police chief, reiterated that the department required training related to race-based discrimination and de-escalation tactics. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events During a news conference on Saturday, Mr Clarks mother, Sequette Clark, expressed outrage at the decision not to prosecute. She blasted Mr Schubert for delving into details she said were irrelevant to the officers conduct, including personal text messages and a toxicology report showing that Mr Clark had alcohol, codeine, marijuana, cocaine and Xanax in his system. New York Times The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee has said there is an abundance of information about possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia that the public has yet to see. There is certainly an abundance of non-public information that weve gathered in the investigation, Representative Adam Schiff told reporters. And I think some of that non-public evidence is evidence on the issue of collusion and some ... on the issue of obstruction. Mr Schiff is the ranking Democrat on the House committee charged with investigating Russian meddling in the US election. The probe is being conducted in parallel with that of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating allegations of collusion by the Trump campaign and obstruction of justice by Donald Trump himself. Mr Trump has said repeatedly that he did not collude with Russia, and did not obstruct the any investigations into the issue. Democrats on the intelligence committee tried unsuccessfully last week to release a classified document on the Russia investigation, which rebutted claims from an earlier memo written by Republicans. Mr Trump refused to approve the memos release last week, citing security concerns. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images But Mr Schiff said on Wednesday that there was ample non-classified evidence of Trump campaign collusion already in the public domain. He pointed to a June 2016 meeting between Trump campaign members and a Russian lawyer, and the White Houses misleading statement on that same meeting months later. "All of this is evidence of collusion," Mr Schiff said. "Now, I've never said that there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. That's for Bob Mueller to decide. But to say there's no evidence of collusion, you'd have to ignore all this." Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff says FISA court knew the dossier was funded by a political actor Mr Schiff also said that his committee should inform people of any "unpatriotic" or "immoral" actions by the Trump campaign, even if Mr Mueller decides that he cannot file criminal conspiracy charges. The former federal prosecutor suggested that his committee should move forward by following the money or more specifically, looking into allegations of money laundering. We know that in other places they use money laundering as a way of entangling people, as a way of compromising people. To me that is far more potentially compromising than any salacious video would be, he said. The comment was reference to a controversial research dossier claiming the Kremlin possesses video of Mr Trump committing salacious acts in a Moscow hotel room. Mr Trump has denied the allegations in the dossier, calling them fake news. For five generations Yvette Gaytans family has lived on a piece of desert land that juts up against the US-Mexico border where Donald Trump now wants to build his border wall. Despite the presidents claim of an emergency at that border, the 37-year-old feels perfectly safe there in southern Texas where mesquite trees mix in with cacti. She does not see migrants make their way out of the waters of the nearby Rio Grande river and through her yard into America. There are no smugglers at her doorstep. Instead, the biggest threat she sees to her familys home and heritage is coming from an American government keen on fulfilling the campaign promise of a man who regularly casts migrants as criminals. She says the government has already already asked for permission to survey her property for the wall, which she believes would either destroy the home her late father built, or leave it cut off from the rest of the country she belongs to. In a way, my dad always said he would never move from here. He never did. He never wanted to go anywhere else, she says of the land where both her mother and father lived for much of their lives. This is where he wanted to stay. He wanted to be buried in the backyard. This is our last tether, our last anchor to them, she says. Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures The US Capitol on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures President Trump speaks with children who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker in the State Dining Room of the White House. He earlier in the day, tweeted that he was 'all alone in the White House' waiting for Democrats to make a deal on border security EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Furloughed federal workers pick up free food at a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Reuters Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House. Trump declared he could keep parts of the government shut down for "months or even years" as he and Democratic leaders failed in a second closed-door meeting to resolve his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico Evan Vucci AP Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the National Archives on the fifth day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Visitors read signs announcing the closure of the White House Visitor Center EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures President Donald Trump speaks during a round-table discussion on border security and safe communities with State, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the White House Visitor Center on the first day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Furloughed federal workers show their IDs for entering a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Ms Gaytan is among more than 100 private landowners along the US-Mexico border who say they have received letters from the US government informing them their parcels of property are needed to build the wall. The letters are the first step for the government to seize land from private owners. But Ms Gaytan, like many others, plans on fighting back, and does not believe the wall is necessary to keep her quiet corner of the US safe. Because it already is safe, she says. While Mr Trump warns of human trafficking, her children often hike down on their own from the bluff where her familys home was built, more than 50 years ago, to the Rio Grande, hoping to catch rainbow trout and other fish native to those waters. Even though the president warns of gang members and bad hombres crossing into the US, Ms Gaytan leaves her purse in her truck overnight and does not lock the front door. Theres a lot of uncertainty, she says. What are we going to do if they take everything? Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The kind of fight Ms Gaytan has found herself in is nothing new to the residents along the Rio Grande, however. Since 2006, when the Secure Fencing Act authorised roughly 700 miles worth of border fencing to be constructed during the administration of president George W Bush, the US government has forced private property owners off their property, leading to dozens of lawsuits, some of which are still pending. This policy of seizing private land continued during the Obama administration and now into the Trump administration, which has been markedly more aggressive on the issue. But the situation in 2019 is somewhat different. Much of the land where fencing was built during that previous effort was erected on federally owned lands in Arizona, California and New Mexico. So, the landowners in Texas have some bargaining chips, even if experts say border fencing has often qualified as public use in previous court cases where landowners challenged the governments use of eminent domain, which allows the state or federal government to take private property for public use while requiring just compensation to be given to the original owner. Mr Trump, who once attempted to use the power of eminent domain in the 1990s to kick an elderly woman off a property adjacent to his hotel in New Jersey to build a parking lot, hopes to negotiate deals with private landowners along the border, but the lawsuits popping up show that wont be so easy. What were doing with eminent domain is, in many cases, well make a deal up front. Weve already done that. The secretary has done a lot of that, the president told reporters in January without providing further details. He continued: And if we cant make a deal, we take the land and we pay them through a court process. Which goes actually fairly quickly. And were generous. But we take the land. Otherwise you could never build anything. If you didnt use eminent domain, you wouldnt have one highway in this country. You have to use eminent domain. US Customs and Border Protection, which along with the US Army Corps of Engineers sent the letters to property owners, did not respond to a request for comment. Trump makes up story about voter fraud and lies about border wall during Oval Office press conference Legal experts say judges are often quite deferential to the government when it comes to things like border walls. What its going to come down to is how deferential the court will be to the finding of the federal government that this is for a public use, says Michael Wolf, a professor and expert in eminent domain at the University of Florida. Public use is very broadly defined, and the protection of America from people we dont want coming across the border would certainly be to the public benefit. The government knows that, right or wrong, forcing people off their land can cause major issues. A 2009 report compiled by the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general, for instance, found the legal headaches lead to delays and increased costs. Gaining access rights and acquiring non-federal property has delayed the completion of fence construction and may increase the cost beyond available funding, that report said. Either way, that means the US court system could soon be clogged with hundreds of eminent domain challenges that will then make their way through the system, and could end up in jury trials. Ricardo Garza, a staff attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, says his organisation is reaching out to landowners to help them when the government comes knocking. And they have seen this type of thing before. In southern Texas this stuff has been going on for a long time, Mr Garza says. It has been a bipartisan issue and its unfortunately treating the border as a sacrifice zone. Other groups or landowners that have sued the government or are facing eminent domain claims from the government in recent months includes a Catholic chapel in Brownsville. And birdwatching groups who have sued say the border would prevent wildlife from getting to the river and would dehydrate vulnerable populations or drown them when flooding occurs. If you have 16-to-18ft vertical concrete walls nothing can get out and noting can pass, Jim Chapman, the president of the Frontera Audubon Society says, noting other damaging features would include the clearing out of habitat within 150ft of the fence. At the National Butterfly Centre in Mission, Texas, Marianna Trevino-Wright says she came across federal contractors last year while they were already beginning to survey the land and cut down trees. She encountered them months before appropriations to build any new wall were approved in Congress, she says, and was then visited by uniformed border officers who disputed that she had seen federal contractors on her land. I encountered five workers, three with chainsaws, one with a bush hog, Ms Trevino-Wright says of her initial encounter. Ms Trevino-Wright says that, like Ms Gaytans border-adjacent property, there is little or no migrant traffic coming through. Things are safe, she says. So much so that the centre hosts an annual camp out for Girl Scouts. Little girls with their troop leaders come and spend the night outdoors here, she says. This is a complete b******t state of emergency. Ms Gaytan, the woman whose family has lived in their home on the border for five generations, says she supports border security but does not think a wall would be at all effective. She has seen for herself, and heard the stories of walls only providing temporary barriers until criminals figure out how to get through them. Or over them. Or under them. A wall is just literally an illusion of safety. Its like my fence. Yes, I have a fence around my house. Its for the illusion of privacy, not security, because that is not going to stop anybody from coming in, she says. If they want to break into my house, if they want to steal something, theyre just going to go ahead and do it. Donald Trump has claimed that he should have saved calling Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas for another year because it has already destroyed her career. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Mr Trump launched an off-script attack on Ms Warren, one of the top Democratic contenders to be the presidential nominee for 2020. Since the middle of his presidential campaign in 2016, Mr Trump has often called Ms Warren Pocahontas, a racial slur which mocks the senators claims of Native American ancestry. Im going to regret this. This speech should have been delivered one year from now, not now, damn it. President Trump said. I should have saved the Pocahontas thing for another year because that destroyed her political career and now I wont get a chance to run against her. I dont want to knock out all of the good stuff and wind up with somebody whos actually got talent. Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Show all 20 1 /20 Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Donald Trump's Cabinet Donald Trump's Cabinet is one the richest in American history, filled with billionaires, conservatives and several career politicians. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Mike Pence US Vice President Mike Pence has defended Donald Trump throughout his presidency while walking a fine line to avoid any public involvement in major scandals. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Mike Pompeo Secretary of State Mike Pompeo replaced Donald Trump's previous appointment to the post, Rex Tillerson, and has led talks with North Korea in establishing high-profile summits between the president and Kim Jong Un. Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Wilbur Ross Secretary of Commerce Wibur Ross raised controversy when he was accused of falsely claiming to have sold stock in a bank and violated a government ethics agreement. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Robert Lighthizer US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has been a fixture in Donald Trump's ongoing trade spat with China. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet William Barr Attorney General William Barr replaced Jeff Sessions as the nation's top cop in early 2019 and has refused to commit to recusing himself from the Russia probe despite an unsolicited memo he sent to the Justice Department decrying the investigation. EPA Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Rick Perry Energy Secretary Rick Perry has held his post throughout Donald Trump's presidency despite previously undermining the need for the agency he now leads in past public statements. Ken Shipp / United States Department of Energy Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Betsy DeVos Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has also held her post throughout the presidency, despite major backlash to her apparent undermining of the nationwide public school system and advocacy for charter programmes. Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Steven Mnuchin Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has faced numerous controversies throughout his tenure as the head of Treasury, including costing taxpayers at least a million dollars in travel expenses. AP Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Robert Wilkie Veterans Affairs secretary Robert Wilkie was appointed after Donald Trump's White House doctor Ronny Jackson withdrew over allegations he provided prescription drugs to patients without prescriptions. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet David Bernhardt Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt took office in January 2019 after the resignation of Ryan Zinke after previously serving as Zinke's deputy. Before taking office Bernhardt worked for many years as a solicitor for the Department of the Interior. Tami Heilemann / United States Department of the Interior Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Elaine Chao Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has held her post throughout the presidency and has mostly avoided controversy, despite a report claiming her office has been in frequent coordination with her husband's, Mitch McConnell. AFP/Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Kevin McAleenan Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan took over from Kirstjen Nielsen after she resigned in April 2019. He previously worked as the executive director of the executive director of the Office of Anti Terrorism in the Customs and Border Protection agency United States Customs and Border Protection Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Ben Carson Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson was appointed shortly after Donald Trump took office and raised controversy over an exorbitant furnishing bill for his office. Reuters Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Gina Haspel CIA Director Gina Haspel was appointed in 2018 and faced backlash surrounding her oversight of Guantanamo Bay. Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Dan Coats Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats could be the next person to leave Donald Trump's administration over his refuting the president's claims surrounding ISIS. Reuters Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Sonny Perdue Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been dogged by ethics questions throughout his tenure and faced controversy when emails showed the agency appeared willing to eagerly work with lobbyists under his leadership. Reuters Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Alex Azar Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is a former pharmaceutical lobbyist and former drug company executive. Getty Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Mick Mulvaney Acting Chief of Staff and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney has described himself as one of the most conservative officials in the White House. EPA Trump's inner circle: Meet the members of the US president's cabinet Robert Wilkie Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie has spent his career on Capitol Hill serving in various roles in foreign affairs and defence. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force Reserve. Gene Russell / United States Department of Veterans Affairs During the wide-ranging speech, where Mr Trump started by hugging the American flag before walking to the podium to the sound of Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA, the president went completely off-script. He let loose against House Democrats, who are broadening their investigations of him, predicted he would win re-election by a greater margin than his 2016 victory, and taunted his potential White House challengers. Revelling at the adulation he received from CPAC attendees, Mr Trump said: You know Im totally off script right now and this is how I got elected, by being off script. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events And if we dont go off script, our countrys in big trouble, folks, because we have to get it back. Additional reporting from agencies At least 20 people have died as heavy rains and flooding over the past few days swept away their homes and cars in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, a UN humanitarian agency says. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Saturday night that at least 10 people, including children, remain missing. OCHA's statement says up to 2,000 homes are believed to have been damaged. The local governor's office says the flooding was the worst in Kandahar in at least seven years and that heavy snowfall continues, hampering rescue efforts. Heavy snowfall across Afghanistan this winter has cut off many areas and raised fears of severe flood in the spring. 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 So far this year, nearly 50 people died in floods. AP Scientists are suing the Mauritian government for driving endangered fruit bats towards extinction, after mass culls killed at least half their population. More than 50,000 of the animals are thought to have been killed in three culls since 2015, in an attempt to protect fruit in orchards. The bats also known as flying foxes are resorting to eating in orchards to survive because only 5 per cent of Mauritiuss native forests remain, animal experts warned. Fruit bats are vital for biodiversity as they pollinate flowers and scatter seeds, enabling trees and plants to grow and spread, according to conservationists. But populations of the flying foxes have fallen by more than 50 per cent in four years, said Vincent Florens, an ecologist at the University of Mauritius. Some believe fewer than 30,000 now remain. 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' Show all 9 1 /9 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58846.bin Reuters 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58843.bin Getty 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58864.bin AFP/Getty 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58868.bin Reuters 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58863.bin AFP/Getty 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58869.bin Reuters 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58873.bin Getty 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58875.bin AFP/Getty 'A quarter of the world's mammals risk extinction' 58877.bin Wildlife Conservation Society/AP Tigga Kingston, a biologist and bat specialist for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said the fewer animals remain, the more vulnerable they will be to natural disasters, disease and habitat loss, leading to extinction. Britains Bat Conservation Trust has pleaded for the culls to end, citing research that found they accounted for only 10 per cent of fruit plant damage. The first cull, in 2015, killed 30,000, and in a second cull, the following year, 7,380 were targeted. The IUCN then raised the bats status from vulnerable to endangered. But the latest cull involved 13,000. Prof Florens said he believed the number killed is much higher than the 50,300 government figure. The culls took place late in the year, when many mothers were pregnant or had babies, he told National Geographic. You shoot one bat and basically kill two. Others were likely to have been injured and died later, he said. Scientists are supporting a lawsuit against the government on grounds of animal welfare violations to prevent any more culls. They say that after the first two, production of lychees in orchards fell by 70 per cent, probably because of the weather, fruit flies, birds, macaques and rats. Fruit bats eat about 10 per cent of fruit grown, a study found (Getty) We tried petitions, demonstrations, publications in Science, and IUCN discussions with the government. Everything weve done failed so far, so we decided we needed stronger action, said Christian Vincenot, a bat ecologist at Kyoto University, Japan. Mahen Seeruttun, Mauritiuss minister of agro-industry and food security, told FDI Spotlight: We have a large population of bats who will eat fruit crops. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In fact, the population of large flying fox bats has increased dramatically due to the lack of severe cyclones in the past 15 years. These are a protected species, so we must devise creative ways to protect the crops such as providing fruit-growers with nets to protect their crop, and a selective cull which I organised. The Independent has asked the Mauritian government to comment. The United States is trying to find out if Pakistan potentially violated an international agreement by using a US-built F-16 jet to shoot down an Indian warplane. Pakistan and India both conducted aerial bombing missions last week, including a clash which saw an Indian jet shot down over the disputed region of Kashmir. The US embassy in Islamabad said it was looking into reports that Pakistan used F-16 jets which would be a violation of Washington's military sale agreements that limit how Pakistan can use the planes. "We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information," a US embassy spokesperson said. "We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously." Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Show all 28 1 /28 Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Activists of Al-Badr Mujahideen, an islamic militant group, burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an anti-India protest in Peshawar, Pakistan AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures A Pakistani girl holds a light candle during a vigil for peace in Lahore on March 3 AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures School children react as they celebrate the release of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan at a school in Ahmedabad Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan, stands under armed escort near Pakistan-India border in Wagah Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the border with Pakistan EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures A videograb allegedly shows the captured Indian Air Force pilot in the custody of Pakistani military SWNS Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani civil society activists hold anti-war signs during a peace rally in Islamabad AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani civil society activists hold anti-war signs during a peace rally in Islamabad AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Activists of Al-Badr Mujahideen, an islamic militant group, burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an anti-India protest in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri onlookers stand look on as an Indian army helicopter lands near the site where an Indian Air Force jet was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures An Indian soldier gestures near the wreckage of an Indian Air Force fighter jet that was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Supporters of a Pakistani religious group Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba brand Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terrorist at a rally to condemn Indian aggression AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures India's Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the fenced border with Pakistan on February 26 Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Protesters in Pakistan march against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party workers hold Indian flags as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Protesters in Pakistan march against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures People in India burn an effigy that represents Pakistan as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Bhartiya Janta Party workers hold Indian flags as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Kashmiris in the border town of Chakoti walk past India-bound cargo trucks that are parked as the road to India is closed AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Workers enter a concrete bunker that they have built in a residential area near the border Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani soldiers and journalists gather at the site where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani soldiers and journalists gather at the site where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace AFP/Getty It is however not clear what exactly these so-called "end-user agreements" restrict Pakistan from doing. "The US Government does not comment on or confirm pending investigations of this nature," the US embassy added. Pakistan has denied using F-16 jets during the dogfight that downed an Indian warplane but has not specified which planes it used. On Thursday Indian officials displayed to reporters parts of what they called an air-to-air missile that can only be fired from F-16 jets, alleging they were used to bomb its side of the disputed Kashmir border on Wednesday. A Pakistan military spokesman told reporters that Pakistani jets "locked" on Indian targets to demonstrate Pakistan's capacity to strike back at India, but then chose to fire in an empty field where there would be no casualties. Pakistan said its mission on Wednesday was in retaliation for India violating its airspace and sovereignty a day earlier, when Indian jets bombed a forest area near the northern city of Balakot. Cross-border shelling in the past few days has killed seven people on the Pakistani side and four on the Indian side of Kashmir. But there was relative calm at the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border of Kashmir, on Sunday. "By and large the LoC was calm last night but you never know when it will become active again," said Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, a minister in Pakistani Kashmir. "Tension still prevails." Captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman crosses back to India In Indian-administered Kashmir, troops shot dead two militants after a three-day gun battle that also killed five security force personnel, taking the total death toll to 25 in the past two weeks. The fresh anti-militancy drive was launched after a Kashmiri suicide bomber, a member of a Pakistan-based militant group, killed 40 Indian paramilitary police on 14 February. Additional reporting from agencies A search is to resume in the Pakistani mountains for the missing son of the first woman to conquer Mount Everest unaided. Tom Ballard was scaling a 26,000ft killer mountain with friend Daniele Nardi when the weather deteriorated. Snow, strong winds and fog were reported. The pair lost contact with friends and family a week ago, after the British climber spoke to his wife by satellite phone. The bad weather and tensions over Kashmir hampered the hunt for the climbers but now a search party is being flown in. Mr Ballard, an accomplished climber, had been following in the footsteps of his mother, Alison Hargreaves, by tackling some of the toughest mountains in the world. She went missing on K2, on the China-Pakistan border, in 1995, aged 33. Her body was never recovered. Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Show all 28 1 /28 Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Activists of Al-Badr Mujahideen, an islamic militant group, burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an anti-India protest in Peshawar, Pakistan AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures A Pakistani girl holds a light candle during a vigil for peace in Lahore on March 3 AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures School children react as they celebrate the release of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan at a school in Ahmedabad Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan, stands under armed escort near Pakistan-India border in Wagah Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the border with Pakistan EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures A videograb allegedly shows the captured Indian Air Force pilot in the custody of Pakistani military SWNS Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani civil society activists hold anti-war signs during a peace rally in Islamabad AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani civil society activists hold anti-war signs during a peace rally in Islamabad AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Activists of Al-Badr Mujahideen, an islamic militant group, burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an anti-India protest in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri onlookers stand look on as an Indian army helicopter lands near the site where an Indian Air Force jet was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures An Indian soldier gestures near the wreckage of an Indian Air Force fighter jet that was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Supporters of a Pakistani religious group Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba brand Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terrorist at a rally to condemn Indian aggression AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures India's Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the fenced border with Pakistan on February 26 Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Protesters in Pakistan march against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Supporters of India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party workers hold Indian flags as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Protesters in Pakistan march against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures People in India burn an effigy that represents Pakistan as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Indian soldiers and Kashmiri villagers look on at the smouldering wreckage of an Indian fighter jet after it was shot down by the Pakistani military AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Bhartiya Janta Party workers hold Indian flags as they celebrate the Indian airstrike on allege Pakistan terrorist camp EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Kashmiris in the border town of Chakoti walk past India-bound cargo trucks that are parked as the road to India is closed AP Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani Army soldiers escort journalists to the scene where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace EPA Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Workers enter a concrete bunker that they have built in a residential area near the border Reuters Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani soldiers and journalists gather at the site where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace AFP/Getty Pakistan shoots down Indian fighter jets: Reaction in pictures Pakistani soldiers and journalists gather at the site where Indian fighter jets struck in a violation of Pakistani airspace AFP/Getty Pakistani army helicopter teams are recruiting a Basque climber, Alex Txikon, and his team from K2, including a doctor, according to the Italian ambassador to Pakistan. The team plan to fly high-altitude drones over the Nanga Parbat mountain, which is the worlds ninth highest. Stefano Pontecorvo hailed the move as a big step forward. Alison Hargreaves pictured with her children, Tom and Kate, shortly before she went to K2 (Rex Features) Search plans on Thursday were prevented when Pakistan closed its air space after it shot down an Indian military plane. Mr Ballard, who was born in Derbyshire and grew up in Scotland, had been living with his father, Jim Ballard, in Italys Dolomites mountains for several years. Mr Ballard Sr told The Times that waiting for news of his son had brought back memories of his wifes death: This takes me back to those days. From the last phone call, seven to 10 days is not unreasonable, even though he might be cold and not feeling too well. Finding his son would be extremely difficult, like finding a green beer mat on the pitch at Twickenham, he said. Friends have launched a fundraising appeal for more search helicopters. A Gofundme site had raised 93,400 this weekend. Friends posted on Mr Nardis Facebook page: Daniele is not only a friend but also a brother, a source of inspiration for his determination, simplicity and above all LOVE FOR LIFE. We want to return it with a small gesture and leave no stone unturned for Tom and Daniele to return home. Ms Hargreaves made history by becoming the first woman to climb Mount Everest the only mountain peak higher than K2 unaided. In the mountains of Mexicos tropical sierra, an ever-growing expanse of pink poppy flowers has pushed prices so low for opium paste, the gummy raw ingredient of heroin, that farmer Santiago Sanchez worries how he will feed and clothe his family. The area of Mexico that illegally farms opium poppies grew by more than a fifth last year, to an area the size of Philadelphia, according to a UN-backed study published in November. That, along with a trend towards mixing synthetic opiate fentanyl in Mexicos tarry black heroin, has slashed what criminal gangs pay farmers like Sanchez for a kilo of opium. Now, Sanchez earns about $260 (200) per kilo, a fifth of the average price two years ago. While Mexicos top drug traffickers still make billions of dollars supplying US addicts, at the bottom of the supply chain, the villagers are hardly surviving. We cant keep living like this, says Sanchez, who is a local leader in the remote Mixtec Indian village of Juquila Yucucani, where hundreds of poppy farmers have seen already meagre incomes shrivel. We can barely afford our food. In the United States, overdose deaths from opioids have increased almost six-fold in the past two decades, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 15,000 people died of heroin overdoses in 2017 alone. Heroin from Mexico accounted for 86 per cent of the heroin found on US streets, according to the Drug Enforcement Agencys most recent annual narcotic report. The heart of illegal poppy cultivation is in the hills of Guerrero state, in some of the poorest mountain districts such as Juquila Yucucani, some 800 miles south of the US-Mexican border. Guerrero is now among the countrys bloodiest states. Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Show all 20 1 /20 Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A soldier burns an illegal opium plantation near Pueblo Viejo in the Sierra Madre del Sur, in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Illegal opium plantation burning Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers cut opium poppies as they destroy a field of illegal plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Poppy farmer Nieves Garcia reacts next to her husband, "We are not drug traffickers, we want a dignified life," said Garcia, who has grown poppies since she was a child. "My kids have left this place because there's no way of getting ahead." Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Clouds over the Sierra Madre del Sur Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Poppy farmer Francisco Santiago Clemente walks with his gun on his back in a corn field Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Opium poppies burn after being set on fire to by the army Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers arrive at the area where they found an illegal opium plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Poppy farmer Santiago Sanchez holds opium paste Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers unload their weapons at the camp near the area where they found an illegal opium plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A soldier burns an illegal opium plantatio Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A child sits on a sidewalk in Santa Cruz Yucucani Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers destroy a field of illegal opium plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A woman tends to her opium poppy plant outside her house Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A soldier waves to locals near the area Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A soldier stands near residents as he arrives at the area where they found an illegal opium plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers camp near the area where they found an illegal opium plantation Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers patrol the area of Pueblo Viejo Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade A soldier burns an illegal opium plantation near Pueblo Viejo Reuters Mexico seeks to halt heroin trade Soldiers cut opium poppies Reuters Despite unprecedented violence across the country, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that the government had officially ended its war against drug trafficking, a military-led offensive launched in 2006 that led to a surge in bloodshed as criminal groups splintered. The governments focus will now be on meeting the needs of marginalised communities, Lopez Obrador said, as part of a broader strategy to curb an illegal drug trade that is thriving despite the capture of high-profile kingpins like Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is on trial in New York for drug trafficking that spanned more than two decades. Clouds are seen over the Sierra Madre del Sur (Reuters) Lopez Obrador has not entirely turned his back on using soldiers to tackle violence stemming from drugs he plans to create a new militarised National Guard police force. But he is also exploring a crop substitution programme, relaxing prohibition and amnesties for low-level drug dealers and farmers. He has backed a legislative bill to legalise marijuana, and along with the former head of Mexicos military and other members of his team, he suggested last autumn that legalising medical opium could be part of the solution. The government appears to be backing away from that idea after opposition from the United States. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The farmers in Juquila Yucucani do not consider themselves criminals, and say current poppy eradication efforts by the army also sometimes destroy legal crops. Other than poppies, few plants take to the thin soil on Juquila Yucucanis stony slopes. Some land is apt for planting mango or avocado trees, Sanchez says, but they would take years to mature. The narrow ribbon of twisted dirt road connecting the village to the outside world would make it almost impossible to transport bulky or delicate crops to markets, he adds. Arturo Garcia, a farmers rights activist in the state, says the governments new ideas would only work if a really sustained and well-funded effort was made to offer residents a way out of the drug trade. The state must throw all its weight into this region so that it begins to alleviate the conditions that have allowed violence, he says. For now, several hours journey from the nearest hospitals or schools, Juquila Yucucanis poppy farmers say they have two choices to make a living: sneak illegally into the United States, or grow poppies. We are not drug traffickers, we want a dignified life, says elderly Nieves Garcia, who has grown poppies since she was a child and speaks a variant of the indigenous Mixtec language, but no Spanish. My kids have left this place because theres no way of getting ahead, she says. Reporting by Michael OBoyle and Frank Jack Daniel Reuters Shamima Begums Dutch husband wants the couple to live in the Netherlands along with their newborn son. Yago Riedijk, 27, who has admitted to being an Isis fighter, is currently being held in a detention centre in northern Syria. The pair are said to have fled Baghouz, the groups last foothold in eastern Syria, as its territory collapsed in recent months. Ms Begum, who was heavily pregnant at the time, was separated from her husband and has since given birth to a baby boy. The 19-year-old ran away from her home in east London to join Isis when she was 15. Timeline of the Isis caliphate Show all 19 1 /19 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Timeline of the Isis caliphate ISIS began as a group by the merging of extremist organisations ISI and al-Nusra in 2013. Following clashes, Syrian rebels captured the ISIS headquarters in Aleppo in January 2014 (pictured) AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the creation of a caliphate in Mosul on 27 June 2014 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis conquered the Kurdish towns of Sinjar and Zumar in August 2014, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Pictured are a group of Yazidi Kurds who have fled Rex Timeline of the Isis caliphate On September 2 2014 Isis released a video depicting the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. On September 13 they released another video showing the execution of British aid worker David Haines Timeline of the Isis caliphate The US launched its first airstrikes against Isis in Syria on 23 September 2014. Here Lt Gen William C Mayville Jnr speaks about the bombing campaign in the wake of the first strikes Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis militants sit atop a hill planted with their flag in the Syrian town of Kobani on 6 October 2014. They had been advancing on Kobani since mid-September and by now was in control of the citys entrance and exit points AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Residents of the border village of Alizar keep guard day and night as they wait in fear of mortar fire from Isis who have occupied the nearby city of Kobani Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Smoke rises following a US airstrike on Kobani, 28 October 2014 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate YPG fighters raise a flag as they reclaim Kobani on 26 January 2015 VOA Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis seized the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on 20 May 2015. This image show the city from above days after its capture by Isis Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces are stationed on a hill above the town of Sinjar as smoke rises following US airstrikes on 12 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces enter Sinjar after seizing it from Isis control on 13 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi government forces make the victory sign as they retake the city of Fallujah from ISIS on 26 June 2016 Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi forces battle with Isis for the city of Mosul on 30 June 2017 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of the Iraqi federal police raise flags in Mosul on 8 July 2017. On the following day, Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi declares victory over Isis in Mosul Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Female fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim Square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria in January 2019 They were among the last civilians to be living in the ISIS caliphate, by this time reduced to just two small villages in Syrias Deir ez-Zor Richard Hall/The Independent Timeline of the Isis caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate, on Saturday 26 January 2019 Richard Hall/The Independent She married Riedijk soon after she arrived in Syria, before she turned 16. Riedijk, who is said to have rejected Isis, was found in the detention centre by the BBC. Asked if he thought marrying a 15-year-old girl was acceptable, he said: To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasnt that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway. We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didnt, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her. The Dutch government said it would not actively return fighters and were not willing to send officials to pick up the fighters due to the security situation. It added, however, that if Riedijk handed himself in to a Dutch embassy or consulate he would be sent back to the Netherlands to serve his six-year prison term. The end of the Isis Caliphate: Timeline of their rise and fall Ms Begum, who said she wants to return to the UK, has been stripped of her British citizenship. She has apparently been moved from the Syrian refugee camp she was staying in after being threatened for opening up about her plight. She has since said that she regrets speaking to the media and wishes she had kept a low profile. Ms Begums family have pleaded for the mother and her child to be allowed to come back to Britain. They say the teenager should face justice if she is found to have broken the law by travelling to Syria. Additional reporting from agencies On 8 March, 2014, 227 passengers and a dozen crew members boarded a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 at Kuala Lumpur airport. Their routine overnight departure to Beijing was known as flight MH370. That code has come to represent the biggest mystery in aviation history. The relatives of the victims have endured five agonising years of not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the jet while it was over the South China Sea. Who was at the controls when the jet veered off course, flew over the South East Asia peninsula then south across the Indian Ocean? Did someone deliberately crash the Boeing into the sea, or did it simply run out of fuel? These and many other questions could be answered if investigators could solve the key question: where is MH370? Were the fuselage to be located, the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder may provide valuable evidence just as the black boxes helped to explain the tragic series of pilot errors that led to the loss of Air France flight 447 in the Atlantic in 2009. Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Show all 13 1 /13 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A bag and pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The sole of a shoe Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A satchel with pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The inside of a bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A shoulder bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The word Mensa, from the high-IQ organisation, on an item Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A phone case and pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A wash bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A backpack Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A camera case Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A prayer hat Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The sole of a shoe Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A luggage bag and pen Blaine Gibson All 228 aboard the flight from Rio to Paris perished after an inexperienced pilot reacted calamitously to a perfectly survivable set of technical failures. Floating debris from the Airbus A330 was quickly found off the coast of Brazil, showing the recovery team where to look. Even then, it took two years to locate the wreckage of the plane on the ocean bed. Flight mysteries: four cases of losses of large aircraft (The Independent) In the the case of MH370, the only available evidence was based on painstaking analysis of satellite pings transmitted automatically from the aircraft each hour until it crashed. The aircraft was calculated to be close to the so-called Seventh Arc off the west coast off Australia. Two intensive searches of vast swathes of seabed have failed to find any trace of the aircraft. Nineteen accident investigators concluded in the official report: The team is unable to determine the real cause for the disappearance of MH370. Inevitably, the vacuum of uncertainty has been filled by speculation. Many theories are easily dismissed: a North Korean missile did not down MH370, and nor is the aircraft hidden in a hangar in Kazakhstan. But that leaves an ocean of possibilities. The man who led the Australian Transport Safety Bureaus two-year search of the seabed, Martin Dolan, says: This was planned, this was deliberate, and it was done over an extended period of time. As the fifth anniversary of that awful night approaches, Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, concurs. Most agencies are confident that the loss of MH370 was the result of a criminal act and that the aircraft was deliberately, and manually, made to divert from its intended flight plan, he told me. The question then arises as to who carried out the act and where they were at the time? He advances five scenarios for what happened to MH370. 1. Pilot-assisted suicide: a pilot on board intentionally hijacked his own aircraft in order to take his own life and kill everyone on board. 2. Hijacking by the pilot with the intention of landing or ditching, surviving and escaping. 3. Hijacked by a passenger or member of cabin crew. 4. Hijacked remotely in a sophisticated acts of cyberterrorism. 5. Seized by a stowaway concealed in the avionics bay with the skills to control communications and pilot the aircraft out of sight having boarded the aircraft prior to the passengers and crew (either in a suicidal mission or with the intention of landing at, say, Christmas Island). What is Philip Baums hunch? Pilot-assisted suicide is the most likely cause of the loss as that would explain almost every aspect of the diversion and the even the lack of proof for any of the alternative scenarios emerging. All the other scenarios would involve at least one other person being in-the-know, except the stowaway who could also have acted completely independently. And for that reason, I still think the stowaway scenario is a strong possibility. Will we ever know? I do have some degree of confidence that the wreckage will be found and that the cause will eventually become known. Just not sure if that will be in my lifetime, he says. For the sake of the victims families, let us hope the truth will emerge soon. Long before #MeToo and the current craze for veganism, Hollywood legend Paul Newman compared marital infidelity to greedily wolfing down a takeaway hamburger when youve got steak at home. Yet a section of the Corbyn left is guilty of roughly the equivalent political error. Here we are, legatees of the greatest minds the socialist and social democratic traditions have produced over the last two centuries, from Marx, Luxemburg and Gramsci to Keynes, Crosland and Rawls. Yet some comrades cannot resist poisonous snackettes cooked up by the likes of an Assad fangirl citizen journalist, a hard bop sax merchant who professes to see the point of torching synagogues, and a deranged former division three goalie trapped in a lizard-populated four-dimensional acid flashback fantasy kingdom. Once house room is granted to such relentlessly self-preening charlatans as Vanessa Beeley, Gilad Atzmon and David Icke, its a perilously short step to political judgments centred on the shoddy output of propaganda-driven state broadcasters, half-arsed alt-left websites and the crankier fringes of the Trot diaspora. Before you ask, this isnt a snipe from the right. Im a long-standing lefty who has proudly donated to Jeremy Corbyns electoral efforts and knocked on doors for John McDonnell and Diane Abbott for many years. Nor do I wish to exaggerate the extent of the problem. Thankfully this nonsense remains predominantly the province of a few hundred headbangers on social media, although even that minimal degree of traction feeds the Daily Mail with vile Labour Twitter troll stories as if by conveyor belt. But branding the White Helmets Israeli stooges, or postulating a Rothschild Zionist grip on global central banking, is just the type of dimwitted apercu that ensured antisemitism renewed circulation among radical young people during the anti-globalisation and Occupy movements, and sometimes emerge in the real world. As Trotsky himself used to note, with a scratch comes the danger of gangrene. In a climate where 2.6 million Britons think the Holocaust was a myth, no potential Labour standard-bearer should get away with posting offensively photoshopped pictures of the gates of Auschwitz, on any pretext whatsoever. Tom Watson is right to brand incidents like that a cause for deep shame. So its pleasing that Labour left figures such as Jon Lansman are on the case, as demonstrated by the excellent Rothschild Conspiracy Exposed video released by Momentum last week. Meanwhile, matters are compounded in some quarters by wilful refusal to engage with current affairs, especially in other countries, which comes as an inevitable corollary of making the very words mainstream media a dread insult. Put simply, the Beeb, The Economist and Financial Times have serious sources in Venezuela and Syria; one-man blogs written from bedrooms reeking of hamster urine do not. Sure, none of those outlets is ideologically neutral. But past generations of socialists learned how to strip out the bias from the well resourced boss class press and arrive at independent conclusions. Thats still best practice. Activists who take a shine to RT or seek out Press TV online now it has been banned from the airwaves need to ask why the ruling classes of kleptocratic Russia and theocratic Iran foot the bill for TV stations almost nobody watches. In the past, when British broadcasters gave socialist politicians or commentators practically zero airtime, it was on balance right to appear on them. However small their audiences were, it was better than nothing. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events But in the wake of the Skripal affair, McDonnells appeal for Labour MPs to give RT a miss was absolutely on point. What remains lacking is a positive educational programme for a resurgent left, in both boomer and millennial iterations. Sadly, clarity about ideas has never been the British labour movements forte. The very term left-wing intellectual is often tantamount to a cuss, as witnessed by the speech Angela Smith gave on departure for the Independent Group (TIG). Note how gleefully she contrasted the effete book-readers among us to a working class unsullied by any of those highfalutin fancy-pants belief systems as it readies to rally to TIG in its many-millioned ranks. Gone are the better traditions of the past, from miners lodge-sponsored libraries that enabled colliers to gen up on Marxian economics to 1980s Labour Party magazine New Socialist, a forum for debating big ideas. Its high time to claw that heritage back. Dont forget that the phrase reality-based community was coined by the US right, as a derisive reference to the rest of us. If youre a Corbyn supporter who doesnt reside there already, move in and help us implement the only ideas capable of transforming Britain. When the powerful east Libyan military commander general Khalifa Haftar announced his forces were marching south to conquer it (and its oilfields), the news was met with less than a shrug. Most updates from Libya have been eclipsed by other areas of the Middle East since the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe has largely spluttered to a halt and Isis has been ousted from its Mediterranean caliphate. A myriad of militia fiefdoms, including those belonging to the general, have been left to dictate the politics of the country with their guns. But Haftars southern offensive on the strategic area of Murzuq, some 900km south of Tripoli, is an important one that should not be ignored. It has seen forces loyal to the Gaddafi-era general secure control of the countrys last remaining oilfields, which are, coincidentally, the biggest ones. Last year, after back and forth battles with controversial militia commander Ibrahim Jadhran, gen Haftar swept the oil crescent in the east, which stretches from the coastal facilities of Ras Lanuf down to Waha. Terror in North Africa: are Westerners pulling the strings? Show all 2 1 /2 Terror in North Africa: are Westerners pulling the strings? Terror in North Africa: are Westerners pulling the strings? algerian-ap.jpg AP Terror in North Africa: are Westerners pulling the strings? AN14765777epa03546278-A-vie.jpg AP With the recent acquisition of the Sharara and al-Feel oilfields in the south, which have a total production capacity of around 430,000 barrels a day or close to half of Libyas current output, gen Haftar holds all of Libyas onshore oil sector in his hands. Oil exports are still managed by the Tripoli-based National Oil Company, which is loyal to the toothless UN-backed government, but gen Haftar and his men can effectively turn on or off the taps. In short, one man now has the power to sever the countrys economic artery. It comes at a crucial and tricky time. Last week gen Haftar and the countrys recognised prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj met in Abu Dhabi for peace talks, during which they agreed to hold elections. Peace in Libya, a country awash with weapons and a diving board for jihadi groups in north Africa, is crucial for the stability of the region. This meeting was welcomed by the UN and the UK among other countries, who emphasised that a military solution to Libya was not the way. But with Haftar holding the power to the purse strings, how much can that be true? How can a peace deal be brokered in Libya and a civilian democratic structure hold power if a powerful and divisive military commander has so much sway? The show of joint leadership was little more than just that: a show. Haftar has clearly gained leverage through the advances of the armed force in this south. This was highlighted in the UAE meeting, Valerie Stocker, a researcher on Libya told me. She said systematic neglect and growing insecurity in the south of Libya over the past year had left southerners feeling abandoned by the recognised government in Tripoli and the international community. The assumption is that the conflict, between a bewildering mix of ethnic groups and tribes, is too niche to effect the rest of the country. There has been a pronounced lack of interest in the south and an assumption that the region had no direct impact on the countrys peace process. But the turn of events this year has clearly illustrated that this is not true, she added. The operation has inflamed simmering tribal tensions and unleashed a cycle of violence that may be hard to contain. Recommended Libyan commander courted by European countries accused of war crimes Sarrajs government currently relies on a hodgepodge of recognised militias in the Tripoli area, which have intermittent loyalty to his cabinet. He desperately needs gen Haftar, despite the fact that the rogue commander has supported a rival government in the east for years and has agitated against the UN-backed authorities. In interviews over the last few years his forces have repeatedly declared to me that they will march on Tripoli and seize control of it by force. Gen Haftar lived for decades in exile in the US after being abandoned by Gaddafi during Libyas disastrous war with Chad in the 1980s. He returned to Libya during the 2011 Arab Spring and declared himself to be chief of Libyas so-called army. Since then he has started numerous wars in eastern cities such as Benghazi and Derna, where human rights groups and the International Criminal Court have said that war crimes have been likely been committed by members of his forces. Last July, the ICC issued a second arrest warrant for his special forces commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli after several videos appeared online apparently showing him murdering captured fighters. In January, London human rights lawyers said in a report shared with The Independent that his forces may have committed war crimes in Derna, including instances of torture, murder and mutilation of corpses. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events While the battle to take Murzuq appears to be far less bloody than others and his army were in many ways welcomed by local populations suffering amid an upsurge in criminal activity there are concerns that abuses are also being committed. One resident, Ahmed, who sent me photos of looted and destroyed houses in Murzuq, said 27 people have been killed in dubious circumstances, more than 140 families displaced and dozens of houses burned and destroyed by forces loyal to Haftar since the offensive began in mid-January. Haftars troops are largely battling the Tebu, an ethnic group based in the south that bleeds over Libyas border into Chad and Niger, and which for years have had control over many areas there. Mohammad Adam Lino, a Tebu Libyan MP, resigned over the violence, saying that forces affiliated with Haftar were targeting his people. He said 90 houses had been burnt down since the offensive, including those of his brother and father. Resident Ahmed told me: The situation is very bad, the fighting, the killing, the burning of the houses. Families have been forced to run away. Its terrible. Haftar is extremely powerful. He already controls the east and now the south; it will be very easy for him to take Tripoli. The EU has approved a ten-fold increase in a state aid fund that could rescue Irish businesses hit by Brexit. Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys welcomed a move that will see the funds budget rise from 20 million euro (17.2 million) to 200 million euro (172 million). The fund can be used to offer rescue aid or restructuring support, in the form of loans, to small and medium-sized businesses negatively impacted by the UKs exit from the EU. The EU Commission has agreed to the amendment to the approved level of state aid that Ireland can offer via the fund. It goes without saying that we hope we never have to use this scheme, however, having the option there is prudent as part of our overall contingency plan for BrexitHeather Humphreys Minister Humphreys said she hoped the funds would never been needed. The Rescue and Restructuring Scheme is an important safety net for companies, she said. It is part of a suite of supports developed by my department to provide aid to enterprises impacted by Brexit. By increasing the provision from 20 million euro to 200 million euro, the Government will be able to put in place a fund, should it be required, to offer both rescue aid and temporary restructuring aid to SMEs in financial difficulty or experiencing acute liquidity needs. It goes without saying that we hope we never have to use this scheme, however, having the option there is prudent as part of our overall contingency plan for Brexit. The scheme is designed to help viable companies that are in a position to restore their competitiveness but find themselves unable to access finance from markets. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has privately told ministers he believes the deadline for Britain leaving the EU will be extended to June. The Taoiseach's private comments follow EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier indicating that he does not believe the UK will have enough time to approve a withdrawal deal by the scheduled exit date of March 29. Prime Minster Theresa May has faced an angry backlash from hard-line Brexiteers over the prospect of extending the deadline. However, the Taoiseach has indicated to his most senior ministers that the most realistic prospect at this point is an extension as Ms May is unlikely to get a withdrawal deal through parliament in time. A Cabinet minister speaking on the grounds of anonymity yesterday told the Sunday Independent: "The Taoiseach has privately said to us that it is very likely there will be an extension until June." Extending the deadline beyond June would cause complications for the EU Parliament elections in May. If the extension was any longer, Britain may have to put forward candidates for the election. Last Friday, the Taoiseach said he believed it was now unlikely Britain would crash out of the EU. Speaking in Belfast, he said: "I don't want to say too much about it at this stage but I think that the United Kingdom crashing out of the European Union without a deal on the 29th of March is unlikely. I think we either will have a deal or we'll have an extension." However, his private comments suggest he is leaning towards an extension. The prospect of a three-month extension to the Brexit withdrawal date comes as Cabinet ministers prepare to meet for an informal discussion on the prospect of Britain crashing out of the EU. Ministers will gather tomorrow night in the State's official residence Farmleigh for a dinner event where Brexit and other government matters will be discussed. The meeting comes ahead of two formal Cabinet meetings this week - one which is being held on International Women's Day and will deal exclusively with gender issues. The schedule for the March 8 meeting includes Cabinet discussion on the gender pay gap, parental leave and a new action plan for women's health. Ministers will also discuss domestic violence and the controversial "women's place in the home" section of the Constitution. Meanwhile, in Farmleigh tomorrow night, the Cabinet will discuss ongoing preparations for a disorderly Brexit which will have serious consequences for the Irish economy. Farmers have slammed what they describe as a "scattered approach" to dog control by government departments. It comes as sheep farmers call for more protection for vulnerable lambs from marauding dogs. The INHFA pointed out that the current dog control regime involved two government departments, local authorities and private companies. INHFA president Colm O'Donnell said sheep farmers were being "left in limbo" by the Government's failure to take "decisive action" on the matter. He said a single department had to be responsible for dog control. Enquiries made by the Farming Independent confirmed that dog licences are issued by the Department of Community and Rural Development, while the microchipping of dogs is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture. However, when asked how many dogs in the country were microchipped, the Department of Agriculture was unable to supply the figures as the data is held by private companies. Compulsory microchipping of dogs was introduced in 2015. "There are four database organisations operating under the regulations; Animark, Fido, Irish Kennel Club and MicroDogID. Data in respect of the numbers of dogs [that are] microchipped is held by the four databases," a Department of Agriculture spokesperson explained. The Department of Community and Rural Development confirmed that 200,828 dog licences were issued by local authorities in 2017. It is said it had no data on the number of unlicensed dogs. The INHFA has insisted that responsibility for dog control should be centralised in the Department of Agriculture, claiming that the current regime led to an absence of accountability. One department "By having everything under one department ensures the clear advantage of cross-referencing what dogs are licensed and what dogs are microchipped, while also ensuring the resources are there to follow dog owners who haven't done either," Mr O'Donnell maintained. "Bringing all issues in relation to dog control under the Department of Agriculture is the best way to ensure dogs are controlled instead of running amok and killing sheep," he added. IFA sheep chairman Sean Dennehy warned dog owners that they would be held responsible for any financial losses suffered by farmers as a result of attacks on their sheep flocks this spring. "Dog owners can be held responsible for any losses resulting from dog attacks on sheep, with serious financial and legal consequences. Farmers have a right to protect their sheep flock and can shoot a dog worrying or about to worry their flock," Mr Dennehy said. "In recent weeks, we have reports of attacks from all over the country. In Co Louth alone we have reports of 42 sheep killed in the last two months," he pointed out. Statistics collated by IFA indicate that the problem of dog attacks on sheep may be in the order of 300 to 400 attacks per annum, with 3,000 to 4,000 sheep injured and killed. Data on dog attacks gathered by the IFA shows an average of 11 sheep killed or injured per attack. Every year in Ireland, there are 22,000 weddings. Assuming most of them have both a hen party and a stag, that suggests that there are more than 40,000 organised events per year. And these days stags and hen parties these days are not just evenings out in the local pub. They are organised trips that possibly involve flights, bus transfers, overnight accommodation, meals out, fun events and more. If each booking has a notional average of 10 people attending, spending an average of 500 each, thats a 200m market potential. And theyre just the Irish weddings. Coronal Travel Darragh Kirby and Shane Murphy met in the National College of Art and Design in 2002 when they were both studying product design. In their college years they struck up a great understanding and friendship that has kept them together now as business partners. After college they went travelling for a year. We literally followed the snow, said Darragh. As we skied our way from Canada through the US and on to New Zealand, we toyed with lots of business ideas. During our college years and while travelling, we experienced the frustrations first hand of trying to plan and book trips. So we were convinced that we could develop a solution to take the pain out of it, said Shane. They set up Coronal Travel in 2014 to tap into the niche group travel market, initially focusing on stag and hen parties. That was followed with university group bookings. They saw this as a way of bringing event planning into the travel industry. Shane is also a programmer and he developed and built a bespoke platform that is effectively a marketplace and fintech group management system. Starting and testing the market with just one product, they now have four key brands, with more to come. Their current brands are The Stag Balls, The Foxy Hen, UniTripper and Book Irish Tours. The Business Model This is an online business where the organiser of an event can go on-line and self-build their own group booking, which includes everything from accommodation and meals to fun events and activities. That organiser then shares a unique on-link with their circle who then go and make their own individual bookings from that organised menu. That saves the organiser having to go and collect money from each friend. It also saves them having to go in and out of multiple websites to book the accommodation, activities, etc. I personally checked the prices myself and discovered that Coronal prices are transparent and the same as if I had booked directly. Coronal make their money from the discounts that they get from the suppliers. When they engage with hotels and restaurants they secure a group discount. Compared to the commissions that hotels have to pay to online booking sites and with the risk of last-minute cancellations, this is a win-win for them and Coronal. And, of course, its a big win for the traveller, as everything can be booked through one portal with just one payment transaction per person. The business is all driven through social media and word-of mouth. There is a very high rate of referral and repeat business. The convenience and the value for money encourages individuals in the groups to log back in when they are organising their own events and birthday parties. When hiring new team members, they are of course concerned that the person can do the job. But theyre more concerned about fit with their culture than they are about qualifications and CVs. They put a huge amount of their success to date down to their luck in finding the right people at the right time. Partnerships can be challenging but I was very struck by the camaraderie between Darragh and Shane. They know each others families and they share similar morals and work ethics. Even when they disagree on something, they trust each other and know that each has the others back. The Future Most large organisations have internal social clubs for their employees. In my experience, organisations happily support them. But they would be even happier if the time required for planning them was managed. Coronal has built its success on the model of simplicity for the organiser. Taking that same model and online platform, they see similar potential in the corporate market. Shane has an interest in astronomy and thats where the name Coronal comes from. They are shooting for the stars with their plans to break into the corporate market. They are already in the development stage of this project with a new brand and they know that trust and reliability will be a big factor for this market. Parting gift: Hannigan's novel was completed in the months before death last March. Photo: Caroline Quinn Parting gift: Hannigan's novel was completed in the months before death last March. Photo: Caroline Quinn The final novel from author Emma Hannigan is released to mark the anniversary of her death. Hannigan died of breast cancer on March 3 last year, having sent the acknowledgements for her 13th book, The Gift of Friends, to her editor just days before. Her previous novel, Letters to My Daughters, was published in 2018, and spent five weeks at the top of the bestseller charts following a successful campaign to raise 100,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland, a charity that Hannigan had long supported. The Gift of Friends centres on the residents of Kingfisher Road, a quiet, leafy neighbourhood in the affluent suburb of Vayhill. There's Nancy, a sprightly and unfiltered widow approaching her 70th birthday; Pearl, a kind yet reserved mother to a disabled son who is grappling with a troubled marriage; Maia, a feisty mum-of-two raising her teenage twins in very different circumstances than she grew up in; Betsy, a refined older lady dealing with the sudden return of her adult son, his brash wife and their surprise new baby from Australia; and Danielle, the fiancee of the wealthy heir to the Johnston family fortune who has just moved into the street's only vacant property. Though varying in age from 20 to 70, the group form a tight-knit bond, prompted by an attempt by the local council to evict Nancy from her home of 25 years. Working together, the women try to find a solution and grow closer in the process. They may have lived next to each other for years, but each is harbouring a secret, privately tormented by feelings of grief, inadequacy, fear, loss and betrayal. In learning to open up and share their troubles, the five women find strength, support and a greater understanding of themselves and each other. The idyllic surrounds of Kingfisher Road, which is illustrated on the opening pages, offer an aspirational vision of home life, peppered with his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes, glass chandeliers and elaborate parties decorated with Japanese floating flowers. Hannigan's cast of well-to-do women who spend their days in each other's homes and devote seemingly endless time to one another runs the risk of being overly nostalgic and difficult to relate to, but her feel-good story about the healing power of friendship is universal. Hannigan is known and loved for her warm, well-written characters, and the varied group of women she creates here feel true to life - they are each carefully developed and a pleasure to spend time with. Despite the differing personalities, they come across like a real friend group, as quick with a cheeky joke as they are with unpleasant truths and frank advice. Video of the Day The supporting characters don't get quite as much attention. Betsy's daughter-in-law Tasha, for instance, seems doomed to remain a cold, unmaternal villain without giving readers any hint as to why. The male characters are even less convincing, but thankfully the novel is largely uninterested in them, choosing instead to focus on the crises facing the central cast. These problems all revolve around family: a figure from Nancy's past makes a shocking return; Maia worries her husband is hiding a dark secret from her; Pearl struggles to placate her irascible husband; Betsy strives to protect her new grandson amidst family turmoil; and Danielle must confront her fiance's haughty mother. The Gift of Friends is an easy, pacy read, full of gripping revelations and personal dramas. The last segment, which jumps ahead in time, feels disappointingly flimsy and far-fetched, but Hannigan brings the five friends together in a finale that celebrates women supporting women - a heart-warming and uplifting conclusion, and a fitting farewell from its beloved author. Stacey Dooley has described the backlash to her new TV series about make-up as painfully predictable and accused critics of having a short-sighted, Stone Age attitude. The Strictly Come Dancing star has recently been at the centre of a controversy after Labour MP David Lammy accused her of perpetuating tired and unhelpful stereotypes after she travelled to Uganda for a documentary ahead of Red Nose Day. The politician said the world does not need any more white saviours after Dooley posted a snap from the trip with a child on Instagram, captioned: OB.SESSSSSSSSSSED. Dooley hit back, saying: Is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question) because if thats the case, you could always go over there and try raise awareness? Comic relief have raised over one billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids lives. She has also faced criticism over her new show Glow Up, a make-up competition for BBC Three, with some fans accusing her of doing trivial work instead of the hard-hitting BBC documentaries that made her famous. Responding to the backlash in an interview conducted before the Comic Relief controversy, she told the Mail On Sundays You magazine: Its painfully predictable. There are always people who are desperate to put you in one camp and never let you leave. The idea that you could be interested in the Yazidi community and also in lipstick blows peoples minds. Its a really short-sighted, Stone Age attitude its boring, actually. Video of the Day Asked if she has a temper, she said: The older I get, the less reactive Ive become. But if someone says something unkind Ill pull them up on it. Dooley added that she feels she has nothing to prove after making more than 70 documentaries, which have taken her from war zones to sweatshops. She said she has never had counselling, even though the BBC has offered it, adding: But after all that, it seemed really important to be at home and enjoy some escapism. Anyway, Ive earned my stripes; I dont need to prove myself to anyone. Johnny Ward and Emily Barker dancing during Dancing With The Stars kobpix Denis Bastick was voted off RTEs Dancing With The Stars despite an athletic performance while actor Johnny Ward gave an astounding performance just one day after his father passed away. Judge Loraine Barry had the deciding vote on the show after the former Dublin GAA player ended up in a dance off with former Fair City actress, Clelia Murphy. And she chose to save Clelia. It's all been said, this is the tightest competition. You both danced extremely well, but Im going to save Clelia and Vitali. Denis said: Its been an unbelievable experience, as the weeks went on it's been more and more enjoyable, thanks for the support at home. Expand Close Denis Bastick with Valeria Milova voted out of the dance off with Clelia Murphy and Vitali Kozmin kobpix / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Denis Bastick with Valeria Milova voted out of the dance off with Clelia Murphy and Vitali Kozmin kobpix Denis showed what a sporting powerhouse he was on the dance floor, as he became a footballer turned bullfighter, for the night. He had perfected a very masculine paso doble with dance partner Valeria Milova, as they stormed the stage with a song synonymous with global soccer fans, Carnival de Paris. Donning a black and red bull fighters costume and showing off his muscular torso, the athlete displayed not only how many hours hes spent in the gym and in his dancing shoes. Expand Close Johnny Ward and Emily Barker dancing during show nine of Dancing With The Stars kobpix / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Johnny Ward and Emily Barker dancing during show nine of Dancing With The Stars kobpix Despite his towering performance, the footballer only scored 24 on the leaderboard and wound up in the dance off with former Fair City star Clelia Murphy, who scored 26. And it was the second week in a row for the deflated actress to end up in the bottom two. Video of the Day Read More Former Love/Hate actor Johnny Ward took to the stage and gave not only the dance of the night but also of your life, according to judge Julian Benson. Johnnys father, John Ward, 72, passed away in his sleep at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin on Saturday and the actor said it had been his fathers dying wish that he carry on dancing. Johnny and dance partner, Emily Barker, performed a stunning Samba to Ed Sheerans Shape of You, with the performer proving he was a true professional, putting his own personal grief to one side to achieve his fathers dying wish. An emotional Johnny told viewers: Its been a very difficult week. I want to say a big thank you to everyone: the doctors and nurses in Tallaght Hospital and all the people in Harolds Cross hospice for trying to keep my father alive and thank you so much to Emily. I had a very difficult decision to make. I was in the rehearsal room and I was saying to Emily Whats the point? As much as I enjoy competing in this competition, it comes second and family comes first. I love competing in this competition but to go into the hospice and talk to him (his father) and he said Please dont disappoint me, stay in the competition. Its a very difficult thing to do but we did it for him and Im so happy. Its not like competing against anyone, its a family. Everyone was sending me messages, not one person in this competition didnt send me a message of support - thats why we are like family. The couple were praised for their performance and they gained the highest score of the night, 28. Judge Brian Redmond said: We wanted to pass our condolences to your family. The bravery you showed. As a father myself and a son, this is something I know. Your father would be really proud of you, so congratulations. Judge Loraine Barry said Johnny had given a striking performance and he had danced to a very high standard. While Julian Benson, who returned to TV after a period of sickness, told Johnny he was In love with your dancing. I know the strength and courage it took for you to get on the floor tonight, you danced for your life Johnny. You gave everything, you should be so proud of yourself, you are a wonderful dancer Johnny and tonight you did a super job. John Ward, from Walkinstown, Dublin, had stage four cancer. Hed been sick for some time. The actor tweeted on Saturday: Thank you for all your supportive messages regarding my father at this very difficult time. He is now pain free. Thanks you dad for being the kindest, most supportive, incredible father anyone could ever ask for. They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind xxx. Johnny sailed through the show after such an astounding performance. Pat Quirke is a morning person and his wife, Imelda, is a night person. She was in bed but awake when he got home late from a meeting in the Tipperary village of Horse and Jockey. He was in a property syndicate that had an interest in a building in Poland and some members wanted to sell it. The meeting had got quite heated. He may have chatted to Imelda about it before going to sleep. He was up at 6.15am to milk the cows. He never set the alarm clock. His wife sometimes did, not to wake him but to get him to lie on longer in bed. Expand Close Bobby Ryan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bobby Ryan The dairy farmer from Breanshamore, three miles outside Tipperary town, was taking two detectives through his routine in the hours before Bobby Ryan disappeared on June 3, 2011. He knew what he was doing because it was his wife's birthday and he was taking her to the Heritage Hotel in Laois that day. It was a surprise, although he added that "she knew we were going away somewhere but she didn't know where". He was on the second last row of cows when Sean Dillon came to help him. Mr Quirke drove his jeep to Fawnagowan, the farm that he leased from Mary Lowry nearby, with a cow box to collect two bulls he kept in a shed there. "I wanted to get in and out fast," he said. He planned on leaving the bulls with his own cows while he was away for the weekend. They went for breakfast at 9.30am. He was in Laois with Imelda when they got word later that day about the search for Mr Ryan back in Tipperary. They heard that the woods had been "combed". Mr Quirke said he didn't believe it was suicide because a body had not been found. "People who commit suicide want to be found. I said this in Laois to Imelda," he said. Expand Close Mary Lowry. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Lowry. Photo: Tony Gavin Mr Ryan, a local DJ with the stage name Mr Moonlight, was Ms Lowry's boyfriend - comprising two corners of the love triangle that has taken centre stage at the trial of Mr Quirke (50) for the murder of Mr Ryan (52) at the Central Criminal Court. The court has heard how Mr Quirke found Mr Ryan's body in a run-off tank on Ms Lowry's farm on April 30, 2013, 22 months after he disappeared. The prosecution has put forward the motive that Mr Ryan was Mr Quirke's rival for Ms Lowry's affections and staged the discovery of his body. Mr Quirke has pleaded not guilty. On May 16, 2013, Mr Quirke was in Tipperary garda station being interviewed voluntarily by Detective Inspector David Buckley and a colleague. Over several hours last Thursday, the content of those interviews was read aloud to Court 13 by the prosecuting counsel, David Humphreys. Mr Quirke, dressed for court in a grey suit and striped tie, put on his glasses and leant forward, reading from a document in front of him. "I think it is widely known you had an affair," it was put to him at Tipperary garda station during the interview. "It would be widely known in here but it would not be widely known outside," Mr Quirke replied. Earlier he told detectives that the affair was his "only crime", adding: "I don't know whether it was ye or her who went to the papers. My name is destroyed." Mr Quirke said Martin Lowry was his best friend. They had bought machinery together, worked together and he was the best man at his wedding to Imelda - who is Martin's sister. When Mr Lowry died of cancer in 2007, he "left a void" in Mr Quirke's life that Ms Lowry filled. He had been helping her with finances and had leased the farm from her, when their affair began in January 2008. It was "fifty fifty" who started it, Mr Quirke said. He could remember "exactly" what he told her. "'I have to pull back because I am falling in love with you'," he said. "Her exact answer was 'I am too'." They met at her farm at Fawnagowan and went away together a couple of times, to the Lyrath in Kilkenny, and to the G Hotel in Galway. When gardai asked if Imelda had an inkling of the affair, he replied: "Probably she did, but she didn't say anything to me." Mr Quirke advised Ms Lowry on her late husband's investments: commercial property investments in Poland, investments with Davy Stockbrokers, investments in CFDs, contracts for difference, shares in banks and Ryanair. Ms Lowry had loaned him money when he had to pay back a bank loan. He said she told him to keep the 20,000 sum as "compensation" for the bovine diarrhoea that the "stragglers" he had taken on from her late husband's herd had spread in his herd. They gave no serious consideration to the future - "it wasn't practical," he said. He told gardai that he was "never going to leave" his wife and Ms Lowry had never asked him to. In December 2010, he found out that Ms Lowry was seeing Mr Ryan and he was "angry" because she had been "untruthful" to him. When someone asked her at a family reception if she had had a good time in Cashel the previous evening, he "knew" that she had "lied" to him about where she was. Later that week, Mr Quirke took Ms Lowry's mobile phone. "I texted him through her phone, more or less pointing out that she hadn't been honest with him, that she had been seeing me for the past three years," he said. "He rang back on her phone and I answered it. I said: 'Sorry, I am the man'. That's all I said, and I hung up." After that, he and Ms Lowry had a "heated" verbal argument. She told him they were "finished" and he left. She was fiery and had a temper, he said. Did he have a temper, gardai asked. "I think everyone has a temper," he replied. The following month, Mr Quirke met Mr Ryan and Ms Lowry at Hayes Hotel. Mr Quirke said he apologised for the "shock" of his telephone call to Mr Ryan and he said Mr Ryan talked to him generally about the break-up of his marriage. They left on good terms and Mr Quirke said he wished them well. "I was happy enough with the meeting because he didn't see me as someone who had it in for him," he told gardai. Once he took Imelda to a Brendan Grace concert with Mr Ryan and Ms Lowry - at his suggestion, he told gardai. He wanted "harmony" and remember, he said, there was also a family connection. "I thought we got on well. Mary was tense. Bobby was tense but he did all the talking," Mr Quirke added. After Mr Ryan's disappearance on June 3, 2011, Mr Quirke said he got back with Ms Lowry three or four times, but it was not "the same". They went away for a couple of nights, once to the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford, in September 2011 and also to the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney, Co Dublin, the following year. In her evidence to the trial, Ms Lowry denied going to Cliff House with him and said nothing happened in Killiney. Mr Quirke wanted to discuss Mr Ryan's disappearance with her but he found Ms Lowry "quite indifferent" to it, but he was different. "I am inquisitive. I am curious," he told gardai. The end of the affair came in March 2012. Ms Lowry told him "face to face" that she had met someone in Killarney. Mr Quirke said he "put a stop to it" this time. He had been in love with Ms Lowry up to the end, he admitted to gardai. Mr Quirke told his wife that same month and went for counselling. Asked if his wife confronted Ms Lowry, he replied: "She has never spoke to Mary Lowry since I told her." On April 30, 2013, Pat Quirke arrived at Fawnagowan with a shovel and his suction tank intending to draw water from the run-off tank to agitate or stir thick slurry before spreading it on the land. The court had previously heard that three people knew about the tank, including Mr Quirke, but he told gardai that Ms Lowry also knew it was there. He said he had never drawn water from this run-off tank before but had once looked inside in 2008, when a calf got its leg caught between the concrete slabs. There was another open water tank on the farm but that was empty, he said. He believed this tank would have water inside, because he had seen water from a leaked pipe in the milking parlour running into it. Mr Quirke said he prised the slab open with his shovel wide enough to fit his hosepipe down. When he looked in to check on the hose, he saw what he at first thought was plastic or a roll of carpet. He pulled off the slab to "get a better look and "I saw for sure what I was looking at, a body face down, head facing towards me. That's it." He saw "ribs", the pelvic area and the "private area", no sign of clothes. His instinct was to ring his wife, Imelda. The detectives wanted to know why her and not the garda. "I know what Imelda is like in a crisis. I know that she'd know what to do," Mr Quirke said. They persisted. "This is what I did. You can pick holes in it if you want. I needed her," he said at one point. They asked him why the discovery was a crisis? "I considered it a crisis. I considered who I found straightaway. My first instinct was this was Bobby Ryan," Mr Quirke replied. Asked why he did not tell Ms Lowry, he said he was "afraid". "I was afraid what I would say. I didn't want to meet her. I wanted to avoid her," Mr Quirke added. He was "concerned" the body was naked. "My first instinct was he didn't walk out of that house, I was afraid for myself," he said. Someone had told him that removing clothing was "standard to get rid of the forensics," and that "you would get someone professional to do that".The whole thing "frightened him", Mr Quirke said. Why was he afraid of Ms Lowry, gardai asked. "I am always afraid of Mary Lowry. She is vicious. She had already abused me the previous evening in the yard," he said, and recounted how he ran into her when he returned to get his tractor keys. "I said: 'Are you all right there?' and she basically let fly verbal abuse. She knew she was caught snooping and she didn't like being caught" he added. Why was it his "instinct" that this was Mr Ryan? "Sure, who else would it be? It was a dead body. I never believed he had taken his life. I always believed something sinister had happened," Mr Quirke said. As the interview concluded, Mr Quirke told gardai: "I did not kill Bobby Ryan. There is somebody out there who did do it and he is laughing at the moment because you are looking at me." The trial continues this week before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six men and six women. WILD AT HEART OF CITY: Deer roaming in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, one of two herds managed by the Office of Public Works. Picture: Kyran O'Brien Experts are assessing the risk of 'zombie deer' disease entering Ireland, after cases were reported in Norway, the US and Canada. Known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), the contagious illness attacks deer's brains, leaving them severely emaciated and struggling to walk, giving them a zombie-like appearance. US scientists said infected deer may appear healthy while incubating the disease and symptoms can include the animals being less afraid of people, increasing the likelihood of them being shot by hunters and eaten by humans. Hunters in North America have been advised, as a precaution, to avoid eating parts of deer known to harbour the CWD agent, such as the brain and spinal cord, in areas of 26 states where the disease has been identified. Officials in the Department of Agriculture here are liaising with their counterparts in the European Union to monitor the progress of the disease internationally. "The department is aware of chronic wasting disease, its current global distribution and the evolving disease dynamics, including its detection in Norway in April and May 2016," said a spokesman. "Assessment of the potential risk of the spread of this disease to Ireland, like the rest of the EU, is an evidence-based process." This process involves "using the latest scientific advice furnished by the European Food Safety Authority's [EFSA] panel on biological hazards," he said. "Ireland's controls will be proportionate to the assessed risk... CWD has not been detected in Ireland, and no specific measures to address any potential/speculative risks have been considered necessary at this time." The Office of Public Works manages two wild deer herds - one at Doneraile Court in Cork and the other at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. An OPW spokesman said a deer keeper in the Phoenix Park monitored health issues and advice was received through UCD's School of Biology and Environmental Science. Kilkenny farmer Kevin Mahon said he was one of more than 300 Irish farmers who were involved in deer farming but he and most of the others had to switch to alternative types of farming because they were unable to compete with New Zealand venison being 'dumped' on EU markets. He said New Zealand farmers sold off meat cheaply because they were mainly concerned with selling the velvet from deer antlers. It is regarded as an aphrodisiac in the Far Fast but 'velveting' from live deer is banned in the EU. The European Commission requested that the EFSA recommend activity to prevent the disease entering the EU or spreading between countries. The Commission asked the safety authority to assess any new evidence on possible public health risks. Her name is Clodagh and she was murdered with her three children, Liam, Niall and Ryan, by her husband, Alan Hawe, on August 29, 2016. I am Jacqueline, her sister and with my mother, Mary, we desperately need answers to questions we have been asking for two-and-a-half years. Last month, An Garda Siochana officially denied our solicitor access to their investigation files and all we can ask is why? What are they holding back? With the gardai refusing our reasonable request for information, we reluctantly decided to appear on Claire Byrne Live last Monday night. Clodagh was a very private person so we always felt she would not want her private life discussed, but we came to the view in recent weeks that we had no option but to speak out and ask questions. Mam and I are grateful to RTE for the sensitive way producer Jane Murphy and the production team dealt with us in the lead-up to the programme and to Claire, who gave us the time and space to talk about the tragedy. But as a human resources professional, I am more comfortable putting my thoughts on paper and so I want to share with you the details of how we feel the State mistreated us and has failed Clodagh, Liam, Niall and Ryan. The reason we have formed the view that key information is being withheld from us is because a local man told me he had made a statement to gardai in which he said he and another person saw Alan Hawe driving his car, near the school, very early on the morning of August 29. So, after Alan Hawe murdered his wife and three sons, did he leave the house to go to his place of work, Castlerahan National School, where he was vice principal, perhaps to destroy evidence? When we asked a detective did the Gardai pursue this line of inquiry - local witnesses saying they sighted the murderer driving that morning - we were accused of interfering with a witness because we allowed a local to tell us what they saw that morning. Last Thursday, my mother Mary told Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan: "We were the ones made to feel like criminals; the investigation officers said we were reading too much about the case in the papers and constantly asking questions." Now maybe the man who told me he saw Alan Hawe early that morning, it was a case of mistaken identity, but he sounded convinced he saw the murderer early on August 29, 2016. I believed the man when he said he gave a statement to gardai. We much appreciate that the Minister for Justice and Equality's immediate response to hearing this was to say he would arrange a meeting with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, which was subsequently arranged for this week and to which we very much look forward - having the opportunity to enquire why has information not been shared with us. Maybe, though I don't necessarily agree, there may be grounds not to share certain information or evidence up to the inquest but with the inquest concluded in 2017, why refuse to give us access to the files since then? Thank you, Mr Flanagan, for meeting us so promptly and giving so much time to go through all the details. Read More It has been an overwhelming week and at last Clodagh, Liam, Niall and Ryan are at the centre of the review of this case. From the beginning Clodagh and the boys didn't seem to matter, so much so, that #HerNameIsClodagh became a social media hashtag to remind people that Clodagh was murdered as were her three children. Expand Close LOVING MOTHER: Clodagh with her sons Niall, Ryan and Liam on a family holiday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp LOVING MOTHER: Clodagh with her sons Niall, Ryan and Liam on a family holiday This was confirmation that a significant section of the public was upset that the initial news coverage of the murders seemed to ignore Clodagh and the children, opting to highlight that the perpetrator of the crime was a great community man, GAA activist, and respected vice principal of the local school. The person the media turned to most in those first few hours after the news broke was the local curate, Fr Felim Kelly, who, no doubt in shock, must have felt the correct thing to do was tell the nation that "Master Hawe" of Castlerahan National School, where Fr Kelly was on the board of management, was well regarded. Some media outlets 'eulogised' the murderer to the point of almost ignoring the murdered. And thus, the hashtag, Her Name Is Clodagh, went viral. Alan Hawe being described as a good man on the day he murdered his wife and three children gives rise to the myth that the poor man, Alan Hawe, must have flipped, gone berserk, to commit such a heinous crime. It is too easy, in the extensive media coverage that such tragedies attract, that as the news cycle continues, the horror of what happened is conveniently explained away by stating that the poor man was suffering from a mental illness. Suicide has sadly touched far too many families in Ireland, including our family previous to this horror. We all know that when a loved one ends their life, they must have been severely depressed. However, we should not assume depression or mental illness was the main driver in the murder of my sister Clodagh and my three nephews, Liam, Niall and Ryan. In this case, Alan Hawe did not want to face the consequences of his actions and planned to end his own life. He was also the type of man who sees a wife and children as his property, or chattels to be disposed of as he sees fit. Suicide as a means of avoidance was described to me by an expert criminal profiler like this: imagine you're a general in the army about to lose a war and as you are being surrounded by enemy troops and inevitably will be captured, you decide to end your life. No one would say you took your life due to mental illness. No. You took your life to avoid the consequences of your actions. We, the family, believe that was the case with Alan Hawe and that's what he confirmed in his murder/suicide letter. When someone murders their family and takes their own life, the technical, legal term is "family annihilation". All the international research points to the fact that there is a specific profile of an annihilator and my brother-in-law, I now know, was a perfect match. The man (women hardly ever annihilate) will have the following characteristics. First and foremost, he will exercise coercive control over his partner and the children. Coercive control comes in many different forms and in Clodagh's case, it came in the guise of a closely bonded family but one Alan Hawe ultimately controlled entirely. Such men are complete control freaks. However, they are often socially inept, being introvert rather than extrovert. This leads them to being described as a silent type or brooding. Often, they can end up being great backroom workers in the local community. The controlling element means they may end up running or controlling a local organisation too, in this case, the GAA club. They are often in roles like treasurer, where ultimate control rests in any organisation, and will opt out of being a chairperson. When they do annihilate their family, neighbours are always shocked and tend to say they were great community workers. And a key characteristic is they don't seem to be able to handle any loss of face or status, and certainly over-react to the loss of their job or damage to their career prospects. A threat to their livelihood, job or career often causes them to explode in rage and commit violent murders. Through the notes taken by his counsellor, we now know that Alan Hawe was frequently viewing pornography, suffered regular urges to masturbate and was experimenting with cross-dressing. He told his counsellor he was caught red-handed but we don't know where. However, computer forensics established that 97pc of the pornography he viewed, he did so on a laptop at work - that is, in Castlerahan School. In all likelihood, it would seem that if he stated he was caught red-handed and "it was all going to blow up", the most likely place was the school. Before the end of the school year in late spring 2016, Alan Hawe was in contact with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO). Again, we understand that it was to do with a disciplinary matter or a grievance, but last week the INTO issued a press statement flatly refusing to reveal what it was about, citing all such matters are confidential. Clodagh was a teacher too. Mam and I would not be human if we didn't start to wonder why the INTO is refusing to help the mother and sister of one of its members. We just want to know what his enquiry was about. Alan Hawe is dead so who is the confidentiality protecting? I said at the outset, we believe we were mistreated by the State and it has failed Clodagh and the boys. Alan Hawe feared the re-opening of the school and the consequences of his actions that would bring shame on him and his family. On the day it did re-open after the summer in 2016, August 29, he had meticulously planned not just to take his own life but to kill his wife first and then his children. I am not going to go into the gruesome detail of the murders; it is enough to say his murder weapons were an axe and two knives. The murder scene was so bad that at the inquest, the coroner took a short recess to allow the garda who gave the evidence about little six-year-old Ryan's murder to recover from the trauma of telling the horror of how he had died. Imagine what it was like for Mam and I coming to terms with what had happened that morning? Most will remember from the news reporting at the time that when Clodagh did not turn up at Mam's house, Mam started phoning and texting and, fearing there was a problem, drove the five miles to the house. She was met by a note on the back door warning: "Do not come in. Call the Gardai." Mam called the gardai. She did not know that just inside the house there was a murder/suicide letter Alan Hawe had written. For some reason, we never got a copy of that letter for 16 months. You ask yourself why on earth did this happen? You get gruesome details fed to you through the media over weeks and months and all the while, a five-page letter is sitting in a filing cabinet in the Garda station. Why were we so disregarded? On reflection, we had thought the crime scene was so bad that gardai perhaps thought they were sparing us by not telling us anything except "there are five bodies in the house" - that is how the news was broken to Mam. But not having the full information led to us making a very big mistake. In the stupor of our grieving, literally within hours of trying to come to terms with our loss, without thinking, we agreed to all the family being buried together. It was only on our first visit to the graves, the day after the interment, that we became aware of how wrong it was that the murderer was buried with his victims. We felt we couldn't "talk" to Clodagh because "he" was there. Social media can be so cruel. The online keyboard warriors relentlessly attacked us over the decision for weeks - weeks when we were at our lowest and in the darkest place imaginable. Of course, when we tried to have the body exhumed, we learned, as we did on so many occasions later, that we, Clodagh's next of kin, had no rights. It would be the Hawe family that would have the ultimate say whether there would or would not be an exhumation. Read More We also would find out that under the Succession Act 1965, the Hawe family alone are entitled to all the proceeds of the estate. Mam and I had to quietly work alone to have the murderer removed from the family plot. It took over nine long months. To those of you who attacked us on social media over our decision to bury all the family together, all I can say is, if your intention was to wound us, you did, deeply, but we forgive you. All I can ask is that in future, you might try to realise that behind all the harrowing headlines and trending tragedies, there are real people just trying to cope, minute to minute and hour to hour. Last Thursday at our meeting with Minister Flanagan, we discussed the Succession Act 1965 and how it must be reformed as soon as possible so that murderers, or their family if they end their own life, do not financially benefit from their crime. Last week I also spoke with Jim O'Callaghan, Fianna Fail Justice spokesperson, who said it must be a priority to change this law. Let's get this law changed immediately; it won't be retrospective so it won't solve our problem. Please, please stop financially rewarding the perpetrators of femicide and familicide. At the inquest, we learned that after murdering Clodagh, and before murdering the boys, Alan Hawe transferred funds and arranged his affairs so his family would be the sole financial beneficiaries of his estate. Please do not add insult to our injury, loss and grieving, thinking we want money; but trying to get answers to our questions, plus the expenses for the funerals and legal costs we had for the inquest, have all added up to more than 50,000 - bills my mother, retired, and I, a widow, are struggling to pay. Finally, though we were served well by our Garda Liaison Officer, who spent incalculable hours with us, we got the sense from the investigation team that their thinking seemed to be, Alan Hawe is dead, as are the people he murdered, so what is the point in uncovering possible information that may impact on others and possibly ruin their lives? Our response to this is that we as citizens have a duty of care when we take on roles in various professional or religious capacities and those of us who do, need to take responsibility for the decisions we make in those capacities and the actions we take that may impact severely on other people. Nobody could ever have foreseen what Alan Hawe would do that night, absolutely nobody. However, prevention is the key. We are now a tiny family, with my Mam and me and my little boy, but we hope to make a difference in this country to protect women and children, and let us not forget the men, who are also suffering through coercive control. We feel that there should be zero tolerance to domestic abuse in any way, shape or form. Just because it is hidden, silent and difficult to reason the burden of proof, that does not mean it is acceptable, because lives matter and ultimately it can end in what was - in the case of our family - the most horrific last act of control. Anyone affected by issues in this story can contact: Samaritans on 116 123; Pieta House on 1800 247 247; Childline on 1800 66 66 66, or text "support" to 50101; Women's Aid on 1800 341 900 GARDAI are appealing for information about a man who has reported missing. Jiri Semerad (41), who is originally from the Czech Republic, was last seen in Limerick City on Thursday at around 9pm. Jiri was living in Nenagh, Co Tipperary and was reported missing on March 1. He is described as 6 ft 2, of slight build, with short brown/grey hair. He was last seen wearing a light blue jacket, grey sweat shirt, grey leggings and runners, said gardai. Gardai are appealing for anyone who has seen Semerad or can assist in locating him to contact Roxboro Road Garda Station on (061) 214340, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. FORMER Taoiseach Enda Kenny offered to help Facebook influence other EU member states, an alleged internal company memo has claimed. Mr Kenny is named among friends of Facebook and offered to use Irelands significant influence in Europe on the social media giants behalf, according to The Observer newspaper. It reported today that Facebook lobbied politicians in Europe about concerns over plans by the EU to introduce General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy laws. GDPR laws were adopted by the EU in 2016. Expand Close Enda Kenny on Facebook's headquarters in California / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Enda Kenny on Facebook's headquarters in California Documents seen by the Observer and Computer Weekly include an alleged 2013 memo that outlines the uphill battle Facebook was having in Europe over data and privacy. The documents includes a reference to the great relationship with Mr Kenny and lists him among friends of Facebook. The memo references Mr Kennys appreciation for the jobs Facebook has brought to Ireland. The document reportedly says that proposed EU data protection laws were a threat to jobs, innovation and economic growth. It claims Mr Kenny offered to use the significant influence of Irelands EU presidency in 2013 as a way to influence other member states. The memo notes this offer was made even tough technically Ireland is supposed to remain neutral in this role. According to the report the document also says: The prime minister committed to using their EU presidency to achieve a positive outcome on the directive. Fianna Fails enterprise spokesperson Billy Kelleher has called for the government to clarify if it or its diplomatic services were used to lobby other EU member states on behalf of Facebook. Mr Kenny has not yet responded to the claims made in the article. The Observer reported that the documents appear to come from a court case taken against Facebook in the United States by an app developer called Six4Three. Facebook said that it could not respond in detail as the documents are still under seal in court. A statement said: Like the other documents that were cherry-picked and released in violation of a court order last year, these by design tell one side of a story and omit important context. Independent.ie asked Facebook if it had requested that the Irish government undertake lobbying in the EU on its behalf. Its spokesperson said: We regularly meet with government stakeholders to explain how our services work and discuss topics relevant to our business. A government spokesperson said: "Ireland has always, and continues to, support high standards of data protection regulation at national and EU level, working with other member states to agree and now implement the GDPR. He added: "Irelands Data Protection Commissioner is completely independent, has been given very large increases in staff and resources in recent years, and is highly regarded across Europe." A statement also said: "The Irish government has a good relationship with all major employers and major investors in Ireland. The relationship with Facebook is no more nor less close than with any other large firm." Leo Varadkar has promised to resolve a legal "anomaly" that led to the seizure of two small fishing boats from Northern Ireland by the Irish Naval Service vessel last Thursday. The Naval Service impounded two trawlers registered in Northern Ireland for fishing illegally inside Ireland's six-mile (9.6 km) territorial limit. The DUP reacted angrily with deputy leader Nigel Dodds describing the seizure as "outrageous... heavy-handed tactics". Dodds also accused Dublin of using the incident as a "bargaining chip on Brexit" - a claim denied by Government spokespeople. The owners of the trawlers pleaded guilty to breaching fishing regulations at Drogheda District Court last Friday but a judge decided to release them without levying a fine. An informal bilateral agreement had allowed fishermen from Ireland and Northern Ireland to fish inside the six-mile limit of each others' jurisdictions, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016 and Ireland has yet to approve any replacement legislation. As a result, Irish fishermen can legally fish along Northern Ireland's coast - but Northern Ireland fishermen are prohibited from fishing along the coast of the Republic of Ireland. "I think we can have that law changed and that anomaly, if you like, corrected, and we can do that in the next couple of weeks," Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on LMFM Radio, adding that legislation had got stuck in the Seanad. Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, told RTE radio that the issue had "zero to do with Brexit". But the Taoiseach linked the dispute with Britain's post-Brexit plans for its fisheries and whether or not these it will stay party to the London Fisheries Convention, which governs fishing rights in coastal waters off Western Europe. "Obviously it would be useful to know from the United Kingdom side that they are not going to pull out of that London Convention," the Taoiseach said. It would be unusual to change our law only to find out that the situation on the other side changed." Britain's withdrawal agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the British parliament, says the two sides would try to agree on the future of fisheries by July 2020, during a transition period after Brexit, to eventually form part of an new EU-UK trade deal. WB Yeats: "I have no hope of seeing a united Ireland in my time, or of seeing Ulster won in my time; but I believe it will be won in the end, and not because we fight it, but because we govern the country well. We can do that, if I may be permitted as an artist and writer to say so, by creating a system of culture which will represent the whole of this country and which will draw the imagination of the young towards it." If Mark Daly is anything, it's tenacious. When he first ran for the Seanad in 2007, he was taken aside for a friendly warning and told he was wasting his time. Undeterred, Daly took a leaf out of Dale Carnegie's book - and rather than learn from the success of the sitting senators (for they were unlikely to share their tips), he sought wisdom from those who had failed. "The poor man learns from his own mistake, the rich man learns from others," smiles Daly, now perched in his office in Dail Eireann. At the time, The Wind That Shakes The Barley had just been released and Daly - whose ancestors fought in the War of Independence - sent a copy of the movie to the voting councillors, along with a letter a 27-year-old family member had written to his parents, hours before he was executed at dawn in the Civil War. It was a personal touch that made Daly stand out during his 26,000km canvassing drive around Ireland and helped the unknown Kerry man to beat three sitting Fianna Fail senators on the first count. Now he is on another mission. To warn the Irish Government to prepare imminently for a United Ireland - or face the consequences. He says the reality is a lot closer than we think. He predicts it could happen "within five years". But the Government's unwillingness to engage on the issue, for fear of violence, will unintentionally cause more harm down the tracks. "With Brexit, nobody provided the facts until it was too late, and before the banking crisis, nobody spoke about the housing bubble or the banks being in trouble until it was too late," he says. "We need to learn from history." His office is awash with nationalist emblems. Behind him, his family's letter, tattered, hangs framed on the wall. A full-sized Tricolour greets you at the door and, on his bookshelf, personal messages from former US president Bill Clinton, President Michael D Higgins and United States congressman John Lewis, who famously led the march across the Alabama bridge as part of the Black Civil Rights movement. In the inscription, he tells Mark to "keep the faith". Daly asserts that a referendum on a United Ireland is only a matter of time. He warns, that given the most possible outcome to Brexit is a hard border and that, for the first time Northern Irish opinion polls show 56pc of people would vote in favour of a United Ireland in such an event, we must outline our vision now rather than rushing to react when a referendum is triggered. He knows the struggle ahead. He has spent the last two years meeting former loyalist paramilitary leaders over pints, and speaking with unionist politicians and church leaders about their hopes and fears. "Some are saying that, maybe a United Ireland would be better than a Brexit Britain. There are 40 shades of orange. They are contemplating it for the first time, but the problem is, nobody in the Republic or in our Government, has given them the vision or explained what this new Ireland would look like. The truth is it's not going to be the nightmare that unionists believe, or the dream that Republicans expect. It will be a 'New Ireland' with compromise." On their biggest fears, he says: "I have met unionist farmers who firmly believe we are going to take the land off them. The former members of the security forces believe, that when we get the files, we are going to prosecute them and carry out a witch hunt. And in the communities, they ask if the statues will be removed, if the names of the streets will be changed. We need to make sure they understand now that we won't impose [our will]. Those symbols are important to a lot of people and we have to be generous with our neighbours." Daly says one of the unionists' strongest-held beliefs is that "they will be better off financially as part of the UK". He points to the facts: "In many instances, the North would be economically better off as part of a United Ireland. As it stands on the UN human development index, the Republic is ranked sixth in the world, while Northern Ireland, on its own, would be 44th. Brexit would put it below 50th." But, he stresses, the main threat to unionists "is not an issue of economics - it is one of identity". He recalls: "They say to me: 'what would you think if someone said Munster is re-joining the United Kingdom? Would you feel that your home is becoming a foreign land?' They fear they can't be British in a new Ireland," and he says if the Irish Government does not start mapping out its policy now and engaging with people, "those fears will be exploited". He says: "By not addressing loyalist fears and concerns, and by not engaging with them now, you are putting in place a scenario that, without people understanding what that future will look like, when that referendum is called, some kids in the most disadvantaged loyalist areas will be used and radicalised to continue the status quo. Then we could spiral back into the Troubles. But that doesn't need to happen if we plan and engage now." He then turns to fears in the Republic. Namely, that a United Ireland will make the nation poorer. Daly says the figures paint a very different picture. "I worked on a report with senior IMF economist Gunther Thurman, who previously worked on the cost of German reunification and he found that, although some people think the income of Northern Ireland in a reunification scenario leaves a 10bn deficit, in reality it would be closer to 700m. The challenge we now face is getting the facts out there to both sides, before it goes to voting." Daly understands that "in politics, the immediate takes over from the important" but it's the Government's complete absence of a single document on uniting Ireland which he calls "reckless". "I was talking to someone, off the record, in the Department of Foreign Affairs. I said: 'Surely there is a filing cabinet or a room somewhere that is filled with all the issues that need to be addressed?' They told me there wasn't. I asked 'do you have a file?' No. We don't even have a sheet of paper. They have nothing. There is no plan. It's carelessness of a monumental scale," says Daly, "when this issue, more than any other, is going to define the next 100 years." Still, he is not going to rest until the Government begins to wake up to the need to outline its policy. In the corner of his office, stacks of thick green copies of a report, which outlines the future challenges of peacefully uniting Ireland, are ready to be sent out to every government minister, secretary general and the chairman of each departments' risk committee. The report which he compiled was the first by a Dail or senate committee on uniting Ireland. "I'm sending them out a letter, outlining that in the Constitution, it says uniting Ireland is not just an aspiration, but an obligation that the Government must achieve. So, I am asking each and every person, what they and their department are doing about it?" He points out: "We will see a unionist minority in 2021 and a unionist voting minority by 2023," and adds: "A small amount of people can cause a huge amount of harm. We don't want it to get to that point. All the work that should be done, in advance of a border poll, should be started now." Road trip! But are you getting the best value on your car rental? Photo: Deposit Car hire: Are you being ripped off? Instead of paying to leave your car in pricey airport parking lots, what if you could rent it out and earn a little extra cash? That's the idea behind Car & Away - a new, peer-to peer car sharing platform that has been operating from London Gatwick Airport for just over a year. "You bring your car to the airport, and while you're away we rent it out to an inbound passenger," explains the site's Chief Marketing Officer, Dave Smith. Owners pays a flat parking fee ranging from 14.99 to 22.99 to Gatwick, and Car & Away takes a whopping 40pc commission on any rental earnings. But you could still net up to 160/185 per week, it claims. Rental rates fluctuate depending on demand - varying from 35 per day for a Ford Focus to 118 for a BMW 4-Series as we publish, for example. "We take the keys, and off you go," as Smith puts it. The service is run in collaboration with Gatwick, which benefits from the "virtual car park" concept by being able to re-sell parking spaces, he says (Car & Away owners are buying an official rent and earn product). For a vehicle to qualify for rental, it must be less than nine years old and have fewer than 100,000 miles on the clock. Staff also run an RAC-approved roadworthiness check and valet clean cars before they are given out. Allianz is the company's insurance partner; RAC its breakdown assistance partner. "If anything happens to you car, we fix it," Smith asserts. Plus, if it's not rented while you're away, you still get the valet service for free. So how does the system work for renters? "I arrived, went straight out the door and across to the car park, where I was met by two staff members," one customer - Martin O'Hanlon, a Kildare-based Environmental Health & Safety Manager - told the Irish Independent. O'Hanlon came across the site while searching for car hire, he says. Drawn to the idea ("it makes sense and you're also helping in terms of sustainability, with less car parking space used and fewer cars produced for hiring"), he decided to give it a go. A Mercedes A180 rental was "spic and span", he says. "It was a quick transfer, and away I went. They didn't try to sell me Collision Damage Waivers or anything. And there was no hassle on the way back." While its rental prices are similar to traditional car hire companies, Smith says Car & Away customers benefit by avoiding "upsells, hidden charges, queues" and other things "that people traditionally dislike" about car hire. Expand Close Road trip! But are you getting the best value on your car rental? Photo: Deposit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Road trip! But are you getting the best value on your car rental? Photo: Deposit There is a "standard excess" of 750 per rental, however - though customers can reduce this to a lower rate of 250 for a flat fee of 15. Renters must also agree to have a pre-authorised deposit of 250 taken from their credit cards for potential post-rental charges like additional fuel or parking fines. Renters, who can book on carandaway.com and rentalcars.com, are "carefully vetted" through credit, background and drivers' license checks, Smith says. They must also be UK or Ireland residents aged 25 or over. In addition, OCTO Telematics units placed in cars allow the company to monitor the driving in real time, "so if someone isnt treating it with respect, we can text them to say, 'Hey, slow down a bit," he adds. While conceding that some owners are emotionally attached to their vehicles and would never dream of renting them out to strangers, Smith says younger generations are "interested in access, not ownership" - as evidenced by the growth of similar car sharing companies like GoCar, Drivy and HiyaCar. "I would definitely leave my car to them," Martin O'Hanlon says. Surprisingly, perhaps, about 20pc of Car & Away renters are Irish - and Smith says word of mouth has proved positive among them. Backed by investors including easyJet and The Founders Factory, the company launched with London Gatwick Airport in December 2017, and is eyeing expansion - with a target of three "significant" airports by the end of this year. "Were talking with major airports in UK, Europe and the US," Smith says. Watch this (parking) space. I have no doubt that there were people who were in the cubs and scouts with me who had bad experiences. To what extent I don't know. I hear mutterings and whispers and now and again I go online for a look around, but I've never found anything. At the very least, I know there were guys who were bullied badly, guys who had a hard time with being away from home sometimes, guys in whom the pack smelt weakness. There would always be the odd guy who went home from camp, whose parents came to collect him early and who slunk off in a kind of shameful silence. The shame, I might add, wasn't ours. It was his. We were kids. We didn't wonder about who or what had made life unbearable for that kid in his tent. We just felt bad for him because he had been beaten by the experience, because he couldn't hack it. Then there were stories of guys whose parents had to come half-way through camp to bring fresh supplies of underwear because every pair he had had been destroyed by "undie grundies". Possibly not even true. The undie grundies were true, but possibly not the parents needing to drive across the country with underpants. There were no women involved, and it was 30 to 40 years ago, so things were not as enlightened as they are now. If one kid became the lightning rod for casual bullying or teasing, the runt of the litter, a dynamic could easily take hold. Though having said that, my memory is there were always honourable guys, whether they were patrol leaders, the most senior of the boys, or actual leaders, many of whom were barely adults, and these guys would often put a stop to things with a kind of firm decency. There was an ethos of kindness central to the cubs and scouts that didn't always survive in the reality of a mob of boys in Seventies' and Eighties' Ireland. But equally, scouting often brought out extraordinary kindness and maturity in the older lads. The militaristic notion of people ordering people might have been abused sometimes by kids who were drunk on power - but I have just as many memories of how the older lads looked after and encouraged the younger lads. I probably escaped any bullying because my older brothers were involved when I started, and also because, as I went on in the organisation, I was lucky enough to have as leaders really decent guys. Though there were nights where I remember feeling desolate and so alone, lying awake at night in an old army tent with seven or eight other guys, the air pungent with farts and bodies, feeling a million miles away from home, and feeling I was the only person awake in the world. I look back on many of the leaders now, some of them not much older than 20 then, and it's extraordinary to think about the time they took to hang around with a bunch of kids, to patiently teach us things, and I can only think of it as Christianity in the best sense, making that contribution, trying to do something useful for people. We didn't just camp overnight in those days. We'd head off for two weeks! Everywhere from Wexford to Wales to the Isle of Man we would set up camp, and out of bits of wood and string we built our tables and chairs, a dresser, a fireplace, boundaries around our area, even a boot scraper. We cooked over fires. We kept the place clean for inspections every morning. (Picking up wood chippings around the site was a popular punishment for messing back then). We sat around campfires at night singing, always ending with the traditional "Taps": Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh Thanks and praise, for our days, 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky; As we go, this we know, God is nigh We hiked for miles in misery through wet woods, we put on shows, we had cooking competitions. We also always put the land back as it was before we found it. For a kid who wasn't sporty, it was a great way to be part of something. For city kids, it was a unique opportunity to get out and live on the land. I want to be careful what I say here, but you can see, looking back, how there was potential for bad things to happen in cubs and scouts. As we know now, safeguarding measures then were not what they are now. It was a more innocent time in ways. The upside of that is that we had extraordinary independence for kids. It started with being given the bus fare and allowed go into town for cubs, for being allowed to decide yourself if you were going to spend the bus fare home on boiled sweets and chance being able to duck the fare. And the other side of that independence is that awful things happened under cover of the scouts, and under cover of men bringing boys away on trips, even if for the most part those men were guys the parents knew and trusted, rightly or wrongly. None of what I'm saying above is to be disrespectful towards people who had their lives ruined by abuse and the covering up of abuse in cubs and scouts. And it seems that those historical issues are finally being properly dealt with. It won't undo the damage for the victims but it will probably help them get some form of closure, and it will help to make scouting a safer place now and in the future. We love a good hop-on in this country, and if we can react before we are clear on the full facts of the situation, all the better. By last Thursday morning the conventional wisdom very quickly became that the scouts, as an entity, was finished. We were being told that overnight trips should be stopped, and there seemed to be a pall over the organisation. It can't be easy for the vast majority of great people in Scouting Ireland who give up their time to give kids joy and adventure that most of those kids won't find elsewhere. Obviously cub and scout leaders were always the butt of jokes and sarky comments in private. But this is a very public situation. You wonder if we should rush to judgement yet on how safe or not an environment Scouting Ireland is. Ian Elliot, who is the child protection consultant to Scouting Ireland, has a considerable reputation for integrity in these matters following his work with the church and his willingness to speak out about the hostility he encountered there. The fact that he is putting his reputation at stake here is one reason why we should perhaps pause for thought. Also, we should bear in mind that Tusla hasn't always seemed like the most efficient or functional of organisations. This is not to suggest that Tusla is deliberately trying to do down the scouts, but it would make you question whose side we take about the incendiary Tusla letter that has baffled Ian Elliot, who says scouting is as safe as it can be and getting safer. So, maybe before we get worked up, as we can tend to do, and misunderstand a situation, as we did with CervicalCheck, or blame the wrong people, as we did with the children's hospital, maybe we should just stay calm until things become clearer. If we destroy scouting in Ireland now in a rash manner, we will lose something we cannot easily get back. Certainly we need to take all possible steps to ensure no damage is done to any child, but let's not give up too easily the joy and the independence and character-formation that 40,000 kids and hundreds of thousands more in the future will get from scouting. There is a vogue now for tearing down the old institutions, and maybe scouting is one of those, and maybe its historic connections with religion make it suspect in some people's eyes. It would be a shame to let the cancer of abuse and sexual violence, which has already helped bring the Catholic Church to its knees, which has indeed stained civil society and the State in this country too, destroy something as patently good at scouting. So let Katherine Zappone now work hard to give Ian Elliot any support he needs to work this situation out, to keep scouting safe for every child involved. When I heard last week that a Russian, Victor Bayda, had been appointed as the Irish language planning officer by Udaras na Gaeltachta for the Kerry Gaeltacht, I wondered if this was some elaborate joke to give Irish a bit of prominence. Then he turns up in full living colour with Ray D'Arcy on Saturday night. It is for real, the Russians are coming. Victor is a lecturer in Irish in Moscow who is tasked with promoting Irish to the Irish. He has a real passion for the language. I wish him luck. This is part of a 20-year strategy to keep Irish alive in the Gaeltacht in south Co Kerry, where the number of native speakers has tumbled to a few hundred. Worryingly, anecdotal evidence would suggest young people fluent in Irish in the Gaeltachts converse more among their own age groups in English rather than Irish. Victor has a job on his hands. It might be easier for him to teach Russian to a lot of Irish people nowadays rather than the native tongue, such is the distaste in many places for our own language. How has it all come to this? How has so much of the resources of the State been such a total failure in promoting and encouraging people to speak Irish? As a school principal for more than 10 years and a teacher for the previous 30, I have experience of this failure for a total of 40 years directly involved in education. Not as an Irish teacher, mind you, but now in administration, and it is striking how many young people actually dislike having to learn Irish. Maybe they don't have much of a fondness for other subjects either, but a lack of appreciation of our native tongue is also a feature of much of the adult population too. Many older people who have nothing but fond memories of school throw their eyes up to heaven and look on Irish as the black-spot of their second-level education. They remember Peig Sayers and other novels and poems which they found completely useless and rather boring, to put it politely. So learning Irish was never fun. It was about grammar and prose and poems. Still is. There is nothing vibrant about Irish because that is what official policy has discouraged. It has created an image of a language based on hardship rather than encouraging imagination and vibrancy. It is like eating fish on a Friday in the old days, a food of penance. Younger students now, especially at Leaving Cert level, protest and ask: "Why do we have to do Irish? We will never use it after school." Now, all learning is important and can't be measured in future earning potential but things are so bad that if given a choice of learning French, Spanish or Irish for the Leaving Cert, many would prefer to drop their own language. Another worrying development is the number of students who seem to get a diagnosis easily which allows them to drop Irish as a subject while at the same time keeping on another language. Go figure that one. The survival of the language is now dependent on a radical shift in emphasis. Why do so many Europeans speak English so well? The reason is simply that. They speak it, and the joy of learning is speaking it to a point where they are understood. Most are probably not great at grammar or have not studied many novels or poems, but who cares? The essence of any language is to be understood. Those charged with responsibility for the syllabus in Irish seem to forget that we learn a language as children from speaking it, by being immersed in words and sentences. Not with learning to write it. We all learned English long before we wrote a word. Yet students living outside the Gaeltachts are expected to write a language they cannot speak. It only leads to frustration. Those who set the syllabus for primary schools should focus almost exclusively on speaking Irish and add in writing much later. It does appear there has been a theory holding sway in the Department of Education for the last 100 years. One where the purity of the language must be protected rather than just getting people speaking it, however badly. The latest in a lot of bad moves in this direction is taking the oral Irish exam out of the new Junior Cert. Now it is to be part of the classroom-based assessment, most probably some type of oral presentation which will be worth 10pc. What should be happening is that the oral should be worth 60pc or 70pc and the same at Leaving Cert. Then students would start speaking it a lot better. Forget the emphasis on writing. Now I am not some type of Irish extremist. I can't speak it very well and would not be able to take part in a conversation. Yet I value our language as being a vital part of our identity. If we do not have our own sports, our own distinctive culture, our music and our language, then we are no different to England. If that was the case, there would be no need for Brexit. For decades, the Department has persisted with a policy in which Irish was "bet" into young people. Thankfully not any more. It was a signal failure. A new enlightened approach is needed, one in which the learning of the language is combined with Gaelic games, music and dance, an approach where students could enter portfolio work on some or all of these topics as part of the Leaving Cert. And, of course, where the vast majority of marks in the final exam is based on speaking the language. In other words, the written exam should be worth a lot less. The best students would still be challenged but the weaker ones could get, at best, a 'gra' for some parts of the course and at least avoid intensely disliking Irish. There is little point in Leaving Cert students at Ordinary level trying to analyse poems and prose. They would be much better off focusing on speaking the language so they could at the very least be able to have a simple conversation in Irish after leaving school. The success of Gaelscoileanna shows the way forward. Speak the language and make it fun. It does not have to be purgatory. There are now more than 50,000 students in Gaelscoileanna - mainly at primary level - all over the country, north and south. People might think these are just schools for high achievers. It is not the case. What this movement shows is the Irish language can be kept alive by making it enjoyable. Who could say that about the teaching of Irish in secondary schools at present? Teaching Irish to Leaving Cert honours classes is demanding but satisfying for the teachers involved, but when they come back in August, the weary look of resignation on their faces when they see they have to teach pass Leaving Cert Irish is telling. They know, despite everything novel and interesting they may throw at it, they face a two-year battle to try to get students to learn prose and poems which do nothing to cultivate an appreciation of Irish. If the Department of Education gave every student one fully-paid scholarship to the Gaeltacht during their school career, it would be more beneficial than the sledgehammer approach currently in use. It would also bring money to the western seaboard for the 'bean an ti', reduce emigration, bring back young residents, help the GAA, the post office, the local shop and the primary school. State policy on the teaching of Irish has been an expensive failure. Yet instead of changing tack, the new policy is to plough on and make it even more dull and boring. If Irish was not compulsory for the Leaving Cert, it would be dropped wholesale by students in favour of other subjects, including Continental languages. If this goes on much longer, we will be sending for more Irish-speaking Russians. Good luck, Victor Bayda. You will need it all because official Ireland has handed you a leaking ship. Colm O'Rourke is principal of St Patrick's Classical School in Navan and a noted GAA analyst Now, the issue at hand is the confidence and supply agreement between Micheal Martin and the Fianna Fail party and Leo Varadkar's Government. Everyone in political life knows that there has been great difficulty, particularly of late, in executing the whole arrangement of confidence and supply. What, in essence, it means is that the Government does not have a majority in the Dail and is therefore relying on smaller parties - in the main they are relying on the back-up, via a confidence and supply arrangement, of Fianna Fail. So far, despite some rocky moments, this has succeeded in bringing political stability and reassurance to the people of Ireland. In that fashion it has worked reasonably well. However, among the grassroots of Fianna Fail, among the membership faithful or would-be voters for Fianna Fail, people are becoming perplexed about the whole confidence and supply idea. How elastic is the confidence? How elastic is the supply? The parameters and the finality of such an arrangement have never been made fully clear. Of course they have a purpose, but that purpose is becoming shakier by the minute. I know Micheal Martin has said that people don't want an election - and the latest so-called opinion poll has told us the same - but that's actually a funny sort of question to ask anyone. No one except the really hardened political people want a general election at any time - let alone in a time as difficult as we are in now. And let me be very clear on this one point: there is not one Fianna Fail voter or would-be Fianna Fail voter who is not in agreement with the maxim that we cannot have a general election in the middle of the Brexit carry-on. Can you imagine trying to explain why you called an election, why you dropped confidence and supply, when so many firms, small and big, so many employees, so many families depend so much on a settlement to the Brexit negotiations? To my mind, this settlement can come about by a proper withdrawal in Westminster this month, accompanied by a limited extension of three months. Let's look at that from our political viewpoint in Fianna Fail. March 29 will become June 29, by which time the local elections will have been held throughout the country and I am confident that Fianna Fail will have reaffirmed its position as the leading party in local authorities. That is important, because on such a vote we will be resuming confidence in ourselves. The European elections will have a definite positive outcome for us in Fianna Fail. It could not be otherwise as we are at such a low level now. So, armed with these myriad results throughout the country, we, as a party, will be imbued with confidence and supply in ourselves - as well as extending it to Leo Varadkar's Government. So far, so good. Much of this diagnosis depends, of course, on the mid-March votes in Westminster and the agreement by the other European countries to the limited extension of Brexit negotiations. To my mind, if the votes are cast favourably, the three months is enough to clear up any debris which might be left over from the preceding votes, and in general give a much clearer picture of the outcome. Now let's cut to the chase. There is very serious disquiet among Fianna Fail members about the strategy of continuing with confidence and supply. Firstly, the ordinary grassroots members don't fully understand it. Yes, they understand that they cannot have a general election with Brexit in such a wobbly position - but they would like to see a timeline where a general election would feature as an end objective, rather than being constantly downplayed. I understand that in many European countries, confidence and supply has been the agreed norm for many years, and that in general it works out well. But it's a new concept to us in Ireland. We haven't had too much experience of it, and we have been far more used to the adversarial type of politics which was prevalent until the emergence of this new animal of confidence and supply. There is another important aspect of this whole confidence and supply. I would have thought that the arrangement between Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar would have included within it an implied respect for one another and the respective parties. Not at all. This continual sniping and pirouetting from the back benches of Fine Gael towards Fianna Fail of course has to elicit a suitable response from Fianna Fail and from Micheal Martin. Now, in this respect, to my mind Leo Varadkar is at fault. He provokes the contretemps by an offside remark, which, of course, has to get a response. So there you have it, very little of mutual respect, which I think there should be between the two parties as they are on this perilous journey together. That's another thing when I talk about the two parties: what members of the public have said to me is they find that Fianna Fail is being linked to all the bad decisions being made by the Government, such as those recently surrounding the children's hospital. That's unfortunate because a Fianna Fail member can't stand up for his or her point of view when in fact they are not joining in condemnation - however right or wrong it may be - but they can't behave like a chorus line because of confidence and supply. All these thoughts have been very prevalent in my mind of late, but I am convinced that the Westminster timeline as laid out by Theresa May and hopefully to be confirmed in mid-March will mean a timeframe into which Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail can position themselves ready to at least see an end to confidence and supply, and at the end the holy grail of a general election. There is a wonderful tale to be told about 1987 and the very early confidence and supply between Charlie Haughey and Alan Dukes, then leader of Fine Gael. As we know he gave a speech to Tallaght Chamber of Commerce in which he outlined a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail. Now, that is a marvellous story and if I have an opportunity I will follow up on that with the inside back story of all of that confidence and supply, and what happened to it. I hope I have an opportunity to do so in the very near future. It's a good story, and as you know there's nothing better than a good story. So back to the question in hand. You're a fine leader Micheal, and I see no better candidate for the job of leader of Fianna Fail than you. I would say to Micheal Martin to copy one of Horace's Odes: Carpe diem - Seize the day, and move forward with reassurance to your voters and would-be voters, and a definite general election timeline in sight. Mary O'Rourke is a former FF minister for Education, Health and Public Enterprise My vision for making peace is as simple as that of Eoghan Harris, former Irish senator who published a stinging article on Iran's revolution (Sunday Independent, February 17). Mine, however, is not myopically limited to a blame and shame game. I would rather make peace by searching for a modicum of common ground and highlighting the similarities. Once established, the common ground would overshadow differences and peace would progressively be made. That was my point of departure when I spoke lately on Iran and Ireland's similarities over the past 100 years. Alluding to certain historical facts, I pointed out that Iran and Ireland have both defied internal repression through their respective revolutions and fought against foreign intervention. Both nations have struggled for self-determination and have been subjected to cruel famines and sanctions imposed by foreigners. Against this proud backdrop, it was hoped that both nations would be able to promote bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interests. The case in point is the article by Eoghan Harris which highlighted the "killing cranes" in Iran. Far from being a prelude to peace, as the writer has professed, the title indeed provokes a battle. Reading through the article, a clue for peace becomes even more elusive. In contrast to my vision, Harris encourages hue and cry on what he perceives as rifts between Iran and Ireland and by doing so he deprives himself, and his readers, of sighting the bright part of the picture. Harris's reference to the presence of two distinguished TDs, namely Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, as a "singular political presence", may be construed as the writer's veiled dismay that so many clerical and diplomatic dignitaries attended the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran at the Radisson Hotel in Dublin. However, judging their intention is clearly beyond his moral capacity and could hardly be interpreted as anything but deliberate ill-judgment. Harris was not able to conceal the bottom-line of his discomfort with the TDs mentioned when he charged them with "political hypocrisy" only because, in his words, of "their campaigns aimed at Israel". Harris's dramatised depiction of "mass public hangings on cranes" in Iran and "30,000 executions" at once is used to set the ground for his own philosophy of shame and blame which would beget such disinformation. Due to an acute desire for exaggeration, he has neglected to cite even a single verifiable source for such shocking and horrifying numbers, not least for the sake of professional journalism. Identical make-believe misinformation is routinely produced by a notorious fundamentalist group recognised as a terrorist organisation, even by European countries. I am not interested in arguing whether the Iranian or Irish revolution was "much bloodier". I would argue, however, that the charismatic leadership of Imam Khomeini and his particular emphasis on non-violent resistance curbed the brutality of the Pahlavi regime to a considerable extent. Under his leadership, a long episode of internal repression in Iran was brought to an end in the most peaceful possible manner. Iran's revolution turned bloody by foreign aggression and the enemy's fifth-column sabotage. I wonder what the reaction of the Western democracies would have been to a situation where a president, prime minister, head of judiciary, and 72 members of parliament, in any European state had fallen victims to terrorism within two months of war being imposed on the country and if the perpetrators would have fled to Iran to be granted safe havens? I suspect that the world would have been on the verge of a Third World War! The perpetrators of these crimes in Iran have not only been granted safe havens in Europe and America, but also been used from time to time to cry for human rights' situations in Iran. In order to realise how peaceful Iran has been, one may compare the case with the dubious 9/11 ordeal when the United States launched a global wave of revenge with unspeakable disastrous consequences. Having been an advocate of the American invasion on Iraq, it is understandable why Harris has kept silent as to the indiscriminate massive violations of human rights in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would challenge Harris's argument that Iran's revolution "did not end with a democracy". Whether he likes it or not, the fact is that the revolution in Iran has indeed proved to be a successful evolution. During the past four decades, social, legal, and political institutions have remarkably evolved. Under the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the separation of power is institutionalised and 32 competitive universal elections have been held in only 40 years. As a matter of fact, Iran's revolution is best known throughout the world for mass demonstrations and unparalleled public participation. Yes, Iran has constructed its own brand of democracy. Given Harris's blame and shame attitude, it is no wonder why he has belittled the accomplishments of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past 40 years. It is not only food and medicine that Iran has become self-sufficient in, but also in highly competitive areas of science and technology, education, arts, and social services. Iran has registered remarkable achievements at world level. The United Nations Development Programme's publication entitled 2018 Statistical Update and Human Development Index is a verifiable source of information in this respect. The Islamic Revolution of Iran has been targeted by an intensive campaign of disinformation and misinformation. The distorted image projected by biased media reports has adversely affected the public understanding of Iran in Western countries. Many would not believe that there are about 7,000 female professors in Iran's universities and that the number of female university students surpasses that of male students. There are more than 70,000 female general physicians as well as 30,000 specialised doctors. More than 2,000 female judges are serving in the Judiciary. Iran's film industry has been acclaimed internationally. Iranian male and female athletes have also been highly successful and attained medals at the Olympic Games and other international competitions. Such remarkable achievements in such diverse areas are simply not attainable under a repressive regime. My last words here concern the first words by Harris. We all live in a less-than-a-perfect world. Challenges and problems abound. Like any other country, Iran has its own challenges and problems and it has a lot to improve on. If I were to encourage the Irish to break their silence, I would have urged doing so vis-a-vis the grave violations of human rights in Yemen where a whole nation, including tens of millions of women and children are tormented by a deliberate famine and mass starvation. I would have exhorted Irish solidarity with the Palestinian Nation which has been subjected to systematic erosion and annihilation. Silence should be broken as to the illegitimate sanctions enforced indiscriminately against the Iranian nation, only because it would not succumb to the ill-will of a rogue person who happens to preside over a Western brand of democracy. I understand that it might not be politically correct for many to support such outcries in Ireland. Nevertheless, the Irish leaders and Irish people are expected to demonstrate their goodwill to alleviate these situations as much as possible. Unlike Harris, peace for me is not a black-and-white dichotomy but rather a grey area which allows for exerting a great deal of flexibility and preserving certain differences. I also see world opinion as a performance stage, not a battlefield to win. The culture of peace, advocated and promoted by the international community and by UNESCO for decades, has long since marginalised the win-lose paradigm. We need not engage in biting and wounding each other to make the world a peaceful place. It is much better to recognise each others' successes and accomplishments and relinquish the blame and shame game. Masoud Eslami is the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ireland So, who actually contributed most to the dramatic downfall of Cardinal George Pell, the Australian Royal Commission or his enemies in the Holy See Curia? When the world woke up on Tuesday morning to the news that Cardinal Pell had been found guilty of child sex abuse, there was worldwide consternation and anguish. In a decision that will be appealed, a court in Melbourne convicted Cardinal Pell of abusing two 13-year-old boys whom he had caught swigging sacramental wine in the sacristy of Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral in late 1996. The court found Cardinal Pell guilty of having forced both boys into acts of oral sex with him. Many observers felt that the ruling meant that Australian judicial authorities, and by extension the Australian Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse, had finally got their man. What secular observers, unfamiliar with the nature of Holy See politics, do not understand is that Cardinal Pell's enemies in the Vatican Curia had also got their man. The astonishing fall from grace of one of the most powerful cardinals in the Catholic Church was of course the achievement of Australian police and investigators. However, almost as much, it was the work of conservative forces in the Holy See absolutely determined to block Pell's attempt to radically and fundamentally overhaul Vatican finances, at the request of Pope Francis himself. In reality, Cardinal Pell's downfall was brought about by a non-coordinated pincer movement in which two radically different forces - the Australian judiciary and elements of the Vatican Curia - simultaneously targeted their man. Just look at the George Pell timeline - in late February/early March 2016, the parabola of his glittering clerical career took a sharp, irreversible downward turn when he was summoned to give evidence to the Royal Commission, not in Australia, but here in Rome in a startlingly unprecedented series of televised midnight hearings in a downtown Roman hotel. Just six weeks later, Pell's "enemies within" struck a telling blow when they pulled the rug from under his feet by successfully blocking a Vatican audit then being carried out by global firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The point here is that financial reform in the Holy See has always been something of a landmark project in Francis's drive to reform the Vatican and its curia. As we all know, to the surprise of many, in 2014 he picked Cardinal Pell to spearhead this task for him. Pell's reputation as a tough, even ruthless diocesan administrator in his native Australia outweighed the fact that, on many issues such as divorce, homosexuality, Communion for the divorced or contraception, he was not exactly on the same page as Francis. For the purpose of cleaning up the Vatican's finances, it also helped too that the new "Economy Czar" came not from inside Italy and the Vatican, but rather from outside Italy and from an anglophonic country to boot. Six weeks after his Royal Commission hearing, Pell's rivals hit him when he was down. On April 12, 2016 Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu sent a letter to all Vatican entities informing them that the PwC audit had been "suspended immediately". This could only have been seen as a vote of no-confidence in Pell. The PwC audit had been largely his brainchild. In December 2015, he had signed a US$3m contract with PwC, reportedly at his own instigation and without having shown the contract to either the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, or to the German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the Vatican's Council For The Economy. Whatever the reasons for blocking the audit, the very fact that it had been blocked clearly put a serious halt to Pell's reforming gallop. His brusque methods had ruffled many Vatican feathers while they may well have alarmed others. The PwC "suspension", presumably approved by the Pope, appeared to undermine Pell and, as such, it looked like victory for the Vatican old guard. Approximately one year earlier, Pell's Curia enemies had already tried to undermine him by masterminding a media campaign which reported that the "Economy Czar", the man brought in to clean up Vatican finances, had himself spent 501,000 between July 2014 and January 2015 on items that included business class air travel, clothes, office renovations and a 15,000 per month salary for his trusted Australian accountant. Those stories did little apparent harm but they were an indication of the way a certain wind was blowing. Obviously, though, the Pell downfall began with those dramatic Royal Commission hearings right here on the Pope's doorstep in February/March 2016. Not everyone in the Holy See was thrilled with the fact that a Royal Commission, whose titular head is known as the Defender of the Faith, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, had arrived in Rome to put a senior Vatican Cardinal on trial. A Protestant moral authority had come to Rome to put manners on the Catholic Church. Martin Luther and Henry VIII must have been laughing heartily in their grave. Those hearings did not concern the child abuse incidents for which the Cardinal received a guilty verdict this week. Rather, they were focussed on the question of how child sex abuse incidents and different serial sex abusing priests had been handled in two parts of the Australian Church where George Pell served first as a priest and then as Archbishop, namely his home town of Ballarat in Victoria and the archdiocese of Melbourne. At the end of 16 hours of this "midnight court", we were left with a huge conundrum. Namely Cardinal Pell's insistence that, despite the fact that a number of serial child sex abusers had passed through both Ballarat and Melbourne during his time, he had known little or nothing about the ongoing abuse. At one point, senior council for the Commission, Gail Furness, made it clear that she simply could not believe the Cardinal. That came when he suggested that he had been "kept in the dark" by superiors in both Ballarat and Melbourne, prompting Ms Furness to call that claim "completely implausible". The Cardinal's memory was faulty. Was this just understandable because the events in question had taken place 40 years ago or was it a cover-up? For example, he did not recall the Christian Brother, Ted Dowland, who was eventually jailed for abusing 20 boys at six schools over 14 years. Yet, much of this abuse went on at St Alipius primary school in Ballarat in the 1970s when Pell was serving there. The children used to refer to Brother Dowland's chosen ones as his Bum Buddies. Cardinal Pell, however, had only a vague memory of Brother Dowland. He had heard the stories of how Dowland liked to photograph the boys in the showers and how he would take them "skinny dipping" at the end of year, commenting: "This was most unusual but nothing inappropriate ever emerged out of it". Really? Are we sure? Likewise, he had failed to notice the danger represented by another Ballarat priest, Father Gerald Ridsdale, even though he had lived in the same building as him. In those days, it was known that Ridsdale liked to take boys off for overnight stays but this did not unduly worry Cardinal Pell: "I felt a basic priestly and human prudence about it but I wasn't worried. We weren't alert in those days in anything like the way we are today," he said. Gerald Ridsdale became a serial paedophile who was subsequently convicted for the abuse of 65 children. Cardinal Pell, in a move which he subsequently called a "mistake", accompanied him into court on his first day on trial in 1993. At those Royal Commission hearings in Rome, he explained: "I had some status as an auxiliary bishop and I was asked to appear with the ambition that this would lessen the term of punishment, lessen his time in jail." During those Rome hearings, the small number of Australian survivors present gasped in horror when Cardinal Pell called Fr Ridsdale a "sad story" but one "that wasn't of much interest to me". Yet, Cardinal Pell was part of the College of Consultors which had moved Ridsdale from parish to parish. Among the survivors listening to Cardinal Pell's testimony that night was David Ridsdale, nephew of Father Gerald and himself a victim as a young boy of his sex abusing uncle. After the hearing, he told me how he had tried to report his uncle's sick behaviour to George Pell, at the time an auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne. David Ridsdale had grown up in Ballarat with Pell, so he thought the Bishop would help out. He claimed, however, that by way of response Bishop Pell said: "How much will it take to shut you up?" Even though Cardinal Pell subsequently denied that claim, his record as Archbishop in both Melbourne and Sydney was that of a tough administrator who saved the Catholic Church millions by systematically limiting the compensation amounts paid to victims. UK survivor and lobbyist, Peter Saunders, who sat on the Vatican's Commission For The Protection Of Minors, four years ago highlighted this aspect of Pell's behaviour, saying: "He has a catalogue of denigrating people, of acting with callousness, cold-heartedness, almost sociopathic..." Speaking to the Sunday Independent last week, Saunders confirmed that those remarks were met with a trademark Pell response - namely, the Cardinal threatened to sue Saunders if he did not withdraw his comments. Saunders withdrew nothing and the matter rested there. Finally, what do we conclude at the end of the four day Vatican summit grandly titled On The Protection Of Minors In The Church - an event which began with one Cardinal, American McCarrick, defrocked for child sex abuse offences and ended with another, George Pell, found guilty of child sex abuse in an Australian court? Is Pope Francis guilty of having made poor appointments or is it not true that the Catholic Church's current crisis runs much deeper than the actions of any one pontiff? Johnny Depp has accused Amber Heard of being unfaithful with Elon Musk a month after they got married. The 55-year-old actor has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife following an article she wrote for the Washington Post newspaper, in which she identified herself as a domestic abuse victim, and in his legal papers, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star claimed the 32-year-old actress embarked on a "new relationship" with the Tesla founder in March 2015. The lawsuit stated: "Unbeknownst to Mr. Depp, no later than one month after his marriage to Ms. Heard, she was spending time in a new relationship with Tesla and Space X founder, Elon Musk. "Only one calendar month after Mr. Depp and Ms. Heard were married--while Mr. Depp was out of the country, filming in March 2015--Eastern Columbia Building personnel testified that Ms. Heard received Musk 'late at night' at Mr. Depp's penthouse. "Specifically, Ms. Heard asked staff at the Eastern Columbia Building to give her 'friend Elon' access to the building's parking garage and the penthouse elevator 'late at night,' and they testified that they did so. Building staff would then see Ms. Heard's 'friend Elon' leaving the building the next morning." The lawsuit went on to imply that Amber - who accused the 'Black Mass' star of being abusive when she filed for divorce in May 2016 - had turned to Elon following an explosive row with her then-husband that saw her allegedly "shatter" Johnny's finger when she threw a bottle at him. It continued: "Musk's first appearance in Mr. Depp's penthouse occurred shortly after Ms. Heard threw a vodka bottle at Mr. Depp in Australia, when she learned that Mr. Depp wanted the couple to enter into a post-nuptial agreement concerning assets in their marriage. Ms. Heard's violently aimed projectile virtually severed Mr. Depp's middle finger on his right hand and shattered the bones. Mr. Depp's marriage to Ms. Heard came to an end in May 2016." A spokesperson for the 47-year-old businessman - who was first photographed with Amber in April 2017, a few months before their romance came to an end - insisted their "infrequent" relationship didn't begin until after her marriage was over. The representative told E! News: "Elon and Amber didn't start seeing each other until May 2016, and even then it was infrequent. Their relationship didn't become romantic until some time later." The 'Danish Girl' star hasn't commented on the infidelity accusation, but her lawyer has branded the lawsuit "frivolous" and an attempt to "silence" the actress. Video of the Day They said in a statement: "This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. She will not be silenced. Mr. Depp's actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behaviour. "But while he appears hell-bent on achieving self destruction, we will prevail in defeating this groundless lawsuit and ending the continued vile harassment of my client by Mr. Depp and his legal team." Meanwhile, Johnny's team are confident they can prove his allegations are true. They hit back: "'They want to silence Amber Heard' doesn't sound like a denial by Ms. Heard of Mr. Depp's 40-page, evidence-packed complaint. "We hardly intend to silence Ms. Heard--to the contrary, we intend to subpoena and compel evidence from her, her three hoax-assisting friends, and Elon Musk. "We look forward to holding the overwhelming video, photographic and eyewitness evidence we finally possess up against Amber Heard's (so far silent) attempts to explain the inexplicable." Demonstrators march with Algerian national flags during a protest to denounce President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas bid for a fifth term (Fateh Guidoum/AP) Algerias ailing president has said if he wins a fifth term in April he will promote political changes demanded by critics and call an early presidential election in which he will not run. In a written message to the nation, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said if he is re-elected April 18, he will organise a public referendum on a new constitution and respond to an opposition demand for an independent electoral commission. Expand Close Demonstrators are blasted with a police water cannon in Algiers during a protest to denounce President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas bid for a fifth term (Fateh Guidoum/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Demonstrators are blasted with a police water cannon in Algiers during a protest to denounce President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas bid for a fifth term (Fateh Guidoum/AP) The long-time leader also vowed to immediately call a national conference to set a date and prepare for another presidential election. His decision to run next month has prompted rare, massive protests in recent days. I have heard the pleas of protesters and especially thousands of young people who asked about our nations future, he wrote in his public message. Mr Bouteflika was first elected in 1999. Questions about his fitness for office have grown since he suffered a stroke in 2013 and remained largely out of public view during his fourth term. He turned 82 on Saturday and underwent medical checks in Switzerland last week. Neither the government nor news media reported if he was back in Algeria. Expand Close Police officers stand outside of the Constitutional Council building in Algiers (Fateh Guidoum/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police officers stand outside of the Constitutional Council building in Algiers (Fateh Guidoum/AP) Although the presidents office had said Mr Bouteflika intended to run again, his candidacy was not formal until Sunday. Mr Bouteflikas campaign chief, Abdelghani Zaalane, filed the presidents candidacy papers on Sunday at the Constitutional Council in Algiers, the countrys capital. Hundreds of students took to the streets to denounce the new bid. About 10 vans transported Mr Bouteflikas documents to the building, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. Elevated security measures were in place in Algerias capital and especially around the Constitutional Council. Sunday was the deadline for candidates to the April 18 presidential election to file their documents. Images of students marching and chanting anti-government slogans appeared on social media. Expand Close Demonstrators stage a protest in Marseille, southern France, with a sign in the background saying no to a 5th term (Claude Paris/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Demonstrators stage a protest in Marseille, southern France, with a sign in the background saying no to a 5th term (Claude Paris/AP) In France, thousands of people from the European countrys Algerian community also rallied on Sunday in Paris and in the southern city of Marseille to oppose Mr Bouteflika remaining in office. His major opponent during the 2004 and 2014 presidential elections, former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, announced on Sunday that he would not challenge the incumbent this year. Mr Benflis said the central committee of his party, Talaie El Houriat Arabic for Vanguard of Freedoms decided not to field a candidate so as not to serve as a pretext for the candidacy of the sick president. The head of the moderate Islamist party MSP, Abderrazak Makri, has also ruled out running. We have a remarkably myopic view of terrorist organisations. If they are not on our news channels, the assumption is that they have gone away. Yet the reality is that they are locked into struggles that they see on millenarian timelines in advance of God's greater glory. This is important to remember when thinking about the announcement of a US$1m bounty on the head of Hamza bin Laden - son of 9/11 ringleader Osama. Al-Qaeda has not gone away, rather it has seemingly chosen to refocus on fighting what it would describe as the "near enemy" of regimes in the Middle East, rather than the "far enemy" in the West who they see as supporting these apostate leaders in their neighbourhood. The decision to place a US$1m bounty on his head now is something which is more a product of our decision cycle than theirs. Why this is happening now is difficult to divine without deeper insights into the US government's decision-making processes. It is possible that some information has emerged of him moving into a location where such a sum of money would make a difference in someone's thinking. It is also possible that this is part of a specific push around him - two days ago the UN added him to its proscribed list and the Saudi government has now stripped him of his citizenship. As we start to move away from worrying about Isil, it could be a good moment to remind the world of someone identified by the UN "as the most probable successor of current al-Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri". With Hamza now in his late 20s, al-Qaeda seems to have decided it is an opportune moment to elevate his profile within the organisation. A fresh face to counter al-Qaeda's ageing Egyptian head Ayman al-Zawahiri, Hamza offers a link to the group's golden era, and a leader still held in veneration by some followers. While yet to prove himself as a leader, Hamza can help refresh the organisation through messaging that is shorn of the in-fighting that plagued al-Qaeda during the early years of the Syrian conflict when it fell out dramatically with Isil. The bounty on his head will no doubt to some degree confirm his elevation among those interested in such ideologies - though it is worth noting that this is a fairly paltry sum when put up against the US$25m on offer for al-Qaeda's leader al-Zawahiri or Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Isil's leader. In fact, look at the US government's rewards for justice page, and Hamza bin Laden sits firmly at the bottom, in a group all of his own. Raffaello Pantucci is Director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute. Priyanka Chopra has landed in trouble after she posted a tweet congratulating the Indian Air Force for the air strikes across the Line of Control. The actress was made the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 2016 but now an online petition has been filed that seeks to remove her from the honorary post. The petition that also mentions UN and UNICEF, has been started by the people in Pakistan who are upset with her supporting India over Pakistan. PeeCee had tweeted, "Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces" after the Indian Air Force conducted multiple air strikes in Pakistan's Balakot. Here's what she had tweeted: Featured Video While many actors from Bollywood had congratulated the IAF and the Indian government over the move, it was Priyanka alone landed in trouble and whose response did not fare well with people in Pakistani nationals, who claimed that the actor 'cheered for war', despite being the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. "War between two nuclear powers can only lead to destruction & death. As goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra was supposed to stay neutral & peaceful but her tweet in favour of Indian arm forces after they invaded Pakistan airspace shows otherwise. She doesn't deserve this title anymore." The petition uploaded on Avaaz.org reads, Twelve days after the Pulwama terror attack, on February 26, India had launched an anti-terror strike against terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. (Credits: News18) Ever since India announced to the world that in a preemptive intelligence based operation, the Indian Air Force aircraft crossed the border and struck Pakistani terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)'s facilities across the Line of Control (LoC) Islamabad has been living in denial AP Pakistan was so adamant on claiming that the air strike only hit some trees, they are even planning to lodge a complaint of eco-terrorism against India in the UN for killing dozens of trees, including mature ones and newly regenerated ones. Read More 2. Hours After Celebrating His Birthday, Noida Businessman Killed As His BMW Rams Into A Tree Just hours after they came together to celebrate his birthday, friends and family of Rohit Gupta were in a shock to hear the news of his death. Gupta, a resident of ATS Village in Noida's Sector-93, was killed on Saturday morning after the BMW he was driving rammed a roadside tree after hitting a barricade. According to police Gupta was under the influence of alcohol and he was speeding at the time of the accident. Read More 3. Another Pulwama Averted? Jaish Terrorists Threatening Similar Attack On Video Killed In Kulgam Terror group Jaish-e-Muhammad seems to be hell bent on targeting Indian security forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The recent retaliatory attack by the Air Force has made the terrorists even more desperate. BCCL/ FILE In the video, the terrorist, identified as Raqib Ahmad, a resident of Shiganpora was seen speaking about his plans to carry out a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack on security forces. Read More 4. 91-YO Padma Awardee Says One Can Serve Nation Without Joining Politics Like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam It is not easy to forego the position that could make you command with power and authority. But Darshan Lal Jain has done it several times by renouncing many politically authoritative opportunities in the past. Jain who is 91 years old, recently received a letter from the Home Secretary of India for he is chosen to be awarded Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, for his distinguished social service. Read More 5. India-Pakistan Tension Casts A Shadow On Rajasthan Man's Cross-Border Wedding Plans Marrying someone on the other side is not anything new in the border areas of India and Pakistan. Such practices are pretty common in villages along the India-Pak border in Rajasthan. representational image The groom, Mahendra Singh, a resident of Khejad Ka Paar village in Barmer was scheduled to travel to Sindh province in Pakistan along with his family for the wedding. The Baraat was to take the Thar Express to Pakistan on Saturday for the wedding. Read More 6. Two Terrorist Killed On The Third Day Of Handwara Encounter, Five Security Personnel Martyred The encounter between Indian Security Forces and terrorists which began on Friday is still ongoing in on the third day in north Kashmirs Handwara. So far, eight people including two terrorists and a civilian have been killed in the operation. AFP Even on the third day there is no clarity on the exact number of terrorists who have been caught up in a house. Read More Ever since India announced to the world that in a preemptive intelligence based operation, the Indian Air Force aircraft crossed the border and struck Pakistani terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)'s facilities across the Line of Control (LoC) Islamabad has been living in denial Initially the ISPR claimed that attempts of the Indian Air Force was twitted on time. That soon changed to Indian Air Force dropped the payload on open areas and released photos of what it said was the craters left behind by the Indian bombs. AP Pakistan was so adamant on claiming that the air strike only hit some trees, they are even planning to lodge a complaint of eco-terrorism against India in the UN for killing dozens of trees, including mature ones and newly regenerated ones. But, now the JeM top brass themselves have blown the lid of the air strikes. In an audio message, Maulana Ammar, the brother of JeM founder Masood Azhar admits that the Balakot camp run by Azhar's brother-in-law was in fact targeted. AP The audio message was first posted by Taha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist who now lives in exile France. In the clip, Ammar who appears to be addressing JeM caders is heard saying Indian aircrafts did not bomb the headquarters of any agency. Which place did the Indian agencies target? They attacked schools where students were being trained in jihad to help Kashmiris. In the audio clip Ammar, he is also heard criticising Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, for his decision to free captured Indian Air Force Pilot Abhinandan Vardhaman. According to Siddiqui, the audio clipping was from 28th February when the JeM leadership held an event in Peshawar. AP Ammar's admission and call for retaliation is proof that the Indian Air Force operation had hit the intended target. India, right from the moment of announcing the air strike has held that the intended targets were hit and there was significant casualties, though the Air Force has clarified that it was premature to say how many terrorists were killed. IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has become a household name due to his heroics during the dog fight in which he downed F-16 of PAF with is MiG21 Bison, an jet far less advanced than its Pakistani rival. His arrest in Pakistani territory and later his return to the country after Pakistan PM Imran Khan decided to release him as a peace gesture further added to his weight as a hero. Although he is back, the Pakistanis did nt tell return his gun along with the ring, watch and his spectacles. After he ejected his MiG 21 Bison when it was hit by Pakistani anti-aircraft gun, he had taken out his guns to keep locals drawing towards him at bay. Abhinandan also had maps and a survival kit with him along with some documents that he managed to destroy before he was captured by the Pakistani army. When the Wing Commander Abhinandan crossed Wagah-Attari border on Friday evening, he crossed without any bags and kits. Dressed in civilian clothes the Wing Commander came back with his spectacles, rings and blue Casio G-Shock watch. India Today Surprisingly, despite Indian nowhere referring to him as the prisoner of war (POW), Pakistan has designated him as such in the "taking over certificate" and even has allotted him the number 27981. Pakistan entered Indian air space on Wednesday, a day after IAF strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in a non-military pre-emptive airstrike on Tuesday and Wing Abhinandan engaged with Pakistan jet and downed the famed F-16 of PAF. (With India Today Inputs) Raveena Tandon Thadani is in talks with a production house that bankrolled the Bahubali franchise, to co-producer three web series. In all these, she said, she will not act. (photo provided) If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Indian mourners take part in candle light vigil Feb. 17 in Siliguri as they pay homage to service members killed in an attack on a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force convoy in the Lethpora area of Kashmir. (Diptendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Indian paramilitary troopers take part in the wreath laying ceremony of two slain paramilitary colleagues at the Central Reserve Police Force headquarters in Srinagar on March 2, 2019, following a gunfight at Babagund village of Handwara in Kashmir's Kupwara district. More violence continued in Kashmir, with both sides firing mortars and artillery over the frontier on March 2. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images) Protesters Demonstrate Against San Mateo Co. DA Decision to Not Prosecute for Taser Death by Seeking Justice for Chinedu Sunday Mar 3rd, 2019 12:24 AM Protesters gathered March 1 in a rapid-response rally reacting to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffes announcement that no sheriffs deputies will be charged in the murder by taser of Chinedu Okobi. Protesters responded immediately to an announcement by the San Mateo County District Attorney that his office would not indict sheriff's deputies involved in an innocent man's murder by taser. They chanted, sang, and spoke out, demanding an investigation into Chinedu Okobi's death by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and the establishment of a permanent civilian oversight committee to review the actions of the San Mateo county sheriff's office. Most of the several dozen demonstrators carried signs during the one and a half hour event, some displaying them to traffic passing on El Camino Real, stepping into the street to do so. Recall Wagstaffe was one sign. SM DA Condones Murder read another. Most signs said simply Justice for Chinedu. The protesters gathered on the site where Okobi was murdered, at 1400 El Camino Real in Millbrae. Some of the demonstrators were friends of 36 year old Chinedu Okobi, some were people who lived in the neighborhood where he was killed, while others were from organizations that have been involved since 2018 in the fight for justice, including Justice4Chinedu, the Raging Grannies Action League, San Mateo and San Francisco chapters of Democratic Socialists of America, and the North Peninsula Chapter of the ACLU. Demonstrators agreed with a statement the Northern California arm of the ACLU released on Friday saying that the incident had all the earmarks of racial profiling. Enda Kenny and Fine Gael have refused to comment on reports that the former Taoiseach told Facebook he would use Ireland's presidency of the EU to lobby member states over data privacy laws. The explosive claims are from internal Facebook documents and have prompted criticism and concerns about governments having a cosy relationship with the social networking giant. Previous records have shown how Mr Kenny, who led the government between 2011 and 2017, had a close working relationship with Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. But the latest report that Mr Kenny allegedly offered to use Ireland's position when hosting the rotating presidency is likely to trigger troubling questions, especially when the government's relationship with major tech companies is already under scrutiny by other EU states. The Observer newspaper yesterday printed details of the leaked Facebook documents, written after the Davos 2013 economic summit. These sited the companys great relationship with Enda Kenny, one of a number of people it describes as friends of Facebook. The memo notes Mr Kennys appreciation for Facebooks decision to locate its HQ in Dublin. The document says Ireland, in taking on the EU presidency, had the opportunity to influence the European Data Directive decisions. Ireland hosted the EU presidency during the first half of 2013. The Facebook document makes the extraordinary claim that Kenny offered to use the significant influence of the EU presidency as a means of lobbying other EU member states even though technically Ireland is supposed to remain neutral in this role. It goes on: The [Irish] prime minister committed to using their EU presidency to achieve a positive outcome on the directive. EU privacy laws came into force last year with the enactment of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This ensures online users must know and understand data that companies, such as Facebook, collect about them and consent to sharing it. The memo was reportedly contained in court documents as part of a California court case involving Facebook Mr Kenny could not be contacted by phone, text, email or through his party yesterday. Fine Gael and the Department of Taoiseach refused to comment. Independent MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan called the revelations extraordinary and said the country was totally owned. Fianna Fail's business spokesman Billy Kelleher said a government statement was needed. A government spokesman said: "The Irish government has a good relationship with all major employers and major investors in Ireland. The relationship with Facebook is no more nor less close than with any other large firm." Previous Freedom of Information documents have revealed how Ms Sandberg personally lobbied the Taoiseach at one-to-one meetings and in correspondence on who would be appointed as Irelands next Data Protection Commissioner. This included at meetings in Davos and California. Over a number of months, the Facebook COO lobbied the then-Taoiseach on taxation and data protection. Facebook recently promised to create another 1,000 jobs in Ireland this year. Terminally ill midwife Philomena Canning has said she feels vindicated after her legal action against the HSE was settled over the weekend. Ms Canning sued the HSE for the wrongful suspension of her licence to practice in 2014 which she says ultimately forced her out of midwifery. She had refused the offer of a generous settlement in 2015 because she wanted a court hearing to highlight both what had happened to her and her concerns for safety in maternity care. However, in recent weeks she received a terminal diagnosis for ovarian cancer and asked for an expedient settlement so she could access funds to pay for the anti-cancer drug, Pembro. The drug is available through the HSE for those suffering from cervical cancer but not those afflicted with most other types of cancer. It costs between 6,000 and 8,000 per treatment which must be administered once every three weeks, Ms Canning was told. On 21 February, the Irish Examiner reported that she had decided to publicise her case to force the HSE to settle because she feared that there might be attempts to delay indefinitely. On Saturday evening she released a statement announcing that the settlement had now been agreed. This is a day of vindication for me the first day in almost four-and-a-half years where I have woken without a shadow over me; the shadow of having been wronged. It is a relief to wake in the knowledge that I do not have to fight any more; for my livelihood, my good name, my vocation. I have the peace of mind I longed for. She added that it was a day of sadness also because she accepts now that her long-held ambition to open birth centres for women will not be realised. In August 2014, Ms Canning had advanced plans to open a birth centre, a model which accommodates birth in a domestic setting and which is popular in the UK and on mainland Europe. At the time, Ms Canning had been the leading independent midwife in the state and a vocal advocate for those who wanted a home birth delivery. The following month her licence to practice was withdrawn over two alleged safety incidents in deliveries she had performed. Neither of the women involved in the incidents had complained and both had complimented the care they received. In February 2015, she was reinstated after independent reports commissioned by herself and the HSE all confirmed that she had done nothing wrong and acted professionally. However, she was unable to return to practice without restrictions which she felt compromised both herself and the safety of mothers. Since then she had pursued her legal action and in 2017 was forced to sell her home because she couldnt keep up the mortgage repayments. A man has died after being struck by a van in Co. Kerry last night. The accident happened on a minor road near the village of Causeway at around 8.15pm. Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has said Britain has legal obligations to Ireland despite their impending departure from the European Union. Her comments come as an influential backbench Conservative MP, Graham Brady indicated he would back a deal if a suitable compromise on the backstop could be found. A Lotto player is waking up a millionaire this morning after a ticket worth almost 2.5m was sold in Co. Louth. The National Lottery is appealing to players to check their tickets to see if they have landed the second Lotto jackpot in the last seven days. The shop that sold last night's 2,497,727 ticket is Maddens Centra in Termonfeckin, near Drogheda in Co. Louth. It was time for all the team at Maddens Centra in Termonfeckin, in Co. #Louth to celebrate good times this morning after selling last night's amazing 2.4 Million winning #Lotto jackpot ticket! Well done everyone and huge congrats to the winner! pic.twitter.com/WG2Ax7mJ6M The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) March 3, 2019 The winning numbers are 1, 3, 7, 27, 31, 44 and bonus number 19. The owner of Centra in Termonfeckin, Ray Madden, said: This is absolutely fantastic news, people in Termonfeckin are buzzing with news of the Lotto jackpot win today. This is a very busy shop we have a staff of 38 and most of our customers are local. "I am friendly with James Hallinan whose Centra shop in Dromiskin sold the EuroMillions Plus winning ticket on Friday night so Centra also has lots to celebrate. Last night's win rounds off a bumper weekend which saw an online player win 1m on yesterday's Daily Millions Draw and another player from Co. Louth winning 500,000 on Friday's EuroMillions Plus draw. The Lotto wins comes just days after the Naul family syndicate from North Dublin claimed a cheque for an extraordinary 175.4m on the EuroMillions jackpot, the highest National Lottery win in its history. March is a very dangerous month for people in power. Remember what happened to Julius Caesar in 44BC! Caesar always considered himself to be first amongst equals. The Roman Senate had other ideas however and plotted to rid Rome of a Dictator. Caesar decided to reinforce his absolute authority by calling the Senate to session on the Ides of March. The Ides of March in ancient Rome corresponded to the contemporary 15th March. It was the day which Romans used for settling debts. The soothsayer warned Caesar not to attend the Senate, crying beware Caesar, beware the Ides of March. His wife, Calpurnia, who had been frightened by bad dreams, begged her husband to remain at home. Even Caesars mistress, Cleopatra of Egypt, the mother of his son, Caesarion, was overcome by forebodings of doom on the Ides of March. But Caesar couldnt be dissuaded from his resolve to silence his detractors. When Caesar took his seat in the Senate, he was surrounded by about forty Senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, who stabbed Caesar repeatedly. As Caesar lay on the ground, Brutus, his supposedly loyal friend, plunged his dagger into Caesars body. Caesars last words as he lay dying were you too, Brutus. The reply from Brutus, if any, is a contested subject among scholars and historians. The phrase Caesar is now last amongst equals is sometimes attributed to him. So, beware Theresa May, beware the Ides of March when you call a vote in Commons. You are at risk of being metaphorically stabbed in the back by members of your Tory Party. Dont find yourself looking into the eyes of the two-faced Boris Johnson and uttering the infamous last words, you too, Boris. You have been warned! Billy Ryle Spa Tralee Co. Kerry The Canadian Government has given the go-ahead for the extradition case relating to Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei Technologies, to proceed. A hearing will be held in the Supreme Court in British Columbia on 6 March to confirm the case can proceed and to set a date for the extradition hearing. In a statement, Canada's Department of Justice said the decision was taken after "a thorough and diligent review" of available evidence. "The Department is satisfied that the requirements set out by the Extradition Act for the issuance of an Authority to Proceed have been met and there is sufficient evidence to be put before an extradition judge for decision," the statement said. Meng wasin Vancouver on 1 December at the request of US law enforcement under the terms of a bilateral extradition treaty. She is accused of playing a role in helping Huawei violate US sanctions on Iran. The US unveiled indictments in January detailing charges against the company. Huawei, Meng and other employees are alleged to have worked over years to hide the company's dealings in Iran from multiple global banks and the US Government. The indictment charged Huawei and two affiliates with bank fraud, violations of US sanctions and conspiring to obstruct justice related to a grand jury investigation. Under both Canadian law and its treaty with the US, extradition proceedings are not to be used for political purposes. In January, then Canadian ambassador to China, John McCallum, questioned the case against Meng, saying she stood a good chance of not being extradited, because of alleged political interference. He cited comments made by US President Donald Trump after Meng's arrest, saying they could help prevent her extradition to the US. When Trump was asked in December if he would intervene in the matter, he responded: Whatevers good for this country, I would do. If I think its good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made which is a very important thing whats good for national security I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary. McCallum was later sacked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. According to the Canadian DoJ statement, the next step will be the judicial phase where a judge hears the case and decided whether or not Meng should be committed for extradition. If the decision is positive, then Justice Minister David Lametti would have to decide if Meng should be extradited to the US. The statement added: "Under the Extradition Act and the Treaty, Canada must review the alleged conduct and determine whether it could have resulted in a jail sentence of one year of more if it had taken place in Canada. The conduct for which extradition is sought must also be considered criminal in both the US and in Canada. This is known as 'dual criminality'. "Canadas extradition process protects the rights of the person sought by ensuring that extradition will not be granted if, among other things, it is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the principles of fundamental justice." A survey of Australian consumers suggests that Samsung will face a tough time in selling its new Galaxy S10 smartphones, all of which are priced well above $1000. The survey, conducted by telco comparison service WhistleOut, found that Apple fans were more inclined to pay more than $1000 for smartphone. Among the 1000 consumers surveyed, with a 49% to 51% male/female split, one third said they would pay more than $1000 for a smartphone while only 10% said they would go as high as $1500 or more. Seventy-four percent of those willing to pay more than $1000 were iPhone users. Last year, WhistleOutthe higher prices set for iPhone models could be stifling sales in Australia, with publisher Joseph Hanlon saying at the time the conclusion was based on what he called "share of voice" reports, "some of the market data we share with our telco partners". A look at how much those surveyed had paid for their last phone again showed that those with iPhones had paid much more than the rest, and significantly more than Samsung users. The overall average spend for the last device was $791.45, the average for iPhone users was $1013.51, the average for Samsung users was $643.36, and the average for other manufacturers was $464.94. WhistleOut gave the following prices for Samsung devices: Galaxy S10e (128GB): $1199 Galaxy S10 (128GB): $1349 Galaxy S10 (512GB): $1699 Galaxy S10+ (128GB): $1499 Galaxy S10+ (512GB): $1849 Galaxy S10+ (1TB): $2399 Commenting on the survey results, Hanlon said: Australia is an iPhone-dominated country. Theyre the phones most of us have used, want to use, and many people see them as setting the bar for quality. Australians have also shown theyll pay top dollar for iPhones. The new Samsung Galaxy S10 range is similarly priced to the latest iPhone models, which suggests Samsung is trying to compete head-on with Apple. However, its audience hasnt yet proven themselves willing to pay a premium for Samsung devices, and judging by the survey results they dont appear ready to yet either." Hanlon said while it was true that not everyone bought their phones outright, with many buying on a plan, but the cost of the handset was always baked into the pricing. "Consumers have faced significant jumps in phone prices in recent times, and while theres certainly a proportion of Australians who would pay the asking price for the new Samsung devices, others might think twice before digging that deeply into their pocket, regardless of how good the phones may be," he said. Time will tell, but right now only iPhone users seem prepared to pay premium pricing en masse. If the survey data holds out and Australians see $1500 as a critical price threshold for smartphones, then Samsung could have its work cut out selling the new Galaxy S10 range to Australias mass market. Graphics: courtesy WhistleOut British security researcher Marcus Hutchins will finally have a chance to face a jury trial, with a date of 8 July being set for him in court in Milwaukee, nearly two years after he was arrested in Las Vegas. A scheduling order signer by Judge J.P. Stadtmueller on 1 March said he could, however enter a plea before 17 June if he wished to avoid trial by jury. Last month, Hutchins' legal team failed to get evidence recorded by the FBI during its first meeting with Hutchins removed from the case. The reason cited by Hutchins' lawyers was that he made the comments before he was informed of the reason for his arrest. The US District Court in the eastern district of Wisconsin threw out his claim, despite finding that the security officials had not been upfront with Hutchins about why he was being arrested. Hutchins was arrested by the FBI in Las Vegas on 2 August 2017 after he had boarded a plane to leave the US after attending the annual DEFCON security conference. He gained the attention of the world when he stopped the spread of the WannaCry ransomware by accident in May 2017. Hutchins, 23, is charged with creating and distributing a banking trojan known as Kronos. The FBI claims he made incriminating statements to them after he was arrested last year, and also in two phone calls from his cell. The chargesheet against him said he had written and helped distribute Kronos along with an unnamed co-conspirator. Leaked internal Facebook documents show that the company was targeting politicians in a number of countries, promising them investments and incentives in exchange for pushing against privacy laws on the social media giant's behalf. The documents are said to come from a case filed in California against Facebook by the application developer Six4Three, the same company from which the British Parliament seized documents in November last year. The Guardian reported on Sunday that the leaked files showed Facebook was involved in lobbying lawmakers and regulators in the US, Canada, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina, Malaysia and the EU. No link was mentioned between the documents seized in November and the current crop. Britain's culture, media and sport committee chairman Damian Collins was at the heart of the move to seize the documents in November. Parliament sent a sergeant at arms to the hotel where the founder of Six4Three was staying, and gave him two hours to hand over the documents. He refused to do so and was promptly escorted to Parliament where it was made plain to him that he would be fined or even jailed if he did not hand over the documents. In Sunday's report, it was claimed that the documents showed Facebook tried to head off overly restrictive clauses in the General Data Protection Regulation that came into force in May last year. It was also said to have used the memoir written by its chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg - a book titled Lean In - to establish itself on a friendly footing with women who were part of the European Commission and whom it found to be unsympathetic to its cause. But the most damaging fact was that Facebook threatened not to invest in countries which did not have laws that allowed it to do what it wanted. Among the European officials accused of being lobbied was the former Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who was described as a friend of the company. Contacted for comment, a Facebook spokesperson said: Like the other documents that were cherrypicked and released in violation of a court order last year, these by design tell one side of a story and omit important context. "As weve said, these selective leaks came from a lawsuit where Six4Three, the creators of an app known as Pikinis, hoped to force Facebook to share information on friends of the apps users. These documents have been sealed by a Californian court so we're not able to discuss them in detail. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. One of the Central African Republics main armed groups on Sunday accused Bangui of failing to honour its commitments under a peace deal signed in February by forming a new government without changes to the main ministries. The authorities had shown bad faith, amateurism and incompetence, Noureddine Adam, head of the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC), said in a statement. The president (Faustin Archange Touadera) has just snuffed out the hope of the Central African people in the Khartoum peace agreement, he added. The groups political leader said it would not take part in this government charade, without elaborating further. A new government was formed earlier on Sunday in accordance with the deal which called for an inclusive government but with all the main ministers remaining in post. The peace deal was agreed in Sudan between the Bangui government and the 14 CAR armed groups controlling most of the territory in the strife-scarred country. The agreement called for a series of confidence-building measures, such as establishing joint patrols and the creation of a truth and justice commission within 90 days. The pact was the eighth since 2012 in the mineral-rich country. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Former colonial ruler France intervened militarily under a UN mandate, pushing the Seleka from power, and a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSCA, was established to help restore stability. Despite elections in 2016, the country is still engulfed in regular clashes. The armed groups control about 80 percent of the CAR. The conflict has left thousands dead and forced a quarter of the population of 4.5 million from their homes. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The focus on measles in the Pacific Northwest intensified Friday as public health officials in Oregon announced a new case of the highly contagious disease unrelated to an ongoing outbreak in Washington state thats sickened 68 people so far. An unvaccinated Illinois resident who spent time overseas visited Portland International Airport and various locations in Salem, Oregon last week while contagious with measles, the Oregon Health Authority said. Potential exposure locations include a Red Robin restaurant and a trampoline fun park in Salem, officials said. The case is unrelated to an ongoing measles outbreak in southwest Washington state thats sickened dozens. Public health officials in Clark County, Washington, said three new cases were identified Friday and two more are suspected. That brings the number of cases in the Portland, Oregon bedroom community of Vancouver, Washington, to 68 more than 40 percent of the number reported nationwide since Jan. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in updated statistics released Friday. There have been 159 measles cases identified nationwide through Feb. 21, the CDC said, and Washington accounted for 69 of those. There have been six outbreaks nationwide, including in Illinois, Texas, New York City and Monroe and Rockland counties in New York state. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases at a time. Most cases in Washington are young children under age 10 who were not vaccinated. Before Friday, Multnomah County home to Portland, Oregon had identified four people with measles and one who could have measles. One man in King County, which is home to Seattle, also had measles. Those cases were thought to be connected to the outbreak in southwest Washington, however. The viral illness has a long incubation period and 21 days must pass without a new case before the outbreak could be considered over in southwest Washington, said Dr. Alan Melnick, public health director in Clark County, Washington. State legislatures in both Washington and Oregon are considering laws that would remove non-medical exemptions for the routinely administered measles vaccine. Both states currently allow parents to opt out of the measles immunizations if they have a religious or philosophical objection. 307 Shares Share My fertility journey is not typical. I have not spent years trying. In fact, I have spent years trying not to get pregnant! My husband has two daughters and a vasectomy, so getting pregnant was a known challenge. Luckily, I like challenges. We went to an infertility specialist, who told us that reversal was not an option for us, and that IVF was our only option. A bunch of testing later, they diagnosed me with diminished ovarian reserve and suspected endometriosis and recommended laparoscopic surgery. I had not even tried to get pregnant. I didnt want surgery; I just wanted a baby. The only problem I was aware of was getting my husbands sperm. Or so I thought. I went for my egg harvest (a procedure to retrieve my eggs for IVF). I came out of my Propofol-haze to find out I had eight eggs. Only eight. The downhill spiral started before the Propofol had worn off. What if I do have a problem? What if I have diminished ovarian reserve or endometriosis? Should I have had the surgery? All of these questions started running through my head as I waited five long days for my transfer to occur. On our transfer date, we were ecstatic. It was October. We were going to put a pumpkin in my belly. Our plan was to transfer two embryos until we went into the office and found out we only had two embryos. Well, two other ones were in the morula phase but needed to progress to blastocyst. We looked at each other, without much discussion and said, OK, we have two. We will have two more once they grow. Lets put in these two. And we did. I spent the day on the floor with my legs against the wall trying to encourage those two embryos to make a home in my uterus. All the while I was wondering: Was the doctor was right? Did I have my own reproductive problems? Had I managed to get to 31 years of age without a child because I am infertile? I hadnt heard anything about my two other embryos, so I emailed my nurse to call me with the results. She didnt call. She sent me an email: No frozen embryos :( Sad face like the one with the colon and the parentheses yes, that. Breaking bad news is always a challenge. I break bad news almost every shift in the emergency department. An email with a sad face to a woman jacked up hormones was not the best approach. I now had two embryos inside me that were my only chance of getting pregnant, and a 60 percent chance of success at that. Ten days later, we did a home pregnancy test. It was positive. We were overjoyed for a short time. The next day my blood pregnancy test came back: 49. My nurse called and explained that it was lower than they would expect. I agreed to a 48-hour repeat. The next day, I started bleeding on my overnight shift. My repeat count was 98. Exactly double. I was still bleeding. My nurse called again wanted to know if I want to keep repeating beta quants every two days or just wait for my six-week ultrasound. I did not want to be the patient I see in the ER getting repeat quants. In fact, I didnt want to be the patient at all. I said No! and waited until my six-week ultrasound. On my ultrasound day, I had finally started to feel pregnant. I had started to believe I could be pregnant. But as soon as the transvaginal probe went in, I could see the clear stripe of my uterus uninterrupted by any collections of fluid. It was utterly empty. Immediately, the tears crept in the corners of my eyes. My doctor scanned out to the left, and there it was a gestational sac, a yolk sac, no fetal pole, no heartbeat. I had an ectopic pregnancy. That diagnosis I was always eager to make in others, I now made for myself. My doctor looked at me and said the most honest thing she could say, I am so sorry. You probably diagnose these way more than I do. Its extremely rare with IVF, less than one percent . Yes, I do diagnose them more than she does. And yes, I am the one percent. My infertility journey didnt end with an ectopic. I underwent multiple other rounds of IVF, eventually laparoscopic surgery. I am now currently waiting to implant my only embryo from my fifth round of injections and third egg retrieval. I share my very personal story because though I was diagnosed as the one percent undergoing fertility treatments with an ectopic, my diagnosis of infertility as a woman in medicine is not rare. I am not alone. For the general population, the infertility risk is approximately 12.1 percent, according to CDC data. Women around the world with infertility state that they are the one in eight. As women in medicine, we have an increased risk of infertility. Our risk is 24.1 percent for infertility, which means that for women in medicine one in four of us will struggle with infertility. Many will say it is because we attempt conception at an older age, and that is part of it. But it is not the whole story. A study in Hungary looked at over 3000 female physicians and compared them to an age-adjusted control group of professional women, other women who delayed child-birthing for their education and careers. The study found that women in medicine still had a statistically significant increase in infertility rates, even compared with their professional colleagues of the same age. So where do we go from here? First, we have to start the conversation. We have to start telling our stories and raise awareness about physician infertility. As physicians, we can do so much to erase the stigma around infertility and to raise awareness in our own professional groups. It is uncomfortable, but change can only start by working through discomfort. Second, we need to counsel and protect the young women in medical school and early residency that will be joining our ranks. We need to caution them in advance. I never thought 31 would be too old. We need to start the conversation so that the women coming behind us are better informed that I was so that they know their risks the risks I didnt know and can make decisions accordingly. Finally, we need more data and better data. Data will allow us to create policies to protect women in medicine, for example: Policies to not only allow, but to actually support women who want to have children during their training, whether medical school or residency. In the meantime, as we wait for more data and better policies, as I wait for another IVF procedure and the possibility of pregnancy, I will continue to tell my story to raise awareness about physician infertility. I invite you to join me. #SayTheFWord and tell your story about #physicianinfertility. Melissa E. Parsons is an emergency physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Melissa E. Parsons. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 2K Shares Share When I was a third-year medical student in 2006, I was assigned to spend the day at a well-known womens health clinic in Toronto. I walked into the procedure room and introduced myself to the attending. His first words to me were: Are you married? I replied that I wasnt married, and he (while continuing the procedure) asked, Well, do you at least have a serious boyfriend? Then he asked if my mother was nagging me to marry my boyfriend. And when I said she wasnt, he sighed heavily and lamented, Whats wrong with her? This continued all day long. He taught me absolutely zilch about the procedure I was there to learn and harangued me constantly about getting married and having babies as soon as possible. During a break in the day, he pontificated about the problem with lady doctors. Any guesses? You ladies think your education and achievements make you too good for the men out there, so you turn them all down and wind up alone. And the consequences of being female and having a high opinion of yourself? You wait and wait to get married and have babies, and then its too late, and you need fertility treatments. On that day, some eleven years before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements went mainstream and positioned at the very bottom of the medical hierarchy as a lowly third-year clerk, it didnt even occur to me to challenge my attending. Like so many women in medicine before me, I smiled and nodded and tried to change the subject, and, above all else, worked hard not to offend my male supervisor, even as he spent the day denigrating me as a baby machine who overvalued herself as a future doctor. The barriers for women in medical education are not always as obvious as an attending who spends the day hectoring you about your marital status rather than teaching you a procedure. Sometimes, the culture of misogyny is far more subtle and insidious. Over the past few months, the Globe and Mail, a national newspaper in Canada, has been reporting on an emergency department that is curiously absent any female physicians, despite the fact that the gender breakdown for Canadian graduates in emergency medicine is nearly 50/50. The chief of that department recently resigned after an investigation was launched into alleged discriminatory hiring practices that saw zero women hired in 16 years (and at least 23 men). Southlake Regional Health Centre, where this investigation is currently ongoing, is a teaching hospital at the University of Torontos medical school. Residents and medical students are still rotating through Southlakes emergency department, which until just recently was completely male and headed by a chief who reportedly refused to supervise female trainees himself and once told a woman, Its too bad you are a good resident, because you will have children and your training will be a waste. How do we know that we still havent achieved gender equity in medical education? Because the University of Toronto apparently sees nothing wrong with continuing to send trainees into this environment. Willful blindness to how this might be a poor learning experience for female trainees only perpetuates the cycle of misogyny. It tells women in medicine that the kind of day I had as a third-year clerk in 2006 is an acceptable part of our training, and is the standard to expect from our male mentors and attendings. The difference for me between 2006 and 2019 is that instead of smiling and nodding when faced with sexism in medical education, Im pushing back. Along with my fellow board members of Canadian Women in Medicine and the hundreds of supporters who have signed our online petition, we are challenging the University of Toronto to properly investigate the situation at Southlakes emergency department. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. We refuse to accept the old, sexist standards of medicines bygone days. We refuse to pretend that there is nothing problematic about sending medical learners to a department alleged to have been run by a chief who thinks its a waste to train women doctors. The old boys club in medicine isnt going to disband itself. We need strong, diverse voices to call out bigotry in medical education and create a more equitable learning environment for the future doctors coming up behind us. Michelle Cohen is a family physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - Officials said two new suspected measles cases have been identified in a measles outbreak in southwest Washington. Clark County Public Health officials said Saturday that the cases bring the number of confirmed patients to 70 people. Most are young children under age 10 who were not vaccinated. Multnomah County which is home to Portland, Oregon, has identified four people with measles and one who could have measles. One man in King County, which is home to Seattle, also had measles. Clark County Public Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick said 21 days without a new case must pass before the outbreak could be considered over. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter forBorderland Beat?We love to have you in our team, sendoran email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Classes will resume Monday at Gage Elementary School. In an email, the district says they "have the certificate of occupancy and will resume classes on Monday for Gage, Spanish Immersion at Gage, and School Age Childcare (SACC before and after school care)." That's after Rochester Public Schools sent home students early on Wednesday and cancelled classes on Thursday due to worries about snow on the roof. NEWTOWN >> On Dec. 3 at approximately 3 p.m., a Newtown Township Police School Resource Officer received information from Council Rock High School North officials regarding a potential threat by a student, which was allegedly made two to four weeks earlier, as reported by other students. Police immediately initiated an investigation into the matter, and investigators, over the course of... | BY Ricki Green | Applications have opened for the 2019 Copy Schools in both Melbourne and Sydney, sponsored by NewsMediaWorks, with another world-class line-up of guest creative tutors. Copy School is designed to encourage the best quality copywriting across all channels and engages some of Australias leading advertising creative directors and copywriters, as well as news media executives, to pass on their knowledge and experience. Copy School will be held in Melbourne on 1st to 5th April and in Sydney from 6th to 10th May, and each school is seeking 20 young copywriters, or any aspiring copywriters, to attend the workshop series. The courses run from 9am to 12 noon each day for a week. The Copy Schools in Melbourne and Sydney will provide participants with a real world brief that will be presented and critiqued on the final morning of the course. Says Peter Miller, CEO, NewsMediaWorks: Copy School has become synonymous with unearthing some seriously good new talent for the creative industry. The core focus of Copy School on how to create great, effective advertising for brands from of the best in the business attracts a range of students from junior writers at agencies to marketers themselves. Anyone who graduates from Copy School is privileged to have harvested gold dust from Australias best writers who give their time and knowledge freely. Id like to sincerely thank our guest tutors for their generous commitment to Copy School. In Melbourne, this years convenor is Chris Taylor, creative director at Shabbadu. He will host some of the industrys best senior creative talent and a senior newspaper editor, who will donate their time to be guest tutors, including: John Bevins, Former Copywriter Elle Bullen, Creative Director / Partner, SDWM Paul Taylor, Executive Creative Director, M & C Saatchi Melbourne Sarah McGregor, Creative Director, Cummins and Partners Mark Fuller, Editor (Print), The Age and Saturday Jess Wheeler, Associate Creative Director, Fenton Stephens Hilary Badger Writer & Author, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Jim Ingrim, Executive Creative Director, Thinkerbell Ted Horton, Chief Creative Officer, Big Red, Melbourne. In Sydney, this years convenor is Ray Black, the founder of Copy School, and he will host the following guest tutors: Jane Caro, Social Commentator, Writer & Lecturer Alex Derwin, Executive Creative Director, BMF Australia Tim Brown, Creative Partner, Disciple Ted Horton, Chief Creative Officer, Big Red, Melbourne. David Morris, Writer Ralph Van Dijk, Founder and Executive Creative Director, Eardrum. Alexandra Smith, State Political Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald Mike Burdick, Executive Creative Director, 303 MullenLowe Ted Horton, Chief Creative Officer, Big Red Melbourne The workshop fee is just $275 per student. Copy School will donate the fully tax deductible fee to The Salvation Army in Sydney and Front Yard Youth Service in Melbourne. Venue details are: Melbourne: Dexus Place Level 14, 385 Bourke St, Melbourne Sydney: The Sydney Morning Herald 1 Darling Island Rd, Pyrmont Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 3:04PM The Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e join the Note8, Note9, and Galaxy S9 phones to support Netflixs HDR10 content. This, however, is different from the HDR10+, which the phones support. HDR10+ has been co-developed Samsung. It is an extension of the other standard but offers dynamic range allocation on a frame by frame basis instead of having it fixed from the beginning of playback. This offers a better rendition of content that has both very bright and dark scenes. At the moment, you can only stream HDR10+ content from Amazon Prime Video. Source: GSMArena New Delhi, March 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a no-holds-barred attack on some opposition parties, accusing them of questioning and doubting the armed forces and making statements that favour Pakistan. "Some parties are converting their hate for Modi into hate against the nation. They are doubting the armed forces and are issuing statements favouring Pakistan. They are suspecting the fight against terrorism. These are the same people whose statements are being happily quoted in the Parliament of Pakistan and Radio Pakistan," he told a public meeting here after laying the foundation stone of a railway line between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi. IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Returns From Pakistan Via Attari Wagah Border; India Celebrates; See Pic & Video Modi did not take the name of any party in his attack at the meeting which was also attended among others by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy, whose AIADMK has sealed a pact with the BJP for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. The Prime Minister began his speech with the statement that every Indian was "proud that the brave" Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, taken captive by Pakistan, hailed from Tamil Nadu. He added: "I am proud that India's first woman Defence Minister is from Tamil Nadu." Then Modi referred to the surgical strikes carried out by the Army after the Uri terror attack and the aerial attack on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp last month and quoted media reports to say that when the 26/11 terror attack happened in Mumbai, the armed forces sought permission to conduct surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. "But the UPA government blocked it. Today we are living in an era when the armed forces have full freedom. Terrorists and terrorism will be curtailed even more. This is the new India. The terrorists will be paid back with capital and interest. "The armed forces are protecting the nation. I thank the armed forces. Well, the entire nation is proud of the armed forces as does the entire world. I salute all those who are serving the nation. It is their vigilance that keeps our nation secure," he said. Attacking the opposition parties, Modi said: "I want to ask them (parties) -- do you want to support our armed forces or raise doubts about them? Do they want to back our armed forces or support those forces which are helping foment terrorism on our soil? "Modi will come and go but India remains. Please don't weaken the country in trying to strengthen yourselves politically. Don't play with the defence and security of the country. We are Indians first. Your politics can wait," he said. Modi then turned his attack on the Congress over corruption. Referring to a late Prime Minister's talk of only 15 paise out of a Rupee going to the poor and an "arrogant" Minister claiming 'zero loss' in the spectrum case, he said: "Some talk of corruption as a way to life. It may be acceptable to them but not to me." He said the NDA government had taken historic steps against corruption. "The corrupt have to now give answers. The famous recounting Minister, who had insulted the middle class, now has to go to courts for bail for 'family pack' like the first family of the Congress party. "People have to answer. We have come down heavily on corruption. But we have also rewarded the honest tax payer... Did the governments of the past ever think of providing relief to the middle class?" The Congress' economic culture benefited only the ruling family and those close to them, he alleged. "If there was anyone who spoke against the Congress economic culture, it was Rajaji who hailed from Tamil Nadu. We are implementing his policies and India is rising on the ease of doing business from the position of 77 five years ago to 142 now in the global index." He said for the Congress social justice was just a slogan and during its regime there were innumerable atrocities against Dalits. He also accused the Congress of having defeated B.R. Ambedkar twice in elections. Modi said the choice for the people in the 2019 elections was between two sides. "On the one side strength and stability and the other stands weakness and vulnerability. Our leadership work culture is known across India; they are confused and have no leadership. They have no interest in the nation or people and are shamelessly indulging in corruption." The Prime Minister also came down heavily on the DMK for politicking over portfolios after the 2004 elections which brought the UPA to power. "The Ministers were not decided by the Prime Minister but by people who had nothing to do with public service. There was telephonic bargaining for Ministers' posts. "The 'mahamilawat' (adulteration) government will be held hostage to individual ambitions and family politics. My family is the 130 crore people of India. I will live for them and fall for them. I am in public life to further their destiny. I am here only for India's development." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2019 09:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). - Congratulatory messages have continued to poured in for President Muhammadu Buhari after winning the presidential election of Saturday, February 23 - The disclosure was made by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu - Shehu says King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, President Alpha Conde of Guinea and other African leaders have congratulated President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to receive congratulatory messages over his re-election from more African leaders across the continent. Mallam Garba Shehu, president's spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, February 27, said King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, in a message, described President Buharis victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians had in their President. The King, he said, promised to work with President Buhari to advance the interests of both countries, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Presidential election: I was not sure of who would emerge winner - Oshiomhole Legit.ng notes that King Mohammed VI said in his congratulatory message: Your re-election is a testimony to the level of confidence that you enjoy among the people of Nigeria, attributable to your wisdom, experience in politics, sense of engagement and devotion to the service and the protection of the interests of the country especially as they relate to the prosperity, wellbeing and security of your people. The monarch expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial and fraternal African relationship linking the two leaders, their people and nations. He reiterated his determination to work in concert with President Buhari to reinforce the mutually beneficial relationship between Morocco and Nigeria and to give it a new impetus to serve as a model on the African continent. Also, President Alpha Conde of Guinea who extended his congratulations, described the re-election of President Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region. Conde expressed confidence that the cordial relations between Nigeria and Guinea would continue to get better. Earlier, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who was the first leader to call President Buhari minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the 2019 presidential elections, said he looked forward to working with the Nigerian leader to further strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations. The presidential aide revealed Buhari had also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Nana Koffi-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Atiku Abubakar described the 2019 presidential election as the worst in the countrys history, vowing that he would reclaim his stolen mandate in court. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke at a world press conference on Wednesday, February 27 following his defeat in the election. Atiku claimed the result of the election did not reflect the will of the people and that he had the actual figures of the election. The former vice president claimed there was voter suppression in Akwa Ibo and that the state recorded a 62% decrease compared to 2015. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Earlier, Legit.ng reported that American actor Kevin Hart showed massive interest in a talented Nigerian pencil artist from Kaduna in Nigeria. As reported, the young boy had taken to posing a hyper-realistic painting of the international comedian across his social media platforms. Well, the news caused massive reactions on the social media as many people were excited at the fact that the American celeb recognized the artist. This appeared to have encouraged other artists to try their luck with other celebs as well. An artist identified as @austinelkhasy made a pencil sketch of Nigerian rapper, Ycee. While trying to get the rapper's attention, another user, @Iam_KingBuchi tried to guilt trip the rapper into buying the artwork. READ ALSO: Personal letter from the Editor-in-Chief of Legit.ng (former NAIJ.com) Ycee simply responded, saying he is not the American celeb, Kevin Hart, therefore, implying the baiting would not work on him. Screenshot of the post/@iam_YCEE Source: Twitter His response, however, did not sit well with many people who considered his response rude and insensitive. Many stated that the least he could have done was appreciate the artist for his work. This led the rapper to put up another post, explaining himself. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App He wrote: "To quickly shed light. A lot of people said very demeaning things about me when @austinelkhasy decided to post the drawing. This reply was in no way directed at him. Whoever posted the pic to make it seem that way its all good. You believe what you want last last" He went on to appreciate the artist who did the pencil sketch of him. Still on sketches and Nigerian celebrities, music business mogul, Don Jazzy recently took to his Instagram page with a photo collage in which he was spotted alongside the sketch a fan made of him. A twist in the story, however, is the fact that the artist had made a completely hilarious sketch that was not so good looking, but shared a cunning resemblance with Jazzy. HELLO! NAIJ.com (naija.ng) upgrades to Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better Top 5 Nigeria Rappers: Falz, Olamide And... Guess Who Else! | Legit TV Source: Legit - United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election - Pompeo commended all Nigerians who participated peacefully in the February 23 elections - Chinese president, Xi Jinping, on Friday also extended heartfelt congratulations to President Buhari The United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has congratulated the people of Nigeria on a successful presidential election and President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election. According to a statement by the Presidents spokesman, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, Pompeo commended all Nigerians who participated peacefully in the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections. He, however, condemned those whose acts of violence harmed Nigerians and the electoral process. READ ALSO: During campaign, I tried to visit 36 states to prove to opposition that Im fit - Buhari We note the assessments of international and domestic observer missions affirming the overall credibility of the election, despite localised violence and irregularities. We also congratulate all the other candidates for their peaceful participation in the electoral process. We call on all Nigerians to ensure successful state elections next week. Going forward, the United States remains committed to working together with Nigeria to achieve greater peace and prosperity for both our nations, Secretary Pompeo said. Adesina also said that the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, on Friday extended heartfelt congratulations to Buhari on his decisive win in the Feb. 23 presidential election in Nigeria. In his congratulatory message, President Xi said: On the occasion of your re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I would like to, on behalf of the government and people of China and in my own name, extend to Your Excellency warmest congratulations and best wishes. I wish you continued success in fulfilling the lofty mission. President Xi said through joints efforts with President Buhari, Nigeria and China in recent years had significantly enhanced political mutual trust and secured fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation, which have delivered tangible benefits to both countries. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app I highly value Chinas relations with Nigeria and stand ready to join hands with you to follow through on the outcome of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and take the China-Nigeria strategic partnership to a new height, to the greater benefits of the two countries and two peoples, President Xi said. Legit.ng earlier reported that Presidents of Ghana, Niger and Senegal called President Buhari to congratulate him few minutes after the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the 2019 presidential election result. In a statement signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the presidents said his re-election was a demonstration of the confidence Nigerians had in him. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! 2019 Election: Nigerians reveal what Buhari did to them| Legit TV Source: Legit Few days to the 2019 gubernatorial elections across Nigeria, no fewer than 20 candidates of various political parties in Zamfara state have withdrawn from the forthcoming the poll. Leadership reports that the APP gubernatorial candidate, Zayanu Salisu, presented the list of the political parties stepping down for the poll. Salisu said the decision was borne out of their desire to join hands to develop democracy in the state. READ ALSO: Corps members reveal how thugs threatened them to rig elections in Rivers state According to him, We are convinced that, based on the development recorded by the government, we have no option other than to support the ruling party in the forthcoming election He said leadership of the parties have directed their members to vote for the APC during the governorship and state assembly elections. In his response, governor Abdul-Aziz Yari thanked them for their support and promised to have an all-inclusive government. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission said it had made progress for the smooth conduct of governorship and the state house of assemblies elections on Saturday, March 9. The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the commissions meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, February 28, said that the governorship election would hold in 29 states. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news He explained that governorship elections in the remaining seven states were staggered and had already been conducted off season. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react | - on Legit TV: Source: Legit - A Nigerian woman has broken another record as she becomes a pilot for famous airline - The woman has become the first Nigerian female pilot to work with Qatar Airways - Qatar Airways is the state-owned national carrier of Qatar Nigerians daily dream of how best to break barriers and become international figures. The country is filled with talented people who do their best in their various fields in order to be known for their great achievement One of such latest cases is a Nigerian woman who has broken a barrier and paved the way for many Nigerian women in the aviation industry. The woman identified as Adeola Ogunmola Sowemimo has become the first female Nigerian pilot with Qatar Airways. The woman, who now works for the state-owned national carrier of Qatar, had taken to her Facebook page to thank God for his mercy. She wrote: "It is the Lord's doing and it's marvelous in my sight." Meet lady Adeola Ogunmola who became the first Nigerian female pilot with Qatar Airways Facebook source: Adeola Ogunmola Source: Facebook The lady later deleted her post. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app On seeing her post, friends and family members on the platform also celebrated her for the great achievement. They also thanked God for granting her the abilities to achieve it. It was gathered that Sowemimo would be flying the Dreamliner Boeing 787 for the Qatar Airways. The lady was celebrated by friends and family Facebook source: Adeola Ogunmola Source: Facebook Here are some of the posts below: Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that a 30-year-old Nigerian lady who is known as a whizz at the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA), became the first black woman to get a doctorate degree in aerospace engineering. She was born into a family of six. Legit.ng further reports how Nigerian scholars in the diaspora are making the country proud with the knowledge they are impacting in students around the world. Maryleen Ndubuaku, a PhD scholar in computing, is one of those Nigerians changing the narrative of the country for good. Ndubuaku has been appointed as an associate lecturer in electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Derby. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Talented Nigerian man with 28 skills says he did not learn from anybody (Amazing Story) - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng The recent National Assembly election has been won and lost. However, one mans reaction to his defeat by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to have come unexpected. Eromosele Ebomele examines the response of Patrick Obahiagbon, the former chief of staff to Adams Oshiomhole, to the victory of sitting Senator Matthew Uroghide Nigerians, many of whom follow him on social media could not hold back. Of course, some of them could not have been said to share the same quantum of emotions currently being haboured by the man, who has, over the years, become an enigma, they were only taken aback that Patrick Obahiagbon, in the circumstance of a political defeat, could come down to considering elementary grammar to pass his message to his audience. But he did. And the message was one in which he accepted gallantly accepted his defeat and even congratulated the winner of the election. Many who read his commended him while some prayed for better favours upon him. A disappointed fan and followers on Facebook, Ehigie Evbuomwan, simply commented: This is not a release from Hon Patrick Obahiagbon. It lack(sic) colour, and comical shade... On her own, Glory Ose, another fan of his, wrote: Am surprise he didn't speak grammar. First time in history. For Habib Adamu, Obahiagbo did not write that message for which they had commented. He said: Good piece but not written by the man I call dictionary himself, because the words are too simple without grammar. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Obahiagbon is not just loved, his fans cut across Nigeria Credit: Patrick Obahiagbon Source: UGC Obahiagbon, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo South senatorial seat was defeated by incumbent Senator Matthew Uroghide of the Peoples Democratic Party. In accepting defeat, the 58-year-old former chief of staff to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, then governor of Edo and now national chairman of the APC, said on his Facebook wall: I want to thank the entire members of APC in Edo south senatorial district and indeed Edo state for their unwavering support, now that Edo South senatorial District election have been officially released. I also want to thank the members of my campaign team for their tireless work and all my friends across the world who gave me their support. Popularly referred to as Igodomigodo, the very first name of the Benin empire, which he inherited because of his love and respect for the Edo tradition, Obahiagbon added: It was an election we worked and fought for gallantly and with a singular determination to provide a vocal and effective representation on behalf of our senatorial district. I like to thank the indomitable national chairman of our great party APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, for their support. (I) am also using this medium to congratulate my brother, Senator Matthew Uroghide In his moment of joy. We remain robots in the hands of God. OBAGHATO KPERE ISEE (the traditional prayer for the Benin monarch)!!! While his statement seemed too simple to be believed, it melted some hearts. Isaac Oghagbon commented: Patrick Obahiagbon, you have demonstrated an uncommon and worthy spirit of sportsmanship. This indeed is the missing link in all our puzzle of democratic confusion. Wish you the best in your future political endeavors. A glorious tomorrow beckons to a noble soul like you. Sure, Obahiagbon, a well-respected Nigerian former member of the House of Representatives where he stepped into from the Edo state House of Assembly, would have made the lower chamber of the ninth National Assembly interesting with his principled stand on issues of national importance irrespective of his political leaning. Obahiagbon receiving the blessings of some of the Enigies of Benin kingdom Credit: Patrick Obahiagbon Source: UGC As a member of the House of Representatives, each time he stood up to talk on the floor of the House, a measure of excitement radiated. Many never understood his points of argument because he would hit the ground with some of the most complex words and adjectives. Ahead of 2011, he lost the seat to Rasak Bello-Osagie during the primary election of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). His reaction? "The news of Patrick Obahiagbon losing his primary election has never suffused with emotional narcolepsy that the homo sapiens in the metro-political geographic enclave of Edo have opted for owambeing over legislative Quomodo dicis. Such a reckless display of narcissistic, flamboyant hedonism is capable of encumbering our nascent democracy with insidious, repercussive and cataclysmic exigencies." Obahiagbon would never find any difficulty searching for the right vocabulary for any particular situation. At the death of Chief Anthony Enahoro, years ago, his tribute hit the internet and trended for many days. "Certainly, this is the fall of another titan. Chief Anthony Enahoro's modus vivendi, whilst he peregrinated through this will-o-the-whisp of a three dimensional world, resonated with a divine halo of an iconic personage who was propelled by the PIRKEAVOTHIAN apothegm, which urges man to realise that the day is short and the work is great." He added that the late Enahoro ceaselessly "fulminated against the vagabonds in power whose primus mobile had philistinic anchorage on a depreciably mindless crave for vacuous hedonism and ingratiating political megalomania." To him, the only way Nigeria could honour Enahoro, a founding father of the country, "is for all the progressive forces to extricate themselves from the arms of Morpheus, with a view to continuously demystify, explode and pulverise the Machiavellian Mephistophelian, primitive accumulative and rabidly sybarctic propensities of out political class be it at the level of executive suzerainty or parliamentary Olympian aloofness." When Nigeria celebrated its 52nd independence, Obahiagbon had this to say: "As we celebrate our flag and shambolic autarky at 52, we must realize that Nigeria is still more of a geographic contrivance as has been rightly posited by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Not with our centrifugal excrescences preponderating over our centripetal proclivities. Its a matter for mental pabulum that we are daily drifting into our ethnic cocoons. We still remain one country with disparate ethnic agendas and I can say it for the umpteenth time again that we must sit down in a sovereign national colloquy to discuss the basis for our nationhood. Anything short of this is just vacuous scahiamachy. Goodluck Jonathan, former president, was not spared from Obahiagbon. The mistake his government made was that it tried to remove subsidy from premium motor spirit, also called petrol. I have read with acatalectic disgust, governments asinine and puerile ratiocinations attempting to justiceate the proposed removal of subsidies from petroleum products. It has asseverated that its intention is guided by the need to checkmate the odoriferous excesses of a Machiavellian and Mephistophelean cabal and I have said to myself, what a shame! What a self-indicting admitttal of the failure of governance! What a hocus-pocus!" he had said in support of Nigerians who rejected move. He once reportedly came for pastors whose craze involves the acquisition of private jets. According to reports, he said:"I cast my vote for Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Pastor Tunde Bakare in their demosthenic vitriol against spiritual megalomaniacs whose modus vivendi has become increasingly byzantine and repulsively narcissistic. We must all begin to deprecate this razzmatazz and Nestorian braggadocio in the 'House of God' because when there is no difference between the values of a pastor and a typical Nigerian politician, then its truly a bolekaja ambience." Obahiagbon during one of his campaigns ahead of the election Creid: Patrick Obahiagbon Source: UGC In one interview in 2010 while still in the House of Representatives, he was asked by he spoke big, big grammar. He replied: Sincerely speaking, I want to tender an unreserved apologia to my colleagues and all those who feel that my language is obscurantist. The truth is that I do not set out deliberately to mystify my audience, to deposit my audience in a portmanteau of indecipherability or in portmanteau of conundrum. No, no, no, no! Far from it. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app But, let me say that I am an omnivorous reader and I put my nose on the grinding stone to read for more than 7 hours a day when most innocent men are sleeping, and night marauders are doing their business. I am on my table, in my library for seven hours. And that has been on for over twenty years. And like I always tell people, the dictionary for me is not a reference point; the dictionary is a vade mecum, a constant companion. I spend on the average not less than an hour a day referencing the dictionary for the past twenty to twenty-five years. So dont be maniacally bewildered. if I speak most times, from what I draw while reading. But, really, the intention is not to deliberately befuddle or obfuscate my presentations on the floor." Though many of his fans would live with the reality that Obahiagbon would not be in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly in the next four years, they wait and pray patiently for him to remain of service to the country. Legit.ng earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently officially declared President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 2019 presidential election, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with over three million votes. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Powerful forces in Benue were responsible for the recent attacks on communities in the state, the military says - Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Maj-Gen Adeyemi Yekini, made the statement at a press briefing - Yekini also said such individuals were instigating violence as could be seen in the recent attacks on communities preceding major elections in the country The military said certain powerful forces in Benue were responsible for the recent attacks on communities in the state. Maj-Gen Adeyemi Yekini, the Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), made the statement at a press briefing on Sunday in Makurdi. READ ALSO: PDP governorship aspirant, 30,000 others dump party in Kaduna Yekini also said such individuals were instigating violence as could be seen in the recent attacks on communities preceding major elections in the country. It is obvious that some forces are instigating violence in Benue; it is not a coincidence that there was an attack on Agatu community a week to the presidential election and now there is another attack on Gwer West a week to the governorship election. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OPWS was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 to tackle cases of armed banditry on communities in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states. The force commander said the military outfit had intensified operations along Loko-Agatu, Kwande and other border communities in Benue to prevent reoccurrence of the attacks. He condemned the preference to cattle over human lives by those who retaliated because of cattle theft. Flt Officer Mohammed Abubakar, the Sector Commander,OPWS in Gwer West Local Government Area, said some people were using military uniforms to rustle cattle. Those people who did this are suspected to be Livestock Guards, according to our local sources, he said. Abubakar said seven corpses had already been recovered. According to him, the council chairman of Gwer West, Mr Francis Ayaga and the Divisional Police Officer of the local government area have already submitted seven names of the suspects to him. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Nigerian Army on Saturday, March 2, said its activities in the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly polls were within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Reacting to allegations of partisanship, coercion and shooting of voters in some areas across the country during the elections, it said that soldiers deployed on election duty were professional and proactive in their conduct. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Leadership of Nigeria is not meant for our forefathers| - on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng The Easton Police Department K-9 Unit and officers from Colonial Regional assisted Nazareth police in a drug probe that led to the seizure Saturday of $4,000 worth of methamphetamine, according to Nazareth police. Police Chief Randall Miller said police aren't finished. Investigations into Illegal drug sales are ongoing within Nazareth Borough, Miller said in a news release, adding that borough police want to hear from residents who may be of assistance in the effort. Saturday, the Northampton County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 300 block of South Main Street and seized about 46 grams of meth, Miller said. Officers also seized a substantial amount of medications with improper prescriptions, including alprazolam and clonazepam, along with evidence of drug dealing that included packaging and distribution materials, according to police. Resident Kelly Lynn Peterson, 31, was arrested on charges of methamphetamine possession with intent to deliver, prescription medications possession with intent to deliver, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. She was arraigned before District Judge John Capobianco and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail, police said. Peterson reportedly told police she was selling narcotics from the home in order to support her personal drug habit. "Additional charges are expected in reference to this matter," Miller wrote in the release. Police ask anyone who suspects drug dealing in Nazareth to call investigators via the Nazareth Borough Police Crime Tip Line at 610-759-3216, the Northampton County 911 non-emergency line at 610-759-2200 or borough police at 610-759-9575. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Colonial Regional Police are searching for a man they say struck an officers vehicle and kept going. David C. Lowy, 56, no known address is charged with aggravated assault and eluding police. The incident happened at 2:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at the hotel, 3723 Easton-Nazareth Highway, in Lower Nazareth Township. Colonial Regional police said an officer found Lowy sleeping in a pickup truck in the parking lot. Lowy at the time had several active warrants for his arrest. Lowy then allegedly refused demands by an officer to get out of the truck. He then put his truck into drive and headed toward the officer, according to police. The officer got out of the way and Lowy allegedly crashed into a police SUV, pushing it several feet. Lowy then allegedly continued out of the parking lot; a police chase ensued with an officer losing track of Lowy. Lowy was last seen traveling along Eaton Avenue in Bethlehem driving a red Dodge Ram with license plate No. ZGA6664. The truck should have passenger side damage, police said. Lowy is being described as white, having a heavy set build, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and having gray hair and a gray beard. What you can do: Those with information about Lowys whereabouts, are asked to call Colonial Regional police at 610-861-4820. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have issued phased vehicle bans and restrictions for Sunday as a swift-moving winter storm is expected to hit across Pennsylvania. The ban, which began at noon, prohibits empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks; all large combination vehicles (double trailers); tractors hauling empty trailers; tractors without trailers (bobtails); any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs; all motorcycles; and all recreational vehicles and RVs. At this time, these specific vehicles will be prohibited on I-70 (the full length in Fulton County); I-80 from I-99 to I-81; I-81 from the Maryland state line to I-83; I-99 (full length); and I-180 (full length from Route 220/U.S. 15 to Interstate 80). At 3 p.m. Sunday, the agencies are implementing a full commercial ban (including buses) on these specific roadways: I-78 (full length from I-81 to the New Jersey state line); I-80 from I-81 to the New Jersey state line; I-81 from I-83 to I-80; I-83 from the Maryland state line to I-81; I-283; I-476 (at the PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from Mid-County to I-80; Route 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey state line; and Route 33 from I-78 to I-80. Also at 3 p.m. Sunday, the agencies will prohibit only empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks; all large combination vehicles (double trailers); tractors hauling empty trailers; tractors without trailers (bobtails); any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs; all motorcycles; and all recreational vehicles and RVs. At that time, these specific vehicles will be prohibited on these roadways: PA Turnpike (I-76, I-276) from Harrisburg East to Mid-County; I-81 from I-80 to the New York state line; I-84 full length from I-81 to the New York state line; I-176; I-380 full length from I-81 to I-80; and I-476 (PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from I-80 to Clarks Summit. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. easton city council Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., left, and city Councilman Peter Melan got into a heated discussion at council's Feb. 27 meeting over raises for elected officials effective in January 2020.EXT Its a good thing at least once every four years for a city council and mayor to have a public discussion about their pay. It typically occurs in the year before an election, since any pay raises go into effect for the people starting terms after that year. And it triggers a public review on whether the people running the city are getting what they deserve. The taxpayers of Easton were treated to a rare showdown last week on this issue. Councilman Peter Melan objected to the mayor getting a one-time 6 percent raise and annual cost-of-living boosts tied to raises received by the citys nonunionized workers. Lately that figure has run between 2 and 3 percent. On this issue, Melan is right. He encountered blowback from Mayor Sal Panto Jr., who is running for a fourth straight term this year. Panto countered that this was strange coming from Melan, considering Easton Council members are the best-paid in Pennsylvania, at $9,371 a year for a part-time position. On that point, Panto is right. Nonetheless, City council plugged ahead last week, approving both the one-time 6 percent raise and annual COLA raises for the mayor. Council members kept their own pay at $9,371 and in a show of gutlessness, backed away from a proposal to strip council of health insurance coverage, an abomination for a part-time job representing 27,000 people. (City Council members in Bethlehem are also eligible for health care coverage.) Melan and Panto accusing the other of overvalue was riveting politics, no doubt. Yet the council forfeited any credibility on its ability to be an independent check on the mayor (who serves as council president in Eastons unique form of government) when it reversed course and voted yes to extend an undeserved health care perk. Health insurance for part-timers isnt just an unjustified taxpayer expense, its a bad incentive for people to seek public office. Eastons mayor is comparably well-paid, per capita, because Easton is a small city. The mayors $86,306 salary this year will go up to $91,500 next year, with the 6 percent boost, then to $91,500 in 2020 and possibly as much as $99,984 in 2023. The mayors of Allentown and Bethlehem make $95,000 and $90,500, respectively. Melan, in attacking the double-barreled pay raise, noted that Eastons mayor was relieved of day-to-day business responsibilities when the city went to a new form of government more than a decade ago, transferring most of the duties to a full-time administrator. Panto replied that his job is much more than full-time, given the time he puts in, and if he were in it for the money he would have returned to the private sector years ago. Fair enough. If Panto were the CEO of a private business and the citys recent fortunes made up his performance review, his compensation would have soared into six figures long ago. Easton still has problems and high taxes, but Eastons rebirth under Pantos watch as been the envy of many other cities. Most of whom pay their mayors a lot less. Still, the mayor of Easton is a public servant, answerable to the resident panhandlers in Centre Square as much as the people headed to the restaurants. City council may want to reward Pantos performance, and he surely deserves much credit, but council has a responsibility to set the mayors pay at an appropriate level regardless of the person in that office. Thats why this process is done before elections, and why the mayors salary shouldnt be tied annually to other city employees. City council should reconvene, repeal the proposed annual raises for the mayor (keeping a well-deserved one-time bump) and give up health coverage for themselves. Thats the right thing to do, whether Easton is breaking records for property values or asking Harrisburg for a bailout. Happily, its the former, but Eastonians shouldnt be blinded by that. They should insist on a government that champions frugality and accountability as much as a pat on the back. Students may be shuffled around next year in two Warren County school districts that are each now deciding the fates of their elementary schools. Boards of education in Belvidere and Great Meadows were both scheduled to decide last week if they would close schools, but both delayed votes. "Nobody wants to lose a school," Great Meadows Superintendent David Mango said Wednesday. "But the reality is ... how do you maintain what you have?" Belvidere: Third Street Elementary A school board vote to close the Third Street Elementary School had been scheduled for Wednesday evening but was postponed because school board members wanted more information, Superintendent Chris Carrubba said. The school had 104 students enrolled in the 2017-18 school year, taught by eight certified teachers, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Education. The districts other elementary school had 149 students, and there were 458 attending Belvidere High School that year. Carrubba said a fact sheet on the proposal would soon be posted to the districts website. Great Meadows: Liberty Elementary Of the three schools in the Great Meadows Regional School District, Liberty Elementary School is the odd one out. The school is in Liberty Township, separate from Central Elementary and the Great Meadows Middle School that share a campus three mile away in Independence Township. The district has contemplated streamlining its facilities since at least 2017, when declining enrollment and tax revenue led to studies of its operations, according to Mango, the superintendent the district shares with neighboring Hackettstown. It became more urgent when the state recently proposed aid cuts, Mango said in a December newsletter. The choice became between the two elementary schools, and officials focused on the isolated one. The school board had planned a vote this week, but postponed it until March 19 to see if Gov. Phil Murphy announces any changes to New Jersey's school funding plan. Liberty had 207 students and 24 certified teachers in the 2017-18 school year. If the district goes through with closing the school, Central Elementary will become a pre-K-to-3 school and the middle school will host grades 4 to 8. Great Meadows students attend Hackettstown Regional High School. Mango said it was too soon to say what will happen with staff and administration but that the district wants to limit the impact. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A fast-moving snow storm, which could dump an inch per hour, is moving in on the heels of Friday night into Saturday mornings snowfall, the National Weather Service says. A winter storm warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday for most of eastern Pennsylvania, including Northampton and Lehigh counties, as well as most of northern New Jersey, including Warren County. When its all said and done, the weather service predicts total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. Rain or snow is expected to develop Sunday afternoon before changing over to all snow by Sunday evening, which should fall heavy at times before ending sometime early Monday. The weather service predicts the most snowfall should begin sometime before 3 a.m. Monday. AccuWeather has a slightly different forecast, predicting the majority of snowfall to end after midnight Sunday. At that point, AccuWeather predicts anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of accumulation in the Bethlehem area. The high temperature is predicted to be 42 degrees Sunday and dipping to a low of 29 degrees Sunday evening, according to the weather service. AccuWeather predicts a high of 40 degrees Sunday and a low of 30 degrees by Sunday evening. The chance of precipitation Sunday evening into early Monday is 100 percent, the weather service says. Snowfall rates of up to an inch per hour will be possible between about 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday in some areas. Several towns have issued snow emergencies Sunday, including Palmer Township from 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday; Hackettstown, starting at 4 p.m. Sunday; Bethlehem Township from 11 a.m. Sunday to 5 p.m. Monday; Hellertown, starting at 4 p.m. Sunday; Phillipsburg, starting at 6 p.m. Sunday; Tatamy, starting at 8 a.m. Sunday; Bethlehem Township from 11 a.m. Sunday to 5 p.m. Monday; and Easton from 3 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday. While the snow is expected to end before the Monday morning commute, hazardous conditions should still be happening from the earlier heavy snow, forecasters say. Motorists are urged by meteorologists to use extra caution, untreated surfaces such as driveways and back-roads will be tough to navigate. The high temperature is predicted to be 34 degrees Monday and mostly sunny. By Monday night, the temperature is expected to dip into the single digits with a low of 9 degrees, according to the weather service. AccuWeather predicts a high of 37 degrees Monday and a low temperature of 12 degrees Monday night. The next chance for snow is Friday with a 30 percent prediction of precipitation, the weather service says. AccuWeather also predicts snow or flurries Friday. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Portlaoise Train Station has won the national award of Best Customer Service from Iarnrod Eireann. It is the first time for the busy commuter station to win the award, based on online customer votes. Ray Delaney from Portlaoise is the Station Manager, for Portlaoise and five other train stations. It's a great recognition for the staff, we do give a great service here. We try and get to know everyone who passes through the station and it is humbling to know they appreciate it, he said. The Iarnrod Eireann Best Station Awards recognise excellence in customer facilities, cleanliness, innovation and customer service in the countrys 144 railway stations. We have 55 trains a day to and from Dublin and they are very seldom late. Our first train goes at 5.40am and we could have 50 people waiting on the platform, said Mr Delaney. The station has five staff and is manned from 5am to 12 midnight six days a week, and 8am to 11pm on Sundays. The only problem is parking, our carpark is full by 7am but the plans for a new 100 space carpark by the council in the CBS will ease that, the manager said. Mr Delaney, Cathal Brophy and Ger O'Connor accepted a specially crafted Waterford Crystal trophy at the awards ceremony in Heuston Station on February 21. Ray Delaney and all the staff at Portlaoise were commended for their excellent customer service to all those that pass through the busy station. They always have a friendly smile and a helpful word knowing many of the customers by name. Jim Meade is Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann. We are delighted that so many customers took the opportunity to vote in this years Best Station Awards. By encouraging keen competition between stations, we can raise the standards of customer care at all stations for the benefit of everyone who travels with us. A WOMAN and a man have been charged in connection with a major garda operation in which 320,000 worth of drugs were seized in Limerick city this week. Kerry OKeeffe, 47, and David Markham, 30, both with an address at The Cross, Coonagh Lower, Limerick, appeared before Judge Marian OLeary at a special sitting at Kilmallock District Court on Sunday afternoon. Both face one charge of sale and supply and two counts of possession of drugs, after they were arrested and detained at Henry Street garda station at the weekend. In statements on Saturday, gardai said they arrested a woman, 47, and two males, 18 and 30. An 18-year-old will appear before Limerick District Court on March 25. In a statement, a spokesperson said that 320,000 worth cannabis and cocaine (subject to analysis) were seized following searches at Moyross, Coonagh Lower and Castletroy on Friday. There was no objection to bail, subject to a number of conditions, Insp Helen Costelloe said. Under bail conditions, Ms OKeeffe, who wore a green rain jacket in court, surrendered her passport and must sign-on at Henry Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8am and 10pm. Ms OKeeffe, who was represented by solicitor John Herbert, was granted bail on her own bond of 300. Mr Markham, who wore blue-black hoodie and grey tracksuit pants, made no reply to any of the charges, Insp Costelloe said. Under bail conditions, Mr Markham must sign-on at Henry Street daily between 9am and 9pm, surrender his passport, reside at his address, and engage with addiction counselling services prior to the adjournment. Laurence Goucher BL, defending, asked Mr Markham, who entered the witness box, if he was prepared to engage in counselling services, to which he replied: Yes, I am. Judge OLeary said: Your solicitor will explain to you the consequences if you dont do so. Mr Markham was granted bail on his own bond of 300. Both have been remanded on bail until May 15, pending DPP directions. AN armed garda who accidentally shot a suspected criminal in the face will not face disciplinary action as he has since retired, the Limerick Leader can reveal. Lithuanian national Tomas Mikalajunas spent several months in hospital following the incident near Shanagolden in the early hours of June 29, 2016. He pleaded guilty, last month, to his role in a number of burglaries across Munster. The 38-year-old was the driver of a Toyota Corolla which was being pursued by members of the Cork-based Regional Support Unit after it left Foynes. In correspondence seen by the Limerick Leader, a senior investigating officer with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) confirmed the actions of the garda were contrary to his training and procedures and were negligent. However, Investigators found the decision to perform a hard stop was justified and proportionate under the circumstances to avoid any potential harm to the suspects and/or members of the public. As he was in the motion of levelling the firearm at the driver, the firearm discharged, smashing the drivers side window and hitting the driver in the face, states the report. When questioned about the incident, the garda in question said his weapon seemed to stick in his holster and a double action was required to remove the firearm from the holster as he and his colleague approached the Toyota. While accepting the gun did not discharge itself, the garda said he had absolutely no recollection of his finger engaging the trigger. There is no dispute that the discharge of the firearm was unintentional however having his finger on the trigger is contrary to his training and procedures and is therefore negligent, states the report. While GSOC recommended that disciplinary proceedings be instigated, the garda has since retired so no further action will be taken. NOMINATIONS are being sought for appropriate names for three of the loop walks around the old wall of Kilmallock. New walkways around the medieval wall that link Kilmallocks historical buildings have been carefully planned and are now nearing completion. Every household in Kilmallock town are to receive a map with the walks marked out and an area to nominate ideas for the name for this section. The Irish Walled Towns Network and Ms Sarah McCutcheon from Limerick City and County Council deserve great praise for the work they have done. This new development has the potential to transform the tourism potential of the town. The walkway has been divided into several sections and we would like you to name them, said a spokesperson. Householders are asked to return each form to marked boxes in SuperValu or in the library by March 10. It is hoped to officially open the walks in early 2019. Kilmallock was an important Norman town and was at the centre of Irelands political development. The original circuit of the towns defences was 1,700 metres and of this about 1,200 metres remains standing. LIMERICK music collector Nicky Woulfe has hit back after councillors voted to defer plans to award him 30,000 for a museum in the city. Members of the metropolitan district last week put on hold plans to award the money, which represents over 30% of its annual General Municipal Allocation. Mr Woulfes Music Memories and Memorabilia museum would visually showcase his five decades worth of music memorabilia, containing more than 1,200 vinyl records, periodicals, posters and photographs, with the facility set to feature rooms dedicated to international, Irish and Limerick-born musical talents. Now, the Mayorstone man has claimed a commitment of 30,000 had been promised to his tourism project by the Metro Mayor Cllr Daniel Butler along with his Fine Gael colleagues Cllr Elenora Hogan, Cllr Marian Hurley, along with Fianna Fail Mayor James Collins and Cllrs Jerry O'Dea, John Gilligan and Cllr John Costelloe. But some councillors expressed concern that money was being pledged before other members had a chance to pitch for the funds, Cllr Frankie Daly describing it as a knee jerk reaction. Mr Woulfe believes his museum proposal would attract visitors, pointing out that when he ran a similar project in 2014, it drew 3,000 people. He said: The project also has huge potential as an international visitor and tourist experience for the city as it can organically grow well beyond the private collection. Some of the best memorabilia and rock and roll visitor experiences across the world begin as private collections which then have the potential to expand. Music museums across the world have proved to be successful visitor centres providing a fascination for the public appetite and give cities a novel tourist and visitor identity, he stated. A COUNTY Limerick publican who was convicted of selling alcohol to a 17-year-old is facing the prospect of being ordered to close on certain days of the week. But Judge Mary Larkin adjourned the case before finalising the days of closure. She said she would fine the publican Stephen Smith, proprietor of The Ploughmans Bar, Abbeyfeale, 250. Sergeant Gearoid Thompson told the court that on November 3, 2017, as part of a test purchase operation, a female garda in plain clothes had gone to Mr Smiths bar with a volunteer test purchaser who was aged 17 at the time. The test purchaser was given two bottles of cider by a female behind the bar. She paid 4.70 per bottle. The transaction was witnessed by the garda. Sgt Thompson said permission for the young person to take part in the operation had been given by her mother and that it was the second time she had taken part in such an operation. Cross-examining Sgt Thompson, solicitor Orla Dennison pointing out that separate consent was required for each test operation and in this case, permission from the previous June was being relied on. Consent from June 6 was not withdrawn, the sergeant said. He also said that a very detailed briefing had been given in June. I understood the young person understood matters, he said. Questioned as to whether he was aware of the strict requirement for risk assessment, Sgt Thompson said he had carried out risk assessment and had fully briefed the young person. If your case is the garda did not follow the guidelines as you say, I am not going to hold with you on that, Judge Mary Larkin said. It is a matter for the state to produce evidence the operation was legal, Ms Dennison said. I am satisfied the operation was legal, Judge Larkin replied. But she heard evidence from the female garda who took part in the operation. She told the court that when the young person had bought the cider, the two of them sat down, she rang Sgt Thompson and then left the bar. Ms Dennison argued that the onus was on the state to prove an offence had been committed. The defendant was not the person who served the alcohol, she argued. The state had not produced any evidence her client was the owner of the licensed premises in question nor had they produced any evidence of purchase by way of receipt. In addition, she said, there was no evidence of complying with the guidelines set down in legislation. She argued that the young person was not in court nor was there a photograph of her. Your client is obliged to ask about age but he didnt, Judge Larkin said. If he wants to give evidence in mitigation, I will listen to that. If he wants to say it was a mistake, I will listen to that. But she was satisfied to convict. The nature of such prosecutions, the judge said, was such that the test purchase is not brought to court. Failure to produce a photo in court of the test purchaser was not a defence, she said. Stephen Smith said he was not in the bar on the night in question. He now had a ledger where details of anybody refused drink were entered and he had carried out staff training, updating it every five or six weeks. But he acknowledged to Superintendent John Deasy that there had been a previous offence in June of under-age selling. There is no defence when you dont ask for age, the superintendent said. The way they were dressed, they didnt think it was necessary, Mr Smith said. Judge Larkin remarked that she had gone to bars in Heuston and other airports where she had been asked for proof of age. I am looking at myself and saying isnt it great. Do I look as if I am under-age? It is not a compliment. It is just maintaining their licence, she said. She acknowledged that Mr Smith had now had two nasty lessons but she had to put a closure order in place. The judge said she was prepared, in the circumstances, to accede to an order which would see the pub closed on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The case was adjourned to next week when the dates of the closures will be confirmed. LIMERICK councillors will next month discuss whether or not they will respect a voluntary ban on erecting election posters on all future elections. The motion was raised by Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins at this weeks environment strategic policy committee (SPC) meeting at County Hall, Dooradoyle. He said the corriboard plastic takes 400-plus years to biodegrade, and that the erection of posters is a huge safety hazard and that can create and cause accidents. Cllr Collins said that people who climb ladders and poles to erect posters are putting their own lives in danger as well and because some posters are at eye-level, people on the street could literally have their eye taken out. He added that plastic is damaging marine life and is destroying the landscape in advance of Tidy Towns competitions. And while a number of council colleagues that candidates should be going poster-free in the upcoming election, a number of councillors disagreed with the motion. There is nothing that you said that we can disagree with, director of service Brian Kennedy said, but added if the council decided to vote in favour of a voluntary ban, the council would not be in a position to adapt a voluntary ban. Cllr Marian Hurley suggested that there be a phasing out of election posters. Fianna Fail councillor Kieran OHanlon said: At the end of the day, if the Minister is serious about single-use-plastics, he needs to do something about it. Cllr OHanlon said there are plenty of alternatives to promoting candidates during election time, including advertising in a local newspaper, local radio andthe best form knocking on doors. He suggested limiting the amount of posters that can be used during election period. Independent councillor Brigid Teefy said: I think a certain amount of posters are necessary. They create awareness. Cllr Eddie Ryan said that does not agree with the motion and that election posters absolutely do no harm to anybody. It was mooted that billboards in designated areas be erected for candidates to place their posters. However, Mr Kennedy said that this would be a substantial cost to the council to have it designed, installed and procured. Councillors agreed to put forward a motion to the full sitting of Limerick City and County Council in March, that this local authority will respect a voluntary ban on election posters for all elections. STOP meat-eater bashing when discussing climate change, comes the plea from local councillors in Limerick. The appeal to stop bashing local farmers and meat-eaters was made this week by two councillors following a presentation on Limericks climate change strategy. Speaking in the Council chambers in Dooradoyle, Sinn Fein councillor Seighin OCeallaigh said it annoyed him to see farmers, and people who eat meat, blamed for climate change when its big factories we should be looking at. It's completely unfair, Cllr O Ceallaigh said. The negative impact of climate change was clear to see after a series of unpredictable weather events over the last year, he added. Today it is 16 degrees and this time last year it was close to two degrees. But in recent years, the agri-sector has become much more environmentally friendly, he said, adding a lot of efforts have been made to improve the sector. It is far more environmentally friendly to buy locally produced meat than fruit or veg that is shipped in from the other side of the world. That is far more damaging to the environment than any calf or lamb that is reared here and sent to the local butchers. Fine Gael councillor Adam Tesky commended Cllr O Ceallaigh on his support for the agri-sector. The issue of climate change and unpredictable weather conditions seems to go back to the book of Genesis, cllr Tesky said. When we had seven good years, then seven bad years and it seems like weve been talking about it now for 1,000 years. In the last 12 months I can remember debating Councillor Cian Prendiville on this issue and I said the cattle cant speak for themselves. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture is the largest contributor to Irelands overall greenhouse gas emissions, which influence climate change. At a meeting of the LCCC Home and Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, councillors heard that Limerick is virtually certain to experience more heatwaves due to climate change. More river and coastal flooding is also very likely to impact Limerick, as well as coastal erosion. Weather extremes and periods of climate variability, like spells of lower than average rainfall, are also affecting local authorities, councillors heard. Sea levels around Ireland are also rising at a rate of around 3.5 cm per decade. This is resulting in record high tides, cllrs heard. The council is currently developing an action plan for dealing with severe weather events, such as floods and storms. GARDAI in Limerick arrested a drunk motorist wearing only short pants with a can of cider between his legs after a high speed chase. The defendant reached speeds of 125kms in a car with a cracked front windscreen and narrowly avoided a young boy with a horse, Kilmallock Court heard. Tiernan ORourke, aged 29, of Church Road, Mitchelstown pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving, no licence, no insurance and speeding. Garda Niall McInerney said he was driving an unmarked patrol car at 9pm on Monday, June 25 2018. I received a report of a car being driven erratically in the town of Kilfinane. While driving on the R513 I observed a car coming towards me. The windscreen was cracked to such an extent that visibility was very poor, said Garda McInerney, who turned his car around, activated the flashing blue lights and began pursuing the vehicle. I caught up behind it. He gained speed and was driving in a dangerous manner. In an 80km speed zone I noted it was 125kms on my speedometer. In Gotoon, Kilmallock the speed limit was 60kms and he didnt slow down. He crossed the white line and drove on the opposite side of the road. Two cars had to pull in to avoid a collision, said Garda McInerney. The chase continued into the town of Kilmallock. There was a young boy with a horse outside the Peoples Hall. He saw them at the last minute, overtook and swung back in, narrowly avoiding them, said Garda McInerney. The court heard that ORourke went down a local road that has a steel barrier at the end of it. He drove straight through it. He came to the back entrance of the mart and brought the vehicle to a halt, said Garda McInerney. When the Hospital-based garda approached the car he said ORourke was wearing a pair of short pants and had a can of cider between his legs. He was clearly intoxicated. On the way to Bruff garda station he admitted he was drinking and didnt have a licence or insurance, said Garda McInerney. ORourke was found to have 179mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood. Garda McInerney said ORourke has 44 previous convictions including two for drink driving. He was disqualified from driving in February 2018 for eight years. Garda McInerney gave his evidence in Kilmallock Court last month. The case was adjourned to this Wednesday in Limerick Court for sentencing. Tom Kiely, solicitor for ORourke, said around the time of the offences his client was suffering from drug addiction and difficulties with alcohol. On the day in question he was heavily under the influence of both. There was underlying mental health difficulties. Since then he tried to take himself away from all negative influences. He left, he went to Australia for a period where he worked as a carpenter. He came back to face the music. He met the gardai by arrangement in relation to this matter and threw himself at the mercy of the court. He has been in custody since January, said Mr Kiely. Judge Marian OLeary imposed a three month prison sentence for three months, 10 year driving ban and fine of 500 for no insurance. ORourke was fined 500 for drink driving and disqualified from driving for 10 years. For dangerous driving, the judge imposed a three month suspended sentence and a further fine of 500. Other matters were taken into consideration. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. AAH HERE now! Whats this about a hold-up in providing the promised 60-bed extension at Limerick University Hospital? Well be dying on the side of the road soon as opposed to expiring on a trolley in a hospital corridor if they dont make more room for us urgently and give us a roof over our heads when were sick. Ever since they peremptorily downgraded two perfectly good hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh in the mad pursuit of a centralised health excellence, some of us have been living on a knife edge. Were not even sure if wed make it to Limerick in an emergency and even if we did, we couldnt be sure of getting out of the ambulance in time. On top of that, it must be a real pain in the butt for the good folk of Limerick to have their main hospital invaded by aliens from Clare and Tipperary, leaving them without a bed to lie on. Bizarrely, some Limerick people now have to travel out to Nenagh and Ennis to attend a clinic or to find a bed. Does Simon Harris have any appreciation of provincial territorialism, loyalties and sensibilities? There is, nevertheless, one healthy outcome to the sorry fiasco. Were all on the same side now. Were all feeling short-changed throughout the region as far as the availability of hospital beds are concerned. The Clare TD Dr Michael Harty nailed his colours to the mast and voted no confidence in the Health Minister in last weeks debate. But where were all our other public representatives from the Mid-West when the opportunity arose to cry foul? Even one of the most stalwart Fianna Failers, Willie ODea, risked his political future once and voted against the closure of Barringtons Hospital which served Limerick city and its environs very well. Are 60 extra beds at the Regional not worth fighting for now or has Brexit emasculated us all? What I really want to say, however, is I told you so. Except that Im not the only one saying that. Several years ago when they were winding down services at Nenagh and Ennis hospitals, we told them that Limerick would never be able to cater for the extra load especially after the demise of Barringtons as a public hospital. But we were assured by the policy makers that Limerick would be expanded to meet whatever demand would arise. Wed have a centre of excellence on our doorstep and wed all be welcomed with open arms even if we had to travel from Templemore, Lorrha or the remote Loop Head Peninsula. I dont know if weve all became more delicate in the meantime or if overworked GPs are taking no chances and are now referring everyone to A&E, but the bottom line is that University Hospital Limerick is bursting at the seams and cant cope. We got our centre of excellence alright, but all we want now is a bed and it looks as if we might have to make do with a field hospital if the funding for the additional 60 beds doesnt materialise. No offence to Limerick, but some of us who live out in the sticks are terrified of being sent to University Hospital Limerick. The last time I visited my GP, I sat in the waiting room beside an elderly man who vowed to go home and die if his doctor referred him to the Regional. Anyplace but the Regional, he yelled, when his turn came to be seen. Hes right too, another patient said. Id rather go to jail myself. Now, it seems that the extra 60 beds are still on the menu, but instead of being completed this year as promised, it will be at least 2020 before they are available and even that depends on funding being sanctioned. Hopefully, the population of the Mid-West will hold up in the meantime despite the dire shortage of hospital beds. There were 69 patients lying on trolleys in the Regional when the delay was announced last week. What happened to parish pump politics, Id like to know. If we werent all so ready to denigrate the parish pump and if we werent all so eager to project an image of political sophistication, Simon Harris and the HSE would never have dared to put the promised 60 bed extension at the Regional on hold. The funding would be found if the regions Dail representatives stood together for the good of its people regardless of the national interest. Ultimately, the national interest is focussed on Dublin and thats how it has always been since Henry 11 granted the Capital its first charter in 1172 - and a fat lot of good it has ever done for the rest of us. Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Peter Thomas has been arrested at Miami Airport on suspicion of writing fraudulent checks. Thomas, whose claim to fame was being married to model Cynthia Bailey, is being held without bond in Miami-Dade County pending his extradition to Louisiana. Miami-Dade Police Department officers arrested him as a fugitive with a pending warrant at Miami International Airport on Friday. TMZ reported that he was taken into custody from Louisiana for allegedly writing counterfeit checks. The 58-year-old, who is opening a nightclub in Miami Beach, is being held without bond pending his extradition. Thomas and Bailey, 52, separated in 2016 after tying the knot on an episode of the Bravo franchise in 2011. The former couples divorce was finalized in 2017. A witchdoctor, Damian Akuze who recently sued the Uganda Speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has been excommunicated by residents of Wankole village, Kamuli district. Read previous report here The residents accused Akuze of attempting to taint the image of the speaker. Akuze recently filed a case through his lawyers; Mangeni and Company Advocates at the Jinja High court, demanding for a payment of Shs 200 million for his sorcery services that allegedly propelled Kadaga to the top leadership positions in this country. Kadaga has served several times as a member of parliament, as deputy speaker and as the speaker of parliament. But Akuze says that Kadaga was riding on his charms to keep herself in senior positions since the 1990s. He says that Kadaga failed to pay for the services over the years and that the money has since accumulated to more than Shs 200 million. "She made a down paid of Shs 1 million but she still owes me a big sum of money following the great job I did for her. I still do some work for her annually but am surprised there are people including police officers who are hunting me down," Akuze said. He says he has demanded for his money for last 29 years in vain. This morning, angry residents armed with placards in defence of Kadaga, stormed Akuze's home and ejected him. "Let our mother be," read one of the placards. "We shall deal with you if you don't withdraw the court case", read another. The residents sounded drums within the compound and ordered him to vacate or risk being lynched. Isaac Mukembo, a resident of Budumba village says that Akuze is a fake witchdoctor who should be excommunicated from their area. Kadaga has categorically denied the accusations, saying her rise to the leadership positions was through hard work and great organisation and not due to Akuze's charms. Namaskar, I read your article, felt a little disappointed. The idea of revenge in the frenzy of war will give immediate satisfaction, but not a permanent solution. Manmohan Singh did not take revenge, but Kashmir became peaceful to a large extent. If the terror attacks did not stop even after that, then will Islamabad be attacked? The surgical strike is not the solution, it is the problem. But in this age, its blasphemous to say so." This message was sent to me by a friend after reading my quick comment on the recent air strike by the Indian Air Force. Finally we have learnt to avenge the death of our sons" was the title of this article. I feel that self-defence is our right and, when dialogue doesnt succeed, then there is nothing wrong in taking up arms. In fact, leaders from more than 50 countries expressed the same sentiment. The world has changed rapidly in the last few years. The emerging equations have changed the old limitations of diplomatic courtesy. Twenty-five years ago, who would have thought that China will be looking the US in the eye, that the North Korean leader will be shaking hands with the US President, and that the Russian army will be conducting joint drills with the Pakistanis? Why should India continue to follow old dictums? No matter what claims Pakistan makes, it cannot be denied that with the air strikes on 26 February, and the way Pakistans planes were forced to withdraw, India made it clear that we will not back off. The Pakistani regime committed another mistake by making viral the photos of a bloodied and wounded Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The whole country was consumed by a wave of anger and the ruling regime was also not left untouched by this sentiment. India made it clear that Varthaman should be returned immediately. Clearly, the backdoor efforts for peace were in full swing. Be it Pakistans ally China or the self-declared custodian of the world the US, the conflict between two nuclear states that are large emerging markets was not considered in the best interests of the world economy. To defuse the tension, US President Donald Trump announced that some good news was about to come from India and Pakistan. He also said that there is hope of resolving the decades-old dispute between the two countries. Prime Minister Imran Khan who was already offering talks did announce the release of Varthaman. But we need to remember that in the excitement of his coming back we should not stray from our original goal. All of this started with the Pulwama terror attack. Masood Azhar, the architect of the Pulwama massacre, is still safe under the protection of the Pakistani army. The US has declared a huge reward on Hafiz Saeed, but he is roaming free in Pakistan. India will have to increase pressure on Pakistan to hand over Dawood Ibrahim, Saeed, Azhar, and other anti-India elements. History is witness to the fact that incomplete battles have proved fatal to the winners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have definitely considered this fact. That is why in the first public speech after PM Khans announcement, PM Modi said that the pilot project was completed. It is quite clear that New Delhi is ready to take this conflict to its conclusion. Past experience shows that Pakistan does not change its colours, even in defeat. Even after the 1971 war, when Pakistan was divided into two, it did not stop spreading terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir. Pakistani generals knew that they cant win a straight fight with India. So, they chalked out a strategy of inflicting a thousand cuts on us. It is necessary here that India, along with the rest of the world, frees Islamabad from the clutches of Rawalpindi. The military establishment in Rawalpindi has not let democracy take root in Pakistan. Pakistans prime minister was announcing the release of Varthaman when the Pakistan army started firing at the Line of Control. If you look at the history of the past 70 years, our neighbour has always opted for a strategy of two steps forward and one step back. Four wars and innumerable terror attacks are testimony to this. In 1999, when Nawaz Sharif was pledging friendship between the two countries with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his army chief Pervez Musharraf was preparing for the Kargil War. Now, the time has come to stop this forever. India has this time retaliated in a befitting manner. Now is the time for robust diplomacy. We must remember that the final outcome of the two world wars were not take on the battleground, but on the chessboard of diplomacy. Obviously, one more war between both the countries is not the solution. The virtual warriors on social media should keep this in mind. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. His Twitter handle is @shekarkahin Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The successful strike made by a dozen Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force on 26 Feb to take out the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed at Balakot in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, in just about ten days after the terror attack on the CRPF at Pulwama, speaks as much of the decisiveness of the Modi regime on the national security front as of all that obviously went into that action by way of defence preparedness, functional consolidation of India's intelligence set-up and a comprehensive diplomatic reach out to the world by our Prime Minister himself on the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terror. Indian jets also pounded the terrorist launch pads at Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in POK. In all of this, the role of the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, in the formulation of responses at the level of both policy and tactics and also overseeing the execution of a brilliant operation of the IAF swiftly completed on a note of complete surprise for the adversary, was noteworthy. India has retained the moral high ground in going after a set of dangerous terrorists condemned even by the UN Security Council. Pakistan had consistently projected them as 'non- state' actors on its soil but had remained totally complicit with them for reasons known to the entire world. The event gives a new turn to India-Pakistan relations leaving little scope for India to shift from its firm stand against cross-border terrorism. India's Foreign Secretary in a media briefing disclosed that credible intelligence was received that JeM was training fidayeen for attempting further suicide terror attacks in various parts of India and that, in the face of this imminent danger, a preemptive strike had become absolutely necessary. He made it clear that the action at Balakot was a 'preemptive non- military strike targeting militants and not the people or the State of Pakistan'. The forthright statement of India has helped to give the right message to the world about India's bona fide in responding to a grave threat to its national security. The note of understanding struck by major powers like the US, UK, France, Australia, Russia and even China on the Balakot operation vindicates India's policy against terrorism. This is a marked success of our military and diplomatic moves. For decades now, Pakistan's deep state had been unabashedly pursing a 'proxy war' against India in the name of Kashmir using faith-based terrorism to avenge the ignominious defeat of 1971 it had suffered at the hands of India in the Bangladesh war. It first instigated militant separatism in Kashmir -- through the slogans of Plebiscite and Azadi and also sponsored the armed 'Khalistan' movement in Punjab but could not derail the overpowering democratic processes there. It was in the Nineties that, following the success of anti-Soviet armed campaign in Afghanistan for which Pakistan was given all the credit by the US-led West, the Pak army-ISI combine planned to replicate the Afghan Jehad in Kashmir by sending in Mujahideen from across the Valley and subduing the Kashmiris to the call of Jehad through its agents and acolytes. Jamaat-e-Islami outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen and Dukhtarane Millat were made to take orders from the Pak-based Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Maulana Hafiz Sayeed. The Hurriyat totally converted into a Pak proxy. The network of Pak agents within the administration and outside, including those who took shelter under the umbrella of politics was constantly expanded to create an atmosphere of alienation and public unrest. Also, Maulana Masood Azhar's Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which was an old collaborator of Al Qaeda-Taliban combine -- it was a constituent along with Taliban of the first set of Mujahideen sent to the valley under the label of Harkatul Ansar way back in 1993 -- was utilised for raising fidayeen or suicide bombers. These were lately being trained for using car bombs. What is more disconcerting is that the Balakot training camp was the venue for raising Border Action Teams comprising of both Jaish militants and army soldiers. The attack on the CRPF convoy at Pulwama was the doing of a Jaish Fidayeen who used a car bomb with over 60 kg of RDX mix. The act owned by the Pak-based JeM was a manifestation of the new level of escalation of terror caused by the Pak army after it had discovered that stone pelting and grenade lobbing on security camps by its agents in Kashmir were bringing it diminishing returns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unlike his predecessors, took a hard line towards Pakistan once he discovered -- after extending the hand of friendship to then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif -- that in Pakistan the civilian government was a mere fig leaf for its army and that the Pak army-ISI combine was determined to use terrorism as the instrument of state policy to get hold of Kashmir. The terror attack on Pathankot air base in January 2016 led to the declaration of Modi government that 'terror and talks could not go together' -- a policy that has been proved right by the course of developments. The punitive surgical strike on terror launch pads carried out by Indian troops across the LOC within days of Uri attack the same year was in glaring contrast to the supine response of the government of the day to the deadly LeT sponsored Mumbai attack of 2008- 26/11 being rightly described as India's 9/11. For lack of understanding of the distinction between Islamic radicals of Al Qaeda-Taliban axis who took on the US and the India-specific outfits nurtured by Pak ISI as instruments of cross border terrorism against this country the then government first committed a foreign policy blunder of granting a 'shared victimhood' to Pakistan in regard to terrorism, at the Havana summit and then went on to spinelessly accept the line of John Kerry -- visiting Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee -- that 26/11 was solely the doing of 'non state' actors of Pakistan. In the period that followed, the Pakistan army worked with the presumption that it could keep up its proxy offensive against India without any fear of retribution. It is the Modi government that got President Donald Trump to abandon the artificial construct of a distinction between 'good terrorists' and 'bad terrorists', call the bluff of Pakistan on its role in the 'war on terror' that was a combat against Islamic radicals and clearly direct Pakistan to stop providing safe havens to terrorists across the Islamic spectrum. The government has unflinchingly stuck to the policy of 'talks and terror do not go together' and Indians are totally behind the government on this -- the charge of 'politicisation' raised by peaceniks and sections of the opposition is not cutting much ice. In the current geo-political context, Pakistan is left with no option but to sue for peace -- its sabre rattling by way of sending some F-16s to unsuccessfully attempt to bomb a military establishment on our side of LOC a day after the Balakot strike, has not taken it anywhere. An Indian pilot intercepting the enemy plane fell in Pak hands. Pakistan was compelled to declare his release after India rightly warned it that any ill-treatment of the pilot would be considered a war provocation. Since India's Pak policy revolves round the issue of Pakistan effectively giving up on cross-border terrorism, India should legitimately demand handing over of Maulana Hafiz Sayeed and Maulana Masood Azhar for trial in 26/11 and Pulwama attack respectively as a condition for talks. Pakistan should not be permitted to exploit its proximity to Saudi Arabia and UAE in the OIC nor should it be allowed to manoeuvre the support of Russia and China on the Afghan table. Meanwhile, India's war machine should remain in full swing to take on any military adventure of Pakistan -- the threat of nuclear flash point does not work for Pakistan any more. Pakistan, however,is likely to step up its aggressiveness in Kashmir and it would be quite in order for India to take to an approach of 'offence is the best defence' along the LOC. *(D.C. Pathak is a former Director Intelligence Bureau) Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! These marsupials live Down Under (the wallaby, tasmanian devil, wombat, kangaroo with its joey, quokka and koala) but marsupials didn't actually begin their evolution there. Australia is the kingdom of marsupials, home to furry kangaroos, koalas and wombats. The continent has so many marsupials, it raises the question: Did these pouch-bearing mammals arise Down Under? The answer is an unqualified (or "un-koalafied") no. Marsupials were around for at least 70 million years before they made it to Australia, according to Robin Beck, a lecturer in biology at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. "Marsupials absolutely categorically did not originate in Australia," Beck told Live Science. "They are immigrants." [Why Haven't All Primates Evolved into Humans?] In comparison to most mammals, marsupials are odd. Unlike placental mammals, such as humans, dogs and whales, marsupials give birth to relatively underdeveloped young that continue to grow a ton in the mother's pouch. "The young are born alive, but they're very poorly developed," Beck told Live Science. "They basically crawl to their mother's nipple, which is often in a pouch, and they basically clamp on the nipple and stay there, feeding on their mother's milk for long periods of time usually, several months." Marsupial homeland And it turns out, the oldest known marsupials are actually from North America, where they evolved during the Cretaceous period after splitting off from placental mammals at least 125 million years ago, Beck said. These ancient marsupials appeared to flourish in North America, populating what was then the supercontinent Laurasia with about 15 to 20 different marsupial species, all of which are now extinct, Beck said. It's unclear why these marsupials did well. But for some reason, at about the time that the nonavian dinosaurs went extinct, about 66 million years ago, the marsupials made their way down to South America. At that time, North and South America weren't connected as they are today. But the two continents were very close, and a land bridge or a series of islands may have linked them. This connection allowed all kinds of animals to expand their stomping grounds. Once in South America, marsupials and their close relatives had a field day, diversifying like crazy within 2 million to 3 million years after arriving, Beck said. For instance, marsupials and their close relatives evolved into bear- and weasel-size carnivores, and one even evolved saber teeth. Others evolved to eat fruits and seeds. "What's happening in South America is they're evolving to fill the kinds of niches that in the northern continents certainly were filled by placental mammals," Beck said. The marsupial relative Thylacosmilus had saber teeth. (Image credit: L. Gardner/Copyright AMNH) Many of these marsupials went extinct between then and now, but South America is still a marsupial hotspot today. There are more than 100 species of opossums, seven species of shrew opossums and the adorable monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides), whose Spanish name translates to "little monkey of the mountain." On a side note, within the last 1 million years, one of South America's opossums traveled north and now lives in North America. This is the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the only marsupial living north of Mexico, Beck said. Also, opossums belong to a different order than possums. Possums are native to Australia and New Guinea, are closely related to kangaroos, and have a number of anatomical differences, such as enlarged lower incisors, that the South American opossum lacks, Beck said. So, how did marsupials get from South America to Australia? [Will There Ever Be Another Pangea?] Journey Down Under Up until about 40 million to 35 million years ago, both South America and Australia were connected to Antarctica, forming one giant land mass. At that time, Antarctica wasn't covered with ice, but instead with a temperate rainforest, and "it was not a bad place to live," Beck said. It appears that marsupials and their relatives bounded down from South America, strode across Antarctica and wound up in Australia, Beck said. There's even fossil evidence: On Antarctica's Seymour Island, there are fossils of marsupials and their relatives, including a close relative of the monito del monte, Beck said. The oldest fossil marsupials from Australia are found at a 55-million-year-old site called Tingamarra, near the town of Murgon in Queensland, Beck said. Some of the fossil marsupials at Tingamarra are similar to those in South America. For instance, the ancient and tiny fruit-eating marsupial Chulpasia from Peru is a close relative of another fossil marsupial found at Tingamarra, Beck said. Yet another Tingamarra marsupial, the insect-eating Djarthia, may be the ancestor of all living Australian marsupials, Beck said. An illustration of the early Australian marsupial, Djarthia (lower right), which lived about 55 million years ago. (Image credit: Peter Schouten) Then, there's a big gap in the Australian fossil record. After Tingamarra, the next oldest marsupial fossils on record are 25 million years old. "What we see then is clearly there's been a huge amount of diversification within Australia," Beck said. "By that time we see koalas, we see relatives of wombats, we see relatives of bandicoots." Basically, all of the major Australian marsupial groups are present by 25 million years ago, he said. Again, it's unclear why marsupials thrived in Australia. But one idea is that when times were tough, marsupial mothers could jettison any developing babies they had in their pouches, while mammals had to wait until gestation was over, spending precious resources on their young, Beck said. Another idea is that there were no placental mammals competing with the marsupials in Australia. But this idea is now contradicted, by a fossil tooth that belongs to a placental mammal or a placental-mammal relative discovered at Tingamarra. This indicates that placental mammals were on the continent as far back as 55 million years ago, Beck said. Today, there are about 250 marsupial species alive in Australia, around 120 marsupial species in South America and just one (the Virginia opossum) living in North America. In essence, the marsupials' ancestral geography has flipped. "That pattern is the complete reverse of the situation 125 million years ago," Beck said. "Where things are today is not necessarily an indication of where they were millions of years ago." Originally published on Live Science. A man was found guilty this week of assaulting a woman at a homeless shelter in 2017, according to the Webb County District Attorney's Office. A jury in County Court at Law II convicted Alejandro Garza, 55, for the misdemeanor assault in a one-day trial. READ MORE: Father allegedly sprayed children with high-pressure aerosol cleaner, LPD says After finding Garza guilty, the jury deliberated for an hour and sentenced him to the maximum punishment of a year to serve in jail with a $2,000 fine, according to prosecutors. The case unfolded July 10, 2017, when police officers responded to an assault report at Westcare Next Step, 1616 Callaghan St. A woman waved down officers and told them that Garza had hit her on her face three times. She stated she was sitting on the benches inside the parking lot when Garza approached her talking in Spanish. She did not know what Garza was saying because she said she does not understand Spanish, according to an arrest affidavit. Garza accused the woman of telling other people that he smelled bad. She told Garza she did not think he smelled bad, but she did believe he had "a distinct odor," the affidavit states. That's when Garza hit her once and she lost her balance. He hit her in the face two more times. READ MORE: Beto O'Rourke sleeps on presidential announcement, rocks with Metallica instead Garza was arrested and charged with assault. Officers said he smelled of alcohol, according to the affidavit. Pasadena PD An H-E-B employee was arrested Wednesday for allegedly filming video of a young, unsuspecting shopper in the bathroom. Joseph Edward Guajardo was charged with invasive visual recording and booked into the Harris County Jail Feb. 27, according to records from the Harris County District Clerk. Two people are dead after a motorist struck them and several others Saturday evening in New Orleans, police said. According to the New Orleans Police Department, the deadly crash was reported around 9 p.m. in the Bayou St. John neighborhood. New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson identified the suspect as 32-year-old Tashonty Toney, who is the son of a New Orleans police officer. Toney is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, seven counts of vehicular negligent injury, hit and run, and reckless operation. Police believe he was impaired at the time and are awaiting the results of a blood alcohol test. Police say that even though Toney is an officer's son, it will not impact the departments investigation, which they say will be open and transparent. Ferguson said five of the victims were taken to a hospital in New Orleans. Another city official said three of the victims were in critical condition when they were transported to the hospital. One of the victims was treated at the scene. A ninth victim who initially did not seek assistance on scene, was later encouraged by New Orleans Public Safety officials to go to the hospital and went on their own. Police said a man and a woman, both believed to be approximately 30 years old, were identified as the two killed. Their names have not been released. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by medical staff, officials said. The five injured, identified by their ages: A 62-year-old man, a 56-year-old man, a 53-year-old woman and two 28-year-old women were all taken to the hospital. Ferguson said citizens in the area tended to the victims, some provided CPR, while paramedics arrived. Ferguson said Toney was quickly arrested because citizens in the area stepped in to stop him from leaving the scene. MEXICALI, Mexico - Twenty-nine parents from across Central America who were separated from their children by U.S. immigration agents last year returned to the U.S. border on Saturday, demanding asylum hearings that might allow them to reunite with their children. The group of parents quietly traveled north over the past month, assisted by a team of immigration lawyers who hatched a high-stakes plan to reunify families divided by the Trump administration's family separation policy last year. The 29 parents were among those deported without their children, who remain in the United States in shelters, in foster homes or with relatives. Although the Trump administration's family separation policy has prompted congressional hearings, lawsuits and national protests, the parents have for nearly a year suffered out of the spotlight at their homes in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. They celebrated birthdays and Christmas on video calls, trying to determine whether their children were safe. Now, they will pose a significant test to the embattled American asylum system, arguing that they deserve another chance at refuge in the United States, something rarely offered to deportees. Before the Trump administration, families had never been systematically separated at the border. And before Saturday, those families had never returned to the border en masse. As of early afternoon in Mexicali, none of the 29 parents had been allowed into the United States by border officials, who cited capacity issues at holding centers. More than 2,700 children were separated from their families along the border last year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. About 430 of the parents were deported without their children, and at least 200 of them remain separated today. Some waited in the hope that U.S. courts would allow them to return to the United States. Others paid smugglers to get them back to the border. Then came Saturday's confrontation. The group of parents walked toward the border here, flanked by local religious officials, and then waited at the entrance to the United States as the lawyers negotiated with U.S. officials. The parents sat on wooden benches, surrounded by their luggage, while officials decided how many, if any, of the parents to allow into the country. Over the past three weeks, the parents stayed in a Tijuana hotel, sharing rooms and preparing for asylum hearings. They showed one another documents that their children had sent them: photos of foster families and report cards from Southwest Key, a company that runs shelters for migrant children. A woman explained through tears how her daughter had tried to kill herself while in government custody. A man spoke about trying to communicate with his daughter, who is deaf, over a shelter's telephone. Others carried bags full of belated Christmas gifts for their children. Many of the parents, like Jose Ottoniel, from the tiny town of San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala, said they had been pressured into signing deportation papers after being separated from their children, before they could begin their asylum claims. When he returned home after being deported in June, Ottoniel was told that his 10-year-old son, Ervin, was still in the United States at a shelter. The family chose to keep Ervin in the United States with an uncle, rather than forcing him to return to the violence and poverty of their home village. It was a wrenching decision that Ottoniel's wife, Elvia, who had remained in Guatemala when Ottoniel had tried to cross the border, eventually decided she couldn't live with. In January, she paid a smuggler $8,000 to travel to the United States to reunite with Ervin in Arkansas, applying for asylum in South Texas. A few days later, Ottoniel received a call from an American immigration lawyer with the Los Angeles-based legal advocacy group Al Otro Lado, which means "to the other side." The attorney asked him if he was willing to travel the 2,500 miles from his village to the U.S.-Mexico border to deliver himself once again to immigration agents. Al Otro Lado had received more than a million dollars in financial assistance from organizations such as Families Belong Together and Together Rising, which mounted fundraising campaigns in the midst of the government's separation policy. The lawyer told Ottoniel that the organization would pay for his buses, flights and hotels. "At that point, we were already seeing some of these parents paying smugglers to bring them back to the U.S.," said Erika Pinheiro, litigation and policy director for Al Otro Lado, which had interviewed deported parents from across Central America who feared for their lives because of violence in their home countries. "We needed to provide them with another option." For Ottoniel, who referred to his family as "disintegrated," it seemed his best shot at a reunion. "It was a chance to see my son again. How could I say no?" he said. Ottoniel and other parents converged at a three-story hotel in Tijuana,where lawyers told them to remain quiet about their plans. They rehearsed how they would address U.S. immigration officials. They watched telenovelas. At night, they called their children across the border. There was Luisa Hidalgo, 31, from El Salvador, whose daughter, Katherinne, 14, is in the Bronx with a foster family. The girl texted her mother the same words over and over: "Fight for me." There was Antolina Marcos, 28, who said she fled Guatemala after gangs began killing members of her family. She was separated from her 14-year-old daughter, Geidy, in May. "How can I live when she's so far away?" Marcos said. There was Santos Canelas, 44, who said he fled Honduras with his 16-year-old daughter, Merin, in May after gang members threatened to sexually assault her. She is living in New Orleans with a cousin. "Without my daughter, I'm dead inside," he said. In most of the 2,700 cases from when the Trump administration separated families at the border last year, both the parents and children remained in the United States, sometimes held in shelters and detention centers thousands of miles apart. Almost all of those families have now been reunified and are in the process of pursuing their asylum claims. But the cases of about 430 parents deported without their children were particularly difficult. Often, the government lost track of which child belonged to which parent, and it did not link their immigration cases, sending parents back to Central America without telling them where their children were. In some of those cases, parents later made the painful decision to leave their children in the United States, typically with relatives, rather than bringing them back to the violence and poverty from which the families fled. In other cases, the U.S. government determined that the parents were unfit to receive their children, often based on their criminal records. After Trump signed an executive order officially ending the family separation policy on June 20, lawyers launched a legal battle to reunify many of the deported parents and their children in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit demanding that the government allow 52 parents back into the United States to pursue their asylum claims, which the lawyers argued had been stymied after the parents were separated from their children at the border. But the government has not responded to that appeal and later said it needed more information about the parents from the ACLU. It remains unclear when, or if, the U.S. government will invite those parents back to the United States to launch new asylum claims. "The government has resisted bringing anyone back who was separated and deported without their kids," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project. "We hope the government will take a fresh look at these cases." But as the government declined to articulate any plan to reunify the families, Pinheiro decided waiting much longer would put the parents at risk. Some had relocated to a safe house in Guatemala City to escape threats in El Salvador and Honduras. Some had already been without their children for more than a year, and those separations were taking a psychological toll. "We gave them the option - you can wait for the court process, or you can do it this way," Pinheiro said. Al Otro Lado worked with the ACLU to identify the separated parents in Central America, but the ACLU was not involved in bringing the 29 parents back to the border. With few other options, Pinheiro said, almost every parent she approached accepted her offer. The parents first gathered in the Guatemalan city of Tecun Uman before crossing into Mexico with humanitarian visas that Al Otro Lado helped arrange. They flew to Mexico City and then to Tijuana, eventually taking a bus to Mexicali. "We're traveling back to the border where we lost our children in the first place," said Pablo Mejia Mancia, 53, of Honduras, who was separated from his daughter, who is now 9 years old, when they crossed the border into Texas in May. It's likely that some of the parents could be detained for months if the government decides to process their asylum claims. But even if they are refused entry to the United States in the coming days, U.S. courts could eventually allow some of the parents back into the country to petition for asylum. For now, though, the parents say they hope their long trip back to the border will be the fastest way to see their children again. The U.S. policy of forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico has not yet been put into practice in Mexicali. "They're standing right at the border, preparing to reenter a system that traumatized their families months earlier," said Lindsay Toczylowski, executive director of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, who counseled the parents in Tijuana. "It says a lot about what they're fleeing, and what they lost." U.S. and South Korean officials announced Saturday that they will end longtime military exercises that had riled North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's regime and drawn criticism from President Donald Trump. The Pentagon disclosed the decision Saturday evening after a phone call between acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. The officials agreed "to conclude" the exercises and replace them with "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training program," according to a Pentagon statement. "The Minister and Secretary made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the statement said. U.S. and South Korean officials released a statement in Seoul that said a new exercise called Dong Maeng, or "alliance," will run from March 4-12 and has been "modified from the previously held spring exercises," Foal Eagle and Key Resolve. Foal Eagle has traditionally included thousands of troops and large displays of force, while Key Resolve focused heavily on computer simulation. The statement avoided saying that Dong Maeng has replaced either one, though they both have concluded. Another U.S. defense official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Shanahan had hoped to find a solution that would allow the U.S. and South Korean militaries to continue the elements of the exercises focused on maintaining joint readiness while foregoing elements that in the past had been intended as a show of force. Those elements, the Pentagon leadership has concluded, could be viewed as saber-rattling at a time when the military looks to support diplomacy with North Korea, the official said. The plans to scale back the exercise could have some impact on readiness, officials said, but it's not clear how much. Both the Foal Eagle series of exercises held in the spring and the Key Resolve exercises traditionally held in the summer will conclude. They focused on preparing for the possibility of war with North Korea, and involved thousands of troops. At times, they included U.S. bombers, submarines and other displays of force. The announcement of the change, which NBC News first reported Friday, comes two days after Trump cut short a summit with Kim after they were unable to agree to terms on how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. As he had previously, the president spoke warmly of Kim and with disdain for the exercises. "I was telling the generals - I said: Look, you know, exercising is fun and it's nice and they play the war games," Trump said, referring to the exercises by a phrase the Pentagon has typically avoided. "And I'm not saying it's not necessary, because at some levels it is, but at other levels it's not. But it's a very, very expensive thing. And you know, we do have to think about that, too." The president announced in June 2018 following his historic first summit with Kim that he would end all "war games" on the peninsula. The Pentagon said a few days later that it would suspend the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercise that was planned for August 2018 but avoided forecasting plans beyond that. But as discussions continued, it became clear that future exercises also would be affected. Jim Mattis, who resigned as Pentagon chief in December, said in November that this spring's Foal Eagle exercise would be "reduced in scope" as diplomats from the two countries continued to speak. "Foal Eagle is being reorganized a bit to keep it at a level that will not be harmful to diplomacy," he said. Officials from the two Koreas have agreed on other measures to reduce tensions, including setting up buffer zones in waters around the peninsula and destroying some guard towers at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone that separates the countries. Some Democrats have questioned whether the cessation of exercises will hurt the ability of the U.S. military to respond in the event of a crisis. Army Gen. Robert Abrams, the top commander of U.S. Forces Korea, downplayed the significance of scaled-back exercises last month. Abrams, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 12, said that while some exercises have been canceled, the Americans and South Koreans continue to train together and have done "some innovative things" to stay sharp "by adjusting size, scope, volume and the timing" of their operations to allow diplomats to continue discussing peace. "Historically we've conducted one in the spring and one in the summer, and I have continued planning for execution of one in the spring," he said. Under questioning, Abrams said that most rank-and-file U.S. troops would not notice a difference in their training level, and that battalion commanders "might in the upcoming months." Senior commanders would see a difference, he said, adding that they are well-versed in the demands of their job. - - - The Washington Post's Missy Ryan contributed to this report. Before the vote, Maryland Del. Charles Sydnor III had planned to rise to explain why he would cast a ballot to censure his colleague, a fellow Democrat who began her state legislative career with him five years ago. But he never moved. He said he couldn't. "As much as I wanted to get it into the record, I realized I might not be able to get through everything. . . . I didn't want to embarrass myself," said Sydnor of Baltimore County, whose intent was to tell his colleagues about the racism his grandparents endured in Virginia and the racial slurs that were hurled at him growing up in Maryland. Sydnor was one of 137 members of the House of Delegates who, on the final day of Black History Month, took the rare action of censuring Del. Mary Ann Lisanti of Harford for conduct that "brought dishonor to the entire General Assembly of Maryland." The revelation Monday that Lisanti, a white lawmaker, had described an area of Prince George's County as a "n----- district," sent feelings of hurt, shock, anger and disgust through the State House, across Maryland and into Prince George's, a community long hailed as a mecca of the black middle class. Suddenly, Sydnor said, he couldn'thelp but wonder if Lisanti saw him as the spouse, father, lawmaker and lawyer he is - "or as that slur which she used." "It is the most notorious racial-ethnic-group slur in the American language, and that is saying something because the American language is filled with slurs," said Harvard Law professor Randall Kennedy. "It is a word that has blood dripping off it," said Kennedy, author of "N-----: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word." "And people have to be attentive to that." Lisanti said in a statement Tuesday that she was "sickened that a word that is not in my vocabulary came out of my mouth." Del. Jay Walker, D-Prince George's, said he was there when she said the word. But appearing before reporters after Thursday's censure, Lisanti further angered many of her colleagues by appearing to deny using the word, saying there was no "independent verification" to prove she saidit. In Prince George's,which has a long, painful history of racism that stems back to slavery and continued through a century of lynchings and Jim Crow segregation, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, D, addressed the incident at a town hall meeting Wednesday without mentioning Lisanti's name. "I know who we are as Prince Georgians, and I know we would not yield to people who are ignorant or unenlightened," Alsobrooks told the dozens of people who gathered at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale. "The future is bright here in Prince George's." The county of more than 900,000 residents has transformed over the past three decades from a predominantly white, blue-collar farming community to an enclave of black prosperity. As black residents from the District and elsewhere moved to the county, often to expansive new homes in subdivisions built on the sites of former plantations, many white residents left. Prince George's was the biggest slave-owning county in Maryland, which did not free slaves until more than a year after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. According to census records, there were more enslaved black people living in Prince George's in 1860 than there were whites. That census listed 12,479 slaves, 1,205 free blacks and 9,650 whites living in Prince George's. Five of at least 40 black people who were lynched in Maryland were killed in Prince George's, according to the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project. "This ain't new - Maryland was an egregious slave state and Prince George's was one of the last school systems in it to desegregate," said Theresa Dudley, a 28-year resident who is president of the Prince George's County teachers union. "Our children are the descendants of slaves. How is the General Assembly going to make sure it takes care of them?" Alvin Thornton, a Prince George's Country resident and a former professor of political science at Howard University who co-authored a book about the county's history, said Lisanti associating the racial epithet with Prince George's "means the perception of people being n------ is not a function of their economic status and academic achievement, regardless of that, you are still a n-----." He called Lisanti's slur of Prince George's part of the "normalization of that kind of commentary about black people, people of color," adding that President Donald Trump has referred to African nations as "shithole countries," while Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats, last month acknowledged long-ago dressing in blackface. As long as racism exists, the word can never lose its sting, said Jabari Asim, author of "The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't and Why." He traces the origin of the racial epithet to the arrival of 20 black captives to the British colonies 400 years ago. It was always meant to demean black people, and it was always accompanied by violence - physical, legislative or societal - imposed by the delusion of white supremacy, Asim said. In 2019, he added, the meaning of the slur revolves around "questions of equal access" for black people and whether they are unfit for public resources and power. When people use the term, they know exactly what kind of pain it inflicts, he said. When it's a public official - such as Benjamin Tillman, a 19th-century U.S. senator from South Carolina who invoked the slur against black Americans to argue against civil rights - the harm is magnified. "We've been having this conversation for 400 years," said Asim, a literature professor at Emerson College. "We should be less forgiving in situations involving public officials. The level of expectation should be set to a higher standard for modeling civil discourse for the rest of us." At a budget hearing in Prince George's on Tuesday, school board member Belinda Queen stepped out of the room for a few minutes to talk with students studying in an after-school program. They asked her about the slur and how she felt that a fellow Democrat had used it. "As a Democrat, I find it disrespectful," Queen said she told them. "But as a human being, I also find it disrespectful." Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church in Hillcrest Heights, said he thinks that there could be room for personal redemption for Lisanti, who has refused calls to step down. He said it should not happen while she is in office. "Everyone can change," Lee said. "But that doesn't mean she should be representing the state." Her use of the epithet calls into question her ability to create fair policies for Prince Georgians, and for black residents in her district, Lee said. Her comments comparing the use of the racial slur to a curse word or taking the Lord's name in vain reflected, to the pastor, a misunderstanding of the meaning of the word. Lee laughed when asked whether he would address Lisanti's use of the slur with his congregation Sunday. "There is so much to talk about," he said, adding that he would have to choose between Lisanti, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's hearing on Capitol Hill and the allegations against musician R. Kelly. "It's all part of a larger conversation about where we are in the United States right now." - - - The Washington Post's DeNeen L. Brown contributed to this report. Madison High School administration has addressed the fatal stabbing of a former student that happened early Friday morning in an email sent to parents. A 16-year-old girl was arrested Friday after she stabbed two teenagers, one fatally, who attacked her in the driveway of her Northeast Side home, San Antonio police said. Officials identified the 18-year-old killed as Kaitlin Leonor Castilleja. She graduated from James Madison High School in 2018, according to NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor. Authorities have not identified the suspect because of her age, but Chancellor said she is a current student at Madison High School. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox "I would like to reach out to you to address a news story concerning an incident involving a former Madison student," Principal Steve Zimmerman said in a community letter sent to parents via email. "While I do not have many details to share, it has been confirmed that a former Madison student and NEISD employee with KIN, was the victim of a violent incident last night. I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of this former Maverick." KIN is the Kids Involvement Network, an NEISD after-school enrichment program for students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade. On the Express-News: NEISD explains how they track threats on social media According to a preliminary police report, Castilleja and Vivian Foster, who is also 18 and graduated from Madison High School in 2017, went to the suspect's house near Judson and Stahl roads at about 1 a.m. During the fight, the suspect stabbed both of the girls, causing superficial cuts to Foster but mortal wounds to Castilleja, police said. RELATED: Family: Social media feud between San Antonio teens preceded fatal stabbing The 16-year-old has been booked into a juvenile detention facility. Zimmerman said additional staff will be available Friday and Monday should students feel the need to speak about their emotions tied to the news. The principal also invited anyone with concerns to contact him. "I would ask that you let us work together in assisting them to a positive outcome while addressing the issue," he added. Staff writer Caleb Downs contributed to this report. Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye The city of San Antonio recently released its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan with the intention of ensuring San Antonio remains a healthy, vibrant place for generations to come. I believe the citys intentions are good and I think everyone agrees we need to be considering the quality of our air. This plan, however, is shortsighted at best. This plan calls for the replacement of some of our most cost-effective and clean energy sources with some of the most expensive ones. Thanks to natural gas, the price CPS Energy customers pay for electricity is nearly 11 percent less than the national average. And in the state of Texas, CPS rates are among the lowest in the state. We dont need to make it harder for folks to pay their utility bills. In September, Texans for Natural Gas released a report detailing how the Eagle Ford Shale in particular is delivering economic and environmental benefits to San Antonio and all of South Texas. Key findings included that more than 23,000 jobs in Bexar County were supported by the industry, generating $1.1 billion in payroll impacts. For those keeping score at home, the oil and gas industry directly employs more than 325,000 people in our state. This doesnt include industries that arent directly associated with oil and gas but rely on their product. And in fiscal year 2017, Texas school districts received $1.1 billion from taxes associated with the industry. But I recognize it isnt just the economics that should be taken into account. The same report found that natural gas helped San Antonio reduce its ozone levels by 20 percent since 2003. In an address a few weeks ago to local business leaders, Gov. Greg Abbott noted that, even with increased oil and gas production, Texas decreased nitrogen oxide levels by 45 percent between 2005 and 2017 equal to taking 85 million passenger cars off the roads. I was also struck by the governors comment that thanks to natural gas production and new liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facilities, Texas is helping economies across the globe wean themselves off coal and instead use the natural gas produced right here in Texas. Furthermore, according to the Alamo Area Council of Governments, some of our citys top experts on air quality and climate change, oil and gas only accounts for 5.5 percent of the local emissions that contribute to ozone formation in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro region. We so often hear the phrase that all politics are local. And they should be. Local governments are the ones most in tune with their constituents. What this plan didnt do was take into account its viability for those very constituents. What it didnt do was take into account the impact it would have on an industry that is crucial to the economic success of our city and state. What this plan didnt do was ask what is already being done and is continuing to be done by the oil and gas industry to ensure that our air is cleaner tomorrow than it is today. It is my hope that until these things are further studied, the mayor and City Council delay any action. This is especially important in light of Connect SA, the citys future transportation plan, as it calls for dedicated right of way for LNG-powered mass transportation. The bottom line is this: Its one thing to take a utopian viewpoint of environmental protection, but to do that at the expense of our economic infrastructure is foolish and shortsighted. Government, be it local or otherwise, enforcing its political will on the open market is wrong. Instead of removing the rug from underneath the oil and gas industry, we should be asking how we can support its efforts to address air quality. Doing anything else leads to overregulation, resulting in a failed process and unnecessary burden. Kevin Wolff is the Bexar County commissioner for Precinct 3. A number of months after his death, Fr Jim Farrell is still at the top of the minds of his family, friends, and those who worshipped in this parish. The Requiem Mass for Fr Jim Farrell was celebrated at St Bede's Church, Weaverham on May 30, 2018, following his death at Phoenix House Care Home, Deeside, on May 19. This was Jim's last parish before ill health forced him to take early retirement in 2012. Parishioners from some of his former parishes joined with St Bede's parishioners and clergy from across the diocese at the concelebrated Requiem Mass for him led by Bishop Mark. Jim was born in Lehery, Lanesborough Co Longford, Ireland in 1945, the eldest of three children, his siblings being his brother Michael and sister Mary. Following his early education, he began his studies for the priesthood at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny and was ordained for the Shrewsbury diocese in 1969 and went on to serve in his first parish St Joseph's Birkenhead. I succeeded him at St Joseph's following my own ordination in 1979. He then spent two years at St Winefride's Neston before taking up his first appointment as parish priest at All Saints, Ashton-on-Mersey, followed by St Mary's Middlewich. After a period away from active priestly ministry, he was appointed parish priest of Sacred Heart, Cheadle Heath, followed by Our Lady of Fatima, Barnton, before taking up his final appointment at St Bede's Weaverham. Jim was quiet by nature and liked to get on with his priestly work in the various parishes in which he served. He will be remembered with affection for his quiet, gentle manner, helping people come to know God's love for them. He was a good listener and made himself available to anyone who approached him with a problem. I have been told that anyone who sought his help was given his undivided attention. He was also devoted to the care of the sick he regularly visited sick parishioners, particularly those who were terminally ill, and he was also known for visiting those in hospital a long distance away. An important part of the priest's role is to build up the life of the parish community, something Fr Jim sought to do in the parishes in which he served. He also cared about the younger Catholic generation and was particularly concerned that they should grow in their faith and for that reason he would visit the local Catholic schools to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jim had a great devotion to Our Lady Our Lady of Lourdes & Our Lady of Fatima and led parish pilgrimages to Lourdes on a few occasions. He had the statue of Our Lady of Fatima placed in the church at Barnton and he also led an annual pilgrimage to the church of Our Lady of Fatima at Balla, North Wales. There is no doubt that Jim was a dedicated priest who also managed to find time for some relaxation. In his leisure time he liked to read, listen to music and go walking. Sadly, ill health meant retirement from active ministry in 2012 and he moved to Connah's Quay where he was looked after by his sister Mary. I visited him at his home there a number of times and, when he could no longer be cared for at home, he moved into Phoenix House where he was well looked after by the staff there. I also saw him in the home; the last time was just two weeks before he died. I was able to give him the sacraments of the church and his sister was also present and joined in with the prayers. I recall it was a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon and, just a fortnight later, Fr Jim slipped away quietly and peacefully from this world with his family at his bedside. Following the Requiem Mass, his body was repatriated to Ireland and interred in his parents' grave in Rathcline cemetery, Lanesborough, Co Longford. May he rest in peace. Written by Canon Michael Gannon. A Boston man is facing numerous firearms charges after authorities say he fired a gun out the window of his car on Massachusetts highways Sunday. Troopers were called around 3 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports that a man was firing a gun from his car window on Interstates 95 and 93 in Canton, according to Massachusetts State Police. A caller was able to give troopers a location and description of the 2011 Chevrolet Impala involved. Troopers Matthew Kelley and Ryan Ware were able to locate the vehicle as it approached Exit 9 on I-93 northbound in Quincy, authorities said. As both cruisers activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, the troopers noticed the driver making strange movements, State police said. A third trooper arrived at the scene to assist. The troopers immediately handcuffed the driver and passenger. The driver was identified as 21-year-old Jose Puente of Boston. Troopers determined he was the man firing the weapon. A search of the vehicle yielded a loaded black .380 caliber pistol, along with additional loose ammunition, authorities said. Puente does not have a license to carry firearms, State police said. The passenger was released from the scene without any charges. Puente was taken to the Milton Barracks. He will be arraigned Monday morning at Stoughton District Court. He is facing the following charges: possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity weapon, carrying a loaded firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, carrying a firearm with intoxicated, discharging a firearm near a highway and disturbing the peace. Louis D. Coleman III bought bleach, gloves, duct tape and masks as authorities searched for Jassy Correia, authorities say. Louis D. Coleman III, the man accused of kidnapping Jassy Correia - who was found dead inside the trunk of a car - bought Tyvek suits, duct tape, candles, a mask, surgical gloves and bleach in the days after the 23-year-old mother disappeared, according to federal records. Coleman 32, of Providence, is now facing a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death in connection with Correias death. The charge can result in the death penalty or life in prison. U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said Correia died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. The purchase of cleaning supplies and cutting tools make it appear as if Coleman planned to do to something with Correias body, Lelling said. It appears Coleman did not know Correia before meeting her at the club. As investigators began searching for Correia they reviewed surveillance footage outside the Venu nightclub in Boston. Correia, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, was seen leaving the area and entering Colemans car. Surveillance footage from Colemans apartment building in Providence show him parking and exiting his car around 4:15 a.m. on Feb. 24. He is then seen returning to the car with a blanket, records said. He then walked from the car to the front of the building carrying a body with long hair and clothing consistent with the description of Ms. Correia, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Surveillance video inside Colemans building shows him drop Correia on the floor. She appeared to be lifeless, authorities said. Correia was dragged toward an elevator, and then to Colemans apartment unit, records said. Two days later, on Feb. 26, Coleman went inside his apartment with bags from Walmart. Law enforcement obtained video surveillance and a receipt from a Providence Walmart. Coleman bought three Tyvek suits, duct tape, two candles, electrical tape, one mask, surgical gloves, two pairs of safety goggles, an odor respirator and CLN release bleach bath, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. As investigators continued to review surveillance footage, they spotted Coleman enter his building around 10 p.m. on Feb. 27 with a new, large suitcase. The next morning, around 1:15 a.m., Coleman is seen wheeling away the suitcase, authorities said. Coleman, investigators say, rolled the suitcase to his car and had difficulty lifting the suitcase into the trunk of his car. More surveillance footage showed Coleman going in and out of his apartment with trash bags, cardboard boxes, a bottle of bleach, a laptop case, a computer tower and a small bag, records show. On Feb. 28, police executed a search warrant at Coleman apartment. Police said they found hooded coveralls and two respirator masks. A sofa with four large cushions, one of which was missing a cover, was also observed, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. A dumpster outside Colemans apartment had white trash bags, a bag containing plastic sheets, mens jeans with bleach stains, a belt, an empty box of baking soda, car air freshener packages and empty purifying charcoal packages, records show. Police stopped Colemans vehicle Feb. 28 in Delaware on Interstate 95 south near Wilmington. He was asked if anyone else was in the car. Shes in the trunk, he replied, according to authorities. Correia was found in the trunk wrapped in a sofa cushion cover, which was inside a trash bag, Lelling said. Correia was bruised and bloodied and bound with duct tape. She was covered in what appeared to be baking soda, Lelling added. Authorities discovered a pair of pruning tools, more garbage bags, a gas container, towels, gloves and other items in the trunk, records show. Correia appears to have fought with Coleman based on evidence inside the car and an injury to Coleman, Lelling said. Investigators saw the front windshield was cracked on the passenger side. Coleman had a bandage on the right side of his face. Its from the girl, he allegedly told Delaware authorities. Coleman will go before a federal judge Monday and will then be returned to Massachusetts. State charges in Rhode Island were also filed against Coleman. He remains in custody. Authorities are filing a federal charge against Louis D. Coleman III in connection with the kidnapping of Jassy Correia, the 23-year-old mother who went missing from a Boston club and was found dead days later in the trunk of a car. U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling announced Sunday that Coleman, 32, will face a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. Coleman will appear in a federal court in Delaware Monday. He will then be transferred to Massachusetts. The charge carries a possible death sentence or life in prison. Standing next to Lelling during the announcement of federal charges were Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Boston office, Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr., and John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for Massachusetts. Correia was last seen Feb. 24, a week ago, outside the Venu nightclub. She was then spotted in the area of 255 Tremont St., getting into a red car with a man believed to be Coleman near Tremont and Herald streets, authorities said. Correia was out celebrating her birthday. As authorities searched for Correia, they began to focus on Coleman, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, surveillance footage from outside the nightclub showed Correia with Coleman. Surveillance video from Colemans apartment building showed him on Feb. 24 walking from his car to the front of the building carrying a body with long hair and clothing consistent with the description of Ms. Correia, authorities said. Once he entered the building, surveillance video showed Coleman dropping the victim on the floor and dragging her toward the elevator, and subsequently towards his apartment unit, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The victim was not moving and her body was limp. Coleman was stopped by police on a Delaware highway Thursday afternoon. Authorities in Delaware confirmed that the body of a woman was found in the trunk of the car Coleman was driving. Correias family told members of the media that Correias body was found inside the trunk of Colemans car. Coleman was arraigned as a fugitive from justice Friday in Delaware. He will be extradited to Rhode Island, where he faces charges of kidnapping, refusal to report a death with intent to conceal, and mutilation of a dead body, according to the Rhode Island Attorney Generals office. During a Friday press conference, Gross promised justice would be sought for Correias family. We are gonna bust our butts to make sure justice is served here," Gross said. We just want the folks of ill intent to know that this just wont be tolerated in this city. Gross, along with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, visited Correias family earlier Friday to pay their respects, Rollins said during a news conference Friday. Rollins called the investigation complex and complicated. But let me be clear. We agree that, if possible, this case belongs here in Boston, either in Suffolk County or in the U.S. District Courts of Massachusetts, Rollins said Friday. "Jassy was and is a part of our community. Her family is a part of our community. And her community deserves the chance to see justice done in this city. Correias family has set up a GoFundMe page to help the womans daughter and other family members. This is the second time this year that a woman leaving an establishment in downtown Boston has been kidnapped. Victor Pena, 38, is accused of kidnapping a 23-year-old Boston resident in January. He is being held without bail after he was recently charged with three counts of aggravated rape. A formula created in 2004 to ensure the state was giving poor cities and towns enough help building new schools includes a quirk that some say is now hurting the same communities it was meant to help. It perpetuates inequity, said state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, who introduced a bill to change the formula. The Massachusetts School Building Authority provides state funding for school building projects that is matched with money from cities and towns. The state covers between 40 percent and 80 percent of eligible construction costs. The size of the state match is calculated based on a formula that reflects how poor the community is so poorer communities get more money. The state funding does not cover the full percentage of construction costs because certain expenses are ineligible for reimbursement, like legal fees or asbestos removal. There is also a cap on the total amount the state is willing to pay per square foot, which is virtually always lower than the actual cost. So, an 80 percent reimbursement rate generally means that around 62 percent of costs are actually covered. The program also allows communities to apply for incentive points, which raise the size of the state match. Districts get points for things like building energy efficient facilities, regionalizing a school district, renovating existing buildings or adopting best practices for maintenance. But, because the total amount a community gets is capped at 80 percent, the poorest districts are ineligible for incentive points. If youre a community of high need, and you compare to a community that has more means and can go after incentive points, it becomes a little bit of an economic justice issue, said John Nunnari, executive director of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Nunnari said the incentive points are designed to help communities adopt building practices that are advantageous to the community or the state, but which might be more expensive up front like building an energy efficient school. The problem for poorer communities is they are the least likely to be able to raise additional money for these types of features, because they do not have the property tax base. Because theyre at 80 percent, if they want to do those things, they have to now do it on their own dime, Nunnari said. Margaret Minor Wood, a senior associate with Pinck and Company, is an owners project manager, which means she represents the owner in large public construction projects. Minor Wood compiled information showing that the difference between the base reimbursement rate and the percent of a projects costs that were actually covered was around 15 percent for all communities high school building projects but 20 percent for the poorest communities. There were similar disparities for middle and elementary school projects. For example, the new South High Community School in Worcester was supposed to be reimbursed at 80 percent, but the state actually covered 55 percent of the costs a difference of 25 percentage points. While South Highs total price tag was about $210 million, the 80 percent was calculated on $144 million in costs that were eligible for reimbursement. A new regional technical high school on Cape Cod was eligible for 45 percent reimbursement and got 33 percent, a difference of 12 percentage points. In that case, the total project budget was $128 million, and the reimbursement rate was applied to $93.7 million in eligible costs. The chart below shows the difference between the officially listed reimbursement rates (Base Rate) and the actual percent of costs covered (Effective Rate) for a number of recent school building projects. While schools in poor communities receive higher base reimbursement rates, they are not eligible for incentive points to help pay for best practices such as energy efficient buildings, which can increase a project's cost. Graphic by Greg Saulmon / The Republican Source: Massachusetts School Building Authority data compiled by Margaret Minor Wood Those involved with school building projects say the formula was meant to help poorer districts while protecting taxpayers. But no one envisioned how much the cost of construction would rise, and the extent to which communities would need the extra money from the incentive points. It made sense when the legislation was written that no one would go above 80 percent, Minor Wood said. But she said the current situation has resulted in inequity and inequality that needs a legislative fix. Comerford introduced a bill that would let any school district get additional incentive points, even if the district already reached the 80 percent level, based on poverty. She said the current system disadvantages poor communities and communities with small tax bases that cannot raise more money locally. That perpetuates inequity, if these communities cannot afford to build the same quality school buildings as wealthier districts. The bill ensures that schools, no matter what percentage of aid theyre getting, are eligible for getting incentive points for those better buildings, Comerford said. A spokeswoman for the treasurers office, which oversees the Massachusetts School Building Authority, did not respond to a request for comment. Holyoke is one of the communities at the 80 percent reimbursement level. The city, which is currently designing a $130 million project to build two new middle schools, anticipates getting around $78 million from the state, according to maintenance administrator Whitney Anderson. Anderson said if the community had been eligible for incentive points, that could have brought in additional state money. Every percentage point on a $100 million project is $1 million, so it means a lot, Anderson said. Anderson said some project improvements will be made anyway, if they are easy to do. But designers might have to make some decisions if the district can afford to make other improvements that cost money and are not eligible for state reimbursement. Anderson said he thinks Holyoke should be allowed to get the same incentive points as other communities, even though it is already getting the larger base amount. Its not so much our fault that we are a poor community, he said. Dorrie Brooks, an architect at Jones Whitsett Architects in Greenfield, said the poorer communities are most in need of additional money from incentive points. Theres no reason every school in the state shouldnt have the same encouragement to be highly sustainable, Brooks said. Communities like Orange, which are at the 80 percent reimbursement rate, wont be able to put in place those best practices without it. ... Theyll be able to do it only if they pay for it themselves. Brooks said she worked on a project in North Adams, which got a 80 percent reimbursement rate, but could have been eligible for more money if it were allowed to get incentive points for building an energy efficient building and renovating an existing building. Every percentage ends up being something the community will struggle with when it comes to coming up with local support for a project, she said. Brooks noted that school building projects must be approved by town taxpayers, and cost can be a deciding factor, particularly for towns with a small tax base. Thats when these projects die, when a community cant see paying for that debt, she said. BOSTON -- A state commission charged with reviewing "harm reduction" initiatives used elsewhere with drug users is recommending a "pilot program of one or more supervised consumption sites" as part of state efforts "to combat the opioid crisis." "Supervised consumption sites are an effective harm reduction tool in the countries where they have been implemented," states the 51-page report from the Harm Reduction Commission. "These sites keep people who use drugs alive and help reduce the public health risks of disease transmission." Safe injection facilities, as the report explains, are among such sites as "spaces where people who inject drugs can inject pre-obtained substances in the presence of trained staff who provide clinical monitoring." The purpose of the sites, as the report notes, is to prevent drug-related fatal overdoses as well as the transmission of diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis from the use of contaminated needles. While opioid-related overdose deaths have declined 6 percent between 2016 and 2018 in the commonwealth due to a number of legislative efforts, the report notes the commonwealth is among the top 10 states with the highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. The report's recommendation for such pilot sites as part of other harm reduction efforts already in effect like clean needle exchange programs and access to the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone without individual prescription comes with numerous conditions that must first be met as challenges to them include being in violation of the federal Controlled Substance Act that prevents individual possession of illicit drugs and the operation of facility for that purpose. The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling has warned previously, "Employees and users of such a site would be exposed to federal criminal charges regardless of any state law or study." There are no such sites in the United States, though the report states some 100 safe consumption sites exist in 11 other countries with "no overdose deaths reported inside existing SCSs." "In order to pursue a pilot program of one or more supervised consumption sites, the challenges the Commonwealth must address include any gaps in legal protections for organizations and individuals who would staff a supervised consumption site and any state criminal and civil laws that may pose a barrier," the report notes. "An additional challenge is the federal government's strongly stated current stance against supervised consumption sites. Action on the federal level is needed to shift policy in regards to the federal prohibitions on supervised consumption sites." The report also notes, "Any pilot program must receive local approval and include a rigorous evaluation of the outcomes for individuals and impact on the surrounding area and municipality." Last month, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed a civil lawsuit to prevent the establishment of the first supervised safe injection site in Philadelphia. The proposal for the Philadelphia site outlines that participants would register, be evaluated, offered a range of overdoes prevention services and directed to a room where they would be medically monitored in consuming their pre-obtained drugs and provided with sterile consumption equipment and strips to test for fentanyl that can be lethal even mixed in small doses with other illegal drugs like heroin. A proposal to establish a commission to study the feasibility of operating a site in Massachusetts where medical staff could intervene to prevent a fatal overdose as well as the use of contaminated needles was part of the second law addressing the opioid crisis Gov. Charlie Baker signed in August. Chaired by Marylou Sudders, the state's secretary of health and human services, members of the 15-member commission include Dr. Monica Bharel, who heads the state's department of public health, and Dr. Robert Roose, chief of addiction medicine and recovery services for Trinity Health Of New England and a member of Governor Baker's Opioid Addiction Working Group. The commission heard presentations on legal challenges by David Solet, chief legal counsel for the state's executive office of public safety and security, and possible answers to those legal challenges by Leo Belestky of Northeastern University as well as what harm reduction measures already exist in the state by Bharel to address what the report calls the country's ongoing opioid crisis. It also heard about nine supervised consumption sites in British Columbia where, in combination with other overdose prevention services, it has been estimated 2.5 times more deaths would have taken place without such interventions. "People who use drugs alone," that presentation states, "and in the absence of medical intervention are at the greatest risk of overdose death." Dr. Jessie M. Gaeta, chief medical officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, also presented information from Canada that showed that overdose mortality decreased by 35 percent in the area around the opening of North America's first medically-supervised safer injecting facility in Vancouver compared with a 9.3 percent reduction in the rest of that city. Commissioner Bharel's presentation noted, "The defining features (of harm reduction) are the focus on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself, and the focus on people who continue to use drugs." "Harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of strategies from safer use, to managed use, to abstinence - to meet drug users 'where they're at,' addressing conditions of use along with the use itself," Bharel's presentation noted. "Because harm reduction demands that interventions and policies designed to serve drug users reflect specific individual and community needs, there is no universal definition of or formula for implementing harm reduction." Potential harm reduction-based programming benefits cited in her presentation include: "Although there are existing harm reduction programs, there is no comprehensive statewide strategy," the commission report notes. "A strategy should be developed to expand harm reduction resources across the state, targeting areas with the highest rates of opioid-related overdoses. The strategy should have a strong education component focusing on the public at large and the health care community." Services the commission report cites that could be expanded as part of a comprehensive statewide strategy include: The Massachusetts Medical Society, which issued a release in support of the commission's recommendation, issued a report in 2017 in support of a pilot safe injection facility. Its recommendations included advocating "for an exemption from federal drug laws for the pilot SIF program as well as pursue state legislation legalizing the pilot SIF program, and consider partnering with other states or entities in seeking such a waiver of the applicable federal laws." Also, "Consider harm-reduction strategies (counseling, referral, and placement on demand for all types of drug treatment) as a component of the pilot beyond SIFs to ensure comprehensive health care is available to marginalized persons who inject drugs." FORT MYERS, Fla. Red Sox manager Alex Cora called Monday a big day for Dustin Pedroia as far as workload. Pedroia likely would play in his first spring training game of 2019 next weekend if he responds well. Lets see how he reacts to that one," Cora said. "If everything goes well, most likely during the weekend. Cora explained what a heavy workload involves: Everything. Ground balls, hit, run, everything. The Red Sox initially had hoped Pedroia would play on or around March 6 (Wednesday). But Cora said Pedroia hasnt fallen behind schedule. We have to (mark) all the check points, Cora said. Workload and moving around. Spring training gives you a lot of information. So were tracking that and comparing with other players. And theres a lot of factors that go in. We feel like hopefully if everything goes well on Monday, well set a date towards the end of the week." The 35-year-old Pedroia appeared in only three games during 2018 after undergoing a left knee cartilage restoration procedure Oct. 25, 2017. He recently said he regrets undergoing the surgery. He also had scar tissue removed during an arthroscopic surgery in late July in Arizona. Actress Shraddha Kapoor turned 32 today and the makers of her upcoming film 'Saaho' have the most kickass birthday gift for her - 'Shades Of Saaho Chapter 2'. This one-minute teaser gives a sneak-peek into the making of the high-octane action scenes and her character. UV Creations For someone who spends 70 crores just to blow up cars, bikes and trucks in Abu Dhabi, you can't expect anything but the best and this behind-the-scenes video is proof of the same. Call it a tradition or an epic promotion strategy, the makers of 'Saaho' sure know how to get people's attention. Last year, they released the first BTS teaser of Chapter 1 on Prabhas' birthday and this year, they picked Shraddha's birthday to release the second teaser and introduce her character too. UV Creations While Shraddha plays a cop in the movie, everyone's beloved Baahubali will have to face enemies more fierce than Bhallaldeva, Kalakeyas and Katappa. By the looks of the teasers and trailers, Prabhas is all set to burn the screen with his high-octane stunts and performance. In fact, people can't get over how amazing the two, especially Prabhas looks. His dialogue, or just one word (to be precise), "Boom!" has already stirred a storm on the internet. To be honest, this one-minute teaser is better than half the Bollywood movies out there. Gunshot visuals and #SAAHO team is surely going great guns for delivering a slick 'n' stylish Hollywood level action feast! Rebelstar #PRABHAS...mass mentalllssss anthe! In @sujeethsign we believe!#ShadesOfSaaho2 #ShadesOfSaahoChapter2 pic.twitter.com/IMMNvmPzA2 M S Krishna Prateek (@mskp_29) March 3, 2019 Review in one Word : Fucking Awesome. #ShadesOfSaaho2 Indian Military (@INDIAN_FORCEE) March 3, 2019 Directed by Sujeeth, 'Saaho' is expected to release in 2019 on Independence Day. 'Saaho' is being made in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and also stars Jackie Shroff, Mandira Bedi and Neil Nitin Mukesh. Today, Friday, 1 March, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sia Anagnostopoulou, had a courtesy meeting at her office with the Chilean Ambassador, Pia Busta Diaz, on the occasion of the assumption of her duties. During the meeting, they reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries, exchanged views on developments at the international and regional level, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation at the bilateral level, particularly in the sectors of the economy and education. In this context, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs extended an invitation to her Chilean counterpart, Carolina Valdivia Torres, to visit our country in response to the official visit by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, to Chile in June 2018. South Africa: Traditional heritage must benefit its owners: Deputy President Deputy President David Mabuza has assured traditional leaders that government will work towards giving people the necessary tools to use their heritage not just as means of preserving their history and humanity, but as means of livelihood. It is our rich heritage that gives meaning to tourism potential and all economic value chains linked to this sector. In doing so, we must think of protecting such heritage so that it is not exploited by others without benefitting its rightful owners, said the Deputy President. He was speaking at the 39th King Silamba Annual Commemoration ceremony, where he was invited by His Majesty King Makhosonke II of AmaNdebele. The event was held at KoMjekejeke Heritage Site in Walmansthal, Tshwane, on Saturday. KoMjekejeke is a recognised heritage site where Ndebele traditional communities from all provinces come to celebrate their heritage and customs. This is a special heritage site that expresses everything about who we are as Africans. It is a repository of our pride and heritage, as well as the symbol of our titanic resistance against colonialism and cultural imperialism, said the Deputy President. Reflecting on the role of traditional leadership, Mabuza said African kinship has always been central in the journey of decolonisation and destruction of the system of apartheid. The Deputy President further affirmed the importance of traditional leadership. Today, we have in each of the spheres of our government, a House of Traditional Leaders that is empowered by legislation to channel the contributions of our leaders in the advancement of our nation and its civilisation, he said. While great strides have been made in developing rural areas that were neglected under apartheid, Mabuza said more still needs to be done. In light of this, the Deputy President said the return of the land to its rightful owners will open greater opportunities for agricultural development, for decent human settlements, and for industrial development. The resolution of the land question, through a well-managed land reform process, will lead to an equitable society that has greater opportunities for the creation of jobs and wealth for our people, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Photo: Contributed Sarah Taylor is thrilled with the success so far at Penticton's annual Home Reno Show. The Canadian Home Builders of the South Okanagan are off to a promising start for their 2019 Home Reno Show, with 2,700 people attending on the first day. "It is going so awesome, today really was a success, I'm getting lots of positive feedback, vendors are happy, people coming in are happy," said Sarah Taylor, the recently appointed executive officer for the organization. The show operated 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with 148 vendors available to peruse. Exhibitors include home builders, suppliers, manufacturers, developers, insurance providers, financial institutions and other related businesses. "Typically we've had 129 vendors, so this year we expanded into the entranceway with more things to see," Taylor said. The entire lobby area of the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in front of the main ballroom is filled with vendors and a kids area this year, and feedback so far has been encouraging. "We're using the space out front here in a whole new way, and it's a little bit more family-friendly," Taylor explained. Sunday is the last day of the home show, operating 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "It's a little bit quieter on Sunday so it's a great chance to come, parking will be easier, and if you don't want to the crowds it's a good time to come," Taylor said. Over 4,000 people visited the home show last year, a number Taylor hopes to beat. Admission to the Home Reno Show is $5 per person at the door, which includes entry in door prize sweepstakes. UPDATE: 9:11 AM Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan said City Hall is open as scheduled. The roads are excellent, said Dziekan who lives in the hilly area of Derby. He also said there are no reports of trees or electrical lines down. In Ansonia Country Disposal is planning trash and recyclable pickups as expected. Mayor David Cassetti advised residents to place their containers in an area that the crew could easily access them. UPDATE: 9 AM Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti commended Public Works for their work in clearing the citys roads overnight and this morning. The roads are clear. There is some slush on side streets but the temperatures are rising and that will help melt whats left, he said. He said there is a delayed opening for City Hall with employees being asked to report to work at 9:15 a.m. Any meetings slated for tonight will take place as scheduled, Cassetti said. UPDATE: 8:27 AM Shelton Community Center to open at 10:30 a.m. Shelton City Hall to open at 11 a.m. The Shelton Senior Center, Shelton Plumb Library and the Huntington Branch of the Plumb Library will remain closed all day. A Seymour Board of Education meeting scheduled for Monday night is cancelled. A demonstration to bring back Seymour High School Assistant Principal Paul Lucke who was placed on administrative leave following his December arrest for DUI in Naugatuck, was planned. UPDATE: 8:18 AM Bethels municipal center will open at 11 a.m. Brookfield Town Hall opening at 10 a.m Newtown Town Hall opening at 10 a.m. UPDATE: 8:05 AM Hamden government offices will open at 10 a.m. UPDATE: 7:43 AM Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim has announced City of Bridgeport city services will be delayed until 10 a.m. due to the snow emergency in effect. Due to the inclement weather and for the safety of city staff, non-essential employees may report to their duties starting at 10 a.m.. This may be subject to change as weather and road conditions develop. City employees should contact their supervisor for additional information and closures. Emergency Personnel such as Police, Fire, Public Facilities and Emergency Operations Center should contact their supervisor and inquire about reporting to their shift. For the latest updates, resources and information about the snowstorm, check www.bridgeportct.gov/snow, local television and radio news outlets and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter and Facebook. UPDATE: 7:20 AM Shelton City Hall will open at 11 a.m. The Shelton Community Center will open at 10:30 a.m. The Shelton Senior Center, Plumb Library and the Huntington Branch Library will be closed today. UPDATE: 5:20 AM MONDAY For the updated school closing and other cancellations, click here UPDATE 10:29 P.M. Due to the impending storm, jurors scheduled to report to a Connecticut state courthouse on Monday have been cancelled and should not report. UPDATE 10:17 P.M. Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport is closed Monday The safety of our faculty, staff and students is a major responsibility and of the utmost importance, read a post on the colleges Facebook page. Due to 8 to 10 inches of snow expected and freezing conditions expected later in the day all classes are canceled. UPDATE 10:02 P.M. Gov. Ned Lamont announced Sunday night that, due to the overnight winter storm that is anticipated to continue through the early morning commute, state offices will open on Monday at 10:30 a.m. UPDATE 9:46 P.M. The Town of Monroe has a parking ban in effect due to the expected snow accumulation. Residents are asked to keep cars and trailers off the road so Public Works can clean the streets. UPDATE 8:54 P.M. Mystic Aquarium has announced it will delay opening until noon on Monday for the safety of our staff and guests who may be traveling, according to a tweet issued by the aquarium Sunday night. UPDATE 8:39 P.M. Connecticut Post Mall in Milford will have a 12 p.m. delayed opening tomorrow Monday. The cinema, department store, fitness center and restaurant hours may vary. Contact stores directly regarding their hours. UPDATE 8:35 P.M. Mayor Harry Rilling has declared a snow emergency in Norwalk beginning at 8:30 pm onSunday. City buildings will open at 10 am on Sunday. Garbage collection will continue as scheduled. UPDATE 8:31 P.M. Bridgeport Public Schools will be closed Monday due to the weather. UPDATE 7:48 P.M. Greenwich Public Schools have announced that they will be closed Monday. UPDATE 7:39 P.M. Bradley International Airport announced Sunday not that it is open, but monitoring the reports of inclement weather. We are monitoring the weather conditions closely and our team is on stand-by to commence snow removal operations, read a statement from the airport Sunday evening. While many of our flights are operating on schedule this evening, some of our airline partners have proactively canceled some of their flights. We are also seeing some adjustment to schedules early tomorrow morning. The email suggests that those scheduled to travel Sunday evening or Monday morning contact their airline to confirm the status of their individual flight itineraries and any available rebooking options. Flight updates are also available on Bradleys web site www.flybdl.org. In addition to the update from the airport, school districts continued to announce cancellations, including the New Haven and Milford public schools. UPDATE 7:15 P.M. Fairfield, Oxford, Weston and Trumbull are all adding to the chorus of school districts that are preemptively canceling classes for Monday due to the weather concerns. UPDATE 6:41 PM Stratford announced that its extending its parking ban to 8 a.m. Tuesday in anticipation of inclement winter weather Sunday into Monday. Parking will continue to be permitted on the even-numbered side of streets. UPDATE 6:25 P.M. All Seymour town buildings including Town Hall will be on a delayed opening for Monday. As of now, we plan to open at noon, read a tweet from the town. We will provided (sic) updates throughout the morning as necessary. Please stay off the roads if possible. Be safe!!! UPDATE 6:23 P.M. Westport Public Schools announced they will be closed Monday due to the expected snow and the anticipated extensive clean-up period required to safely open our schools, according to a tweet. UPDATE 6:01 P.M. Seymour just announced that the towns schools will be closed on Monday, as have Derby and Norwalk. UPDATE 5:47 P.M. The Town of North Haven has issued a parking ban starting Sunday at 10 p.m. ending Monday at 8:00 p.m. Also, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton announced late Sunday afternoon via Twitter that Monday classes had been canceled. Listen up oh small ones, read the tweet. Danbury Public Schools are closed for tomorrow 3/4. #Danbury #sleepwell . Monroe also canceled school for Monday, as did Notre Dame of Fairfield. Elsewhere, Seymour Town Hall tweeted that Monday trash and recycling pick-up had been postponed. Please do not place your bins out tonight, the tweet read. Pick up will resume on Tuesday. Thanks and be safe tonight. UPDATE 2:30 P.M. A snow emergency is in effect in Bridgeport as of 2 p.m., Mayor Joe Ganim announced in a press release. This means residents must move their cars off posted emergency streets. Residents should park on the side of the street with addresses that are on odd numbers. Snow emergency streets are marked with white signs with red lettering. A list of snow streets can be found on the citys website. Cars left on emergency streets are subject to towing and fines, the press release said. Property owners also must clear their sidewalks or face a $100 fine. The transfer station will be closed Monday. Sanitation and recycling services will also be suspended on Monday. The city plans to prioritize clearing major roads first. This allows public safety vehicles to access most parts of the city and provides most residents with a cleared roadway within two-to-three blocks of their home and most destinations in the city, according to the press release. Other factors include locations of schools, hospitals, major commercial centers and other facilities with large public interest, the press release said. Any plowing issues or concerns should be reported using mobile application Bridgeport 311. UPDATE 1:40 P.M. Towns are implementing parking bans as forecasters predict five to eight inches of snow could fall on Southern Connecticut from late Sunday afternoon to early Monday morning. In New Haven, a citywide parking ban will begin at 11 p.m. Sunday, according to the citys alert system. The downtown parking ban for Zone A and the posted snow emergency routes for Zone B will end at noon Monday. The residential parking ban for Zone C will remain in effect until further notice. The Cheshire Police Department will be implementing a parking ban from 7 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton asked residents to move their cars off the street to help with snow removal. Residents are also urged to keep the sidewalk in front of their homes clean. Police will be giving tickets and towing cars parked on the street, Boughton said. WALLINGFORD Residents opposed to two giant warehouses being built on the former Bristol Myers Squibb complex on Research Parkway have upped the ante in their efforts to get development scuttled. About 50 residents showed up at Tuesdays Town Council meeting to urge councilors to oppose the project, which is currently before the Towns Planning and Zoning Commission. The project needs a special permit from the PZC. And while the decision on whether to approve the project solely is the purview of the PZC, opponents urged council members to use what ever personal influence they might have with members of the zoning board. Many who live in the residential neighborhood east of the proposed warehouse complex say they are troubled that Massachusetts-based Calare Properties, which bought the 180-acre corporate campus in February from Bristol Myers Squibb, isnt identifying who the tenants are for the two warehouses that are being proposed. Calares plan calls for tearing down the 915,000-square-foot pharmaceutical research and development center and replacing it with two warehouses with 1.1 million square feet between them. What I find most disturbing ... is that developers have provided no numbers, no specifics, said Hillary Greene, who lives on Marie Lane. Jack Arrigoni, who lives on Martin Trail, said he is skeptical of claims by Calare representatives that the company doesnt know which businesses will occupy the two warehouses. For them to claim they dont know who is going in there is nothing short of obfuscation, Arrigoni said. More for you Proposed warehouses in Wallingford raise residents ire Dennis A. Ceneviva, a Meriden-based attorney representing Calare, told PZC members during a hearing earlier this month that the proposed warehouse complex is not a tenant-driven project. This is driven by e-commerce, and e-commerce is booming, Ceneviva said. James Heilman, who lives on High Hill Road, said the Muddy River flows through the former Bristol Myers Squibb property into Spring Lake and is ultimately part of the watershed of the towns MacKenzie Reservior. Heilman said that when the companys corporate complex was built more than three decades ago, construction of the facility had an impact on the watershed. It wasnt that long ago that the town spent a lot of money dredging its water resources, he said. The Bristol Myers complex hurt them terribly. Knowing that, you should be rattled by this. Scott Gray, who lives on Oxford Trail next to Spring Lake, said the body of water has never fully recovered from when Bristol Myers was built. The upper portion of the lake is only a few inches deep because of all the silt that came from the site, Gray said. That complex was built at a significant cost to the environment. Ed Bradley, who lives on Hampton Trail, said the proposed warehouse complex might increase runoff from rainwater in the area. We have a lot of flooding in that area already, Bradley said. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com MIDDLETOWN Students enrolled in the emergency medical technician course at Middlesex Community College are among the first in the state to learn how to administer intramuscular epinephrine by traditional syringe in cases of anaphylaxis. The Connecticut EMS Medical Advisory Committee and Commissioner of Public Health approved the expanded training program Feb. 11 to offset the rising cost and short supply of auto-injectors such as the EpiPen. I want to be on the cutting edge of teaching and have the students actually perform the injections in their training, Michael Davis, a certified EMT and instructor of the MxCC course, said in a prepared statement. My goal is to train competent EMTs in the hopes that if I ever need an EMT, I want someone who knows what they are doing. Anaphylaxis is a state of severe allergic reaction, such as from a bee sting, which requires immediate treatment. The medication epinephrine is a form of adrenaline that is used to reverse symptoms within minutes. Davis, who has more than 25 years of experience, worked with Middlesex Health to immediately implement the training during his semester-long EMT course. Davis and licensed paramedic Brandon Curtis led a hands-on demonstration for the class of 16 Feb. 25. The students used professional syringes, vials, and ampules filled with simulated medication to replicate the injections on skin pads made with rubber latex. IM by syringe and auto-injectors are normally applied to the patients outer thigh area, according to a press release. It is nice to do this and not have to spend so much money, Annie Bill, a student from Lyme who enrolled in the EMT course to supplement her application to the U.S. Coast Guard said in the release. The EMT certification course at Middlesex Community College is designed for anyone 16 and over interested in learning more about the emergency response system and in caring for patients in an ambulance en route to the hospital. Using real equipment, students gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation to sick and injured patients, according to the institution. Middlesex Community College is also one of 10 EMT certification testing sites in Connecticut. The practical exams are developed by the National Registry of Medical Technicians for students who have successfully completed approved EMT training anywhere in the state. For information about the MxCC EMT course, visit mxcc.edu/ce/courses/emt. Photo: The Canadian Press Bernie Sanders kicked off his presidential campaign Saturday miles from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn and 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." The Democrats in the 2020 race have taken varied approaches to Trump, with some avoiding saying his name entirely, while others make implicit critiques of his presidency. Sanders has never shied from jabbing Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College, he called Trump "the most dangerous president in modern American history" and said the president wants to "divide us up." The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Beyond the issues themselves, Sanders, who grew up in the heavily Jewish neighbourhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," said Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. He pegged his allowance as a kid at 25 cents a week. Sanders also said he "did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers, 'You're fired.'" "I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over every day workers," he added. More than 200 miles away in suburban Washington, Trump reveled in his 2016 victory and said Republicans "need to verify it in 2020 with an even bigger victory." While Trump didn't mention Sanders explicitly in a two-hour speech, he railed against the policies of "socialism" in a continued attempt to portray Democrats as out of touch with ordinary Americans. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. "Socialism is not about the environment, it is not about justice, it is not about virtue. It is only about one thing - it is called power for the ruling class," Trump said. "We know the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism" Speaking at the same conference Friday, Vice-President Mike Pence called Sanders an "avowed socialist." Nearly 9,000 Marines Didn't Get Vaccinated By the Deadline. Many Risk Getting Kicked Out of the Corps. The Marine Corps reported that 5% of the force had not gotten even one shot before the deadline passed. The Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday released details on a new policy that will allow Purple Heart recipients to move to the front of the line regarding claims. Starting April 1, veterans who have earned the Purple Heart and are submitting initial disability compensation claims will be added to the existing list of categories that receive priority processing within the Veterans Benefits Administration, according to the VA. The distinction does not apply to claims appeals. Purple Heart recipients already are treated as a priority for medical care at VA facilities and are exempt from co-payments for care. VA officials said Friday they hope that, by adding combat-wounded veterans to the claims priority list, it will "further improve their overall experience with VA and shows the department's commitment to improving the claims process." Several groups of veterans receive priority processing for initial claims. They include: Medal of Honor recipients; homeless or indigent veterans; the terminally ill; those older than 85; former prisoners of war or survivors of a POW; the very seriously injured who aren't already receiving VA disability benefits; and those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. In a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies on Wednesday, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie announced the change. He said the department is doing it in "recognition of wounds taken in battle." Wilkie's father, Robert L. Wilkie Sr., was an Army artillery officer who was severely injured during the Vietnam War. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. Wilkie often speaks about the impact his dad's military service and injuries had on his life and his philosophy in leading the VA. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime. Armed forces of Pakistan are our pride & protector: Resolution Mohsin Laghari, the provincial minister for Irrigation, who was the chief guest at the annual speech declamation contest held under the banner of COSIS, asked why India, which claims to be the largest democracy of the world, is afraid of dialogue. He said that after being shamed by the Pakistan armed forces, the cowardly Indian forces perpetrated violence on the hapless Kashmiris. He said that the armed forces of Pakistan have made a commitment to protect the country at every cost and they have come good on this pledge through thick and thin. He said that the Pakistan Air Force made the nation proud by exposing the Indian arrogance for what it is. Parliamentary Secretary Punjab Ahmad Shah Khagga, Prof Muhammad Nawaz Zafar, Mufti Abdul Qayyum Khan Hazarvi, Sultan Khan, Major (r) Muhammad Khan, Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi, Noorullah Siddiqui and Allah Ditta also spoke on the occasion. The male and female students of COSIS, Minhaj College for Women, Government College Bhaira, and Dar-ul-Uloom Ghosia took part in the speech competition. Mohibullah Azhar paid rich tributes to the armed forces of Pakistan on their courageous role in protecting the motherland. The students said in their speeches that the whole nation stands united and firm in support of their armed forces. Speaking on the occasion, Pir Ahmad Shah Khagga said that it is a matter of great pleasure that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is not only imparting quality education to the youth of the country but also focusing on their character building. He said that we are proud of the work that Dr Qadri has done in multiple areas. He said that the nation is in the safe hands and God willing, its future will also be unassailable and strong. He said that those drumming the war hysteria are hollow from inside, stating that the Modi government has enacted the whole drama to increase its electoral prospects in the upcoming elections. He said that the sane elements and the opposition parties in India should be worried, adding that not only friends but our enemies are also fully aware of our strength. Huzaifa Shabbir, Hafiz Muhammad Hunzala, Batool Mushtaq, Hafiz Muhammad Yasir, Kashif Iqbal, and Manahal Bukhari got top positions in the competitions. Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar Azmi, Nooruz Zaman Noori and Ijaz Ahmad were the members of the jury. Mudassar Rasool Nuri and Farhan Nasir were the masters of ceremony. Hafiz Naeem had the honour to recite the verses from the Holy Quran followed by Naat. FLINT, MI-- Jaden Smith visited First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Saturday to unveil a sustainable alternative to supply clean drinking water to residents--the Water Box. Smith, his partners at JUST Water, 501CThree and his mother Jada Pinkett-Smith, visited the church to present Flint residents with the Water Box, a portable water filtration system that can fill a 5-gallon jug in 30 seconds. We dont want to disrupt whats happening with the donation of bottled water to Flint, Smith said. We just want to be the backbone in case something happens to that supply of donated bottled water. The church has one Water Box residents will be able to get filtered water from between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at the Annex Center across from First Trinity. Pinkett-Smith announced shell be donating a second Water Box to Flint. The box utilizes the same filtration system Smiths bottled water company, JUST Water, uses in Glens Falls, New York on a larger scale and compacts it into a portable water distribution system. Essentially you could hook it up to the hose on the side of your house and it will filtrate that water, said Catrina Tillman, a spokesperson for the church. This water box will help us further our reach in regard to servicing residents with clean water. Jaden Smith visits Flint to unveil Water Box on Saturday, March 2 at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. The Water Box is a portable water filtration system that can fill a 5-gallon jug in 30 seconds. The American rapper has been working along side First Trinity for over a year now after finding out their supply of donated bottled water was dwindling. Through the churchs partners, Black Millennials For Flint, the organizations began working towards a sustainable solution to provide clean drinking water to residents. First Trinity has been on the forefront of servicing the community with bottled water, Tillman said. The church began donating bottled water to residents weekly in 2016. Weve been servicing our community on a weekly basis for the past three years, come rain, snow or sunshine we are giving out water, Tillman said. "In the beginning we were doing five days a week but then we had to go down to three days a week because our donations have dwindled down. The church distributes bottled water to residents Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon or until supplies last. Cars are generally lined up three blocks around the church beginning at 8 a.m. on those days, Tillman said. Donations allow the church to donate 28,800 bottles of water on a weekly basis. A lot of those cars we have to turn away because by 10:30 a.m. those five pallets of water are gone, Tillman said. Were in the business of serving the community and we have to turn away people whove waited two hours, its very disheartening. Jaden Smith says plan to help Flint includes pilot water filtration system After hearing about the churchs shortage of water, Smith wanted to help in a grassroot" approach, Tillman said. Thats when the conversations and conference calls began rolling. This has been one of the most rewarding and educational experiences for me personally, Smith stated. Working together with people in the community experiencing the problems and design something to help them has been a journey i will never forget. We are planning to deploy more water boxes in Flint and other communities facing similar challenges. Catrina Tillman of Trinity First Missionary Baptist Church sits with Jaden Smith visits Flint to unveil Water Box on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The Water Box is a portable water filtration system that can fill a 5-gallon jug in 30 seconds. Pamela Pugh, the city of Flints Health Adviser, stated a similar water filtration system will be coming to Flint Community Schools thanks to a large donation by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his foundation This is the kind of work well be highlighting, Pugh said. Well see this in our Flint community schools very soon. The Water Box has been onsite at the church for several weeks now, but Tillman said the church and Smith wanted to ensure thorough testing was done to ensure clean, quality water to residents. The church has launched a website where residents can see how the water filtered through the Water Box test each week. It was very important to us at First Trinity and Jaden to make sure this whole process is very transparent to the community, Tillman said. We do onsite testing ourselves with handheld devices and we also send out water samples to an outside lab source that isnt affiliated with Flint at all. If residents adapt to the Water Box well and want to utilize similar systems in their everyday lives, Smith said there could expansion to the work being done. We do have a line of sight into evolving the system more, it just depends on how Flint adapts to this Water Box, Smith said. If people like this and how it works, then yes we will come back and work on something more. If we see more engagement, thatll push us to do more of a personalized system. Aside from providing clean water, Tillman said the Water Box is great because it provides residents with a sustainable source of drinking water. The church will still be providing bottled water to residents, but Tillman hopes the community will begin making the transition to using the Water Box. Its going to take time, but our hope is that we can cut back on the use of plastic water bottles and they can convert over to the gallons, Tillman said. ANN ARBOR, MI - A new incentive in President Donald J. Trumps tax overhaul could bring development to economically distressed areas of Washtenaw County. However, no one has taken advantage of the incentive program locally yet, and officials are still learning about regulations. The new opportunity zones incentive -- created by Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017 -- offers tax breaks to people and corporations that invest their capital gains in real estate and business development in designated areas. Now that each state has selected its designated opportunity zones, Ann Arbor SPARK and other economic organizations are working to connect investors with development opportunities. The investments need to be made by 2021 to take advantage of the tax breaks, said Phil Santer, senior vice president and chief of staff at Ann Arbor SPARK. Washtenaw County has 11 opportunity zones, which generally have a poverty rate of at least 20 percent. Local opportunity zones are located primarily in Ypsilanti and the eastern part of Ypsilanti Township, plus some census tracts in Pittsfield Township and Chelsea. The Washtenaw County census tracts highlighted in green are opportunity zones. Ann Arbor SPARK has highlighted the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township and Research Park Drive in Pittsfield Township as prime places for development in the opportunity zones. We were trying to support development mostly on the east side of Washtenaw County," Santer said. See interactive map with Ann Arbor SPARKs recommendations for opportunity zone investments Anyone interested in investing their capital gains in an opportunity zone can start an opportunity fund, which requires filing a form with the IRS. Investors can defer paying taxes on their capital gains through 2026 when they invest in an opportunity fund, and they get varying tax breaks depending on how long they leave their money in the opportunity fund. After 10 years, gains from the opportunity zone investment become tax-exempt. The opportunity funds are available to developers interested in working in the opportunity zones. Its a win-win, Santer said. The community needs the investment, and the investor needs a way to extinguish their tax liability. Ann Arbor SPARK is planning to work with economic groups in Detroit to compile a list of available opportunity funds and development opportunities across southeast Michigan, Santer said. Currently, no opportunity funds have been established for Washtenaw County. There are some opportunity funds available for Michigan, according to a directory compiled by the National Council of State Housing Agencies. It took some time for states to designate their opportunity zones and for the U.S. Department of Treasury to finalize regulations for the tax incentive program, Santer said, and now hes hoping to raise awareness among potential investors. Its going to take some time for people to understand what the program is, how they can leverage it to their own benefit and then how we can leverage it the communitys benefit, he said. City of Ypsilanti Director of Economic Development Joe Meyers said hes still learning about the opportunity zone program. Ypsilanti recently adopted a community benefits ordinance that requires developers to make certain community investments in exchange for tax breaks. Meyers said hes not sure yet whether the opportunity zone tax incentives will trigger Ypsilantis community benefits procedures, and he has upcoming training sessions on the topic. LAPEER, MI -- Remodeling work at the Secretary of State office in Lapeer will close the location for one weeks time. The office located at 301 W. Genesee St. is scheduled to close beginning Monday, March 4 and reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, March 11. Customers and staff will benefit from renovations including new data lines to speed transactions, new carpet and a newly painted lobby, reads a State of Michigan news release. Electrical updates also will be done as part of the project. Those needing to visit a Secretary of State office during the upcoming week can head to the following closest locations: 300 N. Main St., Davison Flint Ares Super Center, 408 S. Saginaw St., Flint 5512 Fenton Road, Suite G, Mundy Township North Oakland County PLUS, 7090 Sashabaw Road, Independence Township 71130 Van Dyke Road, Bruce Township All four offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Davison and Bruce Township offices are open 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Wednesday. Super Centers and PLUS offices are open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday. Super Centers are also open from 9 a.m.- noon Saturdays. Residents can now order or replace most license plates online, renew their drivers license and registration for cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats at ExpressSOS.com, print their receipt and legally drive until their card or sticker arrives in the mail. Duplication registration or title, change of address, or registering to be an organ donor can also be done on the website. Additional information about Secretary of State office hours, locations and services can be found at Michigan.gov/SOS. DOWAGIAC, MI Three people were arrested Friday night for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and a slew of other charges, according to the Cass County Sheriffs Office. The arrested individuals include a 55-year old man, a 32-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who were taken into custody Friday, March 1, following a search warrant executed by the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, according to a news release issued by the sheriffs office. The identity of each arrested individual has been withheld pending arraignment, reads the release issued Sunday, March 3. Members of the countys drug enforcement team executed a search warrant at around 7 p.m. Friday and entered a home in 100 block of Bradley Street in the city of Dowagiac. Upon entering, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement found four people inside. Among the four, a 55-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession of meth with intent to deliver and absconding parole; a 37-year-old woman was arrested with possession of meth and heroin and an outstanding warrant; a 32-year-old man was arrested on outstanding warrants. All three were lodged at the Cass County Jail. The 55-year-old and 37-year-old are to be arraigned in district court. A 33-year-old woman who was inside the home was not arrested and was allowed to leave, the release reads. The incident remains under investigation. Photo: The Canadian Press Meng Wanzhou. The defence team for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has filed a notice of civil claim alleging "serious violations" of her constitutional rights. The suit filed with the B.C. Supreme Court on Friday is against members of the Canadian Border Services Agency, the RCMP and the federal government. It seeks damages for false imprisonment based on alleged multiple failures of government officials to comply with the rule of law upon her detention, search and interrogation at the Vancouver airport on Dec. 1. The allegations have not been proven in court and the CBSA, RCMP and the attorney general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Friday, the Canadian Department of Justice gave the go-ahead for an extradition case against Meng, marking the formal start of the high-profile process that has put Canada in an uncomfortable position between the United States and China. The U.S. Department of Justice has laid out 13 criminal counts of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction against Huawei and Meng, who is the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei. KOCHVILLE TWP, MI Military veterans now have extra help to complete their education once upon exiting the armed forces. Saginaw Valley State University is one of seven institutions statewide to receive Military Credit Equivalency grants that will help transfer credits obtained in the military to programs at the university. The $12,897 grant was awarded by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. During their military service, service members receive extensive education and training that can translate directly into academic and professional skills, but these skills have not always transferred easily into college credits, according to a press release from the university. SVSU hopes to support its veteran students and make sure they receive credit for previous education through this grant program. Currently, according to university officials, up to 62 credits can be transferred for students with a military background. However, many of those credits cant be used as substitutes for current SVSU courses. With the grant, SVSU will be working to allow more military credits to act as substitute credits for specific courses at the university. According to Bethany Alford, director of SVSUs Military Student Affairs office, military transcripts appear distinctly different from those in higher education and require more training to properly analyze and apply to a students academic degree program. The funds will primarily be used to bring American Council of Education representatives and two faculty reviewers from other institutions to discuss credit recommendation processes with our faculty and staff, Alford said. Grant proposals from six other institutions in Michigan were also accepted, with the funded programs ranging from similar equivalency programs to bridge programs aimed at applying military training to academic degree programs. Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a drink that was said to promise everlasting life. It was found secretly stowed away in a 2,000-year-old bronze pot in an ancient tomb in central Chinas Henan province. Around 3.5 litres of the elixir of immortality were found in the tomb in the city of Luoyang during excavations last October. It was initially thought that the liquid was liquor because it smelled like alcohol. However, it was announced this week that, lab testing has revealed that the mysterious liquid is mainly comprised of potassium nitrate and alunite, which are the main ingredients of an immortality draught recorded in an ancient Taoist text. According to Xinhua, the magical elixir was found in a tomb belonging to a noble family from the Western Han Dynasty that dates back to between 202 BC to 8 AD. The family clearly placed a very high value on the elixir as they deemed it worthy of sharing their final resting place. READ MORE: Massive pyramid unearthed in ancient Chinese city that hosted human sacrifices (PHOTOS) Potions that promised immortality were something of an obsession in ancient Chinese history, the most famous example being court sorcerer Xu Fu's two voyages in search of the elixir during the Qin Dynasty, however this is the first time that a sample of such liquid has been discovered intact. It is the first time that mythical immortality medicines have been found in China. The liquid is of significant value for the study of ancient Chinese thoughts on achieving immortality and the evolution of Chinese civilization, Shi Jiazhen, head of the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in Luoyang, explained. The ancient tomb covers over 200 square meters and, as well as the elixir, its excavators also unearthed jadeware, bronze artifacts and painted clay pots. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Google has apparently told a US congresswoman that a Saudi government app that allows men to keep tabs on women and bar them from leaving the country is in compliance with its guidelines, Business Insider reported. The Alphabet-owned IT giant has reportedly found nothing wrong with the controversial app, devised by the Saudi government to help citizens with routine administrative duties such as tracking female members of their families, the Insider reported on Saturday. The statement was made by Google in response to a request by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-California) and another 13 of her fellow lawmakers, including freshman Muslim representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. The app that has sparked an outcry in the US House is Absher, which provides Saudi citizens and residents with an opportunity to "safely browse your profile or your family members, or labors working for you, and perform a range of eServices online." In the ultra-conservative kingdom with its strict male guardianship system, these services include helping a male guardian see if a woman attempts to use her passport, and stop her from leaving. As she filed a request with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai to pull the app, Speier warned that if the companies keep it on their platforms, they would become "accomplices in the oppression of Saudi Arabian women and migrant workers." READ MORE: Secret divorce is history now! Saudi women to learn theyre single again viaSMS?! She told Insider that both Apple and Google missed the deadline to remove the app by February 28. "As of today, the Absher app remains available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store even though they can easily remove it," Speier said, slamming the response by the tech giants as "deeply unsatisfactory." Also on rt.com Twitter is a tool to silence us: Saudi womens rights activist quits social media The US lawmakers' outrage was echoed by their colleagues in Europe. Last month, European MPs called on the oil-rich kingdom to abolish its archaic male guardianship system, specifically taking aim at a "government web service" in an apparent reference to Absher. Saudi women still face many restrictions as they go about everyday life despite several concessions made as part of reforms championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Since last year, women in Saudi Arabia are eligible for driving licenses after a ban was lifted on female motorists. While the move was celebrated around the world, women still need to ask a guardian's permission to get the license. Likewise, women cannot marry, get a divorce or open a bank account without a guardian's permission, and their testimony is worth only half that of a man in court. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! The US branch of the Constantinople Patriarchate is at risk of a split after self-rule was granted to Ukrainian schismatics, a Russian priest in Texas said. One Greek parish has already quit and joined the Russian Church. The believers in the US react quite differently to the January move by Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew to grant Ukraines request for its own Orthodox Church independent from Moscow, Archpriest John Whiteford of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad said. Among the American Greeks there are those who support their Patriarch no matter what he does Many are confused by those events. But there are voices, which are heard clearly, of those who refuse to accept the actions of the Constantinople Patriarchate in Ukraine. One parish in Texas where Whiteford serves at the St. Jonah Church in Spring has already cut ties with Constantinople as the believers there simply cant agree with Bartholomews decision on Ukraine, he said. Most of the other representatives of the local churches in North America have clearly expressed their opposition to the stance taken by Constantinople, the archpriest said. He also blamed the Constantinople Patriarchate of increasingly deviating from the Orthodox dogma in recent years, including some of its representatives in the US who support same-sex relations. Such a liberal course and the Ukrainian issue may cause a split in the Greek archdiocese in the US and Canada, Whiteford predicted. Most will stay with Constantinople because there are close financial ties. But Im sure that there are constructive forces that put traditions and values above money that would choose to distance themselves from the Constantinople Patriarchate. Also on rt.com Ukrainian schismatics are 'idolaters' with blood on their hands, US rebel Orthodox priest tells RT As for the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, it fully supports all the actions undertaken by the Moscow Patriarchate in response to the schism, the archpriest said. The Russian Orthodox Church responded to the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church by cutting all ties with Constantinople and warning that the divide in the Orthodox world caused by Bartholomews decision may last for decades or even centuries. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! President Donald Trump shared the stage with a conservative activist assaulted on the Berkeley University campus, hours after police found and arrested the attacker. Trump urged the victim to punish his attacker with lawsuits. Hayden Williams is an activist with The Leadership Institute, a conservative group. Williams was passing out flyers at the University of California-Berkeley campus last month when he was set upon by an enraged passerby. The attacker grappled with Williams, punching him several times in the face and calling him b**ch, f**ker, and c**t. Speaking at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, President Trump invited Williams on stage, saying the young activist took a punch for all of us, and will be a very wealthy young man after suing Greenberg and the university. READ MORE: Raving Democrats, sick CNN and deep state bulls**t: Trump channels old campaign energy at CPAC Trump then promised to issue an executive order requiring colleges and universities to protect free speech on campus in order to continue receiving federal funding. We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas, he said. Instead we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus. READ MORE: WaPo issues correction to Covington kids story 6 weeks & 1 lawsuit later Conservative activists, including the presidents son Donald Jr., spread the video of the assault online in an effort to find the culprit. University police then arrested 28-year-old Zachary Greenberg on Friday, charging him with assault with a deadly weapon and attempting to cause great bodily injury. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that the 2015 migrant crisis which saw millions of migrants pour into Europe was just the beginning and that a new wave of African migrants may soon overwhelm the continent. Everything that we experienced in 2015 will happen again, and it will be bigger, the nationalist leader told German newspaper Die Welt. Soon the Arab countries will surpass the European countries in population. And I haven't mentioned Africa yet, where soon there will be more people than can be fed. Orban has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of non-European immigration in recent years. As waves of migrants flowed from the Middle East in 2015, Orban constructed a razor-wire border fence and refused passage for asylum seekers whose claims were rejected. Since then he has refused to meet EU migrant relocation quotas and has criminalized individuals and NGOs suspected of enabling illegal immigration. Hungary is a frontier country, Orban told Die Welt. We live our lives in complete readiness. We have many thousands of soldiers and policemen at our southern border, he added, warning that today it depends only on decisions of the Turkish government whether the many millions of refugees that are there will set out for Europe. As the migrant crisis dragged on, Africa replaced the Middle East as the source of Europes migrant influx. Orban called for the establishment of a new body of ministers in Europe to deal with any future immigration from the continent of 1.3 billion people. A separate body needs to be created for this, where only the interior ministers of the Schengen zone would sit, he explained. The interior ministers of the Schengen zone would need to turn this into a very strong council, where questions that concern the whole Schengen zone would be decided in the manner of experts and not of politicians. Also on rt.com Europe banked on George Soros instead of Viktor Orban, and will suffer the consequences forever EU leadership is unlikely to look to Orban for policy advice, however. The European Parliament voted to sanction Hungary for Orbans anti-migration policies in September, and momentum is currently building to expel the Hungarian leaders Fidesz party from the European Peoples Party umbrella group. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Pyongyang has a weird and now record debt to the Scandinavian nation, which has hit 2.8 billion Swedish kronas ($302 million), according to local media citing government agency insuring export deals. The unpaid bill includes a thousand model 144 Volvos and mining equipment supplied by Atlas Copco industrial company as well as other Swedish producers. The items were shipped to North Korea back in the 1970s, but the country has not still honored the debts. READ MORE: Global sovereign debt to peak at $50,000,000,000,000 this year After around 45 years of missing the deadline, the Norths initial debt rose from 600 million kronas ($65 million at the current rate) to record 2.8 billion ($302 million), the chief analyst of the Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN), which serves as credit insurer for companies trade deals, told Sveriges Radio. Stefan Karlsson explained that the sum has been surging due to added interest, and rose by 100 million kronas ($15 million) in one year, thus making North Korea Sweden's major debtor. Previously, Cuba held the position. Also on rt.com Trump says North Korea has tremendous potential to become absolute economic power Sweden received the last payment from the North in the late 1980s, and Karlsson says that the chance that it will get the money back is pretty small given North Korea 's current economic situation. Some of the exported Volvos were previously spotted in North Korea. Back in 2016, the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang posted a photo showing one of the still unpaid cars, saying it is used as a taxi in the northeastern city of Chongjin. EKN reportedly reminds North Korea to pay off the debts twice a year, however, the requests are usually met with silence. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The French capitals real estate market has become even more pricey in 2018 as the property costs reached another historic peak and are not going to go down, paving the way for another record this year. Purchasing a place in the heart of the City of Light cost buyers 5.7 percent more in 2018 than a year before, according to the data released by the Chamber of Notaries of Greater Paris. Those who wanted to live in the city center had to spend 9,750 ($11,100) on the average per meter. As such, a small one bedroom apartment could be sold for more than $444,000. More than $11,000 per meter is hardly the most expensive offering, as the price in Pariss Odeon Area was 17,410 ($19,800), having risen 28.3 percent. Also on rt.com Brexit exit? Paris flat reportedly sold for record $44 million to mysterious British tycoon Apartment prices in the capitals suburbs are nearly 40 percent lower than in the city center, but they still saw a 4.5 percent growth in one year. The average price per meter in the Ile-de-France region is 5,970 ($6,800). However, the volume of property sales fell 5 percent from 2017 numbers, when the city saw strong growth. Last years record is expected to be beaten in 2019 as the Chamber of Notaries predicted a further price rise in the coming months. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section A Russian national has been arrested in Greece and faces extradition to Ukraine on tax-crime charges. His lawyer said he is being persecuted for supporting the former Ukrainian president who was ousted in a Western-backed coup. Evgeny Kalinin, a Russian energy expert, was arrested by the Greek authorities at Athens International Airport on Thursday, his lawyer, Yannis Rahiotis, told Sputnik. Kalinin is a well-known oil industry expert, Rahiotis said, noting that his client was on a routine business trip to the country at the time. Kalinin appeared in court on Friday, when he was sent to prison until Ukraines extradition request is delivered to Athens. Also on rt.com Russia remains Ukraines key trade partner despite Kievs claims of cutting economic ties According to Rahiotis, Kalinin faces unspecified tax-crime charges, which allegedly arise from his past work as a top executive in Ukraines oil company. Kalinin served as vice president of TNK-BP Commerce, a Kiev-based company that specializes in producing and selling crude oil products in Ukraine and Russia, until 2011. The company, which was founded in 2003, also operates a network of gasoline and filling stations in Ukraine. While the essence of the charges Kalinin is facing are not yet clear, Rahiotis believes they are politically motivated. The lawyer pointed out that Kalinins name has been included in a database of the notorious Ukrainian website Mirotvorets (Peacekeeper). The ultra-nationalist site contains a blacklist of traitors who it says must be dealt with. On the list, Kalinin has found himself in the company of such big foreign political names as former German chancellor Gerhard Shroeder, who was added to the hit-list in November, prompting the German Foreign Ministry to reprimand Kiev for not taking down the website. This case is a political one. Kalinin is included into the Mirotvorets list. He is being persecuted because he was a supporter of former president Victor Yanukovich, Rahiotis said. Russian diplomats have been in contact with Kalinin, and have been providing him with all necessary consular assistance, the Russian Embassy in Greece said, as cited by Sputnik. Also on rt.com Greek Orthodox parish in US quits Constantinople to join Russian Church over Ukrainian schism Kalinins arrest has already drawn condemnation from a senior Russian lawmaker. The deputy head of the Russian Senate Defense and Security Committee, Franz Klintsevich, has said that by playing into the Kievs hands, Athens is undermining its centuries-old relationship with Russia, which has traditionally been an ally. Its still not late to stop. Russia will do everything to free Evgeny Kalinin, he wrote on Facebook. Another State Duma MP, Natalia Poklonskaya, argued that Kalinins arrest is likely to be politicized and exploited in the ongoing Ukrainian presidential campaign. She also warned Greece against becoming a pawn in a third partys hands by simply following formal legal guidelines. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Russian-based world leader in diamond mining, Alrosa, has mined a gem-quality diamond weighing almost 100 carats at its deposit in the northeastern region of Yakutia. It is the second-largest gem ever found at the facility. The diamond, which has an octahedral shape, was found at the Zapolyarnaya kimberlite pipe, which is the part of the Verkhne-Munskoye diamond deposit, on February 17. Despite having some inclusions, the rough diamond is transparent with a visible yellow shade. The recently mined trove proves that the diamond mine in Yakutia, which is Alrosas largest investment project, has great potential, according to the company. This is the second major find since the launch of the deposit last October. It allows us to speak about the great potential of the Verkhne-Munskoye deposit, the diamond producer said in a statement. READ MORE: Cheer up girls! Russias diamond producer promises huge gemstones soon The first large gem, weighing 51.49 carats, was mined at the Verkhne-Munskoye facility last year, shortly after the official launch on October 31. Back then, Alrosa pledged to invest 60 billion rubles ($910 million) in the project by 2042. The fields reserves are enough to continue mining operations for more than 20 years, and it is expected to yield about 1.8 million carats of diamonds a year. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which has entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said in Chennai Saturday. Pitching for talks with Pakistan, he said though dealing with that neigbouring nation was "very complicated," there was no other option to avoid war. "Plebiscite was offered under very different conditions, please understand that," he said adding, that since then the conditions have changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Fielding a question from a member of the audience -- a DMK functionary -- at the launch of his book, "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India" in Chennai, he said plebiscite was offered to a "united Kashmir. Since then the conditions have changed and nearly about one half of Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan occupied now." The top Congress leader said for about 70 years now Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir were being governed by India and Pakistan respectively and "the entire ground conditions have changed." The senior DMK functionary, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, wanted to know about the "promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru," referring to the offer of plebiscite. "Plebiscite was offered to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir...now Jammu thinks differently, Ladakh, Leh and Kargil think differently today..." The "problem" was essentially confined to the Kashmir valley and there was no problem in regions like Leh and Kargil, he said and recalled his visit to these two regions. "I don't think that conditions for plebiscite are any longer relevant. The conditions have changed so much that the offer of plebsicite (made) then is valid today, I don''t think so," he said. Pointing out that he was only talking about healing the divisions in Kashmir, he said: "I certainly will not allow Kashmir to secede from India, that is not allowed, that is a no go area." He said that within the Indian Union, "what they are asking is and as far as I have understood is a large degree of self government, which I think we should give them and we can give them." To another question from a Congress MLA Vijaya Dharani, he said dealing with Pakistan was more complex, which involved a mixture of areas like foreign, defence and security policies. "Pakistan does not have a single authority government like India has," he said and added that there was the State, the Army, and non-state players, the militant outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Such outfits are sometimes as powerful as the government itself and they acted on their own. "So it is very complicated dealing with Pakistan..but as Vajpayeeji once said and Dr Manmohan Singh repeated, Pakistan is our neighbour, we can change our friends, we cannot change our neighbours." The former Union Minister said hence, "we have to live with Pakistan forever and ever." "Ultimately, we have to talk to Pakistan...you may get nothing out it, you may call me a pacifist, I am firmly of the view that war does not solve any problems," Mr Chidambaram said and recalled the wars India had fought with Pakistan in the past, including the Kargil conflict. "We have to talk...it is a painful task, but there is no option we have to keep on talking and avoid war," Mr Chidambaram said, adding he was more concerned about bringing back peace in Kashmir. -PTI The US has rejected a joint request by Moscow and Damascus to let them evacuate the refugees stranded in the Rukban camp within the US-controlled zone in Syria to areas under Damascus' control, the Russian military said. The first column of buses accompanied by Russian military police set off for the camp on Friday. They were supposed to enter through one of the two mobile checkpoints opened by the Russian and Syrian forces last month and ferry the refugees to other parts of Syria for permanent resettlement. Also on rt.com Russian & Syrian military to ensure safe evacuation of refugees stranded in Rukban camp (VIDEO) However, the planned operation was apparently aborted after the US military, which controls the 55km area around the US military base at Al-Tanf, which also includes Rukban camp, refused to grant permission for the buses to proceed, Sergey Solomatin, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, said on Saturday. "Despite the successful completion of all preparatory work by the Syrian government to bring the refugees out of the Rukban camp and to the places of permanent resettlement, the US side has rejected the joint call" by Russia and Syria "asking them to let the transport columns into the Al-Tanf zone," Solomatin said. Over 40,000 refugees, mainly women and children, are estimated to be living in the camp after being displaced by the years of the Syrian bloodshed. The refugees are said to be suffering from a shortage of adequate medical assistance and basic supplies. It is not clear while the US military blocked access for the Russia-backed mission. Washington has repeatedly called on Moscow to facilitate the delivery of UN humanitarian aid to the Rukban camp, calling for Damascus to provide "rapid, safe and unhindered" access to the refugees. "We urge that access for humanitarian assistance must continue to Rukban and to all areas in Syria where people are in need," the US State Department stated in February. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Washington and Seoul will no longer be conducting large-scale Foal Eagle and Key Resolve war games, the South Korean defense ministry said Sunday. It comes several days after US President Trump complained about the drills' cost. The cancellation of the annual wargames, initially scheduled to kick off in spring, was announced by the South Korean military, as it made public the details of a call between Acting US defense chief Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, Yonhap reported. Seoul said that the move to call off the exercises was in support of the diplomatic efforts to pursue a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The drills have been paired since 2001 and traditionally take place in February-March. North Korea saw the allies' annual saber-rattling as preparation for invasion. "The minister and secretary made clear that the alliance's decision regarding the adjustment of the exercise and drills reflects both countries' expectation to back diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through a final, full verified method," the ministry said in a statement. By ditching the costly wargames the US and South Korea are not eliminating joint exercises completely, though: they are planning new command post drills and will continue to carry out field maneuvers. However, these are expected to be conducted on a significantly lower scale. In the run-up to the announcement, unnamed officials told CNN that Washington and Seoul might instead carry out drills "at a small unit level" that would feature "virtual training." NBC News reported, also citing officials, that the large-scale war games would be replaced by "mission-specific training." READ MORE: Wind-down of 'irritating' war games: US & South Korea suspend military drill planned for August The scaling-down was widely expected, since Trump has repeatedly bemoaned the drills' hefty price tag the US has to cover. Following the first Trump-Kim summit in June 2018, Trump said that the US would halt joint drills with South Korea, while calling them "quite provocative," stirring unease among his own military. Shortly after that, Washington and Seoul suspended large-scale Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises scheduled for August. In November, then Pentagon chief James Mattis stated that the Foal Eagle drills were "being reorganized a bit to keep it at a level that will not be harmful to diplomacy." Also on rt.com Trump says no reason for costly war games with South Korea, blames China for stalemate with North Speaking in the wake of his Hanoi summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this week, Trump said the drills with South Korea were "fun and nice" but a "very, very expensive thing," and that he "gave that up quite a while ago." READ MORE: 'Progress' but no deal: Mixed scorecard for Trump & Kim's Hanoi summit Foal Eagle typically sees some 11,500 US troops taking part alongside 290,000 South Korean military forces in the drills that include air, ground and naval field operations. Key Resolve is a computer-simulated exercise that also used to draw in a large number of troops from both sides, including about 12,200 Americans and 10,000 South Koran servicemen. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Congress Digvijay Singh asks Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to provide evidence of air strike carried out by Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammeds terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Also, Congress senior leader and former Madhya Chief Minister congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Speaking to reporters in Indore, he said, "I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. But pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence of Osama bin Laden's killing before the world," he said. On 26 February, Indian Air Force air strike Jaish terror camp in Balakot deep inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The day after, Pakistan retaliated by PAFs three jets violated Indian air space to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. In the air combat, IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was capture by Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down. "I also congratulate the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan for showing us a new way of being a good neighbour and returned the brave Indian Air Force officer to us," the Congress leader said. "Now he should show courage by handing over Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to us," he added. However, Digvijay Singh tried to take U-turn over his evidence remark and said, I am not raising questions on the operation, but this the technical age and satellite pictures are possible. Like the USA had given solid proof of the Osama operation to the world, we should also do it for our air strike, news agency ANI reported. Also reaD: Savitri Bai Phule, who quit BJP calling it 'anti-Dalit', joins Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls Representative image The Maharashtra government on March 2 made it clear officially that a Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery project will not come up at Nanar in the coastal Ratnagiri district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later said his government was keen that the refinery come up in the state, and an alternative site will be made available. Earlier, Shiv Sena leader and industry minister Subhash Desai said the chief minister had signed a proposal to denotify the land which was to be acquired. As the Sena was opposed to Nanar refinery citing local opposition, Fadnavis, while announcing a tie-up between the BJP and Sena for coming polls, had announced that the project would be shifted. "The Sena had promised the people of Konkan region that the project will not come up there as long as they were opposed to it. Today we have fulfilled our promise. Even the alliance with the BJP was sealed on the condition that the project at Nanar would be scrapped," Desai told reporters. The government had issued a notification in May 2017 to acquire 5,932 hectares of land across 14 villages in Ratnagiri district and two villages in Sindhudurg district. Due to opposition from the local people, the government had stayed the land acquisition process. "In April 2018, I sent a proposal to the chief minister seeking de-notification of the land that was to be acquired," said Desai. The file was pending with Fadnavis for long but the chief minister signed it Saturday, he said. "A gazette notification will be issued by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to cancel the notification of land acquisition in two days," Desai said. State-run oil majors have tied up with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the mega refinery project. Fadnavis told PTI late in the evening that his government wants the refinery to come up in Maharashtra, because it will power the state's growth for the next ten years. "We will find an alternative site taking everybody in confidence and will not let this investment opportunity, which will create one lakh jobs, go anywhere else," he said. Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) plans to accelerate launch of electric vehicles (EVs) in the wake of government clearing a Rs 10,000-crore programme under the FAME-II scheme, a top company official said. The company, which currently sells e2oPlus and eVerito EVs in the passenger vehicle segment, has set up an electric technology manufacturing hub in Bengaluru with an investment of Rs 100 crore. M&M is also expanding its Chakan (Pune) plant at an investment of Rs 450 crore to enhance its EV portfolio. "With the announcement of FAME II, we would now accelerate that investment and try and launch our products as quickly as we can," M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka told PTI. M&M has earmarked a total outlay of Rs 900 crore for EV vertical. Apart from Rs 450 crore investment in Chakan, the company is also putting in another Rs 350 crore for a new R&D centre in Bengaluru. "We have started establishing a plant in Chakan in Pune, and we will just accelerate that investment now to bring it as fast as possible," Goenka said. With now FAME II scheme in place, he said, the company expects to get higher volumes enabling it to localise its products further. "The main thing is that we need to do more investment for localising so that we are able to promote Make in India through electric vehicles," Goenka said. The company would look at localising the motor which goes into EVs, the power electronics and the battery, he added. In the 2018 auto show, M&M had unveiled six electric concept vehicles and models. The company had displayed e-KUV100, an electric version of its compact vehicle KUV100; UDO, a concept two-seater electric mobility pod; ATOM, a last-mile urban mobility concept vehicle; and a lithium ion battery-powered three-wheeler Treo that has already hit the markets. It had also displayed e-COSMO electric bus and e2o NXT, which is a refreshed version of its electric small car e2oPlus. In the CV space, the company sells electric products like eSupro, Treo and e-Alfa Mini three-wheelers. Last week, the Union Cabinet cleared a Rs 10,000-crore programme under the FAME-II scheme. The scheme will be implemented over a period of three years with effect from April 1, 2019. It is the expanded version of the present scheme FAME India I (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) which was launched on April 1, 2015, with a total outlay of Rs 895 crore. The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by way of establishing necessary charging infrastructure for EV. RIL-arm Reliance Industrial Investments has entered into agreements to acquire logistics services platform Grab and software firm C-Square Info Solutions. Reliance Industries, in a regulatory filing, said its wholly owned subsidiary Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings has entered into an agreement for acquisition of equity shares of Grab A Grub Services Private Limited ('Grab') for a cash consideration not exceeding Rs 106 crore. "RIIHL will further invest an amount of up to Rs 40 crore and is likely to be completed by March 2021. The total investment will translate into 83 per cent of equity capital in Grab on a fully diluted basis," RIL said. Logistics services platform Grab was incorporated on 29 October, 2014. It provides technology enabled asset light logistics services for various verticals. "The aforesaid investment will further augment the group's digital commerce initiatives and strengthen its logistics services, catering to both B2B and B2C segments," RIL said, adding that no regulatory approvals are required for this investment. In a separate filing, RIL said RIIHL has entered into an agreement for acquisition of equity shares of C-Square Info Solutions Private Limited ('C-Square') for a cash consideration not exceeding around Rs 22.04 crore. "RIIHL will further invest an amount of up to Rs 60 crore and is likely to be completed by March 2021. The total investment will translate into 82 per cent of equity capital in C-Square on a fully diluted basis," RIL said. C-Square is a software company, incorporated on 18 July, 2002. It provides software solutions with specific focus on pharma sector for various stakeholders including C&F, distributors, retailers, online ecommerce, sales force automation, etc. "The aforesaid investment will further enable the group's digital commerce initiatives and solutions," RIL said, adding that no regulatory approvals are required for this investment. The investment does not fall within related party transactions and none of RIL's promoter/promoter group/group companies have any interest in the transaction, it said. : Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. (Image: Flickr/shankar s.) Electric three-wheelers could be the "low hanging fruit" that can accelerate faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India due to their "unparalleled relevance" in first and last mile connectivity in some urban areas, according to a Deloitte report. The report -- Recharging India's electric vehicle ambition by electrifying public transport -- also said while the government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for EVs to be successful in India, it should not initially consider taking all the risk. The government should rather be more of a facilitator by providing support such as subsidies and developing policy framework, it added. Emphasising on the importance of electric three-wheelers or e-rickshaws in the Indian context, the report said urban transport systems generally end up servicing the major route networks leaving first/last mile connectivity unattended. "Provision of public transport services for these cities or areas by electrification of auto-rickshaws appears to be one of the optimal solution...The electric three wheelers also termed as e-rickshaws could, thus, be the low hanging fruits in EV adoption due to lower lifecycle cost," it said. These electric three wheelers are expected to complete the value chain for public transportation by providing first/last mile connectivity or urban public transport services to the commuters, the report added. The relevance of e-rickshaws in providing first/last mile connectivity and/or public transport services in some urban areas is unparalleled, it said. However, for e-rickshaws to be successful the stakeholders, which include government, vehicle and battery manufacturers, and private operators, will need to work in tandem. The business models should aim at promoting acquisition, deployment, usage, and monitoring and control of these vehicles effectively, the report said. "The business models for e-rickshaws ideally should be such that they help in furthering adoption of EVs in the cities by ensuring better connectivity of services. These business models would need to promote accessibility, adequacy, affordability, safety and reliability of passenger services and facilitate efficient last mile connectivity," it added. Additionally, it should aim at managing the risk among the involved parties, allowing to operate them to attain cost efficiency, the report said. Stressing on the importance of the government's role in promotion of overall EVs in India, the report said support in terms of regulatory framework, reduction in battery cost, and widespread availability of charging infrastructure are expected to be the key pillars for mass adoption. "Government should initially not consider taking all the risk and should rather be more of facilitator in developing the conducive environment for growth of players and electric mobility by providing funds, subsidies, developing policy framework, etc," it said. The private players are expected to be able to bring innovation in the era when technology is evolving, the report noted. Thus, government will play an indispensable role in creating conducive environment for larger participation of private operators at all stages of EVs adoption such as manufacturing, operation, charging systems, among others for a total shift to EVs progressively, it said. Bulls managed to get charge on Dalal Street in the passing week, with the Sensex holding 36,000 levels amid volatility caused by geopolitical tensions between India-Pakistan, a bit of uncertainty over the US-China trade deal and no agreement between Donald Trump-Kim Jong Un at the Hanoi Summit. The expiry of February derivative contracts and the rollover of positions to the next series also kept the market volatile. The 30-share BSE Sensex gained half a percent to close the week at 36,063.81 and the Nifty50 climbed 0.7 percent to settle at 10,863.50, the level near to technical resistance of last three months. With the ease of cross border conflict and hopes of a trade deal between the world's largest economies, US and China, the market is likely to get support, but with the lack of domestic cues in the coming truncated week after slower economic growth reported in Q3FY19 and mixed auto sales in February, the market may remain volatile till the announcement of polling dates for general elections. "We expect markets to remain volatile in the near term. Signs of de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan is encouraging for Indian markets. However, any negative news on this front going forward would keep the markets volatile," Jayant Manglik, President at Religare Broking told Moneycontrol. Globally, the progress on US-China trade war, crude oil price fluctuations and currency movements would be actively tracked by the investors, he said. The broader markets, which hit during December quarter earnings season, continued to trade sharply higher in the week on hopes of a rate cut by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after slower growth in Q3 GDP. The Nifty Midcap index rallied 2.5 percent and Smallcap index surged 3.6 percent. The markets will remain shut for Mahashivratri. Here are the top 10 factors that will keep traders busy this week: India-Pakistan Border Conflict With the handover of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to the Indian Air Force, tensions between India and Pakistan eased for the time being, but investors will closely watch the situation of both countries, the status of peace talks if any, and the actions taken by Pakistan against terrorism if any, especially ahead of India's general elections. "If Indo-Pak tension snowballs into deeper confrontations then there can be a knee-jerk reaction in market," Jimeet Modi, Founder & CEO of SAMCO Securities & StockNote said. US-China Trade Talks The US-China trade tensions has been the biggest topic since 2018, but that seems to be easing given the positive talks for last few days between officials of both countries, experts said. News reports suggested that they are in final stage of deal, which could end the crisis in the next couple of weeks. According to a Bloomberg report, US officials are preparing a final trade deal that President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping could sign in a week, even as debate continues in Washington about whether to push Beijing for more concessions. The US is eyeing a summit between the two presidents as soon as mid-March. That report came after White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told CNBC the two countries are making "fantastic" progress in their negotiations. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also told CNBC the two sides have "made a lot of progress". Crude oil prices Crude oil prices, the essential part of our import bill, fell by $2 per barrel to end the week at $65 a barrel amid volatility over global growth concerns, but it has gained by $15 a barrel since its December 2018 lows. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, may remain rangebound on a likely slowdown in the global economy, and may get support from a likely lower supply, experts said, adding if the US-China signs a trade agreement, then there could be some rally which could take prices around $70 a barrel. "The upside in prices has been supported with the OPEC maintaining its targeted oil production curbs. Due to this, the global oil market is likely to shift towards being balanced by the second half of 2019. OPEC's strong production cutbacks will provide downside pressure on oil inventories creating tightness in the oil market," Sakina Mandsaurwala, Commodity Analyst at Narnolia Financial Advisors said. Lok Sabha elections dates The key event of 2019 is the general elections, which is expected to take place in April-May. The market focus gradually is likely to shift towards this event and will remain in focus for at least the next three months . All eyes are on the voting dates and its final results, which are likely to be announced in next couple of weeks by the Election Commission of India (EC), which has already said the elections will take place on time despite any major crisis. Most experts said the pre-election rally along with volatility could be possible on the hope of BJP coming into power, especially after recent actions against Pakistan. They also expect Narendra Modi to continue as prime minister for the second time. Volatility is part and parcel of the equity market. It cannot be wished away at any stage. But, it also keeps a market healthy. Sometimes lack of triggers can be the best trigger for the market. I do believe that the market is poised for a big up move in the run-up to General Elections, Amar Ambani, President and Head of Research, YES Securities told Moneycontrol. Macro data The Nikkei India Services PMI for February 2019 will be released on March 5. Services PMI dipped to a three-month low of 52.2 in January 2019 from 53.2 in December 2018. The country's foreign exchange reserves data for the week ended March 01 will be announced on March 8. Foreign exchange reserves increased by $944.7 million to $399.217 billion in the week to February 22, due to increase in foreign currency assets. Money flow Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) flow was one of the factors that supported the market in February as well as in the week gone by. In February, FIIs made the highest monthly buying since November 2017. They bought a net of Rs 15,328.5 crore worth of shares during last month, but they are still net sellers in FY19, selling to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore. During the week, FIIs net purchased more than Rs 4,000 crore worth of Indian shares. However, domestic institutional investors were net sellers in the week as well as in the month, selling around Rs 566 crore and Rs 7,500 crore worth of shares respectively. But they remained strong net buyers in FY19. Technical outlook The Nifty50 continued to trade in range for the last three months as there has been buying when index reaches around 10,500-10,600 levels and selling at around 10,850-10,950 levels. The index formed bullish candle on the daily as well as weekly charts. Consistently holding 10,800 levels despite geopolitical tensions in three straight sessions, followed by a rally on March 1 indicated that the index may move upwards, but the lack of follow-up buying may limit its upside, experts said. "Broader range as per current technical setup is still intact i.e. 10,580 and 11,000. And in coming week as well we can expect the rangebound move to continue in the respective range," Manali Bhatia, Senior Research Analyst at Rudra Shares and Stock Brokers told Moneycontrol. Considering the Fibonacci projections, the resistance for the week is likely to be at 11,035 i.e. at a 61.8 percent retracement level of the previous week's range. Trades on higher side could further extent the move till recent high of 11,118.1. However, support on the other hand exists at 10,749 and 10,580, said Bhatia. F&O cues On the options front, maximum Put open interest (OI) is at 10,600 followed by 10,700 strike, while maximum Call OI is at 11,000 followed by 11,500 strike. Call writing is at 11,000 followed by 11,400 strike while Put writing is at 10,900 followed by 10,800 strike. Option band signifies an immediate trading range between the 10,700 to 11,000 zone, and requires a range breakout to start the next leg of rally, experts said. "Nifty has seen rollover 60.26 percent which is lowest in last 19 months suggests that participants are light in position and requires a decisive range breakout to add the market position," Chandan Taparia, Associate Vice President, Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services told Moneycontrol. India VIX moved up by 5.31 percent to 16.27 level during the last week while it fell down from higher zones in last two sessions from 19.98 to 16.27 level. Overall higher volatility could continue to keep the volatile swing in the market, Chandan said. Corporate action Global cues File image Two militants, five security forces' personnel, including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, and a civilian were killed in a 56-hour encounter in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on March 3. A police spokesman said the operation at Babagund area of Kupwara took time as it posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Two militants were killed by security forces in the encounter which began on March 1 morning, the police spokesman said here. He said bodies of both the militants were recovered from the site of the encounter and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The spokesman said a CRPF jawan identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav who was injured in the exchange of fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday taking the number of security forces' fatalities to five. Two CRPF personnel, Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod, and two cops, Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah, were killed in the gunfight on Friday, the spokesman said. He said one civilian, Waseem Ahmad Mir, also sustained bullet injury "in the nearby area" and later succumbed at a hospital on Friday. The encounter had begun when security forces launched a search operation in Babagund area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of militants there. "Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter," he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials have been taken in case records for further investigation, the spokesman added. He urged people to not go near the encounter zone as there could be stray explosives. "People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the spokesman said. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad's audacious terrorist strikes, part of its 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' (Holy War Against India), have turned it into one of the most deadly terror groups and brought India and Pakistan on the brink of war twice in two decades, officials said. The most deadly terror strikes of the JeM in the past 20 years include attacks on the Pathankot airbase, the Army brigade headquarters in Uri, the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar and the bombing of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. India and Pakistan were almost on the brink of war in 2001 when the JeM attacked the Indian Parliament, and again now after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF bus in Pulwama, which killed 40 jawans, a security official said on March 3. The terrorist group, with close links with al-Qaida, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in Pakistan on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its "Ghazwa-e-Hind" irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties, the official said citing an intelligence report. The JeM, which had close links slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, was formed after the release of terror mastermind Masood Azhar from an Indian jail on December 31, 1999 after the Indian Airlines flight IC814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999. Azhar was released along with rouge British secret service MI6 agent Omar Shaikh, who was responsible for the killing The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in January 2002 and the funding of 9/11 terror attacks in the United States with $100,000, the official said. The group carried out a series of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. It killed 30 soldiers in the Valley through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in April 2000, killed three policemen at a bus stand at Batmaloo in Srinagar in June 2000, bombed the J&K Assembly on October 1, 2001 in which 31 people died, and attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001 in which nine security personnel and officials were killed. The attack on the assembly took place just three weeks after the 9/11 attacks and the Parliament attack happened a week after bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora caves in Afghanistan. When bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora and the Pakistani army was forced to hold one side of the cordon of these vast caves, the JeM became the conduit to bring fighters and their families from Afghanistan into safe havens in Pakistan, run by JeM and another deadly terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, the official said. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the key conspirators of 9/11, housed fleeing al-Qaida cadres in Karachi, he said. It is widely believed that to help bin Laden flee Tora Bora, JeM carried out attack on Parliament in New Delhi, leading to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan after Indian armed forces were mobilised along the country's western border, another official said. This provided a pretext to the Pakistani army to withdraw much of its forces from its western border, which were in cordon of the Tora Bora caves, thus helping the escape of bin Laden to Pakistan. "It took 10 more deadly years to get Osama bin Laden. This is the nature and capability of JeM. Its activities just do not impact India, but feed on terrorism and has been a major threat to global peace and security," the official said. On November 2, 2005, a few hours before the swearing in of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a JeM suicide squad detonated a powerful car bomb in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, killing 10 people and injuring 18 others. On January 2, 2016, a heavily armed group of JeM attacked the Pathankot airbase in which seven security personnel and a security personnel were killed. The JeM attacked the Uri brigade headquarters on September 18, 2016, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 30 others. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out an aerial attack on the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot in Pakistan, leading to another war-like situation between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2 hit out at the opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan and said the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. He said the country has seen the influence of India's foreign policy after the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan within three days of his capture. Modi took on the opposition over the issue of air strike, saying while the entire world stood behind India in its fight against terror, some parties in the country were questioning and raising doubts. He also hit out at his detractors, saying they are free to criticise him but their anti-Modi tirade should not harm the country's security interests and help terrorists such as Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he said at the India Today Conclave. He hit out at his detractors and said in their obsession to attack him, such people were harming the country and its security interests. "One of the challenges before the country is some people opposing their own country. When the entire nation today is standing with the armed forces, some parties are casting doubts on them. "These are the parties whose statements and articles are being used by Pakistan against India. In their fixation with criticising Modi, they are opposing the country and compromising its interests," the PM said. "I want to ask these people whether they trust the capability of our armed forces or doubt it...A person like Modi will come and go, but India will remain...I want to tell such people that they are free to oppose Modi and point out shortcomings in government's working, but do not help those harbouring terrorism. "If you want to oppose Modi, do so, but but do not oppose national interests. They should take care that their anti-Modi obsession and not help terrorists like Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed," he said at the gathering. He said that India's unity has scared many within the country and outside. He said there was fear in the neighbouring country of the bravery and valour of Indian armed forces and it was good to learn that. Modi said, "I can say with full confidence that the 21st century belongs to India." On pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's release, he said, "Going by the events in the last few days, you would have seen the influence of India's foreign policy. Have you seen or not." Modi said people had raised doubts over his experience in foreign policy issues when he took over as prime minister. Tearing into the Congress, Modi alleged its rule saw many defence scams. "They began with jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, helicopters. The defence sector suffered in the process," he said. "Those who ruled the nation for many many years had interests in two things - doles and deals. The culture of doles and deals harmed our nation's development journey greatly. "Why is it that those who ruled the nation for so many years have so many defence scams in their era? They began with Jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines, helicopters. In the process the defence sector suffered. "If a deal could not happen, defence modernisation could not happen. Who is every deal maker close to? Who is every middle-man close to? The entire nation knows. And Lutyens' Delhi, surely knows," he told the gathering. Modi said during his tenure, 2.3 lakh bullet proof jackets were bought while previous Congress-led government ignored the proposal since 2009. The jackets he said were most important for the life of a soldier. "You would be ashamed to know that not one, I repeat not one bullet proof jacket was obtained from 2009 to 2014," he said. "In our tenure, the corridors of power are also free from middlemen because they know, this government will not tolerate any corruption," he said. "While they (Congress) worked for 10 per cent commission, our governments works for 100 per cent mission," he noted. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favourtism. The government has denied the charges. The prime minister also criticised the previous Congress governments for not doing anything to implement the OROP (One rank, one pension) scheme for armed forces and asked why was there no war memorial for the martyred soldiers. Modi noted that unlike in the past, now no one can dare to threaten India and said, "the new India is a leader, fearless and decisive", adding that his government was decisive due to the unity of the people of the country. Modi said his government's 55 months in power and 55 years of others' rule had given two contrasting approaches to governance. Previous governments had a "token approach", "we have a total approach'," he said. Modi said Congress government gave away doles that were not aimed at empowering the poor, who remained at the mercy of the political class. "The best example of this is the farm loan waivers. No economist or policy expert will ever say farm loan waivers can solve our agrarian issues. It is a temporary balm at best," he said. Hitting out at BJP president Amit Shah for his criticism of opposition parties which questioned airstrikes in Pakistan, the TMC on March 3 said the saffron party leader should refrain from "lecturing others" on patriotism as he was a "proponent of divisive and hatred politics". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should stop taking credit for the airstrike as the armed forces belong to India, not to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Shah, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said. "Amit Shah and the BJP are the nastiest proponents of divisive and hatred politics. We will not listen to his lectures on patriotism. Our armed forces belong to India, not to Modi-Shah's BJP," Brien, who is also a TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha, said. Those who had cowered down during the Independence movement are giving sermons on patriotism, O' Brien stated. "Khaki-chaddi wearing men who were hiding under desks during the entire Independence movement are now handing out certificates of patriotism. Thanks. But no thanks," he said in an apparent reference to the RSS, the ideological parent of the saffron party. Shah on March 2 said the ones who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers, when in power, were raising doubts on the recent airstrike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made Pakistan happy. "The armed forces have said in a press conference that they have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it? You should desist from such cheap politics," Shah said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally in Madhya Pradesh. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on February 28 demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e- Mohammed training camps in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force. She also said that the opposition parties wanted to know the details of the operation. The Congress on March 3 said the Modi government claims that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) inviting India to attend its plenary was a diplomatic success has fallen flat with the 57-nations grouping adopting a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi. The NDA-BJP government touted it as a huge diplomatic success for India that it has been invited to attend the plenary...But what happened in Abu Dhabi is extremely disturbing for India," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari. On March 2, the Pakistan Foreign Office had said the conference concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "In a resolution, the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia," it claimed. Tewari on March 3 said the Congress would like to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM Swaraj whether this was "the diplomatic achievement". Reacting to the resolution, New Delhi had on March 2 asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue is strictly internal to the country. Raveesh Kumar, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs had said, "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India." Swaraj had attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC on March 1. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to Swaraj to address the grouping which was turned down by the host UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary. Swaraj attended the meeting in Abu Dhabi on March 1 as the guest of honour at the invitation extended by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is suffering from an advanced-stage cancer, senior state cabinet minister Vijai Sardesai said on March 3. Sardesai, who heads BJP ally Goa Forward Party, is the second member of the cabinet after health minister Vishwajit Rane to talk about the exact nature of Parrikar's illness. While it is known that the chief minister, who has been in and out of hospitals since February 2018, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, his office has not provided any specific information about the illness so far. Speaking to reporters, Sardesai, the town planning minister, said he will meet Parrikar on March 4 to thank him for releasing funds for a cemetery and for getting another work sanctioned. "I am going, and get work sanctioned. Once again it is going to show that in spite of suffering from cancer, which is advanced stage of cancer, the CM is working for people," he said. Rane had said Parrikar was suffering from cancer, but it was not confirmed by the CMO. Parrikar, 63, underwent check-up at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on March 3. "He was taken to GMCH for a regular check-up and later allowed to go home. His health condition is stable," a CMO official said. He was last admitted to GMCH on February 23 and treated by doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he had undergone treatment earlier. He had also undergone treatment in the United States and at a Mumbai hospital after taking severely ill in February 2018. Since returning from AIIMS, Delhi, in October, Parrikar is mostly confined to his private residence at Dona Paula here where he has held cabinet meetings. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on March 3 accused the BJP of indulging in "petty" politics after the Pulwama terror attack and claimed people feel that the country's honour and security are not in safe hands. Mayawati also paid tributes to security force personnel killed in the February 14 Pulwama attack and other terror incidents. "The ruling BJP should not have indulged in politics after the Pulwama terror strike...The worried 130-crore people have seen as to how the BJP could not desist from indulging in petty politics even at such a time and they have now realised that country's honour and security is not in strong and safe hands," the BSP chief said. Mayawati also convened a meeting of senior party leaders and office bearers at the BSP's headquarters. The BSP president ,who returned to the state capital only a couple of days ago after a long stay in Delhi, also called for a "strong and dependable policy for issues concerning the safety and security of the country." Mayawati appealed to the people to stand with the families of those killed in terror attacks and extend all possible support. She also asked the government to fulfil promises made to them promptly. The BSP president said it is important that all preparations are made for the country's safety, security and honour, and to ensure that no country is able to either ignore or threaten India. Directing BSP workers to strengthen the organisation up to the booth level in preparation for the Lok Sabha polls and increase the party's base, she asked workers of the BSP and Samajwadi Party (SP) to forget petty differences and strengthen the alliance so as to defeat an anti-people BJP in the general elections. The SP and BSP entered into an alliance recently. "Only the BSP and SP are in a position to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh," she said. Mayawati, who held a strategy session with her party leaders, said in the present scenario, the SP-BSP coalition has to be careful and decide the way forward. The SP and BSP are contesting the parliamentary elections in three states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand - which account for 110 seats in the Lok Sabha. Though she has not yet formally announced the names of BSP candidates, the party will contest in 38 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and its ally SP will contest in 37 seats as per the understanding reached between them. Pakistan may take "decisive action" against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfit's chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistan's decision to act decisively was taken not to give any "face saving" to India. "We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone else's," the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it." Stressing that the country's leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested involvement of any Pakistani organisation. March 03, 2019 The MoA Week In Review - OT 2019-12 Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama: The coup attempt failed and the Random Guyaido and his U.S. minder are traveling around various south American capitals to find support. But all members of the Lima Group rejected a military attack on Venezuela. The U.S. is isolated on the issue and therefore likely to use its old trick of paying local mercenaries to destroy the country. John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton - 22:27 utc - 2 Mar 2019 In less than one week, over 600 military members have acknowledged their sworn duty to defend the Venezuela Constitution and the legitimate President, Juan Guaido. No pictures or report about this mysterious defector force appeared. The number Bolton mentions is probably the count of the hirelings the CIA is currently training. This tweet also got a lot of attention and its protagonists received some mockery: Dan Cohen @dancohen3000 - 6:21 utc - 2 Mar 2019 Juan Guaidos fellow Popular Will party member Freddy Superlano is hospitalized and his assistant Carlos Jose Salinas is dead after they took drugs with prostitutes following the #VenezuelaAidLive concert in Cucuta, Colombia. Diputado Freddy Superlano grave por intoxicacion en Cucuta, su asistente murio It is unlikely that those persons voluntarily took the scopolamine (aka hyoscine) that the report says affected them. A 2012 U.S. government travel advisory for Colombia notes: One common and particularly dangerous method that criminals use in order to rob a victim is through the use of drugs. The most common has been scopolamine. Unofficial estimates put the number of annual scopolamine incidents in Colombia at approximately 50,000. Scopolamine can render a victim unconscious for 24 hours or more. In large doses, it can cause respiratory failure and death. It is most often administered in liquid or powder form in foods and beverages. The majority of these incidents occur in night clubs and bars, and usually men, perceived to be wealthy, are targeted by young, attractive women. To avoid becoming a victim of scopolamine, one should never accept food or beverages offered by strangers or new acquaintances or leave food or beverages unattended. Victims of scopolamine or other drugs should seek immediate medical attention. February 27 - Tit-For-Tat Bombing By India And Pakistan Could Escalate Towards A Nuclear War India had claimed that it bombed a Jihadist camp in Pakistan and killed some 300 Jihadists. In fact only a crow was killed. Satellite pictures show that all the expensive Israeli glide bombs India used missed their targets by some 200 meters and damaged some trees. Pakistan used that fact to troll the Indian government: Pakistan to lodge U.N. complaint against India for 'eco-terrorism' forest bombing Two Reuters reporters who visited the site of the bombings, where four large craters could be seen, said up to 15 pine trees had been brought down by the blasts. Villagers dismissed Indian claims that hundreds of militants were killed. Pakistan released the Indian pilot who was shot down over the Pakistan controlled area of Kashmir. That thankfully defused the situation. Both sides are back at their usual games of lobbing artillery against each others position. Once a while I agree with the Arms Control Wonk, aka Jeffrey Lewis, who summarizes: The U.S. position that North Korea must unilaterally abandon its nuclear capabilities in exchange for promises of some different future is a kind of American fantasy about power that is more suited to an action movie than the reality of international negotiations. ... Each time the United States walked, a lot of people in Washington promised that patience and pressure would produce a better deal than the one squandered. And each time they were wrong. Like a gambler racking up debt, the U.S. foreign policy community has consistently taken its chances at the roulette table rather than cutting its losses and admitting the obvious: North Korea has the bomb. ... We can't admit failure because it requires not merely changing our policy but admitting that we've been wrong. It's far easier to pretend that a better deal is just around the corner. It isn't. Other comments paint a more optimistic picture. March 1 - Justin Trudeau Is Finished Thank you all for the lively comments to the piece that give otherwise rare insights into Canadian politics. March 2 - Why Is The British Government Banning Hizbullah? Banning Hizbullah might be part of the current campaign to remove Corbyn and others from the Labour party by claiming they are supporting terrorists and are antisemites. Here is a handy list of all the great Jewish scholars and writers that were claimed to be antisemites because the oppose the racist ideology of Zionism. --- Other issues: Novichok: Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Novichok hoax the British government used to vanish Sergej and Yulia Skripal. Just in time the government announced that it had finished removing the roof from the house of Sergej Skripal. Why the roof of the house was allegedly contaminated with Novichok when the government claimed that Novichok was applied to the outer door handle is left unexplained. The Russian embassy in London produced an excellent timeline of the incident and has a number of Unanswered Questions. Syria: A video shows the illegal use of White Phosphorus against the remaining ISIS elements in Baghuz, Syria. French artillery in the area, under U.S. command, uses such ammunition. The OPCW released its report on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria, in March 2018. No nerve agents were found. Some Chlorine substance may have been present but the obviously staged scene does not allow to attribute its source. Peter Ford, a former UK ambassador to Syria, notes other weak points. Various propagandists claim that Syria is breaking the reconciliation deal with the rebels in Daraa, south of Damascus. It is not. Some ISIS or al-Qaeda cells are again active in Daraa and kill people on both sides: Mysterious assassinations mire Daraas fragile peace. On wonder who finances these people. Use as open thread ... Posted by b on March 3, 2019 at 16:09 UTC | Permalink Comments next page A UK shop has been accused of blatant body shaming its customers after a shopper captured a photo of the store's 'size chart' and posted it on Twitter. The chart's aim was to encourage women to get properly fitted while in the store, but many have said that the sign has the complete opposite effect and is more likely to shame and alienate customers with it's "misinformed prejudice around sizing". Kathleen Peddicord frequently hears from such skeptics as founder of Live and Invest Overseas, a site for people curious about living abroad. Actual expats like her, however, tell of good-quality care at a fraction of the U.S. price. Treatment for a motorbike accident in Panama cost her $20. Emergency dental surgery that might cost $10,000 or more in the U.S. was $4,500 in Paris. In many countries, medications that would require a prescription in the States are available directly from licensed pharmacies at low prices, thanks to government subsidies or regulation. The Permian Strategic Partnership wants to make an impact in the growing Permian Basin and has identified five areas in which its $100 million-plus in investments can be put to best use. PSP officials spoke to the Midland City Council on Tuesday about the initiative and provided some detail about those five areas that -- when improved -- will help the Permian Basin reach its full potential. Roads More activity in the oil patch impacts the roads, which werent designed for the type of stress being put on them on a daily basis. During their presentation, PSP officials reminded the council that hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells requires substantially more road freight traffic than conventional drilling. This effort is compounded by increasing utilization of locally mined sand, according to a report provided to the Reporter-Telegram. PSP officials said fracturing operations require 50 trucks of sand a day. And while they hope to get more trucks off the road in other facets of their operations, by 2022, truck loads will have increased by 125 percent from 2016. RELATED: TxDOT: 11 percent of states fatalities happen in Permian Basin This additional burden on the Permians roads is in addition to the 40 percent increase in traffic in the Texas Department of Transportations Odessa District between 2009 and 2016. We estimate that affected roads require more than $750 million in repairs and rehabilitation to close existing gaps, with the majority of that amount split between the Odessa district (of the Texas Department of Transportation) and the New Mexico Department of Transportations District 2, according to the report. While this is a large investment, increased activity in the Permian Basin in Texas, for example, is likely to send $26 billion in Proposition 1 funds to Austin for roads through 2030, so every $1 invested today supports up to $50 in future collection. Workforce (and housing) In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there was no region in the United States that could match Midland for its percentage increase in new jobs. PSP said that currently, there are 15,000 positions that remain unfilled across the Permian. They also reported that Permian production will support the creation of about 45,000 jobs across the region through 2030. Attracting new workers is becoming increasingly difficult given the housing shortage and higher costs of living, the PSP report states. Thus far, the industry has met most of its labor needs by relying on commuters, but this costly approach does not address other sectors including health care, childcare, education, retail or services that shape quality of life. To unleash growth, we must address three main challenges: attracting talented, hard-working people to the region, expanding the availability of housing choices and scaling up local vocational training to upskill the local workforce, the report states. Education Midland voters have approved more than $220 million in bonds since 2003. PSP officials believe that investment isnt enough. The PSP indicates that if Midland ISD and Ector County ISD had spent the state averages on facilities since 2000, both districts would have invested an additional $600 million. The oil industry has a record of investing in education, whether it is funding the tax ratification election campaign in Midland in 2016 or donating millions that provided housing stipends for teachers dealing with rising rents and signing bonuses. The PSP report echoes what industry leaders have been saying for a year: Oil industry professionals with children rate public education as the single greatest factor in evaluating a location change. RELATED: PSP: Permian to become fourth largest oil producer in world Midland and Odessa, for example, are at a great disadvantage because their public schools perform poorly, the report states. PSP also reports that capital funding has not kept pace with growth in the number of students, casting doubt on the ability of current schools to absorb expected large growth in enrollments. Research shows that student performance rises with teacher experience and quality and declines with high teacher turnover and inconsistent leadership, the report states. Recent initiatives are producing measurable and encouraging improvements, but there is work to be done. Health care Midland also falls short when it comes to the number of physicians required per person, compared to the national average, according to the PSP report. In 2017, there were 89 primary care physicians 41 fewer than the national benchmark. That same year, there were 145 non-primary care physicians 117 fewer than the national benchmark. Fortunately, the Texas Tech University Medical School is a premier institution, and we see opportunities to strengthen ties and train more doctors in the region, the report states. A large share of the local population is insured, which is a clear strength, but improving quality of that coverage will bolster the financial position of the hospitals and the attractiveness of the region to new physicians. We can also close gaps in hospital infrastructure to improve overall health care, quality of life in the region and reduce the need for residents to travel for treatment. The Permian Strategic Partnership is made up of 20 leaders of the largest regional producers and global service companies. Last year, it announced its intention to provide more than $100 million over the next several years as seed money to spur additional private sector investment. By making wise, timely investments in vital public services, we can create a virtuous circle, attracting the talent we need to fill tens of thousands of good, high-paying jobs, significantly expanding the revenues and profits of companies in a broad range of sectors, and generate billions of additional tax dollars to make new investments, the report states. Maybe Ill say something funny, he said by way of preparing the audience for the Q&A session, Maybe I wont. That might as well be Armisens motto on stage. And its what makes his performance that much more engaging: when he goes into a bit (whether its a song, an impression or an observation) theres a consistent suspense about when (or if) the joke will hit. The good news is that it almost always does. Both as a comedian and as a drummer, Armisen has got timing down. And you dont have to be a musician to appreciate it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deserves credit for his call that state agencies and his appointees continue to follow the spirit of the law when it comes to government transparency. Abbott addressed the issue after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled last week according to the Texas Tribune -- that a slice of the Texas Open Meetings Act that makes it a crime for public officials to deliberate privately in small groups was unconstitutionally vague. The ruling was a blow to open government, something we need more of at the local, state and federal levels. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals took away motivation for doing the peoples business in front of the people. As an open-government lawyer told the Tribune, The real-world consequences are the return of backroom deals. Now, all they have to do and weve seen it many times is have one less than a quorum in a room. Sadly, the lawyer is right. We have experienced this at the local level for years. As the Tribune reported, Abbott as Texas attorney general won mostly favorable marks from open government advocates. The Tribune article noted that in 2005, Abbott issued a non-binding attorney general opinion that the provision at issue is quite definite on its face, provides adequate notice and does not allow for arbitrary enforcement and thus, this section is not unconstitutionally vague. Texans place significant trust in their elected and appointed officials. With this trust comes the expectation that officials will conduct public business responsibly and in accordance with the law, Abbott wrote in a letter Thursday. You should not waver in your commitment to providing transparency in the work you perform for Texans at your respective governmental entities. We need to hear more local leaders follow Abbotts lead. Efforts are coming together in Midland Slowly but surely, those paying attention are hearing more about efforts to handle the growth that is a result of increased oil and gas production in the region. While some people might want instant solutions to our problems, the more patient residents in the community know life doesnt always work that way. However, what we have heard about the Priority Midland and Permian Strategic Partnership efforts has us believing transformation is possible and that our community can one day get out from behind the eight ball. Some residents believe the public money invested in Priority Midland will not be the best return for Midlanders. But current Midland Development Corp. leadership has shown the ability to leverage resources to bring in significant returns i.e. transportation funding and the tens of millions in state and federal dollars delivered to the city because of MDC commitments. We remind Midlanders that while there is no playbook for this undertaking, we do believe that any resistance from governmental entities will set back the initiative. An operate-in-a-silo mentality will be a detriment to a community, and moving forward, we cant allow that to happen. Roads must be improved, homes must be built, schools must be transformed, and health care must be better than what Midlanders are getting now. When news of the attack first broke, Smollett received an outpouring of support, but as Chicago police investigated further and details about the incident emerged that supported the possibility of a hoax, public opinion turned on the actor. Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct, and he was removed from the final two episodes of this season of "Empire." A bill that would require school textbooks purchased with certain state funds to highlight the contributions of LGBT individuals to American history and culture is making its way through the Illinois House. Historically, theyve been ignored, and either deliberately or inadvertently left out of our history books, said Rep. Anna Moeller, an Elgin Democrat who is the lead sponsor of House Bill 246. That bill, which passed out of committee Feb. 6 and is now before the full House, would require any textbooks purchased through the states textbook block grant program to be non-discriminatory and include, the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act, a state law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation and a number of other factors. The bill also provides that history books purchased by public schools under the block grant program shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. The textbook block grant program was established in 2012 as a way to help public and state-recognized non-public schools purchase textbooks. According to officials at the Illinois State Board of Education, however, the program has never been funded, and so it is unlikely passage of the bill would have any immediate impact unless lawmakers decide to include it in future state budgets. Moeller said the bill was initiated by Equality Illinois, a statewide LGBT rights advocacy group. The bill drew significant attention during committee hearings where 200 people signed up as supporters. Another 132 people, including many representing religious organizations, signed up as opponents. Quite frankly, its indoctrination that goes against many peoples value systems, Rev. Robert Vanden Bosch of Concerned Christian Americans said in an interview. I think a lot of parents would be unhappy. Moeller, however, rejected that argument. That speaks to the fact that they still view LGBT as being sinful, she said. Our laws arent based on biblical or theological teachings or any religious dogma. Theyre based on the Constitution of the United States. Moeller said a similar bill passed out of the Senate in 2018 and was approved by a House committee, but the House never took final action on the measure. This year, with Democrats holding a larger majority in both chambers, she said she is hopeful the bill can be enacted into law. Students at Jacksonville High School honored the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School by wearing the Sandy Hook color green and signing a pledge to report any concerning posts or actions Friday. Throughout the week students participated in a program created by Sandy Hook Promise, a national non-profit organization started by the families of the Sandy Hook victims. Students watched videos discussing the different signs of suicide or plans for a mass shooting. The videos also talked about social media and how to report information to the appropriate person if there is concern about someone harming themselves or others. A lot of people learned things they didnt know before, like what to do if they think something is going to happen, said senior Myka Thies. We talked about all the warning signs. I knew some of them, but there were some I didnt know. Thies helped with the program and announcements that were read each day. Students signed a pledge poster that will be displayed in the hallways of the school. The pledge stated students promised to: look for warning signals, signs and threats; act immediately and take a threat seriously; and to say something to a trusted adult if they see a potential threat. The program was developed to help encourage students to speak up to prevent mass causalities from a mass shooting, like what happened at Sandy Hook. On Dec. 14, 2012, 26 students and adults were killed by Adam Lanza after he entered the school with a semiautomatic rifle. Thies said the message is coming from the victims of a mass shooting. I feel having it something like Sandy Hook gives it a this can happen reality, it gives it a realness, Thies said. School counselor Sherri McLaughlin said the students seemed to respond well to the videos and the message to say something if they see something. It went well. There were a lot of kids talking about it, McLaughlin said. There were a lot of kids that agreed to sign the pledge. Sophomore Amelia Symons said its about talking to someone if something concerns you. The message this week is about standing up for yourself and them if something makes you worried, Symons said. If you see something you are worried about, stand up and say something. Thies said the program will hopefully help her as she finishes high school and continues on to college. It helps you to look at social media posts differently and the action of people around the school, Thies said. I hope it helps decrease violence, not just in Jacksonville, but when we go on to college. I hope they remember and teach other people and that its used to prevent violence. McLaughlin said she is glad the students responded well. We try a lot of different things and sometimes the message can seem a little elementary for the high school students, but I think this was well received. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. A federal court judge recently declared what should already have been obvious: Its unconstitutional to require only men not women to register for the military draft now that women can serve in combat. For most of the 20th century, the United States required men ages 18 through 25 to register with the Selective Service System so that the government could identify would-be soldiers if the president and Congress authorized a draft. The mandate applied to men alone because only men could serve in combat roles in the military. That limitation was removed in 2015, however, when the Pentagon opened all combat jobs to women. While historical restrictions on women in the military may have justified past discrimination, men and women are now similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft, Judge Gray H. Miller wrote in his ruling, which found the Military Selective Service Act unconstitutional but stopped short of ordering the government to include women in the registration requirement. Indeed, its only logical and fair that the registration requirement should apply equally to men and women if the United States continues to have a Selective Service System. But that should be a big if. The lawsuit brought by the National Coalition For Men, a mens rights organization, covered the narrow question of who should register. The bigger question is why should the nation require anyone to register for a draft that is purely hypothetical? Arent there smarter, more efficient ways to raise an army in times of need? Lawmakers actually teed up these questions in 2017, creating the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service to study whether the nation still needs a draft registration system and, if so, who should register and how the system could meet modern-day national security needs. The commissions recommendations are due next year. Its long past time for Congress to reconsider the Selective Service System. Registration is a vestige of a different era, when young men could be conscripted to serve in the military involuntarily. The U.S. ended the draft and shifted to an all-volunteer military in 1973, after public support for conscription had dwindled amid the bloody, years-long Vietnam War. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan led President Jimmy Carter to reinstate registration seven years later so the country would have a draft-ready list of potential soldiers in case of national emergency. Even after the attacks of 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, however, the U.S. has continued to rely on a highly trained and professional all-volunteer military. Its hard to imagine a situation in which Congress would reinstate and the public would support drafting young people into involuntary service. The nation spends more than $23 million a year to register young men and to maintain the database of their information. Sure, thats chump change in the federal budget. In peacetime that database is primarily used to recruit volunteers and to verify that young men have registered for Selective Service (failing to do so can result in the denial of financial aid for college, a government job or other benefits). And its questionable how useful this mass database would be for a military increasingly reliant on highly specialized skills for 21st-century warfare. The Pentagon has called Selective Service registration a low-cost insurance policy for a national emergency. But when Carter reinstated the draft registry in February 1980, registration forms were ready by July, and by September the Selective Service had received registration cards from 93 percent of eligible men. This was before the internet arrived to enable instant online registration and the quick, cost-effective gathering of data. Yes, of course, women have a civic duty just like men and should be called upon to serve if that time of need comes. But progress isnt adding women to what may be an obsolete draft registry system. Congress should fix the system first. Los Angeles Times Your talent can bring you more ... I want him to talk about that all of these things that he wants to do are possible, she said. I think he needs to get it across to the people who are wavering and thinking that none of these things are going to happen when they definitely could. According to the police report, one man who had been shot told an officer he was dancing when suddenly everyone dropped to the floor. He then realized he had been shot, an officer said. A 77-year-old grandmother lived out her dreams of royalty when she climbed atop a throne-shaped iceberg during a recent trip to Iceland. Judith Streng, from Texas, struck a regal pose on a hunk of ice that washed up on Diamond Beach in Jokulsarlon, while her son snapped a picture. It was a moment of triumph for the magnificent "iceberg queen," as she was later dubbed. That is, until a sudden wave dislodged the icy throne - sending grandmother adrift. "When I got on it, it started to totter and a wave was coming in," Streng told ABC News. "A very large wave came in and kind of made the throne kind of rock, and I could tell that I was slipping off." FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Hurry up and book your spring break at these gorgeous Galveston, Corpus and Padre Island Airbnbs On Monday, Streng's granddaughter, Christine, posted the texts and photos her father sent after the Feb. 26 ordeal. Each photo shows Judith drifting further and further away from the camera. "Lost her kingdom when she drifted out to see! [sic]" Christine's father texted her. He added, "No joke. A coast guard rescuer had to save her and bring her back to shore!" Photos of grandmother's nautical adventure had garnered 66,000 retweets by Friday evening. The daring grandmother told ABC News her rescuer was Randy Lacount, a boat captain from Florida who witnessed her float away. He did not immediately return a request for comment Monday evening. "I thought it was safe," Streng told ABC. "One girl had been on it and then two girls at the same time, and it was very secure with them. But I don't weigh very much. So it was a little easier to float off with me, I guess." On her choice to sit on the throne, she told the network: "You know, I always wanted to be a queen. I mean, come on, that was my chance." Streng returned to the United States Monday and is recuperating from her trip, Christine told The Post. While she was not available for interview, the elder Streng relayed to her granddaughter that she's "glad people are getting a kick out of her story." "Being so popular is wild," the grandmother added. In a way, it's royalty. Plainview police are searching for a male, a female, and possibly an older male who stole nearly $2,400 worth of merchandise from the Walmart Supercenter. Plainview Police captain of investigations Manual Balderas said the department is looking for tips that could lead to the arrest of a Hispanic male and female that were caught on tape stealing 97 items worth $2,379.41. According to police reports, on Feb. 3 Walmarts loss prevention staff contacted the police department to report the theft. Staff told police that the suspects fled the scene in a maroon SUV believed to be a Tahoe. A manager was able to get a partial license plate number with the last four digits being 4854. The manager said that the suspects had selected several items from the store and went to the self-checkout and began scanning and bagging items. The two started fill a basket and then the male proceeded to push it out to their vehicle while the female stayed behind and continued scanning and bagging items. The manager said that as the male subject was walking away from the checkout he advised one of the employees that the female was paying for all the items. The employee let the male subject proceed out of the store. The manager said that a few minutes later the female finished scanning the items and ran her credit/debit card, which was declined. The female then walked out of the store and got into the maroon vehicle and fled the scene. Both suspects appear to be in their 20s. The male has short hair and the female has long brown-blondish hair. Police also believe an older Hispanic male may have taken part in the theft. He also was pictured in the video. Anyone having information on the above crimes or any other crimes occurring in Plainview or Hale County can contact the Crimestoppers Hotline at 293-8477 (293-TIPS). All calls will be kept confidential. Courtesy photos Plainview police are looking for a woman and a child who were reported missing after they left her parents' home on Feb. 25. Friends and family took to social media on Thursday sharing photos and messages asking for Katherine Catano to check in and for anyone who may know where she and her 2-year-old daughter, Joleen Resendez, are to tell her family their whereabouts. Yellow crime tape blows from a fence outside of a residence on the 7200 block of South May Street in Chicago on March 3, 2019. A 22-year-old woman was shot and killed by a stray bullet that came through the window of an Englewood home when gunfire erupted outside, police said. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) The first Katy Independent School District FFA auction at the new Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center drew a crowd to bid on animals raised by students, including grand champions raised by a first-year FFA student and a 2019 graduating senior. First-year FFA student Oliver Semrad, a Tompkins High School ninth-grader, won grand champion with his rabbits. Cinco Ranch High School senior Mikaela Fleener raised a steer which took home grand champion honors. Last year she raised the reserve grand champion steer. Fleener made adjustments this year in raising her steer. Something that I improved from this year to last year was the amount of time I spent working with my steer. Last year was my first year raising a steer and I wasnt 100 percent sure on what I was supposed to do showmanship wise and relied heavily on my teachers assistance. However, this year I did more things on my own based on what I had learned at show last year from the judge. I was determined to try and accomplish my goal of getting grand champion my senior year of high school and I am proud to say that I did it!! After getting his rabbits in January, Semrad said he spent about two hours every day with them. In the morning before school, I checked if they needed more food and/or water. When I got home from school, I started training each rabbit to pose on a table. In the evenings, I would check food and water again and I made sure the cages were clean . I was dedicated to working with the rabbits every day. I focused on my studies and passed all my classes which allowed me to show my rabbits at the Livestock Show. Semrad was the first student to have his animal auctioned this year. It was nerve-wrecking being the first one up to auction and knowing that the bidders were here to break records in the new facility. I think it was a huge honor to be a part of this. The new facility was quite big and pretty cool, he said. His rabbits sold for $7,500. He plans to save most of the money and use some of it for next years FFA animal project. I plan to raise rabbits again, because I like to have them at my house and I have all the supplies, he said. Bidding was active for the grand champion steer, with the final price at $21,000. Said Fleener, It was so exciting to see all of the high bids coming in at the auction and I am so blessed knowing that I was the first grand champion at the new facility. I would have been happy with just the fact of knowing that my steer had won grand champion, but the financial benefits were an added bonus to remember my agricultural winnings and help pay for college next year. Fleener plans to attend Texas A&M in the fall where she will major in animal science with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. The record bid for the steer is $24,000, said Guy James, instructional specialist, agricultural science, Career and Technical Education Department. The auction did have champions that sold for record amounts, i.e., swine. Overall the auction was a huge success thanks to the support of the Katy community. A total of the auction, barn sale and add-ons was unavailable at presstime. The district takes a percentage of total earnings and applies that back to the FFA. James said, This years Livestock Show and Rodeo was unparalleled to any other Katy ISD Livestock Show and Rodeo. I credit a large part of the success of this show to the new facility. The space allowed the teachers to improve all aspects of the show. The teachers and students performed at a much higher level than in previous years. The show was competitive and very professionally executed. FFA has played such an amazing role in my last three years of high school and I wouldnt change it for the world, said Fleener. Being an active FFA member has opened so many opportunities for me and provided me with so many new benefits in my high school experience. The endless support of my ag teachers and new friends that Ive acquired along the way have further prepared me to continue my ag career beyond high school. She credits her teacher Dean Fuchs for her success. He has taught me so many things about the livestock industry and life in general and I cannot thank him enough. This man has truly inspired me in the best possible way and has been the reason I am so dedicated to my animal projects. I am so sad to be leaving him next year but so grateful for the lessons he has taught me. Fleener added that shes happy she joined FFA. It truly has been the best experience of my life and my only regret would be, not doing it my freshman year. It has shaped me into the person I am today and better prepared me for my next steps in life. I encourage everyone to join FFA who has any desire to become a young leader and experience family in a whole new meaning. Semrad joined FFA to continue a family tradition. My grandpa was involved in FFA when he was in high school, explained Semrad. I was also in 4H, an after school program, in junior high and enjoyed it . I am very interested in horticulture so FFA seemed like a good first step. He credits ag teacher Katy Sheffield for his success, saying she taught him everything he knows about raising rabbits. I feel she is the main reason I did so well with my rabbits. I never expected as a first-year FFA student to achieve Grand Champion. Id like to thank my mom, my Ag Teachers (Mrs.(Chelbie) Boehm, Mrs. (Katy) Sheffield, and Mr. (David) Fleming) and my grandpa for leading me to success. Semrad and Fleener were among 463 students who participated in this years Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show, which is slightly more than last year, according to James. The district FFA program has 3,400 students. James said the new facility allows students to show their animals indoors in a heated and air-conditioned arena with a phenomenal lighting and sound system. Located beside this facility we have a new covered rodeo arena that will accommodate 5,000 attendees, said James. The W.E. Billy Morgan Rodeo Arena was dedicated Feb. 16 along with the L.D. Robinson Pavilion. The rodeo had a sold-out crowd both Friday and Saturday, said James. There were approximately 2,900 in attendance for the Thursday night performance. With the rodeo arena and the show pavilion the events that can now be hosted are unlimited. This entire site is one that is state of the art in every imaginable way. James added Next year will be very exciting. Now that we have the first show under our belt we know the flow of events. Get ready for an even greater show next year. We have already starting preparing for next years livestock show. There will be even more exciting events that will be implemented next year. The livestock show and rodeo will be bigger and better in 2020! karen.zurawski@chron.com Tuesday, March 5, marks the last day for many people to enjoy their vices which they may give up for Lent. Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday for many of the Christian Faith, where many people celebrate before heading into the Lenten season. Lent is the traditional 40-day period of prayer, penance, repentance, alms giving and self-denial. This event is observed in Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic churches. A sampling of area churches holding special services on Ash Wednesday include: St. Pauls Episcopal Church at 5373 Franz Road with its Family Ash Wednesday Service from 6 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.stpaulskaty.org. St. Edith Stein Catholic Church at 3311 N. Fry Road has services with distribution of ashes scheduled at 6 a.m., noon, and 4:30 and 7 p.m. Go to https://stedithstein.org for more information. Church of the Holy Apostles at 1225 West Grand Parkway South at 7 p.m. Go to www.cotha.org for more information. St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church at 5356 11th St. at 6:30 and 8:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. Spanish masses will be at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Distribution of ashes only will be at 5:45 p.m. in English and 7:45 p.m. in Spanish in the Parish Hall. Go to www.st-bart.org for more information. Living Word Lutheran Church at 3700 South Mason Road at 5 a.m. For more information, go to www.livingwordkaty.org. Contact your church for more information on Ash Wednesday and Lenten services. All you can eat fish fry Katy Elks Lodge 2628, 1050 Katy Fort Bend Road, will host its annual All You Can Eat Fish Fry from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3. The menu includes fish, chicken and all the trimmings. Adults are $15 and children under age 12 are $6. Proceeds will benefit the lodges youth activities and scholarship programs. Tickets can be bought at the door. Go to www.katyelks.org or call 281-391-2763 or 832-570-3563 for information. Family night Wednesday is a designated Family Night in Katy ISD, meaning students should not have any homework on that day. Katy Area Chamber of Commerce The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon for Quick Quack Car Wash-Morton Ranch on Tuesday, March 5, at 22743 Morton Ranch Road. The opening celebration will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the ribbon-cutting at 11:45 a.m. Visit www.dontdrivedirty.com or email deandraee@dontdrivedirty.com for information. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will also welcome Hunt Law Firm at its new location at 23212 Red River Drive on Thursday, March 7. The event will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:45 p.m. Hunt Law practices family law. Lenten Fish Fry St. Faustina Catholic Church at 28102 FM 1093 in Fulshear will host a Lenten Fish Fry on Fridays from March 8 though April 12. Meals will be served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Orders include fish, hush puppies, fries and cole slaw. For more information, go to https://saintfaustinachurch.org. Celebrate India Cinco Ranch High School, 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, will host Vedic Fair 8 Celebrate India from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 9. The event will include music, exhibits and workshops. Visit https://tinyurl.com/yxbwyp9j for details and tickets. For more information, go to www.AshirwadABlessing.org. Hydrant flushing The city of Katy Water Department will be flushing hydrants and lines throughout the entire city beginning Monday, March 4. The hydrant flushing will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Officials advise that flushing may cause low water pressure as well as some discoloration of water but it does not represent a health hazard. Anyone who experiences discolored water is advised to run the cold water in all the faucets for about 5-10 minutes or open the outside faucet closest to the water meter for several minutes before using the water. Customers are cautioned to determine if the water is clear before washing clothes (or any other processing) as staining may occur. rkent@hcnonline.com Temperatures as much as 30 to 50 degrees below normal are entering the Northern Plains. Through the weekend, brutal conditions overtake the central portion of the country, from the Mexican to the Canadian borders. Heading into the first full week of March, Arctic air takes up residence in the East as well. When it's all done, most of the contiguous United States will endure a punishing blow of frigid air from this Arctic blast. Records for cold are likely to be most numerous in the north-central United States but will extend from coast to coast. By March, many folks are searching for spring. For the time being, it will be hard to find. Some of the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere is headed into the Lower 48. "It's a straight shot from the Arctic!" tweeted Steve Glazier of Weather Nation. An unusually strong high-pressure area currently near northern Alaska will drift through the Arctic in the days ahead, forcing subzero air that is usually centered in the polar region to move southward. The coverage and intensity of the cold over the Lower 48 may peak on Monday. The European modeling system is forecasting average temperatures for the day of 20 to 40 degrees below normal over a huge chunk of the Lower 48. The core of the cold will span from the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes in the north, and from Texas to the Ohio Valley in the nation's south and midsection. Beyond Monday, the coldest temperatures ease slightly as they drift eastward. The worst of this cold shot is predicted for the north-central portion of the country, where widespread dangerous conditions are expected. It was cold in Montana even before this cold shot arrived - some spots finished nearly 30 degrees below normal for the full month of February. This Arctic blast is still ready to take it to the next level of extreme. Widespread temperatures 40 to 50 degrees below normal are expected by Saturday night into early Sunday across Montana. That equates to highs below zero, and lows more than 20 degrees below zero. The NWS in Glasgow, Montana, says that "wind chills may dip into the minus-50s by Sunday morning." At temperatures like these, frostbite is a major concern. A similar forecast story is being told to the east across the Dakotas and into the Upper Midwest. In Duluth, Minnesota, where they're working on two months of consecutive below freezing conditions, wind chills are expected to fall to the minus-30s. Actual temperatures are only in the minus-10 to zero-degree range for highs on Sunday, after lows in the minus-10 to minus-20 zone. Subzero temperatures are anticipated as far south as parts of Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and, perhaps in isolated fashion, even into Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri on Sunday morning. Wind chills may fall to their lowest level of the winter in Oklahoma, dipping below zero. Highs on Monday may only be around 20 in Oklahoma City, the 30s in Dallas, and the 40s near the Gulf Coast. In the Upper Midwest, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Madison, Wisconsin and Green Bay, Wisconsin, likely won't escape the single digits for highs on Monday while Chicago struggles to hit 10. Wind chills in this area will remain below zero much of the day. This Arctic onslaught will also unleash some seriously cold air to the eastern United States. From the eastern Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley, including Detroit and Cleveland, highs hold in the teens and 20s on Monday. By Tuesday, when the core of the cold hits the Northeast, highs may hover in the teens and 20s, except around freezing in the corridor from Washington to New York City. Somewhat milder 40s will extend into the Carolinas and Georgia, still well below normal. Low temperatures ranging from near zero in northern Maine to near 20 in the Mid-Atlantic are a good 10 to 20 degrees below normal for early March and may be locally colder in areas of fresh snowpack. An Arctic air mass that overtakes the whole country isn't too common, largely because the Rockies act as a good blocking mechanism. The way this one initially enters along the Continental Divide allows the Pacific Northwest to fall into the deep freeze for a few days as well. In Washington state, the Weather Service office in Spokane is forecasting highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits this weekend. Wind chills are expected to fall below zero. On Friday morning, the low temperature dipped to 1 degree. Temperatures across the Pacific Northwest look to fall as low as 20 degrees below normal at times into early next week. Although warmth tries to persist in the Southwest, even that area ultimately seems likely to see temperatures fall below normal, which may be as much due to more storminess arriving as anything. After the first 10 days of the month, the cold may ease somewhat, but there are no major signs of big warm-ups anytime soon for most spots. Lawmakers are investigating whether President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was involved in any discussions about possible pardons - which they view as a potentially ripe area of inquiry into whether anyone sought to obstruct justice, people familiar with the matter said. Cohen has said publicly he never asked for - and would not accept - a pardon from Trump. But people familiar with the matter said his knowledge on the topic seems to extend beyond that statement. Privately, lawmakers on the House and Senate intelligence committees pressed Cohen this week on whether he had had any discussions about a possible pardon, and if so, when and with whom those conversations took place, the people said. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the testimony was not public. It was not immediately clear what, if anything, Cohen told lawmakers to pique their interest. Depending on the details, such pardon talks could be incendiary, suggesting an effort to dissuade Cohen from cooperating with law enforcement. Cohen is to return to the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, declined to comment on the closed-door testimony, though he said on MSBNC on Thursday night that "new information was developed that could be game changing," and it was about "lying and obstruction evidence." "It's pretty explosive," he said. Cohen - who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, bank and tax fraud and lying to Congress and was sentenced to three years in prison - is not a completely reliable narrator, and he and his allies have been known to exaggerate. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Mark Meadows, R-N.C., wrote Thursday to Attorney General William Barr asking him to investigate whether Cohen had perjured himself when he insisted to the House Oversight Committee he had not wanted a job in the Trump administration and was content to serve as Trump's personal lawyer. That assertion has been called into question by Cohen's own public statements and White House officials. Trump tweeted after the hearing that Cohen "committed perjury on a scale not seen before." Cohen described in testimony this week how he lied over and over for the president - even if it put himself in legal jeopardy because he sought to cover up crimes, or relayed falsehoods to Congress. But he asserted he was no longer under the spell of the commander in chief and was ready to come clean. "I am no longer your fixer, Mr. Trump," Cohen declared. As part of a broader inquiry into whether the president's campaign conspired with the Kremlin to win the election, special counsel Robert Mueller III has been investigating whether Trump sought to obstruct justice. Mueller's obstruction probe has focused on the firing of James Comey as FBI director - which Trump has said publicly he did while thinking about the Russia investigation - as well as Trump's repeated attacks on the Justice Department and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing what would become Mueller's inquiry. Mueller is widely expected to be nearing the end of his investigation, and Congress has been pressing to make sure the Justice Department will turn over his findings in full. Legal analysts said Cohen's testimony, while noteworthy, probably offered more new details to lawmakers and the public than it did to law enforcement. Cohen has said he would continue to cooperate with the special counsel and federal prosecutors, and he revealed during his testimony that he was in "constant" contact with the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. "I can't imagine he was saying things that suddenly comprised new information for the Southern District of New York or for Mueller to consider," said James Trusty, a former federal prosecutor and Justice Department organized-crime chief now in private practice at Ifrah Law. Cohen said notably before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that he knew of no "direct evidence" that Trump and his campaign colluded with Russia. But he alleged that the president knew in advance of a July 2016 email dump by the anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks, which obtained Democrats' emails that Mueller has alleged were hacked by Russian operatives. And Cohen said the president vigorously urged his advisers to send the message that there had been no dealings with Russia - which could inform Mueller's obstruction case. Cohen asserted that the president and his supporters even threatened him as he prepared to testify before Congress. On the eve of his public appearance Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., tweeted, without evidence, an allegation that Cohen had extramarital affairs. Gaetz soon deleted the message and apologized. Cohen also hinted at an investigation involving the president, asserting that federal prosecutors in Manhattan had asked him not to discuss his communication with Trump after the FBI raided his home and office in April. Asked whether there was "any other wrongdoing or illegal act that you are aware of regarding Donald Trump" that had not been discussed at the hearing, Cohen responded, "Yes, and again, those are part of the investigation that's currently being looked at by the Southern District of New York." A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. Perhaps most notable in the area of obstruction, Cohen said that in May 2017, he met with Trump and Jay Sekulow, one of Trump's lawyers, to discuss testimony Cohen was to give to the House Intelligence Committee. Trump, Cohen said, "wanted me to cooperate." But he said Trump also repeated a refrain that is now familiar to those on Twitter. "He goes, 'It's all a witch hunt,' and he goes, 'This stuff has to end,' " Cohen said. "Did you take those comments to be suggestive of what might flavor your testimony?" Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., asked. "Sir, he's been saying that to me for many, many months, and at the end of the day, I knew exactly what he wanted me to say," Cohen responded. Ultimately, Cohen would testify to Congress that discussions about a possible Trump Tower project in Moscow ended in January 2016 - when in fact they continued for months after that, into the heart of the presidential campaign. Cohen would later plead guilty to the lie. The topic remains of keen interest to lawmakers. Cohen conceded that Trump had not asked him to lie, though he noted that Sekulow, as well as attorney Abbe Lowell - who represents Ivanka Trump, Trump's daughter, and her husband, Jared Kushner - reviewed his written testimony before it was submitted. At one point, Cohen suggested that Sekulow was involved in a change about "the length of time that the Trump Tower Moscow project stayed and remained alive." And Davis, Cohen's lawyer, said of the statement on MSBNC on Thursday night, "Everybody knew it was a lie" - effectively accusing Sekulow or others of knowingly passing on Cohen's false statement. But Davis corrected the statement and apologized Friday, saying, he had meant to say "the president and many of his advisers must have known" Cohen's statement was false. "I should not have used the words that 'everyone knew' the statement was false," Davis said. "My only excuse for the error is sleep deprivation. Apologies." A person familiar with Cohen's account said he cannot say with certainty whether Sekulow, Lowell or other White House advisers knew the discussions about the Trump Tower project extended well into 2016, and thus knew Cohen's statement was false. Sekulow said in a statement that Cohen's assertion that "attorneys for the President edited or changed his statement to Congress to alter the duration of the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations is completely false." A person familiar with the matter said Lowell did not edit Cohen's statement but did voice a concern about the accuracy of some mention of Ivanka Trump's dealings with Russian athlete Dmitry Klokov. Cohen ultimately did not address Klokov in the statement. Lowell declined to comment. Cohen's team is working to find drafts of Cohen's statement that would reflect who edited what, and turn them over to lawmakers, people familiar with the matter said. Even that, though, might not implicate lawyers in knowingly passing along a lie - if their clients had not been truthful with them. "The greatest fear of the best lawyers is clients who do not come entirely clean with them," said Jacob Frenkel, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice at Dickinson Wright. While Cohen said Trump often talked in "code," he suggested that the president was not always subtle in directing a coverup. For example, Cohen said that at Trump's direction he paid $130,000 to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in October 2016 so that she would stay quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, and that Trump reimbursed him for it the following year. Cohen has admitted that the payment violated campaign finance laws. Cohen said that Trump asked him to lie about the Stormy Daniels matter to Melania Trump, and that he did, and that in 2018, when news of the payments broke, Cohen said Trump called him while he was meeting with a reporter and suggested he say the president "was not knowledgeable of these reimbursements and he wasn't knowledgeable of my actions." Cohen said that in a meeting in the Oval Office, he and the president had discussed Cohen's being repaid, and he said also that during his presidency, Trump personally signed a check to reimburse him. A new Houston Chronicle investigation, "Broken Trust," reveals that the Texas Permanent School Fund at $44 billion, the country's largest education endowment should be billions larger than it is. Politically connected investment managers are collecting soaring fees while returns lag behind other comparable funds. Read the investigation on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. *** It started with a simple question. Texas has the biggest education endowment in the nation, valued at $44 billion. The state also has a school funding crisis. Why? A year ago, Houston Chronicle reporters set out to answer that question, which raised more. How was the fund performing? What was it investing in? Could it send more money to schools? We reviewed thousands of pages of documents -- annual reports and reports to the legislature -- but found that the answers to those basic questions were not in there. The Texas Permanent School Fund's annual reports publish returns on investments without accounting for the amount of fees paid to external fund managers. The Chronicle filed more than 100 public information requests in order to better understand how the two boards that administer separate portions of the fund, the State Board of Education and the School Land Board, invest on behalf of Texas' 5 million school children. BROKEN TRUST: Texas' huge school endowment pays out less and less for schoolchildren We asked, repeatedly, through public records requests, for a full accounting of how much outside fund managers were charging the endowment in fees and expenses. We were provided with conflicting reports that did not match the amounts reported to the Legislature. Reporters found many of the endowment's investment records are off limits to the public. We talked with current and former employees of the agencies that administer the fund, lawmakers, lobbyists and board members. We crunched numbers in campaign finance records for executives of the companies that received investments from the fund. We obtained internal audits and documents the School Land Board considered "confidential." With the help of financial experts, we compared the fund's performance with that of endowments of similar size, shape and mission. We found the fund sent less to schools annually over the past decade than it did in the two decades prior, in real dollars. Our conclusion: A broken trust. *** Support our journalism Help our journalists uncover the big stories. Subscribe today. Active-duty US Air Force Major Andre McDonald was detained Saturday by Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies in connection with the disappearance of his 29-year-old wife, Andreen Nicole McDonald, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. County officials now say they are considering naming him a suspect in that disappearance. "We're still treating it as a missing persons case, with the distinct possibility in mind that it could be a homicide," Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference. On Sunday, a BCSO spokesman said search efforts for Andreen McDonald are underway and that Andre McDonald has not officially been named a suspect. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Over social media Sunday, BCSO posted pictures of vehicles and asked the public that if they had seen them in "a remote area or driving suspiciously in a wooded area" to contact authorities. Andreen McDonald, a local business owner, was reported missing Friday by friends who say she never showed up at the gym, or work. Salazar told reporters during a news conference Saturday morning that many unanswered questions remain and that the case has "very suspicious circumstances." "There is literally no sign of her anywhere," Salazar told reporters hours before BCSO deputies detained Andre McDonald. Saturday evening, flanked by Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, the sheriff detailed how law enforcement had set up surveillance on the McDonald residence. Law enforcement followed Andre McDonald to a gun store where an undercover deputy observed him buying a handgun and ammunition. Salazar said it was when Andre McDonald hurriedly left the store, leaving behind the gun and his identification, taking only the ammunition with him that deputies decided to detain him. "We did speak to him regarding his mental health," Salazar said. "I couldn't go into too much what was discussed there due to privacy issues, but that second detention was for mental health purposes." The Air Force Office of Special Investigations then took custody of Andre McDonald, according to Salazar. A BCSO spokesman said Sunday that Andre McDonald was receiving a mental evaluation and further treatment. At the Saturday morning news conference, Salazar described how Andre McDonald asserted his rights and retained an attorney when deputies initially questioned him Friday about the whereabouts of his wife. "We have not been able to speak to Mr. McDonald very much as a result of this," Salazar said. The sheriff's office did recover Andreen McDonald's purse, wallet, keys and what seems to be her cell phone on Friday. They do not have her passport. Both McDonalds have ties to the Caribbean, according to Salazar. Saturday night, Salazar said his office contacted family members in the Caribbean who told them Andreen McDonald was not there. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also said they have no evidence that she has left the country, according to Salazar. RELATED: Sheriff says 'literally no sign' of missing San Antonio woman After obtaining a search warrant for the house Saturday evening, Salazar said law enforcement "saw new evidence in plain view," including blood. Salazar said FBI is assisting with crime scene and forensic searches of the McDonalds' vehicles. The couple's 6-year-old daughter is being cared for by a relative. Salazar said authorities have not yet questioned the child as she has Autism and is mostly nonverbal. He said certain steps have to be taken before talking to any child in cases such as this. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Andreen Nicole McDonald is asked to contact 210-335-6070, missingpersons@bexar.org or bcsotips@bexar.org. Detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a woman whose body was found in an SUV along westbound U.S. 90 on the South Side. San Antonio police said a passing motorist traveling west on the highway noticed a silver Dodge parked on the right shoulder of the highway, just east of the Zarzamora overpass, and found the unidentified woman dead in the passenger seat. The vehicle had been there since at least 2 a.m., neighbors said. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Feb. 28, 2019. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) Irish Taste Club 0 overall rating 0 Ratings | 0 Reviews Irish Taste Club is a monthly subscription box that features handpicked, award-winning artisan foods from Ireland. Each box is packed with small-batch products from independent Irish producers and is shipped directly to your door. Products are sourced from independent producers, and subscribers can expect to experience the small-batch, specialty flavors of an Irish farmers market. This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the subscription review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.) About Irish Taste Club The Subscription Box: Irish Taste Club The Cost: $49 a month + free shipping ACTIVE DEAL: Get 10% off your first box! CODE: MSA10 The Products: The best small-batch products sourced from independent makers across Ireland. Ships to: US & Ireland Irish Taste Club February 2019 Review Irish Taste Club includes an information sheet that provides tidbits about each product and its producer. There is also a special note from the owners, Pauline and Tom. The friendly, conversational tone of the info sheet was very sweet! It was easy to feel a connection to everyone involved in making this box come together. Sheridans Cheesemongers Irish Brown-Bread Crackers, 140g Retail Value $3.41 (3.00) I figured tasting the brown-bread crackers before diving into the tomato relish was the best move. They were soft but still had a bit of a crunch, and had a savory, buttery flavor that made them great for snacking on their own. The texture was a lot like a graham cracker. Each ingredient was sourced from different locales around County Cork, and its apparent the crackers were made with a lot of love, care, and tradition. A great way to start the box! Sheridans Tomato Relish, 175g Retail Value $4.09 (3.60) You know what made those brown-bread crackers even better? This tomato relish, also from Sheridans. At first glance, the relish looked a lot like salsa, but the flavor was far from it. The Italian plum tomatoes were wonderfully sweet with a hint of acidity, which meshed well with the cider vinegar from Tipperary-grown apples. On the crackers, its a sophisticated snack that cant be beat. A few slices of cheese would make for an unstoppable trio. This was so tasty. Well done on both accounts, Sheridans. West Cork Biscuit Co. Hazelnut & White Chocolate Biscuits with Coconut Flakes, 195g Retail Value $4.03 (3.55) The West Cork Biscuit company creates handmade cookies from only the finest local ingredients, such as Irish unsalted butter and free-range eggs. No artificial flavors or colors are used, and each cookie is made in small batches for the best flavor. These hazelnut and white chocolate cookies were firm and a little crumbly, with plenty of texture from the nuts and coconut flakes. The coconut provided a little sweetness, making it easy to reach for one after the next. These would be really nice with a cup of tea, and Ill probably enjoy that combination if I dont eat through the entire package first! Mellas Vanilla Irish Butter Fudge, 175g Retail Value $6.25 (5.50) What is it about Irish butter thats so magical? This fudge is made with West Cork butter, and its out of this world. A bit crumbly, very sweet, and perfectly soft, the quality of Mellas really shines through, piece after piece. There were about 8-9 pieces in my pack, which made the price seem a little steep, but quality and craftsmanship justifies it. Plus, one piece more than satisfied my sweet tooth, so this pack will last me longer than I initially thought. The Apple Farm of Tipperary Sparkling Irish Apple Juice, 250ml Retail Value $1.53 (1.35) Tart and bubbly, this sparkling apple juice was quite delicious! According to the info sheet, the company was founded by a Dutch family that had moved to Ireland in the 1960s, with decades of fruit-growing experience under their belts. The little glass bottle felt very classy and survived the trip overseas thanks to very diligent packaging. I liked this one a lot! Aines Hand-Made Dark Chocolate Mint Crisp, 100g Retail Value $3.41 (3.00) The hot chocolate swirl stick I had from Aines in the October review really knocked my socks off, so I was excited to see this brand pop up once again. Aines has raked in quite a few awards for quality and taste, and with this dark chocolate bar, its simple to see why. This bar, in particular, is a mix of 60% dark chocolate, mint pieces, and bits of crisp, making for a deep, decadent flavor experience with a hint of refreshment. A lovely way to finish up this months box, if I do say so myself. Verdict: Irish Taste Club was all-around enjoyable, once again! It was a pleasure to explore the craft behind each artisan product and to have such a robust idea of where each ingredient comes from. This box would make for an incredible gift, as the items are very high quality, and Irish Taste Club offers the convenience of a one-time box purchase. The info sheet had such a charming sense of humor and was a wonderful, personable guide for introducing each product. My favorites of the month were the brown-bread crackers and tomato relish together. Overall, I loved my time with Irish Taste Club, and would definitely recommend it, even for just a single month if your budget permits. To Wrap Up: Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, you will receive the April box. Coupon Save 10% off your first box with code ITC10! Value Breakdown: This box is $49 a month with free shipping. I received a total of six items, which is an average of $8.16. For the superb quality and amazing taste of each, plus the careful thought and curation that goes into the experience, I think its worth it. Check out all of our Irish Taste Club Reviews and visit the Food Subscription Box Directory to discover more specialty food boxes! Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist! Have you tried Irish Taste Club? What was your favorite product from February? The woman who accused MDC president Nelson Chamisa of raping her in November 2018 has reportedly withdrawn her police report. The accusers mother approached a family friend, Cabinet Secretary Dr Misheck Sibanda and indicated that the woman has mental health problems. Police have yet to comment on the latest developments. For more on the Chamisa rape case, READ HERE. Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News A leaked whatsapp chat among top Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCTV) (Television) staff has opened a can of worms and exposed how the officials are anti-president Emmerson Mnangagwas administration. This comes as there is disgruntlement within the ZBC executive over appointments and retrenchments of some journalists at the state controlled broadcaster. ZBC this week announced the appointment of former NewZimbabwe editor Gilbert Nyambabvu as its head of news and current affairs division. In the leaked whatsApp chat an official identified as Judith says hatiende kunoita zvisina basa zvematuzvi. Havana dhiri, plus he is rocked with scandals (We are not going to a worthless event. These people are useless). Then another official by the name Merit responds saying: ED anyura, zvatopera apa hachapabudi (Ed is finished, he will not get out of this). Internal sources also said the same Merit criticized the move by the Mnangagwa administration to increase fuel prices saying dai vari VaMugabe havaimbodaro and this government has failed (Mugabe would not have done that). Then another official by the name Josh Mutali asked: Ko muchaita sei vanhu venyu zvavave kudzingwa (What will you do now that your people are being fired). The source also accused the ZBC chief executive officer Patrick Mavhura of having been working for the ousted G40 faction by giving instructions to reporters. Sources also said ZBC is being run by people who are not supporting the government stance on turning around the economy. The Bulawayo station manager Ndlovu is a Jonathan Moyo appointee (exiled former minister Information and Higher and Tertiary education minister). Surpringly, on his twitter handle, Moyo hailed the appointment of Nyambabvu and said he will do a good job if there is no political interference. Another source said: The chief internal auditor, Chimwanda, and the head of procurement, Sibanda, are also anti-government. ZimMorningPost Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News TWO Zimbabwe National Army members and their civilian accomplice have been arrested and dragged to the Harare magistrates court for illegally dealing in dagga and Broncleer. Felix Munyonga (29), Tafadzwa Chando (29), both army members, together with Goodman Marufu (29), face two counts of possession of dangerous drugs and possession of unregistered medicines for sale. The trio appeared before Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko on Friday. State did not oppose bail and they were granted $300 each on condition they report to CID drugs once a week every Friday. It is States case that on a date unknown to prosecutors, the three connived to deal in dagga and to sell prohibited medicines such as Broncleer cough syrup. The three, it was further alleged, while using their black Mercedes Benz C180 laden with dagga and Broncleer, went and parked along Harares Park lane adjacent to Harare Girls High school and started selling the illicit stuff to their intended customers. Detectives from Criminal Investigations Drug and Narcotics Squad received information from a source and carried out some surveillance at the mentioned place. A raid was conducted leading to the recovery of 3 boxes containing 150 100ml Broncleer, 6 sachets of dagga, 8 plastics paper bags full of dagga, 1 scorpion mini rifle with a fully charged magazine of 20 rounds inside the vehicle. The value of property involved is $6 909. Trial continues March 26. Shepherd Makonde prosecuted. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC-T spokesperson Linda Masarira has labelled the rape allegations against Nelson Chamisa a fabrication by the MDC to create sympathy for Zimbabwes main opposition leader ahead of his partys Congress in May. Masarira said there was a mentality in the MDC Alliance that one must suffer in order to get endeared with the masses. Masarira was responding to @i-thec who said @hwendec @JobWiwa @ProfJNMoyo @PatsonDzamara etal are the ones who said that. Apparently no such case was reported in Norton police station. The lady in question resides n works in Rimuka Kadoma n is 49 not 39. She is a widow since 2006 Masarira tweeted in response Motive is clearly defined! To create sympathy for Nero The story is being generated by his camp! There is this stupid mentality in Mdca that you must suffer in order for you to be genuine! Thats why Mwonzora is receiving all sorts of attacks including that he is suddenly Zanu. https://twitter.com/lilomatic/status/1101994501613199360 Masariwas logic was questioned by Trust Matsilele who tweeted Why would Chamisa seek sympathy, this level of gullibility is nauseating She responded in a tweet berating the MDC for lying that the rape allegations had been withdrawn after failing to gain public sympathy Kikkkk then some funny online newspaper runs a typical ZINASU Congress sympathy propaganda and Herald doesnt even headline such a story, then you want to fool the world after a botched attempt to scandalize your president for sympathy. Now makunyepa kuti she has withdrawn. Ayas https://twitter.com/lilomatic/status/1102000104934903808 Povo Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says he is not moved by intimidating tactics being thrown at him ahead of the partys elective congress scheduled for 24-26 May this year. Speaking from Ghana where he is on a diplomatic offensive Chamisa rubbished the alleged rape case that was reported by a 39-year old woman Nyaradzo Nyathi, who later withdrew the police case. In an exclusive interview with the Zimbabwe Morning Post, Chamisa said: I am not moved by people who try to destroy someones name and integrity. I am not like that and that will not deter us, Chamisa said. I do not even want to comment on the issue because that is pure madness. Asked whether he thinks this was the work of Zanu PF or internal smear campaigns by his competitors in the forthcoming congress, Chamisa said: I do not care where this is coming from. Like I said this has nothing to do with me. We have more pressing issues than that and I will not waste my time on that issue. The allegation comes at a time when MDC Alliance is heading towards its elective congress. Chamisa is likely to face his secretary general Douglas Mwonzora who is said to be eyeing the oppositions top post. As the congress build-up gathers momentum several senior party officials are strategically positioning themselves to rally behind their preferred candidates. Last week Mwonzora told this publication that he is a victim of a smear campaign by some officials who are labelling him a Zanu PF project. I have no idea about Zanu PFs interference with the MDC Alliance Congress, MDC Alliance has a constitution that allows for people to contest for any positions, said Mwonzora. In a hard-hitting blow to his detractors, Mwonzora said the smear campaigns are from competitors and people with no idea of what democracy entails, I come to the conclusion that not all those people who talk about democracy understand what it is. The MDC Alliance vice president Elias Mudzuri also posted on his microblogging twitter handle that the forthcoming MDC congress is likely to widen fissures in the party and dent the oppositions chances of winning the 2023 general elections. MDCT must respect its Constitution remove fear & factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe, wrote Mudzuri. The coming MDCT Congress threatens to tear the party apart & jeopardize our chance of winning 2023 elections ruining the hopes of millions Lets do what is right. Zim Morning Post Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Traditional leaders in Goromonzi led by Chief Chikwaka held a prayer ceremony in memory of victims of an accident which occurred near Juru Growth Point in December last year. Concerned over the rise in road traffic accidents along the Harare Nyamapanda highway, Chief Chikwaka organised a prayer session in memory of victims of the 16 December disaster which claimed 17 lives. The prayer session started with a devotion at the place where the accident occurred that was conducted by Pastor Nhari from the Salvation Army church and proceedings ended at Bosha Primary School. Other speakers, among them the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi, who was representing Minister Joel Biggie Matiza, took a swipe at reckless drivers for causing unnecessary loss of lives. A total of 104 accidents and 40 deaths have been recorded between the Harare Murehwa tollgate and Musami cross point from January 2018 to date. ZBC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Readers will recall that H.R. 1, the Democrats flagship bill for the 116th Congress, gestures in the direction of paper ballots, but in fact allows ballot marking devices that rely on OCRs for the count and emit paper receipts for voters (often called ballots for marketing purposes, falsely, since the actual count is performed in the internals of the device). I am sure I do not need to remind readers that hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public are the international standard for elections; and that they are used in the Canada, the UK, Germany, and many other countries. The United States, as in so many other ways, is exceptional aberrational in that it has managed to commit itself to systems that are both more expensive and much more dysfunctional MR SUBLIMINAL For whom? than those used in the rest of the world). In other words, the Democrats, with HR1, have lent their official support to a horrid industry that enables election fraud, an industry that has acted with intent to corrupt state and local officials to win its contracts. In this post, Ill define ballot marking devices (BMDs), explain generic problems with the architecture of all BMDs, and finally look at the entertaining forms of corruption that preceded the choice of BMDs in Pennsylvania and Georgia. Ballot Marking Devices Defined Jennifer Cohn at Bradblog explains: A Ballot Marking Device (BMD) is a touchscreen computer that generates a computer-marked paper ballot or printout, which is then tallied on a computerized optical scanner. (Those computer-marked ballots can also, in theory, be counted by hand, but generally are not, as most election officials rely on optical scanners instead.) [BMDs] introduce a second unnecessary and insecure computer system in the polling place above and beyond already insecure optical scanners, creating twice as many opportunities for electronic programming errors, paper jams, and hacking. For example, some BMD systems have already had problems with: Vote flipping (when election integrity advocate and journalist Brad Friedman used such a device in Los Angeles in a 2008 election, the device flipped 4 out of 12 of his selections on the computer-marked paper ballot); Inability to display all candidates on one screen (a problem reported by the state of Maryland, which had acquired such systems for all voters, but changed its mind even though the screen problem was eventually fixed); and Vendor breach of certification requirements (as occurred with vendor Election Systems & Software, ES&S, the nations largest voting system vendor). Meanwhile, two of the most popular BMDs the ES&S ExpressVote and the Dominion ImageCast produce bar-coded (or QR-coded) printouts, which cannot be read by human beings, in lieu of traditional, hand-marked paper ballots. What could go wrong? Meanwhile it may help to think of BMDs, and indeed electronic voting machines generally, as a very early version of the Internet of Things theres no reason to thing that electronic voting machine vendors will fix their software, or have any inclination to do so. Wired: Many of the machines participants analyzed during the [DefCon security conferences Voting Village event] run software written in the early 2000s, or even the 1990s. Some vulnerabilities detailed in the report were disclosed years ago and still havent been resolved. In particular, one ballot counter made by Election Systems & Software, the Model 650, has a flaw in its update architecture first documented in 2007 that persists. Voting Village participants also found a network vulnerability in the same devicewhich 26 states and the District of Columbia all currently use. ES&S stopped manufacturing the Model 650 in 2008, and notes that the base-level security protections on the M650 are not as advanced as the security protections that exist on the voting machines ES&S manufactures today. The company still sells the decade-old device, though We didnt discover a lot of new vulnerabilities, says Matt Blaze, a computer science professor at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the organizers of the Voting Village, who has been analyzing voting machine security for more than 10 years. What we discovered was vulnerabilities that we know about are easy to find, easy to reengineer, and have not been fixed over the course of more than a decade of knowing about them. And to me that is both the unsurprising and terribly disturbing lesson that came out of the Voting Village. Many of the weaknesses Voting Village participants found were frustratingly basic, underscoring the need for a reckoning with manufacturers. One device, the ExpressPoll-5000, has root password of password. The administrator password is pasta.. A root password of password. This is security somewhat below the security you get with the router you get from Best Buy. And were only running elections on it! But what if the software engineering was perfect? Architectural Probems with Ballot Marking Devices Software engineering can never be shown to be perfect. As computing science pioneer Edgers Dijkstra famously said: Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence! (True for any firm, not just firms that use password for the root password!) Since the presence of bugs is one precusor to election fraud via hacking (the other being social engineering), it follows that ballot marking devices create a phishing equilibrium, best summarized as the idea that if fraud is possible in a system, it has already occurred and will occur again. Of course, thats true for all systems, in general (see North Carolinas problems with ballot harvesting), but one would think, would one not, that election officials in a functioning democracy would try to level-set the equilibrium to minimize the chances of fraud, not maximize them. No such luck. Politico, of the barcode BMDs both George and Philadelphia are about to purchase. State election officials opt for 2020 voting machines vulnerable to hacking: The dispute over the ballot-marking devices centers on the fact that they use barcodes, which can be read by scanners but not by humans. Though the paper records also display a voters choices in plain text, which the voter can double-check, the barcode is the part that gets tallied. The danger: Hackers who infiltrate a ballot-marking device could modify the barcode so its vote data differs from whats in the printed text. If this happened, a voter would have no way of spotting it. In a landmark report published last year, the National Academies recommended against voting devices that tally barcodes. Electronic voting systems that do not produce a human-readable paper ballot of record raise security and verifiability concerns, it said. Additional research on ballots produced by BMDs will be necessary to understand the effectiveness of such ballots. But the issue isnt simply barcodes; the issue is that wherever software infiltrates the voting supply chain, a phishing equilibrium exists. Dolly back from the electronic voting machine proper to the entire digital system that grows up around it. Jenny Cohn in the New York Review of Books: The memory cards or USB sticks used to transfer the pre-election programming from the election management system to the voting machines, scanners, and ballot-marking devices constitute another potential attack vector. In theory, the person who distributes those cards or USB sticks to the precincts could swap them out for cards containing a vote-flipping program. Memory cards are also used in the reverse directionto transfer precinct tallies from the voting machines and scanners to the election management systems central tabulator, which aggregates those tallies. Problems can occur during this process, too. During the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, for example, a Global/Diebold machine in Volusia County, Florida, subtracted 16,000 Gore votes, while adding votes to a third-party candidate. The Volusia error, which caused CBS news to call the race prematurely for Bush, was attributed to a faulty memory card, although election logs referenced a second phantom card as well. Holy moley, the integrity of our election system depends on USB sticks. Thats peak phishing equilibrium! I mean, your firms IT department has absolutely no problem with you sticking a random USB stick into your PC, right? (Their central finding is that USB firmware, which exists in varying forms in all USB devices, can be reprogrammed to hide attack code. ZOMG.) Paper ballots, needless to say, dont require pre-election programming, except possibly in the form of a three-ring binder, for which the phishing equilibrium is very low. Corruption in States that Chose Ballot Marking Devices So why on earth would any responsible election official choose BMDs over paper ballots? Well, we dont have a smoking gun (no prosecutions) but we certainly have situations that give off the stench familiar from other cases of corruption. Entertainingly, the techniques of corruption differ by jurisdiction, which I suppose is a blessing of our wonderful Federal system. First, Pennsylvania. Granted, Pennylvania is in a bad way, from the broken HAVA act of 2002 that encouraged electronic voting systems that werent verifable in any way. Associated Press: Pennsylvania is one of 13 states where some or all voters use machines that store votes electronically without printed ballots or another paper-based backup that allows a voter to double-check how their vote was recorded. Better than 4 in 5 Pennsylvania voters use electronic voting machines that lack an auditable paper trail, according to election security analysts. As a result: Replacing voting machines ahead of 2020s presidential election has been a priority for [Governor Tom] Wolf, and he is proposing $15 million a year for five years $75 million total to help counties pay for machines that leave a voter-marked paper trail, machines viewed as more secure and auditable. (Of course, more secure and auditable does not mean secure and auditable; see above. So, given this vital task, how did the vendor selection process go? From the Delco Times: Pennsylvanias elected auditor said Friday that officials in 18 of the states 67 counties reported accepting gifts, meals or trips from firms competing to sell or lease new voting machines ahead of the 2020 elections. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said accepting the gifts is wrong, even though its a legal practice and officials may have taken no action in return. Anyone who took them, period, could be swayed by the perks, he said. Public officials, he said, should not accept this nonsense. The gifts included expense-paid travel to destinations including Las Vegas, tickets to a wine festival and private distillery tour, dinners at high-end restaurants, tickets to an amusement park and an open bar at a conference for elections officials, DePasquale said. A promotional folding chair, doughnuts and candy, were among other gifts. Thats what you call the appearance of corruption, right there. Of course, its penny ante stuff, for a penny ante $75 million contract, which I guess might not be penny ante if you were a penny ante firm whose engineers used password for the root password. In Georgia, the vendors didnt go the perks route; they went the crony route. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: When Gov. Brian Kemp hired an election companys lobbyist this month, the move raised alarm bells about one companys influence on Georgias upcoming purchase of a new statewide voting system. Concerns from government accountability advocates only grew days later, when a commission created by Kemp recommended that the state buy the type of voting machines sold by the lobbyists company, Election Systems & Software. Several other vendors also offer similar voting machines. But it gets better. Its not just one hire; the voting machine vendor infested the entire state government: The latest moves fueled suspicions that cozy connections between lobbyists, Kemp and other elected officials will lead to ES&S winning a rich contract to sell its computerized voting products to the state government. Kemp and Georgia election officials have supported ES&S for about 10 years: The ES&S lobbyist, former state Rep. Chuck Harper, now serves as Kemps deputy chief of staff. Prior to lobbying for ES&S, Harper was a lobbyist for the Georgia Secretary of States Office under Kemp from 2012 to 2017. Kemps new executive counsel, David Dove, was a member of ES&S advisory board when he attended a Las Vegas conference hosted by the company in March 2017. Dove served as Kemps chief of staff when he was secretary of state. Kemp chose ES&S voting system for a test run during a Conyers election in November 2017. ES&S is Georgias current election company, responsible for providing technical support and repairs of the states 27,000 direct-recording electronic voting machines, which the state originally purchased for $54 million from Diebold Election Systems in 2002. Everything really is like CalPERS, isnt it? Conclusion See what HR1 enabled? The electronic voting industry shouldnt even exist. Why does it? And how did it get itself written into HR1? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Bulgarias commitment to NATO during a visit to Sofia on Friday (1 March 2019). After talks with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Secretary General thanked Bulgaria for its strong contributions to NATO missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, and its strategic role in the Black Sea and Western Balkans regions. The Secretary General noted that this year the Alliance will celebrate its 70thanniversary, as well as the 15thanniversary of Bulgarias accession to NATO. Bulgaria has contributed to strengthening the Alliance, he said. Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed Bulgarias support for the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to NATO. I welcome that just last week the Bulgarian parliament voted unanimously to ratify the accession of North Macedonia into NATO, he added. Mr. Stoltenberg also thanked the government for its commitment to reach the NATO goal of spending 2% of GDP on defence. The Secretary General and Prime Minister Borissov discussed current security challenges, including Russias violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that NATO does not want a new arms race and called on Russia to come back into compliance with the Treaty. While in Sofia, the Secretary General also held separate talks with President Rumen Radev, and other representatives of the Government. (Natural News) Shall not infringe. Shall not infringe. Shall not infringe. How many times do the gun-grabbing Democrats in Congress need to hear these three simple words before they get it through their thick skulls that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects and guarantees Americans God-given right to bear arms, is non-negotiable? Apparently a few more times, as House Democrats are busy scheming up legislation that would make it much more difficult for the people of this country to rightfully buy, sell, and possess firearms. And their ultimate end game, as openly admitted by California Democrat Mike Thompson during a recent press conference, is to eventually confiscate everybodys guns. Responding to critics who say that the two Democratic House bills currently being proposed to curtail Americans Second Amendment rights would have done nothing to prevent past gun violence tragedies, Rep. Thompson agreed, stating further that the only way to end gun violence is to scrap the Second Amendment entirely. As far as anybody who says, Well, this bill wouldnt have solved this incident, the only thing that will solve every one is to do away with guns, Rep. Thompson is quoted as saying. So are you telling me that the critics of my bill want to do away with all guns? he then asked, rhetorically. For more news about how Leftists want to eliminate the Second Amendment and take everybodys guns, be sure to check out SecondAmendment.news and Guns.news. It couldnt be clearer: Leftists are planning to eventually take everybodys guns by first starting with reasonable gun control Its actually a good thing that Rep. Thompson let the cat out of the bag concerning what his political party is planning for the future of America. Their first step is to introduce what they love to call reasonable gun control measures which arent in any way reasonable, by the way as a soft-sell into total gun confiscation later on down the road. You can think of it much like the frog in the water pot scenario. If a frog were to be thrown into the pot when the water is already boiling, hed instantly jump out because it scalded him. But if he were to be put into the pot when the water is still cold, and the temperature slowly turned up, hed be unaware of whats going on until its too late. Thats where we are in America today, as hordes of mindless Leftists go along with the Democrat narrative that guns are evil, and need to be removed from society for the protection of our children. But little do these ignoramuses know that, were guns to ever be taken away from law-abiding citizens, the only people left with guns the government would instantly have absolute power and control over everyone. Its hard to discuss this with people whose sole goal concerning gun control is expanding government power, writes Matt Vespa for Town Hall, addressing many of the details surrounding gun control that Leftists seem to avoid ever thinking or talking about critically. Then again, what else is new when dealing with Democrats. Keep in mind that much of the data presented by Democrats as evidence that gun violence is out of control in America is completely fake to begin with. So not only is their narrative false, but so are their solutions, which are really just incremental steps towards implementing an absolute totalitarian state in the United States. This is a repeat of Nazi Germany, which disarmed the Jews before mass murdering six million of them, wrote Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, in response to news late last year about door-to-door gun confiscations in New Jersey. Its so much easier to murder people, after all, when the government disarms them first. And anyone going along with the disarmament is signing their own death warrant. Sources include: TownHall.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Massage does a lot more for you than offering just relaxation. For people with arthritis, it may also bring pain relief and improve their mobility. A new study led by researchers at Duke University Health System based in North Carolina suggests that people with arthritis in their knees may find getting a whole-body massage every week for two months beneficial. Massage therapy is one of the most popular complementary medicine interventions, said lead author Adam Perlman, M.D., program director of the Leadership Program in Integrative Healthcare at Duke University School of Medicine. In conducting the study, the research team enrolled about 200 individuals with osteoarthritis in their knees. Then, they divided them into three groups: a group who received a one-hour, weekly Swedish massage for two months; another group who received a light-touch control treatment; and a group who received no extra treatment other than their usual regimen. After two months, the researchers randomized each of the groups again to continue with massage or light-touch every other week, or to receive no treatment for the rest of the study, which lasted for a year. Every two months, the participants completed a standardized questionnaire that measures pain, stiffness, and functional limitations, such as how well they can climb stairs, stand up from sitting or lying down, bend, walk, or get out of a car, and other activities. (Related: Swedish massage regulates your stress hormones and relieves pain.) The studys results showed that massage therapy greatly improved the participants scores on the questionnaire compared to light-touch and standard care at two months. It reduced pain and stiffness and improved physical function. Throughout the year, the weekly massages maintained these improvements but did not provide an additional benefit. From these findings, which were published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the researchers concluded that massage therapy could be a safe and effective complement to the management of knee osteoarthritis. At a time when people are looking for effective non-medication options for pain, this study provides further evidence that massage has a potential role, at least for those suffering with [from] osteoarthritis, said Perlman. The studys findings are important in addressing the increasing need for safe, effective, and natural alternatives for managing osteoarthritis as conventional treatments available typically cause adverse side effects. Today, osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability and affects over 30 million people in America. Tips before getting a massage Massage therapy is an ancient form of pain and stress relief practiced by most cultures around the world. These techniques may involve physical manipulation of the bodys tissues and relaxation techniques. There are many types of massage; some may involve the use of heat and cold applications to the skin, the use of oil or lotion, or the use of hands or tools. Before getting a massage, consult your rheumatologist or a health professional to determine whether it is safe for you. Some types of massage may not be suitable for people with damaged joints because they involve applying strong pressure to sensitive tissues and joints, or moving limbs into different positions. It is also important to tell your massage therapist that you have arthritis and mention the body parts that are affected by the disease. In addition, tell your therapist your goals for the session, so she can adjust the technique accordingly. Your goal may be relieving anxiety and stress caused by dealing with arthritis, or relieving pain and stiffness in a particular body part. Read more news stories and studies on how else a massage can help you by going to Remedies.news. Sources include: IntegrativePractitioner.com Arthritis.org 1 Arthritis.org 2 (Natural News) Sometimes the smallest nations can prove to be the bravest and most progressive in their thinking. Western countries like to believe that they are the most advanced in the world, and they certainly are in some respects, but when it comes to genetically modified crops and avoiding chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, other countries are leaving the West in their dust. The tiny country of Bhutan in southeast Asia was the first country in the world to implement a 100 percent organic, GMO-free national agricultural plan. Then, in 2014, another small country, Kyrgyzstan, banned the cultivation and importation of genetically modified crops. And, taking it a step further, late last year the countrys parliament announced a 10-year plan to slowly phase out non-organic farming and make the switch to 100 percent organic agriculture. This is a massive commitment from a country which faces bankruptcy, collapsing infrastructure, large-scale corruption and many other problems. And Kyrgyzstan is heavily reliant on farming, with more than 65 percent of the nations workforce employed in the agriculture sector. Farming is seen as crucial to alleviating the countrys crushing poverty and ensuring food security. Nonetheless, the countrys government has seen just how important the issue of organic farming is and has taken the brave step of embracing it fully. In so doing, they put larger, more affluent nations to shame. (Related: Organic farming employs more workers than conventional farms and encourages community development, according to survey.) A return to traditional farming methods In reality, what Kyrgyzstan is attempting is not as radical as it might initially sound. Many farmers in the small Central Asian country already practice traditional farming methods which do not involve the use of genetically modified crops, chemical fertilizers or toxic herbicides and pesticides. What the government is essentially doing is making what many farmers are already doing official government policy. Referencing that new policy, Azer News reported: Speaker of the Parliament Dastanbek Dzhumabekov sent a corresponding instruction to the government. It states that the production of agricultural products throughout the country should become organic within ten years. Farmers should not use agrochemicals, pesticides (toxic chemicals), synthetic substances, hormones, growth regulators, feed additives, GMOs, antibiotics and additives other than biological preparations for plant protection and organic fertilizers. Imagine what it would be like to raise children in a country where all food is produced according to these clean farming principles! Why organic matters Many people believe that organic produce is nothing more than an overpriced fad that has no real impact on long-term health. Studies have found, however, that organic fruit and veg is well worth the extra cost. A study conducted by researchers from Inserm the French equivalent of the U.S. National Institutes of Health which involved around 69,000 participants, found that those who ate the most organic produce were far less likely to develop cancer. Natural News previously reported: Overall, the participants who ate the most organic produce and made the best lifestyle choices were 25 percent less likely to develop any form of cancer than the volunteers who ate the least organic food. The cancers with the most significant risk reduction were postmenopausal breast cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and all other forms of lymphomas. The researchers believe the risk reduction is likely due to the lack of cancer-causing pesticides like glyphosate, malathion and diazinon on organic produce. Studies like these confirm that organic really matters, and countries like Kyrgyzstan that are brave enough to embrace it will reap rich health rewards in the years to come. Learn more about the amazing health benefits of organic produce at Organics.news. Sources for this article include: WakingTimes.com AzerNews.az New-Ag.info NaturalNews.com (Natural News) When the state of California started allowing the sale of recreational marijuana on January 1, 2017, customers lined up throughout the state to take advantage of the drugs new availability. Licensed shops in cities like San Diego and Santa Cruz saw brisk sales as some of the states bigger cities were still waiting for state licenses to come through. While the general attitude among those buying weed on the first day of sales was positive, their enthusiasm could quickly turn into dismay as officials are warning that some legal marijuana crops have shown serious levels of contamination in tests. The marijuana that people can now freely buy in California has been grown in the absence of regulatory controls, which are still being put in place, making them vulnerable to pesticides, mold and other contaminants. The Chief Scientific Consultant of the marijuana testing firm Steep Hill Labs Inc., Donald Land, summed the situation up by saying Buyer beware. He should know; tests that he oversaw found that 93 percent of samples taken from 15 dispensaries throughout four counties in southern California contained pesticides. Land is concerned that many people believe the products sold on store shelves are trustworthy because theyre regulated by the FDA and USDA, an assumption that he warns is false when it comes to cannabis. While tight regulations and requirements for testing will be phased in this year, sellers and growers alike have been given a grace period of six months during which they can sell their existing inventory that was grown under outdated and loose regulations for medical marijuana. In contrast, any marijuana that was manufactured or harvested after the first of this year will be tested for contaminants considered to pose a high risk to the public as well as for its potency. Stricter limits will be in place by the beginning of next year. Most of the marijuana for sale has not been tested According to a spokesman for the Bureau of Cannabis Control, Alex Traverso, any marijuana that has not been tested must bear a label so people can choose whether or not they are willing to take a chance. Californians can expect to see a lot of these labels, as Land estimates that less than five percent of the states medical marijuana is currently tested. Authorities appear to be taking the matter seriously. Entire crops must be destroyed if they are found to have unacceptable contaminant levels. Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo said that pesticides were a major concern and that he wants to know not only what is being applied to the plants but also whether or not workers are being protected on-site. Regulation will be a big job, however. According to CBN News, recreational pot licenses have been given to 100 shops so far; applications are still pending for more than 1,000 shops. Local and state governments are expecting to bring in $1 billion a year in tax revenue from the sales. Consider CBD oils instead of smoking weed In addition to pesticides, theres also the matter of the widespread use of toxic solvents like hexane being used to extract molecules like THC and CBD from raw cannabis plants. These make their way into the edible pot products that many people mistakenly believe are natural. As Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, points out, smoking is not the best way to get cannabis into your body as it entails inhaling carcinogenic smoke. Those who are concerned about the contaminants in weed but want to benefit from the health effects of cannabis are far better off turning to CBD oils. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com CBN.com (Natural News) If you thought the plague was something we dont have to worry about in modern times, think again: 1,300 cases have been confirmed in Africa recently, and in true plague style, the numbers are continuing to rise. Two-thirds of these plague cases are believed to be pneumonic, which is considered the fastest and deadliest type of plague by the World Health Organization. Unlike the bubonic plague, or Black Death, that killed 50 million people back in the 1300s and wiped out a third of the European population, pneumonic plague spreads through the air and can kill people in under 72 hours. It can be spread by sneezing, coughing or spitting, making it highly contagious. If caught early enough, however, it can be treated with common antibiotics. The outbreak has hit Madagascar hard, and it has now spread to nine other countries, including Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. Some of the affected areas, such as Seychelles and Reunion, are popular holiday destinations, which means the potential for it to spread across the world is great. It is also affecting densely populated cities like Madagascars capital, Antananarivo, which is also helping it spread fast. One of the biggest airlines in Madagascar, Air Seychelles, temporarily stopped flying earlier this month in hopes of helping to stem the spread of the illness. The WHO is currently working with Madagascar airport officials to put control measures in place at ports and airports, such as medical teams and temperature checks, to keep it from spreading beyond its borders. Forty of Madagascars 114 districts have reported cases of pneumonic plague, and theyve only been able to trace less than 30 percent of those who have had contact with these cases. These people pose a risk of spreading the infection and may also be in need of treatment. According to CNN, public schools are currently closed in the country, and public gatherings have been banned as officials work to keep the illness from spreading. The WHO says the risk of this epidemic spreading is high. Although small plague breakouts are not unheard of in Madagascar, officials say there is something different about it this time that they cant quite explain, and concerns are growing because of the high percentage of cases that are in the easily-spread pneumonic form. This years outbreaks started earlier than usual, and experts believe it has yet to peak. Symptoms include a sudden fever, nausea, vomiting, and head and body aches. Is the plague headed for American shores? The bad news is that plague is already here. It tends to fly under the radar, but around seven cases on average are reported every year. It mostly occurs in rural areas in the western part of the country, with the states most commonly affected being Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The plague first came to the U.S. in 1900, the CDC reports, and a little more than 1,000 cases have been reported in the years from 1900 to 2012, more than four-fifths of which were the bubonic type. While the odds are in your favor of avoiding plague, its important to use extreme caution if traveling to the affected areas. At home, you can avoid getting it from a natural source by not handling the bodies of sick or dead animals, especially rodents. Use gloves and face and eye protection if you must handle them. Some of the cases in the U.S. have come from infected rats that arrived via ship and by being bitten by fleas infected with the plague. The San Francisco Department of Public Health also warns, however, that terrorists could release plague bacteria in public places to cause widespread harm. Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk Edition.CNN.com TheAlternativeDaily.com SFCDCP.org Mountain View police have arrested a suspect in a violent assault on the Stevens Creek Trail that left a woman seriously injured Monday, Feb. 25. Police took Michael Wendy Adonis, 29, into custody Friday after they responded to reports of a battery at a home on Santa Clara Avenue and found that Adonis and his roommate had gotten into a fight. Officers identified Adonis as a man matching the descript of a suspect who allegedly assaulted a woman visiting from Massachusetts near the bridge to Creekside Park just before 10 p.m. last Monday. The suspect, who introduced himself as Jerry, approached her from behind and attempted to interact with her. The woman said she refused and the suspect then grabbed her and pushed her into the bushes before punching her multiple times in the face, police said. People walking along the trail spotted him and yelled at him. The woman then reportedly bit him while he tried to muffle her screams. Police said Adonis' hand had bite marks that consistent with what the victim described. The victim was able to escape the suspect and was treated for serious injuries to her face. Adonis was arrested for subsequently arrested for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, assault with intent to commit mayhem or rape, unlawfully damaging a wireless communication device, and battery, according to Mountain View police. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had legal representations. The San Ramon Valley teachers union voted Friday night to approve a strike as it continues to negotiate a contract agreement with the Unified School District. Ninety-eight percent of the 1,695 union members said yes to a strike as teachers fight for manageable class sizes, more nurses, librarians, counselors and better pay to accommodate the cost of living in the East Bay, among other things, the union said. "What that means is when we go to fact finding should it not go well we have been authorized by our executive board to initiate a strike should we need it," San Ramon Valley Education Association president Ann Katzburg said in a statement. The district has offered a 3 percent pay raise in 2019, according to the teachers union. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District spokesperson said the district had two "positive" meetings with the union last week. "We remain committed to the negotiation process and hopeful that we can find common ground and avoid the disruption a strike would have on the educational environment," district spokesperson Elizabeth Graswich said. Meanwhile, the Oakland Teachers Union will vote on Sunday to end their strike after they reached a tentative deal with the school district. Two ospreys that raised three chicks last year on live video have reunited in their nest perched high atop a crane along the Richmond waterfront. For the next several months, webcam watchers will be able to view the pair of ospreys, named Rosie and Richmond, as they bond, court, incubate eggs and take care of their chicks, according to the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Last year, the pair's three chicks were named Roemer, Victory and Brisa after the society put out a call for submissions and put names to a vote on Facebook. Ospreys are large raptors with wingspans of 5 to 6 feet, and hunt and eat fish, according to the Audubon Society. The birds often return to the same nest, like the one atop the historic Whirley Crane next to the WWII-era SS Red Oak Victory at Point Potrero. Rosie migrated south for the winter, presumably in Mexico or elsewhere in Central America, while Richmond over wintered in the Bay Area, the Audubon chapter said. The nest cam launched in 2017 and live video can be found at the San Francisco Bay's Osprey Website. Golden Gate Audubon Society Last year was the best season documented for Osprey nesting successfully on the edge of San Francisco Bay, with at least 54 nesting pairs and 84 fledglings documented, according to Golden Gate Audubon. Ospreys normally breed along freshwater lakes and rivers in Northern California and the species had never been documented nesting on San Francisco Bay until the 1990s. The birds of prey live as long as 15 to 20 years. In addition to the webcam, there is also a set of free, downloadable lesson plans for secondary school teachers, leveraging the website and high- definition cameras to generate enthusiasm for wildlife, ecology, and interest in STEAM (science/technology/engineering/art/math) education. Parents deported to Central America by U.S. immigration officials returned to the southern border Saturday to demand asylum and reunification with the children they were forced to leave behind, NBC News reported. The 29 parents, who were sent back to their home countries last year after crossing illegally into the U.S. with their children, traveled over the past month with immigration lawyers, religious leaders and other supporters in the hope of rejoining their kids. A father at the border in Mexicali, Mexico, told MSNBC's Mariana Atencio that he waited for seven hours Saturday for information from U.S. immigration officials. "Time doesn't matter," said the Guatemalan man, who provided only his first name, Neri. "Our love for our child has no price." The families have 27 children in U.S. custody, and the youngest is 5 years old. Some of the parents have been separated from their kids for nearly a year, said members of private organizations representing the parents. The longest separation is 14 months, they said. The mother of a migrant toddler who died shortly after being released from the nation's largest family detention center sued the tiny Arizona city on Thursday that for years was paid by the U.S. government to run the facility in name only. The lawsuit from Yazmin Juarez of Guatemala alleges that her 1-year-old daughter, Mariee, developed a respiratory illness at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, and medical staff provided inadequate treatment before releasing her three weeks later. The lawsuit targets Eloy, Arizona, which collected $438,000 a year from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to officially run the Texas facility for four years even though the city is roughly 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) away. Eloy then paid the private prison operator CoreCivic to operate Dilley, in an arrangement questioned by ICE's own lawyers. Mariee's death in May underscored the complaints advocates have long had about medical care for detained immigrants, as the Trump administration has sought to detain more migrant parents and children for longer times. At least nine infants under one year of age are currently detained at Dilley, according to lawyers who work with migrant families detained there. Legal groups filed a complaint Thursday with the Department of Homeland Security about what it described as an "alarming increase" in detained infants. Democrats in Congress have called for investigations into Mariee's death as well as other recent incidents, including a woman delivering a stillborn baby while in custody last week and the deaths of two children detained by the Border Patrol in December after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with their parents. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on Juarez's lawsuit, but said it takes the welfare of detainees "very seriously." "ICE is committed to ensuring the welfare of all those in the agency's custody, including providing access to necessary and appropriate medical care," the agency said. The lawsuit alleges that Mariee developed a severe fever a week after entering Dilley on March 5, 2018. As her mother repeatedly tried to seek medical treatment, the lawsuit alleges medical staff at Dilley misdiagnosed Mariee's illness and did not prescribe the correct medication, before releasing both mother and daughter on March 25 and clearing them to travel. Juarez took Mariee to an emergency room almost immediately, the lawsuit alleges. She remained hospitalized for the rest of her life, dying in May. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement opened the facility in 2014, during the administration of former President Barack Obama, so it could detain more parents and children together during a previous surge of migrant families trying to enter the United States. ICE used Eloy to expedite the opening with so many migrants coming into the system. The agency modified an existing detention agreement with Eloy to quickly open the Texas facility. Under the setup, ICE paid the Arizona city several million dollars per year, and it in turn funneled the money to the private prison company that ran the facility. Eloy kept a cut, to the tune of about $400,000 per year. The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general leveled harsh criticism against ICE, Eloy and the private prison operator CoreCivic, formerly known as the Corrections Corporation of America. The pass-through arrangement was long criticized by advocates and the DHS inspector general, which said it violated budget guidelines and wasted money. ICE replaced Eloy last year with the city government in Dilley, which now collects the same fees. Stanton Jones, a lawyer for the Juarez family, said Eloy deserved blame for what happened to Mariee "precisely because they did so little." "Eloy never lifted a finger to exercise any sort of oversight or participation in the operation of the facility," Jones said. Eloy city manager Harvey Krauss declined to comment, and it remains to be seen how much legal liability the city of nearly 20,000 people between Tucson and Phoenix will face. CoreCivic agreed as part of the previous arrangement to assume any legal liability on Eloy's behalf. A CoreCivic spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday that it will "defend and indemnify any lawsuits with respect to allegations related to the operations of the facility for which CoreCivic is responsible." But CoreCivic said ICE was responsible for medical care at the Dilley facility. Associated Press journalist Astrid Galvan in Phoenix contributed to this report. The White House national security adviser on Sunday described President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a success despite the lack of an agreement providing for verifiable dismantling of the North's nuclear sites. John Bolton, in three television interviews, tried to make the case that Trump advanced America's national security interests by rejecting a bad agreement while working to persuade Kim to take "the big deal that really could make a difference for North Korea." The U.S. and North Korea have offered contradictory accounts of why last week's summit in Vietnam broke down, though both pointed to American sanctions as a sticking point. However, in a tweet Sunday night, Trump offered another possibility. He appeared to cast criticism at Democrats for holding a congressional hearing with his former lawyer Michael Cohen while he was in sensitive negotiations overseas. "For the Democrats to interview in open hearings a convicted liar & fraudster, at the same time as the very important Nuclear Summit with North Korea, is perhaps a new low in American politics and may have contributed to the "walk." Never done when a president is overseas. Shame!" Trump tweeted. In new show appearances, Bolton said the leaders left on good terms and that Trump made an important point to North Korea and other countries that negotiate with him. "He's not desperate for a deal, not with North Korea, not with anybody if it's contrary to American national interests," Bolton said. Bolton also sought to explain Trump's comments about taking Kim's word about Otto Warmbier, the American college student who was held prisoner in North Korea, then sent home in a vegetative state. Trump said he didn't believe Kim knew about or would have allowed what happened to Warmbier. "He tells me that he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word," Trump said at a news conference last week. Bolton said Trump's "got a difficult line to walk to" in negotiating with North Korea. "It doesn't mean that he accepts it as reality. It means that he accepts that's what Kim Jong Un said," Bolton said. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a close Trump ally, broke with the president. "I think Kim knew what happened, which was wrong," McCarthy said. Some have been critical for Trump letting Kim stand with him on the world stage given North Korea's poor human rights record. Kim will be able to portray himself to his people and supporters as the charismatic head of a nuclear-armed power, not an international pariah that starves its citizens so it can build weapons. But Bolton said that Trump's view is that he "gave nothing away." Asked whether that was his view, too, Bolton replied: "The president's view is he gave nothing away. That's what matters, not my view." Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, summarized the summit as a "spectacular failure" made all the worse by Trump's comments on "murder of an American citizen, Otto Warmbier." "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kind of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and that is essentially flying by the seat of its pants, and it has real-world consequences," Schiff said. "Those reactors continue to spin on, producing more material that can threaten us and our allies," said Schiff, D-Calif. Bolton said Trump has "turned traditional diplomacy on its head, and after all in the case of North Korea, why not? Traditional diplomacy has failed in the last three administrations." An example of that non-traditional diplomacy was formally unveiled Sunday when South Korea and the U.S. announced they would not conduct massive springtime military drills and were replacing them with smaller exercises. They described it as an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. "The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed," Trump tweeted Sunday. "That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" Bolton spoke on "Fox News Sunday," CNN's "State of the Union" and CBS's "Face the Nation." McCarthy was on ABC's "This Week," and Schiff was on CBS. A Brighton, Massachusetts woman was killed in Maine after the snowmobile she was operating crashed into a tree, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Martha Carroll, 56, crashed the 2002 Polaris 700 snowmobile near Wilson Pond in Wayne, Maine around 5:45 p.m. Saturday, officials say. Carroll was wearing a ski-type helmet at the time of the crash but a combination of speed, alcohol, and inexperience all contributed to the incident, authorities believe. Officials have identified a 7-year-old boy who was killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning in Hampton, New Hampshire. The NH Medical Examiner's Office identified the boy Saturday as Nova Demanche. The cause of death was determined to be "thermal and inhalational injuries from the fire," and the manner of death was ruled accidental. The fire at 32 Thorwald Avenue was reported around 12:43 a.m., and crews discovered upon arrival that the home was fully engfuled in flames. Seven of the home's eight occupants were able to escape the burning building. Firefighters tried several times to rescue the child but were unable to get inside the home due to the fire conditions. Demanche's body was found in the home after crews were able to douse the flames. Elvin Palacios said he used to live at the home with his friend and he knew the 7-year-old boy. "He always put a smile on your face no matter what you did. He was just... you could tell he had a bright future. He was amazing," Palacios said of Demanche. A woman in the home, identified by a family friend as the child's grandmother, ran a guinea pig sanctuary out of the house. Sixteen guinea pigs were rescued, but at least 20 did not survive the fire. The origin and cause of the 3-alarm fire is still under investigation. As Chicago mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle move forward with their run-off campaigns, the two combatants are taking different paths toward that April 2 showdown. Both candidates have released new ads this week that could provide a hint of the direction their campaigns will take in the coming weeks. Preckwinkles ad goes right after Lightfoots record as an attorney, calling her a wealthy corporate lawyer and criticizing the clients that shes worked with, including Republican politicians. Chicago mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle has released a new ad ahead of her April 2 showdown with Lori Lightfoot. The ad also criticizes her appointment to former Mayor Richard J. Daleys administration and paints her as a well-connected candidate rather than a political outsider. Lightfoots ad took on a different tenor, as she focused on her desire to change the way city government works. I know, on a deeply personal level, that we need change, she says in the ad. This election is about demanding an independent, accountable City Hall that serves the people, not the political machine. Chicago mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot launches a new campaign ad ahead of the April election. Lightfoot criticized the negative tone of the Preckwinkle ad, saying that her choice to deliver a positive message was deliberate. On a daily basis were getting a deluge of divisiveness, racism, (and) all kinds of things that are intended to separate people, she said. We dont want to hear that in Chicago. This is their stock and trade because they are entrenched in the old political machine. A Preckwinkle spokesperson defended the ads, saying that Lightfoot has relentlessly attacked her opponent throughout the mayoral campaign. Corporate attorney Lori Lightfoot has relentlessly attacked Toni Preckwinkle this campaign, a campaign spokesperson said of the ad. If she thinks our ad about her record is a negative one, its because it tells the truth about her unfortunate record of defending Wall Street banks and representing Republican politicians. Lightfoot used the ads as an opportunity to draw a distinction between herself and her opponent as the April 2 election nears. Yes, were both black women but thats where the comparisons begin and end, she said. We have very different ways about ourselves. We have different personalities. We have different sensibilities about how leaders should engage with members of the public and really bring people in. State police in Rhode Island are heading to Delaware to bring back a Providence man facing numerous charges in connection with the kidnapping of a young Boston mother whose body authorities say was discovered in the suspect's trunk. Louis D. Coleman has been charged with being a fugitive from another state in Delaware, and will be moved to Rhode Island to face multiple charges, including kidnapping, refusal to report a death with intent to conceal a crime and mutilation of a dead human body. It's unclear if he'll face charges in Boston, where authorities say 23-year-old Jassy Correia was last seen enjoying birthday celebrations with her friends just after midnight on Sunday at the nightclub Venu in the city's Theater District. At a news conference Friday afternoon, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said the case is complicated "with evidence in three jurisdictions." "There are moving parts in all of them. To protect the integrity of the evidence we have gathered, there are many aspects we simply cannot discuss today," said Rollins. "Whatever this case is ultimately charge, wherever it's charged and tried will be based on the evidence of the law." Her body was discovered inside the trunk of a vehicle in Delaware on Thursday, authorities said. "She was a mother, she was brave, she was strong, Correias cousin, Katia Depina, said. "She did not deserve this. She went out to celebrate her birthday and never returned home. She did not deserve this. We want justice for her death." Rollins said authorities hope to bring the case either to Boston -- either in Suffolk County or in the U.S. District Courts in Massachusetts. "Right now, for the people who love Jassy most and for the entire Suffolk community, this isn't about jurisdiction," said Rollins. "This is about a daughter. This is about a mother whose 2-year-old daughter doesn't understand where she's gone and will no longer have a mother. It's about devastating loss for family members who lost a central part of their lives." Thirty-two-year Coleman, of Providence, was taken into custody on Thursday in Delaware. He was considered a person of interest in Correias disappearance and then later a kidnapping suspect. At the Friday news conference with Rollins, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said no woman should fear going out in the city. "No family deserves this. Women should be able to traverse anywhere without fear of being harmed," said Gross. "We've had tragedies in the past but we just want the folks of ill-intent to know that this just won't be tolerated in the city." Correia, who was the mother of a 2-year-old girl, was last seen leaving the nightclub just after midnight on Sunday. Surveillance footage captured her getting into a red car with an unknown man, who is believed to be Coleman. "Women should have the right to go to any nightclub and wear what they want and not worry about being kidnapped and murdered at the end of their night," said family friend Joao Depina. Her family had been trying to reach her for days and increasingly became worried. They were unable to get in contact with her for her birthday on Tuesday and filed a missing persons report on Wednesday. Now, Correias family is seeking answers as they process the devastating tragedy. The womans relatives said they had never heard of Coleman and do not believe Correia knew him, either. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh offered his condolences to the Correia family via Twitter. He said the city is mourning the loss of Jassy Correia. A new law could impact what happens in a criminal case that has gripped San Diego: Two young children, killed in a fire, after their father who had allegedly been drinking fell asleep in their home with a lit cigarette in his mouth. Isabella Lopez, 7, and Cristos Lopez, 10, were killed in the fire on Oct. 28, 2017, at their father Henry Lopezs two-story condo on Bernardo Terrace in Rancho Bernardo. According to prosecutors, Henry Lopez had passed out from drinking alcohol while smoking a cigarette just before the blaze sparked. His attorney, however, claimed the Metro Arson Strike Team investigating the fire was lying and the fire couldve been started by a cellphone charger. The children were sleeping when the fire erupted. Isabella was found in the bottom bunk of a bunk bed next to a stuffed teddy bear and an open Bible; the little girl would soon die from smoke inhalation at a local hospital. Cristos, who was found in his fathers bedroom, suffered burn injuries and smoke inhalation. The boy could not overcome his injuries and also died. Henry Lopez was hospitalized after the fire. The father was charged with five felonies involving the death of his children, including involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and the reckless starting of a fire. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in December 2018. At his preliminary hearing in February 2018, prosecutors said his blood-alcohol level was 0.26 percent when it was taken at the hospital. According to court documents, Henry Lopez had allegedly threatened to burn down the familys home weeks before the fire. In a temporary restraining order obtained by NBC 7, the childrens mother, Nikia Lopez, claimed her husband had texted her: I will burn all of this (expletive) down, during a conversation the pair were having about a missing mortgage payment. At Henry Lopezs preliminary hearing, Nikia Lopez testified that she had fought with Henry Lopez over a lit marijuana joint found next to a bed in the home. Nearly one year ago on Feb. 27, 2018 after Henry Lopezs preliminary trial, a judge decided there was enough evidence for him to stand trial in the death of his children. If convicted, the father could face 14 years in prison. The case was supposed to go to trial in November 2018, but there were delays in court proceedings. For now, Henry Lopezs trial is set for this April. However, if a judge decides a new law is relevant to this case, the family of the young victims is concerned this development could mean no trial and no jail time for Henry Lopez. Were all in a holding pattern, Michael Codner, an attorney for Nikia Lopez, told NBC 7 in an exclusive interview Friday. Codner said delays in high-profile criminal cases are not unusual but said the family is concerned about the latest continuance in proceedings. Codner said Henry Lopezs defense attorney asked for the continuance so he could take a look at a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1 that could work in the defendants favor. According to Codner, the new law allows a judge to consider whether the defendant suffers from a serious mental disorder, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. If that is the case, a judge could allow the defendant to be treated in the community, as long as the defendant is not considered a danger to the public. Codner said Nikia Lopez and her family do not want any leniency for Henry Lopez. She does not believe he deserves any kind of break, whatsoever, he added. She absolutely does believe that he does deserve a significant amount of prison time at this point. After 10 years of marriage and raising two children together, Codner said Nikia Lopez is certain Henry Lopez does not suffer from a legitimate mental illness. However, Codney said she is sympathetic to those who do suffer from mental illness and feels that, in this case, the law would be exploited if it were to help Henry Lopez. Codner said Henry Lopez did serve in the military but was never deployed. He said Henry Lopezs time in the military may be the basis for the defenses possible PTSD argument, but he cant be sure. Meanwhile, as the family awaits answers on what comes next for the case in court, the pain of losing their two young loved ones lingers. Sophia Lopez, Isabellas and Cristos great-grandmother, said she can still hear them and remember them playing in her backyard. They go down the stairs right there, and they run over there, she recalled. I think about these children every day all day. Until the criminal case is over, Sophia Lopez told NBC 7 the nightmare, for her family, goes on and on and there will be no peace of mind. I always tell Nikia, God knows what hes doing. When its time for things to settle down, or things to get worse, God will handle it, said Sophia Lopez. Codner said that with every delay, Nikia Lopezs fragile state is rattled once more. In the meantime, Henry Lopezs attorney, Paul Neuharth, told NBC 7 that based on the law, he is anticipating filing a motion on behalf of his client. The motion will be sealed because, according to Neuharth, it will detail traumatic, personal events in Henry Lopezs life that pre-dated the deadly fire. Neuharth said its inappropriate for him to comment further on a case where motions and a trial are pending. JetBlue has taken down a poster of a convicted murderer that it had included as part of a Black History Month tribute at New York's Kennedy Airport. The airline said Saturday it removed the poster paying tribute to Assata Shakur last month after being alerted via Twitter that Shakur is "a convicted cop killer." "The intention was always to unite our crewmembers and customers around the importance of Black History Month and we apologize for any offense the poster may have caused," a JetBlue spokesman said in a statement. Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard, is a former member of the Black Liberation Army who was convicted of murder for her role in a 1973 shootout that resulted in the death of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster. She escaped from prison in 1979 and is living in Cuba, where she was granted asylum. President Donald Trump demanded that Cuba return "the cop-killer Joanne Chesimard" in 2017 when he announced plans to reverse some Obama-era Cuba policies. The poster paying tribute to the now 71-year-old Shakur at the JetBlue terminal at Kennedy was first reported in the New York Post, which noted that one of the bullet points listing Shakur's accomplishments said, "Became the first woman to be placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after escaping to Cuba from prison where she was serving a life sentence for the 1973 murder of a police officer." The poster also read, "Many people believe Shakur to be a political champion who is innocent of the criminal accusation against her." JetBlue said in its statement that the poster was part of a "ready-made batch of posters" that the airline bought from a third party. The voices of the community have protested to let the world know how upset they are with the sentence. Even prosecutors are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to review the case to see if the sentence was too lenient. We cannot let this fade away and do nothing. I implore my fellow citizens to send letters and personally call the Supreme Court to express your outrage and urge the court to review the case again. All of America should care what happens from this point on because we cannot allow law enforcement to be trigger-happy and murder those in the community its supposed to be serving. Saudi Arabia announced Friday it had revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden, the son of the late al-Qaida leader who has become an increasingly prominent figure in the terror network. There was no immediate explanation why the royal decree stripping his citizenship, signed in November, was only becoming public now. However, the announcement comes after the U.S. government on Thursday offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture as part of its "Rewards for Justice" program. The kingdom similarly stripped Osama bin Laden's citizenship in 1994 while living in exile in Sudan when Hamza bin Laden was just a child. Where he is now remains in question. "This is an example of history rhyming," said Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies who studies al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. "He's basically born right after al-Qaida is founded, so his life is totally consumed in the establishment, the formation of al-Qaida and the launching of its war against the West and America." Saudi Arabia revoked Hamza bin Laden's citizenship in November, according to a circular by the Interior Ministry quietly published Friday by the country's official gazette. State-run media in the kingdom did not report on the decision. Bin Laden is believed to have been born in 1989, the year of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, where his father became known among the mujahedeen fighters. His father returned to Saudi Arabia and later fled to Sudan after criticizing the kingdom for allowing U.S. troops to deploy in the country during the 1991 Gulf War. He later fled Sudan for Afghanistan in 1996, where he declared war against the U.S. As leader of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden oversaw a series of attacks, including the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as the bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen. He and others plotted and executed the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, which led to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. U.S. Navy SEALs ultimately killed bin Laden in a raid on a house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. For Hamza bin Laden, now believed to be around 30, his father initially worried for his safety and thought to send him away for study, but his son instead "wants to get into the fight," Joscelyn said. He's then sent away for explosives training in Pakistan. Video released by the CIA in 2017 that was seized during the Abbottabad raid shows Hamza bin Laden with a trimmed mustache but no beard, at his wedding. Previous images have only shown him as a child. The State Department said in its announcement Thursday about the $1 million bounty on him that it believes he married the daughter of Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker in the Sept. 11 attacks. Hamza bin Laden began appearing in militant videos and recordings in 2015 as an al-Qaida spokesman. "If you think that your sinful crime that you committed in Abbottabad has passed without punishment, then you thought wrong," he said in his first audio recording. In recent years, the Islamic State group, which began as al-Qaida in Iraq before breaking away from the terror group, has taken much of the international attention. However, Joscelyn warned al-Qaida remains a transnational threat, something that authorities may now pay more attention to as the Islamic State group withers away in Syria. A United Nations report published last year noted that Hamza bin Laden "continued to emerge as a leadership figure in al-Qaida." It suggested both he and Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over al-Qaida after Osama bin Laden's death, "are reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas." "Al-Qaida's leadership demonstrates strategic patience and its regional affiliates exercise good tactical judgment, embedding themselves in local issues and becoming players," the U.N. report warned. "While there is as yet little evidence of a re-emerging direct global threat from al-Qaida, improved leadership and enhanced communication will probably increase the threat over time." To help make sure you stay informed on the most shared and talked about stories, each Saturday and Sunday we'll revisit 5 stories from the previous week, including the most recent updates. Trump-Kim Summit Comes to Abrupt End Talks between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un collapsed Thursday after the two sides failed to bridge a standoff over U.S. sanctions on the reclusive nation, a dispiriting end to high-stakes meetings meant to disarm a global threat. Trump blamed the breakdown on North Korea's insistence that all the punishing sanctions the U.S. has imposed on Pyongyang be lifted without the North committing to eliminate its nuclear arsenal. Read more on the collapse of the talks here. Two more sentences have been handed down in a patient abuse case at Connecticut's maximum security mental hospital. Wild Garbage Truck Crash Caught on Camera A crash involving a garbage truck was caught by surveillance cameras in Fairfield on Thursday. Police said the truck was driving too fast on Greenfield Street and the driver lost control, flipping the truck on its side and slamming into rocks in front of a daycare. The driver was arrested. See the video here. Fine Tuning Police Radio Systems Several Connecticut cities and towns are considering using a state police radio communications network for their officers rather than upgrading their own systems. The Connecticut State Police just spent $30 million upgrading its network and it has so much bandwidth, that it can provide space to other departments to broadcast on the network for free. Municipalities that join the network could save millions of dollars. See more on the story here. Everything comes At a Price. Towns and cities have to ask themselves whether the cost savings of joining the Connecticut State Police regional radio system are worth losing local control Woman in MAGA Fracas Could Be Deported A Massachusetts woman accused of assaulting a man wearing a Make America Great Again hat at a Cape Cod restaurant is in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is due to be deported. ICE officials say the woman is a citizen of Brazil and is in the U.S. illegally. See more on the charges she is facing here. Doctor Stops Seeing Unvaccinated Kids A South Carolina pediatrician has told parents he will no longer see unvaccinated children at his office. The doctor said he is concerned that the patients could put immunocompromised kids in his waiting room at risk. See what parents of unvaccinated children said here. Bangladesh police said Friday that they were seeking up to a dozen suspects in connection with a fire in the oldest part of the capital and could charge them with negligence over the blaze that killed at least 67 people. The case involves between 10 and 12 people wanted on suspicion of "causing death through negligence" in the Wednesday night fire in Dhaka's Chawkbazar district, said Ibrahim Khan, a deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He declined to give details. "Upon investigation we will be able to disclose everything," he told reporters. Relatives of a 19-year-old killed in the blaze have filed a separate case with police accusing the owners of a building where chemical products were stored and that caught fire of "death by negligence, sabotage and damage of goods," Abdul Halim, a police investigator in Chawkbazar, told The Associated Press. He said no arrests had been made. Workers were removing charred vehicles, twisted bits of metal and other debris from Chawkbazar on Friday, while others hosed down the road to clean ashes as investigators inspected the burned buildings to determine what caused the blaze. The area in what is known as Old Dhaka is crammed with apartments, shops and warehouses and firefighters struggled to reach the fire because of the neighborhood's narrow alleyways. Officials and activists have suggested the storage of flammable materials as well as overcrowding played a part in the blaze. "Cans of deodorant and lighter refilling fuel were stored in the buildings. These are flammable chemicals that helped spread the fire quickly," Lt. Col. S.M. Julfiqar Rahman, a director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense, told reporters. Meanwhile, authorities were collecting DNA samples from family members searching for missing relatives. Of the 67 victims, 21 remained unidentified, according to Rumana Akter, an officer in the Dhaka police's criminal investigations unit. Forensic doctors and lab technicians at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital took blood and cheek swabs in a crowded room outside the hospital morgue to be compared to teeth, hair and other samples taken from the dead. Mohammed Razu Ahmed, 19, gave a blood sample hoping it would help find his father, Jafar Ahmed, a plastic supplier who went to Chawkbazar to pick up raw materials. Several family members including Ahmed examined 30 bodies but none of them was him. "We have been calling on his phone since Wednesday night," Ahmed said. "They told us they will let us know." A team of civil engineers, members of Dhaka's fire department and government officials were expected to suggest ways to prevent similar tragedies. After a fire in a neighboring district at a building storing flammable chemicals killed 123 people in 2010, authorities promised to bring the buildings into compliance with zoning regulations and close warehouses. Dhaka-based environmental activist Abu Naser Khan said calls to address dangerous overcrowding and chemical storage after the 2010 fire fell on deaf ears. "The landlords in Old Dhaka are influential financially and politically," Khan said. "The people who have chemical and plastic businesses have strong associations that work as a pressure group." When authorities attempted to evict hundreds of illegal tenants in Old Dhaka last May, business owners protested, foiling the drive, Khan said. The parents of the late Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was held captive in North Korea and eventually sent home in a vegetative state, spoke out Friday, after Trump's comment this week that he takes Kim Jong Un "at his word" that he was unaware of alleged mistreatment during the young man's 17 months of captivity. Warmbier died at age 22 soon after his return in June 2017. Fred and Cindy Warmbier, who have expressed appreciation of Trump in the past and were guests at his 2018 State of the Union address, said in a statement Friday they had been respectfully silent while Trump and Kim met in Vietnam. But no longer. "Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity," they said. "No excuses or lavish praise can change that." White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Friday on the Fox News show "America's Newsroom" that Trump has "deep affection" for the Warmbiers, shares their grief and agrees North Korea is responsible. But, she said, Trump is saying "there's no indication Chairman Kim knew what happened to Otto Warmbier when it happened." Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, of New York, said in a tweet that Trump owes the Warmbiers an apology for "simply deciding to take a cruel and brutal dictator at his word." Trump did not apologize to the Warmbiers, though he responded to the criticism by tweet later Friday. Claiming he had been misinterpreted, the president attempted to clarify that he "of course" holds "North Korea responsible for Otto's mistreatment and death." This does not directly contradict his earlier statements saying he does not think Kim himself had knowledge of the treatment of Warmbier while imprisoned in his country. During a news conference Thursday, Trump was asked if he and Kim had discussed Otto and whether he had asked the North Korean leader to take responsibility for what happened to him. Trump said that "something very bad happened" to Warmbier, but that he didn't believe Kim knew about it or would have allowed it to happen. "He tells me that he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word," Trump said. Some people who have followed the Warmbiers' ordeal were stunned. "Trump offers Warmbiers a slap in the face," read a headline on a column by Byron McCauley in The Cincinnati Enquirer. Warmbier's parents have accused North Korea of torturing the University of Virginia student, who was detained for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster as he prepared to end a visit to the country with a tour group. Fred Warmbier described to Fox News in 2017 Otto's condition when he returned: making an "involuntary, inhuman sound," ''staring blankly into space, jerking violently," and was blind and deaf, with his head shaved. Doctors in Cincinnati said he had suffered severe brain damage, although they weren't sure what led to it. North Korea denied mistreating him, saying he fell into a coma that resulted from botulism and a sleeping pill. A federal judge in December ordered North Korea to pay more than $500 million in a wrongful death suit filed by Warmbier's parents. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell harshly condemned North Korea for "barbaric mistreatment" of Warmbier. Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who like the Warmbiers lives in the Cincinnati area, has kept in contact with them since Otto's detention began. "His treatment at the hands of his captors was unforgivable, and it tells us a lot about the nature of this regime," Portman said Thursday on the Senate floor. "We can't be naive about what they did to Otto, about the brutal nature of the regime that would do this to an American citizen." Another Cincinnati-area Republican, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, said: "Otto Warmbier's imprisonment and death were heinous crimes at the hands of the brutal Kim Jong Un regime." A man whose car was stranded in central Oregon snow for five days survived by eating taco sauce packets and starting the engine periodically to warm up. A snowmobiler found Jeremy Taylor, 36, of Sunriver, on Friday and a search and rescue team member who rode to him on a large snow tractor brought him out of the woods, said Sgt. William Bailey, the spokesman for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. Taylor, an avid outdoorsman who loves to go off-roading, was last seen getting gas on Feb. 24 in Sunriver. He told his rescuers he and his dog, Ally, became stuck in deep snow on a U.S. Forest Service road later that same day. He slept in his car and when he awoke Monday, more snow had fallen. He attempted to hike out, but the snow was too deep, so Taylor and Ally returned to his car. "Thank you everyone, I'm safe my Ally dog is safe. I really appreciate all the help. Got lucky, lets (sic) never do that again. I'll be in touch with everyone soon," he wrote on his Facebook page late Friday. Taylor did not reply to a message sent through Facebook on Saturday. In response to a friend's Facebook comment about how he ate three Taco Bell hot sauce packets during the ordeal, he joked: "Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!" Taylor and his dog were both in good health when found, authorities said, but were very hungry. Central Oregon has been hammered with snowstorms in recent weeks. Sunriver is a well-known vacation destination about 3 hours east of Portland. Declaring it's "very clear" President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the chairman of the House committee that would be in charge of impeachment says the panel is requesting documents Monday from more than 60 people from Trump's administration, family and business as part of a rapidly expanding Russia investigation. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the House Judiciary Committee wants to review documents from the Justice Department, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly and former White House counsel Don McGahn also are likely targets, he said. "We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption and into obstruction of justice," Nadler said. "We will do everything we can to get that evidence." Asked if he believed Trump obstructed justice, Nadler said, "Yes, I do." Nadler isn't calling the inquiry an impeachment investigation but said House Democrats, now in the majority, are simply doing "our job to protect the rule of law" after Republicans during the first two years of Trump's term were "shielding the president from any proper accountability." "We're far from making decisions" about impeachment, he said. In a tweet on Sunday, Trump blasted anew the Russia investigation, calling it a partisan probe unfairly aimed at discrediting his win in the 2016 presidential election. "I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election!" he wrote. Nadler's comments follow a bad political week for Trump. He emerged empty-handed from a high-profile summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un on denuclearization and Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, in three days of congressional testimony, publicly characterized the president as a "con man" and "cheat." Newly empowered House Democrats are flexing their strength with blossoming investigations. A half-dozen House committees are now probing alleged coordination between Trump associates and Russia's efforts to sway the 2016 election, Trump's tax returns and possible conflicts of interest involving the Trump family business and policy-making. The House oversight committee, for instance, has set a Monday deadline for the White House to turn over documents related to security clearances after The New York Times reported that the president ordered officials to grant his son-in-law Jared Kushner's clearance over the objections of national security officials. Nadler's added lines of inquiry also come as special counsel Robert Mueller is believed to be wrapping up his work into possible questions of Trump campaign collusion and obstruction in the Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. In his testimony, Cohen acknowledged he did not witness or know directly of collusion between Trump aides and Russia but had his "suspicions." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Sunday accused House Democrats of prejudging Trump as part of a query based purely on partisan politics. "I think Congressman Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election," McCarthy said. "Listen to exactly what he said. He talks about impeachment before he even became chairman and then he says, 'you've got to persuade people to get there.' There's nothing that the president did wrong." "Show me where the president did anything to be impeached...Nadler is setting the framework now that the Democrats are not to believe the Mueller report," he said. Nadler said Sunday his committee will seek to review the Mueller report but stressed the investigation "goes far beyond collusion." He pointed to what he considered several instances of obstruction of justice by the president, including the "1,100 times he referred to the Mueller investigation as a 'witch hunt'" as well Trump's abrupt firing of FBI director James Comey in 2017. According to Comey, Trump had encouraged the then-FBI director to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump has denied he told Comey to end the Flynn probe. "It's very clear that the president obstructed justice," Nadler said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has kept calls for impeachment at bay by insisting that Mueller first must be allowed to finish his work, and present his findings publicly though it's unclear whether the White House will allow its full release. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who chairs the House intelligence committee, on Sunday also stressed that it's too early to make judgments about impeachment. "That is something that we will have to await Bob Mueller's report and the underlying evidence to determine. We will also have to look at the whole body of improper and criminal actions by the president including those campaign finance crimes to determine whether they rise to the level of removal from office," Schiff said. Nadler and McCarthy spoke on ABC's "This Week," and Schiff appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation." ___ Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Hundreds of people purchased tickets to a South Florida hot air balloon festival, but many are saying that instead of going up in the air, they were left hanging by a thread. Heather Thomas had it all planned out for her and her three kids to go on a hot air balloon ride Saturday at an event called the Homestead Miami Balloon Glow. The line was around the corner. Once we waited in that line and that took forever, then they sent us to another line. That line we waited for two hours and 45 minutes, said Thomas, a frustrated customer. "We've had tens of thousands of people coming out that we weren't expecting," said Richard Garvie of Midflo, who is responsible for putting on the event. "Obviously with that many people, we've had some challenges. Traffic yesterday was pretty backed up. Especially with the construction work on the Turnpike." NBC 6 met with Garvie on Sunday at his event and we asked him about many of the concerns received by viewers. Throughout the course of the weekend, NBC 6 received phone calls, comments and messages from people who say they attended the event, calling the event "disorganized." Once Thomas and her family got to the front, they were told the hot air balloon was out of gas. Thomas claims that the balloon operator quickly changed his story. They said sorry, its the wind. And I looked at the guy and said, Youre not telling the truth. You just said it was the fuel to us, said Thomas. Garvie said that the hot air balloons did not go up in the air due to "thermal activity." But eventually, they were able to go back in the air. "The safety of our guests is more important than trying to squeeze through some extra tickets of whatever else," said Garvie. Thomas began recording everything. One video shows hundreds of people up in arms. The operator told everyone they couldnt go in the air that day. Thomas and others paid hundreds of dollars for the experience. For Heathers friend, Lisa Werner, she said something didnt seem right. Youre telling me that we cant go up on the balloon due to the inclement weather, but yet youre still trying to sell tickets to people arriving at the door, said Werner. Garvie said that wasnt true. "Sadly some people were pretty abusive to our staff. As soon as I was aware that they were being abused, I went to the ticket office, took all those people to my car and gave them full refunds," said Garvie. "They were all refunded immediately and taken care of. Werner was able to get Heathers money back. Although the event website says they wouldn't honor refunds, Garvie says he gave back almost $2,000 worth of refunds. Werner took their frustrations to social media on the events Facebook page. They were not the only ones complaining about their experience. But shortly after being posted, the negative comments appear to have been deleted by the company. Garvie told NBC 6 that comments were being deleted and people were being blocked if they referred to the event as a scam. This is not a scam, said Garvie. I followed up with messages asking why that was a scam. The event organizer said that anyone who wishes to get a refund can do so by visiting their website, and calling them Monday - Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can visit their website by clicking here. Residents of a Florida Panhandle county devastated by a monster storm are feeling forgotten. Private fundraising on behalf of Hurricane Michael survivors is well short of fundraising for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Florence. Bay County, Florida, officials say they are thankful for the help they've already received, but they need more. The global attention the Category 4 storm first received quickly faded as national and international news media moved on to cover the midterm election and disastrous fires in California. There were no celebrity-studded telethons for Hurricane Michael victims as there were for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, or more than a dozen years ago for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Paulina "Bela" Sebastiao would give almost anything to be able to do a load of laundry without having to drive miles from her Mexico Beach home. Anthony Campbell would appreciate having a gas station closer than an hour away from his house in Parker. And Patrick Muth just hopes it doesn't rain when it's time to go to work: His "office" in Panama City consists of a desk surrounded by rubble under an open sky. Life is still a struggle in the county hardest hit by Hurricane Michael, which carved a wide swath of destruction through the Florida Panhandle when it roared ashore on Oct. 10 with winds of 155 mph (250 kph). Drivers who have lived in the area for years second-guess themselves about whether they're going the right way the street signs, trees, and houses that once served as points of reference are gone. Many doctors' offices haven't reopened and one of the county's two hospitals was closed, even though Bay County residents are experiencing hurricane-related health problems such as respiratory illness. Students in schools damaged by the storm have moved into other facilities, dropping enrollment by 14 percent. Bay County had about 183,000 residents before the storm, and about 7,800 people were estimated to be homeless in January. Shopping for groceries is burdensome since many retailers haven't reopened yet. Many of those that have been selling limited goods from pop-up trailers parked in front of their damaged properties. Garbage collectors aren't even close to removing the 15 million cubic yards (11.5 million cubic meters) of Sheetrock, insulation, tree limbs and appliances strewn everywhere by the storm. Amid such disruption, once-mundane everyday tasks now require a combination of planning, patience and luck. "It's just a hassle," said Campbell, who is retired. "With everyday life ... everything is different. You have to readjust." After Hurricane Michael destroyed the Mexico Beach house of Bela and Jaques Sebastiao, they lived in a tent in their front yard and then a camper. They recently received a trailer from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it took more than a month before they were allowed to move in since they needed a special tank for sewage. The trailer had a shower and not being able to use it for weeks was "torture," they said. The Sebastiaos, along with two other neighbors, were the only residents who had returned to their beachside street in Mexico Beach, where homes were either blown off their foundations during the hurricane or intentionally knocked down after the storm because they were deemed too damaged. Every two weeks, they drive to their son's place in Georgia to do laundry hundreds of miles (kilometers) away. "We don't have any showers, no laundry, no supermarkets," Jaques Sebastiao said in the days before they could move into their trailer. In some cases, county residents have been hindered in their efforts to rebuild and repair. Mexico Beach which became the poster child of the storm with its rows of empty cement foundations where houses once stood had a moratorium on new construction until mid-February to allow new flood maps to be designed. Even with the green light to go ahead, residents are having difficulty getting commitments from in-demand contractors, said Campbell, whose home developed mold after a dispute with his insurance company delayed repairs. Principals and teachers at Bay County schools are on the lookout for students who are wearing dirty clothes or missing shoes. Northside Elementary School in Panama City was given industrial washers and dryers so students can get their clothes cleaned, and staffers have filled a broom closet with donated shoes and clothing. "We have so many students who are living from place to place and the faculty is living place to place," said school principal Amy Harvey. "Academics has to be important, but we want to make sure these kids are emotionally OK before we can teach them anything." Since his trucks weren't damaged, Muth kept operating his plumbing business with barely a hiccup, and he's already planning to rebuild his office space. But given the extensive damage to plumbing everywhere, his regular customers don't always realize it may take weeks before he can get to them. When making service calls miles (kilometers) away, he calls ahead to make sure the roads are clear and there is gas available in the area. "It's just not going to be what it was for a long time," Muth said. "All of it has changed." For law enforcement, the biggest problems since the storm are the pervasiveness of unlicensed contractors and the illegal dumping of debris on the sides of roads. Otherwise, though, the hundreds of officers from outside agencies who came to Bay County in the weeks after the storm helped keep the crime rate down, said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. Would-be criminals are perhaps discouraged by signs like the one on two wooden boards covering windows at R & D Auto Electric in Parker. They read, "Stay out. You look, we shoot!" "Make no mistake. Things are very tough here, and there are people who are living in very difficult circumstances," Ford said. "We are still hurting and we're going to be hurting for a long time." Here are some of last week's top stories from the NBC 6 Weekend Digest: Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Shark-Dragging Video Case A Florida man has pleaded guilty in connection to a video of a shark being dragged behind a speeding boat. Michael Wenzel, 22, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and using an illegal method to catch a shark. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 11 months' probation. For more information, click here. Porn Shot in Public Places Across South Florida Porn is being filmed in public places in South Florida outdoors during daylight hours. NBC 6 Investigators look at this new trend in online videos that some say comes at a cost to the community. For more information, click here. Porn is being filmed in public places in South Florida outdoors during daylight hours. NBC 6 Investigators look at this new trend in online videos that some say comes at a cost to the community. Closed Business Leaves Customers Waiting Weeks for Refunds Homeowners reached out to NBC 6 Responds after waiting weeks for refund checks to arrive in the mail from home warranty company Service America. The company closed its doors in January, but some customers told us refund checks they were promised never arrived. For more information, click here. Homeowners reached out to NBC 6 Responds after waiting weeks for refund checks to arrive in the mail from home warranty company Service America. The company closed its doors in January, but some customers told us refund checks they were promised never arrived. More Companies Offering Free Rewards for Your Social Media Posts Everyone likes getting free stuff, right? With consumers spending up to an average of five hours a day on smartphones, it's no wonder some companies are aiming to grab their attention by reaching out through direct messages to their phones sometimes advertising to them, but sometimes offering something free. As a marketing tactic, more businesses are using geofencing, a tool that can build geographic zones or specific areas through GPS and cell service. For more information, click here. Everyone likes getting free stuff, right? Well, a social media post made at the right place at the right time can help. Package Thieves Caught on Camera Outside Pembroke Pines Home Pembroke Pines police are looking for three men caught on a doorbell camera taking packages from a home earlier this month. Investigators released the video taken from a home inside the Raintree Community in the early morning hours of Feb. 18. In the video, two men are first seen walking to the home located off SW 117th Avenue and 13th Lane and taking packages before leaving. Moments later, a third man walks up and does the same thing. For more information, click here. no description Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is calling for nationwide demonstrations on Monday to coincide with his planned return to the country. Guaido on Sunday tweeted that Venezuelans should monitor his official announcements and that he would provide details about meeting points for supporters. He said they should gather across the country at 11 a.m. Guaido was in Ecuador on Saturday as part of a tour of Latin American countries designed to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to resign. Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's interim president and is recognized as so by the U.S. and 50 other nations, did not comment on the exact timing of his planned return to Venezuela. His spokesman, Edward Rodriguez, said "it's possible" that he will return on Monday. "We have little to celebrate and a lot to do," said Guaido, who recently visited the leaders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina in a campaign to build pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to resign. His return from the trip opens the possibility that Venezuelan authorities will try to arrest him. The opposition leader said he seeks a "peaceful transition" that will allow his homeland to overcome its political and humanitarian crisis. Last weekend, Guaido coordinated a failed effort to bring aid from Colombia and Brazil into Venezuela, where security forces loyal to Maduro blocked the supplies. Maduro described Guaido's gambit as part of a U.S.-backed plot to overthrow him. Moreno, who met Guaido in Ecuador's coastal city of Salinas, said he supported the opposition leader's attempt to bring "democratic change" to Venezuela. After living in the U.S. for over 20 years, this is my first time visiting South Dakota, mainly because I wanted to see Mount Rushmore. 1. Drove pass Crazy Horse Memorial. 2. Mount Rushmore National Memorial. 3. Mount Rushmore National Memorial. 4. The famous Wall Drug Store is worthy of a quick look. 5. Early morning in Wall, SD. 6. Sunflower field near Badlands National Park. I never knew this before, South Dakota is one of the top producers of sunflowers in the entire U.S. 7. Prairie dogs at Badlands National Park. 8. A lone bison at Badlands National Park. 9. Badlands National Park. 10. Badlands National Park. 11. Badlands National Park. 12. Badlands National Park. 13. Badlands National Park. 14. Pronghorns at Badlands National Park. 15. Badlands National Park. 16. We saw hundreds of bison at Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop Road. These two stopped in front of our car and lowered their heads. I thought they were going to headbutt our car, instead they sniffed or licked it and then walked away. It was so scary. 17. Bison at Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop Road. 18. Bison at Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop Road. 19. Pronghorn at Custer State Park. 20. Sylvan lake at Custer State Park. 21. We were told by local that this burger place was rated the nation's best burger restaurant (in 2014 by TripAdvisor). Hard to believe but they did have a waiting line every day when we were in town. 22. And their burgers were really good! 23. Awesome burger at Black Hills Burger and Bun Co. Custer, South Dakota. (To be continued) But the mayoral campaign also gave Mendoza an opportunity to display some of her strongest political skills: fending off attacks from opponents while landing jabs of her own. She went on the offensive against Preckwinkle, attacking the leader of the Cook County Democratic Party for trying to get Mendoza and four other female candidates knocked off the ballot over issues with their nominating petitions. Later, she went after former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley for his role on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners transition team in 2014. What to Know A police officer with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has been charged with illegally making and selling guns Authorities say 38-year-old Gregg Marinelli was arrested Thursday at his home in Plattekill State police say Marinelli assembled guns and sold them to members of outlaw motorcycle gangs A police officer with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has been arrested on charges of manufacturing guns at his upstate home and selling them to motorcycle gang members. Thirty-eight-year-old Gregg Marinelli is also charged with tipping off a suspect in a major drug investigation, state police and the Orange County district attorney's office said. Marinelli, a sergeant in the DEP police, was arrested Thursday at his home in Plattekill. Police say Marinelli assembled dozens of handguns and assault rifles and sold them to "individuals who are legally barred from possessing such weapons" including members of outlaw motorcycle clubs. Many of the guns Marinelli sold had no serial numbers and would be difficult to trace, authorities said. The Times Herald-Record of Middletown reports that Marinelli was arraigned Friday on charges including criminal sale of a firearm, hindering prosecution and conspiracy. Police said they learned about Marinelli's crimes during a cocaine- and fentanyl-trafficking investigation dubbed "Operation: Bread, White and Blues" that resulted in more than two dozen arrests. Marinelli tipped off "one of the major people" in that case, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said Friday. "This has to be one of the most egregious breaches of trust that I have encountered," Hoovler said. "I am furious. Number 1, about the leak in the case; and number 2, the conduct, the possibility of putting untraceable guns on the street." It's not clear if Marinelli has an attorney who can speak for him. A spokesman for the New York City DEP said Saturday that the alleged crimes "betray the oath that this officer took to protect the public." Plattekill is about 75 miles north of New York City. The city DEP deploys officers to the area to protect the city's water supply system. One of the nation's largest neo-Nazi groups appears to have an unlikely new leader: a black activist who has vowed to dismantle it. Court documents filed Thursday suggest James Hart Stern wants to use his new position as director and president of the National Socialist Movement to undermine the Detroit-based group's defense against a lawsuit. The NSM is one of several extremist groups sued over bloodshed at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Stern's filing asks a federal court in Virginia to issue a judgment against the group before one of the lawsuits goes to trial. Stern replaced Jeff Schoep as the group's leader in January, according to Michigan corporate records. But those records and court documents say nothing about how or why Stern got the position. His feat invited comparisons to the recent Spike Lee movie "BlacKkKlansman" in which a black police officer infiltrates a branch of the Ku Klux Klan. Neither Stern, who lives in Moreno Valley, California, nor Schoep responded Thursday to emails and calls seeking comment. Matthew Heimbach, a leading white nationalist figure who briefly served as the NSM's community outreach director last year, said Schoep and other group leaders have been at odds with rank-and-file members over its direction. Heimbach said some members "essentially want it to remain a politically impotent white supremacist gang" and resisted ideological changes advocated by Schoep. Heimbach said Schoep's apparent departure and Stern's installation as its leader probably spell the end of the group in its current form. Schoep was 21 when he took control of the group in 1994 and renamed it the National Socialist Movement, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. "I think it's kind of a sad obit for one of the longest-running white nationalist organizations," said Heimbach, who estimates it had about 40 active, dues-paying members last year. The group has drawn much larger crowds at rallies. NSM members used to attend rallies and protests in full Nazi uniforms, including at a march in Toledo, Ohio, that sparked a riot in 2005. More recently, Schoep tried to rebrand the group and appeal to a new generation of racists and anti-Semites by getting rid of such overt displays of Nazi symbols. It appeared that Stern had been trying for at least two years to disrupt the group. A message posted on his website said he would be meeting with Schoep in February 2017 "to sign a proclamation acknowledging the NSM denouncing being a white supremacist group." "I have personally targeted eradicating the (Ku Klux Klan) and the National Socialist Movement, which are two organizations here in this country which have all too long been given privileges they don't deserve," Stern said in a video posted on his site. On Wednesday, lawyers for the plaintiffs suing white supremacist groups and movement leaders over the Charlottesville violence asked the court to sanction Schoep. They say he has ignored his obligations to turn over documents and give them access to his electronic devices and social media accounts. They also claim Schoep recently fired his attorney as a stalling tactic. A federal magistrate judge in Charlottesville ruled last Friday that Stern cannot represent the NSM in the case because he does not appear to be a licensed attorney. That did not deter Stern from filing Thursday's request for summary judgment against his own group. "It is the decision of the National Socialist Movement to plead liable to all causes of actions listed in the complaint against it," he wrote. Stern served a prison sentence for mail fraud at the same facility as onetime Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen, who was convicted in the "Mississippi Burning" killings of three civil rights workers. Killen died in January 2018. In 2012, Stern claimed Killen signed over to him power of attorney and ownership of 40 acres of land while they were serving prison terms together. A lawyer for Killen asked a judge to throw out the land transfer and certify that Killen and his family owned the property. Authorities arrested a man who they believe kidnapped and killed his wife, whose body was discovered in Mexico last month, a sheriff's sergeant said on Saturday. Investigators received word from the Calexico Police Department on Feb. 5 that the body of Rosa Isella Beltran Lopez, who had been reported missing from Jurupa Valley a week prior, was found over a thousand miles away in Pueblo Nuevo, a municipality in the northwestern Mexican state of Durango, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Brosche. Her husband, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarado, was arrested in Jurupa Valley 13 days later on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to Brosche and jail records. "There are no outstanding suspects, and no threat to public safety," Brosche said. Lopez Alvarado remained in jail without bail. Two San Diego lawmakers were quick to criticize after Sacramento prosecutors announced Saturday the two police officers who fatally shot an unarmed black man last year will not face criminal charges. The shooting death of Stephon Clark on March 18, 2018, prompted nationwide protests. Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said Sacramento police Officers Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet committed no crimes when they shot Clark. Assemblywoman Shirley Weber called the district attorneys findings unfortunate and expected. For far too long, the standard for the use of lethal force in California has led to unnecessary deaths like Stephon Clarks, Weber said in a statement. To allow the status quo to remain will mean more unnecessary deaths and more families left without justice for the loss of their loved ones. In response to Clarks shooting and the attention brought to the shooting deaths of unarmed black men by law enforcement in recent years, Weber introduced a bill, AB 392, which will limit when California police can use deadly force. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, of the 172 people killed by police in California in 2017, more than two-thirds were people of color. Its clear. Something needs to change. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said in a statement to NBC 7. Gonzalez has not officially endorsed Webers bill but does support the idea behind it. Webers bill, introduced Feb. 6, would redefine the circumstances where an officers use of deadly force is deemed justifiable. The officers have said they thought Stephon Clark, a vandalism suspect, had a gun but investigators found only a cellphone. "We must recognize that they are often forced to make split-second decisions and we must recognize that they are under tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances," Schubert said. The Associated Press contributed to this report As the number of Democrats running for president grows, the 2020 hopefuls fanned out across several early-voting states over the weekend and met with voters in some of the states that will have an early say in determining the nominee. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sherrod Brown of Ohio were in South Carolina, site of the South's first primary, drawing diverse audiences in the state where the primary electorate is largely composed of minority voters. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont made Brooklyn the official launch site of his second run for the White House, saying his campaign is tailor-made to defeat President Donald Trump. In Iowa, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts courted voters. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was scheduled to attend the Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, an event where politicians traditionally poke fun at the press and other politicians. Trump spoke to a gathering of conservatives in suburban Maryland, where he mocked Democrats for their framework to combat climate change and said House lawmakers pushing to expand their investigations of him are "sick." SHERROD BROWN In the final swing of a political tour as he decides whether to enter the 2020 presidential race, Brown spent time this weekend in South Carolina. He stressed his commitment to higher wages and more robust health care and acknowledged the crucial role of the early-voting state. At a Darlington County Democratic women's event, Brown said he values the important role that black women play in the primary process. South Carolina holds the first southern voting, and its Democratic primary electorate is largely African-American. "You can't be a Democrat in this country, especially in a state as diverse as Ohio - you can't be a human being who's awake and not understand that black women are the heart of the Democratic Party," Brown said. "It's black women that drive this party. It's black women that get progressives like me elected." Later Saturday, Brown was expected to speak at Dorchester County Democrats' oyster roast, an event that Booker was also scheduled to attend following a town hall discussion in Charleston. BERNIE SANDERS Sanders on Saturday launched his second presidential campaign in his birthplace of Brooklyn with a call for Americans from all walks of life to join his fight for a political revolution, one he's been waging for four decades. Calling Trump the most dangerous president in modern U.S. history, the Vermont senator said that his campaign is built to defeat Trump. After falling short in 2016 against Hillary Clinton, Sanders told supporters at a rally at Brooklyn College, which he once attended, that his campaign is saying "loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies. It will not be racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and religious bigotry. That is going to end." Sanders pledged to fight for "economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice." He had begun his 2016 campaign in Vermont, which he has represented in the Senate for nearly two decades. But this time, as he tries to showcase more of his personal story, Sanders kicked off his 2020 bid in the New York City borough where he grew up as the son of a Jewish immigrant and lived in a rent-controlled apartment. After Brooklyn, Sanders planned to travel to Selma, Alabama, where he will be among the politicians commemorating the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as "Bloody Sunday," when peaceful demonstrators were beaten back by Alabama state troopers as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. A second campaign rally this weekend was set for Chicago, where he attended the University of Chicago and was involved in civil rights protests. DONALD TRUMP Trump aired his grievances and basked in the adoration of cheering conservatives after a trying week of tumult and setbacks, giving a stemwinder of a speech that clocked in about two hours-plus and hardly left him winded or the audience disappointed. Trump let loose against House Democrats broadening their investigations of him, predicted he would win re-election by a greater margin than his 2016 victory, taunted some of his potential White House challengers and sounded themes that are staples of his rallies. The off-the-cuff remarks came at the end of the week that saw his nuclear summit with North Korea's leader collapse without an agreement, his former lawyer deliver congressional testimony about his character and business practices and Congress take action to nullify his emergency declaration to secure money for the border wall that lawmakers have denied him. Maryland state legislation could allow people to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits known as the Food Supplement Program in Maryland to purchase meals at restaurants. Sponsored by Sen. Clarence Lam, D-Howard and Baltimore counties, Senate bill 752 would allow elderly, disabled and homeless people to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to purchase food at participating restaurants, Lam said. Arizona and some counties in California have restaurant meals programs and there are pilot programs in Rhode Island and Florida, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Rhode Island's program currently has 10 participating Subway restaurants, according to the University of Rhode Island SNAP Outreach Project. This bill is scheduled to be heard by a Maryland Senate committee March 14. Identical legislation, sponsored by Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith, D-Prince George's, on Feb. 21 was heard by a Maryland House of Delegates committee, which has not yet voted on the measure. The Maryland Department of Human Services announced Wednesday that it will provide all Food Supplement Program benefits for next month on March 6. Normally distributed on a schedule from the 1st to the 24th of each month, March benefits are being provided up front to aid people affected by the federal government shutdown. On Friday, another bill passed the House of Delegates 136-2 that would allow more oversight of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. This special benefits program provides food, health care referrals and nutrition education to low-income women and children up to age 5 who qualify, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. House bill 506 would require the Maryland Department of Health to provide state legislators with annual reports through December 2021 detailing how many women, infants and children in the state are receiving the benefits of this program and how many are eligible but not receiving benefits. There are on average 650,000 people in Maryland receiving a total of $75 million each month from the Food Supplement Program, according to the Maryland Department of Human Services. Three people died in a shooting at a home in Fairfax County, Virginia, Saturday night, police say. Police got the call for a shooting in the 8600 block of Cromwell Drive in Springfield about 11:45 p.m. Officers found 45-year-old Santos Vladimir Ralda, his wife Floridalma Youlanda Perez Diaz, 40, and 20-year-old Nathanael Owen Cooper dead inside the home. Fairfax County police said, preliminarily, it appears the three got into an argument and Ralda shot Diaz and Cooper before shooting himself. Detectives believe as many as 10 people, including several children, were at the home at the time of the shooting. "My mom is babysitting my 2-year-old. So, when I come in there's a cop car in my driveway I'm thinking what in the world happened here," neighbor Bobby Bancroft said. "So right as I pulled up she called me. She said, 'Bobby just to let you know there's a couple loud bangs. Everything's fine here.'" Neighbors told News4 the family that lives at the home had only lived there for a couple of months and they were renovating the home. Police said there is no threat to the community. Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for updates to this developing story. What to Know The kidnapping, resulting in death charge makes 32-year-old Coleman eligible for the death penalty if convicted. While no murder charge was announced Sunday, Lelling said, "I think there is probable cause to believe he [Coleman] killed Ms. Correia." Boston Police Commissioner Gross said this tragedy is affecting people throughout the city. A man who was arrested in Delaware after a Massachusetts woman's body was found in the trunk of his car now faces a federal charge. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling announced Sunday that federal prosecutors have charged Louis D. Coleman III, of Providence, Rhode Island, with kidnapping, resulting in death. The charge carries a sentence of mandatory life and also makes 32-year-old Coleman eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Jassy Correia, a 23-year-old mother who lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, was last seen on Feb. 24 leaving a Boston nightclub where she had gone to celebrate her birthday with friends. Coleman was later identified as a suspect, and he was arrested in Delaware on Feb. 28, at which time Correia's body was discovered in the trunk of his car. "Today's charge is a result of a tremendous amount of law enforcement work done in a very short time," Lelling said. "The federal charges are being brought because of the multi-state nature of the crime and the penalties available in federal court. And they're being brought here because Ms. Correia is from here, was taken from here, and justice should be done here if at all possible." Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins voiced her support for Lelling's decision to seek the federal charge. "Given the evidence as it currently stands, a federal prosecution for interstate kidnapping causing death is in the best interest of this case. This process will best serve Jassy's family, Boston and our Cape Verdean community who deserve the chance to see justice done in the city they call home." According to Lelling, the kidnapping resulting in death charge was the logical choice because it was the most applicable charge and it also carries the highest possible sentence. While no murder charge was announced Sunday, Lelling said, "I think there is probable cause to believe he [Coleman] killed Ms. Correia." A number of new details were revealed about the case on Sunday, with Lelling announcing that it appears preliminarily that Correia died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Lelling added that while only a preliminary medical examination has been done at this point, it does not appear Correia was sexually assaulted. Authorities believe Correia put up a fight, saying there are "definitely indications that she did not go quietly." Lelling cited several examples that suggest Correia put up a struggle, including the forward windshield of Coleman's red sedan being cracked in two locations on the passenger side, significant bruising on Correia's body, and a scratch on Coleman's face that he said was from Correia. A timeline of the investigation was also provided by Lelling on Sunday. He said, after learning of Correia's disappearance, Boston police reviewed surveillance tape from outside of Venu Nightclub, where Correia had last been seen. Police observed on the footage that Correia was on the sidewalk at 2:14 a.m. when she was approached by a man, later identified as Coleman. He could be seen interacting with her, and then leaving the area with her before the two get into his red sedan. Lelling noted that it does not appear that Correia knew Lelling but said there is still a lot left to learn. Boston police were then able to retrieve an image of Coleman's driver's license from the nightclub and match it to the man seen outside with Correia. The license showed an address for an apartment in Providence, which was later searched by Rhode Island authorities. About two hours after Correia was seen getting into Coleman's vehicle in Boston, surveillance footage from Coleman's apartment building in Providence shows him parking around 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. Lelling said they are still investigating the route the car took between the street outside the nightclub and Coleman's Providence apartment. It's not clear what happened during that two-hour span, but Lelling noted that Correia got into the red sedan under her own power in Boston but was carried out of it in Providence. Authorities are continuing to look into what occurred during those two hours, Lelling said. Once Coleman is seen arriving at his apartment, surveillance footage shows Coleman exit his vehicle alone. He returned a short time later carrying a blanket and then walked from the car to the front of the building carrying a body with long hair and clothing consistent with Correia's description. Once he entered the building, surveillance video showed Coleman dropping the victim on the floor and dragging her towards the elevator, and subsequently towards his apartment unit. The victim was not moving and her body was limp. On Feb. 26, surveillance video showed the defendant leave the apartment building and return with Walmart shopping bags. Boston and Providence police officers obtained video surveillance and a receipt from a Walmart in Providence, that revealed Coleman had purchased three Tyvek suits, duct tape, two candles, electrical tape, one mask, surgical gloves, two pairs of safety goggles, an odor respirator and CLN release bleach bath. At approximately 9:58 p.m. on Feb. 27, Coleman is seen on video surveillance entering his apartment building with what appeared to be a new, large suitcase. Lelling noted that you could see tags on the suitcase in the video. A few hours later, around 1:15 a.m., on Feb. 28, Coleman is seen in the video wheeling the suitcase away from his apartment unit towards the elevator, eventually out of the building and into the parking lot where his vehicle was. Coleman appeared to have difficulty lifting the suitcase into the trunk of his car, indicating it was bearing some weight, Lelling said. Additional surveillance video showed Coleman on several occasions exiting his apartment building with other items, including trash bags, cardboard boxes, a bottle of bleach, a laptop case, a computer tower and a small duffle bag. Later in the day on Feb. 28, a search warrant was executed at Colemans apartment, where two packages of hooded coveralls and two respirator masks were recovered. A sofa with four large cushions, one of which was missing a cover, was also observed. In a dumpster outside of the apartment complex, authorities discovered white trash bags, a bag containing plastic sheets, mens jeans with bleach stains and a belt, a white nylon hooded coverall, an empty box of baking soda, clear safety goggles, a respirator mask, duct tape packaging, rubbing alcohol, Walmart bags, used plastic gloves, an empty package from a car air freshener, three empty packages of purifying charcoal and a sponge. On the afternoon of Feb. 28, Colemans vehicle was stopped by Delaware State Police on Interstate 95 South near Wilmington, Delaware. Officers ordered Coleman out of the vehicle and asked him if anyone else was in the vehicle with him, to which Coleman allegedly responded, "Shes in the trunk, or words to that effect. Lelling said it appears the traffic stop and subsequent arrest were uneventful, contrary to reports that a high-speed chase was involved. Officers discovered Correia's body in the trunk of Colemans vehicle, wrapped in a sofa cushion cover, which was inside of a black trash bag, inside of a large suitcase that matches the suitcase Coleman was observed bringing into his apartment on Feb. 27. Correia was found naked, with significant bruising and a bloodied face. She was bound with gray duct tape and was covered in what is believed to be baking soda. Lelling said reports that Correia's body was mutilated or dismembered are not correct. Though Lelling did note that while there is no way to know what Coleman planned to do with Correia's body, all of the cleaning and cutting supplies found in his vehicle imply that he planned to somehow dispose of her body. From Coleman's vehicle, officials recovered a duffle bag, a pair of new long-handled loppers, plastic garbage bags, clothing, a red plastic gas container, a green butane lighter, black gloves, charcoal air purifiers, air fresheners, tinted safety glasses, plastic Walmart bags, work towels, cloth work-gloves, a new set of DeWalt pliers, a laptop, a computer hard-drive/tower, and disinfectant wipes. Coleman was taken into custody and transported to a Delaware State Police barracks. There, it was noted that Coleman had a large bandage on the right side of his face. When asked about it, he allegedly replied, Its from the girl," or words to that effect. Coleman will appear in federal court in Delaware on Monday, March 4 at a time to be determined. He will be transferred to Massachusetts at a later date. It was not immediately known if Coleman had retained a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Back in Massachusetts, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said this tragedy is affecting people throughout the city. "I can't tell you how upsetting this is, as I talk to folks across the city. Everyone has loved ones in their family, daughters, nieces, and this is just a horrible tragedy for the family," Gross said at the press conference. "On behalf of Mayor Walsh and the men and women of the Boston Police Department, we extend our most sincere condolences to the Correia family for the loss of their loved one." In addition to DA Rollins and Commissioner Gross, Lelling was joined at the afternoon press conference in Boston by Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Delaware State Police; and Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr., Chief of Police, Providence Police Department. All officials in attendance pledged their support and deep condolences to the Correia family. They universally noted this investigation has been a team effort, citing cooperation among several law enforcement agencies in three states. "We mourn the loss of a young life taken much too soon and our sympathies go to the friends, family and especially her young daughter, who is now faced with the sobering reality of having to grow up without her mother," Bonavolonta said of Correia's 2-year-old daughter. "We're all working together collaboratively to bring justice to the Correia family on behalf of their loved one Jassy," Commissioner Gross said. "We want to send a message to the Correia family as well as the folks in the city of Boston that the collaborative that you see here before you will work this case till the very end and we will bring justice for Jassy." Commissioner Gross continued to emphasize his point, saying the Boston Police Department did not act alone. "We had a partnership in place and that partnership has really paid offthis is what you see. A serious team that is hellbent on justice because no family should ever have to go through this again," Gross said. "Together we are going to send a clear-cut message this is not going to be tolerated, and if youre even thinking about it, look at the folks up here on this stage, there are many, many great people that work with us and we have your backs out there." DA Rollins echoed the commissioner's sentiments, saying, "I hope today's developments offer some assurances that all of us across many different agencies are working as one on Jassy's behalf...We've reached this point today through round the clock work by many people in many roles." Rollins said this federal complaint does not rule out state-level charges in Massachusetts if the investigation supports them moving forward. Rhode Island police have also filed charges in the case. DA Rollins stressed that her focus is exclusively supporting Correia's loved ones at this time. "This family faces a long road ahead but they have my word that we will be there for them every step of the way," Rollins said. Authorities also emphasized their quest for justice on behalf of Correia and her family. "I assure you that the Providence Police Department will not rest until ultimate justice is served in this case," Chief Clements said. Bonavolonta added, "Rest assured, we will not stop until justice is served." Commissioner Gross also took the opportunity to send a message to anyone who may be considering committing a similar crime. If we all begin to look out for each other as a city then we can ensure that were going to send a message to predators and hunters that people are watching you and that were not going to tolerate this in our city, Gross said. South Korea and the U.S. are eliminating their massive springtime military drills and replacing them with smaller exercises in what they call an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision announced by both countries Sunday came after President Donald Trump complained about the cost of joint drills even as his high-stakes second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed last week. The drills' cancellation is an olive branch to North Korea, which has viewed them as an invasion rehearsal. But some experts say it will likely weaken the allies' military readiness amid worries that tensions erupt again in the wake of the failed nuclear summit in Vietnam. The Pentagon said in a release that the U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programs. Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo "made clear that the alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the statement said. Seoul's Defense Ministry released a similar statement. Jeong expressed his regrets at the lack of agreement at the Trump-Kim summit but still hopes that Washington and Pyongyang will continue negotiations, the South Korean statement said. The new training, dubbed "Dong Maeng," which means "alliance" in English, starts Monday and runs through March 12. It will focus on "strategic operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula," South Korea's military and the U.S.-South Korean combined forces command said in a joint statement. According to U.S. officials, the new training will be done in smaller drills, tabletop exercises and simulations, and will involve smaller units such as battalions and companies rather than massive formations involving thousands of troops, as they had in the past. Officials said the Pentagon would focus on smaller exercises and mission essential tasks, which include the ability to integrate airstrikes and the use of other weapons systems, drones, surveillance assets, logistics and communications. In November, a month before he resigned as defense secretary, Jim Mattis disclosed that the U.S. and South Korea would scale back and tone down the spring exercises. He said the aim was to avoid setting back diplomacy over North Korea's nuclear weapons. He described it as a reorganization of the exercises, not an end to maneuvers on the peninsula. Trump has long complained about the cost of military drills with South Korea. After his second summit with Kim ended without any agreement in Hanoi on Thursday, Trump spoke again about the cost of annual military drills. "It's a very, very expensive thing and we do have to think about that, too," Trump told reporters. Following his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June, Trump caught many in the United States and South Korea by surprise by suspending the allies' summertime military drills. He called joint drills "very provocative" and "massively expensive." The United States and South Korea also have since suspended a few other smaller joint drills. Trump has also pushed South Korea to increase its financial contribution for the cost of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country as deterrence against North Korea. He previously threatened to withdraw troops from South Korea and Japan if those countries refused to pay more. The end of the springtime war games will benefit North Korea, which has responded with its own costly military exercises and weapons tests, including firing a new intermediate-range missile over Japan in 2017. North Korea's state media on Sunday didn't immediately comment on the drills' cancellation. After the Hanoi summit, the United States and North Korea blamed each other for the breakdown of the talks. But both sides stopped short of pulling out of negotiations. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Malden, Massachusetts. Authorities received a call around 6:18 p.m. Saturday for a report of a shooting in the area of Eastern Avenue and Bryant Street. The victim is Jeury Batista, 23, of Salem, Massachusetts, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. Batista was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead. The chief medical examiner will determine a cause and manner of death. The preliminary investigation suggests that the shooting occurred as part of a suspected drug transaction and is not believed to be a random incident of violence. No one has been charged in connection to the incident but authorities are pursuing leads in order to determine the whereabouts of anyone connected to this crime. This shooting is actively being investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Malden Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Malden police. The Vermont Senate has given final approval to a bill to tax and regulate retail sales of marijuana. The bill passed on Friday now goes to the House. The Senate had passed legislation to allow retail marijuana sales in 2016 and 2017, but both bills died in the House. Retail sales would begin sometime in 2021 if the current bill becomes law. Sales would be restricted to people 21 and older. Vermont became the ninth state to legalize recreational use of marijuana last July when the law took effect. Adults over age 21 are allowed to possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of marijuana, two mature marijuana plants and four immature plants, but the law did not set up a system to tax or regulate the production of marijuana. The Roger Sherman Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, which serves the Greater New Milford area, will present a program about patriotic sisterhood March 10 at 2 p.m. in New Milford. The illustrated talk by William Hosley, an historian and writer who is passionate about local history and historic preservation, will be held at the New Milford Public Library, 24 Main St. Connecticut Colonial Dames, Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution and rebranding Connecticut as the Constitution State are among the topics to be addressed. The chapter will offer light refreshments, and this event is open to the public of all ages. Hosley is a cultural resource development and marketing consultant, social media expert, historian, writer,and photographer. He was formerly director of the New Haven Museum and Connecticut Landmarks, where he cared for a chain of historic attractions. Prior to that, as a curator and exhibition developer at Wadsworth Atheneum, he organized major exhibitions including The Great River: Art & Society of the Connecticut Valley (1985), The Japan Idea: Art and Life in Victorian America (1990), and Sam & Elizabeth: Legend and Legacy of Colt's Empire (1996), that spawned the Coltsville National Park. As an expert in heritage tourism, Hosley has studied, lectured and advised museums and heritage destinations around the country. Bill has also served as a content specialist for PBS, BBC and CPTV film documentaries. The NSDAR was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of the Roger Sherman Chapter NSDAR, visit www.RogerShermanDAR.org or connect with the chapter on social media. For more information, contact Bonnie Butler at bbutler5129@gmail.com or 860-354-5129. The John J. McCarthy Observatory in New Milford will hold its next Second Saturday Stars program, Search for Life in the Solar System, March 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. NASA has a core goal to search for signs of life beyond Earth. Scientists have found the building blocks of life throughout the solar, but finding life has been more elusive. The New Milford Commission on the Arts will sponsor an Irish music and dance event March 16 in recognition of St. Patricks Day. Live music by Wildcat Creek will be offered and members of the McArdle School of Irish Dance will perform at the Makery Coworking on Bank Street from 1 to 3:30 p.m. There is a significant association between the rise of populism across Europe and the level of mistrust around vaccines, according to a study by Queen Mary University of London. Lead author Dr Jonathan Kennedy from Queen Mary University of London said: "It seems likely that scientific populism is driven by similar feelings to political populism, for example, a profound distrust of elites and experts by disenfranchised and marginalised parts of the population. "Even where programmes objectively improve the health of targeted populations, they can be viewed with suspicion by communities that do not trust elites and experts. In the case of vaccine hesitancy, distrust is focused on public health experts and pharmaceutical companies that advocate vaccines." The study, published in the European Journal of Public Health, looked at national-level data from 14 European countries. This data included the percentage of people in a country who voted for populist parties in the 2014 European Parliament elections, and the percentage of people in a country who believe that vaccines are not important, safe and/or effective, according to data from the 2015 Vaccine Confidence Project. The analysis found a highly significant positive association between the percentage of people in a country who voted for populist parties and the percentage who believe that vaccines are not important and not effective. Professor Sophie Harman, an expert on global health politics from Queen Mary's School of Politics and International Relations, who was not involved in the research, commented: "Like restrictions on reproductive rights, anti-vaccination rhetoric has long been the canary in the coal mine for populism." In the research article, Dr Kennedy writes that modern vaccine hesitancy is usually traced to Andrew Wakefield's now discredited 1998 Lancet article, which claimed a link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. MMR vaccination rates in the UK fell from 92 per cent in 1995 to a low of 79 per cent in 2003, well below the 95 per cent rate needed to achieve herd immunity. Confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales rose from 56 in 1998 to 1370 in 2008. Wakefield was struck off the UK medical register and the Lancet study retracted. Nevertheless, his ideas remain influential and are cited as a reason why measles cases have increased in Europe over the past few years. There is additional anecdotal evidence suggesting a connection between the rise of populist politicians and political movements in Western Europe and increasing levels of vaccine hesitancy, Kennedy writes. The most prominent example is Italy. The Five Star Movement (5SM) have raised concerns about vaccine safety and the link between MMR and autism. It is argued that these concerns caused MMR vaccination coverage to fall from 90 per cent in 2013 to 85 per cent in 2016, and resulted in an increase in measles cases from 840 in 2016 to 5000 in 2017. Despite this, the upper house of the Italian Parliament--bolstered by newly elected representatives from 5SM and League--recently passed a law to repeal legislation that makes vaccines compulsory for children enrolling in state schools. In France, the right-wing Front National have also raised concerns about vaccine safety and laws that make childhood vaccinations mandatory. And in Greece, the left-wing SYRIZA government proposed that parents should be able to opt out of vaccinating their children. While UKIP has not expressed similar concerns, a poll conducted by Mori showed UKIP voters were almost five times more likely than the general population to believe that MMR was unsafe. Further afield in the US, Donald Trump has met well-known anti-vaccination campaigners, including Wakefield, and expressed sympathy with their ideas. For example, in 2014 he tweeted: 'Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes--AUTISM. Many such cases!' Dr Kennedy adds: "Vaccine hesitancy will be difficult to resolve unless its underlying causes of populism--an iniquitous economic system and unrepresentative political system--are addressed." In the current issue of Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (Special Issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 3, Number 4, 2019, Guest Editor Gladys P. Velarde) pp. 329-348(20); DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 15212/ CVIA. 2017. 0068 Sonia Henry, MD, Rachel Bond, MD, Stacey Rosen, MD, Cindy Grines, MD and Jennifer Mieres, MD from the Hofstra School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA and The Katz Institute for Women's Health, Lake Success, NY, USA consider the challenges in cardiovascular risk prediction and stratification in women. The authors review existing flaws and limitations in traditional risk models and scores; examining the role of sex and the relative impact of specific coronary risk factors, traditional and nontraditional, and how these affect risk prediction and stratification. There has been an appropriate focus, since the turn of the 21st century, on sex- and gender-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) as increasing evidence suggests that there are substantial differences in the risk factor profile, social and environmental factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of ischemic heart disease in women compared with men. As a result of increased awareness, detection, and treatment of ischemic heart disease in women, there has been significant reduction (greater than 30%) in cardiovascular mortality, and in 2013, more US men than US women died of CVD. Nevertheless, continued efforts are required as CVD remains the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and death of women in the Western world, and in women younger than 55 years there has been a rise in cardiovascular mortality. In this article, we review several of the contributing factors that continue to cause challenges in accurate risk prediction and risk stratification in women. This article forms part of a special issue on Women's Cardiovascular Health, guest edited by Gladys P. Velarde. Recent decades have witnessed great progress in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Due to improved therapies, preventive strategies and increased public awareness, CVD (stroke, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and congenital heart disease) mortality has been on the decline over this span of time for both genders. Unfortunately, the decline has been less prominent for women, especially women of color. Once viewed as a man's disease, CVD remains the leading cause of mortality for women in the United States and is responsible for a third of all deaths of women worldwide and half of all deaths of women over 50 years of age in developing countries. In the United States, CVD far outpaces all other causes of death, including all forms of cancer combined. The statistics are sobering with about one female death in the United States every 80 seconds from CVD. That represents close to 400,000 deaths per year according to the more recent statistics. Of these, more than one quarter of a million women will die this year from ischemic heart disease (IHD) which includes obstructive and non-obstructive coronary disease, and about 64% of women who die suddenly of IHD have no prior symptoms. Despite a significant number of females with known CVD and increased awareness among women of heart disease as their major health threat, a substantial proportion of women (46% as per the most recent American Heart Association survey) remain unaware of their cardiovascular risk and continue to fail to recognize its significance. This lack of awareness is more profound (over 60% unaware) among women in higher-risk groups, racial and ethnic minorities, and has changed little in decades. Poorly understood sex/gender differences in pathobiologic mechanisms, clinical presentation, management and application of diagnostic and therapeutic and preventive strategies have contributed to this gap. A critically important factor has been the underrepresentation of women in CVD research to date. In fact, only one-third of CVD clinical trials report sex-specific results despite The Food and Drug Administration regulations requiring sex stratification data, as well as the National Institute of Health recommendations of increased inclusion of women in clinical trials. This makes it difficult for researchers and clinicians to draw accurate conclusions about sex differences in mechanisms of disease, accuracy of specific diagnostic modalities and risks or benefits of a particular drug or device for the treatment of women with CVD. Furthermore, physicians and other healthcare providers continue to underestimate women's cardiovascular risk, in part because of utilization of traditional approaches which can lead to over-testing or inappropriate risk assessment without accurate differentiating who is truly at risk and inadequate use of preventive therapies for women. The goal of this special edition Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is to shed some light on specific topics that dominate the spectrum of CVD in women. So just how do you perform CPR on a turtle? Good question, since you obviously cant do it the same way as on us soft-shelled humans. Turns out all Cosley zookeepers are trained in this delicate compression method that involves holding the turtles front legs out at a 90-degree angle and repeatedly pulling the legs away from the body, then pushing them back in toward the chest while also keeping the legs straight at the elbow. McMaster researchers, working with partners at other universities, have created a motion-powered, fireproof sensor that can track the movements of firefighters, steelworkers, miners and others who work in high-risk environments where they cannot always be seen. The low-cost sensor is about the size of a button-cell watch battery and can easily be incorporated into the sole of a boot or under the arm of a jacket - wherever motion creates a pattern of constant contact and release to generate the power the sensor needs to operate. The sensor uses triboelectric, or friction-generated, charging, harvesting electricity from movement in much the same way that a person in socks picks up static electricity walking across a carpet. The sensor can track the movement and location of a person in a burning building, a mineshaft or other hazardous environment, alerting someone outside if the movement ceases. The key material in the sensor, a new carbon aerogel nanocomposite, is fireproof, and the device never needs charging from a power source. "If somebody is unconscious and you are unable to find them, this could be very useful," says Ravi Selvaganapathy, a professor of mechanical engineering who oversaw the project. "The nice thing is that because it is self-powered, you don't have to do anything. It scavenges power from the environment." The research team - from McMaster, UCLA and University of Chemistry and Technology Prague - describes the new sensor in a paper published today in the journal Nano Energy. The researchers explain that previously developed self-powered sensors have allowed similar tracking, but their materials break down at high temperatures, rendering them useless, A self-powered sensor is necessary in extreme heat because most batteries also break down in high temperatures. The researchers have successfully tested the new technology at temperatures up to 300C - the temperature where most types of wood start to burn - without any loss of function. "It's exciting to develop something that could save someone's life in the future," said co-author Islam Hassan, a McMaster PhD student in mechanical engineering. If firefighters use our technology and we can save someone's life, that would be great." The researchers hope to work with a commercial partner to get the technology to market. Source: http://www.mcmaster.ca/ Chemotherapy drugs are lifesaving to cancer patients, but these toxic drugs are hazardous to the health care workers who come into contact with them. Despite the risks, many health care workers do not use recommended personal protective equipment such as gloves or gowns when handling chemotherapy. A study from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center sought to improve nurses' handling of chemotherapy by delivering an educational intervention with quarterly reminders and tailored messages. But despite the strong study design and quality intervention, it did not increase use of protective gear. "We didn't really move the needle at all. As a practicing nurse it's disappointing. We were hoping we could develop a bundled intervention that cancer centers and others can use," says lead study author Christopher R. Friese, Ph.D., R.N., Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing and a professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan. Exposure to chemotherapy occurs when health care workers inhale vapors or touch contaminated surfaces. Studies have found that nurses who reported handling hazardous drugs had twice the risk of reproductive problems. Other studies report incidences of rare cancers and various respiratory and skin conditions resulting from exposure. "This is an invisible threat," Friese says. "It's unlike the needle stick where you know when you've been stuck by a needle. Early on we could understand that a needle stick conveyed serious health risks. With chemotherapy exposure, we don't have that smoking gun. This is a subtle threat, but it's a daily threat." Guidelines from professional societies recommend protective gear including double gloves, eye protection and respirators. These were built into the intervention Friese and colleagues developed. It was a randomized trial including 396 nurses from 12 ambulatory cancer programs. In one arm, nurses received one-hour educational modules about personal protective equipment with tailored messaging addressing their reported barriers to use. They also were asked to report chemotherapy drugs spills and submit plasma samples for analysis. The control arm had only the educational modules. After two years of the program, the researchers found little difference in the use of personal protection equipment between the two groups and no change over the course of the study. Results are published in Oncology Nursing Forum. Researchers cite several possible reasons the intervention was not successful, including the quality of the content and technology barriers that made watching the video modules difficult. Another problem is that many of these protective devices are cumbersome. Workers report that the gear is hot, uncomfortable and difficult to apply and use safely. Something must change, Friese says. Health care workers continue to report exposure hazardous drugs. An earlier study by Friese found nearly 17 percent of nurses who work in outpatient chemotherapy infusion centers said they had been exposed to chemotherapy on their skin or eyes. "Health care workers face many challenges in these busy cancer centers, treating a lot of patients with complex needs using increasingly complex treatments," Friese says. "It's time for the field to reexamine the issue of hazardous drug exposure. Both leaders and frontline clinicians need to work together to make sure the people handling these drugs are doing so as safely as they can." The researchers propose three ways to start moving the needle on the issue: Engage health system leadership to have a dialogue with staff about personal protection for those who handle hazardous drugs. Develop better personal protective equipment that is easy to use, affordable and protective against hazardous drug exposure. Collect data through a registry to identify and track the health risks from exposure. Friese uses the analogy of the airplane safety rule to put on your own mask before helping others. "We need to really anchor that into our community," he says. "Unless you take good care of yourself, you can't be there to take good care of your patient." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the Opposition for demanding proof of the air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistans Balakot, saying the move was aimed at demoralising the armed forces. Modi, who was in Patna for the Sankalp Rally and shared the dais with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after nine years, said the Opposition was giving statements that were beneficial to the enemy. Twelve Indian Air Force Mirage-2000 jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) early on Tuesday morning and destroyed terror camps of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot. The air strike, which has been dubbed surgical strikes 2.0, comes two weeks after a terror attack on CRPF soldiers in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. The issue, however, turned political after several opposition leaders raised doubts on the veracity of the claims and demanded proof of the destroyed camps. Modi, while sounding the poll bugle for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, also paid tribute to the CRPF men killed in Pulwama and said the nation stands with its jawans. Earlier, Kumar congratulated the Prime Minister for the Balakot strikes and praised Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan and later set free. The rally comes exactly a month after the Congress held the first-of-its-kind Jan Akanksha Rally at the same venue. The public meeting holds significance because Modi and Kumar are sharing the stage for the first time after 2010. The rally, which also had LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan in attendance, was reportedly an effort to show full faith and confidence in the Prime Minister for handling the post-Pulwama crisis, which culminated in Indias non-military air strikes on Pakistans Balakot to demolish JeM camps, state presidents of the parties had said on Friday. In a joint press conference earlier this week, Bashishtha Narayan Singh, LJP president Pashupati Kumar Paras and Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai said a sea of humanity would participate in the rally, touted to be bigger than the biggest of all the rallies held at the historic Gandhi Maidan till now. Singh said the NDA partners had made arrangements for the participants at 14 places in Patna, while the MLAs, MLCs and MPs of BJP, JD(U) and LJP have made their own arrangements for their people. Explaining the purpose of the rally, Rai said, A sea of humanity will be present at the rally to bless PM Modi for effective handling of the post-Pulwama crisis that the country faced. It will also be an occasion to make a collective declaration to end terrorism and work for the countrys development so that it joins the league of three biggest economies in the world under the leadership of PM Modi, Rai said. According to BJP and JD(U) leaders, the mammoth event will serve as a befitting reply to RJD-led opposition parties. Political analysts are of the opinion that the success of the massive Mahagathbandhan rally in Kolkata on January 9 and Rahul Gandhis Jan Akanksha Rally in Patna on February 3 has raised the political temperature in Bihar and other states. The NDAs Sankalp Rally, they said, could be an effort to counter the expanding political base of the Mahagathbandhan. Nitish Kumar had ended his 17-year alliance with the BJP in 2013 after Modi was declared the prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2014 general elections. However, his party won just two seats in the 2014 polls. Of the total 40 seats in Bihar, the NDA had won 31 in 2014. After the Lok Sabha elections, the JD(U) entered into an alliance with the RJD and Congress in Bihar during the 2015 assembly elections and Kumar returned as chief minister. However, he dumped the RJD-Congress-led grand alliance in July 2017, returned to NDA fold and formed a government in Bihar with BJPs support. Kumars return resulted in a split in the NDA as two of its constituents Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) joined hands with the RJD and Congress. As per the seat-sharing formula, the JD(U) and BJP in Bihar will contest on 17 seats each and Paswan-led LJP will get the remaining six seats for the 2019 general elections. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Every year, Activate Elgin looks evaluates what to offer and this year added programs geared toward mental health, which was listed as a top priority for people living in Kane County, according to a Kane County Health Department assessment, Henson said. Wellness is much more than what you eat or how you exercise. Wellness includes mindfulness, she said, adding Activate Elgin is trying to take a holistic approach to health and wellness. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the Opposition, especially the Congress for its chowkidar chor hai jab. Addressing mega Sankalp Rally in Patnas Gandhi Maidan, the PM said that there seems to be a competition to abuse him. But be assured that your chowkidar is fully alert, the PM said. At a time when our armed forces are fighting enemies across border and within India, some people are making statements to please Pakistan, he added. The rally brought the PM and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar together for the first time in several years. The NDA is officially launching its Lok Sabha poll campaign with this rally. Talking about politicisation of the surgical strike, PM Modi said that, When India should have spoken in one voice, 21 Opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt resolution condemning us.Talking about the Balakot plan, PM Modi said that, This is New India, it does not remain silent on killings of its jawans. Action of Congress and its allies after bombing of terror camp made people happy in Pakistan who clapped in glee, PM Moid said in his scathing attack. Meanwhile, in what may be seen as a blow to the disjointed anti-NDA front in Bihar, the Bahujan Samaj Party has decided to contest all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. According to BSP state in-charge Lalji Medhkar, party chief Mayawati has convened a meeting of all potential candidates and other office-bearers in the national capital later this week. Behenji has instructed us to start preparations for all the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, Medhkar told PTI. The development comes at a time when the Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, Congress and an assortment of smaller parties is yet to finalize a seat-sharing formula more than two months after NDA did the same. New Delhi: Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful surgical strike in Pakistans Balakot, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said it proves that PM Modi has 156 inch ka seena. Addressing the mega rally in Patnas Gandhi Maidan, Paswan said that PM Modi has proven that he has the guts to take tough decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are sharing the dais for the first time in many years. The Sankalp Rally will launch the NDA campaign in the state. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for sewerage infrastructure at four towns in Bihar including Karmalichak (Patna), Barh, Sultanganj and Nauguchia. He will also dedicate to people the Patna River Front that includes 16 ghats, 1 crematorium, 4.9 km promenade, community-cum-cultural centre, audio-visual theatre and eco centre build at a cost of Rs 243.27 crore. This function will take place at Begusarai on 11 am. The sewerage infrastructure projects for which foundation stone will be laid include sewerage network of 96.54 km and 1 sewage pumping station (SPS) in Karmalichak (Patna), 11 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP), 3 SPS and interception & diversion of 3 drains in Barh, 10 MLD STP, 4 SPS and interception and diversion of 5 drains in Sultanganj and 9 MLD STP, 6 SPS and interception & diversion of 9 drains in Nauguchia. These sewerage projects costing Rs 452.24 crore will prevent flow of 6.7 crore litre of sewage per day into River Ganga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Saturday that each drop of tear shed in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack would be avenged. Continuing his tough talk in the wake of the ghastly strike that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans Thursday, Modi said this is a "new India" which will not tolerate those who provide guns and bombs to target security personnel. In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP with its allies the Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP and the Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP won 31 seats in Bihar. The RJD-Congress-NCP alliance was reduced to 7 seats (4+2+1) whereas the Nitish Kumar-led JDU was decimated with just 2 seats in the elections. The 2014 election in Bihar was held in six phases on April 10, 17, 24, 30 and May 7 and 12. The BJP received 1,05,43,025 votes with a vote share of 29.8 per cent and its allies the LJP and the RLSP garnered 22,95,929 (6.5%) and 10,72,804 (3%) votes respectively. The RJD received 72,24,893 votes with a vote share of 20.4 per cent and its allies the Congress and the NCP garnered 30,21,065 (8.5%) and 4,31,292 (1.2%) votes respectively. New Delhi: In his first visit as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will visit Amethi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhis bastion on Sunday. The Prime Minister will launch several schemes worth Rs 11,000 crore with special focus on Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility. During his visit, the PM will unveil several other development projects for Amethi and the region, a statement from his office said. At Kauhar in Amethi, the PM will dedicate the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited to the nation. The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India's Ordnance factory and a Russian firm. It will produce the last series of Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa Ordnance Factory. The PM will unveil several development projects in power generation, education, health and manufacturing sectors. These projects will directly benefit the Amethi region, the statement said. Modi will also address a public gathering at Kauhar. BJP leaders expect over 1 lakh people will attend the rally. According to a report in The Hindustan Times, hoardings carrying the slogan toot jayega danka, phuss ho jayegi Priyanka have surfaced in neighbouring Rae Bareli. The report also said that five years ago, on May 5, 2014, Modi had broken the unwritten code of top leaders avoiding campaigning in parliamentary constituencies of the counterparts of rival parties. Meanwhile, PM Modi on Saturday took on the Opposition over the issue of air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan saying while the entire world stood behind India in its fight against terror, some parties in the country were questioning it. He also hit out at his detractors saying they are free to criticise him but their anti-Modi tirade should not help terrorists like Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed. PM Modi also said that the entire country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jet aircraft and wondered what could have happened if the IAF had the fighter planes. "The country is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, what all could have happened if we had Rafale. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he said in his address at the India Today conclave. New Delhi: With 2019 Lok Sabha Elections knocking on the doors, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its poll campaigns across India. After addressing a public gathering in Bihar's capital city Patna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now reached Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, to launch a Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility. During his visit, Modi has unveiled several other development projects for Amethi and the region. At Kauhar in Amethi, the PM has dedicated the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited to the nation. The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India's Ordnance factory and a Russian firm. It will produce the last series of Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa Ordnance Factory. Besides, Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone for several other welfare projects in power generation, education, health and manufacturing sectors. These projects will directly benefit the Amethi region. Modi also addressed a public gathering at Kauhar while giving the list of achievements of the BJP-led NDA government in the last five years. Other prominent figures who took part in the rally include Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union minister Smriti Irani, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath among others. Here are the Highlights from PM Modi's address in Amethi: 18:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Russian President: New joint venture will produce Kalashnikov AR's of newest 200 series and eventually reach full localization of production. Thus, Indian defence-industrial sector will have opportunity to fulfill needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms. Russian Pres: New joint venture will produce Kalashnikov AR's of newest 200 series&eventually reach full localization of production. Thus, Indian defence-industrial sector will have opportunity to fulfill needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms. #Amethi pic.twitter.com/fbbjurk9qE ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 17:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Amethi: We might have lost election here but we won your hearts. In last 5 years, Smriti ji has worked so hard for development of this region. She never made you feel whether you made her win or lose, she worked more than the person who won here. 17:43 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Be it a farmer, a young man, today you are able to work with full credentials because you have the power of a vote, says Modi. 17:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Amethi: Some people have the habit of forgetting the public after getting votes. They want to keep the poor in poverty so they can say 'gareebi hatao' generation after generation. We are giving strength to the poor to bring them out of poverty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Amethi: Some people have the habit of forgetting the public after getting votes. They want to keep the poor in poverty so they can say 'gareebi hatao' generation after generation. We are giving strength to the poor to bring them out of poverty. pic.twitter.com/F6jvF3tfyq ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 3, 2019 17:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Our brave security personnel were made to face the enemy without bulletproof jackets. The previous govts made our forces wait for modern ammunition and fighter aircraft, says the prime minister. 17:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The factory of Korba was built to create modern rifles, but it has never been used for its full potential: PM Modi. 17:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The previous government had left no stone unturned to play with the security of our armed forces: PM Narendra Modi. 17:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Not only this, they could not even managed to make the land available for the building of the factory, says the prime minister. 17:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In But the previous government could not even decide what kind of weapon should be created at the Ordinance Factory in Amethi: PM Modi's fresh salvo at the Congress. 17:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In For the sake of the country's security, our army had in 2005 brought the needs of modern weapon to the notice of then government. When your MPs made its foundation in 2007, it was said that work will begin in the year 2010: PM Modi in Amethi. 17:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Some people roam around the country and make speeches like - Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaisalmer, Made in Baroda. But this is Modi, rifles which will be manufactured here will now be known as #MadeInAmethi. 17:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NDA Government is committed to Amethis progress: PM Modi at Rahul Gandhi's traditional baston. 17:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi in Amethi: One of the most advanced rifles in world AK-203 will be made in Amethi. It will be made by a joint-venture of India & Russia. I express my gratitude to my friend President Vladimir Putin, this venture was made possible in such a short time by his support. 17:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I am here for those who voted for us and also for those who did not, says the prime minister. 17:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In During 2014 we had said - 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' and Amethi is a good example of that motto our government: PM Modi. During 2014 we had said - 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', Amethi is a good example of our that motto: PM @narendramodi #ModiInAmethi pic.twitter.com/xXexuyAp6v BJP LIVE (@BJPLive) March 3, 2019 17:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates various development projects in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches several development projects in Amethi. pic.twitter.com/zdrviwrubE ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 3, 2019 17:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Amethi: When 7,50,000 AK-203 rifles made here will be in the hands of our jawans, the condition of the enemies will be the same as it was after Air Strikes and Surgical Strike. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Amethi: When 7,50,000 AK-203 rifles made here will be in the hands of our jawans, the condition of the enemies will be the same as it was after #AirStrikes and #SurgicalStrike. pic.twitter.com/k3wUNFekN9 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 3, 2019 New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick start NDAs election campaign in Bihar from the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. During his rally in Patna, Modi will share the stage with Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U president Nitish Kumar for the first time since May 2009. This will also be the first joint rally of the NDA after more than years 13 years. Besides Modi, the ruling coalitions Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan will be addressed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ramvilas Paswan. The three tall leaders of the NDA would blow the bugle for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the politically important Bihar having a total of 40 Parliamentary seats. Below are the live updates: 13:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Modi in Patna: Now they have even started asking for proof of the Air Strike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies? 13:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Our government is engaged in ensuring that 'Panchdhara of development' in Bihar i.e. Education for Children, Earning for youth, Medicines to the elderly, Irrigation to farmer and people's hearing: PM Modi 13:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi in Patna: These days a competition is underway to abuse the 'Chowkidaar', but you be assured, this 'Chowkidaar' of yours is as alert as ever. PM Narendra Modi in Patna: These days a competition is underway to abuse the 'Chowkidaar', but you be assured, this 'Chowkidaar' of yours is as alert as ever. pic.twitter.com/uK1iNR0nuw ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 13:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Everyone knows what happened in Bihar in the name of fodder. Only we have dared to end the culture of corruption and middlemen which had been a normal practice in the country for decades: Modi targets Lalu Yadav at NDA's Sankalp Rally in Patna. 13:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Nitish Kumar has given a new direction to Bihar. The development has found new speed in Bihar due to NDA government at the Centre and in the state," says PM Modi. 13:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi in Patna: I salute the martyrs of Pulwama, the whole nation is standing with the families of the jawans. PM Narendra Modi in Patna: I salute the martyrs of #Pulwama, the whole nation is standing with the families of the jawans pic.twitter.com/p8wDSGtPUx ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 12:54 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Our alliance (BJP and JDU) was formed for the development of Bihar. We worked for the development of all the sections of society. We connected all the villages by road," says Nitish Kumar. 12:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is on stage now. "After Pulawama attack, the swift action by our military under the leadership of Modiji is commendable. I salute the forces, the martyrs of Pulwama attack and IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman for their bravery." 12:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In After air strike on terrorist camp in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chest has increased to 156-inch from 56-inch, says Ram Vilas Paswan. 12:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In People want chef food. In the last five years, we didn't let the prices of food grains increase. People are getting rice at Rs 2/kg. Farmers have been given Rs 6 thousand per year: Ram Vilas Paswan 12:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Ram Vilas Paswan is speaking. "We are happy that you have done in just five years what could not be done in the past 70 years. You have built homes for the poor, toilets in every household, distributed 6 crore gas connection and electrified all the remaining 18 thousand villages. What else one needs to live." New Delhi: Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are one of the hottest couples in B-town. Their adorable chemistry and romantic gestures speak a lot about their relationship. Also, itas no secret how smitten Ranveer is with wife Deepika. He never misses a chance to express his love towards her. However, there is one question that refuses to leave this couple alone. We all know that Deepika was in a steady relationship with Ranbir Kapoor a few years back. However, even after they broke up, the two actors share a cordial relationship and have even worked together like true professionals. Ranveer too shares an amicable relationship with Ranbir and the two even graced the couch of Koffee with Karan season 5.A At India Today Conclave, Ranveer was asked if he is ever insecure about Deepika working with her ex Ranbir Kapoor. To this, he replied, ''Do I seem like an insecure person, really? I am not an insecure type at all. I am extremely secure in who I am and what I am. I know that nobody can love her the way I do, so itas cool.'' Referring to his Gully Boy dialogue ''Tere Bhai Jaisa Koi Hard-ich Nahi Hai'' (No one is tough like your brother), Ranveer added that his achievement is also the fact that Deepika is now his wife. ''Deepika Padukone ko wife bana diya, yeh hota hai achievement'' (I made Deepika Padukone my wife, thatas an achievement). The actor also said that he is looking forward to work with Ranbir Kapoor in the future. ''We have had many opportunities to work together but none of them has worked out. But you never say never. I have a feeling it will happen in the near future. Hopefully, I would like it to happen sooner rather than later. And I know he wants to collaborate too. So letas hope it happens. I think it will be quite epic,'' he said.A On the work front, Ranveer will be next seen in a83, a biopic on Kapil Dev. Deepika, on the other hand, will be next seen in Chhapaak,A based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.A For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On February 26, India woke up to the news of Indian Air Force dropping around 1000 kg bombs on Jaishs terrorist camps in Pakistan. As soon as the news came out, Bollywood lauded the IAF for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack. Global icon Priyanka Chopra also came out in support of Indias Surgical Strike 2.0 and tweeted Jai Hind. However, the netizens of Pakistan are not at all happy with Priyankas support for the Indian Air Force and an online petition has been started demanding the removal of the actress as a goodwill ambassador of UNICEF. "War between two nuclear powers can only lead to destruction & death. As goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, Priyanka Chopra was supposed to stay neutral and peaceful but her tweet in favour of Indian arm forces after they invaded Pakistan airspace shows otherwise. She doesn't deserve this title anymore," the petition read. The petition had received 2200 signatures when it was initially filed. Priyanka was made the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 2016. Interestingly, Priyanka had recently answered one of the most Googled questions about her Is Priyanka Chopra Hindi? She shot back with, "Hindi is a language. I'm Hindu, which is the religion. It's a slight difference. Just educate yourself." For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The occupants of both homes were able to exit the building on their own prior to the fire departments arrival, the news release stated. No one was injured. The Red Cross and the Elgin Fire Department chaplain provided assistance to the occupants of the homes, it stated. Both homes were red-tagged as uninhabitable, it stated. Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, five security forces' personnel, including a CRPF officer, and a civilian were killed during a 56-hour encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said on Sunday. The operation at Kupwara's Babagund area took time as the topography of the area posed "considerable difficulties" to security forces, a police spokesman said in Srinagar. Two terrorists were killed by the security forces in the encounter which began on Friday morning, he said. The spokesman said the bodies of both the militants were recovered from the site of the encounter. They were affiliated to the LeT, he said. One of the terrorists killed in the encounter has been identified as a foreigner from Pakistan, while the identity of the other is being ascertained, the spokesman said. He said a CRPF jawan, Sham Narayan Singh Yadav, who was injured in the exchange of fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday, taking the number of security forces' fatalities to five. Two CRPF personnel -- Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod - and two policemen -- Selection Grade constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah -- were killed in the gunfight on Friday, the spokesman said. He said one civilian, Waseem Ahmad Mir, also suffered bullet injury "in the nearby area" and succumbed at a hospital on Friday. The encounter began on early Friday morning when security forces launched a search operation in the Babagund area of Kupwara, in north Kashmir, following information about the presence of militants there. The spokesman said the topography of the area posed considerable difficulties to the security forces. The area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to safer places away from the site of the encounter, he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter. Police have registered a case and the incriminating materials retrieved from the site of the encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe the militants complicity in other terror cases, the spokesman said. He appealed the people not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area could prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any, the spokesman said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Earlier, Varthaman has told officials that although he was not physically tortured by Pakistan officials, he went through a lot of mental harassment in their custody. Varthaman was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border on Friday night. He underwent a series of medical tests as part of a "cooling down" process, officials said. New Delhi: The MRI scan of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was handed over to India after being captured by Pakistan, did not find any bugs. However, the scan has shown that there is an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after an aerial engagement with a Pakistani F-16 on February 27, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying. Significantly, a rib of Abhinandan Varthaman was also injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in PoK after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down. He will undergo more check ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. On Saturday, reports suggest Varthaman has told officials that although he was not physically tortured by Pakistan officials, he went through a lot of mental harassment in their custody. Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border on Friday night, underwent a series of medical tests as part of a "cooling down" process, officials said. Early Saturday morning, Varthaman met his immediate family members as well as several top officials of the Indian Air Force, they said. Varthaman arrived in the national capital around 11:45 PM Friday and soon after he was taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. He was captured by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. But before his plane was hit, Varthaman shot down an F-16 of Pakistan air force. Wing Commander Varthaman is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of the "cooling down" process and it is expected to continue till Sunday. Once, the health check-up phase is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, the officials said. The handing over of pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India at Wagah was delayed on Friday as he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, according to sources. It was not clear whether he was made to record the video under duress. The video also had several jump cuts indicating that it had been edited heavily, apparently to fit Pakistani propaganda. At 8.30 pm (local) time, the Pakistan government released the pilot's video message to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured. "Recording of his video message caused a delay in his handing over," a source said. In the video message, Varthaman said he entered Pakistan's space to "find a target" but his aircraft was shot down. "I was in search of the target when your (Pakistan) Air Force shot me down. I had to eject the plane which had sustained damage. As soon as I ejected and when my parachute opened and I fell down, I had a pistol with me." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan may take decisive action against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfits chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to the global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country, the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UNs 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016.In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked Indias proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistans decision to act decisively was taken not to give any face saving to India. We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone elses, the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it. Stressing that the countrys leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested involvement of any Pakistani organisation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Not a single leader from the ruling BJP-JDU alliance reached Patna airport to receive the body of CRPF personnel Pintu Kumar Singh, who was killed in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district on Friday during an encounter with terrorists. The leaders of the BJP and the JDU along with other NDA parties were probably busy with the election rally at Patnas Gandhi Maidan where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are scheduled to address a huge gathering. The family members of the martyred CRPF inspector were upset over the fact that Nitish Kumar gave priority to an election rally and didnt turn up to pay his last respect to the soldier. "It's very unfortunate that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not bother to come to pay his last respect," NDTV quoted Sanjay Singh, uncle of the CRPF inspector who was from Dhanchakki village in Begusarai, as saying. State Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha and Lok Janshakti Party MP Choudhary Mahboob Ali Kaiser were among the people who reached the airport to pay their last respect to the soldier. Besides them, District magistrate Kumar Ravi, senior police officer Garima Mallick, top officers of the CRPF were also present at the airport. LJP MP Kaiser pointed out that CM Nitish Kumar should have at least sent his deputy to pay last respect to the soldier if he was busy with the election rally. "I am not here for politics. I came to pay my respect," said Congress leader Jha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted NDAs election campaign in Bihar from the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. During his rally in Patna, Modi shared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U president Nitish Kumar for the first time since May 2009. This was also the first joint rally of the NDA after more than years 13 years. Besides Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ramvilas Paswan also addressed the ruling coalitions Sankalp rally to blow the poll bugle in the politically important Bihar having a total of 40 Parliamentary seats. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The encounter which started on Friday at Babagund village of Langate, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district entered its third day today. Three CRPF jawans, two Jammu and Kashmir police personnel and a civilian have been killed so far in the encounter. This was after a terrorist who was hiding in debris of a house damaged in a joint operation opened fired on them. Two terrorists have also been killed in the gun battle. The civilian was killed during clashes with security forces following stone-pelting incident at the spot. In the last three days, two to three residential houses, where terrorists were believed to be hiding, have been destroyed, according to reports. Earlier, on Thursday night at around 9:00 pm, the contingents of Army's 22 RR, 92 battalions, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and SOG conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Khanu-Babagund hamlet in Langate. ALSO READ | Indian fighter jets hit school of Jihad, Masood Azhar's brother exposes Pakistan's lie on Balakot strike Reports said that the forces had also installed lights to prevent the terrorists from escaping in the darkness of the night. As of now, there is no information on which group the terrorists were affiliated with. Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of terrorists there, the officials said. During the searches, the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated, they said. There was lull in firing several times during the day but the terrorists would resume firing as soon as the security forces advanced towards the house where the ultras were hiding, the officials said. Clashes between a group of youngsters and security personnel took place near the encounter site, leaving four persons injured, the officials. Earlier in the day, a civilian was injured in an IED blast set by terrorists in Tral area of Pulwama district. The incident took place at around 3 am in Amlar area, according to reports. Soon after the incident Police team reached the spot and an investigation is underway. The area has been cordoned off. IED was laid to target security forces patrol vehicles but seems to have exploded prematurely, according to reports. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Saturday alleged that India is a very high-tariff nation, stating that he wants a reciprocal tax or at least some kind of tax. "India is a very high-tariff nation. They charge us a lot," Trump said in his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the Maryland suburb of Washington DC. In his speech that lasted for more than two hours, Trump touched a wide range of issues including domestic, global and bilateral relations with countries like India. Referring to his often-cited example of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, he said, "When we send a motorcycle to India, it's a hundred per cent tariff. They charge 100 per cent when India sends a motorcycle to us, we brilliantly charge them nothing." "So, I want a reciprocal tax or at least, I want to charge a tax. It's called the mirror tax, but it's reciprocal," Trump asserted. ALSO READ | GST collection drops to Rs 97,247 crore in February "We cannot allow a country to charge 100 per cent and we get nothing for the same exact product. For one thing, they don't respect us. They think we are stupid," Trump said. "But let me tell you something. The world respects our country. They respect us," the President added. Early this year, at a White House event to announce his support for reciprocal tax, Trump had said he was satisfied with the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. "Even this is not enough, this is okay," he had said. "Look at motorcycles as an example. (In) India, it was 100 per cent. I got them down to 50 per cent, just by talking for about two minutes. It's still 50 per cent vs 2.4 per cent (on imported motorcycles to the US). Again, other than that, it's a very fair deal," the president had told reporters at the White House on January 24. On Saturday, he used the Indian example of how other countries were imposing high taxes on American products and now it was time for the US to impose a reciprocal tax. To prove his point, Trump said, he was using India as an example. "But India is a very high-tariff nation. And they charge tremendously. So they charge a hundred. So I say, I'm not going to charge you a hundred, but I'm going to charge 25 per cent, and I hear this turmoil in the Senate because we are charging 25 per cent," he said. Trump told his supporters that there was resistance to his move from the Senate. "I say, fellows, listen, they are charging us a hundred per cent. For the exact same product, I want to charge them 25 per cent. I feel so foolish charging 25, because it should be a hundred. But I'm doing 25 only because of you. I want to get your support," he said. President Trump has pressed US manufacturing companies to return home as part of his 'Make America Great Again' campaign. In a major disciplinary action against India's trade and investment policies, Washington on February 6, considered to withdraw the policy of zero tariffs on Indian exports to the US. Trump said the US could not allow a country to charge it 100 per cent while it got nothing for the exact same product. "For one thing, they don't respect us. They think we're stupid. They don't respect us. But let me tell you something, the world respects our country again," he said. "America is now booming like never before. Other countries are doing very poorly," Trump said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a big boost for Army's infantry troops, India on Sunday signed a deal with Russia for manufacture of as many as 750,000 units of AK203, the latest and updated derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. These assault rifles, which will be replacing the existing India-made INSAS guns in the Army, Air Force and Navy, is expected to be manufactured at the state-run Ordnance factory Project Korwa in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district. Once the rifles are supplied to the defence forces, the government, will also distribute the guns among paramilitary and the state police forces. Hence, this updated version of AK-47 is expected to be used as a standard weapon by all the armed forces in the next 15 to 20 years down the line. Previously, India and Russia were in talks for the manufacture of the AK-103 and later chose the AK-203 - a 7.62x39mm calibre rifle, as part of the Make In India initiative. Apart from AK-203, the Defence Ministry has also signed a contract with American Sig Sauer for the making of 7.69mmx59mm calibre advanced assault rifles. These would be used by soldiers directly engaged in counter-insurgency and other cross border operations. The idea behind having two different assault rifles is that the troops who are engaged regularly in combat with terrorist or Pakistan Army on the Line of Control (LoC) should have very advanced weapons while other armed forces can also have an advanced rifle which is lighter and can meet all the requirements. After a string of complaints on INSAS rifles from ground troops across the country, India about 10 years ago started looking for its replacement. However, the efforts could not materialise due to retraction of tenders issued for the purpose over different issues. Launched in 1949, the AK-47, has been used by military and terrorist groups across the world. The gun is licence-produced in several countries, including Germany, Poland, Israel, North Korea and the US. Being touted as one of the soldier-friendly rifles and operational in all conditions, the guns enjoy a high global demand because of their reliability and operational ease with militaries of over 100 countries that have been provided with the rifle. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Feb 26 air strikes are seen as way of India avenging Pulwama attack. The Balakot action has caused biggest stand-off between 2 nations. Pak has been belligerently defending Masood Azhar, saying he's very sick.A New Delhi: Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azharas brother Maulana Ammar has blown the lid on Pakistanas lie about Indian Air Forceas February 26 air strike in Balakot. In an audio message, which was posted on Twitter by Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui, the Jaish terrorist brazenly admits that Indian jets hit a school of Jihad in Balakot. A Times of India report said that the voice in the audio clip is that of Maulana Ammar. He was reportedly addressing a gathering in Peshawar on February 28, two days after the surgical strike. The Jaish commander also said that by returning Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, Pakistan has turned its avictory into defeat.a A Addressing the congregation, Ammar said that the Indian planes crossed over and entered Pakistan to destroy the school of Jihad, where astudentsa learned to help their aKashmiri Muslim brothers.a aBy coming into our area like this, India has ensure that we start a Jihad against it,a Ammar said. Talking about the IAF pilot, Ammar equated it with Pakistanas surrender in 1971 war. He said that by releasing Wn Cdr Abhinandan, the Imran Khan government has turned its victory into defeat. Earlier, an Indian Express report had said that at least four buildings inside the Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Balakot were hit by Indian missiles. The Indian Express quoted a source as saying that intelligence agencies have evidence, in the form of imagery from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), showing that the four buildings, identified as targets, were hit by five S-2000 precision-guided munition (PGM) fired from IAFas Mirage-2000 fighter jets. The missiles hit inside the campus of Madrasa Taleem-ul-Quran run by Jaish which is located on the same ridge line as the hilltop, a few hundred metres to the east, according to the Indian Express report. Earlier, Pakistan confirmed that the area was hit by IAF jets. However, it has so far denied any damage. A aWhy did the Pakistan Army seal the madrasa after the strike? Why did it not allow journalists to visit the madrasa? We have evidence in the form of SAR imagery to show that a building used as a guest house, where brother of Maulana Masood Azhar used to stay; an L-shaped building where trainers used to stay; a double-storied building used to house students entering the seminary and another building where those undergoing final combat training used to stay, were hit by the bombs,a The Indian Express quoted an official as saying. A aIt is for the political leadership to decide if it wants to release that imagery and make public what is a aclassifieda capability. The SAR images are not as clear as satellite pictures and we couldnat get a good satellite picture on Tuesday because of heavy clouds. That would have settled the debate,a the official added. The Indian Air Force carried out pre-dawn airstrikes on February 26 and destroyed major launch pads of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was behind the February 14 Pulwama terror attack. The initial reports suggested that the aSurgical Strike 2.0a decimated Jaish-e-Mohammedas Alpha 3 Control Rooms located in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. More than 10 bombs were dropped by the multi-role fighter jet Mirage 2000 at around 3:30 am on February 26 morning. Understandably, Pakistan has downplayed the airstrike. The aerial attack came day after Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a high-level meeting with all three service chiefs. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinanandan Varthaman on Friday finally returned home after more than 55 hours of captivity in Pakistan, which Imran Khan termed as a peace initiative towards defusing a near-war situation triggered by India's retaliation over Pakistan's continued support for terrorism. A report on India Today stated that IAF wing Commander Abhinanandan Varthaman returned home from Pakistan without the possessions that he had on himself when he landed in PoK except for his ring, watch and spectacles. The report further adds that upon ejecting from his crashed MiG 21 Bison, IAF wing Commander Abhinanandan Varthaman had his pistol, a survival kit, maps and some confidential documents that he managed to destroy. The report also said that the "taking over certificate" referred to Abhinandan Varthaman as a prisoner of war, whereas India hasn't referred to him as a prisoner of war. Soon after coming to India, Abhinanadan went through medical check-up. The MRI reports revealed that the fighter pilot suffered spinal injury as he ejected from his plane after it was shot down. The IAF pilot underwent a medical check-up at Army's Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in the national capital. The scan has also shown that there is an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after aerial engagement with an F-16. A rib was also injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in PoK after his plane was shot down. He will undergo more check-ups and treatment at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. Abhinandan Varthaman on Saturday briefly apprised Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his nearly 60-hour captivity in Pakistan after he was caught following an aerial combat with Pakistani fighters on Wednesday, official sources said. Sitharaman met Varthaman at the Army's Research and Referral hospital here, a day after Pakistan released him in its bid to scale down heightened tensions between the two countries. In a tweet, the defence minister said she met Varthaman and his family to "commend him on his valour, express the nation's gratitude for his selfless service, and wish him a speedy recovery". Varthaman's wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), seven-year-old son, sister Aditi and a few senior military officials were present in the meeting, the sources said. The IAF pilot, who shot down an F-16 fighter of the Pakistan Air Force shortly before his jet was hit during a fierce dogfight on Wednesday, is undergoing a series of medical tests the hospital as part of a "cooling down" process. A defence ministry spokesperson said Sitharaman conveyed to the pilot the sentiment of the nation and appreciated his "impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity". Official sources said Varthaman briefly mentioned to Sitharaman about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan after he was caught in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan, they said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired National Security Council meet along with the ministers of CCS, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Gokhale in New Delhi. Earlier this week, the Cabinet Committee on Security met at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were present at the meeting. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top officials of the prime minister's office and the security apparatus were present at the meeting, official sources said. India is believed to have carried out air strikes inside Pakistan early Tuesday and targeted terror camps, sources said. The strikes involving several fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the sources said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A new comprehensive bonded zone has been established in Hunchun city, northeast China's Jilin Province, which borders Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Formerly known as the Hunchun Export Processing Zone (EPZ), which was one of the 15 pilot EPZs approved by the State Council in April 2000, the bonded zone is the second in Jilin, following the Xinglong Bonded Zone in the provincial capital of Changchun. Changchun Customs expects to develop Hunchun into a regional logistic hub in northeast Asia for high-end warehousing, supply chain management, smart logistics distribution and transaction settlement. Hunchun has four road and railway ports at the national leval, surrounded by a dozen Russian and DPRK ports. The border city is opening wider as China and Russia agreed to carry out the Northern Sea Route cooperation and jointly build the Polar Silk Road in 2017. Trade volume between Hunchun and Russia was 4.61 billion yuan (688 million U.S. dollars) last year, up by 90.1 percent year on year. The import volume has been more than doubled to 4.46 billion yuan annually. highlights Wg Cdr Abhinandan remained in Pak captivity for over 60 hours. He crossed over and returned to home from Wagah border. Despite conventions, Pakistan made two video of pilot in captivity. New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has become the first ever fighter pilot in the world to shoot down an F-16 from a vintage MiG-21 Bison combat jet. Though several accounts have emerged about the 90-second dogfight in the skies over the Line of Control, new report has revealed the last radio message that the brave heart had sent. According to a Times of India report, the last radio message sent by Wg Cdr Varthaman was R-73 selected. This cryptic message tells us that the IAF pilot had managed to lock on Pakisatn Air Forces F-16 before shooting it down with the short-ranger missile. Why the IAF pilot chose R-73 is because according to officials, for such close combat, this missile is much better than RVV-AE medium-range air-to-air missiles, which are also carried by the MiG-21s. On Saturday, The Indian Air Force took to Twitter to elaborate about the aerial combat. On 27 Feb 19 at around 1000 hrs IAF radars detected a large package of PAF aircraft heading towards the Indian territory towards general area Jhangar. They breached the Indian airspace west of Rajauri in Sunderbani Area, the IAF said in a series of tweet. The ingressing aircraft were observed to be at various levels. IAF fighters including MiG-21 Bison, Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000 were tasked to intercept the intruder. PAF aircraft attempting to target military installations were intercepted by IAF fighters which thwarted their plans, another tweet said. The IAF lost one MiG-21 in the aerial engagement & the Pilot ejected safely his parachute drifted into POJ&K where he was taken into custody by Pakistan Army, the IAF said about Wg Cdr Abhinandans arrest in Pakistan. Recovering at the Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi, the IAF pilot has said that he face lot of mental harassment. Wg cdr Abhinandan is the second Indian Air Force pilot, who was captured by the Pakistani authorities. Before him, then Flt Lt K Nachiketa was arrested by Pakistan during Kargil War in 1999 after his Mig-27 flamed out. While Wing Commander Abhinandan was released within 72 hours, it took 8 days for Indian government to secure Nachiketas freedom. "Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. Vande Mataram!" tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi moments after the brave IAF pilot crossed over from Pakistan at Wagah border at 9:21 pm. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Minister of State for Defence Subhash Rao Bhamre on Sunday met Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at Army Hospital Research and Referral in Delhi. Earlier on Saturday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Varthaman and conveyed to him that the entire nation is proud of his courage and determination. Pakistan had on Friday released Varthaman in its bid to scale down heightened tensions between the two countries. "Minister of State for Defence Subhash Rao Bhamre met IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at Army Hospital Research And Referral in Delhi, today," the news agency ANI reported. Minister of State for Defence Subhash Rao Bhamre met IAF Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman at Army Hospital Research And Referral in Delhi, today. pic.twitter.com/cCwNKoaBTi ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 Varthaman arrived in the national capital by an IAF flight at around 11:45 pm on Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. Read | Seconds before aerial dogfight, this was IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's last radio message After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. When Varthaman, son of an IAF veteran, crossed over to India on Friday night, his right eye above his handlebar moustache appeared swollen. A video on social media showed that he was badly beaten up by a mob before being rescued by Pakistani security personnel. Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)'s biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 42 jawans and injuring dozens of others. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: At least 23 security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on a joint US-Afghan base in southwestern Afghanistans Helmand province on Saturday, officials said. Omar Zwak, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said 20 other troops were wounded in the attack that began Friday and ended Saturday evening after a 40-hour battle in the Wahser district. The death toll could rise after a final assessment, added Zwak. It was the Taliban's third attempt to overrun the base in the past 48 hours, according to officials. "The operation is over, 23 security forces killed, 15 injured and 20 insurgents killed." Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said. As many as 40 security forces may have been killed, according to a provincial official who spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to brief the media. Zwak added that military vehicles and offices were damaged by blasts and shooting in the attack. Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement that the insurgent group was responsible for the attack, which came even as Taliban negotiators met for talks with a U.S. peace envoy in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar. He said Taliban fighters engaged both Afghan and foreign forces inside the camp and killed "scores." Zwak said U.S. advisers were present in the base, but in a separate area. "The foreign forces present at the base were all safe as the Taliban could not reach that part of the compound," he said. Zwak said the attack began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at Shorab camp. He said three other suicide bombers also blew themselves up as gunmen followed behind them. Zwak said 22 Taliban gunmen were killed in the fighting. In recent years, the Taliban and the Islamic State group have carried out near-daily attacks in Afghanistan, mainly targeting the government and its security forces. The Taliban control several district centres in Helmand, which is a major source of the world's illegal opium supply. Camp Shorab was previously a British air base known as Camp Bastion. In northern Sari Pul province, Taliban ambushed a convoy of Afghan security forces, killing nine, said Zabihullah Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor. Amani said 12 other forces were wounded during the battle with insurgents that lasted seven hours Friday in Sangcharak district. "Four security forces are missing and believe to be taken alive by the insurgents," he said. The forces were just returning from an operation in the district when they came under heavy fire, Amani said. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. Clashes between the Taliban and the government troops backed by foreign forces have not subsided even as the US and Taliban are holding talks in Qatar to seek a negotiated solution to end Afghanistan's long war. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, in a fresh statement, has claimed that its chief Masood Azhar is alive but confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) indeed targeted it camps in Pakistan's Balakot with Israeli guided missiles on February 26. Its statement came amid conflicting reports that Masood Azhar died either in the airstrike or due to liver cancer. However, there was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Jaish-e-Mohammed had identified suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar as the one who carried out the attack on February 14 that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama. In an unverified 10-minute video recorded before the attack, Dar also mentioned that many more people like him were ready to 'follow the same path'. In the statement, Jaish said there has been growing pressure from India, the US and even Russia against Pakistan to take action against the terrorist group. It said the Pakistan government was planning action to satisfy the international community. The Pakistan-based organisation said it feared Pakistan government might crack down on after coming under international pressure. It also asked its cadres to unite and be ready anytime to migrate. The terror group also fears shutting down of its Madarsas. Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also accepted on television that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. Reports claimed that after getting seriously injured in the air strike, Masood Azhar died in a hospital. Masood Azhar was suspected to be afflicted with renal failure and is under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. Qureshi said on Thursday: "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell". The Jaish-e-Mohammad chief was a close associate of Osama bin Laden, terror motivator in several African countries and also known by many as the Pakistani cleric who brought jihad into the religious discourse at mosques in the UK, the official said. The JeM was reactivated in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, a year after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The group had constituted a special 'Afzal Guru squad' to avenge his hanging. The influence of the 50-year-old overweight terrorist mastermind was so huge that, when he was released by India in exchange for freeing the hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft IC-814 on December 31, 1999, in Kandahar, Laden hosted a banquet for him the same night. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Fearing a crackdown by the authorities of Pakistan, which is under a massive international pressure to take action against terror groups in its country, the Jaish-e-Mohammed has asked its cadres to unite and be ready anytime to migrate. In a statement, the Pakistan-based terror group also slammed Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday. It also fears shutting down of its Madrasas in Pakistan. The statement came in the wake of reports that Pakistan may take decisive action against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list its chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to the global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council. JeM, in the fresh statement, has also claimed that Azhar is alive but confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) indeed targeted its camps in Pakistan's Balakot with Israeli guided missiles on February 26. Its statement came amid conflicting reports that Masood Azhar died either in the airstrike or due to liver cancer. However, there was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Jaish-e-Mohammed had identified suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar as the one who carried out the attack on February 14 that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama. In an unverified 10-minute video recorded before the attack, Dar also mentioned that many more people like him were ready to 'follow the same path'. In the statement, Jaish said there has been growing pressure from India, the US and even Russia against Pakistan to take action against the terrorist group. It said the Pakistan government was planning action to satisfy the international community. Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also accepted on television that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. Reports claimed that after getting seriously injured in the air strike, Masood Azhar died in a hospital. Masood Azhar was suspected to be afflicted with renal failure and is under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. Qureshi said on Thursday: "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell". The Jaish-e-Mohammad chief was a close associate of Osama bin Laden, terror motivator in several African countries and also known by many as the Pakistani cleric who brought jihad into the religious discourse at mosques in the UK, the official said. The JeM was reactivated in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, a year after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The group had constituted a special 'Afzal Guru squad' to avenge his hanging. The influence of the 50-year-old overweight terrorist mastermind was so huge that, when he was released by India in exchange for freeing the hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft IC-814 on December 31, 1999, in Kandahar, Laden hosted a banquet for him the same night. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. highlights Earlier, Shah Mahmood Qureshi accepted on TV that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. There was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. New Delhi: Masood Azhar, chief of terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed which has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack, is reportedly dead days after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot. However, there was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Jaish-e-Mohammed had identified suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar as the one who carried out the attack on February 14 that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans. In an unverified 10-minute video recorded before the attack, Dar also mentioned that many more people like him were ready to 'follow the same path'. Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also accepted on television that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. Reports claimed that after getting seriously injured in the air strike, Masood Azhar died in a hospital. Masood Azhar was suspected to be afflicted with renal failure and is under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. Qureshi said on Thursday: "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell". The Jaish-e-Mohammad chief was a close associate of Osama bin Laden, terror motivator in several African countries and also known by many as the Pakistani cleric who brought jihad into the religious discourse at mosques in the UK, the official said. The JeM was reactivated in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, a year after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The group had constituted a special 'Afzal Guru squad' to avenge his hanging. The influence of the 50-year-old overweight terrorist mastermind was so huge that, when he was released by India in exchange for freeing the hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft IC-814 on December 31, 1999 in Kandahar, Laden hosted a banquet for him the same night. In the banquet, Laden recalled how he and Azhar had first worked together in 1993, the official said. Azhar was arrested for preaching jihad in Jammu and Kashmir in 1994. One of his British recruits, Omar Shaikh, as a member of the terrorist group Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA), kidnapped four western tourists in India in 1994 in order to secure the release of Azhar. However, security agencies succeeded in releasing the hostages and arresting Shaikh. Again in 1995, five western tourists were kidnapped by HuA and eventually killed in order to gain the release of Azhar. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Pakistani Premier Imran Khan on Sunday to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, Downing Street said. During the phone conversation between the two leaders, May welcomed Khan's commitment to reduce tensions following the return of captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by the Pakistani authorities earlier this week. "The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan today. She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan,? a Downing Street spokesperson said. "The leaders discussed the need to address the causes of this conflict. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism, the spokesperson said. Both leaders also "reiterated their commitment" to the UK-Pakistan bilateral relationship during the interaction, which follows heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Varthaman, who was in one of the eight MiG-21s that took on the invading Pakistan Air Force jets and shot down an F-16, was released at the Wagah border on Friday. The UK government has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan since the Pulwama attack on February 14, with senior government ministers holding talks with their counterparts in India and Pakistan. During an urgent question in the House of Commons on Wednesday, UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field had told MPs that the UK would continue to support a listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader, Masood Azhar, under a UN Security Council Resolution. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. One more of China's most wanted graft fugitives has returned to China and turned himself in 17 years after fleeing overseas, China's top anti-graft authority announced Saturday. Li Jianxiong, a former real estate transaction official at Nanhai District of Foshan City in Guangdong Province, is suspected of graft crime. The procuratorate in Nanhai District started investigating his case in July 2002, two months after he fled. Li was listed on an Interpol Red Notice in May 2003. Through work by an office in charge of fugitive repatriation and asset recovery under the central anti-corruption coordination group, he turned himself in Friday and expressed his willingness to return his illegal gains. An official with the office said fugitive repatriation and asset recovery is a journey to which there is no end. "No room or illusion (of being unpunished) will be left for corrupt officials." Yemens Foreign Minister has called on Iran to abide by the principles of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) and to stop supporting the Houthi militia, who have been at war with the Yemeni government since 2014. Khalid Al Yamani urged the Iranian regime to stop funding the militia and to stop providing the group with weapons, in his address to the 46th Ministerial Conference of the OIC in Abu Dhabi. He said Iran must stop destabilising the region by supporting armed groups, and respect the principles of international law. Al Yamani said the Houthis were stalling the implementation of the Stockholm agreement, and refused to withdraw from Hodeidah in order to open a humanitarian corridor. This has hindered the work of the United Nations, he stressed, who brokered the agreement between the warring sides in Sweden in December last year. The legitimate government does not recognise the attitude of failure to implement the agreements made in Sweden because failure will bring us back to the battleground in Hodeidah and will undermine the momentum created by the Stockholm agreement, and the international support to resolve the Yemeni crisis will be lost, Al Yamani said. The number of Umrah visas issued this year by Saudi Arabia has reached more than 4.33 million. According to data provided by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the total figure for approved visas stands at 4,338,959, of which 3,892,554 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom. There are 443,560 pilgrims still in the country, with 304,897 of them in Makkah and 138,663 in Madinah. Most pilgrims 3,464,929 travelled to the Kingdom by air, while 392,632 entered by land and 34,993 arrived by sea. The largest number of pilgrims are from Pakistan (949,895), followed by Indonesia (633,253), India (408,495), Ye m e n (20,6980) , Egypt (204327), Malaysia (200,873), Turkey (183,164), Algeria (138,092), and Bangladesh (99,629). The weekly data also included 8,441 males and 1,738 females working within Umrah companies and institutions. Developing Hajj and Umrah organisations and services in the Kingdom is among the top priorities of the Saudi government. To be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Kingdom will host StartUp Bahrain Week today until March 8, 2019, in co-operation with Tamkeen as a strategic partner. StartUp Bahrain Week is a community-led initiative that brings together the regions most exciting start-up events and connects some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds, with more than 2,500 delegates from around the world expected to participate. The weeks activities will include five events, four competitions and more than 30 speakers from Bahrain and the region. Pakiza Abdulrahman, event manager, told Tribune, The StartUp Bahrain Week, is an annual festival that aims to bring together, investors, tech startups and top speakers from around the world along with startups from the region and join their experiences with the Bahrain community. The StartUp Bahrain Week, this year, is much bigger than compared to the previous year in terms of the number of speakers, competitions, workshops and initiatives that are taking place at different venues across the Kingdom. The start-ups will speak of the workshops done by AWS, Tamkeen and Savour Ventures all the way from Kuwait scouting for food tech concepts. Moreover, this year we have the MENA challenge which is sponsored by AWS, where the team at unbound has been scouting for the best startups around to bring them to Bahrain and exhibit and pitch on stage for top prizes. This year we will have an investors lounge where angel investors, venture capitalists and family officers will network and will connect with start-ups. Moreover, the main highlight for this year will be the welcoming of 104 international start-ups to come together for a start-up ecosystem tour. Over 100 companies, which are at different stages will come to Bahrain, to explore the startup ecosystem to meet with EDB sector teams, Tamkeen, accelerators and regulators to find out why Bahrain is positioned for the best choice for their business in the region. Lastly, we have collaborated with various organisations to host workshops and provide hands-on training, where we have startups from around the world coming in to participate. The Department of Trade from the UK has brought in seven scale-ups to come and expand to Bahrain and be a part of the annual exposure, Ms Abdulrahman added. The Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla Al Doseri, met with senior officials and ambassadors on the sidelines of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council, the high-level segment in Geneva. The Assistant Foreign Minister held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Ambassador Lasha Darsalia, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Vesna Batistic Kos, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Fiji Islands and Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan, and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iceland to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Harald Aspelund. During the meetings, the Assistant Foreign Minister praised the distinguished bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and other friendly countries, stressing the Kingdoms keenness to further develop its relations in order to achieve common interests. He also briefed the ambassadors and representatives on the progress of the Kingdom of Bahrain in many areas of human rights, highlighting its prominent initiatives and efforts in the development of health, housing care and services, raising the quality and outcomes of education, advancing Bahraini women, bridging gender gap, and other achievements. The ambassadors and representatives praised the growing bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain and expressed their congratulations for the Kingdoms achievements in the field of human rights, wishing it further progress and success. A number of topics and issues of mutual interest were discussed, including cooperation in supporting the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, especially in the framework of the membership of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Council for the years 2019-2021. The worlds chemical weapons watchdog said Friday that chlorine was used against the rebel-held Syrian town of Douma in 2018, in a long-awaited final report on the deadly attack. The report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was based on a visit by inspectors to the site of the attack which witnesses said killed 43 people. Western powers led by the United States blamed the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the incident and unleashed air strikes on military installations in response. The Hague-based watchdog said two cylinders likely containing chlorine smashed into a housing block in the town. The OPCW report said that there were reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon has taken place on 7 April 2018. This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine. It said however that it found no evidence of the use of nerve agents in Douma, which had been previously alleged by some parties in the conflict. The findings confirmed an interim OPCW report released last July saying that traces of chlorine were found. Staged provocation Russia, which backs Assad, rejected the report and said the attack was staged by Syrian rescue volunteers known as the White Helmets. In spite of all the evidence presented by Russia, Syria, and even British journalists that the Douma incident is no more than White helmets staged provocation, Technical Secretariat of OPCW states in todays report that chlorine was used in Douma as a chemical weapon, the Russian Embassy in The Hague tweeted. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt however said Syria should now honour its 2013 vow to destroy all its chemical weapons, made after 1,400 people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta in what the UN said was an attack using the nerve agent sarin. Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian echoed the comments, calling for the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime to end and for the perpetrators of such acts to be punished. The report said two yellow industrial cylinders dedicated for pressurised gas were found, one of which had landed on top of the housing block and crashed through it. It said it was possible that the cylinders were the source of the substances containing reactive chlorine. The OPCW said witnesses told the team there were 43 decedents related to the alleged chemical incident, most of whom were seen in videos and photos strewn on the floor of multiple levels of an apartment building and in front of the same building. The watchdog also rejected claims by the Syrian regime that the gas came from an alleged rebel chemical weapons facility and storehouse in the area. The United States and Russia clashed Friday over how to assist crisis-wracked Venezuela, with Moscow pledging new relief channeled through President Nicolas Maduro and Washington slapping sanctions over the blocking of US aid. A day after Russia and China vetoed a US and European resolution at the UN Security Council that called for unimpeded aid deliveries, Washington said it was targeting six Venezuelan military officers for stopping US-led convoy. Four people were killed in the melee as Maduros forces prevented the 178 metric tonnes of rice, beans and other food from crossing into the country from Colombia. The leftist strongman says the aid is a pretext for a US-led invasion. We are sanctioning members of Maduros security forces in response to the reprehensible violence, tragic deaths and unconscionable torching of food and medicine destined for sick and starving Venezuelans, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as interim president, had hoped to triumph in bringing in the stockpiles of food. Russia steps up More than 50 countries recognize Guaido as Venezuelas rightful president -- but Maduro enjoys strong support from Russia, which is eager to challenge US interventionism, as well as China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars Beijing has lent to Caracas. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, receiving Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Moscow, said Russia was stepping up shipments of wheat and was considering sending more medical supplies after shipping 7.5 tonnes. Bahrain FinTech Bay is celebrating its first year anniversary since its launch in February 2018. The celebratory event was held at the Arcapita Building with their partners, governmental bodies, Bahrain FinTech Bay residents, financial institutions, universities, and various community members. Aimed at accelerating local early-stage FinTech companies to their next stage of development, the platform worked towards attracting foreign growthstage FinTech companies to Bahrain and creating a physical hub for co-creation and the sharing of resources and ideas. To date, Bahrain FinTech Bay has attracted 75 local and international partners, 8 Venture Acceleration Platform partners, and published 5 in-depth market ecosystem reports, and hosted two successful platforms - BlockOn, a knowledge-exchange platform where the latest innovations and applications for the blockchain community were showcased. The second, RegFact was held last week bringing together regulators, financial institutions, FinTechs and others to discuss the latest developments and provide key insights into the world of regulatory technology. Earlier this year, Bahrain FinTech Bay announced the launch of its FinTech Talent Programme in partnership with Tamkeen focused on the training and development of Bahrainis and is the first and only of its kind in the Middle East. In Addition, a significant development on the talent front with the announcement of the Georgetown Professional Development Certificate Programme in FinTech. Bahrain Fintech Bay which will host some live classroom sessions which will accept the first cohort in April 2019. Fintech for Sustainability Hackathon The MENA regions largest Fintech Hub is currently working on a few initiatives for 2019 which includes the first Fintech for Sustainability Hackathon will take place at Bahrain FinTech Bay in March, which will host 50 university students, and creating a guide for those seeking a career in the FinTech sector. In April, Insurbyte will be launched to provide knowledge exchange, foster synergies among market players to find solutions and implement & promote innovative insurance practices in a collaborative, open and transparent manner. Long term plans include a global fintech fund that is being raised which aims to link international players in the fintech space, establishing three sister platforms in Singapore, Silicon Valley and Detroit to build international links and connect the Fintech ecosystem. Bahrain FinTech Bay CEO, Khalid Saad commented Bahrains FinTech ecosystem has witnessed key developments over the past year which have strengthened Bahrains position as a FinTech hub. Bahrain FinTech Bay has grown over the last year to become the largest FinTech platform in the region with over 75 partners and around 40 residents from Bahrain, the region and beyond. This year, Saad said, FinTech Bay will focus on providing more value to partners, deepening linkages with the region and other jurisdictions through the launch of sister platforms in Silicon Valley and Singapore. Additionally, we will be focusing on creating sustainable job and education opportunities for Bahrainis in FinTech and innovation through the National FinTech Talent Development Programme. You are here: China The online gaming population in China increased by 9.6 percent to 484 million as of December 2018, according to a report on China's Internet development. Among them, about 459 million played games on mobile phones, up 12.7 percent from a year earlier, said the report released by the China Internet Network Information Center. The year 2018 saw closer cooperation between domestic game platforms and foreign game developers, facilitating the overseas marketing of locally produced games as well as the introduction of foreign games to the domestic market, it said. Meanwhile, concerted efforts of various aspects of society have been made to effectively tackle the negative influence that online games bring, the report noted. Since central authorities issued guidelines on stepping up regulation over the online gaming market in February 2018, several campaigns have been launched to rectify violations of laws and regulations and remove vulgar content from online games. Game companies were urged to better protect the youth from adverse effects of online games. On the heels of two recent snow events in Connecticut, forecasts are calling for anywhere from a few inches to up to 10 inches of snow across the state Sunday into Monday. Although a winter weather advisory was canceled, a winter storm watch remains in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. When snow hit Thursday night into Friday morning, several schools canceled class or saw delayed openings because of slippery roads.More snow fell overnight Friday into Saturday, dropping between 1 and 5 inches of snow across the state. Now another storm threatens to drop a significant amount of snow Sunday into Monday. Ryan Adamson, a meteorologist with AccuWeather, said total snow accumulation forecasts vary from anywhere between 4 to 8 inches, with the potential of 10 inches in some localized areas. The heaviest snow probably falls (Sunday) between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. (Monday) across most of the state, Adamson said. He said the snow will likely start to fall on the western part of the state and along the coast around sunset Sunday. He said the snow should let up between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Monday with some lingering flurries in the far northeastern part of the state possible. In the Danbury area, residents can expect anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of snow Sunday into Monday, according to Adamson. Even though snow will be ending by daybreak (Monday) ... it will be a tricky commute for Monday morning, Adamson said, adding roads that havent been fully plowed or treated will cause problems for drivers. By the Monday evening commute, Adamson said, drivers should have no snow-related problems. Temperatures are expected to rise a bit following this storm, Adamson said, but a cold air mass will hit Connecticut Tuesday through Thursday, with temperatures forecast to plummet into the single digits and low teens. Anyone in need of shelter in Connecticut can call 211 or visit 211ct.org/. Although temperatures will rise again Friday into the mid-40s, another possibly snowstorm is on the horizon for next weekend. Retirement may seem like its a long way off when youre in your 40s and even your early 50s. Still, lets assume that you are contributing the maximum amount to multiple retirement savings accounts and are following a comprehensive financial plan with retirement security in mind. How likely is it that you will retire when you think you will? This is no idle question: 37 percent of workers retire earlier than planned, according to the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Thats nearly four in 10 Americans. Retiring earlier than expected can have major financial consequences. It stretches the time frame you will need your assets to cover, it can result in reduced income from Social Security and other sources, and it can result in boredom and even depression. A new study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, using data from the HRS, takes an in-depth look at the reasons many people are forced to retire early, to determine which factors play the biggest role. The study, Retiring Earlier than Planned: What Matters Most? (February 2019), provides valuable insights you can use to prepare for the unexpected. Nearly half of Americans today (48 percent) believe they will need to work past age 65, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Thats up from just 16 percent in 1991. This is partly because many people havent saved enough for their retirement, and partly because longer lifespans mean people will need their retirement funds to last longer. Most people plan to retire at age 62, their earliest eligibility for Social Security benefits, or at age 65, when Medicare kicks in. As you might expect, the later a person planned to retire, the more likely they were to retire earlier than planned. For instance, of those aged 58 in the HRS survey who said they planned to retire at age 66, more than half retired earlier. Financial planners take all of these possibilities into account, working out various aging scenarios to maximize retirement planning outcomes. The Center for Retirement Research compares the four most common shocks that result in involuntary early retirement: health, employment, family and financial. By studying people in the HRS survey, the center analyzed which of these retirement shocks have the biggest impact and occur most frequently. Health problems play the biggest role in forcing early retirement, the center concluded, followed by employment (job loss), family transitions (divorce, spouse retires), and financial issues (large loss of net worth). Clearly identifying threats to your retirement plan is the first step toward eliminating or preparing to meet those threats. For instance, the study breaks down health issues into two categories: People who underestimate the eventual workplace impact of existing health issues, and people whose health status worsens after they begin planning for their retirement. Understanding these issues may inspire you to take better care of your health. Or it may prompt you to adjust your assumptions and realize you need to take into account the possibility that you may be forced to retire earlier than you thought. Eric Tashlein is a Certified Financial Planner professional and founding Principal of Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC, 2 Schooner Lane, Suite 1-12, in Milford. He can be reached at 203-877-1520 or through www.connecticutcapital.com. This is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or legal/tax advice. Please consult your advisor/attorney/tax advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., A Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge Investment Research Inc., and Connecticut Capital Management Group LLC are not affiliated. NORTH BRANFORD The North Branford Planning & Zoning Commission is considering a proposal for construction of a medical complex at 28 Branford Road on Route 139. The 5-acre parcel currently contains a single-family home but is otherwise mostly vacant. Town Planner Carey Duques said the parcel, owned by Shoreline Commerce Park Limited Partnership, has sat undeveloped for more than two decades. Two new buildings connected by a footbridge would comprise the health center. Kenneth Boroson Architects, the firm behind the project design, described the complex in an email: Both of the twin structures (approximately 24,000 square feet each) are designed to provide multiple direct entrances to individual practices and to maximize the daylight within the offices by minimizing the suite depth and providing numerous windows. With the project, 4 of the 5 acres on the lot would be developed, Duques said. Property owner Shoreline Commerce Park is coordinating with the project applicant, Duques said. According to a draft of the zoning minutes from a Feb. 7 meeting, the application is by Connecticut Center for Health and Wellness. If the plan were to go through, the home on the property which is occupied by tenants who rent from the property owner, Duques said would be demolished. Located at the Branford border, the property presents a gateway to North Branford, said Duques, who hopes a medical facility will draw people into the community. Its a way that were trying to spur economic growth, Duques said, adding that theres a sense of excitement around the project. While there is still work to be done, the prospects for the development are looking good, Duques said. However, a few issues still need to be resolved for the proposal to go forward. Stormwater drainage is one such consideration. The site is wooded, and planners need to figure out where stormwater will go when that area gets paved, Duques said. The proposal includes subsurface stormwater infiltration system that would sit underneath the parking lot to collect and treat stormwater, Duques said, a set-up which is common among large developments. The town also needs to approve the proposed parking plan for the property. According to a draft of the Planning and Zoning Commissions Feb. 7 meeting minutes, the plan includes 172 parking spaces. Duques said based on the development, zoning regulations call for 223 parking spaces, but if the applicant were to demonstrate that an additional 51 spaces could be added later on if necessary, the parking plan would be approved. The applicant has based the proposed number of parking spaces on other existing medical facilities, Duques said. In addition, the town needs to coordinate with the state Department of Transportation to maintain adequate driving visibility, since construction would take place on a state road. Though uncertain of the timeline, Duques guessed that if all goes smoothly, the complex would be finished sometime next year. Robert Sachs of Cherry Hill Construction, Inc., is involved with the project, but more information about the applicant was not available. Sachs did not respond to multiple requests for comment. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled Kenneth Boroson Architects. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT Milford police are investigating the death of a Bridgeport police sergeant Saturday night as a suicide. The sergeant, whose identity has not been released by police yet, was found at his home in Milford, according to Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez. We dont know the circumstances. We dont know what happened, the chief said, adding that since it happened in Milford, police there are handling the active investigation. Shortly before 8 p.m., Bridgeports police sergeants working Saturday night were called to gather at headquarters. Perez said thats when they were told the news. It cant get any worse, Perez said. This is the second suicide by a member of the Bridgeport Police Department in a little more than a year. Its the first suicide the departments members have had to get through since Officer Thomas Lattanzios suicide in Seaside Park on the morning of Dec. 4, 2017. Police said Lattanzio, who was on the force for 17 years, drove to the park and parked across from the beach before taking his own life. After his death, the importance of awareness in police suicides was brought to the forefront by the Bridgeport Police Department. As officers mourned the loss of their colleague their friend, their brother they were told of options available if they wanted to talk about his death or any of their own struggles. In late Dec. 2018, more than a year after Lattanzios suicide, Perez said he still felt heartbroken by it and wished his officer had confided in him instead. Departments constantly have resources available to them should they need counseling or any additional resources for anything theyre dealing with. As officers make their way through the Connecticut police academy, there is a focus on the suicide rate of police officers and how to handle stress. But, one training officer said in an interview earlier this year with Hearst Connecticut Media, nothing can prepare officers for what theyll encounter. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the third year in a row, police officer suicides in 2018 exceeded all line-of-duty deaths across the nation, according to Blue H.E.L.P., a nonprofit run by retired and active police officers that tracks police suicides. At least 159 police officers died by suicide in 2018, the nonprofit found, while 144 were killed in the line of duty. There were 159 cop suicides in 2017 reported by the nonprofit and 140 in 2016. The suicide rate for the general population is 13 out of 100,000 and the rate for police officers is 17 out of 100,000, according to a 2017 study by the Ruderman Family Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation NEW HAVEN A city firefighter is accused of being involved with an assault that left a man with a broken jaw and missing teeth. Jalen P. Augustine, 23, of Roosevelt Street, appeared in court Friday on a charge of conspiracy to commit third-degree assault. The alleged victim identified Augustine in a photo lineup as a member of a group of individuals that had assaulted him, according to an affidavit unsealed in the case. According to the affidavit, the man had been hospitalized for injuries sustained in the alleged assault, which included the broken jaw and damaged teeth. Augustine denied being involved in the assault, according to the warrant affidavit. His attorney, Michael Jefferson, previously said that Augustine told him he was innocent and the matter was a case of mistaken identity. The case was continued to March 21. Two other men, who are not being identified by the Register as they have not been criminally charged, are mentioned in connection with the assault in the affidavit. Court staff said they did not have case files for the other two men as of Friday afternoon. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN As snowfall of five to eight inches is expected in Southern Connecticut from late Sunday afternoon to early Monday morning, the city has issued an emergency parking ban. The citywide parking ban begins tonight at 11 p.m for all zones, the city said in a release. File photo HARWINTON Police are asking for the publics help to find two teenage girls who went missing on Saturday. State police issued Silver Alerts for Shanaya Gonzalez, 14, and Karla Toro, 17, on Sunday morning. Police described the girls as endangered runaways. Newsfrom Japan Sakaiminato, Tottori Pref., March 3 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese fishing boat seized by a Russian patrol ship in the Sea of Japan in late January returned to its home port in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Sunday. Hideji Kagami, captain of the No. 68 Nishino Maru, told reporters after arriving at the western Japan port that he felt "relieved." He is also president of Kagami Suisan, a fishery firm in Izumo in the neighboring prefecture of Shimane that owns the crab fishing boat. The boat was seized by the Russian vessel on Jan. 30 after leaving the port to catch red snow crabs in the sea for a week. The boat and its crew members were freed after Kagami Suisan paid cash to the Russian side. They left Nakhodka in the Russian Far East on Friday. All 10 members were said to be healthy. A lawyer for the company stressed that they did not catch crabs in Russia's exclusive economic zone. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] JERSEY CITY Three people have been charged with hindering the police investigation into a shooting on New Jersey City Universitys campus last weekend, including a 22-year-old man who authorities say was accidentally shot in the foot during the incident. The Feb. 23 shooting led to a new policy on the NJCU campus barring all visitors from the schools three dorms, one university students say is unfair but officials defend as necessary because of the severity of the incident. "They shouldn't really restrict us," NJCU freshman Anthony Palmisano told The Jersey Journal. City and university officials say the shooting occurred at NJCUs West Campus Village residence hall. The investigation appears to have started when the shooting victim claimed it occurred during an armed robbery. But NJCU spokeswoman Sherrie A. Madia said evidence suggested he was accidentally shot in a dorm room. He was there with friends, and may have shot himself, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. Wallace-Scalcione said the three people charged are Tijahie M. Jacobus, who is the shooting victim; Ariel Fernandez; and NJCU student Keyshawn Alexander. All are 22 years old. Alexander was charged additionally with tampering with evidence, according to Wallace-Scalcione. Students who spoke to The Jersey Journal said they dont think NJCU told students early enough about the shooting. Freshman Ahmod Bradley said the episode has made him feel unsafe. It bothered me the most because if youre going to let us know two days after, somebody else couldve been hurt, and we would never know, Bradley said. A student probably couldve been killed on campus. Madia said NJCU issued a timely warning within three hours. The shooting occurred as NJCU has works on big plans to expand beyond its main campus, located west of Kennedy Boulevard in the citys Greenville section. The 425-bed West Village Campus dorm opened in 2016 off West Side Avenue. The university has partnered with private developers to construct apartments, a performance arts center, a supermarket and more on the schools land between West Side Avenue and Route 440. NJCU officials have touted the 8,200-student school as the safest public university in New Jersey. Federal law requires NJCU to disclose crime statistics annually in what are called Clery reports. The 2018 report, which includes incidents from the previous three years, says there were two reported on-campus rapes in those three years, two robberies, one aggravated assault and two arrests for weapons violations. New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, with an enrollment of 11,446, reported three rapes, two robberies, 11 burglaries and zero arrests for weapons offenses. The College of New Jersey near Trenton, which has 7,552 students, reported one on-campus aggravated assault in those three years, 32 burglaries, 23 rapes and two arrests for weapons offenses. Asked about the number of sex assaults, TCNJ spokesman Luke Sacks said the school has implemented initiatives aimed at encouraging victims to tell police about this underreported crime. Those efforts have resulted in more victims coming forward and higher numbers on the Clery report, Sacks said. Journal staff writer Aya Elamroussi contributed to this article. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. EDITORS NOTE: Entrepreneurs everywhere are eyeing the billion-dollar legal weed industry, an economic opportunity unrivaled in modern N.J. history. NJ Cannabis Insider features exclusive and premium weekly content geared toward those interested in the marijuana industry. View a sample issue. Justin Bealor weaved through the streets of Sea Isle shortly after midnight one July morning in 2002, an open 12-pack of beer in the backseat and the odor of burnt marijuana in the car. Police saw him cross the yellow lines in the road several times before he turned into oncoming traffic. Two state troopers pulled him over and then arrested him after finding a used marijuana pipe in his pocket. They found marijuana residue in the pipe and a urine test later confirmed that Bealor had marijuana in his system. But none of that meant Bealor was impaired by marijuana, his attorneys later argued, and upon appeal, New Jerseys state Supreme Court concurred in a 2006 decision. The court noted the state trooper who arrested Bealor wasnt an expert in assessing the effects of marijuana use, and the states forensic expert who was hadnt bothered to explain what effect it might have had. The Bealor decision and other legal precedent being established in other states raise huge concerns for police departments across New Jersey that they may not be able to effectively deal with people suspected of driving while high, concerns that could soon become even more pressing as state lawmakers appear to be getting closer to legalizing marijuana. New Jersey will be relying on officer observation as the primary tool to prove impairment, says John Zebrowski, the chief of police in Sayreville and the chairman of Legalization Working Group for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. And I think it will only be natural to see a tsunami of litigation on officer observation. Data from the New Jersey State Police shows that in 2016 New Jersey police arrested 23,579 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The data didnt separate the arrests by whether the driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both. A report from AAA Northeast last year found that 19 percent of drivers killed in car accidents in New Jersey in 2016 tested positive for marijuana, though those tests dont show whether the driver was impaired at the time of the accident. Marijuana intoxication is more unpredictable than alcohol, and theres currently no reliable way to measure cannabis intoxication. The legalization bill in New Jersey also doesnt have a legal standard for cannabis impairment and instead relies on existing protocol for judging whether drivers might be impaired. Add to that the fact that New Jersey is the countrys most densely populated state and its clear why legal weed is concerning for law enforcement. The high court in Massachusetts dealt with the question a few months before legal weed sales began in the state. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled last year that police officers could no longer offer their field sobriety tests as evidence a driver was under the influence of cannabis. Officers cannot even describe a field sobriety test as a test, nor conclude a driver failed it, the court ruled; only so-called DREs, or drug recognition experts, may do so. Now New Jersey seems poised to follow suit, according to former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Virginia A. Long, counsel to the law firm of Fox Rothschild, pointing to the 2006 case, State vs. Bealor. It (Bealor) seems to have reached the same conclusion as the Massachusetts case, Long told NJ Cannabis Insider. If the issue is presented today, the question will be whether there is now a consensus as to what the signs and symptoms of a drug high look like. The Court in Bealor said there was not such a consensus at the time, Long said. Over a decade later, numerous studies from the National Institutes of Health have concluded there is consensus on what a cannabis drug high looks like and that observation by trained experts in the field, and not blood testing, is the best indication of driver impairment. With no legal standard for cannabis impairment in the current legal weed bill, police chiefs are worried impaired driving arrests made without the use of a drug recognition expert will crumble under any legal challenge. In the meantime, Patrick Colligan, president of the states Police Benevolent Association, warns that the costs associated with training a sufficient number of drug recognition experts will be staggering, particularly in departments with only a handful of officers. That could mean some departments in New Jersey could have no trained DREs on the force. I agree that the layman officer should not be testifying, Colligan said. But the DRE training is extraordinarily expensive, and smaller communities cannot absorb these costs. Joseph Abrusci, a past president of the New Jersey Drug Recognition Expert Association, said it is probably in the area of $5,000 to $6,000 to train a new DRE student. Abrusci notes that the state of New Jersey currently has roughly 450 certified DREs and 75 instructors. Thats more DREs than any state other than California. But that number would have to increase for New Jersey to deal with legal weed, said Christopher Didzik, lieutenant in the Toms River Police Department and president of the New Jersey Association of Drug Recognition Experts. "Our main concern is what we're going to do to prevent impaired driving," Didzik said. The drug recognition experts are trained by the New Jersey State Police, funded by a grant from the states Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Didzik said he would expect the grant to cover an increase in those officers, but its not a certainty that the cost would be covered. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said last year that the state was working to train at least 80 more police officers as DREs, focusing on departments that dont have any, in anticipation of marijuana legalization. Grewal said he expects legalization to present a challenge, but one his office was prepared to meet. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider. Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A white and black llama is apparently on the loose somewhere in Hunterdon County. Holland Township police department posted a photo Friday afternoon showing it walking across what looks like a driveway. The police department urges anyone who spots it to call them so that it may be returned to its owner. The township police department did not respond to NJ Advance Medias request for more information. Cassidy Grom, NJ Advance Media, cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Katie Brennan is about to get another slap in the face, not from prosecutors this time, and not from the frat boys in the Murphy administration who ignored her and lied to her after she told them she had been raped by a senior member of their team. The surprise is that this time, the slap is coming from the Legislative committee investigating her mistreatment. The committee has decided, at least for now, that it will not call Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez to testify about her glaring conflict of interest in this case. Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said the decision is tentative and might be reversed down the road. But a legislative source with knowledge of the discussions said it is final. There is no appetite to call Esther Suarez, the source said. This is an outrageous abdication of the committees core responsibility. In the written mandate that established this committee, the very first item on its charge demands that it investigate the appropriateness of the Hudson County Prosecutors actions. If the committee punts on that demand, then it may as well close up shop because it will have lost all credibility. Remember why Suarez is on the hot seat in the first place: She had a personal relationship with the accused, Al Alvarez, going back more than a decade. Suarez says they were not close friends, only political acquaintances. And she says she had no idea her people were investigating this case under her nose. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal exonerated her in November and asked the Legislature to drop its investigation of her. But NJ Advance Media later obtained internal emails sent from investigators in Hudson County to Suarez at the start of this investigation, all naming Alvarez as the accused, and one noting that he was a senior official in Murphys 2017 campaign at the time alleged rape. Grewals office said that Suarez didnt read the substance of the emails. Its not clear what that means. Did she open them? What part did she read? Is it even remotely plausible that none of the 25 other people on those emails stepped into her office to discuss such a politically charged case? And why didnt Grewal, in his letter to legislators exonerating Suarez, reveal the existence of these emails or even discuss whether Suarez knew her people were handling the case? After Suarezs relationship with Alvarez was revealed, Grewal asked prosecutors in Middlesex County to investigate, and they chose not to file charges as well. But Middlesex prosecutors didnt conduct an independent investigation from scratch. They relied on several key interviews done in Hudson County instead. So, if Hudsons investigation was tainted, then so was Middlesexs. Suarez once said publicly that she wanted to testify before the Legislature to clear her name. That was before we obtained the emails addressed to her. Now, she is not returning phone calls to discuss it. The Legislature cannot allow Suarez to hide under her desk like this. On behalf of Brennan, they need to get some answers. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. There is one person who single-handedly plunged New Jersey into endless debt. And it isnt Phil Murphy. It wasnt his predecessor Chris Christie either. It was that other Governor named Christie Whitman, that is. The current fiasco at that patronage pit known as the Schools Development Authority traces directly back to the borrowing binge Whitman began during her time in the 1990s. Back then Whitman fell victim to the delusion a common one among Jersey governors that she was ready to ascend to the national stage. To that end she desired to downplay the exceedingly obvious fact that she was a rich WASP from the horse country who had not the slightest idea how actual working people live. She did so by doing a tag team on the taxpayer with her handpicked Supreme Court chief justice, Deborah Poritz. In 1998, the two made a deal that both said would end forever the court fight in the Abbott school-funding case: All 33 school districts named in the suit would get pre-K funded 100 percent by the state as well as new schools, again funded entirely by the state. The bill for the pre-K was simply passed on to future governors. But Whitman and her fellow Republicans decided to bond for $8.6 billion for the schools - without following the requirement in the state constitution that such borrowing had to be approved by the voters. Her fellow Republicans, who controlled both houses at the time, went along in anticipation of all the lucrative contracts they could hand to their cronies. But there was one noble exception, then-Assemblyman Leonard Lance, also a WASP from the part of the state where people have ponies parked by their porches. Lance, who until this year was a member of Congress, knew a thing or two about the state constitution, perhaps because his father Wesley had helped frame it. "All debt should go to the public for a vote," said Lance at the time. "I am concerned about the levels of debt in this state." As well he might have been. Whitman had tried the same trick the year before, when she bonded for $2.7 billion to put in the state pension funds in lieu of an actual contribution. The current governor is stuck paying off those billions of dollars in debt. But shed no tears for Phil Murphy, not after we saw what happened at the Schools Development Authority, which is charged with building the schools Whitman wanted. Last week Dustin Racioppi of the Record reported that Murphys handpicked SDA chief executive, Lizette Delgado-Polanco, had cleaned house and then hired 38 people whose salaries totaled $3.3 million. Among the new hires were various members of her extended family, including the mother of her grandson and a second cousin, both of whom got $110,000-a-year jobs. Many of those fired had actual experience in the world of construction while their successors didnt. Senate President Steve Sweeney, who knows his way around the trade due to his real-life job as an ironworker, told me that changing a political hire or two is expected when governors change. When you take out the people that arent the political people, thats problematic, Sweeney said. When it comes to Delgado-Polanco, the closest she came to construction before getting named to her current $225,000-per-year position was in her job as political director of the carpenters union. Shes also the vice chair of the state Democratic Party. That makes her a twofer for our governor. Her appointment let him curry favor with both Latinos and labor, two key blocs whose support Murphy will need as he makes his ascent onto the national stage. I suspect that effort will go about as well as Whitmans. She skipped the last year of her second term so she could join the Bush 43 administration as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. It quickly turned out, however, that she was unfamiliar with both the environment and with protection. Before long she was back with the horses. All we have to remember her by is that massive debt. But Sweeney said the SDA has blown through almost all the borrowing that she and her successors did. They say we need $4.5 to $5 billion more, but where are we going to get it? he asked. Just last year voters approved a referendum for what was originally intended to be a billion in borrowing for vocational schools. But that had to be cut in half when Wall Street warned we cant afford more debt, he said. Last time I checked we dont have the capability to borrow because our finances are so screwed up, he said. The best solution is to fold the remaining responsibilities of the SDA into the Economic Development Authority, he said We really dont need the two agencies anymore, he said. We dont need the debt either. But thanks to Whitman, were stuck with it. BELOW: CANT SHE JUST GO AWAY? After all the damage she did to the New Jersey Republican Party, youd think Christie Whitman would have the grace to just shut up about a fellow Republican. Youd guess wrong, however. Late last month, Pope Francis convened an unprecedented meeting of the heads of national conferences of bishops throughout the world and achieved his goal. The church has now become increasingly aware of the need not only to curb the gravest cases of abuse by disciplinary measures and civil and canonical processes, but also to decisively confront the phenomenon both inside and outside the church, Francis said at the summits opening. He rejected criticism that identifying abuse more widely is minimizing the churchs culpability. But some victims of abuse by clergy and other critics of the churchs plan call it insufficient. And the lack of church reform undercuts the churchs determination to move forward. The pope offered 21 points for consideration by the bishops, curia officials and heads of religious orders, including a small group of nuns. Among the points were to remove perpetrators, prepare a practical handbook, establish protocols to handle accusations against bishops, and establish pastoral care for those injured by abuse so they can move toward recovery. To decide that priests and bishops guilty of sexual abuse of minors leave the public ministry was one of the more urgent points Francis shared. This is what people wanted to hear. What they did not see is a change in church law to back it up. True, Pope Francis can do this with his signature. But that may not achieve what was more important to him: getting global church leaders to realize this is a worldwide problem, and not just in the church. There are also national concerns. American jurisprudence will assure the rights of accused clergy; thats not so in parts of Asia and the Middle East where reporting a priest to civil authorities can be tantamount to a death sentence. Francis wants each conference to craft policies that suit their culture effectively. While the Vatican was the natural place to hold this summit, it can also be a circus atmosphere with the worldwide press chronicling every protest and giving a platform to each critic. Many abuse victims are still angry and have not reconciled their feelings. When the church makes one move, some will demand three more. It may never satisfy some victims. Complicating this summit were revelations that bishops and priests have abused nuns, that abuse of children by nuns is getting more attention, that priests have fathered children despite a vow of celibacy and a new book alleging that most of the Vatican clergy and hierarchy are gay. The most disappointing optic for me was the lack of more women in the summit. I would have required each bishop to invite a woman from his country -- the head of a hospital, perhaps, the leader of a religious order or a prominent businesswoman, etc. When the attendees broke into language groups, women would have been present to offer a different perspective and also show that the need for women in leadership is key to changing the clerical culture, a concern for Francis. One of the most significant books I have ever read is In a Different Voice, by Carol Gilligan. In it, the Harvard educator reveals that while on one level men and women are equal, there are differences that are complementary and necessary. For example, while men thrive on competition and the desire to dominate, she writes, women tend to be more inclusive to widen the circle of power. The scandals enveloping the church over mandatory celibacy, an antiquated understanding of sexuality, the primary need for intimacy and human warmth are not going away. Rather, they are driving millennials away from the church, which they see as rather unjust and out of touch. Pope Francis has done a remarkable job of positioning the church to face these challenges, but he gets significant pushback and may become less inclined to make changes. His summit did do one thing: Francis invoked the Vatican II collegial church and that is the church that will face the abuse problem and finally resolve it. The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. By John Farmer The bad news is that weve endured a lot this past year, notably nightly torture by cable television news channels reporting on the parlous state of the worlds oldest continuous democracy. Thats us. The good news is that this time our national trial appears to be nearing an end. By one means or another the conclusion of special counsel Robert Muellers 22-month study of possible presidential mischief or a string of House Democratic congressional hearings on the subject we should soon get a verdict on the Trump presidency, how bad its been and why. Some Democrats (maybe some independents, too) believe Donald Trump is nothing less than a traitor. Well, thats really a bit harsh, isnt it? Hes surely not a Russian agent, as I suspect American intelligence agencies would define the term. In troubled times, we do tend to overdo the criticism of those we believe, rightly or wrongly, would sell out the country. In the Red Scare of the 1950s, youll recall (or maybe not, but take my word for it) the wacky John Birch Society called Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a certifiable American hero, a conscious agent of the communist conspiracy. But theres something short of that kind of extremism that Mueller and House Democratic investigators may conclude about Trumps association with Russia and Russians. Its something that V.I. Lenin, Russias modern patron saint, called attention to about the Western democracies in general. They are filled, he said, with people who wittingly or unwittingly will do Russias bidding. He had a term for them. He called them useful idiots. Are they around today? Undoubtedly. There are people whod point to those who voted for Trump, despite his stunning lack of fitness for the presidency, as emblematic of the type. But I wouldnt do that myself. Well, at least not until all the evidence from all the pending investigations is before us. Muellers main task is to determine whether the Trump team colluded with Russian President Vladimir Putins henchmen to influence the 2016 U.S. election, helping to defeat Hillary Clinton and win the White House for the Trump. Hows that going? So far, no cigar, Mr. Mueller. But even short of outright collusion, the evidence of Trump camp contacts with Russian operatives and concern for Russian interests abounds. The appointment of Paul Manafort to direct the Trump national convention operation is as good a place as any to start. For more than a decade, Manafort did a thriving business in Ukraine before the Russian puppets running that country were sent fleeing to Moscow. Manafort made big bucks in Ukraine, along with lots of Russian contacts who more recently proved useful to Trump. A lot of Trumps money, as one of his children has been quoted saying, came from Russia. The Trump campaign repaid the debt presumably Manaforts work by scrubbing the GOP platform of language critical of the new pro-Putin Ukrainian regime. Theres more. Trump hosted the Russian foreign minister and an ambassador in the Oval Office with no other American officials present to inform them he had dumped James Comey as FBI chief to short-circuit the probe of Moscows meddling in the 2016 election. And he has regularly rejected U.S. intelligence findings about Russian interference in U.S. electoral politics, including one especially embarrassing public episode after a Helsinki summit with Putin. Trumps justification? Putin told him he didnt do it. Cant doubt Putin, right? Despite the evidence, its hard to believe Trump has any ideological affinity for the Russians. Or any ideology at all. On that score hes ecumenical. Hes been nominally everything, even a Democrat who gave money to Clinton. And he threatened at times to run as an independent. Trumps record suggests his loyalty and his abiding interest lie elsewhere with money and wealth, wherever its found and whoever has it and can make it available to him. Russia has it; the Moscow branch of Germanys Deutsche Bank has been a generous source of ready cash for Trump. Ditto the sheiks of Saudi Arabia. Wealth and how he can get his hands on it are how Trump measures people, institutions and nations. Appearances suggest he has little regard for anything else, including American political traditions and customs and perhaps the law itself. All of that makes him precisely the sort of useful creature Lenin was sure the West would produce. John Farmer has served as a Washington correspondent, city and national editor, national correspondent and columnist for several news organizations. Farmer has covered nearly every national convention and national political campaign since 1962, the IRA in Northern Ireland and the funeral of Princess Diana. Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday will unveil his state budget proposal, a year after his first spending plan prompted a bruising battle over taxes with fellow Democrats that nearly forced a state government shutdown. The governor suggested in a speech Thursday that he has his sights on another tax increase but that his administration has also sought out savings throughout state government. And the current years budget provides some clues on what to expect and whether Murphy is planning to play nice with Democrats who lead the state Legislature or is gearing up for another fight. The budget enacted last year raised more than $1 billion in new tax revenue for the state through a gross income tax increase on income over $5 million, a 2.5 percentage point surtax on corporations with income over $1 million and new taxes on Airbnb stays, ride-sharing and e-cigarettes. Those new taxes being collected are paying for increases in employee health care, the rising tab for government worker pensions, education and more. But Murphy described his first budget as governor as just a downpayment on those multi-year commitments to invest in New Jerseys middle class. So heres what we can expect from his upcoming proposal. 1. Increased taxes on the wealthy Its unlikely the governor has given up on one of his signature campaign promises, which was to raise taxes on the states most well-to-do. He hinted as much in a speech Thursday evening in Washington D.C., where he said the budget proposal would include his commitment to tax fairness." In the past, that Murphy-ism has been construed to mean hiking taxes on millionaires. I will speak once again to my commitment to tax fairness for our middle-class families and seniors, Murphy said, telegraphing his coming address. Doing so would reignite last years fight over the millionaires tax between the progressive governor and more centrist state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester. Sweeney has said he wont agree to raise any taxes in the next budget without significant structural spending reforms. Last years months-long battle and negotiations went down to the wire. And in the end, they cut a deal to avert a shutdown and raise the top marginal tax rate to 10.75 percent on income over $5 million instead of income over $1 million. The multi-millionaires tax, as Murphy has called it, is projected to raise $280 million in new annual revenues, far less than the estimated $765 million it would have brought in if it applied to every dollar over $1 million, as Murphy wanted. 2. Spending cuts Conservatives criticized Murphys first budget for failing to find savings and relying on tax increases to fund his policy priorities. His treasurer said that this year the administration looked for savings across state government. The governor asked all department heads to look for places to cut back, state Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio said at an event last month. We know the fiscal challenges we have ahead of us. Our department directors know the fiscal challenges we have ahead of us, Muoio said. The problem theyre trying to balance is they have been sort of bled dry in terms of having resources put into them the past eight years. We want to balance the needs of services, infrastructure, the improvements we desperately need with the need to find more savings to be able to meet our financial obligations going forward, she said. Murphy announced in September that he struck a deal with public labor unions to move retired school employees from traditional Medicare supplements to Medicare Advantage and create a new plan for active workers that encourages in-network visits. The administration estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in savings for the state over the next two years, and some of that is likely to show up in this coming budget. 3. More money for public-worker pensions The state will contribute $3.2 billion for government worker pensions this year, and thats only 60 percent of what actuaries recommend. Based on Murphys previous statements, you can expect hell contribute 70 percent of what the actuaries recommend, or close to $4 billion. Thats the largest payment in state history and in keeping with a path former Gov. Chris Christie put the state on to increase contributions by a tenth of the full payment annually. At that rate, the state will hit a full payment in 2023. 4. Increased spending on K-12 education Murphy has vowed to fully fund the states school funding formula means increasing aid to districts by more than $1 billion. His first state budget includes $351 million more for schools than the previous budget, an increase of more than 4 percent. The increased aid accompanies a big update to the school funding formula that redistributes money from districts that were considered overfunded to those considered underfunded. You can expect his second budget to kick up more aid for elementary and secondary schools. 5. Tax help for the working poor Murphys first budget also marked the first year of a three-year increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor, costing $27 million in its first year. The administration said the first year of increases would provide another $53 to more than 500,000 taxpayers, bringing the estimated benefit to $986. This budget likely includes funding for the second of three steps to increase the tax credit from 35 percent of the federal tax benefit to 40 percent of the federal benefit. 6. Another step toward tuition-free community college Last year, Murphy asked for $50 million to make community college more affordable, with the ultimate goal of providing tuition-free community college for all New Jersey residents at a cost of about $200 million a year. After the budget fight with lawmakers, he won $25 million to get started. Of that, $20 million was directed to cover tuition and fees and $5 million for planning grants. You can expect hell want to make another installment in the coming budget. Last year, 13 community colleges were chosen to receive funding to offer free tuition and fees to students from families earning less than $45,000 in adjusted gross income. The state secretary of higher education, Zakiya Smith Ellis, called this an important step in improving affordability for thousands of community college students. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com . Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. The Path to Progress plan, which was proposed by a panel appointed by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, includes a proposal for a pilot program that creates countywide school districts in two of New Jerseys 21 counties. I support this 100 percent because it will test a school district model that should be much more efficient than the current system of multiple school districts in each county. This would eliminate many of the astronomically high administrative costs that residents must pay for through their property taxes. This idea makes sense all across the state, but especially in the counties with lower populations. The pilot approach is a very smart because, once the most effective and efficient methods are worked out in the first two counties, they can be applied to other counties throughout the state. Ultimately, we have two options: keep the status quo, or change. The status quo has led to nothing but higher taxes and a fiscal crisis, so I want to see change. I encourage anyone who agrees to support the Path to Progress plan because it offers the reforms needed for real change to happen. Shawn Layton, Mantua Township Editors note: The writer is a township committeeman in Mantua Township, initially appointed by the all-Democrat committee in 2017. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com NEW YORK -- Bernie Sanders kicked off his presidential campaign Saturday (March 2) miles from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn and 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." The Democrats in the 2020 race have taken varied approaches to Trump, with some avoiding saying his name entirely, while others make implicit critiques of his presidency. Sanders has never shied from jabbing Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College, he called Trump "the most dangerous president in modern American history" and said the president wants to "divide us up." The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Beyond the issues themselves, Sanders, who grew up in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. Trump demanded top-secret clearance for Kushner despite Kelly's concerns "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," said Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. He pegged his allowance as a kid at 25 cents a week. Sanders also said he "did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers, 'You're fired.'" "I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over everyday workers," he added. More than 200 miles away in suburban Washington, Trump reveled in his 2016 victory and said Republicans "need to verify it in 2020 with an even bigger victory." While Trump didn't mention Sanders explicitly in a two-hour speech, he railed against the policies of "socialism" in a continued attempt to portray Democrats as out of touch with ordinary Americans. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. "Socialism is not about the environment, it is not about justice, it is not about virtue. It is only about one thing - it is called power for the ruling class," Trump said. "We know the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism" Speaking at the same conference Friday, Vice President Mike Pence called Sanders an "avowed socialist." Sanders enters the race at a moment that bears little resemblance to when he waged his long-shot bid in 2016. Democrats have been mobilized by the election of Trump and are seeking a standard-bearer who can oust him from office. Many of Sanders' populist ideas have been embraced by the mainstream of the Democratic party. The field of Democrats that he joins includes a number of liberal candidates, most notably Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who share similar sensibilities. As Sanders launched his campaign in Brooklyn, Warren was campaigning in Waterloo, Iowa and was questioned repeatedly about Sanders. Though the two have been friends since before they came to the Senate, Warren did not endorse Sanders in 2016, a decision that angered his supporters. "I'm going to be blunt - we can't go back and relitigate 2016," she told a voter who asked why she declined to back Sanders. "We've got to keep our focus on how we're going to win in 2020." Later asked by reporters how she'll distinguish herself from Sanders, she said she would focus on issues and emphasized the need for the Democratic field to stick together. "The way I see it, I got plenty to talk about as it is -- about the structural change we need in this country and laying out how we can do this. This is hopeful. People come and they hear what's broken, that we can fix it and that we do it together." Sanders' rally was his first campaign event since announcing a week ago that he would run against Trump for the White House. Sanders will make his first trip to the leadoff caucus state of Iowa next week, with plans to campaign in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Des Moines. He is headed to the early state of Iowa Hours before his speech in Brooklyn College's East Quad, a line of supporters snaked down the snowy streets. A reggae band played before Sanders spoke, and he was introduced by a number of supporters including Nina Turner, the former Ohio state senator who is a co-chair of Sanders' campaign this year, and Shaun King, the writer and civil rights activist. King cited Sanders' participation in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when he was a student at the University of Chicago. "This is the origin story of an American revolutionary," King said of Sanders, who will return to Chicago on Sunday evening for a second campaign rally, where he's expected to further highlight his own activism. Paul Crewdson, 37, of Brooklyn, came to the rally carrying a hand-drawn cardboard sign that read, "Win Michigan, Win Ohio, Win Wisconsin." "I think this was the reason that Democrats lost in 2016," he said. As he began his speech, Sanders himself hinted at how he sees the race, a campaign that runs beyond the battlegrounds. "This is a 50-state campaign," he said. "We will not concede a single state to Donald Trump." Juana Summers wrote this story with contributions from Alexandra Jaffe, Kevin Freking and Zeke Miller, (c) 2019 The Associated Press. National Socialist Movement Commander Jeff Schoep, second from right, leaves under police protection after a 2011 rally against illegal immigration in Pomona, Calif. One of the largest and oldest neo-Nazi groups in the U.S. appears to have an unlikely new leader: James Stern, a black activist who has vowed to dismantle it. For the second year in a row, Mardi Gras parades will roll past an empty pedestal in the Circle formerly known as Lee, a towering reminder of Americas ongoing debate over race and history. The 16-and-a-half-foot statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that had occupied the space since 1884 was relieved of duty May 19, 2017, as former Mayor Mitch Landrieu led the way in removing four Cult of the Lost Cause monuments from city property. Lee's was the last and most prominent of the four markers to go as defenders argued that the Confederate commander, Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the white combatants at the Battle of Liberty Place were being celebrated for something other than their views on slavery and white supremacy. Those of us who couldnt follow that logic figured it was best to swipe left and move on. Were so over the Confederacy. Its time to start seeing other monuments. Steve Scalise has to keep saying: Im not running for governor But almost two years later, we are still looking at a gaping void atop a 60-foot concrete column in one of New Orleans best-known locations. And there is no reason to think that will be changing anytime soon. Asked recently about a timeline for filling the citys most noticeable opening, Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration would only say that it would like to decide on Lee Circles future before the end of her current term. Thats January 2022. The good news to the long wait is that we should have a better chance of eventually settling on a more unifying public display than the top-down, elitist approach that brought us Confederate figures in Confederate uniforms that were in no way intended to honor the Confederacy. The city, through a partnership with a nonprofit design firm called Colloqate is, in fact, aggressively trying to gather ideas from as many people as possible. "Our goal is a radically democratic one," the group says in a recently released interim report. "We want every resident of New Orleans to have an opportunity to find voice in this process." Since many voices from black residents, women, day laborers and others were not being heard back in 1884, we can expect a much different range of input this time around. That some of the most popular local names submitted for Lee Circle treatment so far include Louis Armstrong, Dorothy Mae Taylor, Jerome Smith, Ruby Bridges, Leah Chase, Antoine Fats Domino, Tom Benson and Allen Toussaint suggest a diversity notably missing from the shared history of Lee, Beauregard and Davis. That monuments have been suggested not necessarily for Lee Circle but elsewhere in the city to honor Malcolm X, the 1811 Slave Revolt, the Black Panthers and the Black Lives Matter movement will no doubt make some people apoplectic. But thats what a radically democratic process produces. And this is, after all, an endeavor to fill public spaces. It also should be noted that the group also collected a proposal for P.G.T. Beauregard within the context of his post-Civil War role(s) in reconciliation, rather than as a Confederate general. Its safe to say that the final choice for Lee Circle will be controversial, especially the more we think of it as a replacement for Marse Robert instead of a clean slate to bring people together to celebrate those things we have in common. It's encouraging that the design group says its approach is to "counter the embedded cultural understanding of a monument as primarily representative of singular (usually White and male) individuals, with an occasional horse thrown in for good measure." The group, through its Paper Monuments initiative, has sought to steer the thinking toward people, places, events or movements that have been missing from New Orleans primary narrative. "These are the stories of events and movements that challenge our beliefs that historical change is brought about by the heroics of singular individuals," the group says in its report. "These are stories that open doors to finding the heroic in each other and ourselves." This is the right way to go about it. Choosing one musician, even if its Louis Armstrong, leaves out the thousands more who have made and who are making New Orleans music the historic force that it is. Choosing one great chef, even if its Leah Chase, overshadows so many who have made and continue to make the citys creative cuisine the envy of the world. Louisiana Republicans should be ashamed of vote on Trump emergency order Putting one person up on a pedestal isnt wise in our private lives or in our public spaces. The St. Charles green space that was occupied by a single military figure for 133 years should be liberated to a celebration of a unique, multifaceted culture. Looking up at that empty space, elbow-to-elbow with friends and strangers during Mardi Gras revelry is an excellent time to reimagine what should be there. Tim Morris is a columnist on the Latitude team at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Latitude is a place to share opinions about the challenges facing Louisiana. Follow @LatitudeNOLA on Facebook and Twitter. Write to Tim at tmorris@nola.com. Were waiting for a report by people that werent elected. We had think of this. We had the greatest election, in all fairness, I used to hear Andrew Jackson. This was now greater than the election of Andrew Jackson. People say that. No, people say it. Im not saying it, right? This was the equivalent or greater. You know, they used to go to Ronald Reagan. When I first started, This is Ronald Reagan! Then we started really doing well. And they were coming from everywhere to vote, those red hats and white ones. The key is in the color. The key is what it says: Make America Great Again. Thats what it said, right? Right? [Applause] But we had the greatest of all time. Now we have people that lost and, unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldnt be there. And all of a sudden, theyre trying to take you out with [expletive], O.K.? With [expletive]. Now Robert Mueller never received a vote, and neither did the person that appointed him. And as you know, the attorney general says, [Southern accent] Im going to recuse myself. And I said, why the hell didnt he tell me that before I put him in? How do you recuse yourself? But they fight so hard on this witch hunt. This phony deal that they put together. This phony thing that now looks like its dying. So they dont have anything with Russia. Theres no collusion. So now they go and morph into: Lets inspect every deal hes ever done. Were going to go into his finances. Were going to check his deals. Were gonna check... These people are sick. Theyre sick. I saw a little shifty Schiff yesterday. Its the first time he went into a meeting and he said, Were going to look into his finances. I said, where did that come from? He always talked about Russia! Collusion with Russia. The collusion delusion. Talk closed before the oral history appeared. I published it in The Paris Review. In 2010, by chance, I saw Garcia Marquez at the inauguration of a museum in Mexico City. He didnt look so well. There were thousands of people there: the president of Mexico; the richest man in Mexico. And I saw how thousands of people, instead of going up to them, all went to Garcia Marquez. With love. My heart skipped a beat, and I was curious: Who was this who had turned into our Latin John Lennon? So I think the book was born that day. I realized that I needed to give it more of a structure, so I went out and did a second round of interviews. Whats the most surprising thing you learned while writing it? I was really surprised that he was as superstitious as he was that he didnt attend funerals, even of his friends. Some people maybe begrudged the fact that he didnt go, but he was really superstitious and panicked by it. These are little things, but theyre very telling. Image Silvana Paternostro Credit... Marcela Garcia The one big thing that really struck me was his discipline. Because I know where we come from, where pranksterism and Caribbean laissez-faire are the rule of the day. This young boy who grew up with really very little in his favor turned out to be the man who put Latin American literature on the map. And he wanted to; it wasnt a fluke. He told himself that he would write a book that would be as important as Don Quixote, and he did. In what way is the book you wrote different from the book you set out to write? There are people that have spent most of their lives as Gabo experts. I dont think Im a Gabo expert. I had a curiosity in understanding the man before and the man he became later. But along the way, I became the repository of all these incredible stories, and I felt it was almost my obligation to share them. Especially in this English version, I did something I didnt do in the Spanish: I included things that would make readers understand Colombia. It turned into a book that explains our music, the violence, the idiosyncrasies of the region. When I was growing up, it was red alert: Dont go. Now that Colombia has become a travel destination, the book, while its not a travel guide, is a companion to travel to Colombia with. China recruits ethnic minorities to round up fellow Muslims In the past few years, as China stepped up its crackdown on Muslim minorities in the western Xinjiang region, it leaned on officers from those same targeted ethnic groups, putting them in the uncomfortable position of monitoring and arresting members of their own communities. How we know: One former police officer, Baimurat, an ethnic Kazakh Muslim who managed to escape, offered The Times a rare, firsthand glimpse into the security apparatus of the region, where the government has detained as many as a million ethnic Uighurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities in a network of widely condemned indoctrination camps. Details: In 2016, after a series of anti-government attacks in Xinjiang, the Chinese government escalated its effort to crackdown on minorities there to turn them into loyal supporters of the party and get them to give up their Islamic faith. Thats when the regions security forces began recruiting people from those targeted groups, like Mr. Baimurat, who had returned after a stint in Kazakhstan. He said his job included examining travelers at police checkpoints, monitoring mobile phones for any content considered subversive and taking handcuffed people into facilities that were basically prisons. Officers like him, said Mr. Baimurat, were also closely scrutinized for any signs of disloyalty. They were required to attend political indoctrination meetings and prohibited from speaking anything but Chinese. I came to regret ever coming back to China, he said. When Paine Field, about 25 miles north of Seattle in Everett, Wash., was born in the 1930s as a New Deal project, it was envisioned as a major commercial airport for the region. But that never happened. Instead, it became known as the place where Boeing offers North Americas only publicly available commercial jet assembly plant tour. That is about to change. Thanks to private investment, Paine Field is finally set to offer air service to the public. A sleek, new, $40 million two-gate terminal was built by Propeller Airports, a Seattle company, and commercial flights are set to begin this month. Brett Smith, Propellers founder and chief executive, expects that travelers will be attracted by the convenience of avoiding traffic jams near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. No reason why tax dollars should be used to build passenger travel while theres private-sector money ready and willing to do it, he said. As governments reduce spending on infrastructure, private companies are moving into airports big and small, paying for private terminals with new types of services and teaming up with local agencies to renovate existing terminals. The so-called public-private partnerships, or P3s, have created new possibilities for airports, which have struggled for years to find the money to improve terminals and accommodate an increase in passengers and cargo. An Airport Council International report released in 2017 estimated that airports would need almost $100 billion for capital projects over the next five years, but would only be able to finance about half that amount. Alexandra Paige Lewisohn and Shawn Robert Telvi are to be married March 3 at their apartment in Manhattan by Rabbi Michael A. White. On May 26, Rabbi Meir Triebitz, the grooms uncle, is to lead the couple in a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence, Italy. The bride, 28, is a speech language pathologist at Public School 126 in Manhattan. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received a masters degree in communicative sciences and disorders from N.Y.U. She is the daughter of Jodie Lewisohn and Clifford H. Lewisohn of Roslyn, N.Y. The brides father is a title insurance consultant in New York and New Jersey. He is on the Village of East Hills Architectural Review Board in Nassau County, N.Y. Her mother is the executive director of Erealty Title Agency in Greenvale, N.Y. The groom, 29, works in Brooklyn as the assistant to the executive producer of the Showtime television series Ray Donovan, a drama about a Hollywood fixer. He graduated from Indiana University. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Theres a new war raging in health care, with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake and thousands of lives in the balance. The battle, pitting drug companies against doctors and patient advocates, is being fought over the unlikeliest of substances: human excrement. The clash is over the future of fecal microbiota transplants, or F.M.T., a revolutionary treatment that has proved remarkably effective in treating Clostridioides difficile, a debilitating bacterial infection that strikes 500,000 Americans a year and kills 30,000. The therapy transfers fecal matter from healthy donors into the bowels of ailing patients, restoring the beneficial works of the community of gut microbes that have been decimated by antibiotics. Scientists see potential for using these organisms to treat diseases from diabetes to cancer. At the heart of the controversy is a question of classification: Are the fecal microbiota that cure C. diff a drug, or are they more akin to organs, tissues and blood products that are transferred from the healthy to treat the sick? The answer will determine how the Food and Drug Administration regulates the procedure, how much it costs and who gets to profit. The documentary Apollo 11 playing in select IMAX theaters now, before opening more widely in regular cinemas on Friday is one of the most rousing movies ever made about NASA and space exploration. The director Todd Douglas Miller and a team of archivists and editors found rare footage of the original manned lunar landing mission, and compiled it into a film thats an immersive and inspiring record of the voyage, from launch to splashdown. But Apollo 11 is far from the only great documentary about humanitys efforts to explore beyond Earths atmosphere. The space doc is a small but fertile nonfiction cinema subgenre, populated by filmmakers who often partner with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to combine astonishing images with recollections from the small handful of men and women who have dared to venture to the stars. [Read our review of Apollo 11, a Times Critics Pick] Here are five of the best of these movies, and how to stream them. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Scouts BSA Troop 222 gathered last month at the Aspen Knolls Estate clubhouse on Staten Island for its annual induction ceremony. One 13-year-old recruit stepped across the ceremonial bridge, recited the Scout Law and swore the Boy Scouts of America oath, right hand lifted into the three-fingered salute. Then she smiled. Lora Panepinto, an eighth grader, is one of the first girls in New York City to be officially welcomed into the club that for more than a century had been called the Boy Scouts. I didnt necessarily think about it as creating history because its not always about being first, Lora said. Its about being involved. As of Feb. 1, the Boy Scouts of America began accepting girls into all its ranks, including Boy Scouts, the 11- to 17-year-old age group thats been rebranded as Scouts BSA. In New York City, at least 77 girls have registered so far. Eight all-girl troops have been fully formed in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Westchester County, according to Boy Scout officials, and 20 other troops are in various stages of formation. Morning commute: With the snowfall stopping well before rush hour, the subways ran without significant weather-related delays through the morning commute. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro North also reported good service. New Jersey Transit did not report any major cancellations or delays to service but advised commuters to check its website throughout the day for information. It also said it was allowing customers to use their tickets or passes on rail, light rail, buses and private carriers. All New York City public schools are closed today, and many other school systems around the region are closed or opened late. The City University of New York also announced it would be closed. [Was Mayor de Blasio too quick to close city schools?] The snow: Up to 10 inches of snow had been expected to fall overnight, and officials had warned that the most intense precipitation could come just before the commute. Ogden R. Reid, the former editor of The Herald Tribune who represented congressional districts in Westchester County, N.Y., for 12 years, first as a Republican and then as Democrat, died on Saturday at his home in Waccabuc, N.Y. He was 93. His death was confirmed by his son David. Mr. Reid was the scion of a newspaper publishing family whose grandfather was the editor and principal owner of the renowned New York Tribune and whose father merged it in the 1920s with the equally storied New York Herald to form The Herald Tribune. Mr. Reid was The Herald Tribunes president and editor in the 1950s. The newspaper was respected for its high-quality journalism but dogged by financial troubles that would help bring its demise in the 1960s; the family sold its controlling interest in 1958. Mr. Reid entered government service the next year when President Dwight D. Eisenhower named him ambassador to Israel. In 1961, another Republican, Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, appointed Mr. Reid chairman of New Yorks State Commission Against Discrimination. Some politicians saw the move as intending to help make Mr. Reid better known in the state should he seek elective office. His familys ties to the Republican Party went back to the 19th century. Say this for Donald Trump: Hes provided us with many iconic quotations, which will surely be repeated in histories and textbooks for decades if not generations to come. Unfortunately, theyll be repeated because they are extremely clear examples of bad ideas. In economics, the line you hear most is Trumps declaration that trade wars are good, and easy to win. Coming in second is his assertion that I am a Tariff Man, coupled with the claim that foreigners pay the tariffs he has been imposing. Now, that last claim is something you can test. Over the course of 2018 Trump imposed tariffs on about 12 percent of total U.S. imports, and many of those tariffs have been in effect long enough that we can get a first read on their consequences. On Saturday economists from Columbia, Princeton, and the New York Federal Reserve released a paper, The impact of the 2018 trade war on U.S. prices and welfare, that used detailed import data to assess the tariffs impact. (The paper, by the way, is a beautiful piece of work.) The conclusion: to a first approximation, foreigners paid none of the bill, U.S. companies and consumers paid all of it. And the losses to U.S. consumers exceeded the revenue from the new tariffs, so the tariffs made America poorer overall. To the Editor: Re How a No Deal Brexit Could Create Irish Unity (news article, Feb. 16): Twenty years of peace in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement cannot mask the continued commitment of the Irish to the ultimate reunification of Ireland, here in America as well as there. There are no good options for the British Parliament as it wrestles with what to do about the open border between the two Irelands after Brexit. Either the border remains open, as majorities in both Irelands want, which would mean that Northern Ireland remains in the European Union as the rest of Britain secedes. Or a hard border is reinstated, threatening economic livelihoods on both sides and potentially reigniting the Troubles. Those of us who are committed to preventing a hard border have been meeting with leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to let London know that we are prepared to bring whatever pressure we can muster against a post-Brexit American-British trade agreement unless the border stays open. It should be lost on no one that Northern Ireland along with Scotland, where Brexit has reignited independence passions as well voted to remain in the European Union. All of the Irish desire to remain in the union, and the British ignore that desire at their peril. To the Editor: Re Justice Thomas Calls for Reconsideration of a Landmark 1964 Libel Ruling (news article, Feb. 20): Two points concerning Justice Clarence Thomass plea to abandon New York Times v. Sullivan and its progeny: First, Justice Thomass cramped reading of Sullivan misses the Supreme Courts central claim. The court wasnt protecting freedom of the press as an end in itself but rather giving the press some latitude in facilitating, in Justice William Brennans choice words, the uninhibited, robust and wide-open debate that self-governance demands . Justice Thomass understanding of libel law, should it prevail, would put us in league with Singapore and other countries where public officials use libel law to intimidate the press and curtail public discourse. Second, Justice Thomass call to reconsider the Sullivan case, on the grounds that it doesnt comport with what the authors of the Constitution originally wrote and presumably meant, illustrates the folly of originalist thinking. Justice Thomass position would strip justices of the power to revisit and revise the meaning of the Constitution; it would make a mockery of the idea of the Constitution as a living document. To the Editor: Re Carrie Ann Lucas, Vigorous Defender of Disabled Parents, Is Dead at 47 (obituary, Feb. 28): Your obituary rightly praises Carrie Ann Lucas for her many achievements as a disability rights activist and disabled mother. But to ignore the real cause of her death is an insult to Ms. Lucass legacy. As documented on her blog and on social media, Ms. Lucas died because her health insurer declined to pay for her necessary medication. She was acutely aware that our health care system is broken and worked hard to ensure that all people, including those with disabilities, had access to appropriate health care. At a time when our health insurance system is under debate, Ms. Lucass tragic death mustnt be forgotten. Robyn Powell Framingham, Mass. The writer, who is disabled, was a friend of Carrie Ann Lucas. That push and pull exists throughout the entire process: in the people I choose to include and leave out, in what clothes I interrogate and ignore, in the questions I ask. I have all of three minutes to get the information, to get them to say something interesting, or perhaps funny, but at the same time feel comfortable and to be themselves while Im standing here with a microphone in their face. The real challenge is to lead them to a place where theyre imparting the essential info on their own, without my drawing it out too much . All the while, I need to know to clamp down on my own tongue. It can be uncomfortable to wait out the extra beat of silence that gives the subject room to give that the golden nugget of information, but holding back allows the best moments. Also, theres a danger in overexposing. Our readers are smart; they know what theyre seeing. They have taste. Finally, theres the most important step: the editing, once everythings transcribed. When we featured the old Four Seasons restaurant at Christmas time, Martha Stewart told me that she had always found the room sexy, which never made it into the final version. That killed me, but cutting it made room for her anecdote about always getting cookies for her driver, which made the piece . Between Dennys cuts and mine, Id wager we lose about three-quarters of the quotes in a given interview. Working through it recalls the title of one of my favorite collections of poetry: Theres A Trick With A Knife Im Learning To Do, by Michael Ondaatje . Writing is editing. Talking is editing. Seeing too. A few weeks after I interviewed Martha, I was home in Canada for holidays. After dinner every night, my father retreats to the living room, where he reads The Times. Out of earshot, my stepmother confessed to me that he not only reads my Styles pieces, he cuts them out and saves them. Later that week, I noticed his dad jeans were a tad baggy and asked if hed like me to have them tailored. Get out of here, he said. But Im leaving out a couple of words. As in my column, some things are better left unsaid . Follow the @ReaderCenter on Twitter for more coverage highlighting your perspectives and experiences and for insight into how we work. Mr. West, a former Justice Department official and the brother-in-law of Senator Kamala Harris, the California Democrat who is running for president, said he was hitching his reputation to Uber and its changes. I had a reputation that I was also putting on the table, right? he said in a recent interview. A native of the Bay Area, Mr. West graduated from Harvard University and Stanford Law School. He rose to prominence as an assistant attorney general in the Obama administration, during which he urged the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act and worked to reduce the number of detainees in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. In 2014, he became general counsel of PepsiCo, where, he said, he learned how to operate in a Fortune 50 company. Then in 2017, Mr. Khosrowshahi came calling. At the time, Uber was reeling from the ouster of Travis Kalanick as chief executive and the aftermath of an investigation into its workplace, amid other issues. Mr. Khosrowshahi was tapped to stabilize the company and eventually take it public. Over several dinners in New York, he pitched Mr. West on the idea of turning Uber into a more self-critical company. Uber needed someone with a great amount of negotiation prowess and relationships, Mr. Khosrowshahi said. Hes got both. Mr. West jumped ship. There was nothing I was going to do that was going to fundamentally change the trajectory of PepsiCo, he said. But less understood is that the violence that befalls migrant women happens not just during the perilous journey through Mexico: Much of it happens after women reach the supposed safety of the United States. In July, a 23-year-old Honduran woman told the authorities that she was sexually assaulted in a bedroom closet by a smuggler who had helped her and her sister cross into the South Texas city of Mission. The following month, a sheriffs deputy in San Antonio was charged with sexually assaulting the 4-year-old daughter of an undocumented Guatemalan woman and threatening to have her deported if she reported the abuse. In 2017, a guide leading a group of migrants through the Tohono Oodham Nations reservation in Arizona raped a woman from El Salvador twice during a seven-day desert hike, threatening to leave her stranded if she resisted. I hope I leave you pregnant so you have one of my kids, he said, the woman told the authorities. In 2016, a migrant woman fled a stash house in the South Texas city of Edinburg, where she said she had been raped by a smuggler who brandished a machete. In West Texas that same year, two teenage girls reported that they had been sexually assaulted by a Customs and Border Protection officer, who they said forced them to strip, fondled them, then tried to get them to stop crying by offering chocolates, potato chips and a blanket. In an unusual turn, the girls filed legal claims against the federal government, which settled the case in 2018 for $125,000. At least five of the women who were assaulted in one case, bound with duct tape, raped and stabbed were attacked not by migrant smugglers, who are often the perpetrators, but by on-duty Border Patrol agents and Customs officers. Experts say the actual number of sexual assaults is almost certainly much higher than those documented by prosecutors and the police, because most attacks are never reported. And such attacks dont end at the border. Women have reported being assaulted in immigration detention facilities, and the federal government over a recent four-year period has received more than 4,500 complaints about the sexual abuse of immigrant children at government-funded detention facilities. The Times interviewed eight migrant women from Central America who were sexually assaulted between 2013 and 2016 women still struggling with nightmares, depression and in some cases, thoughts of suicide. One reported that she was attacked in Mexico; six said they were assaulted in South Texas. One said she was attacked in both Mexico and South Texas. The oldest victims were in their early 40s when they were attacked; the two youngest were 14. Most of their attackers were never prosecuted or identified, and The Times was not able to independently verify the womens accounts. But all eight women either gave sworn testimony or submitted statements under penalty of perjury to the federal government in order to qualify for visas, and cooperated with the police in the investigation of their cases. SHALER, Pa. This should be an upbeat moment for Pennsylvania Democrats, desperate to deprive President Trump of a second term. In elections last year, two Trump-like Republicans running for governor and senator lost to Democrats by blowout margins. Four Democrats wrestled away Republican-held congressional seats, including Conor Lamb, whose victory here outside Pittsburgh seemed to be a template for how to win back voters in Trump country. But, listening to strategists and voters in a critical state for Democrats, the midterms feel like a long time ago. Instead, there are widespread worries that the momentum in Pennsylvania, and in other key Rust Belt states, could screech to a halt if the issues in the 2020 presidential primaries and the partys eventual nominee stray too far left for the regions many centrist voters. [Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping American politics with our newsletter.] The more we have presidential candidates or newly elected congresspeople talking about the Green New Deal, talking about Medicare for all, talking about socialism, the more that plays into the Trump campaigns hands, said Ed Rendell, a former Pennsylvania governor and national Democratic chairman. WASHINGTON Intelligence officials who brief the president have warned him about Chinese espionage in bottom-line business terms. They have used Black Sea shipping figures to demonstrate the effect of Russias aggression in Ukraine. And they have filled the daily threat briefing with charts and graphs of economic data. In an effort to accommodate President Trump, who has attacked them publicly as naive and in need of going back to school, the nations intelligence agencies have revamped their presentations to focus on subjects their No. 1 customer wants to hear about economics and trade. Intelligence officers, steeped in how Mr. Trump views the world, now work to answer his repeated question: Who is winning? What the president wants to know, according to former officials, is what country is making more money or gaining a financial advantage. While the professionals do not criticize Mr. Trumps focus, they do question whether those interests are crowding out intelligence on threats like terrorism and the maneuvers of traditional adversaries, developments with foreign militaries or geopolitical events with international implications. Representative Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that he planned to request documents from more than 60 people with ties to President Trump, his administration and his businesses, including the presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., as part of the committees investigation of the president. Using the language of a prosecutor, Mr. Nadler said his goal was to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power, which could lay the groundwork for eventual impeachment proceedings or other congressional action. He added that it was very clear that the president obstructed justice. Mr. Nadler, Democrat of New York, told ABCs This Week that he would also request documents from Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer for the Trump Organization. Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trumps former personal lawyer, repeatedly referred to Mr. Weisselbergs central role in Mr. Trumps business transactions during his testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform last week. Mr. Nadler said Mr. Cohen directly implicated the president in various crimes, both while seeking the office of president and while in the White House, singling out as a particular concern Mr. Cohens claim that he was reimbursed for hush money payments to keep quiet Mr. Trumps affairs. DENVER The call went up across America: Mother Nature, please have mercy. A punishing winter that has already produced record snowfalls and crippling temperatures in many areas sent another wave of severe weather blasting across the country over the weekend. Fresh snow buried cars and snarled travel from Denver to St. Louis, and behind the snow came a mass of air so frigid that the National Weather Service declared a wide area of the north central United States to be entering another deep freeze. The intense cold was expected to spread into the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast through Monday, and to stretch into parts of the Deep South by midweek. Ryan Maue, a meteorologist with weathermodels.com, said much of the country should prepare for an all-week cold snap. On Sunday, the National Weather Service also warned of severe thunderstorms moving across the South and Southeast. Tornadoes were reported in at least three states, with severe damage and at least 23 fatalities reported in Alabama. RIO DE JANEIRO Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil left prison this weekend to attend the funeral of his 7-year-old grandson, and, while he was out, reiterated to an audience of political leaders and relatives who had gathered to mourn that he is not guilty of corruption and money laundering. Mr. da Silva, who was jailed in April after receiving a 12-year sentence, was released Saturday morning from a prison in Parana State. He then flew to Sao Paulo before taking a helicopter to Sao Bernardo do Campo, where the funeral took place. He was to be escorted back to his cell Saturday afternoon. The funeral was the first time Mr. da Silva, popularly known as Lula, has left prison since being jailed. His grandson Arthur Lula da Silva died of meningitis on Friday. A note on Mr. da Silvas website said he spoke at the funeral. Mr. Guaido has spent most of the past week on a tour of the continent, with stops in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Ecuador. These regional allies are among the 50 countries, including the United States, that have recognized him as president, not Mr. Maduro, who swore himself in in January for a second term after an election widely viewed as undemocratic. Yet Mr. Guaido remains a leader without a state, and any return to Venezuela could land him in prison. They may jail him, said Lawrence Castro, an opposition lawmaker from Mr. Guaidos political party, who has himself stayed out of Venezuela until Mr. Guaido returns. But we have to do everything we can to enter. The Trump administration has threatened repercussions for the Maduro government should Mr. Guaido be jailed. But Mr. Maduro has challenged the United States already with his detentions, which included briefly holding the Mexican-American journalist Jorge Ramos during a confrontational interview. The Maduro government has also detained Mr. Guaido in the past and sent the police to his home. Mr. Guaidos international tour appears to be an effort to ensure that doesnt happen again. Hes asking, If I go back and am arrested, then what will you do? said Alejandro Velasco, a historian of Venezuela at New York University. The tour of regional capitals has also given the opposition time to regroup after a bruising loss over the aid shipment. NEW DELHI It was an inauspicious moment for a military the United States is banking on to help keep an expanding China in check. An Indian Air Force pilot found himself in a dogfight last week with a warplane from the Pakistani Air Force, and ended up a prisoner behind enemy lines for a brief time. The pilot made it home in one piece, however bruised and shaken, but the plane, an aging Soviet-era MiG-21, was less lucky. [Read about how tensions have affected an American cricket team with players from both countries.] The aerial clash, the first by the South Asian rivals in nearly five decades, was a rare test for the Indian military and it left observers a bit dumbfounded. While the challenges faced by the Indias armed forces are no secret, its loss of a plane last week to a country whose military is about half the size and receives a quarter of the funding was still telling. PARIS Balzac tried and failed. Zola knocked on the door dozens of times and was always refused. Verlaine got no votes. Hugo got in, barely, only after multiple tries. The august Academie francaise the elite club of 40 immortals, as the members are known, that serves as the official guardian of the French language does not admit just anybody. So exclusive is it that most of Frances greatest writers never made it. But the sacred job of protecting France from brainless Globish and the deadly snobbery of Anglo-American, as a member spat out in a speech last month, has rarely been more difficult to attain. Four vacancies lifelong tenures have opened since December 2016. Three times the academy members have voted, most recently in late January, and three times they have failed to achieve a majority. LONDON The Dutch husband of Shamima Begum, the teenager who fled Britain to join the Islamic State, has told British news outlets that he wants to return to the Netherlands with his wife and their newborn son. We should live in Holland, Ms. Begums husband, Yago Riedijk, 27, told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Sunday. He admitted to fighting for the Islamic State, but said he has since rejected the group. He is being held at a Kurdish detention center in northeastern Syria. Ms. Begum, 19, was recently in the Al Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria, but her familys lawyer said she was forced to move after receiving threats. Mr. Riedijk married Ms. Begum days after she arrived in Syria, when he was 23 and she was 15. They have since had three children, two of whom have died. The third was born last month in the refugee camp, after the couple fled the last remaining Islamic State stronghold in Syria. LONDON Beginning this summer, women and girls at hospitals across England will be offered free tampons and other sanitary products, health officials announced on Sunday, in what advocates called a big step forward in the effort to end so-called period poverty. The decision by National Health Service England comes less than a year after the British Medical Association noted that hospitals across Britain had often poor and inconsistent practices of offering sanitary products and called on the government to provide them for patients health, dignity and well-being. Simon Stevens, the chief executive for N.H.S. England, said in a statement, Its fundamental that we give patients the best experience possible during what can be a stressful time of their life. Providing sanitary products, he added, can prevent unnecessary embarrassment and leave people to focus on their recovery. The free sanitary products will be offered in all medical settings in England overseen by the National Health Service. LONDON They call him Failing Grayling. While the trials, tribulations and humiliations of Prime Minister Theresa May have occupied center stage in the carnival of British politics, Chris Grayling has starred in a black comedy sideshow of his own. He has bumbled his way from one government post to another, accused of making a hash of each, and becoming a byword for haplessness in a golden age of political blundering in Britain. To take one of his most recent missteps, as transport minister trying to guard against the chaos that could accompany Britains withdrawal from the European Union, he awarded an $18 million contract for extra ferries to handle cross-channel trade to a company that owned no ferries. And it didnt end there. This past week, the government was forced to cough up 33 million pounds, about $44 million, to settle a lawsuit brought by Eurotunnel, which complained that it was unfairly prevented from bidding on the ferry contracts, which were negotiated in secret. While the ferry fiasco was unfolding, Mr. Grayling organized a spectacularly ineffectual demonstration of Britains ability to deal with the backups of truck traffic expected in a no-deal Brexit. Those traffic jams could contain thousands of trucks, but for the test, he called for just 150, and only 89 turned up. A Celtic Tiger housing in Offaly which got the green light as the property market crashed is being brought back to life. Smart 2 Management Ventures Ltd, based in Dublin, intends applying for planning permission for the big housing project at the Bog Road, Portarlington near the town's secondary school. The development applied for consists of modifications to a development which received the go-ahead in 2008. In 2007, Paul Mitchell applied to build 66 units which were a mix of houses and apartments. Offaly County Council granted planning permission for 52 houses in 2008 with 37 conditions. The project was subject to the so-called Part V rule which required the inclusion of some social housing. Planning permission for the development near Colaiste Iosagain secondary school was extended twice and expires in 2021. Local builder Pat Moore commenced work on the site and the estate was marketed as Birchfields. However, the property crash brought a halt to the development which remains a building site. The new applicants want to modify the 2008 planning permission. Smart 2 Management Ventures wants to build 62 detached, semi-detached and terraced homes on the land. The new applicant registered as a business in November 2017. Its principal activity is financial service. J&K downgraded to UT from state, like a CM demoting to MLA: Ghulam Nabi Azad If normalcy to be brought in Kashmir, Article 370 has to be reinstated: Farooq Abdullah J&K: 2 militants, 5 security personnel killed as Handwara encounter enters third day India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Mar 03: Two terrorists have been killed as an encounter with terrorists in Babgund area of J&K's Handwara entered the third day. The death toll of the security forces rose to five with a CRPF trooper succumbing to his injuries Saturday night. "Two terrorists were killed. The operation is in progress," said Army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia. "One more Jawan of CRPF has succumbed in hospital last night," said IG CRPF (operations), Zulfiquar Hassan. The encounter began on Friday morning when security forces launched a search operation in the area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of militants there In another incident, an alert sentry of an army camp opened fire after noticing "suspicious movement", but there was no loss of life or injury reported, police said. 400 more bunkers to come up in Poonch, Rajouri amid intense shelling by Pakistan "An alert sentry fired aerial shots after observing suspicious movement at Dachoo camp of 44 RR in Shopian," a police official said. This comes amid escalated tension between India and Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack, Indian Air Force's (IAF) airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot, Pakistan entering the Indian airspace and then the capture of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Kashmir has been on tenterhooks ever since the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel died when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed into a CRPF convoy. Over the past five days, there has been 51 violations of the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani forces in Rajouri and Poonch districts, which left four civilians, including three members of a family, dead and 14 others, including eight security personnel, injured. Amid heightened Indo-Pakistan tension, army chief General Bipin Rawat visited the Jammu-based White Knight Corps on Saturday to review the operational preparedness and exhorted all soldiers to remain vigilant. After encounter began on Friday in Kupwara, there was lull in the firing several times during the day, but militants opened fire as soon as security forces advanced towards a house where they were hiding. Army retaliates to Pakistan shelling at multiple locations across LoC, destroys 5 posts After one such lull, the militants opened indiscriminate firing on advancing team of security forces as they were closing in, injuring nine security force personnel. A police spokesman on Friday said four security force personnel two cops and two CRPF personnel including an inspector later succumbed to injuries. However, defence officials Friday said two army jawans were also killed in the operation. Be present in Lok Sabha, RS says BJP in 3 line whip to its MPs Election expenditure: How much did BJP, Congress, DMK, CPI, TMC, AIADMK receive funds and spent during polls? BJP drags Nehru back into Kashmir crisis India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa Motihari, Mar 03: The BJP blamed former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the continuing crisis in Jammu and Kashmir and charged the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime for its "inadequate response" after the 26/11 Mumbai attack. "(Vallabhbhai) Patel had been entrusted with integrating more than 500 princely states and he did that without creating any problems. Rulers of Hyderabad and Junagadh had tried to be defiant, but they fell in line and now we have no problems in these places," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. "Compare that with what Nehru did in Jammu and Kashmir, which he handled on his own. Its ruler (Raja Hari Singh) acceded voluntarily. Yet, the region is plagued by problems after more than 70 years," Adityanath said. Also Read | Appeasement or Doval doctrine: Time to make up your mind in Kashmir The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was speaking at a function in Bihar's East Champaran district after laying the foundation stone for an agricultural training institute named after Patel, the country's first home minister. The chief minister said things would be different under the "decisive leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The seemingly impossible was made possible when Wing Commander Abhinandan (Varthaman) was let off by Pakistan without India having to make the smallest compromise." "Earlier, the nation used to put up with the humiliation of terrorists harboured across the border striking here at will. Now, our forces punish them by carrying out surgical strikes," Adityanath said. At a function in Jamui district, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal lauded Modi for giving a free hand to the armed forces after the Pulwama attack. Amit Shah explains the Kashmir fall-out "Compare Modi's leadership with the weak-kneed response that the previous Congress-led UPA government had displayed when Mumbai was laid siege to for more than two days (in 2008) by a handful of terrorists from Pakistan, who killed more than 100 people, including some of our brave police officers," Goyal said. The Union minister laid the foundation stone for a new rail line, besides flagging off a weekly Humsafar Express that will connect Patna to Bengaluru. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 12:32 [IST] UP govt beat those seeking employment with sticks, remember this when BJP seeks votes: Rahul Gandhi Section 144 CrPC invoked in Lucknow in view of Christmas, New Year Bulandshahr violence: Charges filed against 38 in UP cops murder, rioting India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Mar 03: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of police official Subodh Kumar Singh and the riots in Bulandshahr, in UP, on Saturday submitted a chargesheet against 38 people accused in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court. The SIT submitted a 3,400-page case diary and 103-page charge sheet against the 38 accused in the court of Bulandshahar chief judicial magistrate. Yogesh Rajesh, a member of Bajrang Dal and a key accused in the case has been charged with inciting riots and arson, the police said. Bulandshahr violence: Accused Prashant Natt's wife cries foul, says police team had kept the phone If the court accepts the chargesheet on Monday, the trial will start. On December 3, Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a local youth, Sumit, were killed in violence over an alleged cow slaughter incident in the city. The inspector and his team had gone to the village to tackle the violence when they came under attack. Singh was the investigating officer of the Dadri lynching case from September 28, 2015 to November 9, 2015. However, the chargesheet had been filed by a different IO in March, 2016. Bulandshahr violence: Murdered cop Subodh Singh's mobile recovered from house of accused Police have arrested nine accused in the Bulandshahr case but the main conspirator, Yogesh Raj, the district convener of the Bajrang Dal, is on the run. In a video that surfaced online, Raj had claimed innocence. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 9:44 [IST] Digvijaya Singh asks for proof of Balakot air strike, terms Pakistan PM 'a good neighbour' India oi-PTI Indore, Mar 03: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday urged the Centre to present evidence of the Indian Air Force's strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror training camps in Pakistan's Balakot. Singh also congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Speaking to reporters in Indore, he said, "I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. But pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence of Osama bin Laden's killing before the world," he said. Here is what US will do, if it finds that Pakistan misused the F-16s Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. "I also congratulate the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan for showing us a new way of being a good neighbour and returned the brave Indian Air Force officer to us," the Congress leader said. "Now he should show courage by handing over Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to us," he added. Singh said Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, and leaders of Khan''s own party, Pakistan The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh also refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the Indian Air Force (IAF) wanted to conduct a surgical strike against Pakistan, but the Congress-led UPA government nixed the idea."I can only say that we have not seen a bigger liar than Narendra Modi," he said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:47 [IST] List of 28 agreements/MoUs signed during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi Highlights: Nirmala Sitharaman meets IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Mar 02: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday met IAF Pilot Wing Commander, Abhinandan Varthaman in Delhi and conveyed to him that the entire nation is proud of his courage and determination, officials said. During the meeting at a medical facility of the Indian Air Force, Varthaman is understood to have explained to Sitharaman details about his nearly 60 hour stay in Pakistan. After a tense wait, IAF Pilot Wing Commander, Abhinandan Varthaman was finally handed over to India by Pakistan. He returned home via the Wagah border after spending nearly 60 hours in captivity. There are several procedures that would have to be followed, which includes a medical test to gauge his fitnesses levels and also a de-briefing session. The IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman spent nearly 60 hours in captivity. Abhinandan, dressed in a suit, walked across the Zero Line at the Attari-Wagah border at 9.20 pm, about four hours later he was reportedly scheduled to return. He was accompanied by Group Captain J T Kurien, Air Advisor in the Indian High Commission, and Fareeha Bugti, Director (India) in the Pakistan Foreign Office. The release came a day after Pakistan PM Imran Khan, addressing a joint session of parliament, in a "gesture of peace" aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two nations announced the Indian pilot's return. Here are the Highlights: Newest First Oldest First J&K: General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command visited White Knight Corps to review the operational preparedness of the forces in the Corps Zone in view of the current situation along LoC and International Border. pic.twitter.com/WCwbyAnFI7 ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2019 Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command visited White Knight Corps to review the operational preparedness of the forces in the Corps Zone in view of the current situation along LoC and International Border. The government on Saturday issued an "alert" for all airports and airlines in the country, asking them to "enhance the existing security measures", as it has received intelligence inputs in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack and subsequent developments. Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against any state, including India, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday as claimed that the "nerve centre" of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group has been taken over by the government. ANI quoted Sources saysing that after returning from Pakistan, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has informed that though he was not physically tortured by the Pakistanis but went through a lot of mental harassment. Pakistan was not under "pressure" or "any compulsion" to release Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said today. The Wing Commander will stay at Air Force Officer's Mess. India will keep up the pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terrorism infrastructure and the masterminds of terrorist attacks despite the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman following backchannel diplomacy and public messaging by global powers. Acoording to reports, Pakistan said Abhinandan Varthman was handed over along with his belongings, however, all that he came back in civilian clothes, without his service pistol. In the taking over certificate, Pakistan has mentioned returning his watch, ring and spectacles. It was earlier learnt that upon ejecting out of his crashed MiG 21 Bison, Abhinandan still had his pistol with him, which he used to allegedly fire on locals in Pakistani territory who were chasing him. Meanwhile, the chiefs of the Indian Air Force and Navy will get Z-plus security cover after a fresh assessment of their threat perception by the security agencies, officials said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthman in a hospital today. Courtesy: ANI Samjhauta Express services to resume from India from March 3. Congress President Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Ranchi, Jharkhand: Indian Air Force protects the country, Air force pilots sacrifice their lives but our Prime Minister steals money from the Air Force, and puts it in Anil Ambani's pockets, it is a shame. According to IAF officials, Wing Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman met IAF Chief BS Dhanoa today morning and explained his detention in Pakistan. The Wing Commander will stay at Air Force Officer's Mess. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh: Entire world stands together against terrorism. No representative of India used to be invited to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) but India's image has become such, that OIC invited India for the first time. It is a diplomatic victory. Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM, says, "Pak PM talked of Tipu Sultan and Bahadur Shah Zafar in his assembly,Tipu Sultan wasn't enemy of Hindus but adversary of the enemies of his sultanate.He talks about atom bomb, it's weird..we've it too.Handle your Lashkar-e-Shaitaan & Jaish-e-Shaitaan. Pakistan violated ceasefire in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district at 12:30 pm today. Indian Army is retaliating. When our Air Force reached Balakot in KPK before we could get any information some people started saying Balakot is along LoC.Some people whom I call compulsive contrarians found a new Balakot and didn't check that, that Bala Kote is in our Poonch.Why'd our forces attack our territory?: Arun Jaitley Mehbooba Mufti and PDP workers protest in Srinagar against the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu & Kashmir) by the Central Government. BSP Chief Mayawati said, " Hearty welcome safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan from Pak custody. Big relief and ease of tension is natural but sensing a sea change in security scenario around, India must have a long, lasting & credible policy for its security-honour besides a good policy to deal with neighbours." Referring to IAF Pilot's bravery, PM Modi said, " India has the ability to change the meaning of words. Abhinandan was till now ' Congratulations' in English, now the meaning will change." Addressing a meet at Construction Technology India in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said, " The world will notice whatever India does." IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is at the central medical establishment, he spent the night there, underwent a medical test, met his family briefly, according to News 18. Three members of family killed due to heavy shelling by Pakistan troops in Solatri village of border district of Poonch. Meanwhile, shelling by Pakistan forces across LoC in Jammu continues, People in border areas of Rajouri, Poonch districts move to safer places; Schools closed, according to All India Radio News. India has dug up contract details between the USA and Pakistan on the AMRAAM missile fired from an F-16 aircraft and is learnt to have shared the information with American interlocutors to bolster its case about misuse of the fighter aircraft against India, according to Indian Express report. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned the neighbouring country of dire consequences, former Karnataka chief minister and state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa said on Friday. He would also have to undergo several phycological tests as he had been captured by the enemy and underwent a traumatic situation. The IAF Pilot will be subject to a medical test today. He will be taken for a detained medical checkup. The officer had to eject from a plane, which would have put his body under immense strain, AVM RGK Kapoor said following the release. Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman landed in Delhi on Friday night, hours after he was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets, "Welcome Home Wing Commander #Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. Vande Mataram!" The SSP of Budgam said that some aircraft has fallen. As of now were are ascertaining the situation. We have found two bodies and have evacuated them. The technical team is here and is currently assessing the situation, he also added. Meanwhile a high level meeting has been convened to assess the situation. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has arrived at the meeting at the Home Ministry and is assessing the situation. India however rubbished the claim. Sources tell Oneindia that no aircraft has been shot by Pakistan. The claim of a pilot being arrested os also not true. All our pilots have been accounted for the source also added. The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said that this was not a retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Pakistan has therefore taken strikes at non-military targets avoiding human loss and collateral damage. The statement further read, sole purpose being to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. That is why we took the action with clear warning and in broad daylight. Sources say that the PAF dropped bombs at Laam, Kerri and Nadian in Rajouri district at around 10 am. The Indian jets are still flying in the area. Locals have said that they saw a Pakistani ket in flames across the Line of Control. Meanwhile officials confirm that they have seen the F-16 pilot paradropping. Pakistani jets violated Indian air space, but were pushed back by Indian aircaft, the report said while quoting top officials. The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning, but were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol. This comes in the wake of Pakistan claiming that it had shot down two Indian aircraft. Indian officials however said that the jets violated Indian air space by entering the border areas of Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir;s Rajouri district. A Sukhoi 30 MKI was seen chasing the Pakistan F-16 fighter on the Line of Control at the Nowshera sector. Maj General Ghafoor while addressing a press conference said that two pilots have been taken into custody. He had earlier said in a tweet that the PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistan airspace. He had also said that one Indian pilot had been arrested. India should not carry any further violence in Pakistan because its continuation will affect regional security. Also the continuation of such conflict will cost a lot to India, he also said. Meanwhile the Taliban has warned India and said that the ongoing tension would affect the Afghanistan peace process. In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, the continuation of such conflict will affect the Afghanistan peace process. DG ISPR, Pakistan Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has said that there are reports of a crash of an Indian aircraft on the Indian side. We had no engagement with that aircraft, he also added. Pakistan has released a video showing a blindfolded man saying that he is Wing Commander, Abhinandan. He says that his service number is 27981. He asks if he is with the Pakistan Army as he has a right to know. India is yet to officially respond to the video. Ghafoor also said that the ground forces arrested two pilots, once of them was injured and has been shifted to the Combined Military Hospital. God willing, he will be taken care of, he also said. Todays action was in self defence. We dont want to claim any victory, he further said. A high level meeting of the civil and police officials has been called in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was called to discuss the measures to be taken in the backdrop of the tensions with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed about the situation. Amidst the claims made by Pakistan that it had shot down two IAF jets, India has said that it shot down a F-16 jet. Entire airspace of North Delhi vacated amidst escalated tensions with Pakistan. After Pakistan released a video of an Indian pilot being captured, India says it is verifying further details. A joint media briefing of the Indian Air Force and Ministry for External Affairs is underway at New Delhi. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar says India shot down by Pakistan F-16 jet. In the engagement we have lost one pilot. The whereabouts are unknown. We are ascertaining more details he added. Pakistan targeted military installations. We lost one MIG-21. Pilot missing in action says MEA spokesperson. Pakistan is yet to formally inform India about the missing IAF pilot. Pakistan claimed that it has captured an Indian pilot Abhinandan. We were able to foil Pakistans efforts due our high state of alertness says MEA. Pakistan responded to out counter terror operation by targeting our military installations says MEA. Imran Khan in a televised address warns against escalation. He says Pakistan is ready for dialogue. He also said that better sense should prevail. Read the full MEA statement here: India had informed about counter-terrorism (CT) action it took yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks. Against this counter-trrorism action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistans attempts were foiled successfully. The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts." The weapons that you and we have, can we afford miscalculation. If it escalates from where, where will it go. Neither will it be in my control nor Modis control. Better sense should prevail, let us sit and resolve issues, Imran Khan also said. Hours after Pakistan claimed that it had an IAF pilot in its custody, sources said that India has not been informed officially about the same. The whereabouts of IAF Wing Commander, Abhinandan is not known as yet. Pakistan claimed that it had arrested two pilots. While one is in custody, the other is at hospital, Pakistan also said. After Pakistan claimed that it had one IAF pilot in its custody, India has summoned Pakistan deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah. India is treating todays action by the Pakistan Air Force as an act of military aggression. No bugs in MRI scan, but doctors find IAF Pilots lower spine, rib injured India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 03: The IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who returned to India on Friday night after being in Pakistan's captivity for at least 60 hours, has suffered a rib fracture, lower spine injured, some bruises and back contusion, a report quoting officials claimed. [Debriefing after cooling down process, officials say on Abhinandan] The IAF pilot underwent a medical checkup at Army's Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in the national capital, Delhi a day after he was handed over to India at Attari-Wagah border by Pakistan. In the MRI scan the doctors at a military hospital here have found that a rib of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was injured due to "assault by Pakistani residents" after landing in PoK, news agency ANI quoted a source as saying. The scan has also shown that there is an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after aerial engagement with an F-16. A rib was also injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in PoK after his plane was shot down. He will undergo more check ups and treatment at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. [Jaish chief Masood Azhar's brother confirms IAF strikes on Balakot terror camp] Earlier on Saturday, sources as quoted by news agency ANI claimed that Wing Commander Abhinandan has informed the IAF officials that he went through a lot of mental harassment while he was in the custody of Pakistani authorities. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. Before his plane was hit, he shot down an F-16 of Pakistan air force. He was also manhandled by a crowd after he landed in a village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. IAF pilot Varthaman wants to return to cockpit at the earliest India pti-PTI New Delhi, Mar 3: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said Sunday. [Pakistan withholds Abhinandan's possessions including pistol but returns his ring, watch, specs] For the last two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a hero's welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," said a military official. The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Varthaman arrived in the national capital on an IAF flight around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. [No bugs in MRI scan, but doctors find IAF Pilot's lower spine, rib injured] Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nation's gratitude for his selfless service. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. PTI Don't do or say anything that could damage India's image: Naidu to Rajya Sabha members If someone commits mischief, we have to respond says Venkaiah Naidu India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Mar 03: Lashing out at Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorism, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said the neighbouring country was damaging itself and humanity by these acts, and underscored that global consensus should be built to focus on eradicating the scourge of terrorism. "Our neighbour is aiding, abetting, funding, training terrorists. They are not able to understand the damage they have done including to the humanity and also to themselves," Naidu said at an event here, without naming Pakistan. He said while India wants to be friendly with all countries and neighbours and has never attacked any country, "If somebody wants to do some mischief, we have to answer and for that the country has to be united". India will work with OIC to build bridges of understanding, inspire youth to path of service: Swaraj "We cannot allow nations to encourage terrorist activities and harbour terrorist safe havens and training camps," he said. The nation has to work as Team India to build a stronger, more developed country which is capable of defending itself against hostile forces "and disruptive designs like we have demonstrated two days ago in a fitting response to our neighbour's inaction to check cross border terrorism", the Vice President said in a reference to recent airstrike against terror camp in Pakistan. "Our fight is against terror and all its manifestations, not against any religion as our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made it clear in her address at the OIC meeting," Naidu said, adding that the world, especially South East Asia has numerous problems like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. "We have to encourage countries to skill people, not to kill people," he said. The Vice President said he would like to join the nation in saluting Wing Commander Abhinandan for his bravery, valour and professional integrity in the face of adversity. Naidu made the remarks at the foundation stone laying function of a new office building of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 'Kaushal Bhawan'. Highlights: MEA Sushma Swaraj's speech at OIC conclave It is to be built by state-run Navratna PSU NBCC at New Moti Bagh, New Delhi at a cost of Rs 172 crore. He said its construction will be completed in next 18 months. Noting that by 2022 the country has to skill more than 40 crore people, the Vice President said the private sector also needs to get involved in this regard. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 9:25 [IST] False: NIA official part of Pulwama attack probe had not submitted dubious bills Top Lashkar commander gunned down with two more terrorists in Pulwama J&K: Militants hurl grenade at police officer's residence in Pulwama, no casualties India oi-Madhuri Adnal Pulwama, Feb 03: A blast has been reported from Awantipora in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Police are ascertaining facts at the spot. However, no loss of life or any injury has been reported so far. It is learnt that some militants had hurled Greande on the residence of J&K Police DSP (operations) at Awantipora in Pulwama district. The area has been cordened off. [J&K: At least 17 students injured in blast at private school in Pulwama] Earlier on Feb 13, at least 19 students were injured Wednesday afternoon in an explosion that police sources said was caused by a hand grenade inside a classroom at a private school, in Sirnoo village of Kakapora area in Pulwama district. The incident took place at about 2:30 PM in Sirnoo, Nagbal area of Kakapora, inside a classroom of Falah-e-Millat Higher Secondary School. On Feb 10, Eleven persons, including four civilians and seven policemen, were injured after militants lobbed a grenade towards defunct Palladium Cinema in Lal Chowk Srinagar. Jaish-e-Muhammad had claimed responsibility for the attack. Police said that unknown persons hurled a grenade at around 7.10 PM towards Palladium Cinema in which eleven persons were injured. They included eight personnel from CRPF and JK police. Change yourself or parivartan will happen: PM Modi warns BJP MPs PM-Kisan 10th installment to roll out by next week: How to check your status and name in beneficiary list? Red caps are like red alert for UP, PM Modi's jibe at Samajwadi Party in Gorakhpur rally PM Modi lauds UP govt for the work done for the benefit of sugarcane farmers Modi chairs National Security Council meet amid Indo-Pak tensions India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 03: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired National Security Council meet, where minister of CCS present in addition to NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Gokhale. The crucial meeting came in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Official sources said the meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The NSA is tasked with advising the prime minister on matters of national security. It was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor (NSA). The NSC keeps meeting on regular basis but the latest meet assumes significance owing to the latest security scenario. Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the country carried out air strike on terrorist camp across the border, after the Pulwama terror attack. In response to India's air strike, Pakistan air force intruded into Indian territory, leading to a confrontation between the two forces. (with PTI inputs) BSP to fight solo in UP, Uttarakhand, no tie-up with Owaisi's AIMIM, says Mayawati 'Should not be misled': Mayawati reaches out to Brahmins before UP polls Modi govt hiding failures behind terror attacks: Mayawati India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Mar 03: BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP of trying to cover up their failures by using the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "The country is worried about the terror attacks happening in Jammu and Kashmir for the last few days. It is not hidden from the people how BJP and especially PM Modi are trying to hide their failures in the garb of what is happening there," she said while addressing party workers in Lucknow. The BSP supremo had earlier slammed the Prime Minister for holding an interaction with BJP workers amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan. Mayawati takes dig at Modi's 'Shahi Snan' at Kumbh 2019 says,'it won't wash away sins' "At a time when India is facing hostility of war, PM Narendra Modi instead of concentrating on the matters of national security trying to serve political interest by addressing his BJP workers is ridiculous besides betrayal of national sentiments," she had said. "Our party strongly condemns the Pulwama terror attack and offers deepest condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives. We appeal to the central government to find a lasting solution to this problem." Earlier, BSP supremo Mayawati had asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's holy dip in the Ganga river will wash away his sins of "poll promises, treachery and other wrong doings". Mayawati's BSP has formed an alliance in Uttar Pradesh with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party to take on the BJP. While the SP will contest 37 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BSP will be contesting on 38 seats. Myanmar takes the battle to NSCN-K India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Guwahati, Mar 03: In a major blow to the NSCN-K, the Myanmar army has taken over its headquarters at the Taga area. The action was taken after the NSCN-K had refused to follow an order to drive out the non-citizen terrorists and armed rebels from their camps. The operation was carried out by 500 security personnel of the Myanmar army. The rebels were told to return to India, instead of trying to set up fresh camps in Myanmar. The army said that it had not resorted to aggressive military action on the insurgents. The army dismantled the hideouts of the Indian insurgent groups and also took physical control over the headquarters of the outfit. 'Will no longer take in Myanmar refugees': Bangladesh tells UN This action comes in the wake of ULFA-I chief, Paresh Baruah trying to motivate his men not to leave Myanmar. The entire operation was to ensure the prevention of illegal armed and insurgent groups infiltrating into Myanmar soil. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 8:44 [IST] Did NCP chief Sharad Pawar had secret meeting with Amit Shah, Fadnavis? Here's the truth Mamata, Pawar want to keep Congress at bay: Devendra Fadnavis Nanar refinery: Maha CM signs de-notification proposal India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa Mumbai, Mar 03: The Maharashtra government made it clear officially that a Rs 3 lakh crore oil refinery project will not come up at Nanar in the coastal Ratnagiri district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later said his government was keen that the refinery come up in the state, and an alternative site will be made available. Earlier, Shiv Sena leader and industry minister Subhash Desai said the chief minister had signed a proposal to denotify the land which was to be acquired. To ensure unity, Fadnavis reaches out to Shiv Sena legislators As the Sena was opposed to Nanar refinery citing local opposition, Fadnavis, while announcing a tie-up between the BJP and Sena for coming polls, had announced that the project would be shifted. "The Sena had promised the people of Konkan region that the project will not come up there as long as they were opposed to it. Today we have fulfilled our promise. Even the alliance with the BJP was sealed on the condition that the project at Nanar would be scrapped," Desai told reporters. The government had issued a notification in May 2017 to acquire 5,932 hectares of land across 14 villages in Ratnagiri district and two villages in Sindhudurg district. Due to opposition from the local people, the government had stayed the land acquisition process. "In April 2018, I sent a proposal to the chief minister seeking de-notification of the land that was to be acquired," said Desai. The file was pending with Fadnavis for long but the chief minister signed it Saturday, he said. "A gazette notification will be issued by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to cancel the notification of land acquisition in two days," Desai said. State-run oil majors have tied up with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the mega refinery project. Tolerance in country's blood says Fadnavis Fadnavis told PTI late in the evening that his government wants the refinery to come up in Maharashtra, because it will power the state's growth for the next ten years. "We will find an alternative site taking everybody in confidence and will not let this investment opportunity, which will create one lakh jobs, go anywhere else For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 15:06 [IST] If normalcy to be brought in Kashmir, Article 370 has to be reinstated: Farooq Abdullah Omar asks govt to review ban on Jamaat, says it's having major social impact in Kashmir India pti-PTI Srinagar, Mar 3: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Sunday said the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami "is having a major social impact" in Kashmir and appealed to the government to "urgently review" its decision to seal schools and mosques run by it. [Crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami will be multi-pronged] The central government put a ban on the Jamat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir last week under anti-terror law on grounds that it was "in close touch" with militant outfits and was expected to "escalate secessionist movement" in the state. "The politico-religious role of the Jamaat (JeI) is one aspect but there is also the social aspect. The recent ban is having a major social impact which isn't being taken into consideration," Omar wrote on Twitter. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said people were being "turned away from mosques" where they usually congregate for prayers and schools with tens of thousands of students and employing thousands of teachers were being "sealed". "There is nothing to suggest (that) sealing mosques will improve the security environment. Sealing schools risks forcing so many young kids out on the streets rather than studying to make a future for themselves," he said. [Banned in the nick of time: Jamaat-e-Islami was spiralling out of control] Omar said that while the government may take some time to review the need to ban the organisation, "there is a need to urgently review the ban on schools and the sealing of mosques". The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) also opposed the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami. "The ban is part of a provocative and motivated crusade against a particular community. Political advantage is being extracted out of the prevailing hostile situation by creating deep divisions amongst sections of the society," a KCCI spokesman said in a statement here. "The onus is on the government to start explaining to the public the compulsions justifying targeting of religious institutions belonging to a particular community. Sealing of residential houses and schools violates the basic principles of humanity and demonstrates the desperation of people after global rejection of their politics of hate, communalism and pernicious designed propaganda," the KCCI spokesman said. The ban on the Jamaat was imposed days after the Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested around 100 cadres of the group in the state following the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. PTI Oppn's 'proof, probe' talk on air strike made Pak smile, claims Amit Shah India pti-PTI Surat, Mar 3: BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at opposition parties, alleging they "raised doubts" on the courage of the armed forces and their demand for proof of the IAF air strike brought a "smile on Pakistan's face". He said these parties should "keep quiet" if they were unable to appreciate what Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's armed forces had achieved through the air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot. [Nitish Kumar assures PM Modi of winning all 40 LS seats in Bihar] Praising the PM's leadership, Shah claimed Modi went about his work routinely even as he thought up a plan to punish the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack on February 14 which killed 40 CRPF personnel. He claimed Modi made the country understand what "zero tolerance" for terror meant by ordering the surgical strike and air strike. "Opposition leaders do not know what happened. Mamata di asks for proof. Rahul baba says it is being politicised. Akhilesh asks for a probe. Be ashamed that your statements have brought a smile on Pakistan's face," Shah said. "Pakistan smiled only after the press conferences of the opposition leaders where they raised questions on the courage of the armed forces," Shah claimed. "We can understand that you do not have the courage of Modi ji, but if you cannot support and praise what Modi ji and the armed forces did, then at least keep quiet," he said. "After the Pulwama attack, people said surgical strike was not possible, as army could not go (to bust terror camps). Modiji, while going about his routine work quietly, decided and planned (the counterattack) and our brave air force jawans killed hundreds of terrorists in an air strike and came back safely," he said. He said with these strikes on terror camps, India has become only the third country in the world after the US and Israel to avenge attacks on its armed forces personnel. "Now the world accepts that India cannot be taken lightly. ['Made in Amethi' AK-203s will be of great help to our forces, says Modi] The entire world accepts that one cannot tamper with India's borders. The entire world now accepts that it is not easy to touch Indian soldiers. They will get the response for a bullet with a cannon," he said. Addressing a gathering of PM's Modh Vanik community here, Shah said Modi had come from a humble background and had become the PM of the world's largest democracy. He said while Modi "does not believe in casteism", the fact remains that he comes from the same community which has made its presence felt across the country through sheer hard work and good behaviour. Shah said he knew Modi since 1980, when the latter was an unknown political entity to most, and claimed the PM has worked tirelessly to ensure ordinary workers like him (Shah) rose in the party. "Modi ji does not believe in casteism. Ever since he accepted public life, he always worked to remove the pollution of caste from politics. But it a fact that Modi ji also comes from the same community," he told the gathering. Shah said the Modi government took several decisions to promote small businesses like waiving GST for firms with a turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh. PTI Pakistan withholds Abhinandan's possessions including pistol but returns his ring, watch, specs India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 03: A report on India Today stated that IAF wing Commander Abhinanandan Varthaman return home from Pakistan without the possessions that he had on himself when he landed in PoK except for his ring, watch and spectacles. [No bugs in MRI scan, but doctors find IAF Pilot's lower spine, rib injured] Upon ejecting from his crashed MiG 21 Bison, IAF wing Commander Abhinanandan Varthaman had his pistol, a survival kit, maps and some confidential documents that he managed to destroy. The report also said that the "taking over certificate" referred to Abhinandan Varthaman as a prisoner of war, whereas India hasn't referred to him as a prisoner of war. Earlier in the day, MRI reports of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman have revealed that the fighter pilot suffered spinal injury as he ejected from his plane after it was shot down. The IAF pilot underwent a medical checkup at Army's Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in the national capital a day after he was handed over to India at Attari-Wagah border by Pakistan. The scan has also shown that there is an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after aerial engagement with an F-16. [Twitter blocks fake accounts named after IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman] A rib was also injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in PoK after his plane was shot down. He will undergo more check ups and treatment at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. Earlier on Saturday, sources as quoted by news agency ANI claimed that Wing Commander Abhinandan has informed the IAF officials that he went through a lot of mental harassment while he was in the custody of Pakistani authorities. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. Before his plane was hit, he shot down an F-16 of Pakistan air force. He was also manhandled by a crowd after he landed in a village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 18:13 [IST] Modi accusing Opposition of demoralising troops is baffling: Mehbooba Mufti India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Mar 03: Hitting back at the prime minister, for his comments which said that Opposition parties are demoralising India's armed forced by demanding proof of the Balakot air strike, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that his accusation was "baffling." "Calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes anti national is baffling," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister tweeted. Mehbooba Mufti, however, warned the opposition not to fall into the trap of changing the election discourse. Modi govt hiding failures behind terror attacks: Mayawati "The entire election discourse should not be changed from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST, unemployment, farmers' distress to these (Balakot) strikes," Mehbooba Mufti said. Presently when war frenzy & jingoism in the guise of patriotism is at an all time high, allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes will only help BJP electorally. Its no wonder that the Rafale deal, unemployment , poor eco growth are fading into oblivion. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 3, 2019 "Presently when war frenzy and jingoism in the guise of patriotism is at an all time high, allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes will only help BJP electorally. Its no wonder that the Rafale deal, unemployment , poor eco growth are fading into oblivion," she further said. As citizens of this country, we have every right to question the credibility of the Balakot operation. Esp due to GoIs ambiguity about the details. How does it help the enemies? Only puts GoI in a tight spot since they want to exploit this to reap electoral benefits. https://t.co/n6U20Frzqt Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 3, 2019 "As citizens of this country, we have every right to question the credibility of the Balakot operation. Especially due to government's ambiguity about the details. How does it help the enemies? Only puts the Government of India in a tight spot since they want to exploit this to reap electoral benefits," she added. Hitting out at opposition parties for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the armed forces were busy quelling terror, but the Congress and its allies are not convinced with their act of bravery. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," the PM said at the BJP's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan here. He alleged that the opposition parties were "conspiring" against him, he said. "While I want to eliminate terror, opposition parties are conspiring to finish me," Modi said. "At a time when our armed forces are fighting enemies across border and within India, some people are making statements to please Pakistan. This is New India, it does not remain silent on killings of its jawans," the prime minister stated. The statements made by the opposition parties after the preemptive air strike on terror camps have made only people of Pakistan happy, he claimed. On Saturday, Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh urged the Centre to present evidence of the Indian Air Force's strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror training camps in Pakistan's Balakot. How another Pulwama attack was thwarted "I am not questioning the recent IAF action against Pakistan-based terrorist camps. But pictures of any incident in open space can be accessed through satellite technology. So we should also give evidence, the way the United States government presented evidence of Osama bin Laden's killing before the world," he said. India conducted air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26. After Samjhauta Express, Pak decides to shut down Thar Express services to India India asks Pak to return its rake used in Samjhauta Express Samjhauta Express services restored, train to depart from India today India oi-PTI New Delhi, March 03: The Samjhauta Express train service between India and Pakistan will resume from today, after the two neighbours agreed to operationalise services at their ends. The announcement came a day after Pakistan released Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The official said the first train from India will leave on March 3. While Pakistan had cancelled its services right after an air strike by the Indian Air Force, India cancelled the operations of the Samjhauta Express on February 28. The train will start running from the Indian side on Sunday, while on the Pakistan side it will leave Lahore on Monday on its return journey. On the Indian side the train runs from Delhi to Attari and from Lahore to Wagah on the Pakistan side. According to the reports, the footfall on the train, which generally records an occupancy of around 70 per cent, has fallen drastically post the Pulwama attack on February 14 in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:42 [IST] 100 more airports to be developed by 2025 to support UDAN scheme, says Sitharaman How airports and airlines will operate once the lockdown is lifted Flying into Karnataka from these 6 states? You will have to undergo 14 days quarantine Uttar Pradesh to soon have 5 international airports, highest for any state Threat perception still high, airports put on very high alert India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Mar 03: The government has issued an "alert" for all airports and airlines in the country, asking them to "enhance the existing security measures", as it has received intelligence inputs in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack and subsequent developments. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued the alert and marked it to senior police officials of all states, in-charges of security at all airlines and airports, and officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). "In view of the intelligence input in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack and subsequent developments, it is imperative to enhance the existing security measures being taken at all the civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools, aviation training institutes etc. So that no untoward incident takes place," the alert notification read. Air India hijack threat: Call was received at Airoli BPO The BCAS has asked airlines and airports to take 20 specific enhanced security measures which will be "in operation till further orders". The security measures include "strict access control to regulate entry into terminal building, airside, all operational area and other aviation facilities". The BCAS has directed "enhanced screening of passengers, including 100 per cent full pat down search at pre-embarkation security checkpoint", and enhanced random screening of "staff and visitors" at the main gate to the terminal building. No vehicle should be parked in front of the terminal building and there should be "intensive checking of vehicles entering car parking area", according to the alert notification. Another measure is -- strict on ground monitoring of regulatory guidelines for operations of non-conventional aerial platform like microlight aircraft, aero models, paragliders, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), drones, power hang gliders and hot air balloons. The BCAS has suggested enhanced screening of passengers, staff, and hand baggages and "strengthening of anti-terrorism/anti-sabotage measures and placement of quick response teams" at all airports. According to the alert notification, "QRT and perimeter patrolling" has to be strengthened too. QRTs are part of the CISF only, which is in-charge of security at various airports across the country. "Intensive checking of vehicles/persons at the approach to airport terminals/installations" has also been called for. Enhanced random check at the entry of terminal building, including utilization of bomb detection and disposal squads and dog squads at the entry point has been suggested. According to the alert notification, authorities have been asked to "enhance surveillance in and around the aviation installations" and specific monitoring of "flights/helicopters/UAV/ UAS/drones/gliders/hot air balloons from airports/helipads/airfield around Delhi National Capital region". Regarding catering, the alert notification said, "Inspection by the chief security officer of the airline concerned from the presetting stage to vehicle check and entry into airside. Airport Security Unit/Aviation Security Group to ensure thorough check of the vehicle through under view mirror, cabin search etc and checking of the driver and attendant and their ID matching of signatures". Amid, 'will hijack plane to Pakistan' threat, all Indian airports on very high alert There would be "no issuance of visitor entry passes till further notice", it said and directed strict monitoring of non-scheduled flight operations including air ambulance. The BCAS also called for "thorough search and anti-sabotage check of the aircraft by the airline concerned and its guarding to ensure no unauthorized access to the aircraft... To ensure that no unauthorized person gains access to aero bridge". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 10:56 [IST] Twitter blocks fake accounts named after IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 03: While India continues to battle Pakistan-perpetrated terrorism and cross-border infiltration along the international border, social media cashed in the opportunity, with some users creating fake accounts named after Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Ever since Varthaman was captured and his subsequent release on March 1, Twitter has run amok, with several fake profiles of the IAF pilot surfacing on the social media micro-blogging platform. Indian government sources issued a clarification on Sunday, stating that the accounts posting tweets in the name of Abhinandan Varthaman are fake, false and impersonated. Debriefing after cooling down process, officials say on Abhinandan Twitter handles '@Abhinandan_wc', '@_pilotiaf', '@WC_Abhinandan', '@AbhiNandan_WCdr' are some of the fake profiles created in the name of the IAF pilot. Some of them even have over 3000 followers, with several posts in English, Hindi and other vernacular languages. The first activity of the account was made on March 1 with a retweet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welcome to the Indian Air Force pilot. Wearing blue blazer and grey trousers, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crossed over into India from the Attari-Wagha border at 9:20 pm on Friday, March 1. He was handed over by the Pakistan Rangers to the BSF personnel following paperwork. Indian Air Force fighter jets on February 26 launched a major offensive against terrorist organisations using Pakistani soil to carry out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and annihilated training camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot that falls in the Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa region, along with Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in PoK. The terror group is responsible for the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 where 40 CRPF personnel were killed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 16:50 [IST] Mysuru gang-rape case: HD Kumaraswamy says 'follow what was done in Hyderabad' Why spurt in terror strikes and none when Deve Gowda was PM, his son asks India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa Bengaluru, Mar 03: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has sought to know why there were terror attacks now while it had never occurred when his father H D Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister. "Why were there no instance of terrorists carrying out blasts or killing anyone when Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister? Why are they happening now? You need to think over it," he said at a public meeting late Friday night at Mysuru. "Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) needs many layers of security to go to Kashmir, but if there was any Prime Minister who went to the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir in an open jeep, it was honourable Deve Gowda. You should not forget this fact." Here is what US will do, if it finds that Pakistan misused the F-16s Speaking about the conflict between India and Pakistan, Kumaraswamy said he was no sure where it would lead to. Slamming the BJP for the manner in which they were celebrating the pre-emptive air strikes by hoisting victory flags, he alleged this was only creating an atmosphere of strife between two communities. "They are hoisting the victory flags as if they themselves flew the aircraft and carried out bombing inside Pakistan. It is misusing a situation for vested interests." Cautioning people against the saffron party, Kumaraswamy said cadres of that party were behaving as if they alone were the saviours of the nation and nobody else. "Beware. They are misusing innocent minds," he said. How another Pulwama attack was thwarted the BJP had lashed out at the chief minister for his remarks, tweeting "Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating Indias victory will create rift between two religions in India." CM @hd_kumaraswamy avare just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state & not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of #Mahaghatbandhan. The Chief Minister flayed the BJP for what he alleged was 'editing' of his speech and released the complete video of his speech. He also took to Twitter to hit out at at the saffron party. Govt 'obilged' to answer charge of intelligence failure in Pulwama attack: Chidambaram Kumaraswamy, in his rebuttal, tweeted "Shame on you @BJP4Karnataka for misleading the people by editing & twisting my statement against the BJP to suit your ulterior motives. In my original speech, I had said "BJP leaders are bragging as if they themselves did the attack and not our army." You edited out the term BJP. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 13:40 [IST] Lalu returns to Patna and minutes later son storms out of mothers home Bihar By-polls: Lalu Yadav to campaign for RJD candidates on Wednesday to ensure 'visarjan' of Nitish Kumar He can get me shot, cant do anything else: Nitish on Lalus visarjan claim Lalu Prasad Yadav appears before CBI court in Patna in fodder scam case, to attend RJD event on Wednesday Would have managed same crowd at a Paan shop': Lalu Prasad on PM Modi's 'Sankalp' rally India oi-Deepika S Patna, Mar 03: Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad on Sunday took a swipe at NDA's Sankalp rally at the city's Gandhi Maidan. "Narendra Modi, Nitish and Paswan have worked for months, using government resources, to organise the rally at Gandhi Maidan. The number of people the rally has attracted is similar to the gathering I could have attracted at a roadside paan shop," Lalu tweeted. "Go on, men, keep trying, zoom the camera in some more," the RJD supremo wrote. Sounding the poll bugle for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar shared the dais at a mega rally, dubbed the 'Sankalp Rally' at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Sunday. 'Sankalp' rally: Opposition wants to get rid of me, I want to get rid of terrorism, says PM Modi The mega rally comes exactly a month after the Congress held the first-of-its-kind 'Jan Akanksha' Rally at the same venue. The public meeting holds significance because Modi and Kumar are sharing the stage for the first time after 2010. The rally, which also features LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, is reportedly an effort to show full faith and confidence in the Prime Minister for handling the post-Pulwama crisis, which culminated in India's "non-military" air strikes on Pakistan's Balakot to demolish JeM camps, state presidents of the parties had said on Friday. Lalu Yadav was convicted in three fodder scam cases in December 2017 and January 2018 and was awarded 14 years imprisonment. He has applied for bail in the Supreme Court. PM-Kisan 10th installment to roll out by next week: How to check your status and name in beneficiary list? Red caps are like red alert for UP, PM Modi's jibe at Samajwadi Party in Gorakhpur rally PM Modi lauds UP govt for the work done for the benefit of sugarcane farmers Yogi Adityanath slams Congress ahead of PM Modis Amethi visit India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Mar 03: Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Amethi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday slammed Congress, SP and BSP for ignoring development in UP during their regime in India's most populous state. "The people of Amethi and Uttar Pradesh are eager to welcome our beloved Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi ji. This visit will further accelerate the continuous pace of progress in Uttar Pradesh under your guidance," tweeted Adityanath. "Inaugration of various development projects of public welfare in Amethi by Prime Minister will give boost to development of this region which has been suffering because of negligence of Congress, SP and BSP Governments for years," he added. PM Narendra Modi in Amethi today for the first time since 2014 "This visit of the respected Prime Minister will be historic and will help Uttar Pradesh scale the new heights of development," said Adityanath as this will be Narendra Modi's first visit to Amethi since 2014. PM Modi is all set to unveil a string of developmental projects worth Rs 11, 856.47 crore. This is Modi's first visit to Congress national president Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency. At Kauhar, Modi will address a public gathering for the first time since coming to power in 2014. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 13:00 [IST] Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump India a high tariff nation, they charge us a lot says Trump International oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa Washington, Mar 03: Alleging India of imposing 'high-tariff" on the US, President Donald Trump on Saturday, said that he wants a reciprocal tax or "at least some kind of tax". While addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland suburb of Washington DC, Trump said, "India is a very high-tariff nation. They charge us a lot." Trump touched a wide range of issues including domestic, global and bilateral relationship with countries like India in his speech that lasted for more than two hours. Leniency sought for former Trump campaign manager The President referred to his often-cited example of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles saying, "When we send a motorcycle to India, it's a hundred per cent tariff. They charge 100 per cent when India sends a motorcycle to us, we brilliantly charge them nothing." "So, I want a reciprocal tax or at least, I want to charge a tax. It's called the mirror tax, but it's reciprocal," Trump asserted. Early this year, at a White House event to announce his support for reciprocal tax, Trump had said he was satisfied with the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. "Even this is not enough, this is okay," he had said. "Look at motorcycles as an example. (In) India, it was 100 per cent. I got them down to 50 per cent, just by talking for about two minutes. It's still 50 per cent vs 2.4 per cent (on imported motorcycles to the US). Again, other than that, it's a very fair deal," the president had told reporters at the White House on January 24. On Saturday, he used the Indian example of how other countries were imposing high taxes on American products and now it was time for the US to impose a reciprocal tax. To prove his point, Trump said, he was using India as an example. "But India is a very high-tariff nation. And they charge tremendously. So they charge a hundred. So I say, I'm not going to charge you a hundred, but I'm going to charge 25 per cent, and I hear this turmoil in the Senate because we are charging 25 per cent," he said. Trump told his supporters that there was resistance to his move from the Senate. "I say, fellows, listen, they are charging us a hundred per cent. For the exact same product, I want to charge them 25 per cent. I feel so foolish charging 25 because it should be a hundred. But I'm doing 25 only because of you. I want to get your support," he said. US Senators 'affirm India's right to self-defense', call for peaceful resolution Thereafter, Trump mimicked the response from the lawmakers. "Sir, that's not free trade. Where did these people come from? Where do they come from? I need your help, I need your help, the voters' help. Where do they come from," he said. Trump said the US could not allow a country to charge it 100 per cent while it got nothing for the exact same product. "For one thing, they don't respect us. They think we're stupid. They don't respect us. But let me tell you something, the world respects our country again," he said. "America is now booming like never before. Other countries are doing very poorly," Trump said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 10:30 [IST] Pak may withdraw its opposition to proposal to designate Azhar as global terrorist: Report International pti-PTI Islamabad, Mar 3: Pakistan may take "decisive action" against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfit's chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistan's decision to act decisively was taken not to give any "face saving" to India. "We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone else's," the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it." Stressing that the country's leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested involvement of any Pakistani organisation. PTI According to 2018 Figures, Yggdrasil Expansion is Going Well Published March 3, 2019 by Lee R New figures and developments make Yggdrasil one of the true movers in 2019. Yggdrasil Gaming had a strong Q4, in terms of year-on-year progress. Q4 Business Highlights Q4 Business highlights for Yggdrasil include the signing of 11 new license agreements, including Svenska Spel, ATG and Veikkaus (from 6 in 2017); 7 new games launched (2); the launching of the first branded partnership game ever, Nitro Circus; an employee kickoff for the Krakow, Poland division; and a YGS Masters studio partnership with Fantasma Games. Record Payouts The quarter also saw a record number of jackpot payouts, including 80 MSEK to a Leo Vegas player and MSEK ~23 to a Bethard player; plus a huge hike in FTE's to 285, which was up from 191. Rounds and Mobile Share In Q4 player rounds increased 42% to 1,686 million, (1,184 in 2017); while mobile share jumped from 59% to 66%. Q4 Highlights Year-on-year highlights for the quarter Q4 2018 include the massive 53% increase in total operating revenues to MSEK 78.5 from 51.2); a 13% increase in EBIT to MSEK 19.8 from 17.5, and EBIT margin reaching 25%, from 34% in 2017. 2018 Highlights Financial highlights for the full year 2018 include an increase in total operating revenues a full 62% to MSEK 274.2, up from 169.1; an EBIT increased of 18% to MSEK 69.5 (58.8); and EBIT margin totaling out at 25% (35%). Entering Sweden The notable event at Yggdrasil for Q4's end has to be the signing of ATG and Live to the newly regulated Swedish market in January 2019. CEO Speaks CEO Fredrik Elmqvist discussed 2018 organisational accomplishments: "Yggdrasil...have more development projects in the pipeline than ever before. The total number of employees increased to 285, up by almost 100 from the prior year. Retaining world-class talent coupled with a focus on innovation, creativity and quality remain our top priorities to build our organisation and company for the long-term. Sustainability Outlook The new GGA Global Game Availability software enabling Yggdrasil to launch subsequent new games across all regulated environments is the key technological development that should have Yggdrasil successfully expanding into 2019 and far beyond. New Managers LAUNCHES: 1. Neuberger Berman is launching a UK-domiciled fund range, with the group's first strategy a global long/short equity portfolio to be run by Steve Eisman. The new fund is based on an existing equity long/short strategy managed by Eisman, launched in 2016. 2. Willis Towers Watson announced that the Towers Watson Secure Income Fund (SIF) has reached GBP1 billion of commitments. The fund, available to Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes in the UK, was launched in March 2017 to meet institutional demand for a product offering long-term sustainable income and which could help alleviate liability mismatch. 3. Investec Asset Management has launched the Global Environment fund to support the decarbonisation of investors' portfolios. The fund will invest in firms set to benefit from the world's power generation mix transitioning and decarbonising, which Investec has identified as a $2.5trn growth opportunity. 4. M&G Investments has launched a UK domiciled version of its sustainable multi-asset fund that integrates ESG factors and impact investing. The M&G Sustainable Allocation fund will be managed by Maria Municchi with support from deputy manager Steven Andrew. 5. One of the world's most celebrated hedge fund managers is to launch a new fund targeting British investors, Telegraph Money revealed. Steve Eisman made one of the biggest calls in history when he "shorted", or bet against, the American sub-prime mortgage market ahead of the 2008 crash. 6. Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) is launching a fund of alterantive Ucits funds for institutional investors, offering a passive way to gain exposure to a diverse range of hedge fund strategies. The ASI HFRI-I Liquid Alternative Ucits Strategy is being seeded with $150m of institutional investor money. It will invest in over 140 Ucits funds, mirroring the constituents and weightings of the HFRI-I Liquid Alternative Ucits Index which in aggregate has assets of more th...................... To view our full article please login New Managers PROFILES: Prime Factor Capital, Vega Fund London-based Prime Factor Capital has launched a new hedge fund focused on making investments in cryptocurrencies. The firm has also closed an equity financing round of a half million Euros with Speedinvest, a European Fintech investor. Speedinvest is a pan-European brand of venture capital funds with 200m under management that invests in seed stage technology start-ups. Entrepreneur First, a European incubator, also participated in the funding round. The founding team at Prime Factor Nic Niedermowwe, Michael Wong, and Adam Grimsley met at Entrepreneur First and the incubator said it was interested in supporting the program alumni because of their innovative approach to cryptocurrencies. The new fund will invest in cryptocurrencies with the largest market cap using derivatives to limit investment risk. "We come to this with prior investment management experience and wanted to create something that would appeal to institutional investors," explains Adam Grimsley in an interview with Opalesque New Managers . "Alongside the investment strategy, we've been very focused on creating a fund that has the kind of operational and custodial support that institutions and family offices have come to expect from other asset classes. Our use of derivatives also helps to manage risk levels thereby making it easier for allocations from risk sensitive investors." The fund was initially launched with partner capital in order to build a track record and test the infrastructure Grimsley says. Throughout the rest of this year in addition to building track record, the investment team will be speaking with potential investors. "There's a significant crypto community in London, so that's been great for us being based here," Grimsley says. The firm will be targeting $100-200 million for the strategy to start, but will consider growing beyond that as volume increases across the crypto market. "We're still in the ear...................... To view our full article please login Global Profilometer Industry Market is Predict to Grow at a high CAGR of 4.71% between 2018 and 2023 considering Top Key Players Zygo, Mahr, Tokyo Seimitsu, Jenoptik, Mitutoyo etc Global Profilometer Industry Market is Predict to Grow at a high CAGR of 4.71% between 2018 and 2023 considering Zygo, Mahr https://www.amplemarketreports.com/sample-request/global-profilometer-industry-318920.html https://www.amplemarketreports.com/report/global-profilometer-industry-318920.html https://www.amplemarketreports.com/enquiry-before-buy/global-profilometer-industry-318920.html https://www.amplemarketreports.com/buy-report.html?report=318920&format=1 www.amplemarketreports.com Ample Market Research offers a latest published report on Global Profilometer Market delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 91 Pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Global Profilometer Industry Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023, the revenue is valued at USD 340.37 million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 466.04 million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.71% between 2018 and 2023. The production is estimated at 12.41 Thousand Units in 2017 and is forecasted to reach 20.74 Thousand Units by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of 8.64% between 2018 and 2023.Download sample report copy of Global Profilometer MarketThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as Regional Segment Analysis, Type, Appliction, Major Manufactures, Industry Chain Analysis, Competitive Insights and Macroeconomic Analysis.Top Key Players of Global Profilometer Industry Market are Contact Profilometer Non-contact Profilometer Bruker Nano Surfaces Zygo Mahr Tokyo Seimitsu Jenoptik Mitutoyo SensofarProduct Segment Analysis of the Global Profilometer Industry Market are Contact Profilometer Non-contact Profilometer OthersApplications of the Global Profilometer Industry Market are Electronic & Semiconductor Mechanical OthersRegional Segment Analysis of the Global Profilometer Industry Market are North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaBrowse for Full Report at @:Research methodology is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research includes in-depth interviews with industry experts, vendors, resellers and customers. Secondary research includes industry publications, company reports, news articles, analyst reports, trade associations and the data published by Government agencies. The Global Profilometer Market research study is highlighting value drivers that may provide a competitive advantage to the business, providing an upper hand in the industry. What differentiation strategist should bring in product or services or what application/end-user needs to be targeted?Make an inquiry for purchasing this reportSome Points from Table of Contents:Chapter 1: Global Profilometer Market OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic Impact on Global Profilometer MarketChapter 3: Global Profilometer Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4: Global Profilometer Market Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)Chapter 5: Global Profilometer Market Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2013-2018)Chapter 6: Global Profilometer Market Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Global Profilometer Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Global Profilometer Market Manufacturers AnalysisChapter 9: Global Profilometer Market Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 10: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 11: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 12: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 13: Global Profilometer Market Forecast (2018-2023)Reasons for Buying Global Profilometer Market Report1. This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics2. It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth3. It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow4. It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future5. It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors6. It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsBuy this research report @About Ample Market ResearchAmple Market Research provides comprehensive market research services and solutions across various industry verticals and helps businesses perform exceptionally well. Attention to detail, consistency, and quality are elements we focus on. However, our mainstay remains to be knowledge, expertise, and resources to make us industry players.Our mission is to capture every aspect of the market and offer businesses a document that makes solid grounds for crucial decision making.Ample Market Research & Consulting Private LimitedWilliam JamesMedia & Marketing ManagerAddress: Jamuna Tower, 501, MIDC Road, Miragaon, Mira Road East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 401107Call: +1 (530) 868 6979Email: sales@amplemarketreports.comWebsite: Vancouver police on Saturday identified a pair of officers who shot and killed a man they say was armed but have yet to release the name of the deceased suspect. Officers Christopher Douville and Andrew Dunbar opened fire on the man Thursday after several people reported the suspect pointing a handgun at them and threatening to harm himself near West 12th and Jefferson streets, police said. The unidentified man was still holding the gun when Douville and Dunbar fatally shot him around 4:45 p.m., said Kim Kapp, a Vancouver police spokeswoman. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Police investigators later discovered the man was armed with two black-and-chrome replica pistols. Douville, 34, joined the Vancouver Police Department in April 2013 and previously served on the police force in Spokane, Washington, Kapp said. He is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division. Dunbar, 28, became a Vancouver officer in September 2017 and is assigned to West Precinct Patrol, police said. Before that, he spent four years with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. The fatal shooting was the second involving Vancouver police in as many weeks. Cpl. Roger Evans killed 16-year-old Clayton Joseph on Feb. 19 after police say Joseph didnt follow officers orders to drop a knife he was holding. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 An Oregon man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for impregnating an 11-year-old girl. Billy Joe Smith, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree rape in Klamath County, and a judge handed down his sentence the same day, records show. Authorities arrested Smith, a Sprague River resident, in March 2018 after the child was found to be 18 weeks pregnant, according to the Herald and News of Klamath Falls, which first reported the case. Smith fled Oregon soon after prosecutors charged him with two counts of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree sexual abuse stemming from the November 2017 incident, records show. He was arrested in Nevada a month later and extradited back to Oregon, according to court documents. Records show Smith is also wanted in Wisconsin on outstanding charges of forgery, battery and resisting arrest. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 The number of people diagnosed with measles in Oregon and Washington rose to 75 Saturday as Clark County officials confirmed two new cases. Both were children younger than 11 who had not been vaccinated, according to Clark County Public Health officials. Officials also said anyone who was at The Vancouver Clinic on Northeast 87th Avenue between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday or 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday may have been exposed to measles. Since Jan. 1, Clark County has confirmed 70 cases in the Vancouver area, Multnomah County has identified four people with measles and one who could have measles. One man in King County, Washington, also had measles. The vast majority of people diagnosed with measles are young children who were not vaccinated. Two doses of the vaccine are 97 percent effective, and public health officials in Washington recommend that everyone who is unvaccinated or only received one get both shots. The vaccine can reduce the risk of infection if gotten within 72 hours after exposure to the virus. To help prevent further spreading of the disease, health officials ask that people who think they might have measles call their doctor or health care provider before going to a hospital or doctors office. Clark County Public Health now maintains a daily call center for questions about the outbreak at 360-397-8021. The Oregonian/OregonLives Molly Harbarger contributed to this report -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Over the next few weeks, The Oregonian/OregonLive will be rolling out a few changes with the goal of enhancing coverage of those issues that matter most to Oregonians. A new Public Interest and Accountability team will build on the newspapers tradition of hard-hitting coverage of issues that directly impact readers lives. Team members will focus daily reporting and in-depth analysis on the agencies and leaders making decisions about how to spend our public dollars, including Portland City Hall, Multnomah County, state government, the Oregon Legislature and Portland Public Schools. The team will also tackle issues that are top-of- mind and seemingly ever-present, including homelessness, the Public Employees Retirement System crisis and Oregons struggling public schools, as well as how the states most vulnerable populations are provided physical and mental health care. The team will aim to help readers understand important issues, uncovering the full scope of problems as well as potential solutions. I will oversee the new team in addition to our Opinion pages, which will continue to feature weekly editorials guided by our editorial boards 2019 agenda and its longstanding principles. The Opinion section will also remain a forum for Oregonians to air varied view- points from across the state. The goal in redeploying newsroom resources is to focus more journalistic firepower on the most important issues of the day and ratchet up the accountability lens on powerful public and private institutions. We aim to better serve readers who are hungry to stay informed and learn what has worked here and elsewhere to solve problems that can appear intractable. How will we do this without crossing the clear line between opinion writing and news reporting? As always, our news reporting will be driven by breaking news and the need to analyze issues that are priorities for Oregonians. On the opinion side, the editorials remain independent from the news coverage. Helen Jung will serve as opinion editor, writing editorials and leading the election endorsement process. She also will craft our editorial agenda, which we set to provide readers insight into those issues we have prioritized for the year. For instance, this years agenda includes: Transform education for students benefit, keep Oregon solvent, work toward more evenhanded justice in Oregon and put Portland on the right track. The editorial board will continue to convene Oregons leaders to discuss those issues as well as others that arise throughout the year and build on our rich history of institutional stances in our Sunday editorials. As well as Helen and myself, the board includes Therese Bottomly, executive editor and vice president of content; and John Maher, president. Longtime Oregonian/OregonLive staff editor Amy Wang also will join the board, bringing her expertise from years overseeing coverage in the Portland area as well as valuable insights from her work leading the newsrooms diversity committee. In my new role, I will help guide the general direction for the Opinion section and participate in editorial board meetings as newsroom leaders here and at media organizations across the country traditionally have. However, because I will oversee news coverage, I will no longer regularly write editorials. The Public Interest and Accountability team focus will be to highlight the most significant issues facing our state, illuminate them through clear-eyed reporting and help bring rigor and leadership as we look for solutions. With these changes, we will eliminate our single page of opinion content on Fridays and Saturdays. However, we plan to expand our Wednesday section to include several syndicated columnists providing compelling context and analyses on national issues. Both our Wednesday and Sunday Opinion sections will also continue to feature op-eds from local writers and the letters to the editor that we know inspire rich debate among our readers. We welcome your input on the changes we are making as well as your ideas about what issues we should consider covering throughout the year. Please email me at lgunderson@oregonian.comor call 503-221-8378. From the moment Dennis Richardson took office in 2017 as Oregons secretary of state, he was on the outside looking in. Not only was Richardson a Republican from southern Oregon unlike the four Portland-area Democrats in Oregons top posts but his stances against abortion rights and gay marriage and in favor of arming schoolteachers placed him firmly in the most-conservative wing of his party. But for all the attention on his controversial positions, Richardson, who died last week of brain cancer at age 69, was also defined by his integrity, grace and an unwavering devotion to public service. Pledging to carry out his job in a nonpartisan manner, the former legislator from Central Point studiously kept his personal beliefs separate from his actions as secretary of state. And in his two years in the role, Richardson showed what the odd man out can achieve for Oregonians. With unflinching audits that zeroed in on government failures in foster care, regulation of air-pollution, marijuana regulation and Medicaid payments, he disrupted the complacency and lack of accountability that had become routine in Salem. He bucked the national trend of Republicans restricting voters rights and instead took measures to expand Oregonians access. And he looked for novel ways, such as posting his offices budget expenditures to starting a kid governor program to make government more transparent, accessible and responsive to the public. Richardsons contributions to Oregon go back long before his election as secretary of state. In his six terms as a legislator, he drilled into the details of bills and budgets. He brought his fiscal savvy to the role of co-chair of the budget-writing committee in 2011, helping deliver a balanced budget without raising taxes during the recession. He was among the first legislators to recognize that management failures and costly delays on the states Cover Oregon buildout were threatening to doom the health-insurance exchange project. But his deep social conservatism and record of controversial proposals sunk him in his 2014 bid to be governor of a state that time and again affirms its values of diversity, choice and equal rights. Richardson got the message and made clear in his campaign for secretary of state that he would keep his personal views out of the role. He emphasized the need to rebuild public trust, increase accountability and transparency and identify how government fails to deliver for Oregonians and what it can do to improve. The series of strong audits issued by his office during his term have done exactly that, turning the secretary of state into a much-needed watchdog for the rest of government. That is the legacy and philosophy that should guide Gov. Kate Brown as she seeks to appoint a replacement to serve the rest of his term. Under Oregons Constitution, Brown, a Democrat, is required only to appoint a member of the same party as Richardson, a Republican. Unlike vacancies in the Legislature, in which the party provides a list of three to five candidates for consideration by the board of county commissioners, theres no such requirement constraining Browns decision. That said, Brown does intend to reach out to legislators, business people, advocacy groups and others in the community before making her decision, said her spokeswoman, Kate Kondayen. She added that the governor is open to considering the names that the Oregon Republican Party plans to submit. Provided the party offers strong candidates who will show the same dedication to accountability, elections access and separation of personal beliefs from professional actions that Richardson demonstrated, Brown should aim to respect their wishes. She should also reconsider a requirement she herself is imposing. Brown said she wants to appoint someone who will commit to not running for the office in 2020. Theres merit to that. Someone appointed to an elected position gains the benefit of incumbency in future elections, without having to pass voters test to get there in the first place. And Brown adopted the same standard in 2015 when she looked to appoint her own replacement as secretary of state after ascending to the governorship in the wake of former Gov. John Kitzhabers resignation. In that case, Brown appointed Jeanne Atkins, who pledged she wouldnt run for the office once the term ended. But that should not be a deal-breaker. Browns top priority should be to appoint someone who will continue to bring the same scrutiny of government operations that Richardson did. While his offices audits were sometimes uncomfortable for agencies in fact, Browns own spokesman dismissed the detailed reviews as just about politics following one particularly disturbing audit of the Child Welfare division they are among the only ways the government is held accountable. Without that critical eye, nothing gets fixed. The public has benefited greatly from having Richardson helm the secretary of states office. Brown should honor his legacy by selecting someone who shares his dedication to getting government right. The Coast Guard rescued a sailor in distress Saturday after his boat took on too much water west of the Columbia River Bar, authorities reported. The sailor asked for help just after 5 p.m. when his boats pump system couldnt keep up with incoming water. Coast Guard crews located the boat by helicopter at about 5:45 p.m., finding it roughly 10 miles west of the mouth of the Columbia River, in the Pacific Ocean. A 47-foot Motor Life Boat arrived around 6 p.m. and used a dewatering pump to stabilize the boat. Crews towed it to the Ilwaco Marina in Washington. The sailor did not need medical treatment. The Columbia River Bar is one of the most dangerous passages in the world. -- Brad Schmidt bschmidt@oregonian.com 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Central Oregons snowbound survivor, who sustained himself by eating only three packets of hot sauce while stranded in his SUV last week, is kind of busy right now. Hes got several feet of snow on the roof. His house doesnt have water. And he still needs to dig out the Toyota 4Runner he and his dog lived in for five long days. I have my life to still take care of, said Jeremy Taylor, 36, during a brief phone conversation Sunday. Taylors story of survival captured the attention of national and international media this weekend when the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office announced the missing man not only had been found Friday but that he used a few taco sauce packets as food. Oregon man survives chilly ordeal by eating hot sauce packets, blared The Guardian. Man, dog survive 5 days in Oregon snow: Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives! proclaimed USA Today. The jokes write themselves. But, in reality, the situation could have been deadly. Janet Main-Jones worried deeply about her son. Hed last been seen at a gas station in Sunriver on Sunday. Family realized he was missing Wednesday and contacted authorities. Finding Taylor would not be easy. He had recently lost his phone, making it impossible to electronically pinpoint where he might be. And the snow kept falling. I didnt think he was going to come out alive, his mother said. After five days, in that kind of weather, who survives that? Taylor is an avid outdoorsman. As a boy growing up in California, he would challenge his mom to uphill races, him on a three-wheeler, her on a horse. As an adult, Taylor was known to park his dirt bike in the living room. A construction worker, hed moved to Sunriver several years ago following work opportunities. He loved it. He called it Snowriver. And now he was stranded in freezing temperatures, snow falling with no end in sight, whereabouts unknown. Hes been outdoors. Hes familiar with his area. And he knew he was in trouble, said Main-Jones, who spoke with Taylor after his rescue. Main-Jones said her son had planned to head into the Deschutes National Forest with his dog, Ally, to go out and clear his head on Sunday, as he often did. But Taylor told authorities his vehicle became stuck in the snow so he decided to spend the night. When he awoke Monday, more snow had fallen, making it difficult to even open the door. Taylor attempted to hike out by making improvised snowshoes from a portion of his vehicles roof rack. Hes pretty thoughtful about stuff like that, his mother said. But Taylor struggled to make it through the snow. His dog, a red tri-colored Australian Shephard, struggled even more. He tried carrying her, Taylors mother said. It was too hard. In the end, they returned to the 4Runner. Taylor had a sleeping bag in the vehicle, which he used to stay warm. In the coldest hours, usually around 2:30 a.m., Taylor would start the engine and blast the heat full blast, his mother said. Thank god he had a full tank of gas, she said. Its not clear exactly how much snow surrounded Taylor as he waited. But it was a lot. Data collected from a slightly higher elevation to the south reported total snow cover of 44 inches on Sunday. It had climbed to 68 inches by Thursday, said David Bishop, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, who provided data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A solid two feet of snowfall, he said. In the back of her mind, Taylors mother couldnt help but think about the Kim family, who got stranded for more than a week in snow on a remote Southern Oregon mountain road in 2006. James Kim hiked on foot in search of help but died of hypothermia; his wife and children were eventually found alive in their vehicle. Whether Taylor worried about his own fate isnt clear. He told him mom, simply, that he was just bored over the days. Taylors parents credited friends and community members with helping find their missing son. It was one of Taylors neighbors who hopped on a snowmobile and eventually located the stranded vehicle on Friday, his mother said. Authorities reported that Taylor was found at about 2:30 p.m. on Forest Service Road 40 near Wake Butte, west of Sunriver. Taylor posted a message to his Facebook page Friday night offering thanks. Thank you everyone, I'm safe my Ally dog is safe. I really appreciate all the help. Got lucky, lets (sic) never do that again. I'll be in touch with everyone soon. In response to a friends comment about how he ate three Taco Bell hot sauce packets during the ordeal, Taylor joked: Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives! The rest is internet history. When they came out, the dog was as hungry as he was, Taylors step-father, Jeff Jones, said. Taylor, in a brief conversation Sunday, said he appreciated that his is a feel-good story. But hes not much for the attention. Im just kind of overwhelmed, Taylor said before rushing off the phone. The snow on his roof apparently wasnt going to shovel itself. The Associated Press contributed to this report. -- Brad Schmidt bschmidt@oregonian.com 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. The Portland Womxns March begins with a rally noon Sunday in downtown Portland with a march through nearby streets to follow. While some other womens marches were held around the country on the Jan. 19-21 weekend, organizers for the Portland event chose to focus on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and events during those dates, which moved the Portland march and rally to Sunday. Speakers for the march and rally, which are expected to conclude at 3 p.m., include Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.; Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal; and Reyna Lopez, the executive director of PCUN, Oregons largest farm worker union. Stay tuned for live updates from the event. 2:54 p.m. | March wraps up The Portland Womxns March mostly wrapped up before 3 p.m. after marchers returned to the Portland State University campus. As participants headed home , a few stopped to take photos with Caesar, the No Drama Llama. Portland Police Sgt. Bret Barnum said police estimated the crowd that came to the event at about 2,000 people. Weve updated the gallery accompanying this post with photos from the event, and well have a full recap posted soon. 2:32 p.m. | Conservative activists show Portland journalist Jason Wilson spotted the Vancouver-based conservative activist Joey Gibson among the crowd. Wilsons photos show Gibson and others who frequently show up at his Patriot Prayer rallies in the crowd, followed by police. You can see his group is being escorted bike bike cops pic.twitter.com/ReOx6xP1V3 Jason Wilson (@jason_a_w) March 3, 2019 Wilson tweeted that the group walked alongside the front of the march, then went their own way. Gibson is known for holding rallies that often draw people who espouse hateful views. The gatherings also frequently break out into violent clashes with antifa counter-protesters. 1:34 p.m. | March gets underway The Oregonian/OregonLive is streaming from the march on Facebook. Traffic downtown will be affected. As a reminder, heres the route: 1:29 p.m. | Rally speakers call for supporting immigrants, environmental policies Speakers at the rally preceding the Portland Womxns March called on participants to oppose the policies of the Trump Administration and support those of Democrats in Congress. Topics included support for immigrant rights including drivers licenses for all regardless of immigration status, the subject of a bill before the Oregon Legislature environmental responsibility and more. Reyna Lopez says unity is the only way to beat what she calls the ugliness in our country today. What do we want? She calls. Justice! The crowd responds. #WomxnsMarchPDX Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 Susheela Jayapal, of the Multnomah County Commission says we dont resist, we insist, as crowd cheers. March comes next. #WomxnsMarchPDX Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 Are you ready for a Green New Deal? Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici asked the crowd, getting a cheer. #WomxnsMarchPDX Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 Bonamici also got applause when she told the crowd there is a national emergency, and its name is Donald Trump. #WomxnsMarchPDX Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 Shannon Olive quotes Maya Angelou and gets the crowd to repeat, We rise. #womxnsmarchpdx pic.twitter.com/CrJh5p3zBm Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 12:54 p.m. | Preparing to march Participants in the Portland Womxns March gathered for a rally in the South Park Blocks before they take to the streets around 1 p.m. At least a thousand have shown up. Heres a view of the crowd: A panoramic view of the hundreds who gathered for the Portland Womxn's March in downtown Portland on Sunday, March 3, 2019. (Mark Graves | The Oregonian/OregonLive) 11:59 a.m. | Live from the South Park Blocks Oregonian reporter Kristi Turnquist will be tweeting from the event. Others are using the hashtag #womxnsmarchpdx. People are assembling in the PSU South Park blocks in preparation for the Portland Womens March & Rally for Action. Various vendors also have tables set up, with signs that read No War, No Walls, No Warming, and so on. #womxnsmarchpdx @Oregonian pic.twitter.com/YoEkZ5IdlZ Kristi Turnquist (@Kristiturnquist) March 3, 2019 11:42 a.m. | Where is the march? The march route is about a mile long following Southwest 10th Avenue, Salmon Street and Broadway, starting and ending in the South Park Blocks. 11:40 a.m. | Whats this all about? The Portland Womxns the spelling reflects an emphasis on inclusivity to trans women and gender fluidity March & Rally for Action begins at noon, with a rally at Portland State Universitys South Park Blocks. The march is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., with an approximately one-mile route to Shemanski Park, and back to the main stage in the PSU South Park Blocks. According to the womxnsmarchpdx.com web site, the event is intended to create transformative social change by drawing on the the political and organizational power of diverse womxn (and our communities). -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Each month, Paste brings you a look at the best new selections from the Criterion Collection. Much beloved by casual fans and cinephiles alike, Criterion has for over three decades presented special editions of important classic and contemporary films. You can explore the complete collection here. In the meantime, because chances are you may be looking for something to give the discerning (raises pinkie) cinephile this month, find all of our Criterion picks here, check out some of our top titles this February, and, hey, maybe sign up for Criterions just-announced Criterion Channel, coming in April. One of the titles below is currently their Movie of the Week, a title theyre sharing every week until the Channels premiere: Year: 1990 Director: Charles Burnett Charles Burnetts serio-comic masterwork opens with a dream sequence and ends with an image thats entirely too real: The body of a black American man prone on the ground, his dignity simultaneously kept and undermined by the sheet covering him from the eyes of the living. If you thought the Ferguson Police Departments neglect of Michael Browns corpse back in 2014 was a new image, you thought wrong; authorities have left black bodies to rot for hours on end since always. At least in To Sleep with Anger, the body happens to be indoors instead of out on the street. The body belongs to a major neer do well, too, not so bad that deaths a fair price for his misdoing but bad enough that no one in the film truly grieves. The true reason to grieve for the incorrigible Harry (Danny Glover) is his postmortem treatment. At the same time, his death finally reunites the family fractured by his presence throughout To Sleep with Angers episodic narrative. Harrys arrival on the doorstep of Gideon (Paul Butler) and Suzie (Mary Alice) realizes the portents of doom Burnett casts at the start of the film, a hazy scene that would feel right at home in Twin Peaks: Gideon, dressed handsomely in a powder blue suit, sits calmly by a fruit bowl that bursts into flames, giving no reaction as they engulf him. Harry doesnt set Gideon on fire, but his devotion to older ways nevertheless burns his family. To Sleep with Anger creates a multifaceted portrait of a black American family and black American life, the kind we see today in the films of Barry Jenkins, Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler and Dee Rees. Its a pioneering work in keeping with Burnetts career spent opening doors and blazing trails for black Americans in the film industry, and its addition to the Criterion Collection as a piece of history and as one of Burnetts best movies reaffirms its essential status. Andy Crump Year: 1968 Director: Ingmar Bergman Included in Criterions recently released Bergman boxsetstacked heroically with the directors trench-deep oeuvreShame is also part of the Faro trilogy, released between Hour of the Wolf (1968) and The Passion of Anna (1969), all starring Liv Ullmann and Max von Sydow, Bergmans muses to the extent that he seemed to trust them to inhabit wildly different personas with sublimely similar settings, all filmed on the Swedish island. A story of two musicians, a married couple, whove fled an unnamed civil war in their unnamed home country by embracing isolationism on a small farm, Bergman resists providing any historical anchors to their untethering love for one another, instead subjecting them to the small tragedies of war, watching their affection picked away until all the have is a kind of functional dependence, a desperate substitute for the bond they once shared. At one point, Ullmanns character describes their situation as feeling like someone elses dream. As much as Shame seems to demand context, the film rejects it, focused more simply on the inescapably dehumanizing nature of war, a surreality the film makes as visceral as it can before dissolving into uncertainty, as if its waking from a quiet nightmare. Dom Sinacola Year: 1960 Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot The so-called French Hitchcock, his popularity waning in the wake of the New Wave, crafts a courtroom melodrama interrogating the mechanisms of that popularity. As formalist and finely tuned as any of the tense thrillers hed released through the Nazi-occupied 40sThe Murderer Lives at Number 21 and La Corbeauand post-war 50sLes Diaboliques and The Wages of Fear especially, tinged with politics but only if youre looking for themLa verite more overtly pits its protagonist between societal systems shell never be able to survive, as well as the film itself navigates between traditional cinematic storytelling and whatever the New Wave, both banks, was up to. Much of that in between was embodied in Brigitte Bardot playing Dominique, the tragic youth whose passions for life, noble and salacious alike, meant she wasnt long for this world. On trial for the murder of her lover Gilbert (Sami Frey), Dominique is a woman as adept at demonstrating control as she is withering in defeat, lovesick and delirious. When she first seduces Gilbert, a complete stranger, shes naked in bed, dancing to some non-classical, and therefore risque, record by thrusting her hips into the mattress, Armand Thirards camera as hypnotized by Bardots curves as the man shed eventually murder. The director of photography, and director too, and audience evenall are unable to keep from judging her, judging Dominique but Bardot too, in such a moment of sexual domination. Coupled with Bardots burgeoning superstardom and tabloid presence, fact and fiction blur seamlessly in La verite, the name of the film an unfunny punchline to a plot steeped in the biases and social structures that ensure Dominiques fates been sealed since birth. The truth, Clouzot seems to say, is less about what really happened (because we learn plenty of details about exactly what occurred) and more about whats squeezed out of what happened under severeunfairscrutiny. And maybe he meant to say that about film as well: If Truffaut and Godard thought Clouzot too tied to tradition, too much an old hand whose time passed, La verite is Clouzots response. Just because you admit a film isnt true, over and over and over, doesnt mean youre somehow any closer to the truth. Dom Sinacola Year: 1971 Director: Luchino Visconti In Luchino Viscontis Death in Venice, obsession with love, or an idea of it, plagues ailing composer Gustav von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde), who, in Italy, spies young Tadzio (Bjorn Andresen), a perfect approximation of beauty in von Aschenbachs eyes. Tadzio charms the every adult, but von Ausenbachs got Tadzio under his skin. All the while, the world may be crumbling around him, a mysterious disease forcing everyone in Venice to flee, but von Aschenbach cant bear to part from the physical manifestation of his intellectual preoccupations with beauty, youth, art and perfection. If no other person listens to one of his pieces, he will at least be the final audience member to what Venus promised. The most important audience member in all of this, in discerning beautybeing taunted and toyed by itis us. What beauty is, what it can be, is frequently presented in queer cinema in a rather de facto manner. Watching Call Me By Your Name, one should automatically find the slender, milky-skinned and Cherubic face of Timothee Chalamet a version of the Platonic ideal, or, if not him, then his opposite, Armie Hammer. Even the title cards make a promise to explore the implications of queer beauty, including the remains of statues relevant to Elios fathers academic work. But it is a promise broken. In films with less self-awareness about the politics of male beauty and desire, from Love, Simon to I Killed My Mother to GBF, there is a presumption that we will find whom the film deems beautiful to also be beautiful, fitting a particular criteria that need not be explicitly stated. Which is not to say that any of those films are bad per se, but that they are decidedly uninterested in challenging or, at least, poking holes in the dream of someone, something beautiful. In Death in Venice is an ideal and an extreme of mythologized beauty. Visconti asserts beauty as androgynous, prepossessed, to exist temporally in opposition to all that surrounds it. Andresens golden locks and coquettish glances exude innocence and the promise that time can stop, or maybe even that the beauty of ones past can be captured again. The film supposes that to be beautiful and to desire that same beauty is painful, arresting, capable of bringing someone, including the beautiful themselves, down to their knees. The warning signs are all around von Aschenbach, as Venice is washed in unbearably odorous disinfectant, turning the lime-colored streets into a pale, puke-like white-ish green. Even when the city is on fire, he continues to trail Tadzio and his family. Beauty, the obsession with it and quest for it, only leads to self-destruction. Kyle Turner / Full Article Let Benedikt Erlingssons Woman at War teach his peers a valuable lesson: Movies need more Greek choruses. In Erlingssons case, thatd be an Icelandic chorus, shadowing choir conductor and amateur eco terrorist Halla (Halldora Geirharsdottir) as she carries out her one-woman campaign against metal and mining corporation Rio Tinto. Shes a tenacious, clever foe, loosing arrows over power lines to cut electricity to the companys aluminum plants, job producers to some, warts upon Icelands pristine landscapes to others, meaning mostly to Halla. The band following her as she goes about her business never comments on her actions in words, just in music. Maybe theyre on Hallas side. Rio Tintos industrial impact on the gorgeous Icelandic expanse lovingly captured by Erlingssons cinematographer, Bergsteinn Bjorgulfsson, is offensive to the eye. Maybe theyre appalled by Hallas motivations, muddied by both her virtue and her selfishness. Its possible that fighting for a greener world in Hallas way, causing havoc for the ostensible greater good, incurs consequences that extend beyond Rio Tinto. In Woman at Wars opening scene, her meddling causes literal sparks to fly. Lights flicker inside the company plant as workers scramble to fire off generators and avoid imminent catastrophe. Abruptly shutting off power to a building that houses a directional drill isnt a victimless crime. Woman at War takes no firm position on matters of environmentalism, which is to the films benefit. Hallas crusade against the rape of Icelands natural beauty is noble. I know these people, exclaims Baldvin (Jorundur Ragnarsson), Hallas ministry man on the inside during one surreptitious meeting. Im surrounded by those psychopaths all day long. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her deeds have attracted attention on a global scale, forcing the hand of other companies interested in laying down roots in Iceland to reconsider. Thats the good news. The bad news is that Hallas civil disobedience and property destruction have put her on radars. Authorities arent on to her. They just know somebody out there has a grudge against Rio Tinto. Baldvin reminds Halla, and the audience, that Rio Tinto is run by bad people, and so she remains the hero. Yet, the chorus scores her plots and plans with encouragement as much as with judgment. Halla routinely evades the long arm of the law, but justice has to grab someone, and that someone, nearly without fail, is Juan Camillo (Juan Camillo Roman Estrada), a tourist with a knack for being in the wrong place (the site of one of Hallas crimes) at the wrong time (the moment the police swoop in to arrest her). Making the repeat arrest of a minority into a successful recurring joke takes both a deft hand and wicked chutzpah. Erlingsson has both. Poor Juan. The joke is on him, but the moral imperative is on Halla. Every move she makes has a ripple effect. The backlash is felt by Rio Tintos workers. Its felt by Juan. Its even felt by Halla, who wants to adopt a child from the Ukraine, a desire jeopardized by her refusal to put to bed her guerilla tactics and let the conflict die. In the real world, shes made her point. In her mind, her points yet to be made. Erlingsson shoots each sabotage sequence with tongue firmly in cheek, the chorus looking on dispassionately while Halla takes her schemes to comical lengths. Most of that comedy comes from Geirharsdottir herself, as committed to performance as Halla is to activism. She finds character in Hallas stubbornness, crafting an endearing portrait of a woman ready to do whatevers required to realize her goals, whether adoption or subversion. Stoicism is her greatest asset. Shes pleased with herself but never shows it. If she was a cat, shed purr. But Geirharsdottir reveals Hallas interior apart from her dogged grudge with Rio Tinto. Her determination is impressive but at times exhausting. Rather than wear out her viewers, she tips her hand. Hallas tired out, too. All she truly wants is to rest. Geirharsdottir lets that ray of vulnerability through while Erlingsson keeps Woman at Wars tone balanced between dark humor and cultural critique. The film directs a bitter, humorous eye at the complications between embracing activism and functioning in society, especially in an era of increased global commerce and tech surveillance. How much is activism worth when there are eyes in the sky everywhere and conglomerates at the ready to swoop in to undo your efforts? Erlingsson shrewdly withholds easy answers to the question, and the band plays on. Director: Benedikt Erlingsson Writer: Benedikt Erlingsson, Olafur Egill Egilsson Starring: Halldora Geirharsdottir, Davi or Jonsson, Juan Camillo Roman Estrada, Jorundur Ragnarsson, Magnus Trygvason Eliasen, Omar Gujonsson, Johann Sigurarson Release Date: March 1, 2019 Boston-based culture writer Andy Crump has been writing about film and television online since 2009 (and music since 2018). You can follow him on Twitter and find his collected writing at his personal blog. He is composed of roughly 65% craft beer. This week Apple suspended the iOS distribution certificates of many Iranian app developers, according to the Iranian site Eghtesad. The report noted that following the move, access to over 20 locally-developed iOS apps was blocked, including mobile banking, shopping, and ride-hailing services. Some of the services impacted by the move are ride-hailing apps Snapp and Tap30, along with numerous Iranian fintechs and banks mobile banking apps. This is not the first time that Iranian iOS apps are rendered useless due to Apple's sudden decisions. In previous cases, Iranian companies were singled out by the company to enforce US sanctions against Iran. However, this time several Chinese Internet-based services have also been affected. On Feb. 14 Reuters published a story 'Software pirates use Apple tech to put hacked apps on iPhones', according to which software pirated hijacked technology designed by Apple to distribute hacked versions of Spotify, Angry Birds, Pokemon Go, Minecraft and other popular apps on iPhones . Apple notorious software distributors such as TutuApp, Panda Helper, AppValley and TweakBox have found ways to use digital certificates to gain access to an Apple program introduced to allow corporations to distribute business apps to their employees without going through Apple's tightly controlled App Store.The same way was used by Iranian app developers to distribute their products. Due to US restrictions, Iranian companies can not publish their products through normal channels defined by Apple. In February, an Apple spokesperson told Reuters, "Developers who abuse our corporate certificates are in violation of the Apple Developer Enterprise Program Agreement, and their certificates will be terminated, and if necessary, they will be completely removed from our Developer Program. We are constantly evaluating the cases of misuse and are ready to take immediate action." Apple has confirmed that it will require two-factor authentication - using a code sent to a phone as well as a password - to sign up for all developer accounts by the end of the month, which could help prevent the misuse of the certificate. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Scott Hahn and Steve Ray Supposedly Were Motivated Primarily or Solely by Financial Gain, to Become Catholics? [all material below is public Internet material] *** One Binky Brown [a former Catholic] writes [on the anti-Catholic CARM discussion forum] (7-10-04): Observations About Clergy Converts To Catholicism You know the people Im talking about: Scott Hahn, David Currie, etc.. My observation is that, if you study these men, sooner or later it becomes obvious that they were in a position where likely ulterior economic motives may have been the motivation for their crossing the Tiber. Hahn (Rome Sweet Rome), for example, was never an ordained Presbyterian minister, as claimed: he was an associate pastor for some now-defunct independent congregation that averaged about 30 attendees on a Sunday. Then, he got a free ride for a Ph.D. at Catholic Marquette University, and voila!- He became a Catholic. Currie (Born Fundamentalist- Born Again Catholic)was never even a minister at all: he spent 5 years in a three year M. Div. program without graduating. There is even a Coming Home Network organization that holds forth new career opportunities as an enticement for those who become Roman Catholic. Conversion becomes the bargained for exchange in a contract for career enhancement. The point here is: dont take these individuals at face value. More than likely, their conversion was little more than a career move. When they claim to be a former Protestant minister, determine if they were ever successful as ministers of the gospel: Did they ever really pastor a church? How many people did they actually lead to Christ? Most wont actually say where they pastored, or name elders of the congregations they served (lest too many details of their purported pre-catholic existence come to life), so you may have to dig deeply. Moreover, many of them play the Saul before the road to Damascus card to the hilt: they will claim to have been anti-Catholic before their conversion, but were won over by the truth. Now, if you think youll ever find a single arguably anti-Catholic book , article, or sermon by them before they turned to Romanism, good luck. Chances are their anti-Catholicism is but one more legend in their own minds. Hilasterion added (7-10-04): The phenomenon being described is hard to deny. . . . they crave attention. Being controversial is certainly a way of doing that. The books are more akin to tabloid trash than scholarship. And again, Binky, the reader of hearts and minds, speaks (7-12-04; 6:53 AM): Stephen Ray was a business owner both before, and after, his conversion to the RCC. As he and his business are located in a region with a significant Roman Catholic population (southeast Michigan), one has to ask if his conversion did anything but improve his business opportunities. Well, seeing that Steves business is a janitorial service for businesses, I highly doubt that Catholic businesses have more dust and dirt than Protestant ones. But what do I know? Maybe Catholics do more dirty business than Protestants???? As a matter of fact, from polling data (Pew Research Center), metro Detroit has only 16% Catholic population, compared to 49% Protestant. So we are to believe that Steves business opportunities greatly increased (thus, this was a motive for his conversion), in an area that has three times more Protestants than Catholics? The same study shows that no metro area in the US has much more than a mere third, of Catholic population (Chicago: 34%, New York: 33%, LA and San Diego: 32%, Boston: 29%, Miami: 27%, Philadelphia: 26%). Anti-Catholics apparently forget that this has always been a Protestant-dominated country. Steve and Janet Ray both came from staunch Protestant families: they certainly paid a personal price. All in a days work of apologetics! This is the sort of juvenile nonsense that made me give up trying to debate with anti-Catholics three years later, in 2007: one of the best decisions I ever made. I still have many scores of online papers refuting them, for anyone interested. Steve Ray himself chimed in: Love it Dave! Thanks for sharing. Yeah, being a Catholic janitor was so much better than being a Protestant janitor. I used to work on Sundays because there were no Protestant rules about obligation. Rats, now I actually am forced to go to Church on Sunday and cant work even in the afternoon or evening. Yea, great to be Catholic. Moreover, as regards his history before coming to the RCC as an anti-Catholic (as another poster has claimed) : do we have any record of books written by him prior to his conversion that dealt with Roman Catholicism within this supposedly pejorative context? Ive known fellow southeast Michigander Steve since 1983. In fact, the first time I met him I heard him speak at our singles group, and what did I talk to him about afterwards?: the anti-Catholic sub-theme of his presentation, which was derived in part from Francis Schaeffer, with whom he had studied in Switzerland. I was not anti-Catholic as a Protestant (as I was in 1983); but Steve definitely was. But then I am one of those lying, devious, money-hungry Catholic converts, too, so why trust my eyewitness report, huh? If we have only the word of Stephen Ray (or as previously noted, Scott Hahn, as to his pre-Catholic existence), and the individual has an obvious interest in playing this angle to the hilt in order to gain credibility among his new-found fold, we have every right to question, as would any cross-examiner of a witness, the issues of motive, bias, and interest. Its what I identified in my original post as the Paul before the road to Damascus card: often played, but rarely substantiated, except from the declarant (or his allies) himself. Finally, its not just about selling books: look at Hahns website, and see what he charges for a speaking engagement- my recollection is $2 grand a pop plus expenses. Not an earth shattering amount when it comes to honorariums, but more that hed ever earn in a week as an associate pastor for a small (thirty attendees a Sunday) independent congregation. Hahn also has a tenured professorship at a small Catholic university. So one can conclude that crossing the Tiber has paid off well for Hahn. And remember that one of his undergraduate majors was in economics. I submit that this honor grad has learned and applied lessons in determining market demand well. Scott Hahn couldnt have become a professor at a Protestant university or seminary??!! He was offered a job as a dean at one such seminary, for heavens sake, while he was still in his 20s. He finished at the top of his class in seminary. This is such ridiculous and stupid stuff, one wonders if Binky is doing this as a joke; poking fun at anti-Catholic credulity and ignorance and readiness to believe any asinine thing about Catholics. *** (originally from 7-15-04, with additional material added on 1-27-17) Photo credit: Nicolas Raymond (4-29-13): Custom Grunge Emblem Almighty Dollar [Flickr / CC BY 2.o license] *** An Irish Dominican, Thomas Nicholas Burke, O.P. (1830-1882), was one of the premier Catholic preachers of the 1800 s. He joined the Dominican Order in 1847, studied in Italy and England, and was ordained a priest in 1853. His first sermon to attract attention, delivered in 1859, was on Church Music. A strong Irish nationalist, in 1867 he delivered a speech on Daniel OConnell in Dublin to an audience of fifty thousand. In 1871, Father Burke was sent to the United States to inspect the Dominican communities there. While he was in America, he was much in demand as a preacher. All classes of society, but especially recent Irish immigrants, flocked to hear him lecture on all things Irish and Catholic. In eighteen months he delivered some four hundred lectures (not including sermons), but by the time he returned to Ireland his health was broken. Father Burke died in Ireland on July 2, 1882. A statue of him stands in his birthplace of Galway. Rev. Father Burke, O.P. Voice of my country, son of ancient Erin, Son of her soul, descendant of her heart, Priest of the Lord in thy bright youth anointed, And called and sent to preach the better part. O Father Burke! How hath thy word awakened The loving Irish past that long has slept, And brought me home to Erin, to my country, And stirred my heart with joy, although I wept. Joy, to hear once again the name of Erin, Spoken in love and praise and yet hot tears Tears for her many sorrows, for the traces Of 48, that memorys bosom wears. Blessed be God who sent us in our exile Thy voice of power to speak of faith and truth, Of God, and holy Church, of prayer and penance, And all that Erin loves in age and youth! Blessed be God, again her sacred ruins, Her holy abbeys, and her Round Towers hoar Are named exultingly, and their dear story Told like a Gospel to the world once more. Her seven churches, Clonmacnoise, Clondalkin, Cong and Armagh, and all her ruined fanes, Named to her childrens hearts with such a power As makes them dearer for times hoary stains. Yes, blessed be God, again weve heard it spoken Proudly and lovingly, OConnells name, Our own OConnell, Irelands Liberator, And heard it mid a peoples koud acclaim. O Father Burke! There is no way to thank thee, No words to tell of what our deep hearts feel; Only an exile, hunted out of Erin, Can thus rejoice to hear thy proud appeal. To history and the past, and wring her glory Out of what men call shame, and make her known, Fearless in faith and love and perseverance, Virgin and martyr, peerless and alone. Son of St. Dominic, heir of his white mantle, Oft shall thy name be mingled with our prayers; Sisters of Mercy, servants of the suffering, We know the peoples woes, and joys, and cares. And bless the Lord who sent thee thus to cheer them, To elevate their hearts, and make them stand Steady besides the Cross, sons of the martyrs, Steadfast in faith and love of fatherland; Steadfast in love of Jesus and Mary, True to the Holy Father as of yore; Bound to the Church, One, Holy, Apostolic, Roman and Catholic forevermore. Poems for Catholics & Convents and Plays for Catholic Schools, by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Catharines Convent, New York City (West Chester, N.Y.: The New York Catholic Protectory, 1873), 184-186. (Please note: The engraving of Father is from Internet Archive.org, a website of copyright-free books and images). Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a large rally in Patna on Sunday, tore into the opposition for demanding proof of casualties during the air strike on Pakistani terror camps saying those who were questioning the validity of the report were only helping Pakistan and its terrorist regime. https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/14173-pm-narendra-modi-in-patna-rips-opposition-on-terrorism-issue.html#sigProIdf051131a79 View the embedded image gallery online at: While our brave members of the armed forces fighting hard to keep our nation and its citizens safe from terrorists and foreign enemies, Congress and its supporters are not certain about their bravery and by continuing to question their loyalty, they only help our enemies. Earlier, they cast doubt on the surgical strike against Pakistan and now they are doubting taking out of the terror camp by our brave Air Force pilots inside Pakistan, he said while issuing fresh warning to Pakistan saying India would no more sit idle when its soldiers were killed. We will avenge their death by taking swift and severe action against terrorists both inside and outside the country, the PM said. Referring to his 56 chest, an apparent symbol of manhood and bravery, Modi slammed the opposition of attacking the chowkidar, or the guard, of the nation saying the chowkidar was quite alert despite the oppositions attempt to conspire against him. Hailing the bravery of the 40 CRPF jawans who died during a terrorist blast in Pulwama a few weeks ago, Modi thanked them for their service and martyrdom, the PM said that the opposition had always undermined their valor and gallantry by questioning their actions like their involvement in the surgical strike and now by demanding proof for the strike on terror camp in Balakot. Modi hailed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi for putting Bihar on the path of development and progress saying the Center was solidly behind the current government and would do everything to ensure every section of the society was the beneficiary of various social and economic schemes. The Prime Minister, in his 40-minute speech that was peppered with frequent loud applause, showered praise on Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is frequently referred to in the media, saying the fact that only India was the recipient of an increased annual Hajj quota showed that the tie between the two nations had improved vastly under the NDA government while Congress pursued its own interest when it was in power. Modi also paid tributes to key historical figures from the state including Lord Buddha, King Ashoka, Chanakya, Guru Govind Singh, Veer Kunwar Singh, poets Vidyapati and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar along with political stalwarts from Bihar like Jaya Prakash Narayan, Shri Krishna Sinha, Karpoori Thakur, Anugrah Narayan Singh and others. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan, his son and MP Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Kumar Paras, and top Bihar BJP and JD-U leaders also shared dais with the Prime Minister. The event was marked with slight drizzle though that did not dampen the spirit of the crowd. At least one person was roughed up by BJP supporters when he raised a black flag in a sigh of protest against the Modi government. As reported, several of the senior Congress leaders, including Digvijay Singh, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have asked for proof of over 300 terrorists killed in the February 26 Indian air strike on a Pakistani terror camp in Balakot as claimed by the Modi government. The Modi administration has since tapered down its claim on the number of deaths. Talking to reporters in Kolkata, Union Minister SS Ahluwalia on Sunday said that the Modi government never gave a number on the casualty and it were the members of the media who came up with this number of 300 plus that went viral on the social media. The air-raid inside Pakistan was not about human casualty but it was meant to send a strong message to Pakistan not to mess with India as India would react harshly in the event of any attack on Indian soldier, Ahluwalia said. With a Sunday winter storm predicted to dump up to 6 inches of snow across much of central Pennsylvania by Monday morning, Amtrak officials have announced a modified schedule with cancellations. According to a Saturday news release, Amtrak officials have canceled service for Pennsylvania Train 43 on Sunday. Keystone Service trains 605, 609, 647, 651, 639, 642, 646, 656 and 620 and Pennsylvanian Train 42 have been canceled on Monday. All of those cancellations come with no alternate transportation, Amtrak officials said. Amtraks Pennsylvania trains travel from New York to Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. The Keystone Service trains travel form New York to Philadelphia to Harrisburg. Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day, officials said. Amtrak will gladly waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center at 800-USA-RAIL. Amtraks northeast corridor, which stretches between Boston and Washington D.C., is to continue to operate as scheduled, officials said. Officials also urged travelers to check train statuses on Amtrak.com ahead of their departures. Allow extra time to get to the station and be extremely careful in stations and on platforms, Amtrak officials said. Highlighting the possible financial consequences of impeding an ongoing land development process, Camp Hill Borough officials issued a public statement about the proposed construction of a Chick-Fil-A restaurant at the corner of 32nd and Chestnut streets. Its a development plan that has been opposed and criticized by numerous community members, and, on Saturday, that criticism continued. Then, a pair of outspoken residents claimed that officials skirted one of the most pressing issues in their statement confusion surrounding the zoning of the proposed Chick-fil-A site. I dont think that this is sufficient at all, community member Brett Miller said. Borough officials posted the statement to the municipalitys website at some point over the last couple days, explaining that a property owner has the right to use his/her property in conformance with applicable zoning designations and regulations. Developers at the Wormleysburg-based Consolidated Properties hope to construct a 5,000-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant on seven lots, which they own, at the southeastern corner of 32nd and Chestnut streets. Preliminary plans showed that a building, which would have enough space to accommodate 108 diners, would be constructed alongside a 68-spot parking lot and a double-lane drive-thru. The proposed restaurant site borders a residential neighborhood, and those living in the area have been outspoken about their disinterest in having Chick-fil-A as a neighbor. At numerous public meetings they have voiced concerns about unwanted light, noise and litter they feel could come with restaurant development, and often they have spoken about expected dangers of added traffic. In the statement, borough officials said they will work to ensure that developers identify and address any issues that could negatively impact residents and/or other businesses. However, that does not mean that residents ongoing concerns are a cause to halt or dismiss the Chick-fil-A land development process, officials said. In fact, denying Consolidate Properties the chance to complete the development process could lead to financial consequences for the borough and its taxpayers. Borough officials explained that the local solicitor, J. Stephen Feinour, warned that ending the development process prematurely could lead to a lawsuit. In the statement, they gave an example, claiming another area municipality lost a similar suit that resulted in a $4 million settlement to the developer. In keeping with the strong recommendation of legal counsel, Camp Hill Borough is committed to completing the development process, the statement reads. If the developer cannot mitigate the negative impacts and is not compliant with the zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, the plan can be denied, officials earlier stated. On Saturday, resident Jennifer Hoover, who has been outspoken against restaurant plans, said she was pleased to see borough officials make a public statement. But the statement, she said, included no new information; she had heard it all before. I appreciate the acknowledgement that they should be better communicating this situation, Hoover said. Still, Hoover said she was troubled by one part of the statement a passage that mentions the zoning of the proposed Chick-fil-A site. The passage reads: The parcel in question is zoned for commercial use, and a restaurant is one of numerous permitted uses in a commercial zone. To residents like Hoover and Miller, that commercial designation isnt so clear. There has been some confusion about whether the corner is even zoned to allow commercial development. That is because maps in the borough office and Cumberland County County Planning Office do not match. While maps on file at the borough office show the space as zoned for commercial development, maps at the county show the area zoned only for residential and office use. The reason for the mismatching maps has not been publicly identified. But borough manager Patrick Dennis supplied a number of documents that point to the rezoning of the area in 2015. They included an email written by a former borough manager, Ann Shambaugh, on April 1, 2015. The rezoning of the corner of 32nd and Chestnut was part of the zoning ordinance changes approved by council at last months council meeting, it reads. Now, all four corners of the 32nd/Chestnut Street are zoned the same. To Miller that email isnt enough, and, on Saturday, she said borough officials may want to look at whether zoning changes at the corner were made within the law. If not, they may want to take steps to remedy the situation, or a separate lawsuit could be filed by community members, she said. The zoning issue is still not clear, Miller said. Earlier in the day, Hoover said the zoning confusion is among her top concerns about the proposed development. The zoning of the parcel plays a huge part in this whole development plan, Hoover said. Last month, borough council members voted to extend the Chick-fil-A planning process, at least in part because the developers have not yet submitted final plans for the site. Those plans could be presented to the planning commission this month, when officials will have an opportunity to point out concerns. The developer would then be able to address those concerns in April, leading to a final vote from borough council members in May, officials said last month. If plans are approved, construction of the restaurant will take about six months, according to the developers land-use attorney Charlie Courtney. We are still all very anxious, Hoover said. I find this whole process discouraging. Camp Hill Borough Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. March 13, and the local planning commission is to meet at 6 p.m. March 19. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced, effective at 3 p.m. today, new travel restrictions that reflect current weather conditions. A full commercial ban was issued on several interstates. PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike encourage motorists to monitor weather forecasts, according to a PennDOT statement. The agencies implemented a full commercial ban, including buses on the following roadways: I-78 full length from I-81 to the New Jersey state line; I-80 from I-81 to the New Jersey state line; I-81 from I-83 to I-80; I-83 from the Maryland state line to I-81; I-283; Route 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey state line; and Route 33 from I-78 to I-80 The agencies also decided to prohibit only empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks; all Large Combination Vehicles (double trailers); tractors hauling empty trailers; tractors without trailers (bobtails); any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs; all motorcycles; and all recreational vehicles and RVs on the following roadways: PA Turnpike (I-76, I-276) from Harrisburg East to Mid-County; I-176; I-476 (PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from Mid-County to I-80 PennDOT noted empties and doubles restrictions have been postponed until 6 p.m. in the Scranton Area: I-81 from I-80 to the New York state line; I-84 full length from I-81 to the New York state line and I-380 full length from I-81 to I-80. Planned restrictions were changed to reflect updated forecasts, and will be monitored and adjusted throughout the snow event, PennDOT confirmed. The state agencies suggest using www.511PA.com, a free and available 24 hour a day service that provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 860 traffic cameras, as a resource before heading out, PennDOT reported. Plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific use can be found by clicking on Check My Route tool in the upper right corner of the page. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. A vehicle emergency kit should be prepared or restocked containing items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies. To report an accident or other emergencies on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 on your mobile phone. If there is an accident, move the car out of travel lane and onto shoulder, if possible, and stay in the vehicle. For more information about PA Turnpike conditions follow the conversation by using https://www.paturnpike.com/travel/twitter.aspx. You may also see advisories by clicking on the travel ticker on www.PATurnpike.com. When restrictions are effective, they can be viewed at www.511PA.com under Weather Restrictions or in the Alerts section. WILLIAMSPORT - A fifth-term state House member from Snyder County will be the Republican candidate in the special election to fill the 12th District seat vacant since U.S. Rep. Thomas A. Marino resigned in early January. Rep. Fred Keller, 53, was selected on the fourth ballot Saturday during a convention of Republican delegates from the 15 counties that make up the district, which stretches from Perry County to the New York State line. He will face Democrat Marc Friedenberg, a Penn State professor, in a special election May 21 coinciding with the primary election. Friedenberg lost to Marino last November. Marino, who resigned due to serious health issues, attended the convention but did not urge delegates to vote for Keller until he said he saw how far ahead he was. "I wanted to make sure we did not have a situation where we were staying split and someone was in there we did not think could handle the job," he said. He did not name the candidate, but inferred it was Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko, with whom Marino has a bitter primary fight a year ago. "We don't need someone in D.C. who really doesn't know what it is like to get dirt under their fingernails and sweat," Marino said. Keller is the type of individual who will "bring it," he said. Marino urged the candidate to "be himself, work hard, get out there and talk with people and listen. Listen to what people have to say." U.S. Rep. Glen "G.T." Thompson, the Centre County Republican who represents the 15th District, introduced Keller to the media and said his campaign begins today. Keller wasted no time claiming Friedenberg is out of touch and linking him with Nancy Pelosi, Bernie Sanders, New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and what he called the exhorbitantly expensive Green New Deal. "We need to be sure we are in touch with what is happening in the district," he said. "We shouldn't be looking to define what our goals are; we should be talking to people to define their goals." Keller opposes Medicare for all, saying "these are ideas we shouldn't be pushing down to the people but people should be pushing up to us. "We need someone in Washington who uses pragmatic conservative principles to ensure liberty, freedom and respect for the rule of law. We are a nation of laws and we need to be sure to respect all the laws," he said. Keller responded when asked how he would deal with President Trump by saying "I don't follow anyone blindly. I will do my research." But, he said he likely will agree with the president most of the time. "Who can argue with America first for jobs?" he asked. Keller will be the favorite in the sprawling district because of the strong Republican voter registration. Trump won the district with 69 percent of the vote in his head-to-head match-up with Hillary Clinton in 2016. Keller was selected from 14 candidates after one of the favorites, state Rep. Jeff Wheeland of Williamsport, withdrew in the morning. He explained he was one of the candidates attacked by Club for Growth, an anti-Trump political action committee. "It was a perfect hit job," he said. The attacks culminated at 10 p.m. Friday with a letter from the PAC he believes was written by a man who he raised as a boy, from whom he now estranged. "I had enough when they attacked my family," Wheeland said. "It was dirty politics. It was really sad." He does not understand why he was targeted, he said. Three of the candidates were eliminated after the first vote. After a second ballot, Keller held the lead with 50, followed by McLinko with 37, Jessica Bowman-Hosley from Clinton County with 27 and Maria Montero of Lycoming County with 26. Montero was eliminated in the third vote, with Keller getting 90 of the 203 needed. The state GOP party, which ran the convention, announced Keller received 113 votes to assure the nomination. It did not release what the other two got on the fourth ballot. With Keller headed to Washington, a special election will have to be held to fill his seat in the state House. UPDATE: A Pennsylvania man was stabbed to death Thursday in a hotel in Louisiana, where he was reportedly visiting with his wife, according to multiple media reports. Patrick Murphy, 62, the owner of several Schuylkill County jewelry stores, was found dead in a room at the the Empress Hotel on the 1300 block of Ursulines Avenue in New Orleans, according to a report from Nola.com. In an earlier report, the news site described the death as a "homicide by cutting, and the Orleans Parish Coroners Office ruled that the cause of death was sharp force injuries. New Orleans police have since announced that a suspect, 25-year-old Megan Hall, has been identified, and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. Murphy was found about 11:59 a.m. Thursday by hotel staff, and, at that time, he was unresponsive and covered in blood in a bed in a room on the hotels first floor, Nola.com reported. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. Police issued a warrant for Halls arrest after surveillance footage showed the 25-year-old entering the hotel room with Murphy about 2 a.m. Thursday, according to the news site, which cited hotel manager James Brooks. According to the news site, the owner said Hall and Murphy were seen entering and exiting the room multiple times throughout the early morning before Hall exited alone about 4 a.m. Hall is wanted on a charge of second-degree murder, according to Nola.com, which reported that police have not released a motive for the killing. Police investigated a "homicide by cutting" at The Empress Hotel Thursday afternoon (Feb. 28) in Treme. According to Allentowns The Morning Call, Hall has a history of multiple prostitution convictions. The newspaper also reported that Hall registered for the room, and Murphy paid for it. Friends of Murphy said he was in New Orleans, traveling with his wife, Kim, according to The Morning Call, which noted that Murphy owns three jewelry stores in the Schuylkill County area. The jewelry stores were closed Friday, the newspaper reported. The third of three consecutive rounds of snow is heading our way today, and according to the National Weather Service at State College, it will be heaviest of the three. The good news is most of it is going to fall late this afternoon through the evening and should be cleared out of the area in plenty of time for the Monday-morning commute. It will be a matter of cleanup work, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rob Radzanowski. It may take the road crews a little time to get around to the secondary roads, but the main roads should be in fairly good shape. The Harrisburg region is under a winter storm warning from 1 p.m. today until 3 a.m. Monday with 5 to 7 inches of snow on the way. We could see the first flakes in the early afternoon, but Radzanowski said the heavier amounts wont start falling until 3 or 4 p.m. and will fall at a rate of about an inch per hour for several hours. Its expected to start tapering off after midnight, winding down for a few hours overnight, and clearing out by morning. This is the third of three winter storms in as many days. On Friday, the region saw 4.2 inches of snow, and on Saturday, we got another 1.2 inches, for a total of 5.4 inches of accumulation. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have issued numerous travel restrictions, some of which go into effect at noon today. In addition to the snow, today will see a high near 36 and a low around 28. Colder temperatures are on the way this week. Monday will be mostly sunny and breezy with a northwest wind around 10 mph and gusts up to 22 mph. Expect a high near 34 and a low around 13. Tuesday will be mostly sunny with a high of 30 and a low of 13. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with a high of 24 and a low of 9. Thursday will be mostly sunny with a high near 31 and a low of 17. Friday will be partly sunny with a high of 34 and a low of 28 with a chance of nighttime flurries. And on Saturday, expect partly-sunny skies and a high near 39. Visit PennLive.com/weather for your latest weather updates. In 1973, White House Counsel John Dean warned the nation about a cancer on the Presidency. Watergate - a shoddy break-in followed by a Presidential cover-up seems almost like a school boy prank compared to the allegations of criminality made by Michael Cohen against President Trump. During the Watergate saga, Republicans rallied around their president and excoriated his opponents relentlessly until it became clear that their loyalties to their President were misplaced. Similarly, Michael Cohen endured 9 hours of withering attacks on his character. They called him a pathological liar and worse because he was now biting the hand that fed him for 10 years. But Michael Cohens testimony may be the beginning of the end of a national nightmare because he has come forward to share his truth with all of us. Those who question Cohens credibility should ask themselves: How many Republican Congressmen refuted any of the specific charges that Cohen made? The answer is not a single one. They knew that Cohen was hitting home with his observations, so they stuck with a Trumpian strategy of merely manhandling the witness. Secondly, Cohen sat on the razors edge for nine public hours. He has not yet been sentenced, so even a whiff of a lie or a misstatement would likely double or triple his jail time. Cohen had no choice but to tell the truth. The smoking gun that he brought with him was a check signed by Donald J. Trump after he was elected president that was partial reimbursement for suppressing information to influence the outcome of a Presidential election. President Trump has already been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the sordid hush money scandal. The check may be the proof that Cohen acted with the knowledge of, and at the direction of Trump. Another explosive revelation was that Cohen was in the room when Roger Stone and candidate Trump discussed Wiki-Leaks and possible Russian meddling in the 2016 election. This, despite months of presidential denials and complaints about Robert Muellers witch hunt. Cohen revealed that the Moscow Trump Tower was a continuous topic of conversation with Trump, Donald Jr. and Ivanka before and during the presidential campaign. It is mind-numbing to think that a nominee for president of the United States would continue to pursue money making schemes particularly with an adversarial government. Some things that Cohen revealed seem insignificant compared to the array of criminal allegations, but they speak to the character of the man who has the nuclear codes. On bone spurs, Cohen suggests that Trump made his whole draft deferment story up. You think Im stupid? the candidate asked. I wasnt going to Viet Nam. When asked how many times businessman Trump asked him to intimidate creditors, contractors, renters, competitors and the press, Cohen settled on an estimate of 500. That is, 500 incidents that required fixing over the years. On Trumps self-proclaimed big brain, Cohen provided the nugget that the boss was embarrassed by his grades and SAT scores. Cohen was ordered to hide that information. With regard to the family fortune, Cohen claims that Trump regularly and possibly illegally inflated his own net worth to curry favor with bankers. And on the issue of marital affairs Cohen had his marching orders lie about them. On the Russia probe, Cohen was careful not to reveal what he may have shared with the Mueller team or what exactly the Second District of New York is reviewing. When asked if he was aware of any other criminal activity in which President Trump might be involved, Cohens answer was a chilling, simple yes. No, Michael Cohen is not a choir boy. He will be going to jail for crimes that he committed in service to his former boss and, in some instances, to help himself. But his testimony is disturbing and is the beginning of a series of inquiries that will plague President Trump for the duration of his presidency. Michael Cohen also got it right when he warned all of us not to put partisan loyalty above patriotism. In a dramatic exchange with the majority members of the House Committee, Cohen said: For ten years I protected Donald Trump, just like you are doing now. People who follow Mr. Trump, as I did blindly, are going to suffer the same consequences that Im suffering. No man is above the law. Richard Nixon accepted that truth and resigned. Michael Cohen accepted that truth and will spend time in jail. President Trump needs to show that he understands that truth or face the harsh judgment of history. -- Mark S. Singel served as the 27th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995, alongside Gov. Bob Casey. He was acting governor from June 14 to Dec. 13, 1993, when Casey got sick. This column serves as the liberal counterpart to Charlie Gerow as part of the Donkey & Elephants series of contrasting opinions, although Gerow was unable to write this week. There were a number of public policy developments this past week that government leaders, elected and appointed, and, of course, taxpayers should be keeping an eagle eye on. Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Leslie Richards told the state Legislature on Tuesday that, in a few years, nearly 70 percent of the state Turnpike Commissions budget will go toward paying debt service. It now stands at about 50 percent. Thats due in large part to prior legislation that, in contravention of federal law, requires the commission to annually remit to PennDOT nearly half a billion dollars that is spread among non-Turnpike transportation needs, including mass transit. That has forced the Turnpike Commission to keep raising annual tolls in an attempt to cover it all. But the commission has racked up, to date, a debt of $11 billion. A lawsuit by a truckers groups, now pending in the courts, claims such transfers are illegal, per federal diktat, and that the ever-rising tolls (up an estimated 200 percent over the last decade and expected to rise more) are untenable. Should the Turnpike Commission lose the lawsuit and, given the federal prohibition against using tolls for non-Turnpike projects, it should chaos could ensue for PennDOT projects and mass-transit agencies. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) already has postponed nearly 40 improvement projects because of fears it could lose a third of its funding. PennDOT also has scaled back. Its unclear what the effect has been on the Port Authority of Allegheny County. The Turnpike Commission stopped making remittances to the state pending the lawsuits outcome. It also has stopped issuing debt. This is what happens with legislators thumb their noses at the rule of law: They rob Peter to pay Paul, then when Peter fails, Paul wails and everybody points fingers at everybody else. And the term public policy becomes a pejorative. We repeatedly are told by Allegheny County officials those in county government and those at the county Airport Authority that no local tax dollars will be spent on the $1.1 billion-plus reconfiguration of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). The rationale is that bonds issued to pay for the project will be paid off by a combination of fees paid by the airlines operating at PIT and by proceeds from shale gas drilling on airport property that, per federal law, must be used to underwrite airport operations. And lets not forget that the authority receives $12 million annually from gambling taxes. But those same officials concede that state and federal tax dollars likely will be a part of the mix. Of course, local taxpayers contribute to those tax coffers. All that said, heres a question weve not seen posed anywhere else: Given that union labor no doubt will be given preference for this construction project, and that prevailing wage laws will apply, what premium will the airlines and taxpayers be paying for the privilege of paying artificially inflated wages? Finally, from neighboring West Virginia, a Circuit Court judge has ruled that parts of the Mountain States right-to-work law formally known as the Workplace Freedom Act of 2016 are unconstitutional. The West Virginia Supreme Court had remanded the case to Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey after it overturned her preliminary injunction against the law and ordered Bailey to hold a final hearing on the matter. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that it was in her final ruling, issued this past Wednesday, that the judge said the law was unconstitutional because it allows workers to refuse to pay dues, fees or other charges to a union, which nonetheless must still represent those workers. Perhaps the most troubling part of Baileys ruling is this line: Other states have reached a consensus that labor performed for money is property. And the right-to-work law would take unions property without any compensation. If you just gasped, join the crowd. It is no stretch to extrapolate that sentiment to mean those covered by collective bargaining agreements are property owned by the organizing union. It is, in a word, nothing short of slavery. And it certainly gives new meaning to the phrase slavish devotion to unionism. Additionally, the judge ruled that the law unnecessarily and unconstitutionally imposes an excessive burden on the plaintiffs (i.e. organized labor) associational rights. Never mind the excessive burden placed on the associational rights of workers who might disagree with a respective unions public policy positions. And never mind that, at least where public sector unions are involved, the U.S. Supreme Courts Janus decision would supersede any local or state court ruling. But, that said, this case is applicable only to private-sector unions. No doubt this full and final ruling will be appealed to the state Supreme Court. For as even this judge was forced to concede: West Virginia clearly has legitimate and substantial interests in protecting workers from being forced to support political and ideological messages with which they disagree or to join an organization they do not support. -- Colin McNickle is marketing and communications director at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy (cmcnickle@alleghenyinstitute.org). When PennLive released a ranking of the states school districts listed by truancy rate, there were districts near and far whose student population seem to never be in school. Some of the districts on the list have truancy rates that are so appalling, that the data reveals that more than half of their student body remain absent from school. That is a problem that needs immediate attention. A truant student is a student who simply stops attending school, for at least 10 days or more, throughout the school year. The absences can be excused or unexcused. These students are not present during instructional periods. Truancy, or chronic absenteeism as it is often called, is such a huge problem in this country, that the U.S. Department of Education called it a hidden educational crisis in its most recent action plan to curb this epidemic. According to this federal report, more than 7 million students missed more than 15 days of school in the 2015-16 school year. There are a myriad of consequences for truancy. According to research and information provided by a think tank called The Brookings Institution, chronic absenteeism is associated with a host of adverse academic outcomes. For example, a 2008 study of graduation patterns in Chicago public schools found that the number of days students were absent in eighth grade was eight times more predictive of freshman year course failure than eighth-grade test scores. The same study found that freshman year absences were nearly as predictive of graduation rates as grade point average (GPA) and course failures, two more commonly used metrics for identifying students at risk of not graduating. Similarly, a study of Baltimore City Public Schools found that chronic absenteeism was the strongest sixth-grade predictor of not graduating high school. So, what can be done to keep students in school? Well, the environment has to change. Students have to want to attend class. I grew up in Pittsburgh and attended a specialized high school The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (now known as CAPA 6-12). I attended that school as a literary arts major and my interests in writing were groomed and polished with opportunities to write award-winning essays and be a teen contributor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, New Pittsburgh Courier and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Aside from walkouts opposing legislation or military action or the traditional Senior Skip Day, the students at my specialized high school seemed to remain in school and ready to learn. Still, there are those schools that struggle with large classroom sizes, peer pressure, violence and the damning effects of an opioids crisis. In Pittsburgh, there is a program, Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K., for which I have been part of since graduate school, where students are able to use hip-hop as a learning tool, using it to learn about literature, math, and history. Then, there are schools like The Neighborhood Academy, a private school nestled in Pittsburghs Garfield neighborhood. It has small classroom sizes and provides full-day support to low-income students and their parents. All of its students are traditionally accepted into college. Closer to home in Harrisburg, there are amazing opportunities for students, next week educators will welcome 500 men into their classrooms to read to students as part of the 500 Men Reading Week and Career Exploration. Last year, PennLive was represented at the 500 Men Reading Week by myself, Anwar Curtis and former opinion editor John Micek. Students in these programs want to come to school and are interested in learning in new and excited ways. At the top of PennLives truancy list is Wilkinsburg. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale praised the district and its turnaround efforts. Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett has been instrumental and savvy in aggressively turning around the borough. She and Wilkinsburg Superintendent Linda Iverson were praised by DePasquale for partnering with the Pittsburgh Public Schools and being fiscally responsible and adhering to state anti-bullying campaigns. The arrangement with the Pittsburgh School District and Wilkinsburg showed courage and leadership by both entities looking out not for their ego, but looking out for the children, DePasquale said. In the end, if we want students to show up for school, we must show up for them. School cannot be boring or dangerous. If it is, then students will not show up. Schools should also be safe and loving and peaceful. We also have to ask students why they are not attending school. We cannot make plans without including those that are impacted -- the students. The more educated our population, the better our country will become. -- Jamar Thrasher, of Camp Hill, is a PennLive Opinion contributor. His work appears biweekly. Readers may email him at jamarthrasher@gmail.com. For years, mainline Protestant denominations in America have creeped toward theological and political liberalism on hot-button issues such as race, gender and sexuality. But the largest of the mainline denominations, the United Methodist Church, now appears to be experiencing something of a conservative renaissance. The UMC has been divided over homosexuality for more than a decade, with many American churches tilting to the left but most African and South American congregations holding to traditional views. But at a special gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, this week, conservative delegates gave progressives the ecclesial stiff-arm by rejecting the One Church Plan, a compromise that would make space for churches of varying perspectives by letting individual regions whether they would ordain or marry LGBTQ congregants. Instead, they strengthened the church's position that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," upholding bans on same-sex marriages and ordination. The United Methodist Church is not the only denomination to experience a conservative revival amid a time of cultural division. The 15-million-member Southern Baptist Convention made a similar pivot away from progressive theology decades ago during a period some call the "conservative resurgence." This triggered a mass exodus of moderate voices, which resulted in a convention lacking diversity of thought, and subsequently, the tools needed to respond to cultural controversies arising in a more progressive society. Methodists should heed Southern Baptists' story as a cautionary tale. As with Methodists, the rightward shift among Baptists occurred a time of social upheaval. The 1960s brought radical cultural change in America as a result of the civil rights movement, gay rights movement, the sexual revolution and the rise of feminism. In the 1970s, conservative Christians in the public square formed the "religious right" and attempted to seize political power to change course. Conservatives in the SBC mobilized to commandeer denominational power, offering no quarter or welcome to the minority of dissenting moderates who eventually left to found a new denomination. Allowing for diversity of thought in a religious institution has well-documented benefits, and creating religious echo-chambers can be organizationally deleterious. As social psychologist Christena Cleveland argues in her book, "Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart," religious homogeneity promotes groupthink, pollutes our interactions with "the other," and lulls the faithful into complacency by surrounding them only with what's familiar and similar. Meanwhile, a faith community that allows for a wide array of views and varying types of people are better suited to face the challenges of a quickly evolving world. "Contrary to common beliefs, the [church's] diversity is an asset, not a pain in the neck," Cleveland writes. The Baptists' "conservative resurgence" reads like a case study on the weaknesses of religious echo chambers. The movement sought not just to make space for a particular way of thinking, but rather to eliminate space for anyone who thought differently. While this arguably created a type of unity, it did so at the expense of diversity. At Southern Baptist seminaries today, you'll find little room for the kind of intellectual disagreement that helps educational intuitions flourish. Faculty members are required to sign comprehensive statements of belief to remain in good standing. Those who diverge from the institution's approved list of doctrines even slightly place their employment at risk. For example, when William Dembski, a leading scholar of the conservative intelligent design movement, suggested that Noah's flood was not worldwide but rather geographically limited, his job at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was threatened and he was forced to recant. Eric Johnson, a leading scholar of Christian psychology, was reportedly forced into "early retirement" after 17 years teaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary because some felt his approach to the subject matter didn't rely heavily enough on the Bible's teachings. Southern Baptist seminaries were once spaces where scholarship thrived, but very little original or interesting theological scholarship emerges today. Worse still, the lack of diversity has left the SBC ill-equipped to confront the challenges of the day. The denomination's top-tier leaders have spectacularly failed to respond in meaningful ways to the three biggest issues of our time: the mistreatment of women, the abuse of children and systemic racism. One of its most revered leaders and theologians, Paige Patterson, was fired in 2018 as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, weeks after audio recordings surfaced in which Patterson said abused wives should avoid divorce, pray for their violent husbands, and "be submissive in every way that you can." After the tape initially surfaced, many male Southern Baptist leaders took to social media to protect and laud their friend. But more information surfaced, including a video of Patterson objectifying a 16-year-old girl in a sermon and a mishandling of a sex-abuse allegation by a seminary student. Around the same time, one of the most prominent Southern Baptist women in America, author and speaker Beth Moore, penned a blog post alleging to years of misogynist mistreatment by theologians and pastors. In post-Harvey Weinstein America, the perception of the SBC as a good ol' boys club that does not seem to be serious about protecting women, however accurate, is organizational kryptonite. The SBC also has failed to address a sex abuse crisis that is just coming to light. An investigation published in February by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News alleged more than 700 victims of sexual misconduct, ranging from unwanted advances to rape. More than 100 youth pastors and numerous other Baptist ministers were charged or convicted of sex crimes. Many perpetrators moved their employment to other churches. The SBC's executive committee rejected proposals to aggressively investigate the depth of the problem or provide relief to victims. And then there is the matter of racial reconciliation. The denomination was founded over the support of slavery, supported Jim Crow laws and opposed the civil rights movement. Though Southern Baptists issued a public apology for these positions in 1995, little has been done tangibly to include racial diversity. In 2013, it elected its first African-American president, but the position is honorific and unpaid. Meanwhile, all official top posts in the SBC - all six seminaries, LifeWay Christian Resources, GuideStone Financial Resources, the International Mission Board, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the North American Mission Board - are led by white males despite recent vacancies that presented opportunities for diversity. Efforts at the annual convention to denounce white supremacy and repudiate the Confederate flag have been met with stiff opposition. This year, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary released a sweeping report admitting its deep historic involvement in racism and slavery. But the report was quick to state that current leaders are not responsible for past sins and offered no tangible steps for further change. The SBC is not attracting minorities as the denomination remains a whopping 85 percent white. Consider that a group of all-white, all-male and all-conservatives are unable to effectively address progressive issues relating to minorities, women and children. Color me unsurprised. Religious homogeneity is not just bad for the intellectual depth of an organization. It can be bad for growth. As the world becomes more diverse and as social media tears down walls that divided us, people aren't attracted to religious communities that don't reflect the diversity of their lived experience. In the case of the SBC, the denomination is in the midst of a decade long decline in baptisms and membership. This is the fruit of the Southern Baptist conservative resurgence: A denomination ill-equipped to respond contemporary challenges, unwilling to create spaces of theological scholarship, and declining membership and baptisms. Is this the path Methodists want to walk? Of course, Christians have historically required agreement over essential theological beliefs. These are found in the Apostles Creed, which Christians around the world have recited for millennia. The creed includes statements about the creation of the world by God, the virgin birth of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion and burial. Unfortunately for conservatives, people who identify as LGBT didn't make the cut. Until recently, Methodists have seemingly understood this and adopted a big tent approach to denominational participation. They rooted this approach in the Wesleyan understanding of the "catholic spirit" that promotes religious tolerance and diversity of opinion, a belief that has helped them become the second largest Protestant denomination in modern America. But many in the denomination want to abandon this belief, opting instead to chase a whole category of people from God's table and push out churches who will not fall in line. In times of deep cultural division, faith communities face a choice. Either they will find creative ways to live with the tensions that come with diversity and disagreement or they will divide into echo chambers where everyone more or less thinks the same way. Too often, they choose the latter, opting for a revolution leading only to irrelevance. - - - Jonathan Merritt is the author of " Learning to Speak God From Scratch: Why Sacred Words Are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them " and a contributor to the Atlantic. Ward and Eis Gallery to support Women's Resource Center with benefit Ward and Eis Gallery will host its annual 'Gifts Twice Given' benefit to support Womens Resource Center of Northern Michigan programs and services on Dec. 11 and 18. Q: I own a 2007 Hyundai Sonata that is in excellent condition with 100,000 miles on it. I have been having this terrible odor in my car, especially strong when I get in it in the morning, but generally it is always there. I took the car in for a thorough deep cleaning and even asked them to check under the hood for any possible dead animal that might have crawled in there, but they found nothing. The gentleman mentioned something about having the A/C filter checked because he said they can get moldy and cause an odor. Ill have that checked out, but could it be coming from any other source? In the 11 years that Ive owned the car Ive never had this problem before. Y.V., Milwaukee A: Stinking microbes in the air conditioner housing are a common source of odors, but usually in the summer, not the winter. When its cold, they are less likely to proliferate. Many cars now have cabin air filters that must be changed regularly, and I suggest a filter with activated charcoal if available. But if the odor persists, take your car to an auto detail shop where they have equipment to eliminate odors. I would not rule out a mouse or other critter, though, as the culprit. Q: Could you please explain how the temperature gauge works in cars? How can the outside temperature reading not be affected by traveling at different speeds on a very hot or cold day? L.S., Chicago A: Cars report the outside air temperature via a probe, usually near the front of the vehicle. The reading is then sent to the readout inside the cabin. Notice that we said air temperature, not wind chill temperature. Machines are not affected by the wind, so no matter how fast or slow you go, the temperature will always be only air temperature. Automotive temperature readings are buffered, though, so that the readings do not swing so fast as to become confusing. Q: I purchased a Subaru Forester in 2014 and drove it for 58,000 miles. It began using a lot of oil, more than you would expect it to and more than my 2006 Jeep Liberty with 138,000 miles on it. I went to the dealer that I bought it from, and they gave it an oil change and sealed the engine so I could not tamper with it. They said to drive it for 1,200 miles, bring it back and they would check it. They also told me it was because I did not use their Subaru filters. Well, I took it back and guess what? It passed. So about halfway through the oil change cycle, I needed a quart of oil. Is 1,200 miles a real test or is it a ruse to get me to think that it is normal? I think they have a problem with the engine and are trying to avoid fixing it. W.R., Palmerton, Pa. A: As far as car companies are concerned, one quart of oil every 1,000 is considered normal. Some engines do better than others, of course. Keep in mind that some oil must be consumed during normal operation. By the way, if a dealer demands that you use only a Subaru filter, the dealer must provide it for free, according to federal law. Otherwise you are free to use the filter of your choice. ABOUT THE WRITER Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Webers work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest. Send questions along with name and town to Motormouth, Rides, Chicago Tribune, 160 N. Stetson Ave., Third Floor, Chicago, IL 60601 or motormouth.tribune@gmail.com. It was one of the largest grassroots movements in American political history. One hundred years ago, in June 1919, women won the right to vote when Congress passed the 19th Amendment promising "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." By August 1920, the requisite 36 states, including Pennsylvania, had ratified the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment." Millions of women went to the polls for the first time that fall. The votes were a long time coming. Women in Erie County and nationwide had marched, protested and picketed for the right to vote for 50 years. The Civil War slowed the movement, but activists including Susan B. Anthony pushed hard after the war for equal rights for all. By the turn of the 20th century the suffrage movement led by the National Woman's Party and the National American Woman Suffrage Association had gained momentum and drama. Women went on hunger strikes and picketed the White House to attract attention to their cause. Women saw obtaining the vote as crucial to obtaining the social reforms needed to protect themselves and their children. "We have been trying to get a children's labor law in Pennsylvania the past 14 years, and the only way we will get it is to get the vote," Lucy Kennedy Miller, of Pittsburgh, told Erie suffrage leaders in 1913. Augusta Fleming, president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Equal Franchise Association, urged Erie women to fight for the vote and for legislative reforms by marching in a suffrage parade during the weeklong Perry Centennial celebration in the summer of 1913. It was the first women's suffrage parade in Pennsylvania. "Gain victory over fear and walk firm and erect on July 8," Fleming said. "Remember that you are only one in a great army that you are marching for a principle and that being government of the people, for the people and by the whole people. Your motive is unselfish. You are trying to gain citizenship that you may do your part to bring about better legislation for the protection of home, children and the weak. "All that you enjoy of rights to your earnings, to your property, to your children and to your very selves, the women of yesterday gained for you. All women should feel a duty to pass on to their daughters the rich heritage of political freedom," Fleming said. Hundreds of women answered the call and marched from suffrage headquarters at 202 W. Eighth St. up Sassafras Street, to 18th and State streets and north to Perry Square, according to the Erie Daily Times and Erie Dispatch. Marchers dressed in white and wearing blue Pennsylvania sashes and white hats participated. Dozens of suffragists from Cleveland and Buffalo joined them. Fleming and Helen Semple, of Titusville, president of the Federation of Pennsylvania Women, led the local activists. The women carried banners reading, "Abraham Lincoln said women should vote. What do you say?" And "Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny." One hundred members of the local Equal Franchise Association drew a float featuring a plaster replica of the Liberty Bell. The float had been drawn by a suffrage contingent in Woodrow Wilson's inaugural parade in March 1913 and was shipped to Erie for the July 8, 1913, suffrage parade. An "Equal Franchise" banquet followed that evening in the gold-and-white ballroom of the new Lawrence Hotel at West 10th and Peach streets. The speakers included U.S. Rep. Charles Sutton of New York, the chairwoman of the Woman's Suffrage Party and other nationally known suffrage leaders. A number of men attended. "So many queries have come from members of the sterner sex asking if they are included in the invitation to the big suffrage banquet," Fleming said the week before the banquet. "We desire to announce that the suffrage movement has always opposed discrimination on account of sex and does not propose to countenance it now. Our brothers are cordially invited to feast with us." Two hundred people attended the event. Another 200 were on a waiting list for tickets. Prominent local leaders of the suffrage movement, in addition to Fleming, included Lavinia "Lovey" Nelson Clarke, a young widow and railroad telegrapher; Mary Spencer, wife of First National Bank founder and President William Spencer; longtime Erie educator JoAnna Connell; and Jennie Cleveland, an educator, photographer and a member of the Erie Art Club who photographed some of the local suffrage leaders and events. By 1915, the women had public opinion on their side. A majority of Erie and Crawford county residents supported the women's suffrage movement, according to a map and data by the Pennsylvania Men's League for Women's Suffrage. In Erie County, 7,123 people surveyed said they supported women's suffrage; 4,895 were opposed. In Crawford County, 4,736 residents supported suffrage; 2,396 did not. Momentum continued to build, and on June 4, 1919, Congress approved the 19th Amendment. As state legislators prepared to ratify the amendment on June 24, 1919, Erie County women were among those who went to Harrisburg to witness the historic vote. "Hundreds of women were present, and the purple, white and gold of the National Woman's Party and gold of the Pennsylvania Woman's Suffrage Association waved in the galleries and on the floor, many members having flags of the national party at their seats," according to the Erie Dispatch. The historic votes were overshadowed by the international news of the day. In Erie's newspapers, small, down-page accounts of the suffrage votes were overpowered by larger stories about celebrations welcoming "the boys" home after World War I, continuing peace negotiations with Germany, and the organization of the League of Nations proposed to help prevent future wars. Debates about enforcing the coming prohibition against alcohol also dominated the news. But the fight for political equality wasn't over. Now that women had the vote, they quietly worked to make the most of their new rights. Odessa Hunter Plate and Helen Stone Schluraff moved from the picket lines to elected office in Erie County within 15 years of the 19th Amendment's ratification. Schluraff was the first Pennsylvania woman elected county commissioner. Plate twice was elected Erie County recorder of deeds. Suffragists Mabel Woodward Wright and Jane Weir Pressly were instrumental in getting ballot boxes replaced with voting machines in Erie County in the late 1920s, according to the book, "Erie History the Women's Story" by Sabina Freeman and Margaret Tenpas. Suffrage leaders additionally founded the Zonta Club of Erie in 1919 to support, empower and advocate for women. The local group was one of nine clubs to form the national Confederation of Zonta Clubs. Former suffragists also organized the League of Women Voters of Erie County in early 1920 to educate women about voting. "During those first few years it was necessary to do a great deal of educational work among the women, who up to this time had been classed with aliens and lunatics as far as voting was concerned," wrote Ruth Bacher in "League of Women Voters of Erie County: Historical Highlights." Fleming, previously president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Equal Franchise Association, was the group's first president and hosted the first meeting of the local League of Women Voters in her home. The group's first task was pressing Erie County officials to do the legwork required for women to vote for the first time in the fall of 1920. Women had to be "assessed" to be added to the voter rolls, according to the League of Women Voters history. Election boards had to verify women's ages, addresses and citizenship. Local women persevered and cast their first ballots that fall. "This was the first successful project of the Erie League," Bacher wrote. Erie's suffrage leaders laid the foundation for future generations and for society, according to a 1930 opinion piece in the Erie Dispatch: "Pennsylvania has good reason to be proud of the keen and intelligent interest their organized women have manifested in the cause of better government and improved social conditions. The direction of their exploration toward fundamentals and persistence of their search for and exploitation of knowledge essential to good citizenship set an example which puts to shame many seasoned male voters." Sarah Grabski can be reached at 870-1776 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNgrabski. Valerie Myers can be reached at 878-1913 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNmyers. 2019 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at www.GoErie.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Accompanied by his wife Fabiana Rosales, Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido waves to supporters outside the Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 1, 2019. Guaido is in tour of several South American capitals as part of a campaign to build international pressure on his rival Nicolas Maduro to quit. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Read more CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has called calling for nationwide demonstrations on Monday to coincide with his planned return to the country. Guaido on Sunday tweeted that Venezuelans should monitor his official announcements and that he would provide details about meeting points for supporters. He said they should gather across the country at 11 a.m. The leader of the National Assembly who has declared himself president also tweeted a photo of himself walking across an airfield ahead of his departure from the naval base in Salinas, Ecuador, where he met Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno on Saturday. Guaido said he was "taking off," but did not say where the plane was heading. Guaido was in Ecuador as part of a tour of Latin American countries designed to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to resign. Maduro's government has not made any official comment about its adversary's imminent return to Venezuela. Guaido wants Maduro to quit, saying Venezuela can then emerge from its political and humanitarian crisis with international support. Maduro says Guaido is part of a U.S.-backed plot to overthrow his government and that a failed attempt by the opposition to bring aid into Venezuela from Brazil and Colombia last weekend was a political stunt. The United States and about 50 other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela's president, arguing that Maduro's re-election last year was a sham. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has warned against any action by the Venezuelan government against him. In this respect any measure that could put at risk Juan Guaidos freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions and meet the firm condemnation of the international community, Mogherini said. A historical marker on the Delaware River waterfront stands as testament to Philadelphias history in the slave trade, dating back to 1639, when Dutch and Swedish interests first brought enslaved Africans to Philadelphia. Its easy to miss it. You cant see it from the street, said Denise Valentine, a storyteller known as Story Mama who led a tour Saturday afternoon of local sites associated with enslavement and freedom. The waterfront historical marker lies behind the Independence Seaport Museum, facing perpendicular to the water and sitting next to the tent where people buy ferry tickets in the summer. Most people just walk by and dont even notice it, Valentine said. As leader of the Philadelphia Middle Passage Ceremony and Port Marker Project, Valentine helped Philadelphia earn designation as a UNESCO Site of Memory from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization denoting ports that engaged in the slave trade. She also works as an educator at the Museum of the American Revolution. Saturdays commemorative walk and talk attracted two dozen participants, who were black and white, young and old. It was part of a large effort underway nationally to observe the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the American colonies first African captives, in Virginia in 1619. Saturday was also the anniversary of the 1807 law that would end the international slave trade in America, signed on March 2. Tarik Moore, an accountant from Holland, Bucks County, attended the tour with his three children, ages 14, 8, and 5. He looks for hiking and other outdoor activities for his children through the Outdoor Afro network, and thought visiting local sites involved in the slave trade was important. Its a part of our history in America," Moore said, and he wants his children to learn how we got here and that we had a culture before we got here. The walk started at Front and Market Streets, where the London Coffee House stood in colonial days and where Africans were bought and sold at an auction block. Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and also of the essay African Slavery in America, had once stayed in an upstairs apartment above the coffee house. He looked out his window and saw Africans being sold on the auction block and was enraged, said Faye Anderson, a community historian who also spoke during the tour. Paines 1775 essay on slavery helped to prompt the founding of the first anti-slavery society in America. Saturdays tour group next walked to the site of Benjamin Franklins first printing press, near Front and Market Streets. Franklin was a slaveholder who went on to become a staunch abolitionist. In his business, Valentine told the tour group, he had printed advertisements for slave owners seeking the return of people who had fled captivity. From there, the group walked to what is left of the Riverwalk sculpture on Columbus Boulevard near Market. Some people assumed the heads in the ship represent enslaved Africans, but Valentine said the artist, Andrew Leicester, never made that intention known. I hope it does not represent the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, she added. And then, it was on to the waterfront historical marker behind the Independence Seaport Museum. Leaving the riverfront, the crowd walked to the Merchant Exchange Building, the round building near Third and Walnut Streets, across from the Ritz Five. That same walk we just made, from the Delaware River to here, at the Merchant Exchange, is the same route enslaved Africans walked, only they walked in chains, Valentine said. The group then walked toward Washington Square, once known as Congo Square, where on Sundays Africans in Philadelphia could gather on their free day and exchange African foods, languages, and songs, Valentine said. The square was also a potters field where many Africans were buried, as were soldiers from the Revolutionary War. Before entering Washington Square, Valentine taught the tour group a song: Troubles coming, she sang out. You bring the fire. Ill bring the water. Throughout the tour, participants were encouraged to talk about what freedom means and what it means to feel powerful. Saturdays event was cosponsored by the theatrical presentation Vessels, playing at the Annenberg Center on March 7-10, which imagines how seven women taken from Africa aboard slave ships managed to cope and communicate. Two of the shows producers, Rebecca Mwase and Ron Ragin, were part of the walk and discussion, sometimes sharing songs from the show. We wanted to imagine how these women kept their sanity on those ships, Mwase said. And because people were from different tribes and had different languages, we imagine the only way they could communicate and share these feelings was through song. A crowd holds Tibetan flags at Independence Mall in front of Independence Hall Sunday as part of a ceremony and march to mark the 60th anniversaries of the Tibetan Uprising and the Dalai Lama's flight into exile. Read more With the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall as a backdrop, 55 members of the Tibetan American community rallied Sunday morning for Tibets independence from China. Then, seven among them began marching with the goal of reaching the United Nations building in New York City on Saturday. Next Sunday is Tibetan National Uprising Day, which will mark the 60th anniversary of Chinas occupation of Tibet and Tibetans resistance, said Tashi Ngawang, one of the march organizers. We picked Philadelphia to start because this is the place where the Americans fought against the British to become an independent state. So, therefore, we consider this place to be very significant for the struggle for independence, said Ngawang, who lives in New York. Before the marchers departed, the protesters some wearing traditional Tibetan garments prayed, sang, and listened to impassioned speeches for more than an hour. The U.S. and Tibet flags they hoisted fluttered in the chilly wind, drawing the attention of passing tourists and their cameras. Kunga G. Norbu, the nephew of the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, traveled from his home in Indiana to march to New York. He said he is marching in memory of his departed brother and father the Dalai Lamas brother and for all those in Tibet who are being oppressed by China. We need our country back. We do not need China. Tibet only for Tibetans, he said. Karma Phuntsho, of New York, said the Chinese killed his grandfather in 1959 and jailed his father in 2001. In Tibet we have no right to practice our religion, he said between sips of of Tibetan butter tea, which most of those gathered used to keep warm. In addition to demanding that China ends its occupation of Tibet, the protesters also called for the release of all Tibetan political prisoners; more support from the U.S. government in their fight for Tibets Independence; and for United Nations officials and journalists to visit Tibet to investigate human rights violations We have a country but it has been occupied for 60 years, Ngawang said. We have our own language, our own traditions. Thats the proof of our independence. As the speeches began, several woman held a sign that read: Protest in Tibet Is a Crime That Cost Lives, Protest in the Free World Is a Basic Human Right. We have come to give some voice to the people living in Tibet. We dont have freedom of religion. We dont have speech rights. No political rights. We need help and we need support, said Tenzin Shakya, a Philadelphia resident and president of the Tibetan Association of America. Since our colleague Lisa Gartner published her investigation into decades of child abuse at Glen Mills Schools, Philadelphia City Council members and judges from across the country have taken action and many boys are being removed from the school. We caught up with her to find out how she reported these developments and the challenges reporters face when telling difficult stories. This morning we also have a look at the week ahead. Fair warning: it is getting off to a snowy start. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning. Tauhid Chappell and Aubrey Nagle (morningnewsletter@philly.com) The week ahead We may be done with February but it seems were no closer to warm weather. A snowstorm is approaching today and its expected to leave as much as seven inches of snow in parts of the Philly region. Expect cold, messy, and overall dreary conditions to start the week. The Bryce Harper celebration train is chugging along into this week after the left-handed slugger made his first press appearance with the Phillies Saturday. What does he want to accomplish? I want to be on Broad Street ... and have a trophy over my head. Its not too early to think about football, is it? Of course not. The Eagles are hunting for new talent among the upcoming class of running backs while at the NFL scouting combine. The combine concludes tomorrow. Get your hurricanes and beads ready. Mardi Gras is this Tuesday, March 5. This week look out for reporter Patricia Madej to answer the question: what happened to the tower lights along the South Street Bridge? Hint: Mother Nature plays a factor. This weeks most popular stories Behind the story with Lisa Gartner Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chatted with Lisa Gartner about her recent investigation into decades of child abuse at Glen Mills Schools in Delaware County. You first reported on violence at Glen Mills in August 2018 after a staffer attacked a boy in an incident that was caught on camera. This investigation involved dozens of interviews with current and former students and counselors. Was it difficult to get those involved to talk about their experiences? It really varied, person by person. Some people were eager to speak out about what happened, hoping it would protect future students. Others, still working through the trauma, needed to take some time to make sure it was the right decision. Interestingly, some of the people I tracked down and approached out of the blue were the most enthusiastic about talking, while others who contacted me were more reluctant. Everyones different. The last thing I wanted to do was to talk someone into doing something they were uncomfortable doing, so I was careful and tried to make sure everyone knew exactly what cooperating with the story would look like. You also utilized internal documents, court records, and incident reports in your investigation. Were any of those publicly available? If so, what is the process like for someone who needs to obtain public records? Yes. Some of the records I obtained during my reporting were not public, but others were. I looked up court cases online, and followed up by spending a few days going through boxes of legal records at the Delaware County courthouse in Media. This was helpful because some of the cases I wrote about had been settled with parties signing non-disclosure agreements, so the records had to do the talking for them. I retrieved police citations from the local judges office. I also read thousands of pages of state inspection reports that are public on the Department of Human Services website. I made public records requests to a variety of agencies, including DHS, state police and the U.S. Department of Justice. What were some challenges you faced in reporting this story, and how did prior experiences help you overcome them? One of the challenges is that Glen Mills leaders declined to be interviewed. I came up as an education reporter covering public school districts where not responding to allegations is less of an option (although that still happens, of course). But I treated them the same as Id treat anyone, with as much fairness and transparency as possible. I sent them a comprehensive memo outlining my findings, and gave them a business week to respond. The goal is to have no surprises when they read the story. The whole notion of gotcha journalism is so against how investigative reporting really operates. Gaining trust is a challenge but one that I think is a special privilege of our jobs. I dont like to ever say my story; its their story, and I get to tell it. And I better do it responsibly. I try to empathize and listen and just explain to people, especially juveniles and victims, that they are in control of what they share. I go over what Im going to include from the interview before publication. I ask if they have any questions for me. This is just stuff Ive picked up along the way. I think when I started in journalism at 22 I could be kind of robotic, I-am-the-reporter-and-you-are-the-subject, here-is-question-one. But were all just humans and I think the more I acknowledge that, the better the interviews go. Where does this story go next? In response to the story, officials in California, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania have decided to remove their boys from Glen Mills. The school stands to lose more than 100 students more than one-third of its enrollment. In addition, Glen Mills Executive Director Randy Ireson has taken a leave of absence, citing his health, and the president of the schools Board of Managers resigned. Both the state Department of Human Services and the Delaware County District Attorney are investigating the allegations raised in our story. Ill be following up on all of this. And there is more material that didnt make it into the story that Id like to keep reporting on. If theres one thing readers should take away from this investigation, what would you like them to know? No child deserves to be abused, let alone by an adult who was supposed to help rehabilitate them. It doesnt matter if the student is there because he committed a crime. Further violence just enforces criminal behavior. I hope people take away from this investigation that taxpayer money is funding child abuse at a school that was supposed to be helping boys. They are victims, and hurting them only makes Philadelphia less safe. Contact Lisa Gartner on Twitter @lisagartner or via email at lgartner@philly.com. Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly We can expect more of this soon. Thanks for capturing this beautiful picture, @whitney_homes_! Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! #CuriousPhilly: Have a question about your community? Ask us! Have you submitted a question to Curious Philly yet? Try us. Were listening to our readers and doing our best to find answers to the things youre curious about. Check out all the questions weve answered so far, thanks to suggestions from readers like you. What were Comment of the week Class act not asking for #34, which he could have. The Phils probably would have given it to him, too. His first opportunity to create a controversy, as most if not all high priced diva athletes do, and he declines. Welcome to Philly, Bryce. When they retire #3 we will remember this day. Jephilly, on the Phillies officially signing Bryce Harper. A Daily Dose of | Excitement Its safe to say Phillies fans are very excited about Bryce Harper. Theyve already lined up at Citizens Bank Park to buy gear bearing his name and number. Matthias Stonig, Austrian MTB Athlete, charges down his local trails after a long day at work. In the woods on natural, technical terrain is where he feels at home.His stomping grounds in the beautiful mountains of southern Austria are a perfect place to practice and train for top class enduro racing.Like his bike? Check out the SCOTT Ransom here Video: Backland-Media 220 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By John Whitesides (Reuters) Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders showed a more personal side as he hit the 2020 campaign trail for the first time on Saturday, describing the struggles of his working class youth and how it helped shape his progressive politics. At a rally in Brooklyn, near the New York City neighborhood where he grew up in a small, rent-controlled apartment, Sanders contrasted his spare upbringing with Republican President Donald Trumps privileged youth as the son of a New York real estate developer. My experience as a kid, living in a family that struggled economically, powerfully influenced my life and my values, Sanders said at a campaign kickoff rally at Brooklyn College, where he once attended classes. Unlike Donald Trump, who shut down the government and left 800,000 federal employees without income to pay the bills, I know what its like to be in a family that lives paycheck to paycheck, he said. The U.S. senator from Vermont rarely talked about his personal history during his first run for the White House in 2016 against eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, focusing almost exclusively on his policy plans to rein in Wall Street and reduce income inequality. But the new approach for Sanders, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland, was a recognition of the need to find a way to stand out in a crowded and diverse field of 2020 Democratic contenders, including five of his fellow senators. Sanders also did not highlight his Jewish faith during his 2016 run. But in Brooklyn he described his fathers journey to escape poverty and anti-Semitism, and said his fathers family eventually was wiped out by the Nazis. As we launch this campaign for president, you deserve to know where I come from because family history heavily influences the values that we adopt as adults, Sanders told cheering supporters in Brooklyn. Today, I want to welcome you to a campaign which says, loudly and clearly, that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies, he said. The first weekend on the campaign trail also signaled Sanders emphasis on expanding his support among minority voters, who he struggled to connect with during his 2016 campaign. On Sunday morning, he will make a quick stop in Selma, Alabama, for events commemorating the 1965 Bloody Sunday civil rights march. Later, he will hold a rally at Navy Pier in Chicago, where he graduated from the University of Chicago at the height of the civil rights movement and helped lead student protests against segregated campus housing and schools. I did not come from a family that taught me to build a corporate empire through housing discrimination, he said. I protested housing discrimination. The twin rallies over the weekend also served as a reminder to Democrats of his ability to generate grassroots enthusiasm. During his 2016 campaign, Sanders frequently held big rallies with thousands of supporters, matching Trumps ability to capture attention and generate large crowds. Sanders already has shown his fundraising ability this time around, as the campaign said on Tuesday he had raised about $10 million in the first week. But he also has faced new challenges three of his top media strategists during the 2016 campaign split with Sanders this week over creative differences. Over the next few weeks, his campaign said, Sanders will travel to states with early nominating contests, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada before returning to his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, for a formal campaign launch. (Reporting by John Whitesides in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Diane Craft) 8.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) revealed that he is investigating Trump Russian money laundering, which explains why the president is freaking out. Schiff said on CBSs Face The Nation, We are certainly looking deep into the set of issues surrounding Moscow Trump Tower. Were also looking at persistent allegations that the Russians have been laundering money through the Trump Organization. I dont know if thats true, but if it is again, its a profound compromise of this president. Video: Adam Schiff Has Jurisdiction to Look At Trumps Finances Because He May Be Compromised By Russia Trumps rant about Schiff at CPAC takes on a whole different context when reviewed after what Rep. Schiff said on Sunday. At CPAC Trump said, I saw little shifty Schiff yesterday. Its the first time he went into a meeting and he said were going to look into his finances. I said where did that come from? He always talked about Russia, collusion with Russia, the collusion delusion. Now we have people that lost and unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions. And they leave people for a long time that shouldnt be there. And all of a sudden, theyre trying to take you out with bullshit, okay? Video of Trump: Trump had an epic meltdown because Democrats are investigating his finances. https://t.co/I75GHahkz0 pic.twitter.com/WK6Nzkq1uo Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 2, 2019 Trump doesnt want investigators to follow the money, because the heart of his relationship with Russia is cold hard cash. There has long been speculation that Trump got the money for his projects by laundering cash in violation of US sanctions for Russia. Adam Schiff has the jurisdiction to investigate Trumps finances because he is probing to see if Trump has been compromised by a foreign power. Rep. Schiff knows where to look, and he is about to expose the potential financial crimes that Trump committed with Russia. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The Associated Press (AP) is reporting this morning that Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are beginning several new investigations into Donald Trump as they prepare for a post-Robert Mueller world. No matter what happens with Muellers final Russia report, a half-dozen House committee chairmen are planning to flood the administration with document requests, calls for testimony and subpoenas. The Democrats planned investigations will go way beyond the scope of Muellers investigation into Russian interference and collusion in the 2016 Trump campaign. Because Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, appeared before two House committees last week with explosive testimony about alleged Trump crimes, they now have much more information, and new avenues to investigate. The increased oversight by House committees will likely uncover new information about possible Trump high crimes that could lead to impeachment proceedings. In the absence of that, at the very least, the hearings will provide the American public a chance to see for the first time the extent of Trump malfeasance before and during his time in office. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic House leaders have been cautious about impeachment, saying they first want to investigate for themselves, and also receive Muellers report and evidence files. Here are some of the committee investigations that are currently or will soon be underway in the House: House Intelligence Committee Under new chairman Adam Schiff, the committee is reopening its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The Republicans in charge closed the probe last year, saying there was nothing further to investigate. Last month Schiff announced that he is starting a new investigation into not only Russian interference but also into Trumps foreign financial interests. The intelligence committee interviewed Michael Cohen Thursday. Afterwards, Schiff announced that the committee will hold an open hearing later this month with Felix Sater, a Russia-born Trump business associate who is a former felon and reputed mobster. Sater worked with Cohen on the deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen is returning to finish his interview on Wednesday. House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said after Cohen testified on Wednesday that he will call in several people mentioned in Cohens testimony. They will include Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and two of Trumps children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump. Last Friday Cummings told the White House to give his committee documents related to Jared Kushners security clearances by Monday. The New York Times has reported that Trump ordered security officials to give Kushner a clearance over the objections of intelligence agencies. Last Tuesday, Cummings committee voted to subpoena Trump administration officials over family separations at the southern border under the zero tolerance immigration policy. House Judiciary Committee New Chairman Jerrold Nadler wants to look at Muellers report when it becomes available and then decide if his committee should begin impeachment proceedings. Nadler said that his committee is determined to ask critical questions, gather all the information, judiciously assess the evidence, and make sure that the facts are not hidden from the American people. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal is expected to try to obtain Trumps tax returns, which the law says his committee has a right to see. If he does request the returns, he can look forward to a lengthy court battle with the Treasury Department. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Maxine Waters is focusing on Deutsche Bank, the German firm that has loaned Trump hundreds of millions of dollars over the years. She said this past week that the bank is cooperating with requests for documents. Deutsche Bank has been convicted in the past of illegal money laundering activities. Waters is working closely with Schiff, and both of them have said they want to investigate whether Russians used laundered money for real estate transactions with the Trump Organization. Waters said she is also interested in looking at Trumps criminal charitable foundation that is being shut down by the New York Attorney General. She is also investigating White House budget director Mick Mulvaneys tenure at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She has said Mulvaney may be called to testify. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel is also working with Schiff and his committee to review Trumps encounters with and connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is investigating, for example, the private meeting between Trump and Putin in Helsinki last year. The two committees have worked with House lawyers to figure out the appropriate way to investigate that meeting. That could include getting information from a translator who attended. Engel has said that the committee will hold hearings on the mysteries swirling around Trumps bizarre relationship with Putin and his cronies, and how those dark dealings affect our national security. The committee is also looking at the administrations policy toward Saudi Arabia and response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. House Democrats Have Made Clear That Donald Trump Is In Deep Trouble The above list of House committee investigations points out the extent of the trouble that Donald Trump is in, no matter what happens with special counsel Muellers investigation and final report. Any one of the items on the list should be enough to uncover Trump high crimes that will logically lead to impeachment proceedings. Although the Democrats are waiting until Muellers work is done, it is very likely that shortly thereafter Trump will be impeached. And if enough crimes are shown to the public, even Republicans in Congress may feel enough heat to compel them to go along and end the disastrous presidency of Donald J. Trump. Michael Cohens testimony before congressional investigators last week resulted in a new line of inquiry, The Washington Post has reported. Lawmakers with the House and Senate Intelligence Committees reportedly questioned Donald Trumps former attorney about whether he and high-level members of the Trump administration had discussed a potential presidential pardon. Anonymous sources reportedly told The Post that Cohen and members of Congress on the two committees talked at length with Cohen this week about whether he had discussed the possibility of accepting a pardon from Trump for the crimes he pleaded guilty to last year. The Post reported: Lawmakers are investigating whether President Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was involved in any discussions about possible pardons which they view as a potentially ripe area of inquiry into whether anyone sought to obstruct justice. Cohen has said publicly he never asked for and would not accept a pardon from Trump. But people familiar with the matter said his knowledge on the topic seems to extend beyond that statement. It was not immediately clear what, if anything, Cohen told lawmakers to pique their interest. Depending on the details, such pardon talks could be incendiary, suggesting an effort to dissuade Cohen from cooperating with law enforcement. We dont know what Cohen told the congressional investigators about discussions on pardons, but the Post did say that Cohens lawyer told MSNBC a day after his public testimony that pretty explosive information on potential obstruction of justice by Trump had been discussed with lawmakers. Most observers took this to mean that Cohen provided testimony alleging Trump had tried to buy him off by offering a pardon if Cohen would agree not to testify against him. The lawmakers and Cohen discussed new information that could be game changing, in closed-door testimony related to lying and obstruction evidence, Lanny Davis said in an interview. Cohen will start his three-year prison sentence for bank fraud and campaign finance violations, along with other financial crimes, later this year. The former Trump fixer spoke to the House Oversight and Reform Committee in explosive testimony on Wednesday in which he referred to his former boss as a racist, a cheat, and a con man. The White House and allies of the president sought to discredit Cohen amid his testimony this week, noting his previous admission to making false statements while under oath. 1.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has announced that he will vote against Trump and with Democrats on a resolution to block the national emergency. Rand Paul says no to Trumps emergency powers The Bowling Green Daily News reported: In a speech to the crowd of nearly 200 Republican officeholders and supporters at Western Kentucky Universitys Augenstein Alumni Center, Paul interjected, in a speech devoted largely to praising the work of President Donald Trump, his opinion that Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border is a dangerous precedent. I cant vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasnt been appropriated by Congress, Paul said just moments after drawing applause for his praise of some Trump policies and his ridicule of some congressional Democrats. We may want more money for border security, but Congress didnt authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, its a dangerous thing. Democrats now have the votes to send a bill overturning the national emergency to Trumps desk Paul joins his fellow Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis as GOP voters for the resolution. These four Republicans in combination with all 47 Democrats means that there are now enough votes in the Senate in favor of overturning Trumps national emergency to send the resolution to the presidents desk for a veto that will set up a showdown between Trump and the Senate. Unless those in favor of the resolution can get to 67 votes, they will not be able to overturn Trumps veto, but the passage of the resolution will be used be in court as evidence that Trump is defying the will of Congress and abusing his power in an unconstitutional way. If more Republicans jump on board to support the resolution, Trumps national emergency could be in big trouble. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 900 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The Republican Party of Texas is in panic mode. Shocked by the results of the 2018 midterm elections that saw the GOP lose a record number of seats in the House, and by the close race that saw incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) almost lose his seat to rising star Beto ORourke (D), the Texas GOP is taking steps to fight for their lives in 2020. According to POLITICO, the Texas Republican Party has massive fundraising goals for next years elections. They are now desperately trying to hang on to congressional seats in a former red state that is now seeing huge demographic changes which threaten the GOPs dominance. If these trends continue, Texas could soon turn into a blue state, and the mere thought of that is enough to send Texas Republicans into panic mode. The POLITICO report said: Facing a rapidly changing voter base, anti-Trump fervor and a more motivated Democratic Party, the state GOP is moving earlier than ever to prepare after watching two House members lose in 2018 and another half-dozen win by fewer than 5 points. The report states that the party has deployed staff members to battleground communities months earlier than usual, especially in the suburbs which have turned into swing districts. We are taking seriously our need to earn every vote in Texas, explained Texas Republican Party Chairman James Dickey, adding that donors are also taking it much more seriously when I tell them how desperately I need them to participate or become a supporter of the party. Of great concern are the districts where GOP members of Congress barely won in 2018. And these are the very districts being targeted by the national Democratic Party. The state GOP will be adding organizers in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and even traditionally Democratic El Paso to its early hires, POLITICO reported. Those metro areas overlap with the districts of the six House Republicans who won narrowly in 2018: Reps. Michael McCaul, Chip Roy, Pete Olson, Will Hurd, Kenny Marchant, and John Carter. The state GOP is also looking for a massive increase in donations for their planned television blitz. They hope to raise $5 million, double what they raised in 2018. Texas Republicans acknowledge that they have to win over voters like women, minorities and others that President Donald Trump has alienated and who are moving to Texas towns, the report said. Democrats will compete by bringing the increasingly unpopular Donald Trump into the 2020 campaign. Now as we look toward 2020, the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) is taking the lessons we learned and expanding the battlefield further into parts of Texas that are ready to reject the kind of reckless Washington politics that Congressmen McCaul, Roy, Olson, Hurd, Marchant and Carter have rubber stamped, explained DCCC spokesperson Cole Leiter. All of the GOP members of Congress mentioned by Leiter won their seats in 2018 by less than five percentage points. The truth is that with Donald Trumps reckless rhetoric and failed policies, all of them are at risk for losing in 2020. Texas Republicans have good reason to be in panic mode. The 2020 elections will probably bring another Big Blue Wave to the Lone Star State. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Adam Parker has covered many beats and topics for The Post and Courier, including race and history, religion, and the arts. He is the author of "Outside Agitator: The Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr.," published by Hub City Press. Review: Destruction from climate change will be 'worse, much worse, than you think' Dustin Bowen came home from the Marines with the bones in his left hand so shattered they would fracture again when the Iraq combat veteran tried to open a door knob. He underwent more than a dozen surgeries in a decade before finally deciding to amputate the hand last year. He tried to adapt to civilian life while in fierce pain from the injury suffered in a mortar attack. No one would hire him once they got a look at the hand and the way his arm hung uselessly to the brace that supported it. He lost his home to foreclosure, his truck and car to repossession. Bowen, his wife Whitney, their young son and newborn had to move in with her family. One night the others came back to the house to find Bowen deranged and fighting them off, tearing a cabinet from the wall and flinging it at the hallucination of a dead friend, screaming to leave him alone. "I have issues," Bowen said simply. He's not alone. Today's veterans struggle with more than previous eras everything from finding a job to multiple physical and psychological traumas. The social and health aids for them have struggled to keep up and staffs are grappling for ways to coordinate services. +7 SC veteran suffered severe hand wound in Iraq combat. He fought back. A mortar round knocked Marine Dustin Bowen off a roof in Iraq, the opening blast to a decade of battles he would fight to try to save a shattered hand and regain his life. More of the veterans have been deployed multiple times. With new technology and gear, more are surviving wounds that would have killed them a generation ago but are left without use of limbs and otherwise disabled. One veteran in every 10 is now female and one in every four of them has experienced military sexual trauma, according to Disabled American Veterans. The strain on the vets and their families can be horrific. Treating veterans today is like peeling an onion, the saying goes. As they are seen for one problem, others emerge. "You can't have someone come in here and treat one thing," said Hugh Myrick, who directs mental health services for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. The struggle to provide and coordinate services for this new age of veterans is the point behind Gov. Henry McMaster's recent support for a current legislative move to elevate the state's Division of Veterans Affairs to a Cabinet level position. It would clear the way for the administrator to work closer with other state and national services and find ways to fund efforts. Will it make a difference? "I hope so," said Jordan Watkins, a Medical University of South Carolina therapist who co-chairs the Lowcountry Veterans Engagement Team, a multi-agency group working to coordinate local services. Catch-up More than 400,000 veterans now live in South Carolina one of every 10 people in the state. Nearly half of them are veterans of the recent Gulf War era, according to VA statistics. They are a small percentage of the nearly 20 million veterans nationwide. But as those numbers continue to decline, the numbers in South Carolina won't, for at least the next 10 years. The region is becoming a relocation destination for veterans, and is among a handful of areas where population growth continues to be expected, according to a 2019 Rand Corp. demographics study. For newly discharged veterans who need help, it's "sep and tap," separate from service and tap into resources to adapt to civilian life. But that's something they haven't been trained for details such as how to find the right form and get the right signature on it to keep your home from being foreclosed while you transition to a civilian paycheck, Bowen said. There's no one-stop guide, no one-size-fits-all for individuals with individual needs. Veterans end up turning to other veterans they know for advice. "I don't think (veterans) don't seek help because they don't want to," Watkins said. "They don't know where to go and what questions to ask." The community isn't as welcoming as the "thank you for your service" memes would have you believe. Bowen's home was foreclosed on after the first missed payment, the lenders using a contingency in his VA loan. "People hear 'wounded veteran' and they think, here's a person who is unemployable and homeless and probably has an alcohol problem," said Watkins about the problem in general. In a 2019 military appropriations bill, U.S. Senate staffers noted that while 44 percent of Gulf War veterans exhibit illnesses including chronic, multi-symptom illnesses, only 26 percent receive benefits and only 17 percent of claims are approved by the VA as a whole, according to the most recent VA data. Accustomed to a system where an older veteran turned up to be treated for a specific condition, VA centers and other medical services weren't really prepared to deal with the host of symptoms a younger veteran would exhibit. "Females in combat is new," Watkins said. "My experience has been that females in particular find the VA hospitals not to be catering to their needs as much, fertility (issues) and women's health in general." At the Ralph Johnson center and other VA clinics, though, the services are coming together and the coordination improving. A group like Watkins' Lowcountry Veterans Engagement Team is a prime example. The VA is one of the agencies on that team. Departments in the Ralph Johnson center now move patients from service to service in the same visit without the formerly lengthy referral process, said mental health services director Myrick. There's more focus on identifying suicide risk factors and getting those people help, and on individualized treatments such as women's health. There's more outreach and referral among VA and outside helping agencies. "Me personally, I think we're playing catch-up. (But) good work is being done," Watkins said. There are moves underway on the state level besides elevating Veterans Affairs to the governor's Cabinet. Among other measures, the legislature has agreed to cover about $40 million that grants won't pay for an $87 million project building three new nursing homes for veterans in the state. Dozens of bills crop up in every session, calling for everything from specialty license plates to free higher education tuition for the families of war veterans. "In 2008 it was very different for me as a young woman," said Stacy Pearsall, the renowned combat and now veterans photographer who was seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2004 when a roadside bomb blasted under her convoy. Now, "I think we're headed in the right direction," Pearsall said. "They're working hard to improve and predict where needs arise." 'Jenga stick' The former Sgt. Bowen is now 35 years old, living in Beaufort. He's at the gym regularly, to work off the emotions pent up in him, and is solidly built. He speaks with an intensity in his eye. After police Tasers finally subdued him during the incident in the family home, he found a VA social worker who had dealt with the same issues herself. Working with her and others he has managed to put himself back together. Partly as therapy he now speaks to veteran groups. Turned down for job after job, Bowen kept finding new ways to try to show employers what he could do. He pursued specialized federal training to drive semi rigs and now works for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. He isn't cured. The arm might need further amputation. He takes medications to sleep at night without thrashing violently during the nightmares. "I still fight it. But I've found some peace," he said. "There are a lot of veterans who couldn't recover like I have." Services for discharged service people have improved immeasurably since the first day Bowen stepped into a veterans clinic, he said. The coordination among the services still lags. Something as simple as automatic enrollment in disability benefits would help. But "the VA today is almost like a new hospital," Bowen said. "If I got out today it would be a smoother transition into civilian life." Definitely, though, services for veterans could be better, he said. Bowen is a little leery of making veterans services a state cabinet position. Putting it in terms of the Jenga stick balancing game, he said, if you put too much weight at the top the pieces at the bottom can't keep up. "If you put veterans in charge of veterans," he said, "that would work." The struggle to provide and coordinate services for this new age of veterans is the point behind Gov. Henry McMaster's recent support for a current legislative move to elevate the state's Division of Veterans Affairs to a Cabinet level position. This Aug. 17, 2018 file photo show demonstrators who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses protesting outside Purdue Pharma headquarters in Stamford, Conn. The attorney general's office in Massachusetts is suing Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, along with some company executives and members of the family that owns it in an effort to hold them accountable for the toll of the drug crisis in the state. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) Political Reporter Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat and 2020 presidential candidate, spoke in Simpsonville on Friday, March 1. He has made a point early in his campaign to go beyond South Carolina's biggest cities. Jamie Lovegrove/Staff We live in a different era. As we head into 2022, with the COVID-19 variants on the rise, I am grateful for us as a community. We have done ou Read more Recently The Mercury reported that Gov. Wolf had proposed a plan to raise Pennsylvanias minimum wage, currently equal to the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, to $12 an hour. The governor also proposed eliminating the hourly tipped wage minimum, now just $2.83. As in years past, Republicans in the Pennsylvania Legislature attacked the governors proposal. Once again, they offered nothing in return. I was employed for many years at one of Pottstowns fast food franchises where many fellow employees worked for the minimum wage. It is not true that only teenagers worked there; many workers like me were older and were the sole breadwinners for their families. For them, a rise in their wages would make a huge difference in their ability to make a living and help reduce dependence on food stamps and other social programs. Economists say raising the minimum wage boosts overall economic activity and has minimal impact on the profitability of corporations. Yet Pennsylvania is the only state in our region with such a low minimum wage. The majority of states that retain the federal $7.25 minimum are located in the South. Pennsylvanias minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. This is a blemish on our state. Republicans in Harrisburg should stop their intransigence on this issue and work proactively with Gov. Wolf on raising the minimum wage to a living wage. -Sharon Yergey Pottstown Eliot Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, slammed Ilhan Omar for anti-Semitism on Friday. He didnt mince words: House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) blasted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Friday for suggesting that pro-Israel politicians hold allegiance to a foreign country and demanded the freshman congresswoman apologize for her vile anti-Semitic slur. I welcome debate in Congress based on the merits of policy, but its unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel relationship, Engel said in a statement released Friday evening. Her comments were outrageous and deeply hurtful, and I ask that she retract them, apologize, and commit to making her case on policy issues without resorting to attacks that have no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives, the New York Democrat continued. Far from apologizing, Omar has continued her onslaught. Her Twitter feed portrays her as a constant victim. A few hours ago, she unleashed this tweet storm: Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that! https://t.co/gglAS4FVJW Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 Sodid someone ask Omar to have allegiance or pledge support to another country? No, that is what she has accused American Jews of doing. I have not mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, I have questioned it and that has been clear from my end. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 Omar is misquoting Nita Lowey, who didnt say Omar mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, but rather that she mischaracterize[d] support for Israel. Which is true. I am told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 I doubt that a single person has told Omar that she is anti-American if she is not pro-Israel. I do think she is anti-American, but for different reasons. My Americanness is questioned by the President and the @GOP on a daily basis, yet my colleagues remain silent. I know what it means to be American and no one will ever tell me otherwise. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 So she complains that her fellow House Democrats arent sticking up for her against fictitious criticisms. Bret Stephens weighed in and drew a retort from Omar: People do every single day, and no I havent attached pro-Isreal Americans. I have questioned our politics! You want to paint every word I say as such, and thats more of your problem. https://t.co/KxhRlfYRfq Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 She most certainly has attacked pro-Israel Americans. She says their support is all about the Benjamins, i.e., they have been bought off, and that they prioritize loyalty to Israel over the U.S. Being opposed to Netanyahu and the occupation is not the same as being anti-Semitic. I am grateful to the many Jewish allies who have spoken out and said the same. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 Now its just about disagreeing with Israels Prime Minister. Right? We must be willing to combat hate of all kinds while also calling out oppression of all kinds. I will do my best to live up to that. I hope my colleagues will join me in doing the same. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019 So the most hateful member of the House says it is all about combating hatenever mind that she is the one who is propagating it. And she suggests that her House colleagues arent up to her anti-hate standard. I think the most charitable interpretation of Ilhan Omars actions is that she is not intelligent, and lives in a parallel universe. Of all the dumb things she has done, attacking fellow House Democrats from a position of presumed moral superiority is among the dumbest. I had Ilhan Omar pegged as an anti-Semite last year, before she won the primary that guaranteed her election. The primary was competitive. If the Star Tribune had covered the issue or pressed Omar on it, it might even have made a difference. Now she bids to become a permanent disgrace to Minneapolis and the inner-ring suburbs she represents. Omar matters. She has injected Islamist anti-Semitism into the heart of the Democratic Party. There she sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. As James Simpson puts it at PJ Media, she is the poster child for the red-green alliance. I wrote about Omars anti-Semitism last year several times on Power Line and for City Journal in the column A question for Democrats (July 20, 2018). It wasnt hard to figure out Omars anti-Semitism. I make this point repeatedly because it discredits those who ignored it (e.g., the Star Tribune). The silence of Minnesotas Democratic establishment (and others) is also telling and it continues today. The thing about anti-Semites is that they will spew anti-Semitism. You dont need to be a sociologist to figure that out. Omar was at it again last week when she asserted clearly with reference to Jewish supporters of Israel, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country. Omar seemed to suggest, as Jewish Insider (which covered the story) gingerly put it, dual loyalty among a particular group of Americans. This was the context: Loud rounds of applause and shouts of affirmation punctuated the events heavy focus on Israel. See also Jewish Insiders editors note at the bottom of the article. Omars comments prompted a response from (Democratic) House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel. He called Omars imputation of dual loyalty a vile anti-Semitic slur and added: I welcome debate in Congress based on the merits of policy, but its unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Her comments were outrageous and deeply hurtful, and I ask that she retract them, apologize, and commit to making her case on policy issues without resorting to attacks that have no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives. Hot Air collects other comments elicited by Omar. Politico reported late Friday night that a spokesman for Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Engels statement. Im going to go out on a limb and guess that Omar is sticking with it. Indeed, Omars spokesman told the Star Tribune in response to its request for comment that Omar has consistently spoken out about the undue influence of lobbying groups for foreign interests of all kinds and her comments were about just that. To suggest otherwise is an inaccurate reading of her remarks. Baby Mamas, a new South African comedy-drama, was premiered at Filmhouse Cinemas, Twin Waters branch in Oniru, Lagos, on Sunday. Baby Mamas, the first South African film to premiere in Nigeria, was directed by Stephanie Zwane. The movie takes a look at the daily lives of four young professional women, each in various phases of their own baby mama drama. Although the different themes of the film are approached comically, each message conveyed is unfeigned, candid and thought-provoking. As all four of them explore the many dynamics of being baby mamas, the audience is brought into the world of their witty charms and how they tackle the strained relationships with the men in their lives. With an ensemble female cast of Salamina Mosese, Thembisa Mdoda, Dineo Ranaka, and Kay Smith, the film highlights sisterhood, female empowerment, friendship, family, pain, healing, and love. Guests such as Vimbai Mutinhiri, Yetunde Williams, Bolanle Olukanni, Taymi B, Sasha P, and Paul Chisom all attended the screening. The writers, Stephina Zwane and Salamina Mosese, both South African women, said they are passionate about changing the narrative. Asked why she wrote the story, Ms. Zwane said, Our generation is fortunate to have the privilege of being able to tell our story ourselves, so the first thing Im going to do is always to tell the other side of our unique African story. She said of the films four female lead characters, Im tired of images that dont celebrate me as an African, and instead shows me constantly lacking and struggling. This is not all that we are. Before the viewing commenced, the guests were addressed by the Marketing Executive of FilmOne Distribution and Production, Matilda Ogunleye. She asserted that the film is very relevant to the Nigerian market as we all need to start telling and redefining our stories. The deep disapproval and condescension that is attached to being a baby mama, especially in the workplace, and especially in Africa, is something that needs to be tackled head-on in order to shift the narrative and start changing the warped mindsets and perceptions of society, she noted. During the viewing, there were diverse reactions from the audience. After the screening, the guests stayed behind for the round table discussion hosted by Tolu Bally, Azuka Ogujiuba, Titi Olatunji and Abimbola Craig. During their discussions, they all advocated for a definite reform of current systems in place so that sex education becomes a lot more open and acceptable. They also touched on the stigma attached to premarital pregnancy, single parenting and co-parenting. Baby Mamas is currently showing in Filmhouse Cinemas nationwide. See the trailer below A South African pastor, Alph Lukau, who claimed to have resurrected a man from the dead has said he regrets the incident. His viral resurrection stunt led to several lawsuits with some critics challenging him to raise the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, from the dead. Mr Lakau, who runs the popular Alleluia Ministries, has now also claimed that the man was already alive when he arrived at his church. The controversial preacher said this during an interview with Power FMs Power Drive host, Thabiso Tema, in South Africa on Wednesday. Explaining how it all happened, he said he was busy with a sermon on Sunday when he was interrupted and told that a person in a coffin had been brought to the church. Before entering the premises of the church, the coffin began to shake, meaning the person was alive. I am really sorry for the misrepresentation of facts, the man was not dead and has never been in the mortuary as we earlier said, Mr Lukau explained. When asked by the host why the man had been brought to the church in the first place, Mr Lukau said, I am not sure if I can make a statement that he was brought to me. We are the house of God and Im just a pastor serving in the house of the Lord. But I am sorry that we didnt tell people the truth in the first place, he added. Mr Lukau noted that the man was brought to the church by his family, who believed that something would happen if he was prayed for. He added that further questions about why the man was brought to the church would be better answered by the mans family. I think that they brought the person to church because they believed that God had the ability to resurrect the person, but still our brother was alive even before they brought him to church and we really apologise for not telling the truth in the first place, he said. During the interview, Mr Lukau claimed the only time he restored life was to an unborn child whose mother had alleged that she had been told the child had died in the womb. The heartbeat could not be detected before but after the prayer, they [were] told the child is fine, said Mr Lukau. The pastor, who found himself in the middle of mass criticism from the public, also added that he had no power to resurrect a person from the dead except if God used him as an instrument. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Mr Lakaus church, Alleluia Ministries, has denied allegations that the resurrected Brighton Moyo had been paid before to participate in miracles. This is according to a report by a South African news portal, Timeslive. He was responding to several colleagues and friends of Moyos who said that he had told them it was not the first time he had played a starring role in showcasing miracles. Initially dubbed Elliot, the man who was apparently resurrected by the controversial pastor had on a previous occasion been healed from being confined to a wheelchair, a colleague of his told TimesLIVE. David Eseile is a medical doctor with over 10 years experience relating to Lassa fever patients. Mr Eseile is one of the dozens of caregivers who have been infected with the disease while treating patients. One minute I was all kitted up in my protective gear collecting blood samples from Lassa fever patients in the ward and days later, I became a patient in the same ward, he said. Lassa fever is a haemorrhagic fever which is usually transmitted from rodents to humans and spread through human to human transmission. Lassa fever virus may be spread through faeces of the multimmate rat or humans having direct contact with blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with the fever. According to the World Health Organisation, there is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread between humans. However, sexual transmission of the Lassa virus has also been reported. The outbreak of the disease has become yearly in Nigeria. It is usually an all-year-round disease but peaks around January to April. Caregivers, unfortunately, have also fallen victims of the disease while handling patients. This phenomenon has contributed to the high figure of mortality from the disease. Mr Eseile said it was traumatic going from being a caregiver to a patient. He still could not explain how he contracted it in 2018. Having knowledge of the disease, the harm and the side effect of the drugs, I was distraught, he recalled his immediate reaction. Mr Eseile is one of the caregivers who contacted the disease in the line of duty. He is also one of the few lucky survivors. The mortality rate of the disease in the country is about 25 per cent. He narrated his experience at the Lassa Fever International Conference held in January in Abuja to mark 50 years of the disease. I was not in contact with rodents or working with patients of Lassa fever. I must have contacted the disease through the ward. But how still remains a question which is yet to be answered, he said. Mr Eseile said it is fallacy to believe that most caregivers who contacted the disease did so due to their carelessness and not wearing protective gear when they handle such cases. He said he was always kitted up when attending to his patients because he understands the harm the disease can cause, having lost friends and colleagues to the disease during his university days in Edo State. Mr Eseile, who hails from the state, one of the high Lassa fever prevalent states in the country, works at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo in alliance with an NGO at the infectious diseases centre in Owo, Ondo State. Prior to my admission to study medicine at Ambrose Alli University in 2006, we had been hearing about Lassa Fever and death from it and the great burden it has caused to dwellers of Edo North and Edo Central and the fatality rate. Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi are the three high prevalence Lassa fever states in Nigeria. However, over 23 states often report at least one case during the yearly Lassa fever outbreak. Mr Eseile said he was one of the physicians in charge of treatment and his centre operated one of the best IPC expected in such situations, as the health workers were aware of how deadly the disease is. He, however, remembered there was once a blood splash on his gear when he was transferring a patients blood sample into the test tube bottle. I did not attach much importance to it because I was well kitted. After that incident, I went down with what I thought was malaria and I was treating malaria but not getting better. At some point, my sister who I was staying with also came down with malaria with her daughter, but I never thought I could have contacted the disease, he said. Mr Eseile said it took the intervention of his colleagues to run his sample for Lassa fever. My colleagues became worried when I was not getting better and when my sister lost her pregnancy. It was when they came to take her blood sample that they forcefully took mine too. Behold, my sister and her daughter were negative while I tested positive to Lassa fever, he said. I could not believe I contacted the disease. Having been taking care of people who had the disease such as my roommate who we thought had malaria and typhoid until he was diagnosed with Lassa fever and died of the disease in 2007. Knowing the side effect of the drug, I was apprehensive. But here I am today. It is not an easy feat. There are many other survivors of the disease in Nigeria. The disease can be managed if cases are detected and treated early. The governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Alamakura, contacted the disease about 31 years ago. He is not a health worker. Mr Alamakura lost a son to the disease but he and another of his children survived it. Though they won the battle against the disease, it left on them permanent scars. I consider it a rare honour to be alive today to share how I was afflicted by Lassa fever and how I live each day with emotional and physical trauma and scars imprinted in my life and in my psyche by Lassa fever, the governor said. Mr Alamkura said he contacted the disease from his deceased son who was convulsing and he dipped his hands into his mouth to prevent it from closing. He said his two sons were earlier diagnosed with typhoid fever. They were in the hospital when on the fourth day one of them in a fit was gritting his teeth as the doctors were giving medication. Intuitively, I rushed to put my fingers in his mouth so that his teeth did not cut his tongue. In the course of that, I got bitten on one of my fingers. It was a slight cut with no much blood. I did not know that was the beginning of a story I will be telling you this afternoon, he said at the conference. He was unaware the son had Lassa fever. After he was bitten he became ill. At first, he thought it was malaria until all the drugs he took did not work. His second son who was also on admission survived but developed a profound sensory neuro defect. The Alamakuras were lucky due to the intervention of a virologist, Oyewale Tomori, who suggested they should be tested for Lassa fever. As at the time, there was no laboratory to test for the virus in Nigeria. My sample was sent to a laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. When my result came I was positive. I was later told by the doctors that my infection was as a result of the bite when my son was in a fit, he said. Due to the late diagnosis and treatment, Mr Alamakura became deaf after his treatment and is using hearing aids to date. He also lived with the same illness of sensory neurotic disorder for 20 years before help came. His situation could have been averted if there was early diagnosis and treatment. This has been affecting the fight against the disease in the country. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) attributes the high rate of mortality to late presentation and diagnosis of the disease. The Director-General of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said Nigeria can now diagnose Lassa fever early as the country now has four reference laboratories. According to an epidemiological report of the NCDC, Nigeria recorded the highest number of Lassa fever cases in the history of the country in 2018. That year, 3498 suspected cases were reported from 23 states. Of these, 633 were confirmed positive, 20 probable and 2853 negative. A total of 171 deaths were recorded from the confirmed cases. This year, NCDC has declared an ongoing Lassa fever outbreak in the country. A report on the disease from NCDC shows that from January 1 to February 17, a total of 1139 suspected cases were reported from 19 states and the FCT. Of these, 355 were confirmed positive, 3 probable and 781 negative (not a case). However, 1168 suspected cases have been reported from 30 states and FCT, NCDC Chief Executive Officer, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said. The 75 deaths reported in 2019 put the case fatality ratio in confirmed cases at 21.1 per cent. Mr Ihekweazu advised health workers to always take precaution when handling patients and imbibe the best clinical precautionary guidelines. He said though there are hopes for a vaccine soon, it is still in the pipeline as none is yet to pass clinical tests. Mr Tomori, a professor of virology, lamented that 50 years after the first case of Lassa fever was discovered in Nigeria, the county is still struggling to cope with the disease. He attributed this to the carelessness and lack of political will of Nigeria leaders and academics. He said Lassa fever has been making mincemeat and sausage rolls of Nigerians because the country has refused to fund science and grow knowledge against the disease. He blamed the filth in the society as part reasons why there has been an increase in Lassa fever cases in recent years. He said the older communities picked up the infection through hunting in forests where they may have encountered the rodents. However, Lassa fever is now contracted at doorsteps in the modern communities because of the piles of food and filth which are luring rodents out of the forest. Over the years we have grown filthy as a nation. Rats are not stupid, they look for food and they come right into the master bedroom. You are killing your loved ones, your doctor is killing you and the doctor is committing suicide from utter disregard for infection prevention and control, he said. Mr Tomori said health workers and others contract the disease when handling febrile patients and loved ones. He said this is the quickest way of spreading Lassa fever. The professor of virology warned that much success would not be recorded until the country gets serious in its commitment to fighting the disease. He lamented the lack of a treatment facility in the north. He noted the government in 2002 released N100 million each for three reference centres to be situated in Irrua, Maiduguri and Owerri to help diagnosis and treatment. Out of these centres, only Irrua is fully functional and has an effective response to diagnosis and treatment in the country. That of Maiduguri never saw the light of the day. He said for Nigeria to curb the disease, it needs to take a lead and be serious about it. He said the country should stop waiting for the international community but should take responsibility for its problems. Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 381 cases in 2019 Some 381 people have been confirmed positive with Lassa fever in Nigeria as at February 24 this year. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, the country has recorded 83 deaths in confirmed cases. This brings the case fatality ratio in confirmed cases to 21.8 percent. The Director-General, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, however, said there has been a steady decline in the number of cases this year as compared to the 2018 outbreak. NACA, UNAIDs call for urgent action against discriminatory laws As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2019 Zero Discrimination Day, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has called for legal protection against HIV-related discrimination in the country. Since 2014, the Zero Discrimination Day has been celebrated annually on March 1. It is a global event that promotes diversity and recognises that everyone counts. The Director-General of the agency, Sani Aliyu, said the lack of protective law can feed stigma and discrimination. He said legal protection against HIV-related discrimination is an essential prerequisite for an effective national HIV response. Ondo records 102 Lassa fever cases, 15 deaths in two months NMA No fewer than 102 people have been confirmed positive with Lassa fever in Ondo State, in addition to 15 deaths recorded between January and February. Wale Oke, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said as at February 21, 102 people have been tested positive to Lassa fever in the state this year. He blamed the late reporting of the case as reasons for most of the deaths. He said most people who died either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and self-medication before they reported to the hospital. WHO publishes new estimate on congenital syphilis The World Health Organisation has raised concerns over the high rate of congenital syphilis which remains the second leading cause of preventable stillbirth globally, preceded only by malaria. A new estimate published by WHO show that there were around 661,000 cases of congenital syphilis in 2016, resulting in over 200,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths. The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) is pictured in Geneva [Photo Credit: VOANEWS] Syphilis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections globally, with approximately six million new cases each year. If a pregnant woman who is infected does not receive early and effective treatment, she can then transmit the infection to her unborn infant. This is known as congenital syphilis, which is often fatal. It can also cause low birth weight, prematurity, and other congenital deformities. How community informants help improve polio surveillance WHO The engagement of community informants for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance has yielded a positive result in Borno State, the World Health Organisation Nigeria office has said. The global health agency said 17 AFP cases were reported in the state in 2019. WHO said the involvement of community informants has significantly strengthened the disease surveillance capacity in key areas of the state, including hard-to-reach areas. It said the engagement and training of local residents to help support diseases surveillance in the hard to reach areas became necessary as surveillance officers cannot access certain areas. Reports of Lassa fever at Asokoro hospital not true NCDC The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday said there is no suspected Lassa fever case in the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja. The Director-General of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, urged Nigerians to disregard the report circulating on the social media claiming there was a suspected case of the disease at the hospital. Mr Ihekweazu said the report is untrue and baseless. He said there was no confirmed Lassa fever case in the FCT since February 2019. ICRC to concession Nigerias medical warehouse facilities The Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Chidi Izuwah, said that plans to concession the medical warehouse facilities in Abuja and Lagos had reached advanced stage. The warehouse is a medical facility that safely stores lifesaving medicines needed in the country. It was constructed by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health. The two warehouses located in Lagos and Abuja are prefabricated and identical, with a combined total 6,530m2 of floor space and the capacity to hold 7,680 pallet spaces, and cost 5.1 million dollars (N1.56 billion). Open defecation, major cause of diseases Medical Expert A medical practitioner, Towoju Olumuyiwa, has advised Nigerians to adopt good hygiene and stop open defecation. Mr Olumuyiwa said the bad habits are the major cause of many waterborne, foodborne and environmental diseases in the country. He said open defecation has become a worrisome practice in Nigeria as this gives room to the spread of diseases. This could lead to outbreak of diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and dysentery. Damaged Ebola treatment facilities in the DRC The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over the recent attack on two Ebola treatment centres run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) at the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The treatment centres located in Katwa and Butembo were attacked February 24 and 27 respectively. WHO while condemning the attack said the health agency and partners were working to ensure the safety of the patients and staff. WHO said these attacks occurred in areas with ongoing transmission of Ebola and could lead to increases in transmission and result in more hardship for the local community. The violence and disruption to the treatment centres also make it difficult for Ebola responders to carry out fieldwork. The Ondo State Government says it spends about N1.6 million to treat each patient affected with Lassa fever in the state. According to government record, a total of 115 persons were infected with the disease in the state between January and February 2019. Another 21 died from the disease within the period. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, the Commissioner for Health in Ondo State, Wahab Adegbenro, said the disease was costing the government between N1.5 million and N1.6 million to successfully treat a Lassa fever patient. Mr Adebgenro, however, could not give the exact number of those treated so far and those currently under treatment. He said the government was fully responsible for the treatment of the disease and had currently treated a large number of those affected. According to him, the most affected areas were Owo, Ose and Akoko North, particularly towns bordering Edo State, although cases were reported in Akure South and Akure North local governments of the state. The recent outbreak began in Edo and because we share boundary with Edo State, those areas were affected, Mr Adebgbenro said. It appears as if Edo and Ondo are having the largest share of the attack, even though we have the Irua Specialist Hospital designated as the centre where the issue would be handled. Although the commissioner noted that the situation was under control, he lamented that the greatest challenge is that posed by the behavioural disposition of the people in terms of hygiene and environmental sanitation. The problem we have right now is the attitude of the people, the media especially should assist in this area in enlightening the people, he said. The environment is usually dirty and rodents carrying the virus use this medium to infect residents. Those people who are sun-drying their garri are also prone to be infected because the rodents walk over the garri and defecate on it and thereby transmitting the virus when it is eaten. Again, people using rat killers should not use their bare hands to handle the dead rat because the virus could also be transmitted through contact with it. The commissioner also noted that the government had started evacuating refuse dumps from the affected communities. He pleaded that the people should not return to the dump refuse at the evacuated sites. He said the task force he heads had been set up by the governor of the state and efforts have been made in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to stem the tide. As I speak to you, the situation is under control and we are doing a number of things to ensure the disease do not spread any further, he added. Earlier, the Nigerian Medical Association in Ondo State said most of the people who died of the disease either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and doing self-medication before they eventually came to hospital. The Chairman of the association, Wale Oke, said those who died had their kidneys and livers already affected by the disease as a result of the delay. Mr Oke, who works at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, urged residents of the state to report early to the medical centre if they experience high temperature in their bodies. He, however, noted that the FMC had the highest success rate out of the three centres for Lassa fever treatment in Nigeria. We have contact tracing mechanism whereby we can place on surveillance for 21 days those that may have contact with an infected person, he said. We continue to monitor their temperature if it is above 37.8 and ask them quick for treatment. Since the outbreak of Lassa fever, we have been moving round all the health facilities to sensitise our people on the need to maintain universal caution and also to be vigilant. At least 75 deaths have been recorded from Lassa fever across Nigeria since the start of the year, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Six people have been reportedly killed by unknown gunmen while eight others sustained gunshot injuries at Sabon Sara, near Kidandan village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. An investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the hoodlums attacked the village at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning in an attempt to kidnap one Alhaji Nasidi, a large scale farmer in the area. An eyewitness, who pleaded for anonymity, said the gunmen who stormed the village in large numbers were unable to kidnap the farmer. Instead, they whisked his wife away. The source added that the villagers mobilised themselves and chased the gunmen and eventually retrieved the woman from captivity. In an attempt to rescue the woman, the bandits opened fire on us killing six persons while eight other people among us escaped with gunshot wounds. The deceased have been buried according to Islamic rites in the presence of Giwa Local Govt Chairman, Engr. Abubakar Shehu Lawal Giwa and the Council Secretary, Alhaji Usman Ismail. While the eight injured persons were rushed to Kauran Wali Clinic in Zaria for medical attention, the source said. When NAN checked the Kauran Wali Clinic located on Gaskiya Junction, some of the victims were on a drip. However, it seemed that the necessary urgent medical attention was not actually given to their case. One of the victims was discharged on the grounds that his multiple injuries needed to be taken care of in a traditional manner. NAN got some names of the deceased to include; Ibrahim Bakanike, Lawal S/pawa, Lawal Belo, Tukur Kafinta and Ummaru Mai Rake while one Fatima Ahmad died as a result of high blood pressure. Those with gunshot injuries are Abdullahi Umar, Aminu Yau, Rabilu Isa, Salisu Usman, Sabiu Yau, Muhammad Musa, Ibrahim Sani and Sani Ahmad Buzu while another victim, Yahuza Tukur was hospitalised because of high blood pressure. All efforts to get reactions of the police proved as the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, Yakubu Sabo, refused to respond to several phone calls. He, however, in a text message, promised to get back to the reporter later. When contacted on his mobile phone, the Council Secretary, Usman Ismail, confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the community to remain calm. While urging them to pray to Almighty Allah to forgive those that lost their lives and seek a quick recovery of the injured, the secretary assured that the council was doing everything possible to ensure the security of lives and property of its residents. (NAN) Women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes. Nigerian women signalled their intention to make their voices heard in this election, accounting for about 47.14 per cent (39,598,645 million) of the 84,004.084 million registered voters nationwide. While the data on collected PVCs for the 2019 elections do not break down by sex, available 2015 presidential election voter turnout data shows that housewives were the third highest group out of the nine groups that voted. In 2015, three million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, and seventy-six (3,667,076) housewives voted in the presidential election, placing next to students (4,480,708) and civil servants (4,628,433). Similarly, housewives rank third on the list of registered voters by group in the 2019 election. They represent 14.10 per cent of the total registered voters by group, next to farmers/fishers (16.23 per cent) and students (26.57 per cent). This figure does not include the millions of women across the various other groups. What issues drive these women to vote? More to the point, how or who did Nigerian women vote in this election? Womens concerns are typically regarded as non-consequential to party and electoral politics. The 2019 elections did not deviate from this tendency. The public discourse excluded serious and sustained engagement of womens issues on both the national and state platforms save for the typical passing promise to take care of our women by politicians and their agents during campaigns. For the most part, spouses of presidential and gubernatorial candidates are left with the responsibility of reaching out to the women, a task considered non-critical to campaign success. One is left wondering how parties that are ever chasing after votes could be so dismissive of women with millions of potential votes and who are steadily increasing their share of the electoral map. The increase in voter registration has been attributed to the youth bulge, although said bulge hardly explains increased registration among other groups like fishers and farmers. Nevertheless, the youth bulge means that the population of young women, aged 18-35, has and continues to increase. This has implications for political parties outreach to women as these young womens needs and interests differ from those of women in older age brackets. Political parties, therefore, have to be intentional in their messaging to these young women. For example, young women bloggers and social media influencers expressed their strong displeasure at what they felt was a collective disrespect of women and played a key role in driving the social media condemnation that ensued over the notorious put-down of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, by her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the world watched. This incident seemed to cement the disconnect between that age demographic and the conservative president, casting doubt on their support for him. President Muhammadu Buhari Women recognise that parties are often the strongest obstacle they face to gaining access to political power. They have, therefore, invested much energy and efforts into trying to get party leaders to give consideration and concessions to women in the processes and structures of party politics. For example, women members of the All Peoples Congress (APC) have expressed their displeasure and disappointment with the APC leaderships lack of gender-sensitivity. Women were not given any concession in the cost of nomination forms, a whopping N45 million for presidential aspirants, N22.5 million for governorship aspirants, N7 million for Senate and N3 million for House of Representatives, effectively barring the majority of women from entering the contests. The PDP, on the other hand, conceded a 50 per cent reduction in the cost of nomination form to women across the board. Additionally, the President of the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), the umbrella body for all women association in Nigeria, Gloria Shoda, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Womens Trust Fund (NWTF), Mufuliat Fijabi, have both at several times in the course of the political campaigns leading up to the 2019 election expressed their exasperation with President Buharis government for sidelining women in elective and appointive positions and demanded immediate redress. They went as far as conditioning their re-election support of the president on their demands for womens increased inclusion. They specifically demanded that the three ministerial positions vacated by women for several reasons be filled with women. As at election time, only one out of the three positions (the Ministry of Finance) was occupied by a woman Zainab Ahmed, who is acting finance minister. If one were to go by the terms of womens request, one can only conclude that the majority of womens votes may not have gone to APCs Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku Abubakar Based on the foregoing analysis, APC was less likely to have gotten the womens vote. Does it, therefore, mean that PDP was better placed to mop up womens vote? To solve for this unknown, lets perhaps start with the known variables. The wives of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, led by Jennifer Abubakar, conducted various media-covered events aimed at mobilising the women. Secondly, Atiku Abubakar does not have the disadvantage that incumbency imposes, which is the displeasure of dissatisfied (women) electorates, as is the case with Muhammadu Buharis re-election. Women have no basis upon which to hold Atiku Abubakar accountable. The most scrutiny he was subject to was from some progressive womens groups that questioned whether he is a potential ally for gender equality and womens empowerment based on the public details of his personal life. FILE: PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubaka (2nd right); his wife, Jennifer Atiku (3rd right); PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi (left); Mrs. Margeret Obi (middle); PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (right); Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeaniy Okowa (2nd left) and his wife, Dame Edith Okowa, during PDP National Presidential Campaign in Asaba, Delta State. PIX JIBUNOR SAMUEL. But the key question remains: Is there in fact, such a thing as the womens vote in Nigeria? Have Nigerian womens movements and organizations achieved the cross-mobilisation that allows for a bloc vote to form among/across the womens groups? While the president of the NCWS and other women party leaders have severally enjoined women to vote as one, vote their own (fellow women candidates) and vote women-friendly candidates, there is little evidence that Nigerian women vote as an organised constituency. Additionally, the proliferation of political parties in this election cycle seems to have further fragmented the womens vote as these new and smaller parties reduced the entry cost for women giving them a platform for increased participation. For example, Oby Ezekwesili represented a new horizon for many of these young women until her sudden withdrawal from the contest. The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili in Premium Times office. From the foregoing, one can reasonably conclude that women vote in similar ways as their male counterparts, focusing on issues such as the economy, corruption and insecurity. It is clear that personality politics framed by ethno-religious and regional considerations remain key drivers of electoral behaviour in both men and women across the country. This, of course, is not to paint the entire women electorate with one broad stroke. Some women and women groups cast their votes based on their assessment of the candidates that will best attend to their concerns. For example, members of some women and feminist organisations tend to vote a candidate whom they believe will be most sympathetic to the gender equality agenda with the possibilities of passing women-friendly laws like Womens Land Rights and Property Inheritance Laws. All said, the indicators are not strong enough to support a prediction of who got the womens vote between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. Making a definitive prediction is made even more problematic by the absence of gender-disaggregated voter data for previous elections. Nevertheless, the variables seem to suggest that Atiku Abubakar may have had a slight advantage over President Muhammadu Buhari for the reasons detailed above. But importantly, if one has learnt anything from following Nigerian politics, it is that alliances are flimsy, and citizens vote against their best interests to undercut perceived competitors. While the intention is not to hedge, it is equally judicious to surmise that the jury is still out on whether President Muhammadu Buhari or Atiku Abubakar carried the women vote in this election. One thing that remains indubitable, however, is the fact that women are making it increasingly clear that continuing to disregard or underestimate their vote could be the difference between a win or loss for political parties in future elections. Dr Chiedo Nwankwor teaches African Politics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, D.C. Her research interests focus on Gender Studies and Identity Politics in Africa. The first part of the 2019 general elections held last week as Nigerians trooped out to vote their presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates across the country. The second part of the election, in which Nigerians are expected to vote their governorship and states Houses of Assembly candidates, is scheduled for next week. The next electoral contest scheduled for March 9 would bring to an end several months of intrigues, name-calling, propaganda, networking and alliance formation across party lines. Politicians on their part adopted different slogans, slangs and street lingo to connect with the people and canvass support. These electioneering activities have informed as much as they have entertained Nigerians. Many Nigerians would not forget in a hurry some of the powerful imageries that characterised electioneering and party politics in this election. PREMIUM TIMES highlights some of the dominant imageries: 1. O to ge The O to ge (meaning Enough Is Enough) campaign mantra is by far the most potent political mantra in the 2019 general election. Adopted by Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its campaign catchphrase, the slogan is largely believed to have contributed to the fall of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his allies in the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although there are conflicting accounts of how the O to ge mantra was birthed in Kwara, the dominant narrative is that it was coined by Islamic gospel artiste, Ibrahim Labaeka. Mr Labaeka, a member of the Islamic Musicians Association of Nigeria (ISMAN), is a popular Ilorin artiste whose musical works was used to rally voters toward the anti-Saraki cause in Kwara. In Ilorin, the chant of O to ge is often followed by Lilo le e lo, meaning We will ensure you are chased away. Aside that the campaign slogan led to the fall of Mr Saraki, it also swept away all PDP aspirants across Kwara State. It has since taken a life of its own outside Kwara and now being adopted by people in other states, including Lagos. 2. 4 plus 4 NextLevel While O to ge is a campaign slogan rendered by words of mouth, the 4 plus 4 is a non-verbal use of sign language. Its essentially meant to convey the desire to support President Muhammadu Buharis re-election bid in 2019. The sign is done by spreading ones two hands apart, with all of ones fingers but the thumb raised while displaying both hands. The two separate four fingers displayed conspicuously are representative of each of the four-year periods of the two terms the Nigerian constitution stipulates for the president. Babayo Gamawa (Far left) with President Buhari and others. Mr Buhari himself popularized the sign last year when he appeared before the National Assembly to present the 2019 budget. The sign was however trailed by controversies as some Nigerians, among them opposition leaders, suggested that the sign was occultic, a charge many pro-Buhari commentators promptly dismissed. The 4 plus 4 campaign sign goes hand in hand with occasional chant of NextLevel among Mr Buharis supporters. NextLevel is the campaign roadmap of the ruling APC, launched in November 2018. With the victory of Mr Buhari in penultimate Saturdays election, it is safe to consider the sign as one of the most potent of the election season. 3. #TakeItBack One election slogan that would not be forgotten easily by Nigerians, especially those of the younger generation, is #TakeItBack. It was popularised by publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore. Mr Sowore contested for the presidency on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC) after he emerged the partys candidate unchallenged on October 6, 2018, at the AACs national convention. The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore,.[PHOTO CREDIT: Official Instagram account of Sowore] Mr Sowore, a reknown activist, is the convener of #TakeItBack movement, with the core philosophy of taking the nation back from those who plunder its resources. Mr Sowore lost the presidential election to APCs Muhammadu Buhari. 4. Atikulated Shortly after former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged candidate of the opposition PDP at its convention in PortHarcourt in 2018, the internet was awash with posts and comments expressing support for his candidature. Across Cyber Nigeria, especially on Twitter, the hashtag #Atikulate was projected to campaign for the PDP flagbearer and wish him well. PDPs Atiku Abubakar campaigns in Yola, Adamawa State. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official twitter handle of Atiku] A subtle campaign message was also launched to show that Mr Abubakar was more articulate and has better grasp of the issues plaguing Nigerian than his major challengers, especially Mr Buhari of the APC. It was not surprising to hear Nigerians say that they are #Atiku-lated, in reference to throwing their support for Mr Abubakar, widely known among Nigerians as Atiku. 5. Obidiently Used alongside the #Atikulated slogan is #Obi-diently. When paired together, it was said as Obidiently Atikulated. It was a campaign catchphrase coined with the name of Mr Abubakars running mate and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi. With the uncertainty that clouded the security situation in the South East, the slogan was also used to encourage voters in the region to come out and cast their votes. 6. Ortomatic Another campaign catchphrase that was popular in the 2019 electioneering is #Ortomatic, popularized by supporters of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom. Mr Ortom defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress into the PDP in 2018. This was at the height of the herdsmen-farmers clash that claimed numerous lives in Benue and other parts of the country. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state. Upon his defection, some old-time PDP members ruled out possibility of the party granting the governor automatic ticket. But supporters of the governor dismissed the charge and drummed support for him. Mr later would later emerge the partys flagbearer and his campaign supporters promptly adopted the Ortomatic mantra, perhaps to affirm that the governors re-election bid would be seamless. 7. O tun ya When the O to ge mantra began in Kwara, it was not given much attention by the PDP. But when it got to its crescendo, with youths and non-partisan adults willingly popularising it, the PDP promptly coined its own slogan to dilute the popularity of the APCs catchphrase. Since they were canvasing for continuity, they adopted O tun ya, meaning Lets do it once again. But as events would show, the O tun ya mantra did little to save the party from the impending tsunami as all of its candidates in Kwara lost the election. It however remains unknown whether the party would bounce back in the forthcoming governorship election on Saturday. 8. O Penkele Adegoke Adelabu, the late Ibadan politician, popularized the catchphrase peculiar mess which his supporters in Ibadan corrupted as Penkelemesi. Decades after his death, Bayo Adelabu, a scion of the Adelabu family, has resurrected the catchphrase, adopting it as campaign slogan. O Penkele is the refrain of his supporters whenever issues of electioneering and Oyo State 2019 governorship election are raised. 9. OtogeLagos Shortly after the fall of Senate President Bukola Saraki in Kwara, which signaled the success of the O to ge movement, some opposition elements in Lagos politics adopted the slogan and launched what they called OtogeLagos. The new movement was apparently opposed to the political dynasty of Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress. Mr Tinubu is believed to wield enormous influence in the politics of who becomes Lagos governor and he is instrumental to the ouster of incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode and emergence of Babajide Sanwo-olu as APC flagbearer. OtogeLagos has also been linked to the PDP candidate in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje. It however has been criticised has being unoriginal and untimely, apart from being championed mostly by people from a section of the country. Since its birth, the politics of Lagos has once again taken an ethnic dimension, resulting in name-calling, squabbles and tension among Lagos residents of different ethnic identities, especially on the internet. 10. Sanwo-Eko Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Photo Credit: Twitter handle) Sanwo-Eko is the adopted campaign slogan of Mr Sanwo-Olu, APC flagbearer in Lagos. It was popularised during the party primaries last year and has since been adopted by his supporters and other party chieftains. Sometimes, supporters of Mr Sanwo-Olu adopt an abridged version of the slogan, Sanwo-e! 11. Omi Tuntun PDP governorship flagbearer in Oyo State Seyi Makinde has been a household name in Oyo politics. But he has tried to distinguish himself by identifying as being of the new breed. Hence, the adoption of the name Omi Tuntunmeaning a breath of fresh air. Although the campaign slogan is not relatively new to Oyo people, it has generated considerable interest in the last few months, placing Mr Makinde among the major contenders for the governorship seat. In 2015, when he contested on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Makinde adopted same slogan. He is now widely considered a major contender in the election. 12. Ambo! Until his governorship ambition hit a brickwall, Ambo was the campaign catchphrase of Akinwumi Ambode, the outgoing governor of Lagos State. Mr Ambode met his waterloo when the APC members in Lagos adopted Mr Sanwo-Olu as their flagbearer in the party primaries held last year. Before then, the slogan had generated interest among supporters of Mr Ambode in the party, especially in Epe, his hometown. Ambo is a Yoruba word which means We are coming. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; casts his vote during the Presidential and NASS Elections at Ward A5 Polling Unit 033, Ogunmodede College, Papa, Epe, on Saturday, February 23, 2019. On occasions when the governors supporters had the luxury of time or space, it was spelt in full as Ambo lekan simeaning We are coming one more timeto popularize the reelection bid of the governor. It was however cut short by Lagos APC members who denied the governor a return ticket. 13. #GrowNigeria In the days before the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential flagbearer, a campaign slogan popularized on Twitter was #GrowNigeria. It was birthed by handlers of Senate President Bukola Saraki. In his movements across Nigeria, Mr Saraki said at the time that he was spreading the message of how to #GrowNigeria. Every campaign message on the internet, especially Twitter, at the time contained the #GrowNigeria hashtag. Mr Saraki would later lose the ticket to Mr Abubakar and returned to pick the senatorial ticket in his native Kwara State, where he lost penultimate Saturday. For children in Ola Oluwa/Ope Ilu community, access to affordable, basic education meant an over one-kilometre journey, usually on foot, across busy highways and a rail line that straddles Lagos and Ogun states. In 2003, the community which is situated along the Dalemo/Alakuko road in Ogun State decided to take a bold step: they successfully negotiated, with the authorities, for the establishment within the community an annexe of one of the government-owned primary schools. But 15 years later, Zion Africa School Annexe has continued to struggle with basic amenities, a dearth of teachers, and staff remuneration. The government inspectors have been coming to the school and we have been asking when the government will come and make the school better and bring more teachers, said the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association who identified himself simply as Engineer Awe. They keep telling us the same thing they told us last year when they came, that until we finish the school and make it finer before government will come and open the school, take over from us, and bring more government teachers. But finishing the school remains a tall order for a community where parents struggle to pay the 2,000 school fees per child. Mr Awe said when the school was founded, it began in an uncompleted building volunteered by a community member, for use until he decides to continue construction. When he told us he would be continuing his building, we had to move out, said Mr Awe, an octogenarian. That was when the community raised money to buy this small land for the school. We also helped them raise money to add to what is left of the school fees they pay after we must have paid the government to build the little thing you see here. Poor remuneration Zion School Africa Annex provides education to, at least 100 pupils in Ope Ilu community. One of the biggest challenges for the school, however, has remained the dearth of teachers. While the local government provided only one teacher for the school, three others are employed and paid by the community. Zion Africa school annex full length of class room block for all students PREMIUM TIMES learnt that out of the 2,000 school fees by each pupil, 1,200 is remitted to the Education Board at the local government headquarters in Ifo, while the remaining 800 is for the remuneration of the three teachers employed by the community. Zion Africa school annex class cross section view The highest paid teacher gets 12,000 monthly. Victoria Obolo, the only government teacher in the school, told PREMIUM TIMES that due to the location of the school, it is difficult for government teachers to stay for a long time. And, also, they are always transferring us, said Ms Obolo, who has served as the head teacher of the school for three years. At some point, the government had once brought two teachers to this school, an assistant headteacher and another teacher but for some time now it has only been one teacher. The person that was here before me spent like five years here and he was the only government teacher too. Ms Obolo said the 1,200 per pupil the school remits to the local government every term is used to provide a register for the school as well as exam questions for the pupils at their end of term examination. The poor remuneration means that the community is unable to afford certified teachers with higher education for the pupils, according to Mr Awe. We have little money left from the school fees and we still have to beg the community development association, Ola Oluwa community development association to help us with contributions to be able to pay teachers, he said. Zion Africa school main school side view Zion Africa school main school So we thought of hiring students who just left secondary school. That way we can pay them between 6,000 10,000 naira per month. Since government has refused to take full responsibility for 15 years now and send more teachers, there is nothing we can do about it, we can only try our best as PTA. A teacher in the school, identified as Ms Jennifer, told PREMIUM TIMES she had been in the school for 10 years and her salary is 12,000, the highest she has ever earned. We are always asking them to increase our salary because we teach all the subjects for a class but they keep saying there is no money to do that and there is nothing we can do, we just have to keep pushing it. About five kilometres from the annexe stands the main Zion Africa School, located at Oju Irin in Ope-Ilu area of Alakuko, Ogun State, where three dilapidated blocks of classrooms sit in a large, unfenced compound. The principal, identified as Mrs Ozueme, declined to say much, saying she needs a letter of authorisation from the Ministry of Education before she could speak. We are very much aware that we have an annexe in that area (Ola Oluwa community) because they get their materials ranging from registers to exam question papers. I dont know how many pupils are there, you will have to ask them, she said. At the Education Board situated inside the Ifo local government secretariat, officials admitted the existence of the Zion Africa School Annex at Ola Oluwa but said it has not been officially recognised yet. We know that Zion Africa School at Ope-Ilu has an annexe but until the annexe attains government approval standards and government take over and make them a standalone school, we dont know anything about them because as far as we are concerned, they dont exist, an official added, asking not to be named. The official refused to say why they collect 1,200 per child every term from the school or where the money is going to. Expensive school fees Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals targets Quality education as the foundation to creating sustainable development. In addition to improving quality of life, access to inclusive education can help equip locals with the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the worlds greatest problems. But access to quality education does not come cheap. In the Zion Africa School Annex in Ola Oluwa community where each pupil pays 2,000 per term to keep them in school, the parents struggle to meet the condition. Some pupils at the annex A cursory look at the schools payment records by PREMIUM TIMES showed that nearly all the parents pay their childrens school fees in instalments of 100, 200, and 500. Although the parents are allowed to pay in such instalments, Mayowa Ajubares three kids were forced to spend one academic year at home because she could not afford the fees. I couldnt pay the school fees for one year and the school had to chase them away and I had no other option than to keep them at home, said Mrs Ajubare, a widow. One of them is in Primary 6, another is in Primary 4 and the last born is in Primary 1. It was a kind neighbour, Mummy Tobi, that noticed that they were no longer going to school and asked me what the problem was. I told her everything and she went to the school and paid all the money and their current school fees, if not they would have stopped going to even that school. Mrs Ajubare, who sells handmade purses and bags, said her children were attending private schools but they had to withdraw them when the fees became a burden for them. Zion Africa school annex full front view of building And when she lost her husband in 2012, things got worse. With the proceeds from her business, she takes care of her three kids, sister, and mother. After the death of my husband, paying the school fees at the annexe has not been easy at all, she said. When I started taking my children to the school, the school fees was 800 but it kept increasing and now it is 2,000. Trying to pay their school fees after all these is not easy at all. Most of the purse I sell are bought for 150-200. Despite having my children hawk them every day after school, we barely make enough to survive on talk less of paying school fees. Sometimes they wont even make one single sale despite everything. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has provided more information on how prayers by Enoch Adeboye may have saved his life in a recent helicopter crash. Mr Osinbajo spoke on Saturday at the 35th anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Service, which marked Mr Adeboyes 77th birthday anniversary. Mr Osinbajo revealed details of the prayers he received at the Redemption Camp from Mr Adeboye, the general overseer of the church, hours before the helicopter crash he and 11 others survived in Kabba, Kogi State. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the private helicopter crashed on February 2. The vice president was among the people who testified to the goodness of God during the service. The cameras picked him as he walked from his seat towards the congregation, a broad smile on his face. I am Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 48 of RCCG, he began as the congregation cheered excitedly. I thank God for the salvation of my soul. Two testimonies: The first is that on February 2nd, I came late for the Holy Ghost Service. After the service, I went to see Daddy in his office and he said he wanted to pray for me. My wife, Dolly, and I knelt down as he prayed, Father, I want you to give special protection to your son. He prayed that three times and stopped. Then he prayed it again. I was getting worried about why he had to pray that way. But anyway, later that day the helicopter I was travelling in crashed in Kabba. All 12 of us in the helicopter survived without a scratch. I want to bless the name of the Lord for that. My second testimony is that on February 23, I was re-elected with President Buhari, for a second term as Vice President and I want to praise the Lord. Praise Jesus. Who did it? Jesus! The congregation roared. The wife of the general overseer, Folu Adeboye, had earlier offered her usual prayers for all nations, during which she specifically thanked God for the largely peaceful presidential and National Assembly elections. Swimming in Glory Preaching a sermon with the theme Swimming in Glory 3, later, Mr Adeboye dwelt on the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5: 25-34 to show how God changes situations for good. He highlighted five takeaways from the text by tracking the womans action from the decision that she would seek a solution from Jesus to the 12-year ordeal, through the self-assurance that she could; and the determination that nothing, not even the crowd around Jesus and their possible hostility towards her, would stop her. She braced all odds to touch the hem of Jesus garment in a way that made him feel that some virtue had left him. Those were days when Jesus lived physically among us, said Mr Adeboye who explained that it is still possible to touch God through Jesus. Citing biblical evidence and testimonies, he listed three ways God can be touched as faith, prayers and giving. Touching God By Faith He said demonstration of faith touches God. In a testimony, he recalled that soon after assuming the position of general overseer, he embarked on visits to the various parishes of the church. There were only 40 parishes then. A woman who was desperately looking for the fruit of the womb missed his team at the only parish in Alagbado in Lagos then and broke down hysterically. God, now I know you dont want me to have a child. I didnt say I wanted this man to pray for me, I just wanted to see him and now he has come and has gone. It means you dont want me to have a child, he remembered her as saying. But a member of the church told her the next church the team was to visit. With her hope renewed, she left. The following day, she went to that church we were to visit first thing in the morning, and waited until we arrived. Of course, she didnt know our identities. She wasnt a member of the church but she knew that sooner or later they would introduce the special guest, the cleric said. So, she sat down and waited. When we were later introduced, and I stood up to preach, she asked someone, Is that the man? They said, Yes. She said, Glory be to God, I know I am pregnant. Nine months later, she had a baby boy. Touching God through prayers: From the bible, he gave the example of a blind man, Bartimaeus (literally Son of Timaeus), by the pool of Bethsaida, who prayed so desperately, as Jesus passed by, that he got his healing. Mr Adeboye also cited his own experience of how his prayer may have led to a tremor at the Redemption Camp, which was felt as far as in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State. His account: In those days, nobody lived at the Redemption Camp. I am sure some of the elders of the church would remember when one day an antelope bumped into our Ministers Conference. Poor animal, it ended up in the stomach of some people. Early in the morning every Tuesday, I would leave my house in Mushin for the Camp and be there until Thursday morning when I went to the Headquarters for Faith Clinic. The only other people in the Camp then were the carpenters who were working, and they would stop as soon as it is dark and retire for the day. But I wanted to seek Him; I wanted to be alone; with no noise and nothing to distract me. One night I remember that night like yesterday I prayed: Father, I surrender all; it is only you now; that is all I want. I dont want to be an ordinary pastor. Please, I am not seeking anything else. Not seeking for gold, not seeking for clothes, not seeking for fame; I want you to empower me so I can do this work. And if you are not going to do it, take me away. That day, He answered, and there was a tremor in the Camp. The tremor went as far as Ijebu Ode where pictures that hung on the wall were dropping. When you seek God with all your heart; when you seek Him in desperation, you will find Him. Touching God By Giving The cleric gave the examples of the widow who gave her mite during church offering and King Solomons sacrifice of a thousand bulls from the bible. He added the testimony of a man who offered to fund a convention of RCCG and later became so influential that he was made the chairman of the bank he used. Many people had earlier responded to the altar made by a pastor, Joe Olaiya, who delivered the second sermon. The first sermon was by Samuel Olanrewaju. Special Prayers A major part of the service came towards the end when Mr Adeboye revealed the promises of God to answer prayers. Mr Adeboye read out prayer points and asked the congregation to pray for 30 minutes. The cleric, who turned 77 on March 2, is regarded by many as a miracle himself. Said Vice President Osinbajo: For a man born to financially-challenged parents in the village of Ifewara, Osun State, who had no shoes at 18 years old, who was not a Born Again Christian until the time he was a mathematics teacher at the University of Lagos, becoming the leader of a church with a strong presence in over 198 countries (the church had only 40 parishes when he took over as General Overseer), and with over 32,000 parishes in Nigeria alone, is indeed, a miracle worth knowing. For this same man to remain infectiously humble, in spite of his enormous power, influence and popularity is also a miracle in itself. The Special Holy Ghost Service continued on Saturday with a Holy Communion and an Anointing Service; and ends Sunday with thanksgiving. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his victory in the February 23 governorship election. Mr Buhari was declared the winner in the early hours of Wednesday, beating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Abubakar has since declared his intention to challenge the election in court The northern CAN chapter in a letter to the president dated March 1, 2019, said the re-election of the president was a testimony of Mr Buharis uprightness and transparency in governance. The letter, signed by Yakubu Pam, the associations chairman, urged the president to unite the country and fight security and corruption challenges. Aware of this victory at a time the people of Nigeria are looking up to you for quality leadership, we urge you double your effort in the fight against insurgency, internal security and corruption in the country. The association called on the president to run an inclusive government as you promised under the new dispensation to unite the diverse of people of Nigeria now, more than ever before. Mr President sir, the Bible says to whom much is given, much is expected. We wish to appeal that you continue to be father to all in Nigeria as we look forward to seeing prosperous nation in the next 4 years of your second term in office, the letter partly reads. Also, the Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), has felicitated with Mr Buhari and all contestants as well as the voters that conducted themselves peacefully during the elections. The leader of JNI, Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, made the felicitation in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar, on Sunday in Kaduna. Mr Abubakar said, We are grateful to Allah for the peaceful and successful conduct of the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections as well as the subsequent declaration of the winner. However, we call on all the political contenders in Nigeria to, in the name Allah, take it easy and sheath their swords as in every contest there will always be a winner and a loser. But in this case, all the contestants are the winners, because Nigerians are now beginning to understand the dynamics of politics and democracy. Moreover, Nigerians must be in peace with one another before anybody will think of governing the entity called Nigeria, except if he/she thinks otherwise. Peace must be embraced by all as Nigeria clearly needs peace for its growth and development and considering that the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are coming up on Saturday. We use this medium to appeal to all politicians and their supporters to embrace peace and also be decorous in actions and speeches, before, during and after the elections, he added. Mr Abubakar further said that the contestants must not fuel the embers of hatred nor beat the drum of war amongst the peoples. So, restraint should be exercised as this is a crucial period for the evolutionary process of the Nigerian state. We must all be seen to be statesmen such that we will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the comity of nations. Security agencies are implored to redouble their efforts in the discharge of their constitutional responsibility especially during the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, he stated. Mr Abubakar said it was high time Nigerians did away with rancour and bitterness while sincere and concerted efforts should be put in place to address insecurity as well as bad governance in Nigeria. He called on Imams, Islamic scholars and all Muslims to fervently continue with supplications for peace and security to reign in the country. This is so because we have clearly seen its result during the just concluded 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, Mr Abubakar said. (NAN) Barely 10 days after the Yobe State Chairman of the PDP, Sani Nguru, defected to the APC, more officials of the opposition party have also defected to the governing party. Ali Makinta, former chairman and nine ward officials of PDP, have defected to APC in Machina local government on Sunday. MaiMala Buni, Yobe APC governorship candidate, who received the defectors, urged the electorate in the state to vote massively in the governorship election. Mr Buni said this would prove their resilience and justify the votes cast to President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election. There were claims by the PDP that the presidential election results were manufactured in the state. We should use this opportunity of the governorship election to defend the votes scored by the president in Yobe State, he said. Mr Makinta, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, described PDP as a dead party and had nothing to offer the state and the country. We will vote massively for APC in the governorship and state assembly election to improve the votes scored by APC in the presidential election, he said. Earlier, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, commended the electorate in the state for being resolute and politically principled. Since 1999, the people of Yobe had remained with the opposition party until 2015 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. So, the governorship and state assembly election will justify our commitment as a people, to the APC and leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, he said. Mr Lawan said Yobe was lucky to have Mr Buni as the governorship candidate, adding that he would consolidate the achievements of the Gaidam administration. We, in the National Assembly will protect the interest of the party to get what is due for the state and support President Buhari to move Nigeria to the next level, he said. (NAN) The Olofa of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II, disclosed on Sunday that his late father, Muhammed Esuwoye, forced him to contest the traditional stool of Offa town in Kwara. The monarch made the disclosure in Offa in his tribute at the eight day Fidau prayers for his father who died on February 24 at the age of 76. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate and Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun governor, attended the prayers. Monarchs including the Oluwo of Iwo land, Abdulrasheed Akanbi; Olupo of Ajase Ipo, Sikiru Atanda; the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Abdulraheem Adeoti; Elegushi of Ikate, Saheed Elegushi; among others, were also in attendance. He said You vowed to curse me if I failed to honour the call from the family to leave my business in Lagos to participate in the contest for the Olofa stool. Out of fear and respect, I honoured your call, and to the glory of Almighty Allah, I am now the 24th Olofa of Offa. My dear father, I am proud of you, even in death. You were a source of inspiration to me and the family. After the Fidau prayers led by the Chief Imam of Offa, Muyideen Salman, an Islamic cleric, Saidi Hussaini, gave an exhortation. He focused on inevitability of death, life after death and the need to impact positively on people while alive. The cleric, who used Olofa as example, underscored the need for people, especially the privileged to impact positively on their parents, family, community and the poor in general. Speaking with journalists after the event, the Information and Culture Minister said the array of personalities at the event was suggestive of the influence of the Olofa. The minister said he was particularly touched by the humbling sermon of the cleric which focused on life after death and the need to prepare for the journey and make amend when alive. The deceased, born in 1933, was a grand son of the 19th Olofa of Offa, Oba Esuwoye I. (NAN) Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has called for the opening of a permanent military base in Kawaye general area in Anka Local Government to curb incessant banditry in the locality. The governor made the call on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the community over the killing of 13 persons and abduction of 60 villagers by armed bandits on Tuesday. Mr Yari said the deployment of troops to the general area would help in confronting the security challenges facing communities there, and restore their crippled economy. He assured that the government would not forgive those involved in the dastardly act and promised that they would be hunted down until peace is restored. Mr Yari said: The state government will do everything possible to bring such people to justice. What I saw in these communities is a serious crime to the economy and an attempt to instigate citizens against the government. Knowing that one of the primary responsibilities of every government is to protect lives and property, by their act they are trying to show the government is not capable. Nigeria and the Nigerian Army are stronger than any criminal group and since they do not want us to live in peace, they will not be spared. Earlier, the Emir of Anka, Attahiru Ahmed, thanked the governor for the condolence visit and efforts being made in handling the security challenges in the area. He also called for massive deployment of security personnel to the area, adding that Kawaye general area was strategic in tackling banditry in the state. The emir called on communities to complement government efforts by providing useful information on the movement of the bandits to security agencies. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bandits, who attacked the village at about 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, killed 13, burnt vehicles, shops and houses before abducting over 60 people, including the village head. However, 19 of those abducted had returned home, leaving over 40, mostly women, in the hands of the abductors. (NAN) A former Managing Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Sidi, has dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State. Mr Sidi was defeated by Isah Ashiru at the PDP governorship primaries in December. He returned third in the contest, behind Sule Hunkuyi, a senator, who came second. Mr Sidis decision was disclosed in a statement on Saturday signed by a former Kaduna State government spokesperson, Ahmed Maiyaki, who is Mr Sidis spokesperson. Mr Maiyaki on Saturday also dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He said the former NEMA boss, his political associates and several other chieftains of the PDP across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State have resigned their membership of the opposition party. According to the statement, Mr Sidi has returned his membership card to his Unguwar Sarki ward of the PDP. Since the partys primaries held last year, characterised by manipulations, impunity, lack of internal democracy and intimidations of party delegates, the partys leadership at the state or the candidate has failed to genuinely engage all aspirants towards consultation and genuine reconciliation, an important task that would have helped the party forge ahead, Mr Sidi was quoted as saying. Even more worrisome is the mutual mistrust that exist between the party leadership, the gubernatorial candidate and some of its members and above all the failure to showcase any meaningful blueprint and capacity on how to govern the state when voted into power. It is based on these reasons and after due consultation with my political associates across the 23 local government areas, l decided to resign my membership of the party henceforth. And l thank you most sincerely for your support while in the party. Prominent politicians and associates of Mr Sidi from across the state also resigned their membership of the PDP. They include a former Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Peter Adada; a former Council Chairman of Kaduna LGA and state Commissioner of Information, Rabiu Bako; a former State Secretary of the PDP, Kabiru Ballah; and a former member of KSHA, Sani Shahada. Also moving with Mr Sidi are Nasiru Damau, a former Council Chairman of Kubau LGA and Commissioner of LGA; Aliyu Kura, a former Council Chairman of Lere LGA; and Sadiq Hunkuyi, former Council Chairman of Kudan LGA. According to Mr Maiyaki, Mr Sidi is set to join the APC. In his reaction, Umar Mohammed, a PDP chieftain in Kaduna, told PREMIUM TIMES that the party was not disturbed by this move. We know that these people will decamp. We are only waiting for their pronouncement. They are of no value to the PDP. They were dealt with at primaries and since then they started planning for this day. We are not surprised. They should go and we wish them well. They should know that Isah Ashiru will win Kaduna come March, 9. Ahead of the March 9 governorship election, the major political parties in Oyo State have formed alliances toward winning the election and forming a coalition government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alliances which commenced in the last 72 hours had begun to yield fruits for some political parties in the state. A former governor in the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and his party, ADP, has sealed an alliance with the APC and would be supporting Adebayo Adelabu, the APC governorship candidate. Some opposition parties in the statePDP, SDP, ZLP, ADCwere also in coalition talks toward picking a consensus candidate ahead of the governorship election. Wale Ohu, the Director-General, Akala Campaign Organisation, told NAN on Saturday night, that the former governors campaign team in ADP had aligned with the APC in the state. He said that Mr Adelabus chances of winning the governorship election were very bright with the alliance, describing the coalition by other political parties in the state as meaningless. Adelabus chances are bright in as much as the Akala Campaign Organisation and the ADP have sealed alliance to support him in the governorship election. If you look at the result of the last election in the state, you will realise that all the APC needed was to have a formidable alliance with us. Now that we have sealed the alliance, the APC is sure of victory, he said. The ADP chieftain said that a combination of APCs nine elected representatives with one from the ADP was enough to bring the victory. Mr Ohu added that the voting strength of Ogbomoso would also be a plus for the victory of APC in the state. The opposition parties that adopted Seyi Makinde, the governorship candidate of PDP as their consensus candidate, announced this at the Bodija residence of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja on Saturday. Bolaji Ayorinde, the SDP governorship candidate, told journalists after the meeting that they had all adopted Makinde as their consensus candidate to slug it out with Adelabu of APC. Seyi Makinde Mr Ayorinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that other opposition parties in the state would join the coalition aimed at forming a government of unity. He said that the decision was an open book for other parties to key in after concluding their various meetings with their caucuses and stakeholders. Mr Ayorinde had on Friday told journalists that a document had been prepared for stakeholders to peruse and sign, saying all grey areas had been sorted out between the stakeholders in the meeting. With the development, as you can see, Engineer Seyi Makinde is here, smiling, I am here and I am smiling, some of our other colleagues are possibly still with their caucuses and I believe they are also smiling. The outcome of our meeting is we are moving forward. We in the SDP have resolved to work with the PDP in Oyo State. We shall be supporting Makinde for governor. The parties remain the same and the party they are. But for the governorship election on the 9th of March, Saturday next week, we have all resolved to work for the candidate of PDP. By now, If I say we are five, by the time we finish talking to you, we may be seven, we may be eight. Every minute, we have been talking on how to come together as a government of unity in Oyo state. It is an open book, we are expecting more and more people to join, he said. Mr Makinde, on his part, expressed optimism that the people of the state would vote for him as the next governor of the state. Like the learned silk mentioned, its an open book, people are free to plug in. SDP, AD have declared before now. You can hear the governorship candidate of the SDP declaring support for us and for unity government in Oyo State. We understand the ADC and ZLP are currently meeting with their caucuses. Its an open book, maybe tomorrow, maybe a day before election, they could also plug in. We leave everything open for now, he said. Mr Makinde while speaking on Alao-Akalas alliance with the APC, said the former governor was very free to make his choice. Its a free world and I believe this election is about godfathers versus the masses. And I can tell you clearly that the masses will prevail, he said. (NAN) The Ondo State Police Command has said it is investigating reports of violent attacks on the candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the House of Assembly elections (Akure South constituency II), Ebenezer Adeniyan, during his campaign outing in Akure on Friday. Suspected political thugs, who were armed and masked, reportedly disrupted the campaign of Mr Adeniyan with gunshots, causing panic as people scampered for safety. They also damaged vehicles used for the campaigns. There have been series of skirmishes in the state ahead of the assembly elections coming up on Saturday. The Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the Commissioner of Police had ordered a full investigation into the matter. We are aware of the attack and the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full scale investigation into the matter and the perpetrators would be brought to justice, Mr Joseph said. He noted that without reducing the seriousness of the matter, the candidate of the SDP failed to inform the police of his outing for which security would have been provided. He said party candidates have their constitutional rights to go about their campaigns without informing the police, but to avoid situations like the one reported, the police should be informed so that adequate security could be provided. Mr Adeniyan is also the publisher of Trace News Magazine, an Akure-based news medium. He told journalists that he was shocked and grieved by the extent of damage done to his campaign vehicles by the hoodlums, adding that the incident had been reported at the B- Division Station of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure. According to him, the latest attack on his campaign was carried out by members of opposition who are already being threatened by his rising popularity in the constituents. The car of Ebenezer Adeniyan attacked by thugs I was shocked to say the least and there have been lot of attacks on my campaign for weeks since we start this electioneering process, he said. Our banners are being stolen every day and posters torn everywhere in the Akure metropolis. He urged the police in the state to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. The reported endorsement of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Seyi Makinde, by some opposition political parties in Oyo State, ahead of Saturdays election, has been challenged. Two leading opposition parties, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) backed by former governor Rasheed Ladoja, and the African Democratic Congress have denied that they were part of the endorsement. On Friday, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Bolaji Ayorinde, told journalists that opposition parties had decided to join forces with the PDP candidate in order to defeat the APC. The ZLP Chairman, Wole Abisoye, although admitted that his party was part of a proposed coalition, he said the adoption of the PDP candidate was not part of what had been done so far. The meeting was inconclusive and we have adjourned till Monday. When we meet, we will decide, he said. The coalition meeting for this evening was inconclusive. My party, the ZLP has not endorsed any governorship candidate. Bolaji Ayorinde, who spoke, to the press, spoke on behalf of his party, the SDP. Also the ZLP Publicity Secretary, Olajide Olanipekun, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, said that Sharafadeen Alli remained the candidate of the party. Coalition yet to adopt a consensus candidate; BSA remains ZLP gubernatorial candidate, said Mr Olanipekun. Attention of the Zenith Labour Party, Oyo State has been drawn to the news that the opposition in Oyo State has adopted Engr Seyi Makinde as the consensus candidate for the 9th March, 2019 gubernatorial election in Oyo State. We wish to state clearly that the coalition meeting that was billed for Saturday 2nd March,.2019 never took place, hence no consensus candidate has been adopted. So it was surprising that the news of adoption of Engr. Seyi Makinde as consensus candidate by the coalition has hit the newsstands when the meeting where such decision was to be taken never held. The meeting has been rescheduled to come up on Monday 4th March, 2019. We of the Zenith Labour Party wish to state clearly that we are committed to forming alliance with other willing opposition parties. But as of today, 2nd March, 2019, ZLP as a party has not adopted a consensus candidate with any other political party. Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (BSA) remains the gubernatorial candidate of ZLP. We want all our candidates for the state of House of Assembly to continue campaigning for the March 9 elections. In the same vein, Damola Adeoye, the Media Assistant to ADC candidate, Olufemi Lanlehin, in a statement said coalition talk is still ongoing and no candidate had been endorsed. Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN), Oyo State ADC governorship candidate, wishes to inform supporters, loyalists, members of the ADC, and the very good people of Oyo State, that as a democrat, and committed party man, the interest of Oyo State and its people is paramount to him, the statement said. To that end, he wishes to allay whatever fears that are being nursed owing to the seeming lull occasioned by the ongoing coalition talks, urging the people to also discountenance every insinuation concerning the purported adoption of a coalition candidate. Truth is, as of today, Saturday, 2 March, 2019, talks are still ongoing among opposition parties desirous of ousting the fascist ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and birthing a masses-friendly, pro people government. Yet, as promising as the talks are, no candidate has been adopted. Decisions as to the adoption of a coalition candidate, when eventually arrived at, will be done by mutual consent, and not by blackmail or mischief, and same appropriately communicated. While the opposition parties are yet to agree on an alliance, the governing APC has already agreed an alliance with the Action Democratic Party (ADP) whose candidate, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has declared support for Adebayo Adelabu of the APC. The police in Lagos have arrested a fraud suspect, Chibuzor Osuji, for swindling a 34-year-old woman of N165,000 at Oko-Oba, in the Agege area of the state. Mr Osuji, 42, is the alleged leader of a four-man fraud syndicate that operates in Ikeja, Ojota, Ojodu, Berger, Ogba, College Road and Agege axis, the police said in a statement on Sunday. The syndicate has been operating for three years, according to the police, defrauding many unsuspecting citizens of their money through false prophesy, fake dollars, and other tricky means. But luck ran out on them when they came in contact with the 34-year old lady who boarded a taxi belonging to the team at Ojota enroute Ojodu Berger. On getting to Oregun, the driver picked another passenger and they began their tricks on the lady. I ended up in their office in Iju, where they collected all the money on me including the one in my account, said the lady who declined to be named. They made me swear to an oath never to inform anyone. Thereafter, Osuji requested that I go get another N60,000 to complete the ritual. The lady said she borrowed the N60,000 to give to Mr Osuji but on her way to hand it over to him she regained her consciousness, according to the police. She ran into a patrol team of Rapid Response Squad officers and with their help, the suspect was arrested. After he was arrested, the police quoted the suspect as saying that his role in the gang was to narrate false prophesy to victims after the person must have been lured into their offices at 8, Afolabi Street, Iju Shaga and 7, Salami Street, Oko Oba, and Agege. He also said his gang used fake dollars to entrap their victims. While the other three members of the team identified as Frank, Stella and Emeka drive out daily to lure suspects, who they would have tricked into their dollar making scam, Mr Osuji is then invited as a pastor to pray for the victim, the police statement said. In the process of praying for the victim, Mr Osuji would start requesting for money for anointing oil, chemicals for the washing of the money, and other charges, the statement added. Mr Osuji, who said frustration made him join the gang three years ago, allegedly confessed to the crime of defrauding the victim. What I collected from the victim is N120,000. I know that my colleagues withdrew N45,000 from her ATM. I am ready to pay all the money back, he reportedly said. The police have pledged to arrest the remaining gang members. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. NEW YORK, March 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 1, 2019, Construtora Norberto Odebrecht S.A., Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao S.A., Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao Internacional S.A. and Odebrecht Finance Ltd. (collectively, the "Company") disclosed certain information in connection with the termination of their confidentiality agreements with the members of the Ad Hoc Group of Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao S.A. Noteholders (the "Ad Hoc Group"). The disclosure by the Company did not include a copy of the restructuring proposal that the Ad Hoc Group submitted to the Company on February 27, 2019, and the members of the Ad Hoc Group hereby publicly disclose the proposal in accordance with the terms of their confidentiality agreements. The Company has yet to respond formally to the proposal. A copy of the proposal may be accessed here. The Ad Hoc Group's proposal is non-binding, and the terms, conditions, form and structure of implementation of any proposals, plans or agreements will be subject to various customary conditions, including completion of due diligence, all internal and credit committee approvals, negotiation and agreement of acceptable documentation, structuring and implementation of the plans, adoption of regulatory changes and any related insolvency proceedings or other judicial process. The Ad Hoc Group does not have or assume any fiduciary or other duties to any party. This press release is not intended as a solicitation in connection with any securities transaction or restructuring plan. There can be no assurance that the Company or its other stakeholders will agree to the terms and conditions of the Ad Hoc Group's proposal or that the transactions contemplated thereby will be consummated. SOURCE Ad Hoc Group LAKE MARY, Fla., March 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As healthcare providers begin to see the importance of digital patient engagement, VUCA Health announced today they've added Maine and New Hampshire to the list of 41 other states where pharmacies can allow their patients to opt-in to receive their medication information through an eco-friendly, digital platform in lieu of paper. The company's "Going Green" campaign aims to address low health literacy while helping pharmacies save on costs associated with providing medication information on paper. They've been working directly with Executive Directors and State Boards of Pharmacies to advocate for a digital alternative to traditional methods of providing prescription information. The company estimates that in 2018, pharmacies in the U.S. may have spent more than $294 million on paper and toner alone. It's no surprise to healthcare providers that patients often misplace, or intentionally discard, the multiple pages of information they get from their pharmacy. VUCA's paperless solution, called MedsOnCue, allows patients to access digital information about their medication through a QR code printed on their prescription bottle. With Google and Apple's integration of a QR code reader into their camera apps, patients can now gain digital access to information they'd normally receive on paper, by simply opening their camera app on their smartphone or any other QR code reader. Additionally, patients can access a short video about their prescription and even view a high-resolution image of their medication, reducing the chance of a dangerous error. "Our key to addressing the nation's health literacy problem is to provide a way for patients to watch a trustworthy, quick, 2-minute video about their medications," said Richard Waithe, PharmD, President of VUCA Health. "Allowing patients to watch a video to learn about their medication is a great alternative to the stacks of papers, often in small print, they normally get with prescriptions." The company has also been given the go-ahead by the FDA to allow for electronic delivery of mandated medication guides for certain prescriptions. Visit www.vucahealth.com/gopaperless to see the complete list of states. About VUCA Health VUCA Health provides a gateway to patient engagement that serves as an on-demand extension of pharmacists and other healthcare providers. VUCA has built the largest library of medication education videos, available in both English and Spanish, that integrates into websites, mobile apps, and patient portals. SOURCE VUCA Health Related Links http://www.vucahealth.com Washington, March 3 : US Senator Bernie Sanders has launched his bid to be president in 2020 with an attack on corporate greed and a promise to unleash a "political revolution". Speaking on Saturday in Brooklyn, New York, he called Donald Trump the "most dangerous president" in recent US history, the BBC reported. Sanders, a 77-year-old independent senator for Vermont, lost the 2016 Democrat race to Hillary Clinton. He faces a much more crowded field this time but brings name recognition and a passionate support base. More than 10 others are also running to be Democrat candidate, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and the Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, Julian Castro. His speech promised a presidency that would "bring people together". He outlined numerous policies and attacked greed and the "billionaire class". As president, he said he would enact a "federal jobs guarantee" to ensure all Americans have work, more than double the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15, pass "comprehensive" immigration reform, including allowing hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants to stay in the US, make universities and colleges tuition-free, and reform healthcare to give universal coverage. He promised to fight for "economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice". Sanders was born in Brooklyn, and the backdrop for his speech gave him an opportunity to contrast himself with the president. He grew up as the son of a Jewish immigrant who worked as a paint seller, while Trump, who also was born in New York, was the son of a wealthy real estate developer. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," he said. "But I had something more valuable: I had the role model of a father who had unbelievable courage in journeying across an ocean, with no money in his pocket, to start a new and better life." Moscow, March 3 : Russia is ready for consultations on the Venezuela crisis with the US in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. According to a statement on Saturday by the ministry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation around Venezuela with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a telephone conversation, Xinhua reported. "In connection with Washington's proposal to hold bilateral consultations on Venezuelan issues, it is indicated that we are ready for this, but it is necessary to strictly follow the principles of the UN Charter, since only Venezuelans have the right to determine their future," the statement said. On Thursday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt two competing draft resolutions on Venezuela, sponsored by the United States and Russia respectively. Lavrov condemned Washington's threats against the legitimate Venezuelan leadership, which is "blatant interference" in Venezuela's internal affairs and a "flagrant violation" of international law. Incitement and destructive external influence under the hypocritical pretext of rendering humanitarian aid has nothing to do with the democratic process, he said. The two sides also agreed to continue contacts on international issues including Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula, the statement said. Amethi, March 3 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit on Sunday to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, posters opposing him have cropped up in many parts of the Uttar Pradesh district. Put up by Jaisingh Pratap Yadav, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, the posters and banners ask Modi to give "the report card of his five years in power" and to "go back". Yadav, who is a member of the state executive of the SP, has alleged step-motherly treatment with the constituency. He also details issues like the Mega Food Park, Hindustan Paper Mill and the IT projects which he accused the Modi government of taking it away from Amethi. Besides laying the foundation stones for developmental projects and addressing a public rally in Amethi, Modi will on Sunday unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. At Kauhar, the Prime Minister will open the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd - a joint venture between India's ordnance factory and a Russian firm. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who unsuccessfully contested against the Gandhi scion in 2014 and has been since then rearing the constituency as her own, has inspected the ground and other venues ahead of Modi's visit. Panaji, March 3 : Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was discharged from a hospital on Sunday, an hour after he was admitted for "tests and examinations", an official said here. "The Chief Minister was discharged after few medical tests. The reports are awaited. He has left for his residence," the official from the state-run Goa Medical College, said on the condition of anonymity. Parrikar was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February 2018 and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since. He was admitted at the Goa Medical College for nearly a week last month after he suffered from internal bleeding. Hyderabad, March 3 : In a jolt to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Telangana, one of its two legislators on Sunday decided to switch loyalties to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Sandra Venkat Veeraiah said he was impressed with the development and welfare programmes taken up by the TRS government and hence decided to join the ruling party. Veeraiah, who represents the Sathupalli constituency in Khammam district, told the media that he took the decision in tune with the wishes of people of his constituency and in the interest of the development of the district. Elected from Sathupalli for a third consecutive term in the December 7 Assembly election, Veeraiah had called on Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday. TDP had won only two seats in the 119-member state Assembly, both in Khammam district. Veeraiah's decision comes a day after the Congress received a huge setback with two of its MLAs deciding to quit the party and join TRS. Rega Kantha Rao and Athram Sakku, both tribal MLAs, announced that if necessary they would resign from the Assembly to seek fresh election from their respective constituencies. Their resignations brought down Congress's tally in the state Assembly to 17, dealing a blow to the party's hopes to win at least one Legislative Council seat from MLAs quota. Elections to six Council seats are scheduled to be held on March 12. TRS, which had bagged 88 seats in the recent elections, has fielded five candidates and left one seat for its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). Kolkata, March 3 : Bengali matinee idol Prosenjit Chatterjee, who has completed 35 illustrious years in the industry and acted in close to 350 films, feels he still has a lot to offer as an actor and wishes that his "overwhelming hunger for acting" remains till his last breath. Participating in his very first talk show on stage on Saturday evening, Prosenjit nostalgically recalled different stages of his acting career through the evolving phases of Bengali cinema. "Many of us have been fighting non-stop as actors, filmmakers, producers to reach out to the audience. I have worked with three generations of directors in my career and even today when I meet a new director with a flair, I ask him whether he is interested doing a film with me. I wish my overwhelming hunger for acting remains till my last breath," Chatterjee said at the talk show organised by the GD Hospital And Diabetes Institute here. Noting that Bengali cinema once made its presence felt on the world stage with films made by the 'revered trinity' -- Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen, Chatterjee said that recent trend of work shows the industry is on the path to recover its lost pride. "New actors and directors are doing very high quality work and many of their films have got recognition at national and international forums in recent years. It can be said that we are fighting our way back against the criticism that the standard of Bengali cinema is not up to the mark," Chatterjee said. "I would urge the audience to be supportive of Bengali cinema and Bengali culture. It is the love and blessings of the audience that has inspired actors like me to keep working and adapt to the changes on the way," he said. Chatterjee, who made his debut with Bengali director Bimal Roy's Duti Pata (1983) -- a teenage romance along the lines of Bobby, said such was his love for acting and cinema that during his early years he sometimes shot for more than 20 hours a day. "It is a fact that in spite of being in Kolkata, I could not return home for 16 days at a stretch as I was shooting for films back-to-back. I used to stay back at the studio in those days," he said. Asked whether he would like to join politics given his proximity to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chatterjee said he would not as he believes one should stick to the work one is best at. "I will say 'Amake aamar moto thakte dao' (let me be the way I am)," said Chatterjee quoting a famous song of one of his films. Book: Finding Radha - The quest for love; Edited by: Malashri Lal and Namita Gokhale; Publisher: Penguin Random House India; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 265 This anthology is a tribute to Radha, whose character has remained a mystery and captured the imagination of many writers across centuries. Considered the first of its kind, this book is a collection of poetry, prose and translation focussing on Radha, the epitome of love, who, according to authors, defies all conventional codes and transcends social prohibitions through the power of the spiritual and the sensual, the sacred and the erotic. No other goddess combines the elements of bhakti and Shringara quite as exquisitely as the divine milkmaid. She spans a vivid range imagery - from the playfulness of the Raas Leela to the soulfulness of her undying love, from the mystic allure of depictions in poetry, art and sculpture to her enduring legacy in Vrindavan. In a way that sets her apart from other female consorts. Radha is idealised and dreamed of in a way that is almost more elemental than mythical. Edited by Malashri Lal, a professor in the English department of the University of Delhi and writer-publisher Namita Gokhale, the anthology deals with the historical as well as the artistic dimensions of the eternal romance of Radha and Krishna. As many as 22 scholars and writers have contributed their perspectives of Radha. These include perspectives on how the visualisation and iconography of Radha evolved, through the Chaitanya school of Vaishnavism, and the philosophical and poetic interpretations of the Bhakti movement. Gokhale in the introduction describes Radha as "an all-too-human goddess, a sublime yet sensual emblem of mortal and divine love." "She is subversive in that she possesses an autonomy rarely available to feminine deities. She lives by her own rules and not those by the world. She is the essential Rasika, the aesthete of passion, and her wild heart belongs only to herself," she writes. According to Gokhale, the essence of the relationship between Radha and Krishna resides in its spontaneous acquiescence to the moment of joyous union, and its disregard for imposed social boundaries in love, sacred or profane. This sense of abandonment, of surrender would have been and still is exhilarating and liberating in a prescriptive and regimented society. "Radha, the bucolic milkmaid, follows the dictates of her heart, of her instincts, her passion, to seek union with her innermost self. She is her own mistress even in the act of surrender to her beloved. And it is this aspect of her that is worshipped, if not emulated, in shrines, temples and festivals all across India even today." Among the contributors, Devdutt Pattanaik, points out how the idea of favourite milkmaid reached its climax with the composition of 'Gita Govinda', a Sanskrit song written by Jayadeva in the 12th Century AD, in which the passion of the cowherd god and his beloved milkmaid was celebrated in a language and style that took all of India by storm. "Amorous love joins two lovers on the same level in mutual satisfaction. This equality coupled with intensity makes possible a level of rasa unknown elsewhere. Because of its finite basis, however, this worldly love ultimately gives rise to feelings of disgust and aversion. It cannot lead to infinite and eternal bliss, and it is to this that the human quest tends," observes Shrivatsa Goswami. He believes Radha and Krishna, the subject and object of love, provide absolute bliss to each other through their lovely dalliance (rasa). Their mystical union is the ultimate rasa. In it separation gives rise to the pleasure of union, and conversely union contains a loving feeling of separation. (Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in) Lucknow, March 3 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to hide behind the Indo-Pak tensions and extract political mileage out of the air strikes on terror launch pads in Balakot in Pakistan. Addressing party office-bearers and leaders at a hurriedly called meeting in the state capital, the BSP leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was whipping up the issue of air strikes to "hide the failures of the last four years". "It is not hidden from the people of Uttar Pradesh and the country on how miserably the Central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has failed in providing good governance and in addressing problems facing the country", she said, while exhorting party activists to fan out and inform people on how the issue was being "misused" by the ruling party to hide its failures. At the meeting, called for stock-taking the party's preparedness ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the four-time UP Chief Minister said that leaders and workers of both the BSP and the Samajwadi Party (SP), with which it has an alliance for the general elections, should be alert about such machinations of the BJP. Mayawati is also learnt to have taken feedback from party workers about her alliance with one-time arch rival SP. While the SP will contest 37, the BSP will fight it out in 38 seats in UP. Panaji, March 3 : Even as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer, Goa's Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai here on Sunday tweeted the disease can not only kill the dreams of a patient and his family, but also of a state. "#Cancer is a disease that can not only kill the dreams of the patient & his family, but can also kill the dreams of a state! Timely checkup vital for prevention!#WeForFatorda will conduct breast cancer checkups ward wise in Fatorda soon. Me @ AIMA's #CancerAwarenessCamp @#Fatorda," Sardesai tweeted. Parrikar was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February 2018 and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since. He was admitted to the Goa Medical College for nearly a week last month following internal bleeding. On Sunday, he was taken to a top state government-run hospital for a health check-up and was released soon after. New Delhi, March 3 : The Congress on Sunday slammed the Narendra Modi government over the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopting a resolution condemning "Indian barbarities and human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress strongly reacted to New Delhi giving "legitimacy" to the OIC by attending the summit in Abu Dhabi and accused the Modi government of "surrendering India's national interest". The resolution was adopted on Saturday, a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the summit. Besides terming elimination of militant Burhan Wani an "extra judicial killing", the OIC condemned "intensified Indian barbarities since 2016 in Kashmir that led to the death of over 220 people" and also criticised the "inhuman practice of using pellet guns". "The Modi government had touted the invitation to the OIC as a great diplomatic success but it has turn out to be a huge embarrassment for India. The OIC resolution not just condemned Indian terrorism in Kashmir but also called India an occupier in Kashmir," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said here. "For so many decades India has deliberately chosen to avoid attending the OIC. But the Modi government not just gave it legitimacy by attending but in turn got India labelled a terrorist country and an occupier in Kashmir," said the former Union Minister. While the Modi government subsequently said J&K is an integral part of India and its matters are strictly internal, Tewari said it was only a face saving exercise. "We condemn this abject surrender of national interest, in the strongest possible terms and ask Modi and the Swaraj is this the big diplomatic success they have been touting," Tewari said. New Delhi, March 3 : Intense speculation made the rounds about Masood Azhar's whereabouts on Sunday with a report of him getting killed in the bombardment by Indian Air Force (IAF) on a terror camp in Balakot going viral, but there was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also accepted on television that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. Reports claimed that after getting seriously injured in the air strike, Masood Azhar died in a hospital. (Gautam Datt can be contacted at datt.gautam@gmail.com) New Delhi, March 3 : Facebook Vice-President Joel Kaplan will appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology (IT), here on March 6, to elucidate what it and its subsidiaries WhatsApp and Instagram are doing to safeguard the citizen rights across platforms. "Senior Facebook officials will appear on March 6 before a parliamentary panel to outline the specific measures taken to ensure safety of users on its platform," told IANS on Sunday. Ajit Mohan, Vice-President and Managing Editor of Facebook India, and Ankhi Das, Director (Public, Policy and Programmes) will accompany Kaplan, sources said. CEO Mark Zuckerberg or COO Sheryl Sandberg are not travelling to India for the hearing. The Facebook officials' presentation will follow appearance of Colin Crowell, Global Vice-President (Public Policy) of Twitter, before the Anurag Thakur-led panel on February 25. Crowell had spoken about how the microblogging site would help address issues like political bias and manipulation on its platform. Twitter was also asked to reply to some of the unanswered queries within 10 days. In his tweeet last month, Thakur said: "The Parliamentary Committee will now examine the issue of 'safeguarding citizen rights on social/online news media platforms'. The following will present their positions: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram." As India gears up for general elections, global social media platforms are discussing how to curb misinformation and fake news in a country where mobile penetration has helped Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram reach millions of users. Facebook has close to 300 million users and WhatsApp over 200 million. According to statista.com, Instagram has nearly 75 million users in India. In the runup to the Lok Sabha polls, Facebook has introduced a new tool to bring transparency to ads related to politics. Anyone who runs ads related to politics will have to reveal their identity and location to pass the authorisation process and have a "Published by" or "Paid for by" label. "The tool comes with some India-specific features," Shivnath Thukral, Facebook's Public Policy Director for India and South Asia, told IANS recently. "The law of the land does not require us to make the 'Paid for by' label mandatory in India," Thukral said. Another India-first feature that Facebook has introduced is that advertisers can begin the authorisations on their mobile phones itself instead of logging in to a desktop. For registered political parties in India, Facebook has also introduced an option to upload media certification and monitoring committee certificate from the Election Commission of India. "In our conversation with Election Commission, we learnt it is essential to give political parties the option to upload the certificate," Thukral said. New Delhi, March 3 : The country needs the BJP but internal democracy in the world's largest political party has "weakened" in the last couple of years and veterans in the party have been given short shrift, says Chandupatla Janga Reddy, one of two MPs who opened the BJP's account in Parliament for the first time in 1984. Reddy, now 84, had defeated P.V. Narasimha Rao in Hanamkonda in Andhra Pradesh and along with A.K. Patel from Mehsana in Gujarat, had held the party flag aloft in the House which saw the party's numbers grow up to 88 in 1989. In an interview to IANS, Reddy rejected the opposition charge that democracy has been weakened by the ruling dispensation and held Congress responsible for the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, which, he said led to the killings of over 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama on February 14. "The country needs the BJP. The party is the need of the hour. Due to the wrong policies of the Congress, the country suffered a lot. It was due to their policies that recently 40 of our jawans were martyred in Kashmir," he said expressing his anguish over the killings. The veteran BJP leader, however, expressed concern over the present state of affairs in the party but said he was with it in the national interest. "There is no doubt that I am angry but what can I do? I am now 84 years old. Nobody listens to me. I took time to meet Amit Shah but it ended in just two minutes. Despite all this, I have lived for the BJP and would die for the party," he said. Asked about the opposition's charge that parliamentary democracy was in danger under the present regime, he rejected it. "If Congress says democracy is in danger, I reject it outright. They might be saying because they are at an all time low in numbers in Lok Sabha. The roots of our parliamentary democracy are strong and they can't be weakened," he said, adding, "But one thing I can say that internal democracy in BJP has weakened." Hanamkonda, a part of Warangal district in Telangana region, came into existence as a parliamentary constituency in 1977 and remained till delimitation in 2009. Rao was the first MP to represent Hanamkonda in Parliament. On the recommendation of Delimitation Commission, seven Lok Sabha constituencies in then Andhra Pradesh were abolished in 2009 and Hanamkonda was one among them. Hanamkonda, famous for attractions like the "Thousands Pillar Temple" and the temple to goddess Bhadrakali located at a hilltop, is now a part of Warangal Lok Sabha constituency. Asked about, how he felt about seeing BJP's journey from two seats in 1984 to 280 in 2014, Rao replied, "Better you ask those who are running the government." "But what I can tell is that the party veterans have been given short shrift," he said though refusing to go into details. To a query on why the BJP failed to enlarge itself in the southern state like it did in Gujarat, Reddy who was a member of Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1967-72, 1978-83 and 1983-84, blamed the then BJP central leaders's decision to go for a coalition with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by NTR. "I always opposed an alliance with the TDP. I was of the view that even if we fail to win a single seat, we should go solo rather than in an alliance. The BJP wanted to finish the Congress, which was in power in Andhra Pradesh, and thus it aligned with the TDP in 1983. But what happened? Finally, the BJP has been finished by the TDP. "The alliance with the TDP was finally done just because of self-interest of some of the state leaders, who were close to then central leadership. I opposed it. Before contesting 1984 Lok Sabha polls, I was a three-time MLA and that too without any alliance. "N.T. Rama Rao was the Chief Minister. During the Lok Sabha polls, he called me for the fourth time to convince me on the need for an alliance. He told me that only you (Reddy) can defeat (Narasimha) Rao. So, I finally bowed before him and the central leadership," he said. In 1984, Rao was defeated by the little-known Reddy with NTR's support and that too at a time when Congress won as many as 414 Lok Sabha seats in the wake of assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Congress, led by Rajiv Gandhi, had made huge gains across the country except in Andhra Pradesh where NTR led the TDP to a landslide victory. With numbers second only to the Congress, the TDP became the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha. Reddy said he again contested 1998 general elections and was defeated, which, according to him, came as an end to his political career. "I was seeking ticket from Hanamkonda but I was forced to contest from Warangal. I went by train to meet Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Baroda when he was touring Gujarat but could not meet him. I met (L.K.) Advani in Jaipur. But nothing happened. Finally, I was defeated," he said. (Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.n@ians.in) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2) The tax court approved a settlement deal between broadcast network ABS-CBN and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) second division, on February 27, approved the compromise agreement between ABS-CBN and the BIR to settle the broadcast network's tax case. The BIR accepted 152.44 million from ABS-CBN, which is the equivalent of 40 percent of its assessed deficiency in income tax, value-added tax, and documentary stamp tax payments. ABS-CBN Chief Financial Officer Aldrin Cerrado was authorized to enter into the compromise agreement with the BIR. Only after the approval of the CTA did the agreement become binding on both parties. The compromise agreement also counts as a judgment on the case. "Once a compromise agreement is given judicial approval, hoever, it becomes more than a contract binding upon the parties. Having been sanctioned by the court, it is entered as a determination of a controversy and has the force and effect of a judgment," the CTA ruling read. The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Juanito Castaneda, Jr. Islamabad, March 3 : At least six people were killed and dozens of others injured as torrential rains and snowfall brought life to a standstill in parts of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, reports said on Sunday. Most of the victims, including women and children, were either electrocuted or killed or injured after being trapped inside the rubble of collapsed houses in the province, reported Xinhua. The rainwater caused flash floods in water drainages passing through the cities and the villages, washing away houses and shops in its way. The rains also inundated several roads and railway tracks, disrupting road and rail traffic. Many people had to stay in open after their houses were collapsed by rain or flash floods, while the authorities also issued flood warning in several districts of the province. Directions had been issued to convert state-owned buildings into shelter houses to accommodate the people affected by the flood. The provincial government also directed residents of rain and snow-hit areas to move to the shelter houses if they face inconvenience in their homes. Meanwhile, the country's weather office Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasted that rain and snowfall will continue in the province till Monday. Kabul, March 3 : Afghan forces have intensified military operations and killed 17 militants in the war-battered country in a single day on Sunday, officials said. The crackdowns have increased in the wake of Taliban's deadly attack on an army base in Shorab area in the southern Helmand province of Aghanistan on Friday, reported Xinhua. The brazen offensive, which started on Friday, left some 50 dead and more than 40 others injured, according to media reports. However, the government forces, in crackdown against militants, stormed Taliban hideouts in Dawlat Abad district of the northern Faryab province early on Sunday, killing six insurgents and injuring two others, army spokesman in the northern region said. Two Taliban senior commanders, Mawlawi Jalal and Mullah Jandullah, were also killed in the raids, he said. Similarly, a Taliban hideout in Shah Walikot district of the southern Kandahar province was also stormed on Sunday, killing eight militants including a key Taliban commander Mullah Tor Naqibullah and injuring nine others, an army statement said. Showdown between security forces and the Taliban fighters in Khawja Ghar district of the northern Takahr province on Sunday morning left three militants dead and injured four others including two militants and two security personnel, district governor Mohammad Omar said. Taliban militants had not commented on the claims made by the officials. Amethi, March 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the previous Congress governments, alleging that they kept the defence forces exposed to the enemy's bullets for several years at failing to get commissions in defence deals and to protect the "dynasty". "They always put personal interest over national interest," he said at a public rally in his first visit to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency as Prime Minister. He had come to Amethi before polling in 2014 general elections to request people to vote for his "sister Smriti Irani". Modi stressed how efforts to get the Indian Air Force state-of-art fighter jets in form of Rafale were delayed and blocked by the Congress. "As we expedite the process, the first Rafale jets will be in Indian skies soon," he said while charging the Congress with spreading falsehoods about the Rafale deal. "Every one from the Supreme Court to the CAG have cleared the deal as one which is transparent and in national interest... (but) some people were still spreading misinformation... the dismay of not getting their cuts and commissions in defence deals is writ large on their faces," he said. Tearing into Rahul Gandhi, without specifically naming him, the Prime Minister said between 2009 to 2014, demands of providing 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackers for defence forces was neglected. "It was our government that ordered 2.3 lakh bullet proof jackets. Development and national interest was blocked for years because it did not suit power centres in that party and the dynasty," he alleged. Referring to the ordinance factory, whose foundation he laid here, and will produce AK-203 assault rifles and subsequently export to other countries, Modi said that this work had begin way back in 2009. "You can see for yourself their seriousness towards you and development," he said as people started shouting slogans of "Rahul Gandhi chor hai". After Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman read out Russian President Vladimir Putin's message extending his good wishes for the joint Indian-Russian venture, Modi said while Gandhi had in his speeches promised that he "would ensure Made in Ujjain, Made in Jabalpur", he had made it possible that its 'Made in Amethi' for these assault rifles. He said that Gandhi had promised 1,500 jobs to local youth while only 200 were given and "now this person is going around the country, giving lectures on employment". Modi, who inaugurated nine projects built at a cost of Rs 538 crore and laid foundation stones of eight others, also accused Gandhi of neglecting his constituency. Referring to a cycle factory which was to come up in Amethi, the Prime Minister said while land was allotted and hopes kindled, it was later taken away, through the back door, for personal use. "People who do not have a fair vision, a fair sense of empathy with the poor cannot be trusted. Those whose intentions are bad, how will they ensure the welfare of the country," he said. Referring to Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, he said that she was sent to Amethi to fight the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and though she may not have won the electoral battle, she had certainly won the hearts of people here. Lauding the zeal with which she had taken care of the constituency since 2014, the Prime Minister said Amethi was a glaring example of how his government followed the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. "We have shown here and elsewhere too that we will work relentlessly for people who have voted for us and even for those who have not," he said. New Delhi, March 3 : The Delhi Assembly has sought help from the state government for turning paperless after the delay in the implementation of the Centre's project for paperless Assemblies. During the budget session of the Assembly, which concluded last week, the General Purposes Committee (GPC) of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha had tabled a report stating the paperless project was "badly delayed". "The Assembly Secretariat sought Rs 20 crore in the budget estimates for 2019-20. The project will be modified to suit the needs of the Assembly and it's members," said the report. The government has allocated the amount for the purpose. "A lot of papers are used in the Assembly. Our aim is to make it paperless by the next session. The work will start from April and the implementation will take around six months," Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel told IANS. "It will take a little time, as we need to first develop a centralised system. There will be a display screen on MLAs' seats. Everything, from questions and answers to reports, will be available on the touch of finger," he said. Goel said the study and the estimate part of the project has been completed and with the sanctioning of the money, the work will also begin next month. "A team from the Assembly visited the Himachal Pradesh Assembly in 2015 after it turned paperless to get first hand knowledge. They (Himachal Assembly) also have nearly the same number of MLAs as we do," he said. For turning paperless, the Delhi Assembly will work with the Information and Technology Department of the state government as well as the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the GPC report said. The GPC had approved the implementation of 'e-Vidhan' in the Assembly and recommended adoption of the Himachal model. A draft project report estimating a cost of Rs 17.79 crore was submitted to the Ministry of Information and Technology in October 2015. But later, the project was transferred to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the report said. On its part, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry had decided to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project in all state Assemblies. The Ministry was of the view once all Assemblies adopted NeVA, funds for the physical infrastructure would be released in phases, said the GPC report. (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) Los Angeles, March 3 : Hollywood actor Idris Elba, 46, feels he is "a bit" of a "man child". Elba, who has children Isan, 17, and Winston, 4, from previous relationships and is engaged to Sabrina Dhowre -- can relate to playing faded DJ Charlie in the upcoming series "Turn Up Charlie" because he still wants to live out parts of his own youth, despite his adult responsibilities, reports femalefirst.co.uk. He said: "What's interesting about it is that my character isn't paternal. He's a man child. Which I feel I am a bit -- I can relate to that. I'm a dad, a parent and I love my kids. But there are parts of my youth that I feel like I haven't quite lived -- and I will. "The whole '1930s is the new 1920s' thing -- that's all true. Young people seem to be younger for longer. And people in their 40s still seem to be doing things they were doing in their 1930s. I think that's okay." The "Luther" actor said he worries about his daughter's use of social media and thinks she, along with many other teenagers, is "addicted" to using her phone but doesn't think he has the power to change things. Amethi : , March 3 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing unit launched here by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bolster Indias defence potential besides creating employment. In his message read out at the unveiling ceremony of the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited unit in Amethi, Putin stressed decades of military and technical cooperation between the two countries and pointed to the setting up of around 170 military and industrial facilities in India with assistance from Russia. "The Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies," said Putin. "I am convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India, to further advance the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy, will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for qualified work force, and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training," he said. The Indo-Russian joint venture will produce the latest series of the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. Putin said the plant itself will become another "symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries". Bengaluru, March 3 : State-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy is the joint winner of the 2019 Missile Systems Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the US, said the Virginia-based aerospace technical society on Sunday. "Reddy was selected for his over three decades of national contributions to indigenous design, development and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics and navigation technologies in India," said the society in a statement. Reddy, 55, is also the Defence Secretary and Director-General of DRDO's aerospace arm Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) here. Reddy contributed to the Agni-5, the 5,000km range surface-to-surface, long-range strategic missile. The other winner of the missile award, Rondell J. Wilson is the retired principal engineering fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. "Wilson was selected for his technical leadership and innovation that has advanced the performance and capability of the world's premier missile defense systems," said the statement. Though the award will be presented at the society's Defence Forum on May 7-9 at the Kossiakoff Centre at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, Reddy will receive his award in India. "The award also recognises excellence in developing on implementing missile system technology or for inspired leadership of missile systems," said the statement. The society presents the award biennially to those who demonstrated expertise in fundamental technical disciplines that has led to substantial improvement in missile systems. The society also awards those who led a major programme milestone by a state-run agency or an industry team. With about 30,000 individual members from 85 countries and 95 corporate members, the society brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defence. As Director-General of the Missiles and Strategic Systems, Reddy spearheaded Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex and other labs in Hyderabad. As the chief architect of advance missile technologies, Reddy also contributed for design, development and deployment of diversified missiles and strategic systems, guided weapons and avionics. "Under restrictive international control regimes, Reddy evolved strategies for indigenous design and development of advanced avionics and paved the way for inducting a range of missiles and smart guided weapons," DRDO said in a statement here. Reddy joined in 1986 the state-run Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad and later joined the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the brain child of former President Kalam. After graduating in engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University (JNTU) at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy did M.S. and PhD, from JNTU in Hyderabad. Bhopal/New Delhi, March 3 : A three-day brainstorming meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs highest decision-making body 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' will be held from March 8 in Gwalior with Lok Sabha polls high on the agenda. The meeting will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi, members of central executive body of the Sangh and around 1,500 delegates from across the country. "The meeting will review its programmes over the last six months and evaluate organisational works. Programmes for the next six months would also be chalked out," said RSS spokesperson Rajiv Tuli. He said a resolution on contemporary situation of the country is also likely to be adopted after discussions. State representatives of the RSS, heads of various bodies and other functionaries are due to attend the meeting that will conclude on March 10. Bhagwat along with Joshi reached Gwalior on Sunday to take part in the event which would be held at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Kedardham. The meeting assumes significance as it comes amid tension between India and Pakistan that escalated after both the countries engaged in aerial hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since 1971. This happened in the wake of February 14 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers in Kashmir. During the aerial hostilities Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani army after his MiG was shot down and fell in Pakistani territory during a dogfight. He returned to India on Saturday night after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in the National Assembly said that the IAF pilot will be freed 'as a peace gesture'. Tangail: Indian's 9th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles and Bangladesh's 36 East Bengal Battalion participate during the eighth edition of the exercise "Sampriti" at the Bongobondhu Cantonment in Tangail, Bangladesh on March 3, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Tangail: Indian's 9th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles and Bangladesh's 36 East Bengal Battalion participate during the eighth edition of the exercise "Sampriti" at the Bongobondhu Cantonment in Tangail, Bangladesh on March 3, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 3 : India and Bangladesh on Sunday began a two-week-long joint military exercise in Tangail, Bangladesh, to hone their tactical and technical skills to counter insurgency and terrorism. "The eighth edition of the exercise "Sampriti" started at the Bongobondhu Cantonment, Tangail, Bangladesh, with an impressive opening ceremony on March 3. The participating contingents stood side by side and gave a ceremonial salute to the national flags of both the countries to the strains of 'Jana Gana Mana' and 'Amar Shonar Bangla'," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The Bangladesh contingent was represented by the 36 East Bengal Battalion, while the Indian side was represented by the 9th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. "The aim of the exercise is to increase mutual cooperation, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies through inter-operability and joint tactical exercises," read the government statement. A company group from the Bangladesh Army and an equal number from the Indian Army are taking part in the exercise that will see them hone tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism and aid the civil authorities in disaster management in an United Nations peace keeping scenario, involving combined deployment at a battalion level. The exercise, which was started in 2009 with a platoon level engagement, graduated to the company level in 2015. Patna, March 3 : In the first show of strength in Bihar ruled by BJP in alliance with JD-U, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked Congress and its allies for demoralising security forces by asking for proof of air strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and for "making the enemies smile" by issuing statements. "I want to know from Congress and its allies why they are demoralizing security forces by asking for proof of the air strikes against terror camps. Why are they issuing such statements that benefit our enemies?" Modi asked addressing NDA's Sankalp rally in Patna where he formally launched NDA's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. "Congress and its allies are doing things which are enough for making the enemies smile. At a time when there was a need to speak as one against terror factories, 21 parties in Delhi came together to speak against the NDA. People won't forgive them," Modi said. Modi reminded thousands of people gathered to hear him at Gandhi Maidan here that when the entire country is rejoicing over the IAF's successful airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot, "a few of our own people have raised suspicion on such a strikes". Modi cautioned people against opposition's 'Mahagathbandhan' agenda, which was "personal and for their own family." "Had the Mahamilavat government been there, there wouldn't have been any decision or development because they have a habit of developing themselves," Modi said. The Opposition, he kistan. Addressing party office-bearers and leaders at a hurriedly called meeting in the state capital, the BSP leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was whipping up the issue of air strikes to "hide the failures of the last four years". "It is not hidden from the people of Uttar Pradesh and the country on how miserably the Central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has failed in providing good governance and in addressing problems facing the country", she said, while exhorting party activists to fan out and inform people on how the issue was being "misused" by the ruling party to hide its failures. At the meeting, called for stock-taking the party's preparedness ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the four-time UP Chief Minister said that leaders and workers of both the BSP and the Samajwadi Party (SP), with which it has an alliance for the general elections, should be alert about such machinations of the BJP. Mayawati is also learnt to have taken feedback from party workers about her alliance with one-time arch rival SP. While the SP will contest 37, the BSP will fight it out in 38 seats in UP. Lucknow, March 3 : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has confirmed recovery of 'Bronze era' artifacts during an excavation work in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The ASI has stumbled upon a chariot and many other remnants of the 'Bronze Era' (2000-1800 BC). ASI Director General Usha Sharma on Sunday visited the excavation site at Sinauli where an official informed her about the findings. The artifacts and and other items seem several hundred years old, Sanjay Manjul, in-charge of the excavation, said. "The items discovered are being studied by experts and will be transported to Noida for further examination and study," Sharma said. Kolkata, March 3 : After flare-ups in various pockets in West Bengal as police baton-charged and detained BJP workers participating in the "Vijay Sankalp" bike rallies, the party's state chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said his party workers would retaliate if their democratic rights were curbed. Launched by Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are part of the party's nationwide outreach campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Attacking the state's ruling Trinamool Congress, Ghosh said it was panicking at the growth of the BJP. "The ruling party can say anything, but I think they are trying to stop the BJP out of panic ahead of the elections. If there is a rule, it is applicable to everyone, hence we demand our democratic rights," Ghosh told reporters here. He said if the police and the administration tried to create hindrances to their party's programmes, the activists would retaliate. "The workers were deliberately attacked and instigated to retaliate, leading to disruptions on the streets. The police wanted us to resist, so that Trinamool could make it an issue and that is what exactly happened," Ghosh said. The party had asked for permissions for the bike rallies across all the states through letters and e-mails. Asked if the police did not give permission due to the board examinations, Ghosh said: "The rallies were organised across the country and the board examinations were going on everywhere. Even people in West Bengal took to the streets after the Jammu-Kashmir issue, but there was no problem." "The police and the goons should remember that they (BJP workers) will not spare anyone. We have heard a lot of talk about democracy but we don't want any advice. If our democratic right is snatched, we know how to retain it through force," he added. Hyderabad, March 3 : An alleged data breach by a company which provides IT services to Andhra Pradesh's ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the action taken against it by Telangana Police triggered a row between the two Telugu states on Sunday. On a petition by an employee of IT Grids, the Telangana High Court on Sunday directed Telangana Police to produce four employees of the company before it on Monday. The petitioner moved a habeas corpus petition, seeking direction to the police to produce the employees allegedly picked up during raids conducted on the company's office here. Cyberabad police reportedly seized laptops, hard disks and some other material during the searches conducted at IT Grids office, following a complaint by Lokeshwar Reddy that company officials have stolen the data of about 3.5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh who are the beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes. The complainant is said to be a sympathiser of Andhra Pradesh's main opposition party YSR Congress, which has been accusing the TDP government of deleting the names of "anti-TDP" voters from voters' list in the state. A police team from Andhra Pradesh also arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday to conduct the investigations. There was mild tension when the team reached Lokeshwar Reddy's residence in Kukatpally. The local police and some YSR Congress leaders resisted the Andhra Police team's attempts to arrest him. In Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with Advocate General D. Srinivas and other top officials to review the situation created by Telangana Police's action against IT Grids. They discussed the legal course of action to be taken in the case. TDP leaders alleged the case against IT Grids in Hyderabad was a conspiracy by the Telangana government and the YSR Congress to carry out a false propaganda ahead of the elections. The YSR Congress, however, said TDP was caught red-handed trying to misuse citizen data. It alleged that Naidu sent police team to Hyderabad to protect the perpetrators of the data breach. It claimed that four employees of IT Grids were booked for voter profiling, privacy breach and misuse of citizen data. Earlier YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy too approached Cyberabad police seeking a probe into the violations by the app developers but no case was registered. YSR Congress leader and former Inspector General of Police, Shaikh Mohammed Iqbal, said that this was the TDP's last ditch effort when everything, including money power, seems to be failing. "The TDP is resorting to theft of private details of citizens and voters. During the Pulse Survey, they collected all the details of the people and illegally transferred to IT Grid, which designed and runs the TDP's cadre app SevaMitra," he said. Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.holyfirepublishing.com) releases the book "Servant of the King" (Paperback, U.S. $9.99, ISBN# 978-1-60383-559-6). Barbara Buckmans book inspires her readers to understand how Gods love is universal and no matter where you are, you can make a monumental difference in someones life by sharing His love. Be swept away to the land of Baladia, where an intimate look into the life of King Richard III reveals the monarchs raw emotions, which are normally hidden from the public eye. The captivating adventures of the royal family prove that when God is involved, honor and integrity will always triumph over deceit and greed. King Richard III has his hands full overseeing the country of Baladia. Tensions are mounting with surrounding nations. The Kurtogovians are massing at the border and the Marans support of slavery is evoking protests by the Baladian subjects. Fortunately, the kings son, Crown Prince Richard, is by his side to deal with the pressing issues at hand. His dependability and pleasant nature are admired by all. Or perhaps not? When Prince Richard falls ill, the prognosis is shocking. Without a bone marrow transplant, he will die. Family rally around the young prince to offer help. When forced by unforeseen circumstances to look outside the family for a donor, the King appeals to the public to help. Can the royal familys prayers and faith prevail? Will someone be found to save the prince or will more sinister plans prevail and cost the Prince his life? Barbara's purpose for writing the book is to give God glory and encourage others to be obedient to our Lord. She shares her love of writing with the hopes of becoming a blessing to others. Barbara Buckman is a freelance writer and the publisher of Candle Newsletter, a Christian newsletter with a readership of 120, featuring her poetry and short stories pertinent to todays culture. She was formerly a staff writer of the small-press magazine The Encouragement Newsletter, of Tacoma WA. When not writing, Barbara is active in her church, where she was the reporter for her prayer-group, and was appointed to chair a committee to promote the arts. She created several unique quilts, including a Bible Promise Quilt and a Friendship quilt that was presented to Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colorado which hung in their entry way for many years. The gifting of many baby quilts gained her the title of The Quilt Lady. In the neighborhood, she became known as (among teenagers) The Clothespin Lady - dont mess with Her clothesline. Barbara has been married for two decades to her devoted husband Daryl and are proud parents of a Godly son and his wife. Barbara has lived in the Omaha area for more than forty years. BBBooks@usa.net Desiree Tellez reviews and shares her thoughts about the book as "Thought-provoking good read". Given that she was also put to the test on what she would do given the situations that the author's characters were put in. She shares that Buckman's book is a "captivating story of faith, family, and fight." It places you in the lives of the host characters, and puts you unpredictable twists and turns where loyalty is tested. Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.holyfirepublishing.com), a publisher of hundreds of Christian books, helps Christian authors reach the world through the printed word. Installing safety devices will not only reduce the chances of being involved in an accident but will also help you get better rates, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Carinsuranceplan.org has released a new blog post that explains the role of safety devices in making car insurance cheaper. For more info, please visit https://carinsuranceplan.org/how-safety-devices-can-lower-car-insurance-rates/ Insurance companies encourage drivers to get safe cars. Or, at least, improve the safety rating of the chosen vehicle. An unsafe car presents numerous risks for both companies and drivers. Insurers are worried about the risk of making a claim, while drivers should be worried about their lives. This is the main reason why insurance companies grant discounts to drivers that install safety devices or choose cars that come equipped with multiple safety features. The blog post presents a list of devices for which drivers will receive discounts. Each device is analyzed. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, ABS and lane departure warning are some of the most important safety devices. These systems rely on radars, cameras and sensors to warn the driver to potential hazards. Some system can even engage in automated braking when the car gets too close to another vehicle or structure. Lane departure systems use cameras to monitor lane markings and warn the driver when he leaves the lane. Advanced systems may even automatically steer to bring the car on the correct lane. For more examples, money-saving tips and free quotes, visit https://carinsuranceplan.org/ Carinsuranceplan.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. Red Herring Top 100 Europe We believe MobileXpense embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. MobileXpense, the Brussels-based company that provides worldwide mobile solutions for travel expense management has been recognised by Red Herring as Top 100 Europe award winner in FinTech. The award recognises Europes leading private companies and celebrates innovations and technologies across their respective industries. Red Herring Top 100 Europe enlists outstanding entrepreneurs and promising companies. It selects the award winners from approximately 1,200 privately financed companies each year in the European Region. Red Herrings Top 100 list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising new companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herrings editors were among the first to recognise that companies such as Alibaba, Facebook, Google, SalesForce.com, Skype, SuperCell, Spotify, Twitter, and YouTube would change the way we live and work. Thousands of the most interesting and innovative companies have graced the Top 100 list over the years. In 2019, selecting the top achievers was by no means a small feat, said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. In fact, we had the toughest time in years because so many entrepreneurs had crossed significant milestones so early in the European tech ecosystem. But after much thought, rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across Europe to the Top 100 Winners. We believe MobileXpense embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. MobileXpense should be proud of its accomplishment, as the competition was very strong. Red Herrings editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technological innovation, management quality, overall business strategy and market penetration. This assessment was complemented by a review of the track records and standings of similar startups in the same verticals, allowing Red Herring to see past the hype and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models in Europe. About MobileXpense MobileXpense is a leading provider of global Travel Expense Management solutions for large multinationals and governmental organizations. MobileXpenses uniquely flexible SaaS solution simplifies a complex and often time-consuming problem for business travelers, HR departments and accounting departments around the world. The solution offers multinational organisations full regulatory compliance with country specific taxation and legal allowance regulations as well as the flexibility to adjust to company regulations and policies. MobileXpense serves more than 1.2 million end-users over 100 countries. Customers include Bridgestone, Canon, BCD Travel, Burger King and many more. To learn more, visit http://www.mobilexpense.com and follow @mobilexpense Media Contact For questions about this press release please contact Valerie Morel Chief Commercial Officer valerie.morel@mobilexpense.com PrideStaff, a national, franchised staffing organization, awarded top revenue producers its Presidents Circle Award at its recent Annual Conference. Reserved for Strategic-Partners, account managers and company managers, this honor is bestowed upon leaders who have achieved the highest level of growth for their staffing offices and exceeded revenue goals for the year. This year, PrideStaff Visalia was named a winner of PrideStaff Presidents Circle Award for being a top producer in revenue and profits in 2018. Blanca Covarrubias and the entire PrideStaff Visalia team were recognized at PrideStaff's annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. "Thriving in today's staffing industry is extremely challenging, especially during this prolonged period of near-record-low unemployment," said Blanca Covarrubias, Owner/Strategic-Partner of the Visalia office. "Maintaining a high level of success takes more than perseverance; it takes a strong brand, unparalleled technology and the ability to provide real solutions to our clients' toughest business problems. "By recruiting proactively, applying PrideStaff's proven processes and focusing on delivering exceptional client and talent experiences, our office achieved great results in an intensely competitive market," continued Blanca Covarrubias. "I'm proud of the way our entire team collaborated throughout the past year to exceed our revenue targets and ultimately be named one of the top-performing PrideStaff offices." "We are thrilled to honor Blanca Covarrubias and the entire PrideStaff - Visalia team for hitting the lofty growth and profit targets they set in 2018," said PrideStaff Founder and CEO George Rogers. "By embodying PrideStaff's mission to 'Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most,' Visalia fuels sustained, profitable growth. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to PrideStaff - Visalia and we wish them continued success in the year ahead." For more information about PrideStaff, please contact Blanca Covarrubias at 559-734-4002. About PrideStaff PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100 percent company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 80 offices in North America to serve over 5,000 clients. With over 40 years in the staffing business, headquartered in Fresno, CA, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only nationwide, commercial staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn Inaveros prestigious Best of Staffing Diamond Award six years in a row highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality. For more information on our services or for staffing franchise information, visit http://www.pridestaff.com. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available While the University of Georgia owns campuses across the world, none of them compare to Planet UGA-1785. Thanks in part to Roger Hunter, UGA is the first university with a planetary system nicknamed after it from its discovery during the Kepler Mission. Hunter, program manager for NASAs Small Spacecraft Technology Program, spoke about his work with NASA as well as the great potential of students in the UGA Small Satellite Research Laboratory at the Charter Lecture on March 20. During the 2018 midterm elections, under particular scrutiny were Georgias polling machines, which are 16 years old. November saw breakdowns of these machines, as well as battery depletion and a lack of power chords. Not only that, but these outdated machines were proven to be hackable and left no sort of paper trail. House Bill 316 looks to address these problems by implementing new voting machines in the state. It was the type of crowd that you could hardly move in on Saturday, March 2 at the Georgia Theatre. More than 25 aircraft of Jet Airways has been grounded by lessors due to non-payment of lease rentals. The airline, which started the winter schedule with 103 planes, is now down to 83. Accommodating passengers from its cancelled flights has become harder for Jet Airways as at least two airlines have cancelled their flight interruption manifest (FIM) agreement with the airline. This comes at a time when the cash-strapped airline is cancelling more than 100 flights daily due to grounding of its planes. An FIM is a document issued by an airline as a substitute ticket which allows a passenger to fly by another airline in case the original travel is disrupted by a schedule change, overbooking or cancellation. In return, the airline reimburses the amount to other carriers on a fortnightly basis at a pre-agreed rate. Sources aware of the development said Air India and Vistara have cancelled the agreement on Friday. With immediate effect and till further notice, Jet Airways and JetLite Limited documents, including FIMs, are not to be accepted for travel on Air India flights, said a notice issued by the airlines commercial department. Industry sources said Vistara has cancelled a basic interline agreement since Thursday as the airline felt that the agreement was being misused by Jet, causing commercial loss to Vistara. Basically, an interline agreement has this loophole where the airlines only pays a pre-determined value to its partner airline. Vistara felt that its last remaining seats, which sell at high fare, was being booked by Jet Airways at the pre-agreed value which is much lower than current price of its tickets. For instance, a Delhi-Mumbai flight, which is selling at Rs 12,000 at the last moment, may be sold for Rs 4,000 by Jet Airways. Thats a commercial loss for Vistara, said a source in the travel industry. Analysts justified Vistaras decision saying that last minute fares have firmed up between metros and there is no point selling them at a pre fixed lower rate. More than 25 aircraft of Jet Airways has been grounded by lessors due to non-payment of lease rentals. The airline, which started the winter schedule with 103 planes, is now down to 83. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters. Exporters are of the view that while direct exports to Pakistan will be nearly nil this month, and in the coming few months, alternative markets can be explored for exporting tea, which was originally meant for Pakistan. Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, and India's withdrawal of the most favoured nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, tea exporters and producers are looking at alternative markets such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations and West Asian countries to sell their produce. Exporters are of the view that while direct exports to Pakistan will be nearly nil this month, and in the coming few months, alternative markets can be explored for exporting tea, which was originally meant for Pakistan. According to Vivek Goenka, chairman, Indian Tea Association (ITA), the type of tea that goes to Pakistan can be routed and sold in Egypt, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other east European nations. Russia and CIS buy a wide variety of tea, ranging from top-quality orthodox to budget teas. I think the tea exported to Pakistan can be routed and absorbed there, he said. Usually, Pakistan buys average quality tea from India, comprising mostly of dust and fanning, priced around $1.45 a kilo. Besides, tea is also routed to Pakistan via Dubai. An exporter from south India said there are several instances when Indian exporters bill teas to an importer in Dubai. This consignment, after reaching Dubai, is then shipped to Pakistan. Exports to the UAE, over the years, have shot up from 16.2 million kg (mkg) in 2015 to 20.9 mkg in 2018. Interestingly, during the same period, direct exports to Pakistan fell from 19.5 mkg to 15.8 mkg. Increasing the sales volume to UAE is also an option. "However, it has its challenges. Payment terms are often complicated and realisations take time. This is why exporters from India do not prefer selling tea this way", the exporter added. Exporters are unsure how Indo-Pak relations will play up in the near term, which might affect the payments from the sales. Another exporter from Kolkata opined that even if tensions de-escalate, Pakistan losing the MFN status would affect trade. On the other hand, we are noticing exports to countries such as China, Bangladesh and others are going up, which is an encouraging sign, the exporter said. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters. For the near term, Ravneet Gill will have to improve relations with the Reserve Bank of India, which have been strained in recent times. He will also need to strengthen the bank's asset quality and improve governance standards and internal processes. Ravneet Gill took charge as managing director and chief executive officer of YES Bank on Friday for a three-year term, subject to shareholder approval. A career banker with a long innings at Deutsche Bank, Gill comes in place of Rana Kapoor, the banks co-promoter and former MD and CEO. For the near term, Gill will have to improve relations with the Reserve Bank of India, which have been strained in recent times. He will also need to strengthen the bank's asset quality and improve governance standards and internal processes. Gill can lean on the banks steady growth in share of low-cost deposits, healthy track record in raising capital and robust operating performance, which will all help him chart a sustainable future course for the private sector lender. The YES Bank stock gained 2.7 per cent at Rs 237.40 over previous close. The RBI had refused an extension to Kapoor in October 2018 and allowed him to stay as MD till the end of January. Ajai Kumar, a board member, was made interim CEO in February. Gill would like to put behind the strained relations with the banking sector regulator. Last month, the central bank had said YES Bank had violated a confidentiality clause by disclosing a nil divergence in non-performing assets (NPAs) based on the RBIs annual inspection for FY18 (fiscal year 2017-18). The RBI said the bank's disclosure of only one part of the Risk Assessment Report was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. It also said the RAR identified several lapses and regulatory breaches in various areas of the bank's functioning. YES Bank later said it was acting in compliance with the Securities Exchange Board of India's regulations. The regulator did not find any divergence in its assessment of gross non-performing assets and those assessed by bank for 2017-18. In the previous two financial years, it had flagged divergence. The regulator had found divergence of Rs 4,176 crore for 2015-16 and Rs 6,355 crore for 2016-17. Gill, as an outsider, is expected to improve compliance and internal processes at the bank. YES Bank saw four board-level exits in the past year, in addition to Kapoor. The bank's 10-member board is comprised of several new members including Chairman Brahm Dutt and former Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Chairman T S Vijayan as independent director. Gill will also need to find a replacement for Senior Group President Pralay Mondal who resigned last month. He will also have to balance the tension between the bank's two promoter groups, led by Rana Kapoor and Madhu Kapur, respectively. Rating agencies have noted the bank's high loan concentration to corporate groups increases the risk of volatility in the asset performance. Gill will have to work towards improving the bank's loan mix and asset quality while also maintaining the bank's growth trajectory. Rating agency ICRA has observed that YES Bank continued to show robust operating performance and stable profitability indicators. During FY18, its net interest margin was marginally lower at 2.9 per cent (3 per cent in FY17). The bank's non-interest based income remains robust, accounting for almost a third of its operating income, while the operating expenses moderated in FY18 over FY17, it added. 'No matter what Modi may boast about 'new India', the geopolitical reality is that India's stature diminishes when it needs a small country like Saudi Arabia under an autocratic ruler to help out with what is arguably one of the most critical templates of its diplomacy,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhavan, February 20, 2019. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo Saudi Arabia is pushing forward as mediator between India and Pakistan with a messianic zeal that patently enjoys US backing. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir arrives in Delhi on Sunday. He was to have visited Islamabad on Friday, but rescheduled his plan so that he can touch base with Modi first and thereafter meet the Pakistani leaders, including army chief General Qamar Bajwa. Modi and Bajwa will be Adel's key interlocutors. How far the Saudi waltz will advance remains to be seen. How Modi handles the piquant situation will bear watch. Certainly, the Saudi mediation makes India look rather immature and that becomes willy-nilly a reflection of Modi's foreign policy legacy. The point is, no matter what Modi may boast about 'new India', the geopolitical reality is that India's stature diminishes when it needs a small country like Saudi Arabia under an autocratic ruler to help out with what is arguably one of the most critical templates of its diplomacy. Saudi Arabia has no track record as a peacemaker. On the contrary, it has a notorious reputation the world over as a promoter of terrorist groups. Meanwhile, India does not have to be beholden to the Saudis to ease its tensions with Pakistan. The indications are that Russia and China are jointly sponsoring an initiative in this regard. China is deputing a special envoy to visit India and Pakistan to discuss the crisis situation. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi disclosed this in Islamabad. To be sure, Russia and China, which actively coordinate on the foreign policy front, are in consultation each other on the India-Pakistan tensions. We may also factor in that the foreign ministers of Russia and China had an opportunity last Wednesday to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the RIC ministerial. Following that, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also briefed Qureshi in a phone conversation where the latter had expressed the hope that 'the Chinese side will continue to play a constructive role in easing the current tension.' Equally, at the height of the India-Pakistan crisis, on February 27, the Russian foreign ministry also had issued a statement expressing 'grave concern over the escalating situation along the Line of Control and the surge in tensions' between India and Pakistan 'which are Russia's friends.' It took a neutral stance and called on both sides 'to show restraint and redouble efforts to resolve existing problems by political and diplomatic means.' It is entirely conceivable that the Chinese special envoy's visit is a related development signifying a coordinated effort by Beijing and Moscow and in consultation with Islamabad and New Delhi. This is, of course, a major shift in the tectonic plates of Eurasian politics and it has an added significance insofar as it is taking place in the New Cold War conditions. Indeed, it does not need much ingenuity to figure out that a US-sponsored Saudi mediation between India and Pakistan must be a worrisome development for both Russia and China, from the geopolitical perspective. At any rate, on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin telephoned Modi,/strong>. According to the Kremlin readout, they discussed the 'crisis in relations between India and Pakistan' and the Russian leader 'expressed hope for a prompt settlement.' The careful wording hinted that Putin offered to lend a helping hand, jointly with China, to ease the tension. Curiously, the very next day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov telephoned Qureshi in Islamabad -- presumably to follow up on the Putin-Modi conversation -- and offered help to 'de-escalate' the tensions. The Russian foreign ministry readout, cited by the State news agency TASS, says: 'Moscow expressed its readiness to contribute to de-escalating tensions and that there is no alternative to settling all differences between Islamabad and New Delhi by political and diplomatic means.' Importantly, Lavrov also outlined to Qureshi how the de-escalation process can be achieved -- via the mechanism of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. A Xinhua report since highlighted this aspect -- that Lavrov told Qureshi about the 'possibility of using the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Regional Anti-terrorist Structure for this purpose.' Alongside, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova outlined in an important statement on Thursday Moscow's broad approach. Zakharova said: 'We are worried about the escalation of tension in relations between India and Pakistan and dangerous manoeuvres of both States' armed forces along the Line of Control that are fraught with a direct military clash.' 'We are urging the sides to display maximum restraint. We continue to assume that contentious matters should be resolved by political-diplomatic methods on a bilateral basis in line with the provisions of the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration.' 'We reaffirm our readiness to provide all-out support to the Indian and Pakistani efforts in countering terrorism.' From the Indian perspective, this adds up to an extremely positive outcome of the EAM's consultations in Zhejiang with her Russian and Chinese counterparts. This must be EAM Swaraj's finest hour in international diplomacy, as the curtain begins descending shortly on her scintillating stint as India's foreign minister. No doubt, the urgency of 'de-escalation' of the tensions with Pakistan is self-evident. The 'de-escalation' is far from over with the Indian pilot's return. In fact, the tensions on the Line of Control can spiral out of control anytime in the present surcharged atmosphere. Without doubt, the international community -- read the US and NATO allies -- is closely watching. The Afghan endgame is at a most sensitive stage and any eruption of tensions between India and Pakistan will negatively impact the peace process. India should wholeheartedly welcome the Sino-Russian proposal, cast within an SCO framework as far more preferable to the dalliance with the Saudis and the Emiratis -- or, for that matter, any UN intervention. The fact of the matter is that both Russia and China are stakeholders in India-Pakistan normalisation and neither has any hidden agenda in this regard. Of course, Russia and China are like-minded partners for India in the fight against terrorism. On the other hand, unlike in the Cold War era, Pakistan is keen on Eurasian integration, too. 'Rahul is misguided by a handful of family retainers who don't want him to show unrestrained initiative in forming allies.' says Sudhir Bisht. IMAGE: Congress President Rahul Gandhi with the leaders of other Opposition parties at Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's swearing-in, May 23, 2018, Bengaluru. Photograph: PTI Photo A study of the seat-sharing for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, between the serious-minded Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh, looks interesting. The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party coalition have left three seats for Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal, and two seats for the Congress party, while apportioning the rest of 75 seats between themselves. The BSP will fight from 38 seats while the Samajwadis will contest elections from 37 seats in UP. Three things are significant here: One, the young SP leadership has agreed to settle for one seat less as compared to the number of seats given to the BSP. Akhilesh, the former CM who lasted a full-term, has shown enormous political sagacity by giving Mayawati, four-time UP CM, a psychological sense of supremacy. Akhilesh has gone against his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's wishes and formed this coalition with the lifelong rival of his party elders. It goes to Mayawati's credit that she too has shown the accommodating side of her personality by being unusually courteous to the Samajwadi prince-turned-king. The lady who held discussions with senior party leaders and bureaucrats by making them stand in her majestic presence, as she sat on an ornate throne-like chair, is now seen as a reformed, less arrogant leader. Or maybe her show of warmth and affection to Akhilesh is her way of making his father Mulayam squirm more uneasily in his lonely Delhi bungalow. Nothing can anguish the Samajwadi patriarch more than his son kowtowing to his old foe that Mayawati is. Two, between the two of them, Maya and Akhilesh have kept the influential and rich Jat lobby of western UP happy by giving three seats to Ajit Singh, his son and whoever the third person in their party is. Three, by deciding not to field candidates at the two seats considered safe for the mother-son combo of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the SP-BSP has given a signal that though they may not have formed a coalition with the Indian National Congress, yet they retain their respect for the royal family of the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi is a Lok Sabha MP from Amethi and Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli. The BSP-SP joint strategy may not necessarily make them a winning team, but it is visible that both sides have spent several weeks and even months in preparing their blueprint. The two parties appear serious in their preparation for the electoral battle. In sharp contrast, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party initially handed over the control of Uttar Pradesh to his sister Priyanka Gandhi. But minutes after appointing Priyanka as the supremo of UP, Rahul also ensured that he had a scapegoat ready, in case sister dearest failed to achieve anything significant in the elections. The scapegoat is none other than Jyotiraditya Scindia who recently had to eat humble pie when he lost his bid to be Madhya Pradesh chief minister to Kamal Nath. In the current arrangement, Priyanka is said to be responsible for eastern UP and Scindia is apparently responsible for western Uttar Pradesh. However, there is very little enthusiasm amongst Congress workers in western UP about Scindia's appointment. The feeling in the party cadres, whatever little is left of them in western UP, vacillates between feeling amazed and feeling neglected. "What has Scindiaji got to do with us UPwallahs? Didi (referring to Priyanka) is UP-ki-beti (UP's daughter). By giving her charge of eastern UP and giving us Scindiaji, the party has proved that they don't give much importance to our part," remarked a party supporter who regularly throngs 24, Akbar Road in Delhi, the Congress's national headquarters. It is well known that the Congress is more likely to win a few seats in eastern UP, but may fare very badly in western UP and hence, in the event of poor showing by the party, Priyanka will come off less worse than Scindia. Rahul Gandhi's strategy of going into the 2019 elections is a classical case of lack of serious strategy to mount a challenge at the ground level. He seems satisfied by winning followers on Twitter and making significant improvements in providing more meaningful sound bites to the media. The Congress's recent win in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan has given a boost to Rahul Gandhi's image. The Lutyens (how I hate this word!) television channels's know-all gurus who make their assessment of an entire state by talking to the drivers who pick them up from airports in the capital cities of various states, have gone gaga over the coming of age of Rahul Gandhi. They give the entire credit for the assembly election victories to Rahul Gandhi. The fact is that the BJP lost Madhya Pradesh narrowly and Chhattisgarh badly due to the anti-incumbency factor that gathered strength over several terms of BJP governments. In Rajasthan, the BJP lost, but not so badly in spite of a very unpopular Vasundhara Raje regime. A more organised and more motivated Congress should have pummelled the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had it been led by a leader of a calibre higher than Rahul Gandhi. Just as Rahul Gandhi has failed to cobble an alliance with the bigger and more credible Opposition forces in Uttar Pradesh, he is fumbling in West Bengal where he is more inclined to team up with the Left parties as possible allies. In Bihar, having lost Nitish kumar to the BJP, Rahul is willing to play second fiddle to the Rashtriya Janata Dal whose principal leader is going through an agonising spell in jail for various acts of corruption. IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi and Sheila Dikshit, the party's Delhi unit president, at an interaction with students at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, New Delhi, February 23, 2019. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo But Rahul has no qualms about leading a frenzied campaign against imaginary and unsubstantiated charges of corruption against the Narendra Damodardas Modi government. Corruption has ceased to be an issue in new India and Rahul seems to be barking up the wrong tree here. In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress and Nara Chandrababu Naidu look unwilling to team up with one another and in Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao seems so self-occupied that he didn't even have time to set up his own cabinet until this week. In Karnataka, Congressmen seem more intent on sinking H D Kumaraswamy than strategising about 2019. In the tiny state of Delhi, the Congress is in no mood to talk to Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi CM who started his political career by leading an anti-corruption movement against the government that Gandhis remote-controlled for ten long years. Why is it that the regional parties are not able to strike an alliance with the Indian National Congress? The leaders of these regional parties consider themselves far too senior to engage with Rahul Gandhi and even though they may be willing to make the first move, they are not interested in chasing him the way they would chase a Sonia Gandhi who was seen as a truly senior leader of the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi on his part is too far removed from the ground, even though he seems to be travelling a lot these days. He may not be as self-obsessed as he was in the past, but is misguided by a handful of old family retainers who don't want him to show unrestrained initiative in forming allies. All of them are happy in lulling Rahul into a false belief that it is the other parties that need to come to him, begging for alliances. And Rahul remains unenthusiastic to get into the grind of long and tortuous negotiations with the crafty regional satraps. IMAGE: A photograph tweeted by Rahul Gandhi soon after he met Captain Amarinder Singh on March 14, 2017. Photograph: Kind courtesy OfficeOfRG/Twitter Is there a way out for Congress from this current state of flux? I see a glimmer of hope in the growing stature of Captain Amarinder Singh, the chief minister of Punjab. Captain is a very senior politician who is well respected for the way he vanquished the Akali-BJP combine in Punjab in the last assembly elections. He showed enough combativeness in the way he battled, without losing the decorum, with his own party leadership to gain complete command over the state of Punjab. On the issue of nationalism, real, perceived, hyped or politicised, Captain Amarinder has struck the right notes and has earned the respect of all Indians. His nuanced views, not overly religious but sensible statesman-like views, like on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, have gotten him many new followers. Captain Amarinder is a very valuable resource in the Congress party, someone who is senior enough to negotiate deals with the likes of a fiery Mamata Banerjee and a very complicated Chandrababu Naidu. He can be Rahul Gandhi's go-to man and can lead the Herculean task of building alliances for the Congress, all over India. And on the issue of nationalism, something that would dominate 2019, Rahul Gandhi would do well if he listens to this former captain of the Indian Army, than listening to Randeep Singh Surjewala, the man who came third in the recent assembly bye-election in Jind, Haryana. Sudhir Bisht, PhD, author and columnist, tweets at @sudhir_bisht. 'Offensive operations to capture objectives across the LoC to eliminate terrorist launch pads and deny the use of the most dangerous routes of infiltration, are likely to be limited to brigade-level attacks.' 'These limited operations are unlikely to escalate to war across the international boundary,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd). IMAGE: An Indian Army helicopter and tank in coordinated action practice the Air Cavalry concept during the Vijay Prahar exercise at the Mahajan field firing range in Rajasthan, May 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo Now that the war clouds which had appeared on the horizon in the aftermath of the Pulwama suicide attack appear to be drifting away, it is necessary to carry out an assessment of the dangers inherent if a similar crisis occurs in future. Clearly, Pakistan's deep state (the army and ISI) will not give up its employment of terrorism as an instrument of State policy and India has begun to carry the fightback onto Pakistan-controlled territory. The primary source of danger ahead is the fact that India and Pakistan are both nuclear-armed with a long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir and an active LoC. Then United States President Bill Clinton had called Kashmir a 'nuclear flashpoint'. In the mid-1990s, Dr Ashley Tellis, a senior scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington (then with the RAND Corporation), had used the term 'ugly stability' to describe the strategic environment in South Asia. When the war bugles begin to sound in South Asia, the world fears that it will once again witness the spectre of mushroom fireballs lighting up the sky and radiation clouds polluting large swathes of land. Are these fears well founded, or can escalation of conflict to the level of nuclear exchanges be controlled? For three decades since 1989-1990, Pakistan has been waging a proxy war to 'bleed India through a thousand cuts'. Pakistan's deep state employs the military-jihadi complex comprising State-sponsored mujahideen of the LeT, JeM and HM (originally of Kashmiri origin) to launch terrorist strikes against sensitive targets in Kashmir and urban centres in India, often through suicide bombers. Other weapons of choice in this asymmetric conflict include support to several home-grown militant outfits like the Naxals, creating a Hindu-Muslim divide through information operations and social media and economic destabilisation through measures like the circulation of fake Indian currency. The stated aim of the deep state is to wrest Kashmir from India and finish what Pakistan calls the 'unfinished agenda of Partition'. In the interest of avoiding large-scale conflict to give its people and economy an unfeterred opportunity to grow, India has shown strategic restraint and unbounded patience with Pakistan's shenanigans. India opted to confine its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism fightback to its own territory. It has been clear for some time that this strategy has failed to impose sufficient costs on the deep state. At least twice in the past India and Pakistan had come close to war -- when Parliament was attacked by JeM operatives on December 13, 2001 and multiple strikes were launched by the LeT's sea-borne terrorists in Mumbai between November 26 and 29, 2008. The latest round in Pakistan's game of brinkmanship has been the suicide bombing attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama by the JeM. Before that, armed forces bases at Pathankot and Uri had been struck. Public opinion is India had been inflamed by the attack at Pulwama and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi had said that full freedom has been given to the armed forces to retaliate appropriately. Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, denied any involvement and General Qamar Javed Bajwa, its army chief, warned India against any kind of retaliation. India's response came in the shape of trans-LoC air strikes with precision-guided munitions (PGMs) on terrorist training camps. India claimed that substantial damage had been inflicted on non-military targets and the battle lines once again appeared to be drawn. Pakistan retaliated with air strikes, both sides lost an aircraft each and, after an Indian braveheart pilot who had ejected was returned two days, the crisis blew over. How will India handle the next major attack emanating from Pakistani soil? While India may be definitely expected to respond to the attack, the retaliation is likely to be limited to areas across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Operations will in all likelihood once again include air-to-ground strikes with PGMs against terrorist training camps and critical infrastructure across the LoC from stand-off ranges on own side of the LoC. Artillery bombardment of Pakistani army posts, battalion, brigade and division HQ, communications centres, ammunition and FOL dumps, key bridges, terrorist infrastructure and forward helipads may also be expected. These will be supplemented by Special Forces operations and trans-LoC forays by infantry border action team (BAT). Offensive operations to capture objectives across the LoC to eliminate terrorist launch pads and deny the use of the most dangerous routes of infiltration, are likely to be limited to brigade-level attacks. These limited operations are unlikely to escalate to war across the international boundary. Division and higher-level offensive operations and fighter aircraft crossing the LoC to attack targets in depth run the risk of escalation. Public opinion will be assuaged by a proportionate response sustained over a few days that inflicts visible punishment on the Pakistan army, terrorist launch pads and infrastructure. However, escalation is a product of the political guidance given to the armed forces, intelligence assessments, the options open and the means available to the adversary and his senior commander's personality and much will depend on the response of the Pakistan army and air force. During the Kargil conflict, India opted to limit its operations to throw out the Pakistani intruders to its own side of the LoC, as directed by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Pakistan army had avoided escalating the conflict. The Pakistan air force stayed out of the fighting altogether as, in any case, it has few viable options to retaliate in Kashmir. If the Pakistan air force responds to the IAF strikes across the LoC by choosing to hit targets across the international boundary, or, if the Pakistan army crosses the international boundary anywhere into Indian territory, similar Indian retaliation is guaranteed. Retaliatory military operations by India across the international boundary are likely to comprise deep offensive strikes at the level of Strike Corps operations or operations conforming to the Cold Start doctrine -- large number of shallow strikes by division-sized integrated battle groups (IGB) into West Punjab and Sind. These will be accompanied by IAF and attack helicopter strikes across the international boundary on the Pakistan army's strategic reserves, Pakistan air force's airfields, missile launchers, HQ, communications centres, logistics infrastructure and terrorist training centres. Naval operations may be launched against the Pakistan navy. The aim of military operations across the international boundary will be to inflict maximum possible damage on Pakistan's military machine through the employment of massive firepower (artillery, missile, air-to-ground, naval). IMAGE: The Agni-1P, which has a range of 300 km to 700 km, is predominantly Pakistan-focused. Large-scale conventional conflict undoubtedly carries the risk of escalation to nuclear exchanges if Pakistan's nuclear redlines are crossed. Pakistan will not lightly opt for nuclear first use as India is likely to retaliate in accordance with its declared nuclear doctrine, which is massive retaliation. Such retaliation will finish Pakistan as a functional nation State and the Pakistani generals are smart enough to understand this certainty. Hence, if Pakistan finds itself in a hopeless situation on the battlefield -- a situation that the Indian armed forces will refrain from putting it in -- and chooses to escalate to nuclear levels, its response is likely to be graduated. Pakistan may threaten the first use of nuclear weapons against Indian troops that have violated its space redline by penetrating deep inside. This can happen in the fog of war due to wrong assessment of what the redlines are. A bolt-out-of-the-blue counter-force nuclear first strike on targets in the Indian heartland is most unlikely. However, Pakistan would hope that the United Nations security council and the international community will intervene well before nuclear thresholds are reached. And India will carefully calibrate both its initial retaliation and subsequent responses so as not to up the ante to large-scale conventional war-fighting, which would subsequently run the risk of nuclear exchanges. Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) is former Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi. IMAGE: Minister of State for Defence Subhash Rao Bhamre met Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at Army Hospital Research And Referral in New Delhi, on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the Indian Air Force brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said on Sunday. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital in New Delhi. Wg Cdr Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Wg Cdr Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a hero's welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," said a military official. The officials said Wg Cdr Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Wg Cdr Varthaman on Sunday underwent debriefings by security agencies even as his medical check up continued for the second day at the military hospital, officials said. A number of senior IAF officials also met Wg Cdr Varthaman. Wg Cdr Varthaman was debriefed by the security agencies and it will continue for the next couple of days. He also underwent several medical tests as part of a cooling down process, the officials said. No bugs have been found implanted in him during an MRI scan, a source said on Sunday. The security agencies were understood to have been checking for any bugs which could be present in Wg Cdr Varthaman. The scan also showed an injury in his lower spine which could have happened following his ejection from the plane, the source said. He also has a rib injury due to an assault by the Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," a military official said. Wg Cdr Varthaman arrived in the national capital on an IAF flight around 11.45 pm on Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Wg Cdr Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nation's gratitude for his selfless service. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. With ANI inputs. Intelligence agencies were trying to ascertain reports on the social media about the death of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. The officials said they had no information other than that Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000. 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the National Democratic Alliance government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, attack on Pathankot base of the Indian Air Force and the latest Pulwama terror strike. Social media was filled with reports that Azhar had died, but there was no confirmation as of now, the officials said. Jaish terror group's Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the Pulwama terror attack in which 41 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed. The government has claimed that it achieved a spectacular success by destroying the facility. In an interview to CNN, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in Pakistan and is 'very unwell', but said the government can act against him only if India presents 'solid' and 'inalienable' evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. Jaish's 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' brought India-Pak on brink of war twice in 20 yrs Pakistan-based JeM's audacious terrorist strikes, part of its 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' (Holy War Against India), have turned it into one of the most deadly terror groups and brought India and Pakistan on the brink of war twice in two decades, officials said. The most deadly terror strikes of the JeM in the past 20 years include attacks on the Pathankot airbase, the Army brigade headquarters in Uri, the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar and the bombing of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. India and Pakistan were almost on the brink of war in 2001 when the JeM attacked the Indian Parliament, and again now after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF bus in Pulwama, a security official said Sunday. The terrorist group, with close links with Al Qaeda, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in Pakistan on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties, the official said citing an intelligence report. The JeM, which had close links slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was formed after the release of Azhar from an Indian jail on December 31, 1999. Azhar was released along with rouge British secret service MI6 agent Omar Shaikh, who was responsible for the killing The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in January 2002 and the funding of 9/11 terror attacks in the United States with $100,000, the official said. The group carried out a series of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. It killed 30 soldiers in the Valley through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in April 2000, killed three policemen at a bus stand at Batmaloo in Srinagar in June 2000, bombed the J&K assembly on October 1, 2001 in which 31 people died, and attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001 in which nine security personnel and officials were killed. The attack on the assembly took place just three weeks after the 9/11 attacks and the Parliament attack happened a week after bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora caves in Afghanistan. When bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora and the Pakistani army was forced to hold one side of the cordon of these vast caves, JeM became the conduit to bring fighters and their families from Afghanistan into safe havens in Pakistan, run by JeM and another deadly terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, the official said. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the key conspirators of 9/11, housed fleeing Al Qaeda cadres in Karachi, he said. It is widely believed that to help bin Laden flee Tora Bora, JeM carried out attack on Parliament in New Delhi, leading to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan after Indian armed forces were mobilised along the country's western border, another official said. This provided a pretext to the Pakistani army to withdraw much of its forces from its western border, which were in cordon of the Tora Bora caves, thus helping the escape of bin Laden to Pakistan. "It took 10 more deadly years to get Osama bin Laden. This is the nature and capability of JeM. Its activities just do not impact India, but feed on terrorism and has been a major threat to global peace and security," the official said. On November 2, 2005, a few hours before the swearing in of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a JeM suicide squad detonated a powerful car bomb in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, killing 10 people and injuring 18 others. On January 2, 2016, a heavily armed group of JeM attacked the Pathankot airbase in which seven security personnel and a security personnel were killed. The JeM attacked the Uri brigade headquarters on September 18, 2016, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 30 others. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out an aerial attack on the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot in Pakistan, leading to another war-like situation between the two countries. IMAGE: A family member pays tribute to CRPF inspector Pintu Kumar Singh, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists at north Kashmirs frontier Kupwara district, at a ceremony in Patna on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo Two terrorists, five security forces' personnel, including a Central Reserve Police Force officer, and a civilian were killed in a 56-hour encounter in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday. A police spokesman said the operation at Babagund area of Kupwara took time as it posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Two terrorists were killed by security forces in the encounter which began on Friday morning, the police spokesman said in Srinagar. He said bodies of both the terrorists were recovered from the site of the encounter and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The spokesman said a CRPF jawan -- identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav -- who was injured in the exchange of fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday -- taking the number of security forces' fatalities to five. Two CRPF personnel, Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod, and two cops, Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah, were killed in the gunfight on Friday, the spokesman said. He said one civilian, Waseem Ahmad Mir, also sustained bullet injury 'in the nearby area' and later succumbed at a hospital on Friday. The encounter had begun when security forces launched a search operation in Babagund area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of terrorists there. "Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter," he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials have been taken in case records for further investigation, the spokesman added. He urged people to not go near the encounter zone as there could be stray explosives. "People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the spokesman said. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the next kin of each of the two CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the encounter. Expressing profound grief at the death of Vinod Kumar of Ghaziabad and Shyam Narain Yadav of Ghazipur, the chief minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for their families, an official spokesperson said. Adityanath also said that one kin of each of the slain CRPF personnel will be given a government job and one road in their native districts will be named after them, he said. ***** SSB constable among 2 found dead in J-K's Ramban Bodies of two people, including a constable of Sashastra Seema Bal, were recovered on Sunday in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. SSB constable Dinesh Kumar Thakur, a resident of Chhattisgarh, was found dead with head injuries near TCP Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, SHO of the Banihal Police Station Ajaz Wani said. According to preliminary investigation, the jawan had left Srinagar for his home on February 25. Police have registered a case and further investigation is on to ascertain the cause of his death, the SHO said. Another deceased was identified as Surinder Paul, an employee of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). His body was recovered from a stream in nearby Digdole area. Paul, a resident of Pathankot in Punjab, was posted in Ramban, police said, adding that inquest proceedings have been started. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally to launch a Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility, in Amethi, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo In an apparent reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that some people keep giving 'Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaipur, Made in Jaisalmer' speeches but his government has given a reality stamp to 'Made in Amethi'. Modi was addressing a public rally after laying the foundation stone of a factory to manufacture advanced AK-203 rifles in Amethi, represented by the Congress president in Lok Sabha. The guns will be manufactured under an India-Russia joint venture. "Some people keep giving 'Made in Ujjain, Made in Jaipur, Made in Jaisalmer...' speeches but Modi walks the talk. We have made 'Made in Amethi' a reality. "This factory should have come into being 8-9 years ago. But the full potential of the initiative was never realised," he said. "Amethi will be known through the new scheme now. AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles will be manufactured in Amethi, it will Russia and India's joint venture," Modi said, adding people of Amethi are going to script a new history. The prime minister said, "I express my gratitude to my friend and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This venture was made possible in such a short time due to his support." IMAGE: Modi launches Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Nirmala Sitharaman, among others. Photograph: PTI Photo Modi expressed confidence that 'Made in Amethi' AK-203s would be of great help in fighting terrorists and Naxals in the country. Talking about the job opportunities, the prime minister said, "The rifles made here will be exported to other countries also. Job opportunities will be created besides strengthening the economy and country." The prime minister said that previous governments made security forces wait for modern ammunition and fighter aircraft. "Our brave security personnel were made to face the enemy without bullet-proof jackets. Previous governments made our forces wait for modern ammunition and fighter aircraft. "The forces and their needs were neglected. But 2,30,000 bullet-proof jackets for the forces have been bought only by our government," he said. He said, "The factory in Amethi will strengthen the country's defence and security. Lack of modern rifles, lack of jobs have been major hindrances for the forces and also the youth under the previous governments." IMAGE: Modi interacts with Sitharaman during the event. Photograph: PTI Photo Hitting out at the Opposition on the issue of purchase of Rafale fighter jets, Modi said, "They sat on Rafale for years. We are trying to bring in the jets and some people are trying to object to the purchase. "The Supreme Court too is supporting the government's decision on the Rafale deal." Recalling his visit to Amethi with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, "I remember when I came here with Atalji in 1998 it was raining that day. After becoming the prime minister, I have the opportunity to meet you all again." "Amethi is an example of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Those who voted for me and those who did not, are all my people. We have not discriminated Amethi on the basis of election results. "In future, Amethi will not be known by the leaders who come here, but by the developmental projects undertaken here," he added. Modi also unveiled several development projects for Amethi. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014, the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family since long. The Bharatiya Janata Party had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking before Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman credited him for being instrumental in signing of the deal for setting up the plant. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all efforts for this deal. He talked to US President Vladimir Putin about it. We are going to make the world-famous AK-47 assault rifle here," she said, while addressing the rally. IMAGE: Modi, Adityanath, Irani and Sitharaman greet supporters during the rally. Photograph: PTI Photo Sitharaman was here to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the plant which would manufacture AK-203 rifles. Union Minister Smriti Irani, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others were also present on the occasion. The defence minister also alleged that the Ordinance Factory Board unit nearby has been lying idle for the last several years, and attacked Rahul and the previous governments for neglecting Amethi. "Smriti ji said it right. Those who should have been concerned about Amethi did not do anything. With the efforts of PM Modi, now AK-203 modern rifles will be made at Korwa, Amethi. "This is the fruit of the prime ministers efforts made in the last one year," she said. She also said that the establishment of the Defence Industrial Corridor will benefit Uttar Pradesh. "Although Amethi is at a little distance from that defence corridor, we are going to establish the best brand and we are bringing the biggest investment here. "I believe that seven lakh rifles will be produced here," Sitharaman said. "When every Army soldier gets AK-203 rifle, they will remember Amethi. Within three years, all the components of the rifle will be made domestically. "It will be a matter of great pride for Amethi and Uttar Pradesh, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led opposition accusing it of focusing solely on trying to 'finish' him off while he is working to quell terrorism, ensure national security, eradicate poverty and corruption, and generate employment. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses his supporters during Sankalp Rally, at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo Addressing a National Democratic Alliance rally in Patna in the presence of his Bihar allies -- including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan -- Modi came down heavily on opposition for their scepticism over the surgical strikes by the Army post the Uri terror attack, and the air strikes in Balakot after the Pulwama suicide bombing. "Is it appropriate for these parties to speak in a language that suits Pakistan? Leaders of the neighbouring country are using it as a shield to protect themselves against the charge of promoting terrorism. They are clapping gleefully," Modi said. On Saturday, Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had asked the Centre to present evidence of the air strike on terrorist camps in Balakot. He had also congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Before that, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on February 28 said lives of jawans are much more valuable than electoral politics, but the nation has a right to know what actually happened at Balakot following the IAF's air strike. IMAGE: Modi with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during the rally. Photograph: PTI Photo The PM alleged on Sunday the opposition parties were conspiring against him 'while I want to eliminate terror. They are conspiring to finish me off'. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," he stated. Without naming Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has coined the slogan 'chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is thief)', Modi said, "Those who run their political shops in the name of the poor and care for nothing except for their dynasties, are having problems with the chowkidar. But the chowkidar is alert and on the job." Modi also took a veiled dig at jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad, saying, "The people of Bihar have seen a lot in the name of purchase of fodder. Our government has worked for doing away with middlemen who siphon off public money. My heartiest congratulations to Nitish Kumar and (Deputy CM) Sushil Kumar Modi for pulling Bihar out of the dark times." Addressing his first political rally with friend- turned-foe-turned-friend Nitish Kumar, the prime minister showered praise on the Bihar chief minister calling him 'hard working and sophisticated'. "There seems to be a contest among the opposition parties led by the Congress for hurling abuse at the chowkidar. But the people of the country have made up their mind. They are going to punish these parties once again and teach them a few more lessons," Modi said. IMAGE: A huge crowd of NDA supporters participated in the rally. Photograph: PTI Photo The prime minister also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre wants to ensure that all sections of the society gain access to the best of facilities. The NDA government is working on all departments including roadways, railways and airways to improve infrastructure in Bihar, he said. In an apparent repudiation of the allegation that the BJP was against Muslims, Modi spoke about India's rising stock in the eyes of Islamic countries which he said was reflected in the increased quota for Haj pilgrims and Saudi Arabia agreeing to free more than 800 migrants lodged in its jails. He said the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as the guest of honour at the recent Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference exemplified that. "Such an honour was bestowed on India after five decades during which mostly the Congress and its allies were in power. Why the voice of India was not heard in Islamic nations during that period?" Modi asked. Referring to the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Modi said, "I told him that India has a burgeoning middle class and requested for increase in the Haj quota of the country. As a result, the quota has been increased to two lakh people. Such an increase has been made only in the case of India". The PM also said he took up with the crown prince the issue of Indians languishing in Saudi Arabia prisons for minor offences just because they were not familiar with the law of that nation. "He (Mohammed) sought a little time, and later in the evening at a dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan he asked me to have sweets. I wondered, why? He replied 'we have decided to release 850 Indians from jails'." "My government is taking care of the concerns of every section of the society," Modi said. IMAGE: Modi interacts with Union Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan. Photograph: PTI Photo The PM sought to strike an emotional chord with the people of Bihar, paying tributes to the Central Reserve Police Force personnel from the state, who were killed in Pulwama terror attack and shelling by Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmir. He paid homage to CRPF Head constable Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Constable Ratan Kumar Thakur, both victims of the Pulwama attack, and Inspector Pintu Kumar Singh, who died in shelling at Handwara a couple of days ago. In keeping with his style of making the people chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' thrice with raised fists, Modi this time prefixed the evocation with phrases -- 'parakrami bharat ke liye (for the valiant India)', 'vijayi bharat ke liye (for a triumphant India)' and 'veer jawanon ke liye (for our brave soldiers)'. Beginning his 40-minute-long speech with greetings in three local dialects Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi, Modi also remembered the state's legendary figures of the ancient, medieval and modern periods. The prime minister mentioned Buddha, Chanakya, Emperor Ashoka, medieval era bard Vidyapati, 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the 1857 revolt hero Veer Kunwar Singh and Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who is fondly called 'Rashtrakavi'. IMAGE: Modi with Paswan and his son LJP MP Chirag Paswan. Photograph: PTI Photo Modi also paid tributes to political figures like the state's first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha and his deputy Anugraha Narayan Singh, Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan and OBC stalwart Karpoori Thakur, conveying his regard for them cutting across caste lines. Modi also made a special mention of Sulabh International founder and Bihar native Bindeshwar Pathak, in recognition of his pioneering work in eradication of manual scavenging and improving public sanitation. Indian Railways has made Pathak its brand ambassador under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. When it began to drizzle a few minutes after he began his speech, he sought to perk up the restless crowds saying, "Here comes Lord Varuna with his blessings". Lord Varuna is the god of rain in Hindu mythology. Speaking before Modi, CM Nitish Kumar said, People have turned up at the rally in very large numbers. The Lok Sabha polls are impending...I want to assure you 'Pradhan Mantri jee' (Prime Minister) that we will win 40 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the general elections. "This is our Sankalp (resolve)," Kumar said while addressing the rally. IMAGE: BJP supporters wave party flag during the rally. Photograph: PTI Photo Kumar also congratulated the prime minister, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for taking action against terror outfits and those who promote terrorism. He also praised the Modi government and the armed forces for forcing Pakistan to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardhaman. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Radha Mohan Singh, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai, Bihar Janata Dal-United chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh, Bihar minister and state president of Lok Janshakti Party Pashupati Kumar Paras, ministers Mangal Pandey, Nand Kishore Yadav and a host of other NDA leaders also attended the 'Sankalp rally'. Kumar also assured the PM that work on providing toilet facility to every household in the state will be completed by October 2, 2019, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is suffering from an advanced-stage cancer, senior state cabinet minister Vijai Sardesai said in Panaji on Sunday. Sardesai, who heads Bharatiya Janata Party ally Goa Forward Party, is the second member of the cabinet after health minister Vishwajit Rane to talk about the exact nature of Parrikar's illness. While it is known that the chief minister, who has been in and out of hospitals since February 2018, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, his office has not provided any specific information about the illness so far. Speaking to reporters, Sardesai, the town planning minister, said he will meet Parrikar on Monday to thank him for releasing funds for a cemetery and for getting another work sanctioned. "I am going, and get work sanctioned. Once again it is going to show that in spite of suffering from cancer, which is advanced stage of cancer, the CM is working for people," he said. Rane had said Parrikar was suffering from cancer, but it was not confirmed by the Chief Minister's Office. Parrikar, 63, underwent check-up at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Sunday morning. "He was taken to GMCH for a regular check-up and later allowed to go home. His health condition is stable," a CMO official said. He was last admitted to GMCH on February 23 and treated by doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he had undergone treatment earlier. He had also undergone treatment in the United States and at a Mumbai hospital after taking severely ill in February 2018. Since returning from AIIMS, Delhi, in October, Parrikar is mostly confined to his private residence at Dona Paula here where he has held cabinet meetings. KABUL A planned meeting of hundreds of Afghan politicians and tribal, ethnic, and religious leaders aimed at discussing negotiations with the Taliban has been postponed, officials say. The gathering, known as a consultative Loya Jirga, was initially set to be held in Kabul from March 17-20. But sources at Afghanistans High Peace Council (HPC), a government body responsible for reconciliation efforts with the militants, told RFE/RL on March 3 that there was not enough time to hold the event on schedule. Mohammad Amin Waqad, a member of the HPC Executive Committee, said that the Loya Jirga was now expected to gather at the beginning of the new year, which in Afghanistan starts on March 21. The Taliban, which now reportedly controls nearly half of Afghanistan, has so far refused to hold direct negotiations with the Afghan government, calling it a Western puppet. However, it has held a series of direct talks with U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in recent months to put an end to the 17-year war in Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani's special peace envoy said last month that the consultative Loya Jirga will discuss the government's "values and red lines." The meeting will aim to come up with a framework for the Western-backed government in Kabul to engage in peace negotiations with the militant group, Omar Daudzai also said. As international coalition forces seize the last vestiges of territory in Syria under the control of Islamic State militants since 2015, authorities in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia are grappling with a new dilemma. How should they deal with their own citizens both men and women -- who traveled to the Middle East to join the extremist group? And what should they do about the hundreds of children born to such IS fighters and their brides? Trump Says Take Them Back, Put Them On Trial U.S. President Donald Trump has asked European Union countries to take back more than 800 IS (aka ISIS) fighters captured by U.S.-backed forces in Syria in order to put them on trial. The caliphate is ready to fall, Trump tweeted on February 17. The U.S. does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go. Trumps remarks followed a similar call from U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds who warned they dont have the resources to guarantee that captured IS fighters wont escape. Trump specifically called upon Britain, France, Germany, and other European allies to step up and do the job to ensure that captured IS extremists face trial in their countries of origin. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them, Trump tweeted. But in the two weeks since Trump tweeted those remarks, many EU countries have said that captured IS fighters and their family members should be prosecuted where their alleged crimes occurred. That means mostly in Syria or Iraq. The European Commission says more than 42,000 foreign fighters joined terrorist organizations from 2011 to 2016 -- mostly the so-called Islamic State. It says about 5,000 were thought to be from Europe. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has ruled out any EU role in the repatriation dispute. She says the issue is one to be decided by national governments. Britain Revokes Citizenship British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government has said IS foreign fighters should be tried where they are captured and, where possible, in the region where crimes were committed. The case of Shamima Begum, a British-born schoolgirl who fled her home in London in 2015 at the age of 15 to join IS militants in Syria, illustrates how the dilemma is complicated by children born to IS couples. In February, Begum gave birth to a baby boy whose father, an IS fighter, was killed in Syria. After being sent to the Al-Hoq refugee camp in Kurdish-dominated northern Syria, Begum said last month that she wants to return to Britain for the health of her child. But British Home Secretary Sajid Javid has ordered her British citizenship to be revoked and the British government has ruled out any effort to extract Begum and her child from Syria. Meanwhile, since speaking out about her plight, Begum and her son have received death threats from others at the camp forcing authorities to move her to another location closer to the border with Iraq. Begums case is not unique. Two former London residents from an IS cell dubbed The Beatles also have had their British citizenship revoked after being captured in 2018 by U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters. Alexanda Kotey and El-Shafee Elsheik are accused of beheading Western journalists and foreign aid workers in Iraq and Syria for IS propaganda videos. The British government has said it does not want the two returned to the U.K. for trial -- a position opposed by Washington, which insists that terrorists countries of origin keep responsibility for them. Washington also has ruled out sending detained IS fighters to the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where suspected terrorists have been detained indefinitely without trial. Policy Shift In Paris? More than 150 French citizens and their wives are now thought to be held by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria, the largest number of European IS fighters held in the country. Concerned about the risk of repatriated fighters carrying out terrorist attacks in France, Paris has long refused to take back IS militants and their wives. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has called them enemies who pose a threat to the nation. Melina Boughedir, a 27-year-old French woman who joined IS fighters in Iraq in 2015, stood trial in 2018 in an Iraqi court that was fully backed by the French government. Le Drian said it was normal logic for Boughedir to be judged where her actions took place. But Trumps announcement of a pending U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria may prompt a policy shift in Paris. In late January, French authorities said they were considering whether to bring back about 130 French IS fighters and their wives to put them on trial. If the forces detaining these French fighters decide to deport them to France, they would be immediately handed over to the judicial authorities, Le Drian said after Trumps withdrawal announcement. More than a month later, there still has been no apparent progress on French repatriations. As for the children of IS fighters, French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet says decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Berlin's Concerns In Germany, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said it would be extremely difficult to arrange the repatriation and prosecution of all German citizens who fought for IS. Maas says returns would only be possible if authorities can guarantee that these people can be immediately sent to appear in court and that they will not be allowed to go free. Some German authorities have expressed concerns that evidence against repatriated fighters may not be admissible in European courts and could lead to dangerous militants being freed. Germanys Interior Ministry said in February that one-third of an estimated 1,000 German citizens who joined IS in Syria and Iraq since 2013 have returned. Many, it said, have been prosecuted or enrolled in rehabilitation programs. But Syrian Kurdish authorities say Germany is shirking its responsibility to repatriate Germans who joined IS, along with their wives and children. Belgian Court Order A Belgian judge on February 27 overturned a judgment forcing Brussels to repatriate two Belgian brides of IS fighters in Syria, saying the state is not obliged to bring them back. Belgiums Justice Ministry said it still would take in the womens six children and any other IS children who are younger than 10. The Belgian government said the children cannot be punished for crimes committed by their parents. A Belgian court in 2018 convicted both mothers in absentia -- 26-year-old Tatiana Wielandt and 25-year-old Bouchra Abouallal on charges of being members of IS. Like France, Brussels has resisted calls for the repatriation of IS fighters and their wives. But after the court ruling, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said the government intends to repatriate children under the age of 10 whenever possible. Ready To Repatriate North Macedonia was the first European country to carry out a significant repatriation program from Syria and Iraq when it took back and prosecuted seven IS fighters in August 2018. Russia also has repatriated more than 100 children and dozens of IS brides since August 2017. Most IS children were exposed to horrific acts of violence -- including roles in execution videos -- and were desensitized to violence through endless indoctrination and paramilitary training. Human rights activists say Russias repatriation policy calculates that it is better for the children to be raised in Russia by their grandparents than to grow up in refugee camps and, possibly, return to Russia as radicalized adults. But the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation has warned that there is no short-term or long-term strategy for reintegrating returnees to Russia. Instead, regional leaders such as Chechnyas Ramzan Kadyrov are simply using the process to paint a dovish picture of themselves for Caucasian Muslims, it says. Since December, dozens of IS children have been flown to Moscow from Iraq where their mothers are imprisoned as IS extremists. The Kremlin says all of their fathers have been killed on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria. There also has been a steady trickle of former IS fighters and their families returning to their homelands in Central Asia in recent years. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Several hundred Croatian journalists have rallied in the capital, Zagreb, against what they call the curbing of press freedoms and pressure on journalists. The rally on March 2 was organized by the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) in protest over more than 1,100 lawsuits filed against journalists and media outlets in the country. The protesters marched through downtown Zagreb blowing whistles and playing drums. "Enough of persecution of journalists...it has gone on for decades," Hrvoje Zovko, the leader of the HND, told the rally. Zovko accused the government of "behaving ignorantly...and destroying journalism. "We live in a country where one can be condemned for publishing true information," he said. The lawsuits have mainly been filed by politicians and other public figures, with most of them claiming compensation for nonmaterial damages such as "mental anguish" or "tarnished reputation. The issue came into focus after Croatia's public broadcaster, HRT, filed more than 30 lawsuits against its own and other journalists, including Zovko, who complained of censorship. In January, both the International and European Federations of Journalists called on HRT management to drop the lawsuits. Critics say the HRT, which is mainly financed through a monthly license fee paid by users, serves the ruling parties' interests rather than operating as a genuine public service. Based on reporting by AFP and AP Voters in Estonia went to the polls on March 3 to choose the Baltic nation's 101-seat legislature, with Prime Minister Juri Ratas' Center Party likely to receive the most votes. Reuters found early voters casting their ballots in the capital, Tallinn. Estonia has a sizable Russian-speaking minority, with ethnic Russians making up about 25 percent of the population. The opposition liberal Reform party is on track to win Estonia's general election, garnering nearly a 10 percent lead over the center-left Centre Party of Prime Minister Juri Ratas, partial results show. According to results from more than 80 percent of polling stations, the center-right pro-West Reform Party captured 30.3 percent of the vote, followed by the Centre Party, which took 20.9 percent, the official state elections website said. The nationalist, far-right Estonian Conservative People's Party, also known as EKRE, was running third with 17.5 percent. Two parties in the governing coalition, the Social Democrats and Isamaa, took 10.2 percent and 11.7 percent of the vote, respectively. Nearly 1 million people were eligible to vote in the former Soviet republic of some 1.32 million people, with 101 parliament seats up for grabs. Election officials said voter turnout was nearly 60 percent four hours before polls closed. About one-quarter of eligible voters had already cast their votes online. The Center Party has supporters among the ethnic Russians who make up 25 percent of the population. In 2016, Ratas took over as party leader and established a three-party coalition government that took office in November 2016. The Center Party signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party in 2004. Ratas has said the deal is "frozen," but he has refused to rip it up. Russia has kept close watch on the military and security affairs of Estonia and Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania since they became NATO members in 2004, just 13 years after breaking free from the collapsing U.S.S.R. The United States never recognized the Baltic states as Soviet republics. NATO placed a multinational battalion in Estonia in 2017 as it beefed up its presence near Russia's borders after the Baltic state expressed concerns over Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Estonia has seen several high-profile spy cases involving Russia since its 1991 independence. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP The European Parliament has urged Kosovo to withdraw its 100 percent tariff on goods from Serbia to help restart normalization talks between the Western Balkan neighbors. On March 2, David McAllister, the leader of a European delegation visiting the two countries, said the group had brought up the suspension of the tariff during meetings with Kosovar leaders "as the only way to success." Kosovo has said the tariff will be lifted only when Serbia recognizes its sovereignty and stops blocking it from joining international organizations. Belgrade responded by saying the tariff is hurting its businesses and that it will not participate in further dialogue until the measure is lifted. Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, imposed the import tax in November in retaliation for what it called Belgrade's attempts to undermine its statehood. Belgrade has never recognized Kosovos independence, proclaimed in 2008 after a 1998-99 guerrilla war. More than 10,000 were killed in the war, which prompted NATO to launch an air campaign in the spring of 1999 to end the conflict. The United States, a close ally of Kosovo, has also pressed Kosovo to repeal the 100 percent tariff on imported Serbian goods. During a visit on February 27, John Erath, the director for European affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, and the councils Balkans director, Brad Berkley, urged Pristina to withdraw the duties, which have also been placed on Bosnian goods. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said Pristina requires that any negotiations be based on principles of mutual recognition with Belgrade if it is to drop the tariffs. It is our desire that a comprehensive and legally binding agreement between the two countries can be concluded in 2019leading to mutual recognition and Kosovos membership of the United Nations, Haradinaj said in a letter to global prime ministers that he posted on Facebook. With reporting by AP and BalkanInsight At least 20 people have been killed, including several children, as flash floods struck Afghanistans Kandahar Province, UN relief officials say. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on March 2 that floods washed away homes and vehicles after heavy rains hit Kandahar city and surrounding districts. "At least 10 people, including children, are still missing," the UN agency said. "It is anticipated that up to 2,000 homes may have been damaged." It added that severe damage to regional infrastructure was reported. Families hit by the flooding have been evacuated in the region as crews also battle to secure schools, mosques, and government buildings. Abdul Hanan Moneeb, Kandahar's deputy governor, said the flooding was the worst in at least seven years. He said many nomadic herders in the area had their camps and livestock washed away by the floodwaters. The OCHA statement said some 500 Kochi nomadic people were stranded on a riverbank and in urgent need of rescue. Heavy snowfall continues to hamper rescue efforts, officials said. The mountainous region featuring large river valleys is often hit by flash floods as snow melts in the spring and summer. The UN said that about 50 people have been killed so far this year as of February 12 in Afghanistan because of flooding. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters Zurab Japaridze, an offbeat Georgian lawmaker and head of the liberal Pine Cone (Girchi) party, wanted to make a point. So he distributed a sex tape. In fact, sex tapes were his point. Japaridze picked five deputies because of their statements about the need for strict punishment of individuals whose sole crime was receiving a private sex tape. And he sent them a digital video recording from a fake e-mail account. His aim was to shoot holes in recent amendments that have made obtaining and/or spreading recordings of others' private lives a crime punishable by up to eight years in prison. "It is madness to prosecute people based on viewing something that has been placed in the public space, and the Internet is indeed public space," Japaridze said in a February 28 Facebook video revealing his NSFW prank. The use of sex espionage is a well-honed trick dating back at least to the Soviet era. More recently, such tactics have been used in Russia and Azerbaijan. In Georgia, former President Mikheil Saakashvili's administration -- which ruled between 2004 and 2012 -- was accused several times of building up a massive collection of compromising videos featuring members of the opposition, 181 hours of which was publicly destroyed, though many worry hundreds of hours more still exist. Georgia's political landscape was shaken again in early 2016 when, months before parliamentary elections in the Caucasus state of nearly 4 million, a video emerged purporting to show a politician having sex with a man who was not her husband. That was followed by a video threatening to do the same to other politicians and a journalist unless they resigned. In February, Archil Talakvadze, Sopho Kiladze, Vano Zardiashvili, David Matikashvili, and Dimitri Khundadze all received Japaridze's e-mail -- which contained an attachment with video featuring Italian porn star Cicciolina. Reports say Matikashvili was the only lawmaker to open the attachment, and he says he did so together with police he'd summoned after receiving the e-mail on February 26. "I can confirm I opened it. However, the police cybercrime unit was present during the opening," he told the news website tabula.ge. The Interior Ministry refused to comment on the video, its contents, or details of the case when contacted by RFE/RL. Japaridze, who made headlines when he ran campaign ads on the adult video-sharing website Pornhub during his run for the presidency last year, says the new law overreaches, allowing sex files to be used not only as a weapon against those who are on the tapes but also against those who happen to receive such files. Earlier this month, 16 people were arrested for receiving, saving, or forwarding a private video of legislator Eka Beselia through social networks and mobile applications. Beselia, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, became the target of what she called a "moral terror" campaign after video of her personal life, apparently taken without her knowledge, was released. One of the accused said they received the file of Beselia and opened it briefly but neither fully downloaded it nor saw its contents. A second said that after receiving the e-mail she forwarded it to two friends. Three of the 16 remain in pretrial detention, while the others are free on bail as they await a court investigation. Questions have arisen as to why these 16 people were arrested even though the videos in question were received by many others as well. Japaridze and others have pointed out that most of the 16 are young activists or opposition supporters, including of Girchi in some cases. "Nobody is required to recognize politicians, and if they view some pornographic materials, they should not be required to identify that politicians are involved and then go, 'Ah, so this is a politician. I guess I should call the police,'" Japaridze said. "No one should be required to call the police because of that." An Indian government minister says New Delhi will not share proof that a large number of militants were killed in a compound inside Pakistan late last month, after Islamabad raised doubts that any insurgents were harmed in the air strike. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, a top ally to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on March 2 said that "no security agencies ever share operational details." "It's a very irresponsible stand," Jaitley told a news conference. India on February 26 launched what it called a preemptive air strike against Pakistan-based militants following a suicide bombing in India-administered Kashmir earlier in the month that killed at least 41 Indian paramilitary personnel. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e Muhammad (JeM) militant group claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack. India said the raid against the compound used by JeM killed "a very large number" of militants, with some estimates reaching 400. Pakistani officials dismissed the claims that the site was a terror base, saying Indian aircraft had dropped their bombs in a wooded area, causing no damage or casualties. Pakistani officials and some Indian opposition leaders have asked New Delhi to share evidence of the results of the strike. "The armed forces must have, and our security and intelligence agencies must have, a full leeway in dealing with situations, and if anybody wants operational details to be made public...he certainly does not understand the system," Jaitley said. Indian Air Force officials have said it was up to political leaders to decide if evidence of the strike is made public. Tensions and violence have resumed between the two bitter rivals after potentially hopeful signs emerged that the latest crisis over the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir was easing. On March 1, Pakistan released a captured Indian pilot in what its prime minister said was a peace gesture. That came after Pakistan's military said its air force shot down two India Air Force jets in its airspace and captured a pilot on the ground in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on February 27. India confirmed the loss of one of its MiG-21s and the capture of its pilot. It said it also foiled an attack by Pakistan warplanes over Kashmir and shot down one Pakistani plane. Islamabad denies any of its aircraft were shot down. However, Indian and Pakistani forces continued their fierce artillery barrages across the Line of Control (LoC) that acts as a de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region, with several deaths. The United States and other global powers, including China, have urged both sides to exhibit restraint to prevent a major conflict from breaking out between the two nuclear nations. Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both sides claim all of the Muslim-majority divided territory. With reporting by Reuters and AP At the start of February, a fire killed five girls, aged 3 months to 13 years, in their home in Kazakhstans capital, Astana. It happened when both parents had to work overnight. The tragedy released the frustrations of many people in Kazakhstan who struggle to support large families. Mothers of such families led protests, calling for greater benefits and less paperwork from a government that has for years encouraged large families in the sparsely populated country. As has happened before in Kazakhstan, other issues were added to the initial cause of discontent and as the second half of February started, there were even some scattered calls for Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev to leave office. In response, on February 21, Nazarbaev told the government to resign. A new prime minister was named and shortly after more than $3 billion was promised for greater benefits and wages and infrastructure projects. On this week's Majlis podcast, RFE/RL's media-relations manager, Muhammad Tahir, moderates a discussion on this whirlwind of activity in Kazakhstan in February and where it all might be leading in the coming months. Former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan William Courtney participated in the discussion from Moscow. From Washington, D.C., Erica Marat, an associate professor at the National Defense University and author of The Politics Of Police Reform: Society Against The State In Post-Soviet Countries, joined the Majlis. From Glasgow University, our longtime friend Luca Anceschi, professor of Central Asian Studies, took part in the session. And, naturally, I had something to say, too. Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes. An antigovernment protest took place in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, on March 2. The number of protesters was estimated at more than 10,000. The protesters were calling for the resignations of President Milo Djukanovic and other government and judiciary officials, whom they accuse of turning a blind eye to corruption. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel and Russia have agreed to establish a joint team to advance the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria. Netanyahu made the announcement on March 3, days after he visited Moscow to try to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin that Iran must not be allowed to establish a presence in Syria. Russia and Iran have given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crucial military and diplomatic backing throughout the eight-year war in Syria, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. Israel has pledged to stop Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, carrying out hundreds of air strikes there against what it describes as Iranian targets in Syria and those of allied militia, including the Lebanon-based Shi'ite militant group Hizballah. Addressing a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that he and Putin had agreed on a common goal: the withdrawal of foreign forces that arrived in Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. We agreed to establish a joint team to advance this goal, together with other elements," the Israeli prime minister added. Netanyahu did not elaborate, and Russian officials had no immediate comment. The Israel prime minister also said that he had made unequivocally clear that Israel will not allow the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria and will continue to take military action against it." In recent months, Assads forces, supported by Moscow and Tehran, have regained vast territory in the war-torn country from rebel groups and Islamist militants. The White House said last month that the United States will withdraw the bulk of its forces from Syria, leaving 400 troops in the east of the country, where Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are battling the last pocket held by fighters of the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Turkey, which is backing differing antigovernment forces, has said that it wants to move in coordination with Russia to establish what it called a "safe zone" in northern Syria. The Israeli and Russian militaries have established a hotline to avoid accidental clashes with Russia. But 15 Russian servicemen were killed in September when Syrian forces accidentally shot down their plane while responding to an Israeli air strike, straining ties between Russia and Israel. With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters A new photo of prominent Iranian opposition figures Mir Hossein Musavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard -- who have been held under house arrest for the past eight years -- has emerged on social media in the country. The photo was reportedly first published on March 3 on the messaging app Telegram by the opposition Kalameh website. It was widely shared on social media, including by the reformist Etemadonline news site, which posted the photo on its Twitter account without an explanation. The photo was not published on the Etemadonline website. Many journalists and activists inside the country also shared the photo, as well as a video where Mir Hossein is seen praying. The video was reported to have been recorded at the house of Musavis sister. Reports say authorities have in past months allowed Musavi and his wife to meet with close relatives. Authorities have banned media from publishing their images after they were put under house arrest in 2011. Musavi and reformist cleric Mehdi Karrubi emerged as opposition leaders during Iran's disputed 2009 presidential election. Musavi, 77, and Karrubi, 81, as well as Rahnavard, 73, a university professor, were placed under house arrest in February 2011 after repeatedly challenging Iranian authorities over the disputed vote and human rights abuses. Iranian President Hassan Rohani has faced criticism from reformists over failing to free the three despite 2013 and 2017 campaign promises. The U.S. State Department condemned the continued arrest of Musavi, Rahnavard, and Karrubi last month on the anniversary of their house arrests, while calling for their release. We demand their immediate release and the release of all prisoners of conscience," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a February 14 statement. With reporting by AP Yannis Behrakis, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 58. His death on March 3 was confirmed by his employer, Reuters, where he had worked since 1987. For 30 years, Athens-born Behrakis covered many of the most tumultuous events around the world, including conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Chechnya, a huge earthquake in Kashmir, and the Egyptian uprising of 2011. "My mission is to tell you the story and then you decide what you want to do," he once said in discussing the European migrant crisis. "My mission is to make sure that nobody can say: 'I didn't know'." His pictures won international awards, including the World Press Photo in 2000 and Photographer of the Year by The Guardian in 2015. Behrakis led a team of Reuters photographers to the 2016 Pulitzer Prize, covering the refugee crisis. "His pictures shaped the very way in which we perceived events, from the war in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone to the refugee crisis and the Arab Spring, Greece's foreign press association said. In a message posted on Twitter, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised Behrakis for highlighting the plight of refugees. Mourning photographer @yannisBehrakis, who helped us remember a fact most obvious but frequently forgotten - that fleeing refugees are above all human beings in danger and distress, Grandi said. Antigovernment protesters marched in the streets of Serbia's capital, Belgrade, for a 13th consecutive Saturday on March 2. Stickers containing quotes by President Aleksandar Vucic -- which the protesters said were his unfulfilled promises -- featured prominently in the protest. Tens of thousands are estimated to have been joining the rallies, which were initially held in condemnation of a November 23, 2018, assault on Borko Stefanovic, the leader of the opposition Serbian Left party. U.S.-backed forces battling Islamic State (IS) in eastern Syria are reported to have advanced into the last area the extremist militants control. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on March 2 that they were advancing on two fronts at Baghuz in the province of Deir al-Zor. Zana Amedi, an SDF commander, told the AP that "an active ground force" is advancing into IS-held territories as the extremists resort to sniper fire and booby traps. AP reports that two helicopters for the U.S.-led coalition were seen circling the area of fighting around noon on March 2. A loud explosion later was heard from a distance and thick black smoke billowed into the sky, apparently a coalition air strike. The SDF on March 1 resumed military operations to liberate the last piece of territory held by IS in Deir al-Zor after evacuating thousands of civilians and hostages who had been besieged inside. U.S. President Donald Trump said on February 28 that the IS has lost "100 percent" of the territory it once controlled in Syria, but officials estimate there are hundreds of militants left in the small patch of territory in Baghuz, and that they will likely fight till the end. In a separate development on March 2, a Syrian war monitor and a news agency of an Al-Qaida-linked group say militants have shot dead eight men suspected of being IS fighters in Syrias Idlib Province. Ebaa news agency, which is linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, said the executions were in response to an IS suicide bomb attack at a restaurant in Idlib a day earlier. Ebaa said the men were shot dead in front of the restaurant where the attack occurred. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the shootings outside the restaurant. Although IS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham subscribe to hard-line jihadist ideology, they have opposed each other for years. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters Authorities in the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula have released the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the region after briefly detaining him, a Russian lawyer says. The reason for the arrest on March 3 is not clear. Archbishop Klyment was detained at a bus station in the Crimean capital of Simferopol, according to a press statement by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Klyment confirmed his arrest in a phone call with AFP during which he said he was speaking from a police station in Simferopol. Police did not tell him why he was being held, he said. Hours later, Russian lawyer Nikolai Polozov wrote on Facebook that Klyment had been released without charges. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kateryna Zelenko had earlier voiced concern over Klyments detention and what she called religious freedom violations on the Crimean Peninsula. "Russian occupants continue their systematic attack on Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Crimea," Zelenko tweeted. The detention came weeks after the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was granted independence, or autocephaly, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine. Russia long opposed such efforts by the Ukrainians for an independent church, which intensified after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and began supporting separatists shortly thereafter in parts of Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Klyment, who heads the Orthodox mission to help victims of human rights violations and persons deprived of their freedom, said last month that Crimean authorities were set to revoke a lease on his church because he failed to register the parish in the Russian Federation. He reportedly planned to attend court hearings on the case of a Ukrainian citizen in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Pavlo Hryb, who is facing charges of abetting terrorism, has denied any wrongdoing. His father has argued that the case was Russian retaliation for Internet posts that were openly critical of Russia's interference in Ukraine. The European Union has called on Moscow to release Hryb and other Ukrainian citizens illegally detained both in Russia and in Crimea. With reporting by AFP Government vows to continue Riviera Maya sargasso battle Riviera Maya, Q.R. Officials from Cancun to Tulum continue to fight the issue of sargasso that has begun to arrive on state beaches. The continual abundance of the sea weed remains a critical issue for the state as the sargasso slowly returns to the region. Playa del Carmen mayor Laura Beristain is one of the officials who participated in a recent meeting with businessmen and environmental scientists to discuss alternative methods to control the sargasso. Photo: Riviera Maya News Centro Playa del Carmen Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez was also at the meeting along with the Federal Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco, to discuss the problem and attempt to find a solution. The management of sargasso is an issue that concerns us all. It is important to establish better control strategies every day for this environmental phenomenon, Torruco explained. Laura Beristain also stressed the importance of maintaining constant communication and meetings to find solutions that can be effective in the short, medium and long terms as well as financially feasible. She says that the municipality of Solidaridad has participated in the analysts of 13 projects which were presented in January to counteract the seaweed reaching municipal shores. Councilor of the Hotel Association of Cancun, Jose Chapur emphasized that what is definitive is that there will not be one single company that can take care of the sargasso from Tulum to Punta Cancun. Photo: Riviera Maya News Rolls of sea mesh You have to see which companies can qualify and which are open to guarantee results because there are many that have come and put a mesh in the sea and the mesh cannot support the amount of arriving sargasso, he explained. Officials from Puerto Morelos have also been discussing ways to win the battle against the unwanted seaweed. President of the Hotel Association of Cancun and Puerto Morelos, Roberto Cintron says that they continue to work on ways to deal with the sargasso, and that all the experiments done in the zone were presented based on trial and error. Photo: Riviera Maya News Centro Puerto Morelos Photo: Riviera Maya News Playa Santa Fe at Tulum Meetings are being held between all levels of government after an environmental forecast foresaw a larger amount of sargasso heading for the region this season. The latest anti-sargasso meeting was headed by Secretary Miguel Torruco who presented and approved an action plan that sustains short, medium and long term measures to face this problem, noting that the arrival of seaweed affects not only tourism, but also the marine and coastal ecosystems since decaying sargasso is very acidic. Updated: 12:34 p.m. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palins endorsement helped Rep.-elect Paul Gosar (R) win a seat in Congress, and now hes rewarding the man who introduced the pair with a plum staff position. Gosar, who unseated Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) in Arizonas 1st district, has named retired dentist Rob Robinson as his chief of staff. Robinson left his son in charge of his Wasilla, Alaska-based dental practice to move to Arizona in 2009 and become Gosars campaign manager, treasurer and chief adviser. Gosar told Roll Call that Robinson introduced him to Palin. Robinson got to know Palin from being politically active in their 7,000-population town, where Palin served as mayor. I know he was very involved in the politics in Alaska and very involved in the politics of Wasilla, Gosar said. Gosar and Robinson are colleagues in the American Dental Association. Both have served as officers of the groups Council on Government Affairs. Gosar first announced his intent to run for Congress at the associations 2009 national conference in Washington, D.C. Botswana said it will begin new diamond marketing and sales negotiations with De Beers in June or July this year. Mineral resources minister Eric Molale told Rough & Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa on the sidelines of a mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa that he cannot divulge what the southern African nation would put on the table during the negotiations. However, reports suggested that Gaborone wanted to boost its share of independently marketed and sold rough to 30% from the current 15%. Botswana, as speculated, also wanted to be heavily involved in setting rough prices for its goods, which are currently decided almost singlehandedly by De Beers. The current sales agreement would come to an end in March 2021. The agreement, among other things, saw De Beers agreeing to shift its diamond aggregation and sightholder sales to Gaborone from London. Below are excerpts from the interview. When are you going to commence negotiations for a new marketing and sales agreement with De Beers? They are going to start this year in June or July. What is the time frame for the negotiations? We normally want them to conclude before the end of the running agreement. The running agreement concludes in 2021 in March. So, I think by the end of 2020 we will be having an agreement in place waiting for it to immediately take off after the conclusion of the one that is running now. What are your demands for the next marketing and sales deal? No! no! That I wont tell you (laughs). You dont go hunting with rattles on. You go swiftly and stealthily, dont you? But are you looking at extracting any big concession from the upcoming negotiations? The purpose of negotiations is for each part to see each partys point and we are saying De Beers must see our point when we put issues on the table. You scored big in the current agreement, are you looking at doing the same again? Well, well we are going to negotiate my friend (laughs). The current profit split is 81% for Botswana and 19% for De Beers. What more do you want to extract from De Beers? You have to know what you have, what you are doing and how much of it and what potential exists... For instance, we know that the minimum at which De Beers can continue to exist comfortably and profitably is if the profit split is 97% to 3%. They will still exist with 3%, but we are people and trying to say to them, look this is for all of us. We know as our partners they have developed technology that helps us dictate natural diamonds from synthetics. They have advanced technology, so they also have leverages. When we say negotiate it means you talk, you want quietly to have the longer end of the stick, but they also want to have the longer end of the stick You rattled them (De Beers), are they not worried? No, they are not worried, for a long time we have been talking this thing. Its not that we made a scoop in the past negotiations. I have been in the industry sincefrom the government side so we have been softening them to know that one day they will have to come back to Africa to do diamond trading in Africa and they were aware of that. They were amenable to that, but there are other things that are still available that we are going to talk about. There were reports that Zimbabwe was planning to add value to its stones in Botswana before they go under the hammer. How far true is this? Well, we are talking with the Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe is part of the Kimberley Process, and you know the Marange alluvial field is a sizeable deposit and would want them to come and be part of the trading centre in Botswana. They have actually asked us to put their diamonds in a state that they can be saleable, so we are doing that for them as a way of saying, see, we can do good for you guys, come over here. When did this start? I think late last year, but its for a small fee, though. You talked about the Kimberley Process and there has been talks about the change of definition of conflict diamonds to include issues of human rights, what is Botswanas position on the issue? Well, Botswana always cherishes the principle of human rights and individual freedoms, minerals or no minerals. So even as we go into mining we continue to cherish that, for instance, if we find diamonds in your ploughing field, we dont chase you away, we sit-down with you and say, the diamonds under your field are ours so we want you to be considerate and move so we can mine these diamonds because we all own them. Then we will compensate you in accordance with the requirements of the constitution. Your country and Russia competed to become the vice chair of the Kimberley Process, but eventually the Russians emerged victorious (interrupted) No, we are nice guys, we had to give way for the second time for the Russians because they said they couldnt remember when we gave way for them 10 years ago and we said we hope next time you will remember we gave way for you. This is a one-year affair, so we are not in a hurry to take over the chairmanship. We are leaders in the diamond industry, so we are not in a hurry to take the KP chairmanship. However, we subscribe to it fully and we are going to participate fully. Is it true that there is a diamond deposit as big as Jwaneng that was discovered in Botswana? Yes, there is. Where? No! [All I can say] its in Botswana (laughs). Do you think that rare-earth minerals will be as big as diamonds in Botswana? They will become bigger than coal as coal has become a pariah of the world. We have coal in abundance but try to touch it, nobody will finance you or if they finance you they will charge you rates that will leave you discouraged.[However] with the rare earth minerals you dont have to mine large quantities, all you have to do is have substantial quantities that you can beneficiate and export. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Mountain Province Diamonds announced revenue uplift based on higher realized diamond prices Mountain Province Diamonds announced the results of its most recent December 2021 diamonds sale, as well as the aggregate sales results for the fourth quarter of 2021. During the most recent December 2021 sale, 388,573 carats were sold for total proceeds... Sarine names Matthew Tratner GM and VP of North American operations Matthew Tratner will be joining the Sarine group as General Manager and Vice President of Sarine North America Inc. Tratner will be based in New York City at Sarines North America. Debswana boosts diamond sales Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, has recorded a 73% increase in sales in the first nine months of 2021 mainly due to the reopening of U.S. and China's consumer markets. Indias gold trade deficit widens as gold import shoots up Indian households are once again hoarding gold, pushing up the import bill and widening the trade deficit. The countrys trade deficit widened to $122 billion in April-November 2021, as gold imports shot up despite its still elevated prices. Three buildings have been destroyed by the Bunyip fire, including two homes in the Garfield North area, near the Bunyip State Park, south-east of Melbourne. Hot temperatures and strong winds challenge firefighters battling the blazes. Its a dangerous time, putting it bluntly, not just for communities but for firefighters, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said. It gets to a point where were not prepared to put our firefighters in danger, he added. The latest fire emergency warnings for the Bunyip blaze cover a large area and take in about 30 communities including Bunyip, Cornucopia, Garfield, Garfield North, Gentle Annie, Labertouche, Drouin and Jindivick. The fire has already burned through almost 6,300 hectares. Another emergency warning issued at 9:00am remains current for the other main fire at Budgeree and Yinnar South. An emergency warning is also current for Dargo, in Victorias far east. Another fire continues to burn at Licola in the Alpine National Park. The power transmission lines to Melbourne which could be in the path of the fire. Mr Crisp said the battle to fight the fires would likely continue for a number of days. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) A senatorial candidate who co-founded a group staunchly supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte wants his predecessor to be charged over the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine. Inutos ni Noynoy Aquino na i-vaccinate ang one million children. If that's the case then the responsibility and onus lies (sic) on him and he has to answer for this, Antonio "Butch" Valdes said during CNN Philippines third Senatorial Forum on Sunday. Valdes said that more people need to be indicted over the Dengvaxia vaccine, which he said was administered to children even if it was obviously not fully tested. Valdes is a co-founder of the Citizen National Guard, a group supportive of Duterte which has vowed to fight those it perceives to be true enemies of the nations, including "yellowtards" or supporters of the Liberal Party, the political party of former President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III. The Justice department has found probable cause to charge former Health Secretary Janette Garin and other officials from the Health department, the Food and Drug Administration, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide over the dengue vaccine mess. However, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair Richard Dick Gordon said that the Justice department should also recommend charges against former President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III and former Budget Secretary Butch Abad. Gordon also said that there is not enough evidence for the Justice department to indict Garin and other officials for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide because there is not enough evidence to link Dengvaxia to the deaths of the children who received the vaccine. Sanofi Pasteur insists that Dengvaxia had undergone all clinical trials before it was approved for release to the market. The anti-dengue vaccine has been pulled out from Philippines shelves following the controversy, even if the European Union has approved it for use in dengue endemic countries. Dengvaxia was administered to over 800,000 schoolchildren before Sanofi Pasteur disclosed that it can cause severe disease among those who have not yet been infected with dengue. A driver hit a total of eight people between the 3400 block and the 3200 block of Esplanade Avenue. Photographs of the scene showed mangled bikes along the side of the street.Two people, a man and a woman both about 30 years old were killed and six injured after being struck by the vehicle. The injured ranged in age from 28 to 65. Three of the five people brought to the hospital were in critical condition. After the incident the driver ran to a nearby corner and laid down on the sidewalk where he lost consciousness. Bystanders in the area were the ones who stopped the driver. Later he asked whether he had killed anyone. The suspect had been arrested and charged with nine counts, including two of vehicular homicide. The suspect was tested to determine whether he was intoxicated. His identity was not released. Authorities investigating the incident gathered footage from security cameras.The incident happened not far from the Endymion parade, one of the citys biggest Mardi Gras parades. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Motihari/Jamui (Bihar), Mar 3 (PTI) The BJP on Saturday blamed former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the continuing crisis in Jammu and Kashmir and charged the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime for its "inadequate response" after the 26/11 Mumbai attack. "(Vallabhbhai) Patel had been entrusted with integrating more than 500 princely states and he did that without creating any problems. Rulers of Hyderabad and Junagadh had tried to be defiant, but they fell in line and now we have no problems in these places," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. "Compare that with what Nehru did in Jammu and Kashmir, which he handled on his own. Its ruler (Raja Hari Singh) acceded voluntarily. Yet, the region is plagued by problems after more than 70 years," Adityanath said. Advertisement The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was speaking at a function in Bihar's East Champaran district after laying the foundation stone for an agricultural training institute named after Patel, the country's first home minister.The chief minister said things would be different under the "decisive leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The seemingly impossible was made possible when Wing Commander Abhinandan (Varthaman) was let off by Pakistan without India having to make the smallest compromise." "Earlier, the nation used to put up with the humiliation of terrorists harboured across the border striking here at will. Now, our forces punish them by carrying out surgical strikes," Adityanath said. At a function in Jamui district, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal lauded Modi for giving a free hand to the armed forces after the Pulwama attack. "Compare Modi's leadership with the weak-kneed response that the previous Congress-led UPA government had displayed when Mumbai was laid siege to for more than two days (in 2008) by a handful of terrorists from Pakistan, who killed more than 100 people, including some of our brave police officers," Goyal said. The Union minister laid the foundation stone for a new rail line, besides flagging off a weekly Humsafar Express that will connect Patna to Bengaluru. Amit Shah Umaria, Mar 3 (PTI) Polls should be held to make India and its economy strong, to give Pakistan a befitting reply and not to fulfil the desire of a 'prince' to become the prime minister, BJP chief Amit Shah said here on Saturday in a veiled attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Shah, addressing BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rally here, slammed the opposition for raising doubts over the recent air strike on the terrorist camps in Pakistan. "Polls should be held to make the country and its economy strong and to give Pakistan a befitting reply and not to fulfil the desires of ageing leaders and a family's prince to become the prime minister," he said. On the Indian Air Force's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp early Tuesday, Shah said, "The opposition is doing politics by raising doubts over the recent air strike on Pakistan-based terrorist camps." Advertisement He criticised Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over the issue. "During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule, maximum number of terrorists were eliminated in the country," he said.Shah also blamed the Congress for the delay in the implementation of the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) for the ex-servicemen and creation of the National War Memorial. Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial, adjoining the iconic India Gate complex in New Delhi, on Monday, nearly 60 years after it was mooted to honour the fallen soldiers after Independence. Nirmala Sitharaman With Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu called up Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and emphasised on the determination to strengthen Indo-Ruassian military cooperation. He also expressed his condolences over the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. "Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoygu called Smt @nsitharaman. Over the telecon, he expressed condolences for the Pulwama attack and emphasized on the determination to strengthen Indo-Russian military cooperation (sic)," the defence minister's official Twitter handle posted. By Cheng Si in Beijing and Yang Jun in Guiyang | China Daily | Updated: 2019-03-03 07:17 Hot spring attractions in Guizhou, a relatively undeveloped province in southwestern China, witnessed a boom in tourist arrivals during last month's Spring Festival holiday. Guiyang, the provincial capital, received about 6.1 million visitors during the seven-day break, up 23 percent year-on-year. More than 44,000 visits were made to the hot spring resorts in the city's Wudang district, Guiyang's culture and tourism bureau said. Chen Bo, deputy general manager at the Wanxiang Hot Spring Resort in Guiyang, said it received 18,000 visitors during the break, up 20 percent year-on-year and the most in any seven-day period since it opened in March 2017. by Nathaniel Prime Sat Mar 02, 2019 2:53 pm Motto: "Scale is also like Starscream in the G1 movie in that it's bad comedy." Weapon: Fusion Cannon Thank you for all the wonderful things you have brought to us, and I hope you rest well and happy. One's red one's blue sometimes I want to ask god why he's played this cruel joke on us BERLIN - The European Union is ready to give the United Kingdom more guarantees that the Irish "backstop" is only intended to be temporary, the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator said on Friday. "We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU," Michel Barnier said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt newspaper to be published on Saturday. "This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary." History Professor Stephen Cole thought he was on top of the cheating problem thats so prevalent on college campuses. As many instructors do, he requires students to submit their papers to a website that checks whether they contain plagiarized material. If so, they get an F. By his own admission, Cole, who teaches at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, was naive. Soooo naive. He discovered the hard way that students are cheating in a way he never imagined: They buy custom-written papers. I really didnt know that individual papers were being commissioned, he said. That was astonishing to me. Contract cheating is todays booming classroom con. Shadowy online companies employ people who write your essay for a fee, take your online class even do your doctoral dissertation. Search on any of those terms, and the paid enablers pop up. Or theyre happy to come to you: through Facebook, Instagram or ads plastered on the college bathroom wall. A study in the Journal of Educational Studies estimated the size of the nefarious industry at $100 million in 2014. Today, its more than doubled in size, estimates Turnitin, the Oakland company credited with successfully confronting the problem of traditional plagiarism over the last 20 years. Students submit assignments to class through Turnitins software, which compares the papers against material on the internet and against millions of papers in its database, then calculates how likely it is the paper contains cribbed material. Other anti-plagiarism software has since sprung up, as have free versions. Now, Turnitin is set to release a product this month called Authorship Investigate, which the company says will be the first to successfully tackle contract cheating. The new software compares the nuances of an academic paper against the authors prior work using a variety of techniques, including the science of forensic linguistics, said Bill Loller, Turnitins vice president for product management. There are hundreds of discrete things that are unique about a persons writing, Loller said. How you use hyphens, for example. Chances are, the many websites peddling academic fakery arent giving deep thought to hyphens. I offer original, custom made, plagiarism free essays writing service. I can write your papers, do your presentations, discussion questions, labs, and final exam too, declares a site called LindasHelp that further reels in students with a 20 percent limited time discount. Other sites invite students to auction off their assignment to the lowest bidder. Thats what one of Coles students recently did on HomeworkForYou.com. A screenshot of that students bidding war suggests the site originates outside the United States because the month-and-day format is reversed: Date posted: 21/11/2018. Due Date: 28/11/2018. The student attached two assignments, each from a different class taught by Cole. One assigned a 1,500-word essay on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet A. Jacobs in 1861. The other called for 1,200 words on one of 16 European films and asked students to explain how the film expressed themes of modernity we have talked about this semester and other prompts. Under Willing to Pay, the student wrote: $35 and requested 4 pages for each file please. A bidder called GreatContentWriter offered $35 to write the papers, while Thetutor wouldnt do it for less than $50. Wittywriter bid $30. In all, 32 bidders competed, proposing, on average, $34.94 to complete both assignments. But unlike most cheating customers, Coles student skipped one key step: scrubbing the assignments of identifying features. The students name didnt appear. But the name of the professor and the university did. Holy s! Cole said when a reporter informed him of the students activity. It didnt take long for the professor to realize that only two students were enrolled in both classes. Weeks later, Cole would say only that hed dealt with the problem. The Chronicle contacted numerous sites requesting comment, but none responded. Contract cheating is not a victimless crime, writes Cath Ellis, associate dean of education at the University of New South Wales, in Australia, who studies the industry. Imagine the damage that could be done by a nursing or dentistry student who contracts someone else to do all their university work for them, Ellis blogged in January. Then consider aviation students training to be pilots or engineers and architects who go on to build massive structures. No occupation is free of risk if graduates have outsourced some or all of their learning to others, Ellis said, noting that cheaters are also open to blackmail from the very people, unscrupulous by definition, who did their work for them. Of 71,300 undergraduates surveyed between 2002 and 2015 by the International Center for Academic Integrity, 68 percent admitted to some form of cheating. Of 17,000 graduate students, 43 percent said they cheated. Theoretically, a student could pay someone to take their entire degree for them, said Tricia Bertram Gallant, who serves on the centers board and directs UC San Diegos Academic Integrity Office. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. To detect contract cheaters, Turnitins new tool assigns each paper a basic readability score. If the same student is doing the work, the score should be similar. Papers transmitted electronically also pick up subtle footprints: file names, author names and time stamps. Its called metadata. Again: same student, similar metadata. But if the tool detects that one papers file name is, say, Remaking the World, then discovers the file name of a subsequent paper is order_code_8200, thats a red flag. People doing cheating arent the best or the brightest, Loller said. Theyre cheating but theyre not very good cheaters. They dont think it through. Like Coles cheating student, whose school and professor names lay open to view, they make mistakes. Turnitins new tool also examines writing style. Not whether the writer is fond of references to Shakespeare, but whether the papers routinely use a single space or a double space after a period. Or whether they rely on the Oxford comma. The company works with experts in forensic linguistics for clues about clues. The tool then issues a report so that professors can consider whether a preponderance of evidence indicates the student got someone else to write the paper. If so, Loller said, its pretty easy to get to a confession. Cole said that while the technology sounds promising, he has reservations. This cheating-industrial complex seems to be endlessly adaptive, he said. Im not sure any technology can disrupt that knot of laziness, anxiety and deceit. Which gets to a point made by ex-writer-for-hire Dave Tomar, whose 2012 memoir, The Shadow Scholar: How I Made a Living Helping College Kids Cheat, describes his 10 years penning other peoples papers. We all know that students cheat, but do we know why? Tomar wrote. Until we can answer that question with any kind of confidence, we cant even begin to stop it. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov For decades, 1455 Market St. in San Francisco was a financial fortress. The 1978 building in Mid-Market was built as a Bank of America data center and home to 2,200 employees. The base of the building was once a fortified bank vault, where cash was stored behind thick walls and brought in with armored trucks. Today, the building is the headquarters of two companies that have thrived through making cash payments disappear: Uber, which books millions of car rides a day, all paid via smartphone, and Square, which makes credit card processing devices that have helped merchants bypass bills and coins. And the building may soon be filled with more tech workers, the latest sign of the city and Mid-Markets changing economy. Building owner Hudson Pacific recently finished $8 million in renovations over nine months to convert the 67,000-square-foot former vault the last empty space in the 1 million-square-foot building into office space. The work included adding windows, overhead lights and a new entrance on Mission Street, bringing in sunlight to a space that was once deliberately closed off. The building attests to the power and moneymaking potential of technology. When Bank of America owned the building, it was home to The Bridge, the banks main computer center. The facility was meant to run computers 24 hours a day to process all the data coming in from branches and other administrative units, Colleen Haggerty, a Bank of America spokeswoman, said by email. It was ground zero for the technology operations. In the wake of the 2008 recession, Bank of America planned to downsize at 1455 Market St. Hudson Pacific saw potential in the location, which is a few blocks south of City Hall. It bought the building for $93 million in 2010 and spent tens of millions of dollars on renovations, which included cutting more than 100 windows into the building. (For the bank, the fortress-like walls prevented spying on sensitive financial data.) The developers strategy was to continue to seek traditional tenants in the financial sector and potentially city agencies, said Drew Gordon, Hudson Pacifics senior vice president of Northern California. But the 2011 Mid-Market tax break, which lured Twitter to a former furniture mart a block away, ushered in a new wave of tech companies to the area, including Dolby and Zendesk. The tax break didnt include 1455 Market St. because it was still fully occupied by Bank of America at the time. But it helped change the perception of the area, which had struggled to attract investment. (The bank now leases less than 10 percent of the building.) We did not benefit from (the tax break) directly. Indirectly, we certainly did because of what happened with Twitter, said Gordon. The tax break is set to expire in May. The buildings sprawling, 90,000-square-foot lower floors, which span the entire eastern side of 11th Street from Market to Mission streets, were appealing to technology tenants who wanted expansive office spaces, he said. The tower portion of the building has sweeping views of the west side of the city and a helipad thats sometimes used for events, though theres no records of it being used to land aircraft. Square whose CEO Jack Dorsey now also leads Twitter moved from The Chronicles building at 901 Mission St. to 1455 Market St. in 2013 and now occupies nearly half of it. Uber followed a year later. Previous food offerings like McDonalds have been replaced by private gourmet cafeterias and coffee shops in sleek tech offices, along with public restaurants Mateos and Kagawa-Ya Udon. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Other tenants include the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, which has coincidentally released studies on Uber and other ride-hailing companies. In 2015, Hudson Pacific sold 45 percent of the building to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $219.1 million, implying a total value that was more than five times the sales price in 2010. It currently generates $45 million a year in rent, according to Hudson Pacifics most recent earnings report. The citys reliance on tech in its ongoing economic boom has sparked concerns over its financial diversity, but Gordon sees tech in all sectors, including finance. Its not a concern. I think its just an evolution of the city. The city over many, many years has changed, Gordon said. Its continuing to evolve. Hudson Pacific continues to seek new deals. In October, it partnered with insurance giant Allianz to buy control of the Ferry Building. The area near 1455 Market St. is set to evolve again. Across the street, a 39-story tower at 1500 Mission St. that will include city offices and new apartments is under construction. At the nearby intersection of Market Street and Van Ness Avenue is the Hub area, where new towers could rise to nearly 600 feet. Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf The Chronicle Oakland police arrested a man early Sunday on suspicion of shooting four people inside a downtown business, authorities said. Two women and two men were shot inside the business on the 300 block of 14th Street at about 12:30 a.m., police said. They did not identify the business. The victims were taken to a hospital with undisclosed injuries and were listed in stable condition. Two young girls, missing for nearly two days in a rugged wooded area of Humboldt County, have been found alive 1.4 miles from their home. Sheriffs officials announced at midday Sunday that the sisters, Caroline and Leia Carrico, 5 and 8 years old, respectively, were found after going missing about 2:30 p.m. Friday. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said the girls were safe, able to walk and respond to questions, and apparently healthy. This has been unbelievable, he said. We could not have a better outcome than weve had this morning. This is an absolute miracle. Honsal said the girls were found by two volunteers from the Piercy Fire Department who followed tracks in the search area. Samantha Karges, a sheriffs office spokeswoman, said they spotted the tracks at about 8:30 a.m. and located the girls near Richardson Grove State Park, southeast of their home. Little additional information was available on how the girls went missing or how they survived, but Honsal said they had been trained in outdoors survival as members of a 4-H program. Humboldt County Sheriff's Office The volunteers who found the girls gave them water and warm clothing and took them to get a warm meal, the sheriff said. They are dehydrated, they are cold, but they are well, he said. Humboldt County Sheriffs Office Search-and-rescue teams from across California had scoured a forested area of Humboldt County since Friday for the girls. They were last seen about 2:30 p.m. Friday and were believed to have walked into forests near their home in the rural community of Benbow. About 210 people from search crews all over the state were looking for the girls in a heavily wooded area with steep terrain. Crews searched all day Saturday as well as overnight, driving dirt roads in the area. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The girls have been reunited with their mother, given food and water, and checked out by medical personnel, Karges said. Deputies will ask them about their ordeal in what Honsal described as rugged territory, a pretty extreme environment. These girls definitely have a survival story to tell, he said. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan A Christian woman, former Hindu who put her faith in Christ, has been falsely accused on Feb. 13 for offering money for Hindus in Himachal Pradesh state to convert. Archana Jaiswal, a state education board employee in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, has been transferred to a district more than 100 miles away in the aftermath of false accusations. Led by their district secretary, Sandeep Sachdeva, members of a Hindu-awakening movement in the state protested against conversions to Christianity. The agitators marched from the headquarters of the Hindu Sanghatan, a coalition of Hindu extremist groups, to the Baddi police station and filed a complaint against Jaiswal. In the complaint, an alleged victim to forced conversion Sonu Devi said that Jaiswal offered her 300,000 rupees to convert to Christianity and forced her to divorce her husband. Devi called for action against Jaiswal, claiming she posed a threat to Hindu families. "I never converted anyone who am I to tell anyone to convert?" Jaiswal told Morning Star News. "I am an ordinary person, I don't preach or teach any religious teachings. I'm not a religious person. It has been only about two years since I came to Christ. I found peace and I will follow Christ; it is my personal decision," she added. A mother of three, Jaiswal received her official transfer order on Feb. 19. She must begin work in Dharamshala, about 130 miles away. Since her conversion to Christianity, Jaiswal has been facing persecution at her work too. "I have not received my salary for the past seven months," she said. "I never complained and never fought with the people in my office or neighbors who had been conspiring against me," she added. Her husband is a policeman in a neighboring district and a supporter of the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Jaiswal said. "I am praying for the salvation of my husband and children," she said. Jaiswal has been in trouble earlier too. Last year she had rented her government-provided house to a pastor's family to hold service and prayer meetings. The neighbors, who are mostly Hindus, opposed any Christian activities and forced them out. In November, Baddi police booked Jaiswal along with Pastor Rajinder Singh and his wife on non-bailable charges of deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings (Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code) and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion (Section 153-A). A Christian in Sri Lanka who reported a Buddhist mob's threat on his life has been arrested and charged with false assault allegation, an advocacy group reported. The Christian (name withheld for security reasons) in Nattandiya, North Western Province in Sri Lanka, reported against six Buddhists in his area who had threatened to attack the man if he refused to stop inviting a pastor to lead Bible studies at his house, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) reported. He filed a complaint about the threat on his life at the Marawila police station, in Puttalam District, on Jan. 27. This angered the mob and they headed to his house on Jan. 29 with intent to assault him, the NCEASL reported. Before they could reach his house, a neighbor notified the Christian of their approach and tried to stop them, resulting in a fight in which one of the attackers was injured and received hospital treatment, a source said Morning Star News. The injured Buddhist filed an assault complaint against the Christian even though he was not present at the fight. Police arrested the Christian. Sri Lanka, with the population about 70 percent Buddhist and 13 percent Hindu, has been witnessing increase in violence and harassment against Christians. "There seems to be an attitude of intolerance against religious minorities, and this is instigated by extremist groups also, by the continuation of a biased attitude by local governmental officers," the director the Asia Evangelical Alliance's Religious Liberty Commission, whose name is withheld for security reasons, told MSN. "The government accepted all recommendations made by the UN in the previous Universal Periodic Review cycle of Sri Lanka pertaining to religious freedom. We are yet to see some of these recommendations implemented in the country," he added. Whose job it is to revive local journalism in California? Our states elites have a clear, if dubious, answer: themselves. Last year, Google announced it was putting $300 million into supporting local news. A few weeks ago, Facebook announced its own $300 million local news initiative. Philanthropists and foundations have invested in news nonprofits, like the Voice of San Diego. And billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong is reinvesting in the Los Angeles Times. Local news operations have been shrinking for years, so this is mostly good news. But philanthropic grants are temporary, and tech companies abandon strategies in the flash of an electron. So the long-term solution to funding local news lies not with the rich, with Californias local communities themselves. And the most sustainable way to restore local media is to have local taxpayers to foot the bill. Let me pause while you lose your mind. I know you think this is a socialist plot, or at least a conflict of interest. But its not even a new idea. Other countries supported vital coverage with tax dollars, and Americas local newspapers have long been subsidized by government notices and by advertising from local businesses whose owners double as public officials. Another reason for taxpayer-funded local media is simple politics. Local governments and especially the people who work in them, as well as their critics are the strongest potential supporters of any effort to revive local media. As I travel this state of 500 cities and thousands more local governments, people complain constantly that they no longer have media that explain what local communities need. Studies show this lack of media coverage results in lower voter turnout and more problematic local government finances. Local coverage is as essential as any other public service that local governments provide. Local journalists hold wrongdoers accountable, as police do; respond in emergencies, like the fire department; and provide knowledge as certainly as the library does. Because the free market wont provide sufficient local media services, especially in small towns, its necessary for local governments to step in and do so. But how? Local governments should establish separate local media bureaus as nonprofit or quasi-governmental entities, with rules requiring independent decision-making, as they might do to manage a civic auditorium or pursue a special project. The best way to fund such entities would be with a dedicated fee on all households (a media funding structure used in some countries), with a state match to boost coverage in smaller communities. Taxes would ensure accountability. When local people know they themselves are paying for the local media, they are more likely to follow it, and to complain about it if its not really serving them. This struggle should make the local news livelier, more grounded in community and more interesting, because it will be fought over. Thats a very different vision than the elite attitude that news is like fiber, something that is good for you and must be provided from on high by credentialed people. Todays philanthropic and technological plans to fund local media are similarly high-minded, and so they lack the connection to local communities and accountability that tax-supported local media might offer. Take Google and its $300 million local news initiative, which is focused not on the community level but rather on working with existing media and universities to advance technologies and new media models. In effect, the company is leading a search for innovations that advance the media business rather than meeting the needs of specific communities. For its part, Facebook says it wants to support local journalists and newsrooms, but it is sending that money through national funds and nonprofits, with the hope that the money will trickle down to the locals. Its also hard to trust Facebooks word when it comes to media, given how it jerked the chains of publishers by promoting an expensive shift to video, then retreating from it. And because Google and Facebook took so much of the ad money that once supported local news, its hard to see them as the charitable saviors of local news they claim to be. Philanthropic and corporate donations could still be useful if they were directed at the sort of publicly funded news operations that Im suggesting. But, in such a system, those local journalists would not be begging for grants from philanthropic programs or rich people. Instead, the locals, with their base funding in place from taxpayers, could resist donors with agendas. The fundamental principle is this: If there is going to be a real and sustained revival of local journalism, then the journalists will need to work for the locals. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. Special Counsel Robert Muellers soon-to-be-delivered report will trigger months of congressional investigations, subpoenas, court challenges, partisan slugfests, media revelations and more desperate conspiracy claims by Donald Trump, all against the backdrop of the burning questions: Will he be impeached by the House? Will he be convicted by the Senate? Will he pull a Richard Nixon and resign? In other words, will America fire Trump? I have news for you. America has already fired him. When the public fires a president before election day, as it did with Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and Herbert Hoover, they dont send him a letter telling him hes fired. They just make him irrelevant. Politics happens around him, despite him. Hes not literally gone, but he might as well be. Its happened to Trump. The courts and House Democrats are moving against him. Senate Republicans are quietly subverting him. Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told him to end the shutdown. The Fed is running economic policy. Top-level civil servants are managing the day-to-day work of the agencies. Isolated in the White House, distrustful of aides, at odds with intelligence agencies, distant from his Cabinet heads, Trump has no system to make or implement decisions. His tweets dont create headlines as before. His rallies are ignored. His lies have become old hat. Action and excitement have shifted elsewhere, to Democratic challengers, even to a 29-year-old freshman congresswoman too young to run for president. Dont get me wrong. Hes still dangerous, like an old land mine buried in the mud. He could start a nuclear war. Yet even Americas adversaries just humor him. Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping give him tidbits to share with the American public, then do whatever they want. Why did America fire Trump? If the nation were to write him a letter informing him hes no longer president, then it would go like this: Dear Mr. President, While many of us disagree on ideology and values, we agree on practical things like obeying the Constitution and not letting big corporations and the wealthy run everything. Your 35-day government shutdown was a senseless abuse of power. So too your national emergency to build your wall with money Congress refused to appropriate. When you passed your tax bill, you promised our paychecks would increase by an average of $4,000, but we never got the raise. Our employers used the tax savings to buy back their shares of stock and give themselves raises instead. Then you fooled us into thinking we were getting a tax cut by lowering the amounts withheld from our 2018 paychecks. We know that now because were getting smaller tax refunds. At the same time, many big corporations arent paying a dime in taxes. Worse yet, theyre getting refunds. For example, GM is paying zilch and claiming a $104 million refund on $11.8 billion of profits. Amazon is paying no taxes and claiming a $129 million refund on profits of $11.2 billion. (This is after New York offered it $3 billion to put its second headquarters there.) They arent breaking any tax laws or regulations. Thats because they made the tax laws and regulations. You gave them a free hand. Youre supposed to be working for us, not for giant corporations. But theyre doing better than ever, as are their top executives and biggest investors. Yet nothing has trickled down. Were getting shafted. Which is why more than half of us support New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs proposed 70 percent tax on dollars earned in excess of $10 million a year, and more than 60 percent of us support Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warrens proposed 2 percent tax on households with a net worth of $50 million or more. Youve also shown you dont have a clue about health care. You promised us something better than the Affordable Care Act, but all youve done is whittle it back. A big reason we gave Democrats control of the House in November was your threat to eliminate protection for people with pre-existing conditions. Are you even aware that 70 percent of us now favor Medicare for All? Most of us dont pay much attention to national policy, but we pay a lot of attention to home economics. Youve made our own home economics worse. Well give you official notice youre fired on Nov. 3, 2020, if not before. Until then, you can keep the house and perks, but youre toast. Respectfully, America 2019 By Robert Reich Robert Reichs latest book is The Common Good, and his newest documentary is Saving Capitalism. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. This story originally appeared on KCRA. Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento will be closed Sunday, the mall announced on its website and Facebook page. "Per the recommendation of Sacramento city officials and viable information regarding a concentrated effort by protesters to gather in unsafe numbers, Arden Fair has elected to remain closed today. Arden Fair remains committed to providing the entire Sacramento community a safe and entertaining environment," spokesman Nathan Spradlin said in a statement to KCRA. RELATED: No charges for police who shot 22-year-old California man A group of demonstrators arrived Saturday night for a sit-in following the Sacramento County district attorney's findings in the Stephon Clark police shooting. The district attorney will not pursue charges against the two officers who shot and killed Clark. The small group of demonstrators were at the mall overnight. MORE: Fiancee decries 'shameful legacy' in slaying "Arden Fair respected the desires of these individuals, but due to the high potential for unsafe numbers to gather today, we have closed the center to groups of any size," Spradlin said. A small group has gathered Sunday morning outside the mall for a peaceful demonstration. No other details have been released. Lance Iversen / The Chronicle An Oakland priest placed on administrative leave after accusations of inappropriate sexual misconduct with a minor has now reportedly fled the country, officials confirmed. Father Alex Castillo was living at a rectory in Oakland and reportedly was looking to live with friends for a few days immediately after he was placed on leave Jan. 30, the San Jose Mercury reported. The diocese said they last spoke with him Feb. 20, then were unable to reach him the following day. Walmart endured more than a weeks worth of bad publicity before announcing it would make every effort to find a role for disabled workers who had been threatened with job loss as the retailer gets rid of greeters at 1,000 stores. Amid a fierce backlash, Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmarts U.S. stores, said in a memo to store managers last week that we are taking some specific steps to support greeters with disabilities. Several greeters were offered new jobs at their respective stores on Friday and accepted. Advocates for the disabled said Walmart is making the right move. By rethinking their action, Walmart is now opening the door to actually help individuals realize their full employment potential, said Cheryl Bates-Harris, senior disability advocacy specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. Walmart told greeters around the country last week that their positions were being eliminated in late April in favor of an expanded customer host role that involves not only welcoming customers, but also helping with returns, checking receipts to help prevent shoplifting and keeping the front of the store clean. The position requires hosts to be able to lift heavy weights, climb ladders and do other tasks. People with disabilities who have traditionally filled the greeter job at many stores accused Walmart of acting heartlessly. Outraged customers and others started online petitions, formed Facebook support groups, and called and emailed Walmart corporate offices in Arkansas to register their displeasure. This was a major-league botch, said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy, adding that Walmart should have foreseen the publics reaction. Someone finally woke up, Johnson said. Hopefully theyre now woke and theyll fix this thing the right way. ... The good news is its reversible. Foran acknowledged the change from greeter to host, and its impact on disabled workers, had created some conversation. He wrote that Walmart was committed to doing right by these employees, noting that greeters with disabilities would be given longer than the customary 60 days to find other jobs in the country. Let me be clear: If any associate in this unique situation wants to continue working at Walmart, we should make every effort to make that happen, said his memo, which Walmart released publicly. Walmart has already started making job offers to the greeters. At least three longtime greeters Adam Catlin in Selinsgrove, Pa., Jay Melton in Marion, N.C., and Mitchell Hartzell in Hazel Green, Fla., all of whom have cerebral palsy have accepted jobs in self-checkout. Catlins mother, Holly Catlin, helped call public attention to her sons plight with an impassioned Facebook post and has since advocated for greeters around the country. After emailing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon every day, Catlin got a call from the corporate office on Thursday, and on Friday morning she and her son met with store management in Selinsgrove. I decided I was going to be the squeaky wheel and squeak every day, Catlin said, adding shes encouraged by Walmarts recent moves. I believe the path forward is going to be good for these people. I think theyre really going to make an effort and try to keep these people. In North Carolina, Melton is happier than a pig in a mud puddle, said his father, Jim Melton. Foran, who heads Walmarts U.S. stores, wrote that greeters with disabilities face a unique situation ... and each case requires a thoughtful solution. He said that Walmarts goal is to offer appropriate accommodations that will enable these associates to continue in other roles with their store. Michael Rubinkam is an Associated Press writer. Five years ago, the classic car market had just completed a turnaround that left even seasoned observers surprised by its speed. The deep recession that began in 2007 had dealt the same initial blow to vintage car prices that it did to the Dow and to the real estate market. The downturn erased four or five years worth of gains for collectible cars, by many estimates. But by 2014, most had fully recouped their pre-recession values, and the market has maintained an even keel. There are some signs, however, that the good times may be coming to an end. A mix of factors is at play, including demographics, changes to tax laws and general uncertainty. For auctions in 2018 and early 2019, the percentage of million-dollar-plus cars sold (after meeting their reserve prices) has dropped about 20 percent from the previous year, according to Hagerty, a classic-car insurer in Michigan. Thats the lowest rate since Hagerty started tracking the statistic in 2008. The wealthiest and most discriminating collectors may simply be taking a pass on the current offerings, or it may be a sign that the savviest collectors are sensing a change in the tone of the market, said Brian Rabold, vice president for valuation at Hagerty. If the recent crop of cars isnt persuading elite collectors to raise their paddles, the question then becomes why arent more owners of blue-chip cars selling them? Cam Ingram, a collector and restorer in North Carolina, pointed to last years changes in Section 1031 of the tax code, which had allowed the capital gains tax on a sale to be deferred if the proceeds were used to buy another collectible artwork, say, or cars. One factor that few people are acknowledging at the moment is the effect of the loss of 1031 exchanges, Ingram said. Top collectors were able to strategically play with positions in their collections to avoid realizing taxes on gains. Now they have to be far more disciplined. The change in the law is affecting both supply and demand. With the economy still running strong, he added, few top collectors are in a position where they need to sell to free up cash. Both Ingram and Michael Sheehan, a dealer-broker of vintage Ferraris in Southern California, acknowledged the perception among top collectors that now might be the time to hold the best of the best. When those cars do sell, they often do so off the radar and at still very robust prices, they said. Private sales have always taken place among elite collectors, but now comparatively few big private sales are the exception to the general rule that the top of the market is cooling off. Demographics, too, are influencing this market. Every day, I get the same calls: Guy dies, his kids dont want the cars, and they want me to sell them. Or its knee surgery, hip surgery or prostate cancer and the owner simply cant enjoy the car anymore, Sheehan said. What Sheehan describes is most likely the vanguard of a wave of Baby Boomers getting out of the market, and nobody seems to have a clear idea of what comes next. When the classic-car market rebounded after the recession, it was still Boomer-driven, and the very top end came back first, in 2011, according to Hagerty data. The stock market was still in a slump, and cars were being talked about as one of the few asset classes where good returns could be had, Ingram said. By the next year, the middle of the market (cars costing between $250,000 and $1 million) returned to health, and the year after that, the entry level got active again. If there is a shift now, its still in its early days, and the market may be mirroring its resurgence from 2011 to 2013. The broad entry level continues to be robust, according to Ingram and Rabold, while the top end is sluggish, a possible leading indicator of a general slump. The economy is in its longest period of growth on record, and most observers predict a downturn reasonably soon. That would certainly affect the classic-car market. But its the demographic shift, combined with the potential for another 2008-like crash, that seems to worry the keenest market-watchers the most. Several things are in play here, Sheehan said. Theres general uncertainty and concern about things like the world economy and Brexit. The Boomers are leaving the market in droves. Younger people cant drive a stick shift, he added, and they cant afford the cars at the level that the Boomers have driven the prices to theyre busy paying record money for housing, education debt and health care. At the moment, the market seems to be in a holding pattern. Gen Xers and Millennials are still priced out of the market, Sheehan said. The last time that the market corrected, in 2008, it turned around quickly after it became apparent that the recession wouldnt turn into a depression. Baby Boomer money was still in play, and it quickly drove prices back to precorrection levels. That may not happen again. The Boomers arent going to be around to prop the market back up after the next one, Sheehan said. What it all means is debatable. Ingram and Sheehan both believe that some form of correction is inevitable as Baby Boomers complete their exit from the market over the next 10 to 15 years. Their cars arent going to disappear, but their ability to spend will. How Gen Xers and Millennials will value those cars, Ingram said, is the $64,000 question. Rob Sass is a New York Times writer. Peek into any U.S. hospitals baby ICU, and youll see sick and premature newborns covered in wired monitors that tear at fragile skin and make it hard for parents to cuddle their kids. Now researchers have created tiny skin-like wireless sensors that may finally cut those cords. This need was so compelling, said John Rogers, a Northwestern University bioengineer who led the sensors development. Without the wires, its much easier for the parents, mothers in particular, to interact and hold their babies. Nearly 300,000 U.S. newborns wind up in neonatal intensive care units each year, because they were born prematurely or with serious health problems. Its critical to track their heartbeat and other vital signs so doctors and nurses can rapidly spot if their youngest patients are in trouble. But today, that means sticky electrodes tethered by wires to a variety of beeping monitors that surround the incubator. The nest of wires impedes skin-to-skin contact with a parent thats known to help preemies thrive, much less rock a baby or breast feed, said Dr. Amy Paller, a Northwestern pediatric dermatologist. And no matter how carefully doctors and nurses remove the electrodes, preemies whose skin isnt fully developed are prone to injuries and scarring. Going wireless in the NICU is a lot harder than, say, measuring a joggers heart rate with a Fitbit. First, Rogers team developed ultrathin sensors made of a flexible silicone that moves like skin and clings without any strong adhesive. Then the researchers embedded the sensors with spring-like electronics that flex as the body moves, and are waterproof and made with materials that unlike todays NICU monitors dont interfere with X-rays or MRI scans. And key to being lightweight, they dont need batteries. Under the crib mattress sits a transmitter that wirelessly charges the sensors much like some smartphone chargers while simultaneously relaying all the sensors measurements to hospital computers. Replacing todays multiple monitors takes just two wireless sensors one made for the chest or back, and one to wrap around a foot that work together. For example, the upper sensor measures heart activity, while the foot sensor uses light to measure blood oxygen levels. How long it takes a heartbeats pulse to reach the foot corresponds to blood pressure, Rogers explained no bruising blood pressure cuff required. How reliable are they? Researchers put the wireless sensors on the bodies of 20 babies in Northwestern-affiliated NICUs who also had the normal wired monitoring. The wireless sensors worked just as well, Rogers and Paller reported last week in the journal Science. This is a promising technology and may eliminate stick-on sensors, said Dr. Rosemary Higgins, a neonatologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, who wasnt involved with the research. The studies are continuing and Rogers said the sensors now have been used on about 80 babies with similar results and no sign of skin trouble. Its really amazing, said Theodora Flores, as she held one of her twin daughters, Genesis, in the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago this week. Genesis is part of the wireless testing and the new mom said fewer wires would mean, I can move freely with her a little bit more. It would take far more testing for Food and Drug Administration approval of wireless sensors. But Rogers said the bigger need is in developing countries that cant afford todays wired monitoring even for preemies. He estimates the new sensors could be made for about $10 to $15. With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Save the Children, Rogers is preparing for a pilot trial of the wireless sensors in Zambia in April, with the goal of testing up to 20,000 sensors in India, Pakistan and Zambia by years end. The technology has great potential impact on monitoring practices all over the world and may give many neonates a more equitable opportunity to survive, Dr. Ruth Guinsburg of the Federal University of Sao Paulo wrote in a commentary in Science. Lauran Neergaard is an Associated Press writer. SELMA, Ala. Several Democratic White House hopefuls gathered at one of Americas seminal civil rights sites on Sunday to pay homage to the legacy and highlight their own connections to the movement. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who already are in the 2020 race, and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who could soon join them, attended a unity breakfast to commemorate Bloody Sunday in Selma. Also on hand for events was Hillary Clinton, the partys nominee in 2016. On March 7, 1965, Alabama state troopers beat peaceful demonstrators as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was a moment that galvanized support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. This years commemoration came in the early days of a Democratic primary that has focused heavily on issues of race. Several candidates have called out President Trump as a racist, while others have voiced support for the idea of reparations for the descendants of enslaved black Americans. Booker said in the keynote address at Brown Chapel AME Church that the Bloody Sunday anniversary was a time to recommit to the fight for justice in America. Its time for us to defend the dream, the New Jersey Democrat said at the church, which was the starting point of the 1965 march. Its time that we dare to dream again in America. That is what it takes to make America great. It is up to us to do the work that makes the dream real. Booker has cast himself as a direct beneficiary of the civil rights era after his family was denied housing in a white neighborhood. In January, he traveled through Georgia with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., an Alabama native and civil rights leader who was severely beaten at the bridge 54 years ago. Brown returned to Selma for the fifth time. He frequently draws connections between civil rights and workers rights. A former secretary of state in Ohio, Brown also has a reputation as a leader on expanding voter participation. Sanders attended the 1963 March on Washington, which featured the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have A Dream speech. The Vermont senator has highlighted his civil rights and activist background as a young man at the University of Chicago. He is working to reset his relationship with black voters, with whom he struggled to connect in the 2016 Democratic primary that Clinton won. Errin Haines Whack is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats are trying to increase pressure on Labor Secretary Alex Acosta over his handling of a secret plea deal with a wealthy financier accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls. A group of House Democrats has sent a letter to the attorney general asking the Justice Department to reopen the deal with Jeffrey Epstein to allow further investigation. They also want the department to make public the results of a review into federal prosecutors management of the case, which happened when Acosta served as U.S. Attorney in Miami. It is at this critical juncture that the agency has an opportunity to foster greater transparency and accountability with the American public, says the Friday letter, which was led by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Lois Frankel of Florida and Jackie Speier of San Mateo, and signed by other Democrats. The fresh push from Democrats underscored their efforts to keep the heat on the official whom President Trump has chosen to oversee labor issues. But so far the White House has not signaled great urgency in reviewing the case or in changing Acostas standing. The Justice Departments Office of Professional Responsibility is examining whether professional misconduct took place in the case. The department declined to comment on the letter. Epstein, now 66, reached a non-prosecution deal in 2008 with Acostas former office to secretly end a federal sex abuse investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls that could have landed him behind bars for life. He instead pleaded guilty to state charges, spent 13 months in jail, paid settlements to victims and is a registered sex offender. A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors in Florida violated the rights of victims by reaching the non-prosecution agreement with Epstein. In that decision, the judge stopped short of invalidating the non-prosecution agreement but asked prosecutors and victims lawyers to recommend how to move forward. The victims have called for the deal to be put aside and want prosecutors to charge Epstein federally, but it is unclear when or if that will happen. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the administration was looking into the case, but it has not provided any additional information. Trump was friendly with Epstein in the past, telling New York Magazine in 2002: Ive known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He added: Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. The White House did not answer questions about Trumps relationship to Epstein. Catherine Lucey is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON Declaring its very clear President Trump obstructed justice, the chairman of the House committee in charge of impeachment says the panel is requesting documents Monday from more than 60 people from Trumps administration, family and business as part of a rapidly expanding Russia investigation. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the House Judiciary Committee wants to review documents from the Justice Department, the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly and former White House counsel Don McGahn also are likely targets, he said. We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption and into obstruction of justice, Nadler told ABCs This Week. We will do everything we can to get that evidence. Asked if he believed Trump obstructed justice, Nadler said, Yes, I do. Nadler isnt calling the inquiry an impeachment investigation but said House Democrats, now in the majority, are simply doing our job to protect the rule of law after Republicans during the first two years of Trumps term were shielding the president from any proper accountability. Were far from making decisions about impeachment, he said. In a tweet Sunday, Trump blasted anew the Russia investigation, calling it a partisan probe unfairly aimed at discrediting his win in the 2016 presidential election. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start And only because I won the Election! he wrote. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, accused House Democrats on Sunday of prejudging Trump as part of a query based purely on partisan politics. I think Congressman Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election, McCarthy said on ABC. Listen to exactly what he said. He talks about impeachment before he even became chairman and then he says, youve got to persuade people to get there. Theres nothing that the president did wrong. Hope Yen is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON Lawyers for Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, have asked a federal judge in Northern Virginia to show leniency when he sentences Manafort this week, casting him as a loyal, compassionate, idealistic man who has learned a harsh lesson. They said Manafort, who has been jailed since June, had already suffered greatly for his crimes. At age 69, plagued by health problems, he poses no risk of recidivism, they said. Their sentencing memorandum was submitted Friday to Judge T.S. Ellis of U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. Ellis will sentence Manafort on Thursday for tax fraud, bank fraud and other financial crimes. The next week, he will be sentenced by Judge Amy Berman Jackson in a related conspiracy case in federal court in Washington. Advisory sentencing guidelines set Manaforts punishment at 19 to 24 years in the financial fraud case. While they recommended no specific sentence, prosecutors working for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, have said they agreed with that calculation by the federal probation office. But Manaforts lawyers argued that such a punishment would be far too severe, asking for a sentence significantly below the advisory guidelines. Prosecutors have described Manafort as a bold, hardened criminal motivated purely by greed. The special counsels office has also asked that Ellis take into account the recent finding by Jackson that Manafort lied to prosecutors after he pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges in September and agreed to cooperate with them. Earlier last week, citing new information from a witness, prosecutors appeared to correct one element of their allegations that Manafort had lied to them about his contacts with a Russian business associate. Manaforts lawyers seized upon that apparent admission of an error, telling Ellis that the prosecutors revised account of their evidence cast Manafort in a more favorable light. But just as they filed their pleadings, Jackson ruled that she stood by her conclusion that Manafort had lied about his interactions with the Russian associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, as well as about two other matters. Sharon LaFraniere is a New York Times writer. SAN FRANCISCO The University of California Police Department on Friday arrested a suspect in the assault of a conservative activist on the Berkeley campus, reviving a debate over free speech at colleges. Neither the suspect, Zachary Greenberg, nor the man he is accused of punching, Hayden Williams, a field representative of the Leadership Institute, an organization that provides training to conservative campus groups, was a student at the university. The attack Feb. 19 took place at Sproul Plaza, the birthplace and symbol of the Free Speech movement, the protests by students in the 1960s demanding greater political expression. Williams was helping a campus group that was recruiting members. Conservative groups said the assault on Williams served as a symbol of what they say is continued intolerance toward conservative views on college campuses. Williams appeared on Fox News programs with a black eye, and videos of his assault were widely shared on social media. The episode was only a faint echo of the brawl at the Berkeley campus in February 2017 when a group clad in black clothing and carrying sticks smashed windows, threw rocks at police and stormed a building in response to a planned speech by right-wing writer Milo Yiannopoulos, causing around $100,000 in damage. In an interview, Williams said he and the students he was seeking to train had made signs supporting President Donald Trump and criticizing Jussie Smollett, an actor who has been charged in connection with his own assault in Chicago. One of the signs said, This is MAGA country, Williams said. Two men are seen in multiple videos of the episode approaching Williams, who begins filming them. One man points to the signs and accuses Williams of encouraging violence. A man is then seen pushing Williams, showering him with expletives and delivering a powerful right hook to his face. A university spokeswoman said campus police would present the case to the Alameda County district attorney for the filing of criminal charges. In a statement, Carol Christ, chancellor of the university, called the attack reprehensible. That sort of behavior is intolerable and has no place here, the chancellor said. Our commitment to freedom of expression and belief is unwavering. Bryan Bernys, head of the Campus Leadership Program at the Leadership Institute, accused the Berkeley campus of encouraging a culture that fosters this type of horrible behavior toward anyone or anything that you disagree with. The Leadership Institute runs a website called Campus Reform, which says it exposes the liberal bias and abuse against conservatives on Americas colleges and universities. What does it say about Berkeley that this gentleman felt that he could go up and basically sucker-punch or cold-cock Hayden in the middle of a public square for no other reason than he disagreed with some of his speech and the signs that were out there, Bernys said. Dan Mogulof, a spokesman for the university, described Greenberg as a lone actor. Many people seem to think that somehow this university of all places should have the ability to prevent all crime even when its the responsibility of a lone, crazy individual, Mogulof said. As a measure of its commitment to ideological pluralism, Mogulof said the university spent $4 million last year for security and logistics to host conservative speakers, among them Rick Santorum, a former Republican senator and presidential candidate; Dennis Prager, a conservative talk show host; and Heather Mac Donald, a conservative writer and political commentator. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) An estimated weight of one kilogram of what appears to be another batch of cocaine was turned over to authorities early Sunday morning in Baler, Aurora. Regional police reported that the police provincial director of Aurora received a report at around 5:30 a.m. of an alleged brick of cocaine along the shoreline of Barangay Reserva. The report said a 56-year-old construction worker found the package on the shore. Barangay Captain Michael Guerro Valenzuela reported the incident to the police. The brick had the same "LEXUS" marking as previous cocaine deliveries recovered on local eastern shores last February. "Personnel of Baler (Municipal Police Station) is currently verifying/inspecting the entire shoreline, while Intel (operatives) are conducting discrete monitoring," the report stated. This is the latest development from a series of cocaine recovery incidents in several coastal villages on the country's eastern seaboard. In February, the cocaine haul yielded 175 kilograms with a value of 920 million, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during the 'Real Numbers' press briefing on Thursday. Officials maintained the drugs were not intended for the Philippine market. Philippine National Police Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde deduced that the cocaine may have been en route to Australia. He added that these may have drifted to the country from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. No one was injured Saturday but an Amazon Prime delivery van ended up on its roof after a collision with an Alameda County Fire Department truck Saturday in San Lorenzo, in unincorporated Alameda County. Fire department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles confirmed information she posted on social media, that the two vehicles collided about 3:50 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Channel Street and Via Lucas in a residential neighborhood. The fire truck was on its way to a nearby hospital to pick up a firefighter-paramedic when it hit the side of the van. Another Amazon Prime vehicle came to pick up the packages that were inside the disabled van, Knowles said. ALSO: 2nd suspect arrested after man's body found in suitcase in SF Bay The accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. San Mateo County officials are bracing for up to 915 human services employees to go out on strike Tuesday and Wednesday. During the strike, the county plans to maintain essential services but may close some locations and centralize services, according to a press release from the San Mateo County Manager's Office. It's not known how many employees will take part in the strike or how many facilities may be affected. County officials said they are still hopeful that an agreement can be reached and a strike averted. Information and updates on impacts from the strike will be posted at news.smcgov.org . The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829 represents 11 units of county employees. The county and the union reached an agreement last month on a new three-year contract. Ten of the 11 units ratified the new contract. The union has notified the county that the remaining unit, the Human Services Unit, will be striking on Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said. The Human Services Unit represents 915 employees in departments that include the Human Services Agency, health, the sheriff's office and district attorney's office. The current contract expired Oct. 6 and the county and the union have held more than 27 negotiations meeting since last summer, county officials said. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved the three-year agreement with the remaining 10 units composed of approximately 800 employees. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. BELMONT (BCN) Deputies on Friday arrested a man in Belmont in connection with a vehicle theft out of Las Vegas. Sidarriss Wallace, 25, of Las Vegas, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and vehicle theft, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. On Friday at 12:19 p.m., deputies saw a 2017 Toyota Camry with temporary places out of Nevada commit multiple code violations while driving on northbound U.S. Highway 101. Deputies pulled the vehicle over at U.S. Highway 101 and Ralston Avenue in Belmont and discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Las Vegas. Wallace was taken into custody, and the vehicle was towed from the scene. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SALINAS (BCN) A Salinas man convicted of premeditated attempted murder and armed robbery was sentenced last week to 45 years to life in prison, prosecutors said. A jury convicted Mark P. Morris, 27, last fall in connection with a 2017 holdup at a Salinas store and subsequent shootout that injured a man hit by a stray bullet. Prosecutors said Morris walked into the Quality Market at 201 Williams Road about 7:35 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2017 wearing a blue bandana on his face, a beanie and a hoodie covering his head. He pulled out a large revolver, pointed it at the store's 63-year-old owner, demanding money from the cash registers, authorities said. Morris also waved the gun at a clerk and threatened to kill them both. After taking about $1,000 in cash, Morris walked out of the store and then waited for the owner outside, hiding behind a partition, prosecutors said. The owner followed, carrying a semi-automatic handgun, and Morris fired at the store owner twice, intending to kill him, prosecutors said. Morris then fled and a shootout ensued as the owner ran after him. One of the rounds fired by Morris pierced a nearby residential trailer, wounding a man inside who was watching TV. Within minutes of the robbery, Salinas police officers arrived at the market, where one of the store clerks who saw the robbery found a single car key on a key fob that Morris dropped, prosecutors said. An officer located a gray 2002 Toyota Camry, registered to Morris' mother, parked around the corner from the store. Apparently because Morris dropped his key during the robbery, he could not use his getaway car, prosecutors said. Detectives searched the car and found a backpack, several white cloth gloves and two boxes of American Eagle brand .44 magnum ammunition, as well as Sig Sauer brand ammunition, both designed for a revolver. The detectives also found a black beanie, gray on the inside, which matched the beanie worn by the robber in the surveillance. Additionally, the detectives located pay stubs in Morris's name with his address. Morris' right thumbprint was found on the American Eagle brand box of ammunition, authorities said. Monterey County Probation officers conducted a probation search of Morris' home. During the search, they found several white cloth gloves in his bedroom drawer. The gloves matched those located inside the car, as well as the white gloves worn by Morris during the robbery, according to prosecutors. The next day, Morris called Salinas police and left voicemails, reporting his car stolen. At trial, he testified that all the items in his car were his and that he used them for work. Morris further admitted that he drove the car. However, he denied that he was the robber. Morris and his sister testified that they lied about the car being stolen. They told the jury that Morris's sister took the car with two other males, implying that the other males committed the crimes. DNA mixtures matching Morris and two to three other males were found on the beanie, ski mask and the gloves. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an analysis of Morris's cell phone records. The records showed that his phone was used near Quality Market 13 minutes after the crime. Morris explained that by telling the jury that he went to look for his car near Quality Market after his sister informed him that she had taken the car. A jury convicted Morris in November 2018 of willful and premeditated attempted murder using a firearm, including robbery at gunpoint, shooting at an inhabited dwelling causing great bodily injury, intimidation of witnesses and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Morris was sentenced Thursday by Judge Carrie M. Panetta in Monterey County Superior Court. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Teachers in Oakland are set to vote Sunday on a tentative agreement that would end their seven-day strike. The ratification vote, on a proposed 11 percent salary hike over four years with a one-time 3 percent bonus, is scheduled for noon Sunday at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Oakland. The Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Education Association, which represents 3,000 teachers, nurses, counselors and other staff, announced the agreement on Friday afternoon. In addition to the salary increase, the agreement calls for a reduction in class sizes. The teachers' strike began Feb. 21 after two years of failed negotiations between the union and the school district. The teachers' union sought a 12 percent pay raise over three years and the district initially offered a 5 percent raise over three years but gradually increased its offer the last two weeks. A local assistance center will open Sunday in Guerneville to provide services to Sonoma County residents affected by recent storms and flooding. Government agencies and nonprofits will be represented at the center, and all county residents can access services regardless of immigration status, according to a Sonoma County spokeswoman. The center will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the former Bank of America Building, 16390 Main St. in Guerneville. From Monday through Saturday, the center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Current flooding emergency information is available at www.socoemergency.org. Two ospreys that raised three chicks last year on live video have reunited in their nest high atop a crane along the Richmond waterfront. For the next several months, webcam watchers will be able to view the pair of ospreys, named Rosie and Richmond, as they bond, court, incubate eggs and take care of their chicks, according to the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Last year, the pair's three chicks were named Roemer, Victory and Brisa after the society put out a call for submissions and put names to a vote on Facebook. The nest cam launched in 2017 and live video can be found at SFBayOspreys.org. Sonoma's fourth- and fifth-grade students are exploring form, color, space and change as part of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art's 2019 Art Rewards The Student program. They have been inspired by the museum's current exhibition that features light artist Phillip K. Smith III and ceramic artists Richard Shaw and Wanxin Zhang, the Museum's Education and Community Engagement manager Dianne Aoki said. The students' exhibition titled "Light Space Clay: Portals to Creative Explorations" with Smith's and Zhang's art at the museum March 20-April 7. In February and March the students have had imaginative discussions regarding Smith's "Portals: A Space for Color" exhibit and have explored where passing through a portal would take them. Sheriff's deputies arrested two young men this week for allegedly burglarizing vehicles in Millbrae. San Mateo County deputies were patrolling the city after a rash of auto burglaries were reported, according to spokeswoman Rosemerry Blankswade. She said deputies' efforts paid off Tuesday night when they spotted two men shining flashlights into a car parked outside The Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant on El Camino Real near Hillcrest Boulevard. Both men were arrested, but a third suspect escaped from deputies. A detailed description of the suspect was not released. Anyone with information on him is asked to call (650) 599-1536 or leave an anonymous tip at (800) 547-2700. Alexis Castaneda-Rodriguez, 19, of San Pablo, and Ivan Barajas Sanchez, 23, of Vallejo, now face a number of felony charges, including auto burglary, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property. Stolen goods were found inside the suspects' car, according to deputies. Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty is taking the lead at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for a second time, officials announced Thursday. The commission's 19 voting members elected Haggerty as chair Wednesday, according to a news release from the MTC. He replaces Rohnert Park City Councilman Jake Mackenzie. Haggerty previously served as chair from 2009 to 2011, and has been vice-chair since 2017. He's been on the commission since 2000, and was elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in 1996. His vice-chair will be Alfredo Pedroza of Napa, according to the release. Pedroza was appointed to be a Napa County Supervisor in 2015, was elected the following year, and was appointed to the MTC in 2017, according to the release. The MTC focuses on transit issues within all nine counties that make up the Bay Area. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. MOUNTAIN VIEW (BCN) Police made an arrest Friday in connection with a Monday attack on the Stevens Creek Trail that left a woman with serious facial injuries, Mountain View police said. Michael Wendy Adonis, 29, was arrested Friday after police were called to a home in the 100 block of Santa Clara Avenue in Mountain View, where he and a woman who also lives there had gotten into a fight. Police say Adonis faces myriad charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, assault with intent to commit mayhem or rape, battery and unlawfully damaging a wireless communication device. Police officers noticed that Adonis fit the description of the suspect in the trail attack. Officers also noticed bite marks on his hands consistent with the victim having told police she bit her attacker in an attempt to escape. Police then obtained a search warrant for the residence, and found a gray Golden State Warriors sweatshirt that matched what witnesses told police the attacker had been wearing. Police said Adonis had been staying at that residence, near the Stevens Creek Trail, for only a few weeks. The victim, a woman from Massachusetts, was walking along the trail near the bridge to Creekside Park at Gladys Avenue and Easy Street at about 10 p.m. Monday when a man approached her from behind and tried to speak with her. The woman refused to interact with him, but the man grabbed the woman and pushed her into bushes several feet off the trail, police said. He then allegedly began to punch the woman repeatedly in the face. She was treated for serious facial injuries. Two people walking together along the trail saw the man and shouted at him, causing a distraction and allowing the victim to bite the suspect's as he tried to muffle her screams. Mountain View detectives continue to investigate, and police said they are trying to determine whether there are other victims. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A flute valued at $15,000 was returned to its owner after the instrument was stolen from a car in the Outer Richmond neighborhood last month, San Francisco police said. A man had parked his car in the 800 block of 35th Avenue about 10 p.m. Feb. 14. When he returned the next morning, he found the car had been unlocked and a case with his wife's flute was missing, police said. The victim filed a report on the stolen musical instrument, which is valued at $15,000. On the morning of Feb. 15, Tenderloin officers patrolling the 800 block of Eddy Street spotted Sean Gagnon, a man described in a department email as wanted in connection with a burglary. Gagnon, 33, a transient, had the stolen flute, police said. He was arrested and booked at San Francisco County Jail for burglary and possession of stolen property. While an arrest has been made, anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the SFPD anonymous tip line at 1- 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message. Police made an arrest Friday in connection with a Monday attack on the Stevens Creek Trail that left a woman with serious facial injuries, Mountain View police said. Michael Wendy Adonis, 29, was arrested Friday after police were called to a home in the 100 block of Santa Clara Avenue in Mountain View, where he and a woman who also lives there had gotten into a fight. Police say Adonis faces myriad charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, assault with intent to commit mayhem or rape, battery and unlawfully damaging a wireless communication device. Police officers noticed that Adonis fit the description of the suspect in the trail attack. Officers also noticed bite marks on his hands consistent with the victim having told police she bit her attacker in an attempt to escape. Police then obtained a search warrant for the residence, and found a gray Golden State Warriors sweatshirt that matched what witnesses told police the attacker had been wearing. Police said Adonis had been staying at that residence, near the Stevens Creek Trail, for only a few weeks. The victim, a woman from Massachusetts, was walking along the trail near the bridge to Creekside Park at Gladys Avenue and Easy Street at about 10 p.m. Monday when a man approached her from behind and tried to speak with her. The suspect began to punch the woman repeatedly in the face. She was treated for serious facial injuries. An Oakland Unified School District board trustee has publicly apologized to an Oakland kindergarten teacher for putting her hands on that teacher's neck during a Friday afternoon picket line scrum - an incident captured on a video now making the social media rounds. Jumoke Hinton Hodge, a 10-year member of the school district board, issued a statement Saturday saying she "deeply" apologizes to Darnisha Wright for what she described as "inadvertently pushing up against" Wright's neck during what was a chaotic scene Friday at La Escuelita Elementary School on Second Avenue in Oakland immediately before a 2 p.m. school board meeting. In her statement, Hinton Hodge said she was trying to get into the school, and that picketing teachers were "engaged in a series of activities that physically threatened us as board members and me in particular," including chaining doors to the school shut. Hinton Hodge said that, at one point, she was pushed to the ground and became "briefly disoriented." She said that as she tried to get up, "I was inadvertently pushing up against a teacher's neck." The video shows Hinton Hodge's hand on Wright's neck for several seconds. Wright said during a brief interview Saturday that she hasn't made a decision about whether to pursue this matter with the school board. Oakland teachers are set to vote starting at noon Sunday on a tentative contract agreement that would end their seven-day strike. The ratification vote, on a proposed 11 percent salary hike over four years with a one-time 3 percent bonus, will take place at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Oakland. A flute valued at $15,000 was returned to its owner after the instrument was stolen from a car in the Outer Richmond neighborhood last month, San Francisco police said. A man had parked his car in the 800 block of 35th Avenue about 10 p.m. Feb. 14. When he returned the next morning, he found the car had been unlocked and a case with his wife's flute was missing, police said. The victim filed a report on the stolen musical instrument, which is valued at $15,000. On the morning of Feb. 15, Tenderloin officers patrolling the 800 block of Eddy Street spotted Sean Gagnon, a man described in a department email as wanted in connection with a burglary. Gagnon, 33, a transient, had the stolen flute, police said. He was arrested and booked at San Francisco County Jail for burglary and possession of stolen property. A man inside a home at the scene of a five-hour standoff with police in San Anselmo was found dead Saturday afternoon, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said Saturday night. Officers from the Central Marin Police Authority's Special Response Team searched the house in the 00 block of Grove Hill Avenue and found the man's body at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, police said, about five hours after gunshots were first reported coming from the house. A shelter-in-place order was issued to residents of 18 houses on Grove Hill about 12:20 p.m. Saturday; about 20 people inside those houses were evacuated and taken from the area in an armored police vehicle, officers said. The lockdown was lifted about 5:30 p.m. A woman who knew the suspect fled the house and is safe, said police, adding that the dead man was the only person in the house during much of the standoff. That man's name is not being released Saturday, police said. A woman died late Saturday afternoon in a solo vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 101 in San Rafael, the California Highway Patrol reported. A 1995 Geo Prizm was headed north on 101 just south of the Central San Rafael exit at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday when the female driver lost control and drifted left into the center divider, said CHP Officer Andrew Barclay. The Prizm then veered back to the right, across all northbound traffic lanes and into the right-hand shoulder guard rail, Barclay said. The woman was taken to Marin General Hospital, where she died a short time later. Further information about the woman was not available Saturday night. A male passenger in the Geo suffered minor injuries, Barclay said. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning. There will be a slight chance of showers. Highs will be in the mid 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Sunday night will be mostly cloudy. Lows will be in the lower 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Monday will be mostly cloudy. Highs will be in the mid 50s. Southeast winds will be 5 to 10 mph, switching to west in the afternoon. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. PETALUMA (BCN) Officers on the lookout for organized theft crews operating out of the East Bay arrested two women suspected of stealing $2,500 in clothing from a Petaluma outlet store on Saturday, police said. Leimani Lee-Barker, 18, of Hayward and Erynn Chavis, 18, of Antioch were taken into custody in connection with the theft, reported at 4:27 p.m. at the Tommy Hilfiger store in Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, according to Petaluma police. When police responded to the store, the suspects had fled but officers were given a description of the women and their vehicle, said Petaluma police Sgt. Lance Novello. Because there have been similar recent thefts in Sonoma and Marin counties -- and investigations have suggested organized theft crews are operating out of the East Bay -- an officer was posted to watch U.S. Highway 101 at East Washington Street. Within seconds, the officer spotted the suspects' vehicle traveling southbound on state Highway 101, obtained the license plate, and attempted to stop it, Novello said. The vehicle reached speeds of 85 mph and police pursued the car. Due to rainy conditions, traffic, and the suspect's unsafe driving, however, the chase was terminated after the officer lost sight of the vehicle when it exited San Marin Drive in Novato. Shortly thereafter, a Novato officer spotted the abandoned vehicle parked near where it was last seen. Two women, identified as Lee-Barker and Chavis, matching the suspects' descriptions were located nearby and arrested, police said. The driver of the car, however, is at large. His name was not released. The vehicle was seized as evidence, and police are getting a search warrant to search it, Novello said. Lee-Barker and Chavis were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of grand theft. Police believe the two women and the male suspect still at-large could be connected to other thefts around the Bay Area, Novello said. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Central Marin Police Authority Crisis negotiators and police are at a San Anselmo home where an armed suspect may be holed up, according to an alert Saturday afternoon from the Central Marin Police Authority. Police responded to a report of shots possibly fired at the home, located at 46 Grove Hill Ave. A shelter in place for the area was issued about 12:20 p.m. Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents advertisements SpaceX Crew Dragon docks to space station on first demo mission March 3, 2019 SpaceX's first Crew Dragon spacecraft has successfully docked at the International Space Station. The commercially-developed, uncrewed space capsule arrived at the orbiting lab on Sunday (March 3), completing a one-day rendezvous in Earth orbit since launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday. The docking marked a significant milestone in the Crew Dragon's Demo-1 (DM-1) mission, which is aimed at demonstrating to NASA that the vehicle is ready to begin flying with astronauts aboard. "Congratulations to all the teams on a successful docking," said Anne McClain, an Expedition 58 flight engineer and NASA astronaut, from aboard the space station. The Crew Dragon linked up with the space station at 5:51 a.m. EST (1051 GMT), latching itself to an international docking adapter mounted to the end of a shuttle-era pressurized mating adapter (PMA-2) on the forward-facing port of the Node 2 "Harmony" module. A series of 12 latches on the Dragon's nose-mounted docking mechanism were driven closed to achieve a hard docking about 10 minutes later. Aboard the space station, McClain, together with Expedition 58 commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos and flight engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency monitored the Crew Dragon's approach. Unlike SpaceX's cargo version of the Dragon, which is captured and berthed by the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, the Crew Dragon flew an autonomous docking. Before it docked, the Demo-1 Crew Dragon carried out a series of test maneuvers to show it would not pose a danger as it moved in closer to the space station. The spacecraft began its proximity operations at about 500 feet out (150 meters) from the station. Approaching on the V-bar, along the station's direction of travel, the Crew Dragon's first test was initiated by the Expedition 58 crew, who issued a planned command for the spacecraft to retreat. In response, the capsule reversed course and moved out to about 600 feet (180 meters). Once SpaceX's mission managers in Hawthorne, California and NASA's flight controllers in Houston, Texas gave the go, the Crew Dragon was cleared to move to within 65 feet (20 meters) of the station. The spacecraft was then commanded to proceed to a docking after a brief pause to wait for the orbital sunset. The entire approach, from an initial waypoint about 1,300 feet (400 meters) away from the space station, took about two hours to complete. With the Dragon docked, attention turned to opening the hatches leading into the vehicle. The Expedition 58 crew members will unpack the spacecraft of the 450 pounds (200 kilograms) of supplies and equipment it brought to the space station. They will then reload the Dragon with science results and hardware for return to Earth. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to remain at the station for five days, until about 2:30 a.m. on Friday (March 8). The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean a little more than six hours after it undocks. Assuming a successful end to the DM-1 mission, SpaceX has one more unpiloted test an inflight abort test planned for this year before launching a crewed flight test. NASA has selected veteran space shuttle astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to fly on the Demo-2 (DM-2) mission, which could launch as soon as June. "Bob and I are ready to go when Dragon is ready. Whenever that happens, we are going to be ready to take that ride to the International Space Station," said Hurley. SpaceX's Crew Dragon is one of two new commercial spacecraft that NASA has contracted to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Boeing is also developing a capsule, the CST-100 Starliner, and is still working towards its first uncrewed mission to the space station. SpaceX's Crew Dragon approaches a docking with the International Space Station at a distance of 65 feet (20 m). Part of the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm is seen in the foreground. (NASA) SpaceX's Crew Dragon is seen moments before docking with the International Space Station on Sunday, March 3, 2019. (NASA) SpaceX's Crew Dragon approaches the International Space Station with nosecone retracted, exposing its docking mechanism. (NASA) SpaceX's Demo-1 (DM-1) Crew Dragon seen docked from a video camera aboard the International Space Station on Sunday, March 3, 2019. (NASA) 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. A 16-year-old girl was arrested Friday after she stabbed two teenagers, one fatally, who attacked her in the driveway of her Northeast Side home, San Antonio police said. Officials identified the 18-year-old killed as Kaitlin Leonor Castilleja. She graduated from James Madison High School in 2018, according to NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor. Officials: Slain former student was an NEISD employee Authorities have not identified the suspect due to her age. According to Chancellor, she is a current student at Madison High School. She has been booked into a juvenile detention facility. Castilleja's aunt, Marie Fernandez, said the two girls had been arguing on social media long before their confrontation Friday morning. "She isn't able to give you her side of the story, but its been ongoing bullying on both sides," she said. "It's social media. There's so many factors that have contributed to this, and at the end of the day, whether it was wrong, in all aspects my niece had no intentions of hurting anyone." RELATED: S.A. schools had the highest number of fights during the 2017-18 academic year According to a preliminary police report, Castilleja and Vivian Foster, who is also 18 and graduated from Madison High School in 2017, went to the suspect's house near Judson and Stahl roads at about 1 a.m. During the fight, the suspect stabbed both of the girls, causing superficial cuts to Foster but mortal wounds to Castilleja, police said. The suspect then called police to "report she had been assaulted in her driveway when she arrived home from work" and that the two alleged victims had been messaging her on social media "stating they want to fight her," authorities said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to Live Oak Police Lt. Matt Malone, the victims went to Northeast Methodist Hospital. They told officers they had been "stabbed after 'jumping' a girl at her house," the report from San Antonio police says. On the Express-News: NEISD explains how they track threats on social media Paramedics took Castilleja to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 2 a.m. San Antonio police went to the suspect's home and found the crime scene in the driveway. They discovered the "murder weapon" at the scene, according to the preliminary report. The 16-year-old suspect was then arrested in connection to the stabbings and charged with murder. Police were not immediately available to comment further. 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 Dianne Feinstein may have escaped Saturday's TV broadcast, but a sketch mocking her on "Saturday Night Live" lives on on the internet. In the cut-for-time sketch uploaded to YouTube, Cecily Strong plays the Democratic Senator, who went viral last Friday in a video posted by an environmental activist group. In it, Feinstein can be seen interacting with young people who were there to express support for the Green New Deal bill. One of the children in the video, which appears to have been edited, tells Feinstein, "Some scientists have said that we have 12 years to turn this around," referring to the United Nations' latest report on climate change. Feinstein replied, "Well, it's not going to get turned around in 10 years." The exchange continues, with one child saying, "The government is supposed to be for the people, by the people." "You know what's interesting about this group?" Feinstein replies. "I've been doing this for 30 years. I know what I'm doing. You come in here and it has to be my way or the highway. I don't respond to that. I've gotten elected. I just ran. I was elected by almost a million-vote plurality. I know what I'm doing. So maybe people should listen a little bit." MORE: Dianne Feinstein gains unlikely fans after clash with environmentalists: conservative pundits "I hear what you saying, but we're the people who voted for you," a teenager says to Feinstein. "You're supposed to listen to us." "How old are you?" Feinstein asks. "I'm 16, I can't vote," the girl replies. "Well, you didn't vote for me," Feinstein says. Of course, 'SNL' had a field day with the exchange, turning Feinstein's exchanges with the kids into straight-up hostile bullying. "Oh, I see what's happening," Strong's Feinstein says. "You're gonna tell me how to do my job. OK, well. I don't come into your first-grade classroom and knock the Elmer's Glue out of your mouth, do I? So why don't you stay in your lane and step the f--- off?" "You're mean," one kid responds. "Well, your dad wishes you were bullied more," Strong's Feinstein shoots back. "Toughen you up a little bit." The sketch has Feinstein trying and failing repeatedly to take on a more conciliatory tone with the kids. You can watch the entire clip above. Drew Costley contributed to this report. BEIJING In an unusual step, Chinas ceremonial legislature is due to endorse a law meant to help end a bruising tariff war with Washington by discouraging officials from pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. The battle with Chinas biggest trading partner is overshadowing the National Peoples Congress, the countrys highest-profile event of the year. It brings 3,000-plus delegates to the ornate Great Hall of the People in Beijing for two weeks of speeches, meetings with senior leaders and political ritual to endorse the ruling Communist Partys economic and social welfare plans. A gathering of noncommunist groups held at the same time brightens Beijings drab winter, drawing tech billionaires, movie stars and ethnic minorities in distinctive traditional dress. That gives President Xi Jinpings government a platform for advertising changes aimed at ending the fight with President Trump that has disrupted trade in goods from soybeans to medical equipment. The technology measure is part of a proposed law on foreign investment that aims to address complaints by Washington, Europe and other trading partners that Chinas system is rigged against foreign companies. Trump cited complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology when he slapped punitive tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports in July. Europe, Japan and other trading partners disapprove of the tariff hikes but echo U.S. complaints. China has balked at changing its strategy for nurturing technologies that American officials worry might challenge U.S. industrial dominance. But communist leaders face pressure to reach a settlement after economic growth sagged to a three-decade low of 6.6 percent last year. Chinese officials deny Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over trade secrets and technology. But they are trying to mollify Trump and other governments by promising better legal protections. I think the (American and European) complaints have been reflected in the revision of the law, said Citigroup economist Li-Gang Liu. Under the proposed law, officials would be barred from using administrative methods to force technology transfers. The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Tim Stratford, called the measure a step forward. But business groups say they need to see how it will be enforced. It was unclear whether the vaguely worded measure would appease Trump. The American Embassy in Beijing said it had no comment. Companies have been disappointed in the past after hearing positive words, said Stratford, a former deputy U.S. trade representative. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said the laws vague language gives regulators too much discretion. The focus on administrative methods would leave officials free to use other pressure tactics, it said. Joe McDonald is an Associated Press writer. BAGHOUZ, Syria Columns of black smoke billowed from the last small piece of territory held by Islamic State militants on Sunday as U.S.-backed fighters pounded the area with artillery fire and air strikes. Commanders of the Kurdish-led fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces said fierce clashes were taking place as they advance toward the last speck of land controlled by the Islamic State group. The militants fought back with snipers, suicide bombs and booby traps. Fires still smoldered from the area and ammunition exploded time and again, a day after an air strike hit a building, setting off a huge blast. It must be a main weapons depot, said Sefqan, an SDF commander using only his nom de guerre. The U.S.-backed forces resumed an offensive to recapture the tiny area in the village of Baghouz in eastern Syria on Friday night, after a two-week pause to allow for the evacuation of civilians from the area. Retaking the sliver of land would be a milestone in the devastating four-year campaign to end Islamic States self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate that once straddled vast territory across Syria and Iraq. However, the group continues to be a threat, with sleeper cells in scattered desert pockets along the porous border between the two countries. A few hundred militants, many of them believed to be foreign fighters, remain holed up inside Baghouz, with an unknown number of civilians. Mustafa Bali, the SDF spokesman, said coalition air strikes destroyed three car bombs during the past two days of battling in Baghouz. Overnight, machine gun tracers could be seen in the skies over Baghouz and aircraft circled overhead. The night for us and the morning for them, said Abu Ghadab, another commander of the SDF. The militants usually attack during the day as they dont have night vision goggles while the SDF advances at night, he explained. The U.S.-backed fighters say Islamic State militants are mostly hiding underground, in tunnels. The global fight against the Islamic State group is one conflict in a country that has been at civil war for nearly eight years. Near the northwestern province of Idlib, a Syrian jihadist group linked to al Qaeda killed 21 Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in one of the most serious violations of a months-old truce in the area, according to activists and a Syria war monitor. Sundays attack by Ansar al-Tawhid fighters was carried out in the village of Massasneh in the north of Hama province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Sarah El Deeb is an Associated Press writer. DONG DANG, Vietnam Smiling and holding up his clasped hands in a victorious pose, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boarded his private train Saturday at the Vietnam-China border for a 60-plus-hour ride home, ending a trip to Vietnam that saw a summit breakdown with President Trump. He spent his last day in Hanoi laying large red-and-yellow wreaths at a war memorial and at the mausoleum of national hero Ho Chi Minh, surrounded by Vietnamese soldiers and his own entourage of top North Korean officials. At the border, he got out of his armored limousine and clasped his hands, waving to a crowd of people cheering his departure. Since Trump flew home to Washington, Kim has stepped assuredly into the spotlight, keen to show himself as a poised leader taking his rightful place on the international stage. He met Friday with President Nguyen Phu Trong, the countrys top leader and Communist Party chief, grinning broadly as he was feted by top officials and escorted down a red carpet. As Kim met with officials in Hanoi, the United States and North Korea have both been spinning their versions of what happened during one of the most high-profile diplomatic collapses in recent years. But some experts believe that Kim, by standing shoulder to shoulder with Trump at a summit that captivated many around the world, will have one sure win: Hell be able to portray himself to his people and supporters as the charismatic head of a nuclear power, not an international pariah that starves its citizens so it can build arms and missiles. Talks between Kim and Trump broke down Thursday, the second day of their two-day summit, in a dispute over how much sanctions relief Washington should provide Pyongyang in return for nuclear disarmament steps. Despite a senior North Korean officials suggestion in a rushed, middle-of-the-night news conference called to dispute Trumps version of the summits end that Kim may have lost the will for diplomacy, the North Korean leader seems to have emerged from the diplomatic wreckage as a winner. Kim answered questions with humor and ease when confronted by an aggressive international media contingent. And, crucially for his image at home, he stood firm on his demands for relief from sanctions imposed over a nuclear program North Korea says it built in the face of unrelenting U.S. hostility meant to end its leadership. Kim, as he considers his next move after Hanoi, will be backed by state-controlled media that were already busy portraying the summit as a victory for their leader, saying Kim and Trump appreciated that the second meeting in Hanoi offered an important occasion for deepening mutual respect and trust and putting the relations between the two countries on a new stage. North Korea said it had asked for partial sanctions relief in return for closing its main nuclear site at Yongbyon, an important nuclear-fuel production facility but not the only place the North is believed to make bomb fuel. The United States also has been spinning the summit breakdown, with senior officials saying North Korea wanted billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for only partial dismantlement of Yongbyon, and demanded the North scrap more of its nuclear program for such a high level of concessions. Trump maintained ahead of the Hanoi summit that the economic benefits of a deal could push Kim to give up his nuclear ambitions. Kim came into the summit feeling confident that he could settle something that would end painful economic sanctions while letting him keep much of his nuclear program and only making a a variety of gestures that mimic disarmament, Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, wrote after the summit collapse. Foster Klug and Emily Wang are Associated Press writers. LONDON For almost as long as Britain and the European Union have been wrangling over Brexit, Melvin Burton has been preparing for a bumpy landing. Hes growing vegetables, drying fruit and buying in bulk. He reels off the cornucopia of cans filling his shed and the cupboard under his stairs: Tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, corned beef, tuna, honey, baked beans, tins of ham. I started buying stuff about a year and a half ago, said the 45-year-old, who lives with his wife and 8-year-old son in a village near Cambridge. No one seemed to be accepting that there was a real problem. Plenty of people think there is a problem now. Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, but its departure terms are still unknown. A U.K.-EU deal designed to ensure a smooth departure has been rejected by Britains Parliament, and lawmakers are due to vote in mid-March on three starkly differing options: leave with a deal, leave without a deal or postpone Brexit. Quitting the bloc without a deal would, overnight, bring tariffs, customs checks and other barriers between Britain and the EU, and could lead to gridlock at British ports. U.K. officials and companies have been bracing for potential trade disruption by stockpiling everything from ice cream and chocolate cookies to medicines and body bags. But the government still warned last week that British people and businesses are unprepared for the shock of a no-deal exit. Britain imports almost a third of its food from the EU even more during the early spring hunger gap, when domestic crops have yet to be harvested and retailers rely on produce from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and further afield. The government says there will be severe disruption to freight across the English Channel and reduced availability and choice of products, especially fresh fruit and vegetables, if Britain leaves the EU on March 29 without a divorce deal. Some people, like Burton, are taking no chances. Hes a member of a Facebook group titled 48 Percent Preppers, with more than 10,000 members. The name refers to the 48 percent of electors who voted to remain in the EU in Britains 2016 referendum. Remain voters make up the bulk of Brexit hoarders; leave supporters are apt to dismiss warnings of food and medicine shortages as Project Fear. In London, seed importer Paolo Arrigo put together 12 months worth of easy-to-grow seed packets carrots, beans, lettuce, pumpkin, tomatoes and labeled it a Brexit Vegetable Growing Survival Kit. He has sold hundreds in a few weeks. I had never heard the word preppers before a month ago, and I kind of assumed it was Americans who were buying guns and ammo and tinned food and water, Arrigo said. Now I belong to four Brexit preppers websites. Jill Lawless is an Associated Press writer. SEOUL South Korea and the U.S. are eliminating their extensive springtime military drills and replacing them with smaller exercises in what they call an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis. The decision announced by both countries Sunday came after President Trump complained about the cost of joint drills even as his high-stakes second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un collapsed last week. The drills cancellation is an olive branch to North Korea, which has viewed them as an invasion rehearsal. But some experts say it will likely weaken the allies military readiness amid worries that tensions could erupt again in the wake of the failed nuclear summit in Vietnam. The Pentagon said in a release that the U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. It said the allies agreed to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed command post exercises and revised field training programs. Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo made clear that the alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. Seouls Defense Ministry released a similar statement. Jeong expressed his regrets at the lack of agreement at the Trump-Kim summit but still hopes that Washington and Pyongyang will continue negotiations, the South Korean statement said. The new training, dubbed Dong Maeng, which means alliance in English, starts Monday and runs through March 12. It will focus on strategic operational and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula, South Koreas military and the U.S.-South Korean combined forces command said in a joint statement. Following his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June, Trump caught many in the United States and South Korea by surprise by suspending the allies summertime military drills. He called joint drills very provocative and massively expensive. Hyung-Jin Kim and Lolita C. Baldor are Associated Press writers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police remain on the lookout for an unidentified man who punched a woman in the face, then stabbed her male companion in the leg early Saturday morning on a Stapleton sidewalk, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. The violence erupted when the victims were approached by three unknown males near the intersection of Warren and Hill streets, at which point words were exchanged, the spokeswoman said. One of the men allegedly punched the woman, then stabbed the 20-year-old male who attempted to defend her. The woman, who is around the same age as the male victim, did not receive medical attention, police said. The male was treated for the non-life-threatening wound at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A drug raid Friday morning at a suburban home in Westchester County ended with five arrests and what authorities have deemed enough fentanyl and heroin to kill two million people, according to multiple media reports. Five kilograms of fentanyl and six kilograms of heroin were seized from the home, leading to the arrests of four men and one woman, ranging in age from 20 to 44 years old, Pix 11 reported. Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that often originates from China, and in some cases from south of the U.S. border. The drug can be administered in pill or patch form. When mixed with Heroin, it has caused tens of thousands of fatal overdoses in recent years across the U.S. Authorities on Staten Island have made several arrests in recent months targeted at four trafficking rings whose dealings allegedly were tied to at least 21 overdoses. In January, Stephen Cummings became the first person convicted of manslaughter for allegedly selling the drugs in a fatal overdose. Prosecutors said the fatal dose was a mix of fentanyl and heroin. In August, a Staten Island father and son charged with selling opioids purchased from China on the dark web surrendered themselves to federal authorities in Manhattan. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the call to include LGBT groups in the annual Staten Island St. Patricks Parade grew louder this year, some elected officials emphasized the importance of inclusion at the bipartisan pre-parade breakfast held at Jodys Club Forest. Everyone should be included and accepted into the parade, said District Attorney Michael McMahon. Just as we seek to include everyone in our everyday lives at the same time, for the Irish, this is a parade that is about faith and culture. McMahon, like three local politicians who announced Friday they would not march in the parade, expects the organizers -- the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Staten Island -- to allow LGBT groups to openly march in the future, but said we have to respect their decision. On Friday, three Island politicians said they would boycott marching in the traditional Forest Avenue parade due to a lack of LGBT organization inclusion. Republican Borough President James Oddo, Congressman Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and North Shore Democratic Councilwoman Debi Rose each tweeted Friday they would not participate. State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) told the New York Post she also wouldnt participate. Its unfortunate, Savino said, according to the Post. We tried to negotiate with the Ancient Order of Hibernians. They just refused to do anything for the Staten Island Pride Center, the LGBT organization who has long been declined permission to march under its own banner, she said. Staten Islanders are open and welcoming people, Savino said to the Post. It pains us to do this. At the annual Jay ODonovan breakfast at Jodys, Pride Center of Staten Island Executive Director Carol Bullock, remarked about the outpouring of support and the importance of the borough parade. This parade is very important to Staten Island. Its a great day; a great celebration. Its about celebrating our Irish heritage," she said. My intention is not to ruin that. My intention is to have an organization that Im so proud to work for to be able to march with its banner. Last month, Bullock said despite parade organizers not granting her organization permission to march with its banner, she would not call for a boycott. As she and others gathered in Jodys, nearby businesses showed support of the LGBT community by having signs in their window that read WE SUPPORT OUR LGBTQ NEIGHBORS! A sign reading "WE SUPPORT OUR LGBTQ NEIGHBORS!" rests on the door of Beans & Leaves Cafe, which is along the Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade route on Forest Avenue in West Brighton. Surrogate Judge of Richmond County Matt Titone stressed the significance of longtime LGBT supporters and inclusion, and especially noted its important to recognize the efforts made by politicians -- Assemblyman Michael Cusicks support of gay marriage, for example -- toward the LGBT community in previous years. This parade is not the gold standard litmus test of supporting LGBT rights," said Titone, the first openly gay Surrogate Court judge in New York state. Despite the louder calls for inclusion, public officials said its necessary to keep the Irish communitys achievements in mind. New York Attorney General Letitia James said parade day on Staten Island shouldnt be about controversy. It should be a day about the contribution of the Irish community, James said, noting the Irishs influence on labor laws in the U.S. "And the fact that they represent three things in my mind: Faith, family and friends. Congessman Rose had a similar opinion despite not marching. While inside of Jodys, he said theres a lot of love at the parade and the bipartisan gathering: Were [boycotting] respectfully. People understand where were coming from. And thats it. Today remains a day of celebration. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis repeated others call for inclusion, and said, "Were going to work towards that goal. Regarding the boycotts, Everyone has to make their own decision," she said. "I choose to celebrate the Irish community as I always have, and I would like to see the parade be all-inclusive in the future. Fellow state Assembly member Michael Reilly posted on Facebook last month that its time the Pride Center of Staten Island is part of the festivities. On the post, he commented, Not shaming anyone. Supporting inclusion. Sorry if you disagree. As for the future of the parade and its organizers current stance, Titone said: It comes down to the question of just because you can do something, why would you? Why would you want to be remembered for those who you exclude, rather than be remembered for those you do include. Parade organizer Larry Cummings has not responded to numerous requests to comment from the Advance. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police are seeking the publics assistance in identifying a male suspect in connection with an alleged gunpoint robbery last month in Port Richmond. Surveillance video released Sunday by the NYPD shows what appears to be a frantic encounter in which an unidentified man points a handgun in the face of a male victim, 26, whos wearing headphones and carrying a backpack. The incident occurred just before 11 p.m. on Jan. 29, on the 900 block of Post Avenue, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Informations office. Police said the victim was approached from behind and forced to remove his wallet, cellphone headphones and cash, which in total is worth about $235, police said. Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt and low-top sneakers. (Courtesy of the NYPD) Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public also can submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. The NYPD says all calls are kept confidential. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After the boroughs Pride Center was excluded from marching under their own banner in the St. Patricks Parade on Sunday, West Brighton resident Tom McGinley wanted to help local businesses show their support for the LBGTQ community. A graphic designer, McGinley made the signs with the slogan, "We support our LGBTQ Neighbors, against the backdrop of the Gay Pride flag, and handed them out to business owners. McGinley said nearly 30 businesses along the parade route displayed the signs in their windows. Ive been involved in politics for quite a while. ...And as a person who is plugged into the community, I thought it was a good idea to allow business owners to display these signs. ...I wanted businesses to be able to show their solidarity with the Pride Center, said McGinley. I didnt know what type of reaction we would get. But we got a very positive reaction, even from people on the street. People were driving by yesterday honking their horns, he added. On Friday, three Island politicians said they would boycott marching in the traditional Forest Avenue parade due to a lack of LGBTQ organization inclusion. Republican Borough President James Oddo, Congressman Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and North Shore Democratic Councilwoman Debi Rose each tweeted Friday they would not participate. State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) told the New York Post she also wouldnt participate. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Behind every great restaurant theres a great chef and someone taking a financial gamble. It could be the entrepreneur staking their life savings or betting their house to secure a bank loan. Some young chefs turn to crowd funding or use pop-up restaurants to keep costs down and stay independent. But many of the up and comers in Sydneys hospitality scene are increasingly backed by investors. Sarah Doyle, restaurateur and investor, upstairs at Continental Deli in Newtown. Credit:Nic Walker There are a few large hospitality groups that are well-known think the Hemmes familys Merivale Group, which owns more than 70 pubs and restaurants including Ivy and the Coogee Pavilion, or Solotel, the company behind nearly 30 venues from high-end restaurant Aria to grungy Newtown pub The Courthouse. Semiotics Club. Angus McGrath. Seen&Heard. Mikhaila Jurkiewicz. Boreal. Tessa Rex. PhotoAccess at the Manuka Arts Centre, cnr Manuka Circle and NSW Circle, Griffith. Until March 16. Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 4pm. According to his artist statement Angus McGraths Semiotics Club "uses photo and text on ready-made media to place this narrative in a personal context, beyond that of just queerness and into the equally coded realms of dance music and punk culture. Angus McGrath, Manifest No. 1 (detail) 2018. The installation consists of photographs (on bricks and paper), T-shirts, Truvada bottles and two pencilled wall texts. One of these Gay Knife Fight dominates the gallery space, occupying the entire end wall with lines of words including Flesh, Blood, Gay, Meat, Death, and Hearts. It holds a menacing tone and for me there is an overall darkness to this installation that imparts a sense of uneasiness (or at least it did with me). ATO's hounding of whistleblower appalling I am appalled at the way the ATO is hounding whistleblower Richard Boyle ("Whistleblower case shows reform need", March 2-3). Surely it should be thanking him, not taking him to court? I believe when things are wrong, one should welcome the opportunity to put them right and punish the transgressors, not the brave person who stands up for truth, honesty and justice. Our society would be much better if we encouraged people to blow the whistle on wrongdoing, and I agree with your correspondent Adele Ferguson, who wrote that they should not only be protected but rewarded, and that this needs to be addressed by our government, fast. - Pam Nankivell, Parkes Adele Ferguson's summary of the charges against Richard Boyle by the ATO show a major organisation in full revenge mode against a person who dared to reveal information about dodgy ATO practices. His information is validated by the fact that changes have been and are being being made within the ATO system. It is disgusting that a person is being punished for attempting to serve the public's interest and not his own. We have seen so many cases of large organisations profiting at the expense of ordinary people, and getting away with it, but the ATO's witch-hunt is positively medieval and an affront to our notion of justice. As Ferguson says: "Australia is littered with whistleblowers who have taken on enormous risk for no personal gain". We are overdue for new laws and better treatment of whistleblowers. In the meantime, the ATO should be forced to call off its attack dogs. Its actions only reinforce the bleeding obvious imbalance of power in our major organisations when an individual dares to question their authority. We are sick of injustices and cover-ups and plain incompetence being disguised under "commercial in confidence" agreements and total lack of transparency. Shame on the ATO. - Jan Kent, Farmborough Heights How can we have a man of exemplary courage like Richard Boyle standing up to the rorts of the Tax Office, yet the full force of the idiotic law is brought upon him? From the facts it is clear he has broken the law, but the laws need to be amended and backdated so that we, the taxpayers, can get our slice of the cake, not to mention rewarding Boyle for his brave and selfless acts. The AFP needs to give itself an uppercut, too, with the mistakes it has been making in recent times. - Alastair Browne, Cromer Heights A whistleblower who reports on ATO poor practices is threatened with jail, not rewarded! Where are we going? Its bad. Who can help? Liberals, ALP? Let me know. - Ian Catt, Surry Hills Build something brilliant in Parramatta The Royal Society of NSW, Australia's oldest scientific and cultural organisation, applauds the recommendation of the upper house's parliamentary committee to retain the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo ("State urged to put museum move on hold", March 1), and to support a major new cultural institution at Parramatta. The right place for the Museum of Applied Arts and Science, the Powerhouse Museum, is where it is now, as an integral part of Sydney history, close to Sydney Observatory, Darling Harbour and universities, and well located as a rich educational and tourist resource. The Royal Society is excited that the report recognises the urgent need for renovation of the Powerhouse Museum, to make up for the years of neglect that have allowed this priceless asset to fall behind other science museums around the world. In planning the Parramatta museum, the needs and interests of Parramatta and NSW should be assessed, and an exciting and innovative museum then designed. We in NSW have, for example, no First People's museum, nor a heritage and immigration museum. Such choices would be drawcards for locals and tourists alike, bringing a new audience to Parramatta. Instead of wasting funds moving a valuable existing collection to a new place, let's use public funds to build something new and brilliant. - Professor Ian Sloan, President, Royal Society of NSW Not just Catholic Church problem Julia Gillard deserves more thanks for establishing the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, as it showed that the problem is not just for the Roman Catholic Church ("In the shadow of the cardinal", March 2-3). As an Anglican, I can see the truth of the adage that if the Catholic Church sneezes, the other churches catch the flu. The Pell case is only one instance which has damaged the institutional church, and the problem will not be solved by getting the wagons into a circle and fighting off contemporary society. The way forward is to mirror Pope Francis' abhorrence of ideology and follow his model of ministry as shepherd-pastor, rather than defender-warrior. The extent of the task is shown by the 2016 census, which reported that 61 per cent of Australians said that religion played no part in their lives, and almost 75 per cent of marriages were by civil celebrants. - James Moore, Kogarah Thank you, Wendy Tuohy, for giving voice to that felt by so many ("Parents have every reason to be enraged by Pell revelations", March 2-3). If I have been feeling quite sickened by those doubting the jury's verdict on George Pell and springing to his defence, I can barely imagine how all the parents of abused children are feeling. The whole problem has always been adults doubting the possibility of the circumstances. Some paedophiles are considered and some are opportunists. The reality is the jury reached a unanimous verdict after hearing all the evidence. - Kay Buckeridge, Mollymook How about penalising people? Reading the Herald ("Dingoes bite French pair on Fraser Island", March 2-3) I learn that another dingo living on Fraser Island has been euthanised and authorities are hunting for its fellow felon. The punishment seems to be premised on the "Once they've tasted blood" belief. Following this theory to its conclusion, why not euthanise people who terrorise, imprison or assault animals? After all, "Once they've tasted power ..." - Helen Lyons-Riley, Springwood Jobs for boys and girls With barely two months to go the Morrison government has appointed Liberal senator David Bushby and veteran Liberal Patricia Forsythe to plum diplomatic jobs in Chicago and Wellington ("Payne appoints friend to diplomatic post", March 2-3). Neither appointee has any obvious qualifications for positions normally occupied by senior officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In the likely event of a change of government, the Labor Party should include in its election promises the prompt cancellation of these appointments and their replacement by experienced diplomats without party affiliation. - Chris Smith, Kingston (ACT) Missing school matters During my 40-year career in education, one major role was the monitoring of high school attendance and it horrified me how "a day off here and a day off there" compounded students' chances of failing to grasp concepts at crucial learning times ("One-third of students miss a year of school", March 2-3). Parents generally seemed oblivious to the negative message their children were receiving by not ensuring that their children attended class every day, unless ill. Being at school, on time and engaged in all lessons, sets up positive practices and attitudes which a student will take into the work place. It comes as no surprise to me that a student could miss at least one full year of schooling by year 10 due to absenteeism. We studied and extrapolated similar data to come up with a similar figure a decade ago for senior students. - Susan Goodison, Tuncurry Hypocrisy knows no bounds Gladys Berejiklian's massive glass McMansion must be running out of windows to shatter. Her accusations against Michael Daley ("Ghosts of Labor haunt Daley", March 2-3) make an interesting comparison with the article on the opposite page exposing her government's awarding of massive benefits and building rights to Liberal Party donors Billbergia to continue the overdevelopment of the Rhodes Parramatta River precinct ("Donor developer granted 600 units", March 2-3). Liberal hypocrisy knows no bounds. - Sally Morris, Leichhardt Jacob Saulwick describes Rhodes East as being in the "inner west". That seems to be stretching the boundary of the famed inner west a bit too far. Henceforth I propose that the region west of Rozelle/Lilyfield, bounded by the line from Iron Cove to Canterbury Racecourse, as far as Parramatta, be renamed the "mid-west" to better reflect its relationship to the rest of Sydney. I am a proud mid-westerner. - Dale Bailey, Five Dock Help those missing out Geoff Black (Letters, March 2-3) has come up with a good suggestion for a new accord providing a fairer share of national wealth through distribution of the "value added" component of business' BAS statement to employed labour. What is missing is a mechanism for distributing an equitable share of national wealth to those who contributed through losing their paid labour through efficiency cuts and those who can't get paid work through the effect of such efficiencies. - Don Smith, Ashfield Rolling with the times Wages are stagnant, while the price of bread rolls at Coles went up by 20 per cent this past week. - Bill Bolton, St Ives Chase Smoke and mirrors John Burman's comments about Hydrogen 2.0 (Letters, March 2-3) reminded me of Joh Bjelke-Petersen's Horvath car from 1980, which he claimed only needed water for fuel. The car could extract hydrogen and run without any other source of power, we were told. I'm surprised the LNP aren't trying this one on again. - Phillip Schmidt, Newrybar EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher has told Catholic worshippers not to be "too quick to judge" in relation to Cardinal George Pell's conviction over child sexual abuse. "As the Cardinals matter is ongoing in the courts I cannot comment on the substance," he said at solemn mass at St Marys Cathedral on Sunday morning. Archbishop Anthony Fisher said parishioners should not be quick to judge. Credit:AAP "Others have done so, and some have raised serious questions for the appellate court to examine. If we are too quick to judge we can end up joining the demonisers or the apologists, those baying for blood or those in denial. Our readings remind us that things are not always what they seem; that we must look beneath the surface and allow truth and justice to unfold in God's good time." The inside of most 91-year-olds bedrooms are filled with picture frames, but Jock Findlay would rather hang 76 bejewelled clocks on his walls. The walls and tables of Scottish-born Mr Findlay's room, at a Brisbane aged care facility, are adorned with colourful clocks, which he spends most of his day decorating. Jock Findlay with one of dozens of clocks he has made and decorated. Credit:Carinity Clifford House But in his room, bursting with sparkly sequins, many would not take notice of his favourite one of them all. A simple wooden clock that he made from an old timer used to turn on gas street lights last century. Police investigating the death of a female driver south of Brisbane on Friday are calling for witnesses. The 70-year-old Beaudesert woman died when her Hyundai sedan collided with a ute about 9.35am at Redland Bay, about 45 kilometres south-east of Brisbane. Police believe the woman was travelling on Serpentine Creek Road before she turned right into Cleveland Redland Bay Road and collided with the Toyota utility, travelling south on Cleveland Redland Bay Road. She died at the scene. The driver of the ute had minor injuries. A submerged 1999 Ford has been brought to the surface from the bottom of a dam in central Queensland a decade after it was reported missing. On February 21, Gladstone Maritime Safety Queensland marine officers found the vehicle, stolen in 2009, about 100 metres from the Awoonga Dam boat ramp while they were testing new equipment. The car recovered at Awoonga Dam in Gladstone was stolen in 2009. Credit:Queensland Police Service The vehicle was recovered on February 25. The operation involved police divers and water police, the Gladstone Area Water Board and Maritime Safety Queensland. Incredible footage captured at night by a CFA volunteer of a massive blaze in a Gippsland state forest has been posted on a CFA Facebook page. Fireman Matt Stoneham joined the Doreen volunteer brigade just after the Black Saturday fires a decade ago. On Saturday night he drove through the aftermath of the Bunyip State Park bushfire and captured the footage. The state government has heralded the arrival in Fremantle of a luxury cruise liner on its maiden voyage to Western Australia as an important boost for Perth's lacklustre tourism sector. Silver Muse is the newest ship in Silverseas fleet of boutique vessels, known for their smaller size and upmarket spaces. The Silver Muse has docked in Fremantle overnight. The 596-berth ship has eight restaurants, a white-gloved butler service and designer apartment-style cabins. It stopped in Albany on March 1, where visitors experienced some of the regions natural attractions, history and cuisine, including the National Anzac Centre, historic whaling station, Torndirrup National Park and the Denmark food and wine region. Mimicking an infrared remote to control your household appliances from afar, the B.One Eazy offers a simple way to give your home a smart overhaul. Last year, Australian-backed Blaze Automation unveiled the ambitious $550 B.One Hub which is designed to control practically any smart or dumb appliance around your home. Now it's back with the stripped-down $88 B.One Eazy, which acts like a universal remote for less-complex smart homes. The B.One Eazy is small, but needs line of sight to the IR devices you want to control. The palm-sized Eazy is small enough to tuck away out of sight and even comes with a wall mount. Keep in mind it still needs power via microUSB, as well as line of sight with any device you want to control via IR; such as your aircon, television, set-top box or sound system. The Eazy works with most split systems, which typically come with an infrared remote, but not with central heating/cooling as these systems tend to rely on a wall controller rather than a handheld remote. New Delhi: Intense shelling erupted along the disputed border between India and Pakistan on Saturday, killing several civilians and making it clear that hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations were hardly over only a day after Pakistan handed over a captured Indian fighter pilot in what it called a "goodwill gesture". At least five civilians and two soldiers were killed, according to officials on both sides. At the same time, independent security analysts continue to question India's claims this past week that it had killed "a very large number" of terrorists at a major training camp in a cross-border airstrike. The bold strike set off an enormous mobilisation of Indian and Pakistani forces and a cycle of military attacks, bringing South Asia to red alert. Michael Sheldon, a researcher at the Atlantic Council, a think tank in Washington, said on Saturday that after studying satellite imagery of the area in Pakistan that India had bombed, he could see "no evidence any buildings were hit". He added, "It appears to me they didn't hit their targets." Toronto: An executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei is suing the Canadian government, its border agency and the national police force, saying they detained, searched and interrogated her before telling her she was under arrest. Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrives at a parole office with a security guard in Vancouver in December. Credit:Canadian Press/AP Lawyers for Meng Wanzhou said on Sunday they filed a notice of civil claim in the British Columbia Supreme Court. Canada arrested Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, at the request of the US on December 1 at Vancouver's airport. She is wanted on fraud charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. The suit alleges that instead of immediately arresting her, authorities interrogated Meng "under the guise of a routine customs" examination and used the opportunity to "compel her to provide evidence and information." Washington: North Korea has no economic future with nuclear weapons, US President Donald Trump said, as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large-scale spring military exercises. "North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don't have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong". According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. Jakarta: Australian universities and healthcare providers could play a critical role for decades to come in Indonesia's booming economy once a landmark free trade deal is implemented, according to Trade Minister Simon Birmingham. Barring a last-minute disaster, the Australian and Indonesian trade ministers, Senator Birmingham and Enggartiasto Lukita, will finally put pen to paper on Monday morning in the Indonesian capital on the much-delayed deal. In the short term, Australian farmers who will see increased annual quotas implemented for live cattle, beef, potatoes and other agricultural exports will be major beneficiaries. Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham is expected to sign the deal on Monday after months of anticipation. Credit:AAP But ahead of the signing on Monday, Senator Birmingham told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age the longer-term benefits of the deal for both Indonesians and Australians will flow from Australian universities and healthcare providers being able to more easily operate in Indonesia. Baghouz: Islamic State faces final territorial defeat as the US-backed Syrian force battling the jihadists said on Saturday it was closing in on the last bastion near the Iraqi border, capping four years of efforts to roll back the group. While the fall of Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village on the bank of the Euphrates River, would mark a milestone in a global campaign against Islamic State (IS), they remain a threat, using guerrilla tactics and holding some desolate land further west. An array of enemies, both local and international, confronted IS after it declared a modern-day "caliphate" in 2014 across large swathes of territory it had seized in lightning offensives in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. IS lost its twin capitals of Mosul and Raqqa in 2017. As its territory shrank, thousands of fighters, followers and civilians retreated to Baghouz. Over the last few weeks, they have poured out of the tiny cluster of hamlets and farmlands in Deir al-Zor province, holding up the final assault. With the corruption case hanging over his head and a stiff challenge from Benny Gantz, a retired army chief of staff whose security credentials rival Netanyahu's, Israelis are starting to ask whether Israel can not only survive, but thrive, without the man who has come to dominate their national self-image. Netanyahu, 69, has become nearly synonymous with Israel in the eyes of much of the world. People walk by posters of retired Israeli military chief Benny Gantz for his election campaign for the April 2019 elections, in Tel Aviv. Credit:AP "Even people who hate him, when they close their eyes, they can't imagine anyone else sitting in his office," said Micah Goodman, a Jerusalem-based scholar and author of "Catch-67", on the conundrums of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Friday, a major poll for the first time showed Netanyahu's right-wing coalition being dislodged by a centre-left one led by Gantz. Much can change between now and April 9. Netanyahu could well survive the election, and go on in July to become Israel's longest-serving prime minister, surpassing David Ben-Gurion, its founding statesman. He could even forge a right-wing coalition willing to let him stand trial in the morning and run the country in the afternoon though the reaction to his recent alliance with a far-right, racist party in hopes of holding onto its sliver of the electorate suggests that this could come at great cost. But what looked at first like a matchup of intramural athletes against a varsity star shifted sharply weeks ago into a competitive showdown between Netanyahu and Gantz, who enticed two of his predecessors and a popular centrist politician, Yair Lapid, into a flag-waving, security-minded party aimed at Israel's moderate middle. An election campaign billboard shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and US President Donald Trump in Jerusalem. Hebrew on the billboard reads: "Netanyahu is a different league." Credit:AP Whether one sees a post-Netanyahu Israel as salutary or not, generally speaking, depends on one's tribe. Nowhere is Netanyahu more valued than on the right wing. His halting promotion of the settlement enterprise on the occupied West Bank has exasperated settlers and their supporters, but he is seen fundamentally as an ally, said Oded Revivi, mayor of Efrat and a spokesman for an umbrella group of settlements like it. "Having been close to him, knowing from him what the pressures were, we can be grateful for what we've achieved the last 10 years," Revivi said. He would have no part of an after-Netanyahu conversation. No one would welcome a Netanyahu exit more than Israel's anemic left, which has been loudly assailing his authoritarian and rightward drift for several years. Few on the left place much hope in a Gantz-led government for major change. "I think the big change would be the climate," said Naomi Chazan, a liberal activist, scholar and former lawmaker from the Meretz party. "Some notion of hope on the horizon. More emphasis on integrity. And conceivably on the Palestinian issue, a greater openness." Merely quieting Netanyahu's voice could have its own benefit after years in which he exploited divisions between Arab and Jew, religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardic, said Avishai Margalit, a prize-winning philosopher who was among the founders of Peace Now. Loading "The only emotion that connects him with his people is resentment, and the need for revenge," Margalit said. "He's poisoning the well of public discourse." It is in the broad center where Netanyahu is most at risk politically, where Gantz's party is trying to carve out a winning plurality, and where voters have shown a preoccupation with bread-and-butter issues on which the prime minister has not distinguished himself. A few months ago, when Netanyahu was heckled by a Likud activist over problems in the health care system, he snapped that she was "boring." His challengers have not let that gaffe be forgotten. Gantz has made pocketbook issues the heart of his candidacy, promising to address income inequality, build new roads and affordable housing, add hospital beds, overhaul the education system and curtail consumer price gouging. Nearly half of likely voters in a poll this past week said such economic issues were most important to them more than twice as many as cited security. Goodman, the Jerusalem scholar, suggested that Netanyahu was suffering the result of a career spent not as a builder, like Ben-Gurion, but as a self-styled "preventer" someone who warns of catastrophe, and then, like Churchill, one of Netanyahu's heroes, succeeds by averting it. "It makes him a very careful leader," Goodman said. "He didn't go bomb Iran, he didn't invade Gaza" last fall the way some of his allies wanted him to, he didn't push for peace. "He's the guy that doesn't do things." Ordinarily, he added, Israelis surrounded by the volatility of the Middle East like to sip coffee in cafes and have nothing happen to interrupt them. "Change doesn't sound fine, it sounds terrifying," he said. On matters of security, Goodman noted, Gantz's party was essentially promising the status quo but "without the price" that Netanyahu had demanded. There were several crucial questions surrounding Saturday night's Gridiron dinner, that exclusive, annual white-tie gathering hosted by a club made up of Washington's most elite journalists: first of all, would President Donald Trump turn up? The answer to that one came early in the evening - nope, the president wouldn't attend, as he did last year, and instead, his daughter and top White House adviser, Ivanka Trump, gave remarks. And so the younger Trump appeared at the Renaissance Washington Hotel before a crowd of about 700 of the city's swampiest of swamp-dwellers, offering up a few remarks in the spirit of the night, which traditionally features jokey remarks from the president (when he's in attendance - POTUSes since William McKinley have joined in on the 134 year-old tradition), a prominent Democrat and Republican and a slew of skits by the Fourth Estate. Ivanka Trump, who said her father had asked her just that afternoon to represent him, got off a cringey laugh with a line that poked fun at her conservative bona fides - and her notoriously difficult boss/dad. "The press seems to think it's ironic that I, born of great privilege, think people want to work for what they are given," she deadpanned. "As if being Donald Trump's daughter isn't the hardest job in the world." The three-person crew on the International Space Station gave a warm welcome to SpaceX's first Crew Dragon spacecraft (and its mock astronaut "Ripley") today to mark a flawless arrival by America's newest spaceship. The uncrewed SpaceX capsule made history earlier this morning (March 3) when it docked at the space station, becoming the first commercial crew vehicle to ever visit the orbiting laboratory and the first to launch into orbit from U.S. soil since NASA's space shuttle Atlantis in 2011. Crew Dragon docked with the space station at 5:51 a.m. EST (1051 GMT), approximately 27 hours after it lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. After the Crew Dragon autonomously docked at the Harmony module, Expedition 58 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko opened the hatch to the spacecraft at 8:07 a.m. EST (1307 GMT). Related: SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 Test Flight in Pictures NASA astronaut Anne McClain welcomes SpaceX's first Crew Dragon to the International Space Station in a video message recorded inside the spacecraft on March 3, 2019. A test dummy "Ripley" sits behind her in a SpaceX spacesuit. SpaceX launched the dummy and the Earth Celestial Buddies plush toy on Crew Dragon Saturday. (Image credit: NASA TV) Along with a sensor-packed dummy astronaut named Ripley, the Crew Dragon brought along a Celestial Buddies Earth plush to serve as a "zero-g indicator" and more than 400 lbs. (180 kilograms) of supplies for the Expedition 58 crew. "Ripley and Earth both look like they enjoyed their trip up here, McClain told mission control as the astronauts worked to open the hatch. Saint-Jacques and Kononenko were the first to enter the Crew Dragon after opening the hatch. As a safety precaution, the two wore gas masks as they carried instruments in there to conduct some atmospheric readings. Once they determined that the air inside the Crew Dragon was safe, they swung the door open and allowed it to mix with the air inside the space station. "This is just an incredible sight for the SpaceX team to see the ISS crewmembers inside the capsule," SpaceX engineer Tom Praderio said during a live webcast of the hatch opening. The "zero-g indicator" gets a bump from CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques that sends it tumbling around the Crew Dragon. (Image credit: NASA TV) While working to unload some of the cargo beneath the seats inside the Crew Dragon, Saint-Jacques gave the "zero-g indicator" a bump that sent it tumbling around the inside of the spacecraft. "Can you tell we're in microgravity? NASA TV commentator Dan Huot joked during the webcast. "It's been indicated," Praderio replied. About five hours after the Crew Dragon docked at the space station, the Expedition 58 crew held a formal welcoming ceremony in which they commended the achievement of NASA's commercial crew program and gave a live video tour of the new addition to their home. "This is a good day first day of a new era for the next generation of space explorer," Saint-Jacques said during a live broadcast of the welcoming ceremony. "Our sincere congratulations to all Earthlings who have enabled the opening of this next chapter in space exploration, McClain added. The Crew Dragon will spend about five days docked at the space station before heading back to Earth for the final phase of its first test flight. It is scheduled to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday (March 8) at 8:45 a.m. EST (1345 GMT) after a parachute-assisted descent. You can watch the undocking, deorbit burn and splashdown coverage live here at Space.com beginning at 2 a.m. EST (0700 GMT). If the Crew Dragon's return goes as smoothly as its launch and docking did, SpaceX plans to start launching live, human astronauts to the International Space Station this summer. Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket, seen here attached to its L-1011 aircraft, has suffered technical problems that has delayed the launch of a NASA satellite until the second quarter of 2019. WASHINGTON A persistent problem with a Pegasus rocket will keep a long-delayed NASA space science mission on the ground until at least this spring. NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission was scheduled to launch in late 2017 on a Pegasus XL rocket based out of Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific. That launch was delayed to June 2018 because of an issue with the rocket's separation system, then delayed again when engineers detected "off-nominal" data from the rocket during a ferry flight from California ahead of the June launch attempt. That problem was linked to a faulty sensor that was replaced, with the launch eventually rescheduled for Nov. 7, this time flying out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. However, after the rocket's L-1011 aircraft took off for the Nov. 7 launch attempt, engineers again detected off-nominal data from the rocket and scrubbed the launch. Neither NASA nor Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, which builds the Pegasus, have provided additional details about the problem, but at a December meeting of an advisory committee, Nicky Fox, director of NASA's heliophysics division, said engineers were examining the control system of the rockets fins. Fox, speaking at a Feb. 25 meeting of a National Academies committee here, said the launch was now scheduled for no earlier than the second quarter. "Northrop Grumman is still working extremely hard to analyze what is causing these anomalies during the ferry flight," she said. "They're working extremely hard to try and get ICON up as soon as possible." Northrop Grumman hasn't elaborated on the specific issue with the rocket and what it is doing to resolve it. A company spokesperson, contacted by SpaceNews after Fox's talk, said that "the team is in testing" but offered no other details. Pegasus has seen limited use in recent years, launching only three times in the last decade, most recently in 2016. No other missions are on the rocket's manifest after ICON, although Stratolaunch has an agreement to use the rocket for launches from the giant aircraft it is developing at the Mojave Air and Space Port. At the Feb. 25 committee meeting, Fox also offered an update on another long-delayed mission, the Space Environment Testbed payload that is part of the Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) satellite from the Air Force Research Laboratory, part of the Space Test Program 2 mission launching on a Falcon Heavy. That launch was originally scheduled for launch in 2015 but postponed by delays in development of the rocket, which finally made its inaugural launch in February 2018. Fox said the launch, last scheduled for April, is now planned for June. That launch will be the second of back-to-back Falcon Heavy missions using the same set of first stage boosters that will first launch the Arabsat-6A satellite this spring. "We are awaiting launch because there is a launch ahead of us that we will be reusing the boosters from," she said. "So, we have to watch the other launch and, as that one slips, ours slips too." WASHINGTON Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Wednesday (Feb. 27) sent to Capitol Hill a legislative proposal and a "strategic overview" of how the Pentagon plans to organize a U.S. Space Forrce as a separate military branch. The information was emailed to the staff directors of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as well as the House and Senate Appropriations defense subcommittees. The proposal is the culmination eight months of work since President Trump directed the Pentagon to draw up a plan to create a Space Force. Shanahan already had been designated by Congress as the point man for the space reorganization and he has overseen every step of the process. Now that the proposal has been kicked over to Congress, DoD faces what could be a harder-than-expected job communicating the plan to Congress and the public. One of the challenges for DoD will be to argue that Congress should authorize a Space Force for reasons of national security, not just to satisfy the commander-in-chief's directive. The Pentagon also will be pressed to explain why it's moving to stand up a U.S. Space Command at the same time it is pushing for the establishment of a new military service for space. "It is kind of a confusing thing when you talk about a Space Force and you talk also about the combatant command and part of the two are similar," Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said on Tuesday during a posture hearing with the commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command. Ranking SASC Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) expressed the view held by many that he supports "creating a full unified command for space, however I'm very dubious about the need to create an entire new bureaucracy of a separate service and all that entails." During the hearing, STRATCOM Commander Gen. John Hyten sought to explain the difference between U.S. Space Command, the combatant command, and the Space Force, a military service. He said U.S. Space Command is needed to "focus on this mission." Space operations that would be run by the Space Command are now overseen by Hyten. He said U.S. access to space is being challenged by adversaries and the nation would be better served by having its own combatant command. The Space Force, meanwhile, would have the responsibility to "organize, train and equip" operators to support all combatant commands, including U.S. Space Command. Two defense officials told SpaceNews that U.S. Space Command is about 60 to 90 days away from being stood up. Although the command does not require congressional authorization, DoD has asked Congress to do a "technical revision" to the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that directs the establishment of a "subordinate unified command for space" under U.S. Strategic Command that would be "responsible for joint space warfighting operations." Trump in December signed a policy directive to establish U.S. Space Command, which would go beyond what the NDAA directed. "So now we do have some cleanup to do," the official said of the legislative language. "We believe we're going to get through that between now and the first part of May." Hyten did stir some confusion on Tuesday when he told Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) that STRATCOM would retain space responsibilities. He said STRATCOM will continue to support space to ensure there are no gaps. "I was around when we transitioned the old U.S. Space Command to U.S. Strategic Command in 2002, now we're kind of going back the other way. And I watched us almost break the space mission when we did that because we haphazardly slapped billets and said these 500-and-plus billets are going to move from Colorado to Omaha." For that reason, "we're going to continue to perform a lot of the mission for Space Command in the STRATCOM headquarters," he said. If Space Command were headquartered in Colorado, STRATCOM, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, would be "Space Command East," Hyten said. If Space Command ends up in Florida or Alabama, STRATCOM will be "Space Command West. A defense official said Hyten was not trying to suggest that STRATCOM intends to permanently retain space missions after the new command is in place. And neither did Hyten mean to "get ahead of the basing process" by speculating where Space Command's headquarters might ultimately be located, the official said. According to a draft memo, Space Command initially would be formed with about 600 people spread across four locations: Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Peterson Air Force Base and Shriever Air Force Base in Colorado, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Organizations that would transition to Space Command include the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg, the Missile Warning Center in Colorado Springs, and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The defense official said STRATCOM will work with Space Command to "move these disparate geographic components to the new headquarters when it makes sense." That transition could take at least three years. SpaceX's new astronaut taxi just checked off another huge milestone on its maiden orbital flight. The Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station this morning (March 3) at 5:51 a.m. EST (1051 GMT), about 27 hours after launching into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Florida's Space Coast. Dragon linked up with a docking port on the station's Harmony module as the two craft sailed 250 miles (402 kilometers) over the Pacific Ocean, just north of New Zealand. "Congratulations to all the teams on a successful docking," NASA astronaut Anne McClain radioed Mission Control from aboard the space station. She and her Expedition 58 crewmates, David Saint-Jacques of Canada and Oleg Konenko of Russia, followed the docking closely. Related: SpaceX Dragon Crew Demo-1 Test Flight: Full Coverage Image 1 of 5 SpaceX's first Crew Dragon spacecraft docked itself at the International Space Station's Harmony module on March 3, 2019 at 5:51 a.m. EST (1051 GMT). (Image credit: NASA TV) Image 2 of 5 SpaceX's first Crew Dragon is seen at the International Space Station just before docking on March 3, 2019 during the Demo-1 test flight. (Image credit: NASA TV) Image 3 of 5 A view of Crew Dragon's docking hatch, which is located underneath the spacecraft's nose cone. (Image credit: NASA TV) Image 4 of 5 A close look at SpaceX's Crew Dragon moments first its historic first docking at the International Space Station on March 3, 2019. Light from its interior is visible through a small window in the hatch. (Image credit: NASA TV) Image 5 of 5 Expedition 58 astronaut David Saint-Jacques opens the docking hatch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon to enter the spacecraft on March 3, 2019. (Image credit: NASA TV) Applause broke out at SpaceX's control center in Hawthorne, California, as Crew Dragon secured itself to the station with a set of hooks and latches. At 8:07 a.m. EST (1307 GMT), the station crew opened the hatch to Crew Dragon for the first time and floated inside, with SpaceX beaming live views of the capsule's interior, where the dummy astronaut Ripley and a Celestial Buddies Earth plush toy awaited the astronauts. "Everything looks great," McClain told Mission Control after looking inside Crew Dragon through a hatch window just before the crew entered. "Ripley and Earth both look like they enjoyed their trip up here." Crew Dragon will spend the next five days attached to the orbiting lab, eventually ending its uncrewed shakeout cruise, which is known as Demo-1, with a parachute-aided splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday morning (March 8). The spacecraft docked itself at the space station in a first for SpaceX, whose cargo-only versions of the Dragon spacecraft had to be captured by a robotic arm controlled by astronauts and then attached to the station. Crew Dragon docked itself at a new parking spot on the station called an International Docking Adapter. Weeeee! Looks like the @CelestialBuddy is having a blast up there #CrewDragon (gif cred: @stevespaleta) pic.twitter.com/IMYVQ4BO4JMarch 3, 2019 See more "This is unbelievable news for everyone here at SpaceX and at NASA," SpaceX software engineer Tom Praderio said during live NASA TV commentary from SpaceX's mission control center. NASA astronaut Bob Behnken, who will fly on Demo-2 the first Crew Dragon mission to carry humans later this year, watched the docking in SpaceX's control center with his crewmate Doug Hurley. "It's was just super-exciting to see it," Behnken said on NASA TV. "Just one more milestone that gets us ready for our flight coming up here." SpaceX's first Crew Dragon spacecraft docked itself at the International Space Station's Harmony module on March 3, 2019 at 5:51 a.m. EST (1051 GMT). (Image credit: NASA TV) Demo-1's main goal is to show that the capsule can carry NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) safely. SpaceX has been developing Crew Dragon under a $2.6 billion NASA commercial-crew contract, which the agency awarded in 2014. Crew Dragon is based on SpaceXs robotic Dragon freighter, which has flown 16 ISS resupply missions to date under a separate NASA deal. But a successful docking today was far from guaranteed, because the two vehicles have very different ISS arrival strategies: Cargo Dragon is grappled by the orbiting labs huge robotic arm, whereas Crew Dragon docks directly to the station. Indeed, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk singled out docking as a potentially troublesome component of the Demo-1 mission. "Thats certainly going to be something new, that we havent done before," Musk told reporters yesterday (March 2) during a post-launch news conference at KSC. SpaceX's first Crew Dragon is seen at the International Space Station just before docking on March 3, 2019 during the Demo-1 test flight. The spacecraft launched toward the station about 27 hours earlier. (Image credit: NASA TV) And Crew Dragon isnt out of the Demo-1 woods yet. The most difficult part may come at the very end of the test flight, when the capsule comes barreling back into Earths atmosphere. "I see hypersonic re-entry as probably my greatest concern," Musk said. He cited Crew Dragons newly re-designed parachute system and its backshell, which is asymmetrically shaped rather than smoothly conic like that of the cargo Dragon . That revised backshell performs very well in SpaceXs re-entry computer simulations, Musk said, but it has yet to be ground-truthed (or air-truthed, rather). Related: SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 Test Flight in Pictures If Demo-1 ends as well as it started, SpaceX should soon be ready to launch a "high-altitude abort test" using this same Crew Dragon capsule. That flight will prove out the spacecrafts emergency-escape system, which is designed to get astronauts out of harms way in the event of a problem during launch. After that will come a huge milestone the Demo-2 mission, which will send NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS. That flight is currently targeted for July eight years after the last crewed orbital spaceflight to launch from U.S. soil, the STS-135 mission of the space shuttle Atlantis. Ever since NASAs shuttle fleet was grounded, the agency has been dependent on Russian Soyuz spacecraft and rockets to ferry its astronauts to and from the orbiting lab. The commercial-crew deal with SpaceX, and a similar one NASA signed with Boeing in 2014, was designed to end that reliance on a foreign power. Under its $4.2 billion deal, Boeing is developing a capsule called the CST-100 Starliner, which could launch on its first mission, an uncrewed ISS flight similar to Demo-1, as early as next month. President Donald Trump is hailing the successful launch of SpaceX's first Crew Dragon spacecraft as an epic win for American spaceflight. "We've got NASA 'rocking' again. Great activity and success," Trump wrote on Twitter Saturday. "Congrats to SPACEX and all!" SpaceX launched Crew Dragon early Saturday (March 2) on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station. The spacecraft docked itself smoothly at the station this morning. "A new generation of space flight starts now with the arrival of @SpaceX's Crew Dragon to the @Space_Station," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said via Twitter today. "Congratulations to all for this historic achievement getting us closer to flying American Astronauts on American rockets." Related: SpaceX Dragon Crew Demo-1 Test Flight: Full Coverage A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the first Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center on March 2, 2019. (Image credit: Tony Gray/NASA) SpaceX's Crew Dragon test flight, called Demo-1, is a critical demonstration to show that the vehicle is ready to fly astronauts for NASA under the agency's Commercial Crew program. In 2014, the NASA program awarded more than $6 billion in contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to develop new crewed spacecraft for astronauts. SpaceX received $2.6 billion in that funding round, while Boeing received $4.2 billion to support its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. SpaceX Demo-1 mission is the first of those new commercial crew vehicles to fly. Boeing aims to launch its first uncrewed Starliner test flight in April. Both companies will launch in-flight abort system tests of their vehicles before flying astronauts on them later this year. Related: SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 Test Flight in Pictures Trump isn't the only one in his administration excited about SpaceX's Crew Dragon flight. Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the National Space Council, touted the launch's success just after its dazzling predawn liftoff. "Under @POTUS' leadership, we are leading in space again," Pence wrote on Twitter, referring to Trump. "Congrats to @NASA & @SpaceX for todays successful launch of the #CrewDragon spacecraft taking us one step closer to launching American astronauts to space from American soil on American-made rockets." Trump has signed four space policy directives to date, with the first directing NASA to return astronauts to the moon. The other three are aimed at streamlining commercial space regulations, addressing space traffic and orbital debris issues and establishing a military Space Force branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. SpaceX's Crew Dragon mission will remained docked at the International Space Station through Friday (March 8), when it is scheduled to depart and return to Earth. The spacecraft will splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the eastern coast of Florida, and be retrieved by a SpaceX recovery ship. Visit Space.com this week for complete coverage of SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 mission. Bounty was written by Matthew Negrete and was directed by Meera Menon, whose other credits include, and so a few TWD connections! The episode finally has us catching up with the Kingdom and is split both temporally and geographically. Menon does a good job taking us back and forth, and this episode was just so much better than last weeks. Of course, it doesnt hurt that it centered a lot more on characters that weve come to love. I loved the themes that ran throughout this episode and the contrast they set up between the Kingdom and the Whisperers.As the episode begins, weve flashed back, but that isnt immediately apparent. We join Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Jerry (Cooper Andrews), and they are clearly waiting for something, but we dont have to wait long for Ezekiels Jerry as he tries to find out what it is that Jerry wants to tell him. Jerry makes Ezekiel and Carol (Melissa McBride) who is with them swear not to say anything because he wasnt supposed to tell. And this is when we discover we are looking at the past because Carols hair is just starting to grow. Im still struck between this contrast of hair between Carol and Alpha (Samantha Morton) its a terrific symbol.Ezekiel tells Jerry to spit out the gigantic wad of gum hes chewing, which he does, before Jerry starts using euphemisms, which are hilariously lost on Ezekiel and Carol, to tell them that Nabila (Nadine Marissa) is pregnant. Jerry is full of joy at the thought of being a father, and Ezekiel moves in for a hug, telling Jerry that he is the biggest hearted among them also clearly thrilled. Its hilarious when Jerrys gum gets stuck to his King and he plucks it off and sticks it back in his mouth! And then its back to business the reason the three are out there.And it was SO bittersweet to see Jesus (Tom Payne) come riding up, slicing a walkers head off as he cantered by, accompanied by Tara (Alanna Masterson). They have all come together to trade. Its clear that communication lines are open between the Kingdom and Hilltop as Maggie would have come if her son wasnt still sick the reason for trading medicine. Carol expresses surprise at Tara being there, and this is the moment when Tara breaks from Alexandria to move to the Hilltop. This also seems to be the point at which Michonne started to really pull back.Tara took one last thing that Michonne was letting collect dust the Multi-Community Charter of Rights and Freedoms that she had written for all the communities to sign. I found this also pretty cool as its not a Bill of Rights as the US has, but a Charter of Rights and Freedoms which is what the equivalent Canadian document is called!They present it to Ezekiel to be its keeper. And its a perfect choice as Ezekiel has always been the keeper of hope too. He hasnt given up on the idea that it will bind them to something more because they are family. He sees the signing as a new beginning. Its also a nice way for Payne to get a goodbye scene with McBride, Payton, and Andrews. Ezekiel opens the document to look at and, there are only places for three communities to sign Alexandria, Kingdom, and Oceanside no Hilltop.And then we flash forward our cue is that Dianne (Kerry Cahill) is there telling Ezekiel, who is in the theatre also looking at the Charter that its 5 minutes to go time. He has added places for Hilltop AND Sanctuary to sign. Hes clearly getting anxious to sign also clearly at this Fair before anymore communities can disappear. They are going after a herd of elk to feed everyone and Dianne has scouted the nearby herds of walkers. Theyll have a 6 hour window. Preparations are already underway for the Fair. Ezekiel welcomes Dianne back and we see Carols longer hair just to solidify that we are back in the present.Carol overhears Ezekiels remark about feeding Alexandria and asks him if he knows something that she doesnt. Ezekiel is just holding out hope. Carol is clearly planning on coming on the hunt, and its adorable when she tells him that it still feels like an empty nest (with Henry (Matt Lintz) at Hilltop), and she missed him while she was away AWWW! We also get a quick look at Jerry with his THREE children. I also loved that Carol once again told Ezekiel not to call her the Queen half-heartedly to be sure. The group takes off with a fabulous jump mount by Payton onto his horse! He tells them that its all going to work out, and Carol says yeah and actually seems like she mostly means it.And then we cut immediately to why its not all going to work out: Alpha at the gates of Alexandria. She still wants her daughter. Daryl (Norman Reedus) tells them to leave and nobody gets hurt to which Alpha says wrong answer before calling more of her people.We get a quick scene with Enid (Katelyn Nacon) at work as the doctor, looking after Earl (John Finn) who is riddled with arthritis and has been burnt by hot metal he dropped. Tammy (Brett Butler) joins Enid in telling him to take a break but takes it further, urging him to retire. Hes not going to retire hes got shoes to finish before the fair.Tammy tells Enid that the work is a way for Earl to fill the void left by the loss of their own child and with Alden (Callan McAuliffe) being gone it brought it all back. Nacon is quite good in this scene as we see her worry over Alden too. Enid also reveals that shes grown close to Earl too who has always been like a father to both her and Alden. Tammy tells Enid not to lose hope. Another thing that I liked about this episode is that it fills in quite a bit of the backstory on the five year jump.Kelly (Angel Theory) keeps an eye on Connie (Lauren Ridloff) who is hiding in the cornfield, while the others discuss what to do. Daryl is adamant that hes not sending Lydia (Cassady McClincy) back, but Tara is worried about pissing them off and what will happen to Luke (Dan Fogler) and Alden. Magna (Nadia Hilker) takes the bull by the horns and asks about Luke and Alden no point in speculating, right?Alpha says they didnt kill them. She wants to talk to the leader but isnt disturbed when Daryl says what does it matter? She tells them that there will be no conflict over them crossing into their lands or killing their people (surprising but after all, its everyone for themselves in Whisperer-world), but there will be conflict if they dont give Lydia back. Lydia is surprised because they dont care if anyone is killed, but it is consistent with the backstory we saw last week. Alpha killed her husband when he was going to take Lydia. Lydia is clearly the only thing/life Alpha values.The entire storyline with the Kingdom underscores the differences between the Whisperers who have given up everything to mimic the life of the dead while the Kingdom is all about nurturing the past and their people. Theyve bagged some elk on the hunt, and Ezekiel is ready to send them back with Carol. I loved this little scene with Carol and Ezekiel. She knows something is up and that Ezekiel is scared to tell her. Jerry refuses to get in the middle at first. Ezekiel tells her its a little side mission that she wouldnt be interested in. but of course she is, so he tells her that hell show her.They are going to try to get a new bulb for the film projector at a cinema that is full of walkers. Jerry declares with his usual glee that Its movie-time! Carol is dumbfounded that Ezekiel is taking the risk for a projector bulb. Ezekiel has a plan in and out like a Cobra strike! Carol points out that they are getting by with what they have these people are fathers and mothers and she clearly wants to protect them for their childrens sakes. Its been five years since their last movie night. Children need whimsy and wonder. Its not just about getting by for Ezekiel its always been about a full life.Ezekiel also sees it as a way to make the fair even more memorable. The movie will be a wonder that will help to sear the moment into their minds along with the fellowship and bonds formed at the fair. Movies have always been about community coming together to share in a story. Ezekiel says they are giving the gift of joy and lifelong friendship. Jerry points out what seeing a movie would mean to his kids who have never seen one. Carol agrees and of course, shes coming to keep Ezekiel safe.I loved that they used music to lure some of the walkers away and that everyone is also bopping to the music Jerry even mouthing, singing along! The cobra strike itself begins silently. As Dianne explains that the buttery substitute has an expiration date thats likely just a suggestion, the group is accosted by a walker with a fresh head wound which we soon see is from crawling through the destroyed popcorn machine. You have to love how creative the effects team is!Daryl assures Henry that hes not giving Lydia back but hes not done talking and goes out to talk face-to-face with Alpha. Daryl tells Alpha that she cant have her. He tells her that they have enough fire power to light them up. Alpha isnt worried. Im having a hard time really assessing Mortons performance because Im distracted by her stupid make up, which keeps changing. So far, I find her stilted performance no doubt a directed affectation even less impressive that Jadis stilted way of speaking.Daryl is distracted by a Whisperer with a baby. Alpha explains that they are animals. Animals live out there. Animals have babies. Daryl is clearly not going to light up a baby. Alpha says she doesnt want conflict shes proposing a trade. Shes brought Alden and Luke to the gate complete with masks. Alpha tells Daryl that she wanted to kill them, but shes now offering him a really good trade two for one!When the dead show up, Alpha attributes it to all the talking. She tells one of her people to keep the dead away from the prisoners for now, but not to lead them away. Meanwhile, Luke has seen Connie and signs to her even with his hands behind his back that the walkers are coming. Daryl comes back inside to get Lydia. They dont have a choice. Tara had already decided to give her back and theyve already discovered that Lydia is gone and of course, its Henry who has taken her. I also loved that Dog is apparently trained to track by smell of course he is!When the Whisperer baby wont be quiet, we get one of the most horrific moments in the shows history (character deaths notwithstanding). The mother cant quiet the baby and she knows what that means. Alpha needs only to look and shrug. Theres no regret on her face at all. Alden freaks out, and Alpha calmly explains that they must live in silence with the dead. If the baby cant do that and the mother cant silence it, its just Darwinism! I liked how this circled back to the episode Evolution and how it is clearly not the kind of evolution that Eugene was suggesting. I also loved how Ezekiel is fighting to bring more noise, more conversation, and more joy into their childrens lives and how sharp the contrast is here.How did Daryl seemingly not know about the hidden tunnel? Addy (Kelley Mack) saves them the trouble of having to track them further because she knows theyve gone to the house the kids go to. Enid convinces Daryl to let her go instead of him when they hear the pounding on the walls to try to save the baby. Meanwhile, Luke signals to Connie whats happening and she races out of the corn to grab the baby. Alpha doesnt care and simply shakes her head to keep her people from interfering.Connies run through the corn looks like its going to end in disaster and really made me wonder how a deaf person would survive alone. Just when it looks like all is lost, Daryl, Kelly, Earl, and Tammy show up to save her!Back at the movie theatre, Jerry performs surgery on the projector to get the bulb. Carol helps Ezekiel with his side mission in the side mission getting a poster display box to put the Charter in once it is signed by everyone. Ezekiel is determined that Alexandria will come. Carol tells him that she just doesnt want him to get his hopes up shes told him Michonnes answer. In fact, Carol is thinking in the opposite direction. She suggests that they should talk to Jesus who they crushingly dont even know is dead yet about taking them in if things get worse. Shrinking their world instead of expanding it at least until they can find someplace better.Ezekiel rightly asks what place could be better than the Kingdom. Hes not wrong they cant run forever or they could, but what kind of life would that be? Carol replies Surely a dreamer could dream of such a place. Ezekiel admits that he has been foolish not to consider all outcomes. Carol is, after all, his reality check. And then the boombox dies and it seems that the herd trapped behind the popcorn machine is about to breach, and finally, just as Jerry and Dianne get the bulb, they are attacked by walkers and Jerry drops the bulb into the full theatre. Reality crashes in.Henry has taken Lydia to the house and given her clean clothes. Lydia is shocked that Alpha has broken her own rules to come for her and considers that her mother actually misses her and maybe shes sorry. Henry tells her that shes not. And then Addy and Enid is there. Enid tells Henry if there was any way she could help her, she would, but Alden and Luke are theirs and they have to save them. Henry wants to know how they can live with it. This is one of Nacons best scenes in the series. Of course, Im prejudiced because its a callback to Carl (Chandler Riggs). She tells Henry about her parents and how it changed her and made her all about surviving somehow. When Carl died, his letter to her pointed out that just surviving isnt really living and shes finally figured out what he meant. You live with it by staying who you are and not letting the bad things change you. And again, this dovetails beautifully with the contrast between the Kingdom and the Whisperers.Lydia offers to go back and she tells Henry that she wants to because its her mother and people. She tells him that shell miss him and that theyll both be ok and then she kisses him.The exchange is made and Enid welcomes back Alden while Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) is the first to welcome Luke. Lydia thanks her Mama for coming to get her and gets slapped for it. She then hugs her and tells her to call her Alpha like all the rest. Alpha smiles at Daryl, who is clearly coming out of his skin with anger and cant do anything.Jerry tells Ezekiel about dropping the bulb. There are 30 40 walkers in the theatre and they dont have the music to lure them away. Ezekiel is ready to admit that the posterbox is win enough. Carol, however, isnt ready to give up. She steps up as Queen which may be my favorite moment in the entire episode. The Queen says its just a few kills each they should get what they came for! Carol tells Ezekiel that its not just for him and flips Cobra strike back at him with a smile. The attack is brilliantly done with a music over.As they drive home, Ezekiel thanks her. She tells him that shes not always a killjoy she just wants him to be safe. Theyve all lost so much and with Henry gone. Ezekiel assures her that Henry is safe with Daryl (Im not so sure about that!), and hes safe with her. Ezekiel tells her that shes right to be ready for any eventuality but maybe they are done losing for a while. Oh Ezekiel Carol doesnt look too hopeful and they pass a strange symbol on the back of a sign as they leave. When have symbols like that ever been a good thing? Im betting they just crossed into Alpha territory which will result in conflict.Back at Hilltop, Henry is practicing with his stick. He tells Daryl he gets why they had to do it but it doesnt make it ok. Daryl says he never said it did they just have to live with it. Henry points out that hes seen the scars on Daryls back. Hes inadvertently cruel or at least likely doesnt understand the extent of the cruelty of the remark, when he tells Daryl that he thinks Daryl knows better than anyone what hes sent Lydia back to. Duh, idiot Henry. Daryl tells Henry that sometimes the world is just shit and all you can do is live with it. We have a much greater appreciation for all that Daryl has been through and kept going than this little shit. And Daryl tells Henry he doesnt know.The final montage shows Ezekiel and Carol putting the Charter into the posterbox and Jerry firing up the projector. I loved the shot of Carol and Ezekiel kissing backlit. The new folk get drunk in their new home. Enid and Alden fall into bed together perhaps making a baby and we see that Tammy and Earl have adopted the Whisperer baby. We see Jerry with his kids again as Nabila sleeps. Henry cant sleep and neither can Daryl. Addy brings Daryl a note from Henrys room. Naturally, the idiot has gone after Lydia, so Daryl goes to Tara and tells her hes going after Henry. Connie insists on going with him. Connie cant live with it either. And its a part of who they are that they cant. Living with it doesnt mean that you dont act on it.I really liked this episode on first watch because it moved more quickly than the last episode, but it also focuses on characters we never seem to get enough of. On second watch, I loved this episode even more by how it weaved the theme throughout out. What does it mean to live and to live with it? Its not enough just to survive without community and family. Its not enough to just live with the bad things and not try to make things better. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! New York - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed Thursday in New York that "the voice of the peoples of non-self-governing territories must be heard", reiterating their inalienable right to self-determination. "To achieve decolonization, the voice of the peoples of the territories (non-autonomous) must be heard," said the UN chief at the opening of the 2019 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, known as the Committee of 24, adding that the cooperation of all parties concerned, including the administering Powers, was essential to achieve this goal. "Decolonization is one of the most important chapters in the history of the Organization that has helped to increase the number of UN member states from 51 to 193 today" he said. Over the years, this process has resulted in the removal of most territories from the list. "But this story is still being written," said the UN chief. "There are still 17 non-self-governing territories", which remain to be decolonized, he added, by reiterating the right of colonial peoples to freely choose their political status. "Let us uphold our duty to assist all the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in bringing their decolonization process to a successful conclusion, according to their choice," Guterres insisted. The UN Secretary-General estimated that the successes achieved by the United Nations in decolonization over the past decades can be a source of inspiration today. Guterres commended the Special Committee for its efforts to support the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in realizing their right to self-determination. Western Sahara is the last colony in African, where Morocco has been illegally occupying parts the Sahrawi Republic since 1975. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA There are plenty of hotels to choose from when visiting London, but if you're looking to hit all of the tourist hot spots and return home to luxurious, expansive rooms, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has you covered. Visitors to the hotel drive through the courtyard then walk underneath a floral display in the entryway, which guides guests to the lobby. Once inside, the rooms all have a thoroughly London aesthetic, courtesy of custom wallpaper showcasing the city. Executive Suite / Mike Caldwell What's particularly striking is the sheer volume of space the hotel offers, in a city where space is hard to come by, the rooms are spacious and the hotel also features the largest indoor swimming pool in London. Here's what to know before you book in. The lowdown The building was opened by the Royal Family in 1922 and housed the London County Council until it became a hotel in 1998, providing a nice historic twist for tourists. Marriott The panelled lobby was formerly where Council Chamber members came to vote, but now it's home to a grand fireplace and bar. Marriott The hotel received a thoroughly modern, multi-million dollar transformation in 2016, leaving it feeling contemporary, luxurious, and beautifully British. The hallways have pocket watch print curtains and wallpapers with bowler hats, making for Instagram moments while on the move. Venture far enough and youll come upon the indoor swimming pool, which is lined with palm trees and is largest in all of London. The location Marriott The hotel sits at the foot of Westminster Bridge, near all of the important tourist spots. But the best feature is its closeness to the London Eye. My enormous suite (one of 12) had a balcony overlooking the Eye - if I was any closer, I would have been on it. Its the perfect place to experience the city, making it easy to venture down the river to The Globe, the Tate Modern, or over to Big Ben. Or, if you're feeling lazy, simply look out at the city from the comfort of your balcony. Mike Caldwell The rooms The guest rooms were previously Council members offices, making them larger than most hotel rooms, especially in London. I could have fit the entire cast of Love Island into mine. Westminster Suite / Marriott There are 91 Deluxe Rooms, 68 River Thames view Rooms, 29 Big Ben View Executive Rooms, 7 Balcony Suites, 4 Executive Suites, and 1 Westminster Suite. The rooms all feature a custom historic map of London on the walls so youll never forget what youre staying - and with sweeping views of the city, it would be hard to anyway. Marriott The bathrooms have high-tech toilets with move around and even provide a warm seat on chilly, foggy evenings. And the suites have two televisions (for all that Great British Bake-Off binge-watching I like to do when I'm out of the US), coffee tables and couches, and desks. Balcony Suite / Marriott How much does it cost to stay there? F or years it has been in Lisbon's shadow, but now, Porto, with its colourful buildings decorated with pretty azulejos and growing scene of hipster bars and restaurants, is a popular city break destination in its own right. The city has a superb selection of Airbnbs which are very reasonably priced, starting at around 40 a night, while for those with a bigger budget, you'd be hard pushed to find better views of Porto than at the Yeatman. So, how to make the most of this fantastic city? Here is a guide to having the perfect 48 hours there and, naturally, it involves lots of eating and drinking... Day one You've arrived in Porto, caught the train from the airport and the sun is shining well hopefully, it didn't for us, in fact it poured down for the first 24 hours, but we still loved our stay. Once you've dropped your bags off, head to one of Porto's no-frills tabernas, where you can dine alongside locals and enjoy authentic Portuguese home-cooking that will set you up for an afternoon of wandering the city's ramshackle hilly streets. These restaurants are often brightly lit and don't be surprised if there's a TV screen in the corner, but they're a great way to sample local specialities at reasonable prices, such as the "Tripas a moda do Porto," a tripe dish of several meats and beans. We liked Restaurante Irmaos Linos, Taberna de Santo Antonio is also great. Colourful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles) adorn the facades of Porto's buildings (Photo by Diego Garciaon Unsplash) / Photo by Diego Garcia on Unsplash Once you've refuelled, amble along the winding streets, admiring the colourful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles) that adorn the facades of Porto's buildings and boutique shops. Poke your head around the Livraria Lello, a famous bookshop, and be sure to take a selfie on the ornate wooden staircase. Livraria Lello / Photo by Val Vesa on Unsplash Stop by the Touriga Vinhos de Portugal, a wine shop which specialises in local wines from small producers. Charming Davide will happily talk you through your Douros and also offers tastings if you really take a shine to the local velvety red, you can have some shipped home from this shop. Stock up on a few bottles for your Airbnb, they'll come in handy later. Make your way down to the picture-perfect waterfront, Cais da Ribeira, which is lined with restaurants and tascas. It feels a little more touristy down here, but it nonetheless makes for a great pit stop. People watch and eye up the Dom Luis I bridge over a vinho verde. Cais da Ribeira waterfront / Photo by Hector J. Rivas on Unsplash Once you've had your fill of wandering, head back and freshen up. It's time to get your gladrags on and head out for some petiscos (the Portuguese equivalent to tapas) at Cantina 32, but be sure to call in advance. Set on the pedestrianised Rua das Flores, this restaurant draws the cool crew with its Instagrammable industrial-chic interiors. After a busy first day of indulgence you're probably just about ready for bed, but if you have the stamina, head on for cocktails at either Baixa Bar or The Gin House to sample Downtown Porto's growing nightlife for yourself. Day two Sao Bento railway station / Photo by Ricardo Resende on Unsplash Begin the day by marvelling at the magnificent azulejos mounted on the walls at the Sao Bento railway station, there are around 20,000 of them. Then head on for a belly-busting francesinha, at Cafe Santiago, which is thought to serve the best in town. The francesinha is said to have hangover-curing powers, so if you got tucked into the port last night, this should sort you out. It consists of hunks of bread, cured ham, Portuguese sausage and steak drenched in melted cheese and a special sauce, topped with a fried egg dont bother wondering about the calories. Now it's time to walk it off and check out the port cellars on the other side of the Douro in Gaia. Take your time crossing the famous double-decker Dom Luis I bridge. The famous double-decker Dom Luis I bridge / Photo by Tj Holowaychuk on Unsplash Don't forget to stop to take photos of the picturesque terracotta rooftops and colourful fronts of Porto at the other side. Photo by Everaldo Coelho on Unsplash Taylor's is probably the most famous of the port lodges, meanwhile Caves Ferreira is the only large port house to have remained in Portuguese hands. Once you've toured the caves, tuck into a tasting. Make the most of the terrace at Taylor's from where you can enjoy more incredible views of Porto. If you fancy it, work up an appetite by continuing along the riverside until you get to the charming fishing village of Sao Pedro da Afruda, about a 45-minute walk (you can catch a boat back to Porto). Grab a pastel de nata at one of the padarias or opt for sumptuous fresh sardines and breams barbecued on an outdoor grill at Taberna Sao Pedro. Another excellent spot for outdoor grilled seafood is on Rua Herois de Franca in Matosinhos on the opposite side of the Douro. You'll probably need to head back to chill out for a bit at this stage before you start your evening with sundowners in the form of the best porto tonicos, or P&Ts, at Aduela Taberna Bar. If you're still full up from your fish lunch, this place is perfect for some light bites. But if you're a meatlover and fancy ending your trip on a high, head to the steakhouse at Reitoria for some of the finest cuts of steak in the city - you won't be disappointed. T he devastated family of a teenage girl stabbed to death in a London park have made a desperate appeal for help to catch her killers and said: we dont want anyone else to go through what we are suffering right now. Jodie Chesney was attacked and stabbed in a park in Harold Hill, east London, on Friday night. Medics and passers-by fought to save her as she lay on the ground with the knife in her back but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her grandmother Debbie Chesney has pleaded with anyone who has information about Jodies death to come forward. "This was our youngest granddaughter, she wrote in a Facebook post. "How have we come to this point where kids can't have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? Jodie Chesney was attacked and stabbed in a park in Harold's Hill on Friday night "If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. "We don't want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. "This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence." Jodie is said to have been with her boyfriend Eddie Coyle, 18, at the time of the attack. His mother's partner told the Mail on Sunday that he was "in pieces". Jodie Chesney died after she was attacked and stabbed in a park on Friday night The newspaper quoted him as saying: "Jodie was the nicest, loveliest and kindest person you could meet with everything to look forward to in life. I don't know how long it will take Eddie to come back from this. "To have to witness what he did is devastating." Jodie, who was a popular sixth former, was pictured on her Instagram account in a scouts uniform visiting 10 Downing Street in November last year. Floral tributes at the scene after a teenage girl was stabbed to death / PA A murder probe was launched after police were called to reports of a knife attack by the ambulance service at about 9.25pm on Friday. Jodie was pronounced dead at the scene, near St Neot's Road in Harold Hill, just over an hour later. No arrests have been made. The teenager has not been formally identified but the Metropolitan Police said her next of kin have been informed. Police stand guard at a cordon in St Neot's Road, Harold Hill / PA The death brings the number of homicides in London this year so far to 18. On Tuesday, Che Morrison, 20, described by his family as a "loving" young man, was stabbed to death outside Ilford station in east London. Krystle Pasha, who lives near to the scene of the stabbing, told Sky News she heard arguing and shouting and a disturbing scream. A mother-of-three who tried to help the teenage girl in the park was "shocked by the amount of blood", her husband said. Paul Farenden, 54, said his 49-year-old wife Teresa had rushed to the scene near their home to see if she could help after she heard screaming. A police forensic officer at the scene near St Neot's Road in Harold Hill / PA He added: "My wife asked if everything was alright and one of the boys said 'no, my girlfriend has been stabbed'. "She put her in the recovery position and waited for the ambulance to turn up. I think she tried to resuscitate her. "She thought it was all over then and it would be alright." But Mr Farenden said they later heard the teenager had died. He said of his wife: "She is dealing with it better than she was last night. She was shocked with the amount of blood there. "Normally you do not see anything like this in the park. "Hopefully they will get someone for it. This just should not happen." Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, of the East Area Command Unit, said: "I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girl's family and friends. Her death is a tragedy. "I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible." Neighbours said young people often "hang out" in the park, and if they are too loud they are usually moved on without any trouble. On Saturday, a small group of people cried and hugged each other after leaving flowers at the cordon with the message: "We love you forever in our hearts." Another message attached to a floral tribute said: "You are so strong. We will always remember you." The park, which has a playground at its centre and is known locally as Amy's Park, has been cordoned off with police tape and is being guarded by officers for the forensic investigation. Councillor Paul McGeary, who represents the Gooshays ward where the incident occurred, arrived with fellow councillor Tele Lawal to lay flowers at the scene. Mr McGeary spoke of his "shock and horror" that the killing had happened in the semi-rural outer London borough. He said: "This is not something that happens here and I am just completely surprised." He could not say if the death was gang-related, but described it as "tragic". Ms Lawal said the park, which she herself used to play in, was "not an area where you will frequently see violence like this". She added: "It is going to shock our community but it just shows the strain that is happening with young people, with our police and the resources we need in our community to tackle violence like this." A teenage girl who was fatally stabbed in a London park was a keen Explorer Scout who appeared on the BBC at the Festival of Remembrance months before her death. Jodie Chesney, 17, who was attacked and stabbed in a park in Harold Hill on Friday night, was filmed standing side-by-side with her fellow scouts at the Royal Albert Hall for the commemoration in November 2018. They stood supporting the Chelsea Pensioners as they marched on stage in front of an audience including senior Royals the Queen, Prince Charles, Kate and William and Meghan and Harry. Jodie shared a clip of the moment on Instagram, writing: Im basically famous now, this was such a good opportunity and so much fun. She included the hashtags #festivalofremembrance #scouts #girlguides #10downingstreet". She also shared a photo of herself outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform. Stab victim: Jodie Chesney outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform in November last year The footage emerged as members of her family visited the scene of the fatal stabbing, near St Neots Road in Harold Hill, on Sunday afternoon. And in a statement to ITV News, her uncle Dave Chesney said: We are all devastated. He added: "This was a totally random and unprovoked attack on a beautiful, lovely and quirky young girl with her whole life in front of her." Friends and family pay tribute near to the scene of a fatal stabbing that left Jodie Chesney dead / REUTERS Mr Chesney said Jodie was the daughter of his youngest brother Pete, adding: "We value your support and prayers at this time especially for our brother Pete, his wife Jo and Jodie's sister Lucy. "Also for the friends that were with her at the time." People lay floral tributes near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed / REUTERS Medics and passers-by fought to save Jodie as she lay on the ground with the knife in her back but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her grandmother Debbie Chesney has also pleaded with anyone who has information about Jodies death to come forward. "This was our youngest granddaughter, she wrote in a Facebook post. "How have we come to this point where kids can't have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? Jodie's family released this photo of her after she was named by police as the deceased (Met Police) / Metropolitan Police "If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. "We don't want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. "This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence." Jodie is said to have been with her boyfriend Eddie Coyle, 18, at the time of the attack. His mother's partner told the Mail on Sunday that he was "in pieces". Jodie Chesney died after she was attacked and stabbed in a park on Friday night The newspaper quoted him as saying: "Jodie was the nicest, loveliest and kindest person you could meet with everything to look forward to in life. I don't know how long it will take Eddie to come back from this. "To have to witness what he did is devastating." Floral tributes at the scene after a teenage girl was stabbed to death / PA A murder probe was launched after police were called to reports of a knife attack by the ambulance service at about 9.25pm on Friday. Jodie was pronounced dead at the scene, near St Neot's Road in Harold Hill, just over an hour later. No arrests have been made. The teenager has not been formally identified but the Metropolitan Police said her next of kin have been informed. Police stand guard at a cordon in St Neot's Road, Harold Hill / PA The death brings the number of homicides in London this year so far to 18. On Tuesday, Che Morrison, 20, described by his family as a "loving" young man, was stabbed to death outside Ilford station in east London. Krystle Pasha, who lives near to the scene of the stabbing, told Sky News she heard arguing and shouting and a disturbing scream. People lay floral tributes near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was killed / REUTERS A mother-of-three who tried to help the teenage girl in the park was "shocked by the amount of blood", her husband said. Paul Farenden, 54, said his 49-year-old wife Teresa had rushed to the scene near their home to see if she could help after she heard screaming. A police forensic officer at the scene near St Neot's Road in Harold Hill / PA He added: "My wife asked if everything was alright and one of the boys said 'no, my girlfriend has been stabbed'. "She put her in the recovery position and waited for the ambulance to turn up. I think she tried to resuscitate her. "She thought it was all over then and it would be alright." But Mr Farenden said they later heard the teenager had died. He said of his wife: "She is dealing with it better than she was last night. She was shocked with the amount of blood there. "Normally you do not see anything like this in the park. "Hopefully they will get someone for it. This just should not happen." Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, of the East Area Command Unit, said: "I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girl's family and friends. Her death is a tragedy. "I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible." Neighbours said young people often "hang out" in the park, and if they are too loud they are usually moved on without any trouble. On Saturday, a small group of people cried and hugged each other after leaving flowers at the cordon with the message: "We love you forever in our hearts." Another message attached to a floral tribute said: "You are so strong. We will always remember you." The park, which has a playground at its centre and is known locally as Amy's Park, has been cordoned off with police tape and is being guarded by officers for the forensic investigation. Councillor Paul McGeary, who represents the Gooshays ward where the incident occurred, arrived with fellow councillor Tele Lawal to lay flowers at the scene. Mr McGeary spoke of his "shock and horror" that the killing had happened in the semi-rural outer London borough. He said: "This is not something that happens here and I am just completely surprised." He could not say if the death was gang-related, but described it as "tragic". Ms Lawal said the park, which she herself used to play in, was "not an area where you will frequently see violence like this". She added: "It is going to shock our community but it just shows the strain that is happening with young people, with our police and the resources we need in our community to tackle violence like this." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) The Department of Education (DepEd) is calling for the increased protection of all schoolchildren in the country. Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Saturday called on civil society organizations, local government units and government institutions to be more vigilant in their efforts to protect children, saying they are the first victims in accidents and instances of abuse. Briones made the appeal after visiting the wake of five children who died in a road accident in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental. Undersecretary for Finance Service and Education Programs Delivery Unit Annalyn Sevilla, and Undersecretary for Field Operations and the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development Revsee Escobedo shared the department's plan. Briones said all 27 million schoolchildren must be insured. "Each time groups of children go out of the periphery of our campus, participate in competitions, and travel to other places, they have to be covered by insurance so that if there is a need for benefits and for assistance, these can be available," Briones said. Briones and Sevilla also mentioned the need for a quick response fund, as the department's budget does not provide for financial assistance in such incidents. The Education secretary also called on regulatory agencies to "keep a sharper eye" on all vehicles, particularly public utility vehicles like the van that carried the victims during the accident. Five students from Basay National High School in Negros Oriental died in an accident Friday, after their vehicle collided with a truck in Barangay Mayabon, Zamboanguita. Five other students and an adult were hurt in the incident. J odie Chesney was stabbed in the back by an unknown man who said nothing to her as he walked away, police said. Officers have released further details about the night the 17-year-old was attacked in an east London park. Police said the Ms Chesney was sat with five other teenagers playing music in a park close to St Neots Road, in Harold Hill, before they were approached by two unknown males. In a statement, Scotland Yard said: Jodies group were aware of two males in the park who left at around 9pm without interacting with Jodie or her friends. Around 30 minutes later the pair returned to the park and walked straight towards the group, where one of the males stabbed Jodie once in the back. Family of stabbed teenager Jodie Chesney appeal for witnesses Nothing was said by the two suspects, who ran off in the direction of Retford Road. The suspect who attacked Jodie is described as a black male aged in his late teens. There is no further description of him at this stage, nor is there any description of the other male. Ms Chesney was pronounced dead at 10.25pm on Friday. Police confirmed the cause of death as trauma and haemorrhage. No arrests have been made, with police appealing to the public for any information. Jodie Chesney was attacked and stabbed in a park in Harold's Hill on Friday night The detective leading the investigation, DCI Dave Whellams, said: I am appealing for any witnesses who have yet to speak with police to call me. There has been excellent support from the local community and a number of people have shared information with police, but there will be other witnesses and people with information that may prove crucial. Although the description of the suspect is limited, I am certain that people will have seen the two males hanging around the park or running away from the scene - or will otherwise have noticed something suspicious. I need those people to call me. The schoolgirl has been described as lovely. In a statement to ITV News, her uncle Dave Chesney said: We are all devastated. He added: "This was a totally random and unprovoked attack on a beautiful, lovely and quirky young girl with her whole life in front of her." Ms Chesney was a keen Explorer Scout who appeared on the BBC at the Festival of Remembrance months before her death. The teen had been filmed standing side-by-side her fellow scouts at the Royal Albert Hall for the commemoration in November 2018. Jodie shared a clip of the moment on Instagram, writing: Im basically famous now, this was such a good opportunity and so much fun. She included the hashtags #festivalofremembrance #scouts #girlguides #10downingstreet". She also shared a photo of herself outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform. Police stressed there will be additional police patrols in and around the Harold Hill area in the coming days. N ovichok victim Dawn Sturgess' son has written to Vladimir Putin pleading for two men suspected of killing his mother to be handed over to British police. Ewan Hope penned a letter to the Russian president asking that he allows UK authorities to question the pair of Russian citizens they believe to be behind the Salisbury nerve agent attack. His mother Dawn, 44, was fatally poisoned by the substance last July in Amesbury. Mr Hope, 20, has written an emotional message to Mr Putin in which he said the family is still in "pain" following their loss. Dawn Sturgess died in July / PA He wrote: It is almost a year since my mother Dawn was killed by novichok in Salisbury and the pain never goes away for me or my family. British police believe at least two Russian citizens were responsible for her death but it appears they are being protected by your state. I am appealing to you as a human being to allow our officers to question these men about my mothers murder. The least she deserves is justice. Ms Sturgess' death came after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted with the nerve agent in nearby Salisbury that March. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia both survived the nerve agent poisoning The chemical was smeared over their door of Mr Skripal's home and the a perfume bottle containing Novichok ended up in the hands of Ms Sturgess after it was found by her partner Charlie Rowley. Ms Sturgess is believed to have unknowingly sprayed the nerve agent across herself from the perfume bottle which led to her death. Both the Skripals spent months in hospital after being found on a bench and both survived the attack. Mr Rowley also fell ill but survived. Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, the two men suspected of carrying out the Novichok attack, captured by CCTV last March / PA/Met Police Mr Hope said he believes President Putin is the only one who can help justice prevail, though he fears that closure is something his family will never get. Two Russian nationals, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were alleged to have been seen on CCTV dispatching the substance, though President Putin has denied their involvement. It was later reported by Bellingcat Mr Boshirov was actually highly-decorated Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga and Mr Petrov was a military doctor called Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin. O utlander actor Tam Dean Burn has been allegedly attacked in broad daylight after he attended a poetry event in Edinburghs Old Town. The 60-year-old Scottish actor was attacked outside the Scottish Poetry Library, near the Royal Mile, on Saturday afternoon as he was leaving an event at the venue, police said. The actor, who has appeared in series such as Outlander and Fortitude, has tweeted that he is "ok" and he is believed to be recovering at home. A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, which happened around 4pm. Exact details of the alleged assault have not been revealed by police yet, but according to reports Mr Burn was stabbed. The library said the incident happened following a tribute event for Scottish poet Tom Leonard, who died in December at the age of 74. Emergency services attended and Mr Burn received some treatment inside the premises. A number of people, including well-known figures in the arts world, have taken to social media to wish him well. Author Ian Rankin tweeted: "Wishing @tamdeanburn a speedy and full recovery." Irvine Welsh wrote: "Take care bud x." Mr Burn thanked people in a tweet and added: "All ok xx." Asif Khan, director of the Scottish Poetry Library, has praised the "courage and composure" of staff and volunteers at the venue. He said: "The incident occurred outside the library after our tribute event for Tom Leonard. "Tam was treated for his injuries in the library. "I should like to thank the emergency services for their professionalism and compassion." A police spokesman said: "About 4pm on Saturday March 2, officers in Edinburgh responded to a report of a 60-year-old man having been assaulted in Crichton's Close, Edinburgh. "A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this incident." A 40-year-old woman has been charged with murder following the death of a three-month old baby girl in south London. Police were called to reports of the child being unresponsive in Croydon shortly before midday on Saturday. Officers and paramedics attended the scene but the infant was pronounced dead at 1.05pm. Scotland Yard has confirmed the woman, from West Croydon, was charged on Sunday. She will appear at Bromley Magistrates Court. A statement from the Met Police said: "A woman arrested following the death of a baby girl aged three months has been charged with her murder. "At this early stage, police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation. The baby and the woman arrested were known to each other." The child's family has been informed and enquiries into the incident are ongoing, Scotland Yard added. P olice are investigating after anti-Semitic abuse was sent to MP Joan Ryan. The former Labour MP has been sent two letters with malicious communication, police said. The politician quit the Labour Party last week, citing concerns over its relationship with the Jewish community. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two letters sent to the former Labour Friends of Israel chairman are being investigated. Ms Ryan, who has now joined the breakaway Independent Group of MPs, said the party had become "infected with the scourge of anti-Semitism" under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership when she quit. Scotland Yard said: "Police are investigating after two items of malicious communication were sent to a serving MP in February 2019. "The items, both letters, contained abuse of an anti-Semitic nature. "A number of enquiries including a review of relevant CCTV footage and forensic analysis are in hand." No-one has yet been arrested. T he Government has been accused of committing a Brexit bribe as deprived communities are set to get a 1.6 billion investment after the UK leaves the European Union. The huge boost, launched by the Government, will be given to places that have not shared in the proceeds of growth as other affluent areas of the country have. But the launch has been dubbed a bribe by opponents who say it is aimed at trying to influence Labour MPs in Leave-supporting areas to back Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement in crunch Commons votes. Theresa May said: "For too long in our country prosperity has been unfairly spread. Our economy has worked well for some places but we want it to work for all communities. "Communities across the country voted for Brexit as an expression of their desire to see change - that must be a change for the better, with more opportunity and greater control. "These towns have a glorious heritage, huge potential and, with the right help, a bright future ahead of them." House of Commons/PA The Stronger Towns Fund, launched on Monday, will be "targeted at places that have not shared in the proceeds of growth in the same way as more prosperous parts of the country", ministers said. Of the 1 billion being allocated using a needs-based formula, the North West gets 281 million, the West Midlands 212 million, Yorkshire and the Humber 197 million, the East Midlands 110 million, the North East 105 million, the South East 37 million, the South West 35 million, and the East of England 25 million. Another 600 million will be available through a bidding process to communities in any part of the country. The money will be aimed at creating new jobs, helping train local people and boosting economic activity. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: "We have listened to people who are concerned by momentous changes to their communities and I am determined to provide the support they need to create a more prosperous future beyond Brexit. James Brokenshire / REUTERS "This major new fund builds on more than 9 billion in City and Growth Deals we have delivered since 2010 to help hard working people reach their full potential and to build an economy that works for everyone. "I look forward to working closely with local leaders to take forward their encouraging proposals and to hear what more they propose to bring benefits to their communities." Shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded the initiative a "desperate bribe". He said: "This towns fund smacks of desperation from a Government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation. "The reason our towns are struggling is because of a decade of cuts, including to council funding and a failure to invest in businesses and our communities. John McDonnell slammed the investment as 'desperate' / Stefan Rousseau/PA "Labour pledged in 2017 that we will establish a network of regional development banks that will be dedicated to delivering the finance that our small businesses co-operatives and innovative projects need across the whole country. No Brexit bribery, stable investment where it's most needed." The Independent Group's Brexit spokeswoman Anna Soubry said the move was a "desperate measure to buy votes". Ms Soubry said: "Voters will not be fooled - especially those in areas which voted Leave and are now demanding a people's vote because they know, whichever way you do it, Brexit will harm their futures." The Government said it is seeking to ensure towns across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the new funding by building on the City and Growth Deals initiatives. A 41-year-old man has been arrested after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was hit with an egg during a public engagement outside a mosque in north London. Mr Corbyn was visiting the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park when he was allegedly hit by a man holding an egg in his fist in his own constituency on Sunday afternoon. The Islington North MP was not hurt. The alleged attacker was overheard to say "when you vote, you get what you vote for" and was not thought to be a regular guest at the mosque. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "At around 3.50pm an egg was thrown at a member of Parliament. "The incident occurred on Seven Sisters Road. Mr Corbyn attended Finsbury Park mosque with Diane Abbott MP / Getty Images "A 41-year-old man was quickly detained by officers on scene and arrested on suspicion of assault. "He is currently in custody at a north London police station." It is believed that Mr Corbyn had been sitting and chatting with community leaders in a friendly atmosphere when a man came from behind and smacked him over the head with an egg. The alleged attacker was quickly surrounded by people in the room and police called. He was overheard to say: "When you vote you get what you vote for. I believe in peace. I believe in voting." Mr Corbyn is believed to have left with a police escort at around 6.30pm. Mr Corbyn attended alongside Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and had been given flowers while in attendance. Mr Corbyn arriving / REUTERS When arriving, Mr Corbyn was greeted with by women giving him red roses. L abour has been "forced" into backing a second referendum due to Theresa May's floundering Brexit negotiations, according to shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Mr McDonnell said Labour still wished to pursue its vision of a deal with the EU but could not back Mrs May's plans or a hard Brexit. "We said we would respect the referendum but we also said we wouldn't allow Theresa May to take us out of Europe with a reckless deal and we would not support no-deal," said Mr McDonnell in an interview with Sky's Ridge on Sunday. "We've been forced into this by Theresa May delaying running down the clock and not coming up with a compromise we can all support." John McDonnell said Labour has been forced into its position / PA He said a no-deal scenario would be "catastrophic" while also saying he felt Labour's plans could reach an agreeable compromise with the EU. A second referendum is "not what we want" Mr McDonnell added but explained he felt it could help to move pass the current impasse. Theresa May is to offer MPs a vote on postponing Brexit if her deal falls through / AP Speaking from west London, he said the defection of MPs to the Independent Group had not impacted the decision to back a second referendum. When asked about previous comments he made that Labour should not back a second referendum, he reiterated his feeling the party was pushed into it. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has spoken of Labour's demands for a deal with the EU / AFP/Getty Images Mr McDonnell has said there could be a whip on a vote on a second referendum but stated MPs will have to listen to their own constituents. Mr McDonnell, also hinted he could attend the People's Vote campaign march later this month, and said: "Well, I'll think about it certainly, I'm not one to miss a good march. Countdown to Brexit: 26 days until Britain leaves the EU "I also have to say as well I don't want to do anything or say anything that disrespects the people who strongly, in my own constituency and elsewhere, who supported Leave and I don't want to do anything that offends them." TODO: define component type apester Following Mr McDonnell's interview, Labour's Caroline Flint said she believes up to 70 of her fellow party MPs are against a second referendum. Ms Flint told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "My appeal to John McDonnell, to Jeremy Corbyn, to Keir Starmer, is allow MPs to have a free vote on an improved deal. "So those MPs who want a second referendum can vote for that but those of us who want to keep our promises to our electorate can also keep faith with those people and vote for an improved deal." "I think there is something like 60 or 70 Labour MPs who feel as strongly as I do against a second referendum, but also I think it's important to recognise that many of those MPs also feel that we have to move on, we have to stop a no-deal and if there's an improved offer on the table, then Labour should engage with that sincerely." These latest comments come after EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier hinted at a two-month extension of Article 50. Mr McDonnell said he felt Britain would have to be "forced" into that as an option and even said it was worse than the PM's deal. Mr Barnier said he does not believe there is enough time to approve Mrs Mays deal by the scheduled exit date of March 29, stating a "technical extension" of up to two months may be needed. Michel Barnier says a delay may be necessary / EPA Mrs May has told MPs they will have a "meaningful vote" on her withdrawal plans by March 12. However, when asked if he thought it was possible to reach an agreement by March 29 even if Westminster backed a deal Mr Barnier told Spain's El Mundo newspaper: "No." TODO: define component type apester The PM previously said if her deal is rejected by Parliament, MPs will be able to vote on whether the UK can leave the EU in a no-deal scenario. T he head of the UKs first Home Office licensed drugs testing service today tells of the work done at the clinic to save the lives of drug users. Run by Addaction, The Loop and the University of Hertfordshire, the new clinic allows drug users to have the contents of their drugs tested for safety without fear of arrest. Roz Gittins, who is spearheading the pilot clinic in Weston-Super-Mare, said their work aims to reduce the harm drug use causes in society. Ms Gittins, Director of Pharmacy at Addaction, said the charity is not condoning drug use but wants to help people make informed choices about the drugs they are taking. Roz Gittins (centre) is Addaction's Director of Pharmacy and is leading the project / Addaction Having run two days of the four-day pilot so far, Ms Gittins said they have had a positive response and are seeing a wide variety of users. Both recreational users and addicts taking any kind of drugs are welcome to attend the clinic anonymously. Ms Gittins said: Testing has been going on for years within other organisations, and its been successful at festivals and in city centres. This project is slightly different because we have the first Home Office licence, making us fully legal. File photo: The centre will test any kind of substance in a bid to reduce harm to users / Getty Images Were an established treatment service, so we deal with people using a whole variety of substances rather than just club drugs like MDMA. The service is open to everybody any kind of user of any kind of substance and weve had a really great response so far. The service will be available to anyone over the age of 18 who gives informed consent and agrees to provide a sample of their substance. Trained staff will do an on-site test, which takes ten minutes to determine the likely content of the drugs while the users complete a short questionnaire to allow harm reduction advice to be tailored to their needs. Ms Gittins said: Its such a small pilot in such a small place but having such a positive response has been really reassuring. Ms Gittins said the project has already had positive feedback / Addaction We want to be clear that were not condoning drug use but we know that it happens and its about reducing the harm it causes to society. This is about saving lives. Its our job to do whatever we can to help people make informed choices about the risks theyre taking. We want to have a conversation about the risks of using drugs and to educate people, and where that happens, people will often take less drugs or none at all. Ms Gittins said although it is a small pilot, the charity would like to see the service rolled out nationwide. She added: Weve only run the pilot on a couple of days but so far people are reporting that users will choose to take less drugs and change their behaviour. File photo: All drug users, recreational and addicts, will be welcomed to the anonymous service (PA Archive/PA Images) / PA The programme is in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire and The Loop, who have been really helpful and supportive. Theyve provided our team, who have years of experience in harm reduction, with the skills to communicate the results of testing, and theyre the expert who have been doing this for years. In the future, wed like to roll the programme out nationwide, because theres growing evidence about the positive effects it can have, but wed need that conversation about funding and where it would come from. Local authorities could commission a testing service but their budgets are so tight. Amira Guirguis, senior lecturer and principal investigator for the project, from the University of Hertfordshire, said: The drug checking service reflects our research vision on improving the identification of the actual content in drug samples, identifying potential sources of severe harm, gaining an understanding of novel trends and raising relevant alerts. Fiona Measham, Professor of Criminology at Durham University and Director of the Loop added: This is an exciting development for Addaction, the Loop and for UK harm reduction generally, resulting from several years of hard work. Three summers piloting festival testing and a year piloting city centre testing has shown that drug safety testing can identify substances of concern, productively engage with service users and reduce drug-related harm. A Home Office spokesman said: The Governments approach remains clear: we must prevent illicit drug use in our communities and help those dependent on drugs to recover. Anyone interested in lawfully undertaking activities which include the possession, supply or production of controlled drugs (including potentially the service of drug testing) needs to apply for a licence in the normal way. They would then be subject to the usual considerations, visits and fees. S torm Freya is set to batter parts of the UK with 80mph winds today after forecasters issued a "danger to life" warning. The storm will hit on Sunday afternoon and be severe enough to risk injuries and danger to life from flying debris and large waves. Damage to buildings and trees is also expected with travel disruption and power cuts possible. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning, which runs from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday. It is warning people to be aware of possible hazards including tiles being blown from roofs, fallen branches, and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts and coastal roads. Warm Weather: February 2019 - In pictures 1 /33 Warm Weather: February 2019 - In pictures Tourist and office workers continue to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in Hyde Park, London PA Workers cross London Bridge, with Tower Bridge seen behind during the morning rush hour in the city of London Reuters People pass colourful flowers in full bloom near the Royal Crescent, Bath PA Families were seen soaking up the sun on Boscombe beach near Bournemouth PA A squirrel forages for nuts among daffodils in full bloom in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA People cross the Millennium Bridge in central London, as many parts of the UK enjoyed unusually warm temperatures PA PA Tourist and office workers continue to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in Hyde Park, London PA Tourist and office workers continue to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in Hyde Park, London PA A worker looks at his phone as he crosses London Bridge, with Tower Bridge seen behind during the morning rush hour in the city of London Reuters Tourist and office workers continue to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in Hyde Park, London PA Tourist and office workers continue to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather in Hyde Park, London PA People on a bench enjoy the sunshine at Woolacombe PA A beautiful Valentine's Day sunrise over the London skyline James Burns/London from the Rooftops Regent's Canal at Camden Lock on February 25 Getty Images A woman relaxes in the daffodils during sunny spring weather in St James's Park EPA A couple relax in the sun in St James's Park in London, Reuters The UK has been experiencing unseasonably mild weather conditions Getty Images The sun rises over the North Sea near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside PA Londoners were seen relaxing in the sun in Hyde Park AFP/Getty Images People sit in the sun in St James Park, London, as many parts of the UK enjoyed unusually warm temperatures PA People enjoy the sunshine in Regent's Park on Monday Getty Images People enjoying unseasonably mild weather conditions in Brighton Getty Images People enjoyed boat rides in the Serpentine in Hyde Park as the capital basked in sunshine on Sunday AFP/Getty Images Two people pose for a photo in front of daffodils in St James Park, London PA A man uses a newspaper as a sun hat as people enjoy the afternoon sunshine in Regent's Park Getty Images A woman practices yoga in the sun in St James's Park Reuters A bee takes pollen from a spring bloom in St James's Park Reuters Two women take a selfie photograph in the daffodils during sunny spring weather in St James's Park EPA People enjoy the afternoon sunshine on the Palace Pier in Brighton Getty Images People enjoy the afternoon sunshine on Primrose Hill Getty Images A couple eat ice-creams in the sunshine at South Beach, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales Reuters Children play in the sea at South Beach, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales Reuters Gusts between 55mph and 65mph can be expected, with wind speeds reaching up to 80mph in coastal areas. Strong winds were seen across Scotland on Saturday night as a separate weather system moved over. A gust of around 70mph was recorded at South Uist, while winds of 45 to 50mph blew through Glasgow and Edinburgh. "Eyes really now start to turn towards the South West and this afternoon when we will start to see the winds rip up," Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said. "In our warning area we are catering for gusts reaching between 50 and 60 miles per hour, even inland. Parts of Wales and the Irish Sea coast of north-west England is where we could see 70 to 80 miles an hour. "The strongest winds will be limited to parts of western England and Wales, but the warning area includes parts of the Midlands and over towards Yorkshire and Lincolnshire as well. "But they probably wont see the strongest winds until the very back-end of Sunday going into Monday morning." Travel disruption is expected / REUTERS Freya will have moved into the North Sea by rush hour on Monday morning, although there will likely be some residual impacts in its wake. "We can expect some branches and a few trees being blown down and there's also scope for some tiles being blown from roofs and also some power cuts as well," Mr Snell said. It will still be quite breezy along the North Sea coast of England, but the winds will have died down significantly. The storm warning, issued on Friday, came on the same day the forecaster provisionally announced that last month set a new temperature record, with average maximum daily peaks of 10C. This beat the previous record of 9.8C, set in 1998. Despite the start of the month seeing snow and freezing temperatures, the Met Office also said that the average mean temperature for February was 6.0C - the second warmest on record. Clear skies and colder nights prevented the total average from being beaten, but the mean minimum daily temperature was still "well above average", according to the forecaster. With the high temperatures came plenty of sunshine, and last month has provisionally been named the second sunniest February on record for the whole of the UK. Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, a climate researcher at Royal Netherlands Meteorolgical Institute, told the Guardian that temperatures jumping above 20C in February were a one-in 200-year event. But storm Freya's arrival will bring a much less spring-like start to March. Sunday will see rain and gales, with the western parts of England and Wales most affected. The Met Office warning covers large parts of the country, including Wales, south-west England, the Midlands, northern England and parts of southern Scotland. T he US is seeking answers on whether Pakistan violated arms sale agreements by using jets built in the States to shoot down an Indian plane. Pakistan has admitted to gunning down a jet from the neighbouring country after it crossed the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir, as tensions ramped up between the two countries. However, it has denied using US-built F-16s and having done so could breach the terms they were sold under. "We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information," a US Embassy spokesperson told Reuters. "We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously." The detained pilot has since been released / AFP/Getty Images The United States often inserts restrictions on how its exported military hardware can be used. These are detailed through so-called end-user agreements. At least eight civilians and two soldiers have been killed in Kashmir since tensions soared following India's airstrike on Pakistan last Tuesday. There has been conflict over Kashmir between the two countries / EPA India said this targeted militants behind a February 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated by shooting down the fighter jet on Wednesday and detaining its pilot. However, he was returned to India on Friday. India then handed over the body of a Pakistani civilian prisoner beaten to death by inmates in a jail in India last week. The man, Skahir Ullah, was buried later on Sunday in his home village of Sialkot in Punjab province. Residents near the disputed boundary in divided Kashmir region said on Sunday it had been quiet overnight following days of back and forth between opposition fighters. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan practically since their independence from British rule in 1947 and the two countries each claim Kashmir in its entirety. They have fought two of the three wars between them over it. I SIS bride Shamima Begums Dutch husband has said they both made a mistake when they joined the terrorist group and that his wife is not a danger to anyone. Islamic Sate fighter Yago Riedijk, 27, who is being held in a Kurdish-run detention centre in northern Syria, married Ms Begum when she was 15 after she ran away from her home in Bethnal Green, east London to join ISIS four years ago. In an interview with Sky News, Riedijk, who is from the Netherlands, said they had both definitely made a mistake by travelling to Syria to join ISIS. He told the broadcaster that he had not had any direct involvement in hurting or harming people and that his wife, who recently gave birth to their baby son named Jarrah, is not a danger to anyone whatsoever. Shamima Begum has had her British citizenship revoked When told that he had married a child by wedding Ms Begum when she was just 15 and he was 23, he answered: Kind-of. He said that they both had to support the terrorist group while living in Syria and that to have a negative attitude towards them was a very dangerous thing. Riedijk added that he tried to look after his wife as best he could and that she never really left the house or knew what was going on in the world around her. Speaking about the Home Offices decision to strip Ms Begum of her British citizenship to prevent her from returning to the UK, he said: "I understand any government's fear of foreign fighters or their wives but to let a young girl in her position who has lost her children, who has been through horrors in Islamic State be left here to rot in a camp, I don't think that's a very humanitarian decision, no." He added: "I know (Shamima) is not a danger to anyone whatsoever... but she made a mistake and will have to live with the consequences. "She never really did anything besides being a wife." Ms Begum with her newborn baby / ITV Riedijk and Ms Begum had already had two children together before their baby son was born in February but both died. He added: Wherever she goes, Im going to go. If my country wants me, I either take my wife or I stay with her. Riedijk was found by the BBC in the detention centre in Syria this weekend and told the broadcaster that he wanted to return to the Netherlands with Ms Begum and be a family. The pair fled Baghouz, the group's last foothold in eastern Syria, as its territory collapsed in recent months. Shamima Begum shocked at Home Offices decision to revoke her citizenship Asked by the BBC if he thought marrying a girl of that age was acceptable, he said: "To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasn't that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway. "We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. "Then I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didn't, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her." Riedijk, who ended up in the detention centre after surrendering to Syrian fighters, faces a six-year jail term for joining a terror organisation if he returns to the Netherlands after being convicted in his absence in summer 2018. His Dutch citizenship has not been revoked. Ms Begum fled to the al-Hawl refugee camp from Baghouz around the same time as Riedijk surrendered to the Syrian fighters but she has since reportedly moved on elsewhere as she feared for her life. T heresa May has urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take action against terror groups after meeting to discuss the tense situation in Kashmir. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of taking action to her Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan, Downing Street said. Mrs May and Mr Khan also discussed the need to address the causes of the conflict between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory. The telephone talks came after Pakistan handed over a captured Indian air force pilot to Indian officials at a border crossing on Friday. Imran Khan / EPA A Downing Street spokesman said Mrs May welcomed Mr Khan's "commitment to reducing tensions with India", and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The spokesman added: "The leaders discussed the need to address the causes of this conflict. "The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism. "Both leaders reiterated their commitment to the UK-Pakistan bilateral relationship." Tensions have been running high between the two nuclear powers since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated, shooting down the MiG-21 fighter jet on Wednesday and capturing Varthaman. Since the escalation, world leaders have scrambled to head off an all-out war between the arch-rivals. S paceX's Crew Dragon capsule has successfully docked at the International Space Station just over a day after it blasted off from Earth. Elon Musk's newest spacecraft blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on top of a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday morning. And just over 27 hours later, it successfully docked at the International Space Station during a live webcast from NASA in which loud cheers and applause could be heard from astronauts. Later, crews at the ISS opened the hatches and went inside the spacecraft to take measures of the air quality. The crew Dragon is the first American-made, designed-for-crew spacecraft to pull up to the station in eight years. An astronaut looks inside the SpaceX dragon capsule after it docked successfully at the ISS / EPA Just two hours after the Dragon's grand entrance, the station crew entered to take air samples. The astronauts wore oxygen masks and hoods until getting the all-clear. Billionare Mr Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, posted a tweet confirming his new space capsule had docked successfully. A test dummy inside the new Crew Dragon capsule that has docked at the International Space Station / AP The only passenger for this journey was a life-size test dummy, named Ripley after the lead character in the "Alien" movies. SpaceX's new Crew Dragon capsule approaches just before docking at the International Space Station / AP SpaceX needs to nail the debut of its crew Dragon capsule before putting people on board later this year. The SpaceX Dragon capsule after it successfully docked with the International Space Station / EPA The space craft launched at 2.49am local time (7.49am UK time) on Saturday. SpaceX Crew Dragon launch 1 /12 SpaceX Crew Dragon launch Plumes of smoke as Falcon 9 blasts off with Crew Dragon AFP/Getty Images SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with Crew Dragon on board blasts off AFP/Getty Images A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule on board lifts off into the sky AP This video grab taken from the Space X webcast transmission on March 2, 2019, shows a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard lifting off during the Demo-1 mission, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida AFP/Getty Images Falcon 9 soars into the sky with Crew Dragon AFP/Getty Images SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard takes off during the Demo-1 mission, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 2, 2019 AFP/Getty Images This video grab taken from the Space X webcast transmission on March 2, 2019, shows a dummy named Ripley onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft AFP/Getty Images The Falcon 9 rocket blasts off into the sky with the Crew Dragon spacecraft AFP/Getty Images Spectators watch as the Falcon 9 rocket blasts off into the sky with the Crew Dragon spacecraft REUTERS Plumes of smoke as Falcon 9 blasts off with Crew Dragon REUTERS A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida REUTERS Plumes of smoke as Falcon 9 blasts off with Crew Dragon AFP/Getty Images This latest, flashiest Dragon reached the space station Sunday morning, just 27 hours after liftoff. The Crew Dragon spacecraft blasted off on a Falcon 9 rocket It will spend five days docked to the orbiting outpost, before making a retro-style splashdown in the Atlantic next Friday - all vital training for the next space demo, possibly this summer, when two astronauts strap in. "This is critically important ... We're on the precipice of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil again for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttles in 2011," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. He got a special tour of the pad on the eve of launch, by SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk. Plumes of smokes as the Falcon 9 rocket blasts off / AFP/Getty Images An estimated 5,000 NASA and contractor employees, tourists and journalists gathered in the wee hours at Kennedy Space Center with the SpaceX launch team, as the Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the same spot where Apollo moon rockets and space shuttles once soared. Looking on were the two NASA astronauts who will strap in as early as July for the second space demo, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. It's been eight years since Hurley and three other astronauts flew the last space shuttle mission, and human launches from Florida ceased. Since ending its previous shuttle programme in 2011, the space agency has had to buy seats on board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft instead - an expensive arrangement, costing 81 million dollars a seat. Alongside the dummy was equipment weighing about 400 pounds, to make it similar to future launches when people would be on board. A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft / REUTERS S earches for two mountaineers lost climbing one of the world's highest peaks in Pakistan have been called off again due to snow thwarting rescuers. British climber Tom Ballard and Italian Daniele Nardi were climbing Nanga Parbat when contact was lost with them a week ago. Mr Bollard is the son of Alison Hargreaves, who was the first woman to climb Everest unaided and died on K2 aged 33 just months after that feat. The ongoing tensions over Kashmir and adverse conditions previously put a stop to rescuers looking for him and Mr Nardi on the 26,660ft peak nicknamed Killer Mountain. On Sunday the Italian ambassador to Pakistan tweeted a search party were being flown in, with Pakistani army helicopters bringing in Basque climber Alex Txikon and his team from K2. However, Karrar Haidri, secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said the team could not reach the base at Nanga Parbat due to snow and will try again on Monday. High-altitude drones were planned to be flown over the area where the pair are missing. Mr Pontecorvo previously said both the missing men are "tough guys" and added: "We hope for a miracle ... and just try our best to find them." The initial search plans on Thursday had been prevented when Pakistan closed its air space after it shot down two Indian military planes. Following this snow, clouds and low visibility forced proposed searches on Friday and Saturday to be postponed. Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (146) Leader of Pro Romania party, Victor Ponta, on Sunday told a press conference that PSD (Social Democratic Party, part of the ruling coalition) leader Liviu Dragnea is afraid of Pro Romania, adding that Dragnea is "frightened and hysterical and he fears he will lost his freedom because of the money he stole ". "We are quite ready to fight. The fact that we dragged Dragnea out of his hiding and that he said he will take care of us does not scare us at all, and we also don't complain; on the contrary, we are glad because this is a truth that people have began to know and feel: the fact that Dragnea is afraid of Pro Romania, that we are the ones who can really be an alternative to Liviu Dragnea and his gang, that many people like us voted for the PSD in 2012. Dragnea practically stole our votes and used them in his own and his gang's interest. (...) Mr. Dragnea's hysteria crises have two explanations, from our point of view, and we will insist on these two all the time, we'll push him where it hurts him the more," Ponta said. He said that, if in the European Parliament elections of May the PSD does not repeat the score of 46% of the votes obtained in December 2016, then the part will no longer has the legitimacy of "ruling Romania"."First of all, in December 2016, the PSD obtained 46 percent of the votes, in the context, of course, in which, in sociological and political terms, it was proved that PSD's voters pool accounts for 30 per cent of the votes no matter who its leader is, no matter the composition of the team, and then, depending on the leader, it can win more or less, and I want to see if the PSD, headed by Liviu Dragnea, will take 46 percent at the European Parliament, because he says it will. We say that many people voted for Victor Ponta, for Mihai Tudose, for Gabriela Firea, for Adrian Tutuianu, for Marian Neacsu, for many people whom Dragnea stabbed in the back, and I think May 26 will be a moment when we will all see how much legitimacy Dragnea still has to rule over Romania. If he didn't win 46 percent, it means that those votes weren't his in the first place and the fact that he makes all the decisions alone and and imposes things will be once again denied by the people," Victor Ponta argued.The Pro Romania leader also said that Dragnea has a personal problem, which affects the entire society, with his criminal file that reached the appeal stage with the High Court."The second thing that causes Liviu Dragnea to be hysteric is that (...) in March he will be heard by the High Court in the appeal that he has pending there (...) with the sentence to be given in May. And I don't believe in Dragnea's stories that he has arranged things with the panel and he will be acquitted, for I went through that already, I have my own experience. I am convinced that the judges at the High Court, the five judges, if they have evidence, and it seems like they do have, will condemn him. If they don't have evidence, of course that they will acquit him.The problem is that this personal problem of Dragnea affects our entire society. There are two questions: when he will issue the ordinance and will Mrs Dancila sign it, for it seems like she doesn't want to go down in history as the one who saved Dragnea and the other prisoners from prisons and, the second one, what happens to PSD if it has a leader who leads from prison. So this is why his political nightmare is Pro Romania, his personal nightmare is the noose tightening around his neck things and we are ready and determined to fight against Dragnea until its end, which will surely come sooner or later," said Ponta. Former Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, Pro Romania party's head of campaign, on Sunday stated that everything that happens with the Government Emergency Ordinance 114/2018 "is absurd", while adding that Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is going to present in Parliament either Liviu Dragnea's or Darius Valcov's vision related to the matter. Read also: PSD's Dragnea: 'All provisions allowing Parliament to control SRI must be adopted' "Regarding GEO 114, I do't think anyone can suspect me of being a friend of the banks, under any circumstance. But what happens now is absurd, that double language, double measure, and the desire to always have a theme: now the bank, now the gold, now the parallel state, anything else but motorways, hospitals, education. Now there is GEO 114, now we see him [leader of the Social Democratic Party, Speaker of the Deputies Chamber, Liviu Dragnea] fighting the banks. He is fighting the banks, on the one hand, while Mr. Teodorovici is writing letters to Standard and Poor's, on the other hand. And from what I here Mrs PM is going to come to Parliament on Monday to tell us about GEO 114. And I dare to say that I don't think we will actually listen to what Mrs. Dancila has to say, but she will present instead ether Mr. Dragnea's or Mr. Valcov's vision. All this why we don't have that letter Mr Teodorovici sent to Standard and Poor's to see what's in it. For, while he seems like he is fighting the banks, in the back, he is actually saying "just wait a moment and we will withdraw it." But when was it good, yesterday, when you adopted it, or today, when you withdraw it," Tudose told a press conference at the headquarters of Pro Romania. He said GEO 114 was taken into account in the budget construction and wondered what would happen with the budget if it was withdrawn. "Maybe the fact that the budget is being challenged is an opportunity for him to return to Parliament and to make a new budget without counting on the extra income from the GEO 114, because I understand that Mr. Teodorovici said he was withdrawing or he will make it so to be more friendly and they won't take the 40 bags of coins from the banks anyway," added Tudose. AGERPRES . Around 1,500 people are protesting on Sunday evening in Bucharest, starting 7 pm, against GEO 7 /2019 modifying justice laws. They are chanting "Tudorel, resignation!" [Tudorel Toader, the Minister of Justice - editor's note], "Kovesi, don't forget, we are on your side," [ex-chief prosecutor of the DNA - National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi - editor's note], "PSD - the red plague" [PSD - Social Democratic Party, part of the ruling coalition - editor's note], "Resignation, resignation." People also carry banners reading "Out with convicts," "No more GEOs on justice," "PSD, ALDE should be declared illegal," [ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - the other party in the ruling coalition] and also tricolor flags and flags of the European Union and United States of American. Among the participants in the protest are also volunteers of USR-Plus political coalition in opposition (USR - Save Romania Union), who are collecting signatures supporting the USR-Plus list of candidates to the European Parliament elections. PSD's (Social Democratic Party) leader Liviu Dragnea on Sunday told a press conference he held in the Gorj County that he would support Social Democratic Senator Claudiu Manda to make it on the list of candidates of the party for the May European Parliament elections. Read also: Ex-PM Tudose on GEO 114: 'Everything that happens is absurd and I am no friend of the banks' "What I would like for the European Parliamentary elections is first of all to have a list of patriotic candidates, to be patriots in Europe, to fight for Romania, to do their best to help this country to benefit from its status as member state of the Union and to help more European funds being directed toward Romania and to become involved in the major interest of this country. And I hope that we will be able to make such a list. So far, I haven't promise anything to anyone, but I'm telling you today, in Oltenia, that I would like Claudiu Manda to be on this list, and I'll support him in the party for that. Because he is someone who fights for Romanians and is not afraid, and is not ashamed ... ", Dragnea said in Gorj. Claudiu Manda is currently the Deputy Speaker of the Senate and head of the Standing Joint Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for the exercise of parliamentary control over the SRI's activity. PSD Dolj County Standing Bureau approved on February 16, with unanimity of votes, the candidacy of Claudiu Manda, who is the president of the organization, for the European Parliament elections. Claudiu Manda recently married Craiova City's former Mayor and ex Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu, who declared a few days ago that she is not interested in running for the European Parliament elections. AGERPRES . Social Democratic Party (PSD) wishes "Happy Birthday!" to its former leader and ex-President of Romania Ion Iliescu, who celebrates on Sunday his 89th anniversary. The message was posted on PSD's Facebook page. Read also: Kovesi: 'Difficult time for Justice in Romania; I couldn't wait to come back to join protest' "Today we are celebrating the founder of the Social Democratic Party, the promoter of the modern Romania's Social-Democratic values and the only leader who was truly balanced and solidary with the desideratum of Romania's welfare. Happy Birthday to the one whom Adrian Nastase [former PM - editor's note] named "the most wise of the Romanian politicians! Happy Birthday to Ion Iliescu!," reads the message posted on PSD's page on the social network. Ion Iliescu was leader of the FSN (National Salvation Front), which later became PDSR (Romanian Social Democratic Party) and PSD. He was President of Romania as head of the CFSN (Council of the National Salvation Front) and CPUN (Provisional Council of National Union) before the elections of May 1990, after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, and in May 1990 he was elected President of Romania. Subsequently, he had two terms in office as head of state, between 1992-1996 and 2000-2004. Between 1996-2000 and 2004-2008 he was Senator representing PDSR/PSD. AGERPRES . Today may be a joyous day in history because no American reading these words will have any chance of dying from conscription off in some foreign land or at home for that matter. A new major change in draft policy could be proof of its complete and total obsolescence and final death as an instrument of Washington in waging war. Over the last few years the questionable policies of Social Justice Warriors/Progressives have become so mainstream and status quo that they have begun to be implemented in the place they probably belong the least the United States Armed Forces. The cornerstones of the psychology of the modern military as we understand it today are self-sacrifice, heroism, machismo etc. The military is a combination of some sort of macho romanticism and destruction of the ego of each individual soldier until they can function only as a cog in the machine, for individual desires and feelings dont do well during trench warfare. Overcoming ones feelings and instincts of self-preservation are critical for battle. Despite these rather obvious facts the DC bourgeoise is subjecting the troops to things like transgender sensitivity training and making the ROTC march in red womens high heels to somehow create some sort of understanding with women. Whether this was a show of solidarity or public humiliation depends very much on ones political leanings. Since there are around 200,000 women already in the US Military who wear the same combat boots as the men, youd think they could just encourage the men to talk to their female counterparts more often to create solidarity. The ROTC operates on campus but you see the point. The biggest philosophical question regarding the future of the American Military may become a reality very soon. For years the fact that only men can be drafted has been a much discussed issue. When abortion rights activists claim that the government has no right to control their bodies, they conveniently ignore the fact that thousands and thousands of men can be conscripted and forced to die if the government sees fit. This sort of discrepancy has not gone unnoticed and now the legal ground work to allow women to be drafted is beginning to come into place. This will be the last barrier in terms of gender discrimination left in the armed forces as women all over NATO are starting to get the chance to go to front line combat in asymmetrical wars which do not have any discernible front lines. So the question is can a military function in a genderless Progressive manner where we need to train people to be automaton killing machines and yet be caring for their feelings and tolerant of others while we do so? At first glance it would seem not. In a traditional war, if one side were absolutely brutal warmachines with no mercy for others nor concern for their own suffering and the other side were all taking Xanax because their parents didnt love them enough as kids, it is obvious whose bayonet charge would succeed. But this scenario makes a huge supposition that a modern army would actually need to make some sort of D-Day landing or Battle of Stalingrad meat-grinder standoff, when in reality, for the largest military in the world this sort of combat is becoming obsolete. The SJW influence coming from its haven in Washington to the military may not actually destroy the army because the battles of Frederick IISuvorovNapoleon are over and the mentality needed to win them is probably not necessary when todays soldiers can sit at a computer conducting a drone strike against blurry moving blobs on a black and white screen. The conscious reason why the female draft may become a reality is something to do with equality and diversity which is inline with the mainstream reasoning in the US at this time but the subconscious reason why this is happening now is because no one actually believes that there will be a draft. As it stands right now 71% of young men arent fit for the draft, making it nearly unviable as it stands. If there was a war in the traditional sense the US military would already be in deep trouble trying to fill trenches with grunts. So why not throw women , who have even less desire to fight or ability to do so than the average American male, into the fantasy meat grinder that will never be? At this point it doesnt matter. When given the choice (not by conscription or gender exclusive policies) the militaries of the world remain overwhelmingly male but not exclusively male, meaning a lot more men than women are interested in that lifestyle. This is a normal process of our biology and history as a species, which are things that never seem to bother Progressives or SJWs when they work out their policies. The female draft is now viable because the draft itself is non-viable and no longer necessary for the United States. The less the military continues to need the human component them more extreme Left policies can implemented into the organization from pressure from within Washington without breaking it entirely. However, if there were some sort of cataclysmic event you can be sure that the draft would come into active use again in an instant and the American military would become an intolerant patriarchy again very quickly. Gone are the days when US consumers looked to the nightly news and print media as a trusted source of information, and especially if they hold conservative views, according to a new poll by the Columbia Journalism Review. Things are going from bad to worse for the US legacy media as its trust credentials have reached an all-time new low, as if that were possible. It has even achieved a lower trust rating than lawyers and members of Congress. The introduction to the CJR poll provided the following ominous opening: "For decades, weve known that Americans dont trust the press. What we havent known is how people view the makings of journalism, from the use of fact checkers and anonymous sources to the question of whether money skews journalistic decision-making. This new national poll for CJR answers those questions, and points to how big the trust gap remains." Indeed, the cynicism on the street should have every mainstream media purveyor in a state of absolute panic. In one particular finding, it was revealed that many news consumers believe that reporters, seemingly in an effort to push forward with a political agenda, are too quick to run with a story before knowing all of the facts. This has never been more true before than in the Trump era where anything goes, so long as it trashes conservatives. We have just witnessed ample proof of that media tendency in several high-profile cases. This week, attorneys for Nick Sandmann, a student from Covington Catholic High School, filed a lawsuit against the Washington Post, seeking $250 million in damages for negligence. Sandmann and his fellow students became the target of false accusations of racism during a trip to Washington, D.C. The mainstream media, as well as many politicians and celebrities, pushed the story that the young student, a Trump supporter, had taunted an elderly Native American Indian near the Lincoln Memorial. The story quickly fell apart, however, after video of the encounter and eyewitness accounts destroyed the media version of events. Attorneys for the boy claim that the Bezos-owned newspaper "wrongfully targeted and bullied Nicholas because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' souvenir cap on a school field trip to the January 18 March for Life in Washington, D.C." Todd McMurtry, one of the attorneys for the Catholic student, called the Washington Post a weaponized news outlet that used its power and strength to destroy Nick Sandmanns reputation." This leads us to another part of the CJR poll that helps explain the causes for the political crisis now gripping the country, and that is the overwhelming mistrust that conservative-leaning Americans have in the media. When asked how much confidence they had in the media, almost 70 percent of Republican respondents answered hardly any confidence at all, while just 25 percent of Democrats held a similar opinion. That is unsurprising considering that the bulk of the people who work in the media tend to hold leftist views. This is no secret to Republicans. Investors Business Daily summed up the situation nicely: Ask journalists, and they'll likely tell you they play things right down the middle. They strive to be "fair." They're "centrists." Sorry, not true. The profound leftward ideological bias of the Big Media is the main reason why America now seems saturated with "fake news." Journalists, besotted with their own ideology, are no longer able to recognize their own bias. In the halcyon days of pre-Internet journalism, the media was at liberty to report on stories without fear of recrimination that some alternative news site, or even a citizen journalist providing analysis on a YouTube channel, would call them out. Those days are long over. Today, there are simply too many other ways to verify the credence of the media's damaged product. Consider the mainstream medias use of sources to support their stories. Since it is important to protect the identity of these insiders, it is considered natural and necessary to quote these individuals as anonymous sources. However, the increasing tendency to rely almost solely on unnamed individuals has made consumers of the news increasingly skeptical about the news and information they are being fed. After all, whos to say that the reporter, left-leaning in his or her political ideology, is not just sitting at his desk dreaming up lines like Tom Clancy, quoting at random some senior military adviser or retired high-ranking diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity? But the impression this leaves behind has had other unintended consequences. Not only do news consumers increasingly believe they are being fed lines from some fictional characters, 60 percent now believe that these sources, whoever they may be, are actually paying for the media to run with the stories. That is a level of cynicism never achieved before, and one which should make the media moguls quiver in their ivory towers. The CJR poll is a wake-up call to the mainstream media that it cannot continue with a business as usual approach any longer. The modern news consumer is too savvy, too informed to be so easily fooled. When the average consumer of mainstream media can read through the lines, as it were, and understand they are being taken for a ride, it is game over. A whole new business model built on trust is desperately needed. But can the media deliver such a product? Nothing less than its survival depends upon it. Al Nofi's CIC Issue #469, March 2nd, 2019 This Issue... Infinite Wisdom la Triviata Short Rounds "And When are You Coming Back to Germany?" "Pericles Told Me . . . ." From the Archives - George Washington Writes to The Virginia Militia Infinite Wisdom "By nightfall tomorrow we shall know whether it is Rome or Carthage that shall give laws to the world!" -- Publius Cornelius Scipio, October 18, 202 BC, the eve of the Battle of Zama La Triviata During the 1820s, Swedish naval regulations appear to have required officers to wear spurs when in full dress. Although by October of 1914 the Japanese Imperial Navy had occupied most of the German-owned Marshall, Caroline, and Palauan Islands in the Central Pacific, they left Saipan alone, it being the only place that was actually garrisoned. Having captured Athens after a long siege (autumn 87 BC-summer 86 BC), Sulla, the future Roman dictator, refrained from sacking the place, but did send home Aristotles personal library, which, years later, his son, having wasting Papas fortune, sold to the great orator and politician Cicero. On March 24, 1941, Donald Duck enlisted in the Army, for the first of six cartoons. During the early 1930s, the Soviet Red Banner Fleet experimented with mounting large caliber recoilless rifles on small warships, even fitting the old 730 ton destroyer Engels with a 305mm (12.064) piece, which did not prove a good idea, as the weight of the piece and its ammunition made the ship, and the recoil, as modest as it was relatively, made the vessel unstable. The walls of Adolph Hitlers elaborate and seldom used office in the Reichskanzlei held portraits of Otto von Bismarck, who had engineered the unification of Germany in 1870, and Arminius, the first century Teutonic chieftain who had engineered the annihilation of three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9. Some 2,400 years before Theodore Roosevelt quoted an old West African proverb to refer to the navy as a big stick, the Fourth Century BC Athenian politician Peitholaus had already referred to the fleet flagship Paralos as the peoples Big Stick. Katharina Schratt (1853-1940), the actress who was the mistress of Emperor-King Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary (1830-1916) from 1882 until his death, was personally approved for the post by his wife the Empress Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie (1854-1898). As a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 15 men were awarded the Medal of Honor (all from the Navy, ten posthumously), 51 received the Navy Cross, one received the Armys Distinguished Service Cross, four sailors and 65 soldiers received the Silver Star, and three men the Navy-Marine Corps Medal. More... In an effort of gain an edge in the competition to provide India with 110 modern fighters to replace its Cold War era MiG-21s and MiG-27s the latest model of the F-16, the F-16V was offered. Noting how extensive the upgrades were for the F-16V the manufacturer has renamed this version the F-21. That designation has already been used for former Israeli Kfir fighters used, since the 1980s, to represent enemy aircraft in adversary combat training for the air force and navy. No one is complaining about the F-21 name being used for the Indian Block 72 version of the F-16. The Indians think it is rather fitting because the F-21 is pretty impressive for a 1970s design. The F-21 is the F-16 Block 70 or, rather the Block 72 for the Indian variant. The Indian F-21 will be built in India (using many American made components). Meanwhile, there are other customers. The Block 70 F-16 has also been sold Slovakia (ordered 14) Bulgaria (eight), Bahrain (16 new plus twenty older F-16s upgraded to Block 7o). In addition, South Korea is upgrading over a hundred of its F-16s to the Block 70 standard. The exact differences between Block 70 and 72 are still vague because the Block 72 simply covers whatever tweaks Indian decides to make to the Block 70 specifications if they build their own. This is typical of license-built aircraft and many F-16s were built (or just assembled) under license in the country that was using them and became variants of whatever block version they were. These differences often include locally made electronic components or weapons not normally used on the F-16. These differences can add up and India has already done this with the many Russian designed warplanes it has built under license. The F-16V was the popular choice for post-Cold War members of NATO, like Slovakia and Bulgaria, seeking to replace early model MiG29s. India already uses some MiG-29s and Indian air force pilots believe a late model F-16 would be a better aircraft than their current late model MiG-29s. New users of the F-16 also purchase spares, maintenance equipment, training, aircraft accessories (like look and shoot helmets) plus tech support and setting up maintenance and support facilities (which can be used for other aircraft types.) The sale includes air-to-air missiles and smart bombs as well. So selling the F-21 to India introduces large sales of many other items and services. The initial contract is estimated at over $5 billion (mainly just for the 110 F21s). The F-16V was introduced in 2012 as the last model of the F-16 and one reason production of the F-16 did not end in late 2016 with the production F-16IQs for Iraq. Production of F-16s, which has been going on since 1973 (with the first prototype) has halted for a while but it is not yet ended. There are several recent and future sales keeping production going. At the end of 2016 when all 36 Iraqi F-16IQs had been built possible sales of the F-16V became a reality. In addition to Slovakia, Bulgaria and Bahrain other F-16 users are considering purchases, to replace elderly fighters or to upgrade some or all of the older F-16s to the Block 7o standard. These Block 7o upgrades are not always possible, or practical, for the oldest models of the F-16. These upgrades include replacing many structural elements as well as installing more powerful engines and the most modern electronics and fire control systems available. And then there is the offer to set up licensed production in India so India can produce the modern fighters it is looking for while also producing F-16Vs for other customers. This is an option some countries with a license to build American aircraft sometimes obtain. The F-16V Block 70 is the most advanced F-16 model ever. Since India and the U.S. Air Force wont make a final decision for a while (2020 or later) the last F-16 assembly line was moved from Texas to a smaller plant in South Carolina. The Texas facility, where some 80 percent of all F-16s were built, is now producing F-35s. In South Carolina, a smaller plant has been building pre-production models of the T-50A jet trainer, which lost a competition for major contract in late 2018. The South Carolina plant can now be devoted to F-16 production. Since the T-50A is based on the F-16 design moving the last F-16 production line to South Caroline makes sense even before the T-50A lost the competition to replace older U.S. Air Force trainers. Although production of the F-16 ceased temporarily after 44 years the manufacturer (Lockheed Martin or LockMart) will continue to do upgrades and refurbishments into the 2020s and beyond. Many of those upgrades will be to the V standard. Currently, LockMart has orders for over 300 upgrades of late model F-16s to the F-16V standard and a growing number of requests for newly built F-16Vs. The changes in the V model are considerable. The airframe is upgraded and strengthened to enable 12,000 flight hours per aircraft. The electronics undergo an even more extensive upgrade which involves replacing the mechanical radar with an AESA (phased array) radar, an upgraded cockpit, a Sniper targeting pod, a Link 16 digital data link and upgraded navigation gear. The newly redesigned cockpit is all digital and flat screen touch displays that replace dozens of gages and switches and makes it much easier to fly the aircraft. AESA and the new fire control system makes it possible to track multiple aircraft at once as well as track vehicles on land or vessels at sea. The targeting pod enables the pilot to confirm (visually) what is on the surface and promptly attack it with smart bombs or missiles. LockMart expects to get orders for at least 700 newly built F-16V or less expensive upgrades. An upgrade brings in as little as $10 million per aircraft while five or ten of these upgrades equals the price of one new F-16V. But when you have orders for hundreds of F-16V upgrades you have a lot of F-16 work. The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best selling fighters. During The Cold War (1947-91) Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s but since 1991, warplane manufacturing has plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong until the 2020s. The U.S. still has about a 1,200 F-16s in service (about half with reserve units). F-16s built so far went to 27 countries. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used warplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 will be replacing all U.S. F-16s by the late 2020s. So the U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, and many allies in need of low-cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35 but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s. Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and these cost as much as $70 million each (like the F-16I for Israel). Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16 ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single engine fighter would be less safe F-16s have, in the 21st century suffered an accident rate (loss or major damage) of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours. The F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. While most are still called the F-16C, there are actually seven major mods, identified by block number (32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70, 72), plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. The F-16D is a two-seat trainer version of F-16Cs. The various block mods included a large variety of new components (five engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit and electrical mods.) Until the Block 70 came along the most advanced F-16 was the F-16 Block 60. The best example of this is a special version of the Block 60 developed for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE bought 80 "Desert Falcons" (the F-16E) which is optimized for air combat. It is a 22 ton aircraft based on the Block 52 model (which the KF-16 was originally), but with an AESA radar and lots of other additional goodies. The Block 70 goes beyond the Block 60, especially in terms of electronics and airframe enhancement (to extend flight life). The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late model F-16s flying for over a decade more as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills (6.5), all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 (including 14 B models) and used these mainly as trainers. These F-16As were the first of the nearly 400 F-16s Israel obtained from the United States since 1980. Israeli F-16s have shot down 47 aircraft (70 percent of the 67 kills for all F-16s built). Israeli F-16As flew 474,000 sorties and spent over 335,000 hours in the air over 35 years. Israel was the most energetic user of the F-16 and also took the lead in developing upgrades and accessories. This could help in selling the older F-16As, but that is a crowded market with more and more of these oldest F-16s being retired rather than upgraded. That is easier to do with the later F-16C models and that what Israel did with all of its F-16Cs. The Indian competition includes the Swedish Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the French Rafale, F-18E and MiG-35. The F-16 has the most extensive combat record and an impressive record at that. Moreover, the F-16 has the greatest number of current users, all of whom think highly of the aircraft. But it is generally conceded that Indian weapons competitions are often decided by other factors, usually political. Principals are facing a dilemma over next month's school strike for climate change - should they punish students who wag school to protest, or encourage them? Strike organisers say students from about 100 schools had signed up for the event on March 15 and principals say they had asked the Education Ministry for guidance. One of the organisers of the strike in New Zealand, Sophie Handford, says shes not aware of any schools forbidding students from participating in the event. "We've found a good mix - some wondering how it will fit into the curriculum, others not willing to be seen supporting it but they are kind of supporting it in the background. [At] some schools, the principals are really supportive," she says. Sophie says some students are worried about missing a day of lessons or being recorded as truant and she urged them to consider what lack of action on climate change would mean for their future. She says the strike had clear goals. "We would like our government and governments worldwide to do everything in their power to limit global warming to no more than 1.5C because we know that once we get over that point of warming we are pretty much destined for catastrophic climate change and [there's] no turning back," Sophie says. "This involves stopping all exploration for more fossil fuels and regulation [of] emissions from agriculture as well." The ministry says it would provide schools with information but indicated that the strike could fall within the parameters of the curriculum. Its deputy secretary, early learning and student achievement, Ellen MacGregor-Reid, says the curriculum included awareness of the environment and encouraged students to "take action as critical, informed and responsible citizens". "As part of their curriculum schools may want to follow up on their students' interest in social issues such as climate change. This can include discussion of ways they might raise awareness of these critical issues in their communities, including costs and benefits of any proposed action," she says. Secondary Principals' Association president Mike Williams says schools might be lenient with students who were active on environmental issues but would take a hard line if they thought students were just trying to get a day off school. "It really needs to be a school-by-school decision about how they manage it," says Mike. "If you're in a school environment where you're heavily into environmental sustainability, got very active student groups who have been working on this for a while, then you might be a lot more lenient about how you handle it." "But if it hasn't been a school focus, the school community hasn't been involved and suddenly they want to go on a strike day you're going to be a lot less sympathetic to the cause." Mike says schools might consider allowing some students to attend the climate strike for a limited amount of time. New Zealand Secondary School Principals' Association Canterbury and West Coast president Phil Holstein says strike organisers sent schools in the region an email telling them the strike would be happening and asking them to inform their students. He says that was an unusual approach and the association had asked the ministry for guidance. "Principals are saying 'well how best do we respond to this' because this would be perhaps unprecedented the way it's come about," says Phil. "I don't disagree with the intent at all, but it's the process that has caused the dilemma among principals." -RNZ/John Gerritsen He had an opinion on everything and went for the jugular without fear. But Waikato Times and SunLive columnist Max Christoffersen's "laser beam analysis" wasn't a result of a mean spirit or axe grinding. Rather, said decades long friend and station manager at Hamilton's Free FM Phil Grey, it was a deep love of the city that shaped his writing. "He put it all out there," says Phil. "He didn't hide his opinion. He wasn't scared of doing that but it was never intended in a disrespectful way. He wasn't an unkind person." Christoffersen died on Saturday after his final column detailing his own heart condition to appeal for support for the Heart Foundation. In it he said: "There is a brutal acuity to reflecting on the past when ill health hits. Facing the reality that some life stories will be forever left without a fitting ending is sobering. "And so today six years on from my first tap on the shoulder from the Almighty, I now confront the reality that I have survived so far due to medication. My drug regime is the only thing keeping me alive." Max's death came at 5.30am - a heart attack in the back of an ambulance. "Bizarrely", said Grey, about half an hour after his final contribution to the Waikato Times ran off the printing press and was published on Stuff. "He was a lot of things," says Phil. "In some ways he was just a boy. I was constantly surprised by his boyish enthusiasm for things. He still had a collection of chopper bicycles and still just loved things like that. In another way, from my perspective, he had a fierce intellect that, I think, goes well beyond his 57 years. He thought very, very deeply about a lot of things." Waikato Times editor Jonathan MacKenzie says Max had been contributing to the paper for at least 20 years. "He didn't hold back and because of that he was very popular with readers. "We hardly touched his copy, it was super clean and always spot on. He will be greatly missed by ourselves and our readers." In 1987, while managing Contact FM, Max made waves with the heavy metal-dedicated show, The Axe Attack, says DJ and Devilskin bassist Paul Martin. "He decided against all the protocols of the university to go with a heavy metal specialist show. He campaigned hard for it and thus The Axe Attack was born," says Paul. "He made things happen. He changed the landscape of radio in New Zealand as far as I'm concerned." Hamilton's deputy mayor Martin Gallagher taught Max at Hamilton Boys' High School and recently discovered the role he played in Max's love of the rock music genre. "He told me his collection of music and interests was in part motivated by some of the interactions in my classes and conversations with him. Obviously, I was deeply humbled, shocked. "In life you say throw away things and you're not quite sure of the impact you have." Days before Max's death, Martin popped over to the Bay of Plenty for a visit. "A half hour cup of tea turned into a wonderful three hour discussion where, honestly and perhaps I hadn't grasped, he was an incredible thinker," says Martin. "He was always fearless in his writings. He didn't go soft on me or anyone. "If you had said to me when I was teaching this young man, I would then be, years later, listening to him and his analysis . . . his is the degree where sometimes the pupil, over time, becomes the teacher. Max Christoffersen is survived by his wife Linda Thompson. They have two children, Alexander and Cate, and four grandchildren. -Stuff/ . SALISBURY, N.Y. -- A 36-year-old Herkimer County man died Friday after a snowmobile crash in Salisbury, state police said. Ryan N. Crawford, 36, of Middleville, died after a snowmobile crash threw Crawford into two trees. Around 11:10 p.m. Friday, state police got the call of the crash New York State Trail C-4, near Satterlee Road in Salisbury. Crawford rode his snowmobile south through a curved part of the trail when his snowmobile left the trail, police said. He then hit two trees, police said. Crawford was taken to Little Falls Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. To the undiscerning eye, the large house with the American flag at the corner of Dell Street and Columbus Avenue in the Westcott neighborhood could appear to be just like all the other homes on the block. That is, until Friday nights when the humming neon Budweiser sign--in what would normally be a living room window-- gets turned on, casting its red, white and blue glow to the ground. This is the American Legion Dunbar Post 1642, and it wants Syracuse veterans to know that they are welcome there. This is a well hidden secret, said post commander Mick Dunmore, 71, And we dont want it to be. Dunmore is currently top brass for this branch of the national veterans volunteer organization. Typically post commanders only serve for one year, but this is Dunmores second in the role. He manages about 50 registered members. A lot of guys dont want to take on the responsibility of that, but I dont mind, he explained. Dunmore is a New York City native and retired Army veteran who received a purple heart for his service in the Vietnam War. Now, he uses his time and position to help educate other veterans and their families. About once per month, Dunmore said he tries to get guest speakers into the Post that help members take advantage of their veteran benefits to improve their lives. We got guys around here that dont even have a will, Dunmore said, detailing a recent speaker that was invited to explain why having a will could be useful. Dunbar Post 1642 will be celebrating its 72nd birthday in March, formed by and for African American veterans initially excluded from other posts by segregation. For decades now, Dunbar Post has been open to veterans and non-veterans of all colors, creeds and backgrounds. Dunmore said the key to the posts ongoing success is their inclusive attitude toward all. I believe the secret to our longevity is the camaraderie that soldiers have, whether they be black or white, Dunmore said. Air Force veteran, post member and one of its occasional bartenders Lonnie Senior agreed. One of my favorite things is I can be around people who understand what Im talking about, Senior said at the locations annual Super Bowl party last month. Senior noted how vets often communicate in acronyms. I dont have to explain each and every one of them when Im talking, he said. The sense of shared common values and experiences and especially a dedication to service is the thread that members like Dunmore, Senior and Marion Ervin said brings them together and transcends the nominal differences we often use to separate ourselves. Were just a collection of people who all get along, said Ervin, 72, retired Army and current finance officer for Dunbar Post. Ervin has been a member for about seven years along with his wife, Onondaga County Legislatures minority leader Linda Ervin. Ervin brings her organizational expertise as a former real estate professional and current elected official to the Dunbar Posts Auxiliary, the womens side of the American Legion. Their role is to help their Legion counterparts with whatever community initiatives the post undertakes. Our job is to be supportive, basically, Ervin said, describing how she and the other spouses of post members assist in operations. Ervin said on the fifth Friday in any given month, the Auxiliary will help out with the weekly $10 fish fry. Normally, cooking duties are done by a chef who works for about eight hours. All proceeds are used to fund the work of the Dunbar Posts programs including volunteering at the local VA Medical Center to working with community youth and sponsoring their participation in Legions National Oratorical Program. In the end, post commander Dunmore says the Dunbar Posts dual-nature as social outlet and social service hub exists to remind former soldiers and their families that their lives and their service both past and ongoing are valued. Our purpose is to serve, that is our purpose. What else are we put on this earth for but to serve? Securely connect, collaborate, and celebrate from anywhere. With Google Meet, everyone can safely create and join high-quality video meetings for groups of up to 250 people. Features: Meet safely - video meetings are encrypted in transit and our array of safety measures are continuously updated for added protection Host large meetings - invite up to 250 participants to a meeting, whether theyre in the same team or outside of your organization Easy access on any device - share a link and invite team members to join your conversations with one click from a web browser or the Google Meet mobile app Share your screen - present documents, slides, and more during your conference call. Participate in broadcasted events - teams, businesses, and schools can view and present in live-streamed events that include up to 100,000 in-domain viewers Record for later - for important events on your calendar, hit record while in the meeting and get the recording file straight from Google Drive Follow along - live, real-time captions powered by Google speech-to-text technology What's New: In context: Google's controversial contract connected to Project Maven will expire in March 2019, and while Google has pledged to not renew it, an unnamed technology company will take up the work started by Google. Furthermore, Google will support the unnamed contractor with "basic" cloud services, rather than Google's Cloud AI services. Google also appears to try and straddle the line between maintaining their early mantra of "don't be evil" and pursuing lucrative defense contracts, like Microsoft and Amazon. Last year, when news broke that Google had been awarded a military contract to develop AI for Project Maven, it stirred up no shortage of controversy -- some of which is still coming to light. This led to many employees questioning the ethical and moral implications of such work, spurring many to resign, and many more to protest. In the end, Google conceded to the demands of its employees and has grappled with something of an identity crisis since. Recently, in an email obtained by The Intercept, Google appeared to reiterate its commitment not to renew its contract with the Pentagon. The email was penned by Kent Walker, Googles senior vice president for global affairs. Last June, we announced we would not be renewing our image-recognition contract with the US Department of Defense connected with Project Maven, Walker wrote. However, Walker added a caveat of sorts, in that an unnamed contractor will take up the work Google started and use off-the-shelf Google Cloud Platform (basic compute service, rather than Cloud AI or other Cloud Services) to support some workloads. It's presently unclear what compensation Google will obtain, or what specific Project Maven workloads will be processed by Google's Cloud services. The Intercept reached out for comment, but received no further clarification. Walker's email also mentioned that the company was working closely with the Department of Defense to "make the transition in a way that is consistent with our AI Principles and contractual commitments. Google's Project Maven contract is set to expire next month, and while Google will not renew it, the company also won't rule out future military work, as Walker notes in his email. We continue to explore work across the public sector, including the military, in a wide range of areas, such as cybersecurity, search and rescue, training and health care, in ways consistent with our AI Principles. RIP: After many long years Sony had finally given up on the PlayStation Vita their worst selling major console in several decades. While it was evidently doomed to fail from the very beginning, it will certainly be missed and remembered fondly by the eleven people who owned one. The last two variants Sony was still manufacturing have been filed under discontinued on their website, as spotted by Polygon. The move was expected: stock has been dwindling for some time now, and last year it was revealed that Sonys American and European branches would end the production of the physical game cartridges on March 31, 2019. The PlayStation Vita was a solid device with only one serious flaw, the steep prices of the proprietary memory cards, but even so it was generally well received. However, the portable gaming market is one that evolves dramatically faster than the console market. The Vita was quickly outdone by the ubiquitous smartphone, which was just good enough when the Vita launched to stop the masses from going out and purchasing one. With only a 5 screen and half a gigabyte of RAM, it wasnt long before the mostly-Indie platform was simply worse than smartphones and tablets. Steep competition from the Nintendo 3DS and subsequent Switch whisked away its sales, which ended at around 16 million, according to third-party analysts. First released in Japan on December 17th, 2011, it arrived in America a few months later on February 2012, and subsequently received a few hardware updates throughout 2013 and 2014. Seven years and a few weeks later, weve now witnessed the end of Sonys last handheld console. The organizers behind incorporating the new proposed city of St. George cleared a major hurdle last week in gathering enough signatures to force a vote on the issue, but the toughest leg of the race is likely yet to come. Local political analysts say collecting the signatures from 25 percent of the active voters in the proposed city is a much easier task than getting "yes" votes from 51 percent of the people it'll take to create the new city in the southeast part of the parish. Gov. John Bel Edwards could make the challenge even more difficult if he, as many expect, sets the election for this fall when voter turnout is expected to be the highest. "The governor would most likely try to schedule the election in the fall to coincide with the regularly scheduled statewide elections," said John Couvillon, president of JMC Analytics and Polling. "That would get the maximum number of people to vote on it and benefit Edwards because an issue as polarizing as this one would bring out black voters in that area, who would likely support him in his bid for re-election." The setting of an election by the governor is the next step in the prolonged effort to create the new city after St. George organizers learned on Feb. 25 that their seven-month petition drive had paid off with enough signatures to force a vote. The petition needed valid signatures from 25 percent of the 51,804 active registered voters living within St. Georges proposed boundaries when it was filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State in March 2018. That pinned the proponents goal at 12,996 signatures. +3 After St. George supporters secure required signatures, what's next? 'An election looks inevitable' The robust effort to create a new city in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish cleared its first hurdle Monday with organizers securing enough si St. George organizers submitted 17,102 signatures for verification in October to East Baton Rouge Registrar Steve Raborn, who announced last week 14,585 signatures were accepted and certified by his office and 2,517 were rejected and/or struck from the petition. The proponents of the proposed city are hoping Edwards will put the proposal on the ballot in May, which Southern University political science professor Albert Samuels said would draw a lower voter turnout and benefit their cause. "There are certain groups of voters who will turn out for elections regardless of when they are," he said. "Those are usually your older, whiter, more conservative anti-tax voters. And it just so happens most of the people more likely to vote for this would fall in that demographic." Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome prefers that Edward put the St. George measure on the fall ballot, a view that is in line with opponents who believe a higher voter turnout then will be to their advantage. But Samuels cautioned it isn't wise for Edwards, a fellow Democrat like Broome, to let politics weigh heavily in his decision. "Politically it wouldn't be the most astute move to be perceived as trying to manipulate that election for partisan reasons at the same moment he'll be asking voters for their vote," he said. Couvillon pointed out that the Republican-leaning and majority white St. George area isn't an area that Edwards should expect to win anyway. Still, setting in the election in the fall would bring out the small percentage of black voters living in the St. George area which would play in Edwards' favor, he said. "Given the polarization that has occurred over the St. George issue, the fact that you have a decent black population in the district, that group most likely will vote unanimously against it just because of the overall tone of the campaign whether it deserves it or not," Couvillon said. White voters in St. George signed the petition at a higher percentage than anyone else, according to an electronic copy of the petition The Advocate obtained through a public records request. Approximately 91 percent of the verified signatures were from white active voters with less than 2 percent identified as black. The names of at least three elected officials in the parish popped up on the petition to create St. George Metro Council members Dwight Hudson and Chandler Loupe and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Jill Dyason. Hudson has been supportive of the proposed city, serving as one of the lead volunteers during the first attempt, which failed in 2015 after organizers were 71 signatures shy of their goal. He built his campaign for his District 9 seat on the council around being a champion for St. George. "I feel like St. George's incorporation is a good way to make a positive impact for the entire parish," Hudson said. "There are many issues folks in the unincorporated parts of the parish have complained about for years like the city-parish addressing issues with dedicated taxes, the unfunded pension liability and better prioritizing tax dollars on infrastructure spending." Here's why St. George's effort in Baton Rouge will happen, leaders of a similar project say The leaders of Central know what its like to create a new city in East Baton Rouge Parish, and they say they see the people trying to organiz Like the cities of Zachary and Central , St. George intends to use public/private partnerships to handle some municipal services, which Hudson and organizers have said would address a lot of the concerns residents in the area have had with city-parish's management of their tax dollars. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up While Hudson favors creating the new city, Loupe and Dyason said the fact that they signed the petition to put it on the ballot shouldnt be viewed as an indication that they intend to vote in favor of incorporation when the issue goes before voters. "I've always taken the position we should have the right to vote and put it on the ballot," Loupe said. Added Dyason: "We need to settle it one way or the other." Should the measure fail in the impending election, state law prohibits organizers from circulating another petition for incorporation for two years. Both Couvillon and Samuels said St. George proponents have to factor into their calculations that there are others who signed the petition who, like Loupe and Dyason, just believe that voters should be allowed to decide the issue. They said St. Georges supporters will have to focus on running a solid campaign that locks down their votes and combats the opposition, which has aggressively challenged claims that creating the new city wouldn't result in tax increases for St. George residents. This going to be a contest where whichever side gets the best messaging out wins," Couvillon said. "If you're favoring St. George you'll try to de-emphasize the racial aspects and put the onus on how the East Baton Rouge School System failed the kids in the area." He added, "If you're trying to stop it, you'll be bringing up issues like the possible additional taxes. People have to realize there were taxes raised to support new school systems in Zachary and Central." +2 St. George low-balling expenses, overestimating revenues, LSU professors say in new study Two LSU professors said Monday that organizers of the proposed city of St. George are overestimating its revenues and underestimating expenses Creating an independent school district was the nucleus of the St. George movement. But organizers were told by state Legislators that couldn't happen until the city was created. Breaking away from the parish's school system to establish a better one in St. George is still at the forefront of people's minds who signed the petition. Donna Cox said she and her husband signed so their grandchildren could attend neighborhood schools. "Weve had to help our daughter place our grandchildren in private school to avoid having them bused around town to attend public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish," she said. And there are those, like Kaye Schiefelbein, who see St. George as a way to establish a better sense of community for the area and gain better oversight and control of their tax dollars. "I don't like what I see going on in Baton Rouge (and) I'm not a fan of Sharon Weston Broome," Schiefelbein said. Branden Barker didn't sign the petition and definitely plans to vote "no" when it hits the ballot. He and his wife prefers keeping their kids in the parish's school system, which he acknowledges does have problems but doesn't think they'll be solved by breaking away. "I'd rather see our community built up as a whole and work together to solve some of these pressing issues," Barker said. "There are some excellent things in the EBR school system (but) not a lot of light gets shown on those." Ken Burns is another St. George resident voting against incorporation. Burns said, "I believe if you're not satisfied with something you try and fix it instead of trying to tear it up. What they're trying to do is just tear up the Baton Rouge community and there's no doubt taxes will have to be raised, not only in the old city but in the new city as well." Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Baton Rouge attorney Donald Hodge Jr. is suing the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, alleging it denied him his right to public comment on Jan. 17 when it cut him short as he urged members not to select Jill Dyason as the board's vice president. Dyason was elected vice president that night, and Hodge now is asking the court to force a redo, with a guarantee that people like him can freely comment on the merits of the candidates vying for the position. He also wants the school system ordered to pay his legal expenses and a civil penalty of up to $100 assessed against Board President Mike Gaudet for forcing Hodge to quit talking that night. If they are not going to follow the open meetings law, were going to have to sue to force them, Hodge told The Advocate on Friday. +2 Baton Rouge school board member signed St. George petition so 'we can move forward' East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Jill Dyason, who represents much of what could become the city of St. George, passed on the first Hodge came out against Dyasons elevation to the position of vice president after The Advocate revealed on Jan. 15 that she had signed a petition calling for a public referendum on whether to form a City of St. George. If they successfully create a city, St. George backers plan to turn their attention to creating a companion St. George school district, which would be carved out of the parish school system. Hodge, who has named his legal practice Hot Poker of Justice LLC, said it makes no sense to reward someone who signed the St. George petition with a leadership position on the School Board. Their ultimate goal is to break up the EBR school system, Hodge said. Dyason has said she signed the petition only to let the people vote on this contentious issue. She said that in her view the latest St. George petition has more to do with creating a city than any changes in schooling, and it has no bearing on her School Board service or whether she would make a good board vice president. I definitely dont feel that it is a School Board issue in any way, Dyason said. Gaudet, presiding over his first meeting as president of the board, shut down Hodge that night after 85 seconds. Hodge was then escorted out of the meeting room by a Sheriffs deputy. Gaudet and Gwynn Shamlin, general counsel for the school system, both told The Advocate they have no comment on the suit filed by Hodge. Judge William Morvant has scheduled a March 11 hearing on the matter. Hodge, who filed his suit on Feb. 22, has retained fellow Baton Rouge attorney Philip House to represent him. Gaudet was voted board president on Jan. 10, drawing no opposition. The board, however, deadlocked on who should be vice president. Dyason, first elected in 2001, vied for the post against newly elected board member Dadrius Lanus. After three successive 4-4 votes, the board deferred the matter for a week. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up +2 Jill Dyason elected as East Baton Rouge school board VP despite signing St. George petition Breaking a week-long deadlock, Jill Dyason was elected Thursday as vice president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Thursday the f The board reconvened Jan. 17 and Dyason quickly won 5-3 after Gaudet switched his vote from Lanus to her. There was almost no debate. Just like the week before, Dyason and Lanus were renominated for vice president and a motion was made to close nominations. Louisiana law requires school boards to allow public comment on motions, but in a contrast with the freewheeling discussion of a week before, speakers this time had strict limits on what they could say. Were not going to be sitting here making speeches and things for or against any candidate, Gaudet told the audience. The discussion will be whether or not you agree to the motion to close or if you have any objections to the motion to close. Hodge had planned a more full-throated opposition to Dyasons nomination, even calling Gaudet earlier in the day to voice his opposition to her. But after learning the discussion would be limited, Hodges decided to tailor his comments to the motion on the floor but did so in a creative way. The reason I am against the motion to close nominations is because of the new information that came out this week about a member of this board, Hodge began, before being cut short by Gaudets gavel. Sir, that is not germane to closing nominations, Gaudet warned. Again, I will not allow that, sir. Hodge persisted for another minute, arguing that the board should keep the nominations open because, without naming Dyason, at least one of the two nominees was unsuitable for the job. Gaudet finally got fed up: Now, youre speaking to individual candidates. I am not, Hodge responded. I am speaking on the vote to close. Gaudet gestured for Hodge to leave the lectern: Please, sir, thank you. Gaudets gesture also prompted a deputy to walk into the meeting room and approach Hodge. He left the lectern but not before issuing a final parting shot: And vote against Jill Dyason. She is against this School Board. As has become customary, Jeff Sadows latest column concerning Gov. John Bel Edwards is devoid of facts. Though the governors detractors may A tweet from Twitter user @Jiggles02 captures footage from the Centurions parade route where Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies aggressively arrested a LaPlace man Saturday night. The video shows a deputy flipping off Jacobi Cage, 20, and walking away. Cage, in turn flips off the retreating officer before being violently pulled to the ground and arrested by other officers. After hitting 9 in New Orleans, driver told police he has drinking problem: 'I should have gotten help' The Washington Examiner reported Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, while attending the National Governors Association's conference in Washington, D.C. last weekend, wouldn't disclose how he felt about the controversies members of his party have faced for supporting loosening abortion access late into a pregnancy. "My record speaks for itself," Edwards said. Edwards' silence on many of his fellow Democrats move to the extreme on abortion is concerning. Especially when you consider all but three Senate Democrats voted against a recent bill requiring doctors to provide care for infants surviving late-term abortions. The bill would have prevented a child, born alive, from being left alone to die. Every Senate Democrat running for president voted against the bill. "Not a single one of the top Senate Democrats running for president in 2020 could muster the basic decency to outlaw infanticide, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group, Susan B. Anthony List. Republicans introduced the federal Born Alive legislation after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, defended a bill in his state legislature allowing ending the life of a child up to the very second of birth and after. Northam described what would happen if, under the bill he supports, a baby survived an abortion: "The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother. Northams heinous support of infanticide and Edwards silence on it is noteworthy. Northam co-hosted a six-figure fundraiser for Edwards last year in Virginia. And even though Edwards has yet to condemn Northams public endorsement of infanticide, he has criticized the Virginia governor for appearing in a controversial photo taken decades ago. This photograph is disgusting and should offend everyone. There is no excuse. If it is Gov. Northam in the photos, he should resign immediately, Edwards said in a statement. The Democratic Party is moving further and further away from the position Edwards holds on the value of life. Democrats used to say abortion should be safe, legal and rare? No more. The party kept the words safe and legal in its platform but removed the word rare in 2016. Democrats are now openly the party of abortion and as of late, infanticide. Gov. Edwards is not defined by his political party, and it is no secret that he doesnt always agree with his party on this and other issues, Edwards' communication director, Shauna Sanford wrote in an email. But Edwards does agree with his party on most issues with the exception of gun rights and abortion. Democrats are big government-oriented. Edwards raised $7 billion in new taxes. Democrats often create new government dependents. Edwards created a half a million of them by expanding Medicaid under Obamacare. Democrats typically target the private sector. Edwards made it more difficult for manufacturers to get tax incentives, and hes pushed lawsuits against the pharmaceutical and oil and gas industries. Democrats dont trust the free market much. Edwards favors raising the minimum wage. And on capital punishment, the governor refuses to say where he stands. And it must be said Edwards clearly benefits politically for his pro-life stance in his home state. Louisiana Right to Life conducted a poll in February that found 70 percent of Louisiana residents consider themselves pro-life. But even though being pro-life is politically advantageous for Edwards, his sincerity seems authentic. When his wife Donna was 20-weeks pregnant, a doctor discovered their child had spina bifida and encouraged her to have an abortion. I was devastated, Donna Edwards said. But John Bel never flinched. He just said, 'No. No, we're going to love this baby no matter what. Edwards remaining a Democrat may indicate, however, his position on abortion is not a priority for him. One clue would be who the governor voted for in the last race for president. If Hillary Clinton had won, it would have most certainly shifted the U.S. Supreme Court to a more pro-abortion bent. Itd be hard to believe the issue of abortion is a priority for Edwards if he had voted for Clinton. I asked Sanford, twice, via email who Edwards voted for in the last presidential election. She ignored my question. Email Dan Fagan at faganshow@gmail.com. Twitter: @DanFaganShow. Australia's largest companies, with some notable exceptions, did not pump up their dividend payments during the recent reporting season despite speculation some would lift payouts to get ahead of Labor's proposed tax changes. Of the 169 Australian Stock Exchange-listed companies that reported results in February, 83 per cent declared a dividend - below the longer-term average of 86 per cent and the lowest ratio in six years. Companies struggled to lift cash levels and shower their investors with dividends this February earnings season. Credit:DEAN LEWINS Just half of those ASX200 companies raised dividends, compared with 66 per cent in the prior corresponding period. About 17 per cent slashed their payouts. Several companies did push through special dividends at their half-year results in February pointing to uncertainty about Labor's franking credits policy, but analysts and investors had tipped more would follow suit. The theme of International Women's Day for 2019 is 'Balance for Better' and balance is something all these entrepreneurs find a challenge. Ahead of International Women's Day on Friday, we've put together a panel comprising Carnell, Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash and Council of Small Business of Australia chief executive Peter Strong to nominate the most influential female entrepreneurs in Australia. It's harder for women to attract funding for their business and they're likely to have less money to fund it themselves as a result of the gender pay gap . "Women are really good at starting up businesses and getting to the micro business stage but there is still an issue with growing past successful micro business to a successful small business and medium business," she says. "Access to capital is an issue." Small business and family enterprise ombudsman, Kate Carnell, says this is a significant increase on recent years however there is still a long way to go. However, a growing number of women are starting and leading businesses with the latest Australian Taxation Office figures showing around 45 per cent of Australia's small business operators are women , a number that continues to grow. "We started really slowly and took a long time to develop our first minimum viable product. Our biggest challenge was waiting for the market to catch up with the tech work we were doing." Indigital had revenue of over $100,000 last year and Jade says the startup is now "trading in the positive". "We have had a fantastic year securing a partnership with Microsoft and working with womens groups across Northern Australia," Jade says. Mikaela Jade is a Cabrogal woman from Sydney and drew on this heritage to launch Indigital , a technology startup that uses innovative ways to tell indigenous stories including an augmented reality app that brings indigenous pictures and places to life. They stress that the journey for female entrepreneurs is often not easy, from being a single mum with four kids while running a business to the "rollercoaster" ups and downs of creating a technology company. "I have a vision of where our people can contribute to the development of technology. I think doing rather than talking about it is how I can influence the community to be bold and follow their aspirations." "It has helped me see the possibilities for our people, it is not very often you get exposed to emerging technology like that." "So many things. I think being able to work with Microsoft has being a huge influence on me. Canva reported a profit for the first time of $1.86 million after tax for the six months ending December 31, 2017 but Perkins and her co-founders say they are "only 1 per cent done". The startup has 'unicorn' status after being valued at $US1 billion and has been used more than 1 billion times to create graphics and designs around the world. Melanie Perkins always had "bat shit crazy" dreams for her graphic design company Canva but even she says its growth has been "astronomical" . "Something that is coming on my radar is the balance between progress and caring for our planet and caring for country." "I got really sick at the end of last year and had a really big health scare and that helped me reassess my work life balance. I am trying to be kinder to myself as I do have high expectations, I need to pace myself better. "We also attempt to give everyone internally as much context as possible and have spent a lot of time devising ways to share context as our company has grown to try to ensure that everyone has the best information to make the best decisions. Its always a work-in-progress and were constantly having to reinvent these systems." "As weve built Canva one of our goals was to create a company wed love to work at, I think that philosophy has spilled into everything we do. We try not to have arbitrary rules and red tape that we wouldnt want to abide by ourselves and we dont expect people to do things that we wouldnt want to do ourselves. "Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps had a very significant impact on my life. I had never met someone who had worked on a product that had such a huge global impact, let alone met the inventor of it. Meeting him completely transformed what I believed was possible." "Ive been really lucky to have a lot of incredible influences in my life - my parents always encouraged me to pursue my random goals and dreams growing up, I have incredible co-founders who have helped to build Canva and now an incredible team who work hard every day building Canva." Balance for better "It's really important to find a job that you love and you feel passionate about. Everyone is different and there are so many jobs and projects out there to explore. For me, the constant challenges, our amazing team and the wins we achieve at Canva make it my dream job. Its definitely a rollercoaster, but I cant imagine a job that would be a better fit for me." Georgina McEncroe is the founder and chief executive of ride sharing company Shebah. Credit:Mathew Lynn George McEncroe, chief executive and founder of Shebah Demand for Shebah, a ride sharing service catering exclusively for women with women drivers, continues to surge and founder George McEncroe says the business has recorded growth of 190 per cent "with no marketing budget to speak of". "We have done this on a shoe string, imagine if we could really go for it with the kind of dollars which have been behind the other players in this sector, what we could do, it would be amazing," she says. Shebah turned over $1.8 million last year and McEncroe is now seeking equity crowdfunding to grow the business further. Biggest influence "My biggest influence has been the safety of my children and my daughter. Being with her and watching the ogling, the yelling, the tooting even when I am standing next to her. She and her friends coined the term they would rather be 'feet on the street' than in a dude's car." Influencing others "I started this off as a driver so I think I have a very collaborative approach with my drivers... managing a double-sided marketplace is hard. We have two customers on this app and we have to service both. How we look after our drivers and our passengers is really essential." Balance for better "For me it is about finding no. I think this is something all of us as women have to find, especially if you tend towards being an empathetic person. There are lots of different styles of leadership, you often read about leadership in masculine terminology. I'm a single mum who had four kids under five, I don't need to be lectured to about endurance. It's hard, you want to say yes to everyone." Andrea Escalante Padilla is the co-founder of BBQ Buoys. Andrea Escalante Padilla, co-founder BBQ Buoys After spotting floating barbecues in Germany, Andrea Escalante Padilla and her husband thought a similar concept could start here. The couple started BBQ Buoys in 2016 with Escalante Padilla juggling the startup alongside fulltime work. "It was a challenge as it is a very unique product and it took around a year for us to get it ready to launch," Escalante Padilla says. The business is now in its third year of operation with turnover of just under $500,000 a year and Escalante Padilla's newest challenge is her six month old baby. "It's survival mode," she laughs. Biggest influence "For me definitely it was my mother, she was a very strong woman, she was a single mother in a very conservative society in Mexico. She managed to raise me and found her own accounting company. I took her example and she always told me I can do whatever I want and she proved it to me." Influencing others "From living in Germany and now in Australia I influence other international woman to stand up and work for what they want to do. I want to show that the difficulties in language and culture are not a barrier but to see it as a challenge." Balance for better "Right now that I am experiencing what it is to be a mother and at the same time running our own business. It is hard work but I think with good support and keeping focused on your goals very clear in your mind is a way to achieve balance." Nicole Buskiewicz, founder of Advoc8. Credit:Christopher Pearce Nicole Buskiewicz, co-founder Advoc8 With a background in politics and government relations Nicole Buskiewicz spotted a gap in the market for advocacy technology "for people talking to government on a regular basis" three years ago. "I had the idea and teamed up with a fantastic co-founder who is the tech brains behind the operation," she says. "It's been a really exciting journey." Advoc8 has around six staff and counts Uber, AGL and Unicef as customers. It turns over around $200,000 a year and Buskiewicz, who worked for the NSW Liberal government and then Caltex, says the business has been "pretty much" boot strapped and profitable since day one. Biggest influence "I've had two really amazing bosses along my journey working in politics and then government relations. I've really admired their ability to keep calm in the most hectic situations." Influencing others "I try to have a bit of an open door policy at work and just try to chat to people and network, we are part of the Sydney startup hub in York Street, it is a great environment to support each other and share advice." Balance for better "I think balance is important in life because more than likely you have competing demands between work life, social life and home life and balance between all these are important. International Womens Day is very much around gender equality and equal pay but I think having balance whether you are a woman or a man means you can perform better in all aspects of life." Vera Yan and Kati Santilli, founders of Nimble Activewear. Credit:Simon Schluter Vera Yan and Katia Santilli, founders Nimble Activewear When best friends Vera Yan and Katia Santilli were at school together starting a business wasn't really promoted as a career option. Times have changed and Yan says entrepreneurship is now "a very desirable career path", inspiring the two to start Nimble Activewear five years ago. Selling online and through two stores in Sydney and Melbourne Nimble Activewear turned over more than $5 million last year. "Sustainability is a big part of our brand, when we can use recycled material we do," Yan says. "The core range is made from post consumer recycled bottles, in the last 12 months have helped save 300,000 plastic bottles." Biggest influence "My biggest influence day to day is Katia and our team," says Yan. This is echoed by Santilli, who says: "We have known each other so long ... it is more than a business relationship for us we work really well together. I would not be able to do this without Vera and I hope she feels the same way as well." Influencing others "Empowerment especially in the female space is important to us," says Santilli. "It is not just about making clothes it is reaching out to your community and how you can empower each other to move your body and the charities you can partner with as well." "As our brand grows we are really lucky to have these platforms like social media and emails and we think it is important to promote something beyond our brand," says Yan. "It is nice to start using that platform to promote things that are important to us." Balance for better "Balance is something everyone strives to do whether at the workplace or home, you just realise you can't be doing 100 per cent every time," says Santilli. "You need to plan things in like moving your body and being present in that moment. "Balance is hard to achieve and what we have learned is sometimes you don't have balance and that is ok," says Yan. "Unfortunately there are not always times you can do your work, your exercise your social life and I think it is time to be ok with that." Hyper Anna co-founder Natalie Nguyen. Credit:Louise Kennerley Natalie Nguyen, co-founder and chief executive, Hyper Anna Hyper Anna caught the attention of Australia's startup sector when it raised $17 million in 2017. "Hyper Anna is an artificial intelligence powered data analyst and one of the metaphors we use a lot is that it is like Siri or Alexa for data," co-founder and chief executive Natalie Nguyen says. "We raised the funds to expand beyond Australia and since then we have tripled our size in terms of headcount." Hyper Anna now employs more than 60 staff in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore and The Age and Sydney Morning Herald estimate it turned over around $5 million last year. Biggest influences "Seeing my mum and my sister both work really hard to have careers that is what motivated me and inspired me. My mum is a doctor and my sister owns her own business." Influencing others "Its about sharing my story with honesty and to help people to see that anything is possible." Balance for better "Balance is one of the hardest things to strive for but is really, really important in the long run. I strive to get balance by making sure I do yoga every day, some small things like that, having a good routine to look after my health and spending time with my family." Annie O'Rourke is the founder of 89 Degrees East. Annie ORourke, founder 89 Degrees East Former political staffer Annie O'Rourke decided to make a big change to her life and do more of the things that she loved. "I wanted to keep doing communications work but much more on the creative side," O'Rourke moved to just outside Byron Bay and started 89 Degrees East which she named after the compass point from her balcony to the Byron light house. "The business has grown rapidly and we have offices in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney despite me having two children on the way through," O'Rourke says. 89 Degrees East employs around 18 staff and turns over more than $10 million a year. Biggest influence "I come from a family of four sisters and a brother and I am the youngest and my siblings are a constant source of inspiration and they are very dynamic and they work hard. I worked for a long time for [politician] Jenny Macklin ... she really firmly believed in stakeholder engagement not just a nod to it." Influencing others "I employ very talented senior female staff and I love doing that and I love the environment that creates, they get a lot of support to be the best they can be. Thats how I encourage them to be brave and to be creative and to think differently because they already have the skills and the knowledge." Balance for better "I live in a regional town and even though I have to commute each fortnight, on a day to day basis I am five minute commute from the school run to my office. It makes day to day life running a business more balanced. Also I have a husband who does all the cooking." Follow MySmallBusiness on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The role of the chaplain will vanish in ACT public schools by the end of the year - but those in the job say a misunderstanding seems to lie at the heart of the ban, and schools could now miss out on much-needed extra support. This month, Education Minister Yvette Berry said religious chaplains were incompatible with the secular operation of public schools under the Education Act, and so the ACT would no longer accept federal funding for the positions. Instead, existing chaplains will be turned into youth-worker roles at the territory's expense. Mandy Gray, a former social worker in the child protection sector, is one of 22 chaplains working in ACT public schools. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong But chaplains say the rules of the national chaplaincy program already forbid them from preaching their beliefs or conducting religious education, and some school communities are upset they had not been consulted. Under the program, schools can opt in for grants of up to $20,000 a year for a chaplain, usually providing pastoral care about two days a week. Chaplains are already required to be qualified youth workers but, after controversial changes brought in by the Coalition in 2015, they must also be associated with a religious organisation. At first glance, a spike in the matters dealt with in the ACT's criminal courts last year looks like the capital may have seen a sharp increase in crims appearing before judges, with a 46 per cent increase in the number of defendants finalised by the courts in 2017-18. On second look, the picture is slightly clearer, with the majority of that increase caused by those pinged for failing to vote. There was an increase of 2494 matters finalised in the court system in that year, and 2101 of those matters were in the "offences against justice" category, which includes failing to vote. Did Canberrans really fail to vote in high numbers at the last election? Credit:Elesa Kurtz In the year before, that category included just 221 people. The ACT experienced a similar spike in finalised court matters in 2013-14, which like last year was the financial year following a territory election. There was also an increase in 2009-10. Police are investigating a shooting on Saturday night that left a man in hospital and a street splattered with blood in Canberra's south. About 10pm, police were called to reports of shots fired near Freda Gibson Circuit in Theodore. Arriving at the scene, they learnt a man with a gunshot wound had sought help nearby. The man was treated and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. "ACT Policing...identified several crime scenes which were later examined by AFP Forensic Services," a police spokesman said. Cuts to the ACT's community mental health budget, triggered by the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are putting unprecedented stress on Canberra's emergency departments and acute mental health unit, providers say. Woden Community Services - a key provider of community mental health services - said it had been hit hard by the transition and is now seeing the flow-on effects for clients after cuts to key programs. Woden Community Services' director of mental health and housing, Pam Boyer, with manager of mental health recovery and NDIS services Paul Russell. Credit:Daniel Burdon The service's mental health recovery manager, Paul Russell, said the loss of services had seen clients' conditions deteriorate, meaning they ended up in emergency departments or the adult mental health ward at Canberra Hospital. He said while it was only one factor, he had no doubt it was contributing to unprecedented demand for acute mental health services in Canberra. The ACT government has proposed a new park for Coombs as part of a wider plan to stem residents' frustration with development and forge connectivity in the community. The 9379-square-metre play space, which would be located off Edgeworth Parade, has a naturalistic theme and is set into the slope of the land to maximise views of the adjacent Holdens Creek. An artist's impression of the Coombs play space, which would feature unique leaf-like shades that would allow for shade in the summer and light to come through in the winter. Credit:Red Box Design Group The development application for the project is expected to be lodged some time in the next few days but the community consultation process had so far been extensive, the suburban land agency said. "Some of the concerns are that it will become an intrusion to [the residents'] view. If this is going to include toilet facilities, that could also be an issue," project director Kuga Kugathas said. Before self-government, the federal territories minister made the decisions about the ACT and a referendum in 1978 found nearly 64 per cent of residents wanted the status quo to remain. The federal government nevertheless charged on with giving the ACT self-government, and the resulting 1989 Assembly election has been described as the nation's "most farcical". It was certainly circus-like, but that description perhaps plays down the considerable challenges faced by that first Assembly. Dennis Stevenson from the Abolish Self-Government Coalition in 1989. He was elected to the ACT's first government. Well-known Canberra lawyer Bernard Collaery, later attorney-general, was elected to the first Assembly for the Residents Rally party, "a mob of urban greenies" campaigning against a casino for Canberra. "Unfairly, in many respects, we'd often been made a laughing stock by journalists," Collaery said. "Pilloried," Follett agreed. "That was unfair. We were wrestling in those days, I think, with a budget of $2 billion. It didn't matter if you were in government or out of government, you had to make rational decisions and you needed support and day after day, the media served us up. "All our amateurism, our oddities, particularly [with] people like me who'd never been in politics, were amplified." Yet the election was a doozy. Provocateur Emile Brunoro registered six parties to contest the poll, including the Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party, which promised to ban gas-ripened "fake" tomatoes from the ACT. His other parties included Party! Party! Party! and Surprise Party. The Canberra Times' editorial on polling day urged residents to vote against the no-self government parties, saying it would be a wasted vote and "we can no longer rely on the federal government to do everything for us". But that did not stop four of the 17 members elected in the first Assembly being from those very same no-self-government parties: the Abolish Self-Government Coalition (Dennis Stevenson) and the No Self-Government Party (Craig Duby, Carmel Maher and David Prowse). Gary Humphries, later a senator and now deputy president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, says the other candidates in favour of self-government were well aware of the prevailing mood. We can only reproduce this classic caption from the lead-up to the 1989 poll: "Voters will go to the polls in Canberra on March 4th with the largest number of candidates ever in Australia contesting the ballot box. With most Canberra people not wanting self-government, the outcome is could be like a merry-go-round. Ellnor Grassby is one of the Australian Labor Party candidates and says she does not know which way the horses will bolt". Credit:Fairfax Media "The hostility was palpable. People didn't want this," he said. "They knew it was the end of the Commonwealth-government largess. We weren't any longer going to get fabulous services that no one else in Australia could even dream of." Adding to the strangeness of the election was the fact it was held under a set of electoral rules known as the "modified d'Hondt" system, so complicated it took more than two months to count. Now retired ACT electoral commissioner Phil Green was seven years into a job with the Australian Electoral Commission at the time of the 1989 election. He remembers the tortuous process of counting the votes in the convoluted system. 30 years have passed since the March 4th 1989 election which saw the formation of the first ACT Legislative Assembly. From left: Gary Humphries, first chief minister Rosemary Follett and Bernard Collaery. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos "It was just so complicated and so perverse in the fact that there wasn't really any logic behind it, it just took forever to count," Mr Green said, his good humour still intact. "I was doing, I think, six simultaneous Senate[-style] elections and I was doing them all manually on a sheet of paper with a calculator. There were no computers in those days. "Later that year they sent me to Namibia for that election, because I'd stood out as being good at counting things." Mr Green also had the job of registering the parties and remembers, at the time, there was no legal reason to reject the more obscure. "We were a bit concerned because we didn't want to election to be a laughing stock," he said. "While you could understand the undergraduate humour of it all, we actually wanted the election to be taken seriously. So it wasn't something we were wanting to encourage or give any air-time to, but given what it was, there wasn't a lot we could avoid about it. It became known as the Sun-Ripened Warm Tomato election." The Legislative Assembly sat for the first time on May 11, 1989. Collaery was the ultimate kingmaker, supporting a minority Labor government to lead the first Assembly and Follett to become chief minister, only to dispose of her seven months later and usher in a Liberal-Residents Rally alliance. It's perhaps a mark of the relative civility of ACT politics - and the fact everyone will still see everyone in a small city that Follett and Collaery can 30 years later sit across from each other, sharing a coffee, with no hint of enmity. Follett, Humphries and Collaery all believe self-government was an experiment that worked. It delivered a mix of local and state functions that was government at the grassroots. "You were 100 per cent visible 100 per cent of the time," Follett said. It has been a system of government constantly under scrutiny, Collaery believed. "There's been no Eddie Obeids," he said. South Africa: Police Minister set to brief Parliament on new Acting IPID head Police Minister Bheki Cele is set to brief Parliament on Wednesday on the appointment of the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) as the acting Executive Director of IPID for the next three months. Cele appointed Victor Ofenste Senna as the acting head of IPID on Friday. Senna replaces outgoing IPID head, Robert McBride, whose five-year contract was not renewed. Following Sennas appointment, Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Francois Beukman said he wrote to the Police Minister on Friday to appear before the committee to brief it on the appointment of the Acting Head of IPID. Beukman also requested that Cele provide the CV and career history of the Acting Head to the committee. IPID is an important oversight institution to root out criminality and corruption in the SAPS and metropolitan police services. It is important to the committee that the Acting Executive Director of IPID should focus on the strengthening of the effective corporate governance and accountability frameworks, sound financial management and professional investigative practice as short-term priorities, Beukman emphasised. Beukman said the committee will also invite the top management of IPID and the Provincial Heads to the meeting. The committee will also request a short briefing from the Acting Executive Director on his immediate plans and priorities for the department. Leading up to the appointment of a permanent Executive Director, Beukman said it was important that the committee receives assurance that the Executive Authority will deliver services at the department. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) Recent events have brought the issue of press freedom to light. Senatorial hopefuls in CNN Philippines' #TheFilipinoVotes senatorial forum were torn on whether or not press freedom in the Philippines is under threat. Agnes Escudero and Romulo Macalintal said "yes," while Butch Valdes and Ding Generoso voted "no." Generoso, the former spokesperson for the Consultative Committee on the draft federal constitution and former media practitioner said that the issue was a matter of perspective for him. "We are all free to say what you want to say regardless of who gets hurt," he said on press freedom in the Philippines. Nevertheless, he said that there will always be threats to press freedom regardless of who leads the administration. "But to my mind, the Philippine media remains one of the freest in the free world. Wala tayong nararamdaman na katulad ng nakaraang panahon na talagang merong repression," Generoso, also a former reporter for the now defunct WE Forum, said. He added that social media is also very free, and that "nobody has been told to shut up, go home, or threatened arrest for contrary views" on the internet. You might have missed it in your junk mail, but Uber is encouraging its Australian customers to start tipping its drivers. Its useful that servers have flagged these emails as spam, because thats where this idea belongs in the bin. The fact that US tipping culture has crept its way into Australia is bad enough. But a US company trying to impose its policy of global wage suppression onto its Australian workforce has to be called out. One of the worlds worst employers is not only asking Aussies to turn a blind eye to its underpayments but asking us to pick up the tab on its wages bill. EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. These are difficult times for people who want to shine light into dark corners, hold the powerful to account and, more specifically, exercise freedom of journalistic expression. The threats to an independent press are most acute in places such as China, Turkey and Egypt where journalists are now detained (and worse) in record numbers for doing their jobs. From Syria to Myanmar to Venezuela despotic administrations trot out the term fake news to dismiss legitimate criticism. Donald Trump, of course, rewrote the anti-media playbook by labelling reputable outlets such as CNN and The New York Times as the enemy of the American people. Viewed against this backdrop, the challenges facing journalists in Australia could be dismissed as unimportant. Certainly, the censorship and intimidation of the fourth estate in places like Saudi Arabia is a more serious matter. But, if you believe liberal democracies should maintain high standards when it comes to accountability, there is genuine cause for concern at home. EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. The soul of the Catholic Church "has been grievously wounded from the evil of sexual abuse", Melbourne's Archbishop Peter Comensoli told worshippers at St Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday. The Archbishop acknowledged the damage the revelation of Cardinal George Pell's conviction on child sex abuse charges had wrought, telling the congregation: "It feels like we have reached Golgotha [the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified], where the smell of death is thick in the air and the sense of panic and confusion is pervasive." He added that the church now had to focus on "actions that are transfiguring". Firefighters and residents are bracing for more homes to be lost to a massive, out-of-control bushfire threatening at least seven Gippsland towns east of Melbourne. At least three homes were destroyed by the 10,000 hectare Bunyip fire on Sunday, including one at Tonimbuk that exploded as it was engulfed in flames. At least another two buildings were destroyed by another bushfire near Yinnar South in the Latrobe Valley, as more than 30 blazes raged across the state as temperatures reached their hottest during the day. Hundreds of firefighters are battling to contain the blazes, as residents bunker down in evacuation centres, not knowing if their homes will be among those lost. The "exorbitant salaries" were those paid to laymen on Pells staff who received much more than curial officials for comparable work. Their explanation for this that their salaries were comparable to what they could earn outside the church was met with the response: But were in the Vatican, not Australia. Even so, Pell won the sympathy of many members of the Vatican bureaucracy, conservatives and progressives. These people wanted reform of offices that had been founded in different eras with different procedures, and which enjoyed considerable financial autonomy. Italian communications expert Francesca Chaouqui at the Vatican in 2016. Credit:AP Innovation and a turf war The Vatican control tower was the Secretariat of State. It co-ordinated all the other offices, ran the diplomatic corps and had daily access to the Pope. The creation of a separate Secretariat for the Economy, which seemed to have the same status and access to the Pope, was a startling innovation. It led quickly to a turf war. The Secretary of State, Cardinal Paolo Parolin is no crusty old reactionary. He has a reputation as the brightest and the best of Vatican diplomats. But in 2015, diplomacy was notably absent when Pell brought in an international accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to check all Vatican finances. Four months later, the Secretariat of State ordered Vatican departments not to collaborate with it. Its view carried the day. Then, when Pell announced in the London Catholic Herald that he had discovered millions of undeclared euros stashed away in the Secretariat of State, the secretariat responded that every pope upon his election was informed of the existence of these emergency funds. Roman curialists wont accept that a group of Australian police, who get exorbitant salaries, come into their homes and call them thieves. Francesca Chaouqui, a one-time member of the Vatican reform commission The Secretariat of State suspected that Pell was grandstanding. Pell was probably showing that he could play hard ball just as well as his enemies, whom he suspected had a hand in the anti-Pell articles also being placed in the Italian press. Loading Some of these stories were harmless enough (though wrong), such as mention of his rugby talent when he was actually an Australian rules ruckman. Other details were more hostile: he was called an "ambitious mastiff" and a "spendthrift moralist" for allegedly spending 500,000 ($800,000) in his first six months in office. His secretariat responded that the figure was 290,000 euro which went not only on his Vatican apartment but for establishing a secretariat office with a chapel. Pooling resources for the poor Pell also met resistance from some Vatican ministries and the Governorate of the Vatican city-state. He clashed dramatically with the head of the Vaticans central Bank (Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See). APSA controls Vatican stocks and its properties. Its head, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, is nicknamed Rambo because of his firearms collection. Pell was in the habit of emailing orders to Calcagno. This was considered a serious breach of protocol, as cardinals communicate verbally or by letter. But this was not just a procedural battle. Under his original provisional brief, Pell presumed he controlled all Vatican property. Calcagno had a different view. He was called an 'ambitious mastiff' and a 'spendthrift moralist' for allegedly spending 500,000 in his first six months in office. Ultimately, Francis revised the provisional statutes of Pells office, confining him to "vigilance" and the budget. He could not be buying and selling property, Francis ruled. Pell was also disappointed over his key project. He wanted to pool all the Vatican's assets and invest them shrewdly, perhaps in a Luxembourg fund. The profits he wanted to use for the poor. The project never got off the ground. It was too capitalistic for Francis and he, with others, was wary of putting all the Vatican's financial eggs in one basket. Loading Here people resent us even when our projects will obviously benefit the church one of Pells staff told me. We might as well clear out. This staff member did so shortly afterwards. But Pell stayed on. He introduced slightly more transparency to Vatican finances and modern, centralised accounting methods. He also ensured that Vatican finances were sufficient to pay the future pensions of its nearly 3000 employees. Holding a hard line Pell also maintained his hard line on doctrinal issues. It did not always help him. At the 2015 international Synod of Bishops on Family Issues, he was one of 13 cardinals who wrote to the Pope arguing against the proposed permission for divorced Catholics to remarry in certain circumstances. Jesus was tough about marriage, is a Pell line, and so am I. The cardinals' letter to Francis was leaked. He was angry because, he claimed, it implied a conspiracy in the Synod. Cardinal Reinhard Marx said the Synods German-language group was dismayed by Cardinal Pells divisive approach. Marx is the head of the lay-clerical council that sets guidelines for Pell's organisation, the Secretariat of the Economy. To have drawn criticism from both the Pope and Marx was no mean feat. Also damaging was Pell's evidence to the Australian royal commission into sex abuse, in which he testified from a Roman hotel because he said he was not fit enough to fly home. Australian protesters holding placards such as "Pell go to Hell" got a good run on Italian television. Is the Vatican embarrassed? I asked one curialist. Pell arrives at the Quirinale hotel in Rome to testify via videolink to the sex abuse royal commission sitting in Sydney in 2016. Credit:AP EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. In the wake of the publication last week of Cardinal George Pells conviction, there is an important question to be asked on behalf of Victorian survivors of clerical sexual abuse. If the conviction against one of Australias most senior Catholics is to be upheld, how can the state possibly continue to abide by a sexual abuse compensation scheme personally designed by Pell himself? George Pell outside the Melbourne County Court. Credit:Jason South While the Victorian government has done an exemplary job to date on key reforms recommended by the sex abuse royal commission, it is outrageous that a scheme Pell created is still being used to disadvantage survivors in this state. It is well known that Pell was the architect behind the "Melbourne Response", a compensation scheme now widely recognised as one that minimised the churchs legal and financial liability. Under the Melbourne Response, compensation payments were drastically capped (with an average payout of $36,100) and victims were forced to sign a deed of settlement waiving their right to take civil action. The church forced victims on to this substandard scheme, without being offered legal advice as to their rights. Lord mayor of Sydney Clover Moore has called for urgent action to address homelessness as the City of Sydneys street count recorded a 13 per cent increase in the number of people sleeping rough compared to February last year. The count found 373 people sleeping rough in the early hours of Tuesday, February 19, 44 more than the 329 people counted in the same month last year. The count found crisis and temporary accommodation beds to be at more than 86 per cent occupancy. Maurie outside State Parliament next to the State Library on Thursday night. Credit:Christopher Pearce The figures are released two weeks after Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to halve the number of people sleeping on the state's streets by 2025. They also come after Alex Greenwich, Independent member for Sydney, opined in the Herald two weeks ago that every MP should be ashamed about the homelessness situation. "Our workplace is only metres from people sleeping in the plant beds between the Parliament and the State Library," he wrote. The United States is trying to make itself a more welcoming destination for international students as it struggles with a multi-year decline in foreign enrolments at its universities, according to a senior State Department official. Caroline Casagrande, deputy assistant secretary for academic programs, downplayed the Trump administration's tough stances on immigration and China as factors relevant to the slump, pointing instead to the cost of education and lacklustre promotion of the opportunities available. International student numbers have dropped in the United States. Credit:Louise Kennerley In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Ms Casagrande said Australia and the US were dealing with similar challenges over integrating international student populations and mitigating risks to intellectual property and national security. Ms Casagrande said prospective students being intimidated by seemingly high prices was a major factor behind the drop in student numbers. A member of the Labor Party for more than two decades, Mr Murphy has been campaigning full-time for nine months. He has been a member of the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW and a member of the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal of NSW. Liberal candidate Wendy Lindsay has scaled back her three-days-a-week job as manager for Bankstown-Auburn Community Radio to campaign. A former independent candidate at a council election, she has been a member of the Liberal Party for "the last six months or so". "The main issue for people that live in the area is development": Liberal candidate Wendy Lindsay. Credit:Janie Barrett A past president of Padstow Park Public School P&C and East Hills Woman of the Year in 2015, Mrs Lindsay has another job that adds a splash of colour to the campaign - she plays June Carter in the Johnny Cash tribute act Cash Only. In January, they performed at their 11th consecutive Tamworth Country Music Festival. Last month, the campaign turned into a burning ring of fire again when Mrs Lindsay was left shaken by a verbal clash with an angry commuter at Revesby railway station. She said a woman abused her repeatedly - saying "the Libs are refugee abusers and you're disgusting" - then broke an A-frame election poster with a kick. According to the last census in 2016, East Hills is very much middle Sydney in real estate terms. Residents had almost exactly average monthly mortgage repayments and rents compared to Greater Sydney, though with a median family income of almost 10 per cent less. It's an area dominated by older-style houses - with an increasing number of medium-density homes - and relatively few apartments. While the census showed it had a much higher percentage of people born in Australia than average, there were substantial immigrant communities from Vietnam, Lebanon and China. In a clue to a major issue for a seat intersected by Milperra Road and the M5 motorway, the census showed many more people than average drove to work. While believing residents are hurting from higher electricity prices and tolls, Mr Murphy says a key issue at the election is neglect. "When they get on a train, they get a crappy train service in this area," he says. "We've had a reduction in our express services. We cop all the S-Sets while other parts of Sydney get nice airconditioned trains. "We're copping all of the development being pushed into our area where other parts of Sydney - in the north shore and eastern suburbs - are getting off very lightly. We haven't had any improvements to our hospital while in other parts of Sydney you've got billions of dollars being spent building brand new hospitals. "People are sick of being treated badly. If I do get up then it's that. My opponents have done nothing in eight years to fight for the area." Mr Murphy says Canterbury-Bankstown has been targeted for 13,250 new homes by the Greater Sydney Commission, while Hunters Hill has just 150. "It's become a war zone in suburban streets," he says. "You can't park in your own street. If duplexes and other higher-density development go in, what ends up happening is you might have five adults with three to five cars out on the street." Mrs Lindsay also believes residents are feeling the pain of medium-density development. "It's getting hard to park in Panania and Revesby": Kim Pryde from Picnic Point. Credit:Janie Barrett "The main issue for people that live in the area is development and ensuring that we keep our green leafy spaces," she says. "The duplexes have been a definite problem in some of our streets that are quite narrow, just with parking. That's created a few headaches. "And people just want to have a nice life - be able to pay their mortgage, have a job, get their kids well-educated." But hasn't this development happened under a Liberal government? "It's happened under a Liberal government but it's also happened under a Labor-dominated council," Mrs Lindsay says. "We need to have sensible development because we need to keep the villages alive. We don't want everyone going to Bankstown and Miranda to do their shopping." Mrs Lindsay says the government has announced 400 new spaces for a commuter car park at Revesby to overcome some of the pressure from train timetable changes. "Up where we live, there was a house pulled down and 17 villas went up": Max and Joan Part from Picnic Point. Credit:Janie Barrett "I'm really hoping people look at what the Liberal government has done for the last eight years and the infrastructure projects that are almost there," she says. "I really hope [the Premier] does get in so she can cut the ribbon on them. It would be awful to see a Labor person cutting the ribbon on some of these things that they've worked so hard to do." Shopping at Revesby, Nadene Marouf sees the environment, public transport, neglect of the area and tolls as issues that will influence how she votes. "The M5 is a big thing," she says. "You already have to pay for parking everywhere, let alone the M5." Max and Joan Part, retirees from Picnic Point, are worried about over-development since they moved from Hurstville because it was built out. "We thought we'd come over here, found a nice quiet street and it's not quiet any more," Mr Part says. "We've been built out again. Up where we live, there was a house pulled down and 17 villas went up." Kim Pryde, from Picnic Point, agrees there is too much development. "It's getting hard to park in Panania and Revesby," she says. "They're building these big houses and they don't have the parking facilities on there then they spill out onto the streets." EAST HILLS Victorias mental health inquiry will be crucial in easing the stress on the states crowded prison system, Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated, raising the prospect of further reforms to prevent people entering cycles of crime. But Mr Andrews says his government will persist with its tough-on-crime policies, under which Victoria's prison population has jumped by almost 10 per cent in less than a year. Premier Daniel Andrews has conceded there are tough challenges down the track for his government. Credit:Jason South In an interview marking Monday's milestone of 100 days since the state Labor government's re-election, Mr Andrews said he stood by the governments decisions to introduce some very tough sentencing, bail and also remand reforms in the previous term. He also acknowleged his government faced major challenges in its current term in maintaining a strong economy, with Melbournes cooling housing market reducing the stamp duty revenue stream that helps prop up the Victorian budget. The two little girls are believed to have walked away from their home on Twin Trees Rd in Benbow, Cali., on March 1, 2019. (Humboldt County Sheriffs Office) 5-Year-Old and 8-Year-Old California Sisters Found After Going Missing: Reports Two young sisters, aged 5 and 8, were found alive after spending two days and nights in a cold forest, according to reports. According to officials, 5-year-old Caroline and 8-year-old Leia Carrico went missing from their home on the afternoon of March 1. I am pleased to report that we all are witnessing a miracle today. Caroline and Leia have been found safe and sound in southern Humboldt, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal told ABC News. Deputies in Humboldt County, California, said the girls went out after their mother told them not to, ABC7 reported. Temperatures in Humboldt, which is located in the northwestern portion of the state, dropped into the 30s this week. Officials said the girls were found near Richardson State Park, more than a mile south of their home. They were safe and sound, still ambulatory, in good spirits, no injuries, Honsal reported. We could not have had a better outcome than weve had this morning, he added to ABC. Its an absolute miracle. The sheriffs department said they discovered granola bar wrappers in the woods. A massive search in Northern California for two missing sisters, ages 8 and 5, went into its third day on Sunday and the Posted by ABC News on Sunday, 3 March 2019 We found some clues during the day that made us change our direction. We found granola bar wrappers and were able to confirm with the mom that yes those were granola bars that were bought in the last few days. The wrappers showed what direction they went in, said Mike Fridley of the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office, ABC7 reported. The office said they discovered boot marks that matched what the girls were wearing. They were discovered on the morning of March 3, reported the ABC affiliate. In a previous news release, the sheriffs office said they went missing in steep, heavily wooded terrain. Honsal said the mother didnt give them permission to go outside for a walk. Posted by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, 2 March 2019 They went missing when the mother was doing household chores. At around 3 p.m., she realized they were gone, according to a video of a news conference posted on Facebook. The mother contacted the office at 6 p.m. that day after a search by friends and family wasnt successful. The sheriffs office said on Twitter that the search area was closed to unauthorized aircraft including drones. Citizen drones are making it dangerous for our assisting helicopters to fly. Please do not operate a drone in the search area, Honsal said. Before the two were found, he said that there are no signs of foul play, and the family is being fully cooperative. Missing Children There were 464,324 missing children reported in the FBIs National Crime Information Center in 2017, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Under federal law, when a child is reported missing to law enforcement, they must be entered into the database. In 2016, there were 465,676 entries. This number represents reports of missing children. That means if a child runs away multiple times in a year, each instance would be entered into NCIC separately and counted in the yearly total. Likewise, if an entry is withdrawn and amended or updated, that would also be reflected in the total, the center noted. In 2017, the center said it assisted officers and families with the cases of more than 27,000 missing children. In those cases, 91 percent were endangered runaways, and 5 percent were family abductions. About one in seven children reported missing to the center in 2017 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. The number of reported missing children has significantly decreased in recent years, according to a 2017 report by the Department of Justice (pdf). The number of children reported missing dropped from 6.5 per 1,000 children in 1999 to 3.1 per 1,000 in 2013. Missing children typically fall into five categories: kidnapped by a family member, abducted by a nonfamily perpetrator, runaways, those who got lost, stranded, or injured, or those who went missing due to benign reasons, such as misunderstandings, according to the report researchers. Students at Hailiang International School light candles to pray for the passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in Zhuji, in China's Zhejiang province, on March 8, 2014. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) 5 Years On, Malaysia Open to Proposals to Resume MH370 Hunt KUALA LUMPUR, MalaysiaMalaysias transport minister said Sunday that the government is open to new proposals from U.S. technology firm Ocean Infinity or any other companies to resume the hunt for Flight 370, as families of passengers marked the fifth anniversary of the jets mysterious disappearance. Ocean Infinity mounted a no cure, no fee search for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2018 that ended in May without any clue on where it could have crashed. But the companys CEO, Oliver Plunkett, said in a video shown at the public remembrance event at a mall near Kuala Lumpur that the company hopes to resume the hunt with better technology it obtained in the past year. 5 years on, Malaysia open to proposals to resume MH370 hunt https://t.co/irBNpw7kAC Yakov Koltovskoy (@KoltovskoyYakov) March 3, 2019 The Ocean Infinity mission came a year after an official search by Malaysia, Australia and China ended in futility. Plunkett said his company has better technology now after successfully locating an Argentinian submarine in November, a year after it went missing. He said the firm is still reviewing all possible data on Flight 370 and thinking about how it can revive its failed mission. We havent given up hope. We hope we can continue the search in due course, Plunkett said. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said its been frustrating that the two searches failed to produce any clues and that he welcomes credible leads and also concrete proposals to resume the search. He told reporters later Sunday that the government is waiting for specific proposals, in particular from Ocean Infinity. He brushed off suggestions of offering rewards to find the plane, but said the government is willing to discuss proposals from any companies prepared to resume the search. There must be a proposal from a specific company we cannot just be out there without credible leads. Thats the most practical thing to do, Loke said. The plane vanished with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Confirmed debris that washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean helped narrow the search area where Ocean Infinity focused, but it failed to uncover any evidence. A Malaysian-led independent investigation report released last July showed lapses in the governments response and raised the possibility of intervention by a third party. Investigators, however, said the cause of the disappearance cannot be determined until the wreckage and the planes black boxes are found. The report reiterated Malaysias assertion that the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications. But it said there was no evidence of abnormal behavior or stress in the two pilots that could lead them to hijack the plane. All the other passengers were also cleared by police and had no pilot training. Voice 370, a support group for next-of-kin, expressed hope that the new government that won a general election in May last year will do more to encourage search missions and seek new clues. The groups spokeswoman, Grace Nathan, urged the government to set aside up to $70 millionthe amount it agreed to pay Ocean Infinity had it found the plane to encourage exploration companies to take on no cure, no fee missions so that Flight 370s passengers will not have died in vain. It is a wound that cannot heal if there is no closure, Nathan said. Another family member, K.S. Narendran of India, said the burden is on Malaysias government to be proactive and not wait for credible evidence to fall on its lap. He said there has been no government effort to find more debris on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands, where scattered pieces of the Boeing 777 have been found. Two of three pieces of debris confirmed to be from the plane were on public display for the first time at the remembrance event, where family members lit candles and sang songs in tribute to their loved ones. Relatives and supporters wore light blue T-shirts that read, Its not history, its the future. Fly safely, as they reminded the government that the mystery must be solved to ensure aviation safety. Rookie Victoria Hardwick's team leads the way through cheering fans during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 2, 2019. (Michael Dinneen/AP) Big Crowds Cheer Kick Off of Alaskas Famed Iditarod Race ANCHORAGE, AlaskaBig crowds converged on Alaskas largest city Saturday, March 3, as hundreds of dogs and their humans kicked off the 47th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race with a ceremonial sprint along snow-heaped streets. The fan-friendly event in Anchorage brought spectators up close to the 52 musher-dog teams gearing up for the famed 1,000-mile race. Mushers are generally more relaxed here than they will be for the real thing. But the dogs barked furiously before setting off, jumping and straining against their sled lines in apparent excitement to get going on the 11-mile dash. Halana Hiatt of Denver was among the scores of fans who packed downtown to watch the action before she is set to return back home on Sunday. She is visiting the state with her Colorado-based mother, brother and grandmother after inviting them to experience the Iditarod, an item on her bucket list. It seemed like a big deal, Hiatt said. I wanted to come check it out. The serious, competitive portion of the wilderness trek starts Sunday in the small community of Willow, north of Anchorage. From there, the 14-dog teams will cross two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and dangerous sea ice along the Bering Sea Coast. Village checkpoints are staged across the trail before the teams reach the finish line in the old Gold Rush town of Nome on the states western coast. The winner is expected in Nome in about nine days. The expected top prize is $50,000, the same amount as last year but more than $20,000 below the 2017 prize. The total purse is again $500,000about $250,000 below the 2017 purse. The race comes after two difficult years for organizers marked by a dog-doping scandal, the loss of big-name sponsors and escalating pressure from animal activists over multiple dog deaths. But on Saturday, participants were focusing on the race ahead. Ive been working for this, building for this, for a long, long time, Iditarod rookie Richie Beattie, from Two Rivers in Alaskas interior, said as he waited with his dogs for Saturdays event to get started. He might be a rookie in the Iditarod, but hes a veteran musher, having competed twice in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. So he was looking forward to getting on the trail for real. Other participants include defending champion Joar Ulsom of Norway, three four-time winners and a three-time champion. Four-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey was greeted by multiple fans in his first Iditarod since he scratched in the 2016 race. Mackey, who also won the Yukon Quest four times, is a throat cancer survivor who has an outsize personality popular with fans. He continues to have multiple health problems, including hands that are unusually susceptible to cold and having to drink water constantly because radiation from treatments killed his salivary glands. He said he was ecstatic to be back in the race. I have no expectations, he said. My goal this year is to start with a smile, finish with the same smile and 14 happy, healthy dogs. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a longtime race critic, protested at Saturdays event with harnesses dangling from a representation of the burled arch that marks the finish line in Nome. The harnesses symbolized dogs that have died over the Iditarods history. By PETAs count, more than 150 dogs have died in the race, including one last year. Five dogs connected with the 2017 race also died. Dogs will continue to drop dead as long as theyre forced to run 1,000 miles at breakneck speed just so their owners can win prize money, PETA spokeswoman Tricia Lebkuecher said. Race officials dispute the total number of deaths, saying no records of dog deaths were kept in the Iditarods early years. They have not provided their count of dog deaths to The Associated Press despite numerous requests over the past few years, the latest on Friday. By Rachel DOro Across the Midwest and Plains, wind chill warnings, watches, and advisories were issued by the NWS, on March 3, 2019. (National Weather Service) Brutal Cold to Slam Much of US in First Week of March: Forecasters Weeks after brutal, record-shattering cold slammed much of the United States, another blast of cold air is forecast to affect much of the country. The National Weather Service (NWC) warned on March 3: Temperatures will be 20 to 45 degrees below normal over the High Plains into the Mississippi Valley. Across the Midwest and Plains, wind chill warnings, watches, and advisories were issued by the agency. If winter has not been brutal enough, yet another blast of Arctic air is spreading across most of the country as we finish winter officially. The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) March 1, 2019 The cold temperatures will come just hours after a major snowstorm is set to hit the Plains, Midwest, and the northeastern United States. Forecasters noted that it wont get as cold as the polar vortex outbreak in late January because its March and the extra hours of sunlight help. Meanwhile, the Weather Channel said, Wind chills in the minus 40s, even minus 50s were reported in parts of Montana and North Dakota over the weekend. In Havre, Montana, wind chills dropped to minus 60 on Sunday. Relatively low temperatures were recorded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as Rochester, Minnesota. On Sunday, Denver dropped to minus 6 degrees, the Weather Channel noted. At least the first half of the expression In like a lion, out like a lamb will prove true this March, AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Edwards wrote. Temperatures in Chicago have been at least 10 F below average for four of the last six days, he added. Early Monday morning, temperatures there could drop below zero again for the first time since January. A major #cold outbreak may break a few records as it spreads into the Rockies, Plains, Midwest this weekend and into the South and East next week: https://t.co/aH5OZGVOjk pic.twitter.com/lgxqquvOGj The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) March 1, 2019 Throughout the central Plains, temperatures will fall nearly constantly through early Monday morning, from seasonal levels to the single digits or lower, Edwards added. AccuWeather noted that the cold air is coming from Canada and is spreading across the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Meanwhile, the Weather Channel said the latest cold outbreak is being caused by a blocked jet-stream pattern in the Arctic. Namely, a nose of high pressure aloft from the Gulf of Alaska to the Canadian Arctic is forcing bitterly cold air southward into the U.S. This arctic block has been responsible for abnormally mild weather in parts of Alaska, including record warmth at Americas northernmost city, Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, said the channel. The Polar Vortex is returning and will plunge West Michigan temperatures toward record cold levels next week. Posted by FOX 17 on Saturday, 2 March 2019 On Monday, places in Kansas and Missouri will see subzero temperatures. Monday morning will bring the second consecutive day of temperatures bottoming out at around 10 below zero in Minneapolis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski wrote. For Minneapolis and many other communities in the North Central states, this will be the harshest March cold weather outbreak since 2014, she added. Ice will likely build up in the wake of the snowstorm, and due to the cold temperatures, ice-melting products wont work as well. Through the weekend, Arctic conditions will overtake the central portion of the country, from the Mexican to the Canadian borders. The Arctic blast will hit the East as well. Posted by Stars and Stripes on Saturday, 2 March 2019 Meteorologist and owner of Empire Weather LLC., Ed Vallee, explained the arctic breakout. A persistent anomalous cold will continue across the plains over the next week. This cold comes after a record cold February across this region, extending into the Canadian prairies. Heating demand will continue to run much above normal for Early March in this portion of the country with additional heating demand potential across the entire northern tier of the United States. In addition to the cold, yet another winter storm is forecast to impact the Northeast I-95 corridor Sunday into Monday with moderate to heavy snowfall expected, Vallee said, reported ZeroHedge. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Dems Throw Key Senate Roadblock at Trump Nominees 10 Times as Often as GOPers Did Obama WASHINGTONSenate Democrats have forced cloture votes 128 times on President Donald Trump nominees to the federal courts and executive branch positions, 10 times as many times as Republicans did during his predecessors first two years in the Oval Office. By comparison, during the first half of President Barack Obamas initial term, there were only a dozen cloture votes on the presidents nominees, according to data compiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). There were only 42 Senate Republicans during Obamas first two years, compared to 45 Democrats, plus two independents who caucus with them, under Trump. The comparison is even starker when Trumps first two years are compared with those of presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter. There were no such cloture votes on nominees by Carter, Reagan, or the first Bush, while Clinton faced a total of only eight and the second Bush a mere four. McConnell and other Republican leaders have been vociferously blasting Democratic delaying tactics against Trump nominees in recent days. I offered the Democratic Leader [Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)] a package of 150 non-judicial executive branch appointments that came out of committee supported by both Democrats and Republicans. And he rejected it, McConnell told a Feb. 13 Senate Rules Committee meeting Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced a proposal earlier this month, with McConnells blessing, to reduce sharply the time for debate on most nominees after cloture is invoked. In the past, every president was essentially able to select their staff and begin serving the American people right after inauguration, until President Trump, Lankford said at the time. In the past two years, Democrats have slowed the confirmation of more than 100 nominees, which has created a new low standard for how all future presidents will be treated. Post-cloture debate time should be used for debate, not meaningless delay on an empty Senate floor. Similarly, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blount (R-Mo.) said: Senate Democrats have abused the rules to the point where the president cant put his team in place and the Senate cant do its work. The degree of obstruction weve seen during the first two years of the Trump Administration is totally unacceptable. But Republicans have previously used cloture votes on presidential nominees even more effectively than the Democrats. During 2013 and 2014, for example, there were 168 cloture motions on presidential nominees, by far the most since President Jimmy Carter, according to Senate data examined by The Epoch Times. Thus, cloture motions on Obamas nominees in 2013 and 2014 represented 77 percent of the total, compared to 68 percent under Trump to date. Cloture is a procedure to end debate on a nominee that until 2013 required 60 votes. Frustrated by Republican filibustering of Obamas nominees, Senate Democrats invoked the so-called nuclear option to require only a simple majority instead of 60 votes. But with narrow majorities in the seven years since, getting simple majorities to invoke cloture is not always easy, especially for Senate Republicans, as many as six of whom cant be assumed to vote with their partys leaders. Once cloture is invoked, debate is limited to no more than 30 hours and a final vote on the nomination must then be scheduled. Confirmation requires only 51 votes. The ability of Senate leaders to overcome cloture obstacles has varied greatly from one Congress to another in recent years. McConnell has won 90 percent of the 186 cloture vote total since Trump took office. There were 52 Republicans in the Senate at the outset of the 115th Congress (2017-2018), but vacancies often reduced the majority to only one. There are 53 Senate Republicans in 2019. But during the 114th Congress (2015-2016), McConnell won only 60 of 123, or 49 percent. Only two of those cloture votes concerned Obama nominees. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) saw cloture invoked 187 of the 218 occasions the motion was voted on by the Senate, or 85 percent of the time, during the 113th Congress (2013-2014). During the 112th Congress, covering the years 2011-2012, 33 of the 73 cloture votes concerned Obama nominees. Reid won 41 of the 73 cloture votes for a 56 percent rate. There were 51 Democrats and two independents who caucused with them, and 47 Republicans in the Senate during the 112th and the 113th Congress. Obamas first two years included a Senate with 56 Democrats and two independents who caucused with them, plus the 42 Republicans. There were 91 cloture votes, with 63 being won by the Reid-led Democrats, for a 70 percent rate. Contact Mark Tapscott at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc OTTAWAFederal Justice Minister David Lametti is publicly musing about whether Canada should consider separating the offices of its attorney general and its minister of justice in the wake of the SNCLavalin controversy, an idea that has backing from others who know the job intimately. The woman at the centre of the political storm has herself called for this separation to be studied. As part of her explosive testimony to the House of Commons justice committee earlier this week, Jody WilsonRaybould said she believes there is merit in the committee studying splitting the roles of attorney general and justice minister. The justice minister is a political executive who answers to the prime minister, in charge of a federal department with major lawmaking responsibilities. The attorney general is an independent legal officer with final authority on how to handle prosecutions through the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and a duty to keep partisan concerns out of those decisions. That WilsonRaybould held both jobs, as is customary in Canada, is at the heart of the controversy over whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others pushed her too hard to help SNCLavalin avoid a criminal prosecution over allegedly corrupt business dealings. In her testimony Wednesday, WilsonRaybould pointed to the United Kingdom, where the roles are separate. Both offices are held by politicians but the attorney general doesnt sit in cabinet. The Shawcross Doctrine, the principle that limits how much an attorney general can be asked to consider politics, is named for a British attorney general of the 1950s. The two hats that the minister of justice and the attorney general wears here in our country are completely different, and I think there would be merit to talking about having those as two separate individuals, WilsonRaybould said. WilsonRaybould detailed a number of meetings in which she and her staff were urged to exercise a legal option to instruct the director of public prosecutions, Kathleen Roussel, to negotiate a remediation agreement with SNCLavalin a sort of plea bargain. Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick told the committee last month those discussions were perfectly legal and didnt cross the line into improper pressure on the attorney general, whom he noted was repeatedly assured by Trudeau that a final decision on the matter was hers. WilsonRaybould disagreed, saying she found the pressure inappropriate, if legal. Speaking to the Empire Club in Toronto after WilsonRaybould testified, Lametti said the director of public prosecutions already operates independently of the justice minister and attorney general, which he said creates an appropriate separation between legal cases and the government. But the current controversy may warrant a look at widening the scope of this separation, the former McGill University law professor said, stopping short of saying he was in favour of it. There are challenges and you have to try to distinguish your hats and knowing when youre wearing your ministerofjustice hat or knowing when you have to put on your attorneygeneral hat, he said. There are good arguments to split it. But, he added, theres also 150 years of history of the joint position working in Canada. The kinds of issues weve seen this week dont happen all the time and maybe that is indicative that the system can work. Former Conservative justice minister Rob Nicholson, on the other hand, says he once advocated against the idea of separating the roles but hes changed his mind. I was of the opinion, when I was there for sixandahalf years, that it was a good fit. That there was a complete separation between the two, he told reporters in Ottawa. But maybe we should have a look it at when you see this kind of abuse taking place. In Israel, the attorney general is an appointed public servant, not a politician yet another model. This week, Avichai Mandelblit said he plans to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, suggesting how little influence the prime minister there has over him. Former Ontario justice minister and attorney general Michael Bryant believes splitting the jobs could address concerns of political interference. However, making the role of attorney general completely separate from government could also mean ideological differences that happen after a change in government wouldnt be reflected in the legal and prosecutorial arm of government. However, Bryant, now the head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, believes the idea has merit, especially after the SNCLavalin controversy. It would bolster the lost public confidence in the independence of the system, he said. In this Jan. 29, 2019, file photo, Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court appearance in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Huawei CFO Suing Canada, Its Border Agency, and National Police as Extradition Hearing Proceeds TORONTOHuaweis chief financial officer is suing the Canadian government, its border agency, and the national police force, saying they detained, searched, and interrogated her before telling her she was under arrest. Lawyers for Meng Wanzhou said March 3 they filed a notice of civil claim in the British Columbia Supreme Court on March 1. Canada arrested the daughter of Huaweis founder at the request of the United States on Dec. 1 at Vancouvers airport, amid growing global concerns that products made by the Chinese tech giant could be exploited by the Chinese regime to conduct espionage. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that, since 2007, Chinese telecom giant Huawei misled global banks and U.S. authorities about the companys relationship with Hong Kong-based Skycom Tech. Prosecutors allege that Skycom conducted business in Iran on behalf of Huawei. The company maintains that they are two independent companies. U.S. authorities also allege that Meng herself was personally involved in concealing the true nature of the Huawei-Skycom relationship. The latest civil suit alleges that instead of immediately arresting Meng, authorities interrogated her under the guise of a routine customs examination and used the opportunity to compel her to provide evidence and information. The suit alleges Canada Border Service Agency agents seized her electronic devices, obtained passwords, and unlawfully viewed the contents and intentionally failed to advise her of the true reasons for her detention. The suit said only after three hours was she told she was under arrest and had the right to an attorney. Such actions amounted to a serious breach of Mengs constitutional rights, the lawsuit alleges, according to Canadian media outlet The Globe and Mail. Meng is currently out on bail and living in Vancouver awaiting extradition proceedings. On March 1, Canadian Justice Department officials gave the go-ahead for her extradition proceedings to begin. Meng is due in court on March 6 to set a date for the proceedings to start. It could be several months or even years before her case is resolved. Mengs arrest set off a diplomatic furor and severely strained Canadian relations with China. In the aftermath of the arrest, the communist regime warned Canada of grave consequences if it did not release Meng. China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor on Dec. 10 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng. A Chinese court also sentenced a Canadian to death in a sudden retrial, overturning a 15-year prison term handed down earlier. Kovrig and Spavor havent had access to a lawyer or to their families since being arrested. Messages left for the Canadian government, the Canada Border Services Agency, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police were not immediately returned. Huaweis subsidiaries are indicted in a separate U.S. case in which they are charged with fraud, trade secrets conspiracy, and other alleged crimes. Prosecutors say they conspired to steal trade secrets from mobile carrier T-Mobile US Inc. between 2012 and 2014. The companys units pleaded not guilty in a federal court in Seattle on Feb. 28. A trial date was set for March 2020. Prosecutors accused Huawei of stealing technology called Tappy, which mimicked human fingers and was used to test smartphones. By Rob Gillies. From the Associated Press. The Epoch Times contributed to this report. ISIS Brides Jihadi Husband Insists It Was Her Choice to Marry Him at Age 15 ISIS bride Shamima Begums jihadi husband has surfaced in Syrian captivity and told reporters it was Begums own choice to marry him when she was just 15. Yago Riedijk, 27, was interviewed in a Kurdish-run detention center in northern Syria by BBC Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville. The journalist asked the ISIS extremist, You were married to her when she was 15 years old; how in any way is that acceptable? You were, what, 23? Riedijk replied, To be honest, when my friend came and said there was a girl who was interested in marriage, I wasnt that interested because of her age, but I accepted the offer anyway. We sat down and she seemed in a good state of mind. It was her own choice, she was the one who asked to look for a partner for her. Then, I was invited and yeah, she was very young and it might have been better for her to wait a bit. But she didnt, she chose to get married and I chose to marry her, Riedijik continued. Shamima Begums husband Yago Riedijk describes their marriage, arranged by the Islamic State Group. #ShamimaBegum #Isis pic.twitter.com/gllNgR1xba Quentin Sommerville (@sommervilletv) March 3, 2019 Begum, who said she wants to return to the UK, has been stripped of her British citizenship. She has been moved to a different refugee camp in Syria following alleged death threats. Her British-based lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, told The Sun that she had left the camp due to safety concerns around her and her baby. Riedijk, who surrendered to Syrian fighters and ended up in a detention center, faces a six-year jail term for joining a terror organization if he returns to the Netherlands. The jihadi was convicted in the summer of 2018 in absentia, according to the Evening Standard. His Dutch citizenship hasnt been revoked and he told the BBC he would like to return to the Netherlands with Begum and their newborn son. He paints a far darker picture of IS life than Shamima Begum. He attended the stoning of a woman, saw piles of corpses of murdered IS prisoners. He was injured fighting in Syrias Kobane and fought for IS in Aleppo too. pic.twitter.com/0agfT02d3U Quentin Sommerville (@sommervilletv) March 3, 2019 Highly Damaged The mother of the remorseless Begum earlier expressed fears that her highly damaged daughter might brainwash her newborn son with ISIS propaganda. Speaking through Akunjee, Begums mother, Asma, was cited by the British news outlet The Sun as saying that she wants her grandson to be taken away from Begum and brought to the UK because she doesnt want the grandchild indoctrinated. Her mum doesnt even recognize her, Akunjee said, adding, Theyre eager to take the baby and bring him up as her situation is sorted. Shamima is highly damaged and the family doesnt want the newborn brought up by her in that state of mind, he said. After running away from London at the age of 15 to join the murderous jihadi cult, a heavily pregnant Begum surfaced in a refugee camp several weeks ago, pleading to be allowed back to Britain. She recently gave birth to a baby boy, whom she named Jerrah, which, according to the Mirror, in Arabic means able fighter or one who wounds. Historian and author Tom Holland said in a tweet: If shed wanted to signal that she was returning to Britain in peace, she might have considered naming her baby after someone other than Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah. [He was] a general from the early days of the Arab conquests chiefly famed for beating the [expletive] out of infidels. Honestly, she has the moral self-awareness of a brick. https://t.co/xbFylA2shV Tom Holland (@holland_tom) February 17, 2019 Shamima Begum, meanwhile, spoke to The Sunday Telegraph at the al-Hol camp in Syria, where she is staying with her newborn son, saying: They are making an example of me. I regret speaking to the media. I wish I had stayed low and found a different way to contact my family. Thats why I spoke to the newspaper. She admitted, however, that she had benefited from extraordinary treatment at the camp due to the international exposure. They gave me my own tent. Theyre being a bit nice to me right now because Im all over the news. [caption id="attachment_2800769" align="alignnone" width="600"] No Regrets Renu, the eldest sister of Shamima Begum, holds her sisters photo during a media interview at New Scotland Yard in London, on Feb. 22, 2015. (Laura Lean/PA Wire/Getty Images)[/caption] In recent interviews, a largely unrepentant Begum said that while she did not agree with everything the terror group had done, she has no regrets about joining ISIS and suggested that air strikes against the terror group in Syria somehow justified the Manchester Arena terror attack. Its a two-way thing, really, she told the BBC, adding that the suicide bomber that killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester was a kind of retaliation for bombardments of ISIS-held enclaves, adding, So I thought, ok, that is a fair justification. [epoch_social_embed] "I didn't want to be IS poster girl" London teenager Shamima Begum, who fled to join Islamic State group in Syria, says she now wants the UK's forgiveness [Tap to expand] https://t.co/9KwR4TYUqA pic.twitter.com/JWsgeHHppl BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 18, 2019 Asked about her take on the particularly graphic atrocities the jihadi extremists are known to have carried out, Begum told The Times of London that seeing beheaded heads in bins did not faze her. When asked by a Sky News reporter, Did you know what Islamic State [ISIS] were doing when you left for Syria? Because they had beheaded people. There were executions, she replied, Yeah, I knew about those things and I was okay with it. Begum also insisted that during her time with ISIS she was just a housewife and there was no evidence of her doing anything dangerous. Potentially Very Dangerous Security experts such as British intelligence service head Alex Younger have warned, however, that would-be returnees like Begum were potentially very dangerous because they were in that sort of position, people like her were likely to have acquired certain skills or connections. Survivors and other victims of the murderous cults reign of terror, meanwhile, are furious at the prospect of ISIS women getting a sympathetic hearing in the Western press, or worsea free pass. Ali Y. Al-Baroodi, who survived ISISs bloody occupation of Mosul, told the Jerusalem Post that claims on the part of jihadi brides that they were just housewives, as Begum has insisted, are simply false. It was hell on Earth and every single one of them made it so, he said, asking sarcastically if perhaps local victims of the jihadi women should apologize for disturbing their stay there. [ISIS] demolished cities and hundreds of mass graves, [and left] thousands of orphans and widows, he added. Its impossible to muster sympathy for her, author and academic Idrees Ahmad wrote in reference to Begum, according to the Post. She went to Syria as a colonizer, several months after ISIS beheaded journalists and aid workers. Venezuelan regime leader Nicolas Maduro (C) shakes hands with Eliecer Herlinton Chamorro Acosta, a leader of the leftist guerrilla group ELN, at the end of a meeting with a negotiator of the Colombian government, Frank Pearl (R), in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 30, 2016. (Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images) Maduro Forces, Crime Groups Fight Over Minerals in Venezuelas South as Oil Revenues Stagnate BOGOTA, ColombiaAs Venezuelas crisis continues, all eyes are on Caracas, where Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who invoked the constitution to declare himself president on Jan. 23, vies to oust Venezuelan regime leader Nicolas Maduro. Guaido announced March 2 that he will return to Venezuela after concluding his Latin American tour ending in Ecuador, which, along with the United States and over 50 other nations, recognizes him as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela. Observers are speculating what Guaidos fate would be once he lands in Venezuela and whether he would be captured by security forces, as Maduro had previously imposed a travel ban on Guaido, forbidding him to leave the country. But far from the Maduro-controlled capital city of Caracas, in Venezuelas dense jungles in the south, the Venezuelan army, Colombian leftist guerrilla groups, and crime syndicates are warring for control of the countrys mines and their precious deposits of gold, coltan, and diamonds. The region has become a source of revenue for Maduros regime, which is faced with dwindling oil revenues. Volatile Region Exploiting the region south of the Orinoco river was previously outlawed, but in 2016, Maduro legalized the trade in an effort to save the floundering economy. It has become increasingly valuable to the regime as oil revenuesaccounting for 98 percent of exportshave crashed to half of what they were in 2014, leaving the economy in ruins and Maduros rule increasingly unstable. The demand for illegal gold and other precious minerals is now wreaking havoc for indigenous inhabitants and risks destabilizing the entire region, according to a report released last week by International Crisis Group (ICG). Gold and Grief in Venezuelas Violent South sheds a light on the suffering that armed groups and illegal mining have inflicted on the region as malaria and dangerous levels of contamination plague local communities, deforestation tears through the Amazon, and massacres destroy families. Conflict in the mining arc has left at least 107 dead since 2016. In the worst case of violence to date, 16 were killed in the mining town of Tumeremo as the Marxist Colombian guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), clashed with a local criminal band. Due to the remote location of such incidents and fear of violent repercussions, many murders go unreported, according to the report. The publication also confirms previous reports that the ELN has quickly expanded its operations in the region, now controlling a corridor in the south of Venezuela, stretching from Colombia in the East to Guyana in the West. The group now reportedly operates in 13 of Venezuelas 24 states and several of its leaders reside in the country. The Venezuelan military has allowed the group to operate freely in some cases and has been complicit in others, taxing gold, diamond, and coltan, as well as lucrative drug-trafficking operations. Illicit business has created the most sought-after military postings in the country with miners interviewed by researchers stating that some high-ranking Venezuelan military officers in the Amazon receive at least 20 kilograms in gold every month (valued at about $800,000) to permit illegal mining. Citing issues with reporting abuses and corruption, report author Bram Ebus fears one of the most significant effects of Venezuelas crisis is going largely unnoticed. The vast mineral deposits not only aliment illegal armed groups but also provide the Chavista government with a lifeline, Ebus says. Meanwhile, populations inhabiting these mining regions have very urgent humanitarian needs. As indigenous communities arm themselves and international tensions over Venezuela grow, Ebus fears the region could become a bloodbath should further violence break out. On Feb. 22, two members of the indigenous Pemon community at Venezuelas border with Brazil were killed and 14 were injured as Venezuelan soldiers fired upon crowds trying to protect a convoy of aid entering Venezuela against Maduros wishes. In this already tense climate, entrenched financial interests and instability in the south could undermine the prospects of a peaceful change of leadership, the report says. Illegal mining profits are one of the armed forces most coveted revenue streams; their desire to protect that income reinforces their loyalty to Maduro and gives the government an economic lifeline. MAGA Hat-Wearing Voter Sues Texas for Blocking From Voting A Dallas-area man is suing in federal court to overturn a Texas election law after an election official insisted in November 2018 that he turn the MAGA hat he was wearing inside out at a polling precinct or else face a misdemeanor charge. The lawsuit asserts that the U.S. Constitutions free speech provisions guarantee the right of voters to wear clothing that expresses their political beliefs on Election Day, including in locations where voting takes place. But Texas law limits what can be worn inside and around polling places and suffers from erratic and arbitrary enforcement, according to the mans legal complaint. The law prevents the wearing of any apparel bearing an image that could be construed as relating to any person or issue that has been, currently is, or could be on a Texas ballot. Election officials in the state have broad discretion to make on-the-spot judgments about the acceptability of items of clothing and have the authority to issue arrest warrants. Attorney Wen Fa of the Pacific Legal Foundation filed a complaint for injunctive and declaratory relief and nominal damages in U.S. District Court in Houston on Feb. 28, on behalf of Anthony Tony Ortiz, who wore a Make America Great Again hat when he went to vote. Although President Donald Trump was not on the ballot, the MAGA slogan is associated with him. The complaint alleges that Ortizs First Amendment free speech rights and 14th Amendment due process rights were violated and that the Texas law itself violates the U.S. Constitution. Fa told The Epoch Times in an interview that election officials conduct toward Ortiz was very troubling, and that the law really stifles quite a bit of speech and opens up the door for viewpoint discrimination. He wanted to express his political leanings by wearing a Make America Great Again hat, and what better time to do that than on Election Day. This rule is similar to a rule that prohibits people from saying Merry Christmas on December 25th, Fa said. According to the complaint, an election official approached Ortiz while he was waiting in line and instructed him to turn his hat inside out, or else his act of electioneering would prevent him from voting. Ortiz objected, noting that his hat did not identify a party or candidate on the current ballot. Ortiz eventually left the polling station and returned later without the hat and was allowed to vote. Jillian Ostrewich, the wife of a firefighter, is also a plaintiff in the same lawsuit. She wore a yellow tee shirt bearing the words Houston Firefighters and a small AFLCIO emblem to a polling place last year in Houston. There was an initiative on the ballot at the time to give firefighters a pay increase. Election officials ordered her to turn her shirt inside out or be barred from casting her ballot. Officials also ordered other voters not to wear shirts bearing the firefighters union logo. Even firefighters wearing their uniforms to the polls were reportedly admonished by officials. The lawsuit contends that Texas law runs afoul of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, a U.S. Supreme Court decision from 2018 that invalidated a similar law in Minnesota and determined that passive political expression at the polling place is protected by the First Amendment. The lawsuit comes as institutional discrimination, intimidation, and physical assaults against MAGA hat-wearers are becoming commonplace. Maddie Mueller, a senior at Clovis North High School in Fresno, California, is vowing to sue the local school district for forbidding her from wearing her MAGA hat on school grounds. Nicholas Sandmann, the MAGA hat-wearing teenager from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky who was recently falsely accused of picking a fight with drum-beating left-wing Native Indian activist Nathan Phillips at the Lincoln Memorial, is suing The Washington Post for defamation for $250 million, accusing the newspaper of engaging in a modern-day form of McCarthyism. The newspaper falsely depicted Sandmann, who calmly refused to engage Phillips, as the instigator of the confrontation despite abundant video evidence to the contrary. The dishonest reporting led to the widespread vilification of Sandmann and his classmates across the nation, including death threats. Illegal alien Rosiane Santos was charged last month with disorderly conduct and simple assault and battery for allegedly knocking a MAGA hat off the head of restaurant patron Bryton Turner in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Ryan Salvagno, 19, is charged in Somerset County, New Jersey, with assault and harassment after allegedly grabbing an 81-year-old mans arm, throwing him to the ground, knocking over his grocery cart, and tossing his MAGA hat aside. Kino Jimenez, 30, was indicted for felony-level theft last year for an incident in which he allegedly threw a drink in the face of Hunter Richard, 16, and taunted him as he pulled the victims hair while ripping the MAGA hat off his head at a Whataburger restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. Caroline Carrico, age 5, and Leia Carrico, age 8, were last seen at about 2:30 p.m. on March 1, 2019, outside of their home in Benbow, Calif., officials said. (Humboldt County Sheriffs Office) Massive Search for California Sisters Missing in Steep, Heavily Wooded Terrain California authorities have launched a massive search for two sisters aged 8 and 5 who went missing on March 1 from their home. The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) said in a news release that 5-year-old Caroline Carrico and 8-year-old Leia Carrico were last seen at 2:30 p.m. on Friday outside of their home in Benbow, located about 70 miles south of Eureka in the northwest part of California. The girls are believed to have walked off into the wooded area, the HCSO said Saturday, adding, Crews continue to search today, March 2, for the two girls. The search area consists of steep, heavily wooded terrain, the sheriffs office added. Police described Caroline Carrico as a white female, 3 feet 6 inches tall, 40 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair with bright purple streaks. She was last seen wearing a maroon rain jacket with white horses, blue jeans, and pink boots. Leia Carrico was described as a white female, 4 feet 2 inches tall, 85 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair, with a large freckle on her left cheek. She was last seen wearing a dark gray hooded long sleeve shirt and purple rain boots. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said at a news conference on Saturday, the girls had asked their mother to go for a walk in the afternoon and the mother did not give them permission. Honsal said the mother was taking care of household tasks when at around 3 p.m. she realized that her daughters were missing. He said the mother contacted the HCSO around 6 p.m. Friday after a search by friends and family turned up no sign of the girls. He said Sheriffs Special Services deputies, Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue, and CAL FIRE crews were among those to conduct an initial search of the area, continuing through the night. Do Not Self-Deploy The sheriff appealed to the public not to self-deploy in these rural areas but instead contact one of the search teams to volunteer. We appreciate the overwhelming community support in the search for local missing girls Caroline and Leia Carrico, the HCSO said in a tweet, however we need community members to please stay clear of the search area. We appreciate the overwhelming community support in the search for local missing girls Caroline and Leia Carrico, however we need community members to please stay clear of the search area. We have plenty of specialized teams and equipment searching. #SearchandRescue Humboldt County Sheriff (@HumCoSO) March 2, 2019 Honsal said uncoordinated, individual search efforts might hinder rescue efforts by interfering with tracks or throwing off the scent for search dogs. The HCSO also announced in a tweet that the search area was closed to unauthorized aircraft including drones. Citizen drones are making it dangerous for our assisting helicopters to fly. Please do not operate a drone in the search area, Honsal added. Clues Found Lt. Mike Fridley said at the press conference that some granola bar wrappers were found in the woods that matched the brand the girls mother said were in the house. So the wrappers showed us a direction from where they started to where the wrappers ended, Fridley said. Posted by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, 2 March 2019 Fridley said that some of the girls footprints were discovered in the woods, helping to guide the search. As the information comes in we react to it, Fridley said. Its kind of like a chess game. All available resources are being utilized by searching personnel, the sheriffs office said. Through the collaborated efforts of all the involved agencies, we are working to resolve this incident as quickly and safely as possible. The sheriff said that there are no signs of foul play, and the family is being fully cooperative. We dont know where these girls are. They could have made it to the highway, some stranger could have picked them up, he said. We dont know. Were looking at all the different contingencies that could be out there. Amberly Lee Barnett vanished on March 1, 2019, after last being seen at her aunt's home in Collinsville, Ala. Her body was found by authorities on March 2, 2019. (Facebook) Missing 11-Year-Old Alabama Girl Found Dead, Sheriff Says My Heart Is Shattered The search for a missing 11-year-old Alabama girl ended in tragedy Saturday, with the discovery of her body. My heart is shattered this day in DeKalb County, Alabama, said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden at a news conference on March 2, WHNT reported. We will go forward and, God willing, we will have those answers. Amberly Lee Barnett vanished on Friday, March 1, at about 6 p.m. after last being seen at her aunts home in Collinsville. A dark-colored SUV was reportedly seen near the home around the time the little girl disappeared. All Hands On Deck The DeKalb County Sheriffs Office shared a photo of the 11-year-old, announcing she had gone missing. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Office (DCSO) added in the caption to the photo, Were all hands on deck tonight to bring her home. But on Saturday afternoon, Walden held a news conference saying that investigators had found Amberlys body at 6:30 that morning. I can tell you we are diligently, diligently pursuing different avenues and, Lord willing, we will have answers in the upcoming days, Walden said. Walden asked for thoughts and prayers to be with the little girls parents and family. He released few details and did not give a cause of death, AL.com reported. Missing child investigation update MISSING CHILD UPDATE: The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is providing more information on their search for 11-year-old Amberly Barnett. Her body was found during their search Saturday morning. http://via.whnt.com/C7IM3 Posted by WHNT News 19 on Saturday, 2 March 2019 Investigation Continues He said the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office continues to investigate the little girls death and has asked the public for any information about the incident. Amberly was wearing a navy blue hoodie with dark khaki pants when she was last seen at around 6 p.m. in Collinsville, Alabama, on Friday at a residence in the 1900 block of County Rd 822, AL.com reported. Her mother posted a message on Facebook after Amberly disappeared, saying someone had taken the girl from her aunts home. Her phone was left behind and my baby takes it everywhere. Nothing in her phone indicated she was planning to leave! her mother Jonie Barnett wrote. Amberly is the type to not do anything that she will get in trouble. She would not have run away or made plans to go off somewhere. A green SUV was seen leaving the driveway! ***URGENT*** AMBERLY BARNETT IS MISSING! SOMEONE GOT MY DAUGHTER FROM MY SISTERS HOME IN Collinsville/sandrock ALABAMA! Posted by Jonie L Barnett on Friday, 1 March 2019 Amberlys mother later shared an update about the tragic discovery. Many people posted condolences. I am heartbroken for you and your family. I am praying for all of you as you try to process this tragedy, one person wrote. We may live less than 10 minutes away from the scene and its terrifying! We are all thinking about you and your little angel!!! wrote another. The full statement by the DCSO is as follows: At approximately 6:30 am today (March 2) the deceased body of 11-year-old Amberly Alexis Barnett was located. Due to the current investigation, we are limited on the information we are able to release. I can tell you we are diligently pursuing different avenues and Lord willing we will have answers in the upcoming days. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward during this tragic event. Please understand my staff and I will not be answering questions at this time due to the circumstances. Jodie Chesney died of stab wounds in a London park on March 1, 2019. She was London's 18th homicide victim, police said.(Facebook) Murdered British Girls Final Instagram Message Was to Her Father A murdered British teenage girls final Instagram post was reportedly a happy birthday message to her father just hours before she was stabbed to death. Jodie Chesney was knifed in the back in a London park on Friday, March 2, in what was an apparently random attack. The teen died of her injuries, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Yesterday a 17-year-old girl lost her life, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girls family and friends, said acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, adding, her death is a tragedy. The Mirror reported that her boyfriend Eddie Coyle held her in his arms as she lay dying in Harold Hill park on what was said to be her fathers birthday. Before falling victim to the deadly stabbing, the teen shared a selfie of her and her father and captioned it: Happy birthday dad :) Unprovoked Attack The Metropolitan Police confirmed the identity of the deceased teenager, but no arrests have yet been made. Authorities have urged witnesses to come forward. I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible, said Ross. According to the Mirror, Jodie Chesney, her boyfriend, and a friend were hanging out in the park when they were approached by a group of people wearing balaclavas. At one point Chesney was stabbed with such force the blade broke off inside her body. Chesneys grandmother posted an appeal on Facebook, cited by the BBC, in which she called the stabbing an unprovoked attack. This was our youngest granddaughter. How have we come to this point where kids cant have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. We dont want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence. Shocked With the Amount of Blood A woman at the scene who tried to save her life was shocked by the amount of blood, her husband told the BBC. Teresa Farenden heard screams in the park and rushed to give first aid. Her husband said when his wife got to the scene she asked if everything was alright and one of the boys said, No, my girlfriend has been stabbed.' The woman told the Mirror: People are scared to help, but all I was thinking with my mothers instinct was I need to help.' Her boyfriend did everything he could. When I came over she was on her back so I moved her onto her side. Then the boyfriends friend came over with some kitchen roll. Then there was another girl and a man came over in a van to help and took his coat off to keep it on the wound and keep it compressed as much as they could, Farenden said. I think he was the dad of one of the boyfriends friends. I was just trying to keep her legs in the recovery position because she was heavy, like a dead weight. Just as the ambulance crew turned up, she had gone. It was devastating, she continued. National Emergency Jodie Chesney is the first teenage girl to die in a homicide in London this year, and the 18th murder victim in the capital in 2019. Ross was cited by the BBC as saying, It is days like these that really do highlight how we must continue to work tirelessly with our partners and the public to tackle knife crime. Ross urged witnesses to come forward, saying, Your information could take a knife off the street or save a life. Met Police Commander Dave Musker was cited by Sky News as saying, Every death or injury is a tragedy and will have a lasting impact on those who knew and were close to the victims. The public play a key role in helping to both prevent and detect crime in London. West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson called knife crime a national emergency and called for more resources to deal with the problem. Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Payne from the West Midlands Police homicide team called on parents and teachers to help tackle knife crime. He told Sky News, Knife crime and violence is not an issue we can tackle on our own. We need help from partners, parents, schools and the wider community to tackle this growing issue. We all need to be having heart-to-heart conversations with children in an attempt to steer them away from knives and help prevent more lives from being ruined. Customs and Border Protection said on Feb. 22, 2019, the border-wall prototypes will be torn down to make way for a secondary barrier construction. Border-wall prototypes, in San Diego, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2017. (Elliott Spagat/Ap Photo) New Mexico Family Invites Trump to Build Border Wall on Their Land A New Mexico family said that President Donald Trump can build the border wall on their land, according to a report. They will have someone step on it and they will drive over it, said Brandy Johnsonof the 8 miles of border along their ranch in Deming, New Mexico. The family said that the barbed wire fence along their land isnt good enough to prevent people from crossing from Mexico into the United States, KOAT reported on March 1. Their family has owned the ranch for more than 100 years. The Johnsons and the KOAT report didnt indicate how much land they own. The Johnsons say they desperately want a wall because people cant drive through it. "We would love nothing more than to see the fence built on our property, https://bit.ly/2T8CBAR Posted by KOAT on Friday, 1 March 2019 The barbed wire is the weakest link in our portion of the border, so they exploit that, said Russell Johnson, referring to illegal aliens who cross onto their property to get into the United States. When they want to get away, there is nothing in their way. They are going to blow through whatever it is, added Brandy Johnson. The Johnsons explained that they desperately want a wall on their land so people cant drive through. We would love nothing more than to see the fence built on our property, added Russell, adding that its a solution to a problem that has lasted decades. We have had this problem for years, decades. And right now, its purely a political game that we are paying the price for, Brandy said. Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce, who used to represent the district where the Johnsons live, said criminals are making promises to families, saying they can get them over the border. If we could set up a guest worker system where they could come and work and go back and forth, the humanitarian crisis would cease, said Pearce in the KOAT report. Border Wall Prototypes Taken Down The prototypes for President Donald Trumps contest for a border wall near San Diego, California, were torn down on Wednesday, to make way for a new section of actual border fencing, Reuters reported. Since the test and evaluation of these prototype models is complete, they have served their purpose and are now being removed, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman Ralph DeSio said in a statement. Using jackhammers, ladders, and blow torches, military special forces and CBP special units spent weeks trying to go under, over, and through the walls to test their strengths and weaknesses. The tests of the eight prototypes, which Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Michael Scappechio of the San Diego sector said cost between $300,000 and $500,000 each to build, showed the effectiveness of the kind of steel post, or bollard, fence that already exists along large sections of the border. Now, a new 30-foot-high bollard fence is being built as a secondary barrier along a 14-mile section, behind an existing, 18-foot-high bollard fence, Scappechio said. The ability of agents to see through a barrier is crucial to their safety, and a fence made out of steel posts or bollards is easier to repair when breached and relatively cost-effective, he said, while the 30-foot height is a deterrent to climbers. Reuters contributed to this report. Preschool Enrollment in China Falls, Indicating Effects of Low Birth Rate The gravity of Chinas declining population was made apparent in recent official statistics. The number of children enrolled in preschool in 2018 fell to 18.6 million, a roughly 3.8 percent decline from the prior year, according to recently published data from Chinas Ministry of Education (MOE). Meanwhile, the gross enrollment rate for preschool children rose 2.1 percent to a total of about 82 percentmeaning that the decline in actual numbers of children enrolling was likely because of fewer children being born. Primary school and middle school enrollments were 2.43 and 3.58 percent higher, respectively, than the previous year, but high school enrollment, at 13.5 million, slipped 2.2 percent. As the countrys birth rate continues to fall, fewer school enrollments will be a continuing trend in the future, the MOE said at a press conference on Feb. 26. Liu Changya, a director of development planning at MOE, explained that the annual number of children born has fluctuated in the past decade, due to changes in the Chinese regimes policies. Until 2013, couples in China werent allowed to have more than one child. That year, the Chinese authorities loosened the rule and allowed couples to have two children. The policy seemed to have a positive initial effect. According to a Feb. 26 report by 21st Century Business Herald, Chinas preschool enrollment rose to 19.4 million in 2017, from 19.2 million in 2016as children who were born in the first year after the two-child policy began entering pre-school. But as the recent data shows, the enrollment declined again. According to World Banks data, China has the largest population in the world, at 1.386 billion in 2017. It is roughly 18 percent of the worlds population. But Chinas declining fertility rate is expected to soon result impact the population. World Bank data shows that the fertility rate, measured as the number of children born per woman, was 1.62 in 2016, which ranked No. 162 among a 200 countries list. By comparison, that year, the fertility rate in the United States was 1.8, and the world average was 2.44. The Chinese regime has resorted to several different population control policies over the years, which have contributed to todays distorted demographics. Chinas fertility rate was once as high as 6.0 in the 1950s and 1960s, as the Chinese regime encouraged couples to have children and produce offspring who could later foot the bill for the countrys retirement pensions via taxes. But the social upheaval during the Cultural Revolution, which occurred from 1966 to 1976, decreased this rate. Since the Chinese regime launched the one-child policy in 1979 as a measure to stymie the fast-growing population, the fertility rate fell from 2.75 that year to the lowest point of 1.59 in 2011. Despite the two-child policy, the fertility rate has not risen significantly. As the one-child policy created a significant gender imbalance and an insufficient labor force, Chinese authorities have since proposed incentives to encourage couples to have more children, such as allocating birth funds from ones work paycheck, implementing generous maternity leave policies, and requiring women to not abort their child unless medically necessary. But the heavy costs of raising a child has prevented many couples from deciding to have children. Raising a child from birth to 18 years-old costs about 700,000 yuan ($104,600) in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other bigger Chinese cities, according to a report by state-run media China News on July 28, 2018. But average annual wages in China were 74,318 yuan ($11,100) in 2017. My son is nearly one year old, while my daughter is in primary school. We spent about 70,000 yuan ($10,460) on them last year, which is nearly all my wages, Ms. Song told China News. Song and her family live in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province. She wants all her children to go to university in the future, but the cost of tuition is increasingly expensive. There are still many years ahead. I dont dare to think about the costs in the future, Song said. Meanwhile, Ms. Pan told 21st Century Business Herald on Jan. 8 that her daughter plans to have her child after she is 30 years-old because she and her husband cannot afford to have a child currently. China Business Daily reported on Jan. 23, 2018 that some women of childbearing age hesitate to have children because they may lose their jobs if their performance is set back as a result of their pregnancy or raising a child. Having a child also means the family needs a bigger house and a bigger car, which do not come cheap in China. Chinas population has also begun aging since 1999. According to Chinas National Committee on Aging (NCA), an agency of the cabinet-like State Council, 241 million Chinese were older than 60 years-old in 2017, which is 17.3 percent of Chinas population. Wang Jianjun, the vice director of NCA, told state-run media Xinhua on July 19, 2018 that by 2025, 300 million Chinese are estimated to be older than 60 years-old, which is 20 percent of the population. By 2035, 487 million Chinese will be older than 60 years-old, which is one-third of the population. President Donald Trump speaks at the CPAC convention in Maryland on March 2, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) President Trump Embraces American Flag Before CPAC Speech President Donald Trump cheerfully embraced the American flag as he came on stage to God Bless the USA playing in the background at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Grinning widely, Trump hugged the flag for more than five seconds before taking a lap around the stage, acknowledging the crowd, and launching into one of his longest speeches to date on Saturday, March 2. Trump Hugs the Flag President Donald Trump walks onto the stage and hugs the American flag at CPAC as Matt Schlapp introduces him Posted by The Epoch Times on Saturday, 2 March 2019 The president was introduced by American Conservative Union (ACU) chairman Matt Schlapp, who praised Trump for committing to speak at the conference fresh off his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Schlapp also praised the Trump administrations accomplishments to date, saying that its all been possible because Trump has not acted like a typical politician. In Vietnam, the President and Kim had been unable to reach a deal regarding denuclearization due to differences over the timing and degree of sanctions relief. North Korea offered to dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, but requested that sanctions be lifted first. Trump, however, said that dismantling Yongbyon alone was not enough, as the United States is aware that North Korea has plenty of other sites. Trump told the audience at CPAC he believes he made the right decision by leaving the summit without a deal. I just returned from Vietnam where I had very productive meetings with Kim Jong Un, he said. I had to walk, because every once in a while you have to walk. The deal wasnt a deal that was acceptable to me. North Korea has about 20 undeclared ballistic missile sites, according to a recent study by Beyond Parallel, a project sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. Trump said earlier in the week that both sides will now continue to work together. Id much rather do it right than do it fast, the president said. Were in a position to do something very special. He has not specified any date for his next summit with the Korean leader. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement on Feb. 28, The two leaders discussed various ways to advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts. No agreement was reached at this time, but their respective teams look forward to meeting in the future. During his speech, Trump also announced that he will soon sign an executive order protecting free speech on college campuses. He had invited Hayden Williamsthe conservative activist who was assaulted last month at the University of California in Berkeleyto join him on the stage. Trump speaks on Hayden Williams "Ladies and gentlemen, he took a hard punch in the face for all of us." Donald J. Trump said about conservative activist, Hayden Williams, who got attacked on Berkeley campus Posted by The Epoch Times on Saturday, 2 March 2019 I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research funds, he announced to enthusiastic applause. If they want our dollars, and we give it to them by the billions, theyve got to allow people like Hayden and many other great young people and old people to speak. Free speech, said Trump. And if they dont it will be very costly. Trump also touched on various other topics, from Robert Muellers investigation to Americas recent economic successes, the border wall situation, and trade negotiations with China. Epoch Times reporters Charlotte Cuthbertson and Allen Zhong contributed to this report CLEVELANDMike Patrick originally thought Shen Yun was just going to be about the history of China, but when he saw the performance he realized what appealed to him most were some of the more kind and simplistic aspects of the culture that go beyond the retelling of history. Patrick, and engineer for GE, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts North American Companys matinee performance at the Cleveland Playhouse Squares State Theatre on March 2. I liked the colorful outfits. Here in Ohio with all the dark weather the colorful outfits are kind of bright and heart-warming I guess this time of year, Patrick said. Patrick believes that culture in general is missing from our lives,and what were missing from it is the meaning behind four primary questions which he believes are suggested throughout the Shen Yun performance: Questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. And, those four questions I think every worldview, every culture, every individual has to answer for themselves, he said. According to Shen Yuns website, the company aims to, with the universal language of music and dance, weave together heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, to take the audience on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Patrick felt that, in answering these four questions, Shen Yun got to the essence of culture and also showed the importance of culture. For instance, the very fact that Shen Yun cannot perform in China today, where a communist regime actively suppresses the traditional culture Shen Yun seeks to revive, can show us what the lack of culture creates, Patrick explained. I think it speaks to the danger that I think a communist government brings when they come to power and that is lack of thought, lack of freedom, lack of freedom of religion, Patrick said. The topic was brought up in a modern-day scene in the performance, Patrick said, and it showed things, such as communist ideology, that I think are dangerous to us in our culture and stand as a warning to us in America that we need to be mindful of what we allow politically in our country so that it does not lead to a loss of freedom that we have. With reporting by Stacey Tang and Andrew Darin. 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. PHILADELPHIAFrom ancient battlegrounds to Mongolian grasslands, Shen Yun Performing Arts act as a window into a grand culture that has been bestowed by the heavens. Senior Vice President Mel Shakia said he enjoyed getting a glimpse of the Chinese traditions when he experienced the traditional dance and music production with his wife and 17-year-old son at the Merriam Theater during the evening performance on March 2. I think its incredible. One can get exposed a little to Chinese traditions. The music and art form were originally from Chinawe really wanted to see it, he said. Shakia, who works in product development at a cybersecurity company, said that he expanded his knowledge about Chinese culture after seeing the production. In particular, he learned about some of the ancient culture, and the divinity aspect of it, and the connections to the heavens. China was once known as Shen Zhou, or Divine Land, a term to describe an ancient land where mortals and deities coexisted and a belief that the culture was passed down from divine beings. The New York-based companys mission is to revive Chinas semi-divine culture and traditions and share it to the world through performing arts. Shakia, who is originally from India but has lived in the United States for about 30 years, said he was able to appreciate Chinese culture more because he could see how there were parallels with his own Indian culture. He was particularly intrigued by how some aspects of the costumes, the practice of meditation, and the music, which he described as very soothing, were shared between the two cultures. His wife, who is a pediatrician, also expressed a similar view as her husband, saying that seeing classical Chinese dance reminded her about Indian cultural dances. She said, we have a lot of parallels even in our Indian cultural dances, its very similar. Shakia said he particularly enjoyed the male dances like the ethnic dance piece Mongolian Spirit and the classical Chinese dance piece Ming Imperial Guards. There was a lot of energy in that dance, he added. Importance of Spirituality Shakia added that he thinks it is important to have a divine connection in culture. Many Shen Yun stories contain an element of spirituality, as the Chinese in the past were heavily influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and had reverence toward divine beings. Many Shen Yun performers try to continue this tradition today by practicing the spiritual discipline Falun Dafa, which they express in their art. According to the Shen Yun website, by having a spiritual connection, it helps motivate the dancers to strive to excel, and allows them to put their heart into each dance movement or note played. Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, teaches Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance and includes meditation exercises. It has helped over 100 million Chinese people today understand and return to the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Shakia said he also understands the importance of meditation and practices a form of meditation himself. He said, I actually do meditation myself, and I get deep into [its] philosophy when I study about it. Thats why [the divine culture is] fascinating, because I study that anyway, he added. Shen Yun is currently in the midst of its 2019 tour. The dance and music company has performed in over 24 sold out shows in Philadelphia. The company will complete its Philadelphia run on March 3. With reporting by Tony Dang. 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. Jason Kocis saw Shen Yun at Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 2, 2019. (Janita Kan/The Epoch Times) PHILADELPHIASound technician Jason Kocis watched Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife two years ago at Merriam Theater in Philadelphia. Back then, Kocis and his wife were astonished by the dancers synchronicity, fluidity, and skill-level. So they were itching to come back. The couple was finally able to attend the performance at Merriam Theater on March 2 after missing out last year because Kocis was overseas on tour. Were just super excited, and its just fantastic as always, Kocis said. The level of [the dancers] technical abilities [is] just astronomical. Shen Yun is a New York-based classical Chinese dance company that tours the world every year to showcase 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through music and dance. Impeccable Orchestra Kocis works in music and concert production for bands, and is himself a guitarist with 38 years experience. He was particularly blown away by Shen Yuns orchestra, which he described as impeccable. Its just incredible to hear such talent, he said of the orchestras musicians. Kocis enjoyed hearing the Eastern sounds play on top of the traditional Western arrangement, an aspect unique to Shen Yuns orchestra which combines both classical Chinese and Western instruments. But it wasnt just the music that Kocis approved of. As an industry-insider, he was also able to appreciate every component of the production, from the lighting to the sound to the visual artistry on stage. Spirituality Kocis was also struck by the transcendent theme underpinning the performance, partly due to his own experiences exploring meditation and spirituality in recent years. Shen Yun portrays, via song, dance, and dance-based storytelling, a culture deeply-rooted in belief in the divine. China indeed was once known as Shen Zhou, or land of the divine. The teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism have been passed down for millennia and informed Chinese peoples conduct and thinking for generation upon generation, until it was systematically dismantled by the communist regime after it seized power in 1949. Meditation is an ancient practice originating from Buddhism that requires the quieting of the mind to achieve spiritual elevation. Kocis spoke of how meditation has benefited him as an artist. It gives you that peace of mind, he said. It gives you that plane where you can be one with yourself, be able to express yourself fully without distraction. I think thats key especially for performers at this level, he said. The musician said it was wonderful to hear that many of Shen Yuns performers themselves do meditation, as part of their practice of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice consisting of meditation exercises and the tenets Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. As to Shen Yuns mission to revive Chinas traditional culture, Kocis was very supportive, particularly after hearing that the performance could not be shown in China. Having traveled to more than 70 countries for his work, including China, Kocis said he has seen a lot of places where people are unable to freely express their beliefs and ideas. I think thats a fantastic mission and I strongly stand behind that. With reporting by Janita Kan. 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. Student Couldnt Find a Babysitter so His Professor Cares for Baby in Class The content is not available due to expiration. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on U.S. and China trade negotiations at the Governors' Ball, in the State Dining Room of the White House, in Washington, U.S., on Feb. 24, 2019. (Reuters/Al Drago) Trump Asks China to Lift Tariffs on US Farm Products WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump said he had asked China to immediately remove all tariffs on U.S. agricultural products because trade talks were progressing well. He also delayed plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on Chinese goods on March 1, as previously scheduled. I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork, etc.) based on the fact that we are moving along nicely with Trade discussions, Trump said on Twitter, pointing out that he had not raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent on March 1 as planned. This is very important for our great farmers and me! Trump said. Beijing imposed tariffs last year on imports of soybeans, grain sorghum, pork and other items, slashing shipments of American farm products to China. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said this week that U.S. trade negotiators had asked China to reduce tariffs on U.S. ethanol, but it was not immediately clear whether Beijing was willing to oblige. Trumps post on Twitter came several hours after the U.S. Trade Representatives office said that it would delay the scheduled hike in tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The notice, due to be published in the Federal Register on Feb. 5, says it is no longer appropriate to raise the rates because of progress in negotiations since December 2018. The tariff would remain at 10 percent until further notice. In a statement on Feb. 2, China said it welcomed the delay. Speaking at a separate briefing in Beijing, a Chinese government official said both countries were working on the next steps, though he gave no details. China and the United States reaching a mutually-beneficial, win-win agreement as soon as possible is not only good for the two countries, but is also good news for the world economy, said Guo Weimin, spokesman for the high profile but largely ceremonial advisory body to Chinas parliament. A tariff increase to 25 percent from 10 percent was initially scheduled for Jan. 1, but after productive conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Trump administration issued a 90-day extension of that deadline. Trump had said on Feb. 24 he would again delay the increase because of progress in the talks. By David Alexander President Donald Trump and Hayden Williams at the CPAC convention in Oxon Hill, Md., on March 2, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trump to Sign Executive Order Protecting Free Speech on Campuses President Donald Trump said on March 2 he would soon sign an executive order requiring universities and colleges to protect free speech on campuses or risk losing federal research funds. Trump made the announcement at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) after bringing to the stage Hayden Williams, a conservative activist who was punched in the face at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley last month while recruiting students for Turning Point USA, a conservative group. Today, I am proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research funds, Trump said, drawing cheers and chants of U-S-A from the audience. If universities do not comply, it will be very costly, the president added. The government awards universities more than $30 billion annually in research funds. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on details of the order. The University of California said the attacker, 28-year-old Zachary Greenberg, was arrested on March 1 and released on bail, according to Campus Reform. The university issued a statement condemning the attack shortly after videos of the incident surfaced on social media. LEFTIST VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS While recruiting for our @TPUSA group at UC Berkeley a leftist thug comes & assaults our activists punching him in the face & hitting him repeatedly Imagine if the attacker was wearing MAGA hat, would be national news! This is the violent left! RT! pic.twitter.com/7RjbCPUcDf Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 21, 2019 Turning Point USA is one of the largest conservative student organizations, operating on 1,400 campuses. The groups founder and president, Charlie Kirk, spoke at CPAC two days before Trump. American universities are overwhelmingly liberal. Only 12 percent of undergraduate faculty identified as conservative, compared to nearly 60 percent who identified as left or far left, according to a 2013-2014 study (pdf) by the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles. Liberal professors dominate the faculties of Ivy League schools. A Harvard faculty survey found that more than 83 percent of the professors at the university identified as liberal or very liberal, while less than 2 percent identified as conservative or very conservative. The liberal constituency of the colleges has resulted in a variety of policies and mechanisms stifling free speech, including safe spaces, gender identity policies, and hate-speech codes. We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness, and every other attempt by the hard leftists to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas, the president said. Instead we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus. If universities want our dollarsand we give to them by the billionsthey have to allow people like Hayden and many other great young people and old people to speak. Free speech, Trump said. Trump administration officials have suggested that the rights of speakers on college campuses have been trampled by student protesters who find their views offensive and suggested conservatives have been unfairly targeted. Trump said Williams took a hard punch in the face for all of us. Its great that Im being recognized, but there are so many conservative students across the country who are facing discrimination, harassment, and worse if they dare speak up on campus, Williams said on stage at CPAC as Trump looked on. If these socialist progressives had their way they would put our Constitution through the paper shredder in a heartbeat, Williams said. The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in 2018 in a free speech lawsuit filed against the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, accusing the school of discriminating against speakers with conservative views. In a settlement, the school agreed to change its policies and pay $70,000 to cover legal costs of the Berkeley College Republicans and the conservative Young Americas Foundation. Reuters contributed to this report. UC Berkeley Police Arrest Suspect in Campus Attack on Conservative Activist Campus police arrested a man suspected of attacking conservative activist Hayden Williams on the University of California Berkeley campus last month, according to new reports. On Friday, March 1, campus police booked Zachary Greenberg, 28, into jail after he was believed to be the man who was caught on camera punching the conservative activist at the university campus on Feb. 19. Greenberg allegedly hit Williams multiple times, including directly in the face, according to the video. Zachary Greenberg has been arrested after he assaulted a conservative activist at UC Berkeley. https://t.co/cmQeNknslS Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) March 1, 2019 UCPD will formally present the case to the Alameda County District Attorneys Office for consideration of the filing of criminal charges, the UC Berkeley Public Affairs team announced in a campus statement. Once the matter is presented and reviewed by the District Attorneys Office, additional information will be made available regarding a charging decision, the statement concluded. Greenberg is being held on a $30,000 bail, according to local media. UPDATE: Heres mugshot of Zachary Greenberg, 28, caught on video punching conservative activist Hayden Williams on Sproul Plaza at @UCBerkeley as victim trained @TPUSA, per @UCPD_Cal. Bail $30K for arrest on suspicion of felony assault w/force likely to cause great bodily injury pic.twitter.com/OlVPpSlxyk Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) March 2, 2019 Following Greenbergs arrest, Charlie Kirk, founder and president of TPUSA, issued a statement, calling the evidence in the case incontrovertible. Today, we have finally learned the identity of the attacker and that the violent man has been arrested, his statement read. While every America should be afforded their due process, we believe that the video evidence in this case is incontrovertible. We hope 28-year-old Zachary Greenberg is prosecuted to the full extent of the law for assault with a deadly weapon, which should be considered an act of hate, he continued. Hopefully, this dark chapter will act as a wake up call to those concerned about actual politically motivated hate crimes in America. Berkeley and all college campuses across American should be safe havens for free thought and opinionsespecially for a targeted conservative minority. Im with brave students at @UCBerkeley, where an ACTUAL hate crime took place last week Yet it received virtually ZERO coverage I guess a conservative being attacked by leftists is less pressing than Jussie Smollett attacking himself Hate crime hoaxes hurt REAL victims! RT pic.twitter.com/8wbparUU1O Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 26, 2019 The Violent Incident The activist, Hayden Williams, was manning a table recruiting for Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative student organization operating on 1,400 campuses. The display had signs reading, Hate crime hoaxes hurt real victims and This is MAGA Countrya reference to the case of Jussie Smollett, a TV actor charged with staging a racially motivated attack on himself. Smollett had tried to frame supporters of President Donald Trump by claiming the attackers referenced Trumps campaign slogan Make America Great Again. Williams was then approached by critics and began to record the encounter. Im just going to video it for my own safety, because you seem really erratic, he told one person who accused him of encouraging violence. His actions only angered the pair more and he was attacked moments later, reported the Washington Enquirer. The video of the incident was posted on Twitter by Charlie Kirk, president of TPUSA, and had over 2 million views by March 1. LEFTIST VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS While recruiting for our @TPUSA group at UC Berkeley a leftist thug comes & assaults our activists punching him in the face & hitting him repeatedly Imagine if the attacker was wearing MAGA hat, would be national news! This is the violent left! RT! pic.twitter.com/7RjbCPUcDf Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 21, 2019 Imagine if the attacker was wearing MAGA hat, would be national news! Kirk wrote in the tweet. This is the violent left! In response to the incident, the university expressed unwavering commitment to freedom of expression and perspective. Let there be no mistake, we strongly condemn violence and harassment of any sort, for any reason, Chancellor Carol Christ said in a message to the campus community. That sort of behavior is intolerable and has no place here. .@UCBerkeley and Chancellor Christ just sent out a message via email to the Berkeley community condemning the attack on the conservative activist. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen! Lets find this guy! pic.twitter.com/okHbLrX2C7 Brad Devlin (@bradleydevlin) February 21, 2019 Williams is a field representative for the conservative Leadership Institute, a training organization for conservative activists. The fact that the victim was not a campus affiliate has no bearing on this case, campus spokesperson Dan Mogulof said. He had every right to be on campus, and every right to express his point of view. Theres a certain culture there that is especially hostile on Berkeleys campus and across the country to conservative students,Williams said in an interview with Fox Business Network. Theyre willing to use violence if they think youre being too controversial. U.S. Marines (L) and South Korean Marines, wearing blue headbands on their helmets, take positions after landing on the beach during the joint military combined amphibious exercise, called Ssangyong, part of the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle military exercises, in Pohang, South Korea, on March 12, 2016. (Kim Jun-bum/Yonhap via AP) US, South Korea to Halt Large-Scale Military Drills to Support Diplomatic Efforts Officials from the United States and South Korea confirmed that the two allies will be moving ahead with plans to end two of their largest springtime military drills in favor of more streamlined initiatives. The Pentagon said in a press release on March 2 that the United States and South Korean defense chiefs had decided to conclude their larger-scale exercises and replace them with more focused training programs. Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises, the statement read. Instead, after reviewing the outcome of President Donald Trumps second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo agreed in a phone call to maintain firm military readiness through newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs. Today ROK MinDef Jeong Kyeong-doo @ROK_MND & I agreed to maintain strong military readiness through newly designed Command Post exercises & revised field training programs. Together we are ready to meet any security challenge. #UNC #USFK #CFC #KatchiKapshida #Alliance Acting SecDef Pat Shanahan (@ActingSecDef) March 2, 2019 Both officials made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. Seouls Defense Ministry released a similar statement. One official told NBC News: The U.S. has identified ways to mitigate potential readiness concerns by looking at required mission tasks versus having to conduct large-scale exercises. The United States and South Korea suspended a few other joint drills, like the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian joint exercises in June 2018 and the Vigilant Ace air exercise in October 2018, and after Trumps first summit with Kim in Singapore last year. At the Singapore summit, Trump promised to cancel war games in the region to provide North Korea security assurances after Kim agreed to immediately halt all missile and nuclear testing, and to destroy the Norths primary nuclear test site and a missile engine test site. Kim had also agreed to commit to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at the summit. Under the circumstances that we are negotiating a very comprehensive, complete deal, I think its inappropriate to be having war games, Trump said at the time. After the second summit with Kim in Hanoi ended on Feb. 28 without an agreement to progress denuclearization, Trump was asked by the media if he would be re-impose military exercises in the region. Trump told reporters that the expenses involved in conducting the large-scale drills were a factor in the decision to discontinue and consider alternate strategies. Those exercises are very expensive, Trump said. Im not saying its not necessary, because at some levels it is, but at other levels its not. But its a very, very expensive thing. And you know, we do have to think about that too. Trump said that in his opinion, South Korea should be paying more for the United States military presence in the region. Were protecting South Korea. I think they should help us with that, he said. Were spending a tremendous amount of money on many countries, protecting countries that are very rich that can certainly afford to pay us and then some. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. The Pentagon statement added that both the United States and South Korea continue to share a robust alliance for ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, and are in agreement to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation through meetings in the near future. From NTD.com Elbert Paule has turned himself in to police for a shooting at an apartment complex near Utah Valley University, south of Salt Lake City. (Orem Police Department via AP) Utah Police: Suspect in Shooting Near University in Custody OREM, UtahPolice in Utah say the suspect in a fatal shooting at an apartment complex near Utah Valley University in Orem has turned himself in. Orem police announced in a brief statement on March 2, that 19-year-old Elbert Paule was in custody without providing details of the circumstances of the surrender. The complex where 26-year-old Dominique Barnett was fatally wounded Thursday night is off campus but it prompted the university to issue a shelter-in-place alert for about two hours. .@OremDPS is looking for 19-year-old Elbert Paule after a shooting outside an apartment complex. The victim was in critical condition last update. The ordeal prompted a shelter-in-place late Thursday at Utah Valley Universityhttps://t.co/wX705JymrM @KSL5TV #KSLTV #Utah Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) March 1, 2019 Paule had been charged three times in the last year with drug-related offenses, online Utah court records show. Paule had pleaded guilty in one case and served jail time, pleaded not guilty in another and had not issued a plea in the third case. Man dies, suspect sought in shooting near university in Utah https://t.co/QxsJ8wnSmx pic.twitter.com/RfwArA1AHq BastilleGlobal (@BastilleGlobal) March 1, 2019 Colledge said Paule knew Barnett but didnt elaborate. Its possible the shooting was drug-related, but investigators are still gathering information, he said. University spokesman Scott Trotter said Paule was admitted to the college for spring 2019 semester but didnt register for any classes. Barnett was never a student and has no affiliation with the university, Trotter said. Paules criminal history shows he had been charged with possession of drug or drug paraphernalia in three separate incidents dating back to March 2018. His adult criminal record does not show any violent offenses. He pleaded guilty in May 2018 to possessing marijuana and spice and was sentenced to 180 days and one year of probation. In August 2018, he pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana and spice and drug paraphernalia. A trial was scheduled for April. His most recent charge came in January, when he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in Orem. He has not yet issued a plea to that charge. Online court records dont indicate whether Paule has an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Police spent Friday searching for a 19-year-old man who they believe shot and killed a 26-year-old man at an apartment complex near Utah Valley University late Thursday. https://t.co/bjcRwin31G Deseret News (@DeseretNews) March 2, 2019 University spokesman Scott Trotter said Friday that Paule was admitted for the spring 2019 semester but didnt register for any classes and that Barnett was never a student. UPDATE: Man shot near the campus of Utah Valley University last night has died. https://t.co/HdatBXqZFd KSL (@KSLcom) March 1, 2019 Man Indicted for Snapchat Threat that Panicked Ohio School CLEVELANDFederal authorities say a man has been indicted for threatening to shoot Ohio school students on Snapchat. Authorities say the April 2018 threat targeted Parma High School in suburban Cleveland and led to hundreds of students missing classes over several days. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Cleveland says Russell Miley-Cruz was indicted on one count of transmission of an interstate threat and one count of obstruction of justice. The 21-year-old man from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was arrested Friday. Online federal court records dont list an attorney for him. Man indicted for Snapchat threat that panicked Ohio school https://t.co/rBCw6vktN8 crystal runewicz (@crystalrunewicz) March 2, 2019 Parma Police Chief Joseph Bobak said the threat panicked the community and affected students and staff for several days as parents pulled hundreds of children out of school. A supplied image obtained on March 2, 2019, shows smoke rising from the bushfire burning in Victoria's east, Australia. (AAP Image/Supplied by Steven Clarke/via REUTERS) Victorian Fire Worse Than Black Saturday SYDNEYFirefighters battled 25 blazes across the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday as a record-breaking heatwave delivered the hottest start to March on record for the southern third of the country. The continent is prone to deadly blazes thanks to its combination of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and flammable eucalyptus bush. A severe four-day heatwave has brought fire weather across the southern parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania over the weekend. The south-eastern state of Victoria was the worst hit, with more than 2,000 firefighters, water-bombing aircraft and volunteers battling blazes on Sunday. A cool change was forecast for late on Sunday but an associated wind change would bring danger for firefighters. Its a dangerous time, putting it bluntly, Victorias Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said in a televised emergency briefing on Sunday. Not just for communities but for firefighters. An experienced firefighter told local media that the the blaze is worse than the Black Saturday fires that burned in the same spot ten years ago. The Black Saturday fires had been the worst bushfires on record and destroyed thousands of homes in Victoria, killing 173 people and injuring 414 on a day. Under those very strong conditions experienced on that day (in 2009), it travelled neatly, whilst it damaged some property it was a very narrow finger compared to what were facing with this fire, because this fire has been growing, Country Fire Authority assistant chief officer Trevor Owen told a community meeting in Pakenham on Sunday. What weve been doing is throwing everything weve got at the fire. We are confirming there are three structure losses, it does appear that they could be homes, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told local reporters. This is an active fire, it is moving, and there is every likelihood there will be further property losses. A wind change is making its way across the state and will present new challenges for fire crews. It is a dangerous time, putting it bluntly. Not just for communities, but for firefighters, and were very conscious of the safety of our firefighters and we will message in relation to that, Crisp said. At a press conference alongside Mr Crisp, Premier Daniel Andrews told people to follow warnings from authorities. Dont put yourself in harms way and potentially add to the already considerable workload our firefighters have, he said. There are more than 30 other fires still burning across Victoria. The largest fire in Bunyip State Park was sparked by multiple lightning strikes on Friday. Rural townships were evacuated with no reported injuries or deaths, but three homes and several properties had been destroyed by noon on Sunday. The hot and windy conditions are expected to linger until Wednesday. By Alison Bevege with reporting by Australian Associated Press NORWALK School district leaders are launching an ambitious K-12 study and redesign of school counseling services that would review and benchmark the responsibilities of such employees, survey stakeholders regarding their satisfaction with current services, and recommend counselor to student ratios based upon state, national and local requirements. The ratio of students to school counselors in the Norwalk School District ranges from 210 to 250 students per counselor, according to school leaders. Although the American School Counselor Association recommends a 250 to 1 ratio of students to school counselors, the national average is 464 to 1, according to most-recent data from 2015-16. The Connecticut School Counselor Association sticks by the recommendation. Norwalks School Counselor Redesign initiative is one of the longest committee charges from the Board of Educations Strategic Operating Plan and includes 10 goals school leaders hope to accomplish by the fall of 2020. The 20-person committee is tasked with implementing social-emotional curriculum in middle schools with an emphasis on coping skills and strategies, defining the role of counselors in relation to internships and capstone requirements ahead of graduation, examining models for developing a multiyear professional development plan for each student and retaining and recruiting highly qualified counselors. Its been in the works for some time now. It just took some time to get it launched with everything else thats going on, said Julie Corbett, Board of Education member and head of the School Counseling Redesign Committee. There are a number of items to dig into. The scope of the work is pretty extensive, she said. Superintendent of Schools Steven J. Adamowski asked Corbett to lead the committee alongside Chief of Specialized Learning Yvette Goorevitch and Fox Run Principal James Martinez, both serving as committee co-chairs. Parents, teachers, students, counselors and other school district leaders, apart of the committee, met for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. The committee is expected to converge at least six to 10 times before presenting recommendations to the full Board by Oct. 1. The meetings are not open to the public but Corbett plans to share updates at Board of Education business meetings. The initiative, a hefty undertaking, is necessary to promote social-emotional learning for students in a school district that continues to elevate its rigor, Corbett said. With taxpayers money, the Board of Education invests more than $3.5 million annually in counseling services for sixth-through 12th-graders. Adamowski said he formed the committee to ensure the most effective counseling services are provided in the school district. The committee is expected to significantly impact college and career readiness opportunities for students, he said. I hope that we have the staff we need, not just as a matter of quantity, but that we have the appropriate number of staff we need to have the capacity to do the skills they need to do to meet the needs of our student demographics, Corbett said. And that they can do that work effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of our students as we elevate the rigor of our school system. tatiana.flowers@thehour.com Officers in Minnesota weren't quite sure who they were responding when a report came in of a "deranged person," but they probably weren't expecting to find Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, standing motionless with a smile. The Jordan Police Department said in a Facebook post Thursday that the caller told officers that they were concerned about a man standing outside without a coat, hugging a pillow. A 16-year-old girl was arrested Friday after she stabbed two teenagers, one fatally, who attacked her in the driveway of her San Antonio home, police said. Officials identified the 18-year-old killed as Kaitlin Leonor Castilleja. She graduated from high school last year, according to a school district spokeswoman. Authorities have not identified the suspect because she's a minor. She has been booked into a juvenile detention facility. Castilleja's aunt, Marie Fernandez, said the two girls had been arguing on social media long before their confrontation Friday morning. "She isn't able to give you her side of the story, but it's been ongoing bullying on both sides," she said. "It's social media. There's so many factors that have contributed to this, and at the end of the day, whether it was wrong, in all aspects my niece had no intentions of hurting anyone." According to a preliminary police report, Castilleja and Vivian Foster, 18, went to the suspect's house at about 1 a.m. Friday. During the fight, the suspect stabbed both of the girls, causing superficial cuts to Foster but mortal wounds to Castilleja, police said. The suspect then called police to "report she had been assaulted in her driveway when she arrived home from work" and that the two alleged victims had been messaging her on social media "stating they want to fight her," authorities said. According to Live Oak police Lt. Matt Malone, the victims went to Northeast Methodist Hospital. They told officers they had been "stabbed after 'jumping' a girl at her house," according to a police report. Paramedics took Castilleja to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 2 a.m. Friday. Officers went to the suspect's home and found the crime scene in the driveway. They discovered the "murder weapon" at the scene, according to the preliminary report. The 16-year-old suspect was then arrested in connection with the stabbings and charged with homicide. A Maryland woman was arrested and charged Thursday after she left an 18-month-old boy along the side of a road, police said. A driver called police Thursday evening to report that a child was left at the side of a road. That person said they saw Elizabeth Newnam, 29, throwing something into a field, according to investigators. GRAFTON Graftons unique cafe with a cause known as Peace of Quiche will be closing this week, with plans for a new location and focus in the future. The cafe and gift shop, located at 111 E. Main St. in Grafton, was known for its unusual combination of colorful decor, home-style recipes, and a mission to promote peace by supporting those who make a difference. The cafe periodically highlighted local charities and donated a portion of proceeds to the featured organization. Purchases made in the gift shop helped to support various causes, such as fair trade, womens shelters, braille literacy for children, and an end to human trafficking. Owner Julie Connoyer described her mixed emotions about the move after five fulfilling and successful years. On the one hand, I am sad and already nostalgic about ending a great run of fresh food, lively conversations, insights into charitable organizations, committed staff, and loyal customers, Connoyer said. On the other hand, I am already looking forward to my next venture. Connoyer founded Peace of Quiche six years ago by renovating a 1910 building that was once the Grafton phone company. What started as a dream exceeded my wildest expectations, thanks especially to the many customers who embraced the cafes mission and shared their inspiring stories about making a difference, she said. I have learned from these stories that all of us have had an experience when we need support from others or have had an opportunity to lend a helping hand. She is still working on the details, including a location, but expects to continue her mission with an expanded version of a stand-alone charitable and fair trade gift shop. She also wants to focus on highlighting the work of local artists that designate a part of their proceeds to charitable organizations. Donations to over 15 charities have been made by Peace of Quiche over five years. Connoyer hopes this has been helpful, but raising awareness has been even more important to her. We dont always need bright lights and billboards to have an impact on people, and I hope that in some modest way I have left a small footprint by inspiring others to think about service and peace, Connoyer said. Grafton Chamber of Commerce President Janey Brummett confirmed the impact of the cafe for Grafton and commented that it will be missed. Peace of Quiche was known for its lively atmosphere, warm hospitality, and unique mission, Brummett said. We wish Julie the best as she seeks to carry on these contributions with her new venture. Connoyer has an answer when asked why she is ending something that has been so successful. I am a believer in leaving on a high, and I have always followed each step in life with another new challenge. She is thankful for the many people, including family members, who helped her create what she calls a special kind of community. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Erwan Lucas (Agence France-Presse) Barcelona, Spain Mon, March 4, 2019 01:01 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee8059291 2 Science & Tech 5G,telecom-operator,technology,mobile-network Free While Washington's concerns that future 5G wireless networks could be vulnerable to spying by China have dominated headlines, businesses have long been pushing to make sure the technology is as secure as possible. With fifth-generation wireless networks, or 5G, starting to be rolled out this year, the issue of 5G security was in focus at the Mobile World Congress trade fair which got under way Monday in Barcelona. Unlike upgrades of wireless networks in the past, 5G will deliver not just faster phone and computer data but also help connect up cars, appliances, cargo and crop equipment. Washington has warned that allowing Chinese firms like Huawei to provide the equipment to build 5G networks could leave them vulnerable to spying on the part of China but this is only one of the risks. 5G's much faster speeds, vast data capacity and lower latency -- or response time -- are expected to underpin entirely new technologies such as self-driving cars and telemedicine -- which in turn may attract cyberintrusions by criminals or terrorists. "There will be more data which will be transferred...it is clear that security is much more complicated," said Yannick Sadowy, the director for telecoms and media at consulting firm Accenture. Mathieu Lagrange, who is responsible for internet security at com institute, said the risks to 5G's security "were taken into account" when the norms for the technology were established. But a study by the University of Lorraine in France found that the new wireless network still contains some security holes which were already present in previous networks, 3G and 4G. 5G offers "improved data protection when compared to the previous wireless norms" but "flaws persist and the weaknesses that have been identified" could allow "several cyberattacks and have an impact on the protection of privacy," it said. Experts say the architecture of 5G networks also presents entirely new security challenges. Read also: Doctor performs first 5G surgery in step towards robotics 'dream' Fifth generation wireless networks use "network virtualisation", which refers to moving some resources which have traditionally been delivered in physical hardware to a virtual software-based network. It is designed to allow the network to make better use of data transfer rates and provide more flexibility to 5G networks. "Operators are moving from a hardware system to a virtualised and fully automated one," said Darren Anstee, technology director at Netscout, which provides software for networks. "Security is about visibility, when you can't see everything on your network, this is when you have a problem," he added. Nothing 100% secure 5G allows for the available bandwidth to be split up into channels, each of which is independent from others and can be separately secured, which some experts say can help boost security. "We can create a kind of micro-networks, with different levels of security. The idea is to compartmentalise the network according to different uses," said Laurent Boutet, a systems engineer at US computer networking company F5Network. Mobile communications industry body GSMA, which stages the Mobile World Congress, estimates the number of connected devices will triple to 25 billion by 2025. For Dexter Thillien, an analysts at Fitch Solutions, the main challenge for security is this rise in the "number of entry points, considering the exponential number of objects which will be connected." "From the point of view of security, the network itself is secondary," he said. "You have to keep in mind that nothing will ever be 100 percent secure. We still don't have a precise idea of how billions or even trillions of connected objects could affect networks, it is still unknown at this point," said Thillien. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 4, 2019 05:01 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee805a231 4 Environment AQMS,Air-Quality-Measurement-System,Yogyakarta,environment,science-and-technology Free The Yogyakarta Environment Agency has received an Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS) from the Environment and Forestry Ministry. The system monitors in real time the level of air quality. There is already an agreement with the ministry regarding the handing out of this system. Usually, AQMS systems are given to areas with many forests. However, Yogyakarta is considered eligible to operate this system, Suyana, the head of the Yogyakarta Environment Agency, told Antara on Thursday. The placement of the system at the Yogyakarta Environment Agency headquarters is perceived as optimal for measuring air quality as it is close to a residential area, a business district and the Balai Yasa train depot. There are shops and several offices around our headquarters, such as the Gondokusuman subdistrict office and the Subdistrict Military Command (Koramil) office. I think this is the right location for air quality to be measured, said Suyana. He went on to say that if the system was installed at Titik Nol (Zero Point), it could only measure the air quality of the road and not of residential areas. With the new system, air quality can be monitored by the Yogyakarta Environment Agency, the Yogyakarta provincial administration and the Environment and Forestry Ministry. Read also: Paris mulls free public transportation to reduce pollution This system is quite expensive, priced at Rp 2 billion (US$142,117). So far we have only received the system without monitors that display the measurement, which could be placed in public areas so that it could be accessible to many people, Suyana said. To address this, the agency will attempt to connect the system to the Jogja Smart Service (JSS), an application owned by the Yogyakarta administration that is accessible to the public. The system would be installed this year, and soon after that, we will coordinate with the communications, information and coding agency to sync the air-quality monitoring results with the citys smart system, Suyana said. The public would be able to access the information through the JSS application. (mut) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 15:07 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804cfa3 1 Food Chateau-Angelus,Angelus,wine,wineries Free Pairing wine with your meals can be a tricky thing, as it takes patience and knowledge to find the perfect match. The rules of wine pairing can be found everywhere, but Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal who leads renowned winery Chateau Angelus in France, encourages people to enjoy wine by themselves and let their palate savors the flavors, instead of doing it by the book. People will tell you, Red wine with cheese, white wine with fish, but most cheeses dont go with red wine. For instance, a strong cheese like camembert will overtake the wine, De Bouard-Rivoal told The Jakarta Post on Feb. 17 in Central Jakarta. So, what Im saying is: Try the wine, try the food and feel the taste yourself. The wine cellar of Ch'teau Angelus. (angelus.com/File) Compared to Western cuisines, pairing wine with Asian cuisines may be a bit challenging as they mostly contain more spices that can overpower the wines flavor. De Bouard-Rivoal, an eight generation sommelier at Angelus, gave examples of the winerys vintages that can go along with Asian dishes. It depends on the vintages. For example, 2007, 2011 and 2012 will go with poultry, pasta, noodles and rice and have some mild, gentle spices, she said. The 2006 goes with something stronger, perhaps lamb and beef. Id add some grilled vegetables and spices but not too strong. She later added that soto ayam (chicken soup served with noodles and aromatics) was a good match with wine. Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Wine hangouts Located near the Saint-Emilion bell tower in Bordeaux, a city in Southwestern France known for its wine region, Angelus has received Premier Grand Cru Classe (A) status. Its wines have appeared in various films, including James Bond movies such as Casino Royale (2006) and SPECTRE (2015). Known for its high proportion of cabernet franc, the winery started its organic conversion in 2018 and plans to be certified within five years. The conversion is never easy, De Bouard-Rivoal said. She recalled the year of 2018 when heavy rain fell from January till June. It was the equivalent of one-year rain, she said. When working in an organic [winery], you only use natural products, such as copper. And [if] it's washed off [by the rain], meaning that all of it got diluted, you have to do it again and again. Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal (left), an eight generation sommelier at Ch'teau Angelus, with her father, Hubert de Bouard de Laforest (right). (angelus.com/File) After taking over the chateau in 2012, De Bouard-Rivoal was joined by her cousin, Thierry Grenie de Bouard, in managing Angelus. They decided to adapt to the environment amid global warming concerns. People tend to say, Oh, its global warming. I think its not global warming only. Its global extreme rain, frost, heat. We really need to adapt and try to anticipate as much as possible, she said. De Bouard-Rivoal explained that the Bordeauxs market share was increasing in parallel with the growth of the wine market. We can definitely tell that Bordeaux wines have a strong place here [in Indonesia] and that Indonesian people continue to enjoy them although the tax has increased. Thats great, she said. Furthermore, she wished to discover a new generation who can be introduced to wine. We also wanted to keep in touch with people who already know us, but they dont necessarily know about the [] evolution and philosophy of wine, she said. (wng) (L-R) District 3 County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar who nominated Azim Khamisa; Azim Khamisa, PeaceMaker Award winner; Deb Vaughan-Cleff, Encinitas Rotary Club president. Courtesy The Encinitas Rotary Club recently announced that Azim Khamisa, the founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF), is the recipient of its 2019 Peacemaker Award. Following the tragic death of his only son, Tariq, in a senseless, gang-related murder in San Diego in 1995, Azim chose the path of forgiveness and compassion rather than revenge and bitterness. This amazing choice led to the establishment of a foundation in his sons name, whose mission is to save lives of children, empower the right choices and teach the principles of nonviolence of empathy, compassion, forgiveness and peacemaking. Tariq Khamisa was killed by a 14-year-old gang member, Tony Hicks. Tony was tried as an adult and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Azim Khamisa felt this tragedy created victims on both ends of the gun. In an act of extraordinary grace and forgiveness, Azim reached out to Tonys grandfather, Ples Felix. The two men came together in the spirit of healing to end youth violence. In November 2018, with Azim by his side, Tony Hicks was granted parole. Once released from prison, Tony will join Azim and TKF to share their inspirational message of forgiveness, peace and hope to a world in desperate need. Azim, who emigrated to the United States in 1974 to escape violence in Kenya, has spent the past 24 years devoted to creating safer schools and communities through educating and inspiring children in the restorative principles of accountability, compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking. The Tariq Khamisa Foundation (www.TKF.org) and the subsequent forgiveness movement has reached millions of children and adults across the world. Azim, who frequently speaks on this topic, has written three books, including From Murder to Forgiveness: A Fathers Journey. The Peacemaker Award recognizes visionaries who have persevered to realize their passion and commitment to making a better world for everyone, said Encinitas Rotary President Deb Vaughan-Cleff. Azims powerful message of forgiveness and compassion instills hope for those vulnerable to violence, crime, harm and poverty. He is truly a remarkable individual. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 14:07 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804bd2b 1 Science & Tech Dubai,startup,Global-Education-and-Skills-Forum Free Indonesian startup Solve Education! is one of 30 finalists that has been chosen to compete in the Next Billion EdTech Prize, a contest that recognizes technological innovations in education for low-income and emerging economies. According to a statement, the finalists will compete in a pitch contest at the 2019 Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from March 22 to 24. Six of the startups will be selected to compete in the grand final where the top three winners will be awarded US$25,000 each, while the overall winner will receive the Next Billion Prize trophy. Read also: 10 articles you should read on National Education Day "The Next Billion Prize was named to remind the world of the billion young people a number that is growing every day that are being denied an education that allows them to make the most of their talents," the statement reads. Solve Education! aims to help young people around the globe receive a quality education through apps. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sun, March 3, 2019 17:06 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804e7d5 2 Entertainment Pokemon,Pokemon-The-First-Movie,Movie,trailer Free "Detective Pikachu" isn't the only official Pokemon movie on the block. In fact, there have been 24 such efforts, and the mother of them all, "Pokemon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" is transforming from a 1998 animated cartoon to a July 2019 CGI remake. After the Ryan Reynolds action comedy "Pokemon: Detective Pikachu" starts arriving in theaters worldwide from May, 1998's "Pokemon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" is receiving a re-release in Japan. July's "Pokemon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution" arrives less than a month after the Japanese release of "Detective Pikachu," and is making the switch from the franchise's original hand-drawn style to a fully computer-generated look, as seen in a first trailer for the remake. The remake was first announced via an end-credit scene for July 2018's "Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us." Read also: 'Pokemon Quest' comes to iOS and Android This debut trailer offers an opportunity to take in the new style and see how familiar human characters Ash, Misty and Brock present themselves after the makeover, as well as Pokemon such as Charizard, Meowth, and the mythical floating Mew. There's also a glimpse of Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Psyduck, Squirtle and a handful of other classic Pokemon, though all play second fiddle to the powerful Mewtwo. "Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution" is due for release in Japanese theaters on July 12, 2019, with international scheduling to be announced; for reference, "The Power of Us" began its limited international theatrical release four months after a Japanese debut, in November 2018. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivan Couronne (Agence France-Presse) Cape Canaveral, United States Sun, March 3, 2019 12:01 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee8045f4b 2 Science & Tech SpaceX,rocket,astronaut Free SpaceX celebrated the successful launch Saturday of a new astronaut capsule on a week-long round trip to the International Space Station -- a key step towards resuming manned space flights from US soil after an eight-year break. This time around, the only occupant on board SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule was a dummy named Ripley -- but NASA plans to put two astronauts aboard in July, although that date could be delayed. The new capsule blasted off aboard the Falcon 9 rocket built by SpaceX -- run by billionaire Elon Musk -- at 2:49 am (0749 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, lighting up the coastline. The first and second stages separated without incident, placing Dragon in Earth's orbit 11 minutes after take-off. Every successful stage of the mission -- whose planning suffered three-year delays -- triggered cheers at the firm's headquarters and at the Kennedy Space Center. "I'm a little emotionally exhausted, because that was super stressful but it worked, so far," Musk told a late-night press conference an hour later. "It's been 17 years, we still haven't launched anyone yet, but hopefully we will later this year." The next tricky step for the capsule will be docking at the ISS on Sunday at around 1100 GMT, with a return to Earth scheduled for next Friday. It is to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean, and then return to Cape Canaveral. 'Confidence in the future' The mission aims to test the vessel's reliability and safety in real-life conditions. Ripley -- nicknamed in honor of the character played by Sigourney Weaver in the "Alien" movies -- is fitted with monitors to test the forces that future astronauts will be subjected to on takeoff and when they return to the Earth's atmosphere and then land in the Atlantic, braked by giant parachutes. The mission's successful start provided some immediate reassurance. Read also: Indonesia launches first internet-only satellite with SpaceX rocket At the press conference, Musk asked the two NASA astronauts slated to fly in Dragon: "You guys think it's a good vehicle?" They both nodded. "Seeing a success like this, that really gives us a lot confidence in the future," said one of them, Bob Behnken. In another success, the rocket's first stage returned to Earth, landing on a platform 500 kilometers (310 miles) off the Florida coast in the Atlantic. It marks the 35th such recovery by SpaceX. "Today represents a new era in space flight" said Jim Bridenstine, head of the US space agency who sees the launch as a step toward the privatization of low Earth orbit. "As a country, we're looking forward to being one customer of many customers, in a robust commercial marketplace in low Earth orbit, so that we can drive down costs and increase access in ways that historically have not been possible," he said. Key NASA partner After the shuttle program was shut down in July 2011 following a 30-year run, NASA began outsourcing the logistics of its space missions. It pays Russia to get its people up to the ISS orbiting research facility at a cost of $82 million per head for a round trip. In 2014, the US space agency awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing for them to take over this task. But the program has suffered delays as safety requirements are much more stringent for manned flights than for unmanned missions to deploy satellites. Boeing also received a contract in 2014 to develop a space vessel, the Starliner. It will not be tested until April, in a mission similar to SpaceX's. NASA did not want to rely on just one single vehicle, in case of accidents. For SpaceX, sending an astronaut into orbit would be a culmination of years of hard work and high-risk investment. In less than a decade, it has become a key partner for NASA, in addition to dominating the market for private satellite launches. Its Falcon 9 rockets have resupplied the space station 15 times in seven years, though one of them blew up in 2015. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 09:07 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee8042b59 4 Science & Tech Warung-Pintar,Limakilo,farmer,startup,empowerment Free Retail start-up Warung Pintar has acquired Limakilo, a platform that connects farmers with grocery stores and sellers. Following the acquisition, thousands of Warung Pintar partners in Jakarta, Tangerang, Depok and Banyuwangi are said to receive direct access to sell staple food commodities at the digital-based stalls. "With agricultural products from Limakilo, warung owners will have a more varied product stock, which is staple food commodity. The high demand of such commodities among the public will of course increase their revenue," said Warung Pintar cofounder and CEO Agung Bezharie Hadinegoro in a statement on Thursday as quoted by Antara. Meanwhile, the farmers are said to receive better selling prices and wider access as the number of Warung Pintar grows. Read also: Warung Pintar introduces cashless payment service "Both Warung Pintar and Limakilo have the same vision: to increase the capability of Indonesian micro businesses and revolutionize micro business using a technological approach. Limakilo absorbs staple food supply at the best price, meanwhile Warung Pintar aims to reach consumers by providing complete variations of products," Agung added. Established in November 2017, Warung Pintar focuses on digitalizing conventional warungsusing technology tools, such as monitoring sales and the stall's performance through apps, displaying ads to increase revenue and accepting non-cash payments. The start-up operates more than 1,200 warung in Jakarta, Tangerang, Depok and Banyuwangi and this year is eyeing to open 5,000 new ones across Java as well as increase its business capability. Limakilo is one of five agriculture start-ups involved in the Action Synergy Program for the People's Economy. It has received initial funds from East Ventures to expand partnership and provide workshops to the archipelago's small farmers. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 08:04 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee80428cc 1 Art & Culture plastic-waste,waste,#WasteManagement,PlasticWaste,environment,#environment Free Navakara, a company that provides green products and services, is hosting Waste Less Films Weekend until March 3 at three different venues, namely the WeWork Revenue Tower in Central Jakarta, Javara Culture and Greenhouse Coworking Space in South Jakarta. For the event, the company will screen three documentaries Albatross, Trashed and Blue to show audiences how waste impacts the environment. Navakara cofounder Maureen Simatupang told The Jakarta Post via email that Indonesia was the worlds second-largest producer of plastics. Only less than 9 percent of our recyclable wastes are properly recycled, she said, adding that 8 million tons of plastic waste ended up in the world's oceans every year, making plastic consumption a global issue. Read also: The waste challenge: Is Indonesia at a tipping point? Maureen said she hoped that the film screenings would allow viewers to have a better understanding of how everyone's actions affect the environment. The ultimate solution might be, and should be, an aim toward a zero-waste lifestyle, she added, noting that there were no simple solutions. Waste Less Films Weekend is open to the public. Those who want to join the event may register via the following WhatsApp number: +6281291430079. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 19:46 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee805353a 1 National peatland,peat-fires,South-Sumatera,Sutopo-Purwo-Nugroho,BNPB Free National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho has lamented the theft of a forest and land fire early warning system in South Sumatra, a province prone to wildfires. On Feb. 28, National Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) education task group head Suwignya Utama said at least five Sipalaga (wildfire early detection systems) had gone missing since 2018, as reported by Antara. Each was valued at around Rp 100 million (US$7,091). Responding to the news, Sutopo took to his Twitter @Sutopo_PN on Saturday evening to say: Not only a tsunami early-warning buoy but also forest fire detection units [....], seismographs [and] tsunami warning sirens were stolen. We barely have enough, yet they were stolen. He said the theft was a non-structural problem that is not easily solved, similar to littering. Each Sipalaga early-warning unit records the water level and humidity of peat soil as well as rainfall. All of the data recorded is sent to a central monitoring system The BRG has installed around 142 Sipalaga units in seven provinces with peatland, 21 of which are located in South Sumatra. Suwignya said the theft occurred only in South Sumatra. South Sumatra is among 16 Indonesian provinces that are prone to forest and land fires ahead of the upcoming El Nino, a climate pattern linked to warming waters in the central and eastern areas of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Nino can extend the dry season in Indonesia, which can increase the risk of wildfires. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 12:23 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee8048d19 1 City greenhouse-gas,greenhouse-gas-reduction,jakarta,environment,environmental-issues Free To reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of Indonesias efforts to meet its nationally determined contribution (NDC), the Jakarta administration aims to be a model city of emissions reduction by drafting an action plan called Ikhtiar Jakarta (Jakarta Endeavor). Ikhtiar Jakarta would consist of action plans and commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not just from the government, but also civil society organizations, ICLEI-Local Government for Sustainability Indonesia country manager, Gina Karina said. ICLEI is a global network of towns, cities and regions committed to building a sustainable future. This ikhtiar will contain strategies from the residents point of view as well, Gina said at a discussion on Friday. She said that Ikhtiar Jakarta, as part of the ICLEI Indonesia Ambitious City Promises project, would take into account the wishes of citizens to speed up emissions reduction efforts, and has identified 11 stakeholders. They are children and teachers, youths, women, disabled people, fishermen, urban farmers, nongovernmental organizations, religious groups, academics, as well as businesses in the city. Gina said that ICLEI Indonesia and the Jakarta administration would conduct a public consultation on Monday with the stakeholders to come up with the final draft of Ikhtiar Jakarta. She added the draft would also include at least two pilot projects to introduce and to start implementing Ikhtiar Jakarta once it was finished. The projects would involve schools and religious groups carrying out actions to reduce emissions locally, which could be replicated elsewhere, although the technical details had yet to be finished, Gina said. Gina went on to say that Ikhtiar Jakarta would provide a framework for the Jakarta administration to formalize regional legislation, with the citizens proposing steps that could be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Assistant to the governor for spatial planning and environment Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa applauded Ikhtiar Jakarta, saying it was important that all levels of society in the city were involved in creating steps to achieve the emissions target. We have always thought that the environment was only the responsibility of the government, but thats not the case, Oswar said. He said that Ikhtiar Jakarta would provide a grand design to address one of Jakartas environmental issues, which is greenhouse gas emissions, but through collaboration with residents. Jakarta Environment Agency climate change mitigation and adaptation division head Susi Andriani said the city had made several efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector, waste treatment, as well as agriculture, forestry and transportation. According to Gubernatorial Regulation No. 131/2012 on greenhouse gas reduction, Jakarta plans to reduce emissions by 30 percent by 2030. According to Jakarta Environment Agency data in 2017, the city had been able to reduce emissions by 7.81 millions tons of carbon dioxide, equal to 22.16 percent of the 2030 target, Susi said. Jakarta Transportation Agency road division head, Anwar, said the agency was also continuing to work toward reducing emissions, by reviewing the permits of Kopaja (Jakarta Transportation Cooperative) and Metro Mini buses and public transportation through the Jak Lingko public transportation integration program. He said that although issuing a permit for a vehicle to operate was the authority of the Jakarta One-Stop Integrated Service Agency, the Transportation Agency only recommended giving operation licenses to Kopaja and Metro Mini buses that were less than 10 years old. Anwar also said that through the Jak Lingko program, which improves connectivity between various modes of transportation including Transjakarta buses and angkot (public minivans), he hoped people would be encouraged to use public transportation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 10:32 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee80436e7 1 Politics Democratic-party,Agus-Harimurti-Yudhoyono,Susilo-Bambang-Yudhoyono,Prabowo-Subianto-Sandiaga-Uno,2019-legislative-election,2019-presidential-election,#2019GeneralElections,#2019PresidentialElection Free It is less than a month before election day, yet the Democratic Party is still preoccupied with its own targets for the legislative election while not doing much for its presidential ticket Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno. At the end of last year, party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted that his party was prioritizing the legislative election to secure as many legislative seats as possible, but then pledged to start campaigning for Prabowo in March this year. However, no action has proven that the party would give its all for Prabowo, even worse, Yudhoyono withdrew himself from the April legislative and presidential elections after his wife, Ani, was diagnosed with leukemia. Yudhoyono has decided to accompany his wife, who is receiving intensive medical treatment in Singapore, and handed over command of the party for the election campaigns to his eldest son, Agus Harimurti. In his capacity as the leader of the partys Joint Command (Kogasma) for the 2019 elections, Agus led on Saturday his first consolidation meeting with the partys central board executives and representatives from all provincial chapters. I am ready to lead the party to win the legislative election, Agus said. While in the 2014 election the party secured 10.19 percent of the vote in the legislative election, Agus said he targeted to achieve more this year. During the meeting, however, he said nothing about the Prabowo-Sandiaga campaign. Democrat secretary-general Hinca Pandjaitan said the party had already sent several senior members to work with Prabowos campaign team, and he considered that it was more than enough. Weve already assigned several party members to the team. We shouldnt intervene in the work [of the presidential campaign team] anymore. [Yudhoyonos mandate] is only about the legislative election, Hinca said. Agus gave a speech on Friday after receiving a mandate from his father to take over the partys command to lead the election campaigns. The former Army officer talked more about the future of the political party that his father and the whole family had built and run. He said the current concurrent legislative and presidential elections had divided political parties and voters behind the two presidential tickets Prabowo-Sandiaga and incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo-Maruf Amin. The system, said Agus, has disadvantaged medium-sized parties like the Democrats, which do not have any of its members as presidential and vice presidential candidates. The medium-sized parties had to fight fiercely in the legislative election because they would not receive any coattail effect from the candidates running in the presidential election. He did convey the partys aspirations to the next president but did not specifically name the presidential ticket that the party was supporting. Democrat deputy secretary-general Renanda Bachtar told The Jakarta Post that Agus speech was not for the presidential campaign. It was more about strengthening the partys internal consolidation, Renanda said. The Democrats have been criticized for showing less interest in supporting Prabowo-Sandiaga despite officially endorsing them. After Agus failed to secure a vice presidential ticket from both Prabowo and Jokowi, the Democrats seemed to lose appetite in supporting the candidates and instead campaigned for themselves while carrying the image of Yudhoyono, who led the country for 10 years. Many political observers saw that the Democrats only supported Prabowo, who is also Gerindra Party chairman, because the party had no other option. The current regulation stipulates that if a party does not join any coalition to endorse a presidential candidate, it will not be allowed to join the presidential race in 2024. In fact, Yudhoyono is said to be preparing Agus to contest in the 2024 presidential race. Separately, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto of the Jokowi camp also questioned the absence of Prabowo-Sandiaga endorsement in Agus speech. Maybe there are some aspirations from the Democrats that are not accommodated by the [Prabowo-Sandiaga] pair, said Hasto. Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon dismissed the criticisms against the Dems, saying it was not a big deal that Prabowo and Sandiaga were not mentioned in Agus speech. He believed that the Dems support was solid for Prabowo. Theyre currently focusing on their internal affairs. It doesnt matter because theyve already declared support for us [Prabowo-Sandiaga]. I think the partys stance is clear, Fadli said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Jerusalem Sun, March 3, 2019 20:03 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee805450f 2 World #Israel,#Russia,#Syria,#military,#MilitaryCooperation,Israel,Russia,Syria,military,military-cooperation Free Israel and Russia will work together on securing an exit of foreign forces from Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after visiting Moscow to advocate against the Iranian presence in the country. As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad beats back an eight-year-old insurgency, Israel worries that his reinforcements from Iran and the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah will stay on to form a new front against it. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against suspected Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria. These operations have been largely ignored by Russia, which intervened militarily on Assad's behalf in 2015, turning the tide of the war. Netanyahu said that, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, he had made it "unequivocally clear" that such strikes would continue, with an Israeli-Russian military hotline continuing to prevent accidental clashes between the countries. "President Putin and I also agreed on a shared goal - the removal from Syria of the foreign forces that came in after the civil war erupted," Netanyahu told the Israeli cabinet in broadcast remarks. "We agreed to set up a joint task force which, together with others, will work to advance toward this goal." He did not elaborate. Moscow had no immediate comment. In the past, Russia has spoken in favour of other forces leaving Syria, though it plans to keep a long-term garrison there. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) published on Sunday, said the situation in Syria had visibly stabilised after operations by Syrian government forces with Russian aerial support. But Lavrov said it was too early to declare the "terrorist threat" in Syria - a reference to Islamist-led rebels - eliminated. The United States has been drawing down its own forces in Syria as Islamic State insurgents near defeat. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta and Balikpapan Sun, March 3, 2019 13:33 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804ad62 1 National National-Police,Indonesian-Military,fake-news,hoax,misinformation,2019-presidential-election,2019-elections,#2019GeneralElections,#2019PresidentialElection,security Free National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto said Saturday they had been focusing on the prevention of growing confrontation between supporters of presidential candidates ahead of the legislative and presidential elections next month. Ari said the rise of confrontation between supporters of the two camps was not only on social media, but also in public. They are usually noisy only on social media, but now they are also doing it offline. We must prevent this trend, he said in a discussion held by the Families of the National Police (KBPP Polri) at a hotel in South Jakarta. The forum was attended by various institutions, including the police and rights group Setara Institute, as well as political experts. With more than half the population connected to the internet, Indonesians are very much attached to social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, making fake news and hate speech on social media prone to causing disputes offline. In November, a man was shot to death in Sampang, Madura, after posting a status endorsing a presidential candidate on Facebook. He met one of those who opposed him on the street and became involved in a fight that led to his shooting. The police have also arrested people who allegedly spread hate speech through social media. A video that recently went viral on social media showed three women in Karawang, West Java, claiming that should incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo be reelected, he would ban adzan (call to prayer) and legalize same-sex marriages. The women were arrested for inciting hate speech under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. The police and political experts are worried that fake news and the spread of hate speech would escalate ahead of the elections. [The disruptive effect of misinformation] happened in the [2016] presidential election in the United States. Perhaps this could happen to us, too. The public must be ready to respond to this critically, Ari said, referring to the rampant misinformation on Facebook that had allegedly influenced the US election. He went on to say the police were currently taking stern measures to fight misinformation, expressing hope that more civil organizations help ease the tensions. Hendardi, chairman of the SETARA Institute, an NGO focusing on advocacy and research on democracy and human rights, said the polices move to prevent disinformation was on the right track. The move includes the arrest of cyber groups Saracen and Muslim Cyber Army (MCA) for deliberately spreading lies via social media. He said the police had also made some preventive efforts, including raising awareness in mosques regarding fake news. However, the results are still lacking, Hendardi said. The Indonesian Military (TNI) said it had also prepared 9,600 personnel in Kalimantan to help the police improve security approaching the April elections. Mulawarman Military District commander Maj. Gen. Subiyanto said the personnel would guard border areas in Kalimantan that directly connected Malaysias Sarawak and Sabah as well as city and regency centers. Samarinda, Banjarmasin and Balikpapan are our priority, he said. Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, which is also the most populated city in Indonesias part of Borneo Island. Subiyanto said cities in North Kalimantan, such as Tarakan and Tanjung Selor were also being monitored. (das) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 16:42 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804e7bb 1 National ITE-Law,WhatsApp,SAFEnet,defamation,surabaya Free A higher court must acquit Saidah Saleh Syamlah, a housewife living in Surabaya, East Java, of all charges of defaming textile company PT Pisma Putra Textile, the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) has said. On Feb. 26, the Surabaya District Court found Saidah guilty of defaming the textile company by sending text messages through WhatsApp messaging service. The bench sentenced her to 10 months of imprisonment and a fine of Rp 5 million (US$354.55). The case started on Sept. 12, 2017, when the companys lawyer, Muhammad Bayu Kusharyanto, reported the owner of a certain mobile phone number to the Surabaya Police. The owner of the number had allegedly sent text messages to officials of Eximbank Indonesia and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) that disgraced the company. The messages were claimed to be affecting the companys loan application to the banks. During the investigation, the police found Saidah to be the owner of the phone number. While admitting to owning the number, the housewife claimed she had not used it because her mobile phone was broken and the number itself was blocked by the operator. She also claimed never to have sent the reported messages because she did not know the banks high officials. The evidence used in the investigation and trial was only a screenshot of the chat message. A screenshot shouldnt be valid evidence, as there should be a digital forensic investigation into what the device had been used for in order to prove that Saidah really sent those messages, SAFEnet member Bimo Aria Fundrika said in a statement. Another flaw, he added, was related to articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code. The articles stipulate that a case is only considered defamation if it is based on reports by individuals and conducted in the public sphere. The chat messages were sent through WhatsApp. Therefore, they were a private conversation and couldnt be seen by the general public, Bimo said. The group urged the Surabaya High Court, which is currently handling the appeal filed by Saidah and her lawyers, to declare her innocent and free her from all charges. We also urged the National Police Commission to respond to the complaint about the absence of digital forensics in this case, as well as the Attorneys Commission to investigate prosecutors working on this case for forcing this defamation case to court despite a lack of valid evidence, Bimo said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 10:08 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee80435d7 4 News bali,Hotel,Kuta-Beach,travel,destination,tourism Free Hotels around Kuta Beach in Bali are setting an example for other popular tourist areas across Indonesia by maintaining a high level of awareness about natural disasters and disaster mitigation. According to National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a majority of hotel managers along Kuta Beach have completed a training and certification program held by the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). Kuta is among the areas in Bali that are most exposed to potential tsunamis. However, not every hotel in Bali has participated in the training program, said Sutopo as quoted by kompas.com. Read also: High waves destroy all tsunami sirens in Gunung Kidul "The program covers ways of determining the safety of a certain area, evacuation [plans] and creating shelters, so that hotel employees are well-informed about disaster mitigation and can help guide tourists to safety [in the case of a disaster]. He added that clearly written signs pointing to safety and strong, earthquake-proof buildings are also some of the important things hotels should have. Sutopo also urged hotels to build a shelter on the roof because, in the case of a tsunami, its not about running as far away as you can but as high as you can. Another crucial tool to have is a community-based tsunami siren, which is not something that can only be funded by the government, he added. "You can imagine that there are only 52 tsunami sirens built by BMKG [the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency] along the coast of Indonesia. There are also around 300 tsunami sirens developed by regional administrations. If tourism-related businesses also installed community-based tsunami sirens, which can cost between Rp 50 million [US$3,552] and Rp 100 million per 1-kilometer radius, it will, of course, be very useful," Sutopo said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 16:09 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804d9b3 4 News Indonesia-Festival,festival,Moscow,Russia Free The fourth Indonesia Festival in Russia will be held on Aug. 1 to 4 by the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow (KBRI) supported by the Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry. The festival is part of the country's range of integrated promotional activities in Russia, which includes trade, investment and tourism. Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Mohamad Wahid Suproyadi said in a statement that the festival would feature a business forum, a business matching event, cultural performances and an exhibition of Indonesian products. Read also: Indonesia Festival promotes tourism, art and culture in Moscow The Indonesia-Russia Business Forum is scheduled for Aug. 1, while the Indonesia Festival itself will take place at Krasnaya Presnya Park in Moscow on Aug. 2-4. "This fourth Indonesia Festival will feature Indonesia's cultural richness to be introduced to the Russian public," Wahid said. More than 100,000 Russian citizens from Moscow and other regions are estimated to attend the event. To enliven the exhibition, KBRI Moscow gas reportedly invited Indonesian companies and businesspeople to fill the booths, including PT Mayora, whose products are sold in Russia. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Seoul, South Korea Sun, March 3, 2019 07:00 1011 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee80424ae 1 News Seoul,Indonesia-tourism,South-Korea,tourism-promotion,travel Free As spring approaches in South Korea, the Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul hosted an appreciation and networking night for around 40 prominent figures in the South Korean travel industry, such as the chairman, director and members of the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA). Also present at the event were Indonesias state-owned-enterprises (SOEs) in South Korea and media representatives, who introduced new tourist destinations. The appreciation and networking night was held at the ambassadors residence last week. The embassy's art and cultural relations official, Purno Widodo, told Antara on Tuesday that the networking event was also attended by representatives of Garuda Indonesia who promote Bali and Lombok. These two destinations have seen a declining number of visitors from Korea. Although Indonesia is well-known among the Korean people, the number of Korean visitors to Indonesia is not as many as expected. There were 358,349 Korean travelers coming to Indonesia last year, but this number is 10 percent lower than the previous year. Among the many reasons for the decline are natural disasters, especially those that occurred in Lombok and Bali, the main destinations favored by Korean travelers. One way to convince Korean travelers to return to Indonesia is through the Indonesian embassys intensive approach to KATA. The message is to persuade and instill confidence in Korean travel agents to promote and sell tour packages to Indonesia. Indonesian ambassador to South Korea, Umar Hadi, took the opportunity to express his appreciation for KATAs donation, made through the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) for natural disaster victims in Central Sulawesi. You all have been true friends to Indonesia. We are very thankful for all your efforts to help Indonesia, said Umar to the president of KATA. Umar also highlights a few joint efforts to increase the number of Korean tourists coming to Indonesia, such as organizing familiarization trips for leaders of travel agents in 2019, to promote 10 New Bali destinations. Read also: The other side of Korea: Art, food and history President of KATA, Yang Moo Seung, expresses his commitment to help increase tourist visits from Korea to Indonesia and vice versa. I realize that Indonesia has great potential in tourism. But the number of visits is still not optimum and in line with the existing potential. Let us work together to make the most of every possibility, he was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, KATA chairman Henry C. Oh Jr. expects there to be more flights to and from popular destinations in both countries. Another way to attract more visits to Indonesia is by filming Korean reality shows in Indonesia. Youns Kitchen, for example, which was aired on South Korean network TVN in early 2017, showed off Gili Trawangan in West Nusa Tenggara. Other shows include Law of the Jungle, which featured Sumatra and Komodo Island, Battle Trip with its Bali show and Running Man, which shows Yogyakarta. (mut) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, March 3, 2019 13:35 1010 dcc1aefb9780f102b77c720ee804ae73 1 News citilink,Halim-Perdanakusuma-Airport,travel,Airlines,bandung,Lampung Free Citilink Indonesia, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, opened new routes from Jakartas Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport to Bandung and Lampung on March 2. This move is part of our commitment to continue to expand our network in Indonesia, especially in increasing connectivity among cities in Sumatra and Java, said Citilink Indonesia corporate secretary and vice president of CSR Resty Kusandarina in a statement on Sunday. Read also: Garuda launches new Halim Perdanakusuma-Tasikmalaya route Using ATR 72-600 aircraft, the service can accommodate 70 passengers and are said to operate every day. The Jakarta-Bandung route is scheduled to depart from Halim airport at 4:20 p.m., meanwhile the return flight will leave Bandung at 6 p.m. The Jakarta-Lampung route is scheduled to depart from Halim at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile the return flight will leave Lampung at 1:40 p.m. (kes) 11 hours ago 3 Reasons Why a Robust Retirement Plan Matters Even More in 2022 (and What it Means for You) This year, 401(k) plans held an estimated $7.3 trillion in assets and represented nearly one-fifth of the $37.2 trillion U.S. retirement market, according to the Investment Company Institute. This refers to employer-sponsored retirement plans (both defined benefit and defined contribution plans), individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and annuities. That's a lot of money. Read Article Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) Just as many parts of the country are experiencing the effects of El Nino, a major dam's water level is at its lowest point in over a decade. La Mesa Dam in Quezon City supplies most of Metro Manila's water, and news of low water levels is prompting warnings from authorities that water shortage and interruptions may happen. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the dam's standard operating level is between 78 to 80.15 meters, it is currently at 69.54 meters less than half a meter from the the very critical level of 69 meters. Anna Solis, PAGASA's climate data section head, said, "Kapag nagprolong po itong tinatawag na dry spell...ibig sabihin nito pag nagtuluy-tuloy sa pagpasok po ng ating tag-ulan...yung mga inaasahan nating mga ulan ay hindi darating sa panahon ng tag-ulan, gaya po ng pagdating ng May, June, so yun po yung nagkakaroon tayo ng malaking problema o kakulangan sa ating mga dam." [Translation: If the dry spell is prolonged...meaning if it continues to the wet season...the rains we expect to arrive during that period will not arrive, like in the months of May, June, so that is when we will have a big problem or lack in water supply in our dams.] The weather bureau, meanwhile, says there is no cause for alarm just yet as La Mesa is still within the standard operating level of 180 to 210 meters. Authorities are more concerned about the continuous decrease of the dam's water levels. PAGASA Hydrologist Jason Busa told CNN Philippines, "Maski nagsusupply yung Angat (Dam) sa mga concessionaire ng nasa La Mesa, kumukuha pa rin ng water sa La Mesa kaya bumababa pa rin siya maski kaunti." [Translation: Even if Angat supplies the concessionaires of La Mesa, they are still getting water from La Mesa so the water level continues to drop.] If La Mesa Dam's water level drops further, more supply from Angat Dam will be needed. However, Angat Dam can only supply water for up to two months. If La Mesa Dam continues to get water from Angat, it may cause the latter's water level to fall to the critical 180 meter level. In that situation, authorities would be forced to declare a red alert due to water shortage as well as impose possible service interruptions. Maynilad and Manila Water customers in Metro Manila will be the hardest hit. As early as now, authorities are advising the public to conserve and store water, and are hoping the impact of El Nino will not worsen. By WSAZ , March . 02, 2019 Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates spent Saturday reflecting and, at times, apologizing after outbursts at the Capitol on Friday. The chaos started after a seemingly anti-Muslim poster was put on display for "Republicans Take the Rotunda" event. The arguments on the House floor lead to the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms and the injury of a doorkeeper after Del. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, forced the chamber doors open. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Phuket airport taxi driver in deadly wipeout still free to roam PHUKET: Four months after a Phuket airport taxi driver wiped out six cars and a motorbike, killing the motorbike driver in the process, while bringing a tourist from the airport, police still have yet to hand the case to the Phuket Public Prosecutors office to bring the charge to court. transporttourismaccidentsdeathpolice By Waranya Prompinpiras Sunday 3 March 2019, 10:00AM The scene of the wipeout accident on Oct 30 last year. Photo: Seang Prachachon Kon Phuket / Facebook The investigating officer, Lt Col Supon Mueangkai of Thalang Police, told The Phuket News yesterday (Mar 1), "I have charged the taxi driver, Marut Puangsombat, with reckless driving causing death and damage to property. I am still waiting to receive Mr Maruts criminal record, after which I will send the case file to the public prosecutor to begin the court process, Col Supon added. Asked about Maruts current whereabouts, Col Supon said, He is not being held in police custody, although he has been cooperative when called in for questioning, leaving him free to continue operating as an airport taxi driver in the meantime. The family of the late Mr Anuson have discussed compensation with Mr Marut twice so far, but have yet to reach an agreement, Col Supon noted. The taxi driver, 23-year-old Marut , was initially charged with reckless driving causing death after the accident, which killed 40-year-old Phuket resident Mr Anuson Rattanadilok Na Phuket. (See story here.) A tourist was in the taxi when the accident happened at 8am, Oct 30, but escaped unharmed, and immediately returned to the airport to leave. Thai MICE to chase Big Data PHUKET: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is calling for Thai MICE entrepreneurs to bring their businesses up to speed as competition in the global market is ramping up. By The Phuket News Sunday 3 March 2019, 10:00AM TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB TCEB hosted the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. Photo: TCEB The bureau has adopted MICE Intelligence combined with Data Analytics to respond to the changing behaviours of the MICE community with a strategy driven by MICE Intelligence and Innovation that encompasses 16 highlighted projects based on the three-year MICE business development plan (2019-2021), explained a TCEB release this week. The bureau has also launched a MICE Intelligence & Resource Center on its website, allowing all target groups entrepreneurs, businessmen, students and the public to jointly foster MICE business through the power of data and create sustainable economic growth. Supawan Teerarat, Senior Vice President for TCEBs Strategic Business Development & Innovation, explained that taking account of the visions of the 20-year national strategy on security, prosperity and sustainability, a coherent digital strategy will be a crucial mechanism for growth. In line with the governments policy, TCEB is placing emphasis on three key goals: revenue generation, innovation-driven development, and equitable distribution of income and prosperity, she added. In terms of the MICE strategy for this year, TCEB is aiming to boost the quality MICE market and distribute income to the cities. To accomplish this, the bureau is reorganising its operating structure and created a new MICE Intelligence & Innovation department. In addition, TCEBs three-year MICE Intelligence & Innovation Strategic Plan (2019-2021) is based on a study of the behaviours of MICE travelers and private operators, Ms Supawan explained. The operational guidelines have spawned 16 highlighted projects, which will be implemented over the next three years. Through the new department, TCEB will work closely with operators to substantially boost the MICE sector in creating revenue and knowledge. "TCEB has studied the major trends in global MICE business development including the changing behavior of business travelers. The study indicates that business travelers require events offering a full range of services. An optimum outcome will be expected even though they will have little time to engage in the event," said the release this week. "As MICE travelers are important to economic growth, governments around the world are trying to catalyse the MICE industry and boost the number of MICE travelers. In the past, governments mainly supported budgets to develop personnel, venues and win more MICE events. "However, financial support on its own cannot meet customer needs and ensure sustainable growth of the MICE business. In addition to financing, many countries are designing strategies to support the industry through other means. Several countries including Thailand are moving from the role of general information provider to offering more insightful information, allowing the operators to come up with concrete business plans through Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence," it added. "For this reason, the TCEB has initiated the MICE Intelligence & Innovation Department to promote the adoption of innovations and data for MICE development with particular emphasis on creating innovations based on the real demands of entrepreneurs. The bureau conducted a survey of the expectations of those involved in the MICE business need to deploy innovations and data. It then designed and developed 16 key MICE intelligence and innovation projects that meet the needs of target groups," the release noted. The roadmap of the MICE business development driven by MICE Intelligence & Innovation (2019-2021) consists of six strategies and 16 key projects: Strategy 1 is Support and Sponsorship provided for event organizing and suppliers. It features 4 projects: (1) Paperless MICE Lane Request as a fast track to welcome VIPs at the airports; (2) TCEB Online Financial Support Request; (3) TCEB Help Desk Chatbot; and (4) MICE Permit Advisor, which is an advisory service on importing goods for the exhibitions and applying for visas. Strategy 2 is Developing MICE Supply and encompasses 3 projects: (1) MICE Online Standard Assessment allowing entrepreneurs to apply for MICE standard certificates; (2) MICE Career Portal for job search and guidance; and (3) MICE Digital Learning Platform allowing suppliers to enhance their capacities. Strategy 3 is Enhancing Attendee Experience through an event application for attendee project to accommodate integrated services for event participants. Strategy 4 is Organizing Event with Efficiency. This features two projects: (1) A Mobile Application to accommodate the organizers; and (2) Event Traffic Analytics to assess visitors via video. Strategy 5 is Connecting MICE Supply & Demand and encompasses 5 projects: (1) Event Opportunities Portal which compiles the names and information about events for bidding; (2) MICE Crowd Funding Platform, a fund-raising center to support the organization of the event; (3) MICE Supply Marketplace for visitors' registration or exhibitors' bookings; (4) Event Discovery Platform; and (5) e-Commerce Platform, a marketplace for MICE products and services to create business opportunities pre and post events. Strategy 6 is MICE Intelligence & Resource Center and features the MICE Intelligence & Resource Center project, a comprehensive MICE database available via the website for assistance in creating innovations. TCEB hosted its MICE Intelligence & Innovation Conference in Bangkok on Feb 22 on the concept Break through the Hype Uncover the Reality of Customer Insights. The platform, created by TCEBs MICE Intelligence & Innovation Department, introduced the strategies and 16 highlighted projects under the three-year MICE Intelligence & Innovation Strategic Plan (2019-2021). "The bureau encourages suppliers and individuals to raise awareness on harnessing innovations and Big Data to set a plan and strategies for the future MICE development," explained the TCEB in its release. "The first project launched by TCEB, the MICE Intelligence & Resource Center, will dramatically shape MICE innovations and data and is aimed at suppliers as well as the business, educational and public sectors. "All will have access to the center, leading to an exchange of knowledge among people in the industry. The TCEB has collaborated with the global leading partners including World Bank, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Frost & Sullivan, business consulting firm involved in market research and analysis, and media intelligence firm, Meltwater Singapore," it added. At the conference, local and international speakers were on hand to share their expertise. Among them were Gordon Alexander Candelin - Design Director, McKinsey & Company and Khanet Kijsaereborerug - Business Connect Commercial Consultant, LINE Thailand etc. The conference was divided into three parts. During the first part, each speaker was allocated a 20-minute slot to address his topic. The second part has two breakout sessions enabling participants to ask for insights, while the final part was a panel discussion with an open Q&A session. The conference has been designed in such a way as to allow participants to truly focus on the contents. Previously, Thailand's MICE industry grew by an average of 5-10% annually. The adoption of innovation and technology as enablers will potentially drive the industry to grow by 20% a year," Ms Supawan said. "Meanwhile, technology will also reduce inequality, allowing all parties to access information equally," she added. "The technology will also create empowering partnerships allowing individuals the opportunities to create startups or businesses through a MICE platform. "Finally, the innovation and technology will create countless business opportunities, exchanges of knowledge and extend the industry, leading to the sustainable strengthening of MICE competitiveness, Ms Supawan concluded. The Morning Rumble Listener Tim got hit by 3 cars on the motorway after pulling over to help someone MONDAY Colson Whitehead at TIFFs Books on Film Watch this if: You want to hear a great American writer talk pulp. Based on John Godeys novel about a high-stakes hostage situation on a New York subway train, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is one of the greatest and grittiest of 70s movie thrillers. Colson Whitehead surely agrees with that claim. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and its forthcoming followup The Nickel Boys comes to the Lightbox to present the 1974 thriller which also features Walter Matthau at his grumbliest and talk about its place in the wider world of pulp fiction and the cinema it spawned. Eleanor Wachtel will also be back to host this ninth season launch of TIFFs Books on Film. (TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 7 p.m.) Jason Anderson TUESDAY Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival Watch this if: You want to skip the gym and work your abs by laughing. Can you handle 12 days straight of comedy? The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is back to test your endurance. This years headliners include SNLs Sasheer Zamata, Kids in the Halls Scott Thompson and Adam Ruins Everything, as well as your favourite local sketch troupes like Sex T-Rex, the Flirty Boys, the Templeton Philharmonic, Tony Ho, the Sketchersons, the Fringe hit Entrances and Exits and more. Last week, Canadian comedians fought back and won against a massive cut to their income because of a new deal between Sirius XM and Just for Laughs, so celebrate by giving them a laugh, a round of applause and some money. (Various locations, on until March 17) Carly Maga WEDNESDAY The Panama Papers at Doc Soup Watch this if: You just cant get enough of government corruption scandals. Some of the worlds most powerful people and corporations are still weathering the scandals that started four years ago with the publication of the Panama Papers, a trove of millions of documents that implicated them in a whole lot of shadiness. Director Alex Winter delves deep into the complex real-life drama behind the big leak and the ramifications of its many revelations. Winter who, before he became a first-rank doc-maker, was more familiar to moviegoers for goofing off with Keanu in the Bill & Ted movies joins host Rachel Giese for Q&As at the screenings this week. (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 6:30 p.m., March 7 at 6:45 p.m.) JA Kiss of the Spider Woman Watch this if: You want the excitement of musical theatre and the creepiness of a former jail. The formation of Eclipse Theatre would have been noteworthy on its own; new independent musical theatre companies are uncommon and this one has names like Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful) at the helm. Their first production is an intriguing (and limited) one: a site-specific production of Kander and Ebbs Tony-winning jailhouse musical in the former Don Jail, starring Kawa Ada and Tracy Michailidis. Capacity is limited, so its already sold out. (Don Jail, 550 Gerrard St. E., 7:30 p.m., until March 10) CM World After Dark Watch this if: Youre unafraid of things that go bump in the night. Poet Christopher Dewdney is a night owl; his 2004 Governor Generals Award-finalist book Acquainted With the Night dedicated each of its 14 chapters to a different hour from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a new nocturnal topic: animals, dreams, stars and more. Its safe to assume dancer and choreographer Shannon Litzenberger shares Dewdneys insomnia, since she has transformed his book into a dance-theatre performance featuring dancers Louis Laberge-Cote and Linnea Swan and some big names from the theatre world, including playwright Guillermo Verdecchia, set and lighting designer Ken MacKenzie, sound designer John Gzowski and interactive video designer Elysha Poirier. (Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W., 8 p.m., on until March 9) CM THURSDAY Hannah Georgas Watch this for: First soundings on whats expected to be a big year for the Toronto artist. A Newmarket native who found her voice in Vancouver then moved back here, Georgas hasnt shied away from sharing the glory and thats one of the themes of this show. Theres the unveiling of Imprints, a four-song EP of covers due Friday and the prelude to a full LP of new songs recorded with the Nationals Aaron Dessner. Then there are the friends and peers with her on International Womens Day eve, a group of varying indie spirits including Terra Lightfoot, Rae Spoon, Donovan Woods and the Weather Station, a.k.a. Tamara Lindeman, likely to join Georgas to reprise their take on Tegan & Saras Back in Your Head from the new record. (Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., doors 7 p.m.) Chris Young Farruquito Watch this because: Toronto debuts never come this spirited. At 36, Farruquito has a story to tell and, finally here, a stage to tell it on. Part of a Romani dynasty in the flamenco hotbed of Seville, Spain, he was dancing with his family on Broadway at age 5 and later hailed as heir to the flamenco school of grandfather Farruco (and as one of People magazines 50 most beautiful people). Now comes his autobiographical show, informed as with his illustrious ancestor and the tradition itself by misfortunes and tragedies: in his case, a prison sentence for manslaughter and his father dying of a heart attack after they performed together. The opening solea has him literally dancing out of the shadow of Farruco, the cast of 11 from there laying down a fast and intricate narrative. (Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., 8 p.m., also Friday at 8 p.m.) CY FRIDAY The Woman Who Loves Giraffes Watch this if: You want to be inspired by one womans passion for a fascinating animal. Just in time for International Womens Day, the story of Canadian Anne Innis Dagg, credited as the first person to study the behaviour of an animal in the wild, gets its TV debut after its Hot Docs premiere last November. Made by stuntwoman turned director Alison Reid, the doc will have you marvelling at the young woman who ventured to South Africa alone to study giraffes in 1956; bristling at the sexism that denied her an academic career and turned her into a feminist activist; rejoicing at her reclamation by the scientific community and mourning the ongoing decline in the worlds giraffe population. (Crave at 7:30 p.m.) Debra Yeo Year of the Gun on CBC Docs POV Watch this if: Youd like to consider the issue of gun violence from all sides. The year 2018 was the worst on record in Toronto for gun deaths and violence. This documentary by Marc de Guerre (Gamer Revolution, Whos Sorry Now?) includes voices from all sides of the issue: politicians, police, academics, mothers of victims, gun control and anti-violence advocates, community outreach workers, even those who have pulled the trigger. The main takeaway is that meaningful solutions have to go beyond getting tough on crime to get at the poverty and disadvantage at the root of the explosion in violence. (CBC and CBC Gem at 9 p.m.) DY SATURDAY The Moon: A Voyage Through Time Watch this if: Youre a fan of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and you like big, interactive exhibits for the whole family. This exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 includes a giant, five-metre sculpture of the moon by British artist Luke Jerram thats internally illuminated and features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. The exhibition will be highly interactive, with activity zones, a digital version of The Book of Wonders, as well as archeological, art-historical and ethnographic works that span centuries. (Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr., on until Aug. 18) Deborah Dundas Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick are known for their epic space films, riveting tales with villains in far-off galaxies and heroes conquering the intergalactic frontier. They are arguably the best known storystellers about discovery off the planet. But one point in their work cant be avoided: Spielberg, Lucas and Kubrick never got their cameras off the Earth. Theyve never been higher than a cinematographer or grip could take them. Canadian filmmaker Toni Myers got farther. She got her cameras away from the surly bonds of Earth to produce films about the real adventure of space travel. Hollywood may have had fantasy in hand, but Myers had the real deal. She may not be as well known as the makers of other space blockbusters but, to those who knew her, she was a visionary storyteller who not only worked with us to document history, but to do it in a way that inspired millions of people. Read more: Apollo 11s moon story is told with IMAX power and glory Ryan Reynolds fell hard for Mox the bear in IMAX documentary Born in Toronto, Myers studied at the Ontario College of Art before beginning her career in television and film. She was working on music projects for the Beatles company Apple when fellow filmmaker Graeme Ferguson tapped her to work for him on a new concept. Ferguson and his partners Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr and William Shaw were just beginning to develop new projector technology that could run 70-mm film and project a picture up to 30 metres high and 37 metres wide. The result was a stunning image in high resolution, never before seen in theatres. They called the format, and their company, IMAX. Myers was hooked on it. As she worked on the pioneering film North of Superior, Ferguson and the co-founders got the technology into former astronaut Michael Collins orbit, just a few years after he returned from the first Apollo mission to land on the moon. Space travel became an interesting film topic and Collins pressed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to pay attention. When he saw IMAX running (at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington), he said to me, The only way the public can experience what I as an astronaut have experienced is if the IMAX camera goes into space, Ferguson says. The idea took off. Hail Columbia!, the first space-themed IMAX film, documented the maiden voyage of the space shuttle in 1981. Pleased, NASA followed it with an offer to bring the camera aboard missions. It flew three times in 1984 and documented history in the making from satellite captures to spacewalks. The end result was The Dream Is Alive, a film still screened in some theatres today. It showed the public, both young and old, that even though we have moved temporarily beyond going to the moon there were still adventures to be had, says Robert Pearlman, editor of the space history website collectSPACE.com. Myers worked as an editor on the first two films, and expanded as a narrator and co-producer on the following ones, Blue Planet(1990), Journey to the Planets (1993) and Destiny in Space (1994). Ferguson says she particularly shone as a writer, crafting concise scripts that perfectly described the thrill of space flight and majesty of the Earth as seen from space. Others likely thought so, too. When legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite was given her raw copy to narrate The Dream Is Alive, Ferguson expected him to have revisions. Cronkite had none. Ferguson handed the production reins to Myers when he retired. She went on to produce L5: First City in Space in 1996, Mission to Mir in 1997, and was at the reins as director, producer, writer and editor of Space Station 3D in 2002 and Hubble 3D in 2010. Myers got IMAX on the shuttle (in the cabin and in the cargo bay), two space stations and at the foot of launch pads, just 57 metres away from two live launches. It was so close that flying debris once slammed into the cameras protective box, threatening the shot and potentially ruining the hardware. I thought I might as well stay in Kazakhstan, I just trashed a 3D IMAX camera, she joked. As it turned out, the camera was fine, the film was made. At the heart of her work was her relationships with the astronauts. Myers and her team trained alongside them from the depths of a training pool to the foot of a launch pad. Astronauts learned to be filmmakers by extension, knowing the camera system, setting up shots, planning angles and reading her scripts. Myers and her team stayed on hand at Mission Control in Houston as crews executed her plans in space. It wasnt easy. On the early flights astronauts had as little as eight minutes of film that were shot in 30-second sequences for 16 total shots. Their work had to be exacting and precise. Everything was done in one take. With the advent of digital cameras, crews had more time and a longer list of shots to go with it. Fogged lenses and space radiation proved to be hazards. The team learned it was easier to fly short missions, closer to the Earth, to protect imagery or, worst case, tuck the fragile film between water bags to protect it from the elements. We had all these scene lists, set lists, on-times, off-times and we had to do that, but once we got to space all bets were off, says NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, who trained with Myers and the IMAX team ahead of a 2009 shuttle flight. When we were making the movie, we werent making it for the world, we were making it for (cinematographer) James Neihouse and Toni. That was the deal. The imagery wasnt about us, it was about getting her what she needed because she was just so invested. Myers worked with crews on the International Space Station for over a year for her last IMAX film. Crews were able to talk with Myers via email and internet phone to update and plan as time went on. Filming an IMAX movie was the highlight of all that I did in over seven months in space, NASA astronaut Terry Virts says. Toni was simply the best, as a friend and mentor. Along the way, Myers found herself as enamoured with the Earth as she was with space. Two of her other films include Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D. Her last, called A Beautiful Planet, was billed as a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space, providing a unique perspective and increased understanding of our planet and galaxy as never seen before. The same may be said for her legacy, Ferguson and others note. Myers died of cancer on Feb. 18, just days after she was awarded the Order of Canada for her work. The person who gave it to her was Governor General Julie Payette, herself a former astronaut. I think her legacy will live forever as a pioneer in the film industry, Feustel says. Whats great about that is that it is all captured on film. There are images that will never go away her work and her heart that is in that work will never go away. VANCOUVERRunning an international fashion empire was always part of RozeMerie Cuevas dreams. She just didnt expect to find that success in China. But now that shes established herself among businesswomen in the vast Asian country, she is making her grand return to Canada where she once struggled to keep her business afloat. Cuevas started the label Jacqueline Conoir 33 years ago in Vancouver, naming it after her mother who died when Cuevas was five. The label was later rebranded to Jac by Jacqueline Conoir in 2011. Its been my dream since I started 33 years ago to make our brand international, and I wanted it to be a brand that everyone recognizes and I want to be proud that we could develop a Canadian brand internationally, Cuevas told the Star on a recent business trip to Vancouver, where she was looking for investment partners that could sell Jac clothing in more locations. The company describes its style as a relaxed esthetic with feminine silhouettes and details. The mid-range designer brand offers $150 blouses, $250 pants and winter jackets for more than $1,000. Mina Hou, one of Jacs customers turned business investor, said Jac tapped into a powerful middle class made up of women who have benefited from Chinas economic growth since 1978. Most of the Chinese (people) are well-educated, especially (if) they are living in big cities. They have a world view, they dont have a limited view like our parents generation, said Hou, 45. My generation of Chinese women are very independent. They work, they make money themselves, they have the right to spend on what they like and they also like international brands. During the early years in Vancouver, the company struggled to find local facilities that could manufacture their clothing due to a lack of skilled workers, limited raw materials and the high cost of production. The decline of available manufacturing was gradual, she said, starting in 2005, with the most drastic change between 2010 and 2013. It was also difficult for Cuevas to find the right staff with the level of experience she wanted in an expensive city with a modest population, she said. The company was at a crossroads: either find a partner in a country where the clothes could be made cheaper or close the business for good. So she packed up and went to China. At the time Cuevas left in 2013, Metro Vancouver held 2.4 million people, according to Statistics Canada. Shanghai, according to the Chinese census, had a population of more than 23 million. She her husband, co-founder Thomas Cuevas, established a production facility in Hangzhou, a city south of Shanghai in eastern central China. It now employs 550 staff. In order to actually succeed in the Chinese market, you need to step up to the speed of China, said Cuevas, who spends six to 10 months a year in China and divides the rest of her time between Canada and Europe. As Cuevas continues to plot Jacs retail expansion in China along with a business partner who has been instrumental in helping the small fashion brand obtain capital to expand she says their second effort in Canada will be different because the clothes will be designed and made in their facility in China. Cuevas declined to reveal the worth of the company but said its 30 times what it was in Canada. When youre put in front of 1.4 billion people, youre able to expose yourself to a greater audience and therefore have greater response and success, said the former East Vancouver teenager, who worked in a bank for two years to save enough money to move to Paris to study design and pattern making. Now Cuevas is home, looking for partners to help open 12 to 15 stores in Canada in the next two years. It would be a leap from her modest beginnings here but in China, Jac has 110 stores across the country and 35 more planned for this year. We in Canada do things very slowly, very methodically or cautiously. Step by step. We need to have like a 10-year plan. But in China things are done very differently. So theyre very fast. You have to make decisions very quickly, not think about things too much. Just try it, she added. Most of Jacs clients are Chinese women 30 to 50 years old who are working as managers and executives. The same appeal drew Vancouver artist Marion Landry to its clothes early in her career when she worked as an architectural visualization specialist. I would often be in meetings with me and about 40 men and I just needed to dress appropriately and to be taken seriously so I really felt like the clothes were following what I needed at the time, said Landry, who has a collection of winter jackets and suits from Jac from as far back as a decade. There are still a few pieces of clothing she regrets not buying: a black knee-length dress with leather details on the side that she could have worn for many occasions, and the last light blue jacket in her size that was snatched up by another woman who tried it on. Landry no longer works in architecture and dedicates half her time to geometrical abstract painting. Over the years, as her artistic style became less formal, so did the style of clothes Jac produced. Landry describes the new Jac as edgy and smart casual. When I do have (art exhibitions), I pull out my Jac clothing It feels to me that the way that my life evolved, Jac evolved with me at the same time. Read more about: LAKEPORT, ONT.On a slate-grey Friday afternoon, the snow drifting through the Lakeport Cemetery is the liveliest thing in sight around this Northumberland County hamlet. Then a glance in the rear-view mirror reveals a yellow school bus swinging north onto Townline Rd. with its final load of the week. Just before turning off County Rd. 31, however, the bus and its scholars would have passed right by a tin-and-cinderblock factory, which sits on the border between Cramahe and Alnwick/Haldimand townships and is the only visible place of business in this town east of Cobourg, near Lake Ontario. And the business thats emerging in the former canning plant has many in Lakeport angry that it will change the nature of the hamlet. Theyre going to put a cannabis growing operation in there, says Femma Norton, a leader of the Defend Lakeport residents association that has sprung up in opposition to the facility. When you see the history of Lakeport, it changes the whole dynamics of the quaint little hamlet that we have here. As the legalization of recreational pot takes hold in Canada, plants like this planned Sharpshooter Industries Inc. operation are opening across the country, prompting several bouts of citizen concern, including recently in Hamilton and Pelham, Ont. The 31,000-square-foot plant which will produce cannabis flower, extracts and oils would be Sharpshooters first. Ultimately, the question to ask is: would there even be an issue if the operation was to grow and process roses and rose oil, versus cannabis and cannabis oil? says Sharpshooter CEO Omar Fattah, in an emailed response to questions from the Star. The companys origin story tells of founder Scott Hamilton helping to cure a pseudonymous Canadian veteran of the war in Afghanistan named as John Smith on the company website of post-traumatic stress disorder with his cannabis extract formula. The story goes that in late 2014, Hamilton, also a veteran, had given Smith a dose of CBD, an active component of the cannabis plant with reputed healing properties, to stunning effect. John burst open the door to Scotts office with tears of joy rolling down his face. He had managed to leave the house for the first time in months. CBD had cured him! the story goes. He was free of his emotional prison. He could function again. He got his life back. But Lakeports introduction to the company which hopes to begin operations in the summer of 2020 and employ 15 to 25 people has been marked not by joy and revelation, but by secretive end runs that have kept even local politicians in the dark, many here say. While the Sharpshooter plans received an initial nod of approval from Cramahe Township last April, for example, Alnwick/Haldimand Mayor John Logel says he knew nothing about them until December. The only thing that brought it to our attention, really, as much as anything was neighbours coming to us and saying there is a fence going up, says Logel, who kept his mayoral job by acclamation in last falls election. We have never been approached regarding any planning or thoughts of setting up the new plant. Fattah says his company, which bought the plant in 2017, has kept all parties abreast of its plans. He said the company is addressing all the concerns the residents have raised over the past few months. Read more: What it takes to be a cannabis sommelier Ottawa unveils legislation on pardons Ontario launches cannabis retail training Through a quirk of cartography, the hamlet of Lakeport spans two townships, and thus two local governments. To the west is Alnwick/Haldimand. To the east is Cramahe. But almost all the residents of Lakeport live to the west, in Alnwick/Haldimand. The townships borderline cuts through the Sharpshooter property, which is 1.6 hectares (four acres). And the actual plant building on the eastern part of its property lies entirely in Cramahe. Note: border is approximate Logel says the company will have to seek his Alnwick/Haldimand councils approval before going forward. The plants border placement has emerged as a critical part of the controversy thats grown up around the enterprise, says Gritt Koehl, another leader of the Lakeport pot rebellion. Koehl, a local activist, says the company has cultivated politicians and prominent citizens in Cramahe Township while leaving Alnwick/Haldimand residents the bulk of the hamlets population in the dark. Its one parcel of land with a building on it that sits over two townships, Koehl says, but Sharpshooter chose to shut Alnwick/Haldimand out. Says Norton: We knew nothing about it. The first indication Toronto employment lawyer Bill Gale had that a cannabis plant was being built beside his weekend home was when he and his wife, Marna, approached their driveway along County Rd. 31 on a Saturday in late November last year, he says. There was this huge chain-link fence probably 100 yards long down the side of the road, Gale says. And my wife shes a big Stephen King fan she just shouted out, Its Shawshank, a reference to the horror writers fictional prison. The new, 2.4-metre-high fence surrounded a property that was once undulating. But it had been bulldozed flat; trees and vegetation no longer hid the factory from Gales wedge-shaped acre of tranquillity. Until recently we just loved the solitude and the peacefulness of the place, he says. Of course Gale knew he was buying a property beside an industrial plant when he purchased it along with its 19th-century home and a barn back in 2009. It was an industry. They made electric wire (at the time and) the person who sold us the house said very nice neighbours, quiet, you wont even notice theyre there, he says. And that turned out to be the case. Gales property bordering in the north and east on the Sharpshooter land is now fully exposed to the factory. For Gale, Norton and Koehl, potential disruptions include a depletion of the local water table, increased traffic and crime, harm to a nearby wetland and a pervasive smell of weed. Norton worries the water-intensive undertaking will tap out the communitys groundwater supply. Despite Lakeports location on the Lake Ontario shore, its well water supply which all residents tap into has proven iffy in the past. We already have a problem with wells going dry around here, Norton says. In response to all these concerns, Fattah says his plant will be a big improvement over the heavy industry uses that were there in recent decades. Until recently the facility produced vehicle brakes. The transition from machinery-focused operations to cannabis production is a benefit, Fattah says. First, we have cleaned up the premises by removing all kinds of unsightly industrial debris that was visible to residents, he says. Second, Fattah says, Sharpshooters operation will be very quiet compared to previous industrial usages and will comply with all Health Canada regulations. This calls for very strict and extremely high standards of cleanliness and emissions that are on par with any food-grade manufacturing operation, he says. Third, with the direction of a qualified hydrogeological firm, Sharpshooter will review the existing well and groundwater levels to determine what volume of water can be used from the aquifer. Fattah says previous plant operators used large quantities of water without a community uproar and that the contemplated design of his operation would have it capture and reuse most of its water. So actual water consumption is quite low, he says. As for the smell, Fattah says the Health Canada rules the plant must adhere to will minimize the wafting scent of weed with activated charcoal and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters mandatory. The plants Shawshank impression and potential to attract crime are being overstated, says Fattah, who promised multi-level security systems. He said the current plan is not to sell to the public from the facility. Regarding concerns for the wetlands, he said Sharpshooter must abide by conservation authority rules, and would be cleaner than the previous brake-pad manufacturing operations there. Still, a recent petition conducted by Norton and fellow committee member Cinnamon Combs at 44 of Lakeports 70-odd homes collected 54 signatures opposing the plant, with only three residents refusing to sign. What bothers Gale, the Toronto lawyer, most is the general feeling that the company is being dismissive of its Lakeport neighbours and that the plant just doesnt fit in with the rural scape of a place first settled in 1793. Its just ugly and its just counter to the whole community there, he says. I know Sharpshooter has said they want to work with the neighbours, but they have not once reached out to me as the neighbour who is surrounded on two sides by them. This lack of outreach has stretched across the entire community, says Norton of Defend Lakeport, amid the mounds of protest-related papers straining the kitchen table in her pretty, plant-filled home. Theyve ignored us completely, she says. But Fattah says his company has given the required public notice on both sides of the township border. Sharpshooter has been diligent in informing all necessary parties of the companys intentions, as dictated by Health Canada regulations, he says. He says that in August 2017, Sharpshooter sent a letter to Cramahe and Alnwick/Haldimand municipal offices, as well as the local OPP unit and the Brighton Fire Department, to notify them of the intention to open a cannabis production operation. Recently elected Cramahe Mayor Mandy Martin says Sharpshooter approached that townships council last April under her predecessor Marc Coombs seeking its support in principle to go ahead with Health Canada licensing approval. A municipality has to indicate that they are willing to listen to these people before they will be considered for approval, for example from Health Canada, says Martin. She says Cramahes response was that Sharpshooter was welcome to apply. While Martin says industries score extra points with regulators for such municipal nods, she says the company must still meet extensive township site-planning demands before it receives the final go-ahead on her side of the line. She maintains Cramahe has no idea how the company will propose to meet those demands on water, sewage and parking issues, for example and that the enterprise is no sure thing. The company hasnt presented us with anything, Martin says. They have made no applications, they have not come before my council. In general, however, Martin says she would not oppose a cannabis grower on the hamlets edge if the company passes her municipal muster. In principle its zoned industrial. The land has been industrial for decades, she says, adding she needs to see the details. Martin adds that the plant specs will also have to satisfy county planners, the county health department, conservation authority personnel and officials with Canadian Pacific Railway, which runs a line nearby. It will have to fly through all kinds of hoops, she says, adding the company has given her no timetable for submitting its site approval plan. Gale, the facilitys neighbour, says hes been disturbed by the approach of Martin and other Cramahe officials. Cramahe officials have a very laissez-faire, let-them-eat-cake sort of attitude, he says. Gale says Martins assertion that theres little her council can do to bar the plant if it meet planning regulations given the industrial zoning is nonsense. He dismisses the argument that this would be unlawful discrimination. Thats their job. They discriminate every day were going to discriminate against this building application, were going to discriminate against this or that. The nearby communities of Brighton and Cobourg have enacted zoning bylaws dictating where cannabis production facilities can be built in particular away from schools and residential areas. In Cobourg, a cannabis plant has been retrofitted into a former Kraft factory in an industrial park, Gale says. Cannabis industry expert Rod Elliot says the provinces marijuana licensing act applies to retail stores only. But when it comes to a cannabis production facility, not mentioned in the act, Elliot believes municipalities are required to deal with it as with any other industry applying for a permit. It would be the same as if a Coca-Cola plant was applying there, says Elliot, a senior vice-president with the Toronto consulting firm Global Public Affairs. They need to treat it like any other business. While Elliot says there has been some resident backlash, most municipal governments have an open-arms attitude especially having seen how the cannabis giant Canopy Growth transformed the town of Smiths Falls, Ont. Sharpshooter chose Lakeport because of its proximity to large population centres in the province, according to its website. Fattah, the CEO, says the companys founder wanted it to be close to Belleville about 50 kilometres east and saw the plant for sale on a Multiple Listing Service. Since it was listed in the municipality of Cramahe, he called the municipal office and confirmed that the industrial zoning was suitable for cannabis, he says. Later in the purchase process, it was discovered that part of the property was in Alnwick/Haldimand, which is why this municipality also received a letter to inform it of the buildings intended use. Martin, the Cramahe mayor, says residents mounting the Sharpshooter fight are ignoring several relevant details. For one, she says, there are already a number of odoriferous pot growers in the neighbourhood. Like there are 10 Quonset huts which are so much closer to these people, and theyre growing, Martin says. Thats a (medical) grow-op and that one has smell. But these (Lakeport) people dont seem to have any bother with these other grow-ops. Martin says such plants tend to spring up like weeds in the area. Out here in these rural municipalities its like the Wild West, she says. Its the grow-ops that are really a problem. And the stink is unbelievable when its ready. As well, Martin says, the prospective Sharpshooter facility has not been a pristine presence in Lakeport since its days as a canning facility for local produce decades ago. The brake-pad company that just left in January (was) not a very clean industry. Like Martin, Logel, mayor of Alnwick/Haldimand township, sees potential positives, especially in jobs for residents. But he says several steps would be required before his township approved the plant. Those include proper hydrological studies showing it would not deplete the water table. He also says the zoning on his side of the line calls for light, shop-like operations on the Alnwick/Haldimand side of the property. But in the end, Logel says Lakeports Sharpshooter opponents might well be out of luck should the company come in with acceptable site plans. Thats a tricky one Ill be perfectly honest with you, he says. The cannabis laws are confusing and seem to change from one day to the next but my understanding is you cant restrict growing or handling cannabis in areas just because its cannabis. And Martin also maintains her hands will be tied if the company files acceptable site plans. I cant just turn it down because its cannabis, she says. Some people they are just anti-cannabis Its legal now so it qualifies as an industry. Just think of it as a widget factory. Over the years, as Ka Lee-Paine marked her lifes milestones birthdays, graduation, her wedding she celebrated not only with family, but with the people who helped to make that life possible. Lee-Paine arrived in Canada in 1979 as a 2-year-old refugee, along with her parents and a brother. They were among the first wave of Indochinese boat people welcomed to Canada under a then-new sponsorship program that allowed Canadians to directly resettle refugees caught up in humanitarian crises abroad. The Lees, who had been living in the Nong Khai refugee camp in Thailand, landed first in Montreal before flying to Toronto and then travelling to the Crosshill Mennonite Church in Waterloo, where they were met by complete strangers. Jim and Rosella Leis were among them. As one of three families who formed their core sponsorship group, they embraced the Lees. And they never let go. They have witnessed many of the important moments in Ka Lee-Paines life. Read more: 40 years ago, Canadas private refugee sponsorship program was born. It continues to bolster the countrys reputation for compassion Settled in a strange land: What life is like in Canada for Syrian refugees We felt we were reborn. Thousands of Eritrean refugees quietly welcomed to Canada They are part of my family and I wanted them to be part of these milestones that I was able to make in my life because of them, said Lee-Paine, 42, who teaches elementary school in Kitchener. They will always be. Its been a gratifying and interesting experience, said Jim Leis, an investment adviser, who now lives in Brunner, Ont. We have been invited to their New Year celebrations, graduations and weddings. We have established a relationship that did not end after one year (of sponsorship). Lee-Paines father, Chong Lee, and mother, Bao, were among the Hmong minority who had fled persecution in Laos in 1975 for assisting Americans in the Vietnam War. Both Lee-Paine and her younger brother, Cheu, were born in the Thai refugee camp. The family were among 60,000 Indochinese refugees resettled in Canada after the first blueprint of a private sponsorship agreement was signed between Ottawa and the Mennonite Central Committee, 40 years ago on March 5, 1979. Everything happened so quickly, said Lee-Paine. We didnt have a moment to breathe. We moved to Canada, and within two weeks, my father had a job in a factory. The family was initially housed in a remote village outside of Waterloo, but within a month moved to New Hamburg, a more built-up area, for jobs and better access to government services. My parents spoke no English and nobody here spoke Hmong, she added, but that didnt stop the Crosshill Mennonite Church from understanding the familys needs. Church members took Cheu in and out of the Grand River Hospital to treat his osteomyelitis, caused by parasites and malnutrition at the refugee camp, and escorted Bao to her English classes, rain or shine. The Lees would go on to have four more children in Canada all of whom completed at least a high school education and five grandchildren. Cheu, now 40, works in shipping; Mei See Lee-Jaggard, 39, has a job in logistics; May Chee Warren, 38, finished college and works as a receptionist; Foua, 35, has a retail job; and the youngest son, Nou, works in auto parts assembly. Chong Lee, who died 10 years ago at age 53, worked in car detailing at a dealership and Bao did custom trim, using her sewing skills in making steering wheel covers. Lee-Paines parents were also involved in helping to resettle other refugees in Canada. I wouldnt be here without our sponsors, said Lee-Paine. We are forever grateful to them. Lee-Paine, who is active in the Hmong community, began doing presentations about private sponsorships for the Mennonite church during Canadas Syrian refugee resettlement that began at the end of 2015. My mom had no education but she has taught me to work hard and to understand justice and empathy. We have learned not to take anything for granted, she said. Canada is a country thats built on immigrants and refugees. It makes us better human beings by accepting people for who they are. Give them a chance, everyone can succeed. Few government contracts have stood the test of time as well as a simply worded deal between Canada and its people that has not only lasted four decades but continues to bolster the countrys reputation for compassion. The 11-page sponsorship agreement, signed between Ottawa and the Mennonite Church on March 5, 1979, in response to the boat people crisis, became the blueprint for Canadas private refugee resettlement program that has allowed Canadians to play an active role in helping refugees start a new life here. My family and I wouldnt be here without it, said Ka Lee-Paine, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came here at age 2 with her family in 1979, among the first wave of people accepted under the private refugee sponsorship program. We had complete strangers helping us out. The sponsorship meant I could have a good life, get a great education and be a strong woman, added the now 42-year-old Kitchener teacher. Ninety-nine per cent of us do understand how fortunate we are to have made it to Canada and we strive to be productive citizens of this country. With the help of groups such as the Mennonite Central Committee serving as guarantors and administrators, Canadians have brought almost 350,000 refugees to Canada by providing the newcomers with at least one year of financial and social support. During the Syrian refugee crisis, Canada has seen a renewed interest in private sponsorships, which accounted for half of the 60,000 Syrians resettled here; the rest were sponsored by the federal government. Read more: Forever grateful to them. 40 years on, refugees still feel warm embrace of their sponsors Settled in a strange land: What life is like in Canada for Syrian refugees We felt we were reborn. Thousands of Eritrean refugees quietly welcomed to Canada Organizations that have sponsorship agreements with the federal government handle applications from individual community groups, who in turn are responsible for raising funds to support the refugees during their first year in the country as well as creating a social network to help them navigate their new lives and find housing and jobs. There are now more than 100 sponsorship agreement holders, mostly faith groups, across Canada. The mass exodus of Indochinese refugees was sparked by the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. As American soldiers were evacuated from the South Vietnamese capital, Communist troops from the north swept in, hoisting their flags and spreading panic. Hundreds of thousands of desperate people from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos fled to neighbouring countries by boat. Many didnt make it, either drowning at sea or being attacked by pirates. Others ended up languishing for years in overcrowded refugee camps. In 1978, Ottawa passed a new immigration law with a provision to allow private sponsorships if Canadians would accept full responsibility for the refugees for a year. But there were no takers, said Mike Molloy, who was director of refugee policies in the Immigration Department at the time. Refugee advocates and churches were speaking against it and intimidating others not to get involved. There wasnt a single sponsorship application coming in, recalled Molloy, 74, who officially retired from the federal service in 2003. The Mennonite Central Committee was a gift. They came to us in late 1978 with a clear altruistic motivation. As a faith community that came here as refugees, they were confident and pragmatic. They played straight with us and we played straight with them. Canada had welcomed more than 21,000 Mennonite refugees from Russia in the 1920s and another 8,000 from Eastern Europe after the Second World War, and the community was eager to play a part in helping the boat people, said Bill Janzen, who was tasked by the Mennonite committee with negotiating the deal with Ottawa in 1979. Our community was experienced in helping refugees get settled with jobs and a place to live. We had been active with our aid work in Vietnam since 1954. We sympathized with those fleeing from Communist totalitarian regimes, said Janzen, 75, who was MCCs office director in Ottawa in 1979. Its human nature to imagine the worst-case scenario and worry about any legal problems, health and financial needs of the people they sponsored. Thats why we decided to step up as an organization for them to fall back on and help them overcome the fear of liability. With a mandate from his board to make a deal with the government, Janzen asked for a meeting with senior immigration officials on Feb. 2, 1979. He arrived in Ottawa with a rough outline of what would later turn into the 11-page agreement. Gordon Barnett, an experienced government negotiator, was Janzens counterpart at the bargaining table. He said one of the sticking points of the negotiation was over the responsibility to provide language classes to privately sponsored refugees. It didnt start out smoothly. Why should the government offer language classes to refugees sponsored by churches? That should be their problem, recalled Barnett, now 75, who once belonged to a team on the Privy Council tasked with drafting the language rights for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and who retired from the Immigration Department in 1996. It was a time when the Indochinese boat people were filling the news and the government was under undue pressure to do something. We were negotiating with the Mennonites and they were so willing to help. We met a few more times and the deal was signed within weeks. The agreement laid out the eligibility of who could be a sponsor and the criteria to be sponsored, as well as the sponsorship process, roles and responsibilities with Ottawa ultimately agreeing to pick up the tab for language training. The Mennonite agreement inspired groups such as the Presbyterian Church of Canada and Council of Christian Reformed Churches to follow suit. By August 1979, 28 national church organizations as well as Catholic and Anglican dioceses were on board. By the end of that year, 5,456 private sponsorships had been received for 29,169 refugees, surpassing the 21,000 goal set by the government. In the end, Canada would roll out the welcome mat to 60,000 Indochinese refugees in the late 1970s and early 1980s, half of them through private sponsorships. When I look back on my career, this agreement with the Mennonites was something I really felt good about. At the end, we had a really well-negotiated document because what we negotiated was fair, said Barnett. I thought when the Indochinese refugee crisis was over, the agreement would become a historical document. I never thought it would go on forever. Im just amazed that it stood the test of time and is still useful to this day. Brian Dyck, the Mennonite committees current national migration and resettlement program co-ordinator, said the private sponsorship program is unique in that it allows Canadians to be hands-on in helping refugees. You have a broad range of people in the community who bring together their social capital to the process. This has helped build Canadians awareness of refugee issues over the last 40 years, said Dyck. It helps build social cohesion and instills a stronger sense of volunteerism in Canadians. As temperatures dip Sunday, Torontos chief medical officer has issued an extreme cold warning for Toronto until further notice. Dr. Eileen de Villa is warning members of the public to dress in warm layers, stay dry and seek shelter when outdoors and to check on family, friends and neighbours with heart or respiratory conditions, or those who spend long periods of time outside. Depending on the wind chill, exposed skin can freeze in minutes, the warning reads. The city issues extreme cold alerts when the daily forecast reaches -15 C, or -20 C with wind chill. On Sunday, temperatures will hover around -9 C for most of the day, according to Environment Canada, dropping to a low of -15C with the windchill around 11 p.m. The city is expected to get colder on Monday with a wind chill low of -24 C during the day and -22 C overnight. The alert means a warming centre at Metro Hall will be open by 7 p.m., and will remain open until noon the day the alert ends. The City asks that residents help vulnerable people by calling 311 if there is a need for street outreach assistance. Call 911 if the situation is an emergency, the warning reads. Environment Canada has issued no weather alerts for the city. With files from Rhianna Jackson-Kelso. Jack Hauen is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jackhauen Read more about: U.S. and South Korean officials announced Saturday that they will end longtime military exercises that had riled North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns regime and drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, replacing them with smaller operations. The Pentagon disclosed the decision Saturday evening after a phone call between acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. They agreed to conclude the exercises, replacing them with newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training program, according to a Pentagon statement. The Minister and Secretary made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the statement said. A U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the newer, scaled-back operation will be held March 4-12 and will entail a computer exercise. It will be called Dong Maeng, which means Alliance, the official said, and will include thousands fewer troops. Another U.S. defence official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Shanahan had hoped to find a solution that would allow the U.S. and South Korean militaries to continue the parts of the exercises that focused on maintaining joint readiness while foregoing parts that in the past had been intended as a show of force. Those elements, the Pentagon leadership has concluded, could be viewed as saber-rattling at a time when the military looks to support diplomacy with North Korea, the official said. The plans to scale back the exercise could have some impact on readiness, officials said, but its not yet clear how much. Read more: Opinion | Tony Burman: Trump and Kim A failure of top-down diplomacy How Trumps Hanoi talks with Kim unravelled Trump, Kim summit collapses over sanctions impasse Both the Foal Eagle series of exercises held in the spring and the Key Resolve exercises traditionally held in the summer will conclude. They focused on preparing for the possibility of war with North Korea, and involved thousands of troops. At times, they included U.S. bombers, submarines and other displays of force. The announcement, which NBC News first reported Friday was expected, comes two days after Trump cut short a summit with Kim on Thursday after they were unable to agree to terms on how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. As he had previously, the president spoke warmly of Kim and with disdain for the exercises. I was telling the generals I said: Look, you know, exercising is fun and its nice and they play the war games, Trump said, referring to the exercises by a phrase the Pentagon has typically avoided. And Im not saying its not necessary, because at some levels it is, but at other levels its not. But its a very, very expensive thing. And you know, we do have to think about that, too. The president announced in June 2018 following his historic first summit with Kim that he would end all war games on the peninsula. The Pentagon said a few days later that it would suspend the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercise that was planned for August 2018 but avoided forecasting plans beyond that. But as discussions continued, it became clear that future exercises also would be affected. Jim Mattis, who resigned as Pentagon chief in December, said in November that this springs Foal Eagle exercise would be reduced in scope as diplomats from the two countries continued to speak. Foal Eagle is being reorganized a bit to keep it at a level that will not be harmful to diplomacy, he said. Officials from the two Koreas have agreed on other measures to reduce tensions, including setting up buffer zones in waters around the peninsula and destroying some guard towers at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone that separates the countries. Some Democrats have questioned whether the cessation of exercises will hurt the ability of the U.S. military to respond in the event of a crisis. Army Gen. Robert Abrams, the top commander of U.S. Forces Korea, downplayed the significance of scaled-back exercises last month. Abrams, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 12, said that while some exercises have been canceled, the Americans and South Koreans continue to train together and have done some innovative things to stay sharp by adjusting size, scope, volume and the timing of their operations to allow diplomats to continue discussing peace. Historically weve conducted one in the spring and one in the summer, and I have continued planning for execution of one in the spring, he said. Under questioning, Abrams said that most rank-and-file U.S. troops would notice a difference in their training level, and that battalion commanders might in the upcoming months. Senior commanders would see a difference, he said, adding that they are well-versed in the demands of their job. Read more about: CAIRO - A spokesman for the forces of a Libyan strongman based in the countrys east says his self-styled Libyan National Army has seized control of Libyas southern border with Algeria. The spokesman, Ahmed al-Mesmari, says Field Marshal Khalifa Hifters troops entered several southern towns, including Ghat and Awaynat, the previous week. The advances are the latest in an operation Hifter announced in January to eliminate gangs, Islamic State terrorists and criminals in the south. The spokesman says Hifters forces now control all Libyas borders except the one to the west. Libya slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that overthrew and killed long-ruling dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country is currently governed by rival authorities in Tripoli and the east, each backed by an array of militias. MIAMI - Authorities say the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey spent the night in a Miami jail after being arrested on fraud charges. Peter Thomas was arrested Friday at Miami International Airport on a fugitive warrant. Miami-Dade police told news outlets the warrant for 58-year-old Thomas is from Louisiana where he is accused of writing fraudulent checks. No bond has been set. In an official statement, Thomas said the allegations were false. He said he will be acquitted from any wrongdoing. Thomas is the owner of a sports bar and a club in Charlotte, North Carolina. BALTIMORE - A gesture as simple as writing a check can have heroic consequences. The $900 that the Baltimore heiress and art patron Saidie Adler May filled out represents a modest sum, even viewed from the perspective of 1940. Its the equivalent of $16,150 in 2019 dollars, or roughly the amount needed to buy a late-model used car. But it was enough to possibly save four people from the Nazis. Mays $900 donation purchased boat passage during World War II from occupied France to the U.S. for the major Surrealist painter Andre Masson; his wife, Rose; and their young sons, Diego and Luis. Rose Masson and the boys were Jewish; Andre Massons art had been condemned by the Nazis as degenerate. Its kind of an astonishing story, said Oliver Shell, the Baltimore Museum of Arts associate curator of European art. There was a mainly American rescue committee that was trying to get artists and intellectuals out of Europe. Many of them got over here at the last moment, and Masson was one of them. The result of Mays generosity she supported the young family during the five years they spent in the U.S. before returning to Europe by making frequent purchases of Massons paintings is reflected in part in Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s, the impressive and intentionally disquieting ticketed exhibition opening Sunday at the heiress hometown museum. This 90-work show is chock full of modern masters: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. There are even two short black-and-white films running in a continuous loop, including Luis Bunuels Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog.). Though about three-quarters of this show is drawn from the BMAs collection, many pieces will be unfamiliar to local art lovers. About 20 are on loan from other museums, and some major works owned by the Baltimore museum (such as a handful of Picasso etchings on paper) are rarely displayed, Shell said, because theyre fragile. Monsters and Myths debuted at Connecticuts Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art last fall. After leaving Baltimore in May, it will travel to Nashvilles Frist Museum. Shell said the Surrealist movement was an outgrowth of the growing realization among intellectuals that the carnage inflicted during World War I had not brought about lasting peace. The Spanish Civil War loomed and in Germany, Adolf Hitler had begun his rise to power. Many of the paintings created during those decades have an anguished, nightmarish quality. They were the artists way of sounding the alarms, of trying to rouse the populace to take up arms and fight back. Nationalism was on the rise, said Shell, who co-curated the show with a colleague from the Wadsworth. The artists were very despondent at encountering dictators and other real-life monsters. Some of the images they created are very disturbed. The human body is a recurring motif, but its rarely depicted whole or without grotesque distortion. Many torsos lack heads, reflecting the artists belief that they were living in irrational times, Shell said. The female praying mantis, who bites off the head of her mate during sex, appears almost as often in these artworks as the Minotaur, a fictitious beast that was half man and half bull and that devoured human sacrifices. (If visitors to the Surrealism show find themselves lost and feeling a bit trapped, thats no accident; the galleries have been reconfigured to resemble the maze in which the Minotaur of Greek mythology hunted his prey.) This is a show about the psychology of evil, Shell said, where it lives and how it thrives and how to expunge it. But though art in dark times is the overarching theme of this show, we also wanted to highlight the brilliance and resilience of the people who despite personal hazards continued to work as artists. Ernst, for instance, fought on the side of Germany in World War I but emerged from the trenches to protest nationalism. Dalis close friend from school was the great Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, who was murdered by the Fascists in 1936. Masson had, if possible, an even more horrific wartime experience. He served in the French army during World War I and during one battle north of Paris, was shot in the chest and gravely wounded. Rescuers were unable to reach him, Shell said, and Masson spent the night half-dead on the battlefield. On view in Monsters & Myths is a painting by Masson called In the Tower of Sleep that is crammed so full of images that evoke physical pain that it is difficult to examine closely. Here, a giant eyeball is being pierced. There, the nipples on a womans bared breasts drip blood. In the centre, viewers seem to be gazing down from above upon a flayed man with his muscles and internal organs exposed. His clump of dark hair is bisected by a bright yellow triangle containing red seeds. Masson later described it as a drawing of a head split open like a pomegranate an image that echoes words he had written previously about his experience with trench warfare. This is a show that makes monstrousness very personal, museum director Christopher Bedford said. Its a difficult thing to reckon with the idea that human beings were responsible for World War I and World War II. These were human decisions that were made by specific individuals. Some of the Surrealists were candid enough and brave enough to locate the roots of violence not merely in the visages of dictators but in their own mirrors. For example, in Picassos Minotauromachy, the rampaging Minotaur bullies his way into the canvas from the right, trampling all in his path. Everyone flees in panic except the little girl in the front left of the canvas, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a lighted candle in the other. Shell notes that Picasso often used the Minotaur as his alter ego. Moreover, the wounded young bullfighter on horseback has the same face as the artists pregnant young mistress, Marie-Therese Walter. Some viewers might interpret this painting as a confession or even an apology; the artist is accepting responsibility for the turmoil he created in his household and for the destruction he left in his wake. But though the Baltimore museum owns a formidable collection of acknowledged Surrealist masterpieces, Shell said that one major artist Ernst is underrepresented. So the curator set about borrowing several important paintings by the pioneering German, including the large-scale Europe after the Rain II. When World War II broke out, Ernst was living illegally in France and his situation was precarious, Shell said. Deemed an undesirable foreigner, Ernst was sent to several internment camps before fleeing to the U.S. in 1941. He eventually made his home in comparatively peaceful Arizona. Contrary to most Western civilization artworks, Europe after the Rain II tells its story from right to left or more precisely, from east to west. The rock formations on the right are hollow, twisted, desiccated, littered with animal skulls. The nude figure of a woman next to a bull, Shell said, alludes to the mythological story of the rape of Europa by Zeus, who took the form of a bull for the assault. Europa was also the mother of King Minos, who confined the Minotaur to the labyrinth. As viewers gazes move left, the forms become noticeably simpler, more harmonious and majestic. The mountain formations at the western edge on the canvas reflect the coloration at different times of the day of the famous red rocks of Sedona, where Ernst lived with his wife, the Surrealist painter Dorothea Tanning. The artist couldnt be more clearly expressing his opinion that the U.S. was the promised land. Masson and his family returned to Europe in 1946, but he also seems to have benefited from his time on this side of the Atlantic. The first retrospective of his work in the U.S. a significant career milestone was held at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1941. And though the artworks that Masson began painting in Connecticut might include occasional monsters, his canvases were no longer were dominated by the demons. For instance, Massons 1942 painting Germination is an explosion of primary colours inspired by the plant and wildlife around his home in New England. Theres a blue moon surrounded by a yellow sky, the beak of a bird, a fat fish. Masson was finally free, Shell said, to explore new ideas and new motifs. Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s runs from Sunday through May 26 at the Baltimore Museum of Art at North Charles and West 31st Streets. Tickets cost $5-$15, though admission is free from 1 pm to 5 pm on opening day. For details, call (443) 573-1701 or go to artbma.org. mmccauley@baltsun.com twitter.com/mcmccauley ___ Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. - What do you do if you share a name with one of the most infamous figures to emerge from the special counsels investigation into Russia? Paul Manaforts daughter decided to change her name . Leaders of New Britain, Connecticut, considered renaming Paul Manafort Drive, a street named after his father. At Manafort Brothers Inc., a family-owned New England construction firm, they are defending the Manafort name and legacy while distancing themselves from their cousin, Trumps former campaign chairman who was recently blasted by prosecutors for years of lies and lawbreaking. The Manafort name has been a familiar one in New England politics and business for decades, creating a predicament for the family as the 69-year-old former attorney is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. Manafort Brothers is one of New Englands best known construction companies. Its name pops up alongside highways, at hotel construction sites and on heavy equipment used to dig holes or tear down buildings. After 9-11, Manafort Brothers helped remove what was left of the World Trade Center buildings. A recent press release touting Manafort Brothers 100th anniversary boasts that the company is still led by the strong moral and business ethics of the Manafort family, a line that raises eyebrows among some who have followed the family history. The company says Paul Manaforts criminal issues have nothing to do with the firm and that business has not been affected by the prosecution. Paul Manafort has never worked at the company and has no ownership in it, according to President Jim Manafort Jr. I could almost count on one hand how many times somebody has asked me what the relationship is, he said. Manafort was convicted of tax and bank fraud charges in Virginia, where hell be sentenced Thursday. Hes set to be sentenced again March 13 in Washington after pleading guilty to illegally lobbying on behalf of Ukrainian political interests. In a sentencing memo in the Washington case, prosecutors accused Manafort of brazen violations of the law, including witness tampering and perjury even after being indicted. Manafort, 69, asked for leniency but faces decades in prison. Pauls grandfather, James, founded the construction business as a demolition firm New Britain House Wrecking Company after coming to the U.S. from Italy in the early 1900s. The family says its original name in Italy was Manaforte, which translates to strong hand. Paul Manaforts father, Paul Sr., later took over the company with three of his brothers. Paul Sr. was a Republican mayor of the old mill town of New Britain in the 1960s and 1970s, then appointed to jobs in state and federal government. Articles from the New Britain Herald and The Hartford Courant between the 1960s and 1980s detail a complicated legacy for Paul Sr., who was linked to numerous scandals, some involving the family business. After his name emerged in the investigation of a job-fixing scheme, he acknowledged to the Courant that he had a colorful political career. Im good copy, Paul Sr. told the paper in 1980, the same year his son founded the Washington lobbying firm Black, Manafort and Stone. Paul Sr. was eventually charged with two counts of perjury, which he denied and which were ultimately dropped. He died in 2013. These days, Manafort Brothers employs 700 people, Jim Manafort said. It is based in Plainville, Connecticut, with offices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. When a fight emerged last year in New Britain over an effort to rename Paul Manafort Drive, eight Manaforts wrote a letter on Manafort Brothers letterhead opposing the change. They called Paul Sr. a family patriarch and said he had helped build the company and its sterling reputation. They distanced Paul Jr.s actions from the legacy of his father, calling them wholly unrelated. The Republican mayor, Erin Stewart, ultimately vetoed a resolution by the Common Council to change the street name to Ebenezer D.C. Bassett Way, after the first African-American to graduate from what is now Central Connecticut State University. The company has had some more recent trouble with the law. In 2014, it agreed to pay a $2.4 million fine and implement internal reforms to settle federal criminal and civil investigations into allegations that it lied about using a minority subcontractor on a $40 million highway project in Connecticut. Jim Manafort said the company doesnt believe it intentionally did anything wrong. There were some policies that were questionable. In the end, we had to settle it because it didnt make sense to keep arguing over it, he said. He highlighted the familys good works through a foundation that distributes more than $100,000 annually to the community, and said they are proud of the name and their accomplishments. Pat Karwoski, 77, a New Britain native and retired nurse who fought to change the street name, said when she sees the Manafort Brothers name, it embarrasses her. She said it seems to her that some family members have done good philanthropic work, but its assertion that its known for morals and ethics is not true. They may all be good people, but they cannot deny what their history is, she said. Customers appeared unfazed by the connection. The developers of a hotel in downtown Providence where Manafort Brothers recently worked as a subcontractor said they were happy with their work. As long as their price came in good and they give you quality, said developer Joe Paolino, a former Democratic mayor of Providence and ambassador to Malta under President Bill Clinton. Thats what I care about in business. Manaforts daughter, Jessica, wants nothing to do with the family name. A Hollywood director, she changed her name to Jess Bond last year, telling the New York Post she sought the change to separate myself and my work from a public perception that has nothing to do with the person that I am. The credits for her most recent project, a romantic thriller called Rosy, make no mention of the name Manafort. ___ Collins reported form New Britain and Plainville, Connecticut. CRAIG, Colo. - A new superintendent is taking over at Dinosaur National Monument. The Craig Daily Press reports that Paul Scolari will begin work on March 31. Scolari has worked for the National Park Service for 24 years, most recently as the chief of resource management and planning for a group of national parks near San Francisco. The Dinosaur National Monument covers more than 200,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border. The site includes scenic canyon property with overlooks of the Yampa and Green rivers and a visitor centre containing a cliff face that holds hundreds of dinosaur bones. The sites previous superintendent left in 2018 for a similar role at Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Scolaris duties also include overseeing the superintendent of Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming. EUREKA, Calif. - The Latest on two sisters who went missing from their home Friday (all times local): 11:50 a.m. Authorities say two young sisters missing from their Northern California home for since Friday have been found alive. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal says 8-year-old Leia Carrico and 5-year-old Caroline Carrico were found safe and sound Sunday morning. He says the girls were uninjured and in good spirts. He called their recovery an absolute miracle. The sisters had last been seen around 2:30 p.m. Friday outside their home in Benbow, a small community about 200 miles (320 kilometres) northwest of Sacramento. More than 100 police and rescue personnel were searching for them, including the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard. They used helicopters and tracking dogs. ___ 10 a.m. More than 100 law enforcement officers are searching for two young sisters whove been missing from their Northern California home since Friday. Eight-year-old Leia Carrico and 5-year-old Caroline Carrico were last seen around 2:30 p.m. outside their home in Benbow, a small community about 200 miles (320 kilometres) northwest of Sacramento. Humboldt County sheriffs spokeswoman Samantha Karges said Sunday that the girls have not been found despite extensive search efforts. Sheriff William Honsal says the girls went missing after their mother said they could not go out for a walk. He described the search area as vast, rugged and rural and the conditions as cold and sporadically rainy. The National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard are helping in the search, which includes the use of helicopters and dogs. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - More than seven months after residents first noticed a fire at an illegal dumping site in northwest Arkansas, its still smouldering, sending noxious smoke throughout the town and seeping into homes, with costs to extinguish the fire estimated at tens of millions of dollars. Chris Nelson, 40, lives with his wife and 4-year-old son in a house thats a little more than 1000 feet (305 metres) from the shuttered dumping site. He said his family has experienced a persistent cough since the blaze started, his wife has been diagnosed with bronchitis and his son has been on multiple rounds of antibiotics. Im a veteran and this is probably one of the worst, most stressful situations to live in, Nelson said. Its been hell. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality have been monitoring the air around the site, and most of the readings have come back at good or moderate levels. But one EPA reading in December came back with an unhealthy level, prompting the Arkansas Department of Health to issue a health alert, warning residents to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, including running, playing or yardwork. The fire burning at least 70 feet (21 metres) underground in this community of about 28,500 people some 170 miles (2.74 kilometres) northwest of Little Rock has raised questions about how and why the dump operated without a state license for several years. No one is sure how the underground fire started at the illegal dumping site in the northwest Arkansas community of Bella Vista, though city officials suspect a small brush fire ignited debris below ground. At least two lawsuits have been filed against former and current owners of the 4.75-acre (1.9-hectare) plot of land, as well as the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, which shuttered the dump in 2016 before the owner sold it to a tree trimming and disposal service early last year. The association began leasing the site in January 2004 from the storage company that owned it. The association allowed residents to dispose of brush, wood and other organic materials in it. The state says the site never should have been operating as a dump of any kind. But state inspectors and contractors say its clear non-organic items such as car batteries, wiring, swimming pool liners were dumped there at some point, complicating efforts to put out the blaze and clean up the mess. The original owners and the current owners did not return messages for comment. The Bella Vista Property Owners Association declined to answer questions about legality of the site. After the association closed the dump in 2016, it was capped with soil and vegetation, said Kim Carlson, director of marketing for the association. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality said it could not answer questions about why the dump stayed open after an inspector went to the site in 2008 in response to a complaint that cement mixer drums from Bella Vistas developer had been dumped there. The mixers were removed, according to local news reports. Last July, residents began to notice what they thought was a brush fire and reported the smoke to the state. Inspectors visited the site in early August and the Department of Environmental Quality sent warning letters to the current and former owners. But the state and federal government didnt start monitoring air quality until November, after frustrated residents began to complain of respiratory problems and fears of decreased property values. Kelly Strain, 56, lives less than 800 feet (244 metres) from the edge of the shuttered dumping site. He said the fire initially produced smoke that smelled like wood burning in a campfire. But within a few months, that changed. The smell started to be pungent, toxic smelling. Really disgusting, he said. If you were outside and the wind was coming this way, you actually had to get back inside. State officials and contractors in January began preparation for cleanup. Extinguishing the blaze is more complicated than just dumping water on it, said department spokeswoman Donnally Davis. Air pockets and various vents are interspersed between layers of dumped material compacted under dirt and more waste. Even flooding the site could leave small fires burning. Plus runoff could contaminate a nearby lake or seep into the groundwater. The exact cost to put out the fire and get rid of the waste is unknown. Davis said estimates so far have ranged from $15 million to $37 million. State lawmakers are considering a $20 million appropriation to help. State Sen. Jim Hendren, a Republican whose district includes Bella Vista, said he anticipates the bill will move fairly quickly through the Legislature. U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, all Republicans, wrote a letter Tuesday to the EPA asking for any and all options from which the state may receive financial assistance. Meanwhile, residents are growing weary. People need help, Nelson said. Its been going on for seven months and it doesnt look like theres an end in sight any time soon. The need to embrace creative solutions to Ontarios affordable housing crisis landed on the floor of the legislature last week, thanks to a throwback to the 1980s sitcom, The Golden Girls. After hearing about a group of four seniors in Port Perry, who faced municipal roadblocks during their move to renovate and share a home, Progressive Conservative MPP Lindsey Park brought forward a private members bill called the Golden Girls Act. I want to make it clear to municipalities and to all that not only is this form of housing allowed, but it ought to be encouraged, Park said of her bill, designed to amend the provincial planning act. Shes right. But, by limiting her bill to housing for seniors, she hasnt taken that argument far enough or to its logical conclusion. Ontario doesnt need legislation to exempt seniors from municipal bylaws and zoning regulations primarily designed to restrict or ban rooming houses. Ontario needs politicians, at all levels, to embrace shared housing in all its forms including rooming houses. The benefits of shared housing that are so obvious for the Golden Girls of Port Perry from reduced costs to a strengthened social network are equally true for other groups of individuals. And yet, thousands of people in Toronto alone are relegated to living in illegal rooming houses because the amalgamated city still hasnt managed to embrace the idea that unrelated adults can share space in a home in all neighbourhoods. In Toronto, rooming house regulations vary wildly. Theyre legal in the former cities of Toronto and Etobicoke, for example, but illegal in Scarborough and North York. This means councillor Gord Perks runs around trying to protect rooming houses in his Parkdale-High Park ward as an important source of affordable housing at the very same time that Jim Karygiannis works hard to shut down the ones in his Scarborough-Agincourt ward. Its a ridiculous situation, especially for a city at the epicentre of the affordable housing crisis. Karygiannis argues that hes saving people from dangerous conditions and living in squalor. But rooming houses dont have to provide lousy housing. Making them illegal, though, which forces them underground, is all but certain to do that. Its long past time for Toronto, and other Ontario municipalities for that matter, to welcome a far wider range of shared housing options. All those bylaws and zoning regulations designed to restrict almost anything but a single-family home need to be updated to allow for a far wider range of options to be easily approved and properly regulated. A place to live is one of our most basic needs. But appropriate housing, at a price that is affordable, is out of reach for far too many people. Building new rental housing will take years and much of it will never be affordable for low-wage workers, seniors on fixed incomes or those on social assistance. Communities need to make better use of the housing stock they already have. And not just for reasons of affordability. There are lots of benefits to sharing space. Loneliness is such a pervasive problem that Britain has appointed a Minister of Loneliness to tackle the issue. We should stop thinking of shared housing as some sort of lesser option only to be considered by those who cant afford the supposed ideal situation of living alone. The appeal of shared housing is growing for many reasons and across multiple demographics. Theres even a matchmaking app now for people who want to share a home and a mortgage with others. Its our politicians and officials who are behind on this. Whats good for the Golden Girls is good for plenty of others too, whether theyre young, old or somewhere in the middle. Wilson-Raybould shows what it means to be law abiding, Talaga, March 1, and Is this beef really about rule of law? Salutin, March 1 Who is right in the kerfuffle between former attorney-general Jody Wilson-Raybould and the Liberal government is a matter that may be better left to a proper inquiry. However, one aspect of Wilson-Rayboulds statements, touched upon by columnists Tanya Talaga and Rick Salutin, deserves to be discussed. Wilson-Raybould frames her position as being determined by her ethnic origin. She makes much of coming from a long line of matriarchs and behaving in accordance with the laws and traditions of her people. Indeed, it has been highlighted that her Kwakwala name means born of noble people. It is striking to see how much this self-characterization harks back to European 19th-century notions of the noble savage, as elaborated by Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Her actions, in her own words, would be determined not only (or primarily) by her analysis of the situation and understanding of legal rules, but at least as much by some innate, hereditary righteousness that allows her to act ethically where other people who do not share her heritage are unable or unwilling to do so. Although the historically deplorable and, in many ways, criminal treatment of Indigenous populations by the federal government over the past 150 years cannot be disputed and should not be minimized, it is unhelpful to claim the moral high ground on the basis of ethnic identity. In a democratic society, it is individual behaviour that is either commendable or blameworthy, and claims of innate nobility of the heart, based on blood and outdated romantic notions from another continent, should play no part in this already confusing political melodrama. Vittorio Frigerio, retired professor, Dalhousie University, Halifax A lot of people see her as both. How can she lose? But how can she win? Virginia Edman, Toronto Read more about: Donald Trump has squandered a chance to move toward a serious peace deal with North Korea. He did so by abruptly terminating a two-day summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un on Thursday and flying home. The leaders were meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. The U.S. president said he walked out because the two sides were too far apart. Indeed, there has long been a significant distance between the U.S. and North Korean positions, particularly in regard to nuclear weapons. The U.S. wants North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions entirely. North Korea is unwilling to do that until its security is absolutely guaranteed. But in the lead-up to the Hanoi summit, it appeared the two sides were making progress. Trump said that while he still wanted an end to Kims missile and nuclear programs, he was in no rush. As well, the U.S. side hinted that it might be willing to ease some economic sanctions against North Korea if Kim took significant steps toward curbing its nuclear arsenal. South Korean President Moon Jae-in suggested one viable compromise: a partial lifting of sanctions that would allow the two Koreas to co-operate economically. Both the U.S. and North Korea seemed amenable to that idea. As the New York Times reported, Moon was so confident that the two summiteers would agree to this that he prepared a major announcement for Friday to announce the re-establishment of inter-Korean joint ventures. To his horror, the summit ended early with no agreement on this or anything else. There had also been musings that the summit might result in a political declaration to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War. That didnt happen either. Yet as Trump later told reporters, both sides had laid the groundwork for a compromise. The North offered to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear research and production complex in return for sanctions relief. The U.S. was willing to lift some but not all sanctions. Almost certainly something could have been worked out that would have allowed the two sides to come to an agreement that would at least keep the momentum going. What happened to derail that possibility? One explanation is that Trump was just being Trump and that by walking away, he was merely following his own art-of-the-deal advice on how to keep an adversary off-balance. If so, he was extraordinarily reckless. Another is that he was captured by the same national security establishment he has spent so much time railing against. That establishment, which includes secretary of state and former CIA director Mike Pompeo, has never been happy about Trumps daring overtures to Kim. It argues that Trump is naive about North Koreas intentions and that nothing should be agreed to until Kim completely abandons his nuclear arsenal. The security establishment isnt entirely wrong. North Korea is playing a complicated and at times devious game. Kim may make concessions with regard to his nuclear missile program but he almost certainly wont eliminate it entirely. But what the security establishment fails to understand and what Trump seems to grasp instinctively is that this is the political reality of North Korea, which must be taken into account if any solution short of war is to be found. In spite of the failure at Hanoi, not all has been lost. The two leaders did not resort to name-calling. Trump continues to shower lavish praise on the North Korean dictator. Kim has pronounced the summit productive. Officials from the two sides continue to meet. North Koreas state news agency reports that Kim hopes to eventually have another summit with Trump. But time is running out. Right now, the stars are aligned for a comprehensive deal, with the governments of the U.S., South and North Korea all on side. The Hanoi summit offered Trump and Kim a significant opportunity to take advantage of the moment. That opportunity was missed. Read more about: On Wednesday afternoon, in an event that exceeded its considerable billing, Canadas former attorney general and minister of justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould, filled in many of the contours of Bob Fifes early-February reporting that thrust the prime minister, his closest advisers, and the Liberal Party of Canada into a political firestorm. Her testimony was as astonishing as it was remarkable in its candour, and willingness to draw blood. Wilson-Raybould named names and read records: phone calls, emails, text messages, and contemporaneous meeting notes. She told a story of a co-ordinated and persistent effort by the machinery of government PMO and PCO alike to influence her decision-making. She vividly recalled veiled threats and potential personal consequences. Her recollection of 10 phone calls and 10 meetings contradicted Michael Wernick, the clerk of the privy council. Her language conveyed, in a straightforward way, her conviction that an injustice had taken place. And, yet when the dust settled, there remained so much more to be said. What has the PMO not allowed the former AG to say? Why was she not released to discuss her time as minister of veteran affairs and her resignation from cabinet? And then beyond the former minister herself, what will others have to say? How will Gerry Butts use his appearance before the Justice and Human Rights Committee to recast the governments narrative? What about all the other people Wilson-Raybould named? And above all, how will l'affaire SNC-Lavalin play out in Quebec vs. ROC? Which parties electoral fortunes will it help? Whose will it hurt? While we wait for answers to these, and many more questions, specific to this matter, wed do well to think about some of the things which gave rise to this mess at first instance. Lisa Raitt, deputy leader of the opposition, asked Wilson-Raybould on Wednesday if this experience had left her with anything she thinks should be recommended to parliament. Wilson-Rayboulds response was instructive. Ive thought about this a lot, she said, and I think this committee [should] look at the role of the minister of justice and the attorney general of Canada, and whether or not those two roles should be bifurcated. She went on to say to say that there should be consideration around having the AG not sit around the cabinet table. In hindsight, its plainly clear she has a point. While there are procedural and practical arguments for dividing the roles, perhaps the most important argument for doing so is the simple fact it is unreasonable to ask one person to perform two contradictory roles. Is it not, on its face, absurd to think that one person can, one minute, be expected to act in a non-partisan way and then in literally the next minute to act as a partisan? In our system, the minister of justice is inherently partisan: She or he is responsible for drafting partisan policy and shepherding partisan legislation through Parliament on behalf of the governing party. The attorney general, on the other hand, is the chief law officer of the Crown, responsible for the governments litigation and for providing legal advice regarding the very policies they have while wearing their minister of justice hat helped to draft. In the United Kingdom, the role of the secretary of state for justice, who has oversight of the ministry of justice, is separate and distinct from the attorney general, who is the chief legal adviser to the Crown and oversees prosecutions but is not usually a member of cabinet. And when the AG has sat in cabinet, problems have arisen. Prime Minister Blairs AG Lord Goldsmith came to a better view of the legality of the Iraq War 10 days after conversations with the prime minister and his cabinet. And the rest, as they say, is history. When Jody Wilson-Raybould speaks of the strain that she has been subject to, she refers of course to political interference. But she is also sounding a warning to Canadians that the burden she faced stemmed, at least in part, from a structural flaw in our political system. Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. He is a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @jaimewatt Read more about: The Art Association of Jacksonville will have its 62nd Beaux Arts Ball on April 27 at the JHS Bowl. Focusing on art appreciation and education, the Art Association of Jacksonville brings awareness of all art old and new through the David Strawn Art Gallerys permanent exhibits and monthly gallery showings, which are free to the public. The association also provides children and adults in the area the opportunity to explore different forms of art through its art class offerings. The ball is the associations primary fundraiser, with proceeds used for those exhibits and classes, as well as funding renovation and upkeep of the historic gallery building. The lead up to the ball in past years has included anticipation of the crowning of a queen. This year, the crowning of a king will be added to the festivities. The three co-chairs of the 2019 ball Elizabeth May, Jenissa Ezard and Jeni Thompson-Rajaguru have selected the theme London: A Night with the Royals. They were inspired by this years addition of the crowning of a king combined with the majesty of last summers royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Without the luxury of a royal staff, the co-chairs have organized a multitude of local volunteers and committees to make their royal night run smoothly. Exquisite art can be found throughout Londons wide varieties of galleries, whether you love old Masters, modern art, contemporary sculptures, Impressionist paintings or architectural wonders. Carol Hungerford designed this years set with the architectural aspects in mind. Her design illuminates many architectural aspects of the city with an artistic flair, recreating such historical structures as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Bridge, the London Eye Ferris wheel and many other London landmarks, allowing participants to feel as if they are walking in the steps of the royals in London. Continuing the Art Association of Jacksonvilles effort to educate and to appreciate art, those attending are sure to hear about the abundance of art in London from Master of Ceremonies Tim Chipman during the Beaux Art Balls evening of excitement. Along with the crowning of the 2019 king and queen, this years ball will include six senior maids and one in absentia, seven junior participants and 11 flower girls and pages. Among this years participants are two sets of twins. Also new this year is the champagne reception prior to the coronation from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the David Strawn Art Gallery. All ball attendees are invited to attend this new portion of the festivities before going to the JHS Bowl for the coronation. Patron and general tickets for the ball can be purchased in advance at the David Strawn Art Gallery office by calling 217-243-9390. Tickets also are available at the door of the JHS Bowl prior to the coronation. Patron tickets, which are $40, include admission to the champagne reception at the gallery, the coronation at the JHS Bowl, and the dance that will follow at Jacksonville Country Club. General tickets, which are $10, include the champagne reception and coronation. With the new champagne reception prior to the coronation, the receiving line of senior participants, king and queen will take place when entering the dance at the Jacksonville Country Club. The dance will continue until midnight. National security adviser John Bolton on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying the president was right not to make a deal that wasn't in the best interests of the United States. "I don't agree at all that it was a failed summit," Bolton said on "Fox News Sunday." "I think the obligation of the president of the United States is to defend and advance American national security interests. And I think he did that by rejecting a bad deal and by trying again to persuade Kim Jong Un to take the big deal that really could make a difference for North Korea." Trump abruptly cut short his meeting with Kim in Hanoi last week after the two leaders were unable to reach a deal to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear weapons. The president first met with the North Korean leader in June in Singapore. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among those needling Trump about the collapse of the talks in Hanoi. At a news conference last week, the California Democrat suggested that it should not have taken Trump so long to recognize that Kim is not serious about denuclearization. "The prospect for success seemed dim in light of the insincerity of Kim Jong Un," Pelosi said. But Bolton maintained Sunday that Trump is "not desperate for a deal - not with North Korea, not with anybody - if it's contrary to American national interests." In an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation," Bolton said there is "no expiration date" for talks on denuclearization. "The president is fully prepared to keep negotiating at lower levels or to speak to Kim Jong Un again when it's appropriate," he said. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, took issue with Bolton's response. "Of course the president did give up a great deal," Schiff said on "Face the Nation," arguing that Trump helped enhance Kim's prestige and noting that Trump agreed to end longtime U.S. military exercises with South Korea that had riled Kim's regime. Trump took to Twitter later Sunday afternoon to defend his decision on the military drills, stating that the reason for canceling them was "to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed." "That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" Trump said. Bolton also defended Trump's statement that he took Kim at his word that he wouldn't have allowed American college student Otto Warmbier to have been mistreated had he known about Warmbier's situation. "What he's trying to convey is that he's got a difficult line to walk to negotiate with Kim Jong Un," Bolton said on "Fox News Sunday," arguing that Trump's statement did not necessarily mean that he believed what Kim was saying. Asked during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" whether he takes Kim at his word, Bolton replied, "My opinion doesn't matter. ... I am not the national security decision-maker. That's (Trump's) view." Warmbier's family says he was brutally tortured while imprisoned in North Korea. He died in 2017 after returning to the United States in a coma. In a statement Friday, Warmbier's parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, sharply rebuked Trump for holding Kim blameless for their son's death. Bolton on Sunday called for North Korea to give a clear accounting of who was responsible for Warmbier's death and suggested that American national interests were "weightier and more important" than individual cases such as Warmbier's. "Foreign leaders who are friends of ours lie to our faces, too," he said on Fox. Lawmakers from both parties took issue with Trump's statement on Warmbier. Schiff said on CBS that the president should have taken a stronger stance against Kim. "I think that this was a spectacular failure but made all the worse by the president's obsequious comments when it came to the murder of an American citizen, Otto Warmbier," the Democratic lawmaker said. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., maintained on ABC News' "This Week" that the North Korean leader was aware of Warmbier's condition and responsible for his death."I think Kim knew," McCarthy said. ALTON Have you heard of Mid-America Audiology? If not, you should get your ears checked. Which is exactly the kind of work that Mid-America Audiology does. For more than 30 years, this group has been providing ample hearing test and hearing aids for the Southern Illinois area, including Jerseyville, Granite City, Alton, and Glen Carbon/Edwardsville. The Alton office recently had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their relocation to 3511 College Ave., and the Glen Carbon location will be moving to Edwardsville and will be open for business on Monday, March 4. Steven Steer, who has a Doctorate in Audiology, and his wife Chelsea Steer have been the leaders of the group since 2018. Steven has a background in teaching and counseling, acquiring his Bachelor of Science for psychology in 2001 and his Master of Science for community counseling in 2008. I was looking for something a bit more directly scientific, something I could help people a little more directly, Steer said. With audiology, theres plenty of opportunity for education. Youre educating people about their hearing loss and how to communicate more effectively, using good communication skills. Steer also finds the field fascinating because it is constantly evolving and the technology is constantly improving. Its just very satisfying to help people be able to hear better and improve the quality of their lives that way, Steer said. Steer, along with the rest of the group, is working with the most recent technology and the most up-to-date research. For example, new research has proven a correlation between untreated hearing loss and serious diseases like Alzheimers and dementia. Frank Lin, an otologist and epidemiologist at the University of Baltimore, conducted a study with nearly 2,000 adults whose average age was 77. After six years, those who had hearing hearing loss from the start of the study were 24 percent more likely to see their cognitive abilities diminish in the future. Mid-America Audiology makes it easy to detect this early on, as the they offer free, walk-in screening to determine a persons hearing level. Afterwards, if warranted, a person will receive a recommendation for amplification, or a hearing aid. Once an aid is chosen, the patient then has a 60-day trial period, twice the amount of time required by law. We want to make sure our patients are happy with the product, and if theyre not, we go to a different product until we find something that will work for them, or they can return it for a full refund, Steer said. The new Edwardsville office will be open Monday, March 4, at 123 Rottingham Court, Suite C. Jacksonville Police ACCIDENTS Claude D. Morris, 37, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failing to yield at a stop sign after his vehicle and one being driven by Jesse J. Lash, 21, of Jacksonville collided at 9:48 p.m. Friday in the 600 block of North Main Street. Cass County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Peyton M.D. Derry, 20, of 272 S. Main St., Virginia, was booked into the Morgan County jail at midnight Saturday on a possession of child pornography charge. Compiled by Nick Draper EDWARDSVILLE Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski on Friday came out against expanding the use of ankle bracelets to monitor prisoners as an option to reduce jail population numbers. At Fridays Judiciary Committee meeting, he said the overwhelming majority of those in jail are there for crimes serious enough that releasing them poses a threat. This idea is an absolute disaster waiting to happen, he said, adding in addition to wasting time and money, it would put people in danger. The people that we have in jail are not the people who are going to be out with ankle bracelets. That was echoed by Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons. We are not a county where that really works, he said. The possible use of ankle monitoring bracelets was discussed briefly at Februarys Public Safety Committee meeting, with Board Member Mike Parkinson, D-Granite City, a lieutenant with the Granite City Police Department, saying it might be something to consider. Parkinson is a member of the Judiciary Committee but did not attend Fridays meeting. Part of the reason for the need to reduce jail numbers is that the Madison County Jail is undergoing a $14 million renovation, and in the spring or summer work will begin on individual cell blocks. When that happens, some prisoners are going to be transferred to other facilities. As of Friday, the jail population was 306. The jail is certified for 312, but averages about 318. County prosecutors and defense attorneys have worked with the courts to reduce the jail population, but most involved have said that at this point those who remain in jail are either dangerous or a flight risk. Several county officials had met Thursday to discuss the ankle monitoring issue, including Rekowski, who said he was adamantly opposed to the idea. He noted that Winnebago County, which has a similar population compared to Madison County, has a jail capable of holding 1,200 inmates, and recently used ankle monitoring bracelets to reduce the jail population to about 600 from 1,000. He noted that is still twice the number of prisoners as Madison County. The jail is overcrowded because there arent enough cells, he said. That brought a response from Board Member Phil Chapman, R-Highland, who said he opposed building additional cells or a new jail because if you build it, you will fill it. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. ALTON Alton firefighters searched the frigid Mississippi River waters for more than two hours Sunday before suspending the search for the day after a man reportedly jumped from the Clark Bridge into the river. Officials responded to the Alton bridge at approximately 11:30 a.m. Sunday for reports of a roughly 70-year-old man who had parked his car on the northbound shoulder of the bridge, got out and jumped into the river some 60 feet below. EDWARDSVILLE The Madison County States Attorneys Office issued an arrest warrant for Monica M. Williams, a 28-year-old black female from Edwardsville, on Friday following an alleged Walgreens robbery earlier this month. This warrant charged Williams with armed robbery, a Class X felony. The charges resulted from an investigation that began on Feb. 19, 2019, when a cashier at Walgreens, located at 102 W. Vandalia St., Edwardsville, notified Edwardsville police she had been robbed at gunpoint, according to an Edwardsville Police Department news release. Williams is currently in custody in St. Louis, Missouri regarding an unrelated incident. The public is reminded that criminal defendants are presumed innocent until the government is able to prove its charges beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Two California journalists requested and were given data on police officers' arrests and convictions over the past 10 years. What they found was surprising: domestic abuse, child molestation - even murder. They were given these documents through a public records request, something journalists exercise frequently. But California Attorney General Xavier Becerra says it was a mistake, and they never should have received it in the first place. Becerra - whose office was responsible for maintaining the information - said the center that distributed it was not authorized to do so. He wants the UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program, and its two journalists, to destroy the files and refrain from publishing them. Not doing so, Becerra claimed, would be against the law. But the Berkeley journalists believe they're on solid legal footing, and are standing their ground. A California accrediting body called the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training determines which officers are qualified to be hired or retained by state law enforcement. It receives criminal system data from the Department of Justice to assist in setting eligibility standards maintains many agencies' records for police officers who have been convicted of a crime. On Dec. 6, UC Berkeley reporter Robert Lewis put in a public records request with the commission for a list of officers convicted of a crime. Lewis said his reporting partner, Jason Paladino, sent in a related request roughly around the same time, too. Soon thereafter, Lewis received an email acknowledging receipt of the request. A few weeks later a second message requested an extension to compile the relevant records. On Jan. 8, both men received two files containing a spreadsheet with 12,000 names. It included officers and applicants convicted of a crime, but as Lewis said, it also "included current and former peace officers and applicants, and individuals who applied and went through part of the process and then got rejected." It's unclear how or why Becerra's office became aware of the commission's accidental disclosure to the journalists. According to Lewis, he tried several times to reach an official from the Attorney General's Office with questions about the data but was met only with silence. Three weeks later, when the office had learned what had happened, it sent a letter to Lewis and Paladino, putting them on notice: They had "inadvertently" been given confidential criminal history information and were breaking the law by "possessing" the spreadsheet. The attorney general requested they not publish the data and destroy the document, and said the office could pursue legal action if they chose not to do so. Lewis told The Post that letter was the "first contact of any substance with DOJ." "I was stunned, shocked - all the range of emotions you might have imagined - and continue to be," he said of receiving a record via a public record request and then feeling threatened with criminal prosecution. In a news conference Friday, Becerra - who is a Democrat - called the rumors of veiled threats against journalists a "false narrative." "I respect the importance of a free press and the need to have transparency and the need to give the American public the right to know," Becerra said, calling the commission's Jan. 8 action a "mistake." "If innocent people get caught up in this, that's not right." The First Amendment protects the right to publish truthful information that was obtained legally by the publisher. The Supreme Court has affirmed that right against countervailing state interests, including protecting the names of rape victims and government officials going through disciplinary proceedings, and even where there has been an inadvertent disclosure by the government, according to Caroline DeCell, staff attorney with the Knight First Amendment Foundation. The caveat, though, is that the published information must be about a matter of public concern. "If the information meets that standard, they can't criminalize its publication," she said, adding that there's an interest in keeping certain information private. "There could be a narrow way for the state to argue that it must protect information that doesn't rise to the level of public concern," said DeCell. These events follow what Lewis called a Californian "impenetrable wall of secrecy" surrounding police officer records or misconduct. "We're talking about a police officer who was arrested, accused of a crime by another law enforcement agency, formally in a court of law, went through adjudication and at the end of it either took a plea to a crime or was found guilty and convicted," he said, calling it "baffling." Within the spreadsheet Lewis cited "important information to be asked." For example, he mentioned a San Francisco officer was accused and convicted of accessing confidential records and to help his girlfriend dig up dirt on a tenant. Another was convicted of unauthorized access of information. Lewis said that neither appeared to have been reported in the local media or disclosed in any kind of way. "San Francisco citizens missed the opportunity to know that there might be a problem and ask for oversight of confidential information," he explained. For now, it seems, both sides are at an impasse. At Friday's news conference, Becerra made clear that the scenario is "a difficult one." "I'm all for investigative journalism, especially in this day and age, in this country, but you can't play fast and loose with private, confidential information," he said. The Berkeley Center did nothing wrong in securing the information. "What they do next is something different." Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her... Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The currently on-going USA - China Top Contacts and Negotiations, due to culminate sometime during March 2019, have, in fact, a much More Important potential on "Hot" Topical Issues, than it might seem at first sight, with Europe and all the World being included in what is really at stake, but even all Humankind. - Obviously, that big "Trade" Issue, (which includes also Monetary matters, Intellectual property, State's role vis a vis big Businesses, etc), is exceptionaly crucial for International Trade, Stock Markets and Growth, also at a World-wide level. Apparently, according to the latest official News, it seems to be Advancing fairly well, to the point to postpone sine die earlier scheduled sanctions/heavy taxes, and even foresee a possible concluding Summit with a Deal asap. However, inter alia, the latest developments at another topical issue : that of Korea peninsula DeNuclearisation, at the Trump - Kim Summit in Hanoi, show that Final Results depend on succesful political negotiations and other factors up to the last minute. - But, what is, comparatively, less well known, and doesn't surface yet on headline news of mainstream Medias, is, in fact, an even More Important, Topical Issue, concerning particularly USA and China, but for which Europe has already started to show a keen interest, and which risks to affect very seriously all Humankind, with Crucial and Irreversible consequences : >>> Indeed, Recent Developments have shown that, f.ex., a Chinese Doctor, educated and pushed by some USA Networks since the era of Former US President Barack Hussein Obama (Dems/"Socialist"/"Liberal"), has reportedly started to Violate Important Legal and Moral Norms on BioEthics, by imposing an artificial but Heritable Manipulation of the Human Genome, affecting even the Germline of Future Generations, with obvious Threats against Humanity itself, (See, f.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/heritablegenemaniptrumpxihumanity.html, etc). In addition to serious Healh Risks (due to DNA disruption), in case of "CRISPR-Cas9" Gene Edditing Technology use on Embryos, at least as things stand Nowadays, what is certain is mainly that Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Germline obviously Threaten to impose, sooner or later, an abhorred "Eugenism" proned by NAZIs in the Past, and an Artificial Fabrication of various "Races", inevitably Dividing the Humankind into various Different and soon Opposed Categories of beings, some of which will obviously seek to Dominate the others, as if they were Slaves, or even "Animals" or Plants, etc., exploiting and/or mistreating them accordingly, as "inferior" beings. Many and various, conscious Intellectuals, Activists, and other People have already Denounced such Threats against Human Dignity, which, in fact, risks to bring the End of Humanity, Warned against their Consequences, and Urged to Prevent them, already as early as since, particularly, the beginning of the 20th Century, until Nowadays. That's why CoE's PanEuropean Treaty on Human Rights and Bio-Medicine, (known as "Oviedo" Convention : 1998), explicitly Prohibited that in more than 40 Countries around the World, including China's Legislation from 2004, and USA's Food and Drug Administration, which OutLaws any Federal Funding of such Research on those controversial and dangerous matters, (etc). + Moreover, Recently, EU Parliament hold a Public Debate, during its latest Plenary Session in Strasbourg on February 2019, where MEPs Urged EU Commission to push towards a "Global Ban" of such practices, while also Preparing a Resolution Against them, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppvpresidentandmepsongermlinemanipban.html, etc), in addition to a parallel Condamnation also by official statements of a Chinese Minister, etc., (See, f.ex. the previously mentioned, Nov. 2018 Article, etc). => So that, Now, USA's new President Don Trump and China's President Xi Jiping, as Heads of the 2 more involved big Countries, particularly during the above-mentioned Top Political Talks and a probable Summit of March 2019, (Comp. Supra), have a Unique Opportunity, as well as a Crystal-clear Duty to act efficiently in order to Protect Humanity by Excluding any such awfull Risks the soonest. This may even be no only their 1st, but also their Last Chance to do so, since, if in the forthcoming, 2020 US Presidential and Congress Elections, eventually, Dems ("Socialists"/"Liberals") return back in power, then, it's certain that they will Push, on the Contrary, towards a Dangerous Slipery Slope inevitably leading towards the above-mentioned Dangers against Humanity : That's what the premonitory example of Former POTUS Barack Hussein Obama, (a Dems' "Socialist"/"Liberal" himself) has already proved, among others, also by a Scandalously Dangerous Report, by a team of Technocrats appointed by Obama, which had been prepared during his term in office, and was pubished soon afterwards, on Early 2017, which specifically seeks to Allow Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Human Germline under certain "conditions", (as it claims), which, in fact, do Not provide any real Guarantee to Prevent the above mentioned Horrors (Comp. Supra). That's why Presidents Trump and Xi practicall have to start Acting efficiently Now (on Early 2019, i.e. before the US Primaries, and during their on-going USA - China Top Contacts), or never... Technically, in Legal terms, this could be done quite Easily and Rapidly : F.ex., it would be enough, for them, to simply Sign and Ratify CoE's BioEthical Treaty, which outlaws any attempt to Manipulate the Heritable Human Genome's germline, (Comp. Supra), in a Text which is the Only one to be Legaly Binding, and Open to All Countries in the World. USA has already a Special Observer Status inside the CoE, here in Strasbourg, and China has, apparently, been seeking, recently, some adequate Ways in order to approach CoE, which has also certain Legal Mechanisms destinated for a Global use, (as, f.ex., on CyberCrime, Money Laundering, Democratic Constitutions, Human Rights' Standards, Personal Data, Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Ethics, etc). But in case that might, eventually, make some Hesitate, perhaps because of that CoE's Treaty's various Other Provisions, all on several Different points, (which are notoriously judged by Different Groups of CoE's Member Countries as either Too Strict, or, on the Contrary, Too Lose, etc), then, a Simple and New, Specific Treaty, targetting Only those controversial Manipulations of Human Germline, could do the job, (as it was done, f.ex., for the Prohibition of Human Cloning, etc). Meanwhile, at least a Crystal-clear Political Statement by the Leaders of USA and China against Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Human Germline, urging all the Countries in the World to act accordingly asap, would naturally be an important "Plus", (particularly if it was Backed by an adequate Strengthening of the Legal Prohibition inside those 2 Big Countries). From a Political point of view, there are valid reasons to think that such Measures would be quite Popular in China, while, moreover, New US President Don Trump, could certainly Find, there, a Serious and Topical way to Harvest an untapped but Big Potential of Popular Support, among various Conscious, and particularly Christian People, keen on BioEthics : - F.ex., a Key relevant Point, in Trumps' Recent Speech to the traditional BiPartisan, American "National Prayer Breakfast" annual 2019 event, about "All Children, Born and UnBorn, (which) are made at the Image of God", linked to "the Miracle of Life and to the Majesty of Creation", as he said for the Human Embryos, was the most Widely and Lively Applauded by Thousands of People. And we have personaly witnessed the Fact that several among his Socio-Political Opponents are, indeed, Afraid that the American President might be, sooner or later, enclined to Trigger and Stimulate also Christian and other such People's support on certain Key BioEthical Issues, (inter alia, perhaps inspired also by his predecessor, GWBush's similar succesful move at his brillant Re-Election of 2004, which had suddenly become UnExpectedly Popular), against the narrow-minded, petty interests of some selfish Lobbies which had copiously Paid Barack Hussin Obama's pre-Electoral Campaigns on 2009 and 2012. After all, it's Also those Other People who are traditionaly opposed to "Racist" propaganda and/or practices, as they claim, that should, normally, be among the First to Fear, even More, any Risk to Artificially Create real "Races", by Heritable Alterations of Human Genome also in Future Generations, which Threatens to put an End to the History of Humanity, (Comp. Supra) !... Presidents Trump and Xi have Now, during those Top-Level Contacts, a rare, if not unique, Chance to make an Historic move in order to Settle, or, at least, Prepare and ensure the settlement of such a Crucial Issue, well Before the 2020 US Election. (../..) ------------------------- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed his first rally in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, since coming to power in 2014 and inaugurated a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles. Modi, who landed in the city after addressing a rally in Bihar's Patna, said Amethi, which has traditionally been loyal to the Gandhi family, was the best example of his government's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) motto. "Those who voted for us and those who did not all are ours," Modi said. After inaugurating the unit, he said these modern rifles will be manufactured in Amethi under a Russia-India joint venture. These rifles will be known as 'made in Amethi' and will help our jawans in encounters with naxals and terrorists, he said. He accused previous governments of neglecting the armed forces and their needs. He also said the UPA government sat on the Rafale deal for years. This is Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014. He visited the neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency, represented in Lok Sabha by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in December. Two militants, five security forces' personnel, including a CRPF officer, and a civilian, were killed in a 56-hour encounter in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday. A police spokesman said the operation at Babagund area of Kupwara took time as it posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area. Two militants were killed by security forces in the encounter which began on Friday morning, the police spokesman said here. He said bodies of both the militants were recovered from the site of the encounter and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The spokesman said a CRPF jawan identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav who was injured in the exchange of fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday, taking the number of security forces' fatalities to five. Two CRPF personnel, Inspector Pintu and Constable Vinod, and two cops, Selection Grade Constables Naseer Ahmad and Ghulam Mustafa Barah, were killed in the gunfight on Friday, the spokesman said. He said one civilian, Waseem Ahmad Mir, also sustained bullet injury "in the nearby area" and later succumbed at a hospital on Friday. The encounter had begun when security forces launched a search operation in Babagund area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of militants there. "Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter," he said. He said incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials have been taken in case records for further investigation, the spokesman added. He urged people to not go near the encounter zone as there could be stray explosives. "People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the spokesman said. Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has sought to know why there were terror attacks now while it had never occurred when his father H.D. Deve Gowda was the prime minister. "Why were there no instance of terrorists carrying out blasts or killing anyone when Deve Gowda was the prime minister? Why are they happening now? You need to think over it," he said at a public meeting late Friday night at Mysuru. "Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] needs many layers of security to go to Kashmir, but if there was any prime minister who went to the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir in an open jeep, it was honourable Deve Gowda. You should not forget this fact." Speaking about the conflict between India and Pakistan, Kumaraswamy said he was not sure where it would lead to. Slamming the BJP for the manner in which they were celebrating the pre-emptive air strikes by hoisting victory flags, he alleged this was only creating an atmosphere of strife between two communities. "They are hoisting the victory flags as if they themselves flew the aircraft and carried out bombing inside Pakistan. It is misusing a situation for vested interests." Cautioning people against the saffron party, Kumaraswamy said cadres of that party were behaving as if they alone were the saviours of the nation and nobody else. "Beware. They are misusing innocent minds," he said. The BJP had lashed out at the chief minister for his remarks, tweeting "Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating Indias victory will create rift between two religions in India." "CM @hd_kumaraswamy avare just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state & not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of #Mahaghatbandhan," the saffron party tweeted. The chief minister flayed the BJP for what he alleged was 'editing' of his speech and released the complete video of his speech. He also took to Twitter to hit out at at the saffron party. Kumaraswamy, in his rebuttal, tweeted "Shame on you @BJP4Karnataka for misleading the people by editing & twisting my statement against the BJP to suit your ulterior motives." Members of the Dunn's Corners Fire Department take a group photo after completing the Fight for Air Climb at the Omni Providence Hotel in 2017. The department will send 10 representatives to compete in the 2019 event on March 23. 220 North Water Street in Stonington, which is not a Sears & Roebuck kit house, despite rumors to the contrary. At parties, gatherings of family and friends, or even on occasional visits to various doctors or consultants, I am often used as a sounding board for peoples latest financial traumas. Usually, it is a beef someone has with an energy supplier (an unexplained hike in a direct debit payment); an insurer (an alarming premium increase); or a friend bemoaning the fact their bank will no longer automatically send them a new chequebook when their old one runs out (NatWest). I listen attentively, take notes when necessary, and some of the tales eventually end up in these pages my mothers experience with British Gas and its wish to jack up her HomeCover premiums being a case in point. Calling for change: We passionately believe it is high time the regulators probed into the murky world of continuous payment authorities Close up, market intelligence. You cant beat it. In recent weeks, another issue has registered loudly on my personal finance antennae as a result of conversations with friends (not family, I hasten to add). Namely, the financial scourge of continuous payment authorities, money traps that can drain your bank account or bloat your credit card bill if you are not quite on the ball. Borderline daylight robbery. Many of my friends, looking for later life love or companionship on dating websites, have been caught out by these nasty, vicious financial agreements. In some cases the outcome has been rather sad: no love found, no companionship discovered, and to rub salt into open wounds, all this disappointment costing a heart and a leg for ever more or until they realise the financial errors of their ways. In signing up for online dating, these friends failed to realise that the deal they struck with the provider typically six or 12 months access to the website, paid for via an agreed monthly payment taken from their debit or credit card was open ended. In extremis, until death do us part. That is, it would automatically renew, without notice, unless they had the foresight to cancel it ahead of the renewal date. In many instances, they are paying for access to a website they no longer require either because they have given up on dating or they have now found someone compatible. They feel cheated. Costly: Many of my friends, looking for later life love or companionship on dating websites, have been caught out by these nasty, vicious financial agreements Of course, continuous payment authorities are not the exclusive domain of dating website operators. As we report, their financially intrusive tentacles have twisted their way into many aspects of our lives, from paying for gym memberships through to magazine subscriptions. We passionately believe it is high time the regulators probed into the murky world of continuous payment authorities. It is why we have today launched a campaign to stop this sneaky cash grab. We are demanding greater consumer protection so that people are informed of their right to cancel ahead of any automatic renewal date instead of being blindfolded as they are now. We also argue that these payments should be better described on bank or card statements, preferably with the renewal date given. This would act as a reminder to anyone caught up in the fishing net of continuous payment authorities that they can escape by cancelling their subscription so it does not auto-renew. If you have a view on this controversial payment mechanism akin to legal pick- pocketing we would love to hear it. Email: jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk. In less than four weeks, the UK may have left the EU or not. That uncertainty is driving many businesses to distraction but it is also creating opportunities, particularly for companies looking to acquire British firms. In the past three weeks, two Midas recommendations have been on the receiving end of takeover bids, tax software group Tax Systems and Dairy Crest, the group behind Cathedral City cheese, Country Life butter and Clover spread. Midas recommended Tax Systems last July at 85.5p. On February 13, private equity firm Bowmark Capital made a 1.10 a share cash offer for the company. Chief executive Gavin Lyons and investors with more than half the shares have already accepted the deal so it is almost certain to go through and shareholders will receive their money by April, making a return of almost 30 per cent in less than a year. Dairy Crest is a more complex story. Midas first recommended the firm in 2013 when the shares were 4. By September 2017, they had risen to 6.16 and seemed to be on a roll. But concerns about the food retailing market, economic worries and a big share placing last May took their toll and the stock was hovering around 5 until ten days ago, when Canadian cheesemaker Saputo made a 6.20 a share cash offer for Dairy Crest, valuing the company at almost 1 billion. Saputo is one of the top ten cheese producers in the world and boss Lino Saputo fancies a slice of the UK market. Cathedral City is exceptionally well-known here eaten in six out of every ten households and chief executive Mark Allen is keen to sell more abroad. He and the board are recommending the offer and, if all goes according to plan, shareholders will receive their cash by early May. MIDAS VERDICT: Tax Systems shareholders should take their cash and watch to see what Lyons does next. This is the second time he has delivered a generous takeover deal for Midas investors and he may well crop up in the market again. Dairy Crest is less cut and dried. The share price has failed to reflect the companys real value in recent months so there is little doubt that, even though the Saputo deal makes strategic sense, the Canadians will be snapping up a bargain. Some investors are even hoping a counter-bidder will emerge. Shareholders should sit tight until the picture is clearer. At the very least, they will receive an early summer windfall. For a man who counts President Trump, Elton John and Damien Hirst as friends, who throws lavish parties and who once owned Londons most expensive home, Victor Pinchuk isnt known for shunning the limelight. But investors in Regal Petroleum (full disclosure: my share tip for the year) have discovered a shy side to the Ukrainian billionaire. Pinchuk, who built up his fortune at steel pipe giant Interpipe, is yet to unveil himself as the mystery investor in the Aim-listed Ukrainian gas company. Billionaire: Victor Pinchuk isnt known for shunning the limelight This newspaper revealed in August that he was behind an unknown vehicle called Kelda Limited, which had bought a 24 per cent stake in Regal from Alfa Group the organisation controlled by the oligarch Mikhail Fridman. Last week, Kelda quietly raised its stake to nearly 29 per cent. The shares jumped 23 per cent following the news. Pinchuk, who tried to buy Regal in 2011, may be mulling a full-blown takeover. But hell first have to convince Ukrainian businessmen Vadim Novinsky and Andrei Klyamko of Energees, who control 52 per cent of the firm. Contributor: William Turvill They were billed as the fresh young upstarts of the energy market, rubbing shoulders with other tech-savvy entrepreneurs in their trendy Shoreditch offices. But instead of trading tips with hipsters, Bulb employees are now sharing lifts with bankers as the company has moved its 300 staff into more traditional offices in the heart of the City. The energy firm, which recently signed its millionth customer, has moved into the former offices of Baring Asset Management, taking over four floors of British Lands 155 Bishopsgate. All change: Bulb employees are now sharing lifts with bankers The sublet arrangement means Bulb is expected to match Barings annual 3.7million rent, adding pressure on bosses to close the gap on a 23.7million loss in 2018 following aggressive expansion. Last week, Bulb cut gas bills for customers by 2 per cent. Baring is the surviving part of the famous merchant bank which went bust in 1995 after rogue trader Nick Leeson ran up huge unauthorised debts. Britain's biggest care home operator is in talks to hand control to a property investment firm in a deal worth 1billion. HC-One, founded by Labour donor Chai Patel, could give Round Hill Capital, a London-based investor in residential and student accommodation, a majority stake. The business, owned by a consortium of investors including a firm run by Patel, was put up for sale with a 1billion price tag last year amid intense financial pressure on the sector. In talks: Britain's biggest care home operator is in talks to hand control to a property investment firm in a deal worth 1billion The group is among a number of care home businesses on the market. It became the UKs biggest care home provider in 2017 when it bought 122 homes from Bupa in a 300million deal that fuelled concerns about its debts. HC-One said of the talks, first reported in Estates Gazette: It is our policy not to comment on market speculation. Our number one priority, every single day, will always be the health, safety and wellbeing of the residents we support. Round Hill declined to comment. With the end of the tax year looming on April 5, many pension savers are wrestling with whether they can afford to top up their retirement pots. Pensions are one of the few remaining savings vehicles to offer generous tax perks on contributions (up to certain limits) that also allow the money invested to grow tax free. The Government does not want to be too generous so restricts the annual amount savers can salt away and receive tax relief on to a maximum of 40,000. It's that time of the year: With the end of the tax year looming on April 5, many pension savers are wrestling with whether they can afford to top up their retirement pots High earners on incomes between 110,000 and 210,000 have a smaller annual allowance on a sliding scale down to as little as 10,000. People who have dipped into their pot under new pension freedom rules who later decide to start contributing again have a reduced annual allowance of just 4,000. Breach these limits and savers face tax penalties set at their highest rate of income tax. Over a lifetime, the size of a fund can grow to 1.03million (1.055million from April) before savers are hit with an extra tax penalty. This charge is set at 25 per cent if the excess is taken as income or 55 per cent for a lump sum. Three pensions dilemmas and what experts suggest 1. The motor executive with a new job A motor industry executive from the Midlands left his employer a few years ago and started taking benefits from his occupational scheme a defined benefit pension that had exceeded the lifetime allowance. Not long afterwards he was offered another job in the same industry where the employer offered him a defined benefit pension. But they did not offer anything in exchange for turning down membership of that scheme. Andy James, of pension company Tilney, says: Any additional pension he would have taken over the lifetime limit as a lump sum would be charged at 55 per cent. But we advised him that being left with 45 per cent of something was better than 100 per cent of nothing, so he went ahead and joined the scheme. 2 The bank worker topping up her Isa An employee who had been with a leading bank since leaving school was in a defined benefit scheme. But she recently transferred the pot into a personal pension under pension freedom rules because she wanted more flexibility, the improved death benefits and to be able to nominate any unused portion to her children. James says: The transfer value put her over the lifetime allowance so her employer offered a 10 per cent salary increase in lieu of pension contributions. 'She has used this taxable salary increase partly to top up her cash Isa holdings to protect against short-term issues of possible redundancy and to speed up the repayment of her mortgage. By doing this she has reduced the familys ongoing running costs by reducing debt plus provided her family with a bigger emergency fund. 3 Media worker who cashed in a pension A 55-year okd media executive recently cashed in a small personal pension, not realising this would trigger a lower annual pension allowance for future contributions of 4,000. In his current workplace scheme he makes total contributions of 16,000 a year half made by his employer. This is 12,000 over his new annual allowance limit and means he faces a tax charge of 40 per cent on the excess. The penalty works out at 4,800. He can either ask the pension managers to meet this payment from his pot though not all providers allow this or pay it himself. Jessica List, of pension company Curtis Banks, says: He decided to continue with the pension as he is in a better financial position because of the employers matching contributions. Many better-off savers are nervous about breaching these limits. But experts say they are worrying too much as the benefits of topping up can outweigh the penalty costs. Clare Moffat, of insurer Royal London, says: These charges are not a punishment for bad behaviour. They are simply the mechanisms the taxman uses to claw back any tax relief the saver has enjoyed which exceed the limits. Watch out: People who have dipped into their pot under new pension freedom rules who later decide to start contributing again have a reduced annual allowance of just 4,000 The lifetime limit may sound huge, with allowance-busting a problem facing only a lucky few. But the reality is many ordinary individuals such as teachers, health service workers and civil servants with lengthy service under their belts are increasingly being affected. These employees are usually in generous defined benefit schemes where the pension they receive is based on a combination of salary and length of service. They may well be nudging against or even exceeding the annual limit and not even know it. It is easier for those in defined contribution schemes where pensions depend on how much has been contributed to the pot and how much it has grown to work out if their pension risks surpassing the allowance. The numbers affected by fears over breaches have ballooned in recent years as the Government has sought to trim the allowances. Puzzling: To say the pension allowances are confusing is an understatement To say the pension allowances are confusing is an understatement. One high earner who contacted The Mail on Sunday following our coverage on the subject in January, said: The whole thing is so hideously complicated that Im simply contributing the same as I did last year, shutting my eyes and hoping for the best. This reader and many like him may well find he has little to lose by breaching both his annual and lifetime allowances. But seeking financial advice is always better than shutting your eyes just to be sure you are not blindly walking into penalty traps. Ray Black, chartered financial planner at Money Minder, says: The significant tax savings that can be enjoyed on the way to building a retirement fund to the lifetime limit or above are not to be sniffed at. If a saver then uses the pension to provide an income it is possible to reduce the tax liability on the excess to just 25 per cent lower than the 40 or 45 per cent tax relief they received on contributions. Stephen Womack, of David Williams IFA, a Northampton-based financial planner, says the clincher is often whether the saver receives employer contributions. He says: Employer contributions are key. If the employer is sharing the burden, the tax penalty can be worth paying. By contrast, a self-employed business owner may be less inclined to blithely breach allowances with no employer contributions to cushion the impact of a penalty charge. Members of defined benefit workplace pensions may not realise they have exceeded their annual allowance. This is because the calculations are more complicated with the annual allowance typically equal to the growth in the promised annual pension at retirement multiplied by 16. This information is also often not known until after the end of a tax year. Womack suggests a few options for those averse to exceeding either the annual or lifetime allowance. He says: Some employers may arrange to automatically cap annual contributions at 10,000 for higher earners and then pay them the rest in additional salary. The same kind of arrangement may apply for those tiptoeing towards the lifetime allowance. Tips to avoid hefty charges Even if a savers contributions this year exceed their annual allowance, a tax charge may be avoided. This is because it is possible to carry forward any allowance not used in the previous three tax years. The exception is for those who are on the reduced 4,000 annual allowance who are not allowed to carry forward. The lifetime allowance tax charge will only raise its head when you take your pension benefits often referred to as crystallising your pension. Ian Browne, of wealth manager Quilter, says: If you have a pension that is equal to or greater than the lifetime allowance it is best that it gets measured against the lifetime allowance only once to avoid giving the taxman a second bite at the cherry. He explains: If you do not need to make any withdrawals keep the pension invested and have its value tested at age 75. This delays the 25 per cent tax charge on the excess in your pot until the last possible date. Someone who needs to make withdrawals can manage the pot to avoid the lifetime allowance becoming an issue too soon. Browne explains: They can think about moving a sum up to the value of the lifetime allowance into drawdown under the new freedom rules. They can then either spend the 25 per cent tax-free cash that everyone is entitled to or invest it in a tax-efficient investment such as an Isa. To avoid a second lifetime allowance test, the saver must withdraw investment growth in the new pension as income. Money remaining in the original pension is left until age 75 when it will be taxed. He says: Employers may offer to stop pension contributions and give a pay rise instead. This will mean more income tax to pay but you can use what remains to save in other tax-efficient schemes such as Isas. A popular strategy is for extra salary given in lieu of pension contributions to be directed into the pension plan of a spouse or partner. Womack says: Not only does it mean you avoid tax penalties but you can plan in such as way that neither of you pays more than 20 per cent basic rate income tax when you take the pension. When making the final choice on whether to accept breaches, the main question to ask is what is being given up by stopping contributions. Jessica List, of pension company Curtis Banks, says: Tax relief is only one of the advantages of a pension. There is also tax-free investment growth and the pension pot is normally outside a persons estate for inheritance tax. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) Four Senate aspirants shared their plans for the Philippines should they be elected. Speaking at CNN Philippines' Senatorial Forum, Agnes Escudero, Ding Generoso, Romulo Macalintal and Butch Valdes spoke about their priority bills should they get elected. Here's what they had to say: AGNES ESCUDERO A licensed teacher running under the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi, Escudero said that she will push for bills that promotes the rights of indigenous peoples. "I'd like to enact laws about indigenous peoples, primarily to have the Department of Indigenous Peoples kasi kailangan talagang mabigyan ng attention ang iba't-ibang activities patungkol sa mga katutubo," she said. [Translation: More attention should be given to indigenous peoples. ] There is currently a National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, but Escudero did not say how the creation of a department would differ from the current setup. She added that she will file a bill on cultural tourism. "Para bigyan ng magandang patungkol ang mga natural resources ng mga tribo, at magkakaroon sila ng employment doon," Escudero said. [Translation: The bill would highlight the beauty of the natural resources of tribes, and will help them gain employment.] DING GENEROSO The former spokesperson of the the Consultative Committee on charter change, the group tasked to review the 1987 Constitution under orders of President Rodrigo Duterte, wants to push for federalism. "Pagka ang ibang rehiyon outside Metro Manila ay bigyan natin ng kapangyarihan ng awtonomiya makakalikha tayo ng ekonomiya na progresibo sa mga rehiyon," Generoso said. "Iyong regional government ay makakalikha ng ibang oportunidad sa ibang rehiyon." [Translation: If regions outside Metro Manila will be given the power of autonomy we will create a progressive economy in the regions The regional government can create other opportunities in other regions.] He also said that the measure can curb traffic woes in Manila. READ: Two Senate bets see federalism as solution to traffic ROMULO MACALINTAL Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal wants more protection for senior citizens. "Ang problema namin ngayon yung mataas na halaga ng bilihin ng gamot, kaya para sa akin dapat pag dating namin ng 70 years old, yung 20 percent (discount) itaas natin yan," he said. Macalintal wants the discount for medicine and medical services to increase by ten percent increments for every decade passed, until people at the age of 90 will get 50 percent medical discount. He also pushed for a P100,000 allowance for centenarians, to benefit not just them but also their families or caretakers. BUTCH VALDES The proponent of the Citizen National Guard, a group supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte, wants to repeal Electronic Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). "We are paying the highest electricity rates in the world. When I get to the Senate, I will move to review, to suspend and all the way to repeal the EPIRA law," Valdes said. He would also push indicting former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III for the Dengvaxia vaccine scandal. READ: Electric Power Industry Reform Act Catch the next leg of CNN Philippines' Senatorial Forum next week, and get to know four more Senate aspirants. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is a financial company, which offers financial products and services to businesses, individuals and institutional clients. It specializes in retirement solutions, insurance, and investment products through its diverse family of financial services companies and national network of financial professionals. It operates its business through following segments: Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Global Investors, Principal International, U.S. Insurance Solutions and Corporate. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides retirement and related financial products and services primarily to businesses, their employees and other individuals. The Principal Global Investors segment provides asset management services to asset accumulation business, insurance operations, corporate segment and third party clients and also refers to mutual fund business. The Principal International segment offers pension accumulation products and services, mutual funds, asset management, income annuities and life insurance accumulation products. The U.S. Insurance Solutions segment operates through two divisions. Specialty benefits insurance division consists of gro Read More Kuli Kuli, an Oakland, CA-based mission-driven company pioneering the superfood moringa, closed a $5M Series B financing. The round was co-led by Griffith Foods and eighteen94 capital, with participation from InvestEco, S2G Ventures, Authentic Ventures, VilCap Investments and Rocana Venture Partners, Portfolia, Astia Angels, Next Wave Impact and individuals from Golden Seeds. The company intends to use the funds to launch its new moringa ingredient business while continuing to scale its moringa powder, bars, and shots business. Led by Lisa Curtis, Founder & CEO, Kuli Kuli is a superfood brand providing nutritious moringa, which provides a good source of plant protein, iron, vitamins, and antioxidants. The product line include Moringa Energy Bars, Pure Organic Moringa Powder, Organic Moringa Green Smoothie Mixes, and Moringa Green Energy shots. Over the past five years, the company has built a sustainable supply chain of small moringa farmers while selling tasty moringa products in 7,000 stores. Now it is selling the superfood as an ingredient to other food companies. Griffith Foods plans to include moringa in its range of ingredient offerings for the companys foodservice customers, processors, retailers and distributors across 30 countries. FinSMEs 03/03/2019 Actor Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, in a $50 million defamation lawsuit, citing a piece she wrote for The Washington Post about domestic abuse. The complaint, filed Friday in the Circuit Court of Fairfax, Va., said that, while Depp was not named in the Post article, it was clear Heard was talking about him. The lawsuit called her ongoing allegations of domestic abuse "categorically and demonstrably false." "They were part of an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity for Ms. Heard and advance her career," the lawsuit said, claiming that "she is the perpetrator." The suit said Depp, 55, has suffered financial losses because of the accusations, including being dropped from his role as Capt. Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. In her article, published in the Post in December, Heard also said she lost an acting role and contract with a major fashion brand because she went public with her claims of abuse. "I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our culture's wrath," the 32-year-old actress wrote, adding that she felt she was "on trial in the court of public opinion." Heard's publicists and attorney did not return phone calls or emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on Saturday. In a statement to People magazine, her attorney Eric M. George called the lawsuit "frivolous" and "just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard." Depp's attorney, Adam Waldman, responded to People that he and his client looked forward to presenting "overwhelming video, photographic and eyewitness evidence" that would clear Depp's name. Heard first accused Depp of domestic violence in May 2016, the year after they were married. After Heard brought a photo of her with a bruised face to court, a judge ordered Depp to stay away from her. Their divorce was finalized in 2017. Associated Press Trio headline Blues Hall of Fame class Aretha Franklin, Count Basie and Booker T. & the MGs are among the performers named as inductees to the Blues Hall of Fame. The Blues Foundation announced this year's honorees on Friday. An induction ceremony is scheduled May 8 in Memphis, Tennessee. Known as the Queen of Soul, Franklin also performed blues and gospel songs. Many of Count Basie's songs were rooted in Kansas City blues. Booker T. and the MGs' blues-soul-rock sound was created at Stax Records in Memphis and has influenced countless musicians. Classic recordings also are being inducted, including "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters, "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles and the Elmore James album "The Sky is Crying." Guitarist Pee Wee Crayton and vaudeville blues entertainer Ida Cox also will be inducted. Associated Press Jerry Lee Lewis suffers minor stroke Rock 'n' roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis is recovering after a minor stroke, but he's expected to make a full recovery. A statement from his publicist says the 83-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer had the stroke Thursday night and is recuperating in Memphis. His publicist, Zach Farnum, said no scheduled shows have been affected. Nicknamed "The Killer," Lewis is known for his outrageous energy and piano skills on songs like "Great Balls of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin'." He is scheduled to perform at the 50th anniversary of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April and his publicist said he has plans to record a gospel album soon. Associated Press 'Mockingbird' compromise offered The producer of Broadway's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is offering a compromise to community and nonprofit theaters that were forced to abandon productions of the play under legal threat. In a statement provided Saturday to The Associated Press, producer Scott Rudin said the theaters are being offered the right to perform writer Aaron Sorkin's version of the play now on stage in New York. Rudin said he hopes this makes up for the "hurt" suffered by theater companies that were told to cancel what he called improperly licensed productions. In making the demand, Rudin had argued that the book's author, Harper Lee, signed over to him exclusive worldwide right to the title, and his adaptation was the only version that could be performed. The demand sparked a backlash against Rudin. Associated Press Montpelier, Vt. About 18 months after the Trump administration threatened to withhold law enforcement grants from nearly 30 places around the country it felt weren't doing enough to work with federal immigration agents, all but one have received or been cleared to get the money, the Justice Department said. In most cases, courts chipped away at the crackdown that escalated in November 2017 with letters from the Justice Department of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to 29 cities, metro areas, counties or states it considered as having adopted "sanctuary policies" saying those policies may violate federal law. Of those 29 jurisdictions which include cities as large as Los Angeles and as small as Burlington, Vt. only Oregon has yet to be cleared to receive the grants from 2017, a Justice Department spokesman told The Associated Press this week. Vermont officials announced Monday that they had been told the state Department of Public Safety would be getting $2.3 million in law enforcement grants that had been blocked. Vermont had not joined any of the legal cases, instead corresponding directly with the Justice Department. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, declared victory, saying the money would be used primarily on anti-drug efforts. "State and local law enforcement agencies already are stretched thin, and withholding these federal grants only makes their work more difficult," Leahy said in an email to the AP. "It's unthinkable that the Trump Justice Department would hold these funds hostage over an unrelated dispute on immigration policy." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Last summer, the U.S. Conference of Mayors sued in Illinois on behalf of its member cities focusing on the issue. In September, a federal court temporarily blocked the Justice Department from withholding the funds for the jurisdictions represented by the conference. The conference's litigation is now focused on making the order affecting the 2017 grants permanent and apply to 2018 grants, as well, said Kate O'Brien, a Chicago attorney who represented the mayors. Years before she died on the descent from K2, famed mountaineer Alison Hargreaves climbed the soaring, glacier-studded Eiger with her son Tom in her womb. That would arguably be his first climb, made before he was born into a notably adventurous family. Hargreaves was the first woman ever to summit Everest without Sherpas or bottled oxygen, in May 1995. She was killed on K2 in a rash of bad weather three months later. Tom Ballard followed in her footsteps at Eiger and five other major peaks in the Alps in 2015, becoming the first solo climber ever to conquer them all in one winter. Ballard was christened "the new king of the Alps," the Telegraph announced soon after. But now, about 100 miles southwest from where his mother died, Ballard, 30, has been missing along with his Italian climbing partner Daniele Nardi on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat - nicknamed "Killer Mountain" for its row of deaths and notoriously difficult terrain on the ninth-highest mountain in the world. They were last heard from Sunday, the BBC reported. Pakistani army helicopters have searched the mountainside for the climbers, though inclement weather and tensions with India have strained search efforts, the BBC reported. Pakistan sealed its airspace after aerial combat over the contested Kashmir region resulted in two downed Indian jets. An update posted to Nardi's Facebook page Friday said there was still no sign of the two climbers. The search will continue if the weather allows it, said Stefano Pontecorvo, the Italian ambassador to Pakistan. "Pakistan Army pilots made some headway today," he wrote Thursday on Twitter. "Very grateful for their total dedication. Tomorrow reinforced team should be at work. Let's hope and pray for the best." On Friday, the ambassador said search teams were "trying to get operations going asap." Pakistani climber Ali Sadpara was involved in the search, Pontecorvo wrote. Sadpara is the only climber to have scaled the peak in winter, the BBC reported. The official Facebook page for Nardi, an experienced Italian climber, has said Sadpara observed signs of an avalanche in the search area. A Russian team had also intended to help, but "decided to give up due to the strong avalanche risk," according to a Friday update on Nardi's Facebook page. Nanga Parbat, at 8,126 meters, has drawn both adventurers and rescue pilots to its slopes in recent years. Numerous deaths on the peak in the early and mid-20th century led to its nickname "Killer Mountain." In January, Ballard and Nardi arrived at Nanga Parbat to ascend the peak on a path that has never been successfully taken, according to a statement from Montane, a British clothing company that sponsors Ballard. "They will be hoping to climb the infamous Mummery Spur - named after Albert F. Mummery, who in 1895 led the first attempt to climb the mountain," the company wrote. He died on the mountain while scouting a path. "His intended line remains unclimbed to this day," Montane said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. More for you The desperate attempt to save frostbitten climbers on one of... Ballard was about 6 years old when his mother died, and he spent his early years untangling his motivations to scale the same mountains his famous mother once climbed. "When I was young growing up at school I always said I would climb these mountains for her. But then I realized that was a little bit silly because she had already climbed them herself. I was only doing it for myself - every day I go out there is for me," he told the Telegraph. "Unconsciously, she is one of the reasons why I wanted to do it - but only one of the reasons." His father, Jim Ballard, also a climber, appeared in "Tom," a 2015 documentary about his son's emergence from his family lineage to carve his own accomplishments. "Tom never wanted to be anything else, for as long as he can remember, but a climber," he said. And in the film, Ballard reflected on his path. His mother, two years before her death, became the first solo climber ever to summit all six north faces of the Alps peaks in the summer, about a decade before her son did so in the winter. "Since I was 10 all I wanted to do was to climb. Even before I was born I climbed the north face of the Eiger," Ballard said. "So I think it's not much a surprise what I do now." The climb had already appeared arduous, even before the climbers went missing Sunday. In a Jan. 19 Facebook photo by Ballard, a climber stopped for a rest on a snow-tipped mountainside. Snowflakes obscured his face. "Well, what did you expect?" Ballard wrote. "It is winter on the ninth-highest peak in the world. No picnic." A throng of sales at the door on Saturday (3/2) pushed attendance beyond 2,000 people for the 10th annual timesunion.com/Table Hopping Mac-n-Cheese Bowl, at which Mazzone Hospitality won the top people's-choice award and the prize for best display. Brown's Brewing won best mac-n-cheese in voting by the event's judges. It was held at Siena College and featured 29 tasting stations from restaurants and other food-service providers. Allegra Edelman of Colonie, who won the home-cooks category last year and returned to defend her title, was again chosen in blind judging as the best of nine entries for her Creamy Two-Cheese Mac-n-Cheese. Chloe Sink of Albany, age 10, won in the kid-cooks category for her Bacon-Scallion Mac-n-Cheese. Both recipes will be on the blog and in the Times Union's Food section on Thursday (3/7). Mac-n-cheese from home and kid cooks was tasted and voted on by judges only, not the public. Dong Dang, Vietnam Smiling and holding up his clasped hands in a victorious pose, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday boarded his private train at the Vietnam-China border for a 60-plus-hour ride home, ending a trip to Vietnam that saw a summit breakdown with President Donald Trump. He spent his last day in Hanoi laying large red-and-yellow wreaths at a war memorial and at the mausoleum of national hero Ho Chi Minh, surrounded by Vietnamese soldiers in crisp white uniforms and his own entourage of top North Korean officials. At the border, he got out of his armored limousine and clasped his hands, waving to a crowd of people cheering his departure. Since Trump flew home, Kim was keen to show himself as a poised leader on the international stage. He met Friday with President Nguyen Phu Trong, the country's top leader and Communist Party chief, grinning broadly as he was feted escorted down a red carpet. But some experts believe that Kim, by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump at a summit, will have one sure win: He'll be able to portray himself to his people as the charismatic head of a nuclear-armed power, not an international pariah that starves its citizens so it can build nukes and missiles. On Saturday, he also oversaw the presentation of a large wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where he bowed. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Talks broke down Thursday, the second day of their two-day summit, in a dispute over how much sanctions relief Washington should provide Pyongyang for nuclear disarmament steps. Despite a senior North Korean official's suggestion in a rushed, night time news conference called to dispute Trump's version of the summit's end that Kim "lost the will" for diplomacy, Kim emerged from the diplomatic wreckage as a winner. Kim commands state media already portraying the summit as his victory. Albany County Sheriff's Office BERNE A 33-year-old Rensselaerville man was charged in a domestic incident with his girlfriend Saturday morning, the Albany County Sheriffs Office said. Deputies said they went to a Long Road home where they arrested Matthew R. Hoffman of Hale Road after his 28-year-old girlfriend used an emergency call feature on her phone to reach 911 at 11 a.m. Saturday during a struggle with him. Bernie Sanders kicked off his presidential campaign Saturday miles from the rent-controlled apartment where he grew up in Brooklyn and 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." The Democrats in the 2020 race have taken varied approaches to Trump, with some avoiding saying his name entirely, while others make implicit critiques of his presidency. Sanders has never shied from jabbing Trump in stark terms, and during his speech at Brooklyn College, he called Trump "the most dangerous president in modern American history" and said the president wants to "divide us up." The Vermont senator positioned himself in opposition to Trump administration policies from immigration to climate change. Beyond the issues themselves, Sanders, who grew up in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Flatbush in a middle-class family, drew a stark contrast between himself and the billionaire in the White House who hails from Queens. "I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs," said Sanders, who has lived in Vermont for decades. He pegged his allowance as a kid at 25 cents a week. Sanders also said he "did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers, 'You're fired.'" "I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over everyday workers," he added. More than 200 miles away at the Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Washington, Trump reveled in his 2016 victory and said Republicans "need to verify it in 2020 with an even bigger victory." While Trump didn't mention Sanders explicitly in a two-hour speech, he railed against the policies of "socialism" in a continued attempt to portray Democrats as out of touch with ordinary Americans. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist. "Socialism is not about the environment, it is not about justice, it is not about virtue. It is only about one thing it is called power for the ruling class," Trump said. "We know the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism." Speaking at the same conference Friday, Vice President Mike Pence called Sanders an "avowed socialist." Sanders enters the race at a moment that bears little resemblance to when he waged his long-shot bid in 2016. Democrats have been mobilized by the election of Trump and are seeking a standard-bearer who can oust him from office. Many of Sanders' populist ideas have been embraced by the mainstream of the Democratic party. The field of Democrats that he joins includes a number of liberal candidates, most notably Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who share similar sensibilities. As Sanders launched his campaign in Brooklyn, Warren was campaigning in Waterloo, Iowa, and was questioned repeatedly about Sanders. Though the two have been friends since before they came to the Senate, Warren did not endorse Sanders in 2016, a decision that angered his supporters. "I'm going to be blunt we can't go back and relitigate 2016," she told a voter who asked why she declined to back Sanders. "We've gotta keep our focus on how we're going to win in 2020." Later asked by reporters how she'll distinguish herself from Sanders, she said she would focus on issues, and emphasized the need for the Democratic field to stick together. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "The way I see it, I got plenty to talk about as it is about the structural change we need in this country and laying out how we can do this. This is hopeful. People come and they hear what's broken, that we can fix it and that we do it together." Sanders' rally was his first campaign event since announcing a week ago that he would run against Trump for the White House. Sanders will make his first trip to the leadoff caucus state of Iowa next week, with plans to campaign in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Des Moines. He is headed to the early state of Iowa Hours before his speech in Brooklyn College's East Quad, a line of supporters snaked down the snowy streets. A reggae band played before Sanders spoke, and he was introduced by a number of supporters including Nina Turner, the former Ohio state senator who is a co-chair of Sanders' campaign this year, and Shaun King, the writer and civil rights activist. King cited Sanders' participation in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when he was a student at the University of Chicago. "This is the origin story of an American revolutionary," King said of Sanders, who will return to Chicago on Sunday evening for a second campaign rally, where he's expected to further highlight his own activism. Paul Crewdson, 37, of Brooklyn, came to the rally carrying a hand-drawn cardboard sign that read, "Win Michigan, Win Ohio, Win Wisconsin." "I think this was the reason that Democrats lost in 2016," he said. As he began his speech, Sanders himself hinted at how he sees the race, a campaign that runs beyond the battlegrounds. "This is a 50-state campaign," he said. "We will not concede a single state to Donald Trump." [March 03, 2019] WX INVESTOR ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Reminds WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. Investors of Important Deadline in Securities Class Action Lawsuit - WX Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:WX) investors of the important April 23, 2019 lead plaintiff deadline for persons or entities who sold WuXi securities between September 1, 2015 and December 10, 2015, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), or purchased WuXi securities during the Class Period and held such shares through December 10, 2015. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for WuXi investors under the federal securities laws. To join the WuXi class action, go to https://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1516.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. or Zachary Halper, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. AN INVESTOR'S ABILITY TO SHARE IN ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE RECOVERY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON SERVING AS LEAD PLAINTIFF. According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) WuXi's public satements misrepresented and/or omitted material information that was necessary for WuXi shareholders to make an informed decision concerning whether to vote in favor of the merger between WuXi with New WuXi Life Science Limited and WuXi Merger Limited for approximately $3.62 billion; (2) defendants had plans to spin-off and publicly list WuXi's various subsidiaries, in a series of highly accretive transactions; and (3) as a result, WuXi's statements about its business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 23, 2019. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to https://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1516.html or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact Phillip Kim, Esq. or Zachary Halper, Esq. of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook (News - Alert): https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190303005036/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo Source: Microsoft Many people can't bear the thought of not seeing their smartphones. They'll leave them on the counter while they wash dishes, use them even after the lights dim in a movie theater, and hold them in front of their faces while they drive. So it makes sense for Microsoft to look to smartphones as the mixed reality input devices of the future in a new patent application. Microsoft applied for the patent on February 28--after it revealed the HoloLens 2 at MWC Barcelona 2019--and it has since been published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization (USPTO). It's simply called "Virtual Reality Input," and in it, Microsoft describes a system that would allow people to use their phones even when they're in virtual/augmented/mixed reality. (Image credit: Microsoft Patent) The company explained that current interaction methods, from hand-held controllers to gesture-based input, have their limitations. They're also unfamiliar to many people, making it even harder for them to feel comfortable in mixed reality. The solution? Allow people to use devices they use all the time--smartphones--to interact with mixed reality experiences. Microsoft explained: "In some examples, the touch-sensitive input device may enable the reception of touch input, which may be an intuitive and familiar input paradigm to a user (e.g., as a result of repeated, daily use of a smart-phone). Touch and/or other types of input may extend the range of inputs that can be supplied beyond translation and rotation enabled by the hand-held controllers described above. The input device itself may also provide a familiar paradigm of interaction, as in some examples the input device may be, as referenced above, a smart/phone or other mobile device of the user." While some people can navigate their smartphone without looking at it--constant use has ingrained the location of each app icon in their memory--others cannot. (It can be hard to figure out exactly what's happening on-screen with nothing but tactile or auditory feedback.) Microsoft thought of those limitations, too, and it also wants to go beyond addressing them. It explained: "Moreover, the virtual reality experience may complement and/or extend input device functionality. As described in further detail below, the virtual reality experience may render a representation of the input device that visually indicates the device and also provides a user interface for interacting with the device and virtual reality experience. In some examples, the user interface may provide additional information and points of interaction beyond a user interface rendered by the input device itself." It makes sense. Immersion in VR can be elusive if people aren't comfortable with a control scheme. Most people are comfortable with their phones. And if augmented reality is about building upon things in our environment, well, our phones are pretty much tied with our bodies as the most constant things in our environments. Microsoft's system merely embraces those truths in mixed reality. (Image credit: dennizn / Shutterstock) The worst thing about spreadsheets is data entry. Who actually likes clicking through each cell, entering the appropriate data, and repeating the process until something resembling a table emerges? Microsoft acknowledged that the answer is "probably no one" with an upcoming feature for Excel on Android devices. Microsoft said the feature would allow people to take a picture of something, let Excel work some artificially intelligent magic on it, and then correct any mistakes in the resulting spreadsheet. This is perfect for printed receipts or handwritten recipes that are already well-organized but also tedious to digitally recreate. Similar features abound in other apps. Many banking applications will let their users deposit checks this way. Some note-taking apps can use optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text from scanned documents. And translation apps can use similar tools to offer real-time, or close to real-time, translations of text. It's only natural, then, for Microsoft to bring this functionality to Excel. The company's placed increasing emphasis on the quality of its mobile apps to match the rest of Silicon Valley in the rush to build AI into its products and wants to push Office 365 subscriptions. This feature would help it realize all those goals. Microsoft didn't say when Excel on Android would receive this functionality. "We'll continue to optimize these features over the next several months," the company said. "When they're ready, we'll release them to all Office Insiders, and Office 365 subscribers." Until then, well, grandma's goulash recipe won't digitize itself. You can see the feature in action on Microsoft's website. Jeep will have a big presence at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, spearheaded largely by a handful of special edition models for the Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee. Each of the special edition Jeep models will bring something unique to the table, though a few of them will share the same S moniker. All special edition Jeeps feature stylish upgrades that should appeal to a wide range of customers across Europe. All special edition Jeeps will also be available for purchase at some point in the year. Most will arrive in the second quarter of 2019, with the earliest to arrive being the Cherokee Trailhawk, which hits dealerships in April. If you cant wait that long, the Jeep Compass Night Eagle is already available at Jeep dealerships. Pricing details for all special edition Jeep models are not yet available. There are plenty of choices here for all types of Jeep customers LISTEN 11:09 The U.S. is still Jeeps go-to-market, but business is booming in Europe, too. Sales in the Old Continent shot up to a record-breaking 165,058 sold units in 2018, a dramatic increase from its previous sales record in 2017 when the automaker sold 107,569 units. Im not a Math genius or anything of that sort, but thats a year-on-year sales increase of almost 50 percent! With the success that Jeeps having in Europe, it comes as no surprise that the American automaker is bringing the big guns at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in the form of a fleet of special edition models involving its entire model lineup. Yes, sir. The Jeep Renegade, Jeep Compass, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and even the Jeep Wrangler will be all dressed up in Geneva as the automaker prepares to unleash all special edition models in the market later this year. Itd be a disservice to lump them all together, so lets take a look at all these special edition Jeeps individually. Jeep Compass S Lets dive into the S special edition models first because, well, there are a lot of them. The first one is the Jeep Compass S. Its probably the most subdued special edition Jeep among the entire lineup. Still, its dressed in a Pearl White paint finish with a matching black roof. The latter comes standard on the S variant. A Low Gloss Granite Crystal finish that provides a classy polish to the front grille, light surrounds, and 19-inch wheels. The colors are muted relative to the other special edition Jeeps, but it works beautifully on the four-door crossover. Inside, there are black leather seats with contrasting Tungsten-colored stitching. Its a solid choice of colors given the crossovers predominantly white body. The Compass S also comes with a lineup of accessories and amenities. The Bi-Xenon headlights are nice additions, as is the adaptive cruise control system that should provide an extra level of comfort to the driving experience. Speaking of comfort, the Compass also comes with eight-way power seats. The Jeep Compass S is scheduled to hit Jeep dealerships across Europe sometime in the second quarter of 2019. Jeep Renegade S The sports-oriented Jeep Renegade gets in on the S fun, too. The subcompact crossover benefits from its own exclusive white paint called Alpine White. The same black roof treatment is also present on the Renegade S. This is a recurring design theme across the entire S range so dont be surprised when I mention that the S versions of the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee feature the same setup. Its not just the roof, either. The Renegades seven-slot front grille sparkles with the Low Gloss Granite Crystal accents while the set of 19-inch alloy wheels benefit from the same Granite Crystal finish as the ones found on the Compass S. Nappa leather is in abundant supply in the interior, and, presumably for consistencys sake, Tungsten-colored stitching provides a personable two-color look in the cabin. If youre looking for a copious amount of tech features, the Renegade S is a good choice. Features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, brake assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, and keyless entry all come standard in the Renegade S. Just like its Compass counterpart, the Renegade S becomes available sometime in the second quarter of 2019. Jeep Cherokee S At this point, youve probably noticed a trend among Jeeps Geneva-bound S vehicles. Yes, theyre all dressed in different shades of white, though, if you ask me, white is the same any which way you look at it. Regardless of my opinion, the Jeep Cherokee S is also dressed in a Pearl White exterior finish. It also sits on a set of 19-inch satin gloss Granite Crystal Metallic wheels, though in the case of the Cherokee S, the Jeep and 4x4 badges, as well as the roof rails and fog lamp bezels, are also finished in the specific color scheme. The interior is what youd expect, too. Jeep dropped a generous amount of Nappa leather on the interior surface of the Cherokee S and the same tungsten accent stitching is also present in this model. Youll find the stitching on the seats, armrests, and center console of the SUV. Youre not getting short-changed on the equipment side of things, too. The Cherokee S is loaded with tech and safety features, all of which come standard to the special edition model. A UconnectTM 8.4-inch NAV with Apple CarPlay integration and Android AutoTM compatibility? It has it. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go capability? Yes, sir. Active Speed Limiter, Forward Collision Warning-Plus with pedestrian recognition, Advanced Brake Assist, Lane Departure Warning-Plus, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Path Detection, Keyless Enter-N-GoTM, front and rear parking sensors, and Parallel & Perpendicular Park Assist? Do you even have to ask? Mark your calendars for the second quarter of the year. Just like the Compass S and the Renegade S, the Cherokee S arrives in dealerships around that time. Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited A full lineup of special edition Jeep S models wouldnt be complete without the big daddy of the family. The Jeep Grand Cherokee stands as the companys flagship model. Its a position it has owned since it burst onto the scene back in 1993. Obviously, if theres a special edition Jeep to be made, the Grand Cherokee has first-in-line priority. Based on the Grand Cherokees Limited trim, the Grand Cherokee S Limited is on the receiving end of all the same exclusive touches like all the other special edition Jeep S models. Its dressed in a nice shade of Bright White did you expect a different color? but it has the benefit of receiving design cues from the Grand Cherokee SRT. The SUVs hood, for example, has SRT styling written all over it. There are also bespoke side skirts, fender flares, and set of 20-inch Low Gloss Granite Crystal alloy wheels. The Grand Cherokee S Limited likewise benefits from exclusive touches that youre not getting from the other Jeep S models. Sure, the blacked-out theme evokes images of all the other S models, but since the Grand Cherokee is the flagship SUV, it also boasts a number of goodies that includes: Black ventilated leather-wrapped perforated front seats with heated cushions and backrests New high-tech new infotainment package Premium Alpine sound system with digital amplifier Active Noise Cancellation Nine speakers Subwoofer Latest generation of the Uconnect 8.4" system with navigation that includes a bonded glass design, Apple CarPlay, and Android AutoTM. Be smart with your money because, unlike the other Jeep S models, the Grand Cherokee S Limited is scheduled to hit dealerships shortly after the Geneva Motor Show concludes. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk In the event that none of the Jeep S models tickle your fancy, you can opt for a special edition Jeep thats, shall I say, a bit more on the rugged side. The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk fits that bill. Most of us in the U.S. are already familiar with the Cherokee Trailhawk, but our friends in Europe will only get their hands on the functionally superior SUV when it hits dealerships in April. Its not that long of a wait, so if youre looking into buying a Jeep Cherokee with serious off-road chops, nows the time to start saving up on the cheese. If you do decide to buy one, youre buying an SUV thats loaded to the brim with enough off-road hardware to make you comfortable in taking it any place where theres a surface underneath you. The Cherokee Trailhawk is equipped with a 0.78-inch suspension lift that provides a total of 8.66 inches of ground clearance. It also boasts a locking rear differential, five different driving modes, and a 2.0-liter turbo engine that produces 270 horsepower 295 pound-feet of torque. Europe has some of the best off-road trails in the world. With the arrival of the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, you can now go to these trails without worrying about making it out in one piece. Jeep Compass Night Eagle A fashionable Jeep is a contradiction in it of itself, but thats not stopping the brand from bringing the Compass Night Eagle to the Geneva Motor Show. If youre looking for a bolder and sportier Jeep Compass, the Night Eagle is for you. The Geneva-bound model is headed to the auto show sporting a Laser Blue paint finish to go along with a black roof, Gloss Black trim on the grille, fog lights, and headlight bezels, and a set of 19-inch Gloss Black and Diamond Cut aluminum alloy wheels. Who says that theres no room for aggressive enhancements on the Jeep Compass? Hop inside the SUV, and youll be greeted by a cloth/techno-leather interior. Im not certain what that looks like, but theres room for some surprises in this department. Either way, Jeep is also throwing the always useful 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen radio and navigation system into the mix. Add the ParkView rear camera with dynamic grid and rear parking assistance, and a 140-horsepower 1.4-liter engine with a manual transmission and you get the Compass Night Eagle Edition. Curiously, Jeep made no mention on when this special edition Compass arrives in dealerships. Perhaps its leaving that as a bit of a surprise? Jeep Renegade Limited Speaking of colorful, check out the Jeep Renegade Limited. This special edition model is, without question, the most flamboyant Jeep thats headed to the Geneva Motor Show. Its completely customized, which probably explains why its dressed up in a turquoise-looking paint finish that Jeep proudly calls Bikini. Oh, yes. This paint color is called Bikini for reasons that Im not even sure of. The weird names for the colors dont end there, either. The crossovers grille, front splitter, side moldings, door sill guards, mirror caps, and the rear scuff plate are all dressed in a color called Subshine Grey I actually it was a typo for Sunshine, but its not, as it turns out. The use of colorful paint nicknames extends into the interior, too, where Jeeps color-of-choice for the Renegade Limiteds gray leather upholstery is called Polar Plunge. I wish I were making all of this up, but Im not. In any case, prepare to adjust your eyes when you see the Renegade Limited in Geneva. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Renegade. Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Compass. Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The city received confirmation of the case on Monday, officials said, the same day Los Angeles County reported its second and third cases. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 2 The Audit Department has raised questions over the utility of bins purchased by the local Municipal Corporation at a cost of over Rs 3 crore for its waste segregation project. Sources said in its latest report, the Audit Department mentioned that the MC spent crores on a project, which was yet to be started. The MC had bought and later distributed over 5 lakh bins for 2.5 lakh households in the city with an aim to start waste segregation at source. Each house was given two bins of different colours blue bin for dry garbage and green one for wet waste. While the MC completed the process of distribution of bins a year and a half ago, it failed to start the waste segregation project yet. The Audit report questioned the decision to purchase these bins. It stated that the entire amount was wasted as the project remained a non-starter. In most of the houses, the bins distributed by the MC are either lying dumped or being used for other purposes. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, it was mandatory to start segregation of waste at source. According to the plan, awareness was to be created on disposing of dry waste in blue bin and wet waste in green bin. Hitesh Puri, president of Chandigarh Residents Associations Welfare Federation (CRAWFED), said it was a wrong decision of the MC to spend funds on bins without making any preparations to ensure the success of the project. He said bins were no more there at a majority of houses in the city. Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla said he would raise the issue in the next MC House meeting and demanded action against officials responsible for the wastage of public money. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Karnal, March 2 Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday claimed that the country was in the safe hands of Narendra Modi-led BJP government, which was capable of giving a befitting reply to Pakistan. He alleged that opposition parties never took stringent steps as far as security of the nation was concerned and never took action against terrorism. The Chief Minister was participating in Vijay Sankalp motorcycle rally, organised on a call of BJP national president Amit Shah to prepare the party cadre for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The 11-km rally started from the old vegetable market and concluded at Nehru Palace after passing through various roads. Leading the rally, Khattar exhorted the party cadre to be ready for Lok Sabha elections. Two independent councillors Yudhvir Saini and Ish Gulati joined the BJP. Addressing party workers, Khattar exhorted them to spread information about achievements of the BJP governments in the Centre and state with the people to help the party retain power. The model code of conduct will be enforced anytime and all workers must be ready for it. The party cadre will take achievements of the government to the people, he said. He started his speech by paying tributes to Pulwama martyrs and lauded the Air Force airstrike on terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. It was the second surgical strike. We are proud of the firm action taken by our Air Force in retaliation to the Pulwama attack on our CRPF cavalcade, he said. He lauded the courage of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He said the entire nation was saluting the Air Force pilot for his bravery. Khattar refused to comment on the Supreme Court direction, restraining the state government from implementing a recently enacted law to allow construction in the Aravalli hills. Asked about rumours of giving the Karnal Lok Sabha ticket to an outsider, he said the candidate would be decided by the parliamentary board and its decision should be accepted by everyone. editorial@tribune.com Ravinder Sood PALAMPUR, March 2 Families of the martyrs are sore over the successive governments failure to fulfil promises made to them. Himachal Pradesh has the highest number of soldiers in the armed forces. The state lost hundreds of soldiers in the Kargil war and other militancy related operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The state has also lost its jawans while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi districts are the worst affected. The state has lost the maximum number of jawans. Even in the Kabul Embassy attack, the state lost two of its officers. In the Kargil war, the state suffered the highest number of causalties as 41 soldiers from Himachal were killed. It is unfortunate that most projects named in the memory of the soldiers killed in the Kargil war have been left half way by the governments, either for want of funds or some other reasons. Jagdish Chand sacrificed his life while fighting with militants at the Pathankot airbase attack in January 2016. The family members are feeling hurt over the attitude of the state government, which has failed to keep its promise to construct a link road in his memory. Chands younger brother said at the time of his cremation, the state government had promised a metalled link road to village and a gate in his memory. Besides, it was also announced by then Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri that Sihunta Degree College would now be named after Jagdish. However, nothing has been done till date. He said even after three years, not even an inch of the road had been constructed. He visited the local MLA and met other authorities but no progress had been made. Similar is the case of other martyrs whose families have been moving from pillar to post to seek completion of the projects announced. False promises? The younger brother of Jagdish Chand said at the time of the cremation of the martyr, the state government had promised a metalled link road to village and a gate in his memory. Besides, it was also announced by then forest minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri and MLAs that the name of Sihunta Degree College would be named after Jagdish. However, nothing has been done so far. shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Srinagar, March 3 Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes 'anti-national' was baffling, but asked the opposition parties to not fall into the trap of changing the election discourse from pressing issues like unemployment and farmers distress. India conducted air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26. The PDP president said allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes would only help the BJP electorally. "Calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes anti-national is baffling. However, the opposition should not fall into this trap of changing the entire election discourse from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST, unemployment, farmers distress to these strikes, Mehbooba wrote on Twitter. She said the citizens of the country have every right to question the credibility of the Balakot operation especially due to the Government of India's ambiguity about the details. "How does it help the enemies? Only puts GoI (Government of India) in a tight spot since they want to exploit this to reap electoral benefits, she said, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Patna. Hitting out at opposition parties for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the armed forces were busy quelling terror, but the Congress and its allies are not convinced with their act of bravery. The statements made by the opposition parties after the pre-emptive air strike on terror camps have made only people of Pakistan happy, he claimed. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," the PM said at the BJP's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Modi said "Now they have even started asking for proof of the #AirStrike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies? Mehbooba said "presently when war frenzy and jingoism in the guise of patriotism is at an all time high, allowing political discourse to be reduced to the Balakot strikes will only help BJP electorally. "Its no wonder that the Rafale deal, unemployment, poor eco growth are fading into oblivion (sic), the PDP chief added. PTI editorial@tribune.com Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Jammu, March 2 Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said that the current close-to-a-war situation between India and Pakistan developing after the Pulwama terror attack was the outcome of the refusal of the then NDA government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to listen to his plea not to release this terror mastermind. He had said that his release would result in such situations. Now look what is happening. All I said that time has become true. This is unfortunate. Had the Centre listened to me that time, we could have been saved of such a dangerous situation between the two nuclear-powered neighbours, Farooq told The Tribune in an interview on Saturday. Farooq had fiercely opposed the release of Masood Azhar from Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu in exchange for the passengers and crew of the hijacked Indian Airliner IC-814 . He said he had argued strongly with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister LK Advani that they should not succumb to any pressure. I had argued that Masood Azhar should not be released at any cost. But they did not listen to me and pressurised me to set Masood Azhar free, he said. Now look that his group Jaish-e-Mohammads terror attack in Pulwama (on February 14) has brought the two nations to a brink, and if there was a war between the two, it would be a disaster all around. Farooq had cited many reasons for not setting him free, including how foreign tourists were kidnapped and brutally executed by the Al-Faran in 1995. Al-Faran was a front of the Harkat-ul-Ansar group to which Masood Azhar belonged. Despite pleas by the families of the hostages and diplomats of America, Germany and Britain, Masood Azhar had refused to relent. I had warned that he would plot ways to destroy us all on his freedom from jail. Thats what he is doing and we are now demanding that he be handed over to us. Arent we crying over spilt milk, he asked. We should have not allowed him the freedom that the hijackers (of IC-814) were seeking. He said that first the nation commits mistake and then we start regretting the same after suffering losses. This is the real tragedy. Masood Azhar was arrested by the Army in April 1994 during a routine checking in Anantnag. He was on a mission to indoctrinate and recruit Kashmiri youths into the ranks of militant outfits. Twice attempts were made by the militant outfits Harkat-ul-Ansar in 1994, and Al-Faran, a front of HuA in 1995 to seek his release in exchange for the foreigners kidnapped by these groups. HUA released two Britons, but Al-Faran killed all six of its hostages. On his release, he set up Jaish-e-Mohammad (or the army of the Prophet Mohammad) to fight in Kashmir. The Jaish introduced the cult of the suicide bombing in Kashmir in April 2000, and the latest attack was in Pulwama where 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The former CM said all this would not have happened had the Centre taken the right decision in 1999. Farooq said the current situation was quite dangerous and war would be disastrous. The only escape route is to talk. There is no other alternative to talks, he said and emphatically emphasised that for talks, Pakistan would have to first crack down on the terror masterminds on its soil. Four or five terror masterminds and their groups are holding Pakistani nation and the sub-continents peace and stability to ransom. Pakistan must take action against them for its own interests and for holding talks with India, he said. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, March 3 Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammads audacious terrorist strikes, part of its Ghazwa-e-Hind (Holy War Against India), have turned it into one of the most deadly terror groups and brought India and Pakistan on the brink of war twice in two decades, officials said. The most deadly terror strikes of the JeM in the past 20 years include attacks on the Pathankot airbase, the Army brigade headquarters in Uri, the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar and the bombing of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. India and Pakistan were almost on the brink of war in 2001 when the JeM attacked the Indian Parliament, and again now after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF bus in Pulwama, which killed 40 jawans, a security official said on Sunday. The terrorist group, with close links with al-Qaida, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in Pakistan on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its Ghazwa-e-Hind irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties, the official said citing an intelligence report. The JeM, which had close links slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, was formed after the release of terror mastermind Masood Azhar from an Indian jail on December 31, 1999, after the Indian Airlines flight IC814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999. Azhar was released along with rouge British secret service MI6 agent Omar Shaikh, who was responsible for the killing The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in January 2002 and the funding of 9/11 terror attacks in the United States with USD 100,000, the official said. The group carried out a series of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. It killed 30 soldiers in the Valley through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in April 2000, killed three policemen at a bus stand at Batmaloo in Srinagar in June 2000, bombed the J&K Assembly on October 1, 2001, in which 31 people died, and attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001, in which nine security personnel and officials were killed. The attack on the Assembly took place just three weeks after the 9/11 attacks and the Parliament attack happened a week after bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora caves in Afghanistan. When bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora and the Pakistani Army was forced to hold one side of the cordon of these vast caves, the JeM became the conduit to bring fighters and their families from Afghanistan into safe havens in Pakistan, run by JeM and another deadly terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba, the official said. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the key conspirators of 9/11, housed fleeing al-Qaida cadres in Karachi, he said. It is widely believed that to help bin Laden flee Tora Bora, JeM carried out attack on Parliament in New Delhi, leading to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan after Indian armed forces were mobilised along the countrys western border, another official said. This provided a pretext to the Pakistani Army to withdraw much of its forces from its western border, which were in cordon of the Tora Bora caves, thus helping the escape of bin Laden to Pakistan. It took 10 more deadly years to get Osama bin Laden. This is the nature and capability of JeM. Its activities just do not impact India, but feed on terrorism and has been a major threat to global peace and security, the official said. On November 2, 2005, a few hours before the swearing in of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a JeM suicide squad detonated a powerful car bomb in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, killing 10 people and injuring 18 others. On January 2, 2016, a heavily armed group of JeM attacked the Pathankot airbase in which seven security personnel were killed. The JeM attacked the Uri brigade headquarters on September 18, 2016, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 30 others. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out an aerial attack on the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot in Pakistan, leading to another war-like situation between the two countries. PTI editorial@tribune.com Srinagar, March 2 The National Conference (NC) on Saturday held a series of demonstrations at all district headquarters in the Valley to protest against the amendments to the 1954 constitutional order and arbitrary arrests across Kashmir. The party said its protests were against the machinations that aim to fiddle with the states special status. It said any such attempts will be resisted. In Srinagar, partys senior leaders and former legislators Mubarak Gul and Shamima Firdous led the demonstration and a rally. The rally was, however, stopped by the police a few metres from the party headquarters from where it had started. The party also held protests in other districts of the Valley. Protesters vowed to defend the states special status and also rejected any attempt to tinker with Article 370. Senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather had on Friday described the February 28 decision of the Union Cabinet to approve the amendment to the constitution order of 1954 as dangerous and a blatant violation of Article 370 of the Constitution. National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah had earlier said it was for this reason that the party would consult eminent lawyers to see how best we can challenge this blatantly unconstitutional order in court. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 2 After the Centre banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for supporting secessionist activities, the authorities have sealed several immovable properties of the organisation and houses of its leaders. The Centres decision to ban the Jamaat has drawn severe criticism from various political parties and other organisations. The Peoples Democratic Party held a demonstration on Saturday to protest the ban on the Jamaat and demanded the revocation of the order. The party took out a protest rally from its office here. Speaking to mediapersons at her party office, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti warned of dangerous ramifications of the ban on the Jamaat, describing it as a socio-religious organisation. She said thousands of people across Kashmir were associated with the Jamaat and its schools and held that students from Jamaat-e-Islami schools had been securing positions in examinations. Chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani condemned the decision to ban the Jamaat-e-Islami and urged the people and the pro-freedom camp to put a collective narrative against it. He described the ban as unethical and undemocratic. The Jammu Kashmir Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a joint council of religious heads and Islamic scholars of the state, has termed the ban as undemocratic and unconstitutional and demanded its immediate revocation. The Private Schools Association condemned the decision to seal the private schools run by the Falah-e-Aam Trust of the Jamaat, saying it would affect about one lakh students. These are government recognised private schools teaching syllabus prescribed by the J&K Board of School Education and are following all rules of the government, said GN Var, chairman of the association. uttara@tribuneindia.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 3 Two unidentified militants were killed in an operation in north Kashmirs frontier Kupwara district, the Army said. With the killing of two militants, the death toll in the operation that began on Friday morning at village Babagund Langate in Handwara reached to seven, which included five security men. One of them is suspected to be a Pakistani militant, belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba. A CRPF trooper, who was among six forces men injured in the gunfight on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Sunday morning. Two terrorists have been killed, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. Bodies of both the militants have been recovered from the encounter site and their identities and affiliations are being ascertained. The operation in congested Babagund was launched on Thursday night and the first contact with militants was established at 1 am. In the first four hours of the gunfight, the security forces believed that they were able to eliminate militants who were hiding in a house. However, on Friday afternoon, when the joint team of forces started combing the debris, a militant hiding in a nearby area opened indiscriminate fire leading to the killing of two policemen and two CRPF men, including an officer. Six other security men, including a CRPF Commandant, were also injured in the gunfight. A civilian was also killed in clashes near the encounter site on Friday. After the reverses, the forces carried out the operation cautiously to avoid casualties. Special forces were also inducted to flush out the holed-up militants who were shifting from one area to another within the cordoned village. We were going cautiously after suffering casualties on Friday, a police officer said. On Saturday, a brief contact with militants was established. Locals said at least four houses were blasted during the operation. shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, March 3 After the success of her film 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi', actress Kangana Ranaut landed in Delhi on Saturday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 31-year-old actress attended an event, where she revealed details of her love life for the first time ever. She said: "I have a romantic side. I feel that being an artiste, it is so important to have desire in you, to be aroused with life. I don't remember a life when I have been out of love. I have had bad experiences with love, but I moved on quickly." Asked if she was in love, Kangana said, "I have someone in my life. For me, where I am right now, I do not feel the need of regular dating. I am at a age that I want to have companionship which can inspire me in life." When asked if she had marriage on her mind, she replied: Of course, I will get married and would love to have a family even though the population explosion is worrying me. She added that the idea of love had changed for her over the last decade. "In my early and mid-20s, I used to have a different expectation in relationship. I am not that clingy anymore. I am more easy to handle," said Kangana. The actress looked stunning in a turquoise-coloured saree. She left her hair loose and wore a necklace to complete her simple yet elegant look. In the pictures, we can see Kangana greeting PM Modi. We can also spot CBFC chief and lyricist Prasoon Joshi. Kangana was questioned at the event whether she felt left out when her name didnt include in the best actress list. She said she feels that she stands out from the rest of the crowd. On the work front, the actress will next be seen in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's 'Panga'. The actress recently completed the second schedule of the film in Bhopal. The film also stars Neena Gupta and Jassie Gill in pivotal roles. shalender@tribune.com Actor Pankaj Tripathi says his on-screen daughter Janhvi Kapoor is a sincere actress. Pankaj is in Lucknow shooting for Dharma Productions film on the real life hero Gunjan Saxena. Janhvi will essay the role of the Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, who played an important role during the Kargil War in 1999. Pankaj, on the other hand, will play her father. This is their first film together. I liked the character very much. I am having a lot of fun while shooting for the film. Janhvi is a very sincere actress. She respects me a lot and I too respect her for the sincerity and commitment towards her work, Pankaj said. The biopic is being helmed by Sharan Sharma. Sharan is a very talented director and is well versed with his craft. Its an opportunity to work under Dharma Productions, said the Stree actor. IANS editorial@tribune.com Lovleen Bains Doraha, March 2 Members of a number of associations and organisations of Doraha and surrounding areas have celebrated the home coming of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who returned to India on Friday evening. However, they have expressed resentment over the manner in which the media has magnified the issue. They expect the media to act in contained and mature way. They feel that the peace gesture on the part of Pakistani government may mark the beginning of a new relationship the one with understanding and maturity. We are happy over Abhinandans homecoming. To the relief of all, diplomacy has won over hysteria and jingoism. Rather than acting as rivals, the two countries need to realise that their enemy is ignorance, poverty and disease. It is high time that the two countries moved towards the restoration of peace and progress, opined Tarsem Bahia, Chairman, Punjab Educationists Forum. The manner in which the electronic media have poured venom to increase their TRPs is condemnable. Media channels are nobody to decide the issues related to foreign policy and that of war and peace, he added. All these days, the electronic media has been far from being responsible. The situation may take a definite turn towards positivity and restoration if the media, rather than focusing on conspiracies, highlight the feeling of association and kinship, said General Secretary, College Management Committee, GNN College, Doraha. Pawan Kumar Kaushal, president, Government Pensioners Association, expressed relief at the pilots return but was annoyed at the electronic media which instead of accepting and recognising the peace gesture on the behalf of Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan are eulogising Indias Prime Minister, who just have his eyes on his vote bank and nothing else. This partial and subjective role of media needs to be condemned. I applaud the Pakistan Government. The pilot was returned in time less than it takes to get an FIR registered in our country. Our Prime Minster has played a trump card and wanted heat to escalate between the two countries just to secure his seat. As far as the Indian media is concerned, it should have behaved reasonably. Competition for TRP has rendered them insensitive, illogical and useless, expressed Arun Bector, president, Doraha Citizens Council. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Jitendra K Srivastava Tribune News Service Patna, March 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday excoriated his critics for questioning Indian Air Forces recent preemptive strikes against militant camps in Pakistan. Speaking at the Sankalp rally in Patna, Modi said New India refused to remain silent over the killings of its jawans. In a scathing attack on those criticising the Centres handling of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, he said: At a time when our armed forces are fighting enemies across border and within India, some people are making statements to please Pakistan. When India should have spoken in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt resolution condemning us. The prime minister was referring to an opposition meeting announced to discuss the escalated Indo-Pak tensions in the light of the IAFs preemptive strikes. He came hard on oppositions attempts to form a united front to take on the BJP. "It (opposition) says to come together to finish Modi but we (Midi) say come together to finish corruption, terrorism, poverty, black money and generate employment opportunities for youth". Commendable He praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumarhis once ally-turned-opposition-turned-ally for his governments commendable work in the state. He said the alliance of Kumars Janata Dal-United with his own Bharatiya Janata Party in the state has worked to better the lives of people in the state. "Its admirable how they rid Bihar of corruption and crime. The NDA government wants to ensure all sections of society in Bihar gain access to the best facilities, Modi said. Infrastructure is being improved in Bihar. The BJP government is working hard on all departmentsroadways, railways and airways, said Modi, who began his speech by urging his audience to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai thrice. He said opening up of industries like a fertilizer plant in Barauni helped generate employment. Kisan schemes The prime minister then spoke about schemes his own central government had launchedsuch as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, otherwise known simply as PM-Kisan scheme, under which the government has earmarked Rs 75,000 crore for farmers having less than 5 acres of land. The scheme ensures that small and marginal farmers get an annual income of Rs 6,000 that will be transferred directly to them in three instalments of Rs 2,000. He also took the opportunity to take a dig at the Rashtriya Janata Dal saying that he would ensure that the money for the scheme would not meet the same fate as the fodder scamthe multicrore embezzlement scam in the 90s that led to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav being jailed. Your chaukidar pays constant vigil so was he being abused as the abusers fails to succeed in their mission now, he said. Modi also mentioned his governments health schemesprimarily its flagship universal health coverage scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), otherwise known as Ayushman Bharat. We facilitated free health check up to 5 lakh to 50 lakh poor people in a year. We have laid foundation of strong New India. 5,0000 people were beneficiaries of health schemes. Indias preemptive strikes in the small hours of February 26 came days after 40 paramilitary troopers were killed in a militant attack in Pulwama. amansharma@tribunemail.com Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, March 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Congress for compromising with the security of the country and the life of the jawans by denying the armed forces modern rifles, bullet proof jackets, Howitzer guns and even creating hurdles in acquiring Rafale fighter jets. PM Modi announced the beginning of production of the modern assault rifle in the Kalashnikov series AK-203 in Amethis ordnance factory at Korwa. This rifle is the latest derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. Being produced under an Indo-Russian joint venture signed between the countries to manufacture 750,000 such assault rifles which would be given to the armys infantry troops. Speaking on the occasion at a public rally at Korwa, Gauriganj, PM Modi said Amethi is to get a new identity as the armed forces will soon be using made in Amethi modern rifles. PM Modi pointed out that in 2005 the armed forces had placed the demand for modern weapons which was being actualised only now. He charged Congress president Rahul Gandhi with not starting the production of modern rifles in the ordnance factory in Amethi in time which was a great injustice to the jawans and the armed forces. Accusing the Amethi MP of being a liar, PM Modi saiid he failed to fulfil his promise to the people of starting production at the Amethi ordnance factory in 2010 and giving jobs to 1,500 youths. The previous government neglected the security of the country and jawans. In 2009 the armed forces demanded 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets for the jawans for which my government finally placed an order to supple 2.20 lakh bullet proof jackets. Today in Amethi, I ask you who were these people who made the armed forces wait for modern rifles and bulletproof jackets, he said. At this juncture, a section of the crowd waving the BJP flag chanted Rahul Gandhi chor hai making PM Modi pause for a moment and cry out Bharat Mata ki jai before continuing. Declaring that the Rafale jets would soon be in the skies of the country, PM Modi charged the previous government of not negotiating the Rafael deal as their intention was not right. He charged the Congress government of continuing its effort to stall the acquisition of the Rafale aircraft for their personal interest. From the Supreme Court to CAG every institution is saying that the government of India has taken a right decision at the right time and struck the right deal in the interest of the country. But these people are spreading lies. The desperation of not getting commission in this defence deal is written on their faces, he said. He also charged Gandhi with letting down the people of Amethi by not completing any of the promised development projects like the steel factory, mega Food Park and Gauriganjs cycle factory. Clearly indicating the candidature of Union minister Smriti Irani from Amethi, PM Modi said she had worked harder for the development of Amethi during the last five years than the sitting MP. During the first visit of a Prime Minister to Amethi in the last three decades, Modi inaugurated or laid the foundation stone of 17 projects to the tune of Rs 538 crore. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 3 Amid prevailing India-Pakistan situation and the ongoing war of words between the ruling and the rival parties, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed those voicing such opinions saying that the Opposition had to learn a lot. The senior BJP leader said while all such statements, whether by TMC leader Mamata Banerjee or the joint statement by Opposition parties hurt Indias national interest, he was most disappointed with a brief but a highly objectionable statement of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. While receiving the P.V. Narasimha Rao Award for the lifetime achievement, Manmohan Singh stated that he was disturbed with the mad rush of mutual self-destruction by the two nations. He further went on to argue that poverty, ignorance and disease were the real problems in the two countries and that saner counsel on both sides needed to think on the issue. What does this statement indicate? As per Jaitley, his analysis of the statement was that, The former Prime Minister elevated himself to the status of a neutral third party rather than be concerned about Indias interest. Two, he further developed a theory of parity and equivalence between both India and Pakistan. The perpetrator of terrorism and the victim of terrorism are both at par, according to him. Three, Implicitly, he doubts Indias right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. Four, there is no condemnation of terrorism in that speech and five, amongst the problems facing India that he mentions which include poverty, ignorance and disease. Violence and terrorism are of no consequence in his assessment, he said. According to Jaitley, collectively and cumulatively, such statements ought not to have been made. They hurt Indias national interest. Not only do they give smiles to Pakistan, they become an important instrument in Pakistans hands to discredit India. Does the opposition want the Air Force to release operation details of the Balakot attack? The Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also an essential ingredient of public discourse. I hope Indias Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation. The whole of India was speaking in one voice. Public opinion overwhelmingly supported the Governments decision and the Air Forces execution, Jaitley said. However, like its other friends in the Opposition, the Congress Party refuses to learn. After initial show of support for our Air Force, it tried to create a divide in Indias political opinion. From the Congress and its friends, we have witnessed three recent statements. In a meeting of the 21 Opposition parties, a resolution was passed, accusing the Prime Minister of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. The government had twice taken the Leaders of Opposition parties into confidence. No evidence of politicisation was given. The statement was inappropriate. It gave a handle to the enemy. The media in Pakistan used this statement of 21 Opposition parties as a trump card. It took the statement as an endorsement of the Pakistani position that India had taken the Balakot action because of the compulsion of its domestic politics and not as a part of its policy to defend the country against terrorism. The West Bengal Chief Minister went a step further. She started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. The credibility of both the Government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions, Jaitley said. The Congress-led UPA Government from 2004 to 2014 ran a terrible Government. From 2014 to 2019, it was even a more terrible Opposition. There are occasions in history where the nation speaks in one voice. Politicians and leaders rise to the level of statesmanship. They rise above narrow partisan interest. Atal Bihari Vajpayees and the Jana Sanghs support to the Government during the 1971 war is a case in point, he added. Jaitley said terrorists attack at Pulwama on February 14 was planned and hatched across the border. Several Pakistani nationals were involved in it. Some have already been liquidated. There is enough evidence which points to this direction. It has been shared with Pakistan. The attack generated a sense of revulsion against terrorists and its sponsors in India. The nation was determined that the blood of our martyred Jawans will continue to inspire us to eliminate terrorism, he added. The pre-emptive attack by our Air Force at Balakot across the border was intended to defend Indias sovereignty. It was a perfectly executed pinpointed operation. No civilian or military installations were targeted - only terrorists were. The retaliatory attack by Pakistans F-16 was the most botched up operation. In short, both the attack and our defence pointed to the valour and professionalism of our Air Force, Jaitley said. Pakistan was globally isolated. Even the OIC refused to pay heed to it. It violated every tenet of the Geneva Convention in relation to our brave Wing Commander Abhinandan. Not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of its terrorism has reached the Security Council. So helpless was the situation that it was in no position to even admit the attack at Balakot. If it had admitted the attack and its consequences, the evidence of a terrorist camp in existence and the list of dead terrorists would have been international issue, the Finance Minister said. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Umaria (MP), March 2 Hitting back at the Opposition, BJP chief Amit Shah said here today that those who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers when in power were raising doubts on the recent airstrike for cheap politics and their statements had made Pakistan happy. The armed forces are saying in a press conference that we have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it? You should desist from such cheap politics, he said at the BJPs Vijay Sankalp motorbike rally. Elections should be about making India stronger in every sphere, uplift of the poor and giving Pakistan a strong response, and not about fulfilling the wish of a family to make its prince the PM, Shah said, targeting the Congress leadership. Shah praised Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Air Force, saying he came back to India after shooting down Pakistans F-16 fighter plane. All Opposition leaders are raising questions over the recent airstrike. You were in power for a long time. The country is suffering due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for the past 30 years. Rahul baba and company is blaming us for politicisation of the airstrike.... The people of the country want to know if you have the courage to give a befitting reply to terrorism. Twenty-six bomb blasts took place in 10 years of UPA rule, 26/11 (Mumbai terror) attack took place. Did Sonia-Manmohan government ever show courage to respond to terrorists, to take revenge for the killing of our soldiers? he asked. They didnt have the courage to give a befitting response to Pakistan. It is Narendra Modi who has fulfilled this aspiration of the countrymen And you are raising questions about the airstrike that was affirmed by Pakistan media, parliament and terrorist organisations whose members were killed. Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi did not accept that airstrike took place, Shah alleged. He also alleged that the language of the resolution passed by Opposition parties at their Delhi meet after the airstrike made Pakistan happy. We also spent most of our time in Opposition but we never talked like this. We supported the government, he said. Taking potshots at Rahul, Shah said: What should be the issues in elections? Should they be about someone growing up and wishing to become PM? Or some family wanting its prince to sit on the throne? Shah later led a motorbike rally through the town, riding pillion with Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state unit president Abhilash Pandey. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, March 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the National Security Council on Sunday following heightened tensions with Pakistan. Official sources said the meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Besides the union ministers, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle were also present. The NSA is tasked with advising the prime minister on matters of national security. It was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Adviser (NSA). The NSC keeps meeting on regular basis but the latest meet assumes significance owing to the latest security scenario. Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the country carried out air strike on terrorist camp across the border, after the Pulwama terror attack. In response to Indias air strike, Pakistan air force intruded into Indian territory, leading to a confrontation between the two forces. PTI shalender@tribune.com Jitendra K Shrivastava Ranchi, March 2 Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he had snatched Rs 30,000 crore from the Indian Air Force that defended the country and put it in Anil Ambanis pocket. Rahul sounded the bugle for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with the partys Parivartan Ulgulan Maha Rally at Morabadi Ground of Ranchi. The Congress held the rally as a show of strength in Jharkhand. Other allies of the Mahagathbandhan also attended it. Rahul Gandhi alleged: PM Modi has snatched Rs 30,000 crore of the Indian Air Force to wrongly put it in Anil Ambanis pocket. There was corruption in the Rafale deal. He, however, snatched money not only from the Air Force but also of the Adivasis, farmers, daily wagers, students and shopkeepers as Modi ji waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore of the industrialists instead. If the Congress is voted to power, it will guarantee minimum income and it will be transferred directly to the accounts of the poor, reiterated the Congress president. He added, The Congress had brought the Land Acquisition Bill to protect the land of farmers and Adivasis but their lands were snatched and given to industrialists in Jharkhand. Farmers have the first right on land, forest and water. Rahul alleged that Modi ji lies wherever he goes. I am in active politics since 2004. Whatever promises I made with the people in Punjab, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, I fulfilled them as I do not tell lies, he claimed. Prehistoric worms populated the sea bed 500 million years ago evidence that life was active in an environment thought uninhabitable until now, research by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows. The sea bed in the deep ocean during the Cambrian period was thought to have been inhospitable to animal life because it lacked enough oxygen to sustain it. But research published in the scientific journal Geology reveals the existence of fossilized worm tunnels dating back to the Cambrian period 270 million years before the evolution of dinosaurs. The discovery, by USask professor Brian Pratt, suggests that animal life in the sediment at that time was more widespread than previously thought. The worm tunnels borrows where worms lived and munched through the sediment are invisible to the naked eye. But Pratt had a hunch and sliced the rocks and scanned them to see whether they revealed signs of ancient life. The rocks came from an area in the remote Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories in Canada which Pratt found 35 years ago. Pratt then digitally enhanced images of the rock surfaces so he could examine them more closely. Only then did the hidden superhighway of burrows made by several different sizes and types of prehistoric worm emerge in the rock. Some were barely a millimetre in size and others as large as a finger. The smaller ones were probably made by simple polychaetes or bristle worms but one of the large forms was a predator that attacked unsuspecting arthropods and surface-dwelling worms. Pratt said he was surprised by the unexpected discovery. For the first time, we saw evidence of large populations of worms living in the sediment which was thought to be barren, he said. There were cryptic worm tunnels burrows in the mud on the continental shelf 500 million years ago, and more animals reworking, or bioturbating, the sea bed than anyone ever thought. Pratt, a geologist and paleontologist and Fellow of the Geological Society of America, found the tunnels in sedimentary rocks that are similar to the Burgess Shale, a famous fossil-bearing deposit in the Canadian Rockies. The discovery may prompt a rethink of the level of oxygenation in ancient oceans and continental shelves. The Cambrian period saw an explosion of life on Earth in the oceans and the development of multi-cellular organisms including prehistoric worms, clams, snails and ancestors of crabs and lobsters. Previously the seas had been inhabited by simple, single-celled microbes and algae. It has always been assumed that the creatures in the Burgess Shale known for the richness of its fossils had been preserved so immaculately because the lack of oxygen at the bottom of the sea stopped decay, and because no animals lived in the mud to eat the carcasses. Pratts discovery, with co-author Julien Kimmig, now of the University of Kansas, shows there was enough oxygen to sustain various kinds of worms in the sea bed. Serendipity is a common aspect to my kind of research, Pratt said. I found these unusual rocks quite by accident all those years ago. On a hunch I prepared a bunch of samples and when I enhanced the images I was genuinely surprised by what I found, he said. This has a lot of implications which will now need to be investigated, not just in Cambrian shales but in younger rocks as well. People should try the same technique to see if it reveals signs of life in their samples. The research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Reference: Brian R. Pratt, Julien Kimmig. Extensive bioturbation in a middle Cambrian Burgess Shaletype fossil Lagerstatte in northwestern Canada. Geology, 2019; 47 (3): 231 DOI: 10.1130/G45551.1 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Saskatchewan. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Amethi, March 3 Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis high-profile visit on Sunday to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, posters opposing him have cropped up in many parts of the Uttar Pradesh district. Put up by Jaisingh Pratap Yadav, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, the posters and banners ask Modi to give the report card of his five years in power and to go back. Yadav, who is a member of the state executive of the SP, has alleged step-motherly treatment with the constituency. He also details issues like the Mega Food Park, Hindustan Paper Mill and the IT projects which he accused the Modi government of taking it away from Amethi. Besides laying the foundation stones for developmental projects and addressing a public rally in Amethi, Modi will on Sunday unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. At Kauhar, the Prime Minister will open the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd a joint venture between Indias ordnance factory and a Russian firm. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who unsuccessfully contested against the Gandhi scion in 2014 and has been since then rearing the constituency as her own, has inspected the ground and other venues ahead of Modis visit. IANS shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Jaipur, March 3 Two minor girls of a government-run hostel were allegedly molested by its warden, her husband and his friends in Rajasthan's Alwar district, police said on Sunday. The hostel warden used to call the girls, students of Class 12, to their home and molest them. Her husband would also pressure the girls to befriend his friends, Alwar Additional SP Mahesh Tripathi said. "The girls alleged that the hostel warden, her husband and others had been molesting them and other girls for few days," he said. The girls gave a written complaint endorsed by a few other hostlers to their school principal who went to the hostel on Saturday and informed the police. On their complaint, an FIR was lodged under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the Kishangarh Bas police station, Tripathi said. The statement of the victims were also recorded, he said. A lady police officer has been asked to investigate the case and record the victims' statement, he said. No arrest has been made so far. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Patiala, March 2 Bowing down to the pressure by protesting contractual staff of Government Rajindra Hospital, the state government has agreed to regularise their services. The announcement in this regard has come two days after two nurses jumped off the hospital building. Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra had to face strong opposition when he visited the hospital to meet the injured nurses on Friday. Thereafter, Mohindra met the protesting members who had blocked the Patiala-Bathinda highway and gave them a written assurance that services of the protesting health staff in the state would be regularised by March 7. He said, We had a discussion on February 28 about the demands of the protesters. Thereafter, on Saturday, in the Cabinet meeting, it was decided that 650 staff nurses, 130 Class IV employees, and 75 ancillary workers will be regularised by March 7. Following the written assurance, the protesters called off their 26-day protest at the hospital. Sandeep Kaur Barnala, chairman, Punjab Nursing and Ancillary Staff Union, said, After the written assurance by the minister, we spoke to our injured nurses. After the discussion, we have decided to call off the protest. Earlier, contractual nurses and Class IV employees blocked the Patiala-Bathinda road in front of the hospital. The protest left hundreds of commuters stranded. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 2 The Cabinet today decided to release a subsidy of Rs 25 per quintal to sugarcane farmers and implement 10 per cent reservation in government jobs for economically weaker sections. The Cabinet also gave in-principle approval for a debt relief scheme for farm labourers and landless farmers, at least 70 per cent of whom are Dalits. The government will transfer Rs 25 per quintal directly to the accounts of sugarcane growers out of the total state agreed price (SAP) of Rs 310 per quintal, with Rs 285 per quintal being paid by private sugar mills. The move is aimed at ensuring economic viability of private sugar mills and timely cane payment to farmers. The job reservation will be done through constitutional amendments to help poor families, not covered under any existing reservation and whose annual income is less than Rs 8 lakh. They will get reservation in direct recruitment to group A, B, C and D posts in all government and semi-government organisations. The debt relief scheme for farm labourers and landless farming members of Primary Cooperative Agriculture Service Societies will provide a major relief to 2.85 lakh people. A relief of Rs 520.55 crore is proposed for them. The waiver includes principal amount of Rs 388.55 crore, Rs 78 crore as interest till March 31, 2017, besides Rs 54 crore on account of interest with effect from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2019, outstanding as on March 31, 2019. The amount eligible for debt relief shall comprise the outstanding principal amount up to Rs 25,000 as on March 31, 2017, and simple interest at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. It was also decided to give Rs 12,000 per month to accredited journalists in Punjab, who are above 60 years of age. A Cabinet meeting has been called again on March 5 to discus and clear regularisation of temporary, ad hoc and contractual employees. Rs 10,000 pension for parents of Pulwama martyr The Council of Ministers has okayed Rs 10,000 per month pension for the parents of Pulwama martyr CRPF Constable Kulwinder Singh. CM Capt Amarinder Singh had, during his visit to the house of Darshan Singh and his wife at Rauli village last month, announced a special monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to them since they had no other children and the deceased was unmarried. Labour and Cartage Policy approved editorial@tribune.com Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 2 Goods worth crores of rupees continue to pile up at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) after the Union government hiked the custom duty by 200 per cent following the Pulwama attack. Importers are reluctant to pick the goods due to its non-remunerative cost in the domestic market. Rajan Bedi, a trader, said, the hike in duty swelled the cement price in the domestic market. The Indian cement companies raised the cement price by Rs 30 per bag and it is likely to increase by another Rs 20 per bag in a day or two, he said. Sources in the Customs department stated that about 40,000 cement bags, over 1,000 tonne of gypsum, around 500 tonne of limestone and many other items are lying at the ICP. Cross-border traders apprehend that though cement bags are lying under the covered yard, moisture in the weather due to ongoing rains would deteriorate its quality. Similarly, the quality of limestone would also degrade, they fear. The Central Warehousing Corporation, which manages Cargo Terminal Complex at the ICP, has issued notices to traders advising them to lift their respective cargo immediately. Gaurav Gupta, another trader, said the government should have allowed them enough time to clear previous orders. Now, these commodities are not commercially viable. We will incur losses by selling these in the market after paying heavy custom duty. For instance, custom duty on a truckload of 34 tonne limestone has been raised from Rs 343 to Rs 8,000. Official sources said six trucks of yarn were exported to Pakistan and 10 trucks of dry fruit arrived from Afghanistan. editorial@tribune.com Karam Prakash Tribune News Service Patiala, March 2 Northern states are worst hit by swine flu this year. With increasing rate and severity of infection, which is showing no sign of abating, some of the north Indian states have already surpassed all their previous figures. Out of the total positive cases reported so far in the country, more than 52 per cent have been recorded in the six northern states only as per the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, NCDC, Delhi. Until February 25, out of the total 14,803 infected persons in the country, 7,725 people have been tested positive for H1N1 influenza in North India. Out of the five northern states, Rajasthan is the worst hit with 3,964 positive cases, followed by Delhi with 2,738 cases of the lethal virus. Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are witnessing worst swine flu outbreak ever. All three states, just within two months, have already edged past the swine flu figures of the last decade. With 456 positive cases in Punjab, 256 in Himachal and 815 in Haryana swine flu has already tightened its grip in the region. However, experts believe that prolonged winter, due to the regular snowfall in upper regions of the Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir even in the month February, has contributed to the intensive spread of the virus. Dip in the temperature is said to be a hurdle in containing the spread of swine flu. Dr Amarjeet Singh, Head of Department, Community Medicine, Government Medical College Patiala, said, The H1N1 virus multiples in the cold weather conditions, therefore the incidence of the cases goes up. People should avoid crowded places during the swine flu outbreak. pardeepdhull@gmail.com G.S. Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 3 Hours after submitting his resignation on Sunday, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, who faced controversy due to his marital ties and violating Sikh Rehat Maryada (tenets), took a U-turn hours later. While Takht Patna Sahib Management Board president Avtar Singh Hit told that the resignation has been accepted and the process is on to appoint an officiating Jathedar in the board meeting scheduled tentatively for March 5, Iqbal Singh claimed that he had withdrawn his resignation on the instance of the Sangat of Patna Sahib. Iqbal Singh said he had handed over his resignation and keys of the Takht to the general secretary of board Mahinder Pal Singh Dhillon, who refused to accept it. Later, sangat gathered over there and insisted me to continue. After appointing panj pyaras (five beloved ones) among them, the general secretary handed me back the keys and asked me to continue as Jathedar of Sikh temporal seat. The general secretary has also posted an audio of his statement to confirm that Iqbal Singh would continue his services as Takht Patna Sahib jathedar. In his resignation letter (the copy of which is with The Tribune), he negated all the allegations while terming them as politically motivated. He had written that he has served the Takht Sri Harminder Ji, Patna Sahib, for the past 35 years and with the blessings of Satguru he has been propagating Sikhism, yet some religious and political section felt jealous of him and implicated him in false and frivolous controversies to demean him. Iqbal Singh said he had tried to submit his clarification numerous times to prove his innocence but some elements were bent on humiliating him. Keeping in view the sanctity of Takht Patna Sahib and without any provocation and pressure, he has submitted his resignation. Nonetheless, several complaints pertaining to his behaviour and marital status had been received from various Sikh organisations. Polygamous Jathedar remained in news for his alleged misconduct on number of occasions. He also invited criticism from the Sikh community for openly attending the events organised by the RSS and observing the Gurpurbs in contrary to the schedule set by the Akal Takht. On February 3, his second wife Baljeet Kaur had approached Akal Takht seeking action against him while levelling charges of cheating and domestic violence. In a written complaint, she revealed that Iqbal Singh had married her in 2003 on false pretext that his first wife had passed away. Recently, Iqbal Singh found himself in soup when a video went viral in which his son Gurparsad Singh was seen puffing and drinking alcohol. Though, later Giani Iqbal Singh claimed to disown him for violating the Sikh ethics. Gurparsad, who was accountant at the Takht, was dismissed from service by the board. All these issues were to be discussed with the five high priests before taking a final call on him. While cautioning Iqbal Singh to stay away from participating in any panthic activity, the Akal Takhts acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had constituted a seven-member committee to probe the allegations levelled against him. It has been learnt that the committee has submitted its report to the Akal Takht late evening. Harpreet Singh had stated that on the basis of this report the five high priests will take a decision in the next meeting. Belu Maheshwari Belu Maheshwari The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is derided and venerated at the same time. On the one hand, its the steel frame that provides continuity, keeps the wheels of administration moving; on the other, the blame for all the ills besetting the country the sluggish progress, the mai-baap culture, red-tapism, corruption, etc., is put on its door. Everyone has an opinion on the service and its personnel, including the aam aadmi, for whom they are collector sahebs. There have been many attempts from inside as well as outside to study this service. The Steel Frame A History of the IAS by Deepak Gupta is yet another attempt by an insider to discuss and understand the trajectory the service has taken since its inception, first as the Imperial Civil Service and later as the Indian Civil Service. The ICS was envisaged by the Britishers for the purpose of consolidating conquered territories, for which they used several laws, rules, codes and manuals. An epochal event in the history of the ICS took place in 1863 when SN Tagore cracked it in London, becoming the first Indian to enter the service. The feat was derided by the Britishers, with an insulting observation on the Indians: Strong in intellect and confessedly weak in morals. We, as a race, are superior to them because nine out of 10 are born to rule, while 99 out of 100 are born to be governed. The service during the British period was all powerful. After the Independence, the service was re-named from ICS to IAS but the structure remained the same in spite of the changed political needs. The biggest votary of the continuity was Vallabhbhai Patel, while Jawaharlal Nehru had been a critic of the service. No new order can be built in India so long as the spirit of the Indian Civil Service pervades our administration and our public services, Nehru had said. But the circumstances and chaos of the Partition made him rely on the steel frame. There are many such nuggets of information in this book. Extensive research The author has done extensive research on the working of the service. A whole chapter has been devoted to a district officer called DC/DM, the most-prized posting for any recruit as he is the lord of the kingdom, overseeing all aspects of administration. Then, there are chapters analysing civil service examinations, age of entry, training programmes and service conditions. There is a sincere attempt to understand the problems besetting the service, along with the changing political and social scenarios. The book does not shy away from discussing what needs to be changed to move forward. Being from the service, the author is more aware and empathetic to the problems and challenges his fellow officers are facing. He says the IAS has come a long way in terms of functioning and morale from the ICS days. Yet, according to him, there are functional weaknesses and perverse incentives, leading to officers comprising and adopting the line of least resistance, playing safe or actively colluding with the unsavoury. The steel frame as envisaged by Sardar Patel has cracked and remedial measures are required urgently. This must start with the process of induction into the service. Skills and values would then need to be developed through training. Finally, there is an utmost need for structural changes within the system, and the necessity for the service to look within, reform and reinvent itself. Sq Ldr Rana Chhina Sq Ldr Rana Chhina On February 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial in New Delhi. In doing so, he was fulfilling a poll promise as well as addressing a long-felt need for such a memorial to honour those members of Indias armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. While the construction of the memorial is in itself a welcome step and the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on his resolve to see the project through to its culmination, there are a few larger issues connected with India's approach to remembrance and commemoration that are worth examining in greater detail. At the very outset is the disturbing tendency to appropriate remembrance as a tool for political gain. It has taken more than 70 years for the nation to construct a memorial to those who sacrificed their lives to uphold its freedom and integrity. Earlier, the Amar Jawan Jyoti constructed under the arch of India Gate in January, 1972 was installed by Indira Gandhi more to highlight her achievement as the architect of the victory of the 1971 Indo-Pak War than to honour the fallen soldiers. She followed an established Indian political tradition of claiming plaudits for the sacrifice of soldiers while paying perfunctory lip-service to their memory. The Indian Army played a significant role during World War-I. Over 1.3 million Indian combatants and non-combatants served overseas at the cost of some 74,000 dead. This deployment was supported by mainstream Indian political opinion at the time as it was felt that the shedding of Indian blood on the battlefields of the world would result in an acceptance of Indias demand for political autonomy by the British. However, when the colonial authorities failed to live up to the Indian expectations, it resulted in hardening of the political stand from home rule and dominion status to Poorna Swaraj or complete independence. As a result, the soldiers who gained India her freedom were consigned to the dustbin of history. Similarly, during World War-II, the strength of the Indian Army had swelled to some 2.5 million by 1945. It was the largest volunteer army in the history of human conflict. Indian divisions emerged from the conflict being counted as among the finest fighting formations in the world. Over 86,000 Indian soldiers, sailors and airmen paid the ultimate price at the altar of duty. Yet, with the onset of Independence and the subsequent pacifist view of the Government of India, war and its memorialisation were not considered relevant to the ideals of the new republic. Gradually, a narrative was built up denigrating the services of the old Indian Army prior to 1947. It was seen as having served imperial interests in colonial wars and was gradually eased out of national memory. However, even succeeding generations of India's fallen after Independence found no place in state memorialisation. Those that fell in the defence of Kashmir in 1947/48, or who perished trying to stem the Chinese onslaught in 1962, or died in the plains of Punjab or the deserts of Rajasthan in 1965 went unnoticed until the creation of the Amar Jawan Jyoti in 1972. Political and bureaucratic apathy over the last 70 years combined to deny the Indian soldier not just an acknowledgement of his service or a commemoration of his sacrifice, but also of his place in history. Even today, little thought is devoted to providing a national framework for public commemoration. We have no register of casualties such as is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which also includes details of all Indian casualties of the two World Wars. Suggestions to institutionalise a grassroots culture of remembrance by highlighting the valour of the armed forces, have fallen on deaf ears; as has the suggestion to adopt a uniquely Indian flower of remembrance, which can be worn by all citizens on a special day of remembrance in much the same manner as variations of the poppy are used by the Commonwealth countries on the Remembrance Day. We are yet to develop a vocabulary of commemoration. The widespread use of the term martyr is a cultural imposition drawing on the Hindustani shaheed for its inspiration. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of its armed forces. He lays no wreath to honour the dead of his armies on Republic Day, nor did he see it fit to inaugurate the National War Memorial last month. Commemoration and remembrance are not intended to glorify war, but quite the opposite. They serve to provide society with an occasion to recall the futility and horror of conflict, and an occasion to honour those who were true to their duty. Properly institutionalised, they are a safeguard against jingoism and a strict injunction to politicians to honour the apolitical ethos of the armed forces and to be mindful that remembrance and politics are never to be mixed. Unfortunately, Kipling's words immortalised in his 1890 poem Tommy, still ring true in the Indian context: For its Tommy this, an Tommy that, an Chuck him out, the brute! But its Saviour of is country, when the guns begin to shoot. The writer is a secretary and editor, Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research. Deepkamal Kaur in hHoshiarpur/Kapurthala Deepkamal Kaur in hHoshiarpur/Kapurthala In the recent panchayat elections, when there was a movement in villages to project educated youth for the post of sarpanches, the residents of Gilzian village could not think of one suitable candidate. Reason: There is no youth left in the village as all of them are settled abroad. The youngest candidate that they could think of was 62-year-old Gurmeet Singh. Gurmeet had himself migrated to Germany in 1979 but returned after some years. His two sons are though settled in the US. Walk through the lanes of this village and you will see at least seven out of 10 houses padlocked with huge locks. The remaining three houses either have an elderly couple living there or a young mother of school-going kids, who, too, is awaiting for her US visa to be cleared. The village has a population of almost 1,200 persons. At least 80 per cent of these are US visa holders. A village where majority of population is from the Lubana community, the residents say the trend of going abroad started in the early 1970s. When those who went returned with signs of prosperity on visits home, others too followed. As the community is known to support its flock, the successful migrants showed others back home various legal and even illegal ways they could move abroad. Barring two or three families which have migrated to Germany or Italy, all others are settled in New York city. Thats because they followed one another. Many of them used the illegal channel via Mexico and somehow reached New York, where other residents of this village were already living and helped them settle. While the recent migrants are still struggling with some working as labourers, the second generation is mostly in construction business, shares former sarpanch Ranjit Kaur. Her husband is settled in the US for past 20 years and now her son has migrated there as well. Interestingly, almost all residents of Gilzian village assemble in various New York gurdwaras every Sunday, and share notes on life there and back home. Almost all families make it a point to visit the village at least once a year, take care of their house, farm lands and meet their elderly. Non-issue in poll time While unemployment remains an election issue elsewhere in Punjab, it is not so here. No one wants a job under the states Ghar Ghar Rozgar Yojana as they all want to ultimately settle abroad. The youth who remain in the village are either those who are visiting home from the US or those still in school and are awaiting a chance to join their fathers abroad. A youngster, Sahil Ghotra, says, I am preparing for my Class X board examination. I am not sure if I will take admission in the next class here or in the US. I have already gone to New York once with my dad to see future prospects. Sukhmeet Singh, another youth from the village, informs in an American accent, I am currently on a vacation in the village. I am a second-generation migrant to US from my family. I trained myself in jewellery design and I am doing my own business there. Unlike other villages, the roads of Gilzian village are well-paved. There is even a speck of garbage lying anywhere. Sewage channels are not covered but clear water flows through them. Cleanliness in Gilzian does not come from the lone fact that it is the native village of Tanda Congress MLA Sangat Singh Gilzian but also because its NRI inhabitants ensure the surroundings are well-kept. Jaswant Kaur, the local MLAs wife, says her two sons and a daughter too are settled in New York. People like us, in their sixties, are active and can take care of ourselves, but some have left their aged elders to fend for themselves. As a routine, we take a round of such houses and inquire about their day-to-day needs. Realising that the problem of the elderly living alone is not just in our village but also in surrounding Ibrahimwal and other villages, my husband and his brothers have opened a trust to offer them the required support. In a few weeks, the trust will offer a mobile clinic for the elderly. It will be a fully-furnished bus with doctors, equipment and medicines on board. They will be providing good, free treatment at the doorstep. Nothing holds them back Jasvir Singh, former president of NRI Sabha, Punjab, says several youth from villages in Bholath and Tanda are leaving Punjab and the government is making no effort to make them stay back. Another former president NRI Sabha, Pritam S Narangpuri adds, Many children have been going to Canada lately. The Middle East has been the choice of the less-educated or skilled labour; even young women are taking up jobs as nannies or domestic helps. In Doaba, Begowal and Bholath in Kapurthala, Nakodar and Nurmahal in Jalandhar, Tanda and Dasuya in Hoshiarpur and Banga in Nawanshahr have been the main pockets where villages are going vacant. ADC (D) Kapurthala Avtar Singh Bhullar, who has served as District Development and Panchayat Officer, says, There is no scheme so far to take care of the elders abandoned in the villages. Most NRIs have either started taking them along or are leaving behind a caretaker. OTHER MAIN NRI POCKETS Like Gilzian, there are many villages in the NRI heartland of Doaba where palatial houses have either been abandoned or have just the elderly left behind. In Begowal, dominated by the Lubana community, huge locks can be seen outside the houses, especially in Fatehgarh Sikri, Seintpur, Feroze Sanghowal and Awaan villages. Here, most families are settled in Europe, especially in Italy and France, and all family members have moved along, said Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh, SAD leader from the area. Balwant Singh Khaira, resident of Khaira village in Phillaur, shared, In our village, about 20 houses remain locked for most part of the year as families have moved abroad. They return, but only for a purpose of organising a kabaddi tournament or mobilising voters during panchayat elections. During those days, these houses are abuzz with activity. The oldest distinguishing feature between humans and our ape cousins is our ability to walk on two legs a trait known as bipedalism. Among mammals, only humans and our ancestors perform this atypical balancing act. New research led by a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor of anatomy provides evidence for greater reliance on terrestrial bipedalism by a human ancestor than previously suggested in the ancient fossil record. Scott W. Simpson, PhD, led an analysis of a 4.5 million-year-old fragmentary female skeleton of the human ancestor Ardipithecus ramidus that was discovered in the Gona Project study area in the Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. The newly analyzed fossils document a greater, but far from perfect, adaptation to bipedalism in the Ar. ramidus ankle and hallux (big toe) than previously recognized. Our research shows that while Ardipithecus was a lousy biped, she was somewhat better than we thought before, said Simpson. Fossils of this age are rare and represent a poorly known period of human evolution. By documenting more fully the function of the hip, ankle, and foot in Ardipithecus locomotion, Simpsons analysis helps illuminate current understanding of the timing, context, and anatomical details of ancient upright walking. Previous studies of other Ardipithecus fossils showed that it was capable of terrestrial bipedalism as well as being able to clamber in trees, but lacked the anatomical specializations seen in the Gona fossil examined by Simpson. The new analysis, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, thus points to a diversity of adaptations during the transition to how modern humans walk today. The fact that Ardipithecus could both walk upright, albeit imperfectly, and scurry in trees marks it out as a pivotal transitional figure in our human lineage, said Simpson. Key to the adaptation of bipedality are changes in the lower limbs. For example, unlike monkeys and apes, the human big toe is parallel with the other toes, allowing the foot to function as a propulsive lever when walking. While Ardipithecus had an offset grasping big toe useful for climbing in trees, Simpsons analysis shows that it also used its big toe to help propel it forward, demonstrating a mixed, transitional adaptation to terrestrial bipedalism. Specifically, Simpson looked at the area of the joints between the arch of the foot and the big toe, enabling him to reconstruct the range of motion of the foot. While joint cartilage no longer remains for the Ardipithecus fossil, the surface of the bone has a characteristic texture which shows that it had once been covered by cartilage. This evidence for cartilage shows that the big toe was used in a more human-like manner to push off, said Simpson. It is a foot in transition, one that shows primitive, tree-climbing physical characteristics but one that also features a more human-like use of the foot for upright walking. Additionally, when chimpanzees stand, their knees are outside the ankle, i.e., they are bow-legged. When humans stand, the knees are directly above the ankle which Simpson found was also true for the Ardipithecus fossil. The Gona Project has conducted continuous field research since 1999. The study area is located in the Afar Depression portion of the eastern Africa rift and its fossil-rich deposits span the last 6.3 million years. Gona is best known as documenting the earliest evidence of the Oldowan stone tool technology. The first Ardipithecus ramidus fossils at Gona were discovered in 1999 and described in the journal Nature in 2005. Gona has also documented one of the earliest known human fossil ancestors dated to 6.3 million years ago. The Gona Project is co-directed by Sileshi Semaw, PhD, a research scientist with the CENIEH research center in Burgos, Spain, and Michael Rogers, PhD, of Southern Connecticut State University. The geological and contextual research for the current research was led by Naomi Levin, PhD, of the University of Michigan, and Jay Quade, PhD, of the University of Arizona. Reference: Scott W. Simpson, Naomi E. Levin, Jay Quade, Michael J. Rogers, Sileshi Semaw. Ardipithecus ramidus postcrania from the Gona Project area, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution, 2019; 129: 1 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.12.005 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Case Western Reserve University. Sandeep Dikshit in New Delhi Sandeep Dikshit in New Delhi After giving Pakistan a befitting reply in Balakot for the Pulwama attack, India is actively making diplomatic overtures to pressurise Pakistan to abandon its jihad dependence. Here are some viable options: A Cut a deal with China for banning Azhar at UNSC: India can offer China its support in its aspiration to head global bodies in order to exhibit its status as a global power. In return, China can agree not to use its veto when the three permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) bring a resolution seeking to name Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. What will banning achieve: It will slightly damage Masood Azhar because he does not have extensive sources of revenue like the ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban. However, a more permanent source of worry for Azhar after being named by the UNSC could be that India can justify any Special Forces action against him on moral as well as national security grounds. Past experience: The UNSCs naming of Azhar will be a pyrrhic victory as international terrorists like him have roamed freely all over the world even after being called out by the global community. It has made no difference to the chiefs of ISIS and Al Qaeda whether 15 diplomats in New York name them as terrorists. However, if international pressure also forces Pakistan to implement its anti-money laundering laws, the naming of Azhar as an international terrorist will emasculate his appeal as a bag man. B The US should ban military trade with Pakistan: India can put pressure on the US to take Pakistan to task for misusing the F-16s given to it for anti-terrorist operations. There are already reports of the US seeking more information on the potential misuse of America-made F-16 fighter jets by Pakistan against India in violation of the end-user agreement (EUM). What is EUM: The US signs end-user verification agreements with all countries it sells arms to. The EUM allows American inspectors to examine the equipment for misuses and even seize the equipment or deny servicing it and not provide spares. Past experience: In 2009, Pakistan conducted a mysterious missile test leading to suspicion that it had surreptitiously altered US-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Harpoon was supposed to be used as a defensive weapon but the modification gave it an offensive role, enabling it to hit targets on land. The US also suspects that Pakistan has modified its P-3C aircraft meant for oceanic surveillance into a weapon capable of launching land-attack missions. The US had protested against both violations but its inspectors were not allowed to enter Pakistan cantonments. What can India do: It needs to lobby with the US Congress highlighting previous misuses by Pakistan that date back from the time when it was in the South Asia Treaty Organisation in the mid-50s and seek an embargo on all military sales to Pakistan. C Keep up the pressure on anti-terror financing laws: India played a smart hand in October 2018 when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) met in Paris to review anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws of member countries. Pakistan was in the nether zone and could have escaped with a mild rap. But India played on Pakistans all-weather friend, Chinas global aspirations by offering to support it for the post of vice-president of FATFA. China eagerly grabbed the offer because it will automatically head FATFA next year. As a result, it did not move a muscle when FATFA put Pakistan on the Grey List. What is FATFA?: It began as a construct of the worlds most powerful capitalist countries and gradually enrolled other economies such as Russia, China, India and Pakistan. It has set standards for anti-terrorist and money laundering laws. Failure to meet the standards could lead to blacklisting and denial of funds from the IMF and the World Bank. Past experience: Pakistan has been censured at least 25 times in FATFAs 30 years of existence. It was again censured in February this year and has been given a three-month deadline till June. What can India do: India was at its lobbying best when FATFA met in Paris just after the Pulwama attacks. China again stayed away from throwing its weight behind Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan remained on the Grey List. India needs to sustain the pressure so that Pakistan is denied IMF loans or it implements its anti-terror and money-laundering laws so that it becomes difficult for the Hafiz Saeeds and Azhar Masoods to operate. D Make Pakistan feel awkward among Muslim nations: One regional multilateral organisation that has excluded India at the behest of Pakistan is the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (who later became President of India) could not attend the first OIC summit after Pakistan threatened to walk away. In a delicious irony now, the OIC Ministerial held last week saw Sushma Swarajs participation as a Guest of Honour while Pakistan sat out in protest. What is OIC: It has 57 members, but, of them, 17 are not Muslim majority. Having the field to itself, Pakistan has managed to force the OIC to deliver virulently anti-India statements on its handling of the Kashmir situation. Though the OIC takes no further action, the statements embarrass India, which takes pride in its diversity and vibrancy of religions. What can India do: Bangladesh and Turkey have already proposed observer status at the OIC for India. This is again a sweet revenge against Pakistan for proposing observer status for China at SAARC. India can let the proposal for observor status at the OIC hang fire, provided Pakistan promises to behave. E Get Pakistan upbraided at the SCO for its behaviour: India cancelled a SCO meeting in Hyderabad on January 28 in protests against the Pulwama attack and could boycott another upcoming meeting as Pakistan is one of the participants. Other members are worried that this warring duo may turn the SCO ineffectual as their rivalry has done to SAARC. What is SCO: An eight-member organisation consisting Russia, China, four Stans of Central Asia besides India and Pakistan. Pakistan has no dispute with any of these countries. On the contrary, it sees them as its passport to economic rejuvenation, What can India do: The SCO was originally set up to sort out border disputes among the original six members (India and Pakistan joined later) and then moved on to anti-terrorism cooperation. India must make clear its stand that militants from Pakistan must also be put on its anti-terror data base. That will make Pakistan accountable for their actions. As opposed to the client-patron relationship between Pakistan and the US, the SCO countries enjoy peer-level ties with Pakistan, making it more amenable to their counsel. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Sydney, March 2 Two more ministers in Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisons cabinet said on Saturday they would not contest elections due in May, adding to a flurry of high-profile resignations as opinion polls suggest the centre-right government faces a heavy defeat. Morrison will need to retain all parliamentary seats held by his coalition government, but his chances are weakened by a wave of incumbent lawmakers in marginal seats set to retire. Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo both announced on Saturday morning that they would not stand in the coming election. Senator Linda Reynolds, Australias first female brigadier in the Army Reserve, was appointed the new Minister for Defence Industry. Morrison said Reynolds would become Defence Minister should his government be returned to power. We have two members of the Cabinet who have decided not to re-contest the next election. Thats true, Morrison said. What has also changed today is we have elevated Senator Reynolds into the Cabinet, which means there will now be seven women in the Cabinet, he added. Morrison said it was important for Pyne, who was responsible for a $200 billion ($141.60 billion) build-up of Australias military capability, to retain his portfolio until the election. In Christopher Pynes portfolio, we are dealing with some quite sensitive issues, he said. The prime minister said he intended to fill any other vacancies after the next election. Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion announced his retirement last week after Human Services Minister Michael Keenan said he was stepping down. Minister for Jobs Kelly ODwyer also resigned, and former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said last month she would not stand for re-election. Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who replaced Julie Bishop, announced six new foreign diplomatic appointments on Saturday, including High Commissioners to South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand; and Consuls-General to Shenyang, China, and Bali, Indonesia. She also announced a new ambassador to Qatar. A Newspoll for The Australian newspaper showed the opposition Labor party retained a lead of 53 per cent to 47 per cent over the Liberal-National government last month, unchanged from the poll in December. Although no dates have been confirmed, Australia must elect before May 19 half of the 76 members of the Senate and hold elections before November to elect the 151 members of the next House of Representatives. Reuters High-profile resignations vinaymishra188@gmail.com Houston, March 2 Sini Mathews, the Indian-American foster mother of three-year-old special needs girl Sherin Mathews who was found dead in 2017, was freed from jail after 15 months as the child endangerment charges against her have been dropped in the US due to lack of evidence. The Dallas County District Attorneys Office said on Friday that there was not enough evidence to proceed. Sherin, who was adopted by Wesley Mathews and Sini in 2016, was found dead in a culvert near the familys home in Richardson, Texas, on October 22, 2017, two weeks after her family reported her missing. Sini, who was 35 at the time of her arrest, was charged after prosecutors said she left her adopted daughter home alone while she and her husband Wesley went to dinner with their four-year-old biological daughter on the night before the child was reported missing. The Indian-American couple from Kerala had adopted the girl from an orphanage in Bihar. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com Toronto, March 2 Canada said it would allow a US extradition request for an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei to face charges over possible dealings with Iran to proceed. The Department of Justice on Friday said officials made the decision after a review of the case against Meng Wangzhou, Chief Financial Officer of Huawei Technologies Ltd, the biggest global maker of network equipment for phone and internet companies. Mengs December 1 arrest at the Vancouver airport set off a diplomatic furor and strained Canadian relations with China. Meng is accused of lying to banks about the companys dealings with Iran in violation of US trade sanctions. She is free on bail and is due in court on Wednesday. The Chinese government on Saturday criticised the decision as a serious violation of Mengs rights and called on Washington to withdraw its extradition request. AP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, March 3 A US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the Congress seeking a probe into an American non-profit bodys activities in Pakistan and Kashmir, including its reported collaboration with components of Lashkar-e-Toiba, the outlawed outfit which carried out the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Introduced by Republican Congressman Jim Banks from Indiana, the House Resolution (No 160) expresses concern over the threat posed to democracy and human rights by theocratic groups operating in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The resolution has been moved to House Foreign Relations Committee for necessary action. Introduced on Thursday, it does not have any other co-sponsors so far. Among other calls on law enforcement to investigate the activities of Helping Hand for Relief and Development in Pakistan and Kashmir, including reported collaboration with components of the Pakistani terrorist network Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008 carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while the lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court. Helping Hand for Relief and Development, a registered charitable organisation in the US, openly partnered in 2017 with Pakistans Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, which the US government designated as a terrorist organisation in 2016, it alleged. The resolution also calls on the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security and other relevant agencies to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and its domestic affiliates, including the Islamic Circle of North America, ICNA Relief, Helping Hand for Relief and Development and the Muslim Ummah of North America. Jamaat-e-Islami is active in both Pakistan and Bangladesh. Stating that Jamaat-e-Islami applauded the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer for defending the rights of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy in Pakistan; the resolution alleges that it led funeral prayers for the terrorist who assassinated Taseer, during which its members prayed for the strength and power to enforce Shariah throughout the world. The resolution alleges that Jamaat-e-Islami members have been linked with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Jamaat-e-Islami and affiliated theocratic extremist groups pose an immediate and ongoing threat to stability and secular democracy in South Asia, leaving religious minorities at grave risk of continuing violence, it said. It calls on Bangladesh and Pakistan to deny, disrupt and dismantle the ability of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates which continue posing an immediate and ongoing threat to religious freedom and regional stability. PTI shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Houston, March 3 Indian American Medha Narvekar has been appointed as the vice-president and secretary of the University of Pennsylvania. Narvekar, an MBA from Wharton School, will be taking over the new position on July 1, according to a UPenn release. Narvekar has worked at the Penns Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Office for 32 years, soon after she earned her MBA from the same school. Prior to this appointment, she served as senior associate vice president of DAR, working closely with the president and many trustees. Medha is both renowned and respected across Penn, President of UPenn Amy Gutman said. Very few people know Penn as well or have worked so successfully with so many people across our university. Her extensive experience across all areasincluding working directly with trustees, overseers and Penns most generous donorsgives her a unique capacity to step into the important position of vice president and secretary. Narvekar received her bachelors degree from Swarthmore College in 1981 and MBA from Wharton in 1986. She will continue to provide support to DAR even after she moves on to the new role. She will act as a liaison from DAR to the Presidents Office and will remain a member of the DAR senior management team as the university moves through the final phases of the Power of Penn fundraising campaign. Narvekar succeeds Leslie Kruhly, who retires end of June. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Kuala Lumpur, March 3 Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said on Sunday, five years on from the planes disappearance. The Malaysia Airlines jet vanished in March 2014 with 239 peoplemostly from Chinaon board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of it was found in a 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) Indian Ocean search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017. US exploration firm Ocean Infinity mounted a fresh hunt on a no find, no fee basis last year for several months, using hi-tech drones to scour the seabed, but did not locate the plane. Hundreds of people, including some of the relatives of those onboard, gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall Sunday to mark the anniversary of the jets disappearance. Only a few fragments of MH370 have been found, all of them on western Indian Ocean shores. Two of those pieces were put on display Sunday for the first time at the memorial. There is no new search planned, but Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the event that the government was open to hearing proposals to resume the hunt. If there are any credible leads and any specific proposals, especially from Ocean Infinity, we are more than willing to look at it, he said. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a crew member on the flight, said there was no closure until the plane is found, until we exactly know what happened to the aircraft and our loved ones on board. It gets tougher every year, because we are all expecting some answers. In a long-awaited final report into the tragedy released in July last year, the official investigation team pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually. But they failed to come up with any firm conclusions, leaving families of those onboard angry and disappointed. AFP shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Mexicali/Tijuana, Mexico, March 3 A large group of Central American migrants who US authorities separated from their children last year when they crossed the Mexican border entered the United States again on Saturday asking for refuge and to be reunited with their kids. A Reuters witness said some 50 people entered the United States at the international border crossing from Mexicali, Mexico into Calexico, California, where they were met by agents from US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Visibly nervous parents crossed the pedestrian bridge, some with children and carrying luggage, a Reuters witness said. They were accompanied by lawyers from immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado. The group said 29 parents crossed. "This is a huge victory for these families, but this fight isn't over until they're reunited with their kids," said Erika Pinheiro, Litigation and Policy Director of Al Otro Lado. The families, who arrived back in Mexico helped by Al Otro Lado, which means "On the Other Side," hope to present their cases to US authorities and be reunited with their children. Customs and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment out of normal office hours. In a crackdown on illegal immigration by President Donald Trump's administration, US officials have separated thousands of children from migrant parents who crossed from Mexico into the United States. Many were placed in detention camps before being reunited with their parents. Other parents were deported back to Central America without their children, some of whom were later sent to foster homes or to live with relatives in the United States. The US Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general said in a January report that the administration began ramping up separations in 2017. They accelerated in 2018 after Trump implemented a "zero tolerance" policy to criminally prosecute and jail illegal border crossers. Outrage over the policy led Trump to sign an executive order on June 20, 2018, reversing course. "We are waiting here in Mexicali, we arrived early. God willing and our cases can be seen," Joe Arteaga, a Honduran man separated from his 15-year old son last year, said before the crossing. "I know it's a big risk, but we hope for the best," he added. Families interviewed by Reuters last week in Tijuana said their children were now among those either with relatives or foster parents in the United States. They described their confusion when their kids were taken away by US immigration officials last year. "Every day I saw my son through a fence ... One day, as he cried, he said 'daddy they're going to deport you,'" said Arnold Flores, a Honduran who said he fled his country after he was beaten and had his house burned down. "That same day the officers called me, a defence attorney said something to me in English that I didn't understand and I haven't seen my son since," he said. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington/Seoul, March 3 US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises. North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they dont have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons, Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be very, very strong. According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner, the Pentagon said. South Koreas military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning to visit the United States in the coming week to meet US officials to discuss the second US-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the US and South Korea had agreed to newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs. US officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. South Koreas joint Chiefs of Staff and South Korea-United States Combined Forces Command said on Sunday that the two countries will conduct a military exercise from March 4 to 12. The exercise,Dong Maeng, which means Alliance in English, has been modified from the previously held spring exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle and will focus on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula. Exercise Dong Maeng provides us the opportunity to train and rehearse with our Republic of Korea, United States, and United Nations Sending State Partners, said the ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-Ki and the CFC Commander, Gen. Robert B. Abe Abrams in a statement. It is important for professional armies to train and maintain to a standard of readiness. These exercises are crucial in sustaining and strengthening the alliance, the statement added. In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbiers death. Trump said he was trying to maintain a delicate balance to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticized him for praising Kims leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbiers treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the US mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as gangster like. Reuters uttara@tribuneindia.com Lahore, March 3 Pakistan's Opposition Leader and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif met his elder brother, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in a jail here and briefed him on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India, according to a media report. Sharif, 69, is serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. "The purpose of the meeting on Saturday was to brief him (Nawaz) on the latest geopolitical situation, especially the tensions with India," the Express Tribune reported, quoting party sources. Court cases against the Sharif family were also discussed during the meeting. Shehbaz also inquired about Nawaz's health, the paper said. Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. Sharif was the prime minister during the Kargil conflict in 1999. Last week, Sharif was sent back to jail after his 10-day stay in Jinnah Hospital Lahore in connection with his treatment. According to a Punjab government official, the three-time prime minister asked the doctors to shift him back to jail after his bail petition on medical grounds was rejected by a court. Three corruption casesAvenfield properties, Flagship investment and Al-Azizia steel millswere registered against the Sharif family by the anti-graft body in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfiled case in July 2018 that was related to his properties in London. Later he was given bail in September. In December, the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia case but acquitted him in the Flagship reference. PTI (CNN) The world is moving towards legal gender equality but it's moving very, very slowly. Only six countries currently give women and men equal rights, a major report from the World Bank has found. That's an increase from zero compared to a decade ago, when the organization started measuring countries by how effectively they guarantee legal and economic equality between the genders. But the rate of progress means that, by CNN calculations, women won't achieve full equality in the areas studied by the World Bank until 2073. Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden scored full marks of 100 in the bank's "Women, Business and the Law 2019" report. Of those nations, France saw the biggest improvement over the past decade for implementing a domestic violence law, providing criminal penalties for workplace sexual harassment and introducing paid parental leave. But countries in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa averaged a score of 47.37, meaning the typical nation in those regions gives women under half the legal rights of men in the areas measured by the group. The study aimed to "develop a better understanding of how women's employment and entrepreneurship are affected by legal discrimination," highlighting "how women must navigate discriminatory laws and regulations at every point in their careers, limiting their equality of opportunity." It did not measure social and cultural factors, or how effectively laws were enforced. The criteria analyzed were: going places, starting a job, getting paid, getting married, having children, running a business, managing assets and getting a pension. Those were broken down into questions such as: "Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?" and "Is there legislation specifically address domestic violence?" Overall, the global average came in at 74.71 an increase of more than four and a half points compared to a decade ago. But the score indicates that in the average nation, women receive just three-quarters of the legal rights that men do. The United States scored 83.75, placing it outside the global top 50. The United Kingdom achieved a score of 97.5, Germany measured at 91.88, and Australia scored 96.88. "If women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential, the world would not only be fairer, it would be more prosperous as well," World Bank Group Interim President Kristalina Georgieva said. "Change is happening, but not fast enough, and 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men." The study is the latest to stress the economic benefits of guaranteeing legal gender equality. According to a separate report from the McKinsey Global Institute, released in 2015, closing the gender gap in the workforce could add $28 trillion to the global GDP nearly the size of the U.S. and Chinese economies combined. Laws still holding women back The U.S. performed especially poorly in the "having children" category, scoring just 20. The criteria analyzed laws around maternity, paternity and parental leave. "Policymakers interested in keeping women from dropping out of the labor force after they have children can look at their economy's scores in this indicator as a starting point for reform," the report said. Saudi Arabia's overall score of 25.63 was the worst in the world, while Sudan, the UAE, Syria, Qatar and Iran all scored below 35. But the report highlighted more positive trends in South Asia, East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the three most-improved regions compared to 10 years ago. The country that improved the most was the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had a score of 42.50 10 years ago but measured 70 in 2017, the final date for the analysis. "This improvement was based, in part, on reforms allowing married women to register businesses, open bank accounts, sign contracts, get jobs and choose where to live in the same way as men," the report said. A legal requirement that wives obey their husbands was also removed in the country. The report also found that "most top reformers introduced sexual harassment laws or mandated nondiscrimination in access to credit," and that "one-third of the top reforming economies removed job restrictions on night work or on certain job types." "Gender equality is a critical component of economic growth," Georgieva wrote in the report. "Women are half of the world's population and we have our role to play in creating a more prosperous world. But we won't succeed in playing it if the laws are holding us back." "Many laws and regulations continue to prevent women from entering the workforce or starting a business; discrimination that can have lasting effects on women's economic inclusion and labor force participation," she wrote. "By making the economic case, we encourage governments to guarantee the full and equal participation of women." This story was first published on CNN.com "Only six countries have equal rights for men and women, World Bank finds" shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Tel Aviv, March 3 Opponents and supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the streets on Saturday evening after the countrys attorney general said he intended to file graft charges against him. In central Tel Aviv, Netanyahu loyalists waved blue and white Israel flags and carried placards, reading Netanyahu, the people are with you and Netanyahu, my prime minister. Separated from them by a police cordon, opponents waved signs proclaiming Crime Minister and Time for Netanyahu to Go, an AFP photographer said. Police declined to give an estimate of numbers. Under Israeli law, the premier is not obliged to resign unless he is charged, convicted and loses all appealsa lengthy process. Netanyahu is running for a fifth term in an April general election. He said after the attorney generals Thursday announcement that he planned on being prime minister for a long time to come, despite the allegations. In Ramle, near Tel Aviv, opposition Labour activists projected onto a wall of the Maasiyahu prison a giant message, reading Netanyahu, Israel is ashamed, a party statement said. The facility is where former prime minister Ehud Olmert served time for corruption and ex-president Moshe Katsav was incarcerated for rape and other sexual offences. Traffic in Jerusalem was diverted from sidestreets adjacent to Netanyahus official residence, where another group was demonstrating, a police statement said. They were protesting a deal he has brokered to improve the election chances of a party widely condemned as racist. Netanyahu last week mentored an agreement for an electoral alliance between Jewish Power and two other far-right groupings, which would make it easier for the controversial party to cross the vote threshhold for a parliamentary seat. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com New York, March 3 US Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the place of his birth on Saturday to deliver the first rally speech of his presidential campaign, vowing to defeat the most dangerous president in modern American history in Donald Trump. The Vermont independent voiced confidence at the address in the New York borough of Brooklyn that he would first beat the crowded field of his rivals for the 2020 nomination, with much of his liberal, populist agenda now considered mainstream Democratic policy. I want to thank all of you for being part of a campaign which is not only going to win the Democratic nomination, which is not only going to defeat Donald Trump, who is the most dangerous president in modern American history, Sanders told the crowd of several thousand people. But, with your help, we are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the one per cent. He promised that his campaign would say loudly and clearly that the underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies. Sanders returned to Brooklyn College, which he once attended, for a rally emphasising his personal story, as the working class son of a Jewish immigrant who grew up in poor housing. I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs, Sanders said in another dig at Trump. I did not come from a family that gave me a USD 200,000 allowance every year beginning at the age of three. Sanders spelled out his big ticket items for 2020, his second presidential campaign after losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016Medicare for All, a USD 15-an-hour minimum wage and climate change. Many are long-held principles previously dismissed as too radical by more moderate Democrats, but are now more widely accepted talking points as he squares off against several other progressives who have embraced many of his issues. Following Novembers mid-term election, the Congressional Progressive Caucusco-founded by Sanders in 1991 -- wields more power than at any time in its history. Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislation in 2017. Julian Castro, another Democratic hopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting universal early childhood education. And Warren, Booker and Harris have all proclaimed support for the Green New Deal, an ultra-progressive platform to combat climate change that was unveiled this month by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star. Sanders was an outsider candidate three years ago. But with his massive political network, muscular fundraising capacity and resilient message, he is now a frontrunner. He would need to best multiple formidable rivalsincluding former vice president Joe Biden, should he enter the raceand victory is anything but assured. On Sunday, Sanders heads to Selma, Alabama, to mark the anniversary of the 1965 clash known as Bloody Sunday and will also visit Chicago, where he graduated from college and was active in civil rights protests. AFP shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Riyadh, March 3 British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he held talks on Saturday with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh that focussed on human rights issues, including journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder and the jailing of women activists in the kingdom. Hunt also discussed a fragile truce in the flashpoint Yemeni city of Hodeida with Saudi foreign minister of state Adel al-Jubeir and Yemens President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who is based in Riyadh. Hunts visit came after he failed last month to convince Germany to end its ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, which he said was hurting Europes defence industry and diminishing its influence in efforts to end the Yemen conflict. Important discussion with @AdelAljubeir about human rights reforms and current issues including Khashoggi, women activists, Hunt said on Twitter, without offering any details. The murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider-turned-critic, at the kingdoms Istanbul consulate last October sparked global uproar and tarnished the reputation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The killing has weakened the kingdoms diplomatic position and hurt its strategic relations with Western allies, even though it strongly denies that the crown prince was involved. Hunt arrived just a day after Saudi Arabia announced that it will put jailed women activists on trial after holding them for nearly a year without charge, prompting strong condemnation from rights groups. Some of those detained have allegedly faced torture and sexual harassment during interrogation, following their arrest in May last year in a sweeping crackdown on campaigners. Hunt also met Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf on his Gulf tour, which includes stopovers in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Our strategic partnership (with) Saudi Arabia helps us to keep the UK safe, to make progress on diplomatic priorities like Yemen, and to discuss frankly issues of concern, Hunt said. Hunt complained, however, about slow implementation of a ceasefire deal in rebel-held Hodeida, which was agreed in Sweden in December between Yemens Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels. The deal was hailed as Yemens best chance so far to end the four-year conflict, but it appears to be hanging by a thread with breaches reported by both warring parties. There is a lack of trust and it is taking too long to implement the Stockholm (deal) but no one has a better plan so we need to get going and end the crisis, Hunt tweeted after meeting President Hadi. Progress on Stockholm overdue and it is vital for Hodeida to be cleared of militia urgently to allow humanitarian corridor, he added later. It was unclear whether Berlins decision to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggis murderwhich cast a fresh spotlight on the kingdoms bombing campaign in Yemenwas discussed during Hunts visit. Hunt reportedly urged Germany last month to exempt major European defence projects like Eurofighter or Tornado jets, which contain German parts, from its Saudi weapons embargo. But Berlin stood firm on its decision to uphold the embargo. AFP vinaymishra188@gmail.com Washington, March 2 The US military and South Korea are planning to discontinue annual large-scale military exercises as President Donald Trump pursues efforts to improve ties with North Korea, a US official said on Friday. The comment from the official came shortly after the conclusion of Trumps second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they will keep talking. In South Korea, a government official suggested the drills would be downgraded rather than scrapped entirely. If we define the size of the drills solely by the number of the soldiers, then yes, the exercises will likely be smaller, the official added. The two sides are still discussing the wording of a joint statement that is expected to be released in the coming days, the official added. AFP THE potential for big data to transform government is vast and is something that is being actively pursued, according to Finance Minister Colm Imbert. Speaking virtually at the United Nations Trinidad and Tobago Big Data Forum on Wednesday, Imbert said big data can also be useful in providing real-time information such as tax collection and issuing official documents. You are definitely to blame if you can stand by and watch the significant harm of other hum message in the mas: Members of an ole mas band parade along the steps of the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain yesterday as they express their displeasure with the current state of the Judiciary. Photo: Curtis Chase When a friend sent me a graphic on Thursday announcing a news conference by the PM at 1 p.m. on Friday, I was a bit sceptical. For one thing, the time was a bit unusual. There was no topic, and it wasnt a regular Covid news conference day. So, I asked my friend what is this about. I also checked the PMs Office website and Facebook page. TROY, N.Y. The Troy Central School District celebrated the National Education Associations (NEA) Read Across America Day, Friday morning. The day included guest readers and other Dr. Seuss themed literacy activities between School 16 and Carroll Hill School. Included among the guest readers between the two schools were Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, Troy Police Chief Brian Owens, Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, New York State Assemblyman John McDonald III, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Andrew Pallotta and Carroll Hill School Principal Roy Stiles. In addition to reading to the students, Mayor Madden issued a proclamation declaring March 1, 2019 as Read Across America Day in the City of Troy. The full proclamation read: WHEREAS, the City of Troy, New York stands firmly committed to promoting reading as the catalyst for our students future academic success; and WHEREAS, motivating children to read has significant impact on their academic achievements and growth, helping them develop essential vocabulary and language skills, with research showing that students who spend more time reading do better in school; and WHEREAS, the City of Troy recognizes the importance of community involvement in the education of our youth, grounded in the principle that educational investment is key to the communitys well-being and overall quality of life; and WHEREAS, NEAs Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for children across the United States to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of renowned childrens author Dr. Seuss; and WHEREAS, this year, on Friday, March 1, schools across the Collar City will celebrate Read Across America which commemorates Dr. Seusss 115th birthday to promote reading and adult involvement in the education of our communitys students; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, I, Mayor Patrick Madden do hereby proclaim Friday, March 1, 2019, as Read Across America Day in the City of Troy, and encourage all Trojans to recognize and promote activities which celebrate and encourages children to explore the joys of reading. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Troy, New York to be affixed this 1st day of March, 2019. Mayor Patrick Madden City of Troy School 16 and Carroll Hill School celebrated author Dr. Seusss birthday as well as the fun and value of reading and literacy School 16 students also enjoyed a breakfast of green eggs and ham with their parents and teachers. Carroll Hill School students participated in a school-wide reading chain. Both schools also experienced an inspirational morning program with a Dr. Seuss theme including Dr. Seuss cartoons, book reading, and songs, and a 35-minute DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) session to end the day. The reading motivation and awareness program calls for children across the United States to celebrate reading in commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The Troy Public Library also held several programs Saturday for Read Across America. Researchers in the Galapagos Islands last month discovered, alive, a giant tortoise of a species long feared to be extinct. The return of the Fernandina Giant Tortoise, last seen in 1906, gives hope that another species, also thought extinct, might yet reemerge. I speak, of course, of the Principled Republican. The last sighting in the wild of this noble breed was in 2016. Hopes were kindled Thursday when Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), voicing concern about the dangerous precedent of President Trump claiming emergency power to subvert Congress, suggested Trump reconsider. Alexander could become the decisive fourth Senate Republican to oppose Trumps power grab, guaranteeing the Senate joins the House in rejecting it. Privately, most Republicans think Trumps action reckless, but Alexander can say so publicly because he is retiring. If Republicans did not fear Trump, they would undoubtedly side with 31 retired GOP colleagues who pleaded with them in an open letter this week not to sacrifice the Constitution on the altar of expediency. If heeding conscience, Republicans would have enough votes not just to reject Trumps transgression but to override Trumps veto. More likely, they will again retreat, more concerned about reelection than righteousness. Surely they know Trumps actions are wrong: They called President Barack Obama a tyrant for his immigration executive action in 2014, and Obamas policy, unlike this one, had support in a Republican-controlled Congress. As veteran Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) said in opposing Trumps emergencydeclaration this week: Previous presidents have used the authority to implement policies Congress would have supported, but could not do so quickly enough. They did not invoke the authority to subvert the will of Congress. Trump is figuring Republicans will buckle, as they have each time before. He told the faithful Sean Hannity on Thursday that Republicans put themselves at great jeopardy by opposing him, suggesting they would be casting a vote against border security. He has reason to expect Republican spinelessness. In recent days, House Republicans have put on their most feckless performances of the Trump era. Though many privately oppose Trumps border emergency declaration, only a dozen joined Sensenbrenner in defying Trump. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shrugged off GOP hypocrisy with a Yogi Berra-ism (Well, times change as it moves forward), and other Republicans followed. Rep. Mike Simpson (Idaho) admitted Republicans would be going nuts if a Democratic president did this. Rep. Chris Stewart (Utah) called Trumps action a mistake. Reps. Michael R. Turner (Ohio) and Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio) declared it a dangerous precedent and Rep. John Curtis (Utah) a harmful precedent. Reps. Rob Bishop(Utah), Roger Williams (Tex.) and others voiced concerns. All then voted in support of Trumps emergency. Seemingly nothing can shake Republicans craven political calculation that appeasing Trump is a better course than voting their conscience. This week in the House, Trumps former personal lawyer documented a web of deceit by Trump in personal and public matters and Republicans unflinchingly defended the president. At the same time in Hanoi, Trump accepted Kim Jong Uns word that he had nothing to do with American Otto Warmbiers death just as Trump accepted similar denials of crimes by the Saudi crown prince and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Then, on Thursday, a fresh economic report showed the economy falling short of Trumps forecasts, even though Trumps economic stimulus a tax cut and spending increases will add some $2 trillion to the deficit. Constitutional restraint, personal responsibility, human rights, fiscal conservatism: As recently as 2015, these were Republican principles, now sadly extinct. Nearly two dozen Senate Republicans enough to override a veto have expressed misgivings about Trumps emergency declaration. They have called it a bad precedent (Charles E. Grassley, Iowa), a dangerous step (John Cornyn, Texas) and not the preferred way to go (Rob Portman, Ohio). Ron Johnson (Wis.) told NBC that many of us are concerned, Marco Rubio (Fla.) warned that no crisis justifies violating the Constitution, Ben Sasse (Neb.) fretted that it will be almost impossible to reinstate constitutional balance, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said, I hope he doesnt go down that path. Yet only three Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) have had the strength to announce opposition. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), now the paragon of opportunism, was surprisingly candid about his motives. If you dont want to get re-elected, youre in the wrong business, he told the New York Times Magazines Mark Leibovich, also describing his quest to be relevant in Trumps world and to claw his way to influence inside Trumps orbit. Theres sort of a Don Quixote aspect to this, Graham acknowledged. How apt except the president is a mad adventurer in service not to chivalry but to personal enrichment, while Republicans play Rocinante and Sancho Panza, his loyal nag and servant. Surely they know what they are doing harms the country. But they pull their heads into their shells, as good as extinct. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank Yackline Castillo is one of the 100 Cuban doctors who arrived in Kenya in June 2018 to join hands with the local medics and help improve service delivery in the country's public health sector, but unlike her colleagues, she has turned out to be a very special family doctor. Just like her Cuban colleagues, Dr Castillo could not pronounce a single word in any of the local dialects, including Swahili, when she landed in Kenya except English and her own Cuban official language, Spanish, and others. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: 50 Cuban doctors arrive in Kenya but local medics are not amused Dr Yackline Castillo speaking to a patient at Siaya Referral Hospital. She is one of the 100 Cuban doctors who arrived in Kenya in June 2018. Photo: Citizen TV. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Cuban doctors receive massive praise three months after deployment to Kenyan hospitals Today, most of the Cuban medics who were deployed to the 47 counties after a two-week induction, are said to have acquired a few local habits and blended in with the locals despite communication barriers, and one of them has even mastered the local languages. "I have been practicing, me and myself. I practice when I am back in the house using a dictionary... but you also need people to help you...people in the community who speak the language. I sometimes ask the security officers at the apartment to teach me Swahili," Castillo told Citizen TV on Saturday, March 2. READ ALSO: Uhuru finally dispatches Cuban doctors to work in counties The foreign doctor, who the locals described as friendly, social and highly professional, seemed to no longer have any difficulties in communicating with the residents of Siaya in their own languages, Dholuo and Swahili. "Karibu...mtoto mgonjwa? Keti chini hapa. Unazungumza Kingereza? (Welcome... is the child sick? Sit down here...do you speak English?)" she posed as she inquired from a mother, identified as Francisca Akello, who had brought her child to the hospital for a medical checkup. The beloved doctor disclosed she concentrates more on learning the body parts and days of the week in Swahili with the help of the dictionaries so she can be able to interact more efficiently with her patients. "When it is any problem to do with pain, I ask, 'Ilianza lini?...juzi, Jumapili, Jumatano (When did it start, recently, Sunday, Wednesday)?'"she demonstrated. READ ALSO: Mombasa county to enroll Cuban doctors for Swahili classes Castillo, who occasionally visits the local fish market to buy fish and even negotiates the price in Dholuo, said her patients also played a huge role in helping her learn the languages. She is one of the two Cuban doctors who were deployed to Siaya county and the duo have been working alongside the few local medics within the county. READ ALSO: Court stops deployment of Cuban doctors hours after their arrival The Cuban doctors were imported after Kenya entered into a bilateral agreement with Cuba to help strengthen the country's health sector. The foreign doctors were to work hand in hand with their Kenyan counterparts in collaborative research projects. The partnership was also expected to help build the capacity needed to undertake genetic engineering, among other things. READ ALSO: Uhuru finally dispatches Cuban doctors to work in counties Initially there wer some unease from the side of the Kenyan doctors who were against the importation of Cuban doctors, arguing the country still had many unemployed but qualified doctors. Through their regulatory body Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU), the local medics also claimed the Caribbean doctors did not meet Kenya's acceptability criteria to be allowed to practice medicine in the country. The government nevertheless insisted the foreign medics were imported to reduce the shortage of doctors in the country. Do you have a life-changing story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. President Uhuru and Nurses Union bitter face-off - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Kenya It's all to play for in the second legs of the round of 16, and we've identified four potential captains who could reward #UCLfantasy managers handsomely on matchday eight. Who will you pick as your Fantasy captain? TUESDAY 5 MARCH Jadon Sancho (4.9m) vs Tottenham (H) Recommending a 4.9m player as your Fantasy captain may seem far-fetched at first glance, but a closer look reveals a player who could be an astute differential skipper. Eighteen-year-old Sancho has come of age at Dortmund this season, having notched nine goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the Bundesliga club. Despite the first-leg defeat at Wembley, Sancho was one of the German side's bright sparks, and they will need every ounce of his talent if they are overturn the 3-0 deficit. As the first of potentially four captain choices on matchday eight, Sancho could be worth taking an early punt on. WEDNESDAY 6 MARCH Kylian Mbappe (10.0m) vs Man. United (H) Paris hold a 2-0 advantage going into this second leg at home, and will be determined to put the tie beyond Manchester United's reach early on. The visitors are struggling with injuries at the moment, and Mbappe will be licking his lips at the prospect of exploiting any weaknesses. His statistics speak for themselves; four goals and three assists in the UEFA Champions League this season and seven goals in his last five games in all competitions, including the first leg at Old Trafford. TUESDAY 12 MARCH Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0m) vs Atletico (H) Owners of the five-time UEFA Champions League winner were left disappointed on matchday seven after Ronaldo, and indeed Juventus, failed to breach the impressive Atletico defence. But can the Spanish side be expected to keep him quiet again in Turin? They should know all about his abilities, as he has scored no fewer than 22 times against them in his illustrious career. Those who have kept faith with the competition's all-time top scorer could be rewarded if Juventus manage to turn this tie around. WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH Sadio Mane (9.0m) vs Bayern (A) There is good reason for including Lionel Messi in near enough every Captain Marvel article, and Fantasy managers will no doubt be placing the armband on the Argentinian in their droves once again, but here we offer an intriguing alternative for non-owners. So often playing second fiddle to Mohamed Salah in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side, Mane has been delivering the goods of late, with six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances. The tie with Bayern is in the balance after a goalless first leg, but it could really open up in Munich and Liverpool are capable of causing any team problems. In excellent goalscoring form, Mane could be a crafty Messi alternative. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that Russia had violated an investment protection agreement by expropriating the assets of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine in Crimea. "The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague acknowledged that Russia violated an investment protection agreement by expropriating the assets of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and its subsidiaries in Crimea," the press service of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine reports. As noted, the PCA ruled that the Russian Federation was responsible for the illegal seizure of the assets of Naftogaz in Crimea in accordance with the bilateral Ukraine-Russia agreement on mutual protection of investments. "It is a very important victory that will help bring the aggressor to justice over the stolen assets. The cost of seizing Crimea for Russia will grow constantly thanks to the actions of the international community and Ukraine. The PCAs ruling is an important step in this direction," CEO of Naftogaz Andriy Kobolev said. According to him, Naftogaz owned the energy assets in Crimea and was one of the main targets of the Russian Federation when it confiscated Ukrainian assets after the illegal invasion and occupation of the peninsula in 2014. The Permanent Court of Arbitration came to the conclusion that the actions of the Russian Federation in relation to Naftogaz were illegal and violated the bilateral Ukraine-Russia agreement on mutual protection of investments, according to which Russia should respect and protect Ukrainian assets, including those in Crimea. The court did not determine the amount of damage caused to Naftogaz. It will be defined at the next stage. Naftogaz experts estimate that the value of assets expropriated in Crimea is at least $ 5 billion. ol Ukraine raised a loan of EUR 529 million under the guarantee of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), according to the website of the Finance Ministry. On February 28, 2019, Ukraine raised a EUR 529 million loan arranged and provided by Deutsche Bank under the Policy Based Guarantee from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Deutsche Bank provided the EUR 529 million loan to Ukraine in the form of two tranches: tranche A amounting to EUR 240 million and 4 years maturity and tranche B totaling EUR 289 million and 10 years maturity. Under this loan the remaining part of the guarantee of the total amount of USD 750 million under the World Banks Policy Based Guarantee was used. As reported, on December 8, 2018, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved the decision on granting Ukraine a loan guarantee in the amount of USD 750 million. On December 27, Ukraine received the first tranche under the World Bank guarantees totaling EUR 349.3 million. ish Kalinin left the post of executive director of VETEK in March 2014. Ex-top manager of fugitive oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko's firm VETEK Yevgeny Kalinin was detained in the airport of Athens, Greece, upon the request of Ukraine, according to lawyer Yiannis Rachiotis. "Kalinin was detained on Thursday at Athens Airport, a hearing on the fact of the detention was held on Friday, and the Russian citizen was sent to Korydallos prison until the Ukrainian extradition request has been delivered to Greece," the lawyer said, according to the Russian news agency TASS. Read alsoUkraine's anti-trust watchdog fines fugitive oligarch Kurchenko about US$540,000 The lawyer said that "this is a political case directed against Russia." He also reported that Kalinin is on the Myrotvorets website's list of persons who pose a threat to Ukraine's security. Information about the detention of the Russian citizen was confirmed by the Russian Embassy in Greece. He was remanded in custody for the period of trial. Kalinin left the post of executive director of VETEK in March 2014, after VETEK was accused of tax evasion to the tune of UAH 7 billion (almost US$260 million). Kalinin earlier told Russian journalists that "he did not work in a legal entity called VETEK." "There was no such company VETEK and it had never been. VETEK is something like a cloud. VETEK is not a legal entity, right? People do not work in the cloud, people work in legal entities. They have legal employment there," he said. Yevgeny Kalinin, born in 1967, is on the Myrotvorets list. According to the website, he is wanted by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. He was charged under Article 255 (creation of a criminal organization), Article 366 (official forgery) and Article 212 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He was going to attend court hearings on the case of Ukrainian political prisoner Pavlo Hryb in Russia's Rostov-on-Don. De-facto authorities in Russia-occupied Crimea have detained Archbishop Klyment, or Clement (Kushch) of Simferopol and Crimea at the central bus station in Simferopol. According to a recent update, he was on the way to a local police station, the website of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has said. Archbishop Klyment, who is the head of the Orthodox mission to help victims of human rights violations and persons deprived of their freedom, was already in a bus when he was detained. He was going to attend court hearings on the case of Ukrainian political prisoner Pavlo Hryb in Russia's Rostov-on-Don. Read alsoUkraine Ombudsperson at UN: Ukrainian political prisoners Bekirov and Hryb in critical condition As of 12:15 p.m. Kyiv time on Sunday, March 3, there was no connection with the detainee. Public figure, general director of the National newspaper and magazine publishing house Andriy Shchekun wrote on Facebook that Archbishop Klyment had been taken to the central police department at 20 Futbolytsiv Street in Simferopol. "As of 13:20 Kyiv time, the archbishop was waiting for the investigator and lawyers in the central police department in Simferopol... One of the causes behind the detention has appeared (false and manipulative)," Shchekun added. As was earlier reported, Russia-occupied Crimea's de facto authorities want to close the major cathedral of the newly created Ukrainian Orthodox Church the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha in the center of Simferopol. "Archbishop Clement with the parish of the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha in Simferopol need general prayer support the occupying authorities have ordered them to leave the premises," Archbishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Yevstratiy (Zorya) reported this on Facebook early in February 2019. "The only Ukrainian Orthodox Church in that city is facing liquidation. Obviously, this is Moscow's revenge, including for the Archbishop's human rights activities." The prosecution first accused him of stealing things from his church; when the fact was not confirmed, they brought another accusation against the priest profanity. Archbishop Klyment, or Clement (Kushch) of Simferopol and Crimea, who was detained by the de-facto authorities of Crimea in Russia-occupied Simferopol, is facing a 15-day detention term. Local "law-enforcers" said that the cause behind the detention was an anonymous phone call to the police. An unidentified person reported about stolen things from the church building of the parish headed by Klyment, who is a member of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, representative of the Crimea Process initiative Mykhailo Batrak said on Facebook on Sunday, March 3. However, after they failed to prove the theft from his own church, they made up a new accusation. He is said to have quarreled with someone at the central bus station, where he was detained, allegedly uttering profanities, which is an administrative offence entailing up to 15 days of administrative arrest as the punishment. "An interesting fact is that Klyment had been detained and searched before the police received the call about allegedly missing things from the temple, and the list of the allegedly missing things 'coincided' with those found with Archbishop Klyment during the search. That is, he was first detained and searched, and then they started making up the reason," Batrak said. "After those at the central police station failed to charge him with stealing things from his own church, they brought another charges against him (hooliganism with up to 15 days of administrative arrest), alleging he used profanities when quarreling with someone at the bus station. Klyment has just been transferred to Simferopol's Kyivsky police station where they will issue an administrative report on him for hooliganism," he added. Read alsoDe-facto authorities in Russia-occupied Crimea detain Archbishop Klyment of Simferopol Klyment's lawyer, Nikolay Polozov, said on Facebook that his client was going to visit Ukrainian prisoner Pavlo Hryb in Russia to confess and give communion to him. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) responded to the detention of Klyment. "We are concerned about reports about the detention of Archbishop Klyment in Russia-occupied Crimea. Russian occupying authorities continue their systematic attacks on Ukrainian Orthodoxy in the occupied territory," MFA spokesperson Kateryna Zelenko said on Twitter on Sunday, March 3. Persecutions of religious freedoms and the rights of believers continue in illegally occupied Crimea, she said. "We will draw attention of the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE to the detention of Archbishop Klyment," she added. According to Ukrainian intelligence reports, one invader was killed and another one was wounded. Russia-led forces mounted seven attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on March 2, resulting in one Ukrainian soldier wounded in action. "On March 2, Russian occupation forces opened fire on our troops' positons seven times, using proscribed weapons in three instances. Ukrainian troops, being under attack, fired back, using all available weapons,' the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said on Facebook in a morning update on March 3. Read alsoOSCE observers spot 22 Grads in occupied Donbas Russia-led troops used 120mm and 82mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns. Hot spots were the villages of Lebedynske, Vodiane, Verkhniotoretske, Pisky, Pavlopil, Travneve. According to Ukrainian intelligence reports, one invader was killed and another one was wounded. What is more, one piece of enemy military hardware was destroyed. Since Sunday midnight, the enemy has attacked Ukrainian troops twice near the village of Novozvanivka and the town of Zolote-4, both in Luhansk region. They used 120mm mortars, having lobbed 30 shells on Ukrainian positions. No Ukrainian casualties have been reported. Nadler said the committee on Monday would release the list of people and organizations it would be requesting documents from. The head of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee said on Sunday the panel would seek documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of a probe into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by President Donald Trump. Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told ABC's "This Week" the panel wanted to get documents from the Department of Justice, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, among others, Reuters said. "We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption ... and into obstruction of justice," Nadler said. "It's our job to protect the rule of law." Read alsoBloomberg: New York has prepared Paul Manafort charges if Trump pardons him "It's very clear that the president obstructed justice," Nadler said. He said it was too soon to consider whether impeachment should be pursued, however. "Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen," he said. As evidence of obstruction, Nadler cited Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, who at the time was leading an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow. That investigation was subsequently taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is expected to deliver his findings to the U.S. attorney general within weeks. Nadler also cited what he called Trump's attempts to intimidate witnesses in the investigation. The White House, the Justice Department and the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nadler said the committee on Monday would release the list of people and organizations it would be requesting documents from. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd March, 2019) At least 14 people have been injured, with four of them gravely, after a tourist bus rolled over in western Thailand in the early hours of Sunday, local media reported. The accident occurred in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province some 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the southwest of Bangkok at around 12:00 a. m. local time (17:00 GMT on Saturday), The Thaiger news website said. The injured people have been transported to a medical facility, while rescuers helped pull the rest of the passengers out of the wrecked bus, the news portal specified. According to the news website, the vehicle was operated by Lignite Tour Company. Mauritania's Defense Minister Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Ahmed Ould El Ghazouani announced that he would run in the upcoming presidential election. NOUAKCHOTT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd March, 2019) Mauritania's Defense Minister Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Ahmed Ould El Ghazouani announced that he would run in the upcoming presidential election. During a ceremony, held in the country's capital of Nouakchott on Friday, the minister said that he would "seek to preserve the territorial belongings, strengthen national unity and social integrity, improve the status of women and achieve economic progress. " The country's president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the defense minister's long-time ally who has backed his candidacy, did not attend the ceremony. The president has repeatedly said that he would not seek re-election in the upcoming vote since spending three terms in office contradicted the country's constitution. However, he has said that he would seek a new term if the legislation allowed him to. Mauritania's presidential election is planned to be held in summer. Miami, FL (UroToday.com) Studies suggest ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist among patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Prior studies have found that OAB symptoms occur at higher rates in blacks and Hispanics and at lower rates in Asians. Furthermore, patients with lower incomes and educational backgrounds have been found to be less likely to discuss urinary incontinence. Minority Medicare populations have also been shown to be less likely to undergo sacral neuromodulation therapy (SNS) than white patients.Raveen Syan, MD, and her group at Stanford University sought to determine whether ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist for third-line OAB therapies amongst commercially insured patients.Using data from the Optum database, a national administrative health, and pharmacy claims database, the Stanford group identified patients with non-neurogenic OAB between the years of 2003-2016, using ICD9 and ICD10 diagnosis codes. Exclusion criteria included those patients less than 18 years of age and those with neurogenic bladders. Patient demographics and treatment interventions were collected, including oral medication therapies (anticholinergic and beta3 agonists) and advanced therapies (OnabotulinumtoxinA (BTX), SNS, and peripheral tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)).3,501,010 patients with OAB were identified, of whom 630,495 (18%) were treated with medical therapies. Oral therapy use was lowest amongst Asians (12%), compared to a rate of 17-20% amongst Hispanics, whites, blacks, and others (p<0.05). The rate of advanced therapy use in medically treated patients was 3-4% in all ethnic groups. Of those undergoing advanced therapies, Asians were the most likely group to undergo BTX treatments and least likely to undergo PTNS compared to all other races/ethnicities (p<0.05). Whites and Blacks had similar rates of use of BTX, SNS and PTNS (Figure 1).By utilizing the Optum database, the study authors could evaluate both racial and socioeconomic differences in OAB patients, all of whom are commercially insured. They were, therefore, able to conclude that age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, occupation level, and region affect OAB treatment patterns in the US.Presented by Raveen Syan, MD, Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CaliforniaWritten by: Judy Choi, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine @judymchoi at the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction Winter Meeting, SUFU 2019, February 26 - March 2, 2019, Miami, Florida The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of transurethral enucleation and resection of prostate for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This meta-analysis was conducted through a systematic search before 1 September 2018. All included publications were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Efficacy was evaluated based on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and quality of life (QoL). Perioperative data and complications postoperatively were also assessed. The quality assessment of included studies and results was performed by using the Cochrane System and GRADE (grading of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation) System. Thirty-one publications involving 26 RCTs with 3283 patients were assessed in this review. The differences between enucleation and resection in IPSS, Qmax, and QoL at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperative were not significant. At 12 months postoperatively, IPSS and Qmax in the enucleation group were significantly better than those in the resection group. The results also suggested a benefit of enucleation over resection in hospital stay, hemoglobin loss, serum sodium decrease, blood transfusion rate, grade II, grade III complications, and early complications. However, resection exhibited a better operative time. Compared with resection, enucleation showed better efficacy and safety postoperatively with less hematological changes and severe complications, except for longer operative time. Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases. 2019 Feb 28 [Epub ahead of print] Yucong Zhang, Penghui Yuan, Delin Ma, Xintao Gao, Chao Wei, Zhuo Liu, Rui Li, Shaogang Wang, Jihong Liu, Xiaming Liu Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China., Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China., Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. . PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30816336 90 Day Fiance star and Las Vegas native, Colt Johnson, hosted his official divorce party at Crazy Horse 3 in Las Vegas last night. Johnson has made national headlines for his recent and controversial divorce filings following his appearance on season six of the popular television series (Pictured: Colt Johnson with date Samantha Harris Photo credit: Bryan Steffy / WireImage). Photo credit: Bryan Steffy / WireImage Johnson arrived at Crazy Horse 3 dressed in all black with a bouquet of roses for the winner of Crazy Horse 3s Win a Date with Colt Johnson social media contest, Samantha Harris. This is my first time ever visiting a gentlemens club, Johnson noted excitedly, posing for photos with several of the clubs busty blonde entertainers, including adult film star Juelz Ventura. Photo credit: Bryan Steffy / WireImage When asked what advice he had for anyone going through a divorce, Johnson advised to get a good lawyer! The group settled into Crazy Horse 3s VIP area, where Johnson was greeted by a celebratory Grey Goose Vodka bottle presentation, a banner exclaiming Colt Digger and oversized cutouts of his head. The party did a round of Adios Mother****** shots and Johnson embraced his newly-found freedom by receiving a lap dance and spraying Diamond Dollars on-stage with Crazy Horse 3s money gun. Photo credit: Bryan Steffy / WireImage The ladies man embraced his newfound fame and took selfies with fans throughout the night. One of his favorite entertainers fed him a slice of Crazy Horse 3s pizza as Johnson exclaimed, This is one of the best nights of my life, and his eyes widened as the girl had a quick nip slip. After an epic night of partying, Johnson was assisted out of the club by Crazy Horse 3s VIP host, who carried him into a car to get home safely. Born in Brighton, England on 5 February 1908, the twins were unofficially adopted by their biological mothers midwife, Mary Hilton, when the mother rejected the children. From the time that they were infants, they were exhibited at fairs and circuses by Hilton and her daughter.When Daisy Hilton and Violet Hilton moved to the United States, they became famous for their vaudeville act and their burlesque performances during the 1920s and 1930s; they also appeared in a couple of films. The conjoined burlesque sisters struggled under the heavy hand of their guardians before reaching financial independence.The Hiltons early vaudeville careers were a roaring success, netting them a profit of up to $5,000.00 a week, of which, they saw none. Their various managers and guardians ensured the twins were unable to profit from their own prosperity, and after considering the advice of Harry Houdini, who implored the girls to educate themselves on their public persona through newspapers and other media, the sisters pursued liberation through the justice system. Lawyer Martin Arnold helped to secure emancipation for Daisy and Violet in January of 1931, after which, the twins were awarded approximately $100,000.00 and approached life on their own for the first time.Even after earning their freedom, they continued to perform in vaudeville productions and, in 1932, they appeared in the film. In December 1932 the Hiltons sailed to the UK on the. They spent most of 1933 in the UK, and returned to the US in October 1933. Violet began a relationship with musician Maurice Lambert, and they applied in 21 states for a marriage license, but it was always refused.In 1936 Violet married gay actor James Moore as a publicity stunt. The marriage lasted ten years on paper, but it was eventually annulled. In 1941 Daisy married Harold Estep, better known as dancer Buddy Sawyer, who was also gay. The marriage lasted ten days.They published their autobiographyin 1942. In 1951 they starred in a second film,, an exploitation film loosely based on their lives. Afterwards they undertook personal appearances at double bill screenings of their two movies.In 1955, the sisters opened a hotdog stand in Miami, which was moderately successful until competitors began complaining about the freaks stealing their business.The Hiltons last public appearance was at a drive-in in 1961 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their tour manager abandoned them there, and with no means of transportation or income, they were forced to take a job in a nearby grocery store, where they worked for the rest of their lives.On 4 January 1969, after they failed to report to work, their boss called the police. The twins were found dead in their home, victims of the Hong Kong flu. According to a forensic investigation, Daisy died first; Violet died between two and four days later. They were buried in Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte. 1953. Grace Kelly on the set of 'Mogambo,' directed by John Ford. 1954. Grace Kelly attended the 26th Academy Awards in an embroided dress and fur coat, posing next to her was Clark Gable. 1954. Grace Kelly backstage. 1954. Grace Kelly wardrobed by Moss Marby in the Hitchcock-directed 'Dial M for Murder.' 1954. Grace Kelly with James Stewart on the set of 'Rear Window,' directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 1954. Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart at the premiere of 'Rear Window.' 1954. Grace Kelly wardrobed for 'The Green Fire,' costume designed by Helen Rose. 1954. Grace Kelly with designer Oleg Cassini at the premiere of 'The Last Time I Saw Paris.' 1955. Best Leading Actress winner Grace Kelly and Best Supporting Actor winner Edmond O'Brien at the 27th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Kelly's ice-blue gown was designed by the legendary Edith Head. 1955. Grace Kelly congratulated on her Best Leading Actress win for 'The Country Girl' by Marlon Brando at the 27th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. 1955, May. Grace Kelly wore a red dress and fur stole at a Cannes Film Festival premiere. 1955, May. Grace Kelly posed in a pair of Capri pants at the Cannes Film Festival. 1955. Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Lorraine Day at the New York International Airport. 1955. On-set portrait of Grace Kelly. 1955. Grace Kelly on the set of 'To Catch a Thief,' directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 1956, January 5. Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly posed for photographers at the home of Kelly's parents after the pair's engagement was announced in Philadelphia. 1956. Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly attended a banquet after announcing their engagement in New York. (Photo by Ralph Morse) 1956, February. Grace Kelly won the World Film Favorite Actor (Female) at the 13th Golden Globe Awards. 1956, March. Presenters Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly waited backstage at the RKO Pantages Theatre during the 28th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Allan Grant) 1956. Grace Kelly and director Charles Windsor on the set of 'The Swan.' 1956. Grace Kelly in her famous bathing outfit from the film 'High Society,' directed by Charles Walters. 1956. Grace Kelly wore her diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier III. 1956, March. Grace Kelly with her pet poodle Oliver in her New York apartment before departing to Monaco. 1956, April 12. Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly greeted each other as she arrived in Monaco. (Photo by Howell Conant) 1956, April 19. Grace Kelly on her wedding day to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Her dress was designed by Helen Rose. 1956, April 19. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III on their wedding day. The Wedding in Monaco was watched by over 30 million viewers on live television. 1956, April 19. Grace Kelly prayed during her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. 1956, November 17. Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace on board of the Constitution before they got off in Cannes. (Photo by Dominique Berretty) 1956. Grace Kelly shielded her pregnant belly by the Hermes 'Sac a depeches' bag. It was officially renamed the 'Kelly bag' in honour of the Princess in 1977. 1957. Grace Kelly with her mother in the Monaco Palace gardens. 1957, December. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in the Monaco Palace. She was pregnant with her son at the time. 1958, March 17. Prince Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre of Monaco, son and heir of Prince Rainier III, in the arms of his mother, Princess Grace. 1958, April. The royal couple stood on the balcony of the palace with their daughter Princess Caroline and son Prince Albert II shortly after his birth. 1958, November. The couple smiled for the camera as they arrived at JFK in New York. 1959. Princess Grace and her husband went shopping in London during a visit to the capital. 1959, October. The royal family posed for photographs as they left their hotel in Saulieu, France. Grace Kelly was born in 1929 to John Brandon Kelly and Margaret Katherine Majer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a young girl, Kelly began her career by acting in plays and participating in fashion events while attending the Catholic girls school Ravenhill Academy. Despite her parents initial disapproval, Kelly decided to pursue her dream by enrolling in the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Her success on television finally landed her first film role in Fourteen Hours. Kellys next major mation picture with Gary Cooper, High Noon, though ranked among the best films of all time, was not the one that made her a movie star. It was her performance in the 1953 film Mogambo that earned her stardom, along with the first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 1955, she eventually won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Country Girl.At the height of her fame, Kelly took a fateful trip to the Cannes Film Festival as the head of the United States Delegation Committee in 1955. It was at a magazine shoot in the seaside town that she first met Prince Rainier III. In January 1956, their engagement was announced and their highly publicized wedding ceremony was hold on April 19 of the same year. Kelly was 26 years old when she retired from acting to begin her duties as Princess of Monaco. She died on September 14, 1982 after suffering from a stroke while driving back to Monaco, which led to the fatal crash.Here, were looking back at the life of the icon in the 1950s through 37 glamorous photos VPBank has also chosen bancassurance development to be one of its strategic focuses in 2019. - Photo VPBank After successful partnerships with VPBank, CitiBank, ACB and SeABank, insurer AIA Vietnam this year continued to cooperate with Kien Long Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Kienlongbank) to strengthen bancassurance exploitation. Under a strategic cooperation agreement signed recently, Kienlongbank and AIA will jointly offer comprehensive financial solutions on saving, protection, investment and healthcare through 134 branches and transaction offices of Kienlongbank across the country, especially in the southern provinces. Ng Keng Hooi, President and CEO of AIA Group, told the media that along with the distribution channel through agents, the bancassurance channel will be part of AIAs strategy in 2019. VPBank has also chosen bancassurance development as one of its strategic focuses in 2019. Bancassurance has also seen high growth in many other banks and insurers. One typical case is the cooperation between Manulife and Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB). After three years of exclusive partnership, the premium revenue of the businesses has increased by more than 100 per cent compared to the plan. Similarly, the bancassurance business results of Prudential and Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) in the past three years also rose sharply. The number of new life insurance contracts of VIB in 2018 soared by over 200 per cent compared to 2017 and over 260 per cent compared to 2016. Particularly, the PRU Flexible investment product, which not only provides financial protection but also offers customers flexibility in choosing investment funds to increase asset accumulation, attracted tens of thousands of contracts in the first ten months of last year. Many other banks also attained hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong from long-term exclusive contracts with insurance partners, such as Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) with a 15-year exclusive contract with Manulife, Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) with a 15-year strategic cooperation with Dai-ichi Vietnam, Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) with a strategy to cooperate with Dai-ichi to distribute insurance products on a very long term of 20 years. Data of the Vietnam Insurance Association showed that some 8 per cent of Viet Nams population currently has life insurance contracts. Though there is no updated data, the number of insurance contracts signed via bancassurance in the first half of last year grew by 89 per cent year-on-year, reaching nearly 857,000 contracts. Notably, the number of newly exploited contracts via bancassurance in the period increased by 180 per cent year-on-year while the new premium revenue of this channel accounted for 17.8 per cent of the total newly exploited revenue of the entire market. Upbeat outlook According to banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu, the bancassurance channel has high growth potential, given by the rising number of middle and high income earners and better awareness on insurance of local people. It is very useful for banks and insurers to develop the bancassurance model as it is an effective distribution channel. It helps both banks and insurers not only expand the business scale and increase customer access but also limit risks for them, Hieu told Viet Nam News. By taking advantage of the widespread network of banks, insurance companies can access the huge source of data of banks that the bancassurance channel offers. In turn, by cooperating with insurance companies, the list of products and services provided to banks customers increases without the need to raise investment capital while the sale of insurance products sold along with lending also help banks reduce the risk of capital loss, Hieu explained. AIAs Hooi also highly appreciated the potential of the bancassurance channel as Viet Nams population will reach 100 million people and gross domestic product growth will rise. Swiss Re insurance group also estimated the potential to exploit life insurance products in Viet Nam reaches up to $700 billion, based on the current expected death rate. In addition, like other Asian developing markets, Viet Nam has other advantageous factors to further develop the bancassurance channel, such as a high GDP growth, a rising number of middle income earners and a low ratio of insurance revenue via banks of 6 per cent compared with 70 per cent around the world. Pakistani Kashmiris carry the coffin of a civilian, who was killed in a gunfight between Indian and Pakistan troops on the Line of Control (LoC), at a funeral ceremony on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Mar 2, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Sajjad Qayyum) The nuclear-armed rivals fired mortars and artillery at each other despite the release of an Indian pilot who had been shot down by Pakistan but then sent back as a "goodwill gesture". In a fearsome 24 hour spell, two soldiers and two civilians died on the Pakistan side, its military said. On the Indian side, a woman and her two children died after their house was pulverised by a mortar shell. Indian army chief Bipin Rawat dashed to Udhampur in his country's sector of Kashmir on Saturday to review border security. Across the region villagers huddled in makeshift bunkers while police ordered non-essential traffic off roads, an AFP reporter said. At least 12 civilians have been killed on either side of the frontier since the start of the week. The release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to Indian authorities late Friday following 60 hours in Pakistani custody boosted hopes of a de-escalation. But a furious backlash erupted in India over a video in which Abhinandan can be seen praising his captors and criticising Indian media. PILOT RETURNS Abhinandan was shot down in his MiG fighter Wednesday as he chased Pakistani jets over disputed Kashmir. His capture had become the centrepiece of hostilities between the arch-rivals after a February 14 suicide bombing in Kashmir killed 40 Indian paramilitaries. Abhinandan, who ejected to safety but was set upon by a crowd on the Pakistani side of the Kashmir ceasefire line, had a noticeable black eye when he returned and was immediately taken for a medical checkup before a debriefing by military and intelligence agencies. Media reports said Abhinandan's return was held up because he was forced to make the video before being freed. In the heavily edited video distributed by the Pakistani military just before his release, he praised the professionalism of the Pakistani army and criticised Indian media for creating war hysteria. Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, said the video tainted Pakistan's gesture to return the pilot so quickly. "Sadly the image you paint for us is marred terribly by the video he's forced to record just before you sent him back," Abdullah said on Twitter. "That high moral ground you had bequeathed to yourselves slipped at the end." India's feverish social media also slammed the video, which was tweeted by the Pakistan government but later taken off its official account. WAR RHETORIC There was no let-up in war rhetoric with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying no-one could "dare threaten" a "new, fearless and decisive" India. Modi also told an India Today media group conference the country needed the Rafale fighter jets it wants to buy from France. The deal has been embroiled in corruption allegations levelled by the opposition Congress party. "If India had the procured the Rafale on time then the result of the recent skirmish with Pakistan could have been different," Modi said. In a bid to defuse the tensions, Adel al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs for Saudi Arabia, a key Pakistan ally, was to arrive in Islamabad Sunday, underlining global concern over the showdown. Saudi Arabia has offered to help to end the new hostilities. "He is visiting us and and will also visit India. He is our friend and we have historical relations with them (Saudi Arabia)," Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters. Pakistan media praised the government for releasing the pilot but some social media users criticised the military video, calling it "cheap" and "unnecessary". Abhinandan was captured a day after Indian planes bombed what New Delhi said was a militant camp in Pakistan, in retaliation for the Kashmir suicide bombing claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group. Kashmir has been divided between the two countries since their independence and bitter split in 1947. It has been at the centre of two of their three wars since then. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence are important elements of Industry 4.0.-VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet According to Cung GDP per capita is expected to rise from $315 to $640 per person by 2030 through increased levels of productivity and employment. Growth in manufacturing will create between 1.3 million and 3.1 million jobs. The seminar, hosted by CIEM and Japans NTT Data Group, was an opportunity for ministries, sectors, businesses, experts and researchers to discuss policies for Viet Nam to speed the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. To turn these figures into reality, Cung said Viet Nam would need to issue policies that push businesses to join the Fourth Industrial Revolution soon. Cung said that as a lower middle-income country, Viet Nam was making efforts to industrialise and transform its growth model, in which science and technology are considered the most important drivers of economic growth. "New industries that emerge from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IoT and the digital economy) will be the main growth drivers, supporting other industries to improve competitiveness, increase revenues and develop new services, Cung said. Cung said forecasts showed the e-commerce industry should reach about US$40 billion in 2030, artificial intelligence should reach $420 million, cloud computing $2.2 billion, ride-hailing apps $2.2 billion and smart agriculture $1.7 billion. That shows the importance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to economic growth in the future, Cung said. Chairman and managing director of NTT Data Toshio Iwamoto said the company had applied its smart projects on administrative reform in Viet Nam. It had provided an automatic customs clearance system to Vietnam Customs General Department and an integrated software package an innovative interface. Viet Nam needs to create the best conditions to encourage creative technology, Iwamoto said. Experts agreed that digitalising State management tools was a prerequisite for the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in Viet Nam. Other important elements include international co-operation, building technology centres and using the knowledge and experience of leading scientists and overseas Vietnamese. "The State needs to take the initiative and drastically transform its governance as well as build the foundation for the implementation of Industry 4.0," Cung said. Foreign investors show rising appetite for the shares of local banks Early this year, state banking giant Vietcombank wrapped up individual placements for its two foreign partners GIC from Singapore and Mizuho Bank from Japan to take back around VND6.2 trillion ($269.6 million) in proceeds. The bank also received the central banks (SBV) approval to scale up its charter capital to VND37.088 trillion ($1.6 billion), continuing its plan to grow into Vietnams largest bank. In its upcoming annual general shareholders meeting (AGM) this year, which is slated to take place on April 26, the bank will continue seeking shareholders approval for its capital hike plan as the recent proceeds from selling stocks to foreign partners only account for 30 per cent of Vietcombanks proposed stock issuance plan. The remaining part will be implemented in the forthcoming months. The market also expects the stake sale deal of another state lender BIDV to South Korean partner KEB Hana to be completed in short order. Last year, BIDV sought shareholders approval for a stake sale to raise its charter capital through a private placement to foreign strategic partner KEB Hana. The share volume equals 17.65 per cent of the banks current charter capital or 15 per cent of the capital sources in the post-deal period. The foreign strategic partner of VietinBank Mitsubishi UFJ is also willing to support the bank in boosting its charter capital for business facilitation, according to Kanetsugu Mike, CEO of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). Not only major state lenders, small-cap banks also prove very appealing to foreign investors, like Ho Chi Minh City-based OCB and Nam A Bank. Not only major state lenders, small-cap banks also prove very appealing to foreign investors, like Ho Chi Minh City-based OCB and Nam A Bank. Nam A Banks general director Tran Ngoc Tam unveiled that they would sell stakes to a foreign strategic partner before debuting on the stock market. Last year, the bank contemplated raising its charter capital from over VND3 trillion ($130.4 million) to VND5 trillion ($217.4 million), but the plan has yet to be finalised, so they will continue efforts this year, including courting foreign capital. Current foreign shareholding only accounts for 5 per cent of the total 30 per cent room available for foreign investors at OCB, leaving vast opportunities to foreign investors. In fact, foreign investors always pay special heed to local lenders, particularly those having plans to go on bourse. In the past year, several banks that have been listed on the stock market had garnered hundreds of millions US dollars from international organisations from stock sales HDBank and Techcombank. Accordingly, HDBank sold more than 21 per cent stake to a slew of foreign investors to take back $300 million in proceeds before its listing early last year. The total room available for foreign investors at the bank is expected to be loosened by about 7 per cent of the charter capital, equal to VND900 billion ($39.1 million), in the wake of its upcoming merger with PGBank, providing more opportunities to foreign investors. Similarly, the foreign cap at Techcombank was filled up after teaming up with US investor Warburg Pincus through a $370 million deal before it was listed on HSX last year. At ACB, Alp Asia Finance Limited became the banks major foreign shareholder with nearly 10 per cent stake last year after acquiring shares from Standard Chartered Bank. The foreign cap at ACB has reached the 30 per cent limit. According to Moodys experts, most local banks are short of capital to meet Basel II requirements which will come into force from 2020. Mobilising capital, particularly from foreign investors, might therefore become local banks top focus this year. Meet John Shepherd, a local country musician in Nashville, Tennessee who can sing almost any country song on command. We also learn more about the history of country music in Nashville and how the Grand Ole Opry came known as countrys most famous stage. Reporter: Lesia Bakalets, Camera: Sergey Sokolov, Adapted by: Philip Alexiou An anti-Muslim poster outside the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber falsely connecting a freshman congresswoman to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has drawn strong rebukes from local and national lawmakers, while causing the resignation of a Capitol staffer and the reported injury of another. The sign, which loomed over a table loaded with other Islamophobic flyers on a WV GOP Day at the legislature Friday, bore an image of the burning World Trade Center juxtaposed with a picture of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat and one of the first Muslim congresswomen ever elected. Never forget You said, was written over the Twin Towers. On Omars picture, a caption read, I am the proof you have forgotten. On Saturday, the West Virginias Republican Party condemned the appearance of the anti-Muslim flyers and posters. Our party supports freedom of speech, but we do not endorse speech that advances intolerant and hateful views, West Virginia Republican Party Chairwoman Melody Potter wrote in a statement, which added that they did not approve of the sign and had asked the exhibitor to remove it. No one acknowledged permitting the display. Designated hate group The group responsible for the display, ACT for America, has been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. Onlookers outside the House chambers Friday snapped photos of the poster and the additional literature. Readin, Writin, And Jihadin, The Islamization of American Public Schools, read one of the pamphlets. Another flyer warned of The Four Stages of Islamic Conquest. A phone number listed for the organization went straight to a voicemail box that was full and could not accept messages. The answering machine message described the group as the nations largest nonprofit grassroots organization devoted to promoting national security and defeating terrorism. 'Beyond shameful' Many House delegates denounced the group just as the body convened. One lawmaker admitted to getting so mad that he kicked a House door open, which resulted in a doorkeeper being physically injured, according to the speaker of the House. Another delegate grew furious, saying he had heard a staffer make an anti-Muslim remark. The sergeant of arms of this body, that represents the people of the state of West Virginia, said, All Muslims are terrorists. Thats beyond shameful, said Del. Michael Angelucci, a Democrat, his voice rising to a shout. And thats not freedom of speech. Thats hate speech, and it has no place in this house. The sergeant of arms, Anne Lieberman, resigned later Friday. She has declined to comment after being reached by phone by The Associated Press. Republican House Speaker Roger Hanshaw questioned how things had gone so wrong. We owe it to ourselves; we owe it our constituents; we owe it to the men and women and children and families that we represent to do better than we are, Hanshaw told lawmakers. We have allowed national level politics to become a cancer on our state, to become a cancer on our legislature, to invade our chamber in a way that frankly makes me ashamed, Hanshaw said. Australia is planning to build a new multibillion-dollar underground hydropower station in a remote corner of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. It is a huge and complex engineering task, and could generate electricity for 500,000 homes. The plan to generate power in the Snowy Mountains is ambitious. Here is how it would work: When solar and wind farms create and deliver more energy than is needed, that spare capacity would be used to pump water between two reservoirs in the Kosciuszko National Park. The water would pass up through 26 kilometers of underground tunnels and pipeline to the higher of the two artificial lakes. When wind and solar cannot meet demand for power, water would be released back down the tunnel, turning turbines to generate hydroelectricity. The task ahead for engineers is significant. The tunnel would have to pass through five types of rock, as well as several rivers and creeks. Before the five-year project goes ahead, a study will determine if the hydroelectricity plan is feasible and economically viable. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison believes the scheme will become a reality. It delivers as part of our sustainable plan to meet our emissions reductions targets and secure that the renewable power revolution that has been going on in Australia over recent years is able to be maintained through the firming power support that comes out of projects like this, Morrison said. The project revives memories of the original Snowy hydro scheme that was, at that time, Australias biggest engineering project. Construction began in 1949 and ended in the mid-1970s, and is considered to be a true nation-building enterprise. Recent research by the Australian National University suggested that, at the current rate, Australia could expect to be 100 percent powered by green energy sources within 15 years. Wind and solar dominate the renewable power sector, although the majority of Australias electricity is still generated by coal. The center-right government has said it would not phase out the use of coal-fired power generation in Australia despite concerns that fossil fuels are contributing to global warming. It has been a wrenching season for three of America's largest religious denominations, as sex-abuse scandals and a schism over LGBT inclusion fuel anguish and anger within the Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist and United Methodist churches. There's rising concern that the crises will boost the ranks of young people disillusioned by organized religion. "Every denomination is tremendously worried about retaining or attracting young people," said Stephen Schneck, a political science professor at Catholic University. "The sex-abuse scandals will have a spillover effect on attitudes toward religion in general. I don't think any denomination is going to not take a hit." For the U.S. Catholic church, the clergy sex-abuse scandal that has unfolded over two decades expanded dramatically in recent months. Many dioceses have become targets of investigations since a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August detailed hundreds of cases of alleged abuse. In mid-February, former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was expelled from the priesthood for sexually abusing minors and seminarians. The Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination, confronted its own sex-abuse crisis three weeks ago in the form of an investigation by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The newspapers reported that hundreds of Southern Baptist clergy and staff had been accused of sexual misconduct over the past 20 years, including dozens who returned to church duties, while leaving more than 700 victims with little in the way of justice or apologies. Cover-ups, reactions For both denominations, allegations of cover-ups and insufficient sympathy for victims have been perhaps as damaging in the public eye as the abuse itself. The United Methodist Church, the largest mainline Protestant denomination, ended a pivotal conference Tuesday in a seemingly irreconcilable split over same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBT clergy. About 53 percent of the delegates voted to maintain bans on those practices and strengthen enforcement, dismaying centrists and liberals who favored LGBT inclusion and now are faced with the choice of leaving the UMC or considering acts of defiance from within. The Rev. Adam Hamilton, whose Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., is the nation's largest UMC congregation, said the outcome would push youthful pastors and other young adults away. "Three out of four of millennials who live in the U.S. support same-sex marriage and do not want to be a part of a church that makes their friends feel like second-class Christians," he told the conference. "Many of you have children and grandchildren who cannot imagine that we're voting this way today. They wonder: Have these people lost their minds?" Since long before the current crises, most Christian denominations in the U.S. have been losing members. The most recent survey of the religious landscape by the Pew Research Center found that the biggest growth was in "unaffiliated" people who described themselves as atheists, agnostics or "nothing in particular." That latter group is known among contemporary religious leaders as the "nones." Their ranks include many young people who want spirituality in their lives but are disenchanted with institutionalized religion. "The `nones' want their lives to make a difference, and they're trying to figure out how," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of the Christian social justice organization Sojourners. "They're not going to join a religion that's not making a difference or, worse yet, is full of hypocrisy." Membership, attendance There have yet to be comprehensive surveys gauging how the latest crises have affected church membership and attendance. Nancy Ammerman, professor of the sociology of religion at Boston University's School of Theology, suggests the impact will be significant. "We see young adults who are overwhelmingly on the progressive side of sexuality issues and overwhelmingly not sitting still for sexual abuse of all kinds," she said. "When they see religious leaders who aren't on the right side of that, they're more likely to say, `I'm done.' " Any such developments will reinforce existing trends, Ammerman said. "If you're already only going to church three or four times a year, if you're moving from one place to another, your ties [with a church] have already gotten weak." While the three ongoing crises vary in key respects, there is important common ground: the increased outspokenness, organizing skills and social-media prowess of Catholic and Southern Baptist sex-abuse survivors and LGBT United Methodists. "We're in a historical moment where the marginalized voices will not be silenced," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a religious studies professor at Manhattan College in New York. "Victims of sex abuse and LGBT communities have reached the breaking point." In the case of the Catholic and Southern Baptist churches, there's been extra motivation for some critics because of those churches' insistence on a male-only clergy. "You have very top-down, patriarchal institutions representing a kind of power that civil society has left behind," Imperatori-Lee said. The months ahead will be challenging for the three denominations, notably for liberal United Methodists who must decide if they can abide under the LGBT bans they opposed. Bishops to meet U.S. Catholic bishops hold a national meeting in June. They will be weighing the exhortations of Pope Francis at the Vatican's recent summit on sex-abuse prevention. David Campbell, a University of Notre Dame political science professor who studies religion's role in U.S. civic life, believes the exodus of white Catholics from the pews will be offset by an increase of Latinos even as the abuse crisis persists. But he predicts the church will suffer a significant drop in donations. As for the Southern Baptist Convention, it formed a sexual-abuse study group last year that has not yet announced recommendations. Advocates for victims are watching closely to see if substantive steps are taken. The Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, takes heart from record-high enrollment at SBC seminaries. "I do not believe the students on our campus represent a majority of their generation," he said. "But they are the minority that is committed to the church." Yet Mohler says the SBC shouldn't take these young people's commitment for granted. 'We must do the right thing' "They will be and should be offended if we do not handle the challenge of sexual abuse well," he said. "We must do the right thing and do it without delay." At Howard University's School of Divinity, Christian ethics professor Cheryl Sanders tells students aspiring to the ministry that they will be held more accountable than their predecessors. But she exhorts them to believe, despite the challenges, that their work will be essential. "The fact is that people turn to the church when they have needs," she said. "The church has a role even in spite of itself." (CNN) Embattled Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has declared his candidacy for next month's election, defying massive protests in the country over the ailing and absent ruler's refusal to relinquish his grip on power. The 82-year-old leader suffered a stroke in 2013 and has rarely been seen in public since, but nonetheless plans to run for a fifth term, his campaign manager Abdelghani Zaalane said Sunday on national television. Zaalane said Bouteflika would call for early elections, but only if he is elected again. Bouteflika would organize a national conference to open the way for a debate to consider proposals to amend the constitution and decide the timing for early elections, Zaalane said. Bouteflika vowed not to run in those elections, Zaalane added. The announcement is likely to prompt further discontent in the North African country after a weekend that saw one of its largest and most impassioned displays of public dissent since the war of independence from France ended in 1962. It is widely believed that the President, who was first elected in 1999, is largely incapacitated, and has left the reins of the country in the hands of a military and civilian elite in recent years. He had previously signalled a fifth run and appeared to be stepping up preparations on Saturday, with state news agency Algerie Presse Service (APS) reporting he had replaced his long-time campaign manager. The announcement means his two decades of rule could continue after the country goes to the polls on April 18. Bouteflika's move will enrage protesters who have been leading an expression of public fury rarely seen in a country tightly controlled by security services. Many of the activists have been calling for the elections to be scrapped altogether, and for a more drastic overhaul of the country's government. Police vans and anti-riot vehicles surrounded government buildings in Algiers on Sunday morning ahead of the expected demonstrations. Hours later, thousands of students from universities in Algiers led street action, calling for an end to the ruling regime and shouting slogans including, "You destroyed the country, you bunch of thieves," "People want to down the regime" and "No to fifth mandate." The students have chanted that their march is peaceful, but an eyewitness told CNN that special forces have beaten some students in the motorway leading to Algiers as they managed to break police lines. Marches also took place in solidarity in the French cities of Paris and Marseille. At least one man died and 183 people were injured in earlier action on Friday, the minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform said. Security forces fired tear gas at activists during the demonstration, during which some protesters called for the April presidential elections to be called off altogether and for parliament to be dissolved to make way for a new government. Video on social media showed protesters this week setting pictures of Bouteflika on fire amid whistles and cheers. This story was first published on CNN.com "Algerian President announces plans to run for fifth term, defying protesters' demands for him to step down" Somali authorities say the body of a seven month-old boy has been recovered the rubble three days after an al-Shabab attack killed at least 25 people in Mogadishu last Thursday. The boy identified as Munasar Mohamed, was with his mother who worked at a beauty salon on Maka al-Mukarama road when the militants detonated a powerful car bomb as part of a complex attack involving suicide bombers The blast brought down multi-story buildings and destroyed structures alongside the busy road. The owner of the beauty salon, who didnt want to be named for fear of her safety, said there were 16 people in her salon when the explosion went off just after 8pm on Thursday. She said they helped the injured before security forces arrived to evacuate them. The boy was the only person in the group who didnt make out of the building. After finial searches the boy couldn't be located. His body was finally discovered on Sunday after rescuers viewed CCTV footage showing the boy's last movements and location in the building. The owner said the boy has been in the salon with his mother since he was born. His mom was working at my beauty salon since he was born, she said. The beauty salon owner said she knows more than 10 people from nearby shops who died in the explosion. Mogadishus ambulances services which evacuated the dead and wounded recorded 25 deaths and 131 people injured. Of the injured, 21 are females. During the attack al-Shabab constantly claimed that their fighters targeted one of the biggest hotels known as Maka Al-Mukarama but it became clearer that the militants entered a two-story building next to the hotel. Whether that was intentional or the militant missed their target is not clear. In a statement on Sunday, al-Shabab claimed they killed 45 government officials in the hotel. Al-Shabab also falsely claimed that no civilians were killed. Security sources say all but two of the victims were civilians. The two were security personnel deployed to participate in the operation to end the militants siege. Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle said al-Shabab has no regard for the safety of any human being regardless of age and field of work. You are not safe from al-Shabab if you are young, elderly, civilian or soldier, he said. Whether you are walking in the street or in your home, you are not safe from al-Shabab. They have no regard for you whether you are fighting against them or not. Al-Shabab has conducted similar deadly attacks in the capital for years now, but successive governments have not yet succeeded in finding a strategy to stop the militant group. Big crowds converged on Alaska's largest city Saturday as hundreds of dogs and their humans kicked off the 47th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race with a ceremonial sprint along snow-heaped streets. The fan-friendly event in Anchorage brought spectators up close to the 52 musher-dog teams gearing up for the famed 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) race. Mushers are generally more relaxed here than they will be for the real thing. But the dogs barked furiously before setting off, jumping and straining against their sled lines in apparent excitement to get going on the 11-mile (18-km) dash. Halana Hiatt of Denver was among the scores of fans who packed downtown to watch the action. She was visiting the state with her Colorado-based mother, brother and grandmother after inviting them to experience the Iditarod, an item on her bucket list. "It seemed like a big deal," Hiatt said. "I wanted to come check it out." The serious, competitive portion of the wilderness trek starts Sunday in the small community of Willow, north of Anchorage. From there, the 14-dog teams will cross two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and dangerous sea ice along the Bering Sea Coast. Village checkpoints are staged across the trail before the teams reach the finish line in the old Gold Rush town of Nome on the state's western coast. The winner is expected in Nome in about nine days. The expected top prize is $50,000, the same amount as last year but more than $20,000 below the 2017 prize. The total purse is again $500,000 about $250,000 below the 2017 purse. Difficult period The race comes after two difficult years for organizers marked by a dog-doping scandal, the loss of big-name sponsors and escalating pressure from animal activists over multiple dog deaths. But on Saturday, participants were focusing on the race ahead. "I've been working for this, building for this, for a long, long time," Iditarod rookie Richie Beattie, from Two Rivers in Alaska's interior, said as he waited with his dogs for Saturday's event to get started. He might be a rookie in the Iditarod, but he's a veteran musher, having competed twice in the 1,000-mile (1,609-km) Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. So he was looking forward to getting on the trail "for real." Other participants include defending champion Joar Ulsom of Norway, three four-time winners and a three-time champion. Four-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey was greeted by multiple fans in his first Iditarod since he scratched in the 2016 race. Mackey, who also won the Yukon Quest four times, is a throat cancer survivor who has an outsize personality popular with fans. He continues to have multiple health problems, including hands that are unusually susceptible to cold and a need to drink water constantly because radiation from treatments killed his salivary glands. He said he was ecstatic to be back in the race. "I have no expectations," he said. "My goal this year is to start with a smile, finish with the same smile and 14 happy, healthy dogs." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a longtime race critic, protested at Saturday's event with harnesses dangling from a representation of the burled arch that marks the finish line in Nome. The harnesses symbolized dogs that have died over the Iditarod's history. By PETA's count, more than 150 dogs have died in the race, including one last year. Five dogs connected with the 2017 race also died. "Dogs will continue to drop dead as long as they're forced to run 1,000 miles at breakneck speed just so their owners can win prize money," PETA spokeswoman Tricia Lebkuecher said. Race officials dispute the total number of deaths, saying no records of dog deaths were kept in the Iditarod's early years. They have not provided their count of dog deaths to The Associated Press despite numerous requests over the past few years, the latest on Friday. The center-right Reform Party won the parliamentary election in Estonia Sunday, but not enough seats to avoid having to form a coalition with one of its rivals. Reform, led by former lawmaker Kaja Kallas, won 29 percent of the vote, followed by Prime Minister Juri Ratas' Center Party, which took 23 percent. Reform had held the prime minister's chair from 2005 until 2016 -- sometimes by itself and sometimes in a coalition with the Center Party -- and they may have to team up again. Reform backs a liberal economic policy while the Center Party has the support of Estonia's sizable Russian-speaking minority. Both parties have sworn to keep the far-right anti-immigrant Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) -- which won 18 percent Sunday -- out of a ruling coalition. EKRE more than doubled its number of seats. Two other parties -- the Social Democrats and the conservative Isamaa Party -- also won seats Sunday. In 2007, Estonia became one of the first nations in the world to be hit by a modern type of enemy assault that has since been dubbed cyberwarfare. The attack came from Russia. Since the cyberattack, Estonia has evolved into what many consider the most technologically advanced country in the world. Key to that effort is e-Estonia, a unique project that links government officials to all citizens through a maze of platforms based on the "X-Road," a government platform also used by major private companies. Through the X-Road, citizens can participate in such activities as health care, banking, tax-paying, policing and education through a broadband or fiber optic network connecting the whole country. Legislators can digitally enact laws through a program called e-Cabinet, while citizens use e-voting to elect and communicate with politicians. And there is free Wi-Fi virtually everywhere. Throughout most of its history, the Baltic nation of 1.3 million people has been dominated and exploited by larger neighbors. But now, analysts say, the e-Estonia project has helped put the nation's past behind it. A court in Garowe, in northern Somalia, Saturday sentenced five male teenagers to death for the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Galkayo last month, officials said. Mohamed Hared Farah, deputy attorney of Puntlands High Court, said the young men, four of whom are 18 and the other 19, were convicted in the rape of the girl. After all the court proceedings, including the presentation of evidence, the court sentences these five young men to death, Farah said. Second case sparks outrage Farah added that the rape trial occurred hours before the gang rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in the same Galkayo town, in the central Somali region of Mudug. On Monday, Aisha Ilyes Aden was abducted at a market in the town. Her body was found the next morning near her home. An autopsy revealed she had been gang raped and then strangled. Aishas case sparked outrage, with demonstrations and protesters calls for authorities to use the countrys landmark 2016 Sexual Offenses Law, which criminalizes rape, sexual harassment and online sexual offenses. Four men have been arrested in the death of Aisha. Puntland has also sent hundreds of security forces to Galkayo, which is fighting an increase in crime, including rape cases. Sexual Offenses Law The 2016 law allowed for five men who had gang raped a teenage girl, and then posted a video of the attack on social media, to be sentenced in 2017 to lashes and up to 10 years in prison, according to the United Nations, a key backer of the legislation. Farah said Saturdays sentence was meant to be both a lesson and final warning for other potential rapists. The young men in this region have made a normal habit to gang rape girls, therefore, our todays sentence will send them a signal that we have a zero tolerance for rape and that anyone who commits will face death, Farah warned. The ruling Saturday was not only a test for Puntland states new sexual violence law, The Sexual Offense Act, but also a powerful signal of support for the rule of law in general in Somalia, some rights activists say. Attitudes changing Somalia is a conservative society where rape is stigmatized and victims are traditionally forced to marry their assailants. Most rape cases go unreported and unpunished, according to Somali women rights activists. Many rape survivors and their families are afraid to come forward to publicly confront perpetrators, because they fear being shunned by their community. In many cases, the rape victims are deemed unmarriable. Sexual violence is sadly not a shocking occurrence in Puntland. For years, it has been relatively commonplace, said Hawa Aden Mohamed, founder of the Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development, which promotes womens rights. Anti-rape campaigners in Somalia say the brutal nature of several videos of gang rape and murder, which have been shared on social media in the past two years, are turning the tide against the conservative stigmatization and the nature of hiding perpetrators. Malaysia's transport minister said Sunday that the government is open to new proposals from U.S. technology firm Ocean Infinity or any other companies to resume the hunt for Flight 370, as families of passengers marked the fifth anniversary of the jet's mysterious disappearance. Ocean Infinity mounted a "no cure, no fee" search for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2018 that ended in May without any clue on where it could have crashed. But the company's CEO, Oliver Plunkett, said in a video shown at the public remembrance event at a mall near Kuala Lumpur that the company hopes to resume the hunt with better technology it obtained in the past year. The Ocean Infinity mission came a year after an official search by Malaysia, Australia and China ended in futility. Plunkett said his company has better technology now after successfully locating an Argentinian submarine in November, a year after it went missing. He said the firm is still reviewing all possible data on Flight 370 and thinking about how it can revive its failed mission. "We haven't given up hope. ... We hope we can continue the search in due course," Plunkett said. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said it's been frustrating that the two searches failed to produce any clues and that he "welcomes credible leads and also concrete proposals to resume the search." He told reporters later Sunday that the government is "waiting for specific proposals, in particular from Ocean Infinity." He brushed off suggestions of offering rewards to find the plane, but said the government is willing to discuss proposals from any companies prepared to resume the search. "There must be a proposal from a specific company ... we cannot just be out there without credible leads. That's the most practical thing to do," Loke said. The plane vanished with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Confirmed debris that washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean helped narrow the search area where Ocean Infinity focused, but it failed to uncover any evidence. A Malaysian-led independent investigation report released last July showed lapses in the government's response and raised the possibility of "intervention by a third party." Investigators, however, said thecause of the disappearance cannot be determined until the wreckage and the plane's black boxes are found. The report reiterated Malaysia's assertion that the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications. But it said there was no evidence of abnormal behavior or stress in the two pilots that could lead them to hijack the plane. All the other passengers were also cleared by police and had no pilot training. Voice 370, a support group for next-of-kin, expressed hope that the new government that won a general election in May last year will do more to encourage search missions and seek new clues. The group's spokeswoman, Grace Nathan, urged the government to set aside up to $70 million - the amount it agreed to pay Ocean Infinity had it found the plane - to encourage exploration companies to take on "no cure, no fee" missions so that Flight 370's passengers will not have died in vain. "It is a wound that cannot heal" if there is no closure, Nathan said. Another family member, K.S. Narendran from India, said the burden is on the government to be proactive and not wait for credible evidence to fall on its lap. He said there has been no government effort to find more debris on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands, where scattered pieces of the Boeing 777 have been found. During the remembrance event, family members lit candles and sang songs in tribute to their loved ones. Relatives and supporters wore light blue T-shirts that read, "It's not history, it's the future. Fly safely," as they reminded the government that the mystery must be solved to ensure aviation safety. Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido called on the Venezuelan people to take to the streets Monday to coincide with his planned return after touring Latin American allies. "I'm announcing my return to the country. I am calling on the Venezuelan people to mobilize all over the country tomorrow at 11:00 am (1500 GMT)," Guaido wrote on Twitter. The opposition leader is expected to reach Caracas Monday. On Sunday, he left the Ecuadorian coastal town of Salinas aboard an Ecuadorian air force plane after meeting with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno. His travel plans have not been made public, but a spokesman said Guaido would be in Caracas in time for the Carnival season, which begins Monday. Guaido has said he expects to be arrested upon his return. Guaido, recognized by the U.S. and 50 other countries as Venezuela's interim leader, heads Venezuela's National Assembly. He used his authority to invoke the constitution to declare President Nicolas Maduro's leadership illegitimate because of election fraud and declare himself interim president. Last week Guaido met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and other regional leaders in Bogota, Colombia, and later traveled to Brazil and Paraguay. The United States increased its pressure on Venezuela Friday, imposing sanctions on six high-ranking security officials as well as revoking the visas of dozens of other high officials. The Trump administration said the sanctions were a response to Venezuelan military officials, who last weekend blocked an opposition-backed effort to bring food into the country. At one border point, aid trucks caught fire and several people died. Israeli police have banned several Islamic officials appointed by Jordan from entering a Jerusalem holy site following clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli authorities in recent weeks. Abdel Azem Salhab, the highest-ranking official in the Jordanian-run council overseeing the site, said that police handed him and two other Palestinian officials the order on Sunday. The site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, is considered the third-holiest place in Islam and the holiest by Jews. Salhab said police informed him the ban was because of his role in opening a gate that has been closed by Israeli court order since 2003. Jordan's Religious Affairs Minister Abdel Nasser Abu Albasal condemned the Israeli decision as a new escalation meant to disrupt the council's work. Islamic State said Saturday that it had killed 10 Nigerian soldiers in an attack two days earlier in the country's northeastern Borno state, but a Nigerian army spokesman said "no such incident was recorded." In a statement issued through its news agency Amaq, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on a village it referred to as Tdmari, near Maiduguri town. The Nigerian army spokesman insisted the "situation in the northeast has been calm for some time now. The Nigerian army is consolidating its efforts and successes are being achieved." Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), which split from Islamist group Boko Haram in 2016, has carried out a number of attacks in northeast Nigeria in the last few months. Borno is the state worst hit by Islamist insurgents, whose attacks on Nigerian military bases in the last few months made security a key issue in a just-concluded presidential election won by incumbent Muhammadu Buhari. Iranian military advisers in Syria are reportedly forming a new militia in the country under their supervision with the aim of boosting an Iranian agenda in the region, a rights group said in a recent report. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor that has researchers across Syria, said in a recent report that Iran has recruited at least 1,200 militiamen from different parts of Syria to form the new military force. Iranian and Syrian officials have been considering the building of such a force for a long time, sources in Iran also said. This is part of a bill agreed upon between Tehran and Damascus in May 2017, an Iranian defense reporter, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told VOA. The formation of any coalition with the aim of adding strength to the axis of resistance against Israel is welcomed, the reporter said. Axis of resistance The axis of resistance is a term used by pro-Iranian groups that refers to an ideological-military alliance between Iran, Syria and other Shiite groups, with the goal of countering U.S. and Israeli interests in the region. Since the outbreak of Syrias civil war in 2011, Iran has been a major backer of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been involved in major battles across the country, providing support to Syrian regime troops against rebel forces. Iran has also deployed Shiite militias to Syria, including the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and several other Pakistani and Afghan Shiite groups. An Arabic-language, pro-Syrian opposition news website, Zaman Al Wasel, reported in late 2018 that it had obtained a Syrian defense ministry document approving a plan to give Iran more operational autonomy inside Syria. Ali Alfoneh, a Middle East analyst who closely monitors IRGCs activities in Syria, said he thinks the formation of this unit is highly conceivable. During my observations, I have identified several members of Hezbollah who were born and raised in Syria, Alfoneh told VOA. These signs invigorate the likelihood of this brigade. The Syrian Observatory report indicated the vast majority of this new militias fighters are Syrian nationals, functioning differently from the other Iranian-sponsored brigades that have been formed to fight in Syria in recent years. Since January 2013, more than 2,100 members of the IRGC or affiliated militants have been killed in Syria, according to Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. Tehran insists its forces are present in Syria to protect the Zainab Shrine, a Shiite holy site in Damascus, and other Shiite religious places in the country. Western and some regional countries, however, say that the Iranian presence in Syria has been chiefly to support the Assad regime. Indigenous Syrian militias Seth Frantzman, executive director of the U.S.-based think tank the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis (MECRA), says Irans plans to form additional militias in Syria are part of an overall strategy to put down roots for the long term in the war-torn country. More bases and more militias, including indigenous Syrian militias allied to Iran further Tehrans goal of building a corridor of influence via Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, he told VOA. Frantzman added, With the U.S. announced withdrawal, Iran is seeking to hammer out a deal with Turkey and Russia regarding the future of Syria. On Dec. 19, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the roughly 2,000 U.S. forces in Syria would be withdrawn. Last month, the administration adjusted its withdrawal plans and said that several hundred U.S. troops would remain in Syria to maintain stability in the war-torn country. The U.S. troops have been instrumental in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants. The Trump administration has often accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East, particularly in countries where Iran maintains a strong presence. In Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, Iran already has local allied militias. [A similar militia in Syria] would be in line with that model, researcher Frantzman said. During a recent meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem in Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised bilateral ties between Syria and Iran. The establishment of complete stability and security in Syria is one of Irans most important regional and foreign policy objectives, Rouhani said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Russia are to form a joint team to examine the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria. Israel is seeking the removal of Iranian forces and has vowed to keep its main enemy from entrenching itself militarily in the neighboring country. Netanyahu met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Moscow to discuss Iran's presence in Syria. "I made it unequivocally clear that Israel will not allow the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria, and I also made it unequivocally clear that we would continue to take military action against it," Netanyahu told his cabinet. "President Putin and I also agreed on a common goal: the withdrawal of foreign forces that arrived in Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. We agreed to establish a joint team to advance this goal, together with other elements." Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian and Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah targets and has established a hotline to avoid accidental clashes with Russia. Iran, Russia and Tehran-backed Hezbollah support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war that broke out in 2011. But a friendly fire incident during one of those strikes in September damaged Israel's relations with Russia. Wednesday's talks were the first extended face-to-face meeting between Netanyahu and Putin since the incident, which saw Syria's air defense systems shoot down a Russian plane by mistake during an Israeli strike, killing 15 Russian troops. The first American commercially built-and-operated crew spacecraft in eight years docked successfully Sunday at the International Space Station. There was, however, no crew aboard the spacecraft, just a test dummy named Ripley, in a nod to the lead character in the Alien movies. The docking was carried out autonomously by the Crew Dragon capsule, as the three astronauts on board the International Space Station watched. The Space X Crew Dragon capsule lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon brought supplies and test equipment to the space station where it will spend five days as astronauts conduct tests and inspect the Dragon's cabin. NASA has awarded millions of dollars to Space X and Boeing to design and operate a capsule to launch astronauts into orbit from American soil some time this year. It is not immediately clear whether that goal will be reached. Space X is entrepreneur Elon Musk's company. Musk is also the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla. Currently, America relies on Russia to launch astronauts to the space station. Russia charges about $80 million per ticket. Thousands protested in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, on Saturday, the fourth such rally in as many weeks, demanding that President Milo Djukanovic and his government resign over alleged corruption, cronyism and abuse of office. Throngs of people, rallied by civic activists, bloggers and journalists who say they are not affiliated with political parties, marched through the center of the city chanting "Milo, thief." Opposition politicians have distanced themselves from the protests. Weekly political protests also continued in Serbia, Montenegro's larger neighbor and fellow ex-Yugoslav republic. Marija Backovic, a teacher from Podgorica, said she was protesting for a better Montenegro. "We are not the danger for this country ... those that are destroying it for 30 years are the real danger," she told the crowd on Saturday. The rallies started after Dusko Knezevic, a former ally of Djukanovic, accused him and his ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) of corruption, cronyism, abuse of office and murky financial deals. Both Djukanovic and the DPS have denied the allegations and said the protests are legitimate unless they turn violent. Djukanovic has dominated national politics in the small Adriatic country, a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership, serving as prime minister or president for most of the period since independence in 1991. Montenegrin prosecutors accused Knezevic, a banker, of fraud and money laundering, but he fled to Britain. He has said he will produce more evidence about alleged murky dealings by Djukanovic and his allies. In December, Montenegro's central bank placed the small Atlas Banka, headed by Knezevic, under temporary administration as its capital failed to meet minimum risk requirements. In January, Atlas Banka sought to increase its capital again after hiking it last October by 1.37 million euros ($1.56 million) to 32.03 million euros. In Serbia's capital, Belgrade, meanwhile, thousands marched in protest at what they see as the increasingly autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vucic. The veteran leader and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) are accused by political opponents of stifling media freedoms, and opposition parties have demanded Vucic's resignation and establishment of conditions for free and fair elections. Vucic and the SNS, which with coalition allies holds a comfortable majority of 160 deputies in the 250-seat parliament, reject those allegations. Both Montenegro and Serbia are seeking join the European Union but have been told they must root out organized crime, corruption and nepotism and reduce bureaucracy before they can become members of the bloc. The head of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee plans to issue requests for documents Monday to 60 people, including officials at the White House and Justice Department, as part of stepped-up investigations of President Donald Trump and his connections to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign. Rep. Jerrold Nadler told ABC News the requests were being made "to begin the investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power." He said the committee wants to see documents from Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, the president's global business empire. Nadler said he believes the president has obstructed justice during his two years in office. He said that Trump's former long-time personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in his lengthy public testimony to Congress last week, "directly implicated the president in in various crimes, both while seeking the office of president and while in the White House." We dont have the facts yet," Nadler said. "But were going to initiate proper investigations. Cohen, who called Trump a racist, a con man, a cheat," showed a House panel two $35,000 checks one signed by the president and one signed by the younger Trump and Weisselberg to Cohen to partly reimburse him for $130,000 he paid shortly before the 2016 election to adult film star Stormy Daniels as hush money, to keep her quiet about an alleged affair she claims to have had with then real estate mogul Trump more than a decade ago. Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN that after hearing Cohen's testimony, "We've got to dig deeper" about the extent to which Trump pursued construction of a skyscraper in Moscow during the 2016 campaign even as he told voters he was not involved in any Russian business deals. Cohen has been sentenced to prison for three years after pleading guilty to financial crimes and to lying to Congress that Trump's Russian business overtures ended in January 2016 at the outset of the presidential campaign. Now, Cohen says Trump's Russian business involvement extended for months after that. Warner said he will reach his decision on whether Trump colluded with Russia to help him win the election after more investigation. But he said, "The claim that there is no evidence is factually wrong." Nadler's committee would be first to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump, but he said that no decisions have been reached on that. His Judiciary committee and other panels in Congress are awaiting release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on his 22-month investigation of Trump campaign links to Russia and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart the investigation. Mueller's report could be turned over to Attorney General William Barr in the coming days, but how much of it will be made public is uncertain. Democratic lawmakers have called for its full release, but Barr has said he would only do so to the extent that Justice Department regulations allow him to. Nadler said, The Republicans spent two years shielding the president from any proper accountability." He said Republican lawmakers "threatened to impeach people in Justice Department, they threatened the the Mueller investigation. Its our job to protect the rule of law. Thats our core function." Trump, since returning from his collapsed summit in Hanoi last week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has resumed his attacks on Mueller's investigation and the growing number of inquiries in Congress. "After more than two years of Presidential Harassment, the only things that have been proven is that Democrats and other [sic] broke the law," Trump said on Twitter Sunday. "The hostile Cohen testimony, given by a liar to reduce his prison time, proved no Collusion!" Trump said. "His just written book manuscript showed what he said was a total lie. but the Fake Media won't show it. I am an innocent man being persecuted by some very bad, conflicted & corrupt people in a Witch Hunt that is illegal & should never have been allowed to start - And only because I won the Election! Despite this, great success!" U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would soon sign an executive order requiring American universities and colleges to maintain "free speech" on campuses and threatened that schools not complying could lose federal research funds. Trump made his remarks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference after bringing to the stage Hayden Williams, a conservative activist who was punched at the University of California-Berkeley last month while recruiting students for a conservative group. "Today, I am proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research funds," Trump said. 'Very costly' If universities do not comply, "it will be very costly," he said. The U.S. government awards universities more than $30 billion annually in research funds. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on details of the order. Freedom of speech is enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is not the first time that Trump, who has repeatedly lashed out at the media with cries of "fake news" and has called current defamation laws "a sham and a disgrace," has threatened retaliatory action related to free speech. Last September, he suggested in a tweet that the license of television networks could be at risk, though he offered no specifics in his tweet, which singled out NBC. Broadcast networks do not receive general licenses, but they do hold licenses from the Federal Communications Commission for individual local stations they own. In 2017, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the agency does not have the authority to revoke broadcast licenses over editorial decisions. "I believe in the First Amendment," said Pai, whom Trump appointed as the FCC chair. Trump on Saturday suggested that Williams sue the man who punched him and also "sue the college, the university. And maybe sue the state." He suggested that Williams was going to be "a very wealthy young man." If universities "want our dollars and we give to them by the billions they have to allow people like Hayden and many other great young people and old people to speak free speech," Trump said. Anti-conservative bias seen Trump administration officials have suggested that the rights of speakers on college campuses have been trampled by student protesters who find their views offensive and suggested conservatives have been unfairly targeted. The U.S. Justice Department filed a statement of interest in 2018 in a free-speech lawsuit filed against UC-Berkeley, accusing the school of discriminating against speakers with conservative views. In a settlement announced in December, the university will modify its procedures for handling "major events," which typically draw hundreds of people, and agreed not to charge "security" fees for a variety of activities, including lectures and speeches. It will also pay $70,000 to cover legal costs of the Berkeley College Republicans and the Tennessee-based Young America's Foundation, a conservative youth organization. With Britain deadlocked on negotiating its divorce from the European Union, an unexpected side-front is emerging, the U.S. Congress. Conservatives who pushed the June 2016 referendum that ended in the shock decision to leave the 28-member bloc dangled the prospect of a free trade agreement with the United States as proof that Britain would not be isolated. But while nationalist-minded President Donald Trump has welcomed Brexit, the main hitch to Britains exit has raised alarm among key U.S. lawmakers the prospect of the return of a physical border that divides Ireland. The elimination of the border between the Republic of Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland was a key component of the Good Friday agreement of 1998, brokered with the United States and made possible through the fruition of the integrated EU, which largely ended three decades of conflict that killed around 3,500 people. Unified Ireland Representative Peter King, long one of the highest-profile supporters in Congress of a unified Ireland, warned at a recent event in Washington that the direction of Brexit would be critical to any future U.S. trade deal. Its important for we, as Irish Americans, to make clear when we deal with the British that this is very, very important to us, he said. And if the British want to consider any type of trade agreement with the United States, its important that a soft border be maintained. While King is a Republican, his stance has appeared to gain steam since the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in November because of the partys historic Irish base and its generally more skeptical take on free trade. Representative Richard Neal, a co-chairman of the Friends of Ireland Caucus who has voiced unease about Brexits effects, has taken charge of the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, which will review any trade deal. Eleven lawmakers led by a Democrat recently introduced a resolution that would state the House of Representatives opposition to a hard border in Ireland. Worries politely rebuffed Daniel Dalton, a British Conservative member of the European parliament who visited Washington for talks with U.S. lawmakers, voiced concern that the Irish question could hold up a U.S.-Britain trade agreement. He rebuffed, ever politely, U.S lawmakers worries on Ireland, saying that nobody was out to end the Good Friday agreement. I think the worry is a little bit that there might be an assumption from people here and that they jump into a discussion on what is a hugely complex issue when there is no will from London or from Dublin to have a hard border, Dalton told AFP. That is a point that we have to make time and time again, he said. The issue is how do we ensure that the Good Friday agreement isnt accidentally breached, which is a very different position to start off from, he added. Brexit day March 29 Britain is set to leave the European Union on March 29, with Prime Minister Theresa May scrambling to seek changes after the House of Commons overwhelmingly rejected her divorce deal negotiated with the EU. May has given MPs the option to delay Brexit and the opposition Labour Party has supported a fresh referendum. Dalton said that the possibility of a U.S.-Britain trade agreement played a very big psychological role for Brexit voters, seeing as Washington has not been able to seal a deal with the EU as a whole. A major issue, Dalton said, will be seeing whether post-Brexit Britain gravitates toward U.S. or EU standards on agriculture and manufacturing, crucial in sealing a trade pact. For Dalton himself, the results of Brexit will not be abstract: He will be out of a job. And the European lawmaker may not find comfort in going back to Britain as his wife is German. We, like many people, arent sure where actually we can live together and how all these things are going to play out, he said. And there are many couples across that particularly divide. U.S. diplomats have visited with a dual U.S.-Saudi national believed to have been tortured during his detention in Riyadh, National Security Advisor John Bolton said Sunday. Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained doctor who opened a hospital in Saudi Arabia in 2006, was detained in November 2017 along with other prominent Saudis as part of what the government said was a corruption crackdown. After being held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh for a week, Fitaihi later told a friend he was dragged into a room where he was slapped, blindfolded, stripped to his underwear and bound to a chair, where he was shocked with electricity for an hour. Little has been known about his fate since then, but Bolton told CNN, "As of this moment, my understanding is we've had what's called consular access, meaning American diplomats in Saudi Arabia have visited with him." But he said, "Beyond that, we don't really have any additional information at this point." Fitaihi's lawyer, Howard Cooper, told the U.S. State Department in January that Fitaihi has been held in a Saudi prison where "he has been permitted little contact with the outside world." Cooper said in his letter, "It is believed that Dr. Fitaihi has been and is tortured at least psychologically during his imprisonment." The attorney said his family has been able to visit him occasionally, as well as talk to him on the phone. But Cooper said "he has physically deteriorated" and that he appears to be "emotionally broken." Fitaihi was one of about 60 people held for prosecution during the crackdown that included the arrests of 200 prominent Saudis, detentions seen by outsiders as solidifying the rule of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. The New York Times said the reason for Fitaihi's detention is unclear. It said the friend who relayed information about Fitaihi's mistreatment said he mostly was questioned about a relative by marriage who also had been detained. Fitaihi's detention is occurring at a time when President Donald Trump has struggled to answer criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers that he has done little to hold Prince Mohammed accountable for the killing inside Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who wrote opinion articles in The Washington Post that were critical of Mohammed. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a White House Middle East adviser, met with Saudi officials last week, the first such meeting since Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents in October. The U.S. and South Korea announced late Saturday the two countries will end annual large-scale joint military exercises as part of diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In a statement, the Pentagon said acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korea Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo in a phone call Saturday decided to end the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises. Shanahan tweeted Saturday: The Pentagon statement added, Both the Minister and Secretary agreed that close coordination between the military activities of the United States and Republic of Korea will continue to support diplomatic efforts. The decision comes three days after a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam that ended without an agreement to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Seouls Defense Ministry released a similar statement, according to the Associated Press. North Korea has denounced the U.S., South Korea joint exercises as aggressive provocations and rehearsals for war. Good-faith gesture Ending the exercises could be seen as a good-faith gesture to keep nuclear talks with North Korea alive following the failed Hanoi summit, and to address Trumps concerns about the high cost of these massive demonstrations of force. The annual joint drills, which are usually conducted in the spring, were first postponed in 2018 to facilitate North Koreas peaceful participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics that were held in South Korea. Trump suspended the exercises indefinitely after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last June in Singapore, where the two leaders agreed to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump critical of cost The president had long been critical of the cost of these joint exercises that bring in thousands of troops, fighter jets, warships and other military assets from U.S. bases around the world. He was asked about the future of the military drills at the recent Hanoi summit, where he and Kim failed to agree on specific measures to reduce the Norths nuclear capabilities, nor to ease crippling economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang. You know, the military exercises, I gave that up quite a while ago because it costs us $100 million every time we do it. We fly these massive bombers in from Guam, and when I first started a certain general said, Oh, yes, sir, we fly them in from Guam. Its right next door. Right next door is seven hours and then they come and drop bombs and go back, Trump said. U.S. military leadership is planning to replace the large-scale drills with a series of smaller exercises and training, and implementing technology based virtual exercises instead of deploying thousands of actual troops for the war games. Brian Padden, Connie Kim of VOAs Korean service and White House bureau chief Steve Herman contributed to this report. President Donald Trump says the reason he canceled large-scale springtime military drills with South Korea is to save "hundreds of millions of dollars" that the U.S. is never reimbursed. "That was my position long before I became president," Trump tweeted Sunday while adding "reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing." Pentagon officials say instead of the massive war games, the U.S. and South Korea will hold a series of small-scale exercises. Washington and Seoul have traditionally held the exercises every spring to test military readiness in case tensions with North Korea should boil over. The war games have always angered the North, which usually responded with its own military exercises. North Korea has denounced the U.S., South Korea joint exercises as aggressive provocations and rehearsals for war. Meanwhile, National Security Advisor John Bolton was all over the Sunday morning talk shows to say last week's summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was not a failure, even though talks fell apart with no agreements. "He's not desperate for a deal not with North Korea, not with anybody if it's contrary to American national interests," Bolton told Fox News Sunday, while also telling CBS's Face the Nation. "The president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected." Bolton said Kim was willing to make "a very limited concession" to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear weapons complex in exchange for "substantial" sanctions relief. Bolton described Yongbyon as "an aging nuclear reactor and some percentage of their uranium enrichment plutonium reprocessing capabilities." He said Kim was unwilling to make a "big deal" with Trump. "It was the sanctions that brought the North Koreans to the table. It's the sanctions they want relief from and relief they can get if they denuclearize," Bolton said. Bolton conceded that North Korea is continuing to produce nuclear fuel and said while "there is no expiration date" on further talks, future negotiations with North Korea are in limbo. Bolton also appeared on CNN's State of the Union, where he defended Trump who said he took Kim "at his word" when the North Korean leader claimed knew nothing about the alleged torture of imprisoned U.S. student Otto Warmbier. The Ohio student fell into a coma in a North Korean prison and died shortly after he was sent home two years ago. Bolton said while Trump accepts what Kim said, it does not mean he accepts it as reality. "The president's been very clear he viewed what happened to Otto Warmbier as barbaric and unacceptable and I think the best thing North Korea could do right now would be to come up with a full explanation of exactly what happened to him," Bolton said on CNN. The Democratic head of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff called the entire summit a "spectacular failure" and said Trump made things worse with his comments about Otto Warmbier. "This the result of a president who is not prepared for these kind of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and that is essentially flying by the seat of its pants," Schiff said on Face the Nation. Ken Bredemeier contributed to this report. A new survey shows a widespread lack of confidence in U.S. leadership from residents around the world, with only 31 percent approving of the job performance of American leadership, which drops it below global perceptions for both Germany and China. The new poll by Gallup, released Thursday, shows that during President Donalds Trump second year in office, views of American leadership remained roughly the same after dropping 18 points during Trumps first year. The report said the U.S. numbers for 2018 suggest that the doubts sowed in Trumps first year about U.S. commitments abroad have taken root and the unpredictability of the U.S. president in now somewhat expected. Both China and Russia gained considerable ground in the survey, which is based on responses from people in 133 countries. Chinas median approval rating rose to 34 percent and Russias rating reached 30 percent, nearly equaling the U.S. number. Those gains in Russia and Chinas approval numbers were thanks in part to large increases, by 10 percent or more, in more than a dozen countries. Many of those gains were in nations where the United States lost ground, including Mexico and Turkey. According to the survey, Germanys leadership received the highest median approval number, at 39 percent. However, this was Germanys first score below 40 percent in a decade. The research, which Gallup has been carrying out since 2007, showed that respondents disapproved of U.S. leadership more than any other world power asked about in the poll. The U.S. disapproval rate was 40 percent, considerably higher than the disapproval numbers for Germany (22 percent), China (28 percent) or Russia (31 percent). Gallops Global Managing Partner, Jon Clifton, said in the report that Trumps America First foreign policy wasnt designed to win friends around the globe and noted that Trump has taken many unpopular global measures since he took office, including pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal, as well as engaging in trade wars with Europe and China. Clifton says that while Trumps actions were not intended to make America popular, their effect could cost the United States in terms of foreign policy leverage. He cited research from Dartmouth College and the University of Sydney that found public opinion around the world about U.S. foreign policy does affect countries policies toward the United States. In November, a survey released by the Pew Research Center found similar global views about the United States. Data from 25 countries showed that respondents had little confidence that President Trump would do the right thing in global affairs and rated him lower than German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Europe Europe is the region in which the image of U.S. leadership fared worst, according to the Gallup survey. The approval rating of American leadership on the continent was 24 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. The disapproval rating was 59 percent, up three points from 2017. The European country that had the most positive rating of U.S. leadership was Kosovo, at 80 percent, which also led the world in approval of U.S. leadership. Only one other European country had a majority of its population report a favorable view of American leadership in 2018: Albania, at 69 percent. The European country with the least favorable view of U.S. leadership was Russia, at 11 percent. However, Russias view has increased 9 percentage points since Trump took office, and Russia no longer gives the lowest approval rating of American leadership in the world, which was the case during the Obama administration. Other European nations that gave the United States an ultra-low approval rating were Norway (12 percent) and Sweden (13 percent). While Europeans approval of American leadership was low overall, their view of Russian leadership was even lower, at 21 percent. They equally frowned on the leadership of Russia and the United States, with nearly 6 in 10 Europeans disapproving of the leadership of the two countries. Europeans had the highest view of Germanys leadership, with 56 percent approving. That number was similar to the previous year, at 54 percent. Americas The perception of U.S. leadership increased last year among its closest neighbors, rising in the Americas from 24 percent to 31 percent. Increases were made in every country in the region except three: Canada, Chile and El Salvador. The countries that had the biggest positive increases were the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Haiti. During a year in which the United States renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, those two countries had two of the highest disapproval numbers for U.S. leadership. Seventy-nine percent of Canadians and 74 percent of Mexicans disapproved of U.S. leadership in 2018. Overall, the region was more likely to approve of Germanys leadership, giving it a 35 percent approval rating. Approval of Chinas leadership, at 30 percent, was similar to the United States, while Russia came in last at 28 percent. While the approval numbers for all four countries, the United States, Germany, China and Russia, were roughly in the same range in the Americas, the disapproval rating for the United States was much higher (53 percent) than for the other countries, which ranged from 24 to 33 percent. Respondents in the Americas were also much more likely to say they didnt know enough about the leadership of Germany, China and Russia to either approve or disapprove, with more than a third having no opinion or declining to answer the question. Only 17 percent of respondents had no opinion or did not answer the question regarding U.S. leadership. Asia The approval of U.S. leadership in Asia increased by 2 percentage points since last year, but still remained in record-low territory at 32 percent. The region, defined by Gallup as including East Asia and parts of the Middle East, approved of both the leadership of Germany (36 percent) and China (34 percent) more than the United States. Russia was seen as equal to the United States at 32 percent. Majorities in just five countries in the region approved of U.S. leadership: Israel (67 percent), the Philippines (61 percent), Mongolia (60 percent), Nepal (55 percent), and Myanmar (52 percent). The countries or regions with the lowest approval of U.S. leadership were Iran (85 percent), the Palestinian territories (81 percent) and Yemen (75 percent). Gallup said the two factors that probably hurt the U.S. image most in the region were the escalating trade war between the United States and China, and the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Despite the low approval of U.S. leadership in the region, the U.S. rating declined substantially in only three countries: Iran, where the United States renewed sanctions; Turkey, which was engaged in a trade dispute with the United States; and Cambodia, where the United States has threatened sanctions over the political climate. Positive views of U.S. leadership increased substantially in several countries in the region, including India, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. Africa The image of the United States is strongest worldwide in Africa, according to the Gallup survey. More than half of African respondents (52 percent) were positive toward American leadership. The number is higher in most sub-Saharan African nations and lower in North Africa. There were only five countries in all of Africa where residents were more likely to disapprove than approve of U.S. leadership: Namibia, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. The countries with the most favorable view of the leadership of the United States were Togo, Guinea, Niger and Ghana, all of which had at least two-in-three respondents expressing support. Favorable ratings for the United States rose by double digits in four countries: Rwanda, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo and Niger. Africans also had a favorable view of China, which has invested heavily in the continent. Approval of the leadership of China was 53 percent, one point higher than the approval of U.S. leadership. Both China and the United States had low disapproval ratings, with 16 percent for China and 19 percent for the United States. Approval ratings for the leadership of Russia (37 percent) and Germany (46 percent) trailed those for the Untied States and China. The parents of U.S. student Otto Warmbier, who died after abuse in North Korean detention, have strongly rebuked comments by President Donald Trump. After meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Trump said he took Kim at his word that he did not know what happened to Warmbier. White House officials are worried that unless more American students study math and science the United States won't be able to compete with China, India and other nations. The U.S. has just published a five-year plan to boost the number of kids who go into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Theres a very interesting thing that is starting to happen: this significant transfer of wealth from the baby-boom generation to their progeny, Griffin said in a Friday phone interview. Gen-Xers are going to find themselves in positions where they are going to have financial options and wherewithal that previously they have not had as their parents and grandparents execute their wills. We think there is a very thorough opportunity to present unbiased financial advice to a whole new set of American cohorts. On Jan. 18, Bowser announced that the city would buy and make available 50,000 new naloxone kits. Many of those kits would be distributed directly to District residents or to service providers, the mayor said, and police officers would also be equipped with the medication. Police officials had previously resisted carrying naloxone, as law enforcement officers already do in thousands of other jurisdictions. The reversal changed the course of a landmark lawsuit filed by transgender teen Gavin Grimm, who was a sophomore when he sued his Virginia high school for prohibiting him from using the boys restroom. The case was scheduled to go in front of the Supreme Court, but the justices, citing the withdrawal of federal support for Grimm, now 19, returned the matter to a lower court. I left my whole family behind in my country, said Janeiro, who learned about the school from the Embassy of Spain. Key School is my family. My children have their friends. I have my friends. And its a family because we can communicate in the same language. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Medical records show the 29-year-old woman in Fairfax County became pregnant between May 26, 2017, and May 30, 2017, according to a search warrant filed in Fairfax County court. During that period, the woman was enrolled in a daily work program on the MVLE campus, and a support staff member was overseeing her. The search warrant does not say whether that was Betts-King. In addition to being cold and stormy, America is soggy. Tennessee, for example, is the land of flooded basements. And the big storm is sending more water down the dangerously swollen Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in recent days has diverted water from the river to ease the flooding hazards in New Orleans and other cities. University wants to speak with ex-president: An attorney for former University of Oklahoma president David Boren said a law firm representing the school has asked to speak with Boren amid an unspecified investigation. Bob Burke in a statement Saturday said Boren welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight if university lawyers reveal the details and source of any complaint. The statement said Boren never acted inappropriately with any employee or student at the university. The university has said only that it received "allegations of serious misconduct that it was legally obligated to investigate." It hasn't said whether Boren is a target of the investigation. Burke said no interview date is set. Boren, 77, was Oklahoma's governor and U.S. senator before being named O.U.'s president in 1994. He stepped down last year amid health concerns. Seven of those detained were tortured between interrogation sessions in Surgut on the first floor of the Russian Investigative Committees offices, a spokesman for the Jehovahs Witnesses said. The spokesman said Russian security officers placed a bag over a suspects head, wrapped it with tape for suffocation, tied a suspects hands behind his back, smashed his fingers and beat him on his neck, feet and in the kidney area. They poured water over the detained men and applied electric shocks. The spokesman said the men were repeatedly questioned about the location of meetings, names of elders and for passwords to their phones. Three are still in detention. The investigative committee in Surgut denied the allegations but then said it would investigate. Amnesty International said its interviews strongly indicate that torture and other ill-treatment did take place. I dont agree at all that it was a failed summit, Bolton said on Fox News Sunday. I think the obligation of the president of the United States is to defend and advance American national security interests. And I think he did that by rejecting a bad deal and by trying again to persuade Kim Jong Un to take the big deal that really could make a difference for North Korea. Nonetheless, the resolution represents a blow to Trumps Feb. 15 move to declare an emergency after Congress balked at giving him the money he demanded for his border wall. Trumps declaration allows him to access $3.6 billion in funds allocated for military construction projects. That money would be tapped after the administration exhausts funding from other sources, including $1.375 billion provided by Congress; $2.5 billion from a Pentagon account for countering drug activities that the administration can access without an emergency declaration; and $601 million from a forfeiture fund in the Treasury Department. This investigation goes far beyond collusion weve seen all the democratic norms that we depend on for democratic government attacked by the administration, Nadler said of his own probe, pointing to Trumps attacks on the media, intelligence agencies and federal law enforcement. All of these are very corrosive to liberty and to the proper functioning of government and to our constitutional system. All this has to be looked at and the facts laid out to the American people. His reshuffling of the government may create more enemies than friends, some analysts say. Military leaders were given top positions at the expense of longtime members of his political party who might have been hoping to take power whenever Bashir relinquished it. And while Bashirs embrace of the military has been seen as a way to coup-proof himself, it only gives more power to those capable of carrying out a coup. A villager sits Sunday near a building damaged in Kalal village, near the Line of Control in Jammu, India. (Jaipal Singh/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) When tensions spiked last week between India and Pakistan, mortar shells started falling in Aijaz Ahmads village. For hours, he lay awake listening as the two countries shelled each other across the line that divides the disputed region of Kashmir. Some of the rounds damaged nearby houses, while another fell in a market. Anyone can pay with his life, said Ahmad, 35. For villagers living near Kashmirs dividing line, the fact that Pakistan and India have taken steps back from the brink is a temporary relief. In this region that is at the heart of the conflict between India and Pakistan, residents have endured three decades of insurgency and cross-border firing with no end in sight. Last week, India and Pakistan engaged in tit-for-tat airstrikes and an aerial dogfight for the first time since 1971. They also fired mortar rounds at each other across the frontier that divides the Himalayan region. Such firing is not uncommon, but it intensified after India targeted what it said was a militant training camp inside Pakistan with an airstrike on Tuesday. Since then, at least eight people have been killed and more than a dozen injured on both sides of the line. Tensions between the two countries began to subside when Pakistan announced Thursday that it would release the Indian fighter jet pilot it had captured in the clash a day earlier. The pilot returned home Friday night. A train service between the two countries, suspended during the hostilities, was set to resume Monday. But even as the fear of outright war recedes, no one expects calm at the place where India and Pakistan face off on a daily basis: the 460-mile long unofficial border in Kashmir, known as the Line of Control. When you cant go to war, you have to vent your anger somewhere, said Happymon Jacob, the author of a recent book on clashes between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. Both countries use the Line of Control as a venting mechanism. Pakistani Kashmiris carry the coffin of a civilian who was killed in a gunfight between Indian and Pakistan troops on the Line of Control on Saturday. (Sajjad Qayyum/AFP/Getty Images) The result is a deadly, low-grade conflict that persists even when there are not heightened tensions between the two nations so much so that some experts have dubbed it a war by other means. In 2018, 50 people were killed on Indias side of the line by cross-border firing, while 36 civilians were killed on the Pakistani side. Soldiers and civilians are killed in such incidents. In theory, there is a cease-fire agreement in place between the two countries in Kashmir. The accord was reached in 2003 and, for the next several years, the Line of Control was relatively quiet. But after terrorists killed more than 160 people in Mumbai in 2008 an attack carried out by a Pakistan-based militant group the number of cease-fire violations began to increase. An Indian paramilitary police officer lays a wreath on the coffins of her slain colleagues Saturday on the outskirts of Srinagar. Four security personnel were killed in a gunfight with militants in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday. (Farooq Khan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) A single cease-fire violation can involve multiple exchanges of fire in one area over a 24-hour period using everything from firearms to military artillery, said Jacob. Commanders on both sides have the autonomy to determine when to engage, he added. Sometimes they fire in retaliation, or to prevent the building of fences, or simply because a military unit is leaving (the latter is called parting fire). Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the number of cease-fire violations has jumped yet again. Under Modi, its no holds barred, said Jacob, and Indian commanders have complete freedom to decide when and how to fire. Last year was the worst year for such cross-border firing in 15 years, according to data from the Indo-Pak Conflict Monitor, an independent research initiative, with each side reporting 2,000 or more incidents. When and where shelling breaks out is unpredictable, but villagers say the threat is always present. Some can retreat to underground concrete bunkers, but others have no such shelters. In the village of Saidpora, a cluster of houses perched on a hillock in Indian-controlled Kashmir, locals pointed to a nearby snowy peak as the nearest point on the Line of Control. Syed Azizdin, 90, said the area had a terrible time a few years ago when mortar rounds landed in the village. This time, also, we could come in the line of fire. In the Indian village of Kamalkote, close to the line, the shelling intensified after Tuesday and one person was injured. Mohammad Safir, 55, decided the only option was to flee. He left home with his wife and teenage nephew carrying only a few clothes. Now the family is staying in a high school that was converted into a shelter in the town of Uri, about 10 miles away. We were terrified, said Safir. He hopes to get home to his crops and cattle soon but does not know when it will be safe to return. Naseem reported from Uri, India. Read more Meet the pilot who may have averted an India-Pakistan war Pakistan says it will release captured Indian pilot as peace gesture Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Were not naive to think that, in the first week or the first month or the first year we open our embassy, there will be an alternative to Iran. But we think it is necessary that Damascus has some Arab bridges that it can build on, he said. We dont think the UAE will make a difference, but we think this will be part and parcel of a more collective Arab decision on Syria, and we are sure this will happen. Cohen who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, bank and tax fraud, and lying to Congress and was sentenced to three years in prison is not a completely reliable narrator, and he and his allies have been known to exaggerate. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) wrote Thursday to Attorney General William P. Barr asking him to investigate whether Cohen had perjured himself when he insisted to the House Oversight Committee he had not wanted a job in the Trump administration and was content to serve as Trumps personal attorney. He said he would not send Colombian troops into Venezuela, and he said he believed the United States would not, either. U.S. officials have downplayed the idea of any U.S. military involvement, but Trump and Vice President Pence have said all options are on the table as they have called for Maduro to go. It is all a part of what has been called "date shaming": publicly posting the details of a bad dating experience on social media. Loading Closer to home, 34-year-old Alita Brydon's Facebook page, Bad Dates of Melbourne, has 63,000 followers who have signed up for her thrice daily posts of anonymous romantic woe, although she doesn't like the term "shaming". "I dont think that shaming is going to change someones behaviour, so whats the point?" she says, noting she removes all identifying details from submissions and does not post screenshots from private conversations. The stories on Bad Dates of Melbourne are sometimes hard to believe, although Ms Brydon says they are all true. One man took the half-empty drink he had purchased for a woman out of her hands so he could give it to the next woman he wanted to chat up. Another woman was bluntly told, "You're just cute. But not hot." While she once posted screenshots unedited, Ms Tweten now tries to make sure the parties are anonymised, although this is mainly to comply with Instagram's community guidelines, which prohibit "content that targets private individuals to degrade or shame them". She has been asked to take posts on @ByeFelipe down "just a handful of times". She does, with a caveat. "I'm like, 'If you apologise and promise not to do it ever again, I'll take it down.'" Most do. But, what drives this behaviour outbursts in the face of rejection, the blatant objectification of women in the dating world? Tweten believes the anonymity dating apps provide can "definitely" result in the behaviour she catalogues, although she is conscious of labelling the problem as existing exclusively online. "I hear from women who say things like this have happened to them in a bar, where a guy will come up and hit on them and they'll say 'no thanks' and then [the guy] will insult them," she says. Loading Then there is the difference between how men and women use dating apps. In 2016, researchers at Queen Mary University of London found men are much more likely to swipe right on a prospective match on a dating app than women were. "[Men] send so many messages to women online and don't get any responses so then they get frustrated," says Tweten. "Also there's a sense of entitlement, they think they deserve our time and attention and get angry when they don't get it." The popularity of their pages has surprised both Ms Tweten and Ms Brydon, who recently started an additional Facebook page, Bad Dates of Australia, to cater for stories coming from across the country. "I don't know what the motivation is," says Ms Tweten of the women who trust her with their screenshots, noting she receives many messages of thanks. "They get the validation of people saying 'this guy's a dick' or 'this guy is stupid', it helps them to feel better about what happened to them." Paradoxically, Ms Brydon says several people have contacted her to credit their successful relationships to the page. "Its provided them with the confidence to try online dating despite the inevitability of a terrible date," she says. "Theyll either have a great date or an incredible bad date story its win/win." Abusive messages and the law: things to consider before you post If you are receiving threatening messages from a former or current romantic partner, you should keep a record of what is said, says Anna Kerr, principal solicitor of Sydney's Feminist Legal Clinic. "Domestic violence cases now frequently include claims of social media stalking and harassment as well as calls and texting," she says. "I do advise women to take screenshots and print out hard copies of this material to be used in evidence." As for other courses of action, online abuse in Australia can be reported to the office of the e-Safety Commissioner. Dating apps also feature reporting mechanisms for users who appear to be behaving in an unfriendly way. If you do want to share screenshots publicly, be wary of the risk of opening yourself up to a defamation action if what you post is not sufficiently anonymised. "Truth is a defence to defamation," Ms Kerr says. "However, the cost of defending a defamation claim is a major deterrent from speaking out for a woman who is alleging misconduct... The onus will fall on her to prove the truth of her claims and that can be very tough." Making homes more affordable for first-home buyers is extremely difficult and many of the initiatives taken in the past have been self-defeating, as they have pushed up the price of housing by creating more buyers. According to Labor's website: This policy will see a boost in new housing and will provide young families with the chance to find a home, and will take pressure off inner-city housing markets that are predominantly made up of existing dwellings. Buyer behaviour Whether or not this is true will depend on buyer behaviour. It may well be that millennials prefer to rent in the inner city, rather than take on a large mortgage for a new home that is a long way from the action. Its wrong to compare Labors proposed changes to negative gearing with what Paul Keating introduced in July, 1985 and later repealed in September, 1987. Loading Keating increased the depreciation allowance to 4 per cent for new construction and stipulated that losses on investment properties could not be written off against current taxable income, but would be quarantined to be offset against future income from the property when it became positively geared. Under the current Labor proposals, as I understand them, any losses cannot be offset against future taxable income, but will be added to the base cost to reduce capital gains tax on the property when it is eventually sold. Labors proposals also apply only to new properties Keatings applied to all properties. Labour is using a 2016 report from the Grattan Institute to support its case. It concluded: Ultimately, people who invest in property take into account a host of factors, including rental returns, risk perception, familiarity with the asset class, and ability to obtain bank finance. Modest changes in tax treatment will not affect their decisions much. In contrast, a report commissioned by Master Builders Australia, prepared by Cadence Economics, has forecast a decline in new home building of between 10,000 and 40,000 dwellings and a loss of 7500 to 32,000 full-time construction jobs. Reduced demand Master Builders tell me it is not the abolition of negative gearing per se that will cause a slump, but the combination of the new negative gearing and capital gains tax rules. Keep in mind that restricting negative gearing to new properties makes established properties less attractive to some investors because the moment a new house is occupied it becomes an established house. Just this week, the Property Council released the results of a survey of 1000 current and potential investors that showed Labors initiatives would reduce demand for new housing. Which forecast turns out to be correct will depend on buyer behaviour. In 1985, when the Keating changes were all the news, I did several roadshows with a leading chartered accountant we had conflicting views. My modelling demonstrated that the Keating proposals were not really too tough and should not put anybody off acquiring an investment property. The accountants view was that perception, rather than facts, would resonate with the public and they would desert investment property in droves. His view proved to be correct. The distinction between new and established properties could have some serious consequences. Think about an investor couple who decide to buy a $500,000 new investment property. They sign the contract and apply for finance. Fundamental truths The banks valuer will do the valuation based on a forced sale of what would then become an established property. Valuers tell me this could reduce the valuation to $450,000 and the application for finance may be rejected. If the buyer cannot get finance, the contract will be cancelled, and there may be one less property available to be rented. If the negative gearing rules are to be changed it would make more sense to include all properties, as Keating did. After all, the majority of tax deductions that relate to investment property come from new properties. If the government wants to increase revenue, it seems self-defeating to encourage investors towards new properties, where tax deductions are maximised. Double win for Australia Political parties of all persuasion should understand some fundamental truths about the property market. There are many investors who are terrified of shares and wary of superannuation because of the continual rule changes. They use borrowing for residential property as their means of saving for retirement. This is a double win for Australia it provides an ongoing supply of rental properties, reducing pressure on rents, while enabling hundreds of thousands of people to become self-funded retirees, with no expectation of help from the government. Given these facts about the housing market, what does the future hold? Its anybodys guess but we do know the election will be in May and the result may be a narrow win for Labor. If this happens, expect months of negotiating with the minority parties to get these changes passed. This will create uncertainty, which may well mean that potential homebuyers sit on their hands, waiting to see what laws will be changed and how. Labor has promised that their capital gains tax increases will affect only assets acquired after a specific date in the future. Once that date is announced, expect a flurry of buying in both property and shares, as everybody who can jumps in before the tax rules change. If this happens, it is highly likely to be followed by a significant slump in buying activity after the change date because everybody who could buy would have already bought. But its a paradox. An asset bought before the change will be worth more than one bought after the change, for tax purposes. However, if you buy or own a house new or established before the change it may well be worth less than it would be after the change because there will be less people who want to buy it. The big question now is whether such radical property changes should be contemplated at a time when the market is in a slump, with strong indications that it may get worse. The CoreLogic monthly property report, released last Friday, showed that Australian housing values continued to trend lower in February, with their national index down .07%. Head of research Tim Lawless said the housing market downturn is now more widespread geographically and we arent seeing any indicators pointing to the market bottoming out just yet Furthermore, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the construction sector has moved sharply into reverse. Kings and queens are common as muck at Mardi Gras, but among royalty there is none higher than Kylie. Kylie Minogue reigned supreme at Mardi Gras. Credit:James Brickwood Anticipation of the pop princess infused the streets as revellers kicked off the 41st Sydney Mardi Gras parade, with the First Nations float striding on to Oxford Street just after 7.30pm and following the traditional Dykes on Bikes out of the gates. Kylie Minogue, whose status as the countrys pre-eminent gay icon endures, made an appearance at Taylor Square before making her way to Fox Studios for a "surprise" performance at the official after party in the early hours. UPDATE: Ms Beor has been found safe and well. Police are seeking information regarding the whereabouts of 72-year-old Iva Beor, last seen in Herne Hill at 7am on Saturday. Iva Beor. Iva is described as fair skinned, about 150 centimetres tall and slim, with light grey-brown hair and glasses. She is believed to be driving a white 1986 Mazda 626 with blue personalised registration plates: EVE001. The Morrison government will unveil $22 million in funding for community environmental projects across the country on Monday, stepping up its green pitch to voters ahead of the election. The program, which will provide up to $150,000 to each federal electorate in 2019-20, follows the government's funding announcements on its revamped "direct action" emissions reduction initiative and the Snowy 2.0 hydro project. Scott Morrison at the Snowy 2.0 project last week. Credit:AAP Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the community environment program was seeking to harness local knowledge to protect natural assets. Locals know best and we will support and encourage projects such as revegetating riverbanks and wetlands, removing weeds from parks and reserves or restoring sand dunes on our coasts," Mr Morrison said in a statement. A new, multimillion-dollar security contract has been awarded to patrol a controversial detention facility built in Port Moresby, but neither the Australian nor Papua New Guinea governments want to talk about it. The new Bomana Immigration Centre has cost Australian taxpayers more than $20 million and will be used by PNG authorities to detain non-citizens and those without refugee status until deportation can be arranged. This will apply to dozens of men living on Manus Island who are without refugee status. Delta compound at the Manus Island centre. Credit:AAP The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald has been told the Bomana centre is now close to operational after a major security contract was awarded to a joint venture bid including secretive Australian company called C5, which is owned by an ex federal police agent Ty Clark. Phones are starting to get weird again, finally moving away from the standard iPhone-like silhouette to experiment with (somewhat) new shapes and forms. All the world's biggest smartphone makers that aren't Apple gathered together in Barcelona this week for MWC, the largest mobile-focused tech fair there is, and their various new devices are refreshingly diverse. The biggest spectacle of course was Huawei's Mate X foldable smartphone, which follows Samsung's own similar Galaxy Fold device, hastily unveiled just days ahead of the conference. Both companies have been hesitant to let too many people get their hands on the new flexible devices, which can be used as standard phones or unfurled to act as small tablets, but differences between the two approaches are clear. Samsung keeps the larger display tucked inside the fold of the device, presumably to keep its plastic surface safe from scratches. But this approach means it has had to put a much less impressive small screen on one of the outside covers, and dot cameras on all three surfaces to make sure the device is useable open or closed. By contrast Huawei folds the other way so that when closed you get a phone with screens on both sides, and a vertical hand grip with cameras on it makes the same lenses accessible no matter how you hold it (you just can't take selfies in tablet mode). It's certainly more impressive to look at, but time will tell if the screens hold up to scuffing. Both companies use mechanical hinges to stop the phones flopping around. Virginia worship team, Lifepoint Worship releases their brand new single "You Alone" today on DREAM Worship. This feel good worship track is a beautiful ballad that brings the listener into the spirit. It's a beautifully crafted song with organic instrumentation, powerful melodies, harmonies and is the perfect encouraging song for the upcoming Easter season. Check out "You Alone": In 2005, God gave Pastor Daniel Floyd a vision to build a local church that would transform the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Over the years, we've seen that church grow from one location to many locations, around the state of Virginia with the vision of reaching people far from Christ to be fully alive in Christ. Lifepoint Worship was born out of that vision. Their new album, Mountain/Valley, features 12 brand-new songs that capture the heart of this movement over the last 12 years. With a fresh approach to songwriting and production, Lifepoint Worship's greatest desire is to help connect the hand of the church to the hand of the Father. Tags : lifepoint worship Lifepoint Worship you alone Lifepoint Worship new single lifepoint worship news dream records Williamson, WV (25661) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 33F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 33F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. DETROIT - A second federal agency is dispatching investigators to a fatal crash involving a Tesla electric car that drove beneath a semitrailer that was crossing a Florida roadway. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/3/2019 (1011 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this June 14, 2018, file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Stock market regulators are asking a federal court to hold Musk in contempt for violating an agreement requiring him to have his tweets about key company information reviewed for potentially misleading claims. The request made Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 in New York resurrects a dispute between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Musk that was supposed to have been resolved with a settlement reached five months ago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) DETROIT - A second federal agency is dispatching investigators to a fatal crash involving a Tesla electric car that drove beneath a semitrailer that was crossing a Florida roadway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has authority to seek recalls, issue fines and set regulations, said Saturday that it will send a "field team" to Delray Beach, where 50-year-old Jeremy Beren Banner was killed in the crash Friday. The crash is eerily similar to another one involving a Tesla in 2016 near Gainesville, Florida. A different agency, the National Transportation Safety Board, said Friday that it would send a three-person team to the crash. The NTSB makes recommendations to prevent crashes. Both agencies likely will be looking into whether Tesla's Autopilot semiautonomous driving system was in use on Banner's Tesla Model 3 at the time. Neither agency could say Saturday whether the system was in use. NHTSA said in a statement that it "will take additional actions if appropriate," without specifying what those actions could be. The agency also said it has an investigation underway into a Feb. 24 fatal crash and fire involving a Tesla Model S sedan in nearby Davie, Florida. Terry Williams, a spokesman for the NTSB, said he did not know yet exactly what the agency will be investigating. "We're looking at everything at this point," he said. A report on the Delray Beach crash by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the tractor-trailer was making a left turn onto a divided highway to head north when the southbound 2018 Tesla Model 3 hit the semi's driver side, tearing off the Tesla's roof as it passed under the trailer. The report didn't say whether the Autopilot or automatic emergency braking systems were working at the time. A Tesla spokeswoman would not comment Saturday. The company said in a statement Friday that it's co-operating in the investigation. The circumstances of the crash are much like one that occurred in May 2016 near Gainesville, Florida. Joshua Brown, 40, of Canton, Ohio, was travelling in a Tesla Model S on a divided highway and using the Autopilot system when he was killed. Neither Brown nor the car braked for a tractor-trailer, which had turned left in front of the Tesla and was crossing its path. Brown's Tesla also went beneath the trailer and its roof was sheared off. The NTSB, in a 2017 report, wrote that design limitations of Autopilot system played a major role in the fatality, the first known one in which a vehicle operated on a highway under semi-autonomous control systems. The agency said that Tesla told Model S owners that Autopilot should be used only on limited-access highways, primarily interstates. The report said that despite upgrades to the system, Tesla did not incorporate protections against use of the system on other types of roads. The NTSB found that the Model S cameras and radar weren't capable of detecting a vehicle turning into its path. Rather, the systems are designed to detect vehicles they are following to prevent rear-end collisions. General Motors has a similar system called "Super Cruise," but it works only on limited-access highways with no cross traffic. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Tesla has said that Autopilot and automatic emergency braking are driver-assist systems, and that drivers are told in the owner's manual that they must monitor the road and be ready to take control. In January of 2017, NHTSA ended an investigation into the Brown crash, finding that Tesla's Autopilot system had no safety defects. But the agency warned automakers and drivers not to treat the semi-autonomous driving systems as if they could drive themselves. Semi-autonomous systems vary in capabilities, and Tesla's system can keep a car centred in its lane, brake to stop from hitting things and change lanes when activated by the driver. Williams said he did not know if the NTSB will incorporate the Delray Beach crash into other Tesla investigations from last year. Investigators are probing a fatal March 2018 crash involving a Tesla SUV near Mountain View, California. That vehicle was operating on Autopilot. In addition, the NTSB is investigating the crash of a Model S that may have been using Autopilot when it hit a parked firetruck on Interstate 405 near Los Angeles. The driver told authorities the Autopilot was working. NHTSA also is looking into a May 11 crash involving a Tesla Model S near Salt Lake City. Autopilot was in use when the car hit a stopped fire department truck. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A sleek new American-built capsule with just a test dummy aboard docked smoothly with the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to getting back in the business of launching astronauts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/3/2019 (1010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Terry Renna) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A sleek new American-built capsule with just a test dummy aboard docked smoothly with the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to getting back in the business of launching astronauts. The white, bullet-shaped Dragon capsule, developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX company under contract to NASA, closed in on the orbiting station nearly 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean and, flying autonomously, linked up on its own, without the help of the robotic arm normally used to guide spacecraft into position. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A on an un-crewed test flight to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Dragon's arrival marked the first time in eight years that an American-made spacecraft capable of carrying humans has flown to the space station. If this six-day test flight goes well, a Dragon capsule could take two NASA astronauts to the orbiting outpost this summer. "A new generation of space flight starts now with the arrival of @SpaceX's Crew Dragon to the @Space_Station," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted. "Congratulations to all for this historic achievement getting us closer to flying American Astronauts on American rockets." Ever since NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011, the U.S. has been hitching rides to and from the space station aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In the meantime, NASA is paying two companies SpaceX and Boeing to build and operate America's next generation of rocket ships. SpaceX's 27-foot-long (8-meter-long) capsule rocketed into orbit early Saturday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center with a mannequin strapped into one of its four seats in a dashing, white-and-black, form-fitting SpaceX spacesuit. The test dummy was nicknamed Ripley after the main character in the "Alien" movies. Ripley and the capsule are rigged with sensors to measure noise, vibration and stresses and monitor the life-support, propulsion and other critical systems. As the capsule closed in on the space station, its nose cap was wide open like a dragon's mouth to expose the docking mechanism. In a docking with a crew aboard, the capsule would likewise operate autonomously, though the astronauts might push a button or two and would be able to intervene if necessary. In this photo provided by NASA, the SpaceX Crew Dragon is pictured about 20 meters (66 feet) away from the International Space StationAos Harmony module, Sunday, March 3, 2019. SpaceX's new crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, acing its second milestone in just over a day. (NASA via AP) The three U.S., Canadian and Russian crew members aboard the space station watched the rendezvous via TV cameras. Within hours, the capsule's hatch swung open and the three astronauts floated inside to remove supplies and take air samples, wearing oxygen masks and hoods until they got the all-clear. Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques pronounced the docking flawless and called it "a beautiful thing to see." "Welcome to the new era in spaceflight," he said. Dragon will remain at the space station until Friday, when it will undock for an old-school, "Right Stuff"-style splashdown in the Atlantic, a few hundred miles off Florida. As part of Sunday's shakedown, the space station astronauts sent commands for Dragon to retreat and then move forward again, before the capsule closed in for good. SpaceX employees at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, cheered the docking, then burst into applause again when the Dragon's latches were secured. The two astronauts set to fly aboard Dragon as early as July, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, witnessed the Florida liftoff, then rushed to Southern California to watch Sunday's manoeuvr. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Just super excited to see it," Behnken said minutes after the linkup. "Just one more milestone that gets us ready for our flight coming up here." Next up, though, is Boeing, which is looking to launch its Starliner capsule without a crew as early as April and with a crew possibly in August. SpaceX already has made 16 trips to the space station using cargo Dragons. The version designed for humans is slightly bigger and safer. It can carry as many as seven people and has three windows, emergency-abort engines that can pull the capsule to safety, and streamlined controls, with just 30 buttons and touch screens, compared with the space shuttle cockpit's 2,000 switches and circuit breakers. ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. OTTAWA - Mexico's Congress will be asked to approve a major labour-reform bill this spring as a necessary step to ratifying the new North American free-trade pact later this autumn, say Mexican officials. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/3/2019 (1010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland leads the NAFTA council in discussion on the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement, in Toronto on September 22, 2017. Mexico's Congress will be asked to approve a major labour reform bill this spring as a necessary step to ratifying the new North American free trade pact later this autumn, say Mexican officials. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov OTTAWA - Mexico's Congress will be asked to approve a major labour-reform bill this spring as a necessary step to ratifying the new North American free-trade pact later this autumn, say Mexican officials. But unless the Trump administration lifts the punishing tariffs it has imposed on Mexican steel and aluminum imports duties it also imposed on Canada Mexico is prepared to keep the status quo with the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The push to improve workers' rights in Mexico was a key priority for Canada and the United States during the rocky NAFTA renegotiation because they wanted to level the playing field between their workers and lower-paid Mexican workers, especially in the auto sector. When Mexico and the U.S. reached their surprise bilateral agreement last August, forcing the Trudeau government to quickly forge a deal with the Trump administration, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland lauded Mexico for making labour concessions. But a senior trade official in the new government of socialist reformer Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador suggested in an interview it wasn't a huge sacrifice because elevating the status of country's workers was a key plank in the platform that brought their Morena party to power. Lopez Obrador made it clear in his election campaign that he wanted to strengthen the rights of workers and labour unions, which made a good fit with Canada's bargaining position, Luz Maria de la Mora, Mexico's deputy trade minister, said in an interview. "With the agreement or without the agreement, this is something central to President Lopez Obrador strengthening workers' rights and strengthening trade deals in Mexico," said de la Mora. She said the new government wants a package of labour reform ratified in Mexico's Congress before its April 30 adjournment "so we can reflect the commitments that we've made under the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement in domestic legislation." That means the new agreement will be sent to the Mexican Congress for ratification after it reconvenes in Sept. 1, she said. But that won't happen unless the United States lifts its so-called section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum exports, said de la Mora. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum from Mexico and Canada, using the controversial national-security clause in U.S. trade law "Section 232," as it's called in shorthand that both countries say was illegal. Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau recently told Trump's top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, during a public panel in Washington that the tariffs are "a serious impediment to us moving forward on what is the best trade deal in the world.'' On Nov. 30, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump and former Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto, who was on his last day in office, signed the new trade agreement. It now faces ratification by the legislatures of all three countries. Trudeau spoke to Trump on Thursday and "raised the issue of steel and aluminum tariffs and expressed the need for the removal of tariffs," the Prime Minister's Office said. Canada has been clear from the outset that the tariffs "are illegal and unjustified," said Adam Austen, a spokesman for Freeland. "Now that we have concluded our NAFTA negotiation with the United States, we believe it is all the more reason for the U.S. administration to lift its tariffs," Austen said Sunday, although he did not say specifically whether the issue would lead to a delay in ratification. If the tariffs aren't lifted, de la Mora suggested Mexico is fine with the current version of NAFTA that remains in force. "We hope to have this new agreement in place. But in the absence of the new agreement, we know that NAFTA is good enough," she said. Mexico would prefer the updated agreement "for the relations we have with the U.S. and Canada but we are OK with the current NAFTA." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mexican senators, who were in Ottawa the past week to conference with their Canadian parliamentary counterparts, echoed de la Mora's assessment. "We are going to approve it, but right now our government is trying to deal with this (the tariffs)," Sen. Antares Guadalupe said in an interview. "We're not in a rush. Trade right now, it's working," she added. "We have many things to do but we want to take it slowly because it is very important to have it in a very good way for Mexico." Sen. Hector Vasconcelos, the head of the Mexican Senate's foreign-affairs committee, said the ratification of the new agreement is also subject to the domestic political situations in all three countries. That includes the ongoing turmoil in the Trump administration and Canada's legislative clock, which will see the House of Commons adjourn in June until after the October federal election. Asked what happens if the new agreement is not ratified, Vasconcelos laughed. "Life goes on, I assure you," he said, referring to the current NAFTA. "It's good enough and we will try to get it better. That's what we are going to do. We have to discuss a lot in Mexico." For kicks, members of the Manitoba Lego Users Group, MLUG for short, sometimes put their individual talents to the test by building spaceships or dinosaurs out of Lego blocks while wearing oven mitts, or using their wrong hand. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/3/2019 (1010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For kicks, members of the Manitoba Lego Users Group, MLUG for short, sometimes put their individual talents to the test by building spaceships or dinosaurs out of Lego blocks while wearing oven mitts, or using their wrong hand. Even better: from time to time, MLUG associate Shaun Warkentin, a software designer by day and self-described "Lego geek" by night (OK, occasionally mornings or late afternoons), doesnt even bother taking his multi-coloured segments out of their plastic packaging before getting down to business. Billy Martens and daughter Shirley, 2, share some quality Lego-time. "When you buy a new set, the pieces come in a bag, obviously," Warkentin says, standing in the foyer outside Glenwood Community Centres Murdoch Room, where he and 25 other MLUG members have gathered for their regular, semi-monthly meeting of the minds. "Except instead of opening the bag, some people, myself included, like to challenge themselves by building the set inside it, a bit like building a ship in a bottle. Obviously if its a larger set and there are multiple bags thats not going to work but for smaller models, yeah, its a good practice tool." MLUG, one of roughly 300 comparable organizations world-wide, was formed in 2011 by club "ambassador" Richard Strifling. That year, the 47-year-old father of two attended a toy show in Morden. After encountering a vendors Lego display there, he spent time on the internet trying to unearth other Manitobans who shared his passion for the toy interlocking bricks, invented by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen and first sold commercially in 1949. (Lego is short for leg goht, which means "play well" in Danish.) "I managed to find a few and after trading emails back and forth, we agreed to meet to see what we could put together in the way of a club," says Strifling, guessing he was four years old when his parents bought him his first Lego set, a helicopter and ambulance combo. Club members divvy up 30,000 Lego pieces the block maker donated to the club over the past four years. OK, maybe that first get-together wasnt much to write home about, given only a half-dozen people showed up. Since then, however, the club has grown steadily largely through word of mouth to the point membership now stands near 40, a mix of men and women from all over the province. "Whats great about coming to the meetings is you get an opportunity to see what other people are building, as we usually kick things off with a half-hour or so of show-and-tell," Warkentin says. "More importantly, were able to trade ideas and interact with people who all speak the same language. I mean, Im 37 and still playing with Lego. Its not like theres a lot of people where I work who can say the same thing. So its great to be able to spend a couple of hours every other month in a room with a group of my peers talking shop, so to speak." A Chinese New Year-inspired Lego display. At precisely 1 p.m. on a recent Sunday afternoon, Strifling calls the first MLUG meeting of 2019 to order. The initial item on todays agenda is "important dates to remember." Were told that includes the second Saturday in April, when the four-year-old Lego store in Polo Park will host an appreciation day for the local club, plus the two-day Manitoba Mega Train Show and Sale in September, which will feature MLUG as one of its official exhibitors. After asking whether there are any additional topics that need to be addressed, which leads to a quick, roundtable discussion about the recently-released The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (not bad, but not as good as the first seems to be the consensus), Strifling reminds everybody theyve come on a special day. For the past four years, the Lego corporation has donated whats known as support bricks to the club, for use in displays when they attend shows. Except Legos support has changed somewhat, he adds, and they wont be sending the club any more bricks. Sean Kohli and his Battlestar Galactica-inspired Lego creation. What does that mean? Today club members are going to spend a good chunk of their meeting dividing the support bricks up amongst themselves for their personal use, close to 30,000 of them. (Ha ha ha, it sounded like Strifling said theyre going to divvy up 30,000 Lego bricks. "Thats right," he says. "This could take a while.") At 19 and 22 respectively, brothers Sean and Matthew Kohli are the youngest people in the room by a few years. Both have been playing with Lego since they were toddlers. They discovered the group four years ago while attending Manitoba Comic Con. "We were already part of an online Lego community, but having an actual place to meet with people and talk about projects is really cool," Sean says, instructing Matthew, in line for the giveaway, to "go for green (bricks)" next, because theyre great for building terrain. Sean and Matthew, both students at the University of Manitoba, agree spending a few hours away from the books each week coming up with their own creations for todays show-and-tell portion, they presented a craft similar to one they spotted on the TV series Battlestar Galactica is a great stress reliever. Not that there isnt some angst associated with their mutual hobby. "Because weve been building together since we were kids, ours is a shared collection. So for sure, things are definitely going to get messy when one of us decides to move out," Sean says, mentioning the group as a whole donated $2,000 worth of Lego to the Childrens Hospital this past Christmas, something MLUG members try to do on an annual basis. Counting on her fingers, Kristen Klassen guesses she is one of just three or four women who belong to MLUG. Featured in the Free Press just last month in a business column by Martin Cash, Klassen runs her own business, Brickstorming, which focuses on team-building, strategic thinking and design planning using Lego as a hands-on technique called Lego Serious Play (LSP). "I joined the club in 2013. I was looking to source Lego for workshops I was doing for large teams and somebody mentioned them to me, saying they might be a good avenue for free bricks," she says. Unlike most of her MLUG cohorts, Klassen didnt grow up playing with Lego, instead latching onto the pastime "later in life." "Lego has been a part of my creative catharsis, I guess you could say. I like to build mosaics and art pieces Im not really into pre-built sets like Star Wars and through the group have been able to display some of my stuff at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, which was pretty cool," she says. (In 2015, as part the exhibit Olympus: The Greco-Roman Collections of Berlin, the WAG showed off a number of intricate designs built by Klassen and other members, including replicas of an ancient Greek theatre, a chariot race and the Parthenon.) "When you build by yourself, you tend not to learn new techniques," Klassen goes on. "But here, people introduce a lot of new techniques to the group and soon you find yourself going, Oh, thats interesting, I never would have thought of using a piece that way." Pity Kayax Arki. After staying up until 2 a.m. the previous night, putting the finishing touches on a project he intended to show off this afternoon, he awoke to find his two daughters, age eight and five, dismantling it, top to bottom, in the living room. "I know people who like to keep their designs behind glass or high on a shelf where its out of reach from their kids, but thats not me," Arki says, shrugging his shoulders. "I let my girls play with my models all the time; in our house, there are no rules. I also encourage them to build their own things so definitely, if they want to take Daddys castle or whatever apart and make something else, power to them." Arki, 37, thought his buddies at work were joking a few years ago when they told him he should join an adult club dedicated to Lego, hailed as the "Toy of the Century" in 2000 by Fortune magazine. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I was like, Lego club? What the hecks that? I thought I was the only geek my age who still played with Lego. But after one of them Googled it and discovered there was a club right here in Winnipeg, I said something like OK, sign me up," he says, adding his wife immediately encouraged him to join, when he mentioned it to her at dinner that night. "She enjoys seeing the things I make but she doesnt want to hear about the process. Here at meetings, we dive pretty deep sometimes, so its nice to have that opportunity to chat about Lego without feeling like youre boring somebody to tears." Due to the model mishap involving his daughters, Arki arrived with a show-and-tell item hes shared with the group before, a battery-operated, remote control 4 x 4 "with gears and everything" that took him five months to build. As impressive as it is, hes currently thinking of dismantling it and using the close to $500 worth of parts for a different project, altogether. "The problem is my family forbids me from taking it apart," he says with a laugh. "My wife tells me the kids love it too much, and that I should just build something else. So if that means having to go out and buy more Lego, I guess thats what Ill have to do." david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Premier Brian Pallister is accusing the federal Liberals of spreading false information about Manitobas untapped funding allocations, in order to distract from the ongoing SNC-Lavalin scandal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/3/2019 (1011 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Premier Brian Pallister is accusing the federal Liberals of spreading false information about Manitobas untapped funding allocations, in order to distract from the ongoing SNC-Lavalin scandal. "I dont like to sound defensive, but when my government and my ministers are under attack, based on false assumptions and misrepresentations, I think its necessary to respond," the premier said Saturday, reaching out to the Free Press after a week of federal criticism toward his government. Pallister said Ottawa should focus on getting a major flood-prevention project underway, instead of dedicating its energy to what he deems an "orchestrated attack" on his PC government. "Theyre attempting to do to me and my government exactly what theyre now trying to do to Jody Wilson-Raybould, and I dont think thats appropriate," Pallister said, adding theres "no justification." While the Trudeau government has previously been vocal about delays in the province accessing federal cash, the Liberals escalated their tone this past week, starting with a Toronto MPs exceptional criticism on a call-in radio show. Liberal MP Adam Vaughan singled out Manitoba on the air, saying the Pallister government was "refusing to take federal dollars to house people" due to a "clash of ideologies" over budgets and debt. By Tuesday, federal sources were telling the Free Press about delays in multiple funding programs, amounting to a total of $1.9 billion sitting on the table for Manitoba projects spanning the next decade. Most of that cash has been initially agreed to, but requires individual proposals or inking final deals. More than half that money falls under the so-called Phase 2 infrastructure program; many of these projects require the province to contribute a significant chunk in order to receive federal funds. On Friday, International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr implored members of Manitobas heavy-construction industry to start lobbying Pallister to get that cash flowing, warning about "politicians bickering." Yet the premier said Ottawas not telling the full story. His office pointed to a pending $160-million claim under Phase 2 submitted last June, while Ottawa recently approved a separate $9-million project. "I will simply defend Jim Carr here and say he may not be aware of any of this. And Im assuming that from his comments," the premier said Saturday. Pallister believes his government is behind on accessing cash through three funding streams because it decided to join all of them later than other provinces, as it had sought concessions. Two of those include healthcare and carbon retrofits. Pallister also confirmed the Free Press reporting that the the Lake St. Martin/Lake Manitoba flood channel outlets project was a source of tension that delayed the rollout of the Phase 2 infrastructure funding. In the initial Phase 2 bilateral proposal dated July 6, 2017, Manitobas green infrastructure allocation was just over $450 million, with almost $250 million of that going to the outlets project. By the time the province signed the agreement on June 4, 2018, the channels outlet project had been funded through a separate disaster management allocation. The province retained its $450 million in green funding, after successfully pushing Ottawa to fund the outlets channel separately, instead of the project eating up most of its green infrastructure cash. "We did not go out as a government and try to point fingers at the federal government for trying to avoid their obligations on the outlet, or on the (carbon-retrofit) fund," Pallister said. "Im not going to try to re-till that field." The premier spoke at length Saturday about the channel outlets, repeating his concern that Ottawas one-year review could stretch out much longer, because its 365-day timeline pauses when large issues emerge. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency formed an arms-length advisory panel that includes communities far downstream from the lakes involved. Ottawa said this is part on an independent regulatory process, but the premier warned it could gum up the process. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Pallister said the provinces recent flood warning means "we should be reminding each other of the importance of working together, to protect Manitobans." Manitoba is also among eight jurisdictions that havent signed a bilateral agreement for the national housing strategy, earmarked at $302.7 million. Pallister said Manitobas housing negotiations are ongoing, and he pointed to increased funding in housing programs through the provincial Families department in rejecting Vaughans claim that hed "refused" to expend cash to house people. The premier stressed he has a good working relationship with the Liberals, citing co-operation in everything from agriculture to cultural funding. "Im not into the finger-pointing, and we are gonna turn the other cheek on these comments. Ill simply say, I think Manitobans understand whats going on, and I dont think that theyll appreciate the attempt to distract," he said. "This is counter-productive, where the federal governments been going in the last week, and I think people will understand why theyre taking this tack." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca WHS students perform during annual festival The Winterset High School instrumentalists and vocalists pictured were among more than a thousand of the top music students chosen to perform at the 75th Annual All State Music Festival. Music students from all across... Spring garden seminar to come in February for Master Gardeners The Think Spring! Garden Seminar is just around the corner, an opportunity for Master Gardeners to attain additional educational hours next year. With inspiring speakers, door prizes, a garden marketplace, and a delicious lunch, catered... Award-winning watercolorists to be featured during Winterset Art Center exhibit The Winterset Art Center is pleased to present the Iowa Watercolor Society Traveling Show for 2021-2022, during the months of December and January. The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public Wednesday... Actors prepare for upcoming Winterset Stage production Tickets are now on sale for The Winterset Stages production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 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Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW. iShares MSCI India ETF's stock was trading at $28.76 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, INDA stock has increased by 66.9% and is now trading at $47.99. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, counter-service packaging, foodservice disposables, take-out food packaging, first aid products, point of purchase displays, stationery, bags, and cleaning and hygiene supplies to grocery stores, supermarkets, retail chains, convenience stores, food wholesalers, ethnic grocers, and organic food outlets. It also provides food packaging, napkins, disposable tableware, food service disposables, guest amenities, light and heavy catering equipment, cleaning and hygiene products, and safety items to hotels, restaurants, caterers, the leisure sector, and food processors and packers; and footwear, gloves, safety helmets, workwear, harness equipment, tools, safety signs, traffic management, and ancillary site equipment, as well as ear, eye, respiratory, and face protection products to customers in the industrial and construction markets. In addition, the company offers cleaning systems, floorcare items, hand cleansing products, hygiene paper, janitorial products, cleaning machines, mops, polishes, and protective clothing and washroom chemicals to facilities management companies, contract cleaners, and other industrial and healthcare customers; and counter service packaging, point of purchase display items, stationery, and cleaning and hygiene products to department stores, boutiques, office supply companies, retail chains, and home improvement chains. Further, it provides gloves, aprons, bandages, facemasks, gowns, headwear, mattress covers, overshoes, procedure packs, tapes, wipes, incontinence products, and swabs to the healthcare sector, including hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, and doctors' surgeries and clinics; and various products to government and education establishments. Bunzl plc was founded in 1854 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The parents of young American Otto Warmbier , who died in 2017 after spending 17 months in North Korea, on Friday contradicted US President Donald Trump and directly accused North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his evil regime for killing their son. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for this unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. No excuse or lavish praise can change that. Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement. Their statement comes after Trump himself said on Thursday that, after discussing the matter with Kim during the summit they held this week in Hanoi, he believed that the North Korean leader had not been personally involved in the events. I have spoken to him (about it) and I really think it was not in his best interest that it should happen (...).He tells me that he didnt know about it, and I will take him at his word, Trump said at a press conference after the abrupt conclusion of his summit with Kim in Hanoi. The parents of the deceased student said in their statement that they had chosen to be respectful during the meeting between the two leaders, but that the time had come to speak out. Shortly afterwards, Trump himself said on Twitter Friday that I never like being misinterpreted, but especially when it comes to Otto Warmbier and his great family. Remember, I got Otto out along with three others. The previous Administration did nothing, and he was taken on their watch. Of course I hold North Korea responsible for Ottos mistreatment and death. Trump tweeted. Most important, Otto Warmbier will not have died in vain. Otto and his family have become a tremendous symbol of strong passion and strength, which will last for many years into the future. I love Otto and think of him often! he concluded. The deceaseds parents have consistently accused Pyongyang for the death of their son and even, in April 2018, filed a lawsuit against North Korea for torturing and murdering the young American. Otto Warmbier traveled to the Asian country as a tourist at the end of 2015 with Young Pioneer Tours and, at the end of his visit, was arrested and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor on charges of stealing a billboard from the hotel where he stayed. Warmbier, 22, died in June 2017 after spending more than a year and a half in detention in North Korea, and after he returned to the United States in a coma shortly before his death. His death further sharpened the rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang at that time, alongside with the continuous weapons tests of the North Korean government, and prompted the US State Department to prohibit its citizens from traveling to the Asian country, a ruling that still remains in force. 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of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of 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Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC. Charles Taylor plc provides professional services and technology solutions to the insurance market in the United Kingdom, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Management Services, Adjusting Services, and Insurance Support Services businesses. The Management Services business provides management services to insurance companies, mutuals, and associations. This business offers outsourced management services comprising the management of underwriting and claims, reinsurance, and loss prevention, as well as the provision of regulatory, accounting, mutual management, compliance and internal audit, technology, investment management, and business management services. The Adjusting Services business offers loss adjusting services for the aviation, energy, marine, property and casualty, and special risk sectors; and marine average adjusting and technical support services, as well as general loss adjusting services. The Insurance Support Services business provides a range of professional, technology, and support services, which includes outsourced insurance support services, insurance company run-off services, investment management, captive management, and specialty risk management. Charles Taylor plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Christopher & Banks Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of private-brand women's apparel and accessories in the United States. The company designs and sells women's apparel and accessories to customers ranging in age from 40 and older. Its stores offer women's apparel consisting of casual clothing, everyday basics, wear-to-work, leisure/active wear, and sleepwear in missy, petite, and women sizes, as well as jewelry and accessories. As of December 4, 2018, the company operated 461 stores, including 314 MPW stores, 80 Outlet stores, 35 Christopher & Banks stores, and 32 stores in its women's plus size clothing division CJ Banks in 45 states. It also operates christopherandbanks.com, an e-commerce Website for its Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks brands. The company was formerly known as Braun's Fashions Corporation and changed its name to Christopher & Banks Corporation in July 2000. Christopher & Banks Corporation was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Daimler: AEG Olympia Office GmbH, Achtzehnte Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft DVB mbH, Anota Fahrzeug Service- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, Athlon Beheer International B.V., Athlon Beheer Nederland B.V, Athlon Car Lease Belgium N.V, Athlon Car Lease International B.V., Athlon Car Lease Italy S.R.L., Athlon Car Lease Nederland B.V., Athlon Car Lease Polska Sp. z o.o., Athlon Car Lease Portugal lda, Athlon Car Lease Rental Services B.V, Athlon Car Lease Rental Services Belgium N.V., Athlon Car Lease S.A.S., Athlon Car Lease Spain S.A., Athlon Dealerlease B.V., Athlon France S.A.S., Athlon Germany GmbH, Athlon Mobility Consultancy B.V., Athlon Mobility Consultancy N.V., Athlon Rental Germany GmbH, Athlon Sweden AB, Athlon Switzerland AG, AutoGravity Corporation, Banco Mercedes-Benz do Brasil S.A, Beat Chile SpA, Beat Ride App Colombia Ltda., Beat Ride App S.A., Belerofonte Empreendimentos Imobiliarios Ltda., Brooklands Estates Management Limited, CARS Technik & Logistik GmbH, CINTEO, CLIDET NO 1048 (Proprietary) Limited, Campo Largo Comercio de Veiculos e Pecas Ltda., Circulo Cerrado S.A. de Ahorro para Fines Determinados, Clever Taxi, Clever Tech S.R.L., Clever Tech Sud S.R.L., Conemaugh Hydroelectric Projects Inc., Cuspide GmbH, DA Investments Co. LLC, DAF Investments Ltd., DAIMLER FINANCIAL SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, DAIMLER SERVICIOS CORPORATIVOS MEXICO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DAIMLER TRUCK AND BUS HOLDING AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD, DTB Tech & Data Hub Unipessoal Lda, Daimler AG & Co. Anlagenverwaltung OHG, Daimler Australia/Pacific Pty. Ltd., Daimler Automotive de Venezuela C.A., Daimler Brand & IP Management GmbH & Co. KG, Daimler Brand & IP Management Verwaltung GmbH, Daimler Buses North America Inc., Daimler Canada Finance Inc., Daimler Canada Investments Company, Daimler Capital Services LLC, Daimler Ceska republika Holding s.r.o., Daimler Colombia S. A., Daimler Commercial Vehicles (Thailand) Ltd., Daimler Commercial Vehicles Africa Ltd., Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE, Daimler Commercial Vehicles South East Asia Pte. Ltd., Daimler Compra y Manufactura Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Daimler Export and Trade Finance GmbH, Daimler Finance North America LLC, Daimler Financial Services AG, Daimler Financial Services Africa & Asia Pacific Ltd., Daimler Financial Services India Private Limited, Daimler Financial Services Investment Company LLC, Daimler Financial Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Daimler Financial Services S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.N.R., Daimler Financial Services UK Trustees Ltd., Daimler Fleet Management GmbH, Daimler Fleet Management Singapore Pte. Ltd., Daimler Fleet Management South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Daimler Fleet Management UK Limited, Daimler Fleet Services A.S., Daimler FleetBoard GmbH, Daimler Gastronomie GmbH, Daimler Greater China Ltd., Daimler Group Services Berlin GmbH, Daimler Group Services Madrid S.A.U., Daimler Grund Services GmbH, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Private Limited, Daimler Innovation Technology (China) Co. Ltd., Daimler Insurance Agency LLC, Daimler Insurance Services GmbH, Daimler Insurance Services Japan Co. Ltd., Daimler Insurance Services UK Limited, Daimler International Assignment Services USA LLC, Daimler International Finance B.V., Daimler International Nederland B.V., Daimler Investments US Corporation, Daimler Ladungstrager GmbH, Daimler Manufactura S. de R.L. de C.V., Daimler Mexico S.A. de C.V., Daimler Mitarbeiter Wohnfinanz GmbH, Daimler Mobility Services GmbH, Daimler Motors Investments LLC, Daimler Nederland B.V., Daimler Nederland Holding B.V., Daimler North America Corporation, Daimler North America Finance Corporation, Daimler Northeast Asia Parts Trading and Services Co. Ltd., Daimler Parts Brand GmbH, Daimler Parts Logistics Australia Pty. Ltd., Daimler Pensionsfonds AG, Daimler Protics GmbH, Daimler Purchasing Coordination Corp., Daimler Re Brokers GmbH, Daimler Re Insurance S.A. Luxembourg, Daimler Real Estate GmbH, Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, Daimler South East Asia Pte. Ltd., Daimler TSS GmbH, Daimler Truck AG, Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific Pty. Ltd., Daimler Trucks & Buses US Holding Inc., Daimler Trucks Asia Taiwan Ltd., Daimler Trucks Canada Ltd., Daimler Trucks Korea Ltd., Daimler Trucks North America LLC, Daimler Trucks Remarketing Corporation, Daimler Trucks Retail Trust 2018-1, Daimler Trucks and Buses (China) Ltd., Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd, Daimler Trust Holdings LLC, Daimler Trust Leasing Conduit LLC, Daimler Trust Leasing LLC, Daimler UK Limited, Daimler UK Share Trustee Ltd., Daimler UK Trustees Limited, Daimler Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, Daimler Vans Hong Kong Limited, Daimler Vans USA LLC, Daimler Vehiculos Comerciales Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Daimler Verwaltungsgesellschaft fur Grundbesitz mbH, Daimler Vorsorge und Versicherungsdienst GmbH, Daiprodco Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Detroit Diesel Corporation, Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing LLC, Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Detroit Diesel-Allison de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deutsche ACCUmotive, Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, Deutsche Accumotive Verwaltungs-GmbH, Dreizehnte Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft DVB mbH, EHG Elektroholding GmbH, EvoBus (Schweiz) AG, EvoBus (U.K.) Ltd., EvoBus Austria GmbH, EvoBus Belgium N.V., EvoBus Ceska republika s.r.o., EvoBus Danmark A/S, EvoBus France S.A.S.U., EvoBus GmbH, EvoBus Iberica S.A.U., EvoBus Italia S.p.A., EvoBus Nederland B.V., EvoBus Polska Sp. z o.o., EvoBus Portugal S.A., EvoBus Reunion S. A., EvoBus Russland OOO, EvoBus Sverige AB, FLINC GmbH, Familonet GmbH, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, Friesland Lease B.V., Funfte Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft Zeus mbH, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 2 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 3 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 4 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 5 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 6 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 7 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Alpha 1 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Beta OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Delta OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Epsilon OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Gamma 2 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Gamma 3 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Gamma 4 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Daimler AG & Co. Gamma 1 OHG, Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft EvoBus GmbH & Co. OHG, Hailo Network IP Limited, Hailo Network Iberia S.L., Intelligent Apps GmbH, Interleasing Luxembourg S.A., Invema Assessoria Empresarial Eireli, Koppieview Property (Pty) Ltd, LAB1886 GmbH, LBBW AM Daimler Re Insurance, LBBW AM MBVEXW, LEONIE CORP DVB GmbH, LEONIE DMS DVB GmbH, LEONIE FS DVB GmbH, LEONIE FSM DVB GmbH, LEONIE PV DVB GmbH, LEONIE TB DVB GmbH, Lab1886 USA LLC, Lapland Car Test Aktiebolag, Legend Investments Ltd., Li-Tec Battery, Li-Tec Battery GmbH, MB GTC GmbH Mercedes-Benz Gebrauchtteile Center, MBarc Credit Canada Inc., MBition GmbH, MDC Power GmbH, MDC Technology GmbH, MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCKS POLSKA SPOKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA, MFTA Canada Inc., MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK EUROPE Sociedade Europeia de Automoveis S.A., MYTAXI ITALIA S.R.L., MYTAXI POLSKA SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA, Mascot Truck Parts Canada Ltd (2017), Mascot Truck Parts USA LLC, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Ltd, Mercedes pay AG, Mercedes pay S.A., Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd., Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited, Mercedes-Benz (Yangzhou) Parts Distribution Co. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Adm. Consorcios Ltda., Mercedes-Benz Antwerpen N.V., Mercedes-Benz Argentina S.A., Mercedes-Benz Asia GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Assuradeuren B.V., Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust 2016-2, Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust 2016-B, Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust 2017-A, Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust 2018-A, Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust 2018-B, Mercedes-Benz Auto Receivables Trust 2015-1, Mercedes-Benz Auto Receivables Trust 2016-1, Mercedes-Benz Auto Retail Trust 2018-1, Mercedes-Benz Bank AG, Mercedes-Benz Bank GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Bank Polska S.A., Mercedes-Benz Bank Rus OOO, Mercedes-Benz Bank Service Center GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Banking Service GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Belgium Luxembourg S.A., Mercedes-Benz Bordeaux S.A.S., Mercedes-Benz Broker Biztositasi Alkusz Hungary Kft., Mercedes-Benz Brooklands Limited, Mercedes-Benz CPH A/S, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc., Mercedes-Benz Capital Rus OOO, Mercedes-Benz CarMesh GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans Brasil Industria e Comercio De Veiculos Ltda., Mercedes-Benz Cars Ceska republika s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East FZE, Mercedes-Benz Cars Nederland B.V., Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz CharterWay S.A.S., Mercedes-Benz CharterWay S.r.l., Mercedes-Benz Compania Financiera Argentina S.A., Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Consulting GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Corretora de Seguros Ltda, Mercedes-Benz Credit Penzugyi Szolgaltato Hungary Zrt., Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V., Mercedes-Benz Danmark A/S, Mercedes-Benz Dealer Bedrijven B.V., Mercedes-Benz Drogenbos N.V., Mercedes-Benz Egypt S.A.E., Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas LLC, Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Espana S.A.U., Mercedes-Benz Europa NV/SA, Mercedes-Benz ExTra LLC, Mercedes-Benz Finance Co. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Austria GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services BeLux NV, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Ceska republika s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Espana E.F.C. S.A., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services France S.A., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Hong Kong Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Italia SpA, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Korea Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Nederland B.V., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services New Zealand Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Portugal Sociedade Financeira de Credito S.A., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Rus OOO, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Schweiz AG, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Slovakia s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Taiwan Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, Mercedes-Benz Finans Danmark A/S, Mercedes-Benz Finans Sverige AB, Mercedes-Benz Finansal Kiralama Turk A.S., Mercedes-Benz Finansman Turk A.S., Mercedes-Benz Formula E Limited, Mercedes-Benz France S.A.S., Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Forsaljnings AB, Mercedes-Benz G GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Group Services Phils. Inc., Mercedes-Benz Hellas S.A., Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Limited, Mercedes-Benz Hungaria Kft., Mercedes-Benz IDC Europe S.A.S., Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited, Mercedes-Benz Insurance Broker S.R.L., Mercedes-Benz Insurance Services Nederland B.V., Mercedes-Benz Insurance Services Taiwan Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Investment Company LLC, Mercedes-Benz Italia S.p.A., Mercedes-Benz Japan Co. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Korea Limited, Mercedes-Benz Leasing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Leasing Co. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Leasing GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Leasing Hrvatska d.o.o., Mercedes-Benz Leasing IFN S.A., Mercedes-Benz Leasing Kft., Mercedes-Benz Leasing Polska Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz Leasing Taiwan Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Leasing Treuhand GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Leasing do Brasil Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Mercedes-Benz Manhattan Inc., Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft., Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Rus Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Master Owner Trust, Mercedes-Benz Mechelen N.V., Mercedes-Benz Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Mitarbeiter-Fahrzeuge Leasing GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH, Mercedes-Benz New Zealand Ltd, Mercedes-Benz PRAHA s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Paris SAS, Mercedes-Benz Parts Logistics Eastern Europe s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Parts Logistics Iberica S.L.U., Mercedes-Benz Parts Logistics UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz Parts Manufacturing & Services Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Polska Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz Portugal S.A., Mercedes-Benz Project Consult GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Renting S.A., Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc., Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Tel Aviv Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Private Limited, Mercedes-Benz Retail Belgium NV/SA, Mercedes-Benz Retail Group UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz Retail S.A., Mercedes-Benz Retail Unipessoal Lda., Mercedes-Benz Risk Solutions South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Roma S.p.A., Mercedes-Benz Romania S.R.L., Mercedes-Benz Russia AO, Mercedes-Benz Schweiz AG, Mercedes-Benz Service Leasing S.R.L., Mercedes-Benz Services Correduria de Seguros S.A., Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Mercedes-Benz Sigorta Aracilik Hizmetleri A.S., Mercedes-Benz Slovakia s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Solihull Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Sosnowiec Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz South Africa Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Srbija i Crna Gora d.o.o.u likvidaciji, Mercedes-Benz Subscription Services USA LLC, Mercedes-Benz Sverige AB, Mercedes-Benz Taiwan Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Trucks Belgium Luxembourg NV/SA, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Center Sint-Pieters-Leeuw NV/SA, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Ceska republika s.r.o., Mercedes-Benz Trucks Espana S.L.U., Mercedes-Benz Trucks France S.A.S.U, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Italia S.r.l., Mercedes-Benz Trucks MENA Holding GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Molsheim, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Nederland B.V., Mercedes-Benz Trucks Schweiz AG, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz Turk A.S., Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, Mercedes-Benz Ubezpieczenia Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz V.I. Lyon SAS, Mercedes-Benz V.I. Paris Ile de France SAS, Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia Pacific Pty. Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Vans Ceska republika s.r.o, Mercedes-Benz Vans Espana S.L.U., Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC, Mercedes-Benz Vans Mobility GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Vans Mobility S.L., Mercedes-Benz Vans Nederland B.V., Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Limited, Mercedes-Benz Vehiculos Comerciales Argentina SAU, Mercedes-Benz Venezuela S.A., Mercedes-Benz Versicherung AG, Mercedes-Benz Vertrieb NFZ GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Vertrieb PKW GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Vietnam Ltd., Mercedes-Benz Warszawa Sp. z o.o., Mercedes-Benz Waterloo S.A., Mercedes-Benz Wavre S.A., Mercedes-Benz Wemmel N.V., Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Receivables LLC, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Assessoria Comercial Ltda., Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda., Mercedes-Benz Osterreich GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Aluguer de Veiculos Unipessoal Lda., Mercedes-Benz.io GmbH, Mercedes-Benz.io Portugal Unipessoal Lda., MercedesService Card Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc., Monarch Cars (Tamworth) Ltd., Montajes y Estampaciones Metalicas S.L., Multifleet G.I.E, NAG Nationale Automobil-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft, P.T. Mercedes-Benz Indonesia, PABCO Co. Ltd., PT Daimler Commercial Vehicles Indonesia, PT Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia, Porcher & Meffert Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH & Co. Stuttgart OHG, R.T.C. Management Company Limited, Renting del Pacifico S.A.C., RepairSmith Inc., Reva SAS, Ring Garage AG Chur, SILVER ARROW CHINA 2017-2 RETAIL AUTO LOAN ASSET BACKED NOTES TRUST c/o CITIC TRUST CO. LTD., SILVER ARROW CHINA 2018-1 RETAIL AUTO LOAN ASSET BACKED NOTES TRUST c/o FOTIC: China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Co. LTD., SILVER ARROW CHINA 2018-2 RETAIL AUTO LOAN ASSET BACKED NOTES TRUST c/o FOTIC: China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Co. LTD., STARKOM d.o.o., Sandown Motor Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Sechste Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft Zeus mbH, SelecTrucks Comercio de Veiculos Ltda, SelecTrucks of America LLC, SelecTrucks of Toronto Inc., Setra of North America Inc., Silver Arrow Australia Trust 2017-1, Silver Arrow Canada GP Inc., Silver Arrow Canada LP, Silver Arrow Lease Facility Trust, Silver Arrow S.A., Special Lease Systems (SLS) B.V, SportChassis LLC, Star Assembly SRL, Star Egypt For Import LLC, Star Transmission srl, Starexport Trading S.A., Sterling Truck Corporation, Sumperska sprava majetku k.s., T.O.C (Schweiz) AG, Taxibeat, Taxibeat Ltd. UK, Taxibeat Peru S.A., Taxibeat Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Thomas Built Buses Inc., Thomas Built Buses of Canada Limited, Transcovo SAS, Transopco France SAS, Transopco GmbH, Transopco Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Transopco UK Ltd., Trona Cogeneration Corporation, Ucafleet S.A.S, Vierzehnte Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft DVB mbH, Western Star Trucks Sales Inc, Zuidlease B.V., Zweite Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft Zeus mbH, car2go, car2go Belgium SPRL, car2go Canada Ltd., car2go China Co. Ltd., car2go Danmark A/S, car2go Deutschland GmbH, car2go Europe GmbH, car2go Group GmbH, car2go Iberia S.L.U., car2go Italia S.R.L., car2go N.A. Holding Inc, car2go N.A. LLC, car2go Nederland B.V, car2go Sverige AB, car2go Osterreich GmbH, moovel Group GmbH, moovel North America Inc., moovel North America LLC, myTaxi Iberia SL, myTaxi UG, myTaxi UK Ltd., myTaxi USA Inc., mytaxi Austria GmbH, mytaxi Network Ireland Ltd., mytaxi Network Ltd., mytaxi Portugal Unipessoal LDA, mytaxi Sweden AB, ogotrac S.A.S., smart France S.A.S., smart Vertriebs gmbh, and trapoFit GmbH. Brazilian former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was greeted by dozens of supporters when he arrived here Saturday at a cemetery for the funeral of his 7-year-old grandson, who died of a meningitis infection. The ex-head of state, who was authorized by a judge to temporarily leave prison for the first time since being incarcerated last April following a corruption conviction so he could attend the funeral, received applause and expressions of solidarity from around 200 people who had been waiting for him at the gates of the cemetery on the outskirts of this metropolis. Some held up signs reading Lula Livre (Free Lula), a common slogan since the former union leader was convicted in 2017 of having accepted bribes from a construction company in the form of renovations to a seaside condo that the former president never owned or occupied. The conviction was upheld on appeal last year and Lula has been behind bars since April 2018, which led to his being barred from last Octobers presidential election amid polls showing that he would have won by a wide margin. That case against Lula, who denies any wrongdoing, was based largely on plea-bargained testimony from people already convicted of corruption offenses. Lula, who left his cell at the Federal Police building in the southern city of Curitiba at around 7 am Saturday, arrived at 11 am at the Jardin de la Colina cemetery in Sao Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb of Sao Paulo. His journey under tight security included one plane flight and two helicopter trips. Lula, who arrived at the funeral wearing a dark suit and no tie, was not allowed to stop and speak with his supporters but did hold up his arms in a gesture of appreciation. Lula, who governed from 2003 to 2010 and left office with sky-high approval ratings, met two key Workers Party (PT) allies at the cemetery: his political protege and successor Dilma Rousseff and ex-Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad, who lost to rightist Jair Bolsonaro in last Octobers presidential run-off. Arthur Araujo Lula da Silva, one of six grandchildren of the former president, died Friday at a hospital in Sao Paulo and his body was cremated at mid-day Saturday. The funeral was held at the same cemetery where Lulas late wife, Marisa Leticia Rocco, was laid to rest after her death in February 2017. The youngsters death comes a little more than a month after that of Lulas older brother, Genival Inacio da Silva, known as Vava, at the age of 79 after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. Lula, 73, asked to be allowed to attend Vavas funeral but was turned down after the Federal Police argued that transporting him to the funeral site in Sao Bernardo do Campo and ensuring his security there would cause logistical problems. Following Vavas funeral, Lula was offered a furlough to meet with his family at a military base in Sao Paulo state. Last month, Lula was convicted in a second corruption case and sentenced to 12 years and 11 months behind bars. That sentence is in addition to the 12-year, one-month prison term he began serving 11 months ago. The ex-president, who denies any wrongdoing and has said that no one in Brazil is more honest than he is, also faces six other corruption trials. Grafton Group plc engages in the distribution, retailing, and manufacturing businesses in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Its Distribution segment distributes building and plumbing materials to professional trades people engaged in residential repair, maintenance, and improvement projects, as well as in residential and other new build construction. This segment operates 487 branches primarily under the Selco, Buildbase, and Leyland SDM brands in the South East, Midlands, and North of England; the Chadwicks brand in the Republic of Ireland; and the MacBlair brand in Northern Ireland; and the Isero, Polvo, and Gunters en Meuser brands in the Netherlands. The company's Retailing segment engages in DIY retailing and home improvement business that supplies a range of products, including paints, lighting products, homestyle products, housewares, bathroom products, and kitchens, as well as gardening and Christmas products. This segment operates 35 stores primarily under the Woodie's brand. Its Manufacturing segment manufactures silo-based dry mortar for use in new build residential and commercial construction projects in England and Scotland; plastic pipe systems in Dublin; and wooden staircase in the United Kingdom. Grafton Group plc was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More First American Financial Corp. operates as an insurance company. It provides title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries. The company operates its business through the following segments: Title Insurance & Services and Specialty Insurance. The Title Insurance & Services segment provides title insurance, escrow, closing services and similar or related financial services domestically and internationally in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions. It also maintains, manages and provides access to title plant records and images and provides banking, trust and investment advisory services. The Specialty Insurance segment issues property & casualty insurance policies and sells home warranty products. It also provides title plant management services, which include title and other real property records and images, valuation products and services, home warranty products, property and casualty insurance and banking, trust and investment advisory services. First American Financial was founded in January, 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, CA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Tepito is a tough neighborhood whose name in Mexico immediately evokes crime and drug trafficking, and where people live intensely every day because death can strike at any minute. The streets of the slum are more alive by day and by night than any other part of Mexico City, with death a daily reality due to the bloody gang rivalries in drug trafficking and many other businesses. If God gives us life, Tepito feeds us, is the maxim of the slums inhabitants, who are never given anything for free. From childhood they scratch out a living in their hardscrabble world, between crowded street markets and police raids. The out-of-control war between the Union, the Anti-union Force and other criminal gangs is set in the streets of Tepito and other avenues of the historic downtown area. Extortion, express kidnappings and demands for protection money are the order of the day. And the main victims are small business owners who also feel they are victims of the government and police. Small-scale drug dealers abound and shootouts are commonplace, but the guilty parties seldom get arrested. Under these circumstances, Tepito survives by obeying its own rules and knowing how to dodge the bullets. What it means to live in Tepito is hard to define - its a way of life, a kind of spirit, a state of mind, according to Alfonso Hernandez, Tepitos official chronicler and president of the Mexico City Journalists Association. Living in Tepito means keeping your guardian angel very busy. Our grandparents taught us that, and to eat well, make love and tell death to get lost, Alfonso Hernandez told EFE. Born, raised and living in Tepito, the toughest slum in Mexico City, Alfonso Hernandez for decades has been the official chronicler of one of the most stigmatized of all Mexican neighborhoods. With the air of a librarian, Alfonso, at his more than 70 years, defends the neighborhood without getting political - he rather talks about the pleasant architecture, culture, and associations of citizens, storekeepers and academics. Alfonso is also a master of puns and conductor of the Tepitour, a trip deep into this infamous slum with its unbelievable informal economy. The word Tepito in Mexico, just like the word Mexico in the rest of the world, is synonymous with violence and toughness. Im not saying we havent contributed to creating the image of a tough neighborhood, but in such a chaotic city youve got to earn respect, Hernandez said. Self-taught, Alfonso has traveled the world, has won architecture prizes for Tepito, has hosted the late Anthony Bourdain, the artist David Hammons whose work is exhibited at New Yorks MoMA, and Spains Manuel Castells Olivan, sociologist, economist and professor of sociology and urbanism at the University of California, Berkeley, among others. But the neighborhoods personality comes from its inhabitants, so Alfonso does not want it taken over by big real estate investors with their skyscraper condominiums and their Airbnb, as, he said, is happening with a neighborhood as iconic as Lavapies in Madrid. Pembina Pipeline Corporation provides transportation and midstream services for the energy industry. It operates through three segments: Pipelines, Facilities, and Marketing & New Ventures. The Pipelines segment operates conventional, oil sands and heavy oil, and transmission assets with a transportation capacity of 3.1 millions of barrels of oil equivalent per day, ground storage of 11 millions of barrels, and rail terminalling capacity of approximately 145 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day serving markets and basins across North America. The Facilities segment offers infrastructure that provides customers with natural gas, condensate, and natural gas liquids (NGLs), including ethane, propane, butane, and condensate; and includes 354 thousands of barrels per day of NGL fractionation capacity, 21 millions of barrels of cavern storage capacity, and associated pipeline and rail terminalling facilities. The Marketing & New Ventures segment buys and sells hydrocarbon liquids and natural gas originating in the Western Canadian sedimentary basin and other basins. Pembina Pipeline Corporation was incorporated in 1954 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Tyler DeWitt speaks to students at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown about DNA. Tyler DeWitt speaks to students at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown about DNA. Tyler DeWitt speaks to students at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown about DNA. Tyler DeWitt shows students at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown a sample of his own DNA. PreviousNext Pine Cobble Alumnus Give Students DNA Lesson Pine Cobble students look at the sample of Tyler DeWitt's DNA (below; taken from cells inside his cheek) after his presentation on Feb. 27. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Before Tyler DeWitt did a TED Talk, before he had a website and a YouTube channel, before he received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before he taught high school chemistry and biology in both the United States and South Korea, before he was a National Science Foundation fellow, he was just a student at Pine Cobble School. On Feb. 27, DeWitt returned to the private school from which he graduated in 1997. It wasn't his first time back; he actually spoke at the school's commencement ceremony in 2013 and helped facilitate a STEAM summer camp session in 2018. And as often as he can, he comes back to Pine Cobble to try to make science fun for this generation of students. And so on Feb. 27, in front of the school's students who were as little as pre-K and kindergarteners and as big as eighth- and ninth-graders, DeWitt bounced around the room to give an energetic science lesson on a subject that could potentially be scary: DNA. That's deoxyribonucleic acid, not something to do with the "appetite of dinosaurs," as one student suggested. "You can see why people use the abbreviation," DeWitt said. Using a combination of slides and audience participation, an energetic DeWitt walked the students through the meaning of DNA. DNA determines a person's traits or characteristics, like eye color or height, or even the characteristics of a plant, like what color flowers it has or how big its leaves are. DNA is found in every part of the body, in the nucleus of cells, he said, showing pictures of cells magnified to give the students a clearer idea of what he was talking about. "They're so tiny that you need hundreds or thousands to see even one," he said. The best science, of course, is hands-on, and so DeWitt came prepared to lead the students on an exploration of their own DNA. He wasn't able to do that during his presentation, as they ran out of time, but he demonstrated with his own body and assured the students he was providing their teachers the materials they needed to do the experiment back in their classroom. This was after he assured the students the experiment would be painless, after one student suggested they would need needles to extract DNA. "This is silly and fun and it doesn't hurt at all," he said. Instead of drawing blood, he said, the best place to get DNA samples? A person's cheek, which he said was teeming with cells. "Your cheeks have cells that are coming off all the time," he said. And so, he got down to it: He told the students he was going to take a sip of water, swish the water around his mouth for 60 seconds to really loosen those cells, and then spit the water into a cup. Which he did, as the students counted up to 60 to time him. (They tried, but it was actually 48 seconds.) "Now I have some spit here that's filled with cheeky cells," he said to a chorus of both giggles and "eews" from the students. Those cheeky cells were transferred to a test tube, a chemical was added to help break open the cells, some regular rubbing alcohol was added to "let the DNA come out of the cells" and then he let it sit for a few minutes before "long strings" started to "bubble out." "Those are the DNA," he said. He carried the test tube around to show all the students, and even held it as the students filed past him out of the room to go home for the day, buzzing about when they would get a chance to do their own swishing and spitting. "That was amazing," one student said. Watching them leave the school where he spent so many of his formative years, DeWitt said he comes back to Pine Cobble as much as he can. He said he appreciates the way the school is "all about creative learning," even more so now than he when we was a student in the 1990s. "It's so cool," he said, adding that he loves seeing the students "excited and engaged" with science. "They have a lot of energy." The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. Systemax Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America. It sells a range of maintenance, repair, and operation products, including storage and shelving, material handling, janitorial and maintenance products, furniture and office products, workbenches and shop desks, HVAC/R and fans, safety and security products, outdoor and grounds maintenance products, tools and instruments, and office and school supplies. The company also sells plumbing products and pumps, packaging products and supplies, electrical and lighting products, food service products and appliances, raw materials and building supplies, motors and power transmission products, pneumatics and hydraulics, medical and laboratory equipment, metalworking and cutting tools, vehicle maintenance products, and fasteners and hardware. It offers its products under the Global, GlobalIndustrial.com, Nexel Paramount, and Interion brand names. The company offers its products to businesses, educational organizations, and government entities through relationship marketers, catalogs, and e-commerce sites. Systemax Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Port Washington, New York. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Beechcraft Service Company UK Limited, Bell Helicopter GK, Bell Helicopter KK, Bell Textron Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Bell Textron Canada International Inc., Bell Textron Canada Limited/Limitee, Bell Textron Inc., Bell Textron Korea Inc., Bell Textron Miami Inc, Bell Textron Prague a.s., Bell Textron Rhode Island Inc., Bell Textron Services Inc, Bell Textron Supply Center BV, Bell Textron Technical Services Inc., Benzlers, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, Burkland, Cessna Aircraft Company, Cessna Citation European Service Center SAS, Cessna Dusseldorf Citation Service Center GmbH, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Finance Export Corporation, Cessna Mexico S de RL de CV, Cessna Spanish Citation Service Center SLU, Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center GmbH, Citation Parts Distribution International Inc., Cushman Inc., Datacom Technologies, David Brown Group, Doncaster Citation Service Centre Limited, E-Z-GO Canada Limited, Energy Manufacturing, Flexalloy, HBC LLC, Hawker Beech de Mexico S de RL de CV, Hawker Beechcraft Argentina SA, Howe & Howe Inc., Howe and Howe Technologies, Industrial Technology Inc., InteSys Technologies, International Product Support Inc., KSB Annecy SAS, Kautex (Changchun) Plastics Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Chongqing) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Guangzhou) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Pinghu) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Shanghai) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Wuhan) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex Corporation, Kautex Craiova srl, Kautex Germany Holding GmbH, Kautex Inc., Kautex Japan KK, Kautex Shanghai GmbH, Kautex Textron (UK) Limited, Kautex Textron Benelux BVBA, Kautex Textron Bohemia spol sro, Kautex Textron CVS Limited, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Italia Srl, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems Ltd., PEINER Umformtechnik, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. Ltd., Textron Aviation Canada Ltd., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Aviation Finance Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Prague Service Center sro, Textron Aviation Rhode Island Inc., Textron Aviation Services de Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Capital BV, Textron Communications Inc., Textron Far East Pte. Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited, Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, Wuxi Textron Specialized Vehicles Co. Ltd., and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited. MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company, through its subsidiary MidSouth Bank, N.A., provides various community banking products and services to commercial and retail customers in the United States. The company offers various deposit products, including interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking accounts, money market, savings accounts, investment accounts, and NOW account deposits, as well as time deposits, such as certificates of deposit; and commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and consumer loans, as well as other loans secured by real estate. It also provides cash management services; and electronic banking services comprising remote deposit capturing services, Internet banking, and debit and credit cards. As of March 1, 2019, the company had 42 offices located in Louisiana and Texas, as well as a network of approximately 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs. MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. Read More Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Masco: A&J Gummers, Airex 3 LLC, Arrow Fastener, BEHR PAINTS IT! INC., BSI Holdings, Behr (Beijing) Paint Company Limited, Behr Paint (Beijing) Commercial Co. Ltd., Behr Process, Behr Process Canada Ltd., Behr Process Corporation, Behr Process Paints (India) Private Limited, Behr Sales LLC, BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, Brasstech Inc., Bristan, Bristan Group Limited, Cambrian Windows, ColorAxis Inc., Davenport Insulation Group, Delta Faucet (China) Co. Ltd., Delta Faucet Company, Delta Faucet Company India Private Limited, Delta Faucet Company Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Delta Faucet Company of Tennessee, Diversified Cabinet Distributors Inc., Duraflex, Duraflex Limited, Erickson Framing, Glass Idromassaggio, Guy Evans Inc., Hans Grohe Pte. Ltd., Hansgrohe, Hansgrohe A.B., Hansgrohe A/S, Hansgrohe AG, Hansgrohe Armature Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Hansgrohe B.V., Hansgrohe Brasil Metals Santitarios Ltda., Hansgrohe CS s.r.o., Hansgrohe Deutschland Vertriebs GmbH, Hansgrohe Handelsges.mbH, Hansgrohe Inc., Hansgrohe India Private Ltd., Hansgrohe International GmbH, Hansgrohe Japan K.K, Hansgrohe Kft., Hansgrohe Ltd., Hansgrohe N.V., Hansgrohe Pty Ltd, Hansgrohe S. de R. L. de C. V., Hansgrohe S. a r.l., Hansgrohe S.A., Hansgrohe S.A.U., Hansgrohe SA (Pty) Ltd., Hansgrohe SE, Hansgrohe Sanitary Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hansgrohe Sanitary Products W.L.L., Hansgrohe Sp. z.o.o., Hansgrohe Wasselonne S.A., Hansgrohe d.o.o., Hansgrohe ooo, Hansgrohe s.r.l., Hot Spring Spa Australasia Pty Ltd, Hot Spring Spas New Zealand Limited, Huppe B.V., Huppe Belgium S.A., Huppe GmbH, Huppe Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Huppe S. a r.l., Huppe S.L., Huppe Spolka z.o.o., Huppe s.r.o., IDI Group inc, Inrecon, Jet Acquisition LLC, Kichler Lighting LLC, L.D. Kichler Lighting Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Landex of Wisconsin Inc., Liberty Hardware Asia Co. Ltd., Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp., Liberty Hardware Retail & Design Services LLC, Masco Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Masco Building Products Corp., Masco Cabinetry Hong Kong Limited, Masco Canada Limited, Masco Capital Corporation, Masco Chile Limitada, Masco Corporation Limited, Masco Corporation of Indiana, Masco Europe Inc., Masco Europe S. a r.l., Masco Europe SCS, Masco Framing Corp., Masco Germany Holding GmbH, Masco HD Support Services LLC, Masco Home Products Private Limited, Masco Home Products S.a r.l., Masco Retail Sales Support Inc., Masco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Masco WM Support Services LLC, Mascomex S.A. de C.V., Masterchem Industries, Masterchem Industries LLC, Mercury Plastics LLC, Milgard Manufacturing, Mill's Pride, Mirolin Industries Corp., My Service Center Inc., NCFII Holdings Inc., Newport Brass, Oz Acquisition LLC, Peerless Sales Corporation, SCE Unlimited, Service Partners, Shanghai Hansgrohe International Trading Co. Ltd., SmarTap, SmarTap A.Y. Ltd., Tapicerias Pacifico SA de CV, Tempered Products Inc., Texwood Industries, The Faucet-Queens, The GMU Group, The L.D. Kichler Co., Tvilum, Vapor Technologies Inc., Vapor Technologies Shenzhen Co. Ltd., Watkins Distribution UK Limited, Watkins Europe BVBA, Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, and Wellness Marketing Corporation. UTICA, N.Y. -- A total of $967,747 was raised by the 2019 Americas Greatest Heart Run and Walk. Thank you to this incredible community! You raised $967,747 for a world of longer, healthier lives! #HeartRunWalk pic.twitter.com/RapdXjGXxr American Heart CNY (@HeartCNY) March 2, 2019 The total comes from funds raised by walkers and runners, the WKTV Heart Telethon donations and the WIBX Radiothon. The WKTV Heart Telethon raised $80,837. Last year the total raised was $931,243, meaning this year topped that number by $36,504. For full coverage of Saturday's events, visit the Heart Run section of our website. The four men in green walk calmly down the street, to gentle clapping from the people around them. They appear to be defectors, shown on a video posted to social media from Wednesday in the town of Herran, Colombia. While CNN has not been able to verify the video, the scene is now a common one in Colombia, from a steady drip of Venezuelan soldiers that have given themselves over to Colombian immigration officials over the past week. As of Thursday, an astounding total of 567 had defected. This is perhaps the most enduring sign of change since the world was startled by clashes last weekend, when Venezuelan opposition protesters tried to force humanitarian aid into the country over border crossings, past Venezuelan riot police and pro-Maduro gangs. Now, military defectors have crossed over with stories of hunger, corruption, and abuse. The closure of the Simon Bolivar International Bridge at the border has not just increased tension between the Venezuelan National Guard who police it, and the Colombian police who have endured tear gas over the past week; it has also robbed many Venezuelans on the other side of the border of their livelihoods. Thousands of Venezuelans come into Colombia daily to work, or buy food to take back. The crossing was a lifeline. And now that it is closed, along with the rest of the border between Venezuela and Colombia, the anger builds. So what's next for this standoff? Diplomatically, the path ahead is predictable. Russia's support of President Nicolas Maduro is unwavering, rhetorically at least. Analysts question Moscow's desire to fund and assist what many say is a chaotic and corrupt kleptocracy on the other side of the world indefinitely. But for now, their veto at the United Nations prevents resolutions that could further corner the Maduro government, and assures the Cold War nature of this standoff continues to distract from the humanitarian crisis at its heart. European states and most of Venezuela's neighbors tend to oppose Maduro, and support self-declared interim president and opposition leader, Juan Guaido. Yet they are hesitant over fiercer sanctions, or to entertain military intervention as an option. The US appears on a steeper trajectory, applying fresh sanctions to Maduro's inner circles, and refusing to rule out military intervention. High-level officials including US Vice President Mike Pence and special envoy Elliot Abrams made trips to the Venezuela-Colombian border last week in support of Guaido, and even Guiado doesn't want the US military option off the table. It's unlikely it will get to that. But make no mistake, the temperature is rising. Some opposition activists say that is the point of the constant deadlines and showdowns: to elevate the brutality of the Maduro government in the world's eyes, and to speed more direct steps against it. The next possible crisis point comes this weekend with the planned return of Guaido to Venezuela. Guaido burst into the spotlight about a month ago, turning from obscure opposition politician to global figure in a matter of weeks. Many of his team are energized and optimistic, but they know that the situation is very new to them, and fast moving. Last week, as his aid delivery campaign ramped up, Guaido crossed the border into Colombia. Now he seeks to re-enter his country after meeting the presidents of Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Ecuador. He will enter Venezuela by Monday, he says -- an echo of last week's failed deadline for aid to cross the border. The question is: How? Guaido violated a travel ban ordered by the Supreme Court when he left Venezuela. That, coupled with his increased profile, makes an arrest upon his return a possibility. A land crossing around the Colombian border town of Cucuta would be easy to do covertly, as he did when he left a week ago, but it would require a long and dangerous drive to the capital Caracas, where he could be targeted by pro-Maduro gangs or security forces. A commercial flight into Caracas airport could simply be turned around by the Venezuelan authorities, and refused permission to land. No choices are good. Yet he must return, or he risks becoming a leader in exile. Again, there are cynics who say this is the point of his return trip -- that he knows it may fail, and will serve to emphasize the Maduro government's intransigence if it denies Guaido's freedom of movement. Were he arrested on his return, the same point would be made. The White House has explicitly said that any harm or restriction of Guaido's movement will be met with a firm response. And so we enter another weekend of crisis, ahead of Monday's deadline. But the longer tension builds, the less likely a negotiated solution between Maduro, Guaido and their backers becomes, and the inevitable and ugly march towards a darker episode in this crisis is assured. This weekend marks the 7th anniversary of the deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky. On March 2, 2012, 18 tornadoes touched down across the state, impacting 27 different counties. More than 20 were killed and more than 200 injured. Magoffin County was hit by an EF-3 tornado with maximum winds of 160 miles per hour. That tornado was on the ground for 49 miles across eastern Kentucky, touching down in Wolfe County and Salyersville. They have since added three tornado sirens. A tornado shelter has also been built in Magoffin County and they are in the process of putting in another. West Liberty in Morgan County was hit very hard. An EF-3 tornado with maximum winds of 140 miles per hour decimated much of the downtown area. The tornado was a mile wide. It first touched down near Mariba in Menifee County at 5:39 p.m. Nineteen minutes later, it slammed into downtown West Liberty. The tornado moved into western parts of Johnson County and Lawrence County before moving into West Virginia. East Bernstadt witnessed an EF-2 tornado that was on the ground for only seven miles. It was enough to cause a lot of damage. The communities have since rebuilt, but the day is something that residents won't forget. The tornadoes reportedly caused more than $150 million dollars in damage. DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) The City of Delphi is celebrating the grand opening of the Delphi Community Center. The community has gone nearly seven years without one. The facility was created with senior citizens in mind. It doubles as community space and a place to house the city's senior family services. The facility was built almost entirely through monetary donations and volunteer work. It includes a full functioning kitchen, a work out room and open space for events. Delphi City Councilman Dale Seward said this facility is long overdue. It brings your community together, said Seward. It shows the senior community that we care about them, that they are valued and they are part of the community and up until this got open, that was a question. Seward is proud to be a part of this project. It's a legacy. It's not something where there's a bunch of credit or anything like that, said Seward. I can now drive past this and my family can drive past it and know that we were a part of this and it's a good feeling. The community can rent the space through the city. It's $75 for four hours and $125 all day. LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI)"How we have gotten here to this day has been because of the community, said Salute to Women Honoree Tamara House. Shes a realtor. A mother. An impact. "How can I help others, said House. How can I even help be a better disciple within this community?" Tamara is the mother of Grant House. A young man who led the community with his positive spirit. "We learned at birth that he had a brain tumor, said House. So we journeyed through healing him throughout his 26 years of life and it did nothing but humble our family. She and her family have made it their mission to keep Grant's spirit alive after he died. "He wanted someday to build and see and have a place for kids to come after school with special needs and he never knew he wrote that, said House Tamara secured a 2.4 million dollar grant from North Central Health Services with 1 million raised from the community. With the 3.2 million dollars Tamara helped raised they were able to begin construction on the old IU Health Building at 1500 Salem Street. Which will be called Wabash Center- Grant's House, it's nearly 50,000 square feet. Just big enough for all the people she has and will continue to inspire with Grant's message. Nothing like this has ever happened in the state of Indiana, said House. Where we are helping kids with special needs to have a place to come and grow and make friendships and to turn around and make a difference and be a part of the community in a big way. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) Many know Sana Booker as a West Lafayette City Clerk but her service in the community goes beyond her job title. She's being recognized at The YWCAs 45th annual Salute to Women celebration. It's very humbling to think that someone would think of you and decide that you're worthy of this kind of recognition, said Booker. Booker has been a West Lafayette City Clerk since 2015. Her presence in Greater Lafayette became known 20 years ago when she became the first female Assistant Manager of Purdue University's Wiley Hall. Booker said serving and leading is in her blood. I watched my auntie and I watched my mother and I watched very strong women who worked and gave tirelessly of their time and their efforts, said Booker. Booker is currently an active member of Area IV, Leadership Lafayette, Tippecanoe Adult Guardianship Services, NAACP, League of Women Voters, Moms Demand Action and Caregiver Companion to name a few. To me, it is a waste of your time to not use it and to not share, said Booker. As a woman of a certain season in my life, it is time for me to also be something that younger woman can look at and talk to. She hopes her actions have a lasting impact. I think it's important that I be more than just someone walking on this earth that I have a role and purpose and it will help others, said Booker. Booker isn't alone. She said support from friends and family is what keeps her going. I have wonderful sons and a husband of almost 40 years, said Booker. I just had people and I have people in my life that believe in me and it makes each day easier. Booker plans to continue making positive strides in the community. New Delhi, Mar 3 (IBNS) Responding to a resolution on Kashmir by the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC), India has said that Jammu and Kashmir is a matter strictly internal to India. An Official Spokesperson in response to a query regarding India's participation at the OIC in Abu Dhabi and resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir, said: "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India." "External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj attended the 46th CFM session of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) at Abu Dhabi on 1 March as the Guest of Honour at the invitation extended by His Highness the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. We deeply appreciate this historic gesture on the 50th anniversary of their first meeting." the spokesperson said. The OIC, where Swaraj attended as a guest of honour in what is seen as a diplomatic success of India, in a sharply worded resolution had the phrases that condemn India for human rights violation in Kashmir. In a resolution adopted by the 46th session of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the OIC member states affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir "remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia." While Pakistan stayed away from the OIC this time in protest against the invitation of Sushma Swaraj, the Indian External Affairs Minister speaking in the backdrop of an India-Pakistan tension over terror attacks and counter strikes, said the fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion. Meanwhile, reacting to reports that the OIC meeting expressed concern over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, the Congress on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer the Nation on this. In a post on social media, AICC media in-charge Randeep Surjewala said, 'Modi Govts Diplomatic Victory turns out to be Diplomatic Faux Pas! Did PM send our EAM to OIC Meeting for such unacceptable & blasphemous accusations to be hurled at India? PM must answer to the Nation.' New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) Samjhauta Express will resume its operations from Indian side on Sunday night and proceed for Attari border. Railways had on Saturday announced resumption of service of Samjhauta Express from Indian and Pakistani side on March 3 and 4, respectively. The first train from India will leave on March 3 and on the Pakistan side, the train will leave Lahore on Monday on its return journey, it said. An official order from Railways has said, train no 14608 Samjhauta Express is rearranged by Pakistan Railways from March 4. Also, train no 14001/14002 Attari Spl Express is approved to be restored from March 3. The decision to resume the train service comes a day after Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned home to a rousing welcome via Wagah-Attari border from Pakistan. Earlier on Thursday, the Railways in its order had stated that bi-weekly train no 14001/14002 Attari Special Express between Delhi-Attari-Delhi stands cancelled till further advise with effect from March 3. Services of Samjhauta Express were cancelled following less occupancy after the dastardly February 14 Pulwama attack which left over 40 CRPF jawans dead. Samjhauta Express runs from Attari to Lahore, although the passengers are checked at Wagah, the first station on the Pakistani side. The train service was set up with an agreement between Indian Railways and Pakistan Railways. Image: UNI COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - The American Red Cross held training for volunteers who want to be a part of disaster relief. The training was held at the Trotter Convention Center in Columbus. The instructor spent the day teaching three different classes on how to help in case of a disaster. Training is required to become a volunteer. COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - Firefighters rushed to a burning house Saturday afternoon around 4:30. It happened at home in the 100 Block of Mill Street. No one was hurt. The fire is under investigation. This article will be updated when more information becomes available. Mexico City, Mar 2 (Sputnik/UNI): Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said that her country had taken the first steps to launch legal proceedings to protect its property and assets abroad, following US sanctions against Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and United Kingdom's move to block Venezuelan governments access to gold reserves held in London. Amid political crisis in Venezuela, the United States, which backs Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, blocked $7 billion in Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's assets in its jurisdiction and imposed ban on deals with the entity as part of efforts to facilitate power transfer. The United Kingdom, which rejects the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro as well, cut off Caracas' access to foreign assets and rejected its request to withdraw $1.2 billion worth of gold. "As for Europe, where Venezuelan assets have been frozen, we have already undertaken concrete legal activities. We have hired lawyers who will protect our interests especially those related to the gold that the Bank of England has stolen," Rodriguez said in an interview with RT broadcaster. Venezuela is currently in the midst of a political crisis. On January 5, Guaido was elected the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which all other government branches have been refusing to recognize since 2016. On January 23, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president." Maduro, who was sworn in for his second presidential term on January 10 after winning the May election, which part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup orchestrated by Washington. The United States immediately recognized Guaido, after which around 50 other countries followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and promoting crisis settlement via dialogue. Image: Wikimedia Commons Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex president, Goodluck Jonathan has lambasted Yoruba irredentists for thinking they can force a political choice on Igbos living in Lagos. The gubernatorial elections take place on March 9th, in many States of the federation, including the Lagos and the battle is principally between Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP. However it appears Agbaje of the PDP has the support of most Igbos living in the state and some Yorubas may be unhappy about their support for the PDP candidate. Reacting to this, Okupe took to his Facebook page on Sunday to caution the Yorubas, for trying to force a Democratic choice on a group. He says the Igbos have the right to support any candidate of their choice, and its not a crime. His words: CAN YOU FORCE A DEMOCRATIC CHOICE ON A PEOPLE? Igbos do NOT own Lagos. You are VERY RIGHT. Igbos can NOT rule/govern Lagos. You are TOTALLY CORRECT. Lagos is not NO-MANS LAND. I say, yet again, you are ABSOLUTELY ON POINT. But if an Igbo man stays in Lagos and registered in Lagos, IS HE FREE TO VOTE FOR WHOEVER HE LIKES OR WANTS? This is is what I have been asking my fellow Yoruba ethnic irredentists. Can you force any democratic choice on an individual? If a group chooses to vote for a particular candidate in an election, how is that a crime? Atiku and Buhari are both Fulanis. Many Yorubas told me they preferred Buhari to Atiku. No crime in that. In fact, they made it look as if it was a holy war to return Buhari. Sanwoolu and Agbaje are both Lagosians and two Yoruba guys. If Igbos say they prefer Agbaje to Sanwoolu, how is that a crime for Gods sake? Can someone tell me what I dont know, please? WASHINGTON Ivanka Trump joked about her life born into luxury at Saturdays Gridiron Club dinner. The press seems to think it is ironic that I, born of great privilege, think people want to work for what they are given, she said. As if being Donald Trumps daughter isnt the hardest job in the world. Related stories Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Senator, Launches Presidential Bid Hugh Jackman on Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Friendship: 'We Don't Talk Politics' Ivanka Trump Says She Doesn't Consider the Media the 'Enemy of the People' Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat and presidential candidate, aimed at one of the more sensational stories of recent weeks: My speech will be shorter than a Robert Kraft visit to Orchids Day Spa. And Sen. John Kennedy, the Republican from Louisiana, took a turn at the presidents cabinet and the ongoing scrutiny of the Mueller investigation: So far, not a single member has been found to be secretly working for the United States. It took the ballroom crowd of about 1,000 ultra-formally dressed a few beats to get it. The annual dinner is one of the few remaining large white tie events in Washington, but it still draws a mix of administration figures, media personalities and Capitol Hill lawmakers. The event, thrown by a group largely made up of D.C. media bureau chiefs, is a throwback to the 19th century, when it started, and culminates in the entire crowd locking arms and singing Auld Lang Syne. But it is still one of the more in-demand tickets of a series of annual media organization fetes, bringing together boldfaced names who otherwise would not mix. Among the attendees were Amazons Jeff Bezos, Ted Cruz, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, presidential candidate John Delaney and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. One of the few Hollywood figures in attendance was James L. Brooks, who took the chance to get a few photos with administration figures. Story continues The evening is filled with jokes and journalists skits, often with targets in the room, but it is not as biting as the better-known White House Correspondents Association dinner in late April. The Gridiron Club motto is singe, not burn. On Saturday, there was some singe. Judy Woodruff, introducing some of the VIPs in the room, noted the presence of Jared Kushner, and quipped that it was over the objections of John Kelly. The joke was a riff on a New York Times report that President Trump demanded Kushner get a top-secret security clearance, over the objections of his then-chief of staff. Her husband Al Hunt noted the presidents recent trip to Hanoi, and that he was pleased that he could make it to Vietnam and that his bone spurs had healed. Trump was not at the event, though he was present last year. Ivanka Trump said that her father asked her to step in at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. She quipped that there were reports, though, that Chris Christie was saying he was his first choice, but that Jared blocked it. The dozen or so music skits sought to skewer figures across the spectrum. Yes, there were songs about Trump, the wave of investigations, and other scandals, but there also was plenty of focus on the Democrats lurch left, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs tax proposals and the Green New Deal. Klobuchar was the target of a few barbs about the New York Times story on how she treats her staff, and an instance in which an aide got her a salad to eat on a plane flight, only to forget to bring a fork. So instead, Klobuchar ate with her comb. She herself took note. Im telling you. You guys havent lived until youve toasted a bagel with a blow dryer. Or ironed a grilled cheese sandwich on an ironing board. MacGyver! Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Parents of College Student Who Died After North Korean Arrest Blast Trump for Defense of Kim Jong-Un Otto Warmbier's Parents Criticize Trump Over Kim Jong-Un The parents of a University of Virginia student who died after apparently being brutalized in North Korean custody for more than a year said Friday they were compelled to speak out about President Donald Trumps defense of the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. We have been respectful during this summit process. Now we must speak out, Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement sent to multiple news outlets, including NBC News and the Washington Post. They continued: Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. No excuses or lavish praise can change that. The Warmbiers stinging criticism comes soon after President Trump said he believed the North Korean leader had no foreknowledge of the treatment of Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years of prison and hard labor for allegedly stealing a political propaganda poster from his Pyongyang hotel. Otto was in North Korea with a tour group and was arrested on Jan. 2, 2016, while trying to board a plane back to the U.S. After being detained for more than 17 months, Otto was released to the U.S. on June 13, 2017, in a coma. He died days and had suffered severe brain damage. He was 22. The exact details of time in North Korean custody have never been made public. In a statement at the time, Ottos family said he had been brutalized and terrorized by what they called a pariah regime referring to North Koreas longstanding ostracization from the international community. Dad Fred told Fox News in 2017: Theyre brutal. Theres no sense to anything here. Theyve crossed a line with my son, Otto. It would be very difficult to look for a lesson here amongst this insanity. Otto Warmbier (center) in 2016 Trump made his defense of the Kim on Thursday while in Hanoi, Vietnam, for a summit about North Koreas possible denuclearization. (Those talks soon collapsed.) I really dont think it was in [Kims] interest at all, Trump said in a news conference, adding that he did speak to the dictator about Otto. What happened is horrible. I really believe something very bad happened to him and I dont think that the top leadership knew about it. Story continues I dont believe that [Kim] would have allowed that to happen, Trump continued. It just wasnt to his advantage to allow that to happen. Those prisons are rough. Theyre rough places. And bad things happened. But I really dont believe that he was I dont believe he knew about it. He felt badly about it, the president added. He knew the case very well, but he knew it later. Youve got a lot of people. Big country, a lot of people. And in those prisons and those camps, you have a lot of people. And some really bad things happened to Otto, some really, really bad things. But [Kim] tells me he didnt know about it and I will take him at his word, Trump finished. This is not the first time the president has taken the side of a totalitarian leader on the global stage. At a meeting in Finland last year, Trump sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin whom he has long praised on the issue of Russias cyber-interference in the 2016 presidential election. According to the American intelligence community, Russia was working to help Trump beat Hillary Clinton. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State on Sunday, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja. The governor, who is also a Senator-elect was suspended by the National Working Commitee, NWC of the All Progressives Congress, APC, alongside his colleague, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, over anti-party activities on Thursday. The details of his visit to the president, as at the time of filing this report, had not been made known 29 deported migrant parents return to the US, hoping to reunite with their children and seek asylum originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This story is a part of an ongoing ABC News project called Borderline, documenting immigration at the US-Mexico border. At a San Antonio airport one day last May, Jesus, an immigrant from Honduras, waited for his 6-year-old son, Ariel, from whom he had been separated days earlier when the pair was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents after crossing the Rio Grande. Jesus, 31, was waiting for a reunion that would never happen. I cried inconsolably, the father said. The heartbroken dad was among a group of 29 migrant parents who said they were deported without their children and made the journey back to the United States in hopes of reuniting with their kids. They reached Californias Calexico Port of Entry on Saturday to reapply for asylum with the help of immigrant advocate attorneys. PHOTO: Central American asylum seekers wait as U.S. Border Patrol agents take them into custody on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images) When they arrived, the group was initially told by CBP agents at the U.S. border that they were at capacity and could not process these parents, according to the migrants' attorneys. But after a 10-hour wait, during which volunteers brought stacks of pizzas, toys and coloring books for the children, CBP agents notified the group that they should gather their belongings in order to be processed. The families quickly followed the request, taking off belts and jewelry and pulling out all their documents to have them ready to present to officials. As of Sunday, the parents were still waiting to reunite with their children. For Jesus and the other parents, it was the latest frustrating step in a months-long journey to make their families whole again. PHOTO: Jesus said he was separated and deported without his son, and is now seeking reunification and asylum. March 1, 2019. (ABC News) The Honduran father and his son came to the U.S. last spring to seek asylum after being beaten and threatened by local gangs back home, he told ABC News. (MORE: A grandmother's 2,700-mile journey to Tijuana's migrant shelter and her wait for a family reunion) Story continues In a declaration that Jesus plans to file with a new asylum application, Jesus wrote that an officer told him that by "putting one foot in the U.S., the government owns my son and they would do anything they wanted. He wrote that he told the officer that he wouldnt allow it and that the officer tore my son from my arms and I was ordered to place my hands on the wall. When I turned around, I couldnt see my son, but I could hear his cries. Jesus said he signed a document in English, a language he doesn't speak or write; he says he it thought was an asylum application, but it was actually a deportation agreement. PHOTO: Over two dozen parents arrived at the Calexico Port of Entry in Calexico, Calif., seeking asylum and to be reunited with their separated children. (ABC News) After I signed the documents, the officer laughed and said I had just signed my deportation, Jesus wrote, adding that when he asked the officer why he had done that, the officer said, "not to worry, that my child would be at the airport. At the Texas airport that day, some nine months ago, Jesus waited for Ariel. (MORE: Mexican man dies in Border Patrol custody after crossing US-Mexico border, third in as many months) When it was time to board, he said he did not see his son and refused to get on the plane without him. Jesus said he accused the officer of lying to him. And Jesus said he felt like he was tricked again when the officer responded that Ariel was probably on his way or would be on his way a couple days after, because there was a special plane that would only take minors, he wrote in a filing. Jesus ultimately boarded the plane without Ariel. PHOTO: Jesus and his family in Tijuana, Mexico two weeks before presenting themselves at the U.S. border. (ABC News) U.S. Custom and Border Protection did not respond to repeated requests by ABC News for comment. In June, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended the Trump administration's position on separating children from migrant parents who cross the border illegally. "If people dont want to be separated from their children, they should not bring them with them," Sessions said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "Weve got to get this message out. Youre not given immunity." And in December, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said the immigration system has been "pushed to a breaking point," and lumped parents trying to cross the border with their children in with criminals. "Smugglers, traffickers, and their own parents put these minors at risk by embarking on the dangerous and arduous journey north," she said in a statement in December. The group of 29 migrant parents are among the approximately 430 migrant parents who were separated and deported without their children under the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy, according to government data. The government has identified a total of 2,816 children who were separated from their parents at the southern border last year. Of these children, 2,735 have been reunited with a parent, placed with a sponsor, or turned 18, according to a legal document filed last month by the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies. These figures, however, only account for separated children who were in government custody on or after June 26, 2018, when a California federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop separating families, unless the parent was unfit or dangerous, and try to reunite them. (MORE: Trump administration admits thousands more migrant families may have been separated than estimated) Last month, government lawyers did not dispute findings by the Health and Human Services Inspector General's office that thousands more children may have been separated from their parents at the border than was previously known and that a "steep increase" of separations began in the summer of 2017, almost a year before the "zero-tolerance" policy was announced by Sessions last spring. Some of the families who presented themselves at the U.S. border this weekend could be part of this previously unaccounted-for group. Lee Gelernt, lead attorney in the ongoing federal lawsuit that seeks to reunite separated families and deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, told ABC News that he "hopes these previously-deported families will now be able to reunite with their children, like the other plaintiffs" in his lawsuit. PHOTO: Over two dozen parents arrived at the Calexico Port of Entry in Calexico, Calif., seeking asylum and to be reunited with their separated children. (ABC News) Another parent among the group of 29 families who made the trek back to the U.S. hoping to reunite with a child is Elmer, a former police officer from Honduras and the sole guardian of his 15-year-old daughter. He fled the country with his daughter in June and crossed the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas. Elmers story has similarities to the one told by Jesus. He said he signed papers in English after arriving at a detention center he called hieleras, which means icebox in Spanish. The official only laughed and told me not to worry about it, Elmer, who also asked for anonymity, wrote in a declaration. "Those were the only papers I ever signed. If I had known I was signing my own deportation, I never would have signed the papers. PHOTO: Elmer married his fiancee Delcy near the Mexico-U.S. border March 1, 2019. (ABC News) The following morning, he said his daughter woke up with a fever. Elmer said he begged the officials to help her before she was taken away. That was the last time he saw her, he said. Amid the uncertainty and anxiety, Friday night was a mix of celebration and nerves for the migrant families staying at the Hotel del Norte, located just minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border. Elmer married his pregnant fiancee, Delsy, in a ceremony attended by 50 others. (MORE: Fact Check: Trump's claims on undocumented immigrant crime rates. Here's what the numbers show.) The partygoers described it as a brief moment of happiness in a long journey, and a reprieve from their worries. (MORE: Rep. Steven King has 'been demonizing immigrants and brown people for a long time': Hispanic Caucus chairman) And on Saturday, the migrant families, along with a team of lawyers and volunteers, hugged and cried as they officially entered the United States. Beyond the joy of crossing the border, the parents must now wait. Jesus' son, Ariel, is currently living with extended family in Washington, D.C., and has not seen his parents or sister since May, according to Jesus. PHOTO: Ariel, age 6, separated from his father at the Southern border last spring, is living in Washington, D.C., with sponsors and Facetimes with his parents. March 3, 2019. (ABC News) During that time, Jesus said he received gang threats again when he returned to Honduras. When he returned to the U.S. border on Saturday, he did so this time with the rest of his family -- his wife, Mira, and his daughter, Riccy. PHOTO: Mira is hoping to reunify with son Ariel, age 6, and apply for asylum in the U.S. March 1, 2019. (ABC News) Now that he's in the U.S., Jesus told ABC News that the first thing he wants to do is reunite with my son. His eyes teared up as he rested his head on his wifes shoulder. Both Jesus and Elmer have now filed the initial paperwork to begin their asylum applications, according to their lawyer Erika Pinheiro, the litigation and policy director for Al Otro Lado. This is a huge victory for these families, but this fight isnt over until theyre reunited with their kids, said Pinheiro. These parents are now going into the black hole of CBP custody. Some could be separated again. Some could go into ICE custody. "But, we hope that CBP and ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] do the right thing and immediately release these parents and reunite them with their kids," she added. "If they dont, were ready to keep fighting for these families. 4 women fined, sentenced to probation for leaving water for migrants crossing US-Mexico border originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A federal judge sentenced four women to 15 months probation and a $250 fine each on Friday as a result of charges stemming from leaving out jugs of water and cans of beans for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The women were convicted in January of operating a vehicle without a permit at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona. They were also convicted of entering a wildlife refuge without a permit and abandonment of property after a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer stopped them in August 2017. The women -- Natalie Hoffman, Oona Holcomb, Madeline Huse and Zaachila Orozco-McCormick -- all volunteer for the organization No More Deaths, which is dedicated to saving the lives of immigrants crossing into the United States illegally. PHOTO: Supports of four humanitarian aid volunteers facing criminal charges for dropping off water at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge display this sign, showing the number of recovered human remains found in the remote desert wilderness. (Rafael Carranza/The Republic via USA TODAY Network) "The border crisis in this country is a matter of life and death," Huse said in a statement from the organization after the sentencing. "History will not favor those on the wrong side of it. Our border policy continues to push people into remote and dangerous parts of the desert." The border crisis continues to be a focal point in the country as President Donald Trump argues the need for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump forced a shutdown of the government in December and January over $5 billion in funding for the wall -- a signature campaign promise. The president declared a national emergency on Feb. 15 in order to secure some funding for the wall. (MORE: Humanitarian volunteers convicted on charges related to leaving food, water for migrants at Arizona-Mexico border) Trump returned to the theme on Saturday in a freewheeling, campaign-style speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "The lawless chaos on our southern border provides a lucrative cash flow to some of the most dangerous criminal organizations on the planet," Trump told the audience. "Deadly cartels constantly, daily, hourly, violate our borders to flood our cities with drugs that kill thousands and thousands of our citizens, violently. What are these people talking about when they talk about the border, keep it open? Keep what open? Have you been there, have you seen?" Story continues PHOTO: A monument marks the boundary between Mexico and the United States at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Reserve on March 27, 2006 near Ajo, Arizona. (David McNew/Getty Images) No More Deaths reaffirmed a commitment to its cause in a statement following the sentencing. "We may have been found guilty but the real crime is the governments deliberate policy to use 'death as a deterrent' at the US/Mexico border," it said. "The criminalization of those acting in solidarity is a classic example of the ramping up of an authoritarian regime. "The humanitarian work that has ultimately brought us here today will continue to address the border crisis until there are no more deaths," it added. (MORE: Trump administration to expand 'Remain in Mexico' policy beyond San Ysidro port) The four women will be allowed to serve unsupervised probations. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernardo Velasco, who also delivered the sentence Friday, wrote in his decision in January that a federal law requires people who access Cabeza Prieta to obtain a permit for entry, which would require the applicant to remain on designated roads and not leave anything within the refuge. Prosecutors decided to forego prosecution of four other women -- Caitlin Deighan, Rebecca Richeimer, Zoe Anderson and Logan Hollarsmith -- after they agreed to pay a $250 fine on Feb. 21. Scott Warren, another member of the so-called "Cabeza 9," is facing three federal felony charges for allegedly harboring two undocumented immigrants, according to The Arizona Republic. He has denied those accusations. His trial gets underway in May. 'Miracle' ending in Northern California as sisters Caroline and Leia Carrico, ages 5 and 8, found alive originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Two young sisters have been found alive and safe after wandering away from their Northern California home and spending 44 hours lost in a cold, rainy forest, according to their mother and the local sheriff. The girls, 8-year-old Leia Carrico, and her 5-year-old sister, Caroline, were found by rescuers Sunday morning in rural Humboldt County, their mother, Misty Carrico, told ABC News. The sisters went missing Friday afternoon. "I am pleased to report that we all are witnessing a miracle today. Caroline and Leia have been found safe and sound in southern Humboldt," Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said at a news conference, prompting wild applause from rescuers, who had been searching for the girls for three days. PHOTO: 8-year-old Leia Carrico, and her 5-year-old sister, Caroline, were found by first responders approximately 1.4 miles south of their home in Humboldt County, Calif., March 3, 2019. (Humboldt County Sheriff's Office) Honsal said the sisters were discovered at about 10:30 a.m. local time by Piercy, California, Fire Chief Delbert Crumley and firefighter Abram Hill, who were among more than 200 rescuers from across the state who joined the search. The sheriff said the girls were found near Richardson State Park, about 1.4 miles south of their home in Benbow. They responded when rescuers called out for them, and were found huddled together under a bush. The girls told first responders that they got lost following a deer trail, and decided to stay where they were. They were able to drink fresh water from Huckleberry leaves. He said Crumley and Hill were following tracks in their assigned search area when they came upon boot prints, and eventually found the little girls. PHOTO: A search is on in Humboldt County for 8-year-old Leia Carrico and her 5-year-old sister, Caroline Carrico, who went missing on March 1, 2019, after wandering away from their home in Benbow, Calif. (Humboldt County Sheriff's Office) "They were safe and sound, still ambulatory, in good spirits, no injuries," Honsal said. "These girls definitely have a survival story to tell." He said the girls were examined by paramedics and the initial assessment showed they were dehydrated and cold. They were reunited with their parents on Sunday afternoon shortly after they were located. Story continues "We could not have had a better outcome than we've had this morning," Honsal said. "It's an absolute miracle." Misty Carrico told authorities her daughters went missing about 3 p.m. on Friday from their home in Benbow, near the Eel River and the famed Julia Morgan Redwood Grove. She went looking for them with neighbors and friends before calling the sheriff's office three hours later. "The two asked to go for a walk. The mother said, 'No.' And then in the course of getting things ready and stuff, she noticed they were missing around 3 o'clock," Honsal said. Authorities had launched an expansive search that involved more than 170 personnel from 21 law enforcement and military agencies, including two helicopter crews and 12 K-9 units. The search extended into Sunday with officers going door to door and inspecting all vehicles going in and out of the sprawling area where the search was centered, about 280 miles north of San Francisco. (MORE: Missing North Carolina girl, 13, found in Oklahoma after alleged abduction) The girls were found just hours before a rain storm was scheduled to hit the area. A photo released by the sheriff's department showed Caroline, dressed in a pink sweater and matching rain boots, speaking with a firefighter shortly after she and her big sister were found. #searchandrescue #update Leia and Caroline were found approximately 1.4 miles south of their residence near Richardson's Grove. Here's a first look from the scene where first responders located the girls. Press release with more information as soon as possible today. pic.twitter.com/k2bUTQOtrt Humboldt County Sheriff (@HumCoSO) March 3, 2019 (MORE: Missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs found alive after she was kidnapped, parents murdered) Humboldt County Supervisor Estelle Fennell praised the rescuers and thanked the community for all their prayers over the course of the search. (MORE: Father of missing boy Maddox Ritch 'started panicking' after he got out of sight) "I have to tell you that when we got the first word that the kids may be safe, there was still a question mark in a lot of people's minds," Fennell said. "It is so amazing to have such good news, to know they are safe. We have so many of these kinds of efforts that end up in tears and tragedy." Rapper Young Dolph has $500,000 in jewelry stolen from car at Georgia Cracker Barrel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Rapper Young Dolph is out almost half a million dollars in jewelry after his car was broken into while sitting in a Cracker Barrel parking lot earlier this week. The 33-year-old Memphis, Tennessee, rapper was eating lunch at the restaurant in Fairburn, Georgia, a suburb southwest of Atlanta, on Wednesday when someone came into the restaurant and said his custom camouflage-painted Mercedes-Benz SUV had been broken into, according to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. The thieves made off with a laundry list of items, mostly jewelry. Included in the stolen items was a Richard Mille watch valued at approximately $230,000, two diamond chains valued at approximately $57,000 and $27,000, a Patek Philippe watch valued at approximately $85,000 and Cartier sunglasses valued at $24,000. A Glock handgun, Pirelli backpack, iPad and his $3,000 MacBook were also stolen, Dolph told police. (MORE: NYPD probe launched into alleged threat by police commander against rapper 50 Cent) Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr., has had four albums reach the Billboard Top 100, including his debut in 2016. He also appeared on rapper O.T. Genasis's 2015 hit single, "Cut It." That song peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard charts, sold over 2 million copies and has over 200 million views on YouTube. Police have surveillance video of the break-in, but have not arrested any suspects. PHOTO: Rapper Young Dolph, 33, had his SUV broken into at a Fairburn, Ga., Cracker Barrel restaurant on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Almost $500,000 in jewelry was stolen, police said. (Google Maps) "It was unusual in a number of ways," Fairburn Police Department Assistant Police Chief Anthony Bazydlo told WSB. "No. 1, we see the suspects in the video. They come to this vehicle three separate times." Bazydlo told WSB that Dolph flashed his lights multiple times before exiting the vehicle, saying, "That's interesting to us in terms of what was happening with the vehicle. Was it being locked? Unintentionally unlocked? We don't know." Story continues (MORE: R. Kelly out on bond after 3 nights in jail) Dolph is a regular poster on Instagram, where he is currently holding a contest to give away a different camouflage-painted car, but has not mentioned the theft. PHOTO: Young Dolph performs in concert at Gramercy Theatre, Jan. 31, 2019, in New York. (John Lamparski/Getty Images) Young Dolph nearly died in a shooting in September 2017 -- one of multiple times he's been targeted. He was shot in front of a Shoe Palace store at Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles and taken to the hospital in critical condition. He was also shot at, but not struck, in a drive-by in North Carolina in February 2017. His single "100 Shots" is based on that attack. US ends annual spring military exercises with South Korea originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Seeking to give diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea more of a chance, the U.S. and South Korea have decided to stop holding the large-scale annual spring exercises that have irritated North Korea in the past. Instead, replacing them with smaller-scale exercises intended to maintain the readiness of U.S. and South Korean troops on the Korean Peninsula. The move was announced following a phone call on Saturday between acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. (MORE: Sons of missing Korean War soldier receive his dog tag) "The Secretary and Minister reviewed and approved the Alliance decisions recommended by the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff on the combined exercise and training program," said a Pentagon statement reading during their phone call. "Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises." PHOTO: In this file photo, members of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Underwater Dive Team prepare for an explosive ordnance disposal exercise off the coast of Jinhae, South Korea, March 3, 2017, as part of exercise Foal Eagle 2017. (Alfred A. Coffield/U.S. Navy Combat Camera/Handout via Reuters, FILE) "The Minister and Secretary made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the statement said. On Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump tweeted said he put a halt to the exercises to "save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed." "That was my position long before I became President," he said. "Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed. That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2019 Every spring for two months the U.S. and South Korea held multiple combat exercises throughout the Korean Peninsula involving tens of thousands of ground, sea and air forces from both countries under the umbrella name "Foal Eagle." Story continues A separate exercise known as "Key Resolve" was a computer simulation for commanders and their staffs. Both exercises simulated a joint U.S. and South Korean response to a North Korean invasion. (MORE: Why are US and UN sanctions on North Korea critical to denuclearization talks?) Both exercises also served as shows of force to remind North Korea of the American military commitment to defend South Korea. Not surprisingly, the annual exercises consistently riled North Korea which often issued inflammatory statements describing them as provocative. At times North Korea would respond with military shows of force of its own -- carrying out ballistic missiles that heightened tensions. PHOTO: A U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet lands as South Korea and the U.S. conduct the Max Thunder joint military exercise at an air base in Gwangju, South Korea, May 16, 2018. (Park Chul-hog/Yonhap via AP) The Pentagon statement said both exercises will be "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." U.S. officials said holding the new exercises at lower command levels will allow both the U.S. and South Korean militaries to maintain their readiness though possibly not at the same levels as if the larger exercises had been held. Last fall, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the exercises would be "scaled back" to give more space to reduce tensions and give more space to diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea. (MORE: US-North Korea summit with President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un cut short in Vietnam) Following the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore last June, Trump announced the cancellation of "war games" he felt were too costly and "provocative." That decision led to the suspension of the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise held every August. NBC News first reported the planned end to the exercises on Friday. Trumps meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un did not result in an agreement to get rid of North Koreas nuclear weapons program, but the decision to end the exercises this spring indicates the U.S. and South Korea want to continue giving those talks as much diplomatic space as possible. Winter storm could dump 6 to 8 inches of snow on New York City; bring tornadoes, hail to South. Boston and NYC to close schools. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A new winter storm racing across the country brought snow from the Great Plains to the Midwest on Sunday before bringing significant snow to the Northeast and severe weather to the South later on in the day. Both Boston and New York City announced that public schools would be closed on Monday Brutal cold will move in behind the storm. Wind chills are as low as minus 30 and minus 40 in the Northern Plains and parts of Upper Midwest early Sunday. This air will move east over the next 48 hours. By Tuesday morning, single-digit wind chills will arrive in the Northeast. At least 3 inches of snow was reported in Denver Sunday morning from this storm, with 4 to 8 inches of snow reported in the foothills west of Interstate 25 in the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas. Locally, 3 to 5 inches of snow is being reported in western Kansas. The snow shield was moving across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska early Sunday with difficult travel expected on Interstate 70, Interstate 35 and Interstate 80. PHOTO: Storm alerts are in place across much of the country due to a fast-moving winter storm. (ABC News) At least 110 million Americans were under a winter weather alert on Sunday morning, including winter storm warnings, winter storm watches, winter weather advisories, wind chill warnings and wind chill advisories. Philadelphia, New York City and Boston are all included among the winter storm warnings. Also, nearly 24 million Americans are at risk for severe weather in the South on Sunday. PHOTO: Heavy rain is developing to the South on Sunday while snow forms to the north. (ABC News) Heavy rain moved into the Mississippi River Valley. Flash flooding is possible because some parts of this region are very saturated from heavy rain the last two weeks. Most of the eastern U.S. will be impacted by this major storm by late Sunday afternoon, with significant severe weather in the South and snow moving into the Northeast, including Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHOTO: The snow will move into the Northeast Sunday evening. The South will be at risk for severe weather, including tornadoes and hail. (ABC News) On Sunday afternoon a line of intense storms will form along the cold front and become intense during the late afternoon and early evening hours. Story continues There is an enhanced risk for severe weather across parts of Alabama and Georgia with strong tornadoes possible, along with damaging winds and large hail. During a tornado warning in Lee County Alabama, there were several tornado touch-downs. Dispatchers told ABC News that the county is currently in "response and recovery," and two deaths have been confirmed. PHOTO: Severe weather could bring tornadoes, hail and damaging winds to the South on Sunday. (ABC News) The storm will intensify as it tracks Northeast late Sunday into early Monday. It remains to be seen how close the rain/snow line comes to the major Interstate 95 cities as the latest guidance shows the rain/snow line will be right on or near I-95. PHOTO: The rain/snow line will form somewhere along Interstate 95. (ABC News) There will be a wide swath of 3 to 6 inches of snow across the Northeast from Pennsylvania to Maine. However, there will also be an area from New Jersey to Massachusetts that will likely exceed 6 inches of snow. This region's snow totals will ultimately be determined by where the rain/snow line sets up. New York City and Boston are projected to get 6 to 8 inches of snow, while Hartford, Connecticut, will see 4 to 6 inches. PHOTO: Snowfall totals will be highest stretching northeast from Philadelphia through New York City, Boston and Portland, Maine. (ABC News) The storm will begin to pull away from the Northeast early Monday. The storm will be moving rather fast, and the heaviest snow will be late Sunday night before the storm quickly moves off to the north and east. PARIS Business accelerator Tomorrow is expanding its business in Paris, with the opening of a showroom that will focus on highlighting gender-fluid, womens wear and conceptual streetwear brands. The space, which is called Tomorrow Le Palais and situated in Paris Left Bank, opened its doors with an event Saturday night during Paris Fashion Week. Related stories Disco, Rollerblades and Grace Jones: Inside Tommy Hilfiger and Zendaya's Epic Paris Show Wes Gordon, Grace Elizabeth Harry Cabe Hold Cocktail in Paris Inside Kenzo Takada's Flamboyant Birthday Bash For fall 2019, the showroom will represent brands including Ottolinger, Mister IT, Akiko Aoki, Aalto, Pyer Moss, Afterhomework and Situationist. It has also partnered with the likes of Ambush, the jewelry label by Diors Yoon Ahn, Colville, Coperni and Diesel Red Tag x GR-Uniforma, who will all create installations that will be showcased across the new space, an 18th-century mansion built by renown architect Germain Boffrand. The Colville installation at Tomorrow Le Palais. We work for, and service, many different communities and it was important at this point in the development of our platform to be able to showcase our projects in different locations. This has become more apparent, as we are very involved with the brands, and support them across all aspects of their businesses from investment to product development, to launch, said Stefano Martinetto, the platforms chief executive officer. He added that the aim of the new space isnt to sign on a large number of new brands, but rather keep a small selection and offer them a space where they can host shows, performances or showcase artistic installations to tell their stories. Creating such intimate experiences and strong visuals is an essential part of building a brands business for Martinetto, particularly when it comes to high-end, gender-fluid, new generation labels. The retail partnerships that we develop are based on the experience, go-to market and activation strategies that we create, and it is important to be able to showcase our understanding of this, and our ability to execute these properly, he added. Story continues The Aalto installation at Tomorrow Le Palais. This is the second showroom the company has opened in Paris and also operates showrooms in Milan, New York, London and Hong Kong. Its original Parisian space, Tomorrow Luxembourg, focuses on more established names across the fine-jewelry, accessories and ready-to-wear categories. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. In early February, Michelin put its 2019 Guide for the Main Cities of Europe up for pre-order on Amazon, with an official release date of March 27. The book acts as a dining and hotel guide for people traveling in Europe, offering logistics advice, mapsand, of course, plenty of restaurant recommendations. This years edition saw three cities addedReykjavik, Dubrovnik, and Zagreband with the latter two cities located in Croatia, it seemed to signify that the countrys dining scene was having a moment. Today, that theory was proven correct with Michelins release of the third Croatia Guide, which added two one-starred restaurants to the list. This selection shows the potential of the Croatian gastronomic scene, enriched by multiple influences; from Mediterranean tastes in Dalmatia, Italian influences in Istria and Slavic tastes from Zagreb to Slavonia, which together creates a unique culinary identity, Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides, said a statement. Now, two one-starred restaurants might not sound like a big dealbut, last year, Croatia only had three starred restaurants in total (all one-star), so this addition almost doubles the countrys star count. In fact, it wasnt that long ago that Monte in Rovinj, the countrys first Michelin-starred restaurant, was the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the entire country, with Pelegrini in Sibenik and 360 in Dubrovnik joining its ranks in 2018. So with one starred restaraunt in the first guide, and two more restaurants added each in 2018 and 2019, Croatia's gastronomy scene is on the rise. Last years guide said the country was improving fast, and in the 2019 announcement, it confirmed that statement by saying the inspectors saw a positive evolving trend, with the restaurant food standard continuing to improve. 2019s newly starred restaurants are Noel in Zagreb, and Draga di Lovrana, in Lovran. The guide referred to Noel as a fashionable restaurant with soft lighting and trendy, internationally inspired furnishings, where guests can enjoy exciting, colorful cuisine; Draga di Lovrana was highlighted for having a talented young chef, Deni Srdo?. There were also additions in the Bib Gourmand and Michelin Plate categories, for a grand total of seven new restaurants in the guide overalland, since six out of seven of them are in Zagreb, the guide noted that the city is dynamic and offer[s] diners diverse choices of cuisine with influences from the Mediterranean to Asia, and all using fresh market produce. So if youre heading to Croatia soon, dont leave the country without spending some time in the capital. McKenna Kinni Shea Xydias, the adorable toddler who made headlines earlier this year after the child was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, is now cancer free, Good Morning America reports. Kinni has been battling an extremely rare ovarian cancer called a germ cell tumor. Her parents were shocked when they learned of her diagnosis earlier this yearand with good reason: Most people dont associate ovarian cancer with two-year-olds. Kinnis doctor told GMA she expects the little girl will be able to thrive from here on out. Shes a rock star, the doctor added. Given what Kinnis been through, we agree. After Kenni came down with a fever and a bloated belly, parents Mike and Meagan sped to the pediatrician. The doctors assured the family that Kenni just had gas, the Xydiases told Good Morning America. Kenni's mother pressed the doctors for more tests, and a 14-centimeter tumor was found over her right ovary, among other smaller cancerous tumors near her liver and abdomen, according to her father. The family was shocked with their daughters diagnosis. How could a 2-year-old have stage 3 ovarian cancer? "The immediate reaction was, 'How could this happen?'," Mike Xydias told GMA. "I knew of this being [more common] in women. I didn't realize that it could happen to such a young kid." RELATED: The Ovarian Cancer Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Turns out, the ovarian cancer we typically think of is very different then the type of ovarian cancer Kenni had. Germ cell tumors are the most common form of sex-derived tumors in children, Don Eslin, MD, a pediatric oncologist with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, tells Health. Germ cell tumors of the ovary are tumors that start in cells that got stunted early in development but should have become normal parts of a child's reproductive organs, Dr. Eslin says. On the other hand, ovarian cancer in adults forms when something goes wrong later in life with normal cells, unlike germ cell tumors, which never developed into healthy cells, he says. Story continues Germ cell tumors are rare; however, they are the most common form of ovarian and testicular cancer in children. There are several types of germ cell tumors, but they are all treated the same, Dr. Eslin says, usually with surgery and chemotherapy. Kenni had surgery on February 18, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the Xydias family by Meagan's best friend. Doctors were able to remove 90% of Kenni's largest tumor, as well as other cancerous cells, but they had to remove one ovary and some of her small intestine in the process. Kenni was expected to start chemotherapy on February 27. RELATED: The 4 Stages of Ovarian Cancer, Explained Germ cell tumors can also occur in adults, Dr. Eslin says, but it's more likely to occur in children and teens. Childhood ovarian cancer accounts for less than 5% of all ovarian cancer cases, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. Unfortunately, not much else is known about this rare cancer, Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn with Orlando Health System, tells Health. Thats one of the frustrating components about cancer, we dont know why it happens sometimes. The Xydias family held on to hope that Kenni would kick cancer to the curb. "McKenna Shea is a rambunctious 2-year-old who has never let anything stop her and never will! the GoFundMe page said. Meagan and Mike Xydias - gofundme.com/fighting-with-kenni Meagan Xydias has an important message for other mothers who may have an inkling that their child is suffering from a larger health issue. "I know it can be hard as a mom to go to your doctor and say, 'Something is not right,' because they know what they're doing, but sometimes you have to trust your gut," she told GMA. "I hope after hearing Kenni's story people are willing to say, 'Hey, can you do one more check?'" To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter President Muhammadu Buhari has said that those who will be in his next cabinet, are people with integrity and Nigerias interest at heart. The was made known by the president at a dinner organised the All Progressives Congress (APC) women and youth to celebrate his re-election victory, on Saturday. Buhari didnt ail to blame the 16years reign of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, where rampant infrastructure decay, despite the high earning of the country, t the time. To ensure more food sufficiency and food export in Nigeria, Buhari further urged the youths to embrace agriculture, as measures have been taken to increase Agric production by farmers. Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Some 800 Palestinians crossed Sunda from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on their initial stage of a pilgrimage to Mecca, the first time since 2014 Egyptian authorities have granted visas for such a trip. The pilgrims left at around dawn and were to be met by buses on the Egyptian side to bring them to Cairo's airport, from where they would fly to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, said a Palestinian official at the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip. Fifteen Gazans among the 800 were not authorised to cross, according to a Palestinian security official at Rafah, without providing the reasons. Security sources on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing confirmed it was the first such permission for the Muslim umrah pilgrimage since the start of Egyptian military operations in northern Sinai in 2014. Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca that can be completed throughout the year, as opposed to the annual hajj pilgrimage. Around 2,500 pilgrims are authorised annually to leave Gaza via Egypt for the hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam that Muslims must undertake at least once in their lifetime. Since the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Egypt has faced a jihadist insurgency in North Sinai. Last year, Egypt's military launched a major offensive against the Sinai jihadists, though Cairo has for years considered the entire area a security priority. Gaza, run by Islamist movement Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade for more than a decade. Gaza militants and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. The Rafah crossing with Egypt is the only one out of Gaza not controlled by Israel. It had been largely closed in recent years, but was reopened some 10 months ago. Around 300 travellers use it daily in either direction, according to figures dating to December provided by the Gisha NGO, which monitors the blockade on Gaza. Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika pledged Sunday not to serve a full term if re-elected at April polls after huge protests against the bid to extend his 20 years in power. The ailing leader, who suffered a stroke in 2013, vowed in a letter read out on state television to organise a "national conference" that would set a date for early polls which he would not contest. "I pledge not to be a candidate in that election which will ensure I am succeeded in undeniable conditions of serenity, freedom and transparency," the letter read. "I listened and heard the cry from the hearts of protesters and in particular the thousands of young people who questioned me about the future of our homeland", it said. Bouteflika's bid to placate demonstrators came after tens of thousands of Algerians took to the streets against his bid for a fifth term in office in the biggest challenge to the authorities in years. Just after the announcement his campaign director formally submitted his candidacy for the April 18 poll ahead of a midnight (2300 GMT) Sunday deadline. Following that move a fresh demonstration erupted in central Algiers, and elsewhere in the country, with several hundred young people marching in the streets still opposed to Bouteflika's candidacy. Bouteflika remains in Switzerland where he has been for a week undergoing what the presidency describes as "routine medical tests", but there was no legal requirement for him to submit his candidacy in person. The veteran leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since his stroke. - Students protest - Hundreds of students staged new demonstrations against the president on Sunday in Algiers and other cities, two days after the tens of thousands of protesters thronged the country. Chanting "Bouteflika go away", the students rallied near the main city centre campus of the University of Algiers, which was cordoned off by police, AFP journalists said, while others demonstrated at other campuses. Story continues Police fired water cannon to prevent protesters from reaching the Constitutional Council, where presidential bids were formally lodged, security sources said. Rallies inside and outside campuses in the northeastern city of Annaba also drew hundreds chanting anti-Bouteflika slogans, a local journalist said on condition of anonymity. The TSA news website reported other protests in Algeria's second and third cities, Oran and Constantine. Bouteflika's announcement in February that he would seek another five-year term despite his failing health has unleashed pent-up frustrations in the North African country. The presidency has not detailed when he will return from the Geneva hospital. On Saturday, Bouteflika sacked his campaign manager Abdelmalek Sellal, a former premier who successfully oversaw the president's past three re-election bids, state media said, without giving a reason. Sellal was replaced by Transport Minister Abdelghani Zaalane. Alongside Bouteflika, several other candidates have registered, including prominent retired general Ali Ghediri, who was the first to announce he would run and has promised change. A Sunday editorial in El-Moudjahid newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said protesters would be "disappointed" in their campaign to force Bouteflika to pull out of the April election. - Tear gas and stones - On Friday, clashes erupted between police and protesters in Algiers as tens of thousands of people took to the streets. Riot police used tear gas and batons to keep some protesters from marching on the Government Palace which houses the prime minister's office. According to a police toll, 56 police officers and seven demonstrators were hurt and 45 alleged stone-throwers were arrested in Algiers. Bouteflika has been in power since 1999, initially gaining respect from many for his role in ending a civil war that officials say killed nearly 200,000 people. Authorities have warned that the protests risk dragging Algeria into instability, comparing the rallies to those that sparked Syria's ongoing war. Protesters have been mobilised by calls on social media, as many young Algerians struggle to find jobs in a country where half the population is under 30. In France, Algeria's former colonial power, several thousand people on Sunday joined anti-Bouteflika rallies in Paris, Marseilles and other cities. "Out out," shouted crowds in the Place de la Republique, central Paris, where protesters waved placards and some wrapped themselves in Algerian flags. West Virginias state government faced a string of disruptions Friday, after an anti-Muslim group was permitted to display Islamophobic propaganda at the statehouse, including a poster that targeted Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The display, set up by the anti-Muslim group WV ACT for America, was placed outside of the state legislatures chamber to mark WVGOP Day, according to the Washington Post. It was strewn with articles and reading materials with titles such as Readin, Writin, and Jihadin The Islamization of America Public Schools and The Four Stages of Islamic Conquest, according to local news channel WOWK-TV. However, a poster of Rep. Omar, the first congresswoman to wear a religious headscarf, particularly stood out. Disgusting! Poster hanging in West Virginia State House depicts image of @IlhanMN with 9/11! Here, why not use a photo of my daughter, or any other Muslim American on that poster?? Everyone should be outraged at this hate! pic.twitter.com/C7uFx6U3j1 david benter (@dabenter) March 2, 2019 The poster showed an image of the World Trade Center burning with the words Never Forget You said above them. Below was an image of Omar with the phrase, I am the proof you have forgotten. Rep. Omar, who has recently faced accusations of anti-Semitism and been a frequent target of racism, tweeted an image of the poster on Friday, as well as a post of graffiti that said Assassinate Ilhan Omar. No wonder why I am on the Hitlist of a domestic terrorist and Assassinate Ilhan Omar is written on my local gas station, Omar wrote. No wonder why I am on the Hitlist of a domestic terrorist and Assassinate Ilhan Omar is written on my local gas stations. Look no further, the GOP's anti-Muslim display likening me to a terrorist rocks in state capitols and no one is condemning them! https://t.co/0ouCaloWqh Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 1, 2019 In West Virginia, the display caused the statehouse to fall into upheaval. Story continues Sergeant-at-arms Anne Lieberman was accused by another legislator of saying, all Muslims are terrorists, according to the Register-Herald, leading to her resignation. A Democratic delegate, Mike Caputo, kicked in a door and injured a doorkeeper who wouldnt let him inside during the Pledge of Allegiance. Caputo later told the Register-Herald that he had kicked the door because he thought that the hostility had made it more important for him to be inside. My goal was to get in that chamber, protect my members, go to the speaker and try to figure this thing out, Caputo said. Multiple legislators spoke out against the hate speech, including state delegate Mike Pushkin, a Democrat. Its ugly, its hateful and theres absolutely no place for it in American politics, said Pushkin, according to WV News. Not in the country that I love. Not in the state that I love. We all give up our time during this time of year to come up here and serve our constituents because we love this state. Well, I love everybody in the state, no matter what they look like, who they pray to, who they love. Im tired of it. It disgusts me. House speaker Roger Hanshaw, a Republican, also condemned the incidents in a statement and said that the house leaders are working to investigate what happened. The West Virginia house of delegates unequivocally rejects hate in all of its forms, Hanshaws statement said. As we began todays floor session, we had a series of incidents occur in and outside of our chamber that absolutely do not reflect the character and civility the people of this state demand of their public servants. Others appeared to be less inclined to condemn the hate speech, arguing that it is a question of freedom of speech. While I may not agree with everything that is out there, I do agree that freedom of speech is something we have to protect, even if we dont agree with it, Republican state delegate Dianna Graves said. Maybe especially because we dont believe in it. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a friend of Omars and another freshman congresswoman, criticized the GOP on Saturday for failing to speak up against hate speech. When racism becomes acceptable on a partisan basis, and official GOP groups begin to use it to demonize communities, it puts real people in danger, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain could face an EU legal challenge if it seeks to delay Brexit because of the impact on EU legislative elections, a legal opinion produced for Germany's Bundestag said, potentially making it difficult for Berlin to back anything but a short extension. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that if Britain needed more time to sort out its departure from the European Union, she would not refuse. But a non-binding legal opinion, written by experts in the German lower house's Europe department as an aid for lawmakers, may raise doubts about whether Berlin could back the longer delay which pro-EU campaigners would need to stage a referendum on halting Brexit. "In all scenarios, legal provisions appear worth considering to protect the legitimacy of the European Parliament and its decisions from the political and legal risks that may be associated with an extended deadline," the opinion read. The next European Parliament will be elected on May 23-26. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but Prime Minister Theresa May has so far failed to convince parliament to back her withdrawal deal, risking a disorderly departure from the bloc. May for the first time this week raised the prospect of a short delay to avoid such a 'no deal' scenario, which some British lawmakers hope will open the way to stopping Brexit altogether. Should Brexit negotiations be extended up to the formation of the next European Parliament and Britain not take part in the elections, the Bundestag report said rights of its citizens and those from other EU member states resident in Britain would likely be violated. "Therefore, it would seem possible to initiate infringement proceedings against the UK by the (European) Commission or a member state" in the event of such an extension, the report added. If Britain takes part in the elections, "the question of (elected British representatives) losing the mandate arises if the UK withdraws during the legislature," it said. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Toby Chopra) Santiago (AFP) - Chile's President Sebastian Pinera sharply criticized his leftist predecessor and UN rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet Sunday for failing to condemn Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro for human rights violations. "The high commissioner Michelle Bachelet still has not condemned the Maduro dictatorship for violating human rights in Venezuela. This is insufficient, I say it with respect but I say it truthfully," Pinera said in an interview published in the El Mercurio newspaper Sunday. He said Bachelet's predecessor at the UN, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein of Jordan, "was much clearer, more categorical in condemning human rights abuses." Pinera, a Chilean billionaire elected president for the second time in 2017, is a key supporter of Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president. Pinera joined Guaido in the Colombian border city of Cucuta last weekend in an attempt to send international humanitarian aid into Venezuela, which was blocked on the border by Maduro's security forces. "The Lima Group -- formed by more than a dozen countries to help resolve the crisis in Venezuela -- and various democracies around the world are calling (on Bachelet) to fulfill the role as high commissioner to defend human rights in a country where they are being brutally overrun, as is the case in Venezuela," said Pinera. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza recently invited Bachelet to visit the country to see for herself the impact of US sanctions that Maduro insists are responsible for his country's crisis. Bachelet was Chile's president from 2006-2010 and from 2014-2018. WILLOW, Alaska (AP) Joar Leifseth Ulsom may not be flashy or brash, but he has sled cred. The quiet, unassuming 32-year-old defending champion of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race leads the field of 52 mushers hoping to be the first to reach Alaska's western coast after a thousand-mile (1,600-kilometer) trek across the wilderness. Most of the contestants are Americans, but the lineup also features international mushers: two from Norway, including Ulsom; four from Canada; and one each from Sweden and France. Their quest officially began Sunday when the mushers took off from a frozen lake about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Anchorage. A ceremonial start designed to be a fan-friendly experience was held Saturday in downtown Anchorage. The winner is expected in Nome, an old Gold Rush town on Alaska's Bering Sea coast, in about nine days. The Iditarod seems to go in streaks. Lance Mackey in 2007 won his first of four straight before health problems began to set in. Two years after Mackey's run, the Seavey legacy took hold, with mushers Mitch and his son, Dallas, combining to win the next six races. Ulsom broke the Seaveys' string last year. If that came as a shock to anyone, they weren't paying attention to his career. His worst Iditarod finish was seventh place in 2013, his rookie year. Since then, he's had two sixth place finishes and a couple of fourths. It's all part of his strategy. "Basically since I came to Alaska, I kind of had a good plan," he said. He tweaks it little by little every year, but he hasn't made any wholesale changes to his training now that he's the defending champion. What has changed for the musher living in Willow, Alaska's dog-mushing capital, was the instant fame his victor status granted him, not only in Alaska but in his Norway. "It's definitely been a bigger deal winning the race than I thought it was going to be," he said. Ulsom traveled to Norway twice last summer for dog symposiums where his victory was celebrated alongside those of other winter athletes. Norway won the most medals at last year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Story continues There is "definitely a lot of pride in Norway from the Olympics and for me winning the race because mushing, I think, is second to Alaska in popularity," he said. "It's a big deal in Norway, and they have some good races over there." But he promises it hasn't changed him or gone to his head. "It was a lot of fun, and people are excited and stuff, but nothing crazy," he said. "I'm still just a normal goofball." One of Norway's big sled dog races is the Finnmarkslopet, which starts about a week after the Iditarod. Ulsom said it draws mushers from across Europe, but for the second year in a row, it has one of the top American mushers. Four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey took his team to Norway last year in protest after Iditarod officials said some of his dogs tested positive in 2017 for an opioid painkiller, an allegation he adamantly denied. New members were later placed on the Iditarod's governing board, and they reversed the decision, clearing Seavey of any wrongdoing. Yet Seavey chose to race again this year in Norway, telling The Associated Press he had unfinished business there after placing third last year. He said he would eventually return to the Alaska race. The Iditarod has suffered other recent setbacks, many related to the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals pressuring national sponsors to drop the race. When national sponsors drop out, smaller Alaska-based companies fill the void, but the race has been hurt financially. The winning musher will earn about $50,000 and a new pickup, the same as last year. But it's down about $20,000 from the winner's purse in 2017. The total purse this year is again $500,000 about $250,000 below the 2017 purse. Ulsom calls the PETA activism "kind of ridiculous when you start looking into it," adding that mushers take "exceptional" care of the dogs and use them for what they're meant to be used for. "These dogs have it in them that they want to run, and so that's what they're bred and meant do, and they love it," he said. Dubai (AFP) - Five Yemeni children were killed in an attack on their home in flashpoint Hodeida province, the UN and medics said, months into a ceasefire agreed by the government and rebels. The UN children's agency (UNICEF) said that the five children were "playing at home" when they were killed on Thursday. It did not give details on the nature of the attack or the perpetrators. "Each day, eight children are killed or injured across 31 active conflict zones in the country," UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said in a statement Saturday. Medics in the Tuhayta district, in southern Hodeida, on Sunday confirmed to AFP that they had transferred dead and wounded children to a hospital in the government-held Khokha district nearby. The Red Sea province of Hodeida has witnessed some of the Yemen war's most intense fighting, which has eased since the government and Huthi rebels agreed to a ceasefire in the area in December. The Iran-backed Huthis have battled the government and its allies in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for control of the impoverished country for four years. Hodeida, held by the rebels since 2014, has witnessed intermittent clashes between the Huthis and pro-government forces since the ceasefire went into effect on December 18. Around 10,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed and more than 60,000 wounded since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the conflict in 2015, according to the World Health Organization. Rights groups say the real figure could be five times as high. The conflict has triggered what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 10 million people at risk of starvation. Over 24 million Yemenis -- more than three quarters of the country's population -- are now dependent on some form of aid for survival, according to the UN. NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan handed over a captured combat pilot to India on Friday, and he was being taken for medical checks, an Indian defense official said. "This check-up is mandated particularly because the officer has had to eject from an aeroplane," Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor told reporters near a border crossing in India's northern state of Punjab. The pilot, whom India named on Thursday as Wing Commander Abhinandan, has become the human face of the most recent conflict between the two nations. Having attempted to evade capture, he is being portrayed as a hero in India. (Reporting by Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Senator representing Kogi Central has called out the Kogi state government for an alleged plot to attack him during the forthcoming March 9, 2019, state election. Read his statement; Kogi State Govt planning to Attack me on the 8th or 9th of this month. You will fail as always. God is my defense at all times. Nigerians take note..https://mobile.twitter.com/dino_melaye/status/1101950336267440128 This is another allegation in the series of allegation and counter-allegation between Dino Melaye and Kogi State Government. Tehran (AFP) - US allies in the Middle East risk an uprising by their "humiliated citizens" if they continue to rely on Washington, a top Iranian security official warned Sunday in comments carried by state media. "(US President) Trump and even his underlings ridicule and humiliate Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates day and night, saying that you're nothing without us and cannot last a day without America's support," said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Back in October, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's 83-year-old King Salman "might not be there for two weeks" without US military support. The comments were mostly shrugged off by Riyadh. "Our prediction about America's allies in the region is that if they continue the policy of relying on Islam's enemies, they will face the uprising of their humiliated citizens," said Shamkhani, whose comments were published by the official IRNA news agency. Iran's relations with its Gulf neighbours have soured in recent years and tensions escalated last month when the Islamic Republic accused Riyadh and Abu Dhabi of being complicit in a suicide bombing that killed 27 Iranian troops. The Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards blasted the "traitorous governments of Saudi Arabia and (the) Emirates" and said Iran will no longer tolerate their "hidden support for anti-Islam thugs and Takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups." The February 13 bombing targeted a busload of Guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan and was claimed by Jaish al-Adl, a Pakistan-based extremist group blacklisted by Iran as terrorists. BAGHDAD (AP) A local police official says an Iraqi novelist has been killed by live fire in the southern city of Karbala. The official says Alaa Mashzoub was gunned down Saturday night by unknown assailants after he left a literary event in the city and was headed home on his motorcycle. He spoke on condition of anonymity according to regulations. It was not immediately clear why Mashzoub was killed. Nawfal al-Hamadani, a member of the city's union of writers, told The Associated Press on Sunday that by the time Mashzoub's colleagues reached the hospital, he was already dead because of the large number of gunshot wounds he sustained. Mashzoub has 20 published books and wrote extensively about Karbala's history and culture, and about Iraq's once-thriving Jewish minority. Iraq has seen a number of political assassinations in the past year, particularly of outspoken activists and critics. ___ Associated Press writer Mustafa Faraj contributed to this report. Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Israel's military said its air force struck a Hamas target in the north of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, in response to "explosive devices" that were sent towards the Jewish state. "Today, explosive devices were hurled from the Gaza Strip at Israels border fence," the Israeli army said on Twitter. The army said one of its aircraft targeted a Hamas military post in response. The reported strike came after a Hamas security source said Sunday Israeli aircraft had struck its observation points elsewhere in the Gaza Strip late Saturday. Those strikes -- east of Al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip and east of Rafah in the south of the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave -- did not wound anyone, the Hamas security source said. The strikes occurred after a "cluster of balloons carrying an explosive device was launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory," the Israeli army said in a statement. "No injuries or damage were reported," it said. Palestinians in Gaza have for months sporadically launched balloons with incendiary and explosive devices at southern Israel in parallel with weekly protests and clashes taking place at the border fence. At least 251 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March 2018, the majority shot during the weekly border protests and others hit by tank fire or air strikes in response to violence from Gaza. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. Berkeley professor Jennifer Doudna worked in an obscure area of biology how bacteria fight viral infections when she helped make a discovery that could change life on Earth: CRISPR, a gene-editing tool capable of changing the DNA of any living thing almost as simply as using a find-and-replace function in a word processor. Genetic diseases from cancer to congenital blindness could be cured, but CRISPRs possibilities go far beyond that, from bioengineering crops to resurrecting extinct species (scientists at Harvard are working on the woolly mammoth) to the moral slippery slope of designing better humans. Related stories How Hayley Kiyoko Found Her People Going With Her Gut: Chef Dominique Crenn's Radical Cooking The First Time: Chef Dominique Crenn Raised in rural Hawaii, Doudna says she was always drawn to understand the lush environment that surrounded her. I was, and still am, fascinated by the natural world and humankinds place in it, Doudna says. Now shes inadvertently gone from biochemist to public ethicist, traveling the world to talk about how CRISPR should be used and writing about our unthinkable power to control evolution in 2017s A Crack in Creation. She recently led the condemnation of a Chinese scientist who skipped years of needed research and tests and clandestinely edited the embryos of twin girls, a practice banned in more than 40 countries. It made me think of horrible Nazi experiments, says Doudna. I felt that level of horror. But shes hopeful about CRISPRs ultimate impact its ability to radically improve human health and the world we live in. The promise is truly that immense. Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Rev. Jesse Jackson march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the Bloody Sunday commemorative march in Selma, Alabama, March 3, 2019. (Photo: Chris Aluka Berry/Reuters) SELMA, Ala. Famed civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, here to commemorate the 1965 voting rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, said he believes President Trump would probably have been on the side of the storm troopers who beat protesters in what has gone down in history as Bloody Sunday. Yahoo News asked Jackson what he thought Trump would have been doing if he was in Selma at the time. Probably with the storm troopers, Jackson said. Among the victims that day was John Lewis, now a Democratic congressman from Georgia. Trump was in college in 1965. Many Democrats, including some presidential candidates, have labeled Trump a racist, a characterization he disputes. His longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, said in his testimony to a House committee Thursday that Trump often made racist remarks about blacks. Jackson, a 1988 Democratic presidential candidate, was a close ally of Martin Luther King Jr., who helped lead the Selma marches. Jackson then shared a story about segregationist Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who led the state on Bloody Sunday and declined to protect the marchers. I asked George Wallace one time I was having prayer with him after he was very ill, Why did you unleash the horses on the marchers? He said, I did them a favor, Jackson recounted. Jackson asked Wallace, who died in 1998, what he meant. He said, Well, if I had not put the troops on them, the mob would have been worse. It never occurred to him to turn the troops on the mob, but the marchers, said Jackson, adding, That is a mentality. That is a deeply embedded point of view. Jackson was attending the annual Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King Unity Breakfast, which also hosted several current Democratic presidential candidates. He began his comments by saying he was deeply concerned that Selma was being used as a prop. He describes the city as the birthplace of modern democracy and suggested that the voting rights protests there led to a new majority in the country including minorities and young people. Story continues People crowd the Edmund Pettus Bridge toward Selma, Ala., in 2017 during the annual reenactment of Bloody Sunday. (Photo: Albert Cesare/Montgomery Advertiser via AP) But my concern is that while Selma is the birthplace, its being used as a prop. Selma is the ninth poorest city in the country. Ms. Boynton, who invited Dr. King here as the host, her house is condemned. Selma is 40 percent poverty, Jackson said. He said Selma would be the ideal venue for a rural reconstruction project. The reason we have a Democratic Congress is because of Selma. There should be some evidence of it, said Jackson. The Democrats at the breakfast included 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who was being honored at the event, and two current candidates, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has said he will make a decision about whether to enter the 2020 race by the end of this month, was also in attendance. Yahoo News asked Jackson if he felt the current presidential candidates were taking Selmas needs seriously. All of them now speak to voter enforcement to offset voter suppression, but beyond voting, there must be fruits of democracy. Where are the fruits? Jackson asked, adding, There should be some plan. HUD should be here, HHS should be here. There should be some evidence Selma is the birthplace of democracy. Asked about voter suppression, a major concern of Democrats in recent elections, Jackson noted the increasing number of minorities in Congress, and said the country has made tremendous strides in spite of the voter suppression. But he said there are ongoing schemes to suppress the vote including gerrymandering that favors white, Republican districts. He brought up the 2016 presidential election. Hillary won by 3 million votes. Trump is the president, said Jackson, adding, Schemes to undermine the vote are very real and very alive. The Rev. Jesse Jackson joins government workers in Chicago during a rally against the partial government shutdown in January. (Photo: Kiichiro Sato/AP) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea has conducted its most powerful nuclear test and launched its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile. Kim has fired more missiles than his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, launched over a period of 27 years. Here's a timeline of North Korea's brazen missile tests during President Donald Trump's first year in office. WASHINGTON The collapse of talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has temporarily stalled efforts to dismantle a nuclear program that has taken leaps forward in recent years. North Korea, the only nation to have tested nuclear weapons this century, spent most of Trump's first year in office perfecting its nuclear arsenal. The newest member of the world's exclusive nuclear weapons club has stopped testing for now as the U.S. and international community offer the possibility of relief from crippling economic sanctions. Still, it does not mean Pyongyang cannot find ways to advance its nuclear and missile programs while the Trump administration tries to forge a path to disarmament. Trump and Kim's second face-to-face summit ended abruptly early Thursday before they could reach a deal on nuclear disarmament of the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. president said he cut off talks when North Korea offered to shut down only part of its nuclear options in exchange for full sanctions relief. Pyongyang disputed his account , saying it wanted only some of its current economic penalties lifted. While North Korea has paused the nuclear and missile tests that prompted Trump's threat to bring "fire and fury" upon the reclusive nation, it had already made significant progress before the historic dialogue with the U.S. started. "It's a good thing that they aren't testing right now but it doesn't mean that they can't advance their program in other ways or continue to add warheads to their arsenal or missiles to their delivery system stockpiles," said Alexandra Bell, senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. "The lack of testing just means that they are comfortable with the designs they have," Bell told CNBC. Story continues Under the third-generation North Korean leader, the reclusive state has conducted its most powerful nuclear test, launched its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile and threatened to send missiles into the waters near Guam. Since 2011, Kim has fired more than 85 missiles and four nuclear weapons tests, which is more than what his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, launched over a period of 27 years. Starting with the most recent, here is a look at North Korea's defiant rocket launches in 2017, which often provoked angry responses from Trump: The North conducts its third intercontinental ballistic missile test with a new missile Nov. 28, 2017: North Korea unveils its largest and most powerful rocket in its third intercontinental ballistic missile test. The Hwasong-15, or KN-22, missile is believed to have a range capable of hitting the entire continental United States, according to estimates from the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies . Following the launch, Pyongyang issues a statement saying that the Hwasong-15 is "capable of carrying a super-heavy nuclear warhead." The rocket flies for 53 minutes and lands within Japan's exclusive economic zone. Another missile flies over Japan Sept. 14, 2017: For the second time in under a month, the North fires a second Hwasong-12 missile over Japan, The Associated Press reports . The rocket travels 2,300 miles, which is further than the previous missile launched on Aug. 28. The intermediate-range missile is launched from Sunan, the location of Pyongyang's international airport and the origin of the earlier missile that flew over Japan. North Korea conducts its most powerful nuclear test Sept. 3, 2017: The rogue regime carries out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, saying it detonated an advanced hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range missile. And while the U.S. has yet to verify that the weapon was a hydrogen bomb, experts widely agree that the detonation created an explosion exceeding previous North Korean nuclear tests. The bomb is estimated to have an explosive yield of 120 kilotons, which equates to a blast created from 265 million pounds worth of TNT, according to Norsar, a Norwegian geoscience research foundation. A North Korean missile flies over Japan Aug. 28, 2017: A South Korean military official says a Hwasong-12, a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile, was fired around 5:57 a.m. local time. The official says the missile flew for about 1,678 miles before it splashed down into the Sea of Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the missile test is a "serious and grave threat to Japan." Abe adds that he would ask the United Nations to up the pressure on Pyongyang. The North sends three missiles near Japan Aug. 26, 2017: Kim's regime launches three short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to U.S. and South Korean military . Two of the KN-21 missiles fly approximately 150 miles before falling into the sea while the other missile blows up almost immediately. North Korea launches its second intercontinental ballistic missile July 28, 2017: Kim is "two for two" on intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Nearly three weeks after the North's first ICBM test, Kim launches a second Hwasong-14 rocket to prove once more that the U.S. mainland is within his reach. The second ICBM flies farther and for longer than the missile tested July 4. The most recent Hwasong-14 missile took flight for 47 minutes and traveled a distance of about 620 miles, South Korean military officials told Reuters . The latest test shows that the North's missile capabilities and arsenal are much more developed than previously believed. North Korea conducts its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile test July 4, 2017: In a clear message to the Trump administration, North Korea conducts its first-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, test while the U.S. celebrated Independence Day. The missile has an estimated range in excess of 6,200 miles, making it capable of reaching most of the continental U.S., according to estimates from the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies . The North's state-run news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, says that the " almighty ICBM rocket " was a Hwasong-14 missile. The South Korean military says the missile flew for approximately 40 minutes and traveled more than 578 miles. North Korea launches several anti-ship cruise missiles June 7, 2017: Less than a week after the United Nations passed a fresh round of North Korean sanctions, Kim's regime fires four land-to-ship missiles off its east coast. And while the North has been reportedly developing anti-ship missiles since the 1990s, the Kumsong-3 missiles first appeared in a Democratic People's Republic of Korea propaganda video in June 2014. The existence of these rockets undoubtedly adds a new threat to maritime activity in the Sea of Japan. Kim conducts ninth missile test and unveils new missile May 28, 2017: Kim unveils a new short-range Scud-class ballistic missile ahead of North Korea's ninth test of the year. During its flight test, the KN-18 missile demonstrated a range of around 280 miles before it fell into the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang fires a second missile 11 days after South Korean leader takes office May 21, 2017: The KN-15 (Pukkuksong-2) missile, which was first launched by the North earlier in the year, flies for 310 miles before landing outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. The brazen missile test comes nearly two weeks after South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office. The two nations remain at war despite a truce ending their 1950-53 conflict. Kim successfully tests a long-range ballistic missile May 14, 2017: After several attempts, Pyongyang conducts a successful test of the Hwasong-12 . The missile is launched from a location near the city of Kusong and flies for approximately 30 minutes. North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, calls the missile a "new ground-to-ground medium long-range strategic ballistic rocket" and says it was "capable of carrying a large, heavy nuclear warhead." Reacting to the test, the White House issues a statement saying that North Korea has been "a flagrant menace for far too long." The North fires its fourth straight dud April 29, 2017: U.S. and South Korean officials say a North Korean ballistic missile failed shortly after it was launched . The missile flies for 15 minutes before it breaks up during flight. The launch marks the fourth straight unsuccessful missile test since March. The test follows since-fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson 's remarks that failure to curb the North's ballistic missile program would lead to " catastrophic consequences ." The hermit kingdom celebrates its first leader's birthday with a bang and a bust April 16, 2017: The day after a massive North Korean military parade celebrating the birth of North Korea's first leader, Kim Il Sung, the regime fires another Hwasong-12 ballistic missile. The missile explodes seconds after it was launched. Kim fires a missile on the eve of U.S. and China summit April 5, 2017: On the eve of a summit meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping , North Korea fires a ballistic missile from its east coast. The launch is believed to be the first test of the Hwasong-12, a liquid-fueled intermediate-range ballistic missile, with an expected range of 2,800 miles. However, the missile flies for approximately nine minutes and 40 miles before it spins out of control, according to a U.S. Pacific Command statement. The North attempts a missile launch, but it explodes almost immediately March 19, 2017: U.S. and South Korean military officials confirm a failed missile test on Wednesday from the North. "We confirm that North Korea has launched one missile from Wonsan airbase this morning and failed," a South Korean military official tells NBC News. "We are in the process of analyzing the type of the missile." North Korea fires four ballistic missiles March 6, 2017: Kim's regime launches four ballistic missiles from the Tongchang-ri region near the North's border with China. Three of the missiles land in Japan's exclusive economic zone. "The launches are clearly in violation of Security Council resolutions. It is an extremely dangerous action," Japan's Abe says after the North's test. North Korea debuts a new medium-range ballistic missile Feb. 12, 2017: Not even a month after Trump's inauguration, North Korea launches a new medium-range ballistic missile. The KN-15 (Pukkuksong-2) is launched from the North Pyongan province and travels 310 miles before landing in the Sea of Japan. The Pukkuksong-2 is believed to have a solid-fuel-propelled engine, which is capable of faster launches. The only other known solid-fuel missile in North Korea's arsenal is the short-range KN-02, according to the Missile Defense Project . More From CNBC Barack Obama holding his Nobel Peace Prize. Photo: Pete Souza | White House Photo Stream By CCN.com: President Donald Trump is scaling back military exercises in Korea, calmly and humorously building a rapport with the worlds youngest nuclear power, and making a remarkably hasty exit from Syria. He seems far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than Barack Obama. Nobel Prize Committee Regrets 2009 Obama Award In 2015 Nobel Prize secretary Geir Lundestad said that Obamas Nobel Peace Prize didnt achieve what it [the Nobel Prize Committee] had hoped for. No Nobel Peace Prize award had ever drawn so much publicity. Or scrutiny. Even many of Obamas supporters thought the award was premature: It was given to Obama a few mere months into his term and before he had really done anything. It was a big stretch to give Obama the Nobel peace prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people in 2009. Specifics? Results? Obama Waged More War Than George W. Bush In his first term as president Obama had drastically increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan several times higher than when Bush II was president. Read the full story on CCN.com. President Donald Trump outright said that certain members of Congress hate the United States during a two-hour speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. Trump spoke about immigration at length during his free-wheeling, off-the-cuff speech. He said that he would be in favor of people migrating to the United States, so long as they comply with immigration laws and are selected by merit. He added that immigrants should also be people that can love our country, not hate our country. We have people in Congress, right now we have people in Congress, that hate our country, the President said. Its unclear if he meant specifically immigrants serving in Congress. ???? TRUMP: "We have people in Congress right now that hate our country... When I see some of the statements being made, it's very very sad. And find out -- how did they do in their country? Did they do well?... Some will say it's terrible he brought that up, but I don't mind." ???? pic.twitter.com/veleBvQnWu Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 2, 2019 He didnt name any particular Congress members, but said, And you know that, and we can name every one of them if they want. This year, about 13% of congress members are foreign born or are the children of immigrants, according to Pew Research. In both chambers, 57 of the 68 legislators who are immigrants themselves or are the children of immigrants are Democrats. However, only 14 lawmakers including one senator are immigrants themselves, making up only 3% of all legislators. This number falls far below the U.S. foreign-born population; 13.5% of U.S. residents were foreign-born as of 2016. Trump added that some people might think its terrible for him to say, but he seemed to suggest that immigrant lawmakers should be asked how did they do? in their home country. Did they do well, were they succeeding? he asked hypothetically, and answered himself by saying, not so good. The Presidents statements are particularly noteworthy because several particularly prominent new members of Congress who also happen to be progressives and people of color are immigrants. These include Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Muslim refugee from Somalia, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was born in India. In early 2018, Trump came under fire for calling certain countries, including parts of Africa, shithole countries, and saying that United States should not take immigrants from such places. Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Russia are to form a joint team to examine the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria. Israel is seeking the removal of Iranian forces and has vowed to keep its main enemy from entrenching itself militarily in the neighbouring country. Netanyahu met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Moscow to discuss Iran's presence in Syria. "I made it unequivocally clear that Israel will not allow the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria, and I also made it unequivocally clear that we would continue to take military action against it," Netanyahu told his cabinet. "President Putin and I also agreed on a common goal: the withdrawal of foreign forces that arrived in Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. We agreed to establish a joint team to advance this goal, together with other elements." Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian and Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah targets and has established a hotline to avoid accidential clashes with Russia. Iran, Russia and Tehran-backed Hezbollah support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war that broke out in 2011. But a friendly fire incident during one of those strikes in September damaged Israel's relations with Russia. Wednesday's talks were the first extended face-to-face meeting between Netanyahu and Putin since the incident, which saw Syria's air defence systems shoot down a Russian plane by mistake during an Israeli strike, killing 15 Russian troops. Member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumim Jibrin has hailed governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state as being competent and a great role model. The House of Reps member, who is from Kano state says apart from his governor, Umar Ganduje, the Kaduna state governor, is one he cant wait to celebrate his victory in the March 9, gubernatorial elections. He wrote via twitter on Saturday: Aside my Governor, there is no one I eagerly await to celebrate his victory like El rufai He is competent and a great role model. Since I cannot vote in kaduna, I will help in Makarfi and Ikara from my border towns of Baawa and Badafi respectively. Best of luck to APC candidates! MOSCOW (AP) Residents of Russia's Urals and Siberia, where temperatures recently plunged to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (Celsius) have taken to social media to celebrate the cold. Temperatures in Siberia and the Urals earlier this week plunged to unusual levels even for the cold-resistant Russians. Hundreds of social media users have been posting photos and videos under the hashtag #dubakchallenge, or "cold challenge," showing people throwing boiling water into the freezing air and it instantly condensing into an elaborate pattern of ice crystals. The rare cold spell has subsided since the hashtag took off last week, with temperatures in Siberia's largest city, Novosibirsk, climbing to a high of minus 27 degrees Centigrade (minus 18 Fahrenheit) on Thursday. LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Slovenia's president said his country and many other European Union states would be open to extending the date Britain is due to leave the bloc, a possibility British Prime Minister Theresa May has raised amid deadlock in parliament. Under pressure from pro-EU ministers, May this week promised lawmakers they would get a vote over whether to seek an extension to Britain's March 29 exit date to allow further talks if they reject a revised Brexit deal this month. Asked if Slovenia would be open to delay Brexit for a couple of months, a decision which must be agreed by all the other 27 EU states, President Borut Pahor said: "I think Slovenia and a lot of other countries would say yes. Nobody wants to see a hard Brexit in any kind of chaotic way. "I think that extension of time would be an option," Pahor, who is visiting Britain, told Sky News in an interview aired on Saturday. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said on Friday that any extension must be intended specifically to solve the deadlock over the Irish backstop, an insurance policy to prevent the return of border controls between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland. Fears that the backstop could keep Britain tied to EU regulations for years after Brexit is the main point of contention for many British lawmakers, leading to May's deal being overwhelmingly rejected by parliament in January. "The question that the EU27 will ask is: What (is it) for? The answer cannot be that Britain wants to postpone a problem. One would want to solve it," Barnier said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt newspaper to be published on Saturday. Pahor echoed the view that a delay would not make a compromise easier to find and there needed to be clarity and consensus among British lawmakers. "It is not clear at the moment if the United Kingdom has a clear position on some sort of compromise solution," he said. (Reporting by Michael Holden Editing by Alexander Smith) By Joyce Lee and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL/HANOI (Reuters) - South Korea will work with the United States and North Korea to help them reach a denuclearization deal, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Friday, a day after a U.S.-North Korean summit collapsed over a disagreement on sanctions. The second meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in Vietnam, was cut short after they failed to reach a deal on the extent of sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Moon has been active in efforts to end confrontation on the Korean peninsula, meeting Kim three times last year and trying to facilitate his nuclear negotiations with the United States. "My administration will closely communicate and cooperate with the United States and North Korea so as to help their talks reach a complete settlement by any means," Moon said in a speech in Seoul. Moon also said Seoul would consult Washington on ways to resume joint projects with North Korea, including tourism development at Mount Kumgang and the Kaesong industrial complex, both in North Korea. Both the United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not said when a next round might take place. In a move that could encourage more talks, U.S. officials said on Friday the United States and South Korea are expected to announce that they will not carry out large-scale spring joint military exercises, replacing them with smaller-scale drills. The allies suspended a number of military drills before and after the first Trump-Kim summit last year to encourage talks with North Korea, which denounced the exercises as training for invasion. Trump has repeatedly complained about the expense of the exercises and did so again after the Hanoi summit. Trump and Kim first met in Singapore last June and agreed to establish new relations and peace in exchange for a North Korean pledge to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Trump said two days of talks in Hanoi made good progress but it was important not to rush into a bad deal. He said he had walked away because of unacceptable North Korean demands. "Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn't do that," he said. On Friday, Trump tweeted that the negotiations with Kim were "very substantive" and that "we know what they want and they know what we must have," but he gave no other details about any next steps. "Relationship very good, lets see what happens!" the post said. 'BIGGEST STEP' North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said after Trump left Hanoi that North Korea had sought only a partial lifting of sanctions "related to people's livelihoods and unrelated to military sanctions." He said it offered a realistic proposal involving the dismantling of all of its main nuclear site at Yongbyon, including plutonium and uranium facilities, by engineers from both countries. While North Korea's official media said Kim and Trump had decided to continue talks, its Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has struck a more negative tone, telling reporters Kim "might lose his willingness to pursue a deal". "It occurs to us that there may not be a need to continue," she said, adding that North Korea had taken "many steps" to try to reach a deal. "We're doing a lot of thinking," she said while adding that the situation would change "if our demands can be resolved." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a news conference in Manila the U.S. side was "anxious to get back to the table so we can continue that conversation that will ultimately lead to peace and stability, better life for the North Korean people, and a lower threat, a denuclearized North Korea." And North Korea's state news agency was conciliatory, quoting Kim as expressing gratitude to Trump for putting in efforts to get results and calling their exchanges constructive. It made no mention of the breakdown of the summit. Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former lawyer who accused him of breaking the law while in office. While some credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal, he was criticized for praising Kim's leadership and saying he accepted his assertion that he had not been aware of how an American student who died after 17 months a North Korean prison had been treated. On Friday, the parents of Otto Warmbier blamed Kim's "evil regime" for his death. The collapse of the summit leaves Kim in possession of what analysts say could be an arsenal of 20 to 60 nuclear warheads, which, if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles, could threaten the U.S. mainland. Trump stressed that the North Korean leader had agreed to maintain his moratorium on nuclear and ballistic missile tests. A U.S. State Department official said the North Korean media coverage had been constructive, indicating both sides felt there was "ample opportunity" to continue talks. The U.S. official said North Korea had proposed closing part of its Yongbyon nuclear complex in exchange for lifting "basically all" U.N. sanctions except those directly targeting its weapons programs. The U.S. side said "that wouldnt work", he said, adding that North Korea was unwilling to completely freeze its weapons programs. "So to give many, many billions of dollars in sanctions relief would in effect put us in a position of subsidizing the ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions on North Korea when it conducted repeated nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded North Korea's complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster like." (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Eric Beech, Matt Spetalnick, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in WASHINGTON; Jeff Mason, Soyoung Kim, James Pearson, Josh Smith, Ju-min Park, Mai Nyugen, Khanh Vu, Jack Kim in HANOI; Martin Petty and Karen Lema in MANILA; editing by Robert Birsel, Lincoln Feast and Grant McCool) Amman (AFP) - Syria attended a meeting of Arab states on Sunday for the first time since its conflict broke out in 2011, marking another step towards the country's political reintegration into the region. Syria's parliament speaker, Hammouda Sabbagh, travelled to Amman for an Arab inter-parliamentary meeting. His Jordanian counterpart, Atef al-Tarawneh, called in a speech for regional countries "to work towards a political settlement to the Syrian crisis... and for Syria to regain its place" in the Arab world. A growing number of Arab states have voiced support for Syria's return to the Arab League, which suspended the country's membership in November 2011 as the death toll mounted in its war. Divisions within the pan-Arab organisation, however, have stalled the readmission of Syria, which with the support of Russia and Iran has largely regained control of its territory from rebel groups and jihadists. But the UAE reopened its Damascus embassy in December, the same month as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir made the first visit of any Arab leader to the Syrian capital since 2011. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison, blamed Kim Jong Un's "evil regime" on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed the leader's claim not to have known how their son was treated. Warmbier's parents said they had held off commenting during the second summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi, which was cut short on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a deal for the reclusive communist nation to give up its nuclear weapons. "Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto," Fred and Cindy Warmbier said in a statement. "Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. No excuses or lavish praise can change that." After the family's sharp statement, the White House tried to explain what Trump meant. "What he said was that Chairman Kim says, what he believes Chairman Kim to have said, was that he was not aware of what had happened to Otto Warmbier when it happened," Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News. Trump had kind words for the family later on Twitter: "I never like being misinterpreted, but especially when it comes to Otto Warmbier and his great family. ... Of course I hold North Korea responsible for Otto's mistreatment and death." The U.S. president drew criticism after he praised Kim's leadership and said he accepted Kim's assertion that he had not been aware of how Warmbier was treated while in detention. "He tells me that he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word," Trump told a news conference. Prominent Republicans on Thursday did not share Trump's acceptance of Kim's word, including close Trump ally U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who said he didn't "buy it for a minute." It wasn't the first time Trump has faced criticism for appearing to side with autocratic leaders. He gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the benefit of the doubt after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi last year. In July, Trump refused to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for interfering in U.S. elections. Warmbier, 22, died on June 19, 2017, shortly after he was flown home to Ohio in a coma after being held by North Korea for 17 months. "Otto should have never been arrested in the first place and Kim is responsible for that decision and everything that subsequently happened," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Patricia Zengerle, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Peter Szekely in New York; editing by Scott Malone and James Dalgleish) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Thursday that he hopes the United States will ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal known as USMCA by summer, after Congress has a chance to understand the accord's provisions. "I would hope, certainly... I am always optimistic... by summer," he said at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual forum in response to a question about when USMCA would be ratified. "It's never over till it's over, with any legislation." (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Julie Ingerswen; Writing by Richard Valdmanis) By Ellen Francis OUTSKIRTS OF BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) - Islamic State faces final territorial defeat as the U.S.-backed Syrian force battling the jihadists said on Saturday it was closing in on the jihadists' last bastion near the Iraqi border, capping four years of efforts to roll back the group. While the fall of Baghouz, an eastern Syrian village on the bank of the Euphrates River, would mark a milestone in a global campaign against Islamic State (IS), they remain a threat, using guerrilla tactics and holding some desolate land further west. An array of enemies, both local and international, confronted IS after it declared a modern-day "caliphate" in 2014 across large swathes of territory it had seized in lightning offensives in Syria and neighboring Iraq. IS lost its twin capitals of Mosul and Raqqa in 2017. As its territory shrunk, thousands of fighters, followers and civilians retreated to Baghouz. Over the last few weeks, they have poured out of the tiny cluster of hamlets and farmlands in Deir al-Zor province, holding up the final assault. On Friday evening, the SDF said the remaining civilians had been removed and it was resuming its assault until the jihadists were defeated. "We expect it to be over soon," Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), told Reuters shortly after sunrise as the SDF advanced on two fronts using medium and heavy weaponry. Yet clashes continued past sunset, with occasional heavy bombing from warplanes that hovered in the sky, the SDF media office said. IS responded with drones and rockets, and seven SDF fighters have been wounded so far, said commander Adnan Afrin. The SDF has previously estimated several hundred IS insurgents - believed mostly to be foreigners - to be still in Baghouz, and the U.S.-led international coalition has described them as the "most hardened" militants. The SDF's final advance was slowed for weeks by the jihadists' extensive use of tunnels and human shields. It has not ruled out the possibility that some militants have crept out, hidden among civilians. "COMPLICATED SITUATION" A spokesman for the coalition, which supports the Kurdish-led SDF, said it was too early to assess the battle's progress "as it is a complicated situation with many variables". The SDF commander-in-chief said on Thursday that his force would declare victory within a week. He was later contradicted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the SDF had retaken 100 percent of the territory once held by IS. Washington has about 2,000 troops in Syria, mainly to support the SDF in fighting IS. Trump announced in December he would withdraw all of them, but the White House partially reversed itself last month, saying some 400 troops would stay. Some 40,000 people bearing various nationalities have left the jihadists' diminishing territory in the last three months as the SDF sought to oust the militants from remaining pockets. The number of evacuees streaming out of Baghouz surpassed initial estimates of how many were inside. Afrin told Reuters on Thursday that many of the people leaving the enclave had been sheltering underground in caves and tunnels. Among the civilians were scores of children. Some had been conscripted or enslaved by the jihadists, while others were foreigners brought by their parents to be raised under IS rule. A 27-year-old Indonesian widow who emerged on Friday said she would have liked to stay in IS territory but conceded that conditions had become untenable. "I have no money, I have no food for my baby, no medicine, nothing for my baby, so I must go out," she told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Issam Abdullah; Writing by Stephen Kalin and Tom Perry; Editing by Mark Heinrich and David Evans) Feb 12 (Reuters) - An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended Johnson & Johnson's experimental nasal spray, which has a compound similar to often-abused ketamine, for patients suffering from depression. The panel voted 14-2 in favor of the drug esketamine, developed to treat major depression in patients who have not benefited from at least two different therapies, saying its benefits outweighed the risks. One member in the panel abstained from voting on the question. Esketamine is a variation of the anesthetic ketamine, which is also abused as a recreational party drug with the street nickname Special K. (Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Reno Omokri has challenged voters to come out and vote. He urged them that having the voters card is not enough until you vote. He said on his twitter page; 5.5 million collected PVCs in Lagos and only 1.1 million voted. Your PVC is not your power. Your vote is your power. Until you utilise your PVC to vote, the PVC remains powerless. A PVC in the hand of a person who has it, but does not vote, is a Powerless Voters Card.https://mobile.twitter.com/renoomokri/status/1102216771963109378 February 23, 2019, presidential election witnessed a low turnout of voters. Less than 40% of voters came out to vote, thus making it the election with the lowest turnout since the beginning of this republic. Riyadh (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he held talks Saturday with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh that focused on human rights issues, including journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder and the jailing of women activists in the kingdom. Hunt also discussed a fragile truce in the flashpoint Yemeni city of Hodeida with the Saudi foreign minister of state Adel al-Jubeir and Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who is based in Riyadh. Hunt's visit came after he failed last month to convince Germany to end its ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, which he said was hurting Europe's defence industry and diminishing its influence in efforts to end the Yemen conflict. "Important discussion with @AdelAljubeir about human rights reforms and current issues including Khashoggi, women activists," Hunt said on Twitter, without offering any details. The murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider-turned-critic, at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last October sparked global uproar and tarnished the reputation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The killing has weakened the kingdom's diplomatic position and hurt its strategic relations with Western allies, even though it strongly denies that the crown prince was involved. Hunt arrived just a day after Saudi Arabia announced that it will put jailed women activists on trial after holding them for nearly a year without charge, prompting strong condemnation from rights groups. Some of those detained have allegedly faced torture and sexual harassment during interrogation, following their arrest in May last year in a sweeping crackdown on campaigners. - 'Lack of trust' - Hunt also met Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf on his Gulf tour, which includes stopovers in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. "Our strategic partnership (with) Saudi Arabia helps us to keep the UK safe, to make progress on diplomatic priorities like Yemen, and to discuss frankly issues of concern," Hunt said. Story continues Hunt complained, however, about slow implementation of a ceasefire deal in rebel-held Hodeida, which was agreed in Sweden in December between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels. The deal was hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end the four-year conflict, but it appears to be hanging by a thread with breaches reported by both warring parties. "There is a lack of trust and it is taking too long to implement the Stockholm (deal) but no one has a better plan so we need to get going and end the crisis," Hunt tweeted after meeting President Hadi. "Progress on Stockholm overdue and it is vital for Hodeida to be cleared of militia urgently to allow humanitarian corridor," he added later. It was unclear whether Berlin's decision to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi's murder - which cast a fresh spotlight on the kingdom's bombing campaign in Yemen - was discussed during Hunt's visit. Hunt reportedly urged Germany last month to exempt major European defence projects like Eurofighter or Tornado jets, which contain German parts, from its Saudi weapons embargo. But Berlin stood firm on its decision to uphold the embargo. Washington (AFP) - US diplomats have visited a dual US-Saudi national who was reported to have been tortured while imprisoned in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, a top White House official said Sunday. The New York Times, citing the detailed account of an unnamed friend, said guards dragged Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained doctor, to a room in the hotel where he was slapped, blindfolded, stripped to his underwear and bound to a chair. They then proceeded to torture him with electric shocks in a session that lasted about an hour, according to the friend, the Times said. John Bolton, the White House national security advisor, was asked about Fitaihi's treatment, in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union." "As of this moment, my understanding is we've had what's called consular access, meaning American diplomats in Saudi Arabia have visited with him. "Beyond that, we don't really have any additional information at this point," Bolton added. President Donald Trump has faced sharp criticism for favoring the Saudi crown prince as a key regional ally even after the October 2 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident, by Saudi agents in Istanbul. US intelligence has concluded Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing despite Riyadh's insistence it was a rogue operation. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and White House advisor, met last week with the crown prince in Riyadh to rally support for a Middle East peace proposal. Fitaihi, 54, was one of about 200 prominent Saudis who were locked up in the Riyadh luxury hotel as part of a sweeping crackdown on corruption under Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler. Many of those detained were reported to have been tortured and abused, and some were forced to turn over large sums of money to gain their release. Fitaihi was one of about 60 who were held for prosecution after the 15-month-long crackdown, which was seen as cementing Prince Mohammed's power. Story continues Fitaihi, who received undergraduate and medical degrees from George Washington University and a master's in public health from Harvard, founded a private hospital in Jeddah after his return from the United States around 2006. He has no record of political activism inside the kingdom, according to the Times. The Times said the reason for Fitaihi's detention was unclear, but the friend who described his torture said he was primarily asked about a relative by marriage, Adel Fakeih, a former top aide to the crown prince who had also been detained. jm/bbk Washington (AFP) - The United States said Tuesday it wanted to ensure foreign jihadists remain off the battlefield as it weighed options on an American detained in Syria who says she wants to return home. The United States has urged European powers to take back hundreds of their citizens who fought with the Islamic State movement in Syria, but acknowledged the situation was complex in the rare case of an American jihadist. Hoda Muthana, a 24-year-old from Alabama who became a prominent online agitator for the extremists, said in an interview published Sunday with The Guardian that she had been brainwashed online and "deeply regrets" joining the movement. While declining to discuss Muthana's case specifically, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said that the status of US citizens detained in Syria "is by definition extremely complicated." "We're looking into these cases to better understand the details," he told reporters. Palladino said that the United States generally did not see a different solution between what to do with US fighters and with foreigners, saying the fighters pose "a global threat." "Repatriating these foreign terrorist fighters to their countries of origin, ensuring that they are prosecuted and detained -- that's the best solution, preventing them from returning to the battlefield," he said. Hassan Shibly, a lawyer for Muthana, expressed dismay that US government officials had yet to interview her. "It's really problematic that The (New York) Times, The Guardian and ABC News have all been able to meet with her and interview her, and the government has not been able to do that," Shibly told AFP. The situation of foreign jihadists detained by US-allied Kurdish forces has taken a new urgency as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces say they may have to refocus on fighting Turkey, which has vowed to crush Kurdish fighters it links to separatists at home. Story continues Trump has contemplated reopening the US military base at Guantanamo Bay to take in new foreign inmates, while Britain on Tuesday revoked the citizenship of a female jihadist who wanted to return home with her newborn baby. Neither option would likely pass muster in the cases of US citizens, who enjoy strong legal protections under the Constitution. Muthana, who was married three times to jihadists and has a son with one of her husbands, fled her family in 2014 to join the Islamic State group in Syria, where she took to Twitter to urge attacks on fellow Americans. In the interview with The Guardian, Muthana said that she was "really young and ignorant" when she joined IS and has since renounced radicalism. "I believe that America gives second chances. I want to return and I'll never come back to the Middle East," she told the newspaper. Shibly said "it's been a difficult journey for her, and she's relieved. She's very resentful to them for having misguided her and having brainwashed her and manipulated her and really destroying her life." Kroger, one of Americas largest grocery chains, has had it up to here with Visas excessive transaction fees. Its Smiths Food & Drug Stores will join Foods Co. Supermarkets brand in not accepting Visa credit cards as a form of payment, beginning 3rd April. That means the boycott now extends to 142 supermarket and 108 fuel centre locations across seven US states. Visa has been misusing its position and charging retailers excessive fees for a long time, comments Mike Schlotman, Krogers Executive Vice President and CFO. They conceal from customers what Visa and its banks charge retailers to accept Visa credit cards. At Smiths, Visas credit card fees are higher than any other credit card brand that we accept. Visas excessive fees and unfairness cannot continue to go unchecked. While no other brands are presently affected by this announcement, Kroger says that it continues to explore options to reduce the cost of accepting credit cards in order to keep prices low for customers. Visa did not respond to our request for comment. Enter crypto Krogers big stand has not gone unnoticed in the crypto space, with Anthony Pompliano, Founder and Partner at Morgan Creek Digital, suggesting the retailer get hooked up with the Lightning Network. Grocery store @kroger is stopping acceptance of @Visa in over 250 stores because of network fees. Who knows someone on the leadership team there? The Morgan Creek Digital team will fly to meet them and get them hooked up with the Lightning Network nationwide. Pomp (@APompliano) March 2, 2019 He followed this up with: Just got connected with the Kroger Digital product team. Twitter is amazing. Story continues There are a few crypto enthusiasts who work at Kroger it looks like and they would love to see us all be successful with some sort of implementation. Stay tuned, he added. Visa responds A Visa spokesperson told Coin Rivet: Cardholders are our first priority. Our goal is to ensure that every cardholder can use their Visa card wherever they wish to shop. When consumer choice is limited nobody wins. The Visa network delivers significant value for merchants including access to more customers, increased sales, security and fraud protection, a quick and convenient checkout experience, and ongoing innovation and implementation of the latest technologies. Kroger enjoys all of these benefits, and there is a cost for these services, like any other. It is unfair and disappointing that Kroger is putting shoppers in the middle of a business dispute. We have put forward a number of solutions to allow our cardholders to continue using their preferred Visa credit cards at Foods Co. and Smiths without Kroger-imposed restrictions, and we continue to work toward a resolution. Visa debit and prepaid cards continue to be accepted across all Kroger stores, including Foods Co. and Smiths. The post Visas excessive fees and unfairness cannot go unchecked, Kroger appeared first on Coin Rivet. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced his candidacy for the 2020 presidential election. As has become a trend in political announcements, the Democrat released a video on Friday on YouTube. Titled Our Movement with the hash tag #OurClimateMoment, the video positions Inslee for the moment as a single-issue candidate focused on climate change. In the video, Inslee says, Were the first generation to feel the sting of climate change. And were the last who can do something about it. Invoking the moon project, he said the countrys next mission must be to rise up to the most urgent challenge of our timedefeating climate change. The video closes with overlapping shots of people saying This is our moment. One of the figures is Bill Nye, a television personality known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, as CNN noted. Nye often addresses the issue of climate change. Inslee has not yet said that hed support a Green New Deal, although he as spoken positively about it. He joins a crowded field with 12 other Democrats already having announced. Inslee headed the Democratic Governors Association in 2018, which boosted his national profile. While traveling the country to support Democrats running for governor, also pushed the issue of climate change. In a February 24 interview on CBS, Inslee turned a discussion about Donald Trumps declaration of a border emergency to the climate change, saying, Thats an emergency where we ought to have the help of the federal government. When asked about declaring an actual climate change emergency, Inslee said that while he considered the presidents actions illegal and unconstitutional, that if there are new rules, the Republicans have to understand that Democrats will play by whatever the rules are particularly when it comes to climate change. Affected by closures? A number of Yakima Valley businesses across different sectors have closed in the past year or will be closing in the coming months. Reporter Mai Hoang is seeking stories from employees who were impacted by these closures, including last years closure of the Arvato call center in downtown Yakima and the impending closures of the Jeld-Wen manufacturing facility and Shopko stores in Yakima and Union Gap. Hoang will be exploring the transition process of employees who have gone through these closures. Share your story and connect with Mai by filling out a form at http://bit.ly/BizClosureEffect. Apostle Johnson Suleman, the founder and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry International has finally broken his silence on the outcome of Nigerias presidential election. Apostle Suleman adviced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party to avoid going to court to challenge the outcome of the election. According to Suleman, Nigeria needs peace, when you lose, dont go to court, go home. In a viral video from his Church Service on Sunday, Suleman urged politicians to let peace reign in the country. Watch the video below; The American Reform Movement and Israels Foreign Ministry are locked in a battle of mutual accusations over the Central Conference of American Rabbis , which according to the ministry excludes discussions on Israel and Israeli representatives a statement referred to as a complete lie by the organization. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Just days after AIPAC, Israels close ally within American Jewry, denounced Netanyahus cooperation with the far-right Otzma Yehudit and called the party racist and reprehensible, a new crisis has surfaced. Women of the Wall at the Western Wall (Photo: AP) The trouble started when Hillel Newman, a Foreign Ministry official, sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Consulate in New York, asking them to contact the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a Reform rabbinical leadership organization, in an attempt to incorporate Israeli diplomats and Israel-related content in their upcoming convention in Cincinnati. The letter lamented the deterioration of Israels relationship with the Reform Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the US, saying the future conference would not touch upon any Israel-related issues, and that no Israeli representative was invited. But soon after it was released, Reform leaders slammed the ministry, accusing it of lying and stating that dozens of Israeli Reform Rabbis would be taking part in the conference. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of the Reform Movement in Israel, said the claims were no less than scandalous. Under the pretext of honest concern about Israels relationship with the Diaspora, the Reform Movement in North America is being slandered, Kariv said. The convention, which will take place (at the end of the) month, will include dozens of Israeli Reform Rabbis and many of the meetings will address strengthening the connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. This will take place alongside the struggle against the ugly and destructive discrimination of the Reform Movement in Israel, said Kariv. Gilad Kariv, an Israeli Executive Director of the Israel Movement for Reform Judism (Photo: Yaron Brener) Foreign Ministry officials have claimed the Reform Movement is angry with Israel and recent political events, especially in light of the agreement brokered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu between Jewish Home and the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, and have thus chosen to exclude Israel from the convention. Israel is becoming solely the domain of the American right-wing and religious sectors, said ministry officials. Jewish organizations feel as if they are perceived as ATMs. The AIPAC criticism over Otzma Yehudit is a part of this trend. Israel actually has to beg Jewish organizations not to sideline it; its becoming embarrassing. Kariv, however, said the ministrys statement was untrue, and sought to lessen the connection between non-Othrodox streams of Judaism and the Jewish state. Israeli diplomats are regularly invited to Reform conventions and to Reform communities around the globe. If the man who initiated this statement fears for the future of Israels relationship with the Diaspora, he should start by addressing the Israeli policy against the non-Orthodox denominations in recent years, instead of slandering the Reform Movement. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism in North America, recently met with Israeli politicial figures, alongside Israeli Reform leaders. The Reform officials said they initiated the meeting in order to voice their concern over the growing rift between Israel and the Diaspora. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (Photo: Noam Galai) I met with Israeli leaders from all political sides, said Jacobs. Weve discussed an option to heal relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, and about our shared vision of a Jewish, democratic and tolerant Israel. Kariv called for the rift to top the agenda for the Israeli government after the upcoming elections. Restoring this connection, which was severely damaged in recent years, has to be one of the important subjects our next government deals with, he said. A recent survey about the growing rift between the worlds two largest Jewish communities (Israel and the US), came up with interesting, but somewhat worrying, results. Apparently, some 50 percent of Israelis still consider Israels relationship with US Jewry as positive, while only 7% defined it as poor. A somewhat embarrassing result, however, shows that 34% of Israelis consider American Jewry to be a financial asset for the country, first and foremost. Shira Ruderman, CEO of the Ruderman Family Foundation that ordered the survey, said it clearly shows Israelis understand the importance the relationship with the Diaspora. We are heading for elections, and it's evident that when it comes to the Israeli relationship with American Jewry theres no right or left 95% answered it is important to preserve this relationship, Ruderman said. Furthermore, some 90% understand that the American Jewish community is a strategic asset for Israel in the realms of security, economy, but also in the realms of morals and good values, Ruderman added. Its important to raise this issue now, before the elections. Those who ask for the public's vote have to present their stance regarding Israels relationship with the Diaspora, she said. Physicians for Human Rights called on Tel Aviv University to rename its Sackler Faculty of Medicine amid allegations that the Jewish-American Sackler family, which owns Purdue Pharma, pushed OxyContin and other opioids in the United States to increase sales even as questions emerged about the extent its painkillers were being abused. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "I turn to you on the backdrop of the opioid crisis in the US and the reports on the Sackler family's part in its creation," Hadas Ziv, the head of public activity and ethics at the Israeli NGO, wrote in a letter to Tel Aviv University President Prof. Joseph Klafter and the head of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Ehud Grossman. "While the faculty teaches that the most important thing is the health and life of patients, company executives, according to reports, encouraged inappropriate behavior that caused the death of people, in order to increase their profits," Ziv said. OxyContin (Photo: AP) By January 2019, 36 US states had filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma charging deceptive marketing practices. Massachusetts was the first state to try to hold members of the Sackler family, who own privately-held Purdue, personally responsible for contributing to the US opioid epidemic. The Massachusetts' lawsuit accuses Purdue of deceiving doctors and patients by misrepresenting the risks of addiction and death associated with prolonged use of prescription opioids. The allegations were made public despite Purdues efforts to keep much of the 279-page complaint redacted. The complaint cites internal records to argue Sackler family members, including Purdues former President Richard Sackler, personally directed the marketing of opioids in order to make billions of dollars. They did so even after Purdue and three executives in 2007 pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the misbranding of OxyContin and agreed to pay a total of $634.5 million in penalties, the lawsuit said. Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University (Photo: Yariv Katz) Their push to boost sales, the lawsuit said, came even after staff showed family members on Purdues board a map correlating suspected illegal prescribers and reports of opioid poisonings in 2011. Richard Sackler, as Purdues president, in a 2001 email argued the company needed to shift responsibility away from Purdue and hammer on the abusers in every way possible, the complaint said. After leaving that position in 2003 but still a member of Purdues board, he frequently demanded detailed opioid sales data, the lawsuit said. In 2011, Richard Sackler personally accompanied sales representatives to observe how they marketed Purdue products to doctors and afterwards argued that a legally required warning about opioid risks was unnecessary, the lawsuit said. In an email cited in the complaint, he said, it implies a danger of untoward reactions and hazards that simply arent there and he pushed for a less threatening way to describe Purdues opioids. Purdue in a statement on said Healeys lawsuit distorts critical facts and is littered with biased and inaccurate characterizations of these documents and individual defendants. Tel Aviv University said in response: "The Sackler family donated 50 years ago for the establishment of the medicine school. The matter has not yet been ruled on in US courts." Some 200 protesters demanded the prime minister resign over corruption allegations in Tel Avivs Habima Square. They marched to Likud headquarters on King George St where they were confronted by several Likud counter-protesters. The State Attorney's Office denounced Sunday the criticism leveled at the organization by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed following his indictment on corruption charges, that the investigation against him was not conducted in a professional manner. "The prime minister's personal attacks are repugnant, and cross all the red lines, said the official statement. After Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced his intention to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in all three criminal cases against him, the prime minister's partners in the rightist bloc rallied around him. They insisted that they remained loyal, and stressed that they would recommend to President Reuven Rivlin that Netanyahu be the one to form the next government. Netanyahu will officially kick off the Likud election campaign on Monday, in the shadow of those looming indictments, and will unveil the Likud's "national team" for the 21st Knesset at a major event at Kfar Maccabiah. The objective of the event, which is being held a fair period after the party's primaries, is to raise morale and energize party activists; but it is also to refocus the campaign messages and move on to the true objective victory in the elections and the formation of a stable government with all the parties in the bloc. Benjamin Netanyahu speaks after AG Mandelblit announced his decision to indict the prime minister, pending a hearing (Photo: AFP) On Friday, Netanyahu summoned about 10 Knesset members to a meeting on the campaign, showed them new campaign videos and consulted with them on the party line. On Monday, the prime minister will meet with other Knesset members, and also ask them for their input on the campaign. This is a real shift in Netanyahu's modus operandi, since in previous campaigns there were complaints that Knesset members were not involved or informed of the media line, and that the prime minister had placed most of the emphasis of the campaign on the "Netanyahu" brand and not on the members of the team. Tighter messaging By the end of the week, Netanyahu's so-called "natural partners" again tightened their messaging, stressing they would be recommending that Netanyahu form the next government and would support him during his next term in office, despite the attorney general's decision. Meanwhile, the AG's announcement also sparked a protest against Netanyahu on Friday, with Labor Party activists traveling in a convoy of 60 vehicles toward Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, waving black flags and calling on the prime minister to resign. The activists also tried to hang pictures of Netanyahu at Habimah Square in Tel Aviv, but the police prevented them from doing so. Despite the declarations of support from the right-wing, there is still concern in Netanyahu's camp that not all the bloc's parties will pass the threshold. Furthermore, internal polls show that the potentially reduced size of the right-wing bloc could pose a major problem in forming the next government. On Thursday evening, following the publication of the attorney general's decision, almost every party in the current coalition issued announcements of support for Netanyahu, promising to back only him to form the next government. The New Right party, like Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, declared that Netanyahu has the same right "to a presumption of innocence as any other citizen in the country," and made it clear that they would wait for the outcome of the pre-indictment hearing. Shas meanwhile has made it clear that it supports no other candidate but Netanyahu, and United Torah Judaism has made a similar statement. Kulanu's caution The only ones who kept silent were members of the Kulanu party, an off-shoot of Likud headed by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who did not issue a statement of support despite journalists' requests. That silence was broken by Housing Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton at a cultural event in Be'er Sheva on Saturday, when she said that they did not intend to rejoice in Netanyahu's legal woes and did not rule out a meeting with the prime minister. Later that day, Kahlon touched on an issue mentioned in Mandelblit's recommendations, that Netanyahu had allegedly sought negative coverage of his finance minister. "I very much hope that the allegations about a demand to give me negative coverage prove to be untrue," Khalon said in a statement released by his party. "There is an entire network of people in whose interests it is for me not to continue as finance minister. The mendacious reports that have been published about me in the media, whether with the encouragement of people of wealth or other interested parties will not stop us from continuing to work for the Israeli public. What has been revealed is only the tip of the iceberg," Kahlon said. When it came to Netanyahu himself, Kahlon's message was ambiguous and vague. He also declined to express his support or lack of support for the head of the opposing camp, Benny Gantz. Nevertheless, Kahlon has on several occasions recently criticized the economic platform of both Gantz and his Blue and White party, as well as that of Avi Nissenkorn, who holds the fifth spot on the list. He said that they intended to cancel key plans that have already been implemented, and for that reason he was also unable to approve of their economic outlook. For years I have defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is not a monster. He is one of the most important statesmen to ever enter Israeli politics, and under his leadership the past decade has been one of the most fruitful for Israel. The economy is flourishing, the prophecies of Israels potential international isolation have been shattered, diplomatic ties with many countriesincluding those once considered hostileare developing rapidly, and the special relations with the Russian president now has strategic significance. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Nevertheless, Netanyahu has been involved in some questionable deals in recent years. I'm not just talking about some gifted cigars. The accusations are far more serious, and although Netanyahu's supporters might argue there was nothing criminal, they can't deny that his quid-pro-quo behavior is corrupt. Worse still, Netanyahu's achievements can't overshadow the crises his actions are certain to create in the long term. For instance, the deteriorating relations with the American Jewry, the concessions to the ultra-Orthodox (the long-term implications of which are incredibly destructive), the division and incitement he creates among Jews within Israel itself, the negative attitude he perpetuates towards Israeli Arabs and the inevitable reality of a binational state he is leading us toward. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters) Netanyahu also has justified complaints for the justice system. I, myself even wrote about them. All the faults of the judicial system, however, cannot disguise either the established facts nor the assessments about the prime minister's problematic conduct. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblits recommendation to indictwritten with extreme cautionleaves a bad aftertaste. Mandelblit, after all, used to be no less than Netanyahu's confidant. Yes, there was an oligarchy here, which still has an influence and ought to be criticized, but Netanyahu is making this situation much worse.The judicial system in the country is not perfect and its faults should be condemned and corrected. However, Netanyahu's vendettas against the judicial system and anyone who refuses to be his avid supporter could lead us to disaster. Nonetheless, there are those who will say: Those who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones, because there is also a recommendation to indict the owner of the very outlet for which I am writing this piece. Although, it of course pains and disturbs me, there is still an enormous difference between the conduct of Netanyahu and that of Arnon Mozes, since the conversations that were recorded and exposedwhere the prime minister asked for favorable coverage in return for regulatory benefitsare one thing, while running the newspaper is something else. From the moment the news about the affairnow known as Case 2000broke, the newspaper made sure to demonstrate that it could fight the allegations. Netanyahu forced his opinion on all the government ministers, all the senior members of his party and all the MKs. At Yedioth Ahronoth, however, the opposite was true. There was no coercion or censorship. Everyone was free to write whatever they wanted, including those calling on Mozes to suspend himself from running the paper until the allegations have been cleared. We are proud of the editorial freedom that wed been given, and its the reason why Yedioth has a variety of opinions that you cant encounter in any other Israeli publications. Arnon Mozes (Photo: Avi Mualem) Another difference is that Yedioth Ahronoth is a privately owned newspaper, while Netanyahu is a public figure, and all the resources under his control are also public. His ministers, like marionettes, would say one thing in private conversations and the complete opposite during media appearances. There is Netanyahu the statesmanwith a series of worthy achievements under his beltand there is Netanyahu the politician, who is willing to damage the national interests and may even lead us all to the brink of civil war for the sake of his own interests. I didnt vote for Netanyahu in the last election, but I supported him on many issues, even when it came to his battles with the legal system. Which is why I feel entitled to directly address him: This is an historic opportunity to do something important for the country you love, please dont destroy what youve accomplished. And youve accomplished a lot! We want to remember you as the statesman. Dont drag us all into a battle in which there can be no winners. Its still not too late for a deal that would see you resign in return for the closure of all your criminal cases. If the State of Israel appeals to you, then please answer, not only for you own good, but for the good of the country as well. Following the success of Bamba in the US, outgoing Osem CEO Itzik Saig is looking to market Majhoul (Medjool) dates to the world as one of Israels most successful and lucrative exports, behind the avocado. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Currently, capital is being raised from investors, including former Coca Cola CEO Ronnie Kobrovsky. The team working on the initiative intends to acquire date orchards in the Jordan Valley and be involved in the entire production process, from growing and sorting to packaging and marketing. Majhoul dates (Photo: Sagi Moran) The team will invest in advanced equipment and data necessary to increase yields. Computerized systems will enable irrigation and fertilization for each tree separately, in order to maximize yields and save costs. The Majhoul date is known to be one of the most sought after and succulent dates. Due to the unique climate in the Jordan Valley and Arava regions, Israel controls 65% of the worlds Majhoul market. While in the past, farmers there would grow and export peppers, following a downturn in that market, the government spent NIS 100 million in incentives for the farmers to switch to growing dates instead. The health benefits of dates have made it the sweet snack of choice for health conscious people. Worldwide demand for the fruit has increased steadily and its production has grown by 66% over the last two decades. Israel alone produces some 40,000 tons of dates annually, a 70% increase over the last decade, and the sector is on the rise. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has announced that its expanded caucus meeting, will hold on Monday, March 4, 2019. According to the national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, the meeting will hold at National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja by 12 noon. Israel and Russia will work together on securing an exit of foreign forces from Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after visiting Moscow to advocate against the Iranian presence in the country. As Syrian President Bashar Assad beats back an eight-year-old insurgency, Israel worries that his reinforcements from Iran and the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah will stay on to form a new front against it. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against suspected Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria. These operations have been largely ignored by Russia, which intervened militarily on Assad's behalf in 2015, turning the tide of the war. The publication of the suspicions against Benjamin Netanyahu in Case 1000 has provided additional insight into the alleged relationship between the prime minister's family and Australian billionaire James Packer, one which officials believe included gifts, favors and even access to Packer's properties in Israel and around the world. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to the allegations, the Netanyahu family enjoyed free use of Packer's villa in Caesarea, which is next to their own, even when the businessman was not present. James Packer and Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Getty Images) In mid-2013, American-Israeli billionaire Arnon Milchan introduced Netanyahu to Packer, and since then the two shared a bond based on the Australian businessman's admiration for the prime minister. Throughout their acquaintance, from 2014 to 2016, Netanyahu and his wife received gifts from Packer that included boxes of cigars and bottles of champagne the same kind of gifts that they received from Milchan during the same period. "These gifts were generally made in response to demands by Sara Netanyahu while (Benjamin) Netanyahu was aware of their receipt in significant volume and sometimes in response to Netanyahu's own demands," the attorney general's recommendations state. According to the suspicions, these gifts were given frequently enough to be said to be considered a "conveyor belt" of cigars and champagne. Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu allegedly received gifts from Packer worth NIS 229,174 (approx. $63,000) between 2014 and 2016. Of that sum, NIS 145,577 (approx. $40,000) was spent on cigars and NIS 83,597 (approx. $23,000) on champagne. These gifts were allegedly made to Netanyahu due to his position and standing as the prime minister. James Packer and Arnon Milchan (: EPA) It was also previously revealed that Netanyahu would use Packer's villa in Caesarea for his meetings. His son, Yair, would also stay in Packer's villa, at his suite at the Royal Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv and in his homes abroad. What is Case 1000? This case, also known as the "illicit gifts affair," concerns gifts the prime minister and his family allegedly received from Milchan and Packer. The gifts mostly included champagne and expensive cigars. The investigation found there was an alleged organized system, which operated for about a decade, with Netanyahu and his family demanding and then receiving gifts worth a total of some NIS 1 million. In return for the gifts, Netanyahu allegedly used his position to influence government policy for the betterment of his associates, particularly Milchan. Tax benefits: One such favor was the premier's invested interest in extending tax benefits for returning residents to over 10 years, something the police estimated would have saved Milchan millions of dollars. Finance Ministry officials rejected the proposal, saying it was contrary to the public interest, because fewer taxes would be collected. US visa: Netanyahu is also suspected of working to aid Milchan renew his visa to the US. The prime minister allegedly turned to then-US Secretary of State John Kerry, then-US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and Israel's Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, asking for their help in extending Milchan's visa. Benjamin Netanyahu and Arnon Milchan (: gettyimages) Channel 2 merger: The prime minister allegedly worked to promote the merger of the two TV networks that shared Channel 2, Keshet and Reshet, which Milchan sought to run, in addition to owning shares in commercial competitor, Channel 10. "Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber intervened and acted on behalf of Netanyahu in order to advance Milchan's affairs. In return, the prime minister was promised sympathetic coverage (from Channels 2 and 10)," police said. The Tata project: According to the police, the most glaring example of Netanyahu working against Israel's interests to benefit Milchan was his efforts promote a free trade zone on the Israel-Jordan border, a project Milchan sought to promote as part of his partnership with Indian industrialist Ratan Tata. The project, which police noted went against the recommendations of the defense establishment, would have generated Milchan and Tata "a huge profit," but ended up being scrapped because it would've cost the state an unreasonable amount in security expenses. A Bedouin Israel Defense Forces soldier was violently attacked on Sunday by security guards at a train station in the southern city of Beer Sheva, after he allegedly refused to identify himself or have his belongings checked. As a result of the confrontation, the soldier suffered a severe laceration to his head caused by a barrel of a gun one of the guards hit him with. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The video of the incident shows the soldier lying on the floor of the station, with two security guards having him in a hold. The soldiers head is seen slowly drooping to the floor, with the blood pouring from an open wound. Bedouin IDF soldier attacked at train station X The incident took place around 9am, and according to Israel Railways sources, the victim refused to present a soldier's ID card and place his backpack on a scanning machine at the stations security checkpoint. The security guards then informed the soldier that he was being detained, prompting the soldier to call his officer and force his way through the barrier into the station," the source said. The guards then had to restrain the soldier, which involved the use of violence. Bedouin Israel Defense Forces soldier attacked at train station The spokesperson for Magen David Adom said although they received a call about a man suffering from a head wound at the train station, when the medical teams arrived at the scene, they couldnt locate the victim. In addition, no complaint has yet been filed with the police regarding the incident. Bedouin Israel Defense Forces soldier attacked at train station "During a routine security check at the Be'er Sheva cental railway station, the soldier refused to comply with the procedures and even attempted to forcefully break into the station, said Israel Railways in a statement. The soldier confronted a security guard at the entrance to the station, prompting him to use force to prevent the passenger from entering the premises, in accordance with the security procedures of Israel Police, added the statement. Israel and Russia will work together on securing an exit of foreign forces from Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after visiting Moscow to advocate against the Iranian presence in the country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter As Syrian President Bashar Assad beats back an eight-year-old insurgency, Israel worries that his reinforcements from Iran and the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah will stay on to form a new front against it. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against suspected Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria . These operations have been largely ignored by Russia, which intervened militarily on Assad's behalf in 2015, turning the tide of the war. Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shaabi ) Netanyahu said that, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, he had made it "unequivocally clear" that such strikes would continue, with an Israeli-Russian military hotline continuing to prevent accidental clashes between the countries. "President Putin and I also agreed on a shared goalthe removal from Syria of the foreign forces that came in after the civil war erupted," Netanyahu told the cabinet in broadcast remarks. "We agreed to set up a joint task force which, together with others, will work to advance toward this goal." Prime Minister Netanyahu and wife with President Putin (Photo: AP) He did not elaborate. Moscow had no immediate comment. In the past, Russia has spoken in favour of other forces leaving Syria, though it plans to keep a long-term garrison there. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) published on Sunday, said the situation in Syria had visibly stabilised after operations by Syrian government forces with Russian aerial support. But Lavrov said it was too early to declare the "terrorist threat" in Syriaa reference to Islamist-led rebelseliminated. The United States has been drawing down its own forces in Syria as Islamic State insurgents near defeat. They were born to a Bedouin father and a Jewish mother, live in the northern Druze town of Isfiya - and serve in the elite Golani infantry brigade. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Shaker, the eldest brother and company commander in the 51st battalion, on Thursday awarded the brigade's prized brown beret to his younger brother Adam at the end of the famed IDF "march of glory" (known in Hebrew as the masa kumta or beret march). Shaker Kozly presents the coveted Golani brown beret to his younger brother Adam (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Shaker was the first Bedouin Israeli to attend the IDF Junior Command Preparatory School, founded by David Ben-Gurion as an institution combining military and academic education. Upon completing his studies, Shaker enlisted in the Golani Brigade, where he completed a reconnaissance course. Adam, his younger brother, followed him, studied at the same boarding school and enlisted in the same unit. And they are not the only ones in the family to wear the olive uniform: who wear uniforms at home: their older sister is not only an IDF officer but also a lawyer in the Military Advocate General's Office. "We come from a family that serves in the army, mostly in Golani," says Shaker. When asked about their mixed ethnicity family and where they live, Adam jokes: "We are made up of the entire nation of Israel." Shaker adds: "We studied in a Jewish school and we live in a Druze village, so there are always questions like, 'How do you know how to speak Arabic?' My father believes strongly in our integration into society; he says citizens should be equal in rights and in duties. But it wasnt always easy. "When my sister enlisted, it was a tough decision for him. A woman in the army and an officer's course, who went on to a master's degree in law, was not an easy pill to swallow in a conservative society. But it gave us our own right to choose, and it constantly resonates with that it doesnt matter what we become, the most important thing is to still be a good person." "Our home is mixed and open," says Adam. "We fast for Ramadan but celebrate the (Passover) Seder with my mother's Jewish side. My father even read the Haggadah at the last holiday. So long as there is a family feeling, everything will be okay." State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan hit back Sunday at claims that political considerations motivated Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to recommend charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his three corruption investigations. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "The decision (to call for indictments) was made solely out of considerations based on the evidence," Nitzan said in an address at the University of Haifa. "A suspect's political identity is of no interest and is never taken into consideration. There were claims from both sides that the attorney general had caved to pressure, but this has no basis in fact. The attorney general made a decision in which he believed according to his conscience and his best judgment, and not because of any pressure." Shai Nitzan speaks at the University of Haifa (Photo: Gil Nachshon) Mandelblit on Thursday called for Netanyahu to face charges in all three of the open corruption investigations into his actitvities, hours after the High Court rejected a last-ditch attempt by the Likud party to delay his recommendations until after the April 9 elections. The attorney general, who was once Netanyahu's cabinet secretary, recommended bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in Case 4000, in which Netanyahu is suspected of receiving favorable coverage on the Walla! News website in return for regulatory benefits to telecommunications giant Bezeq, which owns the site. He also called for charges of fraud and breach of trust in both Case 1000, in which Netanyahu and his family are suspected of receiving illicit gifts from wealthy donors, and Case 2000, in which Netanyahu allegedly tried to negotiate favorable coverage in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily (Ynetnews' sister publication) in return for promoting legislation against rival paper Israel Hayom. Benjamin Netanyahu speaks after AG Mandelblit announced his decision to indict the prime minister, pending a hearing (Photo: AFP) Netanyahu lashed out at the attorney general following the publication of his recommendations, calling the timing of the announcement "outrageous" and accusing members of the judiciary and his political opponents of carrying out an "unprecedented witch hunt." Nitzan stressed Sunday that the prime minister will have the opportunity to present his case at a hearing before any final decision on indictments is reached. "Last Thursday the attorney general decided to consider putting the prime minister on trial in three cases for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, subject to a hearing," Nitzan said. "The decision that was reached is not final; it is an interim decision. Considerations on whether to put the prime minister on trial and the final decision will be made only after the prime minister has made his case to the attorney general and the State Prosecutor's Office." He added: "It is important to clarify that the final decision is made by the attorney general. I have a great deal of respect for the attorney general, who has led this process thoroughly and deeply over the last few months. Professional disagreements are common, but these disagreements do not prevent us from working respectfully throughout the entire process and until the decision (on whether to indict) is made." Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Israel Democracy Institute) The state prosecutor also defended the decision by Mandelblit to release his recommendations ahead of the April 9 elections, something which both Netanyahu and his Likud party claim will have an adverse effect on his re-election chances. "In this matter, I will clarify that we acted according to a guidance policy that states that if a case is ready for a decision, there is no cause to wait simply because there are upcoming elections. The public right to know and other legal principles compel us to take such action." The state prosecutor cited former cases against other politicians as examples of judicial action that was not influenced by politics. "There were no political considerations with the decision to indict (Ehud) Olmert, the former prime minister who was the head of the Kadima party on the other side of the map, and in exactly the same way there were no political considerations with the Netanyahu case," Nitzan said as he ended his remarks on the affair. British Prime Minister Theresa May emphasized the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups in a call with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, May's office said. India and Pakistan came to the brink of war this week as tensions escalated following a suicide car bombing that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India accusing Pakistan of harboring the Jaish-e Mohammad group behind the attack, which Islamabad denied. "She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India," May's office said of the call with Khan. "The leaders discussed the need to address the causes of this conflict. The prime minister emphasized the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday hailed Britain's decision to ban Lebanese Hezbollah while speaking on the phone with his counterpart, Theresa May, the PMO said in a statement. "Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Prime Minister May for the decision to widen a ban on the Lebanon-based Shiite terror movement Hezbollah," the statement said. On Monday, Britain said it would ban Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group that plays a pivotal role in Lebanese politics, adding the Shiite organization in its entirety to its list of banned terrorist organizations. The Israeli Air Force hit a Hamas observation post near the city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, Palestinians sources said on Sunday. No casualties were reported. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter IDF Spokesperson's Unit said the attack was carried in response to Palestinians throwing explosive devices at the security fence earlier today. File photo: IAF strikes in Gaza Earlier, two unarmed Palestinians were arrested in northern Gaza after crossing into Israel. They were apprehended by Israel Defense Forces troops and taken for questioning. On Saturday, IAF aircraft targeted two Hamas posts in the coastal enclave after a cluster of balloons tied to an explosive device was flown from Gaza into Israel. Neither casualties nor damage were reported in the incident. The first strike was carried out near the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, where Palestinians regularly hold their March of Return protests in adjacent to the Kissufim area. According to Palestinians sources, the IDF later carried out another airstrike on a Hamas observation post in southern Gaza, east of Rafah. No casualties were reported in both strikes. Gaza border riots (Photo: EPA) On Wednesday night, the army targeted two Hamas positions in central and southern Gaza, striking at least one position of the terror organization's military wing after an explosive device tied to a cluster of balloons landed in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel, causing damage to the windows of a house there. No casualties were reported in the incident. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said the balloons were dispatched from southern Gaza and that it appears the device exploded in midair. Following the incident, head of the Eshkol Regional Council Gadi Yarkoni said: "The airborne incendiary and explosive devices tied to balloons are terrorism to all intents and purposes, and today this terrorism is stepping up. File photo Eshkol residents have shown incredible patience, allowing the decision-makers and the Israel Defense Forces to exhaust all options to eradicate the terror striking our communities. But we wont accept this reality and expect an immediate solution ensuring long-term calm." In February, two fires broke out in the Kissufim forest in the Eshkol Regional Council, near the Israeli border with Gaza, due to incendiary airborne device tied to a balloon launched from Gaza. This was the first fire in five months sparked by incendiary balloon flown from Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces fired a shell at a village in Syria's Quneitra province, Syrian news agency SANA reported on Sunday night. Neither casualties nor damage were reported. The Nigerian Police Force on Sunday, March 3, 2019, has arrested APC lawmaker Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, for orchestrating the kidnap and assault of Deputy Police commissioner during Bayelsa federal constituency elections on February 23, 2019. It should be recalled that on February 24, 2019, a video of a police officer being dragged away by an angry mob was circulating on social media. News Washington, DC - In recognition of Womens History Month, the Office of the First Lady announces Mrs. Trumps participation in the 2019 International Women of Courage Celebration on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Mrs. Trump has presented the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award for the past three years and will return to the State Department to give remarks and participate in presenting the IWOC Award to a remarkable group of women. It is a great honor to meet and celebrate in the incredible achievements of these women and the challenging endeavors they have undertaken, said First Lady Melania Trump. I am proud to be the First Lady of a country where our democracy not only allows, but empowers, the ability to defend and promote all of our rights. These women are beacons of hope for many around the world. Over the last 13 years, the IWOC Award has honored more than 120 women from more than 65 different countries. It is the State Departments only all-female award and it serves as an opportunity to recognize women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership. This event is open to the press. All interested outlets should apply through the State Department. Governor of Anambra State, Willie has disclosed that he supported the re-election of President Muhammad Buhari. In his statement made available by his chief press secretary, James Eze, Obiano disclosed that he did not see how President Buhari would have lost against Atiku. He, however, advised against any excessively emotive opposition that would rub Ndigbo the wrong way for the umpteenth time. He said he warned Ndigbo that history must not repeat itself again but many could not understand but foresight is a gift that is not available to everyone. And now that the chickens have come home to roost, it has become clear to Governor Obiano that foresight comes at a price, he said. Foresight is a lonely path to tread. It breeds unexpected resentment and hate. Having foresight could turn you into a sudden object of anger and unwise attacks. But on the long run, it never leaves you without the enduring sheen of grace and glory. And that happens only when the people finally wake up to smell the coffee. Sadly, in the case of many farsighted leaders, this happens after they are out of office or after they are gone! The statement also touched on the perceived sense of betrayal some Ndigbo brothers would feel but he urged them to have foresight and take the unpopular way. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Lighter baked Vegan Eggplant Parmesan with warm layers of grilled eggplant, pomodoro sauce, fresh herbs, and cheesy flavor is a delicious family-style Italian dinner. Eggplant Parmesan has always been one of Yummy Hubbys favorite dishes. I can count on him ordering it whenever we go out to Italian restaurants. It was a dish also loved by his father, whose family was originally from the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Eggplant parmigiana originated in southern Italy, so this love must be in his blood. While delicious, many eggplant parmsan recipes are quite greasy. Eggplant slices are breaded and fried before getting layered in sauce and mozzarella. I learned a new lighter method recently, while enjoying Jamie Olivers cookbook, Jamies Italy on a rainy day by the fire. Indeed, many American-Italian recipes are far heavier than they started in Italy. Rather than breading and frying the eggplant slices, they are simply charred on the grill or griddle. And unlike breaded eggplant that doesnt stay crisp for long, this one has the breadcrumbs on top where they remain dry and un-mushy. Ive used dairy-free cheese in this vegan eggplant parmesan, and it would be very easy to make gluten-free as well. Just like my BEST Vegan Lasagna, this classic tastes just as good lightened up. Vegan Baked Eggplant Parmesan Ingredients Eggplant is a summer crop, but to be honest we make baked eggplant parmesan year-round because its so warm and comforting. For this recipe youll need: Do I Have to Salt Eggplant? I was taught that globe eggplants can be a little bitter and one should always slice, salt, and let eggplant rest for an hour while the salt draws out any bitterness. The salt is then rinsed off and eggplants patted dry. For this recipe I completely skip this step, and thats how Jamies recipe is written too. Ive never noticed any bitterness. How to Make Baked Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Sear the eggplant. This is the most time-consuming step, so youll want to use the largest cook surface, or several pans. In the summer I plan on doing this on the outdoor grill, but in the winter I use the griddle. The eggplant will continue cooking in the oven; for now we just want a nice brown sear. You can do this dry or with a little olive oil. I like to season along the way with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, make your sauce. This baked eggplant parmesan uses few ingredients and most of the flavor comes from the sauce, so make sure it tastes amazing before proceeding. Use this Pomodoro Sauce chunky like you see here, or puree. This is a simple sauce to make year-round, but in the summer you could use my Fresh Tomato Marinara here too. Layer the eggplant parmesan. Start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Then add your eggplant slices in a single layer. Top with sauce and cheese. You can use vegan Parmesan or mozzarella, or both. Depending on the size of your eggplants and casserole dish, you may have two or three layers. After the last layer or eggplant, top with the last of your sauce. Top with breadcrumbs. This is where that great texture is coming from. Stir the breadcrumbs with some olive oil to moisten, and season with salt, pepper, and fresh oregano. How to Serve Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Ive made this dish for dinner parties and served it with Risotto with Peas & Artichokes and a big Beet Salad. Alternatively, cook up a batch of spaghetti aglio olio to serve with the baked eggplant parmesan. Serve with some good crusty Italian bread for sopping up any extra sauce. Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Tips & Tricks The eggplant itself isnt very flavorful, so be sure your sauce and breadcrumb topping are well seasoned, flavorful, and delicious. Taste them before adding to the dish to check seasonings. You can layer the casserole early and bake just before serving. If you like traditionally melty cheese on top, use a vegan Mozzarella. For a lighter version, a sprinkle of Parmesan is fine. Try the Pizza Version inspired by Julia Child. In our latest edition of Zoho Stories that inspire, Im joined by Director Eileen Keane and CEO Justin J Smal, from Monread. We trace their stories from how they started Monread, their discovery of Zoho as an all-encompassing solution and their growth to become the leading Zoho consultants in the UK and Ireland. Ani: So lets start at the beginningtell us about your lives before Monread. Eileen: I am an Electronic Engineer graduated from the University of Limerick and began my career by designing electronics at Philips in Holland, and then migrated to product marketing of one of the first Internet based hand-held devices, the precursor to what we have today. In my new role, I immediately needed contact management and, at the time, there was no solution that was right enoughand thats when I met Justin. Justin: I have been an entrepreneur for a long time and I was running operations and finance, but found CRM more interesting after implementing a CRM solution in 1995 for over 50 seats for my then organization. Eileen & co-founder Leo Moore just founded Monread and I had a vision as to how CRM would evolve, although this evolution took time. In 2001, I officially joined Monread and have ever since consulted for all types of companies, including blue chips and SMEs. Eileen: We started Monread, 20 years ago; delivering on-premise CRM, help desk and payroll solutions in the UK and Ireland as well as custom solution developments and integrations and building a market leading payroll solution & accounts integrations. Ani: Was that when you encountered Zoho? Eileen: By 2009, we could see that the market ahead was surely going to be in the cloudwe were actively pursuing an alternative to Salesforce and took time to evaluate every player in CRM before we zeroed in on Zoho. Monread too had grown with a considerable roster of contacts, and to be honest, there was no all-encompassing solution for their specific needstill we found Zoho. Justin: Indeed! By early 2012, we were delivering Zoho solutions in a very big way, and the results we were seeing, as well as our own experience, convinced us that Zoho was the perfect solution for companies migrating to the cloud, while delivering on their business requirements. Ani: Interesting! Tell us a little more about Monread as a firm Eileen: We are a complete Zoho shop, we use Zoho products extensively so while meeting and pitching to customers it puts us at a better position than other consulting firms because we have real life experience on the products that we offer as solution. Right now, we have expert Zoho consultants working out of the UK, Ireland and the United States and a dedicated local help-desk for our Zoho clients Ani: How were you convinced of the dynamic nature of Zoho as a solution? Justin: Like I mentioned earlier, I had a vision as to how a CRM should be. In any organization, I believe, everyone should be ideally selling. Its not just the salespeople; everyone must be speaking the same language and to enable that, there needs to be a highly customizable system which can seamlessly exchange data. I could see that Zoho was that. Ani: Great! You have a lot of consulting experience with blue-chip companies and SMEs, do you focus on any particular industry? Justin: Ideally, we cater to every industry, because every industry needs sales and marketing in some way. But we have served industries like aerospace, technology, manufacturing, education and services. A fair bit of consulting also goes into firms which have existing ERP systems, and our expertise goes into designing integrations for their legacy systems. Ani: What were the challenges, particularly in Ireland and the UK? Justin: There is a noticeable difference between them.In Ireland, people look towards the US for a lot of things, including technology and are early adopters, so the market had an interest for cloud products from the start, but what was lacking initially was high speed infrastructure. In the UK, the challenge was differentit wasnt about the technology, but more about finding the right solution for the right customer. In other words, a problem-solution fit. Ill expand on this answer a bit and tell you what the major challenge is nowover the years there has been a flooding of the markets with SaaS products. Eileen: Salesforce too has a big presence in Ireland, which is a both positive and negative. Negative because we are always competing in the region. Positive because there is a greater awareness of what CRM is and people are always willing to listen to alternatives. Even more so once they learn how attractive the Zoho proposition actually is! Justin: We see that there is a lot of switching by the customer from one vendor to the other, this happens because the customers are locked into year-long contracts at a discounted price; but during this lock-in period they realize that it isnt the CRM solution that they wanted. Whats in favor of Zoho is the ever-growing arsenal of integrated apps, the functionality of these apps, the competitive pricing, and you will never be asked to pay more if a contract runs out or functionality changes. In simple terms, with Zoho you get an an awesome bang for your buck, backed by the ethical grounding of Sridhar Vembu (CEO & Co-founder of Zoho) which permeates the entire Zoho organization. Ani: How do customers appreciate the importance of a CRM consultant? Justin: Sometimes people dont realize the importance of a consulting partner when figuring out how to differentiate their options. It usually starts with customers trying to do the implementation of a CRM themselves, and this takes a lot more time than they initially envisionand then they turn to us for expertise. We advise, we suggest and then bolt the solution together quickly and efficiently, sometimes with the assistance of Zoho, enabling the customer to focus on what matters: running the business and generating revenue. Ani: Since you mentioned the right solution, whats your approach to providing the best choice for your customers? Eileen: We always take the extra effort to learn the customers business thoroughly and better understand their goals and aspirations during the discovery phase of the engagement. Most of the time, if they dont have the processes in places, we create them from scratch. Justin: Yes, we also draw upon 20 year long experience in sales, marketing, finance and operations and we then present to them a customized Zoho solution which will help them. Our process can be broken down into a four word mantra: discover-build-launch-support. Eileen: Extensive consulting also goes into organizations which have existing ERP systems, and our expertise goes into designing integrations. Ani: Weve discussed your approach to consulting, but could you give us a specific instance where your consulting expertise has made a marked difference in a customers business? Eileen: One of our customers is a leading hardware refurbishment company which advocates IT reuse across Europe. Their finance departments, which also handled inventory and invoicing, was not working harmoniously with the sales team. Ever since we created a solution for them using Zoho One, they have reported an amazing save on direct cost savings, to a tune of 68%, and because of the improved inventory management theyre also showing an increase in sales to a tune of 39% Ani: Thats a huge impact! Could you also let us in on your plans for this year? Eileen: Our 2019 calendar has got two segments on our radarSMEs and the enterprise markets. For our enterprise clients, we plan on bringing Zoho One to their focus. Many Zoho One pilot projects are already in the running, where were working closely with clients to customize and optimize the product to their market.The next phase, would be to roll this solution out in different countries. In the SME market, well continue to focus on Zoho CRM and the Finance Suite. Efficient solutions at economic pricing are a no-brainer in the SME market, making Zoho CRM and Books a natural fit into their sectors. Weve also planned Zoho Books public training courses that are aimed at bookkeepers, accountants, and financial controllers. Ani: Thats a lot to look forward to in 2019, and Im sure theres a lot of training that you guys undertaketell us about that, too! Eileen: We recently became a Zoho Certified Training Centre, and started the year with a Zoho CRM Administrator Training Course in Dublin. This public training course was a great experience and was well received by the delegates. They were immersed in Zoho, away from their office, and the session had an amazing response with requests for many more courses. This shows great promise and well be launching a full schedule of training on Zoho CRM, Zoho Finance Suite, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, and Zoho One for SMEs in Dublin, Belfast, and the UK. Ani: Im sure that the training would be very useful, any final thoughts as we draw this session to a close? Justin: Real CRM should be that any contact, through any channel, should be managed effectively and an organization has to ensure that the customer experience is as enjoyable as possible easy, informational, solution focused, and with the least amount of hassle. By delivering the right customer experience via a well-defined CRM Strategy, underpinned by an all encompassing CRM solution, a lead becomes a customer-a customer becomes a supporter and a supporter becomes a champion. I believe that Zoho One can deliver true CRM for any organization, big or small, at affordable prices without compromising functionality. Check out Monread here Know more about Partners @ Zoho here Irelands Best Managed Companies 2021 We are delighted to announce the winners of Irelands Best Managed Companies 2021! The programme, led by Deloitte in association with Bank of Ireland, shines a spotlight on outstanding private businesses from across the island of Ireland and the exceptional performance that drives them. Read the official press release. Applications for next years programme will open in January 2022. For more information about the programme, email the team at iebmc@deloitte.ie. - An earth tremor has been recorded in parts of Accra - The incident occured on Saturday, March 2, 2019 - A number of Ghanaians have reacted in fear to the tremor Information available to YEN.com.gh suggests that an earth tremor has been recorded in parts of Accra, the capital of Ghana. Per a Citinewsroom report, the affected areas were Gbawe, Sowutuom, Old Kasoa Barrier, New Bortianor, Awoshie, Abelemkpe, Tabora, Achimota, Ablekuma, Kissiman, Westland, Laterbiokorshie, Legon and McCarthy Hill. The tremor, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, March 2, 2019, scared a number of Ghanaians, and they expressed their fears. Source: Citinewsroom.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Mahama asks Ghanaians to dismiss Akufo-Addo's leaked tape Kwodwo allegedly said, As for me, I cant sleep again. Very serious bro; Achimota, Lapaz and East Legon are not within the earth prone range, but this time, we felt it paaa Tony, at Mallam, added: I havent felt anything like it before. It was scary. Leah, who lives at Weija also revealed that I felt it paaaAm even on the 2nd floor of my apartment but I felt the vibration paaa, Wooow Ghana has recorded a significant number of tremors in the past, and the effects of such incidents have varied. One such incident occurred in Accra on Sunday, December 9, 2018 around Weija and Gbawe in the Ga South Municipality. A similar shake was also recorded in Accra on January 13, 2019. The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) said the earth tremor measured 2.6 on the Richter Scale and occurred in parts of Accra at 5:01p.m. The tremor, which lasted for about six seconds, occurred about 18 km away from the Achimota Station of the GGSA, according to the reading on the seismometer there, which also showed that the epicentre of the tremor was around Weija. A senior official of the GGSA, Nicholas Opoku, in an interview, said there were adequate signals that an earthquake was imminent and added that there was a need for preparation to avoid surprises. Reports indicate that the worst tremor experienced in Ghana was in 1936, at Axim in the Western region and it caused a lot of damage. READ ALSO: Anokye Supremo finally laid to rest (Video) Ghana News Today: Anas drops another expose / Mahama wins NDC presidential primaries | #Yencomgh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: Yen.com.gh Sharing is caring! 52 shares Share 40 Tweet Pin 12 If youre coming to New Zealand, then you probably already know its one of the major adventure capitals of the world. Sure, you can have scenic, quiet drives and calm, easy strolls but if youve done your research you know that New Zealand has the potential to fulfill any adrenaline seekers wishes. what do you expect from the country that invented bungee jumping and birthed Sir Edmund Hillary? But how do you have it all? How do you plan a trip to a place youve never been before and strike that fine balance between trying new things and not being pushed too far out of your comfort zone? In my honest opinion, you cant really do better than booking yourself on a tour instead of trying to do it all yourself. And no, not one of those cheesy tours that shuffle you on and off the bus every few hours like a bunch of sheep. The key is finding a tour that strikes that perfect balance of having a relaxing holiday but it is also borderline badass. Let me help you! No planning = Stress-free holiday One of the best benefits of doing a tour is that you dont have to plan a single thing. For people who are tired of researching for months before the trip, this is a huge bonus. You simply find a tour you like and trust and let them do the rest. Haka Tours is one of the most reputable tours offered in New Zealand. How do I know? Because Ive done them since 2013! Ive been there, on the ground floor experiencing the tours just like everyone else and Ive even organized my own takeover tours with them too. Perfect for solo travelers (like me) Haka Tours also eliminates the stress of having to be a solo traveler, (which frankly, isnt always what its cracked up to be LOL). Many tour operators add on a single booking supplement but if you book with Haka Tours, youll fit right in. 70% of their guests are solo travelers so you have the best chance of meeting new friends and not feeling like youre interrupting a bunch of honeymoons. They have options for any length of vacation you want. Need just a week? Want to make it longer? Perhaps you prefer to see one island over the other? Maybe you want to see it all!? Their summer adventure tours vary in dates and length so you can get exactly what you want from the trip. Goodbye backpackers! If youre anything like me, youre going to need a bit of a balance in your vacation. Sure the wild and crazy adventure part is fun but also, to be completely honest, I like to end the day feeling comfortable and relaxed, not waiting in line for the shower or pushing my way through a kitchen filled with barely legal travelers who steal my cheese when Im not looking My backpacker days are long behind me, and Im glad. It was fun while it lasted but comfort at 30 is much more important to me than it was when I was 20. Im officially over having to use communal showers or put in earplugs because one of the 15 people in my dorm room snores too loudly. Just, no. Haka Tours have their own upmarket backpackers (Haka Lodge) dotted throughout NZ, where you will spend plenty of tour nights on their premium tours. Along the way you might stay at Aquapackers an ex-navy marine boat in Abel Tasman or Te Nikau Retreat cozy cottages set in the lush West Coast rainforest (my favorite!). They prioritize having totally unique accommodation options so you leave feeling like you get a fuller experience than just another backpacker. Hello adventure! Just because your accommodation is flashy doesnt mean this a trip for retirees. One of the original pioneers of adventure tours in New Zealand, you cant help but expect some heart-pumping moments. Your tour will include plenty of opportunities to take advantage of New Zealands biggest adrenaline sports. Being the only company that lets you pre-book activities, you have the chance to do just about anything! From bungy jumping, skydiving, white water rafting, dolphin swimming, surfing, hot air balloon ridesyou name it, theyve got it. However, nothing is compulsory and if you want to relax and enjoy the tour without jumping off great heights, your guide will always have plenty of alternatives. You can pick and chose what you want to do! Its a completely customizable trip with lots of surprises in store! Youll be surrounded by your people Haka Tour guests are usually between 25-40 years old so you can completely get rid of any fears of being surrounded by party-hungry teens. Their tours focus on immersion and culture so you leave feeling like youve done more than just scratch the surface. Focusing on small groups, usually between 8-12 people, there is no giant bus and no getting lost in the crowd. The small groups give guests an excellent opportunity to really get to know each other and the guide with lots of fun vibes. Haka Tours feels like a road trip with your mates, not a corporate bus trip. By the end of the trip, itll feel like family. The tours are not like the hop on hop off bus passes in New Zealand either aka the sex bus: incredibly popular with 18 year old european backpackers on their first adventure overseas. These guides are genuinely focused on giving you the best experience possible which means getting off the beaten path a bit and checking out some of the best-kept secrets in new Zealand Your small group will get to go where the big tour buses cant. Experience authentic New Zealand culture, like for real Haka Tour is not your typical big corporate tour company. They are a small team that loves New Zealand and more importantly, loves sharing the best of New Zealand with visitors. The guides are super passionate about their jobs and are all 100% Kiwi so you can be sure youre getting the real deal. Haka Tours also places considerable emphasis on sharing Maori culture. Any tour passing through Rotorua will include a hangi, the traditional Maori way of cooking food in a hole in the group using heated rocks. The food is amazing and the cultural experience is even better. As a side note, I always try to look at the ethics and company practices of any tour I participate in. How do they affect their environment? How do they impact the culture? What values are important to them? Its important to me to only support tours that share my personal values and Haka Tours goes above and beyond to elevate Maori culture in addition to sharing the best of New Zealand in a responsible and sustainable way. They even offer a Maori Tour Manager Scholarship to all New Zealand citizens of Maori descent. They want to actively encourage more kiwis to consider tourism as a career as they feel there is an under-representation of Maori Tour Managers within New Zealand. Knowing Haka Tours is doing everything possible to celebrate diversity and represent responsible travel in New Zealand is a big plus in my book. Have you considered coming to New Zealand with a tour? Are you a solo traveler and want to have both an adventure down under without the stress of planning? Share! Beep beep! Some of these links are affiliate links! New Delhi: The entire nation waited with bated breath for the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan who was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Wing Commander's MiG 21 had crashed during air-to-air combat with a Pakistani F-16 and he fell into the Pakistani territory. On February 28, the Wing Commander's return was announced by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling it a 'peace gesture'. The nation celebrated his return and on March 1, the Attari border was packed with people awaiting the nation's hero. One of the most popular actors of Bhojpuri film industry, Pawan Singh welcomed Wing Commander Abhinandan back to the Indian soil with a special song titled 'Abhinandan Ka Abhinandan Hai'. Check it out here: Soon after the Prime Minister of Pakistan announced the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan, Hashtag #WelcomeBackAbhinandan and #WelcomeBackHero began trending on Twitter in no time. From Bollywood celebs to politicians, people from all walks of life expressed their happiness and welcomed the brave IAF pilot. New Delhi: One of the most awaited releases of the year, 'Saaho' is nearing its release date and fans can no longer wait to watch Bollywood beauty Shraddha Kapoor share screen space with 'Baahubali' star Prabhas. The film is slated to release on the occasion of Independence Day this year and has been made on a high budget. On the occasion of Shraddha's birthday, a new BTS video titled 'Shades of Saaho Chapter 2' has been unveiled and it is 'All Guns Blazing' for the lead actors. Check it out here: 'Saaho' is touted to be one of the biggest films and promises breathtaking action sequences and jaw-dropping visual effects. The film which will release Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages will also star Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mandira Bedi, Jackie Shroff, Vennela Kishore, Mahesh Manjrekar, Chunky Panday and Tinnu Anand in supporting roles. The director of the film is Sujeeth Reddy. Prabhas became a household name after essaying a double role in SS Rajamouli's two-part cult film Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion. The first part of the film released in 2015 while the second half hit theatres in 2017. Dubai: Abu Dhabi Airports has welcomed GoAir's launch of four new flights between Kannur International Airport (CNN) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), connecting the two cities with flights operating every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, a statement released here said. GoAir's inaugural flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was received with much fanfare on Saturday, as the Indian subcontinent remains one of the most popular destinations for travellers departing from Abu Dhabi. In addition, Kannur itself is a popular leisure and business destination within the state of Kerala. Bryan Thompson, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "India is a key travel market for Abu Dhabi International Airport and we are always eager to strengthen our connectivity to the Indian subcontinent, enhancing further our services extended to our dear customers." Maarten De Groof, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "As one of our most promising new partners, we are pleased to welcome GoAir's flights to Abu Dhabi. India has always been one of our largest and most important areas of operations and we look forward to ensuring GoAir's guests enjoy a comfortable and efficient experience throughout Abu Dhabi International Airport, where we continue to deploy world-class smart travel solutions, attractive retail offerings and relaxing lounge spaces." "This additional service to Abu Dhabi reflects the capital's status as a key destination and transit hub, and forms a part of our strategy to attract new airlines to our network," De Groof added. Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir, said Abu Dhabi was the airline's fourth international destination after Phuket, Male and Muscat, and 28th destination sequentially. "GoAir is delighted to partner with Abu Dhabi Airports. It is heartening to note that both GoAir and Abu Dhabi Airports were established in 2006 and are celebrating 13th anniversaries this year," he said in a statement. Abdulkabir Akinlade, the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for Ogun State, whom Hon. Abdulkabir Akinlade, whom Governor Ibikunle Amosun is supporting to succeed him, has said he will win. He made this known, in a recent interview with Vanguard newspaper, saying theres no difference between his party, APM and the ruling party. Akinlade, who left the party the All Progressives Congress (APC), after he said he suffered injustice during the governorship election primaries in the state, said that they worked for President Muhammadu Buharis victory in the state. His words: APM and APC, we are one; we didnt import anybody from outside Ogun. The same people in APM today voted for me during the APC primary and when that injustice happened, they said let us look for another party to achieve victory. We agreed that Mr. President has to win; we want the projects he started to be completed. Yes, some of our candidates may have won or lost in their various constituencies and that is because 2-3 days to the presidential election, we had to come out openly to campaign for Mr. President. I personally came out to campaign openly for Mr. President, telling our people to vote APC in that election and thank God he won. Governor Ibikunle Amosun had told us that if we come out openly for Mr. President to win, they in return will come out openly for us and make sure they deliver APM on March 9 and, true to his words, when he came back from Abuja, we had some meetings; I have met some of his lieutenants and we have signed an understanding that he is going to come out openly regardless of what the APC might do to him. It is painful that we lost some constituencies but when we compare what we lost with what we stand to gain, I think it is strategic for us. Everybody is ready; everybody is charged; Ogun West is ready; Ogun Central is ready; I am also confident about Ogun East. The figures are there to show. So this election is going to be a landslide victory for us by Gods grace. I have pleaded with the President and all I pray for is that my votes should count and be protected, and that has to do with the electoral umpire and security agencies. We are restarting our campaign; we will campaign as we have never campaigned before; we are going to reach out to everybody. New Delhi: The Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva, the one who is also worshipped in the form of a Linga or the 'formless'. The auspicious occasion is celebrated by chanting mantras, keeping fasting and remaining awake all night. Some people even meditate on this day. The auspicious festival is celebrated by devotees of the Lord from across the globe. This year, Maha Shivaratri falls on March 4. To celebrate this spiritual day and the greatness of Lord Shiva by greeting your friends and family through text messages and WhatsApp. You can send these warm Whatsapp messages to your family and friends: Om Namah Shivay! May the blessings of Lord Shiva fill your life with joy and happiness. May all of your wishes be granted by Lord Shiva! Here's wishing you a Happy Maha Shivaratri! May all your wishes come true and the blessings of the God remain with you always. Happy Maha Shivaratri! On this auspicious day may Lord Shiva bless you with patience and a heart to see good in everything! Happy Maha Shivaratri. Let's spend the night of Maha Shivaratri by chanting the holy name of Shiva. Happy Maha Shivaratri. May Lord Shiva shower his blessings on all and gives us the strength to achieve success in life. Happy Maha Shivaratri. Let us spread the message of love and harmony on this auspicious day. Happy Maha Shivaratri. May Jai Bholenath bless you with the happiness & peace and noble wisdom. Happy Maha Shivratri. Sending you and your family best wishes on Maha Shivaratri. Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had to be hospitalised on Sunday again for "tests and examinations" at the state-run Goa Medical College. "The Chief Minister has been admitted to conduct tests and examinations to check if the internal bleeding, which he was suffering from, is completely under check," the official from the state-run Goa Medical College, was quoted by news agency IANS. He was admitted to the Goa Medical College for nearly a week last month after he suffered from internal bleeding. A team of doctors from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had also visited Goa to attend to the ailing CM. The senior BJP leader is suffering from a pancreatic ailment since the last one year. He has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Delhi, Mumbai and even the United States. Parrikar had fallen ill on February 14, 2018 and was shifted to GMCH, from where he was taken to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai the next day. The chief minister returned to Goa on February 20, 2018 to present the state budget. He left for the US for treatment on March 3, 2018 and returned on June 14, 2018. He then attended monsoon session of the Assembly from July 19 to August 3, and left for the US again on August 10 for a second round of check-up. He returned to Goa on August 22, 2018 and was later shifted to AIIMS at New Delhi on September 15. After almost a month-long treatment, he returned to Goa on October 14, 2018. Parrikar resumed his office on January 2, 2019 after a gap of two-and-a-half months. On January 27, he attended the inauguration of third bridge on the Mandovi river here along with Union minister Nitin Gadkari. He also attended the Budget session on January 29 and presented the state budget next day. On the last day of the session on January 31, he was taken for treatment to AIIMS in Delhi and he returned to Goa on February 5. Parrikar also addressed Atal Booth Karyakarta Sammelan on February 9 in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah. Though there has been no official word on the nature of his ailment, he had tweeted on World Cancer Day saying, "Human mind can overcome any disease. #WorldCancerDay." In a big diplomatic win for India on Wednesday, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief and Pakistani citizen Masood Azhar has finally been listed as an international terrorist by the United Nation Security Council's 1267 committee. Born on July 10, 1968 in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, Azhar is the third of 11 children - five sons and six daughters. Azhar's father was the headmaster at a government-run school and a cleric with Deobandi leanings. Azhar studied till class 8 and then joined the Jamia Uloom Islamic school from where he became an alim in 1989. The madrasa was working closely with terror group Harkat-ul-Ansar and Azhar soon joined the terror group. He started his journey into the world of terrorism after getting enrolled at a jihad-training camp in Afghanistan. Live TV Azhar, however, failed to complete the course but took part in the SovietAfghan War and then soon became the head of Harkat's department of motivation. Azhar then became the general secretary of Harkat-ul-Ansar and was tasked with recruiting and raising funds for jihadi purposes. He visited several countries, including Zambia, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, the United Kingdom and Albania, to collect funds for jihadi purposes. Azhar entered the UK in August 1993 for a fundraising, and recruitment tour. He used to deliver his message of jihad at some of Britain's most prestigious Islamic institutions. During his stay in the UK, Azhar succeeded in making contacts with people who later provided training and logistical support the terror plots including 7/7, 21/7 and some others. In 1994, Azhar entered Srinagar under a fake identity. He was sent to India to ease tensions between Harkat-ul-Ansar's feuding factions of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Azhar was arrested by Indian security agencies in February from Khanabal near Anantnag. In July 1995, terrorists had kidnapped six foreign tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. The kidnappers, who belonged to a terror group named Al-Faran, demanded the release of Masood Azhar among their demands. One of the hostages managed to escape whilst one was found dead. The whereabouts of others are not known since then. In December 1999, an Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 en route from Kathmandu in Nepal to New Delhi was hijacked by terrorists and landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Afghanistan was under Taliban's control at that time. The hijackers demanded that Masood Azhar and two other terrorists must be released in exchange for freeing the hostages. Indian government gave in to their demand and released Azhar and two other dreaded terrorists. The hijackers of IC814 were led by Masood Azhar's brother, Ibrahim Athar. After reaching Pakistan, Masood Azhar made a public address in Karachi and spewed venom against India. Azhar's banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed is responsible for a string of deadly attacks inside India, including the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001, Pathankot attack, Uri attack and the February 14 attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama. New Delhi: Government sources on Sunday confirmed that a Twitter handle, which has been created with Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's name, is fake. The account - @Abhinandan_wc - had tweeted a photo of Abhinandan meeting Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and captioned, "Thank you for respecting me and looking at me mam @nsitharaman" Thank you for respecting me and looking at me mam @nsitharamanpic.twitter.com/kvrZRoRvfs Abhinandan (@Abhinandan_wc) March 2, 2019 Soon after it surfaced that an IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan, the microblogging site overflew with tweets demanding his return and with this cropped up some fake Twitter handles with Abhinandan's name. Photographs of Sitharaman's meeting with the Wing Commander on Saturday was extensively shared on social media including Defence Spokesperson's official Twitter handle. Subsequently, it was also shared by this fake handle. The fake Twitter handle has, so far, garnered more than 2000 followers. . @DefenceMinIndia meets the #AirWarrior #AbhinandanVarthaman at his hospital room in Delhi to convey the sentiment of the Nation. Appreciates his impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity. Interacts with the family and the hospital staff too. pic.twitter.com/PrAf3X7rEj Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) March 2, 2019 Wishes started pouring in on social media since Abhinandan was captured by the Pakistani authorities on February 27 after a brief aerial combat between the air forces of the two countries, a day after IAF conducted counter-terror operations targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest terror training camp in Pakistan's Balakot. The airstrikes by IAF, which escalated tensions between the two countries, came nearly 11 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers. SRINAGAR: In a veiled attack on the BJP, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that calling those who are asking questions over IAF airstrikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad's camp in Pakistan 'anti-national' was 'baffling'. Mehbooba, however, said that the Opposition parties must not fall into the trap of the BJP and try to keep their focus on raising important issues like unemployment and farmers distress. The PDP president remarked that the BJP wants the political discourse to remain focused on the Balakot strikes because it would help the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. "Calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes anti-national is baffling. However, the opposition should not fall into this trap of changing the entire election discourse from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST, unemployment, farmers distress to these strikes," Mehbooba wrote on Twitter. The former Jammu and Kashmir CM demanded that people have the right to ask question about the IAF's operation "especially due to the Government of India's ambiguity about the details," PTI reported. "How does it help the enemies? Only puts GoI (Government of India) in a tight spot since they want to exploit this to reap electoral benefits," she said. Slamming the Congress and other political parties for raising questions over the recent air strike in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sun-day said that the armed forces were trying their best to wipe out terrorism but the opposition parties are busy deriding Indian soldiers. "When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery," the PM said at the BJP's Sankalp rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Modi said "Now they have even started asking for proof of the #AirStrike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies?" (with PTI inputs) New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the Centre should produce evidence of the airstrikes conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on terror camps in Balakot. Seeking satellite photographs of the strikes, Singh said, "I am not raising questions on the operation, but this the technical age and satellite pictures are possible." The Congress leader cited how the United States had provided proof before the world on the killing of Osama bin Laden. "Like the USA had given solid proof of the Osama operation to the world, we should also do it for our airstrike," he said. Indian fighters bombed Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot in Pakistan early on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday, however, the IAF thwarted their plans. The airstrikes by IAF, which escalated tensions between the two countries, came nearly 11 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers. (With inputs from ANI and PTI) KOLKATA: Several people were injured as clashes broke out in various parts of West Bengal on Sunday when police sought to stop BJP activists from holding the `Vijay Sankalp` bike rallies. Launched by Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are part of the party`s nationwide outreach campaign ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, in West Bengal, the rallies were denied permission because of board examinations and traffic issues, a senior police officer said. In Kolkata, police intercepted the rally participants on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points, while disruptions were reported from North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur, Cooch Behar and West Medinipur districts. Workers of the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress clashed in Baraboni of West Burdwan district during the rally, police said. BJP leader and Union minister Babul Supriyo, who led the bike rally in Baraboni, accused the police of attempts to stop the event. "West Bengal Police tried so hard to obstruct BJP`s peaceful #VijaySankalpaBikeRally at Amdiha More, Baraboni but how could they have stopped us when we had the support of the people with us??" he said in a series of tweets. "Log saath aate gaye aur carvaan banta gaya (people kept on joining, and the caravan took shape)". In West Medinipur`s Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to a baton-charge and scuffle, which left several people injured. "We have detained eight BJP workers," an officer of Goaltore police station said. In Durgapur, the activists scuffled with police, following which the Rapid Action Force was called in to restore order. State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said around 100 such rallies were being organised in Bengal. "I have flagged off a rally in Durgapur. Workers are being arrested and such arrests will take place everywhere. But we will be successful," he said. NEW DELHI: Indian government has signed a deal with a Russian firm to manufacture AK203, which is the latest derivative of the legendary AK-47 assault rifle. As per the deal, the Russian firm will manufacture 750,000 AK-203, which would be given to the infantry troops of the Indian Army. Talking to ANI, senior government officials said that the AK-203 would replace the existing India-made INSAS assault rifles in the Army, Air Force and Navy. After the Russian firm would supply the rifles to the defence forces, the government would provide these state-of-the-art assault rifles to paramilitary and the state police forces. It is likely that all security forces in the country would be using AK-203 as their standard weapon in the next 10-15 years. It may be recalled that the Defence Ministry has already signed a contract with American Sig Sauer for the supply of 7.69mm 59 calibre advanced assault rifles. The government has decided to give these assault rifles to soldiers directly engaged in counter-insurgency and other operations. Experts maintain that the government's decision to have two different assault rifles for the forces sends a message that New Delhi wants the soldiers who are engaged regularly in combat with terrorist or Pakistan Army on the Line of Control, should remain emboldened with very advanced weapons in their possession while the others who are taking care of security elsewhere in the country can also use advanced rifle as and when required. Around 10 years ago, the government had started looking for a better replacement for INSAS rifles after receiving complaints about the rifles from ground troops deployed across the country. (with ANI inputs) NEW DELHI: Intelligence agencies were trying to ascertain reports on the social media about the death of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group chief Masood Azhar in Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. The officials said they had no information other than that Azhar was undergoing treatment at an army hospital after suffering renal failure. A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000. The 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base and the latest Pulwama terror strike. The social media was filled with reports that Azhar had died, but there was no confirmation as of now, the officials said. Jaish terror group's Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The government has said that it achieved spectacular success by destroying the facility. In an interview to CNN, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier admitted that the JeM chief is in Pakistan and is "very unwell", but said the government can act against him only if India presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Culture on Sunday said in a statement said that the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest crowd management, largest sanitation drive and largest painting exercise of public sites. "A three-member team from the Guinness World Records visited Prayagraj for the purpose. Exercises at a large-scale were performed before the team for four days, from February 28 to March 3. Around 503 shuttle buses were pressed into service on the highway in one go for the team on February 28. Several people participated in a painting exercise on March 1 and 10,000 workers engaged in cleaning at the Kumbh, all performing their duties together," the Ministry of Culture said. The Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) 2019 started on January 14 and is scheduled to conclude on March 4. The Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh will end with the sixth and final "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The Ministry's statement noted that the previous five royal baths at Kumbh Mela 2019 were held successfully with over 22 crore pilgrims from different parts of the country and world taking holy dips, IANS reported. The Kumbh Mela 2019 is spread over an area of 3,200 hectare, while it was spread across 1,600 hectare area in the previous melas. The Kumbh Mela is the largest congregation of people anywhere in the world. Ardh Kumbh is held in every six years, while the Kumbh Mela comes after 12 years. This year the Uttar Pradesh had renamed Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh and the Kumbh as Maha Kumbh. The Kumbh Mela is attended by ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and pilgrims from all walks of life. The senator representing Kaduna Central District, Shehu Sani has warned politicians to desist from the act of politicising religion all in the name of winning. Sani warned that instigating religious conflict to win political position could result into uncontrollable conflict. On his Twitter account, Sani said; KOLKATA: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker SS Ahluwalia on Friday stirred a major controversy after he claimed that the airstrike conducted by the Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammad camps was not aimed at causing casualties but to give a message to Pakistan. "The reason of the air strike was to give a clear message that we can go near your house and destroy you. This message had to be conveyed that despite your security arrangements, we can still destroy you. We did not want any human casualties," The BJP MP from Darjeeling constituency said. He added that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor any party spokesperson has claimed that as many as 300 people were killed in the airstrike. "I have read in the national as well as in the international media. I have also heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first speech in Churu after the airstrike. He had not said that 300 were killed. Has any spokesperson of BJP said that? Has Amit Shah said that anywhere?" he asked. Speaking at the inauguration of West Bengal's first digital village in Siliguri on Friday, Ahluwalia said that as many as 130 government services will be provided through Common Service Centre. "Free wifi of speed up to 4 Mbps will be provided for a month, after that users can pay Rs 10 and download 1GB of data," he said. On being quizzed on the demand of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders to vote for the son of the soil, he said, "Son of the soil would mean born anywhere in the state Kurseong or Kalimpong, Chopra or Phasidawa. I am a son of the soil and was born in Bengal's Asansol, I too have a domicile certificate. People who are making such demands were born in Nepal." ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may take 'decisive action' against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfit's chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistan's decision to act decisively was taken not to give any "face saving" to India. "We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone else's," the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it." Stressing that the country's leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested the involvement of any Pakistani organisation. The MRI scan of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was conducted on Sunday at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment and the doctors did not find any bugs. Sources told ANI that the scan has also revealed that Abhinandan has suffered an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after the fierce aerial dogfight with Pakistani F-16 fighter jet on February 26. Sources: In the MRI scan of the Wg Cdr #AbhinandanVarthaman, the doctors did not find any bugs. The scan has also shown that there is an injury in his lower spine which could have happened due to his ejection from his MiG-21 after aerial engagement with an F-16. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/OyWEeGjDnY ANI (@ANI) 3 March 2019 Sources added that the scan also showed that a rib of Wing Commander Abhinandan was injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed in PoK after his plane was shot down. Abhinandan is set to undergo more check-ups and treatment at Research and Referral Hospital. Sources: A rib of Wg Cdr #AbhinandanVarthaman was also injured due to assault by Pakistani locals soon after he landed on ground in PoK after his plane was shot down. He will undergo more check ups&treatment at Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment. ANI (@ANI) 3 March 2019 On Saturday, it was reported that Wing Commander Abhinandan was subjected to severe 'mental harassment' during captivity in Pakistan. The Wing Commander informed that "though he was not physically tortured by the Pakistanis, he went through a lot of mental harassment." Wing Commander Abhinandan remained in Pakistan's captivity for around 59 hours before being handed over to Indian authorities on Friday night. Wing Commander Abhinandan was flying the MiG 21 Bison when he chased the Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, his plane crossed over to the Pakistani side and was shot down. Though he managed to eject safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. The MiG-21 which Abhinandan was flying is not a very large aircraft but it can fly at a very high speed which allows it to sneak up to enemy planes from low altitude. The presence of a delta wing makes the MiG 21 highly manoeuvrable in dogfights. MiG 21 is a single seater plane with a length of 14.7 m (48 ft 2 in) and wingspan of 7.154 m (23 ft 6 in). The empty weight of MiG 21 is 5,846 kg (12,880 lb) and its loaded weight is 8,725 kg (19,230 lb) with 2 K-13A missiles. The maximum takeoff weight of this fighter jet is 9,800 kg (21,600 lb). (with ANI inputs) Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday lashed out at Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for seeking evidence of the airstrikes conducted by the Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammad camps in Pakistan. Shivraj claimed that Digvijaya has been blinded by the urge to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Calling it a blot on the country, alleged that Digvijaya is speaking the language of Pakistan by doubting the forces. "Digvijaya has started opposing the country in the urge to oppose PM Modi. He already did his bit to destroy Madhya Pradesh and is now trying to destroy the country," he alleged. He added that top officials of all three arms of Indian armed forces also gave their statement about the airstrikes in Pakistan in a tri-service press conference and Digvijaya cannot even accept what they are saying. His statement comes after Digvijaya said that the Centre should produce evidence of the IAF airstrikes on terror camps in Balakot. Seeking satellite photographs of the strikes, Singh said, "I am not raising questions on the operation, but this the technical age and satellite pictures are possible." The Congress leader cited how the United States had provided proof before the world on the killing of Osama bin Laden. "Like the USA had given solid proof of the Osama operation to the world, we should also do it for our airstrike," he said. Indian fighters bombed Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot in Pakistan early on Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday, however, the IAF thwarted their plans. Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar is reportedly dead. Sources said that Azhar died on March 2 at a military hospital in Pakistan's Rawalpindi. Pakistan is yet to make any formal announcement in this regard but top intelligence sources claimed that Azhar died due to liver cancer. Some reports claimed that Azhar was sleeping in Balakot terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad which was targeted by Indian Air Force on February 26. Sources added that an ISI official identified as Colonel Salim was also killed in the IAF airstrikes. Meanwhile, JeM has rejected the reports of Masood Azhar's death, stressing that its chief is still alive. On Friday, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had admitted that Masood Azhar is indeed in Pakistan. Speaking to CNN, Qureshi had said, "He is in Pakistan. According to my information. he's very unwell. He is unwell to the extent that he cannot leave his house." When asked why Pakistan has failed to arrest Azhar, who is responsible for causing so much tension between India and Pakistan, Qureshi said India must give actionable evidence to Pakistan against Azhar. It is notable that India has repeatedly presented several credible against JeM's terror activities but Islamabad has failed to take any action against the JeM chief. On February 14, a convoy of 78 vehicles carrying nearly 2500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was attacked on Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama district by a JeM suicide bomber resulting in the martyrdom of 40 soldiers. On February 26, 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of Indian Air Force (IAF) rained bombs at JeM's biggest training camp inside Pakistan killing "a very large number" of terrorists and their trainers. The pre-dawn, ''pre-emptive and non-military'' operation by the IAF was seen by many as India's response to Pulwama terror attack. Azhar later confirmed that the air strikes indeed took place at the terror camp of JeM at Balakot. He, however, tried to save Pakistan's face by claiming that air strikes didn't cause any damage to his cadre or family members. Pakistan retaliated to IAF's airstrikes by violating the Indian air space on Wednesday as three F 16 fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force dropped bombs entered the border areas of Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. However, the Pakistani jets were chased away by the IAF and one of the PAF jets was shot down by the IAF. In the brief aerial engagement with the Pakistani aircraft, one MiG-21 pilot went missing and was later captured alive by the Pakistani forces. The captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was however released by Pakistan after around 60 hours due to the pressure put by India and other nations. Srinagar: In view of continuous cross-border shelling, the Centre on Sunday sanctioned an additional 400 individual bunkers for Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu and Kashmir with 200 additional bunkers for each district. As per the prescribed specifications, the bunkers are expected to get built by the end of next month. The Pakistani troops have been repeatedly violating the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling. The Indian Army has been retaliating with equal intensity. The ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops comes amid prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan which escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan. India's non-military, pre-emptive airstrikes came 11 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Notably, the year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations - 2,936 - by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. (With inputs from PTI) Srinagar: The gunfight between terrorists and security forces, which continued for almost 56 hours in Handwara of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, ended on Sunday. Two terrorists have been gunned down in the encounter even as it claimed the lives of three CRPF men and two Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel. The gunfight raging since Friday has also left a civilian dead, police said. The CRPF troopers and policemen were killed in the gunfight on Friday after a terrorist who was presumed to be dead suddenly rose from the debris of a house and fired indiscriminately at the security forces. Media reports suggest, two houses and two cowsheds were destroyed by the security forces as the hiding terrorists kept on changing positions at the site of the gunfight. (With inputs from ANI and IANS) Amethi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit on Sunday to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, posters opposing him have cropped up in many parts of the Uttar Pradesh district. Put up by Jaisingh Pratap Yadav, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, the posters and banners ask Modi to give "the report card of his five years in power" and to "go back". Yadav, who is a member of the state executive of the SP, has alleged step-motherly treatment with the constituency. He also details issues like the Mega Food Park, Hindustan Paper Mill and the IT projects which he accused the Modi government of taking it away from Amethi. Besides laying the foundation stones for developmental projects and addressing a public rally in Amethi, Modi will on Sunday unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. At Kauhar, the Prime Minister will open the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd - a joint venture between India`s ordnance factory and a Russian firm. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who unsuccessfully contested against the Gandhi scion in 2014 and has been since then rearing the constituency as her own, has inspected the ground and other venues ahead of Modi's visit. PATNA: After a gap of nine years, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the dais at an election rally on Sunday. With the 'Sankalp rally', the PM and the CM kickstarted the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) campaign in Bihar for the Lok Sabha election. Speaking at the rally, Nitish assured the Prime Minister that the next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of Modi. He also exuded confidence that NDA will win 40 of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Nitish also lauded the PM for the recent airstrikes by the Indian Air Force at the terror base of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan. "Today, the entire country stands united against terrorism. I salute the country's armed forces and congratulate the Prime Minister for the action against terrorism," he said. He added that the development work done by the PM in the last five years is no mean task. "People keep lauding the PM for the work done by his government in last five years. Giving free LPG connections to the poor or getting free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh is not a minor solution," he said. Giving a report of the work done by the state government, Nitish said that unlike before, all villages in Bihar have roads today. He also said that people of Bihar never thought that those living in villages would receive tap water, but his government has made it possible. He added that toilets will be also be made in every household in the state till 2 October 2019. Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kick-started National Democratic Alliance's campaign for the Lok Sabha election in Bihar, addressing a 'Sankalp rally' in the state capital. PM Modi shared the dais with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ramvilas Paswan among others at the Gandhi Maidan. The Prime Minister started off his speech by paying tribute to the Pulawama martyrs. "I salute the martyrs of Pulwama, the whole nation is standing with the families of the jawans," adding "This is New India which doesn't remain silent on killings of its jawans." PM Narendra Modi in Patna: I salute the martyrs of #Pulwama, the whole nation is standing with the families of the jawans pic.twitter.com/p8wDSGtPUx ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 "These days competition is underway to abuse the 'Chowkidaar', but you be assured, this 'Chowkidaar' of yours is as alert as ever," PM Modi took a jibe at the opposition at mega NDA rally. He added, "People of Bihar are very much aware of what all happened in the name of fodder. Only we have dared to end the culture of corruption and middlemen which had been a normal practice in the country for decades." Hitting out at the Congress for raising questions on the IAF airstrikes on terror camps in Balakot, PM Modi said, "Now they have even started asking for proof of the airstrikes. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies?" Speaking at the rally, Nitish Kumar assured that the next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of Modi. He also exuded confidence that NDA will win 40 of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. This was the first time in nine years that PM Modi shared the stage with Nitish Kumar at a political event. In 2013, the JDU chief Nitish had parted ways with the BJP following differences over the projection of Modi. The Bihar Chief Minister, however, returned to the NDA in 2017. This would be the first occasion in nine years when PM Modi would share the stage with Nitish at a political function. Nitish, who heads the JDU, had snapped his 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 following differences with it over projection of Modi. He, however, returned to the NDA in 2017. Senator Ben Bruce and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri have reacted to the arrest of Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, the son in-law of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday. Babalele, a finance director of Atikus group of companies was arrested at his Maitama home by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. According to the reports, over 20 EFCC men stormed Babaleles home at 8:30am but were unable to gain entry until his lawyers arrived They came with a search warrant to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating. They then proceeded to his office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there. However, they took away some documents of landed property. Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after the search, a source said. In their reactions, Omokri and the lawmaker condemned the arrest, urging government to let Atiku and his family be. Omokri wrote: EFCC arrests Atikus son-in-law. A plane collapsed because of too much cash, No EFCC investigation. Atiku has businesses. You say he is a thief. Tinubu has no known business, but is a saint! It is not money APC looted. Its our brains! Ben Bruce wrote: Leave Atiku and his family alone and tell us why this plane collapsed while it was still on the ground. AMETHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a public rally in Amethi - Congress President Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency - and slammed the previous Congress governments, alleging that the party should be held responsible for weakening the defence forces for several years. "They always put personal interest over national interest," he said. Prime Minister addressed the rally after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of various projects worth Rs 538 crore. Targeting the Congress over the Rafale deal, Modi said that the deal to get state-of-the-art fighter jets for Indian Air Force was delayed and blocked by the Congress. "As we expedite the process, the first Rafale jets will be in Indian skies soon," the Prime Minister said while charging the Congress with spreading falsehoods about the Rafale deal. Every one from the Supreme Court to the CAG have cleared the deal as one which is transparent and in national interest... (but) some people were still spreading misinformation... the dismay of not getting their cuts and commissions in defence deals is writ large on their faces," he was quoted as saying by IANS. PM Modi did not name Congress President Rahul Gandhi but said that between 2009 to 2014, demands of providing 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackers for defence forces was not accepted by the Congress. "It was our government that ordered 2.3 lakh bullet proof jackets. Development and national interest was blocked for years because it did not suit power centres in that party and the dynasty," he claimed. Referring to the ordinance factory in Amethi, which will soon start production of AK-203 assault rifles, PM Modi said that this work was scheduled to begin in 2009. "You can see for yourself their seriousness towards you and development," he said. In a direct attack on Gandhi, Modi said that the Congress leader had promised 1,500 jobs to local youth but only 200 jobs were given. "People who do not have a fair vision, a fair sense of empathy with the poor cannot be trusted. Those whose intentions are bad, how will they ensure the welfare of the country," he said. (with IANS inputs) Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Congress will not project any one leader as the party's future face as it does not believe in running the show with one or two leaders like the BJP, state party in-charge Rajiv Satav has said. But, he did not rule out fielding young leaders who emerged in the last few years, like Patidar quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party is ready to take on the BJP in Gujarat, Satav told PTI in an interview, adding that selection of candidates is underway and an announcement will be made soon. "Our policy is not to project one leader and go with him. We believe in taking everybody together," he said when asked if the Congress plans to make a leader like 25-year-old Hardik Patel the party's future face. He said like the 2017 Gujarat Assembly election, the Congress will give a "big surprise" to the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha poll. While the Congress failed to win any Lok Sabha seat in 2014, it bagged 77 out of the total 182 Assembly seats in the 2017 state polls, considerably improving its performance but missing the victory target by 15 seats. Satav, the Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi believes in giving chance to young leaders. He has given opportunity to many young leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia. "But, there are senior leaders whose experience and leadership matters." "If you see the BJP, it is a party of two leaders. The chief minister here (in Gujarat) has no say, while the deputy chief minister is nowhere to be seen," he claimed. Since 1995, the Congress fared badly in election after election in Gujarat, which was once its stronghold. But after 2015, leaders like Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor emerged in the state. Thakor earlier joined the Congress. Mevani is an Independent MLA from Vadgam with Congress' support while Patel is yet to take a decision on joining the party. Asked if the Congress was willing to give a chance to these leaders in the Lok Sabha polls, Satav said, "We will take along all those who believe in our ideology." He said the Congress was gearing up to give a tough fight to the BJP in all 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "Before 2017 (Assembly polls), nobody believed we could make huge gains in Gujarat. We almost doubled ourseats in the last state polls. This time, the Lok Sabha poll results will also be different," he said. He said Rahul Gandhi will pursue an extensive campaign like the way he did before the last Assembly polls and is likely to address more than six rallies in the state. "The 2017 Gujarat polls broke the perception that the BJP can't be defeated. Though the Congress fell short of a majority, people of the state gave ample love to Rahul Gandhi as we were able to increase our tally from 43 to 77," he said. "After the 2017 Gujarat polls, we defeated the BJP in every state poll we fought. It started from here," he claimed. On charges that the Congress was creating caste and class divide for poll gains, he said, "When the BJP is losing and we are gaining, they will make such baseless allegations." "Modi made big promises but failed to deliver. When he became the prime minister, it was expected the state will have rapid development but nothing happened. Bringing international leaders on the Sabarmati river banks will not yield anything," Satav quipped. MANDSAUR: On the day when Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned to India from Pakistan, Priyanka Dave in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur gave birth to a baby. Inspired by Abhinandan's grit and courage, Priyanka and her husband Dharmendra named their son after the IAF braveheart. The family too was elated at the couple's decision to name the baby after the air warrior. Like every doting father, Dharmendra too is already planning a future for his son. He said that he will inspire his son to become like Abhinandan and serve the country. Apart from Priyanka and Dharmendra, a couple in Rajasthan too had named an infant after the IAF pilot. On Friday evening, when IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was waiting to be released by Pakistan, all members of a family in Rajasthan's Alwar were watching the live telecast on news channels. At that moment, the woman who was pregnant, who was also watching TV, went into labour and was rushed for delivery. "My daughter-in-law delivered baby boy last evening and we named him Abhinandan in honour of the IAF pilot. We are proud of the pilot and therefore we named him (the baby) Abhinandan," Janesh Bhutani, grandfather of the child, said. "By naming my son as Abhinandan, we will keep him reminding about the valour of the pilot and I would like him to become a brave soldier like him when he grows up," Sapna Devi, mother of the newborn, said. The family lives in Kishangarh bas in Alwar. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison fighter plane crashed on the other side of LoC while on a mission on Wednesday. He returned to India late on Friday evening. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Disha Patani is often making headlines owing to her stunning public appearances and social media posts. She has a whopping 18 million fans on Instagram and her pictures and videos often go viral. Disha is blessed with an angelic face and works hard to maintain her figure. She keeps her fans engaged by regularly posting new pictures on Instagram. Her latest pic is unmissable as she looks simply stunning! Wearing a white outfit and minimalist makeup, the actress looks ethereal. Check out her upload here: Disha made her Bollywood debut by playing a small part in 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' and has been ruling hearts since then. She will next be seen in Ali Abbas Zafar's ambitious project 'Bharat' where she plays the role of a trapeze artist. The film is one of the biggest releases of this year and stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. It is slated to hit the screens on June 5 and is high on the buzzword ever since it was announced. Coming to her personal life, Patani is rumoured to be dating actor Tiger Shroff. The hunk of an actor was seen in the film 'Baaghi 2' with her and their on-screen chemistry was liked by the audience. Disha and Tiger are often spotted together and even pose for the paps. The duo also ringed in the New Year together and shared pictures (though separately) from their vacation. Even though the two remain silent about the relationship status, it is evident that they are more than 'just friends'. Actor Raashi Khanna shared a time-lapse video where we can see the actress getting her makeup done for her upcoming film, which is none other than Venky Mama. The actress joined the cast of the multi-starrer film which has Daggubati Venkatesh and Naga Chaitanya in lead roles. Raashi shared the video on her official Instagram handle and wrote, New beginnings. Day1. #VenkyMama (sic). In this video, Raashi can be seen sporting short hair and her fans are pretty excited and have wisher her good luck. Well, since the beginning, it was said that Payal Rajput is the leading actress in this film. Later, the role went to Rakul Preet Singh and she signed for the project. But she chose to walk out of the project as she got a better role in Manmadhudu 2. Though it was said that Payal has got the role back, nothing from the actress had been confirmed. Now, it is confirmed that Raashi Khanna has bagged the offer. The film is being helmed by Bobby (KS Ravindra), who has directed films like Sardar Gabbar Singh, Balupu, Power and Jai Lava Kusa. The film went on floors recently and they are currently shooting at Rajahmundry, on the banks of River Godavari. Introduction scenes of Naga Chaitanyas role were canned recently and now, Raashi has also began shooting for her glamorous role in this film which is being bankrolled by Suresh Babu under Suresh Productions. It is yet to be known whether Raashi will be pairing with Venkatesh or Chaitanya. Well, this uncle and nephew are all set to make us have fun with their laughter riot very soon. Patna: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Bulandshahr violence case, that claimed lives of a police officer and a youth, filed a chargesheet against as many as 38 people in a local court. Out of 38, five of them have been charged with murder. "SIT filed a charge sheet against 38 people in a local court, out of the 38 people five have been charged with murder," said Atul Srivastav, Superintendent of Police. In January, Uttar Pradesh Police recovered the mobile phone of Subodh Kumar, the slain police officer. A day after the phone was recovered from the house of an accused, it was alleged that the phone was actually planted by investigating police officials. Wife of Prashant Natt, arrested in connection with the killing of Kumar, has alleged that cops came to her house and placed a phone which they later claimed to have recovered. A mob of around 400 people, including right-wing activists, clashed with the police on December 3 last year in Siana area of Bulandshahr district, after allegedly discovering cow carcasses thrown in a nearby jungle. The angry mob set fire to dozens of vehicles, stone pelted and fired at police who then retaliated with gunfire. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Siana who once investigated Akhlaq lynching case, and 20-year-old Sumit Kumar were killed in the incident. (With inputs from PTI) Allahabad: The Sangam, confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is all set to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri Monday, after more than 22 crore devotees took a holy bath. "This day symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well," Gunjan Varshney, president of Ram Naam Bank situated at Civil Lines here said. She also said it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him. Elaborating about the significance of Mahashivratri, Ashutosh Varshney of Grah Nakshtram, who has set up his camp here, said, "Mahashivratri marks the culmination of the Kumbh and the prominent bathing days. And this time Mahashivratri is falling on a Monday the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is falling after a long time." The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year. "This is a very rare coincidence and the Sangam area will remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day," he said. Varshney said Kumbh will conclude on a rare occasion, Mahashivratri. He also said 'Rudrabhishek' of 'shivling' is also done on this day. In the Kumbh held in Sangam city, there were six bathing dates. "Of these, shahi snaans were held on occasions of Makar Sankranti (January 15), Mauni Amawasya (February 4) and Basant Panchami (February 10). "Apart from this, 'parv snaans have been held on the occasion of Paush Poornima (January 21) and Maghi Poornima (February 19)," Varshney said. c New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday visit Uttar Pradesh's Amethi - the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi - and launch several development projects, besides laying the foundation stone of an ordnance factory unit. This would be the Prime Minister's first visit to Amethi since he came to power in 2014. He will also address a public gathering in Kauhar area of Gauriganj. Dedicating the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited to the nation, he will lay the foundation stone of a new unit of the Munshiganj Ordnance Factory, where assault rifles will be made in collaboration with Russia. The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India's Ordnance factory and a Russian firm. It will produce the last series of Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa Ordnance Factory. PM Modi will unveil several development projects in power generation, education, health and manufacturing sectors, which will directly benefit Amethi. (With inputs from PTI) Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government will sign an agreement with the Gujarat government seeking technical support for the construction of a massive statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday night gave its approval for signing an MOU for guidance and support on technical proposal, design etc, an official spokesman said on Sunday. The cabinet also cleared Rs 200 crore for the preparation of a detailed project report and the acquisition of 28.28 hectares of land identified for setting up the statue by the district magistrate of Ayodhya, the spokesman said. On the lines of Gujarat's Statue of Unity, a chief minister-headed trust would oversee the project, he said, adding a high-powered committee will be set up for smooth conduct of the construction work. The area around the statue will have a digital museum, interpretation centre, library, parking space, food place etc., he added. Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Tourism Avinish Awasthi said it will take a minimum of three years to build the statue, which will be financed through corporate social responsibility fund. "It has been decided that while the government will develop the infrastructure and facilities surrounding the site, CSR funds or donations will be used for the construction of the statue," Awasthi said. On October 31 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled a 182-metre statue built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat's Narmada district. Lucknow: Stepping up vigil ahead of festivals like Shivratri, Holi and also the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the state administration to crack down on criminals and anti-social elements, an official said on Sunday. In a video-conference with District Magistrates (DMs) and district police chiefs on Saturday night, the Adityanath asked them to gear up for elections and ensure that there were no law and order problems. He also asked officials to prepare a list of the "top-10" criminals in their areas and take preventive action against them. Security has already been beefed up at all major temples ahead of Shivratri on Monday. Officials have also been directed to increase foot patrolling and ensure adequate water and power supply at temples, the official told IANS. "There should be no laxity with regard to law and order and the state has to ensure peaceful passage of these festivals as well as the Lok Sabha elections," Adityanath told the officials. The arrest of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, son-in-law today, March 2nd, has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians. He was arrested today at his Maitama residence over a yet to be disclosed offence by the Economic Finacial Crime Comission(EFCC). Speaking via their Twitter handle, some have asked the former Vice President to brace up for more. Some reports have claimed that the arrest is a plot to intimidate the former Vice President to accept defeat at the just concluded Presidential poll. Reactions: Atiku should prepare for more, but should not give up. Let democracy work. Let freedom for redress in a lawsuit and expression work. The youths are watching. jonah isaac (@jonahisaac19) March 2, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Why is he being arrested??? Our democracy is just a scam. OHANU_Jnr (@itxgeneralmaine) March 2, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Kolkata: Two students of IIT Kharagpur were killed and another one was critically injured after the motorbike carrying them collided head-on with a vehicle in West Midnapore district, police said on Saturday. The incident happened at Kharagpur town on Friday midnight, the police said. The students, identified as Abhinav, Harshit and Bhabani, were travelling on a motorbike when it collided head-on with a heavy vehicle, an officer of Kharagpur local police station said. While Abhinav and Harshit were declared brought dead at two local hospitals, Bhabani was referred to a hospital in Kolkata, the officer said, adding, his condition is stated to be serious. Abhinav and Harshit hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana respectively. Bhabani belongs to Rajasthan. An investigation has been initiated and efforts are on to trace the killer vehicle, the police officer said. Washington: India is a very high-tariff nation, US President Donald Trump alleged on Saturday, stating that he wants a reciprocal tax or at least some kind of tax. "India is a very high-tariff nation. They charge us a lot," Trump said in his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the Maryland suburb of Washington DC. In his speech that lasted for more than two hours, Trump touched a wide range of issues including domestic, global and bilateral relationship with countries like India. Referring to his often-cited example of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, he said, "When we send a motorcycle to India, it's a hundred per cent tariff. They charge 100 per cent when India sends a motorcycle to us, we brilliantly charge them nothing. So, I want a reciprocal tax or at least, I want to charge a tax. It's called the mirror tax, but it's reciprocal," Trump asserted. Early this year, at a White House event to announce his support for reciprocal tax, Trump had said he was satisfied with the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. "Even this is not enough, this is okay," he had said. "Look at motorcycles as an example. (In) India, it was 100 per cent. I got them down to 50 per cent, just by talking for about two minutes. It's still 50 per cent vs 2.4 per cent (on imported motorcycles to the US). Again, other than that, it's a very fair deal," the president had told reporters at the White House on January 24. On Saturday, he used the Indian example of how other countries were imposing high taxes on American products and now it was time for the US to impose a reciprocal tax. To prove his point, Trump said, he was using India as an example. "But India is a very high-tariff nation. And they charge tremendously. So they charge a hundred. So I say, I'm not going to charge you a hundred, but I'm going to charge 25 per cent, and I hear this turmoil in the Senate because we are charging 25 per cent," he said. Trump told his supporters that there was resistance to his move from the Senate. "I say, fellows, listen, they are charging us a hundred per cent. For the exact same product, I want to charge them 25 per cent. I feel so foolish charging 25, because it should be a hundred. But I'm doing 25 only because of you. I want to get your support," he said. Thereafter, Trump mimicked the response from the lawmakers. "Sir, that's not free trade. Where did these people come from? Where do they come from? I need your help, I need your help, the voters' help. Where do they come from?" he said. Trump said the US could not allow a country to charge it 100 per cent while it got nothing for the exact same product. "For one thing, they don't respect us. They think we're stupid. They don't respect us. But let me tell you something, the world respects our country again," he said. "America is now booming like never before. Other countries are doing very poorly," Trump said. NEW DELHI: Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar has admitted that the airstrikes by the Indian Air Force hit the training camps of the terror outfit in Balakot in Pakistan. In an audio message, Maulana Ammar can be heard saying that the Indian jets hit the training camp and inflicted significant damage on them. He added that the Indian aircraft did not bomb the safe house of any agency, nor did they attack any headquarters, but hit the schools where students were being trained to understand jihad. He said that these were places where people empathised with the 'oppressed' Kashmiris. He appealed to his followers, whom he was addressing, that the outfit must restart jihad to retaliate the attack. India had claimed that the Indian Air Force fighters crossed the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday and dropped 1000 kilogramme bombs destroying a JeM terrorist camp based in Pakistan. The attack was launched by 12 Mirage fighters which reached Balakot, a town in Mansehra district in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa before Pakistani Air Force tried to intercept them. Indian authorities have maintained that the airstrike eliminated a large number of JeM terrorists and their trainers. In an official statement, India said that JeM has been responsible for a series of terrorist attacks including on Parliament in December 2001 and the Pathankot airbase in January 2016. "Information regarding the location of training camps in Pakistan and PoJK has been provided to Pakistan from time to time. Pakistan, however, denies their existence. The existence of such massive training facilities capable of training hundreds of jidhadis could not have functioned without the knowledge of Pakistan authorities." "India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against the JeM to prevent jihadis from being trained and armed inside Pakistan. Pakistan has taken no concrete actions to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil. Credible intelligence was received that JeM was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country, and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary. In an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of today, India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot," India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said after the strike. NEAR BAGHOUZ, Syria: Islamic State launched suicide car bombs against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) assaulting Baghouz, in a last-ditch effort to stave off defeat in its final patch of territory, fighters from the US-backed force said on Sunday. Capturing the village in eastern Syria will be a milestone in international efforts to roll back the jihadists, whose self-styled "caliphate" covered roughly one third of Syria and Iraq at its height in 2014. But it is universally accepted that the group, which has been in territorial retreat since then and suffered its major defeats in 2017, will remain a security threat as an insurgent force with sleeper cells and some desolate pockets of territory. The SDF had said it expected a "decisive battle" on Sunday after advancing gradually for 18 hours to avoid land mines sown by Islamic State (IS), whose fighters are also using underground tunnels to stage ambushes and then disappear. By midday, however, there was no sign of the battle being over. The SDF has previously estimated several hundred IS insurgents to be inside Baghouz, mostly foreigners, and the U.S.-led international coalition supporting the SDF has described them as the most hardened militants. From a position about 3 km (2 miles) from the front line on Sunday afternoon, warplanes and the pounding of artillery could be heard overhead as plumes of smoke rose over Baghouz. An SDF commander there told Reuters that IS had sent explosive-ridden vehicles towards advancing fighters the night before. Air strikes destroyed two of them, and the SDF fired on a third to blow it up, he said. The jihadists also shelled the approaching force. Sinjar Shammar, from the Kurdish YPG which spearheads the SDF coalition, was wounded when shrapnel from a shell struck the armoured vehicle he was driving. "My comrade was sent to the hospital. His leg is gone," said Shammar, 22, as his arm was being bandaged at a first-aid point. "(But) morale is great (at the front line). I will return to the comrades in a bit... God willing, we will triumph." SHRIVELLED "CALIPHATE" After declaring a modern-day caliphate across large swathes of territory it had seized in flash offensives in Syria and neighbouring Iraq, IS attracted thousands of foreigners to live under its rule and defend its realm. But its rapid expansion also attracted an array of enemies, both local and international, who began rolling back those gains. As IS territory shrivelled, thousands of fighters, followers and civilians retreated to Baghouz, a small cluster of hamlets and farmland along the Euphrates River. Over the last few weeks, they poured out in greater numbers than expected, holding up the final assault. An SDF commander told Reuters on Thursday that many of the people leaving the enclave had been sheltering underground in caves and tunnels. After extricating the remaining civilians, the SDF resumed its assault on Friday evening. It has not ruled out the possibility that some militants have crept out, hidden among non-combatants. The SDF commander-in-chief said on Thursday that his force would declare victory within a week. He was later contradicted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the SDF had retaken 100 percent of the territory once held by IS. Washington has about 2,000 troops in Syria, mainly to back the SDF against IS. Trump announced in December he would withdraw all of them, but the White House partially reversed itself last month, saying some 400 troops would stay. Port Vila Lord Mayor Albert Daniel exchanging signed contract papers with Mr Sandrino Traverso of Road Stabilizer Process Ltd at the Town Hall. Credit: PVMC Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. 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Updated on 10/7/2020 Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is sharing more details about the confrontation that went down during thecast trip to the Bahamas between her and Lisa Vanderpump over dog drama with Dorit Kemsely courtesy via her"By the time we hit dinner, I knew that Dorit needed to know everything that was happening and being said about the dog situation. Lisa Vanderpump and Dorit are supposed to be best friends. Why is she not telling her the full story? But its when LVP tries to spin it on me that I knew exactly what was happening, and I wasnt able to let it be. I end up leaving before saying something I would regret, but had I stayed at that table, here are some things I would have pressed Lisa Vanderpump on (and you can think about too)," she wrote."LVP says I'm the only one who speaks to John Blizzard. She doesnt speak to the guy who runs her events? Shes the one who told him to tell me!"She continued: "If LVP was so intent on protecting Dorit, why is she not the least bit upset that John Blizzard, her employee, at a business she treasures, gave me the information, knowing Dorit and I were not in a good place at the time? Oh right, again, because she told him to tell me.""If LVP wanted to protect Dorit, and she knew I knew (this is all very Friends' "The One Where Everybody Finds Out") and was coming to film at Vanderpump Dogs, why did she not bother to call or text me telling me to absolutely not bring up Lucy? Why not, once I got there, did she not pull me aside and tell me to absolutely not mention it?"Teddi makes it clear that she's "not innocent" in the dog drama and questions LVP's motives. "Why did LVP even allow Lucy to be there that day? As Rinna says, its called VANDERPUMP Dogs, so dont tell me she didnt know. And of all her employees, why were the two Johns (Sessa and Blizzard) both there filming? Again, I am not innocent in all of this, but no matter what I may say, I do not have control over the actions and workings of Vanderpump Dogs no matter how many times you want to call me a gossip.She added: "The answer to all of the above: Because it was all designed by LVP to get this Lucy story out there without looking like she wanted it out there. As you see in the trailer for next week, I am not clean in this mess, and it starts to be revealed. I say some crappy and shady things to John Blizzard after he tells me a dramatic story that LVP wanted me to hear at a time when Dorit and I had high tensions. But it all begins with Lisa Vanderpump, and Im realizing shes using me as the fall gal."What are your thoughts on Teddi's blog? Do you agree with her? Sound off in the comments below!Photo Credit: Bravo Pak Army Garrison Officer Mess Rawalpindi Jobs 2019 Latest Pakistan Army Army jobs Posts Rawalpindi 2021 Qualified and responsible Government Retired Personnel for the posts of Admin Officer, Assistant Guest Room Supervisor, Security Supervisor, Security JCO, House Man, Sweeper, Security Guard, Clerk, Naib Qasid, Head Cashier, Chief Editor, Store Supervisor, Storeman required for Pakistan Army Garrison Officer Mess in Rawalpindi Punjab 2019. How to Apply on Pakistan Army Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error is possible. Error & omissions excepted. K-pop boy band BTS plans to offer additional concerts on its upcoming tour of five cities in the United States and Europe, as tickets have sold out, its official website showed Sunday. The five additional shows will be held at Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles on May 5, at Soldier Field in Chicago on May 12, at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on May 19, at Wembley Stadium in London on June 2 and at Stade de France in Paris on June 8. The announcement came a day after the sale all tickets sold out for their scheduled month-long stadium tour from early May, titled "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself." Following the tour of the two continents, BTS plans to move to Japan's Osaka where they will perform from July 6-7 at Yanmar Stadium Nagai, to be followed by the final concerts, from July 13-14, at Shizuoka's Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa. (Yonhap) Kim Maria, left, with Ahn Chang-ho, center, and Cha Gyeong-seon / Courtesy of Independence Hall of Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo On March 1, 1919, tens of thousands of Korean people took to the streets to rally for their independence from Japanese colonial rule. The March 1 Movement provided a catalyst for the independence movement and became a crucial moment in the history of the Korean resistance under colonial rule. Men and women of all ages took part in the March 1 Movement, but only a few of those women, including Yu Gwan-sun, a 16-year-old student who organized marches at Aunae Marketplace in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province and became the most iconic figure of the movement, are known. As of February 2019, only 357 out of a total of 15,180 people awarded honors for independence fighting were women. Though often forgotten or neglected compared to male activists with equivalent achievements, there are many unsung female activists who fought for the nation's freedom. Lee Yun-ok, director of the Korea-Japan Cultural Harmony Institute who has been shedding light on the lives of these female activists, said women were not just there to look after male freedom fighters. "People took part in independence movements regardless of gender and many women deliberately joined the activities. About half of the female activists were so-called new women who were well-educated," Lee said. Kim Maria Kim Maria as a teacher of Jeongsin Girls' School The March 1 rally was influenced by the Feb. 8 Proclamation of Independence, which took place in Tokyo about a month earlier by Korean students studying in Japan. The Feb. 8 proclamation was brought to Seoul by Kim Maria (1891-1944), a woman who wondered why there were no woman among the 11 student representatives who signed the proclamation. Kim was born to a family of strong national consciousness and was studying in Japan when the proclamation was announced. She hid copies of it in the sash of her kimono to escape the surveillance of Japanese police when she returned to Korea. Kim was arrested for her participation in the March 1 Movement, but her spirit did not wane. "Our womenfolk should not simply stand by and watch," Kim is quoted as saying during her interrogation after being arrested for the March 1 Movement. After being released, Kim organized the Korean Women's Patriotic Society (Daehan Aeguk Buinhoe) and gathered some 2,000 members across the nation. However, she was arrested after a tip-off from a traitor in her group and was severely tortured. Kim was released on sick leave in April 1920 and sought asylum in Shanghai with the help from the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea there. She worked for the provisional government as a representative of Hwanghae Province and promoted reform of the organization along with Ahn Chang-ho. To continue her passion for Korea's independence, Kim headed to the United States in 1923 and studied at Park College and the University of Chicago. She later moved to New York to study theology and in the Big Apple, Kim established the Geunhwahoe, a group of patriotic Korean women with fellow students Bak In-deok and Hwang Ae-deok. Kim finally returned to Korea in 1933, but the Japanese police kept her under surveillance and she was restricted from entering the Seoul area. She taught at the Martha Wilson Seminary in Wonsan, now in North Korea. Kim passed away in 1944, a year before Korea's independence from Japan, from the aftereffects of torture. She was posthumously awarded the Order of Independence Merit in 1968. Choe Eun-hui Choe Eun-hui (1904-1984) was the first female journalist in Korea. In 1919, Choe was a student at Gyeongseong Girls' High School. She took part in the manse protest on March 1 and urged other students to join her as well. In her memoir, Choe recalled that there was a secret group in the school, consisting of 79 teachers and students, which was dedicated to Anti-Japan activities. According to a Japanese police report on the March 1 rally participants from Gyeongseong Girls' High School, Choe was named as a leader of the school activists along with Choi Jeong-sook, Gang Pyeong-guk and Ko Su-seon. Choe was arrested and detained for this incident. After her release, Choe continued organizing anti-Japan rallies in her hometown in the countryside, which resulted in a six-month jail sentence and two years of probation. In 1924, Choe became the first woman reporter in Korea after she was selected picked as a junior reporter for the Chosun Ilbo when she was attending Japan Women's University in Tokyo. During her eight years as a journalist, she covered a variety of events including the test flight of an airplane. She played a key role in the establishment of Geunuhoe, a women's organization against Japan's colonial rule in Korea. After Korea's liberation, Choe continued to write about women in Korea's modern history including the books, "The Sweet Fragrance of the Land of the Rose of Sharon: The True History of the March 1 Struggle," "Until the Homeland Is Restored: The Secret Story of Korean Women's Movement, 1905-1945" and "Women's Advancement over 70 Years: Recollections of the First Female Reporter." Choe provided money to support talented female journalists and the Chosun Ilbo founded the annual Choe Eun-hui Award for Women Journalists in 1984. "Song of Red Cross" and students of Korea Red Cross' nurse training school featured in the Shanghai edition of Dongnip Sinmun (Independent Newspaper) / Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History Jeong Jeong-hwa Though mostly male figures are known for their activities in the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, the organization wouldn't have been operated properly if it were not for Jeong Jeong-hwa (1900-1991), the wife of Kim Ui-han and daughter-in-law of Kim Ka-jin. President Moon Jae-in mentioned Jeong in his speech last year, as a woman who crossed the border six times to supply the provisional government with independence campaign funds. She literally took care of the agents of the provisional government including Kim Gu, Yi Dong-nyeong, Yi Si-yeong and their families. Korean women in Shanghai did needlework and rented out rooms to raise funds for the provisional government and tend to matters for the government members and Jeong was the center of the female activists. Jeong founded the Korea Revolutionary Female Union and the Korean Patriotic Women's Association under the slogan, "Let us build a new democratic republic to realize equality." She also took part in the Free Koreans' Rally in 1943, proclaiming that, "Korea should become an independent country and the Koreans should become free citizens." She returned to Korea in 1946 after liberation from Japan and supported the Korean Independence Party. Jeong documented her journey of 26 years pursuing true independence of Korea in, "Chang Jiang Diary." Chang Jiang is another name for the Yangtze River, referring to her long and hard ordeals in China on the way to Korea's liberation. The book provides insights into the efforts of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. Ralph Ahn, the youngest son of independence activist and reformer Ahn Chang-ho, holds his father's last photo taken before his death in his home in Mission Hills in L.A. on Feb. 22. / Korea Times photo by Park Jin-hai This is the second in a series of articles highlighting Korea's overseas independence fighters to mark the centennial of the March 1 Independence Movement ED. Ahn Chang-ho's youngest son recalls patriotic father, his legacy By Park Jin-hai Los Angeles, CA Ralph Ahn, 92, the youngest son and only surviving child of independence activist, educator and politician Ahn Chang-ho, better known by his pen name Dosan, has little memory of his father. The youngest child of the activist was unable to meet his father while he was alive, because Ahn had been preoccupied all his life with fulfilling his lifetime mission Korea's independence from Japanese colonial rule. "My siblings have told me he was a good father though," Ralph Ahn said during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his home in Mission Hills in California. "He was always busy traveling but he always talked to them about love, love for the country. He always preached be truthful. Communicate accurately. That was very important." Ralph Ahn lives there with his wife and daughter. He was born in 1926 in the Ahn family's California home while his father was traveling in China. Ahn Chang-ho was a key member of Korea's provisional government in Shanghai, which was established in 1919 on the heels of the March 1 Independence Movement. He was arrested in China in connection with independence fighter Yun Bong-gil who set off a bomb to kill a high-ranking Japanese official in Shanghai in 1932. Ahn served four years in prison, but after his release he was arrested again. Due to frequent imprisonment and torture, his health deteriorated, eventually leading to his death in 1938. It was only in 1963 when his youngest son finally connected with his father, who had been buried in the Mangwoori Public Cemetery, for the first time. Ahn was honored posthumously with the Order of Merit for National Foundation by the then Park Chung-hee government the previous year. Living without his father in the United States, the onus of taking care of the family was on his mother's shoulder. Her eldest brother Phillip also helped out. "We resented that the pressure was so hard on our mother Helen. She had to raise five kids, her English was very limited, but she had to do housework, work at laundries and hospitals. "But the fact that they never complained and that she always stressed father's work was very important kept us going. We were living in poverty, but I was happy, because I had the support of the family. All the older siblings and mother, they took care of me." Although he has no memory of his father, he does vividly recall the patriotic mood of the Korean American immigrant community. "When I was young, there were many Korean meetings. I heard them singing the national anthem and a lot of people were crying. Some were very proud, patriotic, and others were in tears. It was the tune of Auld Lang Syne, a Scottish folksong about remembering old friends. These people remembering their country, that's what brought them to tears," he said. "Even though I was young, I sensed the patriotism in the Korean community here. It was obvious they loved Korea." Prior to his birth, the house was always bustling with young people and it was a familiar scene for Ahn Chang-ho to be arguing and disagreeing with his friends until 3 o' clock in the morning. His father would bring people home, when there was enough food to feed them. His mother would go to a Jewish grocery store to buy salted fish, so the guests could eat this with rice. "He was such an idealist and optimist," Ralph Ahn said. "My parents came over to the United States to get an education in teaching so that they could go back and bring Korea into the modern world. He knew that the national character of Korea should be strong. Korea had to be strong with truth, integrity and love. That was a great motivator." What has been less known he says was his mother's work. "Father regarded her as his comrade in every way," he said. Helen complimented Chang-ho's patriotic spirit, giving her hard earned money to support her husband's work as an activist and reformer. She was the first president of the Korean Patriotic Women's Association in 1919. "My mother was a small petite woman but very strong. I don't know if she was naturally strong or she had to be because of the demands of supporting her husband. There was no doubt she loved and admired him. Everything implies that we had to live to support my father's work," Ralph said. When his father came back from Korea and said he needed a scholar named Lee Kap for the independence movement because he was an educated man who could write and keep producing news articles it was his mother who provided the money to bring him to the United States. "When he got to New York, he was sick so they turned him back. So all the money my mother gave him didn't work. But, this was what they would do. They needed a man of this kind of ability for the independence movement here in the United States. So they were willing to sacrifice the money to bring him here," he said. His mother passed away in 1969 at the L.A. home. In 2008, she was awarded the National Medal for National Foundation, fifth class, for her efforts in the independence movement. Ralph said he has worked to bolster his father's legacy for all his life. He said he wouldn't even daydream about achieving what his father did. "I couldn't match my father's intellect or spirit. It was unusual. His intellect and spirit and his devotion, I wouldn't even try to compare myself with him." Whenever he sees his father's photo taken before his death, he said he feels "admiration." "I admired him. How he could be so motivated for his work. I could never live up to him." By Kim Hyun-bin Most people may have experienced tinnitus, or the sensation of noise or ringing in the ears without an external source at least once in their lives, at least once in their life. For most, it's just a ringing sound, while for others it could come in the form of whistling, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or even shrieking. The course of chronic tinnitus is unpredictable. Sometimes the symptoms remain the same, but in other cases they can get worse. In about 10 percent of sufferers, the condition interferes with everyday life so much that they need to seek professional help. Over 90% experience tinnitus The sound may seem to come from inside the head from one ear or both, or could feel like it's from a distance. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service report, there has been a gradual increase in tinnitus patients in Korea from 281,351 in 2013 to 310,895 in 2016. Tinnitus may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating, though sometimes it serves as a warning of another disease. People may show signs after being exposed to extremely loud noises, such as at concerts, that can trigger short-lived tinnitus, as well as after taking some medications in high doses the symptoms often go away when the person stops taking the drug. However, when the ringing lasts more than six months it's medically defined as chronic tinnitus, which is especially common among people over 55 and is strongly associated with hearing loss. There are no exact causes to explain the symptoms, however, there are several factors that are believed to cause tinnitus including loud noises, stress, exhaustion, vascular irregularities and medication. Diseases correlated to tinnitus Sudden deafness The exact cause of sudden deafness has not been discovered, however, experts believe a viral infection, stress, tiredness and vascular disorders could be part of the cause. There are local studies that show 90 percent of patients who have experienced sudden deafness have been diagnosed with tinnitus. When a person experiences sudden deafness they need to get treatment immediately to prevent damage to their hearing. When a person experiences tinnitus or "stuffy" ears for several days they should visit a hospital. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) TMD can cause pain in jaw joints and in the muscles that control its movement. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth, although many people habitually do this and never develop TMD disorders. In 2015, Seoul National University Dental Hospital conducted a survey of 1,052 TMD patients and found 30 percent suffered from tinnitus. Doctors believe an infection from a joint disorder could have an effect on the auditory nerves. Brain tumor It is rare but there is the possibility of a brain tumor causing the ringing sound. When there is a brain tumor close to the nerves it damages hearing and cause dizziness. Half of brain tumor patients claim they suffer from dizziness and tinnitus. Many patients mistake the decline in hearing as part of the ageing process and leave it unattended. However, when a brain tumor becomes severe it could cause pain around the face, make it difficult to swallow food and cause motor paralysis. So if people suffer dizziness and tinnitus they should get professional help. No perfect cure, but treatments to help tinnitus There is no perfect cure for tinnitus, but there are several treatments that can ease the symptoms. The most common is drug therapy. There is no scientifically proven medication for the disorder but it could help treat symptoms that induce tinnitus. When a patient is suffering from another disease, doctors advise they treat this first. "Tinnitus or the ringing sound could be a problem with the ear itself, but for a more precise treatment we need to treat other factors first that could be causing the symptoms," said Ryu Do-gyun, director at the Shinbi Oriental Medical Clinic. Medications such as tranquilizers, anti-depressants and sedatives are commonly used to ease tinnitus, however, one needs to consult with a doctor before taking the drug. Use of a hearing aid could also help, as it increases the hearing of external sounds that reduce the ringing in the head. An association of South Korea's private preschools said Sunday it would press ahead with a plan to postpone the opening of the spring semester, slated for the following day, despite the government's warning of stern punitive measures. The Korea Kindergarten Association (KKA) claimed that the education authorities are putting unjust pressure on its members nationwide and even made false claims about the number of preschools to postpone the start of the semester. The group is fiercely protesting against the government's drive to reform private preschools that receive state subsidies. There have been continued reports of corruption and other irregularities involving the use of taxpayers' money by a number of local preschool operators. The government plans to introduce Edufine, a state-managed accounting system, for all major preschools. It earlier announced that only around 190 of more than 3,800 private preschools are scheduled to join the association's move to put off the start of the semester. But the KKA said that a total of 1,533 schools will take part. It urged the government to stop trying to control their "private property." It argued that establishing a school has required at least 3 billion won ($2.67 million) worth of private assets. Thus, it added, there should be reasonable accounting of the cost to set up private preschools. The association even threatened to consider the closure of schools and called on President Moon Jae-in to handle the matter, not his education minister. (Yonhap) Children learning at a childcare center in Seoul. Korea Times file By Kim Hyun-bin The government plans to build an additional 550 public daycare centers this year, in line with its efforts to boost the country's low birthrate. The Ministry of Health and Welfare had plans to have public facilities that will accommodate 40 percent of the eligible population by 2022, but will speed up the process by a year to 2021 by increasing the number of new centers around the country from its initial plan of 450, the ministry said, Friday. This was one of President Moon Jae-in's goals to expand government support for parents and young children. "In the first year of the long-term general plan for childcare, we have made significant strides in implementing welfare policies including expanding public daycare centers, increasing the number of substitute teachers and installing air purifiers in facilities," said Kim Sang-hee, deputy director general of childcare at the health ministry. The plan for the second year aims to get 40 percent of those eligible attending facilities by 2021, as well as promoting more support policies to enhance childcare services, and the employment of more teachers, she added. These plans are in line with the government's efforts to boost the country's low birthrate. The rate dropped below one last year reaching a record low 0.98, which is causing concern as the world's fourth largest economy will inevitably face a drastic decline in population in the coming years. Under the five-year plan, the government will also make it mandatory for businesses with more than 300 full-time employees to set up a daycare center within the company building, the ministry said. Currently, only companies with over 500 employees or 300 female full-time workers are obligated to have such facilities. The government will launch a pilot project to extend daycare center hours to better help dual income families. The results of the project will give the government a better picture in allocating additional budgetary spending and employing the necessary teachers, as well as setting childcare fees. The ministry is working to improve the working conditions at daycare centers by hiring an additional 15,000 teachers and 700 substitute teachers. Korea Kindergarten Association head Lee Deok-sun announces that members will continue to protest against the government's plan for tougher regulations by suspending the opening for the new semester. / Yonhap Kindergarten group sticks to plan to delay semester opening By Kim Rahn Parents are up in arms over a private kindergarten group's collective action to delay opening for new semester, a decision announced only four days before the scheduled opening. Double-income parents are desperate to find someone to care for their children during the daytime, while some are planning to sue for compensation. Last Thursday, the Korea Kindergarten Association (KKA) announced the suspension plan in protest against the government's push to introduce tougher rules on private preschools for more transparent management. Since then the Ministry of Education and regional education offices have been trying to grasp the exact number of kindergartens that will not open for the new semester on Monday as scheduled, and to come up with emergency measures to care for children whose parents are unavailable. According to the ministry's survey, 190, or 5 percent of 3,875 private kindergartens nationwide are expected to participate in the delay. But nearly 300 have not responded to the ministry's inquiry about their plans, so the actual number may be larger. A parent holds a picket that reads "Moms are angry," in front of Suji-gu Office in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, during a protest against the Korea Kindergarten Association's decision to delay opening for new semester slated for Monday. / Yonhap Online communities are flooded with comments from angry parents, who say the KKA is taking the parents and children hostage. "The kindergarten just sent a text message that it would not be open on Monday, and they have been out of contact since," a working mother wrote on an internet community of Gyeonggi Province mothers, Friday. Another wrote, "I managed to take leave for Monday and Tuesday (to take care of my child), but if the opening delay continues after that, I don't know what to do." Dozens of petitions have been posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website, calling for the punishment of KKA leaders and operators of kindergartens that are suspending the opening. For Leaders Kindergarten in Gyeonggi Province operated by KKA head Lee Deok-sun, a mother is collecting the signatures of other parents to join a compensation suit. On the Gyeonggi mothers' community site, she claimed the opening delay infringed on the children's right to learn and caused mental damage to parents who cannot find alternative means of childcare. "I'll seek a damage suit if the kindergarten does not retract the plan," the mother wrote. "If we remain idle, private kindergartens will repeat such acts and take parents and children hostage again." Despite the havoc, the KKA remains firm, saying it will go beyond the operation delay to consider shutting down their facilities if the government cracks down on the "work-to-rule." It also said more than 1,500 members would take part in the collective move. While the government says it is illegal for a kindergarten to suspend the opening for a semester without undergoing discussion at committee level, the KKA says it is a private kindergarten's right to adjust their opening dates or academic schedule. The KKA also said it would consider filing a complaint against Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae for "abuse of power" following the ministry's plan to make the kindergartens open to criminal complaints. From right, Cho Hee-yeon, regional education office head of Seoul, Lee Jae-jung of Gyeonggi Province and Do Seong-hun of Incheon announce their opposition to the delay in kindergartens' operation, during a joint press conference at Cho's office in central Seoul, Sunday. / Yonhap South Africa: Opening of new courts set to increase access to justice Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha has proclaimed two new courts to service their respective communities with effect from 1 March 2019. The proclamation of the two Magistrates Courts Booysens in Gauteng and Plettenberg in the Western Cape is part of efforts by the Justice Department to broaden access to justice for all. The new court [Booysens Magistrates Court] has been built in Oakdene in the south of Johannesburg and will make it more convenient for local communities to access justice services. The new court will also alleviate the demand for justice services at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court, said the department. Until now, communities were serviced by the Johannesburg Central Magistrates Court in the CBD, which required them to travel up to 13 kilometres to be assisted. The facility was built at a cost of just over R242 million to reinstate the Booysens Branch Court that was moved to the Johannesburg Magistrates Court due to inadequate facilities and increased matters on the court roll. With effect from 1 March 2019, the court will render a range of family law services; maintenance matters, domestic violence matters, Childrens Court and Harassment Court matters, civil law services, Small Claims Court services and criminal law services, including the services of two regional courts, said the department. Plettenberg Bay Magistrates Court Currently, court services for communities in Plettenberg are being rendered from Knysna Magistrates Court, which is about 30km away, with limited public transport available. Over the past 20 years, a periodical court has serviced Plettenberg Bay twice a week at the municipal building premises. The new court has been built at a cost of approximately R314 million at New Horizons, which is 3km from the Plettenberg Bay CBD. The Plettenberg Bay Court is served by the two police stations of Plettenberg Bay and Kwanokhutula and will incrementally bring service delivery relief to the communities of Plettenberg Bay, Kwanokhutula and surrounding areas, said the department. The Plettenberg Bay court will render services from Family Court Services, Civil Cases (including Small Claims Court matters), Sexual Offences Court, Regional Courts and District Courts. The Plettenberg Bay Magistrates Office is expected to function from 1 June 2019. Palm Ridge Magistrates Court In an effort to better accommodate the court roll of the Specialised Commercial Crimes (SCC) Court in Johannesburg, the department announced that the SCC will operate at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in Gauteng. The recently appointed Special Investigating Unit Tribunal will also be operational from the SCC. The tribunal will expedite the finalisation of matters the SIU refers for civil litigation following the conclusion of its investigations. Access to justice remains a key pillar to our constitutional democracy and the department will therefore continue with its mandate of bringing justice services closer to the people, said the department. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Wednesday was a day like few in American history, with a convicted liar on his way to federal prison telling the House Oversight Committee that his old boss, who happens to be the president, was an even bigger liar. But did the testimony of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former attorney, change the national debate as he rehashed stories about Trump spreading falsehoods, paying off mistresses and saying offensive, even racist, things? It's a sign of the times that it wasn't more surprising that a former confidant of the president of the United States called him a racist, a con man and a cheat. Or that few Republicans actually challenged Cohen's claims about his longtime client, choosing instead to go after Cohen's credibility. The only thing missing from the theatrics was Trump tweets. But if the hearing accomplished anything, it should be to whet Americans' appetites for the completion of special prosecutor Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump camp's links with Russian operatives and Moscow's attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. Unfortunately, newly confirmed Attorney General Bob Barr has already indicated that he may withhold parts of Mueller's report that are deemed too sensitive to make public. Except for information that might damage national security, everything else should be released. Who knew what when? Americans should know. The above editorial appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Chairman Moon Hyun-jin spoke with The Korea Times in Seoul on Feb. 25. / Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won By Park Ji-won The U.S. should push for policies with its allies, including South Korea, to seek an end goal of establishing a unified Korea, says a prominent NGO director. "It should be the responsibility of the global community to help the Korean people, bring a closure to this chapter of colonialism and the Cold War of the peninsula, allow us to develop, fulfill our destiny to create a model nation," Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Chairman Moon Hyun-jin said in an interview with The Korea Times on Feb 25. Moon is an activist supporting unification through holding seminars and cultural events as well as volunteering for impoverished countries. He also wrote a vision book, "Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea," to help others understand his philosophy to move toward unification. His father Moon Sun-myung was the founder of a religious movement known as the unification movement. Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Chairman Moon Hyun-jin spoke with The Korea Times in Seoul on Feb. 25. / Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won By Park Ji-won The following is an edited version of an interview with Global Peace Foundation Chairman Moon Hyun-jin. - ED. Q. What is your basic idea of the current political situation? A. You could say this is a transformative moment in the history of Korea. Indirectly, the position of South Korea and North Korea is already heading toward unification. This is a concern to me in several ways, although I have been working all my life for unification, so has my father, and even my great-great uncle going all the way back to the March 1 Movement in 1919. He was one of the architects of the declaration of independence of Korea. The question is what type of unification will come about. The fact that Moon Jae-in suggested bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea was a bad move; having America be front and center in terms of what is happening on the Korean Peninsula. Russia and China wanted to be involved as well. That's why after the first summit in Singapore, the global situation that was created where the U.S. was able to get China and Russia on its side in terms of sanctions for the North eventually ended. Because the Chinese came in and they started to have bilateral relations with North Korea. Then the Russians came with bilateral relations. And then you take away the environment for the two Koreas to really build a foundation for unification. Q. I assume you are trying to set a long-standing strategy that doesn't change following the change of administration. In that sense, what is your organization's idea of dealing with other countries surrounding Korea? A. Korea is a bigger issue. So the changes of administrations in left and right has tremendous significance in terms of the inter-Korea relationship. So think about all the policies of engagement over last several decades. It is all under liberal governments. North Korea knows who its friends are in South Korea and who are its enemies. It is ironic that the stated goal of Park Geun-hye's administration was unification. It was never able to engage with the North. So before we ask about the changing of governments in the U.S., or China China won't change. It is basically a dictatorship. Russia is a dictatorship. So those governments will not change. A bigger question for the Korean media is what about Korea? There is a reason why under conservative presidents it was never able to engage the North because the North will not engage them. So what's more important for South Korea is to have an overarching, strategic vision that irrespective of administration, liberal or conservative, sticks to that and has bipartisan support. And that's why I wrote my book "Korean Dream." In this combination of images are North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting, Feb. 28, 2019, in Hanoi, Vietnam. AP-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul South Korea lost the most from the collapse of last week's second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, experts said Sunday. They said the U.S. may demand progress on the North's human rights issues as a prerequisite for the removal of sanctions. "Multiple stalled inter-Korean projects require sanctions exemptions. Without progress on North Korea, President Moon Jae-in's top domestic agenda becomes his only success metric for voters, who have already criticized his administration for failing to deliver on economic metrics such as unemployment," Alison Evans, deputy head of Asia Pacific Country Risk at IHS Market, said in an email. The main sticking point that prevented the U.S. and North Korea from coming to an agreement was most likely the sequencing and extent of "denuclearization" and sanctions relief. "North Korea remains unlikely to reduce programs that are less visible and less publicly well-understood, such as sites other than the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, which produces uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons, and the Transporter-Erector Launchers used to launch missiles," the senior analyst said. He said the Hanoi summit ending without an agreement increases the risk of North Korea-United States diplomacy breaking down. "The summit highlights the United States' all-or-nothing position, which undermines possible progress toward concrete steps this year, according to the analyst. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves before boarding his train at the Dong Dang Railway Station, March 2. AFP-Yonhap Incoming KEB Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo By Jhoo Dong-chan Hana Financial Group appears to have bowed to pressure from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as it has decided to dump the current head of its flagship banking unit who has a thorny relationship with the regulator. The group nominated KEB Hana Bank Vice President Ji Sung-kyoo as the bank's new CEO, Thursday, after the incumbent, Ham Young-joo, who has been accused of overlooking alleged hiring irregularities at the bank, decided not to run for a third term. Market observers said Ham was likely to serve consecutive terms as he successfully led the bank's business after the integration of Hana and the Korea Exchange Bank in September 2015. However, he faced a tall hurdle as the FSS recently expressed its concerns about him in a meeting with three outside directors of Hana Financial Group, Tuesday. During the meeting, FSS officials talked about the "negative impact" Ham's situation would have on the bank's financial stability and credibility. Incumbent KEB Hana Bank CEO Ham Young-joo By Kim Ae-ran Even though we live in an individualized society, what we long for sincerely is the community. Even Kakao talks and Facebook build the community in various ways. In the face of individualism and materialism, what is revealed is, in fact, communion, community and solidarity. One of the characteristics of the Catholic Church in the world is a universal sense of community, communion and solidarity. We have various charism to live and mission to realize, but each of us belong to one spiritual community based on integrity, communion and collaboration. In a broad sense, this community can be called "the kingdom of God" filled with spiritual fruits like love, peace, joy, mercy, forgiveness or compassion. The sense of community in solidarity lets us be rich and abundant through sharing and collaboration in communion. It also lets us have co-responsibility and work for the common good. For this purpose in pursuit of the common good, the most fundamental mission for each of us would be to get out of the selfish ego in order to have an open-minded personality who is willing to give the self out unconditionally and share with others wholeheartedly. Last year in September, "Pauline" in Korea released the third album of CD music series on prayer, entitled "Spread Your Wings". Seven Pauline Sisters sang 12 songs in the tunes of piano, violin, flute, viola, cello, clarinet, guitar, etc. The title song is taken from the well-known Swedish hymn, "Spread Your Wings over Me." This album includes 12 living hymns, including some adapted foreign songs and several pieces of music that Pauline Sisters composed. Kwon Oh-jun produced and directed the arrangement of the songs, and Jeong Soo-gyoung directed the vocals. In the hope of bringing peace and consolation to the world under the wings of the Lord, the choir performed last year in various venues such as Pauline books and media center in Seoul, Peace Radio Broadcasting in Busan, Book Cafe Leven, run by the Society of St. Paul in Nonhyeon-dong, and so on. As St. Augustine said, those who sing with joy and gratitude surely pray twice, or even more. Singing is one of the touching ways to proclaim and witness the joy of the Gospels. Personally, I also wanted to sing together, but I had no time to practice. Furthermore, nobody recommended me to be involved. I could not join in that initiative, but I feel I already participated in it thanks to the universal sense of community in solidarity. This sense of solidarity brings such a marvelous and mysterious co-involvement that goes beyond all the boundaries of time and place and capability. The sense of community in solidarity is also led to the principle of subsidiarity or auxiliaries and complement that realize justice in the society. St. Theresa of Lisieux did not go abroad as a missionary at all, but she is the patron saint of missionaries. It is possible through prayers and solidarity. How marvelous to see and experience the communion of saints in our lives! Beyond time and place, we support and complement one another. The solidarity lived in the community is something like the constant prayers of parents who always wish their children to be successful and happier even though they are apart from each other. The unseen chain of prayers lived through sacrifices and endurance create the true community in communion. The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication. Learn more about the congregation at fsp.pauline.or.kr. US, NK should seek further dialogue The breakdown of talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam, last week stunned the world. The second U.S.-North Korea summit was supposed to build on the first in Singapore in June 2018, where the two leaders produced only a vague agreement to work toward North Korea's denuclearization. But instead of producing a more specific agreement, the two leaders only reaffirmed the huge differences in their positions. Since the two leaders' departure from Hanoi, many were left wondering whether there will be another summit because it ended without any agreement followed by a rare cancellation of a planned lunch and signing ceremony. For many Koreans, the collapse of the Hanoi summit was particularly heartbreaking because they had hoped that a successful one would create the conditions for the North Korean leader to visit Seoul soon. While more people are increasingly skeptical of the usefulness of summits in achieving North Korea's denuclearization, there are some reasons to hope for better results in the future. One is that the two leaders did not seem to part ways in a hostile way. The White House disclosed a photo of Kim and Trump shaking hands before they said good-bye, and surprisingly Kim had a big smile. There was also no bashing of the U.S. in the North Korean media or from the North Korean officials who took part in the negotiations. Trump also sounded his upbeat self after arriving home. One of his Twitter posts underlined "substantive negotiations" with Kim and the good relationship he had with the North Korean leader. Despite the continued rapport between the two leaders, the outlook for future U.S.-North Korea talks is not very promising because the two sides are saying completely different things. After the talks with Kim fell apart, Feb. 28, Trump gave a press conference at the JW Marriott Hotel with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to explain what happened. "Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn't do that," Trump said. After Trump left, the North Korean side held a rare press conference where Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho denied Trump's claim that the North had demanded the lifting of the sanctions "entirely." Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said the U.S. had missed an "opportunity that comes in a thousand years" by refusing the North's proposals. She said that it was hard for the North to accept the U.S. position and that the North had only mentioned the lifting of sanctions that had to do with the livelihood of the North Korean people. She even said she had the feeling that the North Korean leader may lose motivation for further talks with the U.S. Despite the setback in Hanoi, it is crucial to keep the negotiations going. Otherwise, Kim may follow up on his pledge to seek a "new path"that he mentioned in his New Year speech, in which he warned the U.S. not to misjudge his patience. All parties concerned, including South Korea, should continue to work closely with each other for progress in the denuclearization talks. By Jason Lim Hand wringing over the sudden end to the much-anticipated summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim in Hanoi follows several well-worn paths. The most common one blamed the Cohen hearing that sucked the media energy out of what was happening in Hanoi and Trump's reluctance to announce anything that would be buried in that Cohen avalanche. An expansion on this argument is what I call the "Who shot JR?" version. Trump-Kim is a ratings-getter, the thinking goes, but it happened to go up against the "OJ White Bronco chase" this time around. It was just bad luck. So, hold off on moving the plot forward to some unsatisfying conclusion. Rather, leave it on a cliff-hanger with a sense of heightened tension to prime the ratings for when the show comes back for the next season. In this version, additional North Korean provocations and twitter threats by Trump could actually add to the narrative tension that would be dramatically resolved by a third summit. More seasoned North Korea watchers mostly blamed the inherent complexity of the negotiations over North Korean nuclear weapons. In a way, they are taking President Trump and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho's remarks at face value. Basically, they disagreed over the sequencing between denuclearization steps and sanctions relief. Basically, "you do this, then I'll do this." This is the action-for-action formula that U.S.-N.K. negotiations had been based on since the Agreed Framework in 1994. The problem is figuring out which action and how much action for which action and how much action. And when. This is exactly where the Hanoi summit broke down. This is not Trump's fault. This is not even Kim's fault. It is time to realize that the sequencing formula does not work. That is because the U.S. fundamentally distrusts the North Korean regime, born out of a repugnance at what it views as a morally bankrupt, corrupt, predatory regime centered on a creepy cult of personality. This distrust often makes the U.S. approach to North Korea schizophrenic, even when a satisfactory sequencing agreement is reached on paper. Former Clinton administration officials have been quoted as saying that they agreed to the 1994 Agreed Framework (one that successfully stopped North Korea's plutonium production for eight years until the Bush administration scrapped the agreement in 2002) only because they thought that Kim Jong-il's regime would collapse before the U.S. actually had to live up to the obligation to provide heavy fuel and build two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea. The Sept. 19, 2005, joint statement where North Korea agreed to abandon "all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs" was similarly undermined by this fundamental distrust and distaste. The statement read, "The six parties agreed to take coordinated steps to implement the aforementioned consensus in a phased manner in line with the principle 'commitment for commitment' and 'action for action." But even before this agreement was signed, the U.S. Treasury Department froze North Korean assets ($24 million) in Banco Delta Asia under the Illicit Activities Initiative (IAI), basically cutting off the flow of foreign currency into North Korea. Anyone who knows the heterogenous and often haphazard nature of how the different parts of the U.S. government carry out policies in respective stovepipes would be able to understand how such a thing could happen. North Korea, where everything flows from the top in a single line, was not susceptible to such understanding. North Korea reacted by executing its first nuclear test the following year. Proponents of the sequencing framework do have a point. In a trustless environment, trust has to be built in increments as each "action-for-action" step gets accomplished. However, the depth of American (and much of the international community) distrust and distaste for the North Korean regime makes the incremental trust-building exercises extremely difficult to sustain. Even if the president's sincere intent is to implement a deal, each step is an opportunity for other stakeholders in the U.S. government and beyond whether it be the Hill, powerful think tanks, Japanese conservatives, South Korean conservatives, human rights activists, etc. to derail the implementation process. Any delay or criticism would, in turn, reinforce reactive distrust in North Korean leadership circles, especially in the military. It is a reinforcing circle of distrust that even Trump and Kim would have trouble controlling. So what is an alternative negotiating framework? The grand bargain. Sequencing is like treating the symptoms of a disease but leaving the underlying cause to fester. Trump instinctively realized this early on when he pushed for a big deal that would reset the relationship in one fell swoop. Of course, the trouble is figuring out what that means. Bridges are built and the unpredictable occurs when perpetrators and victims meet in the "spirit of humanity." From Unsplash By Amanda Price When an elderly woman stood behind the podium to speak at Germany's Biomedical Sciences symposium, few were prepared for what they would hear. The elderly woman was Eva Mozes Kor. As a young Romanian girl, Eva, her parents and three sisters were forced at gunpoint on to a cattle train and taken to the infamous Nazi death camp, Auschwitz. Eva was 10 years old at the time. She was also a twin. This meant she and her twin sister, Miriam, would soon become human guinea pigs for the infamous Nazi scientist, Dr. Josef Mengele. Eva described in painful detail her heart-wrenching experiences: how she was wrenched from her mother's arms once she was identified as a twin, how her parents and two older sisters were killed in the gas chambers, and how she fought to stay alive after being tortured and injected with lethal bacteria. Before Mengele, "the Angel of Death," was able to kill her, the war ended and Eva and her twin sister were saved by members of the Soviet Army. Of the 1,500 sets of twins that Mengele had abused in his experiments, only 200 survived. After 10 years in the Israeli army, Eva became an advocate for the victims of the Nazi experiments. Through her tireless efforts she found the surviving twins and founded the organization CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiment Survivors). Like all Holocaust victims, Eva had no reason to forgive those who had tortured her and murdered her family. The loss was unimaginable, and for years she struggled with anger. But eventually, Eva did what no-one could have imagined possible. She forgave the Nazis who had turned her life into a living hell. Understandably, other Holocaust victims spoke out against her. Many understood the negative impact of living with unrelenting anger. But to forgive? To choose to release these vile men from lifelong condemnation? This was foolish extremism. But to Eva, this choice meant liberty and power. In her symposium speech to German doctors and scientists, Eva described her turning point. "I realized that 'I' had the power to forgive. No one could give me this power, and no one could take it away," she said. Having worked through her loss, she let go of resentment. "I felt a burden of pain was lifted from my shoulders," she explained. "I was no longer a victim of Auschwitz. I was no longer a prisoner of my tragic past. I was finally free." Top left: Eva Kor and her sister. Right: Eva Kor, who decided to forgive her tormentors. From CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center's website Eva's remarkable action led her to meet Nazi war criminals, and even a doctor who assisted Mengele in his monstrous experiments. Although these meetings were unthinkable to most, their immediate effect was to silence those trying to deny or revise the history of the Jewish Holocaust. As Eva was willing to forgive, the perpetrators who needed forgiveness came forward, testifying to the truth once told only by the victims. In this sense, forgiveness was Eva's ultimate revenge on the Nazis. She had chosen literally to look her enemies in the face, and do the perfect opposite of what they had done to her. Forgiveness as a form of revenge is somewhat of a bizarre oxymoron. The two words are nearly the polar opposite, yet in a world where the remarkable happens from time to time, these two words have become mysteriously bonded. Few others in history have made a choice to forgive before forgiveness has been sought. Among those few are Jacob DeShazer, a prisoner of war, who returned to Japan and became lifelong friends with the pilot who had led the attack on Pearl Harbor; Louis Zamperini, whose life was told in the movie "Unbroken"; Kim Phuc who forgave the American soldiers who incinerated her village with napalm; Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch survivor from the Jewish Holocaust, and Immaculee Ilibagiza, who forgave the men who slaughtered her family in the Rwandan Genocide. For those who have chosen a higher path than retribution and unrelenting anger, there seems to be no regret. Quite the opposite, these individuals seem liberated in ways that are difficult to fathom. Even more surprisingly, their choices have led to long-lasting social change, and to justice, not just for themselves but for thousands of others. Using forgiveness to bring about justice seems at odds with human reasoning. Justice is often far more punitive, demanding an eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth. Those who wrong us must know the weight of their crimes and feel the shame of their actions. According to many belief systems, there are crimes that must never be forgiven, criminals who must never be allowed to forget the depths to which they have sunk. We expect that releasing perpetrators from their guilt and shame would cause their crimes to be forgotten, yet the reverse occurs. Instead of the past drifting into the dark recesses of history, it is brought into the spotlight in unforeseen ways. Victims' voices, once strained from convincing the world of their pain, are replaced with the voices of perpetrators, now testifying on behalf of victims. It is an environment in which the unpredictable occurs. Eva Mozes Kor described just such an occurrence when a convicted Nazi doctor hugged her. "Everything he is accused of, he did," she said. "I told him my forgiveness did not prevent me from accusing him, or from him taking responsibility for his actions His response to me (the hug), however, is exactly what I was talking about when I said you cannot predict what will happen when someone from the victims' side and someone from the perpetrators' side meet in a spirit of humanity." Forgiveness is our most courageous and noble response to suffering. It validates our pain while ensuring our pain does not define us. Forgiveness shifts our focus upon ourselves as victims to victors. Not victors over our enemy, but victors over the hate that keeps us chained to a perpetual cycle of anger and resentment. South Korea and Japan stand opposite each other in an unflinching face-off. International pundits and critics predict that Japan will never be sorry enough, and South Korea will never be satisfied with Japan's apologies. If history holds a hand in this game of chance, then the odds are backing the critics who insist that no-one will ever back down. This image of rival speedskaters, Japan's Nao Kodaira and South Korea's Lee Sang-hwa, went viral. Is this an example of the future or just a momentary exception? Yonhap The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecuritys Director General, Directors, Private Secretary to the Minister and Staff during the retreat on Santo. Korean junks on Ulleong Island circa 1906. By Robert Neff Ulleong Island had a reputation as being a lush and fertile paradise where the "bamboo grew to twice the size it grew on the mainland, while the peaches were so large that the pits were divided and wine cups made from the two parts." At least that is what an 1895 article in the Korean Repository claimed, but over the next couple of years, Ulleong was looking less of a paradise and more like a poacher's dream. In early 1896, the senior official on Ulleong reported to the Korean government the pitiful conditions of the 1,134 Koreans living on the island. He claimed the island was infested with rats and destructive birds that devastated their meager crops. Adding to their woes was the heavy-handedness of a man named Bae, who levied illegal taxes upon the people and harvested timber and sold it to foreigners. His excesses were so severe that the islanders lynched him hanging him in front of the government building. In February 1898, the senior official reported that two sword-wielding Japanese men (possibly Wakida Shotaro and Amano Genzo) and their handful of workers were terrorizing the island. They illegally harvested valuable timber and trampled the islanders' crops as they transported the logs to their junks (ships). The official appealed to the central government for help. A small port on Ulleong Island circa 1906. The Japanese population on the island was considerable compared to the Korean population. There were more than 250 people (men and women) living in two or three small settlements when the junks arrived for the timber, the population would increase temporarily to more than 300. Most of them were from the Japanese island of Oki who had arrived on Ulleong in 1894 and made their living as lumberjacks, but a few tried farming, fishing and trade. In April 1899, two Japanese men allegedly assaulted a Korean woman. The infuriated Korean islanders banded together and marched on the Japanese settlement, but were met with guns and swords. One Korean islander was wounded. The official, afraid for his life, gave the Japanese a document granting them permission to harvest the trees. Laporte, A French employee of the Korean Customs Department, visited the island in June 1899 and described how the Japanese harvested the timber. "To kill the trees they remove the bark, allowing them to stand until they become 'seasoned,' after six months or so the trees are cut, sawn, and ready for sale." The leaders of the Japanese lumberjacks were Wakida Shotaro and Amano Genzo both claimed they had permission to harvest the timber. Laporte, however, speculated that "all of the Japanese on the island help themselves more or less freely to the richness placed undefended within their reach." Foreign visitors on Ulleong Island circa 1906. SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho, left, poses with Timotheus Hottges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom after signing a memorandum of understanding for a business partnership at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Feb. 26. / Courtesy of SK Telecom By Baek Byung-yeul SK Telecom has signed on to technological partnerships with Deutsche Telekom in fifth-generation (5G) networks, security and media services, the country's largest mobile carrier said Sunday. The two firms signed a memorandum of understanding for a business alliance on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade fair in Barcelona, Feb. 26. "With the partnership, SK Telecom will share its 5G technology with the largest telecom firm in Europe," the company said. The company launched a 5G service for industrial purposes Dec. 1, and plans to commence 5G full mobile services this month. SK Telecom said it was able to sign the MOU with the German telecom firm thanks to its technological capabilities in the network, media and security sectors. By sharing each other's strengths and knowhow in networks, security and media, the Korean firm said it will lay the groundwork for entering the European market. Under the MOU, the two also agreed to evaluate potential options to develop their partnership, including setting up a joint venture for research and development and joint participation in development, marketing and investment in various sectors. "We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with SK Telecom," said Tim Hottgest, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. "The expansion of the partnership will help both companies strengthen our global technology leadership and offer 5G and other innovative services to our customers." SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho said the two firms will try to find new business opportunities in Europe. "Through close cooperation with Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom will seek new business activities in the European market for network, media and security technologies," he said. The possible joint venture will be an optimal trade-off for both, according to Choi Jin-sung, vice president of Deutsche Telekom. "SK Telecom has secured advanced technology in 5G services and Deutsche Telekom has its strength in scale and diversity, doing business in 14 countries including the United States and Europe. The trade-off will be a trade-off for both," the former chief technology officer of SK Telecom told reporters in Barcelona. SK Telecom has multiple partnerships with Deutsche Telekom. During this year's MWC, the two firms showcased blockchain-based digital identification technology after the two agreed to develop and commercialize this as it can be used in various sectors including access control, deals and contracts. Rapper Zico performs during a Galaxy Fan Party event organized by Samsung Electronics in Gwangju, Saturday. / courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics held Galaxy Fan Party events in major cities nationwide to celebrate the launch of its latest premium Galaxy S10 smartphone and the 10th anniversary of the Galaxy brand. The fan party events are designed to show users how to use major functions of the new Galaxy device. The tech firm held a fan party in Busan, Feb. 28, and Gwangju, March 2, and is scheduled to hold additional events in major cities through March 16. The Seoul event will be held March 8, Daejeon, March 15 and Daegu, March 16. The fan parties are directed by rapper Zico and showcase music from artists such as one-man pop act 10cm and other events including a quiz. 10cm introduced a new song celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Galaxy brand. Samsung commenced the Galaxy Fan Party(s) in March 2018 with the introduction of the Galaxy S9. The firm said competition for taking part in this year's event heated up as more than 30,000 Galaxy fans registered for the event. The firm had an unpacking event to introduce the Galaxy S10 smartphone in four formats the S10e, S10, S10+ and fifth-generation (5G) network-enabled S10 5G. Excluding the S10 5G, three S10 phones will be available here starting Monday. Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (K-Biz) chairman-elect Kim Ki-mun waves the federation's flag after winning the election at K-Biz headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of K-Biz By Nam Hyun-woo Kim Ki-mun, chairman-elect of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (K-Biz), will face a bumpy road ahead amid growing allegations that one of his aides bribed voters and a reporter to help him win the much-coveted position, analysts said Sunday. Kim, who owns jewelry and cosmetics firm J. Estina, was elected as the 26th chairman of K-Biz in a highly competitive election held Thursday. Kim will serve a four-year term as the representative of 3.5 million small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) nationwide. Though he took the highly desired post, a rough road seems to be ahead for Kim, due to the rigging allegation. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), it recently filed a complaint with the prosecution against Kim's aides who allegedly gave the reporter 500,000 won in cash and a watch worth 200,000 won. The NEC said the reporter interviewed Kim over the election and the aide bribed the reporter asking for a favorable article. Before the NEC accusation, Seoul Songpa Police Station announced that it was investigating the aide over an allegation that he offered more than 5 million won as a bribe to voters. After winning the election, Kim met reporters for a press conference, but faced questions on the bribery allegations, which he declined to answer, saying, "today is a day for a celebration." As similar questions continue, K-Biz officials halted the conference and took Kim away. As reporters followed him to ask more questions, Kim's aides blocked them, while he took an elevator to avoid the journalists. During the standoff with reporters, Kim said he has "nothing to tell and the investigation will find the truth." So far K-Biz elections have triggered a series of mudslinging fights between candidates, which oftentimes end up in legal battles, because of the privileges and influence the job offers. Though the K-Biz chairman does not receive a monthly salary, he or she can collect a significant sum in return for serving as the board chairman of Home & Shopping, a mid-sized home shopping channel whose largest stakeholder is K-Biz. Reportedly, the outgoing chairman Park Sung-taek received 700 million won. Also, the chairman is given a 10 million won monthly stipend for expenses, as well as a company credit card. As the head of one of the country's five major business associations, the chairman is also granted the privileges of a deputy prime minister. This is not the first time that the K-Biz chairmanship has been plagued with legal battles. In 2017, Park was sentenced to a six month jail term suspended for two years on charges of bribing voters during his election in 2015. "The problem is K-Biz's election system," an economic organization official said asking not to be named. "Since it elects its chairman through an indirect election, the system itself is prone to bribery." Unlike other business associations in Korea, K-Biz uses an indirect election system because of problems in collecting votes from its millions of members. Representing respective members, 550 heads of cooperatives or smaller federations cast their ballots. "Though times have changed, not only the candidates but also voters seem to be relating the chairmanship with money," the official said. "With aggravating conditions surrounding businesses these days, the K-Biz chairman is required to play an increased role of representing its members over issues such as the minimum wage hike. But the election controversy may keep the new chairman distracted from that." It took 130 years for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to hire a woman and a Latino to fill its top staff job. In August 2018, Maria S. Salinas took over as president and chief executive of the chamber, which has a membership of more than 1,650 businesses with a combined workforce that exceeds 650,000 employees. The organizations goal of being the voice of business, promoting collaboration and helping members grow is even more important with a new governor taking over in Sacramento, said Salinas, 52. Shes in charge of 88 employees and works with an annual budget of about $14 million. Ready to go Decades before she was schmoozing with politicians and executives, a teenage Maria Sanchez faced a roadblock. Her parents thought that Loyola Marymount University was too far from the northeast Los Angeles neighborhood where they lived. Cal State L.A. was acceptably close for their only daughter. We laugh about it now, Salinas said. It seemed like a big distance to them. Advertisement Training ground After her parents finally relented, Salinas began studying accounting at LMU. Accounting and finance to me are the fundamental framework of a business. If you dont understand the numbers, then its hard to grow a business. All those years I spent working on financials that was a tremendous lesson for me. Salinas was offered her first accounting job while still in school and later was recruited by Ernst & Young and then by Walt Disney Co. She spent 11 years there doing a lot of different project work that touched so many divisions, Salinas said. Eventually I was responsible for financial reporting on a global basis for all the merchandise divisions, everything from the Disney stores to our publishing business, to the video business, to licensing. Many projects Salinas left Disney in 2006 and started Salinas Consulting, a one woman show buttressed with clients suggested by a trusted group of mentors. By then, Salinas was the mother of two sets of twin boys and she was seeking balance in her life. Launching a consulting firm made sense because I had a sound understanding of business on multiple levels and I could serve as a consultant for other companies looking to bridge gaps in their growth strategies. That same year, she was invited to become a founding board member of ProAmerica Bank, formed to focus on the Latino community. She later became audit committee chair and, in 2014, was appointed chairwoman of its board. In 2016, Salinas led the team that brought about the acquisition by Pacific Commerce Bank. I took it all at the speed that worked for me, Salinas said. If it was during the school year, I spent more time working and picked up more business. If it was summer and the boys were home, I lightened my load. Small and big A lot of Salinas clients were small businesses. Her work with the bank also really gave me insight on the importance of being strategic in running a business, she said. I got an opportunity to work with people across the city and try to bring the resources of the bank to the small-business community in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. But her biggest consulting client was Toyota Motor Corp., which she worked with for more than a decade. In this 2008 file photo, a Prius enters Toyotas U.S. headquarters in Torrance. In 2014, Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it would move its North American headquarters to Plano, Texas. (Reed Saxon / AP) Driving away Salinas even wound up helping Toyota make the big move out of California, to Plano, Texas, announced in 2014, taking 3,000 jobs with it. It was unfortunate that the company made the decision to leave California, but it gave me a really great insight in terms of the financial decisions that a company of that size needed to make in terms of the tax breaks and lower housing costs, among many other reasons for the move. Sought out In 2018, she received another call from an executive search firm. This time it was for the job leading the Chamber of Commerce. Salinas thinks she has an idea why she repeatedly ends up on the short list of candidates for jobs she hasnt even applied for. I believe what they saw in me was a person that knew the city, a person that had the background and the business expertise, that had demonstrated leadership in other previous roles, and that hopefully what came through was my passion and love for the city and really wanting to see it grow. Looking ahead We definitely want to amplify our advocacy efforts for Los Angeles on a statewide basis. That would be one of the most important things we could do, Salinas said. A lot of the issues around affordability, whether its in housing or education, are what hurt us in attracting more business. Sending a message Salinas is using her position to highlight issues facing California that will ultimately affect its ability to attract and retain businesses. We in California dont just have a story of great diversity, we also have one of great inequality, Salinas said in a recent panel discussion on diversity and race in higher education. If we dont solve this inequality problem, it will increasingly be an economic and national competitiveness problem. Personal By September, Salinas will have been married to her husband, Raul, for 29 years. Their four boys are in high school and college. Shes a founding board member of Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, a new national medical school set to open in 2020. Shes also on the board of trustees and chair of the board of regents of her alma mater, LMU. The National Transportation Safety Board said its investigating Fridays fatal accident in which the roof of a Tesla was sheared off in a collision with a commercial truck in Delray Beach, Fla. The NTSB, in cooperation with the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office, is sending three officials to help with the probe, the agency said on its official Twitter page. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is also sending a team to investigate the crash. NHTSA also said it has opened an investigation into a Tesla Model S crash in Davie, Fla., on Feb. 24. In Fridays crash, the driver was killed when he drove his 2018 Tesla Model 3 under a 2019 International LT truck. According to the Sheriffs Office, the tractor-trailer was turning left and pulled into the path of the Tesla, which came to a halt three-tenths of a mile south of the collision, where the driver was pronounced dead. Advertisement It wasnt immediately clear if Teslas driver assistance feature known as Autopilot was enabled. Tesla declined to comment. In the Davie crash, a Tesla Model S left the road, struck a palm tree and caught fire. The driver was killed. Witnesses said the door handles wouldnt work and the airbags didnt deflate, so they could not pull the man out. The right front wheel was found on the other side of the road. The NTSB is investigating other Tesla crashes. In March 2018, a Tesla Model X with the companys Autopilot system engaged struck a concrete barrier in Mountain View, Calif. The driver was killed. A preliminary NTSB report found that three seconds before the crash, the car sped up and there was no evasive action. In May 2018, a Model S driving over 100 mph in Florida crashed and burst into flames, killing two teenagers. In 2016, a man driving a Tesla Model S in Florida was decapitated when his car, with Autopilot engaged, drove under a semi-truck trailer as it crossed the highway. The NTSB blamed both Tesla and the driver. In this crash, Teslas system worked as designed, but it was designed to perform limited tasks in a limited range of environments, the boards chairman, Robert L. Sumwalt, said at the time. Tesla allowed the driver to use the system outside of the environment for which it was designed ... and the system gave far more leeway to the driver to divert his attention to something other than driving, Sumwalt said. The result was a collision that, frankly, should have never happened. Times staff writer Russ Mitchell contributed to this report. In a script-worthy twist, Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkins stage adaptation of Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird will receive its West Coast premiere at Azusa Pacific University, a private Christian college in Azusa. The news follows a rollercoaster week in which small theater companies around the country received cease-and-desist letters regarding planned productions of an earlier version of Lees classic book. The play made its Broadway debut in December. Like other theater departments, Azusa Pacific University had committed to performing playwright Christopher Sergels version, which was written not long after Lees book was published in 1960, as part of its 2020 season. However, Jill Brennan-Lincoln, chairwoman of the theater arts department at Azusa Pacific, said she received a letter from attorneys for producer Scott Rudin that cited a contractual stipulation preventing theater companies from performing Sergels To Kill a Mockingbird while Rudins production of the Sorkin version remained on Broadway. The letters existence was first reported by the New York Times. Advertisement Soon thereafter, as negative press threatened to tarnish the Broadway productions success, Rudin offered a compromise. Already committed companies will be able to license To Kill a Mockingbird free of charge but must use Sorkins script. In his review of Sorkins Broadway production, Times theater critic Charles McNulty praised what he called a top-flight production that for all the distortions and limitations ... finds ways through Atticus character to speak directly to our troubled times about the inseparability of race and justice in America. For Azusa Pacifics Brennan-Lincoln, Rudins proposal was a win-win. Not only will the department salvage its schedule, but the newness of Sorkins work means it wont yet have landed on any of Los Angeles more prominent stages. Were pretty excited, she said. Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, she called Rudins act a generous gesture. Brennan-Lincoln added that premiering Sorkins adaptation is is a really big deal for us because weve been the little engine that could this little private school that seven years ago committed to a BFA program in acting for stage and screen. Brennan-Lincoln said that the new contract stipulates that the department must stage the play within a year but that it will make whatever shifts she needs to ensure a quality production. Its slotted for next February, she said, but if we need to do it this fall, we will. For tips, records, snapshots and stories on Los Angeles music culture, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit. Email: randall.roberts@latimes.com. Los Angeles County officials have moved to reverse the controversial reinstatement of a deputy who worked as a campaign aide to Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a personnel decision that could exacerbate tensions between the countys newly elected top cop and its governing body, the Board of Supervisors. Auditor-Controller John Naimo, the countys chief accountant, issued a letter last week stating that the deputy, who was fired in connection with allegations of domestic abuse, would no longer be paid and must turn in his gun and badge. Your reinstatement was unlawful, the letter, dated Feb. 28, stated. The Times reported in January that Caren Carl Mandoyan was fired in 2016 by then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell after a fellow deputy alleged Mandoyan grabbed her by the neck, tried to break into her home and sent her harassing text messages. Advertisement Prosecutors investigated the womans claims and looked at video evidence in the case but declined to charge Mandoyan with intimate partner violence. Neither Mandoyan nor a lawyer who represented him after his dismissal, Michael Goldfeder, responded to requests for comment on Sunday. The firing was upheld by a county appeals board, but Villanueva reinstated the deputy in his first weeks as sheriff after defeating McDonnell last fall. The letter to Mandoyan says he is not authorized to serve as a Department employee and that his salary and other benefits were stopped last month. It also says the sheriff, who isnt authorized to override decisions made by other high-ranking county officials, according to Naimos letter, knew of the boards decision. Naimo said on Sunday that he consulted with the county counsel before sending the letter and had copied the Board of Supervisors. He declined to comment further. The decision by Villanueva prompted a heated hearing in late January between the sheriff and the Board of Supervisors, a separately elected group responsible for setting county policy and appropriations but without direct control over the day-to-day management of the Sheriffs Department. Villanueva suggested Sunday that the countys move wasnt the final word on the matter. This personnel matter is under review and will be decided through the legal employment process, he told The Times in a written statement. While the specific facts of this case are protected under the Peace Officer Bill of Rights and civil service procedures, I can assure that an objective, honest, and fair assessment was conducted before reinstatement. We will let the process continue forward as we work to determine the final outcome. Villanueva won an upset election against McDonnell in November, stunning the Los Angeles political establishment. Hes vowed to lessen cooperation between his department and federal immigration officials as well as reconsider some of the reforms enacted in recent years after a massive corruption scandal brought down longtime Sheriff Lee Baca and other top leaders. Just three months into his term, Villanueva has repeatedly clashed with some sheriff watchdogs as well as supervisors. In January, he dismissed some efforts by the department to reduce force against jail inmates a major problem at the heart of the corruption scandal as a social experiment that backfired and put lives at risk. But its been his decision to rehire Mandoyan that has generated particular rancor. The letter to Mandoyan first reported by KABC-TV (Channel 7) is the latest flare-up between Villanueva and county officials, who in January pressed the sheriff about why Mandoyan, who volunteered on Villanuevas election campaign, was rehired given the serious allegations of abuse of a former girlfriend in 2014. Villanueva said he disagreed with the board about the facts of the case, which remain unclear because of the confidentiality of personnel files of law enforcement officers in California. He said the case against Mandoyan was the result of a flawed disciplinary process that could lead to unfair termination. But they have a very valid point, he said after the hearing, and we want to make sure were protecting the rights of everyone whos in a vulnerable position. But we have to protect the rights of everyone. We cant pick and choose who we afford that protection for. At that meeting, the supervisors asked the countys lawyers to compile more information about the case a move that likely prompted the drafting of the letter. Villanueva has often talked about creating a truth and reconciliation commission to address those who feel wronged by the Sheriffs Department. He promised to rid the agency of the cronyism that he argued stood in the way of his own advancement. He said Mandoyan was the first deputy he reinstated as part of an effort to rebuild the department. The countys chief executive officer, Sachi Hamai, and the countys top lawyer, Mary Wickham, werent immediately available for comment on Sunday. I am still a practicing Catholic. To write that now seems to beg an explanation. How can I continue to profess the faith within the bounds of an institution so thoroughly corrupted by the gravest of sins? How can I accept the host from the hands of men who themselves may have abused, or covered up for those who did? I owe my faith to my grandmother and the Virgen de Guadalupe. In her American life, my Mexican grandmother rarely set foot in a church, but she hung a huge, sepia-toned print of the virgin in her living room, a votive always aflame before it. It was the heart of the house, the image of a mother who would never waver in protecting her child. I am struggling to hold on to that image amid the nightmare of predator priests betraying the Mother Church. Roman Catholics who lapsed long ago and certainly many survivors of sexual abuse may ask why it took me so long to reach this moment of reckoning. Advertisement The answer is I dont know what my faith would be without my church. I dont know what my life would be like without my faith. And despite the onslaught of scandal after scandal, Ive held on to the hope that the crisis would somehow open up the possibility of a profound conversation about the churchs identity including priestly celibacy, gender and sexual orientation. Indeed, there were hints at the beginning of Francis papacy that such a dialogue could take place. But the conversation such a complicated one, among more than a billion faithful on every continent never seems to gain momentum before another scandal hits. When the pope and cardinals speak, they never seem to address the laitys confusion and deep spiritual turbulence. As I came of age and ran up against the moral conservatism of the church, I was still able to find a community among kindred spirits in the faith who fought the good fight many of them members of the Jesuit order, which was at the forefront of social movements in the United States and Latin America in the 1970s and 80s. There were plenty of moralizing homophobes in the church, but so too were there figures who followed the radical spirit of the Gospels, like Father Gregory Boyle, the famous gang priest of Boyle Heights, or Father Michael Kennedy, who was instrumental in establishing a sanctuary for refugees from Central America in the 1980s. Then came the child sex abuse crisis. A decade ago, as hundreds of lawsuits were settled by dioceses across the country, it seemed possible the church had at least begun to recognize its responsibility to survivors, that healing could come. But new scandals kept erupting, here and around the globe, and last month Francis fell disappointingly short of committing to full transparency when he addressed the Vatican Summit on Child Protection. Last Sunday, I visited my parish in Oakland for the first time since the arrival of a new pastor. I was keen on hearing what he might say about the just-concluded Vatican summit. Our new pastor hails from Mexico, as do most of the parishioners. In a generic homily, he invoked the Virgen de Guadalupe and invited the flock to double down on its faith. He made no mention whatsoever of the meeting in Rome, nor of survivors, nor of how many of us are struggling with the ceaseless revelations of corruption up and down the hierarchy. His silence felt like the silence of complicity. When my daughters and I approached the altar to take Communion, I was relieved that he wasnt at the head of our line. At my daughters parochial school, the principal, an energetic and earnest woman, welcomes us daily with this years affirmation. Rejoice and be glad, she says, to which the children respond, Yours is the kingdom of God. My daughters delight in reciting the prayers and singing the hymns of our faith, surely feeling something akin to what I did when I gazed up at the virgin in my grandmothers house. On the cusp of their teenage years, they are more and more aware of the crisis. And now they hear their father expressing ambivalence about the church and our place in it. I am fully aware that Im leading them toward what may amount to one of the greatest disillusionments of their formative years. At the very least, I know they will have to do some uncomfortable reckoning with the church as they mature. Last week, I witnessed my students at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester, a Jesuit institution, doing their own reckoning. The class I teach is called Rhetorical Arts, a new addition to the core curriculum. In my section of the course I emphasize the idea of speaking out on social issues, which brought us inevitably to a discussion about the church. I had no idea how difficult it would be. I passed out readings beforehand, including reports about the Vatican meeting. Also, to underscore the ubiquity of the crisis, I gave them an article about the recent release of names of Jesuit clergy implicated by credible allegations of sexual misconduct. Eleven of those on the list had at one time worked at LMU. Two were still alive. The day of class, we met at the Laband Art Gallery on campus to see an exhibit titled Confess by the Irish artist Trina McKillen. The centerpiece of the show is a confessional made mostly of glass, behind which nothing can be hidden, nothing kept secret. The roles of confessor and penitent are reversed, too: The abusing priest is meant to kneel on a hassock of nails and ask forgiveness from a child survivor sitting on a white chair. It is a startling image that somehow conveys the hope that there may yet be a full accounting, perhaps even a healing to the trauma of generations. When we finally sat down as a class to talk about it all, the conversation quickly turned chaotic. One student insisted the church would never change. Why speak up? he asked. There will be no justice. Others responded, vociferously, that the survivors must continue to speak, that there could be no healing without the rest of us hearing their stories. A few wondered aloud if theyd have to leave their spiritual home. One student came up to me after class and said he felt on the verge of a panic attack during the discussion. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute In my three decades of teaching, it was the most difficult conversation Id ever moderated. Im still not exactly sure what Im going to say the next time we meet. What I do know is that my classroom was a reflection in miniature of the worldwide Catholic community in this searing moment. When the pope and cardinals speak, they never seem to address the laitys confusion and deep spiritual turbulence. They do not seem to understand that it feels to us like the church is disintegrating and our faith with it. Every night I lead my daughters in the prayers that my grandmother taught me, ending with the thumb and forefinger of my right hand making the sign of the cross over their heads. Last night, I hesitated as I did so, the cross hovering in the dark between us. Ruben Martinez is a professor of English and Chicana/o studies at Loyola Marymount University. He is the author of Desert America: A Journey Across Our Most Divided Landscape and other books. The annual Conservative Political Action Conference a reliable index of far-right apprehensions rolled into Washington last week, proclaiming long and loud the new Republican mantra: If we dont reelect Donald Trump, neo-Stalinism will befall us! Speaker after speaker told the assembled faithful what President Trump had intimated in his State of the Union address: Republicans in 2020 plan to run against Democrats as though they were Stalin or (the pre-Trump) Kim Jong Un. White House economist Larry Kudlow urged Republicans to put socialism on trial. And Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel advocated an education campaign: We cant think that the American people understand what socialism is. We have to go out and educate people. We need to talk about Venezuela. Wherein lies the Republicans problem: The Soviet Union, and its brand of communism which virtually all Americans had both heard of and disliked is long gone (replaced, in Russia, by kleptocratic authoritarianism and in China by Leninist capitalism). Moreover, American business (Wall Street in particular) has been soft on China for the last 30 years, and just last week, President Trump even recommended to his North Korean BFF that hed do well to model his country on Vietnam, which is still under strict Communist control. The publics idea of socialism has shifted over the last 70 years from one verging on totalitarianism to one far closer to European social democracy. Advertisement Its not surprising that the GOP would rely on a playbook that has worked well for them in the past, especially when they dont need to sway a majority of Americans only a large enough group to swing a couple of key states. But its a far riskier strategy now than it was in the past. Not surprisingly, Americans definitions of socialism have changed since the Cold War ended. In September of 2018, Gallup asked Americans for their understanding of the term socialism. One-third 33% answered that it meant a society with equal standing for everybody, in which benefits and services were free for all. When Gallup had asked Americans the same question in September of 1949, at the height of the Cold War, just 14% gave that answer, while 34% answered that it meant government ownership of all business and control of society. Half that total 17% gave that answer in 2018. (Other answers drew far less support.) That is, the publics idea of socialism has shifted over the last 70 years from one verging on totalitarianism to one far closer to European social democracy. The disappearance of Soviet communism has clearly contributed to that shift, but so has the transition over that same 70 years to a more aggressive capitalism that has rewarded chiefly the rich. That helps explain why a record number of Americans, and a majority of Democrats, now think of socialism positively, and clearly distinguish democratic socialism from its communist deviation. A 2017 YouGov poll of millennials found that 44% of them said theyd prefer to live in a socialist nation, while 42% preferred one that was capitalist, and 7% one that was communist (alas). When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered a speech at Georgetown University in the fall of 2015, which hed billed as providing his own definition of socialism, he cited as his precedents Franklin Roosevelts creation of Social Security, Lyndon Johnsons creation of Medicare, and Martin Luther Kings commitment to an egalitarian society. His vision of socialism, he emphasized, was light-years distant from a society in which all private enterprise, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses, were taken over by the state. For their part, Republicans desperately hope that they can substitute Venezuela for the Soviet Union. Their problem is that Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and the vast majority of actually existing American socialists look to Sweden, Norway and Denmark, not Venezuela, as their model. As well they should: The Scandinavian social democracies rank highest on indices of social mobility, general wellness and just plain happiness. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Moreover, while the battered husk of the U.S. Communist Party provided McCarthy-era Republicans with a domestic target, meager in size and power though it was, theres no equivalent organization hiding under Americans beds today. That wont deter Republicans, of course. Theyve labeled every Democrat since Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt as socialists, and every reform from the minimum wage to national parks as socialistic. The absence of Soviet communism and their own century of crying wolf should make instigating a new Red scare more difficult than its been in the past, though the emergence of actual democratic socialists will doubtless spur the Republicans on. Accuracy will not impede them. Indeed, Trumps Council of Economic Advisers released a report last year attacking the socialism of Sanders and AOC by equating it with the most murderous policies of Stalin and Mao. All the more reason for Bernie and AOC to continue to be clear about what theyre for, and what theyre against. Harold Meyerson is executive editor of American Prospect and a contributing writer to Opinion. To the editor: The symbolic messages of monuments erected on public land, like language itself, do not remain static through passing time. (The Supreme Court shouldnt bless a giant cross on public property, editorial, Feb. 28) Statues honoring Robert E. Lee were erected, at least ostensibly, to honor the Confederate leaders courage in defending romanticized southern traditions; but lately historical analysis has lain bare the racism that permeated emplacement of Lees statues, thus compelling their removal from public land. Erection of a Christian cross on public land to honor local men killed in war was once deemed fitting irrespective of individual faiths of the fallen and their survivors. But now the role of an overbearing religious majority in erecting such crosses has become apparent. The L.A. Times editorial board has it right: The U.S. Supreme Court should rule to remove the Bladensburg, Md., cross from public property. Advertisement Edgar M. Martinez, Santa Maria .. To the editor: While I support strict separation of church and state, Im troubled by those who would take down the nearly 100-year-old cross in Maryland honoring a towns World War I dead because its on government property. What about all those crosses in Arlington National Cemetery and other veterans cemeteries on government-owned land? Some reasonable discretion seems appropriate. Tom Eichhorn, Newport Beach .. To the editor: No matter what action the Supreme Court takes, the 1st Amendments ban on the establishment of religion in government ceased when In God we trust appeared on our money and the phrase under God was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. The only argument now is over whose religion. The establishment ship has long since sailed. John Sherwood, Topanga Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: This January I spent seven days walking the picket line as a United Teachers Los Angeles member in the pouring rain. I did so with the belief that the strike would begin a much-needed dialogue regarding charter schools and the privatization of public education, and the resulting underfunding of classrooms in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Now I read that school officials have crafted an ill-defined levy on property owners within LAUSD boundaries that would also increase the coffers of those very same independent charters. While I would gladly vote for a levy to provide much-needed funds to LAUSD classrooms, I did not walk the line in January only to support a tax that will provide increased funding to independent charters. Billionaires can support those private endeavors. Susan Simon, Los Angeles Advertisement .. To the editor: LAUSD Board of Education President Monica Garcia said she is so encouraged that there is an opportunity to bring dollars to the district. Where does she think these dollars are coming from? The district is considering raising our property tax by about $537 per parcel. This is an extremely high additional tax burden to impose on so many hardworking or retired property owners. I would hope that before any measure is put before the voters, the district releases an exhaustive review of how all funds are being spent, and that all manners of reducing expenses have been taken. Continuously raising taxes is not the answer to fixing a broken bureaucracy. Stephen Esmond, Los Angeles Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook California loves to talk about itself in superlatives: The nations most populous state. The fifth-largest economy in the world. Producer of tech titans and Hollywood blockbusters and a whole lot of fruits and veggies. But even as it basks in its outsize economic and cultural influence, something has been gnawing at the states psyche. When it comes to presidential politics, were more backbencher than behemoth. The moving of Californias 2020 presidential primary to March 3 nipping at the heels of the four traditional early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina is the latest bid to play with the calendar in hopes of gaining more electoral relevance. This will be the fifth time since 1992 the state has moved its presidential primary. Its bounced around: June, March, February and back again. The perpetual tinkering underscores how California just cant seem to shake its political inferiority complex. Advertisement We have this impression that California is leading the nation, said Fabian Nunez, former Assembly speaker. On the other hand, its like who? Where? The portrayal of California as insignificant will certainly elicit laughter and eye-rolls beyond our borders. But across the Golden State, politicians, academics and voters tend to react to our second-rate status in visceral terms. When I see those voters in Iowa and New Hampshire getting that access [to candidates], it makes me mad, said Kim Alexander, president of California Voter Foundation, which champions election reforms. Theyre not California voters and they dont necessarily believe in the same priorities that California voters do. Kim Nalder, a political scientist at Cal State Sacramento, called Californias lack of impact on presidential elections patently absurd. It makes a lot of sense that we have a sense of resentment over that fact, Nalder said. It also makes sense our elected officials keep trying to find a way to make us relevant. 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates: Whos in and whos on the fence? Californias recent history is lousy with lawmakers trying to time the states primary for maximum import. It rarely worked. For much of the modern primary system, the state held a traditional June nominating contest. Occasionally, it proved decisive. In 1964, Barry Goldwater, the conservative firebrand senator from Arizona, effectively clinched the GOP nomination when he won the partys primary in California. Eight years later, California Democrats sided with South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, handing him enough delegates to secure the nomination. But most cycles, Californias primary was inconsequential, prompting frustrated politicians to move the 1996 presidential primary to late March. Problem was, many other states followed Californias lead, leapfrogging to even earlier dates in the calendar. By the time the election rolled out, 31 states had already voted and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, who was running to challenge President Clinton, had sewn up the GOP nomination. In 2008, the state shared its Feb. 5 primary with 22 other states and territories. California, the Super Tuesday crown jewel, showed mixed results in picking the eventual nominees. Republicans in the state favored Arizona Sen. John McCain, who later secured the nomination. Democrats sided with Hillary Clinton over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who ultimately emerged the winner. While the states primaries may not have been determinative that year, they did prove successful in getting Californians to the polls. About 9 million people voted, marking the highest voter turnout rate in a primary in nearly three decades. In an effort to cut costs, the primaries were moved back to June for the next two election cycles, consolidating the presidential and statewide primary contests. When Ricardo Lara, then a Democratic state senator from Long Beach, wanted the rush of a competitive primary in 2016, he spent his time volunteering in neighboring Nevada. He found himself longing for similar action back home. I was like, why arent we in California? he said. Why is California continuing to be left out of this conversation until June? Reeling from Donald Trumps win in 2016, Lara introduced a bill to try yet again for a March primary. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the measure in 2017. I was quite honestly tired of sitting on the sidelines and seeing candidates whisk across the country and simply coming to California to raise money and leaving, said Lara, now the states insurance commissioner. Californias 2020 contest finds itself on somewhat even footing with Iowa with its storied first-in-the-nation caucuses. Because of Californias robust vote-by-mail program, balloting begins on Feb. 3, the same day Iowans caucus. Old, young, liberal, centrist: Democrats will have no end of choices for president in 2020 The Des Moines Register fretted that Californias early primary could pose an existential threat to Iowas caucuses. But Nalder said Iowans neednt worry too much about losing presidential aspirants attentions. The sort of campaign you have to run in California is different than the race youd run in Iowa and New Hampshire, Nalder said. California is far too big to campaign with book clubs and Rotary meetings. Proponents of the earlier California primary say the state doesnt necessarily have to back the eventual winner to show it has political prestige. They point to other metrics money spent on advertising, local campaign events, elevating issues dear to Californians such as climate change or homelessness to gauge success. So far, the presidential contenders have largely stuck with the standard playbook of frequent visits to Iowa coffeehouses, New Hampshire living rooms and South Carolina barbecue joints. But there have been exceptions: California Sen. Kamala Harris showed some West Coast love in launching her campaign with a massive Oakland rally, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts included a Glendale town hall in a recent multistate swing. Standing in line for the Warren event, Char Manley, a healthcare worker from Huntington Beach, nurtured a hope that maybe Warrens visit was a sign that this time, maybe, voters like her wouldnt be taken for granted. People think, Well, California is going to go blue its kind of a given, she said. We do have a diverse state. There are conservative parts of the state. Fellow attendee Ryan Perez, a speech therapist from Sylmar, commiserated with her, arguing that Californias economic might should afford it more political stature. We are the most populous state, he said, returning to Californians penchant for superlatives. We do need to have more influence. CALIFORNIA COUNTDOWN In Kamala Harris, a sequel to Ronald Reagan? Democrats, facing a big candidate field, ask: Who can beat Trump? Californias presidential primary: Heres what you need to know With Californias 2020 presidential primary a year away, Democrats vying to challenge President Trump have started swinging through the Golden State. True, much of their time is spent behind closed doors, at cocktail parties and swanky dinners, where they hit up Hollywood and Silicon Valley types for money to spend in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. But the shift in the states primary from June to March has created at least some incentive for candidates to show their faces in public, as Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts did recently when she took questions before a full house at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Another contender, former Housing Secretary Julian Castro, campaigned Friday in Anaheim and will speak to a Chicano studies class Monday at UCLA. In 2008, the Iowa Democratic caucuses set a record with nearly 240,000 participants. Compare that with California, where 14 million residents are eligible to vote in the Democratic primary: 8.6 million registered Democrats and 5.4 million voters who are unaffiliated with a party. Advertisement Where does California fit on the presidential calendar? It comes after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which continue to hold a privileged place at the start of the nominating process. California is the biggest of 10 states with contests on March 3, or Super Tuesday. With all those voters, I guess California will pretty much choose the nominee! Dont count on it. What?! The four opening contests dont involve as many voters or offer nearly as many delegates. Even so, they will have an enormous impact on fundraising, media coverage and the choice voters make in the contests that follow. If history is a guide, theyll drastically cull the field of candidates before California weighs in. Just like donors deciding where to send cash and television honchos assigning news coverage, voters quickly make distinctions between winners and losers, pushing at least some candidates into the campaign equivalent of a dead-end street. Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren campaigns recently in Glendale. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Some names will remain on the ballot in California, but think of them as zombie candidates: Politically theyre dead, even if theyre going through the motions of campaigning. Iowa and New Hampshire could sort through a dozen or more contestants; Californians will be lucky to choose among three or four with a realistic shot at the nomination by the time the primary rolls around. Yes, but wont Californians start voting well before March 3? They can. Voting by mail will start on Feb. 3, the same day as the Iowa caucuses. But many Californians will probably wait to see the results in the earlier contests before casting their ballots, to make sure theyre not wasting their vote on a candidate with no chance of winning the nomination. Thus, Iowa, New Hampshire, and to a lesser extent Nevada and South Carolina, will be as important as ever in separating contenders from pretenders. Can I change my mail-in vote if my candidate drops out before the primary? Nope. Once you drop your ballot in the mail, youre out of luck. But doesnt California offer a ton of delegates? Yes, more than any other state. After the party sets the final rules later this year, the number will likely exceed 400, out of the roughly 1,885 needed to win the nomination. Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro, a former U.S. Housing secretary, plans to campaign Monday at UCLA. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press) That sounds like an awful lot and good reason to vigorously compete in California. It is a lot. But its super-expensive to compete in California, which has about a dozen media markets, especially compared with the earlier-voting states. If a candidate walked away with more than 400 delegates under a winner-take-all system, they would get a big boost toward the nomination, or potentially wield a good deal of influence at the Democrats national convention in July. But the allocation of delegates will likely produce something closer to a split decision, owing to the way theyre divvied up. Here it gets a bit technical: The largest number of delegates will be divvied in proportion to the vote in each of the states 53 congressional districts. Candidates who fall short of 15% of the popular vote get no delegates. Another big share of delegates will be allocated according to the statewide vote, but none will be awarded to candidates who fail to meet that 15% threshold. So California wont be decisive? Its highly doubtful, because no candidate is likely to walk away with a monster trove of delegates. Take, for instance, the last two Democratic primaries. In 2008 and 2016, Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders, respectively, by 8 percentage points. Not exactly a squeaker. But she netted only 38 more delegates than Obama and 33 more than Sanders, which didnt turn the nominating contest upside down. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont campaigned for Hillary Clinton after she beat him in the 2016 race for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) That said, a Super Tuesday headline on election night Candidate X wins California could help some when it comes to bragging rights, which can translate into money and momentum even if the result changes once all the ballots are counted. Huh? Mail ballots can arrive as late as the Friday after the election and are counted if they are postmarked by March 3. Californias election officials then have a month to verify the eligibility of those ballots. That means, in a tight race, the outcome reported election night could end up being different a few weeks later. Well, at least Kamala Harris can count on carrying her home state! Not necessarily. Its true, Californias junior senator starts with an advantage, having three times won statewide elections. But history shows that voters dont want to waste their vote on a candidate going nowhere, even if they do have a local return address. In 1980, then-Gov. Jerry Brown finished third, far behind then-President Carter and Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. In 1992, as the states former governor, Brown finished a distant second behind Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. Thats why Harris campaign is placing a premium on South Carolinas primary, hoping a win there will launch her toward victory in the California primary three days later. Sen. Kamala Harris of California campaigns at an Iowa Democratic Party Black Caucus dinner in Des Moines. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) What about Republicans? For now, President Trump faces scant competition, although former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has opened an exploratory committee. Do Republicans use the same system as Democrats? No. Only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary. Also, most of the Republican delegates are awarded on a winner-take-all basis 159 by congressional district and 13 more for the statewide winner. In 2016, Californias 172-member delegation to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland was the biggest of any state and they all went to Trump. So once again Iowa and New Hampshire will have all the fun? Well not all the fun. The average February temperature in those states is in the 30s. Kick back on the beach as they shiver through their contests. You might feel better. CALIFORNIA COUNTDOWN How Californias early primary illustrates the states political inferiority complex Democrats, facing a big candidate field, ask: Who can beat Trump? In Kamala Harris, a sequel to Ronald Reagan? President Trumps relations with Congress took a sharp turn for the worse Sunday as his emergency declaration for a border wall hit a roadblock in the GOP-controlled Senate, and House Democrats signaled a sweeping new probe of whether the president obstructed justice and abused his power. Taken together, the restiveness in both chambers signals a rocky two years ahead for Trump, even as he seeks to move past a bruising week. He returned home empty-handed from a summit with North Koreas leader, and his former personal lawyer, testifying before Congress, painted a devastating portrait of criminality and bad character on the presidents part. The setback to Trumps emergency declaration, which the House has already voted to challenge, came in the form of a reported decision by Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul to become the fourth senator on his side of the aisle to commit to voting for a Democratic-backed resolution to rescind Trumps declaration. That would be enough to allow the resolution to pass the Senate, assuming all Democrats support it. Trump, angry that Congress refused to provide him with border wall money, said he will veto the measure. He says the emergency declaration will enable him to divert money from the military and other government programs to build a wall. Advertisement While neither chamber appears to have mustered a veto-proof majority, the show of opposition to Trumps solution for fulfilling his signature campaign promise to build a border wall would represent a stinging rebuke from his own party. The report of the latest GOP defection on Trumps controversial emergency declaration came Sunday from the Bowling Green (Ky.) Daily News, which said Paul a staunch Trump backer in many key battles planned to join three other Republicans who have already pledged to block the declaration. If Paul and the others follow through, it would force Trump to wield the first veto of his presidency and represent a rare break with his party on a key issue. The newly empowered Democratic House, meanwhile, signaled Trump faces new scrutiny on several fronts. The head of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), said his panel would open a probe into whether the president obstructed justice and abused his power. Nadler, interviewed on ABCs This Week, sketched the broad outlines of a sweeping investigation that would seek documents from dozens of organizations and individuals, including the presidents eldest son and his closest business associates. Tomorrow, we will be issuing document requests to over 60 different people and individuals from the White House to the Department of Justice, Donald Trump, Jr., to [Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer] Allen Weisselberg, to begin the investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power, Nadler said. On impeachment, however, the New York Democrat cautioned against any rush to judgment. Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen, Nadler said on the ABC show. Trump tweeted Sunday that he was an innocent man being persecuted, and renewed his attacks against investigators, the news media and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who last week publicly implicated the president in an array of wrongdoing. In dramatic televised testimony on Capitol Hill, Cohen said Trump ordered a hush-money payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in an effort to prevent details of their alleged affair from emerging before the 2016 vote. He also said he believed Trump knew in advance of a WikiLeaks dump of emails damaging to Hillary Clinton. Cohens high-profile appearance before the House Oversight Committee coincided with Trumps trip to Vietnam for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, from which he returned empty-handed. On Sunday, Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, painted the summit as a success and defended Trump for saying he took Kim at his word that the North Korean leader was unaware of the maltreatment that left captive U.S. student Otto Warmbier with irreparable brain damage. Warmbier, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student, died days after being returned home in 2017 in a comatose state. When he says, Im going to take him at his word, it doesnt mean that he accepts it as reality it means that he accepts that was what Kim Jong Un said, Bolton said on Fox News Sunday. In a separate TV appearance, though, the national security advisor carefully sidestepped his own views on Kims culpability. Critics, including Warmbiers parents, Fred and Cindy, said after the summit that they hold the North Korean leader responsible, because almost nothing of import happens in North Korea without his assent. My opinion doesnt matter, Bolton said on CNNs State of the Union when pressed by host Jake Tapper on whether he thought Kim bore the blame. While Bolton was defending Trumps performance in Hanoi, the presidents allies pushed back hard against accusers who say Trump improperly interfered in the Russia investigation being carried out by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. One of Muellers areas of investigation is whether the president obstructed justice. Its very clear that the president obstructed justice, Nadler said on ABC. That prompted an angry outburst from the House minority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who appeared on the same show. I think Congressman Nadler decided to impeach the president the day the president won the election, the Bakersfield Republican said. But McCarthy appeared to break ranks with Trump when asked during the interview whether North Korea had murdered Warmbier with its leaders knowledge. I think Kim knew what happened, which was wrong, he said. Another public rebuke of Trump from within GOP ranks on Sunday came from Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who disputed Trumps wall emergency. I think the president is violating our constitutional system, he told CNNs State of the Union. In the Senate, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have also said they would vote for the Democrats measure to rescind the emergency order. Several other GOP senators have voiced serious concerns. Congressional Republicans, though, have largely marched in lockstep with Trump over the Russia-related investigations by Mueller and congressional Democrats, even as another key Democratic committee chairman pledged heightened efforts to determine whether Russia had gained leverage over Trump through his web of financial interests. Rep. Adam B. Schiff, the Burbank Democrat who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said his panel would be looking into how Trump managed to secure bank loans at a time when he was being shunned by Wall Street. Schiff also said his committee would follow up on Cohens assertion that Trump continued his efforts throughout the campaign to secure a deal to build a tower in Moscow, and lied about doing so. Well need to talk to some of the banks that have been doing business with Mr. Trumplike Deutsche Bank, which has had a history of laundering Russian money, Schiff said on CBS Face the Nation. The committee would soon be calling in Trump Organization officials and longtime Trump associate Felix Sater to ask them about the Moscow project and related matters, he said. There are any number of witnesses that can shed light on whether Americas national security is compromised because the president has been pursuing financial interests with the Russians, Schiff said. But Republicans insisted nothing Cohen had said gave them pause about Trumps business entanglements, or about his campaigns knowledge of Russias activities in the run-up to the election. I dont think the president has lied about Russia at all, said Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight Committee, who played a prominent role in attacking Cohen as a liar during last weeks hearing. Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying previously to Congress. The course of true love never did run smooth especially when nuclear weapons are involved. For months, President Trump had talked up his affection for North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong Un. We fell in love, Trump said. But when they met in Hanoi last week for their second nuclear summit, it seems the spark was gone. Instead of celebrating a new agreement with a ceremony in front of the worlds cameras, the two leaders walked away from the table without even shaking hands in public. Gone were the unrealistic hopes of a quick deal toward dismantling North Koreas nuclear arsenal or even closing its weapons factories. Gone too was Trumps hope for an easy Nobel Peace Prize. Advertisement After all the sweet talk, the two sides discovered they were still far apart on basic issues. Trump blamed the North Koreans, saying they demanded a complete end to U.S. economic sanctions as a first step. Aides to Kim disputed that account. Other U.S. officials said the disagreements were broader and included differences over how many nuclear facilities North Korea should close. The two sides still havent resolved the most fundamental issue that divides them: Should denuclearization apply only to North Korea, or should it apply to U.S. forces in the region too? Normally chiefs of state are brought in as closers after lower-ranking diplomats have settled the details of a deal or at least produced a framework. In Hanoi, Trump and Kim were still wrangling over the basics, trading maximalist demands across the floral arrangements. The fiasco that followed was, if not predictable, at least not surprising. Lesson for the president: In diplomacy, personal chemistry isnt everything, National interests matter too. Trump was at least partly to blame. The president made clear for weeks that he yearned for another television spectacular like his first summit with Kim in Singapore last June. But he undercut his own case by suggesting he might settle for almost any deal Kim offered. Im not in a rush, he said last month. I just dont want testing. As long as theres no testing, were happy. Korea experts Ive spoken to are relieved that Trump didnt give anything away in Hanoi. But they say the collapse of the talks leaves the United States at a disadvantage. Even if Kim doesnt restart nuclear or ballistic missile tests, as he promised, his regime can continue producing plutonium and enriched uranium, the fuel for nuclear bombs. In the nine months since the Singapore summit, North Korea produced enough fuel for seven additional nuclear weapons, according to an estimate by experts at Stanford. Thats on top of the 20 to 60 that U.S. experts say the regime already has. The president also gave away an important piece of moral high ground in Hanoi: He praised Kim as a great leader and gave him a free pass on the gruesome torture of Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student who died in 2017 after more than a year of imprisonment in North Korea. Korea had been one of the few potential bright spots for Trumps foreign policy. His notion of negotiating a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians (without actually consulting the Palestinians) has never gotten off the ground. His decision to withdraw from President Obamas 2015 nuclear disarmament deal with Iran not only hasnt brought Tehran to its knees, but its also alienated U.S. allies while Iran widens its influence in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The negotiations with North Korea arent over; officials on both sides say they want to try again. Its still possible to envision a multiyear step-by-step deal that trades a bit of nuclear infrastructure for partial easing of U.S. sanctions, allowing each side to gain confidence in the other. Thats what Trumps chief negotiator, Stephen E. Biegun, has been working toward. But these are diabolically complex problems; just ask the diplomats who spent years hammering out the Iran nuclear deal. A rushed leadership summit, in the glare of the cameras, was precisely the wrong place to try to sort out all the moving parts. The first step is for the two leaders to declare confidence in their negotiators and restart quiet working-level talks. Well know whether the process is back on track when that happens or doesnt. If its done right, the next round wont be very dramatic. It probably wont produce another summit meeting soon. Trump wont like that. But he needs to get out of the way and give the negotiators time to do their jobs. The president never admits to failure, so its impossible to know whether hes in the mood to learn any lessons from this setback. But if hes looking for a moral from his humiliation in Hanoi, here it is: He alone cant fix this. The Burbank Police Department is seeking the publics help in identifying a suspect in the shooting death of 21-year-old Christian Guevara early Saturday morning in a Burbank residence, authorities said on Sunday. Initial details of the investigation were first reported in a statement on Saturday by police department spokesman Sgt. Derek Green, but the victim was not initially identified. Detectives have interviewed several people and developed some leads. However, a suspect has not yet been identified. According to reports, Guevara was attending a party at the residence in the 4000 block of West Clark Avenue, where the shooting took place. It is believed that upwards of 50 people were at the home at various times throughout the night, Green said on Sunday. Many of those people have yet to be identified and likely have information that would help investigators. At around 2:35 a.m. on Saturday, Burbank police officers responded to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center after a man was brought into the emergency room suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim, Guevara, was transported to a local trauma center, where he died, Green added. A GoFundMe page was set up over the weekend to help the Guevara family. By Monday afternoon, more than $5,400 had been raised. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3000. mark.kellam@latimes.com Twitter: @LAMarkKellam City Manager Scott Ochoa notified city employees Friday that he may leave his job in Glendale, held since January 2012, for the same position in another city. In an email, Ochoa told city employees that he is a finalist for a city managers position in another unnamed city. Ochoa said that, if selected, he would express his gratitude to city employees for all they do in service to the Glendale community. Until then, however, I really would not and truly could not be able to convey in an email or memo my sincere appreciation for your support, professionalism and dedication to Glendale over these last six years, Ochoa said in his email. Officials in the prospective city are expected to vote Oct. 3 on who to hire as their new city manager, according to the email. Should the city hire Ochoa, he said he would resign, and his last day in Glendale would be Nov. 17. According to city of Glendale spokesman Dan Bell, the City Council would then decide on how to fill the position, with options that would include recruit from outside the city, hire a permanent employee from within or post an interim position. Before coming to Glendale, Ochoa served as Monrovias city manager from 2004 until the end of 2011. jeff.landa@latimes.com Twitter: @JeffLanda The UFC 235 main event has Jon Jones (23-1) defending his light-heavyweight title against challenger Anthony Smith (31-13). Join us for round-by-round, fight-by-fight coverage from Las Vegas. The card also features: Tyron Woodley (19-3-1) vs. Kamaru Usman (14-1) for Woodleys welterweight belt; Ben Askren (18-0) vs. Robbie Lawler (28-12), welterweights; Tecia Torres (10-3) vs. Weili Zhang (18-1), womens straw-weights; Cody Garbrandt (11-2) vs. Pedro Munhoz (17-3), bantamweights. UFC light heavyweight title: Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith Jon Jones is universally viewed as one of the best fighters of all time and he is looking to fight more often after drug test failures and out of competition issues kept him out of action for long stretches in recent years. Anthony Smith is a massive underdog. He earned this shot with three straight wins, albeit against a couple of fighters past their prime. Advertisement Round 1. Smith lands a hard leg kick, the first solid shot by either fighter. Jones swings wildly a couple times and doesnt land. Jones does connect with a spinning back kick to the body. Jones misses with an ax kick. Jones lands another spinning back kick to the body. Smith lands a head kick. Jones catches the leg and clinches. Uneventful round. 10-9 Jones. Round 2. Jones opens with a few kicks at different angles. Jones connects with a front kick that forces Smith to back away. Jones lands a spinning elbow. Jones is continually attacking with kicks; those have been his primary weapon in this bout. Both men land punches in an exchange. 10-9 Jones. Round 3. Jones looks for a takedown. Smith stops him but Jones does land a heavy knee to the body in the process. They end up in a clinch stalemate for an extended period before Jones finally slams Smith down with two minutes left. Nothing really happens with Smith and Jones on the ground. 10-9 Jones. Round 4. Jones attacks with kicks including a hard spinning back kick to the body and then follows that with some elbows to the head. Jones throws Smith to the ground. Smith is bleeding now from the face. Jones lands some punches on the ground. Smith stands up but then is taken back down. Jones lands some punches, elbows and knees on the ground. Jones lands an illegal knee to the head as Smith is still down. Referee Herb Dean deducts two points for some reason. 10-8 Jones, so 8-8 with the point deduction. Round 5. Smith comes out swinging with power punches. Jones shoots in for takedown but doesnt get it. They end up back in a clinch. Jones lands some punches and shoulder strikes but isnt doing all that much while Smith is just hanging on. This hasnt been a fan friendly fight. 10-9 Jones, 48-44 Jones. Winner: Jon Jones, unanimous decision (48-44, 48-44, 48-44). That wasnt a fight thats going to be talked about when remembering Jones career. It was a flat fight where Jones was clearly better. Questions remain about how good Jones is now relative to a few years back before all the issues arose. UFC welterweight title: Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman As Tyron Woodley continues to successfully defend the UFC welterweight title, he is establishing himself as one of the best welterweights in the history of the sport. With excellent wrestling and striking, he poses a difficult challenge for any opponent. Kamaru Usman is younger and longer with an excellent wrestling pedigree of his own. Usman has won nine UFC fights in a row to earn this title shot. Round 1. Usman immediately moves into range and Woodley throws a right hand. Usman goes for a takedown and Woodley grabs a guillotine. Woodley doesnt have Usman in danger and Usman just repeatedly attacks Woodleys body. Woodley looks to stand up while Usman lands a few knees to the body. Woodley stands up and separates. Usman throws a lead jab and then shoots in for another takedown attempt. Woodley blocks it. Usman lands a straight right hand and returns to the clinch. Usman cant set anything up. Usman and Woodley both land punches from close range before they end up back in another clinch. 10-9 Usman. Round 2. Usman again throws a jab and then moves in for a takedown. He cant get it but Usman lands a heavy elbow on the break. Woodley is bleeding right around the eye. Usman then scores a takedown and secures full mount. Usman lands some punches and elbows from there although on balance Woodley is doing a good job defending. Usman looks to set up an arm triangle choke but Woodley prevents that. 10-8 Usman. Round 3. Woodley throws one of those big right hands as Usman moves in. They end up back in the clinch where Usman lands one punch after another to the body. They break but Usman goes right back in to the clinch where Usman is landing punches and knees. After a break, Woodley lands a nice shot as Usman is moving in. Usman gets that clinch again. 10-9 Usman. Round 4. Woodley lands an uppercut as Usman comes in. Woodley grabs a guillotine choke and pulls guard but he loses the choke in the process and ends up on his back. Usman uses some shoulder strikes and controlling Woodley. They are stood up and end up back in the clinch. Woodley lands punches while Usman lands knees. Usman opens up with punches and has Woodley in trouble. Woodley is getting punished but fires back with a knee. Usman is beating Woodley up by the cage. Woodleys facial expression at the close of the round is not good at all. 10-8 Usman. Round 5. Usman moves right back in for the clinch. Woodley grabs a guillotine choke. Usman slams him down and attempts a Von Flue choke from the top. Woodley gives up the guillotine. Usman lands some punches and elbows to the body and then attacks the head as well. Woodley looks to finally stand back up at the end of the round but Usman wont even allow him that. 10-8 Usman, 50-42 Usman. Winner: Kamaru Usman, unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45). That was a masterful performance by Usman, who put it on a great champion and dominated for 25 minutes. Usman has been underappreciated for some time and he proved his skill level in that bout. It was the sort of performance that makes you think he might be able to hold that title for a while. Robbie Lawler vs. Ben Askren Robbie Lawler is the former UFC welterweight champion and he has beaten some of the top names in the sport. He welcomes to the UFC Ben Askren, the former Bellator and One champion. Askren is unbeaten in MMA and is an NCAA champion and Olympic wrestler. Round 1. Askren immediately grabs a hold of Lawler. Lawler slams Askren down and opens up with a vicious series of punches and elbows. Askren is just barely holding on. Askren gets up and eats a hard knee to the body. Askren walks into an uppercut. hes bleeding badly. Askren clinches again. Askren lands a knee but Lawler answers with a knee of his own. Askren finally gets a takedown with two minutes left. Askren looks for a bulldog choke and the fight is stopped. Winner: Ben Askren, submission, round 1. Thats sure to be a controversial stoppage. Lawlers arm dropped down quickly, giving the impression that he was choked unconscious. Referee Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight. Lawler protested immediately but it certainly seemed possible that Lawler went unconscious and then woke up. Either way, that was a heck of a comeback from Ben Askren after getting badly damaged at the beginning of the fight and barely surviving. Weili Zhang vs. Tecia Torres Weili Zhang has won 18 straight fights and is looking to become the first UFC star fighter from China. UFC has invested in that market and is hoping with its martial arts tradition that it can become an MMA hotbed. Tecia Torres is likely the toughest opponent thus far in Zhangs career and Torres is motivated coming off two straight losses against elite fighters. Round 1. Both fighters come out throwing plenty of kicks. Zhang looks for a takedown in a scramble but Torres avoids that and returns to the feet. Zhang again looks for a takedown and she jumps on Torres back in the effort. Torres is eventually able to get out of that. Torres gets Zhang down late but Zhang rolls through and takes top position at the close of the round. 10-9 Zhang. Round 2. Zhang opens with a few low kicks. Torres and Zhang both connect with punches on the other in an exchange. Torres lands a nice combination of punches, one of the best for her in the fight. Zhang looks for a takedown. Torres defends well initially but Zhang is able to get her down and lands a few punches. Torres is able to reverse into top position and hit Zhang a few times before the round concludes. 10-9 Torres. Round 3. Torres connects with a few heavy punches early. She has turned things around from an output standpoint in the second and third rounds of this fight. Zhang clinches and looks for a takedown but Torres blocks it. Zhang gets a takedown at the midpoint of the round. Zhang lands a series of punches and elbows from in Torres half guard. Zhang keeps landing until the fight comes to an end. 10-9 Zhang, 29-28 Zhang. Winner: Weili Zhang, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27). It looked like Zhangs takedown in the third might have been the difference in the fight but ultimately the judges had her ahead anyway. That was a competitive fight and certainly not a dominant performance from Zhang but she got the win against a ranked opponent. It also likely showed her she has some things to work on if she is going to make the top of her division. Zhang confirmed as much in her post fight interview. Cody Garbrandt vs. Pedro Munhoz Cody Garbrandt won the UFC bantamweight title and was a burgeoning star of the sport before losing twice via knockout to T.J. Dillashaw. Now Garbrandt will seek to rebound against Pedro Munhoz, who has won 6 of 7 and now receives the biggest opportunity of his career. Round 1. Munhoz catches a kick and looks for a leg submission but he cant get anything and gives it up. Both fighters are relying more on one strike at a time rather than throwing combinations, particularly Munhoz. Munhoz keeps attacking the leg of Garbrandt and Garbrandt is walking a little awkwardly. Garbrandt is stunned following a clash of heads and Munhoz follows him to the ground. Garbrandt gets up and comes up with a wild knee that connects. Garbrandt then starts wildly swinging and Munhoz swings back. They go toe to toe throwing hard punches back and forth, each landing big blows. Finally, in the closing seconds of the round, Munhoz lands a heavy right hook. Garbrandt goes down, Munhoz lands a few more punches on the ground and thats it. Winner: Pedro Munhoz, TKO, round 1. Once again, Garbrandt got reckless while doing well and got knocked out. Thats three straight fights that has happened. Hes a dangerous striker and has great confidence in himself but his chin is a vulnerability and he doesnt protect it sufficiently against top flight opponents. Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Jeremy Stephens Zabit Magomedsharipov has made a lot of believers with his early performances in the Octagon. The Dagestani competitor is 4-0 in the UFC with 3 submissions and has a unique style that is tricky to deal with. Jeremy Stephens presents less of a mystery: hes a durable, heavy handed who has fought top notch competition for over a decade now. Round 1. Stephens moves forward with Magomedsharipov backing away and looking to find the proper range. Both fighters are cautious with their hands and kicks have been the primary weapons in the early part of the fight. Magomedsharipov connects with a couple of particularly solid leg kicks. Stephens continues to pursue while Magomedsharipov prevents him from getting in range. Magomedsharipov throws a wild spinning kick and then goes for the showtime kick ala Anthony Pettis off the cage but misses with that. 10-9 Magomedsharipov. Round 2. Magomedsharipov lands a hook kick and then a series of straight punches. Magomedsharipov scores a takedown but Stephens quickly gets back up. Magomedsharipov retains body control and tries to pull Stephens back down. Magomedsharipov eventually gets Stephens on the mat and lands a few elbows from there. Magomedsharipov gets full mount and Stephens gives him his back. Stephens gets out as the round closes. 10-9 Magomedsharipov. Round 3. Stephens comes in swinging and has a little success landing a few punches in the early part of the third. Magomedsharipov is a very different fighter depending on whether he is moving forward or backward. Magomedsharipov shoots for a takedown and has it stuffed. Stephens throws a wild punch as Magomedsharipov backs away. Magomedsharipov is fighting like he knows he has two rounds in the bank and there isnt the same priority to win. He looks up at the clock multiple times. Stephens lands a few nice straight punches as Magomedsharipov moves in swinging. 10-9 Stephens, 29-28 Magomedsharipov. Winner: Zabit Magomedsharipov, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). The crowd boos given Stephens came on at the end but that was an easy fight to score. Magomedsharipov got the better of Stephens in the first and second, with Stephens coming on in the third when it was too late. That wasnt the most impressive of wins for Magomedsharipov but he showed many flashes of his ability against a quality opponent. Johnny Walker vs. Misha Cirkunov The buzz is strong on Johnny Walker right now as he is coming off a spectacular victory a month ago. He has the opportunity here to move into the upper ranks of the light heavyweight division as Cirkunov is a capable contender with excellent submission skills and a well developed overall game. Round 1. Walker lands a massive flying knee to the head and knocks Cirkunov out in less than 35 seconds. Winner: Johnny Walker, TKO, round 1. Johnny Walker looks like he could be a major star. Hes finishing fights in devastating fashion and has an electric personality to boot. Theres a ton to like about him. Unfortunately and strangely, Walker injured himself celebrating as he collapsed to the canvas apparently looking to do the worm but injured his shoulder in the process. He was very amused by this turn of events in his post fight interview. Cody Stamann vs. Alejandro Perez Cody Stamann has accumulated an impressive 17-2 record including 3 UFC wins. Alejandro Perez is one of the best Mexican fighters and he has really upped his game recently, going 6-0-1 in his last 7 fights. Round 1. Stamann moves in with a quality right hand early. Stamann looks for a takedown but Perez fires back with punches and forces Stamann to back off. In the process, Stamann connects with a nice hook. Perez lands with a strong two punch combination by the cage, probably the best strikes of the fight. Stamann looks for a late takedown before the round comes to a close. 10-9 Perez. Round 2. Perez throws some leg kicks early to establish range. Stamann lands a nice left hook. Stamann looks for a takedown but Perez defends it well. Neither man was able to land a lot in that round and it was very close. 10-9 Perez. Round 3. Perez grabs Stamann and slams Stamann down right on his head impressively. Perez lands a few kicks before Stamann gets up. Perez connects with a hard punch by the cage. The fighters exchange kicks. Stamann looks for a takedown with a minute left and gains a deep double leg. Perez is able to prevent the takedown and the round expires. 10-9 Perez, 30-27 Perez. Winner: Cody Stamann, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). The crowd boos the decision but it was a close one with rounds that could fairly have been judged either way. Stamann seemed displeased with his performance. Diego Sanchez vs. Mickey Gall Diego Sanchez is the longest tenured UFC fighter as the Ultimate Fighter 1 winner has been competing in the organization since 2005. Now 37, he is 4-4 in his last 8 fights. Mickey Gall has received some name opponents in his short career, taking on CM Punk, Sage Northcutt and now Sanchez. All of Galls wins have come via rear naked choke. Round 1. Mickey Gall comes out swinging and lands a few big punches to the head of Sanchez. Gall continues to press, throwing power punches in bunches repeatedly. Gall slows down a little 90 seconds in and stops throwing quite so much. Sanchez clinches and secures a takedown. Gall stands up but Sanchez pulls him back down. Gall again returns to his feet but Sanchez keeps control of the body and takes Gall back down. Gall lands some punches from the bottom while Sanchez attacks the body with elbows from the top. Sanchez lands some quality punches from the top and gains side control. 10-9 Gall. Sanchez had extended ground control but the best offense of the round by far was Gall standing at the beginning. Round 2. Sanchez opens with a few leg kicks and clinches again. Sanchez doesnt get the takedown and eats a massive looping punch from Gall. Sanchez looks in a bit of trouble but Gall isnt able to capitalize. Sanchez lands a nice knee to the head in a clinch and Gall goes down. A wild scramble ensues and Gall is clearly very fatigued. Sanchez gets top position and moves into full mount. He loses that position but works from side control. Sanchez lands a series of elbows there. Sanchez regains mount and keeps throwing those elbows. Sanchez lands punch after punch and finally the bout is stopped. Winner: Diego Sanchez, TKO, round 2. Sanchez is a decade older than Gall but his conditioning made the difference against the younger man. Gall was dangerous early but Sanchez kept pressing forward until eventually Gall could no longer keep up. Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Charles Byrd Edmen Shahbazyan is a young, unbeaten prospect with knockouts in almost all of his wins. Charles Byrd is 14 years his senior and has had success with submissions lately. Round 1. Byrd shoots in for a takedown. They end up by the cage where Shahbazyan opens up with a series of elbows to the head. Byrd goes down and covers up, forcing the fight to be stopped. Winner: Edmen Shahbazyan, TKO, round 1. In recent years, that has become a more common weapon in MMA, as fighters realize they can finish opponents with elbows when those foes go in for takedowns. Shahbazyan won that fight quickly and convincingly. Gina Mazany vs. Macy Chiasson Gina Mazany competed on the Ultimate Fighter but has struggled in the UFC since, going 1-2. Macy Chiasson won a different season of the Ultimate Fighter and is undefeated as a professional. She is the second heaviest favorite of the night behind only Jon Jones in the main event. Round 1. Chiasson, moving down from featherweight to bantamweight, looks much bigger than Mazany. Chiasson is throwing a lot of kicks in her combinations while charging forward with punches. Chiasson aggressively pushes in with punches and drops Mazany with a series of punches. Chiasson follows with more punches on the ground and the fight is quickly called off. Winner: Macy Chiasson, TKO, round 1. That was an impressive win for Chiasson, who made quick work of Mazany. Chiasson may have to demonstrate greater caution as she moves up the ranks as her aggression in that fight left openings that future opponents could capitalize on. Polyana Viana vs. Hannah Cifers UFC 235 kicks off with a womens bout in the 115 pound division. The Brazilian competitor Polyana Viana is 1-1 thus far in the UFC and is a finisher with a knockout or submission in every career victory. She takes on the American Hannah Cifers who dropped her first UFC contest to Maycee Barber and is 8-3 overall. Round 1. Both fighters exercise caution in the early striking, not throwing much with respect for the others power. Viana pulls guard and looks for a heel hook. Cifers gets her to give that up with punches and stands back up. Cifers drops Viana with a hard straight right hand, easily the bigger blow of the bout. Cifers lands some kicks to the legs while Viana is on the ground and Viana eventually returns to the feet. Cifers connects well again late in the round. 10-9 Cifers. Round 2. The second round begins with a much quicker pace than the first. Cifers opens up with a flurry of leg kicks and also some punches. Viana knocks Cifers off balance with an open hand hook but ends up on bottom in the scramble. From the bottom, Viana is aggressive with repeated elbows while controlling Cifers with her full guard. Cifers responds with a few punches from the top. Viana continues to attack with punches and elbows from the bottom. Viana spent most of the round on the bottom but controlled the fight there. 10-9 Viana. Round 3. Viana opens with a few kicks. She lands a solid head kick in an exchange. Cifers nails Viana with a crisp overhand punch. Viana lands some knees to the body in a clinch. On the separation, Cifers lands a strong punch. They completely open up at the end, swinging wild punches back and forth before the round concludes. 10-9 Viana, 29-28 Viana. Winner: Hannah Cifers, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). A close fight merited a close decision. Its understandable Cifers got the nod because the clearest round was her round in the first. That meant Viana needed to win both the close second and third from two judges in order to get the decision. Jon Jones among the fighters facing day of reckoning Opportunities abound for the key players of Saturdays UFC 235, and now come their moments of truth. Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, having submitted to a record number of drug tests following four years of career turbulence, has the potential to thrust himself beyond the negativity by defending his belt barely two months after recapturing it. Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, in his fifth title defense, looks to extend his unbeaten run dating to 2014 against a remarkably fit challenger in Kamaru Usman and elevate his position in the UFCs pound-for-pound rankings. And Woodleys close friend and training partner Ben Askren makes his anticipated UFC debut after already displaying a captivating personality that carries potential to make him a forceful draw. READ MORE >>> Woodley and Askren bond means theyll never square off in octagon Rules are meant to be broken, or at least questioned, and with the gifted tandem of Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren testing authority, the UFCs typical hard-line policies are going to have to budge. Not only do the longtime training mates refuse to fight each other even though both are elite members of the 170-pound welterweight division, the situation begs for the UFC to cave and create a new 165-pound division. It probably will be presented, Askren (18-0) said of the likelihood this year that UFC bosses will press him to fight champion Woodley should both win their separate Saturday UFC 235 fights at T-Mobile Arena. Well just say no. Added Woodley: Come to the gym and watch us. READ MORE >>> Covington claims corruption and hints at exit from UFC Wearing a Make America Great Again cap that was perhaps the same one he donned while visiting President Trump, welterweight Colby Covington stormed a fighters public workout Thursday and demanded a title shot. Covington, who was bypassed for a welterweight-title shot against champion Tyron Woodley by Kamaru Usman for UFC 235, threatened that if he isnt assigned to fight Saturdays winner for the title, hell ask for his release and join a different mixed martial arts company. I better be next or Im going somewhere else. Its title next, or Im out of the UFC, Covington said. He estimated 80% of the fans wanted me to fight. They didnt want to see Usman. This is corruption from the UFC, the Clovis, Calif.-born Covington, 31, told reporters after being escorted away from Usmans workout at the MGM Grand by UFC security guards. READ MORE >>> Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we catch up on some stewards rulings. Sadly, we have to lead with the 20th horse death at Santa Anita since the meeting opened on Dec. 26. Eskenforadrink, running in a $16,000 claimer, sustained a life-ending injury during the third race on Saturday. The 4-year-old filly was on the lead on the backstretch when jockey Geovanni Franco pulled her up with an injury to one of her front legs. She was euthanized back at the barns. The race was run over a sloppy track. It was the seventh death during racing on the dirt. There have been five on turf and eight during dirt training. Advertisement Since the track was reopened, 523 horses had either had a timed work or ran in a race without incident before Saturdays third race. Hundreds more have either galloped or exercised over the track surfaces. This was Eskenforadrinks 13th race, of which she has won twice and finished second five times. She was trained by Jorge Gutierrez and owned by Oscar Heredia. A slightly longer version of this story can be found online. Just click here. Stewards rulings So, with all that was going on, lets get caught up with stewards rulings. --Apprentice jockey Jean (J.C.) Diaz, Jr. was suspended three days for failure to keep his mount Swirling straight during the fifth race at Santa Anita on Feb. 10. His suspension was for Feb. 22, 23, 24. Swirling won the race and was not taken down for the ride. Diaz said he made a mistake when he didnt gather in his right rein, which would have kept Swirling from lugging in and crossing over two horses down the stretch. --Trainer Howard Zucker was fined $100 for disorderly conduct. On Jan. 3, Zucker was schooling a horse and, according to the stewards, got impatient when the gate to the paddock wasnt open. He was said to direct improper language to gateman Luis Holguin and then walked his horse down the road along the paddock path and was almost hit by a vehicle, according to the stewards report. Zucker said he did walk his horse down the path but denied using improper language directed at Holguin. --Trainer Jorge Periban was fined $500 when his horse We Will Re Joyce tested positive for an overage of flunixin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. We Will Re Joyce, which won the fifth race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16, had 77.8ng/ml in her system, over the allowable limit of 20 ng/ml. Periban said he had no idea how the excess drug got in the horses system. --Jockey Felipe Martinez was suspended three days when his horse Annitasheaven shifted in and made contact with another horse in the seventh race on Feb. 16 at Santa Anita. The suspension was for Feb. 24, 28 and March 1. Martinez admitted he did a bad job allowing his horse to shift. Annitasheaven finished last in the eight-horse race. --Trainer Joseph Herrick was fined $500 when his horse Lovely Finish tested positive for an overage of 5-hyrdroxydantrolene, a metabolite of Dantrolene, a muscle relaxer, during the second race at Del Mar on Dec. 1. Lovely Finish, who finished second, had 410 pg/ml in her system. The allowable amount is 100 pg/ml. Herrick said his foreman Raymundo Medina gave the horse the drug three days before the race rather than the usual four to keep the filly from tying up. --Jockey Evin Roman and apprentice jockey J.C. Diaz, Jr., were both fined $50 when they were late to the paddock during the fifth race on Feb. 17. They both said they needed to put on rain gear and had lost track of time. Roman finished fourth aboard Rocky Rogue and Diaz was last and ninth on Billy the Hott. --And in that same fifth race on Feb. 17, jockey Flavien Prat was fined $50 for also being late to the paddock. He offered no excuse, apologized and said it wont happen again. His mount, Anatolian Heat won the race. Those were all from the Feb. 14-18 stewards minutes. But, we got this little bit of information in the just released minutes for Feb. 22-24. For the first time in recent memory there were not any official rulings submitted by the Stewards this week. This racing week consisted of three (3) days. Santa Anita review The feature, the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes, lost a lot of its punch as it was moved from the turf to the dirt because of rain and a sloppy track. It was a one-mile race for 3-year-olds. The field was reduced from nine to five with the surface switch. All four turf races on Saturday were moved to the dirt. Despite all those factors, Stubbins was very impressive leading from gate to wire to win by eight lengths for trainer Doug ONeill and jockey Tyler Baze. Rafael Bejarano is the regular rider but he was out after a tonsillectomy. Stubbins paid $5.80, $3.60 and $3.40. Neptunes Storm was second and Mayor Cobb was third. I am excited for this horse and the opportunity, its not every day you get a good 3-year old colt that comes around this time of year, hopefully I get to stick with him and well see how far well go because hes pretty nice, Baze said. Ive never ridden him before, but from watching tape of all four of his races, he seemed very push button. It sure looked like hes a horse that wants to go and Im glad they didnt change the game plan in the paddock. Santa Anita preview There are nine races on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. Santa Anita boasts (and thats an exaggeration) the only $100,000 race in the country on Sunday, the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for older Cal-breds going a mile on the dirt. There are two turf races scheduled but there is still a chance of rain, so who knows, especially after of Saturdays races were taken off the grass. Five of the races are straight out claimers with three allowance/optional claimers. The average field size is 7. Morning-line maker Jon White could have thrown a blanket over the top three horses (and did) in the five-horse race. The post is scheduled about 3:20 p.m. in the middle of the card. Edwards Going Left is the 8-5 favorite for trainer John Sadler and jockey Joel Rosario. The 5-year-old gelding is coming off a second in an allowance on Feb. 8. His signature win came in January of last year when he won the Cal Cup Sprint. Hes seven-of-18 lifetime. Surfing Star is the 9-5 second choice for Bruce Headley and Flavien Prat. This 4-year-old colt is running his first stakes race but is coming off two allowance wins. He is three-of-five lifetime. And, well go three deep here with King Abner at 2-1. Phil DAmato trains and Baze rides. This 5-year-old gelding is five-of-16 lifetime and ran his last two races on the turf. The two races before that were both wins on the dirt. Here are the field sizes, in order: 8, 7, 5, 7, 5, 6, 9, 7, 9. Big Races review A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday. Gulfstream (4): Grade 3 $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: A Thread of Blue ($3.00) Gulfstream (5): Grade 3 $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes, 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Krampus ($11.60) Gulfstream (6): Grade 3 $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes, 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Recruiting Ready ($3.00) Gulfstream (7): Grade 3 $150,000 Very One Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 3/16 miles on turf. Winner: Holy Helena ($6.20) Gulfstream (8): Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Cambier Parc ($3.60) Gulfstream (11): Grade 3 $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Precieuse ($4.00) Aqueduct (8): $100,000 Bernardini Stakes, 4 and up, 1 5/16 miles. Winner: Royal Albert Hall ($8.80) Gulfstream (12): Grade 2 $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile. Winner: Jeltrin ($105.00) Oaklawn (8): $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 5 furlongs. Winner: Amys Challenge ($3.80) Gulfstream (13): Grade 2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Code of Honor ($21.00) Santa Anita (6): $100,000 Pasadena Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile moved to dirt. Winner: Stubbins ($5.80) Gulfstream (14): Grade 2 $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes, 4 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Winner: Zulu Alpha ($4.20) Big races preview A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT: 3:20 Santa Anita (5): $100,000 Tiznow Stakes, Cal-breds 4 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Edwards Going Left (8-5) Bob Ikes SA pick of the day EIGHTH RACE: No. 7 Kylemore (3-1) When Solomini is the morning line favorite, one is almost forced to jump into the water. In a race that appears to be loaded with speed, I am going to try this Richard Baltas-trained gelding with the hope they will try rating tactics today. He set the pace and settled for second vs. similar last time but he had been effective coming from off the pace earlier in his career and might be able to drop into a good spot if grabbed early from his outside box. Saturdays result: Two days in a row with double-digit winners as Proud Emma ($12.40) lagged far back behind the hot pace, moved up very wide into the stretch, then ran past the tiring leaders in the final 100 yards to win in hand. Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (heres a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy). Chris Wades LA pick of the day RACE SEVEN: No. 1 Winter Chocolate (9-2) She has had a tendency to cause her own trouble in several recent starts, but she still rates as one of the most competitive runners in this event when factoring her past trouble and track variant. In her most recent start, she stumbled badly out of the gate and lost multiple lengths, but she finished fairly well under a hold far back. Trainer Jesus Nunez has been winning at a 23% clip over the last 30 nights of racing. (No worries, Ed Burgart hasnt gone away, hes just on vacation. Chris Wade has been the racing analyst and host of the Los Alamitos night simulcast broadcast for nearly two decades. While Ed is on vacation, Chris also fills in as the nighttime morning-line maker.) Final thoughts Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa And now the stars of the show, Saturdays results and Sundays entries. The kids had been waiting all week for the hermit crab races. When Luis, our lead counselor, announced the evenings activity, they shoved aside their slices of key lime pie and disappeared into the shadows of moonlit coconut palms in search of perfect crustacean competitors. My 8-year-old, Reid, whom the counselors dubbed Shark Bait for his uncanny ability to spy sharks whenever snorkeling, was back within minutes, wielding a snapping blue crab the size of a dinner plate. I said hermit crab, man. Luis said in his Kriol-accented English. Ten minutes later, Reids older brother, Liam, burst into the sand-floored mess hall with a crab residing in a West Indian whelk shell the size of my fist. Advertisement Now, thats more like it! Soon we were all huddled around a course of concentric rope circles, cheering on our motley crew of named, ambulating shells. The racers meandered this way and that, and sometimes to the disappointment of their sponsors plunked down in the sand for a rest. When one finally crawled outside the ring, it was met with great applause. This was our final night at a week-long adventure camp on Long Caye, part of the Belize Barrier Reef System, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Much of our weeks experience reminded me of my North American childhood summer camp, but with a tropical and a multi-age twist. My family and I had met our fellow campers at a hotel not far from the Belize City airport. The next day we boarded Slickrock Adventures boat for the 3-hour ride southeast to Glover Reef, a coral atoll 54 miles in circumference in the Caribbean Sea. We were greeted by a strong north wind and overcast skies as the rainy season drew to a close in mid-December, but our guides didnt blink. They battened down the mess-hall shutters and led us on the conch-shell-lined paths, assigning us to palm-thatched cabins, explaining how to conserve the solar-heated rainwater collected for showers, and introducing us to the islands patrol bunnies. After a lunch of focaccia sandwiches and plantain chips, we pulled on our wetsuits and walked to the leeward side of the island, where we would spend much of our week snorkeling. As we juggled our gear and walked over sharp chunks of dead coral into the ocean, I had one eye on Reid and the other on my 70-year-old father whose balance is challenged by Parkinsons disease. Luis immediately soothed my fears: He instructed Dad to lean on him as he helped him don his fins, and he assigned a guide to each of my kids. Well keep an eye on them, he said with a nod. For the next two hours, we all snorkeled over gleaming white sand, conical sponges and varied corals staghorn, brain, pillar and even fire. We popped our heads out of the water, excitedly asking our guides through snorkels, Whats that? A school of squid with their buzzing fins hovered mid-water not far from a sleek barracuda with a prominent underbite. Stoplight parrotfish tap, tap, tapped at the reef as I admired the iridescent blue spots of a juvenile damselfish. Guests congregate three times a day for meals, card games and other activities at the sand-floored mess hall next to the island volleyball court on Long Caye. (Tim Quirk) My brother, a scuba diving enthusiast, grinned in front of a school of blue tangs. Eleven-year-old Liam dove to the ocean floor to get a good look at a goldentail eel and then gracefully dolphin-kicked to the surface. And Reid, his eyes popping out of his head, pointed out a blacktip reef shark. Each morning at breakfast our counselor guides enthusiastically announced the days organized activities: kayaking over spotted eagle rays to the neighboring island, searching for octopuses on a tidepool walk, or snorkeling around reef patches with names such as Conch Central and Lobster Rock. For the more adventurous, kite-boarding lessons and scuba diving were on offer. All new activities included thorough orientations to ensure we were safe. On the surface, our group of 18 guest campers and four counselor guides wasnt an obvious match. We were nine families, ranged in age from 8 to 70, and spoke six mother tongues. Yet we quickly grew close. Self-selection certainly played a role. We had elected, many of us as return guests, to spend our vacation on an island 30 miles out to sea, without internet and depending on limited solar electricity and composting toilets. The weeks adventures also brought us together: gripping one anothers arms each time we spotted a nurse shark, facing off in raucous evening games of naturalist trivia, and rescuing one another from rolled kayaks. Luis Gonzales, the lead guide, gives a kayaking orientation at the beginning of the week on Long Caye. (Katie Quirk) Most of all, we realized we were experiencing something special and fleeting. In 2016 and 2017, about half the coral died on Australias Great Barrier Reef because of extreme heat. Almost a quarter of Belizes coastal coral was affected by bleaching in 2015 and 2016. Yet here we were, exploring a protected, remote and still-vibrant corner of the worlds second-largest reef system while under the care of highly capable local guides. When the wind changed direction, we played in surf kayaks and learned to windsurf. Even Liam sailed his way across the bay on a board. On guided nature walks we sampled astringent coco plums and visited the resident osprey. We splashed through tide pools to admire brittle stars, camouflaged scorpionfish and juvenile pufferfish. On days when the ocean was calm, we kayaked to new reef patches where giant lobsters undulated through the afternoon water, purple sea fans glimmered, fairy bassletfish swam upside-down, and porcupine fish puffed. Evenings, we raced to the opposite end of the island to watch for the green flash just after sunset. Our guides organized us in games of island croquet: The mallet was a pendulous piece of dead coral tied to our waists, the ball was an orange stolen from the kitchens juicer, and the laughter was full-bellied. Reid Quirk sips on a freshly harvested coconut at sunset on Long Caye. (Katie Quirk) And then, of course, we ate: fish tacos, homemade cinnamon rolls and granola, chayote squash enchiladas, cauliflower with toasted cashews, pork chops, and cookies with strings of ginger embedded in every bite. The only drawback to the amazing food was watching the cooks at the end of each meal dump leftovers into bins to be rolled to the island compost pit. Im sure the resident crabs and iguanas enjoyed the Belizean stewed beans and coconut curry as much as I did, but I was struck by the waste, freed of the glossy resort walls that typically separate a tourist from signs of her impact on the local ecology. At each meal, I shared a table with a different staff member: the jolly mestizo guide who sang whenever he found himself in a kayak; the Estonian kite-boarding instructor who spent her winters abroad; the guide from El Salvador who immigrated to Belize in the 1980s; and the young Mopan Maya guide who played cards with the kids and took them hunting for coconuts to sip on during happy hour. Liam Waring, the writers 11-year-old son, windsurfs for the first time during Slickrock Adventures camp on Long Caye. (Katie Quirk) My children are no strangers to travel Liam has visited nine countries in his 11 years. We love to explore new places, almost never circling back to old destinations, but by the end of our week at Glovers Reef, each of the kids made statements that started with, Next time were on the island. I didnt correct them. Its not cool to tell a kid on his last day of camp that hell never be back. And, besides, my real thought was, yes, if we should be so fortunate. Beyond Long Caye To ensure that delays dont get in the way of the Saturday morning boat run to Long Caye, many choose to arrive in Belize City a day early, with time for a day trip. Lamanai Maya Ruin Tour, Biltmore Plaza Hotel guest services; (011) 501-223-2302, guestservices@belizebiltmore.com. A fantastic one-day trip that includes a simple lunch, a guided boat ride with many stops to admire birds and a tour of Belizes longest inhabited Maya site, including Temple of the Jaguar. $120 per person. Birds Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary; (011) 501-203-2040. Experienced as well as novice birders will enjoy this three-hour birding tour ($125 for up to three guests). The lagoon-side lodge offers reasonably priced doubles from $100 a night. If you go Golden light illuminates the front porch of Katie Quirks thatched, ocean-front Long Caye cabin at sunset. (Katie Quirk) The best way From LAX, Air Canada, American, Avianca, Copa, Delta, Southwest and United offer connecting service (change of planes) to Belize City. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $448, including taxes and fees. Slickrocks guests meet at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City, a short 15-minute ($35) taxi ride from the Philip Goldson International Airport. WHERE TO STAY Slickrock Adventures, Long Caye, Glovers Reef, Belize; (800) 390-5715. The nine-night package costs $2,425 per person, with discounts for certain times of year, children or large groups. Includes seven nights on the island and two one-night stays at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel. The ocean-side thatched cabins on stilts are simple but adequate with vinyl mattresses, solar showers and composting toilets. Delicious family-style meals, unlimited beer and soda, sporting gear, guided activities and transport to the island are included. TO LEARN MORE Belize Tourism Board travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2019 > BJP Misreads Arunachali Sentiments Widespread violence has broken out in the quiet North-Eastern State of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China in the last few days. The objection of the Arunachalis is the Centres step to grant Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) to six communities in Arunachal which are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in neighbouring Assam. These tribes are Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis, Mishing and Gorkhas.. Already, two persons have died in police firing. The Deputy Chief Ministers residence has been set fire to. The Centres decision to grant PRCs to these communities was a sequel to its accepting the recommendations of a high-power committee to that effect. Though the Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal, has announced that the Arunachal Pradesh Government has not accepted the recommendations of the high-power committee, the Arunachalis, on the face of it, have not trusted the assurance of their government. Having committed a faux pas, the BJP is now accusing the Congress of instigating the Arunachalis as if the Arunachalis do not understand what is happening and need to be instigated by anyone. This shows the total ignorance of the BJPs central leadership of the sentiments of the people of this highly sensitive and strategically located State. The difference between the way of decision-making by the Congress and the BJP is that the Congress, thoroughly experienced in the affairs of North-East India, would consult the partys State leadership before taking any important decision. The BJP, which is a new entrant into the politics of the North-East, acts differently. It does not take its local leadership into confidence before taking vital decisions in regard to the region. It arbitrarily takes decisions and then imposes them on the States. The same ignorance of the ground situation and the sensitivities of the people of the North-East led the Centre to introduce the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The Bill sought to grant citizenship to all non-Muslims coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India till March 24, 1974. This went against the Assam Accord of 1985 which set the cut-off date for granting citizenship as March 24, 1971. The people of the North-Eastern States fearedand not without reasonthat once the Bill was passed, Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh will get citizenship in large numbers and this will change the demography of the region. By seeking to give citizenship on the basis of religion, the Bill went against the secular character of our Constitution. The people of the North-East also raised the very pertinent question whether an agreement signed by a Central Government led by one political party can subsequently be whimsically annulled by the Central Government led by another political party. The author was a correspondent of The Hindu in Assam. He also worked in Patriot, Compass (Bengali), Mainstream. A veteran journalist, he comes from a Gandhian family and was intimately associated with the RCPI leader, Pannalal Das Gupta. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2019 > Joint Statement by the National Committees of PIPFPD of India and (...) The following is the Joint Statement by the National Committees of the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy of India and Pakistan issued on February 26, 2019 from Lahore and New Delhi (also Mumbai, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Jammu, Bhubaneshwar and Srinagar). We, the members of Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), from India and Pakistan, note with seriousness and strongly condemn the claims of the Indian Government of air strikes and bombing in settled districts of Pakistan beyond the LoC. We demand both the governments of India and Pakistan to show restraint and avoid any war-like situation. We further demand immediate measures from both sides to de-escalate the situation and de-militarise borders by withdrawing troops to the peace time level. The PIPFPD, from India and Pakistan, unequivocally condemns the massacre of more than 45 CRPF personnel at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. We are also appalled at the large-scale killings of the police, Army personnel, civilians and members of non-state armed groups, in diverse instances that followed the Pulwama killings. We are shocked and pained at the number of human lives that is lost to guns, IEDs, missiles, bombs, pellet guns, stones, etc. in the Kashmir Valleyespecially in the increased instances over the last few years, since 2016. Members of the PIPFPD, from both countries, are deeply concerned about the situation arising because of the escalation of violence. The Forum takes serious note of the high emotional outpouring and war-mongering on both sides further giving rise to fundamentalists and extremist elements. It is perturbed about the increasing incidents of violence and vindictive action against Kashmiris in particular and Muslims in general by the state and non-state actors in India. Ironically, despite a very delayed mention by the PM of India, senior members of the Indian Government have not shown any meaningful or strong signs of restraint or resolve to discourage such violent elements and occurrences. The Forum recognises that the failed policies of both India and Pakistan in addressing the Kashmir issue is at the core of the problem. It has led to militarised means being prioritised over political dialogue and resolution. This has led to continuous loss of lives and created a war-like situation in both the civilians areas as well as border areas. A large number of lives have already been lost to this. The PIPFPD believes in political resolution through dialogue and demands that the governments of India and Pakistan initiate meaningful dialogue involving the Kashmiri leadership from both sides, addressing the issue bilaterally. The Forum believes that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between two states. India and Pakistan must recognise the Kashmiri peoples aspirations and allow the Kashmiri people belonging to all ethnic and religious communities and regions to participate in a dialogue to find an honourable and a dignified solution. Till that dialogue happens, a ceasefire-based peace process must be initiated to prevent the future loss of lives. For this, it is imperative that Kashmir on both sides shall be demilitarised, providing opportunity to Kashmiris from both sides of the border to meet freely and start their life free of fear and subjugation. The Forum demands that the Government of Pakistan move beyond the rhetoric of the anti-extremism narrative to meaningful and substantive actions against all proscribed groups, terrorist organisations and their handlers. Ironically while those organisations have been taking responsibilities of such acts of terror, including the Pulwama suicide attack, the Pakistan Government has shown no will to take necessary actions against those forces operating from its soil. The members of the PIPFPD demand that all genuine concerns raised by the Government of India must be taken seriously and investigated at the highest levels. This is the time that both states must move beyond rhetoric and show clear and unfettered resolve against extremism be it the Islamic armed outfits or the Hindutva ones. It in this backdrop and the unfortunate reality that the PIPFPD announces the postponement of the Ninth Joint Convention that was to be held from March 15-17, 2019 in Lahore, Pakistan. We believe holding of this Convention is not possible in the current circumstances, where peace activists are threatened and space for people to people dialogue is highly squeezed. Members of the PIPFPD are determined to hold the convention in coming months. [The PIPFPD is a 25-year-old membership-based peace platform with thousands of members and supporters in India and Pakistan. It has so far held eight Joint Conventions in India and Pakistan, with hundreds of delegates from both countries participating.] Issued by: Mohammad Tahseen, Convener, PIPFPD, Pakistan Dr I.A. Rehman, Chairperson, PIPFPD, Pakistan Tapan Bose and Dr Syeda Hameed, Co-Chairpersons, PIPFPD, India Vijayan M.J., General Secretary, PIPFPD, India Global Clothing Trends: Whats Hot This 2019 Wondering what's the clothing trend this 2019 from around the globe? ELLE UK has listed down the seven fashion trends that they predict to be big in 2019. Other big labels and fashion houses also shared their predictions for the biggest international trends this year. So, what will be the choice of clothing of a trendy individual this 2019? Neo Boho Also called hippy modernism, this trend combines crochet pieces, items with crashing geometric prints, raffia accessories, amulet jewelry, scarf dresses, artisan knits, and frigging. The trend takes you back to the hippie styles of the 60s and 70s without looking old and outdated. Floral prints This style has been around for like forever, but it is making its mark once again. What's different this 2019 is that floral prints will not be limited to tops and jackets but will also migrate to pants. As soon as the weather breaks and people can wear shorts sleeves, the trend will start making an appearance. But why wait when there are leggings and pants with flowers printed on them? Start adopting the trend right now. Fake Fur Not just fur used in hoods of jackets but also in gloves, scarves, and other pieces. If you love fur, 2019 will provide you all the fur you need while showing support for an eco-friendly style. The faux fur industry is taking a positive stance where the environment is concerned. This makes wearing this fashion piece your contribution to going green and stylish at the same time. Colorful suits Suits are a wardrobe staple, but they often come in sensible colors like black, navy blue, and neutral shades. This 2019, suit tailoring will explore the bold, bright, and vibrant shades of the color wheel. Gucci and Chanel introduced suits in orange, yellow, and purple. These can be worn as a full outfit or mixed with pieces of clothing in softer hues. Bright-colored outfit It's not only suits that are going bright, what with the fashion industry leaning towards a bright color palette. Don't be surprised to see neon yellow, bright orange and similar shades in many clothing and accessories this year. Such outfits are predicted to debut in spring and will last throughout the summer. Layered look The concept of layering clothes is nothing new on the fashion scene but the Asian market is creating a trend that will take the globe by storm. The concept? To layer clothes in order to achieve a mature look. It will be implemented using a lot of different outfits. The trend is predicted to catch on in Paris and New York. Low Key utility This refers to clothes that are equally functional and stylish. It was borne out of the concept of accessomorphosis by Virgil Abloh, which means a transformation of wallets and bags into clothing. This trend is represented by clothes with patch pockets and a with a front-loaded tool belt used instead of a traditional belt. It also brings back cargo pants to the limelight. Capes Primarily an accessory to a winter outfit, capes are taking front and center this 2019 as it combines several trends into one. Fringed capes, for example, satisfy hippy modernism and its use of fringing. It's also the perfect layer for when layering clothes to achieve a mature look. Capes, however, are unlikely to stay all-year round. So better get in on the trend while the weather is still cooler. Square toe shoes The fashion trend of 2019 is incomplete without new twists on buying shoes and, this year, it's the square toe that is walking back into the fold. Many big names in fashion have already rolled out such footwear, including Eckhaus Latta in collaboration with UGG. But that's just the most sensible choice of footwear this 2019 because the rest is anything but basic. Feathers, crystals, and seashells will be incorporated in this year's footwear. And you'll see many toe-ring sandals too. Feathers sticking out of the heels of your sandals may seem a bit much but that's how shoe trend is going to be this 2019. Whats your style choices this year? Are you going to follow the global fashion trend or stick to what you know? Nothing wrong with experimenting with global trends in 2019. Whichever is the case, work to strike a balance between comfort and style so youll not only look good but feel good as well. And if youve yet to discover your fashion style, this year could be a good time to discover what you like to wear and the outfit that suits you best. By Dylan M. 2019 Copyright Dylan M. - 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. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, In December and January, many people prefer to cozy up to the comforts of home, while others relish the opportunity to compete in one of many local, winter-themed races that are back on track this year. Runners might have to navigate trails in the snow, ice and frigid conditions, but according to Ron Horn, the [] Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Wright State University delivers a terrifically acted and vocally stunning local premiere of composer Tom Kitt and lyricist/librettist Brian Yorkeys thought-provoking yet conceptually challenging 2014 pop/rock musical If/Then. Newly divorced urban city planner Elizabeth (dynamic Rachel Mary Green) is back in New York City and it doesnt take long before shes in Madison Square Park catching up with her old bisexual friend Lucas (charmingly quirky Sam Maxwell), a community activist, and her new friend and neighbor Kate (delightfully sassy Kat Rodriguez), a kindergarten teacher. When the time comes for Elizabeth to choose her next step, to search for true love as Kate suggests or embrace her professional ambitions as Lucas suggests, the musical simultaneously explores both paths. The joy, surprise and heartbreak of marriage, career, family, and friendships are ultimately bolstered by the core themes of choice and fate. Kitt and Yorkey, best known for their 2009 Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, create a highly intricate, predominately sung-through framework requiring the utmost concentration, especially since Elizabeth is referred as Liz (with glasses) and Beth (no glasses). Theres also the peculiar issue of the Liz path being more emotionally engaging primarily due to her loving connection with military doctor Josh (cheerful Eric Thompson), whose gentle, hopeful, humble, and understanding presence heightens the action as important issues of parenthood and duty intertwine. Nevertheless, in spite of inherent confusion and an overstuffed Act 2, both paths, fluidly guided with character-driven potency within the intimacy of the Herbst Theatre by director Jamie Cordes, offer intriguing approaches to addressing the central question: what if? The last time I saw If/Then, during Broadway previews, Idina Menzel took the stage with notecards having received new lyrics that very day, so I admire Greens ability to tackle a very complex and demanding role with effortlessly confident and fierce aplomb, marvelously culminating in a life-affirming, full-belting rendition of Always Starting Over. Rodriguez, flirty and fun, is also a vocal powerhouse, specifically leading energetic ensemble number Its a Sign in addition to joining Green, choreographer Megan Arseneau (pleasant as Anne, Kates underwritten girlfriend) and Emily Eliasen (Elena, Beths underwritten co-worker) for the Act 1 standout No More Wasted Time. Thompson, one of the finest pop tenors in the Miami Valley, absolutely captivates in his renditions of You Never Know and the beautifully tender Hey Kid. Maxwell, in one of his most vulnerable portrayals, is especially strong opposite amiable Hunter Minor as David, Lucas boyfriend, joining forces for a wonderfully heartfelt interpretation of the driving duet The Best Worst Mistake You Ever Made. The praiseworthy cast includes Dylan Tacker (career-driven Stephen) and ensemble members Amanda Astorga, Emma Bratton, Marcus Butts, Jessica Greenwald, Andrea Gutierrez, Jared Levy, Aidan Lord, Dean McKenzie, Jake Siwek, Anna Stanford, Jeremy Weinstein, and DKaylah Whitley. In addition to the aforementioned Arseneau (instilling organic joy for Its a Sign and The Moment Explodes among others), Cordes first-rate artistic team includes set designer Carleigh Siebert (projections are a plus), lighting designer Gabe Reichert (great evocative work), sound designer James Dunlap (superbly accenting a pivotal airplane sequence), costume designer Victoria Gifford (supplying cool, contemporary attire), and musical director/keyboardist Melissa Yanchak (accompanied by guitarists Jay Brunner and Joel Greenberg). Some theatergoers may find If/Then too complicated to fully enjoy, but its a worthwhile experience nonetheless thanks to particularly superb vocal talent. If/Then concludes Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. in the Herbst Theatre of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton. Act 1: 80 minutes; Act 2: 60 minutes. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students. Call (937) 775-2500 or visit wright.edu/theatre-tickets. Every month the Miami Valley plays hosts to multiple fundraisers for local nonprofit groups and programs. Weve highlighted 10 of the must attend events for the month of March, but there are plenty more you can support. Some require ticket purchases or pre-registration, others are donation at the door, with participation prices as little as the cost of an ice cream cone, up to $150 tickets. For a full list of charitable fundraisers check out the MostMetro.com calendar. Lion & Leos Club Spaghetti Dinner Giovannis 15 W Main St, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 March 4 @ 5:00 pm 8:00 pm $10 Spaghetti with meat sauce, famous Italian homemade bread, salad, drink and dessert. Takeout orders are available . 878-1611 Acoustapalooza 2019 Juvenile Diabetes Benefit The Barrel 857 W Central Ave, Springboro, Ohio 45066 March 10 @ 1:00 pm 9:00 pm donation requested at the door The one-day Show will be held at The Barrel located just off of I-75 in Springboro, Ohio on March 10th from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. As of today artists including Cevin West, Jayme, 9 Eight Central, The Jay Clark Band, Two For The Road, Until Rust, Untold Glory, Velvet Crush Unplugged have committed to performing at the event. A host of other talented musicians will fill in the gaps between sets to make this a day of non stop musical talent! There will be raffles, door prizes and a silent auction to support the fundraising during the entire day! All Proceeds from Acoustapaloozawill go to local and national Juvenile Diabetes Research and Support. We are honored to bring this event to our music community with some of the regions best talent donating their time to aid in the effort! Reason To Hope Breakfast Fundraiser Dayton Marriott March 12 @ 7:30 am 9:00 pm A powerful, one-hour breakfast designed to educate the community about the Alzheimers Association while raising funds to support dementia research, programs and services. This event is free to attend, however all guests will be asked to consider making a contribution to the Alzheimers Association Miami Valley Chapter. Contact Meg McFarland at 937-610-7007 for more info. Eureka: Playing the Odds Boonshoft Museum of Discovery 2600 DeWeese Pkwy, Dayton, Ohio March 16 @ 7:00 pm 11:00 pm . $75 $90 From modern games of chance to ancient superstitions, people have always been fascinated by the good fortune that seems to befall a lucky few! Spend an evening Playing the Odds with us as you explore the Museum at this annual winter fundraiser. Featuring a dance floor, hors doeuvres, a welcome drink, craft beer and wine, this one-of-a-kind adult evening will expand your science knowledge while you mix and mingle at Daytons most entertaining cocktail party. 21+ 2019 Women of Influence Awards Dayton Convention Center 22 E. Fifth Street, Dayton, OH 45402 March 21 @ 11:30 am 1:00 pm $150 Since 1998, YWCA Dayton has set aside one special day to recognize and honor women in our community. Join us in celebrating Daytons most influential women, all of whom have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Honorees in the Women of Influence Class of 2019 are: Cassie Barlow, COO of SOCHE Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel Kim Duncan, Founder of Elements IV Interiors Neenah Ellis, General Manager of WYSO Public Radio Chris Saunders, Community Philanthropist and Global Advocate Sheri Sparkle Williams, Dancer with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company The Dayton Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (Lifetime Achievement Award) Harrigans 5k Harrigans Tavern 4070 Marshall Rd, Kettering March 23 9:30am $25 This race is a great way to celebrate the St Patricks Holiday, a few days after the actual St Patricks Day. Not only a fun race, but proceeds to good causes as well. Proceeds of this race benefit Alzheimers Association, JDRF, United Rehab Services of Greater Dayton and South Community Positive Health Options. ONLINE REGISTRATION open through March 20! Entry fee is $25 if received by March 20. Registrations received at packet pickup or on race day are $30 so please register early to $ave! Dayton Heart Ball Sinclair College March 23 @ 6:00 pm 11:00 pm $150 or corporate tables available Our evening celebrates our work and mission; our donors and volunteers; and most importantly the lives saved and improved because of everyones effort. Event Program 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception 7:30 pm Ballroom Opens 8:00 pm Dinner, Open Your Heart Appeal 8:45 pm Live Auction, Dessert, Dancing Immediately Following The American Heart Association Dayton Heart Ball is a must attend social event, where people come to network with peers and socialize with some of the regions most influential people. Our Mission: Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our mission drives everything we do at the American Heart Association. We Care Arts Takeover Night Old Scratch Pizza March 26 @ 5:00 pm 10:00 pm Grab some friends and stop by for delicious pizza, drinks, and dessert in support of We Care Arts and its mission! Tuesday, March 26th from 5pm til closing time, Old Scratch Pizza will donate 10% of all sales to We Care Arts! All March long is Cones For A Cause at Old Scratch Pizza, so make sure to get a cone after your pizza and 100% of your donation will benefit We Care Arts! Jersey Mikes Subs Day of Giving Jersey Mikes Subs March 27 @ 10:00 am 9:00 pm United Rehabilitation Services (URS) has been chosen by the three local Jersey Mikes Subs locations for their 8th Annual Month of Giving. Customers are invited to visit Jersey Mikes for a delicious sub meal and they will donate 100 percent of the days sales to URS! Proceeds from the Day of Giving will help subsidize early childhood education programs for children ages 6 weeks 17 years old, many of whom are medically fragile and require critical care from onsite nurses who provide g-tube feeds, seizure monitoring and acute care, as well as support the Regions only Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Program and spider cage. URS is committed to providing care for every stage of life, from infancy through the senior years for individuals with disabilities. Locations include: 3510 Pentagon Blvd, Beavercreek, 6002 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville, and 1512 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton Crayons To Classrooms 10th Anniversary Celebration Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center March 29 @ 6:00 pm 9:00 pm $110 Join us in March as we celebrate this milestone! Your ticket includes social hour with heavy appetizers, event program, and parking. Crayons to Classrooms has helped contribute to the growth of our communitys youth for 10 years by distributing over $17M in school supplies to 110 Dayton-area schools and their teachers. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With negotiations for a mega multi-nation free trade deal dragging on into its sixth year, the 16 countries comprising the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) bloc on Saturday vowed to intensify negotiations to conclude the trade pact this year. The free trade deal has been stuck in the discussion stage for over half a decade now, and seeks to bring together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam with their six free trade partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. However, the 16 nations have been unable to arrive at a mutually agreeable conclusion. Saturday saw ministers from the bloc meet at Siem Reap in Cambodia for the seventh RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting. The Indian Commerce Ministry, in its statement, said that the meeting reviewed the developments since the second RCEP Summit held at Singapore in November and resolved to conclude negotiations by the end of this year. The Ministers agreed to intensify engagement for the remaining of the year, including by convening more intersessional meetings, a joint statement said. The Ministers urged all participating countries to address specific sensitivities while working towards achieving commercially meaningful outcomes... (they) reiterated that it is the collective responsibility of all participating countries to ensure progress by overcoming negotiation challenges and finding resolution to the remaining issues through constructive engagement, the statement added. The 16-member RCEP bloc aims to cover among the issues related to goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights. Ahead of the meeting, Indian Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu had said that negotiators at the summit should be empowered with a mandate to show flexibilities and accommodation on outstanding and pending issues. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Chennai Police commissioner A K Viswanathan complimented a nine-year-old girl on Saturday for contributing Rs 1.5 lakh from her life savings to fix CCTV cameras in the city. Srihita of Kattupakkam had taken part in a meeting organised by police near her fathers office at Royapettah regarding setting up of CCTV cameras a few weeks ago. On learning that the cameras will help police in nabbing criminals, she decided to contribute her life savings to prop them in the city. Police were surprised when the Standard III student made good on her promise a few days later. Overwhelmed by Srihitas contribution and solidarity with police, the commissioner met her and her father Sathyanarayana at his office and thanked them. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Raw sewage that is being transported from Adyar Pumping station to Perungudi plant for treatment, has been leaking into the Adyar river under the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge, for close to two months now. Residents said that poor maintenance and a year-long delay in replacing the pipes are the main reasons behind this discharge. While unplugged sewage-outfalls found in abundance across the city are the usual culprits that pollute the river, such leakages that arise due to poor maintenance add on to the menace. Around 45 million litres per day of sewage is being pumped from the wells located at the Adyar pumping station for treatment to the STP in Perungudi. Sewage from localities of North and South Mylapore in turn, get deposited at these wells. CR Balaji, a local activist who frequents this spot, complained to local Metro Water authorities after he noticed foul smell emanating from under the bridge. The same problem happened a year ago and officials promised us that the pipe will be changed but no action has been taken so far. At many spots along the pipe, sewage leaks into the river, polluting it. Even this time, the leak will be temporarily fixed. Only replacing the pipe will be a permanent solution, said Balaji. When Express contacted Chennai Metro Water, an official said a proposal had been drafted to replace two pipes of 350 metre length each, along the bridge on the lane towards Adyar. We have been alerted that sewage is seeping into the river because of a leak. This will be rectified soon. But, in the near future, there are plans to replace pipes for a total length of 700 metres to avoid such leakages. This work will commence as soon as we receive funds, said an official. As the existing portion of pipes are old, such leakages happen often, complained residents. Officials from Chennai River Restoration Trust said that Metro Water has been repairing the leaks only on a temporary basis. Whenever we detect untreated sewage leaking into the river, we have alerted officials from Metro Water to tend to it. We also have been informed these pipes will be replaced soon, said an official. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: BJP national spokesperson and MP GVL Narasimha Rao has predicted the rise of BJP as unsurpassable power in the State in the coming days. Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, he attributed credit for the destruction of terror camps in Pakistan by IAF and release of Wing Commander Abhinanda in just two days after capturing to the acumen of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rao said in 2008, the then Congress government restricted the armed forces, while the Modi government has given it a free hand. The BJP leader lashed out at Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee and Pawan Kalyan for issuing statements that are only proving advantageous to Pakistan and demoralising the armed forces. Are they trying to prove themselves heroes of Pakistan? It is unfortunate that these people are politicising Pulwama terror attack, he said. By PTI NEW DELHI: Actor Sonali Bendre on Saturday said she wanted to be in control of her life story and that is the reason why she decided to share her cancer battle with the people on social media. The 44-year-old actor was diagnosed with high-grade cancer last year and had to undergo treatment in New York. She returned home in December and has resumed work. Sonali had kept in loop her fans on social media about the various struggles she faced during her battle with the disease and she said it was important to be honest with people about what she went through, including the pain. "I wanted to be charge of my narrative from the start. When you are a public figure, there are so many narratives that it out there. And suddenly you lose hold of that narrative very quickly. It becomes a different thing all together," the actor said at the India Today Conclave 2019. "As I went through the process, I realised that there are so many others that wouldbe going to through it. I wouldn't be honest that if I said, 'Everything was sunshine'. ALSO READ | Sonali Bendre returns to sets after cancer treatment, calls it surreal' It was not, it was painful and you do have to go through it," she added. Sonali said like many others, she also encountered pain and had many low phases and she learned that one can do nothing but to deal with it. "Every time I kept thinking 'Why am I not being positive?' and then you start feeling 'Did I do something wrong?'. But there is pain and what can you do about it. "You have to go through that pain. And that's why I wanted it to be out that there is pain and it is hard. The point is to reduce that time to as minimum and prolong the good time for as long as you can," the actor said. Sonali, who ruled the '90s with movies such as "Diljale", "Sarfarosh", "Duplicate" and "Hum Saath Saath Hain", is married to filmmaker Goldie Behl. The couple has a 13-year-old son Ranveer. Goldie and her, Sonali said, were honest when it came to breaking the news of her cancer to Ranveer and they never never concealed any part of that journey from their son. "Ranveer was on a school trip and I could have sent him back home but I needed to see him. I need to be able to talk to him. That's the way we have brought him up and we have always been very honest with him." "The only thing that we were hoping was that by not lying to him, one day he will not be lying to us. That he will be honest with us and that was the example we were trying to set." Medha Dutta Yadav By Step into the Lodhi art district in Delhitouted to be the first-ever Public Art District in Indiaand you would be forgiven for thinking that you are in some Tim Burton film. Vibrant colours splashed across walls, portraits, caricatures, social themes in the garb of gigantic paintingsits all here and more. Initiated by St+art India Foundationan organisation formed on the principle of Art for Allthe aim is to make art accessible to a wider audience by taking it out of the conventional gallery space and embedding it in the cities we live in. In the past six years, the foundation has organised 14 St+art festivals and numerous public art projects in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata and Chandigarh. Each new edition of festival brings another lot of exemplary work to the public space. In Delhi this year, as part of its Urban Art Festival supported by Asian Paints, they plan on adding at least 20 more murals to the existing ones at Lodhi Road. Responsible for making urban art a movement in India, St+art celebrates the street as a canvas for visual creativity. This year they have come up with F(r)iction at Kona, a temporary art exhibition with an immersive walk through multimedia artworks by national and international artists. Polish artist NeSpoon, who is in Delhi for the festival, says, I feel honoured to present my work between such great paintings of local and international artists. The atmosphere, the vibe of the festival is great. In Europe, street art has been in focus for at least 15 years. I believe, if the pictures of these murals are shared on the internet, it would help popularise the genre. Singaporean Samantha Lo, aka Sticker Lady, cant agree more. I think street art is steadily gaining recognition as an art form and theres more to come. More walls, more murals, and more colour and platforms such as St+art will inspire not just fellow artists but the community too. Indian artists Kiran Maharjan and Sajid Sheikh reiterate that with efforts like these, art is becoming accessible to all. The duo, who are working on their individual murals at the festival, believe that street art is slowly getting its due and there has been a steady shift in how it is seen and accepted. At the end of the day, it is all about democratising public spaces and reclaiming urban areas and in the process reaching out to the community. But they caution that the movement needs to keep going and build forward. The team at St+art adds, This year we have built the festival with the Lodhi community at its core, We aim to show how art can be made democrative, accessible, inclusive, uplift communities and above all, celebrate diversity. Ayesha Singh By The artistic bent of mind has never been so trendy in India. The bank accounts of successful artists, writers, filmmakers and photographers have never been so overflowing before either. New names and new styles are trophies in the Indian art business, which was valued at over `1,400 crore in 2017. Subsidiary stakeholders like art residencies are mushrooming across the country, inviting artists to practice their creative mantras in sylvan solitude or culturally rich environments. Indian artists are also receiving invitations from residencies abroad, both privately funded and corporate. Some of these charge a fee. There is Sangam House in Bengaluru. Khoj in Delhi. Art Ichol at Khajuraho and Kalanirvana International Art Centre in Bhubaneswar. Across the sea are Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn and the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence in the Scottish wilds that has hosted Biplab Sarkar and fashionista-photographer JJ Valaya. Each residency is unique. The Himalayan Writing Retreat in Satkhol, Uttarakhand, encourages aspiring and aspirational writers. Art residency KYTA based in Kalga, a Himalayan village, hosts 10 artists in 10 disciplines every year from the fields of visual art, sound, music, film, architecture, performance arts, sculpture, installation, theatre, science, interaction design, dance, new media, writing, electronics, photography, intellectual property rights, street art, fashion design, illustration, painting and mixology. Its own private art collection is dispersed throughout the village. KYTA takes the creations to be shown in New Delhi, India and abroad. It also acts as a bridge between international artists, projects and institutions. WAA Residency launched in 2013 is one of the few art residencies in Mumbai that functions as a convergent art space for artists whose discussions and dialogues are valued. The Pepper House Residency operated by the Kochi-Muziris Biennale has an international residency programme for all types of artists. Then there are broad-based cultural institutions with a long track record such as the Sanskriti Foundation, Delhi, and the Preet Nagar Residency in Punjab. Mirage in Himachal Pradesh is unique for not having any rules for artists to follow. At FARM Studio in rural Rajasthan, successful applicants interact with rural artists, artisans and international contemporary artists at its International Artist Residency. Money Matters Residencies are largely fully funded by the providers; some like the India Writers Residency by Kalanirvana even pay an extra stipend to their creative occupants. So do Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Nebraska and Eyebeam, Brooklyn, US. The funds can be disbursed also for travel, research or material grants. New Yorker Paula Jeanine, who is part of the Kalanirvana residency, believes that funding helps artists raise their own bar without worrying about money. The starving artist in garret or barsati in the Indian scenario may not be strictly a true image since many of them turn to the new and well-paid illustration market for sustenance; residencies give a fillip to the idyllic notion of the brush and chisel. KYTA pays for travel from Delhi-Kalga-Delhi and local travel, a private room, a common studio space, and walking tours. Says artist Iolanda Palmer from Washington State University, who is engaged with the Sanskriti Pratishthans residency in Delhi, Grants paid in full, partially or intermittently bring comfort and reassurance to artists. She believes financially structured frameworks promote the creative impulses of the artistic community at large. Palmer, however, admits that grants have shrunk since the 2008 economic recession, at least in America. But there are corporates, which remain committed to the idea; in its 14th year, Glenfiddich offers its 17-year-old artists-in-residence programme an annual stipend of 10,000 and an opportunity to create original work at the windswept cottage in the Scottish wilds. These are meant not only for newcomers but also established artists who are keen on exploring new facets. Sarkar got the Glenfiddich Emerging Artist of the Year 2018 award from among 1,700 participants that included P Yogeesh Naik, Anju Kaushik, Loknath Pradhan and Deepak Kumar from India. Sarkar got `10 lakh and an international allowance and work allowance of `1.2 lakh and `5 lakh respectively. He would also mount a solo show at Bestcollegeart.com Gallery in Delhi as part of the programme. The Journey India is the inspirational palette for many foreign artists who accept residencies here. Palmer is one such seeker. On her travels, she found herself intrigued by the dhobi ghats (open laundry stations). A year-long investigation on how Indian fabrics travel through various layers of society helped her structure her work around the concept in a video installation she is putting together. If Palmer is an itinerant, time stands still for India-born New York-based artist Kuldeep Singh who meditates in a spartan room echoing with silence. He was mocked by friends and colleagues for preferring the hibernation of an art residency over the frenetic gallery-to-gallery politics that is so part of the high-selling art world of egos and private viewings. Participation in the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture residency in Maine (2014), Yaddo in New York (2015), Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Nebraska (2016) and most recently the Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn (2018) has given Singh the clarity to boost his work prospects. In the three-month-long Residency Unlimited programme, I discussed my current body of interdisciplinary work with visionary critics and curators who understood the diluting borders between national and international art practices. The kind of work I do uses the language of Odissi dance in deconstruction, wherein its acting and sonic components get woven with visual art comprising large paintings and theatrical props into system of design; a focused residency environment was able to bring about a very atypical body of compound art practice, which is the need of this decade/ time, says Singh. Residencies have come to serve different purposes at different times. Their evolving formats accommodate various expectations as well as influences. Serendipity Arts Foundations annual Dharti Arts Residency offers resources and the space to hone and develop art, and equally important, the ease for interactions in the larger context of community, across a wide spectrum of people and networks, says its founder Smriti Rajgarhia. We aim to facilitate open and unconstrained artistic work, which is inspired by or responds to Delhis urban community. Residencies provide opportunities for individuals to interact and network with other artists, cultural practitioners, and engage with the professional possibilities of the art world, she says. Two of Dhartis previous resident artists have gone on to do exceptionally well. Khushbu Patel from Surat was selected for a residency in Iran, and Ravi Kumar Chaurasiya from Ghazipur has been accepted into a residency in Ireland. The residency opened new doors for small-town boy Chaurasiya. He says, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, invited me for their prestigious Avolon Global Studio residency for three months. I would be able to use their studio space to facilitate the production and socialisation of artworks associated with my current working practice. Chaurasiya is aware that without Dharti, it would not have been possible to find a place, however small on the world art map. Residencies provide exclusivity. They help you gain a reputation and make networking with established professionals a possibility. Considering its impossible for artists who have just graduated from art school, to own their own studio, residencies provide a nurturing space, he adds. Living in a remote and tiny village situated between Khajuraho and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, the Gurgaon artist Megha Joshi has gone incommunicado. The current resident enjoying the creative solitude at Art Ichol and artistic production is working on Migration as a theme. She is sure it wouldnt have taken off if she was not part of the ecosystem of exchange. All the people here associate themselves with different ethnic identities. Some migrated because of family, others for work or love, and because of political or social turmoil, says Joshi. This led to the realisation that the womb is the only permanent home, which led her to create an eponymous work surrounding the idea. The networking advantages Singh refers to in America was available to Joshi in India, where she could gain access to other residencies through other artists. I try to participate in one residency a year, since it takes me away from peer pressure and gives a supportive environment. Residencies are great spaces for fresh perspectives and experiments, says Joshi, who will soon be off to Iceland for the Fresh Winds artists in residency programme in December 2019, her second visit after 2012. The theme this year is the edge of the world, that sends artists on an internal journey through disassociation from regular life. Home is where the art is; singing, dancing and revelling in the folk colours of Nayapalli village in Bhubaneswar, New York artist Paula Jeanine has not been homesick even once. The Kalanirvana International Artist Residency gave her the right infrastructure and environment to build her art piece, not available in workshops, studios or sporadic classes. Her work is inspired by folk theatre to engage the womens issues of the 21st century, in collaboration with the local women of Nayapalli. It helps that I am eating, sleeping and ideating in the same place that I am creating my work. I developed a sense of ownership that helped my creative process, she says, adding, And I tell you, if an artist is also given food while they are working, there is no greater nourishment for the soul. A common thread that binds these creative spaces is Indian ruralia. Goas Vaayu Vision Collective provides artists with an outdoor experience in an interactive community with watermen and waterwomen for painters, street artists, video sculpture artists and installation artists who use sustainable materials. It has an outdoor gallery, open studio and traditional Goan rooms with wifi. The Facilitators The Founding Director of Art Ichol, Ambica Beri, understands the need for a stress-free creative space. There is enough room in the world for practicality and functionality, but what about dreams? Art Ichol provides an inspirational environment for writers, photographers and artists to push the envelope, says Beri. There are wrinkles in this contentment. Curator and Director of Kalanirvana, the 44-year-old Ashis Kumar Pahi, thinks Indians do not appreciate their country unlike foreigners who are enchanted by India. He says, I wanted to create a cohesive environment for Indian students to work with visitors to learn and appreciate the treasures in their own backyard. Kalanirvana is the only private art organisation that has over 300 international artists from more than 40 countries. Pahi believes their artist-in-residency format is different since it leverages cultural engagement. Why did he found the residency? Art galleries are often reluctant to show new names. They would rather place their bet on well-known artists whose work fetches a lot of money. Residencies are impartial, and in fact, prefer to support fresh talent, says Pahi. NGO Khoj-run residency programmes are meant for artists, run by artists. Khoj offers a five-week residency programme PEERS for emerging artists. Besides mentoring, exposure and hands-on experience, it has no conditions; residents are not compelled to show a finished product at the end of the term. They are expected to keep open studios for visitors who can see their works in progress. The idea behind PEERs is to promote art irrespective of a definite outcome, allowing artists a mutually rewarding space to function and experiment. Our artists add value to the overall creative dimension. Every small shift in perception helps. Our mutual conversation is enriching, and we benefit as much as the artists, says Radha Mahendru, curator and programmes manager at Khoj. Dealing with Disparity At Sangam House, writers have lunch with the dancers and members of Nrityagram, and at the end of the day, writers meet to chat. Writers are not the only residents; there are three affable dogs, a couple-friendly cat. It is Indias only funded residency for writers. The rest have either not earned a good enough reputation or are struggling to survive, says Chetan Mahajan, founder of Himalayan Writing Retreat in Uttarakhand that calls itself Asias first and only writing retreat. Writing retreats offer accommodation and food for a price. Mahajan sees himself as a mobiliser of literary pursuits. The success of the residency format has led us to introduce 10 writers who will live and write here over two to three weeks in 2020. The formal announcement will be made in August. Such residencies provide the kind of focused mentoring and social isolation required for introspection unlike few other interventions, says Mahajan, a published author and former corporate executive. It is not for starving writers though; a single room costs `6,500 for two-six nights and `8,000 for a double room; it includes stay, meals, snacks and taxes. But their repertoire is generous, ranging from workshops for advances for writing, story-telling and even blogging. Another Himalayan retreat gaining a reputation is the eclectic Atelier Bir Billing, not just for writers but also for filmmakers, photographers and artists. The workshops there are a tryst with reality, encouraging interactions with villagers and children. Twice a year, residents can view or participate in documentary and film festivals. The hills hold a special attraction for such retreats; the Panchgani Writers Retreat in Maharashtra is a potpourri of New Age creativity based at the 90-year-old residential school, Sanjeewan Vidyalaya that combines yoga, ayurvedic food and nature trails. Indian residencies have created reputations for foreign artists such as Egyptian police officer-turned-full-time artist and photographer Walid Elzonfoly who worked at Kalanirvanas International Art Residency in 2014. The experience gave him access and direction. The residency opened his eyes to temple architecture and the street culture of Bhubaneswar. It was a stepping zone for me, which established my identity on the artistic map. I got inquiries and my work was recognised. I keep updating my inventory of photographs so that I can hold an exhibition right after I complete the programme, he says. The knowledge of fine art photography he received at Kalanirvana opened his eyes to the expanding possibilities of the medium. His current projects are on environmental issues. Kalanirvana International Artists Residency Bhubaneswar The only private art organisation that has over 300 international artists from more than 40 countries Walid Elzonfoly From Egypt The Egyptian police officer-turned-full-time artist and photographer worked at Kalanirvana. The experience gave him access and direction. It opened his eyes to temple architecture and the street culture of Bhubaneswar. The residency was a stepping zone for me, which established my identity on the artistic map. I got inquiries and my work was recognised. I keep updating my inventory of photographs so that I can hold an exhibition. Residency Unlimited Brooklyn, US Kuldeep Singh From New York Participation in the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture residency in Maine, Yaddo in New York, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Nebraska and most recently the Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn in the US has given Singh the clarity to boost his work prospects. In the three-month-long Residency Unlimited programme, I discussed my current body of interdisciplinary work with visionary critics and curators who understood the diluting borders between national and international art practices. Art Ichol Khajuraho, MP Megha Joshi From Gurgaon Her work on Migration wouldnt have taken off if she was not part of the ecosystem of exchange. She is off to Iceland for another one called Fresh Winds in December 2019. I try to participate in one residency a year, since it takes me away from peer pressure and gives a supportive environment. Residencies are great spaces for fresh perspectives and experiments. Dharti Arts Residency by Serendipity Arts Foundation Delhi Ravi Kumar Chaurasiya From Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh Has been accepted into a residency in Ireland Residencies provide exclusivity. They help you gain a reputation and make networking with established professionals a possibility. Considering its impossible for artists who have just graduated from art school, to own their own studio, residencies provide a nurturing space. Himalayan Writing Retreat Satkhol, Uttarakhand Calls itself Asias first and only writing retreat. Writing retreats offer accommodation and food for a price. By PTI SRINAGAR: The operation to flush out militants from the Babagund area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district continued for the second day on Saturday, police said. The encounter began on Friday morning when security forces launched a search operation in the area in north Kashmir, following information about the presence of militants there. "The operation at Babagund is on," a police official said. He said security forces have cordoned off the area to stop militants from escaping. After the encounter began on Friday, there was lull in firing several times during the day, but militants opened fire as soon as security forces advanced towards a house where they were hiding. After one such lull, the militants opened indiscriminate firing on advancing team of security forces as they were closing in, injuring nine security force personnel. A police spokesman on Friday said four security force personnel, two cops and two CRPF personnel including an inspector, later succumbed to injuries. However, defence officials Friday said two army jawans were also killed in the operation. Clashes between a group of youngsters and law enforcing agencies took place near the encounter site on Friday in which several protestors were injured in the security forces' action. A youth, identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir, who had severe injuries, was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him 'brought dead'. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had to face harassment while he was in captivity in Pakistan, according to reports. He was not physically tortured but was subjected to immense mental harassment at the hands of the Pakistani Army, sources said. The officer spoke to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who visited him at the Armys Research and Referral hospital on Saturday, about the mental trauma, they added. Speaking to TNIE, an Air Force officer said, The officer was in a stressful condition for about 60 hours. Also, his back is hurt due to the ejection from the aircraft. He also had to run with his injured back after he landed in PoK. The medical checkup is expected to be complete by Sunday after which debriefing will begin. Explaining the procedure of debriefing, a senior officer said, It is a standard operating procedure for anybody returning from enemy territory. The aim is to judge whether the person has been subjected to physical-mental trauma and to confirm that nothing has been planted on his body. Abhinandan was chasing Pakistan fighter jets when his aircraft was hit and he had to eject. He landed in PoK and was captured. 2 Pak soldiers killed in firing near LoC The Pakistan Army on Saturday said that two of its soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with Indian forces near the Line of Control. The soldiers were killed in the Nakiyal Sector, it said. Indian residents of Poonch, meanwhile, have accused Pakistani troops of targeting civilian areas After inviting India, OIC supports Pak A day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke as a guest of honour at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers plenary session in Abu Dhabi, the 57-member grouping of Islamic states on Saturday supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, Pakistans foreign office claimed By Online Desk Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman sustained a rib injury as well as one on his lower spine, as revealed after a medical examination, news agency ANI reported. Sources told ANI the rib injury could have happened due to the assault by local residents in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir soon after the Indian pilot was ejected from his MiG-21 fighter plane after a dogfight across the border on Wednesday. The spinal injury is believed to be from when he was ejected from his plane. London-based lawyer and commentator Khalid Umar shared a video on Facebook on Sunday where Abhinandan with a bloodied face is seen lying face down to the ground, surrounded by an angry mob, while answering questions asked by the forces. The enraged locals are heard shouting 'shoot him'. ALSO READ | Terror inc.: The dramatic shift in India-Pakistan relations On Wednesday, Varthaman, flying a MiG 21 Bison, was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, his plane crossed over to the Pakistani side and was shot down. Abhinandan ejected safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16. The medical scan was done to check for bugs which could have been implanted in the Wing Commander's body. He was returned to India on Friday. READ HERE | PAF pilot who fell with Abhinandan lynched by Pakistani mob Varthaman will undergo more check-ups and treatment at the Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment for the next 10 days, the source said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa had met the pilot on Saturday. On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Varthaman, calling it a peace gesture. India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Varthaman unconditionally, according to top sources in New Delhi. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources said. The External Affairs Ministry also exerted pressure on Pakistan through the Arab world, they said. ALSO READ | Pakistan returns IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India; describes him as 'POW' (With ANI inputs) By PTI KOLKATA: Amid the opposition's demand for proof on the Centre's claims of terror camp strikes in Pakistan, Union Minister S S Ahluwalia has said the purpose of the strike was not to cause human casualty but to send out the message that India is capable of hitting deep inside enemy lines. Ahluwalia said neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor any government spokesperson had given any figure on casualty of air strikes. Rather, it was the Indian media and social media where the unconfirmed figures of terrorist killed were being circulated, he said. READ HERE | PM Modi says country missing Rafale, slams opposition for doubting Balakot air strike "I have seen reports in Indian media and international media and also what Modi-ji had said. After the air strike, there was a rally by Modi-ji and he didn't say anything on the casualty figures. I want to ask if Modi-ji, or any government spokesperson, or our party president Amit Shah has given any figures?" he asked reporters in Siliguri on Saturday. The minister of state for electronics and information technology said the intention of the strike was to send out a message that India is capable of destruction in Pakistan's own backyard if needed. We didn't want any human casualty, he said. ALSO READ | Trinamool Congress accuses BJP ministers of 'leaking exaggerated numbers' of Balakot air strike The video of Ahluwalia's comments was posted by the CPI(M) on its Twitter handle with a question: "Is the Govt now backtracking from its claims that they took out a Terrorist Camp in Pakistan? (sic)" When contacted, Ahluwalia reiterated that neither the government officials nor any minister has given out a figure of the casualties. "I was asked whether I stand by the government's statement or by the reports of Indian media which have said 300-350 terrorists where killed. I stand by the government's statement. How can I vouch for media reports," he told PTI. The Darjeeling BJP MP's comments come in the wake of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioning the Modi government over the air strike. Banerjee on Thursday demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps by the Indian Air Force. She also said the opposition parties want to know the details of the operation. ALSO READ | Congress demoralizing jawans by asking for air strike proof: PM Modi at Patna rally Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Just ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday tried to breach the Gandhi citadel by giving a development push to Amethi, the high profile parliamentary constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who has been representing it in Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms since 2004. It was PM Modi's first visit to Amethi after coming to power in 2014, in the constituency which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family for decades after decades. PM Modi previously visited Amethi on May 5, 2014 and the BJP, which had fielded party leader Smriti Irani against the Congress chief in 2014 general election. Though she lost the seat but made an impact by shrinking the victory margin of Rahul Gandhi considerably from 3 lakhs in 2009 to one lakh in 2014. Irani has been nurturing the constituency since and is tipped off to be the BJP candidate against Rahul Gandhi once again in 2019. While dedicating the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limiteds venture worth Rs 12000 crore for manufacturing the ultra-modern iconic assault rifles of Automatic Kalashnikov series AK-203at Kaurva ordinance factory in Amethi, the PM charged the previous Congress-led UPA government ignoring very basic requirements of the armed forces. He rather claimed that the Indo-Russian venture it would not only prosper the armoury of defence forces by adding 7.5 lakh AK-203 to it but would also consolidate the economy as it would be exported too. However, he launched a major offensive against Congress chief by accusing him of neglecting the concerns of the forces and breaking the promises made to the people of Amethi. Our forces will now use rifles made in Amethi. Even Amethi will get a new identity., said the PM. He claimed the work in the ordinance factory at Kaurava should have started 8-9 years ago. Our forces had then made a request to the govt mentioning their needs. This was the reason this factory was sanctioned. The foundation was laid by your MP in 2007 and a promise was made to make it functional by 2010. But he could neither identify land for the factory nor could even decide on the arms to be manufactured here, maintained the PM. He added that at the time of laying foundation, Rahul Gandhi had promised jobs to 1500 youths but ended up giving only to 200. He then continued his onslaught by saying some people roamed all over the world saying Made in Ujjain, Made in Indore, etc. But we have turned Made in Amethi into a reality, he said. PM Modi mentioned Rafale deal to substantiate his claim of negligence of Congress governments towards armed forces. They sat on Rafale fighter jet deal for years and then pushed it to the back burner deliberately as they could not extract their share of kickbacks from it, claimed the PM accusing the Congress chief of now spearheading a fake campaign against the deal as the first aircraft was set to arrive in a few months. He said people should be reminded how the government delayed acquisition of bulletproof jackets for our forces. Between 2009 to 2014 -- bulletproof jackets were not purchased for our jawans. But our government took the initiative. 2,30,000 bulletproof jackets for the forces have been bought only by our government, he stated. Flanked by UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Defence minister Nirmala Sithraman and Union textile minister Smriti Irani, the PM accorded credit for bringing a number of development projects on ground in Amethi to Irani. Those who voted for us and those who did not, all belong to us. They all are our own people, said Modi at the outset striking an emotional connect with the cheering crowd. Claiming that the BJP leaders had worked harder for the people of Amethi than their elected MP, PM Modi took the dynasty jibe saying it was the legacy of certain families to forget the electorate after getting the votes. So that they can always cash in on the slogan of garibi hatao and win elections after elections with no sensitivity towards the poor and deprived, he added. He also mentioned the annoyance of the farmers of Amethi against Rahul Gandhi. Earlier, the PM launched and laid foundation stones of 17 development projects in Amethi relating to power, education, health and manufacturing sectors worth Rs 538 crore. UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani also addressed the people of Amethi. By PTI KOLKATA: Hitting out at BJP president Amit Shah for his criticism of opposition parties which questioned airstrikes in Pakistan, the TMC Sunday said the saffron party leader should refrain from "lecturing others" on patriotism as he was a "proponent of divisive and hatred politics". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should stop taking credit for the airstrike as the armed forces belong to India, not to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Shah, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said. "Amit Shah and the BJP are the nastiest proponents of divisive and hatred politics. We will not listen to his lectures on patriotism. Our armed forces belong to India, not to Modi-Shah's BJP," Brien, who is also a TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha, said. READ| Opposition playing cheap politics by questioning armed forces: BJP chief Amit Shah hose who had cowered down during the Independence movement are giving sermons on patriotism, O' Brien stated. "Khaki-chaddi wearing men who were hiding under desks during the entire Independence movement are now handing out certificates of patriotism. Thanks. But no thanks," he said in an apparent reference to the RSS, the ideological parent of the saffron party.Shah on Saturday said the ones who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers, when in power, were raising doubts on the recent airstrike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made Pakistan happy. "The armed forces have said in a press conference that they have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it? You should desist from such cheap politics," Shah said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally in Madhya Pradesh. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday demanded evidence of the pre-emptive strike on Jaish-e- Mohammed training camps in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force. She also said that the opposition parties wanted to know the details of the operation. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Three months after violence that rocked western UP district of Bualandshahr over alleged cow slaughter and subsequent mob frenzy claiming two lives incluing Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a civilian, the district police filed the chargesheet against 38 persons, including Bajrang Dal local convenor Yogesh Raj and BJP youth wing leader Shikhar Agarwal, for violence in the court of chief judicial magistrate Arvind Pandey. While five persons were charged with the murder of the inspector Singh. According to Additional director general, Meerut zone, Prashant Kumar, total 38 persons were chargesheeted for their role in December 3 violence following recovery of caracasses of over a dozen cows from a field in Mahaw village under Chingrawati police station area in the district. Five were booked for murder while the remaining, including Yogesh Raj and Shikhar Agarwal, have been chargesheeted for arson and violence and rioting, said the ADG. READ HERE | Bulandshahr violence: Slain police officer was attacked with stones, axe before being shot, claim cops In fact, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up after the incident which had submitted a 3400 page case diary and 103page chargesheet against 5 charged with murder of inspector Subodh Kumar Singh. Following the gruesome incident, an FIR was lodged against 27 named persons and around 80 unidentified people at the Syana police station for the violence. While Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was killed by the bullet shots of his own service revolver snatched from him by the trouble makers, Sumit Kumar, a 20-year-old protester, was also killed by the same weapon as the inspector had fired in air to save his life from the rampaging crowd. The Syana violence had hit national headlines with a massive hunt launched for Yogesh Raj and Shikhar Agarwal who were on the run. Police, too, had come under scanner for not being able to arrest the two, who were continuously releasing videos claiming innocence on the social media. Exactly a month after the violence, Yogesh was arrested on January 3 while Agarwal was nabbed from Hapur on January 10. Notably, police had arrested another prime accused Kalua in the case who had admitted to have attacked the inspector with an axe inflicting around a dozen wounds on his head and other body parts during the unrest. On December 27, police had rounded up the Prashant Natt, who allegedly pulled the trigger at the inspector leaving him dead after the alleged axe attack by Kalua. Bulandshahr superintendent of police (city) Atul Kumar Srivastava said that in all 39 persons were in jail. The five chargesheeted for murder of the inspector included Prashant Natt, Johnny, David, Lokender and Rahul. By Express News Service MANDYA: In all, 41 tourists from West Bengal sustained injuries and 19 others escaped unhurt after a bus they were travelling in fell into a vacant field on the outskirts of Maddur town on the Mysuru-Bengaluru road on Sunday. The tourists, who hail from 24 Paraganas and surrounding districts in West Bengal, had set out on a tour on February 17. While four among the 41 tourists suffered fractures, the remaining suffered minor injuries and are being treated at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS). In all 60 were travelling in the bus when the mishap occurred, said Maddur traffic police personnel. The mishap occurred when the bus driver, Nirmal Mandal, lost control over the vehicle near Aishwarya School, when a truck moving in front of them slowed down. Though he turned towards his left, to avoid hitting the heavy vehicle, he lost control, as a sugarcane laden tractor had been parked in the middle of the road. One of the tyres of the tractor had punctured as well. Eventually, the bus veered off the road and plunged into the field, before overturning, resulting in the injuries. The tourists who had visited tourist spots in and around Mysuru on Saturday, were travelling towards Bengaluru on Sunday, when the mishap took place, he added. Following the incident, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy called on the injured persons at the hospital. He also told media that the CM had spoken to his counterpart in West Bengal in this regard. Anand ST Das By Express News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took on the Opposition parties aggressively over last months air strikes on terror camps across the Indo-Pak border, accusing them of conspiring to finish him off instead of cooperating for the elimination of terrorism. When the countrys able military is crushing terror, some people within the country are trying to weaken the citizens voices and damage the militarys morale, thus emboldening the enemy. Their words are causing applause in Pakistan, he said at the massive Sankalp rally of NDA at Patnas historic Gandhi Maidan. Accusing 21 Opposition parties of getting together to pass a condemnation proposal against the NDA government after the Pulwama attack, Modi said: The people of Bihar and the people of the country will never forgive these parties. I am working day and night to take India to new heights. But they (Congress-led UPA) are busy conspiring to crush me down. Their conspiracies are out now. The people will punish them once again, said the PM. They ask people to come together to crush Modi, but Modi asks people to come together to crush terrorism. They want to eliminate Modi, but I want to eliminate poverty, terrorism, corruption, malnutrition, he added. #WATCH PM Modi in Patna: Now they have even started asking for proof of the #AirStrike. Why are Congress and its allies demoralizing our forces? Why are they giving statements which are benefiting our enemies? pic.twitter.com/cvSZd1ZBWd ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2019 Stressing that the attitude of Congress-led governments towards terrorism has been inadequate and weak, Modi said India is now moving ahead with new line of decisive action against terrorism. Should we speak of anything that causes cheers in Pakistan? Now they (Opposition parties) have also started seeking evidence of the air strikes on terror bases across the border. I want to ask Congress leaders why they are so keen on breaking our militarys morale, said the PM as the sizeable crowd cheered. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi politicising bravery of soldiers, says Congress In a clear reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhis chanting of Chowkidar chor hai (watchman is a thief) at a UPA rally in neighbouring Jharkhand on Saturday, Modi said: Congress and its allies are busy abusing the countrys chowkidar. But rest assured, the chowkidar is fully alert on every front at every moment, starting from the security of the poor to the security of the countrys borders, he said. With this rally, which saw the PM and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U) sharing an NDA dais for the first time in nine years, Modi effectively sounded the bugle for the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. He attacked Congress and Bihars main Opposition party RJD over corruption and inattention to the basic needs of citizens. READ HERE | PM Modi says country missing Rafale, slams opposition for doubting Balakot air strike We (NDA government) are taking all decisions for the nations safety and the welfare of the poor with full commitment and authority. Such strong decisions will keep being taken in future, said Modi. Accusing the previous UPA government of deliberate inaction in strengthening the countrys basic infrastructure, Modi said: The NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee had started so many welfare schemes and infrastructure projects in the country. But the Congress-led government that followed made the pace of those initiatives too slow. Our Nitish Kumar is a himself witness to this. From 2014 till today, the (governments) stress has been on strengthening the countrys basic infrastructure. After 2019, the priorities will be on taking the country forward to new heights in the 21st century. In the past five years, the NDA government has created a solid base for a new India, added the PM. ALSO READ | Radar photos confirm four Jaish buildings were hit during Balakot strike, say officials Warning voters against voting for UPA, Modi said: If there comes a maha-milawat government in the country, there will be no strong decisions and no welfare of the poor. They (UPA) have no real concerns for the welfare of the poor and the empowerment of the nation. Nitish Kumar praised the PM for the air strikes on Pakistan-based terror camps and for the infrastructure and welfare projects. Modi would once again become PM, he said, adding that all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar would go in NDAs kitty. The rally was also addressed by Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of BJP. By Online Desk As the petition to nominate Pakistan PM Imran Khan became viral, a recent post by former Indian Civil Service officer Shah Faesal praising Imran Khan's conduct during the India-Pakistan standoff has drawn flak on social media. A resolution was submitted in the Pakistan Parliament on Saturday to endorse Prime Minister Imran Khan for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Information minister Fawad Chaudhry submitted the resolution in the secretariat of the National Assembly, the lower house. The resolution stated that Imran's decision to release Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has de-escalated hostilities between Pakistan and India, which made the Pakistan PM Nobel-worthy. ALSO READ: 'Nobel' Imran: K(h)an he be awarded? No peace yet on Twitter! Amidst the chaos on social media about the ongoing crisis, ex-IAS officer Shah Faesal's post has been received in a bad light by the netizens. The 35-year-old wrote on Facebook that Imran Khan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for saving South Asia from a Nuclear catastrophe. "His (Imran Khan) conduct during this entire India-Pak crisis has been exemplary and he has raised the bar for leadership in the region. A Nobel Peace Prize will encourage him to continue with his peace mission and help other nations in the neighbourhood," the post read. He also tweeted that a Nobel Peace Prize to Imran Khan could drastically change the way Pakistan operates in the South Asia region. A Nobel Peace Prize to @ImranKhanPTI could drastically change the way Pakistan operates in the South Asia region. IK has already raised the bar for leadership in the region, and the Prize could encourage him to further nurture the India-Pak relationship. He deserves the prize. Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) March 2, 2019 The ex-officer even defended his stance in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt. A lot of people opposed his views and took to the social media platforms to criticise him. Here are some of the reactions. Have you lost it?Forgotten what led to this? 44 CRPF killed by a terror group based in Pakistan. How is that raising the bar for leadership? And peace prizes do not alter how a leader behaves. Just look at Obama. Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) March 2, 2019 Not everyone who passes IAS is an intellectual. Am pretty sure this fellow got to clear IAS only on he basis of his minority or Kashmiri tag. Raghav (@rp_shastry) March 2, 2019 Very disappointing. Just goes on to show how imperfect Civil Services selection process is. Why not joint Nobel with Masood Azhar or his orgn Jaish e Mohammed! Hermanprit Singh (@hermanprit) March 3, 2019 The petition nominating Imran Khan for the Nobel Prize has been signed by over 2 lakh people online. The relationship between India and Pakistan has been very rocky post the deadly Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans. By IANS NEW DELHI: The hysteria unleashed on social media platforms after Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's plane crashed in Pakistani territory on February 27 is partly responsible for the sudden shift in focus from fighting cross-border terrorism to bringing the pilot back home, experts believe. The country erupted into joyous celebration following Abhinandan's release after spending over 60 hours in Pakistani captivity. "Social media did help to build pressure on Pakistan to quickly release the pilot which is excellent. But the hectic activity on social media contributed to derailing the counter-terror measures that the government had initiated after the Pulwama attack on February 14 that killed 40 CRPF troopers," Pavan Duggal, one of the nation's top cyberlaw experts, told IANS. In a video circulated on social media, the IAF pilot was shown as demonstrating great courage in withholding sensitive information, including his whereabouts in India. However, social media users wasted no time in giving away that information, without realising that whatever they posted were available for a global audience. ALSO RAED: After Abhinandan's bravery, his gunslinger moustache style trends "Indian social media users did not exercise the restraint that they were supposed to have in times like these. They were posting without understanding their ramifications. The way they were circulating information, most of which were fake, demonstrated that they became victims of psychological warfare controlled by foreign powers," Duggal said. "Abhinandan was part of a broader strategy, but that broader strategy receded into the background partly due to the hectic activity on social media," he said, adding, that a lot of what the mainstream media showed was somehow linked to content on social media. Leading tech policy and media consultant Prasanto K. Roy agreed with Duggal when he said that much of the information that was moving fast in social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook was neither genuine nor true. ALSO READ: Wing Commander Abhinandan subjected to mental harassment during his captivity in Pakistan "We have seen a flurry of fake information and edited videos being circulated on social media from both sides of the border," Roy told IANS, adding that some of those information circulated in social media might have been very painful to the family of the Indian pilot who was captured in Pakistan. "The impact of social media has been overwhelmingly negative during the period following India's an air strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan on February 26," he added. So what happens when people do not exercise self-restraint in a situation like the one India faced over the past 10 days? "In such a case when self-regulation becomes ineffective, it will be a good idea to come up with specific guidelines which should govern the behaviour and the acts done on social media during important moments of our national interest," Duggal said. ALSO READ: Bengaluru-based institute to certify Abhinandan before resuming combat flying "We have in place something called Information Technology (Intermediaries guidelines) Rules, 2011 which often asks service providers to inform people not to do certain activities on their platform. "But the IT Rules 2011 don't have teeth. I think there should be now a dedicated provision for legal consequences should you violate these provisions," Duggal noted. Overall, he said, this episode can be seen as a learning experience for social media users as this is the first time they were confronted with a situation of this magnitude and importance. "Social media users should become warriors for the country rather than impacting India's sovereign interest. At the same time, the government should also not be influenced by the change in the course of social media discourses," Duggal said. By PTI NEW DELHI: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became the face of the tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible, officials said Sunday. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital here. Varthaman told senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest, the officials told PTI. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight. He returned to India to a hero's welcome on Friday night. His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said. "The efforts have been to ensure that he returns to the cockpit soon," said a military official. READ HERE | Varthamans a MiG-21 family: Abhinandan flies it, earlier dad Simhakutty flew it The officials said Varthaman has been in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Varthaman arrived in the national capital on an IAF flight around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa met Varthaman separately on Saturday during which he apprised them about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his captivity in Pakistan. During the meeting, the defence minister commended him on his valour and expressed the nation's gratitude for his selfless service. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Indias standing has grown taller among Islamic countries in the world lately due to efforts by the NDA government he heads. For the first time in 50 years, India was invited to a summit of Islamic countries. In these 50 years, India had governments of Congress and its allies, he said at an NDA rally in Bihar capital Patna, referring to the plenary of the foreign ministers conclave of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an influential grouping of 57 Islamic countries. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural plenary of OIC as the guest of honour. OIC, the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations, had last invited India in 1969. There had been no invitation ever since as Pakistan had prevailed upon and got the invitations withdrawn every successive year. LISTEN | OIC invite to India rights a historic wrong, says ex-envoy to Saudi Arabia In his address at the massive Sankalp rally of NDA at Patnas historic Gandhi Maidan, Modi blamed the previous Congress-led governments for making no effort towards ensuring that India is invited to the OIC summit. During the Saudi Crown Princes recent visit to Delhi, I asked him to raise the Haj quota from India as more and more Muslims want to go for Haj. He raised it to two lakh. This happened to no other country. Indias voice was heard and respected, said Modi. I also told the Saudi Crown Prince about the plight of Indian immigrants who have been put in jails there for minor offences. The same evening he offered me sweets, saying he has decided to release 850 Indians from Saudi jails. I thank him with all my heart, added the PM. With Muslims comprising about 17 per cent of Bihars population and playing a crucial role in electoral outcomes, Modis speech is widely seen as an effort by the BJP-led NDA to woo the states minority community ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. ALSO READ | Terrorism 'common concern', says Saudi Crown Prince after talks with PM Modi Indias largest Muslim-populated area after the Kashmir Valley and Lakshadweep happens to be Bihars Kishanganj district, where about 78 per cent of the population is Muslim. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Four coal miners died at an illegal mine in Longleng district of Nagaland. Official sources said the persons died in a mudslide. However, some sought to suggest that the victims died after inhaling toxic gas. The deaths occurred at Yonglok village on the Assam-Nagaland border on Saturday. The victims hailed from Assam. Three of them were identified as Krishna Gogoi, Tutu Neog and one Dhaneswar. The fourth was yet to be identified. According to a report that I received, the deaths were not caused by toxic gas. They (victims) had gone to the open mine, where they worked earlier, to collect their belongings as it has suspended mining activities. It was then that the mudslide occurred and it took their lives. However, I am awaiting a detailed report from my officers, Longleng Deputy Commissioner (District Magistrate), John Tsulise Sangtam, told this correspondent. READ HERE | Second heavily decomposed body brought out of rat-hole mine in Meghalaya The official also said that illegal mining activities had stopped everywhere in Nagaland as the state government issued a ban last month. Later, the four victims went back home and they returned to collect their belongings, he said. According to him, incessant rainfall, which occurred in Longleng district for about a week till Saturday, might have triggered the mudslide. Following the tragedy, the bodies of the victims were taken away to Assam by their families. The families took away the bodies. They refused the conduct of post-mortem. After obtaining certificates from the families, the bodies were delivered, the DM added. The incident is a grim reminder of the December 13 tragedy at an illegal rat-hole coalmine in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills in which at least 15 miners died. So far, only two bodies could be retrieved. Efforts are on to retrieve the remaining bodies. Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un bids farewell to Vietnamese officials and people at Dong Dang station (Source: VNA) This is the first official friendship visit to Vietnam made by Kim, Chairman of the Workers Party and the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, since he became the countrys leader in 2011. He is also the first DPRK leader who has visited Vietnam after 55 years. Earlier, the founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung visited Vietnam in 1958 and 1964. Bidding farewell to the DPRK Chairman at Dong Dang station were Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of its Commission for Popularization and Education; Mai Tien Dung, member of the CPVCC and Minister-Chairman of the Government Office; Pham Thanh Ha, Vice Chairperson of the President Office; and Le Hoai Trung, member of the CPVCC and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others. Within the framework of his visit, Kim held talks with General Secretary of the CPVCC and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and had meetings with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. At the talks and meetings, both sides agreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts; as well as to expand the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisation channels to increase mutual understanding in fields of common demand. They will effectively maintain regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, including the deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Scientific-Technological Cooperation; explore the possibility of mutually-beneficial collaboration in fields suitable to each side; expand cultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges; and hold activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020. On regional and global issues, they pledged to work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and to intensify the exchange of ideas on issues regarding peace and stability maintenance in the region and the world. On this occasion, Chairman Kim and the DPRKs high-ranking delegation paid tribute to late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs. The delegation also visited several economic models of Vietnam and the UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage Ha Long Bay in northern province of Quang Ninh./. By ANI LUCKNOW: Remaining firm on his stance on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman joining the Air Force during the UPA government, Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid clarified that he was only "stating the truth" and not "taking credit". "I did not say the attack happened during my tenure, I had said that the person who was attacked was commissioned in the Air Force during our tenure. I had only stated the truth. I did not take credit," he told ANI. A day ahead, Khurshid had tweeted "Many kudos for Wing Commander Abhi Varthaman the face of India's resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA" and faced backlash for the same. Many kudos for Wing Commander abhi Varthaman the face of Indias resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) March 2, 2019 On February 27, the MiG 21 Bison which was being flown by Abhinandan was chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters which had transgressed into the Indian airspace, and in the process, was shot down after it crossed over to the Pakistani side. Abhinandan ejected safely but was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing. Thanks for opening my eyes! It is mature to describe what happened as pilot project as PM did or 20 seats for the strike. Now who should retire? Who is dumb? Pathetic that you trolls are on such pay rolls. Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) March 3, 2019 Before his plane was shot, he had hit a Pakistani F-16. READ HERE | Abhinandan suffered spinal injury after plane ejection, rib injury during Pakistani mob assault: Report On March 1, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Varthaman, calling it a peace gesture. India used diplomatic and military pressure to ensure that Pakistan releases Varthaman unconditionally, top sources in New Delhi said. India mounted pressure on Pakistan through the international community, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval holding talks with the US and other P-5 countries, the sources added. By PTI NEW DELHI: Accusing the Congress-led UPA of running a 'terrible' government and even a 'more terrible' opposition, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said their statements have hurt India's national interest and gave handle to Pakistan to discredit the country. Within days of India's air strike at Balakot, the 21 opposition parties led by the Congress passed a resolution accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents. "Statements made by opposition parties (after IAF's counter terror operation in Balakot) hurt India's national interest. They give smiles to Pakistan and become an instrument in Pakistan's hands to discredit India's operation against terrorism," Jaitley said in a blog, stressing that on such occasions the nation ought to speak in one voice as was done by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jan Sangh during the 1971 war. Terming the resolution passed by 21 opposition parties as inappropriate, he said, it gave a handle to the enemy and Pakistan's media used the statement as a trump card. The government had twice taken the leaders of opposition parties into confidence, he said. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi politicising bravery of soldiers, says Congress Referring to the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the finance minister said that he sought to elevate himself to the status of a neutral third party while raising doubts about India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. "I was most disappointed with a brief but a highly objectionable statement of the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh," Jaitley said. While receiving the PV Narasimha Rao Award for the lifetime achievement, Singh had stated that he was disturbed with the "Mad rush of mutual self-destruction" by the two nations. Singh further went on to argue that poverty, ignorance and disease were the real problems in the two countries and that saner counsel on both sides needed to think on the issue. Jaitley wondered that there was no condemnation of terrorism in that speech of the former prime minister. Implicitly, he doubts India's right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism, he said. Jaitley further said: "The Congress-led UPA Government from 2004 to 2014 ran a terrible Government. From 2014 to 2019, it was even a more terrible Opposition". ALSO READ | Congress demoralizing jawans by asking for air strike proof: PM Modi at Patna rally Pointing that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went a step further, he said, she started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. "The credibility of both the Government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions," he said in a Facebook post titled India's Opposition Has A Lot To Learn. Jaitley emphasised that the Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also essential ingredients of public discourse. He expressed hope that India's Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation. Jaitley also pointed that the retaliatory attack by Pakistan's F-16 was the most botched up operation and the neighbouring country was globally isolated. "Not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of its terrorism has reached the Security Council. So helpless was the situation that it was in no position to even admit the attack at Balakot. If it had admitted the attack and its consequences, the evidence of a terrorist camp in existence and the list of dead terrorists would have been international issue," he said. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Congress Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself "questioned" the recent anti-terror air strike in Pakistan by his remarks that the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. The party also said it had neither sought proof of such strike earlier nor is it asking for it now. "The prime minister has himself questioned the air strike. He said had the Rafale jets been there (with the IAF), the results would have been different. What is the meaning of this?" Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari posed during a press conference here. Asserting that the prime minister should himself explain what would have been different with Rafale jets, he held Modi responsible for the delay in induction of the French-made fighter jets into the IAF by "cancelling" the earlier negotiations. This is an insult to our armed forces. Theyre the pride of India since Independence and fought & won us many battles. Why did you reduce the number of aircrafts from 126 to 36 & give the offset contract to your inexperienced friend #DoubleA instead of HAL? #ChowkidarChorHai https://t.co/YvwjCuVoTC Congress (@INCIndia) March 3, 2019 Modi had on Saturday hit out at the opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan and said the country was feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. READ HERE: Congress demoralizing jawans by asking for air strike proof: PM Modi at Patna rally "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he had said at the India Today Conclave. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the prime minister of being "solely responsible" for the delay in arrival of Rafale jets. "Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Crore and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets. YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets (sic)," Gandhi had said on Twitter. By IANS KOLKATA: Several people, mostly BJP members, were injured as clashes broke out in various parts of West Bengal on Sunday when police sought to stop party activists from taking out 'Vijay Sankalp' bike rallies. Launched by Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday, the bike rallies are a part of the party's nationwide outreach campaign ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, in West Bengal, the rallies were denied permission because of board examinations and traffic issues, a senior police officer said. In Kolkata, police intercepted rally participants on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points. In West Medinipur's Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to a baton charge by police and a scuffle, which left several people injured. The BJP, in a statement, claimed that 40 workers were injured, 22 arrested and 200 bikes vandalised in West Medinipur. In South Dinjapur, 10 were injured, while as many as 176 workers were arrested in Asansol, with two of them seriously injured. In north Kolkata, 35 workers were taken into custody and 10 workers were badly injured, the statement said. BJP state unit President Dilip Ghosh said if the police and the administration continued to create hindrances to their party programmes, the party would retaliate. "The workers were deliberately attacked and instigated to retaliate, leading to disruptions on the streets. Police wanted us to resist, so that Trinamool could make it an issue and that is what exactly happened," Ghosh said. However, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee warned the administration would strongly oppose all such efforts to spread communal violence. He said as a political party, the Trinamool would ensure peace and harmony in the state. "Sometimes, BJP takes out a bike rally, sometimes they spread tension and they only create a ruckus. Today in the name of 'Vijay Sankalp', they planned to create communal tension, against which we are urging the people to remain united," he said. By IANS AMETHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit on Sunday to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, posters opposing him have cropped up in many parts of the Uttar Pradesh district. Put up by Jaisingh Pratap Yadav, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, the posters and banners ask Modi to give "the report card of his five years in power" and to "go back". Yadav, who is a member of the state executive of the SP, has alleged step-motherly treatment with the constituency. He also details issues like the Mega Food Park, Hindustan Paper Mill and the IT projects which he accused the Modi government of taking it away from Amethi. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi politicising bravery of soldiers, says Congress Besides laying the foundation stones for developmental projects and addressing a public rally in Amethi, Modi will on Sunday unveil an Indo-Russian ordnance factory that will produce the iconic Kalashnikov rifles. At Kauhar, the Prime Minister will open the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd - a joint venture between India's ordnance factory and a Russian firm. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who unsuccessfully contested against the Gandhi scion in 2014 and has been since then rearing the constituency as her own, has inspected the ground and other venues ahead of Modi's visit. By PTI LUCKNOW: Notwithstanding his differences with the BJP, Shatrughan Sinha said Sunday he will not change his constituency in the coming Lok Sabha election "whatever the situation", making clear he would contest again from Patna Sahib seat irrespective of the party decision. "Situation kuch bhi ho, location wahi hogi (Whatever the situation, location would be same)," Sinha told PTI on the phone from Ranchi. The sitting Patna Sahib lawmaker has been at loggerheads with the current BJP leadership since the 2015 Bihar election, over several issues. He has often taken a stance at variance with the official party line, including on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax, and shared the stage with opposition leaders at an anti-BJP rally in Kolkata in January, where he was projected as the "star speaker". READ| A U-turn by Shatrughan Sinha would not guarantee him a party ticket: BJP n a recent visit to Lucknow, he had held a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, giving rise to speculation his wife Poonam Sinha may enter active politics from the Uttar Pradesh capital, currently represented in Lok Sabha by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Asked about it, the actor-turned-politician said he will neither confirm nor deny this. "Poonam Sinha has been busy with social work for long. She is liked by all. People want her to contest but whether this will happen or not only time will tell," Shatrughan Sinha, 72, said. Following his meeting with Yadav, there was also a talk that Sinha could contest the general election, which must be held by May, on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He had also visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters and joined Yadav on Jai Prakash Jayanti programme with Yashwant Sinha. The SP and Bahujan Samaj Party have forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the general election, deciding to contest 37 and 38 seats respectively. They have left Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and three other seats ostensibly for RLD. By PTI BEIJING: A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer has reappeared two days after going missing following his release from a jail sentence for state subversion, his wife said Sunday. Jiang Tianyong - who took on high-profile cases including those of Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan protesters - was one of more than 200 lawyers and activists detained in a 2015 clampdown on courtroom critics of Communist authorities. ALSO READ | Chinese rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang jailed for 'subversion' The 47-year-old had disappeared Thursday after completing his two-year jail sentence before he finally reappeared in his hometown of Xinyang, Henan province, said his US-based wife. Supporters had said police outside the jail he was released from told them he had been "taken away" but did not specify by whom. "After not seeing each other for six years, we were finally able to talk and video chat," Jin Bianling told AFP. But even though Jiang has been released from jail, "he is still not free", she added. "He is living at his parents' home now, but there are police stationed outside. Wherever he goes, the police follow him," said Jin. "I am also worried that he could disappear at any time, so I hope he can come to the US as soon as possible to reunite with us." ALSO READ | Activists detained as China rights lawyer trial begins It is not uncommon for human rights activists and dissidents in China to remain under surveillance or face ongoing restrictions after they serve their prison sentences. Hu Jia, a Beijing-based activist who served a three-year jail sentence in 2008, says he has been under intermittent house arrest since 2004. The disappearance of Jiang, who was charged with "inciting subversion" in 2017, also comes as China continues to clamp down on human rights activists and lawyers in the country. In January, Wang Quanzhang, another well-known Chinese lawyer swept up in the 2015 crackdown, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for "subverting state power". Wang, who defended political activists and victims of land seizures, was part of a now-defunct law firm called Beijing Fengrui. The law firm, which specialised in cases involving farmers' land rights, labour camps and criminal rights saw at least five lawyers detained in 2015. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In a major decision, the Uttar Pradesh government is contemplating to enter into an agreement with the Gujarat government seeking its technical support in the construction of a proposed huge statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The proposal was given approval to this effect at the cabinet meeting chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath on Saturday night. The proposal provides for signing an MOU between UP and Gujarat governments for guidance and support on technical aspects, design etc, an official spokesman said here on Sunday. The cabinet also gave its nod to Rs 200 crore for the preparation of a detailed project report and the acquisition of 28.28 hectares of land identified for setting up the statue by the district magistrate of Ayodhya, the spokesman said A trust headed by UP CM would monitor the project much on the lines of Gujarat's Statue of Unity. Moreover, a high-powered committee would also be set up to ensure smooth construction work. As per the details of the ambitious project which is being seen as a cover-up by the ruling BJP as it failed to move much on temple issue, the area around the statue would have a digital museum, interpretation centre, library, parking space, food place etc.. As per Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Tourism, Avinish Awasthi, the project would be completed within a minimum of three years. It would be financed through corporate social responsibility fund, said the government spokesman. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: In Dekuna, a predominantly tribal hamlet in Bastar, a known Maoist stronghold in south Chhattisgarh, youths dream of serving the nation by joining the armed forces. Interacting with young boys and girls here gives one the sense that they have almost made up their minds to defend the nation's frontiers in time. For them, being in the armed forces is the only vocation that comes closest to serving the country and they simply can't wait for the day when they enroll as troopers. Barely 15 km away from Kanker, a hotbed of Maoist insurgency and home to the district headquarters, Dekuna has as many as 40 youths currently serving in the armed forces. The number is significant when one considers that the village has a population of about a 1,000. Locals claimed that several of the residents are ex-service personnel. While the village mostly sends its men to guard the front lines, the women, are, not far behind, when it comes to joining the state police or the armed forces. After the Pulwama terror strike, which claimed the lives of over 40 paramilitary personnel, and the subsequent cross-border air strikes on a terror camp nestling in Pakistan to avenge the killings, the entire village stood with the armed forces. "This lesser known hamlet is also called a village of brave jawans," Dharmendra Mahapatra, a local journalist, said. He added that while agriculture remains the primary source of earning a livelihood here, nearly every household has a son or daughter in the armed forces. The villagers have even put up a poster, displaying images of youths enrolled in the army and paramilitary forces, to let visitors know that they are in the land of Dekuna Defenders. "The poster is also our way to inspire youths of neighbouring villages to pick up the gun to defend our motherland," Tan Singh Hori, a local, said. "It's because of our soldiers, who defend our borders, that we sleep peacefully. The air strike on terror camps after the Pulwama attack filled us with pride," Tukeshwar Jain, a former Army personnel, said. He said he was posted in Jammu & Kashmir and Doklam, among other places, during his 20 years in the service. "Here, the youths take inspiration from the elders to join the forces. Youths from such little known villages often turn up at recruitment rallies and prepare themselves physically to qualify," Kanker SP KL Dhruv said. South Africa: President Ramaphosa arrives in Eswatini for working visit President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in the Kingdom of Eswatini for a working visit. The President and His Majesty King Mswati III will today hold discussions on bilateral, regional and continental issues, as well as international developments, said the Presidency in a statement on Sunday. South Africa and Eswatini have cordial bilateral relations, which are informed by cultural affinities, geographical proximity and historical ties dating back to the struggle against colonialism and apartheid in South Africa. The structured bilateral relations between the two countries are conducted through the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC), which was established on 20 December 2004, and is convened at a Ministerial Level, read the statement. Furthermore, both countries have signed 21 bilateral agreements, which serve as legal instruments for cooperation in areas such as cross-border movement of people and goods, trade and investment, health, defence and policing, among others. South Africa is the largest trading partner of Eswatini. Total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to R 33.4 billion in 2017, with exports from South Africa amounting to R 17.1 billion, whilst imports from the Kingdom reached a value of R16.2 billion. The President is accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and State Security Minister Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Photo for illustration (Source: AFP/VNA) Vietrade and Amazon experts will guide the firms how to complete export-import and customs procedures, build online shops on Amazon.com, study the US market and develop their products and brands. The businesses will also receive training on e-commerce and selling skills on Amazon. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), 98.1 percent of Vietnams businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Meanwhile, the World Bank reported that 60 percent of SMEs in 2018 could not access loans from official sources. They still cannot make appropriate investments to upgrade the quality of products for both domestic consumption and exports. Before Amazon, Walmart carried out a campaign to seek Vietnamese suppliers. Vinamit's fruit chips are available at Walmart China, while Trung Nguyen coffee is sold at Walmarts in Chile, Brazil, Mexico and China. Vietnams e-commerce value climbed to about USD4 billion in 2015 and hit USD5.1 billion in 2016 and USD6.2 billion in 2017, becoming one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Revenue from online retail in the country is forecast to hit USD10 billion by 2020, accounting for 5 percent of the countrys retail market./. By PTI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the National Security Council on Sunday following heightened tensions with Pakistan. Official sources said the meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Besides the union ministers, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle were also present. The NSA is tasked with advising the prime minister on matters of national security. It was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor (NSA). The NSC keeps meeting on regular basis but the latest meet assumes significance owing to the latest security scenario. Tensions between India and Pakistan soared after the country carried out air strike on terrorist camp across the border, after the Pulwama terror attack. In response to India's air strike, Pakistan air force intruded into Indian territory, leading to a confrontation between the two forces. Valson Thampu By Pope Francis began well by acknowledging that the sexual abuse of nuns and children was rampant among priests and bishops. A vast number of nuns, he said, were condemned to live like sex-slaves. These abused nuns suffer in silence because they fear retaliation, which also means they fear for their life in case they resisted. They are, he said, brainwashed into submitting themselves to religious authorities. The prospect of resisting them or exposing them in public terrifies them. The Pope said that the time to eradicate this atrocity had come. So far, so good. But there is a worrisome note in what the Pope said thereafter. Behind this, there is Satan. He added, In these painful cases I see the hand of evil that does not spare even the innocence of the little ones. This takes the sting out of the Popes forthright stand earlier. If Satan is the real villain, redressal recedes to the intractable realm of the supernatural. The problem in expecting solutions to emerge from a distance or from cosmic sources is that it blinds us to what we can do for ourselves. The solutions for all of our problems are within our own reach, provided we care and dare to do what we can. By expecting solutions for local problems to be supplied from afar, we prove ourselves unworthy of remedies. We prove ourselves deserving of nothing other than the present swamp of degradation, if we are content to stay acquiescent in the status quo. The Popes transference of responsibility to Satan means, in ecclesial lingo, something like, The real culprit is not priests or bishops. Left to themselves, the poor guys would be harmless. But Satan will not let them be. He stands breathing down over them. So, how can they, poor souls, help being what they are? Significantly, the Pope does not say why Satan should be so intimate with them. Or, why the said Satan should have greater authority over them than God or himself. Thats why Christians need to think remedies afresh and do what they can locally. I outline below a practical strategy to that end. The first part of the strategy is derived from Jesuss condemnation of priests as hypocrites. A hypocritegoing by the Greek root of that wordis an actor. Believers in all religions need to realize that priests are no more than actors. Their job is to keep a show going. The more consummate an actor a priest is, the better his prospects and the higher he ascends. Actors go on with the show on the stage of organised religion only because the audience is passive and complicit. The moment those among the audience begin to get up and question the actions, the show screeches to a stop. A single spectator in a theatre becomes more powerful than all the actors on the stage when he refuses to swallow the make-believe unfurled before him. Christians must know that the invincibility of the church hierarchy is an illusion sustained by the willing suspension of disbelief on their part. Just stand up and ask a few questions in the interest of truth and justice. Do that, and see for yourself the reformative power sleeping under your tongue. The second part of the strategy is illustrated best by the sphere of art. Assume that a classical paintingsay by Leonardo da Vincihangs on a wall. You walk past it. Someone spots it and says, Dont you realise that it is a Da Vinci piece? Its worth twenty million dollars, you know? You stop at once, overawed; even if you still understand nothing of its merits. What has effected the difference is the aura created around the painting. From that moment onwards, you will respond to its aura, and not to the paining per se. This is exactly what happens in religion. An aura is conjured up about priests and bishops. The aura prevents us from responding factually and rationally to them. It doesnt matter to us what they are. Only the aura matters. The comically ostentatious and quaintly anachronistic costumes worn by priests, the titles they flauntRight Reverend, Most Reverend, Holy Father, etc.and fanciful claims like Apostolic succession, spiritual anointing are all meant to conjure up an aura. This aura is a lie. Truth needs no aura; falsehood does. What needs ornamentation cannot be genuine. Christians would do their daughters and sisters minimum justice by debunking this deceptive aura, and cracking the mask behind which the predator lurks. The third part of the strategy is purely biblical. Treat the vile as contemptible, says the Bible. The frightening reality is that even after the criminals who pass for priests and bishops are exposed for what they are, they continue to enjoy reverence in the faith community. This is abominable. So long as Christians remain too cowardly to call a wolf a wolf, the masked rapists and paedophiles will continue to ply their hobbythe chaseas aristocrats used to in feudal times. Frankly, many of the modern-day priests are feudal overlords, who refuse to reckon that times have changed. They will change if the laity would dare to shout out the truth, like the little boy did in Andersons tale, The Emperor is naked. So, unlike Pope Francis, Id spare Satan. I see, in Satans place, the brainwashed, credulous laity lying prostrate before the predators. The present abominable state of affairs will surely change; provided the laity rises up. Till they do, they remain complicit in perpetuating the atrocities that their hearts condemn and their souls abhor. Valson Thampu Former principal of St Stephens College, New Delhi Email: vthampu@gmail.com T J S George By It is good that 12 fighter jets bombarded a terrorist camp in Pakistan with the intention of delivering a blow that would be remembered. More significantly, India crossed the Line of Control for the first time to hit Balakot, the terrorists nerve centre. The message was heard in other countries as well; many of them asked the Pakistan government to help eliminate terrorism. The pressure exerted by them also persuaded Pakistan to release the IAF hero who had shot down their F-16 before his own jet was shot down and he was captured. But this is no occasion for jingoism. Carefully calibrated military operations lose their import when cheap celebrations are mounted for populist approval. The damage done in this area by the shouters of our television channels is a disgrace. Citing the over-patriotic declamations of channel monologists, Pakistan was able to argue that India was a trigger-happy hatemonger. They scored a brownie point or two when Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured, giving Imran Khan an opportunity to say: Our action was only intended to convey that we have the capability to hit back. The outcome of that capability was not known to the Indian public for quite a while. As TV-fed superpatriots enjoyed firecrackers, Agence France-Presse released a photo showing the wreckage of an IAF jet shot down by Pakistan. The Defence Command of Pakistan released photographs of Wing Commander Abhinandan arrested alive after successful air combat within Pakistan territory. It was left to retired Indian army colonel-turned-columnist Ajai Shukla to tweet what happened: Two MIG-21s were lured by two PAF F-16s into an air def ambush. The F-16s made shallow ingress into Indian airspace, dropped bombs and waited for IAF MIGs that scrambled. Then F-16s turned back, MIGs followed, were shot down by air defence guns. A prestige win for Pakistan. So where do we go from here? The most important thing for any country in a situation like this is to present a united front. The unity has to come from within, clear and unambiguous. This has so far been proving difficult. Twenty-one opposition parties complaining together about the government not taking them into confidence was not indicative of unity. The Cabinets strongman Arun Jaitleys attack on the opposition did not help either. Nor did high-profile government functions like the launching of the Khelo India Mobile App and the dialogue between the Prime Minister and BJP karyakartas gathered from all over the country. Couldnt these things wait for a day or two? If we cannot get over narrow political self-interests, perhaps we do not deserve the honour and respect we demand as a nation. The depths to which politicians can sink even at a time like this was shown when Karnatakas BJP leader said that the IAF action against terrorists in Pakistan had resulted in a Modi wave that would help his party win 22 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Are our defence personnel facing the enemy and risking their lives to help BJP go to the Lok Sabha? A man who does not understand that the country is bigger than his party ought to be banished from public life for good. When such petty men flourish in our country, it becomes difficult for us to successfully confront an overrated adversary across the border. If India is to assert itself as an effective modern state, it will have to first stop politicians who hurt its cause. It then must firm up international links that it can depend on. In the current crisis, Saudi Arabia and even China provided sober advice to Pakistan. But to what extent can India depend on them? Saudi Arabias main ambition is to destroy Iran. For that purpose it has even joined forces with its traditional enemy, Israel. Iran, on the other hand, is having exactly the same problem with Pakistan on the Baluchistan side as India is having with it on the Jammu-Kashmir side. Incensed by Pakistani terror groups attacking Iranian interests, Tehrans strong man, Major General Soleimani, warned Pakistan quite bluntly only a couple of weeks ago. It is a complex scenario. But the handling of it can be simple if we decide to join forces with those whose interests coincide with ours. They are different from those who want to join hands with us to further their interests. So the challenge is double-headed. Can we distinguish between promoting our interests and helping others promote theirs? More importantly, do we have the guts to do whats best for us? Prabhu Chawla By He is ridiculed, abused and despised by Washingtons elite, Hollywood, academics, the liberal media, and secretly by many in his own party. All of them, and even Indian libtards, predicted his rout in the 2016 US presidential elections. Donald Trump proved them all wrong. The maverick president of America is always breaking newsin personal and public life. His foreign policy aggression is an extension of his personality. Using sarcasm, and sometimes brinkmanship wit, Trump has successfully rattled the global economic and diplomatic cages to create a new world order. From New York to New Delhi, the persuader is his favourite role. He was at his showmanship best, riding last weeks turbulence as perhaps the only US president who played a visible role in mediating an India-Pakistan conflict. Last week, when the North Korean mission went awry, he dived into the India-Pakistan fray with an announcement at around 2 pm, They have been going at it and we have been involved in trying to have them stop We have been in the middle trying to help them both out... And we have some reasonably decent news... and I think it is going to end... it has been going on for a long time. The news flashed in the Indian media for just a few minutes, but Trumpism remained un-decoded. Meanwhile, a unique diplomatic script was playing out in New Delhi, missed by the media, which was possessed by hysterically competitive jingoism and breaking imaginary news. At around noon, Saud Mohammed Al Sati, Saudi Arabias ambassador to India, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At 12.59, the PMO tweeted a picture of the two exchanging pleasantries. Significantly, while all other important heads of foreign missions were invited by the foreign secretary for a formal briefing, why did the PMO single out the Saudi diplomat for the special privilege? Only South Block knows. But connect the dots, and the picture becomes clear. An hour later, Trumps revelation indicated that the hotlines between Washington, Jeddah and New Delhi were burning up the optic fibres. It is no secret that he shares a special bond with Saudi royalty. Though the hit on prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aka MbS created global outrage, the presidents moral indignation was brief. Soon afterwards, he ensured that outrage against the prince was contained. In the Indo-Pak standoff, it can be safely assumed that Trump would have called MbS to intervene, since the prince had approved an unprecedented investment of $20 billion on his first state visit to Islamabad, after which he and his envoy met Modi. MbS would have spoken to Imran Khan, because within less than an hour, it was peace and not war that replaced the bloodthirsty mood in the neighbourhood. Imran tried to get Modi on the phone. The Indian PM refused. Pak had Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in its custody after he parachuted into Pak territory when his MiG was shot down in a dogfight. Faced with an unrelenting India, Imran claimed the moral high ground by announcing the pilots unconditional release in Pakistans parliament, which vanished soon after video depicting Abhinandan being coerced to make confessions was leaked. The pressure New Delhi had mounted on Pakistan for Abhinandans release got a credible global response because Pakistan bombed Indian military assets though India had attacked only a terror camp. Powerful countries, including China, advised restraint and nudged Pakistan to reign in terrorism. The permanent UN Security Council members demanded a ban on JeM, whose heart of evil beats in Pakistan. This was one time Donald and the UN seemed to be on the same page. India has been the fond focus of presidential attention, while Pakistan got the cold shoulder. Soon after the Pulwama attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel died, Trump indicated that India would retaliate fiercely. On February 23, he hinted, Right now, between Pakistan and India, there is a very, very bad situation. India is looking at something very strong. India just lost almost 50 people in the attack. I can understand that too. Evidently, he was aware of the various options being considered by India to teach Pakistan a lesson. Donald Trump is the first American president to unambiguously lambast Pakistan in public for failing to contain Islamic terror. He also expressively supports India. His poll campaign statements reflected an admiration for Hindus and hostility towards Pakistan, which portended a deviation in US policy grammar. On October 16, 2016, he announced that I am a big fan of Hindu. I am a big fan of India. If Im elected president, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House. That I can guarantee you. Though he later spoofed the accents of Indian call centre workers and put the squeeze on H1B visas, the prez has walked the talk on Pakistan. Not only has the State Department massively cut financial aid to Pakistan, the US is leaning on the Pak leadership to mend its harmfully hypocritical ways. Trump boasted, I stopped paying Pakistan the $1.3 billion that we used to pay them. Pakistan was taking very strong advantage of the United States under other presidents.... We no longer pay Pakistan billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. Thats ENDING! The president got riled when he learned Pakistan had misused $33 billion it had received from America since 2002. The American presidents pro-India tilt is not without strings. Since every American believes in America First, Don is not an exception. The US is concerned about the new China-Pakistan Siamese twins act. Beijing is pouring over $60 billion into the Pak economy by developing infrastructure projects like CPEC to shake up the Islamic Republics historical alliance with the US. Trumps vagaries apart, India has cultivated a pragmatic friendship with the White House, realizing its residents usability in taming Pakistan. Narendra Modi has a personal relationship with Trump, since they share similar substance and style. Now India is unlikely to settle with just Abhinandans release. It would probably persuade POTUS and the Saudi royals to arm-twist Pakistan to either hand over Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed or bring them to international justice and trial. India has defeated Pakistan thrice in the past but has not yet won the war against terror emanating from the failed state. Delhi can score a big win if it plays the Trump card judiciously. After all, the prezs fixation with grabbing a Nobel Peace Prize and a second term is no secret. Both Modi and Trump will survive and thrive if they demolish the Empire of Terror together. Prabhu chawla prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla By Express News Service KADAPA: Police detained YSRCP former MP Y S Avinash Reddy and Jammalamadugu constituency in-charge M Sudhir Reddy ahead of Ravali Jagan, Kavali Jagan programme at Sunnapurallapalle village in Jammalamadugu mandal on Saturday. Police also detained TDP leaders and former MLCs P Ramasubba Reddy and C Narayana Reddy, the brother of minister C Adinarayana Reddy, in order to stop them from participating in a party programme in the same village. The YSRCP organised a programme in Sunnapurallapalle village on Saturday morning in which 30 families were supposed to join the Opposition party. The YSRCP has taken permission to organise the programme as well. Meanwhile, the TDP also arranged a programme in the same village in the morning. Sensing law and order problem if both the parties organise programmes in the village, Pulivendula DSP Nagaraju and CI Shankaraiah asked YSRCP leader Avinash Reddy, who was about to leave for the village, not to go as the TDP is also organising a programme there. When Avinash Reddy tried to go to the village ignoring police warning, he was put under house arrest. Following the police action, a large number of YSRCP activists rushed to the spot. Later, police allowed Avinash Reddy to attend two marriage functions in Pulivendula with police escort. Police also detained YSRCP Jammalamadugu in-charge M Sudhir Reddy when he was about leave for the village from Yerraguntla. The police also detained TDP leaders P Ramasubba Reddy and C Narayana Reddy when they were going to Sunnapurallapalle village. Speaking to the media, Avinash Reddy alleged that the police detained him at the behest of minister Adinarayana Reddy. He said that they wanted to go to the village on the invitation of the villagers but the minister, with the help of police, foiled the plan. He said they had taken prior permission to organise programme in the village. By Express News Service VIJAYAPURA: An Assistant Professor at Dr P G Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology here, run by BLDEA Institute, was forced to kneel down and apologise to protesters on Saturday for sharing a post on social media against the BJP and defending Pakistan PM. Sandeep Wathar, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, in his Facebook post on Friday evening, had lashed out at the BJP government at the Centre and its supporters for creating a war-like atmosphere in the country. DySP asked to submit report Professor Sandeep HeE also said that if war breaks out between the two countries, You (BJP) will be responsible for the loss of millionsof lives and even used abusive words. He shared the post along with another post with a statement quoting Imran Khan, which read as war-like tension is escalating between India and Pakistan and peace is the only solution to end this. On Saturday, a group of people, said to be members of ABVP, staged a protest on the college premises demanding an apology from Sandeep. They also condemned his FB post and termed it anti-national. In a video that has gone viral, Sandeep is seen being made to kneel down and apologise. He can be heard saying, I wont repeat it in future, forgive me for my Facebook post. The protesters also got him to delete his Facebook post and demanded that the institution initiate action against him. Speaking to TNIE, Mahantesh Biradar of BLDEA Institutions said, We have requested the Superintendent of Police to submit a report on the incident. Action will be initiated based on the police report, and until then no action will be taken against Sandeep. Reacting to the incident, Superintendent of Police Prakash Nikam said, We asked the protesters to lodge a complaint, but no one came forward. I have directed the Deputy SP to investigate the incident and submit a report. By Express News Service MANGALURU: JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda hinted on Sunday that both his grandsons Nikhil Gowda and Prajwal Revanna would contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He was replying to a question about Mandya MP Sumalatha, late Ambareesh's wife, aspiring for an LS seat, during a function in Mangaluru. "Nothing wrong in aspiring for a seat in elections. Nikhil is also an aspirant from Mandya," he said. Deve Gowda said he had tried to dissuade his grandsons from entering politics but they did not listen. Deve Gowda said, "Prajwal after completing BE is now actively involved in politics at Hassan. Now Nikhil has also started showing keen interest in politics and people also urged him to contest from Mandya. He shouldn't feel that I am promoting only Prajwal, so I have given my consent to him as well," Deve Gowda also claimed that he was not promoting family politics... "all know that we are not traditionally a political family but an agrarian family". When asked about contesting elections, Deve Gowda reiterated that it was not important and that he had been a parliamentarian for 27 years and had been a Prime Minister too. The Congress and the JD(S) are expected to arrive at a seat sharing agreement within two weeks. "It was the national party that wanted Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister though our party (JD(S)) is small with 37 MLAs. The seat sharing is one third for JDS and two third for Congress and we had sought 12 seats. However, we are not rigid with our demand. Talks are underway between both the parties and a consensus will be arrived at soon," Deve Gowda said. ALSO READ | Congress to give up Bengaluru North for Deve Gowda On Mandya and Hassan, he said that people know that JDS had a strong presence there. "The ultimate goal is stopping BJP from gaining strength in the state. The party has no big presence in South India and it is important that fundamentalists are stopped from gaining ground," Deve Gowda opined. Even Vajpayee had given a stable government in spite of having a coalition of 23 parties and so did Manmohan Singh for ten years with a coalition, he added. Deve Gowda also said, "During my tenure as prime minister, I visited Kashmir five times but the situation was peaceful. In the last five years, Kashmir has seen four governments before finally coming under Governor's Rule. Three years under section 144, we can see how the situation has turned worse." READ HERE | Deve Gowda says he had offered to resign from Lok Sabha after Modi's win but PM asked him to continue By Express News Service BENGALURU/MYSURU: Politics over air strikes is unlikely to end anytime soon. Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday said the BJPs conspiracy to take political advantage over the air strikes (on terror camps in Pakistan) will be exposed soon, while his father and senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge too lashed out at the BJP for trying to politicise the issue. Speaking to mediapersons at BR Hills, the minister said BJP leader B S Yeddyurappas remarks linking air strikes with elections show that BJP leaders can go to any extent for votes. What was in his heart has come out in the open. It shows that they can go to any extent for votes. They had accepted that they were part of Operation Lotus (attempts to destabilise the government). Now, after Yeddyurappas statements, people have a suspicion that this is also a conspiracy. That is what his statements mean. Everything will be exposed in the next two-three days, Priyank said. The minister also questioned Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaramans silence on the air strikes. Where is the Defence Minister when there is a war-like situation? he said and expressed concerns that the BJP will go to any length for votes. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Mallikarjun Kharge said Yeddyurappas statements indicate that the issue was discussed in the party forum. Talking about politics when the brave soldiers sacrificed their life for the country shows the BJP leaders mentality, he said. Responding to a question, Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yeddyurappas statements show that they are utilising the courage of soldiers for their political gains. We should give credit of the air strikes to the soldiers and not use it for political purpose. It would be an injustice to the soldiers if it is politicised, Kharge said. Yeddyurappa had come under fire for his statements linking air strikes with the elections. His party leaders had disapproved of his views. He, however, had claimed that his statement was misconstrued. BJP trying to turn India into a fundamentalist country: Dinesh Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday said the BJP is trying to turn India into a fundamentalist country like Pakistan. Rao said, The communal government in the country has created an atmosphere of fear and those who question the government are called anti-nationals. The BJP government at the Centre is trying to convert India into a fundamentalist country like Pakistan. There is a need to protect democracy in the country, he said. Arockiaraj Johnbosco By Express News Service MANGALURU: For the visitors to Mangaluru, St Aloysius Chapel is a must-see. You will find breathtaking paintings on the ceiling and on the walls. You can stand for days gazing at the paintings, yet, perhaps wont be able to absorb them all. Each one is a beautiful work of art. Henry Pereira, who has been working as a guide at the chapel for the last eight years, introduces the chapel to visiting French tourists as 'Sistine of Mangaluru' after the world famous Sistine Chapel in Rome, renowned for its beautiful paintings by Michelangelo. This says it all. After a period of eighteen months of restoration, the chapel is open, with its magnificent paintings by Italian Jesuit missionary, Antonio Moscheni. According to artists here, the murals narrate two life stories side by side that of Jesus and that of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, after whom the educational institution is named. While Aloysiuss life is depicted along the ceilings of the nave, the life and miracles of Jesus are painted along the walls, the ceiling and the inner portion of the pillars of the aisle. The paintings on the wall speak about the life of Jesus, starting from the original sin in Old Testament to birth of Jesus as saviour, and his death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. City-based artist Sapna Noronha feels that the painting of Jesus's love for children is Moscheni's masterpiece. It has the finest details of Jesus with children and people watching them. The ceiling narrates the life of St Aloysius Gonzaga, the Jesuit missionary, his birth into nobility, renunciation of worldly life, his work among the plague victims and falling prey to the plague. The top panel depicts the Apostles of Jesus starting with St Peter. The side panels in the pillars in the first floor showcase the doctors of the church while the ground level of panels in the pillars are painted with pictures of Saints from the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to which Antonio Moscheni belonged to. The paintings are of two types, Italian frescoes and canvases, Noronha says. Frescoes were painted on the wet lime wall using natural colour powders and canvases were painted with oil colours on linen cloth and then raised to the desired area . The chapel boasts of around 600 sqm of frescoes and 400 sqm of oil canvas paintings, she says. Fr Leo D'Souza, former principal and rector of St Aloysius college, says that the restoration efforts are worth it. It does not just belong to the college but belongs to entire Mangaluru. The Italian Jesuits sent Antonio Moscheni to paint this chapel. As an artist, it was his way of proclaiming Jesus. We may have to restore it again after some years, he says. In addition to the artwork, a few other designs add mystique to the place. The hexagon blocks on the floor of the chapel are three-dimensional, arranged to give one a sense of climbing steps as one walks around. Henry Pereira, the guide, says the tiles were brought from Bergamo in Italy.When you come into a place of worship, not necessarily a church, one has to go up to God. And while leaving, having found some solace in the presence of God, one climbs up in life, which is the message of these tiles, he says. The stained glass was brought from Belgium at the time of construction, says Noronha. After a brief visit, French tourists Alain Riflade from Bordeaux and Paul et Dominique from Vannes say that the chapel is a marvellous work of art. We have seen such paintings only in Europe and to see something like those here again gives a nice feeling, they say.Henry Pereira feels that the paintings reveal something new every time. And the visitors who have come here at least a couple of times agree. About The Artist Antonio Moscheni (1854 1905) hailed from the Province of Bergamo in Italy and studied painting in Accademia Carrara in Bergamo. In 1889, he joined the Society of Jesus, renouncing his worldly life and the religious congregation used his talent for best use, of painting churches and chapels. After painting churches in Croatia and Albania, he was sent to India in 1898 especially to paint the chapel of St Aloysius College, started by Italian Jesuits. Initially, it was planned that Moscheni would return after painting Aloysius Chapel, but his works earned a reputation by then, and he painted the chapel in Fr Muller Hospital, Agrar Church in Bantwal, St Josephs Seminary and Holy Name Cathedral in Mumbai. After starting painting at Santa Cruz cathedral at Kochi, Moscheni fell ill and died in 1905. When Moscheni Wrote In Kannada Pericope Adulterae is a passage in Holy Gospel of St John where a group of scribes and pharisees confront Jesus about the issue of a woman caught in adultery, with the intention of trapping him to see if he says something against Mosaic law of stoning anyone caught in adultery. But Jesus uttered, Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Before answering them, he scribbled in the sand. What Jesus wrote has been a topic of debates. When Antonio Moscheni painted the chapel, he came out with his version on what Jesus would have written, Proud, arrogant, one who covets others property, one who does adultery, who cheats and who tempts people, possibly pointing at those harbouring evil in heart but accusing the woman of adultery. Interestingly, Moscheni has written it in Konkani with Kannada script as Garvi, ani ahankari, labadi, praduvari, kapat, nagodi. TOBY A N TONY By Express News Service KOCHI: Soon we may get to see Keralas snakeboat cruising through the Thames in London, if things work out as per procedures. Sounds interesting? The British Council has expressed interest in offering Kerala a stage to showcase its art and culture as part of the acclaimed Thames River Festival held annually in Britain. A delegation comprising Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Director P Bala Kiran and Tourism Secretary Rani George held a meeting with Unesco representatives in New Delhi last week as part of the Spice Route project. The meeting was also attended by British Council director, South India, Janaka Pushpanathan. The British Council has placed before us a proposal to provide Kerala with a representation in the Thames River Festival. We are considering it, as last year the highest foreign tourist arrival to the state was from the UK. Kerala getting representation in the festival will promote its tourism abroad, Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said. British Council keen on organising events in Kerala The Thames River Festival is held annually from September 1-30. Numerous events, including exhibitions and cultural events attended by people from various countries, take place every year. In 2018, the West Bengal government had signed an MoU with the British Council, as part of which the famous Durga Puja was showcased at the festival. A decision about collaborating with the British Council will be taken as part of the Spice Route international conference to be attended by representatives, from August 29 this year. Currently, only a proposal has been received. The British Council is also interested in organising similar events in Kerala. They have also put forward a proposal for us to curate events at some of the famous museums in Britain, he said. A top official with the Spice Route project said the government is seriously considering organising similar river festivals in Kerala. As part of the Thames festival, we are planning to exhibit snakeboats in the UK. As far as the river festival in Kerala is considered, we are planning to organise it in Alappuzha or at Kodungallur, which is close to the Periyar. Similar to the Thames River Festival exhibitions, conferences and cultural events will be organised here, he said. The British Council had last year signed an MoU with the Kerala government for collaboration in the educational sector. A similar agreement in the tourism sector with the British Council is being considered by the Kerala government now. Apart from Britain, the Netherlands also has agreed to collaborate with the Spice Route Project. P M Nowshad, managing director, Muziris Heritage Project (MHP), said technical assistance of the Netherlands has been sought for setting up a maritime museum in Alappuzha. MHP oversees the development of various heritage projects, including the Alappuzha heritage project. Netherlands has some of the famous maritime museums in the world. During the Spice Route meeting with the representatives of various countries in New Delhi, the Netherlands had agreed to provide technical assistance to set up maritime museums. Similarly, they also will assist us in digitising the archives, he said. Guo Weimin, spokesman of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 2, 2019. The CPPCC National Committee held a press conference on Saturday afternoon, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative has brought development and hope to participants, instead of "debt trap" or "regional hegemonism," a spokesperson said Saturday. China's investments in related countries mainly went to infrastructure projects, which will facilitate local development in the long term, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told a news conference. The debt problems of some developing countries were created by complicated historical reasons, he said. "It's totally ungrounded calling the Belt and Road Initiative a 'debt trap,'" Guo said. The initiative has promoted local economic development and been welcomed by more and more countries along the Belt and Road, Guo said, noting that over 100 countries and international organizations had actively supported and participated in the initiative by the end of last year. China upholds peace and cooperation as well as the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits when promoting development of the initiative, he said. The initiative has won the support and acclaims of the leaders and peoples of participating countries, Guo said. "The initiative has nothing to do with 'regional hegemonism,'" Guo said. "With the initiative progressing, China is winning more and more friends." Noting that the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing in April, Guo said China is willing to work with other countries in lifting the initiative's development to a new level. 9 1 [ Editor: zyq ] By Express News Service KOCHI: If Made in Kerala products are popular anywhere outside Kerala, it would definitely be in the Gulf region. But, Ras Al Khaimah or RAK, one of the seven emirates which make up the United Arab Emirates, with a significant population comprising Malayali expatriates, is an odd exception. Despite the potential, there is not much of a presence for brands from Kerala in the emirates. Abdullah Rashid Al Mansoori, chairman of Global Management & Organiser Exhibitions, is determined to change this. Mansoori, was in Kochi for two days, convincing companies from Kerala to push their brands in Ras Al Khaimah, and set up their facilities, factories and warehouses at the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). RAKEZ has offered 20 to 50 per cent discount for companies coming to the zone, including setting up warehouse, office, real estate and healthcare. Ras Al Khaimah will also give unlimited visas for workers of companies from Kerala, he said. Ashwin Khanna, sales team leader at RAKEZ India, flew down to Kochi the other day to interact with potential businesses, and invite them to invest in the economic zone.Ras Al Khaimah is now focusing on building a competitively stronger economy. Being a logistic hub with seaports, international airport and multi-lane superhighways, companies can easily access the trade flows between the east and the west. Mansoori said RAK is one of the fastest growing economies in the UAE with the presence of large industries, strong support from the government departments and modern and developed road network, cost-effective company set-up and resident population with high spending potential. RAK is hosting a five-day exhibition titled Made in Kerala-2019 from April 9 to 13. Even though we offer a discount of 20 to 50 per cent, we are confident that within five years, these companies will bring the capital back, Mansoori said. Made in Kerala 2019 is targeted to promote the various brands of Kerala in the UAE, to avail Keralas businesses a platform to explore new opportunities, to exhibit the growing potential Kerala and to encourage Foreign Direct Investment and to promote sectors in Kerala which have the strong market potential. Hence, the product sectors on focus at the Expo would include health and wellness, education, travel and tourism, finance and investment, home and living, fashion and food products. While Kerala-based companies in Ayurveda, tourism, organic food and handmade products offer immense scope for the RAK market, Mansoori said there is also potential for Kerala to lure business from the emirate. This exhibition can be used by Kerala tourism and other sectors to attract visitors/investors into Kerala, he said. About 40 companies have already expressed interest to participate in the Made in Kerala expo. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A 29-year-old woman from Dabeerpura, Kouser Begum, has been stuck in Kuwait for the last 15 days after she was trafficked illegally by local travel agents. Her mother, Samina Begum has appealed to Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to intervene in the matter and facilitate her safe return. Kouser, was in search of a job due to financial constraints, when she was approached by two travel agents Ghousia Begum of Yakutpura, and Salma Begum from Aman Nagar. They both offered Kouser a job as a nurse and said she would be getting Rs 20,000 monthly as salary. When Kouser indicated that she was interested, she was put in touch with two agents from Mumbai named, Abdul Razzaq Khan and Abdul Fahad Khan. They got her a passport and visa, and took her to Kuwait on February 19. However, when she reached Kuwait, she realised she was brought there to work as a housemaid and has changed five houses till now due to ill-treatment by her employers. She is being denied proper food and accommodation and has fallen ill. When she wanted to return, her employer Talal Saud Abdullah Al Fadhli said that she has been bought for Rs 3 lakh and would not be allowed to go back until that sum is paid back to him, said Kousers mother. Osama jalali By In todays time if one is asked to name the comfort party food, I am sure a majority would go for Pizza. In India, thanks to the fast food chains Pizza Hut and Dominos, Pizza has become a favorite amongst the masses. Originated in Italy where the classic version is made with a thin crust, it changed when it reached the Indian subcontinent. Except for the popular restaurants in hotels where one can find thin crust pizza, what we get most often is cheese-loaded deep dish variants that people here love. The history of deep dish pizzas is almost 75 years old. It was probably invented in 1943 by Ike Sewell in Chicago. Due to its origin in Chicago, deep dish pizzas are also popular across the world as Chicago style pizzas. Ike Sewell, the founder of Pizzeria Uno in Chicago did an experiment where he baked a pizza in a deep dish pan making the crust that had tall edges like a fruit pie unlike the usual flat bread. He along with his chef Rudy Malnati developed a recipe which combined authentic Italian spices with tomatoes and cheese. Not just that he also used a different baking pan and dough that had corn meal and semolina along with the wheat flour. Even the assembly of deep dish pizza is upside down the crust is covered with cheese slices followed by various meat options over which the toppings of veggies and finally a layer of tomatoes is put. In India one may find Chicago Pizzas here and there but it lacks the authenticity of the classic deep dish of Pizzeria Uno. I am glad that Unos have entered India now. I visited the Noida outlet of Uno Chicago Bar & Grill to satisfy my cravings of a loaded deep dish Chicago style pizza. I was quite impressed by its decor and the selection of pizzas in the menu. Not wasting much time I ordered two variants. First was the classic Uno Cheese & Tomato followed by Chicago Meat market. While my pizzas were in the oven, I had Spinach Artichoke deep dip as an appetizer. The deep dip was a revelation and though I came there for the pizzas this dip was one thing which would bring me back to Unos for sure. My recommendation for cheese lovers who want to get their hands dirty is just dig into the deep dip. Out of the two the classic cheese and tomato was quite good which helped me to satisfy my cravings of a good deep dish pizza. Osama jalali Food Historian and writer Mayank Singh By NEW DELHI: While the nation celebrated the return of its braveheart Abhinandan Varthaman from across the border, the issue surrounding cross-border disturbance is yet to change. In fact, former heads of armed forces expressed pessimism on the question of any change emerging from Pakistan anytime soon. In an emphatic expression of his views General Bikram Singh, the former Chief of the Indian Army, said that Pakistan cannot afford to act against the terrorist groups it has nurtured for over four decades to bleed India and further its agenda in Afghanistan. It would result in opening another front, which Pakistan army can ill afford at this juncture. Moreover, these India-centric outfits like the JeM and LeT, in a climate of impunity, have acquired sweeping powers and have today become a law unto themselves. He felt that the Pakistani establishment will continue to shield the terrorists until international pressure, spearheaded by India, is mounted on the rogue state to act. Pakistan will have to realise that it is creating and nurturing double-edged-swords that will bleed it too. It has to shun its selective approach factored into its National Action Plan to deal with terrorism. A pragmatic anti-terrorism campaign must endeavor to defeat the scourge in all its forms and manifestations. A strategy that categorizes terrorists as good or bad is inherently flawed. Changing the gun-culture in Pakistan, dismantling terrorist infrastructure and changing the belligerent frames of reference of the youth acquired through indoctrination in the Madrasas will be a long haul. Pakistan has to bring up a generation of people who dont like the sight of blood and death. It can be done in the next 10 to 15 years. Also, Pakistan will need some help from outside to change as the things have gone out of its hand. The education system, mindset, and society will have to transform, General Singh added. Former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) feels that if political leadership was running Pakistan then things could have improved. Pakistan is ruled by its military and Deep State headed by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). They have everything to lose if things get better between the two countries. The biggest loser will be the Pakistan Army which loses its credibility and reason to rule. For Prakash, Indias growth is the best answer. The answer is in India continuing to do economically well. This will also strengthen us militarily. Also, we need to find a solution with the youth of Kashmir so that they dont pick up weapons, the former Navy chief said. Ramananda Sengupta By The release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan days after his MiG 21 was shot down over Pakistan occupied Kashmir may have lowered the temperature in the subcontinent, but the events of the last three days of February mark a dramatic, and some would say dangerous, shift in India-Pakistan relations. For one, this is the first time since the 1971 war that warplanes of the two perennially hostile neighbours have crossed the border and bombed targets in each others territory. And two, India has now publicly declared that if the world and Pakistan could not take out terrorists operating from Pakistani soil, India reserved the right to do so unilaterally. As a senior Indian official put it, We have convinced the world that we have reasonable, strong and justifiable grounds to do what we had to on February 26 and that we will not tolerate any more attacks by terrorists on our soil. They will not go unanswered. After the two nations went overtly nuclear in May 1998, Pakistan ramped up its terrorist activities in India in the belief that it would not dare respond militarily for fear of nuclear retaliation. And to ensure plausible deniability, it nurtured, armed and trained several terrorist outfits which carried out increasingly brazen attacks on Indian soil. This belief was buttressed after the Kargil war of 1999 when the Indian Air Force scrupulously refrained from crossing the border. It was further reinforced when New Delhi traded three terrorists -including Masood Azhar, the current head of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and some say a large sum of money for the release of passengers of IC-814, an Indian Airlines plane that was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan, then under Taliban rule. Then came the terrorist strikes on the Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Parliament in October and December 2001. A massive mobilisation of troops after the Parliament attack fizzled out after reports that Pakistan was readying its nuclear weapons. The fact that all these incidents took place during the term of the supposedly hard-line BJP added to the notion that India was a soft state. When the Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014, he invited all regional leaders to his swearing-in, sending out the message that India wanted peace and prosperity in its neighbourhood. On December 25, 2015, he paid a surprise visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian premier in more than 10 years. But all hopes for peace were derailed when barely a week later, on January 2, 2016, the Jaish-e-Mohammad attacked an Indian Air Force Station in Pathankot, killing seven people. Pakistan was also said to have incited the massive violence in Kashmir after the killing of Burhan Wani, a young militant leader, by security forces. When terrorists attacked an Army camp in Uri in September that year killing 19 soldiers, Modi decided to launch a cross border surgical strike, using Special Forces to take out terrorist launch pads in PoK. National security adviser Ajit Doval has repeatedly said that the only way to check Pakistani perfidy was to make it expensive for them. In a two-pronged strategy, India clamped down hard in Kashmir to cleanse it of militants, while the army was asked to retaliate heavily to any cross border firing, intended to give cover to infiltrating terrorists. ALSO READ: Support India's air strike on JeM terror camps in Pakistan, says US Secretary to NSA Ajit Doval When terrorists struck a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14, killing 40 troopers and injuring scores, India decided to take the fight back to the enemy. Twelve days later, the Indian Air Force crossed the border to strike deep within Pakistan, hitting a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp and reportedly killing scores. A day later, the Pakistani air force intruded into Indian airspace and after locking on several military targets, bombed empty plots nearby. To avoid an escalation into full-scale war, both sides publicly stressed that they had bombed non-military targets. The events of February 26-27 show that India is no longer worried about Pakistans nuclear sabre rattling, while Pakistan has shown that it can enter Indian airspace and lock on to military targets. But the downing of the two aircraft a Pakistani F16 and Wing Commander Abhinandans MiG-21show that such muscular shows of intent come at a cost. The Pakistan problem The reason that every attempt at peace has been scuttled by the Pakistan Armys terrorist lap dogs is that without India as an enemy, the military would find it hard to justify its disproportionate budget, role, and influence in Pakistans polity. Given Indias overwhelming conventional military superiority, the army finds it cheaper to use proxy warfare to keep needling India and use Indian retaliation to drive home the fact that only a strong army can defend the country against a hostile neighbour. ALSO READ: Pakistan Army tells terror chiefs Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed to lie low By raising the cost for any terrorist acts against India, New Delhi hopes to eventually make the civilian side question the armys motives. But the insidious manner in which the army has appropriated civilian positions, by appointing retired brass as heads of various critical private and government sectors, has made it increasingly difficult to separate the two. Also, the militarys unholy alliance with terrorists has led to a situation where the rabid right is trying to impose its writ on the civil society. By ensuring that the international community is now with India on Pakistan, New Delhi hopes to squeeze Pakistan financially and politically, in the hope that it will realise the folly of its ways. But unless the people of Pakistan see through the militarys motives and start a movement to slowly strip it of some of its power and pelf, things are unlikely to change. Demons in Pak Haven Dawood Ibrahim Dawood, son of a police constable, was instrumental in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts that killed 257 and leftover 800 injured. He enjoys the patronage of Pakistans ISI. His daughter Mahrukh is married to former Pakistan captain Javed Miandads son Junaid. In 2011, Dawood was named among the 10 most wanted fugitives in the world with a bounty of $25 million on his head Anees Ibrahim Anees is the brother of Dawood Ibrahim and virtually controls his D-Company from Karachi. The gang is involved in extortion, money laundering and circulating fake Indian currency in India. Anees is also an accused in the 1993 serial blasts and has been based in Karachi along with his fugitive brother Dawood Hafiz Saeed Hafiz is a Pakistan-based militant and the founder of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jamaat Ud Dawa. Both these organizations have been behind terror attacks in India. The 26/11 attack in Mumbai was organised and executed by the LeT. It is also involved in the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2006 train serial blasts in Mumbai. In 2012, the United States announced a $10 million bounty on his head Masood Azhar Masood Azhar is the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed. In 2016, JeM men attacked the army camp in Uri killing 19 soldiers. It was also a part of the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, where gunmen targeted vital landmarks and even killed ATS chief Hemant Karkare. Masood was arrested in 1994. In December 1999, terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines flight and freed Masood in return for the hostages. NEW DELHI: The US is reportedly investigating the potential misuse of American-made F-16 fighter jets by Pakistan by using them against India in violation of the end-user agreement. Despite growing evidence, Pakistan on Saturday continued to studiously deny that a Pakistan Air Force F-16 had been shot down over Occupied Kashmir during the dogfight with an Indian MiG-21 after violating Indian airspace on the morning of February 27. A MiG flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was also shot down, and he was captured after he ejected and landed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. A PTI report from Washington quoted a US State Department official as saying that it was seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential misuse of F-16s by it against India in violation of the end-user agreement. On Friday, the IAF had displayed parts of an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, which only the F-16s can carry, to prove that Pakistan had deployed the airplane over Indian airspace. Early Saturday, senior Pakistani bureaucrat Danyal Gilani had to quickly delete a tweet which claimed that Lockheed Martin, the US aerospace major which makes the iconic F-16, was planning to sue India for claiming that its aircraft had been shot down, because all F-16s on Pakistani inventory are well counted.(sic). In a terse tweet, Lockheed Martin India said that it has made no such comments. While acknowledging that statement was wrongly attributed to Lockheed Martin, Gilani, however, said that I stand by Govt of #Indias failure to prove it downed a #Pakistani F-16. Indian media & journalists have caught #Indian govt disinformation. While the nuclear neighbour is yet to acknowledge the use of F-16s against India, Pakistans Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain gave out a belligerent response. He said, We purchased them from America and didnt get them in a grant. So well decide where to deploy them. F-16 jets will be used for the purpose for which they are needed. But InshaAllah, we hope that situation doesnt arise. By PTI TEHRAN: US allies in the Middle East risk an uprising by their "humiliated citizens" if they continue to rely on Washington, a top Iranian security official warned Sunday in comments carried by state media. "(US President) Trump and even his underlings ridicule and humiliate Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates day and night, saying that you're nothing without us and cannot last a day without America's support," said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Back in October, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's 83-year-old King Salman "might not be there for two weeks" without US military support. The comments were mostly shrugged off by Riyadh. "Our prediction about America's allies in the region is that if they continue the policy of relying on Islam's enemies, they will face the uprising of their humiliated citizens," said Shamkhani, whose comments were published by the official IRNA news agency. Iran's relations with its Gulf neighbours have soured in recent years and tensions escalated last month when the Islamic Republic accused Riyadh and Abu Dhabi of being complicit in a suicide bombing that killed 27 Iranian troops. The Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards blasted the "traitorous governments of Saudi Arabia and (the) Emirates" and said Iran will no longer tolerate their "hidden support for anti-Islam thugs and Takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups." The February 13 bombing targeted a busload of Guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan and was claimed by Jaish al-Adl, a Pakistan-based extremist group blacklisted by Iran as terrorists. By AFP BEIRUT: At least 33 pro-regime fighters were killed Sunday in attacks mounted by jihadist groups near Idlib province, in the deadliest day in six months for loyalist forces, a monitor said. Twenty-seven fighters were killed in two attacks by Ansar al-Tawhid jihadists, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Five jihadists were also killed," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Britain-based monitoring group. Ansar al-Tawhid has ties to the larger Hurras al-Deen group, which is also active in the area of northwest Syria. Both are considered semi-officials franchises of Al-Qaeda in Syria. The area of Idlib and small parts of the adjacent provinces of Hama and Aleppo are mostly controlled by the rival Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organisation. HTS is led by fighters who formerly belonged to Al-Qaeda's ex-affiliate in Syria. The attacks by Ansar al-Tawhid were carried out against regime positions in Masasna, a village in Hama province, the Observatory said. A military source quoted by state news agency SANA confirmed soldiers had been killed and wounded in the attacks on their positions near Idlib province. Loyalists forces had killed some assailants, the source added without giving figures. The foreign ministry said Syria "will not allow terrorists and those who are behind them to carry on with their attacks against innocent civilians and the armed forces". In Latakia province, also northwest of the capital, at least six pro-regime fighters were killed in attacks by HTS militants later on Sunday, the Observatory said. According to Abdel Rahman, the latest spate of attacks caused "one of the highest casualty figures among regime ranks since the Putin-Erdogan deal". He was referring to an accord struck in the Russian resort of Sochi by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under the September 17 truce deal, Turkey would exert its influence over anti-regime groups in the Idlib region to have them pull back fighters and heavy weapons from a demilitarised zone. It was meant to stave off a planned offensive by the regime and its Russian backers that aid groups feared could spark the eight-year-old Syrian conflict's worst humanitarian crisis to date. The government assault on the last major bastion of rebel forces has been held off but the deal's provisions have not been implemented. Since the Sochi agreement, HTS has consolidated its grip on Idlib province. By Online Desk Is Masood Azhar dead? Twitter sure seems to think so. Several unverified reports of the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief and terrorist getting killed in the bombardment by Indian Air Force on a terror camp in Balakot are going viral. Twitterati are also using the hashtag #MasoodAzharDead to state the same. There was no confirmation from any authoritative sources. Intelligence agencies were trying to ascertain the death claims on social media, reported PTI. Local media reports from Pakistan alleged that Azhar got seriously injured in the air strike and died in a hospital. Pakistan has not issued any formal announcement. READ | JeM chief Masood Azhar 'alive', says Pakistani media Recently, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi accepted on CNN that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan and that he was not well but said the government can act against him only if India presents solid and inalienable evidence that can stand in a court of law. He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he cant leave his house, because hes really unwell, Qureshi said. Another report from Islamabad said the JeM founder was undergoing dialysis in a Pakistan army hospital. READ HERE | Jaish has not claimed responsibility for Pulwama attack: Pakistan Foreign Minister Amid growing pressure to show the damage caused by IAF's precision bombing on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility, India is contemplating releasing evidence in the days to come to silence those doubting the impact. The IAF had declared that disclosing proof of the air strike impact was a call to be taken by the government even though electronic evidence gathered by radar images was sufficient to establish the damage caused to the structures. Though there was no credible confirmation about the number of casualties, and Pakistani establishment remaining in denial mode, a video clip of Masood Azhar's brother Maulana Ammar had surfaced on Saturday where he can be heard accepting that the Balakot camp had taken a hit. The recording is said to be from a public function organized in Peshawar after the air strike. Jaishs Balakot camp, where training was imparted to recruits to carry out suicide attacks, was targeted by the IAF in an air strike last week, following the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. ALSO READ | Abhinandan suffered spinal injury after plane ejection, rib injury during Pakistani mob assault: Report The 50-year-old Azhar, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange of hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814, has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base and the latest Pulwama terror strike. (With inputs from PTI and IANS) The talks took place following the welcome ceremony held at the Presidential Palace the highest fomality for a head of state. The host hailed the visit as a new and important milestone in the history of the two Parties and countries, offering the leaders a chance to extensively discuss the consolidation and development of bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues of shared concern. Congratulating the DPRK people on their great achievements in national construction and development, he believed that under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, headed by Chairman Kim Jong Un, they will reap even greater achievements in building socialism, developing the country, and improving the peoples lives. Party General Secretary and President Trong affirmed that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and the multilateralisation and diversification of external ties, while taking on its role as a trustworthy friend and partner, and a responsible member of the international community. The Vietnamese Party, State and people always treasure the traditional friendship with the DPRK and want to further intensify ties between the two Parties and countries in accordance with the benefits of the two peoples and the international commitments of each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, he stated. For his part, DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un expressed his delight to visit Vietnam and witness the significant achievements in socio-economic development and international integration that the Vietnamese people have obtained over the past years. He voiced his wish to strengthen the sharing of experience in national construction and socio-economic development with Vietnam. He thanked the host, the Vietnamese Party and its people for their respectful and thorough welcome, as well as their active support for the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit. The guest emphasised the DPRK Party and States consistent stance of valuing the traditional friendly relations with Vietnam, which was founded and nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il-sung, and veteran leaders of the two Parties and countries. Both sides agreed to maintain and facilitate high-level visits and contacts, in addition to expanding the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisation channels in a practical and effective manner to boost mutual understanding and experience sharing in the fields of common need. They will effectively maintain regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms; expand cultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation; and hold activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020. Regarding regional and global issues, the two leaders pledged to work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and to intensify the exchange of ideas on issues regarding peace and stability maintenance in the region. The host lauded the efforts of the DPRK and the US at their just-ended second summit and sincerely wished that they would maintain dialogue to improve bilateral ties and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region. DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un invited the Vietnamese leader to visit the DRPK at a time of his convenience. The latter thanked the guest and asked both sides agencies to discuss further via diplomatic channels. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may take "decisive action" against all proscribed organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), and even withdraw its opposition to the move to list terror outfit's chief Masood Azhar in the UN Security Council terror list, according to a media report on Sunday. The US, the UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to a global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. In a major policy decision, Pakistan is set to take decisive action against all proscribed organisations as well as against the head of banned JeM, a senior security official familiar with the development quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. It is not clear what specific action would be taken against Azhar but the official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether an individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official said when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. ALSO READ | Jaish chief Masood Azhar in Pakistan, admits Qureshi, says he is 'really unwell' The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. The official, however, insisted that the move to take action against such individuals was taken before the Pulwama attack, the report said. He also clarified Pakistan's decision to act decisively was taken not to give any "face saving" to India. "We need to correct ourselves in our own national interests and not someone else's," the official was quoted as saying in the report. The official further said that the Pakistani authorities had conducted investigations into the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel in and found "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement of Pakistan or any organisation in it." Stressing that the country's leadership was determined to take action against anyone found involved in the Pulwama attack, he said the dossier shared by India with Pakistan had nothing in it that suggested involvement of any Pakistani organisation. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Sunday offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala. On arrival at the ''mahadwaram'' (main entrance), the island nation's United National Party president Wickremesinghe and his wife Maitree were accorded a traditional welcome by temple priests and top functionaries of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which governs the 2,000-year old shrine, a temple official told PTI. Before paying obeisance to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, the 73-year old Mr Wickremesinghe performed ages-old ''Tulabharam'' ritual. As part of ''Tulabharam'' ritual, devotees sit in a balance and offer grocery items, precious metals or money equal to their body weight, the temple official said. Later, the same is made as an offering to the God at the hill temple, the official added. The Sri Lankan prime minister, his wife and other dignitaries later worshipped Lord Venkateswara. They spent about an hour in the temple. After offering prayers, Mr Wickremesinghe was honoured with a sacred silk clot, besides the ''prasadam'' and ''theertham'' (celestial water) in a tiny bottle, while the priests, amid chanting of vedic hymns, blessed him at the sprawling Rangamandapam in the temple. Mr Wickremesinghe flew in to the Renigunta airport, 20 km from here, by a special helicopter from Chennai on Saturday evening and drove straight to the Tirumala hills, the temple official said. This is his fourth visit to the ancient shrine. Mr Wickremesinghe has offered prayers at the temple in 2018, 2016 and 2002 as well, the official said. Later, he left for Chennai en route to Sri Lanka. By PTI LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Pakistani Premier Imran Khan on Sunday to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, Downing Street said. During the phone conversation between the two leaders, May welcomed Khan's commitment to reduce tensions following the return of captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by the Pakistani authorities earlier this week. "The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan today. She welcomed his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "The leaders discussed the need to address the causes of this conflict. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups, in support of global efforts to combat terrorism," the spokesperson said. Both leaders also "reiterated their commitment" to the UK-Pakistan bilateral relationship during the interaction, which follows heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. ALSO READ | Masood Azhar dead? Social media thinks so, intel agencies trying to verify claims Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s. ALSO READ | Jaish has not claimed responsibility for Pulwama attack: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Varthaman, who was in one of the eight MiG-21s that took on the invading Pakistan Air Force jets and shot down an F-16, was released at the Wagah border on Friday. The UK government has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan since the Pulwama attack on February 14, with senior government ministers holding talks with their counterparts in India and Pakistan. During an urgent question in the House of Commons on Wednesday, UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field had told MPs that the UK would continue to support a listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader, Masood Azhar, under a UN Security Council Resolution. By AFP SEOUL: The US and South Korea said on Sunday they will end their annual large-scale joint military exercises as Washington pursues efforts to improve ties with North Korea. The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. Trump has ruled out withdrawing any of the 28,500 US forces based in South Korea to defend it from its nuclear-armed neighbour, which invaded in 1950. ALSO READ | North Korean debt to Sweden reaches record high USD 302 million in 2019 Any such drawdown would face a strong pushback from the US Congress and Japan, whose conservative government is deeply wary of North Korea's intentions. But the US president has complained repeatedly over the cost of the military drills, which Pyongyang has always condemned as provocative rehearsals for invasion. During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies and has always infuriated Pyongyang. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The two allies will instead carry out "adjusted outside manoeuvre trainings and united command exercises to continue firm military readiness", Seoul's defence ministry said on Sunday. ALSO READ | Withdrawal of US troops from S Korea not under consideration, says Trump ahead of meeting with Kim The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, it added. Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. "Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "The South's conventional forces outclass the North's and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added. Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme. Since Trump's first summit with Kim last year in Singapore, in which both leaders signed a vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. "Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin. By PTI LAHORE: The Pakistan government in order to de-escalate the tensions with India, has decided to launch a crackdown on terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, according to a top government source while a media report said Sunday that Islamabad may even withdraw its opposition to the move to list him as global terrorist in the UN Security Council. "The government has decided in principle to launch crackdown on the leadership of the JeM (Azhar)," the source told PTI. He said the action against JeM in the country is "expected any time soon". "In order to de-escalate the tensions between India and Pakistan, the Imran Khan government has planned action against the JeM," the source said. "This will be another significant move of the Imran Khan government to de-escalate tensions after handing over the captured Indian pilot to his country," he said. To a question about the Azhar's fate, the official source said he cannot confirm whether he would be put under house-arrest or taken into custody. ALSO READ | Masood Azhar dead? Social media thinks so, intel agencies trying to verify claims According to a media report, a security official hinted that Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to the listing of JeM chief as global terrorist by the UN Security Council. "The state has to decide whether individual is important or the larger national interest of the country," the official was quoted as saying in the Express Tribune, when asked if Pakistan would no more oppose the UNSC action against Azhar. The US, the UK and France last week moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based JeM chief Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will consider within 10 days on the fresh proposal moved by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. ALSO READ | Pakistan may withdraw its opposition to proposal to designate Masood Azhar as global terrorist In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. In 2016 again, India moved the proposal with the P3 - the United States, the United Kingdom and France in the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the air base in Pathankot in January, 2016. In 2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked India's proposal from being adopted by the Sanctions Committee. When contacted Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said: "The government has taken action against the proscribed organisations including JeM in the past and any future action against them will be taken in the light of the National Action Plan (NAP) and our commitments in connection with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and not on Indian pressure," he said. Asked will the government take action against the JeM any time soon, the minister didn't rule it out, saying "any action against the proscribed organisations will be taken according to NAP." He said the Punjab government has taken the control of a seminary and a mosque in Bahawalpur as per the NAP requirements. Copy Editor/Entertainment Editor Frank Pieper is a copy editor and entertainment editor at The News-Gazette, and the author of Frank's Faves and Frank's Weekend Faves. His email is fpieper@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@frp308). PM Phuc made the statement at a meeting with Chairman of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on March 1. The Party, State and people of Vietnam always treasure and want to strengthen and develop the traditional friendship with their DPRK counterparts, he stressed. The government leader highlighted the significance and importance of the DPRK delegations visit to Vietnam in reinforcing and enhancing the traditional friendship between the two countries. He congratulated the DPRK on its achievements during the cause of national construction and economic development, especially in implementing the five-year national economic development strategy for 2016-2020, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the WPK headed by Chairman Kim Jong Un, the DPRK will soon become a rich and strong nation. Vietnam is also ready to coordinate with the DPRK in organising meaningful activities to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020, the PM said. Regarding the Korean Peninsula, PM Phuc said, as a close and sincere friend of the DPRK, Vietnam consistently supports a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developed Korean Peninsula. Having welcomed efforts of both DPRK and US at the second DPRK-USA Summit in Hanoi, he expressed his hope that the relevant parties will continue to promote dialogues and peacefully settle related issues. In its ability, Vietnam has and will continue to support and make positive contributions to that process, PM Phuc promised. For his part, DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un said he was deeply impressed by Vietnams great achievements in national construction and socio-economic development in the recent past. He asserted the DPRKs consistent stance of continuing to strengthen and develop the traditional friendship built and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and DPRK Chairman Kim Il-sung, expressing his belief that the bilateral relations will be lifted to a new height in the future. The DPRK Chairman expected the two sides to further expand exchanges and cooperation in different fields based on their needs and potential. Chairman Kim spoke highly Vietnams important role and position on the international arena, and thanked for the warmly, friendly and thoughtful reception of Vietnamese leaders and people as well as Vietnams preparations for the second DPRK-USA Summit. Before the meeting, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un visited the Vietnam-DPRK relations photo exhibition held by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Tens of colour and black-and-white photos captured by VNA journalists in different periods feature high-level visits, major events and activities in Vietnam-DPRK friendly and cooperative ties, making them vivid evidence of the fine traditional relationship between the two nations over the past seven decades. 'If we found out that she was alive that would be fantastic. But if it turns around the other way, it would give us closure, knowing one way or another, that she is gone.' One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the signing ceremony for the donation by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation to the Palace Museum and visited China Media Group in Beijing today. Mrs Lam, accompanied by Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip and the Chief Executive's Office Director Chan Kwok-ki, attended the signing ceremony at the Palace Museum. Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Lam said the foundation upholds the fine tradition of Hong Kong entrepreneurs fully supporting the museum's work on heritage conservation. She said Hong Kong has long been a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the world. The donation will fund the repair of the Palace of Prolonging Happiness and the establishment of a gallery of foreign artefacts. Mrs Lam thanked the museum for its long-standing support for the set-up of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. She was pleased to note that the Palace Museum will provide training to the professionals of the Hong Kong Palace Museum on areas including the repair of ancient architectural structures, artefact restoration and management, design of exhibition halls and display of exhibits when carrying out the Palace of Prolonging Happiness project. Before the ceremony, the Chief Executive toured the Palace of Prolonging Happiness as well as an exhibition showing the palaces Lunar New Year decorations and activities in the past. In the morning, Mrs Lam had a working meeting with Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Director Zhang Xiaoming, and gave an interview to China Media Group. Meeting with Chairman of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on March 1, the top Vietnamese legislator said that the DPRK Chairmans official visit to Vietnam will create a historic milestone in the bilateral relations. Chairwoman Ngan expressed her belief that under the leadership of the WPK and Chairman Kim, the DPRK will reap more fruits in socio-economic development, thus improving living conditions of its people. Wishing the East Asian country success with its 14th Supreme Peoples Assembly, the NA Chairwoman said that the Vietnamese legislature stands ready to promote exchange and cooperation with its DPRK counterpart in the time to come. She briefed the DPRK Chairman on the Vietnamese NAs recent activities and suggested both sides enhance collaboration via exchanges of delegations at all levels, and sharing of information and experiences. As the two countries are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2020, both sides need to coordinate to organise practical activities to bolster friendship, mutual trust, and understanding, as well as impulse cooperation between the two parties and nations, she stressed. Regarding the second meeting in Hanoi between DPRK Chairman Kim and US President Donald Trump, Chairwoman Ngan lauded the efforts made by the two leaders. She hoped that they will continue dialogues to handle issues related to the Korean Peninsula and improve DPRK-US relations, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation, and development on the Korean Peninsula, the region, and the world as well. Chairman Kim Jong Un, for his part, informed the Vietnamese leader on the DPRKs stability and development in all aspects, while congratulating Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements over the past years under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He reiterated the DPRKs consistent stance on continuing to reinforce and develop the traditional friendship with Vietnam, which was built and nurtured by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and DPRK Chairman Kim Il-sung. The DPRK Chairman said his official visit to Vietnam aims to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height. He also spoke highly of and thanked Vietnam for its careful preparations and support for the second DPRK-USA summit. FOUR men from Bulawayo have been arrested after they allegedly swindled a private company of $26 000 by cloning the companys bank card. Divine Gandawa (38), from Nkulumane 12, Farai Gandawa (29) from Pumula South, Malcom Stanley Migogo (36) from Cowdray Park and Cylous Ndlovu (38) from Pumula South appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Sbonginkosi Mkandla facing charges of fraud last week. The case was postponed to 14 March for trial. The four, according to court papers defrauded PPC Zimbabwe. Presenting the States case, prosecutor, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa told the court that on 1 May 2007 Mr Ian David Sheasby who was employed as a commercial director was issued with a Stanbic Visa card, card number 4069 0910 0517 3868. On 31 March, he resigned from the company and handed over the card to Joan Alexander, the company accountant who then secured the card by locking it in a drawer in her office. He said on a date unknown to the court, but between the period extending from 31 March 2018 and 23 October 2018 the accused persons unlawfully acquired the card information and went on to duplicate it. From 31 March 2018 and 23 October 2018 the accused persons went on to make swipe transactions at various outlets and made several purchases of electrical gadgets, groceries and beverages using the duplicated card. It was the States case that Mrs Karen Mhazo (PPC financial director) discovered there were financial transactions being debited to the card while the original card was safely kept in the drawer. She made a report at Stanbic Bank and also surrendered the original card to the bank. Stanbic Bank then blocked the card on 28 October 2018. Mr Manyiwa said a report was also made to the police leading to the arrest of Divine Gandawa and Farai Gandawa and the recovery of five 43 inch Samsung LED television sets purchased using the card. Government is working on a new set of regulations that would allow holders of free funds to import fuel to augment current supplies. In 2015, Statutory Instrument (SI) 171 was amended to allow members of the public to import up to 2 000 litres of fuel per month for personal use. However, the legal instrument was repealed two years later through SI 122 of 2017, which stipulated that only companies licensed in terms of Section 29 of the Petroleum Act were allowed to import fuel. The market is currently plagued by intermittent stock-outs, which are negatively affecting individual consumers and businesses. Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Engineer Gloria Magombo said the new regulations will be made soon. This is something that is being considered and we should be making an announcement soon, said Eng Magombo. We are still looking at the modalities; that is the process of how that (deregulating fuel importation) can be done. Obviously we already have licensed operators who we think will have to lead the process of procurement. We will be looking at allowing, for example, mining companies who have their own foreign currency and need fuel for their operations. I think its an issue Government wants to open up and see what are the opportunities for synergies with those who have free funds to be able to import for own consumption. We are looking at people who want to import for own consumption, she said. In particular, Section 29 of the Petroleum Act imposes a penalty of up to five years imprisonment for either procuring, producing or retailing fuel without a license. It reads: No person, other than a petroleum company licensed under this part, shall procure, sell or produce any petroleum product. Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level nine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment. Eng Magombo is, however, confident that the current fuel stock-outs will be addressed soon. The stock-outs are mainly a logistical issue. Like we have said before, internally we do have stocks. As of this week, more stocks have been released into the market and you will not be seeing queues soon, an intervention has been made. We have been going through a transitional period where the MPS (Monetary Policy Statement) has been announced and money for fuel is still being allocated by Government, so we have a logistical issue which we do not expect to persist. We expect to be cleared by the end of this week, she said. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said industry would welcome the move. Government, he said, should eventually leave the procurement of petroleum products to private players. Currently, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) provides private companies with foreign currency to import fuel. If they liberalise the procurement of fuel, they also have to look at the taxation side so that the landing price of fuel does not increase. Right now, the taxes for fuel are significantly higher compared to our regional counterparts, meaning when private players import, they bear the extra cost and the landing price will be high. Sunday Mail For example, Government will have to reduce excise duty on fuel to ensure that the landing price of the product is cheaper, said Mr Jabangwe.Sunday Mail We are sharpening our higher education so that it results in what we want; we do not want to produce graduates that will, at the end of the day, not know what they will do in life. It is now the work of ZIMCHE to ensure quality standards in higher education are met. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X (Newser) Outlaw poetry has a new entrant. An auction house in Dallas plans to sell a notebook of what appears to be poetry written by the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. The notebook is essentially a daily planner for 1933, Atlas Obscura reports, and Clyde Barrow's family has had it since he was killed. Bonnie Parker was known to have written poetry, per the Guardian, but the notebook shows that Barrow did, too. Heritage Auctions says they wrote about "their life of crime and doomed efforts to elude capture." The pair robbed banks, gas stations, and the likeand killed peoplefor 21 months before their road ended in an ambush in Louisiana in 1934. The New York Times reported at the time that police "riddled them and their car with a deadly hail of bullets," per Smithsonian.com. The auction is planned for April. story continues below The auction house compared the outlaws' handwriting samples to the green notebook, though it can't definitively authenticate it. But Heritage cites references in letters to the poems and the fact that the notebook's source is the Barrow family. A draft of Parker's best-known poemone that ends, "but it's death for Bonnie and Clyde"originally was in the notebook, but it was ripped out. That poem was put in an envelope labeled "Bonnie & Clyde. Written by Bonnie," per Atlas Obscura. Miscellaneous verses from that poem appear throughout the notebook. A poem thought to be by Barrow seems to answer hers: "Bonnies Just Written a poem/ the Story of Bonnie & Clyde. So/ I will try my hand at Poetry/ With her riding by my side." Later, he wrote: "We donte want to hurt anney one/ but we have to Steal to eat./ and if its a shoot out/ to live thats the way it/ will have to bee." (Read more Bonnie and Clyde stories.) (Newser) "Have you heard of BBQ Becky? Because this is the newest one." That's how a black man characterized a white woman in a Massachusetts dog park who asked him to leave and then called police because his dog repeatedly tried humping her dog, the New York Post reports. Franklin Baxley, 42, posted videos of his interaction with the woman, who he identifies on his Facebook page as Grace Sandland, or "Dog Park Debbie." While the woman is seen calling 911, Baxley debates the matter with an employee at the Attleboro dog park: "That's inappropriate for the dog," the woman tells him, and he retorts, "No, it's not. Dogs humping each other, and she's calling the cops. ... I've seen every single dog hump another dog here." story continues below In one of the videos Baxley tells the other owner, "I bet if I was white, you wouldn't have called the cops." Another video shows him following her, or his dogs near her, across the park: "'Don't run around a public parkno, I'm scared! Run away!'" he says, apparently imitating her. "I don't have to go where you tell me to go, lady." When she tries speaking, he adds, "No, you leave the park with your dog. Take the dog and leave! Like, holy s**t." When a police officer arrives, they each explain their version of events. "I don't know why he's doing this," she tells the officer, who responds, "I'm used to it." The officer also warns Baxley that standing near her "could be considered as an assault," per NBC News. When the officer threatens to ticket Baxley for running his car engine, Baxley got out of there. (Read more racial profiling stories.) (Newser) He co-founded the successful mobile payments company Square, but Tristan O'Tierney's story came to a tragic ending: He died Feb. 23 at age 35. Details of his death are scarce, but his mother tells the San Francisco Chronicle "it was in relation to his addiction." She says he couldn't breathe, arrived at a hospital, "and they couldnt revive him." She adds, to Bloomberg, that a doctor told her her son had suffered kidney failure and went into cardiac arrest. In addition to her, he is survived by his father, sister, girlfriend, and 3-year-old daughter. His family is still awaiting an official cause of death. story continues below O'Tierney's mother says he had been battling addiction for three years; the Chronicle notes that he was open about those struggles on social media. He was in a three-month rehabilitation program in Ocala, Fla., the city where he died. Born in Alaska, O'Tierney grew up in multiple states and eventually settled in New York before moving to California's Bay Area in 2005. He worked at tech companies including Yahoo and Apple. He left Square in 2013. "Tristan was part of Square's founding story and we are deeply saddened by his passing. Our thoughts are with his family and friends," a company rep tells Business Insider, which rounds up remembrances of O'Tierney on social media. (A founder of Vine died in December at age 35.) The photo contest was organised by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)s Hurricane Committee, under the framework of the 51st Annual Meeting of WMOs Hurricane Committee held in Guangzhou, China, from February 26 to March 1. The contest attracted the participation of 14 countries and territories who are members of the Hurricane Committee. The organising board presented two second prizes and two third prizes to the meteorological and hydrological agencies of China and Hong Kong (China), and two consolation prizes to the meteorological and hydrological agencies of China and Japan. The photo "The house in the storm" by Luong Thanh Hai from Vietnams Nghe An, was selected from one of more than 1,000 works and won the photo contest themed People and nature in the context of climate change for sustainable development launched by the National Hydro-meteorological Service (NHS) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in conjunction with the Vietnam Pictorial of the Vietnam News Agency. The contest forms part of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)/World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Typhoon Committee and the 50th session of the committee to be held in Vietnam in 2018. The organisation of a photo contest of the WMOs Hurricane Committee is one of the active activities that show the spirit of solidarity and cooperation. (Newser) A US citizen has been detained and tortured in Saudi Arabia and may be on his last leg, sources tell the New York Times. Walid Fitaihi was apparently held against his will in November 2017 at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, where guards blindfolded, stripped, slapped, and bound him, then shocked him with electricity for about an hour. A friend says the Harvard-trained doctor was whipped so badly he couldn't sleep on his wounded back for days. "It is believed that Dr. Fitaihi has been and is tortured at least psychologically during his imprisonment," his attorney Howard Cooper wrote the State Department in January, per CNN. Cooper described his client as "physically deteriorated" and "emotionally broken." Now American friends of Fitaihi, 54, are pressing Washington to address his case and criticizing President Trump's inaction. story continues below And Fitaihi isn't alone: The dual American-Saudi citizen is one of hundreds of eminent Saudis detained, and at times apparently tortured, in a 2017 crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Fitaihi's friend says he was likely tortured for information about Adel Fakeih, a relative by marriage and an ex-senior aide to the crown prince. Al Jazeera notes that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, himself a murder victim of Saudi agents, tweeted about Fitaihi in 2018: "What has happened to us?" he wrote in Arabic. "How can someone like Dr. Walid Fitaihi be arrested and what are the justifications for it?" Meanwhile, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with the crown prince this week, but it seems Fitaihi's imprisonment wasn't discussed. Trump says he has successfully extricated 20 US citizens held abroad. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.) (Newser) "The fentanyl alone has the potency to kill nearly over 2 million people." This from Ray Donovan, special agent with the New York division of the DEA, about a drug bust on Friday morning in suburban Westchester County that yielded five kilos of fentanyl and six kilos of heroin. Braulio Mata, 31, Jose Garcia, 44, Ramon Aracena Alfe, 47, Dionell Duarte Hernandez, 32, and Yarly Mendoza-Delorbe, 22, were arrested, reports ABC News. The operation also yielded cutting agents, grinders, and baggies, reports ABC 7; concealed compartments in furniture also concealed baggies of drugs, says the DEA. The owner of the home says he rented it and had no knowledge of illegal activity. (Read more fentanyl stories.) (Newser) The next time you're driving through a fast-food joint and they ask you if you'd like any hot sauce, maybe ask for a little extrajust in case. An Oregon man who got stranded in the snow for five days survived thanks in part to taco sauce packets he had in his car, authorities say. Jeremy Taylor, 36, and his dog got stuck while driving in the snow last Sunday in Deschutes County; Taylor tried to walk to safety (with his dog) Monday, but had to return to his Toyota 4Runner due to the deep snow. story continues below Over the next four days, he started his vehicle periodically to keep warm, and ate the aforementioned taco sauce, KATU reports. Finally, on Friday, a snowmobiler found the pair, in good condition but hungry, KGW reports. Taylor was reunited with family and friends, who had reported him missing. (How a couple survived five days stranded in the snow.) / Little Girls Wanted to Go for a Walk. Then They Were Gone 5- and 8-year-old sisters have been missing in Humboldt County since Friday afternoon (Newser) Half a dozen labradors lost several teeth and then their lives as part of a controversial lab experiment in Swedenand animal rights activists are howling, the Local reports. "These dogs could have been able to live their lives," says Malin Gustafsson of the Animal Rights Alliance. "It is impossible to understand and completely unforgivable in all ways." Gothenburg University's Sahlgrenska Academy ran the study, in which labradors Lotus, Luna, Milia, Mimosa, Venus, and Zuri had a third of their teeth taken out and were then given implants. Veterinarians at the school say they had to put the dogs down to take biopsies and samples and perform tests. story continues below The goal was to study how implants fuse with tissue, since humans and dogs have similar oral bacteria and saliva, per the Times of London. "We do understand how animal testing can arouse strong emotions, but we also would like to stress the fact that periodontitis is still a major public health issue, and the research conducted here is crucial to many people," the university says in a statement. Celebrity activists for animal rights like Ricky Gervais and actor Peter Egan helped spearhead a campaign against the study, resulting in a petition with over 80,000 signatures. "I would rather have no teeth in the future than for you to torture labradors," says a campaigner on social media, per the Local. The trial is ongoing. (Read more animal rights stories.) (Newser) An executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei is suing the Canadian government, its border agency and the national police force, saying they detained, searched and interrogated her before telling her she was under arrest, the AP reports. Lawyers for Meng Wanzhou said Sunday they filed a notice of civil claim in the British Columbia Supreme Court. Canada arrested the daughter of Huawei's founder at the request of the US on Dec. 1 at Vancouver's airport. Meng is wanted on fraud charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. The suit alleges that instead of immediately arresting her, authorities interrogated Meng "under the guise of a routine customs" examination and used the opportunity to "compel her to provide evidence and information." story continues below The suit alleges Canada Border Service Agency agents seized her electronic devices, obtained passwords, and unlawfully viewed the contents and intentionally failed to advise her of the true reasons for her detention. The suit said only after three hours was she told she was under arrest and had right to counsel. Meng is out on bail and living in Vancouver awaiting extradition proceedings. On Friday, Canadian Justice Department officials gave the go-ahead for her extradition proceedings to begin. Meng is due in court Wednesday to set a date for the proceedings to start. It could be several months or even years before her case is resolved. Meng's arrest set off a diplomatic furor and severely strained Canadian relations with China. Beijing has accused Washington of a politically motivated attempt to hurt a potential competitor to US technology vendors. (Read more Huawei stories.) In their coverage, both Nikkei Asian Review and Japan Today websites quoted US President Donald Trump as saying on his Twitter: "Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth." Meanwhile, in its highlight column, Japanese Sankei website said that with its unbiased stand, the hosting of the summit by Vietnam has affirmed that the country's wishes to contribute to peace and stability of the world. Meanwhile, the Japanese Nikkei newspaper described the hosting of the summit as a good chance for Vietnam to promote its tourism as the event drew over 3,000 foreign journalists. The Czech media gave wide coverage of the second DPRK-USA Summit, with praises for Vietnams role in organising the event. Major news outlet such as the Czech News Agency (CTK), the Blesk newspaper, the iDnes.cz and Novinky.cz news websites noted that the selection of the venue for the summit was very important which must be acceptable for both sides. According to Alex Svamberk, a journalist and analyst of international affairs, the role and position of Vietnam have become known worldwide as the meeting between the DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump attracts special international attention. The organization of the meeting proves that Vietnam is capable of making active contributions to major international issues, of which the Korean peninsula is among the most complicated and prolonged ones. In a statement released after the summit concluded on February 28, the the Republic of Koreas Presidential Office (Blue House) said the RoK regretted that the two sides were unable to reach an agreement, however they have made the most meaningful progress of their talks so far. That the US President expressed his willingness to continue talks will brighten the prospects for another summit, the statement said. The same day, the RoKs Democratic Party (DP) expressed the hope that the two leaders could meet again soon after the second summit in Hanoi. The Liberty Korea Party (LKP) expressed its regret that the two sides could not reach an agreement, but hoped that talks on denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula will be resumed at the earliest time. A long-awaited trade deal between Indonesia and Australia will be signed next week, Jakarta said yesterday, after months of diplomatic tension over Canberras contentious plan to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Indonesian trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita and his Australian counterpart Simon Birmingham are set to sign the multi-billion-dollar agreement in Jakarta on Monday, according to a trade ministry invitation sent to journalists. The pact will include improved access for Australian cattle and sheep farmers to Indonesias 260 million people, while Australian universities, health providers and miners will also benefit from easier entry to Southeast Asias biggest economy. Greater access to the Australian market is expected to spur Indonesias automotive and textile industries, and boost exports of timber, electronics and medicinal goods. Bilateral trade was worth US$11.7 billion in 2017. The deal has been in negotiations since 2010 and was expected to be signed before the end of last year but it stalled when Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposed the relocation of Australias embassy to Jerusalem. Morrison first floated the shift in October, ahead of a critical by-election in a Sydney suburb with a sizeable Jewish population. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim nation, was angered by the proposal. The chairman of Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Daniel Nwafor, has called on stakeholders in the party to... The chairman of Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Daniel Nwafor, has called on stakeholders in the party to stop the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, from further digging the grave of the party. Nwafor said the only way they could do this is by prevailing on Oshiomhole to tender his resignation letter as the former governor of Edo state had outlived his usefulness in APC. While speaking in Owerri on the suspension of governors Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun of Imo and Ogun states respectively, Nwafor described the action as null and void. He said that since Oshiomhole emerged the national chairman of the ruling party, he had been disregarding the constitution of the ruling party, stressing that the state chapter of the APC would not honour the purported suspension of Okorocha from APC. The chairman describing Oshiomhole as a man who had no respect for the rule of law as he has the penchant for disobeying court orders and judgments. According to him, the suspension of Okorocha did not follow due process as the APC constitution stated clearly that the suspension of any member should start from the ward level and not from the National Working Committee (NWC). Nwafor said I am here with the APC chairman from Ogboko ward where the governor hails from. There was no letter from the NWC to him to query the governor for any offence. The truth is that Oshiomhole is a man who has no respect for rule of law. He has a penchant for disobeying valid court judgements and orders. We demand his immediate resignation from APC. Adams Oshiomhole has outlived his usefulness in APC. As a party, we will not honour that purported suspension. It is null and void and of no effect. Governor Rochas Okorocha remains the leader of APC in Imo state. CPPCC session spokesman: Trade pact would benefit two nations, rest of world The signing of a mutually beneficial trade agreement at an early date will not only benefit China and the United States, but also will be good for the world economy, a spokesman for China's top political advisory body said on Saturday. The two countries have made substantial progress in their trade talks on specific issues such as technology transfers, protection of intellectual property rights, nontariff barriers, the service industry, agriculture and exchange rates, said Guo Weimin, spokesman for the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at a news briefing. The briefing was held in the leadup to the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee, which will open on Sunday. The two nations will continue to strengthen communication in accordance with the guidance of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and jointly advance the next-stage work, Guo said. China and the United States concluded their seventh round of high-level trade negotiations in Washington on Feb 24, which generated positive progress after a months-old rift in bilateral trade. Beijing and Washington share "more common interests than disputes, and more need for cooperation than friction", Guo said. He added that experience has proved that the two countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. "Cooperation is the best option for the two sides," he said. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two largest economies, Guo said, both countries assume especially important responsibility in safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity while having extensive shared interests. Guo said China-US relations are at a crucial stage and added that maintaining sound and steady development of bilateral relations conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples and also the universal expectations of the international community. Both sides should make joint efforts to expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, manage their differences based on mutual respect and advance bilateral ties on the basis of coordination, cooperation and stability so as to enable their cooperation to benefit the two countries and the world, Guo said. Also on Saturday, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said in a statement that it was aware of the announcement of the Office of the US Trade Representative to postpone a planned tariff hike on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports and keep the tariff rate at 10 percent until further notice. The US government had planned to raise the 10 percent tariff imposed on the Chinese imports to 25 percent starting Saturday. The tariff commission said it welcomes the step taken by the US. An online survey conducted by Peoples Daily Online revealed that anti-corruption, the rule of law, and social security were the top three public concerns of Chinese citizens for the upcoming two sessions. The second session of the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are scheduled to begin on March 5 and 3 respectively. The sessions are especially eye-catching as 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. The Press Center for the Second Session of the 13th NPC and the Second Session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee officially went into service at the Beijing Media Center Hotel on Feb. 27, 2019.(Photo by Weng Qiyu, Peoples Daily Online) The survey, started from Feb. 12, has interviewed over 4.4 million Chinese internet users by 5:00 pm, Feb. 27. Anti-corruption remained the hottest topic among the Chinese internet users for 8 times in the survey conducted in the past 17 years, and this year, it again topped the list. In addition, the survey reported an obvious attention of the Chinese on the rule of law which ranked the second on the list. In the third place was social security, a cause that concerns the practical interests of hundreds of millions of people. The survey indicated that the improvement of medical insurance and major illness insurance, the increase of basic pension for retirees and urban and rural residents, as well as the optimization of the transfer and continuation of basic pension insurance relations were focuses of the Chinese netizens. Education reform, Healthy China (a national strategy to improve the general health of the Chinese people), Internet+ public service, income distribution, poverty alleviation, housing system, and ecological protection respectively ranked the fourth to tenth in terms of public attention. Internet+ public service is a newly added topic in this years survey. The survey showed that over half of the Chinese internet users have used online services of traffic violation query and fine payment, case reporting, as well as query and withdrawal of housing provident fund. Residents consult lawyer Chu Hongwei after the latter gives a lecture on the Constitution to a community in Chaoyang district, Beijing on Dec. 3, 2018. (Photo by Xu Ye, Peoples Daily Online) China has made great progress in building a national social credit system in recent years, having handled millions of cases and issued millions of travel bans on people with bad social credit, official statistics showed. As of the end of 2018, Chinese courts nationwide had issued verdicts on 12.88 million cases of individuals and entities with bad social credit. This action led to 17.46 million bans on individuals from taking flights and 5.47 million bans on taking high-speed train, according to a report the Supreme People's Court of China (SPC) released on Feb.27. These penalties are an important part of China's push for a national credit system, said Li Junhui, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law. "The market economy is based on contracts. Those who break contracts are duly punished through a connected social network. This arrangement promotes economic development," Li told the Global Times. Li said social credit risks are in line with China's economic development level as defaulters are concentrated in more developed regions. Such restrictions on dishonest entities have already had an effect, as another 3.51 million delinquent debtors had repaid their debts to avoid credit penalties as of the end of 2018, the report said. The SPC started to advance the delinquent debtor system in 2013. In 2016, the court signed agreements with about 60 government agencies and other organizations including the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner, to promote the establishment of a mechanism that supervises, warns and punishes overdue debtors, chinanews.com reported. The mechanism includes 150 penalties such as prohibiting defaulters from holding public office, taking air and high-speed train travel or making property purchases, the report said. South Africa: COGTA Minister welcomes new Municipal Demarcation Board Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Zweli Mkhize has extended a warm welcome to the new members of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), who have been appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The term of office of the former board ended on 19 February 2019 and the new board assumed duty on Friday, 1 March 2019. Minister Mkhize wished the new board well for the task ahead of guiding this important institution to greater heights, said COGTA in a statement. The new members of the MBD are: (1) Thabo Moses Manyoni, Chairperson of the MDB Board Manyoni holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a diploma in business management and a certificate in executive leadership. He has an extensive experience in the public service, especially at local government level. Apart from having worked for the Independent Electoral Commission for four years, he has been a municipal manager for two municipalities over consecutive periods of four years. He was also an executive mayor of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, during which period he served as the national chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the vice president of the United Cities and Local Government in Africa, said COGTA. He has experience of serving in the provincial and national spheres as well. He was a Member of the Executive Council over a period of three years, during which he also served as acting Premier. At a national level, he has served as a Member of Parliament. (2) Mbali Pearl Myeni, Deputy Chairperson Myeni holds a BA (Honours) and a Masters in Business Administration Degrees. She has held various positions in the administrative establishment of Umngeni Local Municipality from 2011 until 2016 before she became a Councillor and Mayor of the same municipality for five years. She has been appointed to various boards and has been appointed by SALGA to provide training to councillors. (3) Monnapula Petrus Motlogelwa Motlogelwa holds a B Juris and LLB degrees. He is a practicing advocate and a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates. He has worked extensively in the field of both local and provincial spheres of government and has written and delivered numerous papers on those matters. He held the senior position of Acting Municipal Manager at Mafikeng Local Municipality in the North West Province in 2004. Motlogelwa also served at a senior level in the provincial government, including the position of Deputy Director-General at the Local Government and Traditional Affairs Department and as Acting Head of Department at the Human Settlements Department. (4) David Mohale Mohale holds a BA (cum laude), a Master of Management and a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy. He has worked extensively in the local government sphere; firstly as Chief of Staff at Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State, as Head of office in the office of the Mayor as Senior Manager in the Office of the Speaker; Mathjabeng Local Municipality as well as Senior Researcher before that in the same Municipality. His knowledge of local government sphere extends to other countries in the continent and beyond. Currently, he is employed in the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology responsible for promoting quality service delivery and open communication on transformation and change (5) Albert Kekesi Kekesi holds a (Ed), BSC(Ed) and M(Ed) degrees as well as various other certificates. He has been involved in the local government both as a councillor and an administrator for consecutive periods of approximately five years in each capacity. On the administrative side, he held the position of Municipal Manager at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in the North West from October 2007 to January 2012. He also served in the Independent Electoral Commission as an electoral officer and the provincial electoral officer. (6) Nomso Baliso Baliso holds BSc (Hons) in Town and Regional Planning. Her working experience in the local government sphere extends to about 20 years during which she held various senior administrative positions, including Chief Town and Regional Planner, Director: Macro Policy and Director: Urban Integration. She worked for the City of Cape Town where she oversaw the development of a city-wide housing strategy. (7) Greta Apelgrein-Narkedien She holds a BA degree and a number of relevant certificates and a diploma. She has experience of more than 20 years in the public service particularly in the provincial sphere. She held numerous senior positions, ranging from the position of Director: Special Projects Directorate, Office of the Premier in the Northern Cape, Deputy Director-General: Branch Head: Fisheries, National Department of Agriculture, Floristries and Fisheries in Cape Town and Head of Department, Social Welfare in the Northern Cape. During the time she spent at Human Settlements in the Northern Cape, she was exposed to and worked closely with the local sphere of government. (8) Themba Dubazana Dubazana holds two B Tech degrees; one in Labour Relations Management and another in Public Management, two Masters degrees in Management in Development and Management as well as a Diploma in Public Management. His area of expertise is financial management and human resources. Currently he is employed as a General Manager for Corporate Services by the South African Social Security Agency. (9) Mmatsie Mooki Mooki is a lawyer and holds a B Juris, LLB and LLM degrees. She is senior lecturer at the University of South Africa and served in the previous Municipal Demarcation Board. She has served on various committees of the Board. (10) Mabjoalo Jane Thupana Thupana holds a BA (Honours), a Masters in Public Administration and Master of Business Leadership, obtained from the Universities of Limpopo, Pretoria and South Africa. She has extensive knowledge of local government affairs, especially in the rural setting. She has experience in the land and rural development, with strong financial management component. She has held various positions in the Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture in Limpopo. Thupana served as chairperson of the previous Board. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Lawenforcement officers in Xincai county, central Chinas Henan province conduct an inspection at a video store on Aug.23, 2018. (Photo by Wang Yuxin from Peoples Daily Online) The SwordNet Operation, a national campaign against online copyright infringement carried out in 2018 in China, has yielded fruitful results, the National Copyright Administration (NCA) said on Feb.27. During the campaign, authorities of various levels investigated 544 cases of online copyright violations, 74 of which were criminal ones and involved about 150 million yuan (about $22.42 million) of illegal funds. A total of 1.85 million links to pirated information were deleted and 1.23 million pirated publications were confiscated. The authorities paid close attention to online reposting, short videos, animation games, knowledge sharing, and audiobooks and investigated and handled a batch of copyright violations, the official website of NCA showed. Last year, authorities in Huaian, Jiangsu investigated and punished website BTtiantang for providing illegal downloads for films and television programs without permission of copyright holders. The operator of BTtiantang surnamed Yuan was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 800,000 yuan. Authorities in Shanghai solved cases of copyright infringement owned by Japanese toymaker BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. and Japanese animation film studio Studio Ghibli Inc., involving a total of over 26 million yuan. Authorities in Xuzhou of east Chinas Jiangsu province cracked down on the case of copyright infringement of a mobile game, arresting four suspects and confiscating over 10 million yuan. Video websites, music websites, and literature websites were regarded as key targets during the nationwide campaign. The NCA conducted spot checks on copyright documentation of 2,389 works from 16 websites, and ordered related operators to remove 150 works from their websites. The NCA also warned 72 works in seven batches about possible copyright infringement, and gave special protection to the Spring Festival Gala and films screened in cinemas. To deal with the highlighted infringement of copyright in online reposting and short videos, the NCA interviewed 13 internet service providers including Chinese mobile content aggregator Qutoutiao Inc. and 15 short video platforms including Douyin. It also pushed them to tighten internal inspection. The platforms shut down or downgraded 140,000 we-media accounts for copyright violation, banned over 470,000 pirated works, and removed 570,000 pirated short videos. BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, will open its annual session at 3 p.m. on Sunday in Beijing. Over 2,000 members of the CPPCC National Committee from across the country will discuss major political, economic and social issues concerning the country's development during this year's session scheduled to conclude on March 13. Political advisors will hear and deliberate a report on the work of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, and a report on how the Standing Committee has handled proposals from CPPCC National Committee members since the previous session. Radio and TV stations affiliated to the China Media Group will live broadcast the delivering of the work report by Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Hotel Business News and Analytics Important! This article is written by orangesmile.com editors and is protected by copyright law. The article can only be re-used with a direct link to www.orangesmile.com NEWS BLOCKS: Malaysia Plans to Attract 30 Million Tourists Malaysias Ministry for Tourism and Culture published the countrys new plans regarding the development of the tourism industry. In 2018, Malaysia welcomed 25.8 million international tourist arrivals, and the ministry plans to increase this number to 30 million. The total tourist receipts are expected to increase to RM100bn or 21.66 billion euro by 2020. With the growing popularity of the country, there may be a need for new hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and other popular destinations. The ministry is currently developing the new Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign that may be presented at ITB Berlin, a popular exhibition that will take place in the capital of Germany on 6-10 March 2019. It will be another opportunity for the exotic destination to boost its popularity and support the ambitious growth plans. According to Mohamaddin Bin Haji Ketapi, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for Malaysia, cultural uniqueness is the key to the popularity of Malaysia on the European market. Many cultures were mixed in Malaysia, including Malay, India, Chinese, and with some influences from Europe and the Arab world. The countrys spectacular nature, authentic architecture, interesting cuisine, and welcoming people are the keys to success that make Malaysia a must visit destination in Southeast Asia. It will help the country create more jobs and boost its earnings. In 2017, 3.4 million people were working in the tourism sector in Malaysia. This is a huge gain from 1.5 million employees in the industry in 2005. Roughly 23% of the total countrys employment works in tourism. In 2005, only 15% of the total employment was involved in tourism. Only retail trade (33.7%) and food & beverage serving (32.3%) provide more jobs to Malaysians. Tourism may also help local communities in Malaysia. For example, the countrys Homestay Program allows people from smaller villages offering their homes to tourists to provide authentic local experiences. In 2017, this program helped local communities to earn as much as 5.98 million euro. Last year, 372,475 domestic and foreign tourists participated in this homestay program. As the popularity of Malaysia is growing, more hoteliers and big projects come to the country. Desaru Coast hotel in Johor and Impression City in Malacca are just some of the anticipated projects that will bring even more tourists to the country. Such brands as Hilton, Sheraton, Anantara, Double Tree, St. Regis, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Westin, W, Mercure, and many more already have hotels open in different destinations across Malaysia. 03.03.2019Stay in touch with the latest news of a worldwide hotel industry. All up-to-date analytics, reports , and news about hotel business trends on OrangeSmile.com. For the fifth year in a row, a watch from Glashutte Original wins first place in the prestigious competition for the Golden Balance awards. At the official awards ceremony in Munich on 21 February 2019, the Senator Cosmopolite was honoured for its decisive victory in the category for watches priced at up to 25,000 Euros. Senator Cosmopolite, stainless steel Glashutte Original Readers of UHREN-MAGAZIN and of Watchtime.net were called upon to choose their 10 favoured candidates to be nominated for a final vote in the five award categories. Altogether more than 10,000 watch connoisseurs participated in the readers choice vote. With their selection of the Senator Cosmopolite in the category up to 25,000 Euros, readers awarded first place to a timepiece that sets new standards in the realm of world-time watches and, with its combination of functionality, innovative force and traditional watchmaking, has proven to be a winning combination. Visually, this complex timepiece is also available, since 2018, in stainless steel and a reduced design. Like last year already, Glashutte Original has received further two awards. In the over 25,000 Euro category, second place went to the Senator Tourbillon Alfred Helwig Edition, and in the category up to 10,000 Euros, the Senator Excellence Panorama Date placed third. Senator TourbillonAlfred Helwig Edition Glashutte Original Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Sunday that if he wins a fifth term in April, he would promote political changes that his critics have demanded and call an early presidential election in which he would not run. In a written message to the nation, Bouteflika said if he is re-elected April 18, he would organize a public referendum on a new Constitution and respond to an opposition demand for an independent electoral commission. The longtime leader also vowed to immediately call a ``national conference'' to set a date and prepare for another presidential election. Bouteflika's decision to run next month has prompted rare, massive protests in recent days. ``I have heard the pleas of protesters and especially thousands of young people who asked about our nation's future,'' he wrote in his public message. Bouteflika was first elected in 1999. Questions about his fitness for office have grown since he suffered a stroke in 2013 and remained largely out of public view during his fourth term. He turned 82 on Saturday and underwent medical checks in Switzerland last week. Neither the government nor news media reported if he was back in Algeria. Although the president's office earlier had said Bouteflika intended to run again, his candidacy wasn't formal until Sunday. Bouteflika's campaign chief, Abdelghani Zaalane, filed the president's candidacy papers Sunday at the Constitutional Council in Algiers, the country's capital. Hundreds of students took to the streets to denounce the new bid. About 10 vans transported Bouteflika's documents to the building, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. Elevated security measures were in place in Algeria's capital and especially around the Constitutional Council. Sunday was the deadline for candidates to the April 18 presidential election to file their documents. Images of students marching and chanting anti-government slogans appeared on social media. In France, thousands of people from the European country's Algerian community also rallied Sunday in Paris and in the southern city of Marseille to oppose Bouteflika remaining in office. Bouteflika's major opponent during the 2004 and 2014 presidential elections, former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, announced Sunday that he would not challenge the incumbent this year. Benflis said central committee of his party, Talaie El Houriat, Arabic for ``Vanguard of Freedoms''), decided not to field a candidate so as ``not to serve as a pretext for the candidacy of the sick president.'' The head of the moderate Islamist party MSP, Abderrazak Makri, also has ruled out running. Search Keywords: Short link: Trailers You Missed: This Latest Trailer Still Isn't Selling Me On 'Hellboy' By Tori Preston | Film | March 3, 2019 | Its been a good week for TV and Streaming trailers! And then there were some movies. Lets get started, shall we? Hellboy In Theaters April 12 The good news is, the studio clearly took to heart the lukewarm responses people had to the first trailer for this movie, and the latest one is a totally different vibe. Theyre trying! Theyre really trying! Unfortunately Im still lukewarm on it. Which is sad because the cast kicks ass. David Harbours Hellboy-face, however, is still pretty unexpressive. Speaking of great casts Not thugs. Not wilding. Not criminals. Not even the Central Park Five. They are Korey, Antron, Raymond, Yusef, Kevin. They are millions of young people of color who are blamed, judged and accused on sight. May 31. A film in four parts about who they really are. WHEN THEY SEE US. pic.twitter.com/QQBVqo4TYM Ava DuVernay (@ava) March 1, 2019 When They See Us Coming to Netflix on May 31 Thirty years after 5 young black men were wrongly convicted of rape, Ava DuVernay is bringing a 4-part limited series about the famous case, told from the boys perspective, to Netflix. And the cast? ahem Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Blair Underwood, Christopher Jackson, Joshua Jackson, Omar J. Dorsey, Adepero Oduye, Famke Janssen, Aurora Perrineau, William Sadler, Jharrel Jerome, Jovan Adepo, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Storm Reid, Chris Chalk, Freddy Miyares, Justin Cunningham, Ethan Herisse, Caleel Harris, Marquis Rodriguez and Asante Blackk. PHEW thats a mouthful. A very, very talented mouthful. Fosse/Verdon Coming to FX on April 9 Sam Rockwell plays Bob Fosse, the visionary choreographer/director, and Michelle Williams plays the famed dancer Gwen Verdon. This limited series tracks their creative and romantic partnership and DANG does it look dramatic! Theres art, and love, and suffering, and stuff! Whatever, Im in it for the dancing. Stockholm in limited release April 12, and wide release later Based on the 1973 bank heist that inspired the phrase Stockholm Syndrome, Ethan Hawke plays the sympathetic crook, just trying to spring his buddy Mark Strong outta prison by taking hostages (including Noomi Rapace) but not, like, hurting them. Hes really a good guy, and the hostages trust him more than the cops, and also he wants a mustang like Steve McQueen drove in Bullitt and dude. Samesies. The Tick: Season 2 returning to Amazon on April 5 I so unabashedly love this show, its not even funny. I loved the first season, and Im ready for more, and I dont really know what else there is to say about it. Except maybe that I still think Alan Tudyk makes a mighty fine Dangerboat. The OA: Part II Coming to Netflix on March 22 I, uh, also have nothing to say about this. I didnt see the first season, and it feels like that came out AGES ago, and people either loved or hated it with a fiery passion. All I know is there was some weird dance or something, and maybe thats why Brit Marling is now in an alternate reality? Anyway, if youre curious youve got a few weeks to binge the first season before this one returns. We Die Young its On Demand, like, today? I think? Jean-Claude Van Damme is a white savior in a crime-ridden barrio of Washington, D.C. and HARD PASS. Im sorry for even bringing that one up. Ugh. And finally, Im using my limited Deputy Editor cred to skirt our No-Fallon Policy and share this clip, because well, my fascination with the John Mulaney/Pete Davidson friendship is just THAT strong. For what its worth, though, Mulaney and Davidson are both far more interesting than Jimmy Fallon (in general, and also in this clip). SNL' Highlights: Bodega Bathroom, What's That Name, and To Have and Have Not | Box Office Report: 'How to Train Your Dragon 3' Holds off 'A Madea Family Funeral'; Greta Flops Tori Preston is deputy editor of Pajiba. She rarely tweets here but she promises she reads all the submissions for the "Ask Pajiba (Almost) Anything" column at [email protected]. You can also listen to her weekly TV podcast, Podjiba Header Image Source: Lionsgate Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - A "drunk" police officer on Saturday night killed four people at a bar at Gatumba, a seaside resort at the northwestern outskirts of Bujumbura, in a fight between him and a woman in his company Resignation Of Iranian FM Zarif: Foreign Betrayal, Domestic Infighting 03/03/19 By Farhang Jahanpour (source: LobeLog) "The Shock of Zarif" (source: Iranian daily Tadbire Taze) After Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced his resignation via Instagram shortly before midnight local time on February 25, many foreign pundits and officials celebrated his departure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response was "Zarif is gone. Good riddance." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used even more insulting and undiplomatic language, and dismissed both Zarif and President Rouhani as front men for a corrupt religious mafia. Of course, one may be tempted to use such terms about a number of governments, but it is unacceptable for this kind of language to come from someone who serves as the chief statesman and diplomat of a superpower. Zarif's letter of resignation to the president, which had been written shortly before his Instagram message, revealed the pressures that he had been under. He faced challenges not only because of the U.S. violation of the landmark nuclear agreement but also domestic efforts to marginalize the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and exclude it from many important areas of foreign policy. The main reason for his resignation seems to have been his exclusion from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani's meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his surprise visit to Tehran. Although Commander of the Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani, Ayatollah Khamenei's special foreign policy advisor Ali Akbar Velayati, and the president's chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi took part in those meetings, Zarif was conspicuously absent because he had not been invited. Zarif told the reformist newspaper Entekhab: After the photos of todays meetings [are published], Javad Zarif as the foreign minister has no credibility around the world. It seems that certain areas of foreign policy are supervised directly by the Supreme Leader's office and the Revolutionary Guards from which the minister of foreign affairs is excluded. The newspaper Ghanoon (Law), which published photographs of Assad's meeting with Rouhani under the headline "Uninvited Guest," has been temporarily banned because, according to a former judge for the press court, "Bashar al-Assad was Ayatollah Khamenei's special guest." According to Ghanoon, Ayatollah Khamenei praised Assad as the "hero of the Arab world" who had given the "resistance" more power and more prestige. "The Univited Guest (Bashar al-Assad)" Iranian daily Ghanoon was banned after publishing this. As soon as Zarif's resignation became public, it generated thousands of comments, most of them supporting him and begging him to change his mind. Also, 150 Majles deputies signed a letter calling on Rouhani to reject Zarif's resignation. Many senior staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also made it known that if Zarif left they would also leave their posts. This prompted Zarif to write on a staff memo quoted by several news agencies: I am calling on all of my brothers and sisters in the Foreign Ministry and our representative offices to continue their duties." However, the memo also contained an ominous message, which reveals the reason for his frustration and resignation: "Hopefully my resignation will serve as a spark to bring the Foreign Ministry back to its mandated position in foreign relations. He added that his sole concern had been to "strengthen the credibility of the Foreign Ministry as the driver of policy and protector of national interest on the international scene." Zarif Returns This gamble seems to have paid off, and the president and others have recognized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be in charge of foreign policy. Soleimani referred to Zarif as "the main person in charge of foreign policy." He said: "Mr Zarif has always enjoyed the support of the senior members of the government, especially the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei." He expressed hope that Zarif's resignation would restore the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "its legal status." "Time for Establishment of National Government" Zarif (L) & Soleimani on cover of Iranian magazine Seda Shortly after Zarif's resignation, Rouhani's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi wrote on Instagram: "According to Rouhani, Iran only has one minister of foreign affairs and one foreign policy." Some of the comments on Vaezi's message were very interesting. One comment by a cleric read: "Without Zarif, Rouhani is a lame duck president. He should either keep Zarif or he should resign too." Another wrote: "Without Zarif, the government will be meaningless. Zarif's departure would mean the end of a liberal regime in the country." In response to Zarif's letter of resignation, President Rouhani described him as a "faithful, brave, valiant and pious individual," adding: "You are on the front line of resisting the U.S.'s extensive pressures." Therefore, he said Zarif's resignation was against national interests and that he would not accept it. He went on to say: I am well aware of the pressures put on the country's diplomatic apparatus, the government and even the elected president. However, we will remain faithful to the end to the commitments that we have made to God and to the nation. I am confident that, with God's grace, we will also pass through this difficult phase. On Wednesday morning, Zarif accompanied the president to the ceremonies welcoming the Armenian president to Tehran. U.S.-educated Zarif has devoted his entire career, when he was working as Irans permanent representative at the United Nations from 2002-2007 under President Khatami and especially during the six years that he has served under President Rouhani as minister of foreign affairs, to bringing about reconciliation with the West. He achieved that goal with the landmark nuclear deal that he reached with the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany, and which the Security Council and the EU endorsed unanimously. As Zarif has often said, that remarkable agreement was the base and not the ceiling of Iran's cooperation with the West. Had it been honored, it could have acted as a first step to raising all the other outstanding issues between the West and Iran and resolving some of the intractable problems and disputes in the Middle East. Even Ayatollah Khamenei, who has always been suspicious of the United States, said that the nuclear agreement could act as a test case and, if successful, could help reach other agreements with the West. Opposition to Rapprochement However, the neoconservatives and other anti-Iran forces in various U.S. administrations have always been opposed to any rapprochement between Tehran and the West and have worked hard to block it. When Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani was elected president (1989-1997), he tried to rebuild the war-shattered economy. As a gesture of goodwill, he gave a $1 billion oil contract to the American oil company Conoco to show that after 10 years of revolution and war, Iran was open to interaction and collaboration with the United States. Unfortunately, pro-Israel officials who had achieved prominent positions in the Clinton administration rebuffed his olive branch. Conoco was forced to cancel the deal. Rafsanjani, meanwhile, was rewarded with the "dual containment policy" courtesy of Martin Indyk, a former head of the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) who was serving as senior director of Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. President Mohammad Khatami subsequently went even further. He strongly condemned the 9/11 terrorist attack and called for a "dialogue of civilizations." He made a remarkable offer to the United States through the Swiss ambassador in Tehran to resolve all the issues of contention between the two countries, including Iran's nuclear program and its approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict . He appointed Hassan Rouhani as the head of the team negotiating a nuclear deal with the European Troika (Britain, France, and Germany), and reached a deal to reduce Iran's activities to research and development and very limited low-level enrichment. This time, President George Bush responded to Iran's gesture by including Iran in an "axis of evil" with Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Kim Jong Il's North Korea. "Axis Of Evil Repeated" Reference to Trump's anti-Iran speech at United Nations in Sep 2017 (source: Iranian daily Asre Iranian) When Rouhani was first elected president in 2013, he appointed Zarif, who had worked with the initial Iranian nuclear team, to be in charge of negotiating a new deal with the West. After two years of intense negotiations with the five permanent members of the Security Council, plus Germany, they reached the landmark nuclear deal. When the agreement was reached, celebrations broke out in Tehran and Zarif was welcomed back as a hero for having opened a new era of cooperation between Iran and the United States. Dealing with the Hardliners President Trumps irresponsible withdrawal from the nuclear agreement pulled the rug from under Zarifs feet. It also emboldened hardliners who accused him of having been deceived by the Americans when he gave up Irans nuclear program, which had cost billions of dollars and many years of hard work, in exchange for empty promises. The Iranian government should use the shock of Zarif's resignation to push back against the hardliners and take charge of both the domestic and foreign affairs of the country. Also, Iran's foreign opponents should consider the risks of destabilizing the government under the current critical situation. The Middle East is still reeling from two decades of constant wars and massive destruction. At a time when nuclear-armed India and Pakistan may be on the brink of a new war, when the multi-faceted wars in Syria, Yemen, Libya, and elsewhere have not been resolved, when the Arab-Israeli conflict seems to be in a state of permanent stagnation, and when the wave of refugees to Europe is still continuing, it is highly irresponsible to add yet another major conflict to the list. Let's hope that saner heads will prevail both in Iran and Europe and especially in the United States to push Iran towards greater democracy and human rights through dialog and cooperation, rather than through blind regime-change policies that thrust the region into even greater chaos. About the author: Farhang Jahanpour is a former professor and dean of the Faculty of Languages at the University of Isfahan, and a former Senior Research Scholar at Harvard. For the past 30 years he has been teaching courses on the Middle East at the Department of Continuing Education and is a member of Kellogg College at the University of Oxford. Millions of iPhone Users Unable to Use Iranian Apps Due to Apple Certificate Revocation 03/03/19 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran A new move by the Apple Corporation aimed at protecting user data has resulted in Iranian apps becoming unusable on the iOS mobile operating system as of February 27, 2019, for some 9 million users. Apple said it revoked enterprise certificates to prevent gambling and pornography companies as well as social media networks such as Facebook from collecting private user data via apps. Most iPhone users around the world won't notice a difference. But Iranian apps are no longer useable on iPhones used by an estimated more than 9 million people because the apps require the certificate to operate on iOS. "We designed our Enterprise Developer Program solely for the internal distribution of apps within an organization... Any developer using their enterprise certificates to distribute apps to consumers will have their certificates revoked, which is what we did in this case to protect our users and their data," Apple said in a statement posted on its website January 31, 2019. It's unknown exactly how many people in Iran use iPhones, but according to Statistical Center of Iran, between March 2017 and March 2018, the number of active mobile phones in Iran grew 7.5 percent to 88 million. In March 2018, the Radio Farda news site quoted a tweet by Iranian Telecommunications Minister Azari Jahromi stating that "Eleven percent of Iran's mobile market belongs to Apple," which would mean 9.6 million people have iPhones in Iran. Users of the iPhone in Iran rely on Iranian apps for a variety of daily activities including ridesharing and online transactions. Apple's revocation of the crucial certificates will not only deny Iranians access to apps providing information, services and games, it will also harm the country's tech sector, which was already struggling to operate under state-enforced anti-internet-freedom policies and sanctions. Iranian companies whose apps are based on iOS, such as the popular Uber-like Snapp app, will also lose all their iPhone customers, which would lead to people losing their jobs as well. Why Do Iranian Apps Require Enterprise Certificates to Run on iOS? In August 2017, Apple removed many Iranian apps from its online store while stating that it was complying with US-imposed sanctions. To continue operating on iPhones, many developers of Iranian apps sought and received enterprise certificates from Apple that enabled them to operate on the iPhone without going through the no longer accessible Apple app store. But after increasing reports about unethical data capture practices by some companies, Apple revoked the enterprise certificates worldwide. Squeezed From the Inside and Out, Iranian Tech Workers Hope to Emigrate It is not known how many companies and individuals will be affected by the move. But an iOS tech developer working for an Iranian bank, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on February 28 that "More than 40 percent of the bank's customers rely on its iOS-based app." "It's clear that these companies will turn to PWA (Progressive Web Apps), and iOS developers will either be fired or allowed to switch to another field. Only a few companies can help their employees transfer to a different field of work and the rest have to leave the country or try to find remote work." The source noted that many Iranians struggle to find work in Iran's tech sector, squeezed from the inside by stifling state policies and regulations, and from the outside by financial sanctions that prevent them from being paid through the international banking system. For these reasons, many Iranians are seeking ways to emigrate. "Thanks to sanctions, it's really hard to find remote jobs and even if they exist, the pay is far less than the international rate," he said. "For this reason, in recent years a lot of the skilled workforce has no choice but emigrate." Pointing out the difficulties in transferring funds to and from Iran, an Iranian iOS developer in the city of Shiraz who spoke on the condition of anonmity told CHRI: "If we didn't have this situation, domestic companies could expand, international firms would enter the Iranian market and with the inevitable progress, we would be able to find employment inside the country." The developer continued: "But in this situation, most people are looking to go to other countries. I myself am looking to emigrate to Europe and if that doesn't work out, I might go to Turkey where I can work remotely and receive payments." The US Treasury's General License D-1, issued by the Obama administration, exempts personal communication devices from being impacted by US sanctions on Iran. But now, with the revocation of Apple's enterprise certificate, Iranian developers are finding themselves back where they started, unable to operate on iPhones because they can't use Apple's app store. "We received a license from the US Treasury to offer the Gap messaging app and now, without any logical reason, Apple has become more Catholic than the Pope by blocking access to Gap users. We are going to publish an alternative version through another channel," tweeted Mehdi Anjidani, founder and CEO of the Iranian Gap messaging app. Iranians responded to Apple's move by venting their frustrations on social media. "We're struggling to stay alive with filters from inside and sanctions from outside," tweeted journalist Shabnam Kohanchi on February 28. The internet and social media apps are heavily restricted and censored in Iran. After banning the country's most widely used messaging app, Telegram, the Iranian government has recently set its sights on Instagram. Tech journalist Shahram Sharif commented: "You can blame it on revoking enterprise certificates but in the end we are in this situation because of the sanctions. Let's remind ourselves that the sanctions were not supposed to be against the people. If there were no sanctions, companies like Snapp, App, Digikala and others would not have taken the unconventional step of developing [iOS] apps." Game developer Shahriar Azharianfar tweeted: "Not only has our contract been canceled, but our plans, medium-term goals, job creation, financial network, and earnings have also been affected. We were forced into this situation, otherwise no one likes to develop Apple apps in this way [using enterprise certificates]." Jamal Ahmadi, who works for the Iranian Android app store, Cafe Bazaar, wrote, "They said the sanctions won't affect the people but apparently they do. A lot." Guards at the Gate: The Expanding State Control Over the Internet in Iran provides an in-depth review of Iran's internet policies and initiatives, in particular, the development of its state-controlled National Internet Network (NIN), which gives the government newly expanded abilities to control Iranians' access to the internet and monitor their online communication. Iranian Political Prisoner Sews Lips Shut to Protest 13-Year Prison Sentence for Peaceful Online Activities 03/03/19 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Twenty-seven-year-old political prisoner Ali Bazazordeh has sewed his lips shut and started a hunger strike in Evin Prison's Ward 4 to protest an Iranian Appeals Court's decision to uphold a 13-year prison sentence against him for his peaceful online activities. Former cellmate and civil rights activist Reza Khandan told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) that Bazazordeh was initially verbally told that the Appeals Court had reduced his sentence to two years in prison but the written verdict was much worse. "Ali has been in prison again for the past year. He was arrested with three other people and charged with 'forming an illegal group' [on the Telegram messaging app]," Khandan said. "The Revolutionary Court in Shahr-e Rey issued a heavy sentence and condemned him to 13 years in prison, two years of exile, a four million toman ($950 USD) fine and learning to recite parts of the Quran." "Yesterday [February 23, 2019,] Ali called me from prison and said he had received the verdict from the Appeals Court and it says his 13-year prison sentence has been upheld. Ali said he will sew his lips and go on a hunger strike this afternoon to protest against this unjust decision," Khandan added. Khandan told CHRI that Bazazordeh was lonely and malnourished before starting the hunger strike due to no one visiting him or depositing money into his account so he can buy his own food. "Ali's situation is very different front other prisoners. He has lost his mother and his father is a [Iran-Iraq] war veteran suffering from the effects of a chemical attack on 65 percent of his body; he lies in bed most of the time. He also has a seven-year-old sister. He has not had a single visitor all year. No one has put anything into his prison account for expenses and he won't accept any money from anyone. So he only eats prison food every day, which is so bad it's really inedible. No prisoner can survive on that. When I was his cellmate, he didn't look good physically and now with this hunger strike he will get worse." According to Khandan, Bazazordeh has been in and out of prisons since he was 14 for allegedly engaging in political activities. He was first arrested in 2006 when he took part in protests against a cartoon published in the official newspaper, Iran, which many ethnic Iranian Azeris found to be racist. The protest cost him two years in a juvenile correctional facility in Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. In 2009, Bazazordeh was arrested again for taking part in nationwide pro-democracy rallies that came to be known as the Green Movement following a controversial presidential election that brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power for a second presidential term. That time he was sentenced to five years in prison, most of which he served in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Bazazordeh's latest arrest took place in 2017 when he was taken into custody along with three others-Zahra Zare' Seraji, Hamid Kabirmehr and Morteza Nazari Sedehi-for allegedly being members of unspecified groups on the Telegram messaging app. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has provided more information on how prayers by General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye Saved his life. Osinbajo, speaking on Saturday at the 35th anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Service, which marked Mr Adeboyes 77th birthday anniversary revealed details of the prayers he received at the Redemption Camp from Mr Adeboye, the general overseer of the church, hours before the helicopter conveying him crashed. DAILY POST recalls that weeks ago, the Vice President and 11 others survived in Kabba, Kogi State. Speaking on his meeting with Adeboye, Osinbajo said, I am Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 48 of RCCG, I thank God for the salvation of my soul. Two testimonies: The first is that on February 2nd, I came late for the Holy Ghost Service. After the service, I went to see Daddy in his office and he said he wanted to pray for me. My wife, Dolly, and I knelt down as he prayed, Father, I want you to give special protection to your son. He prayed that three times and stopped. Then he prayed it again.I was getting worried about why he had to pray that way. But anyway, later that day the helicopter I was travelling in crashed in Kabba. All 12 of us in the helicopter survived without a scratch. I want to bless the name of the Lord for that. On his Second term victory as Buharis Vice President, Osinbajo attributed his victory to Gods doing and no other force. My second testimony is that on February 23, I was re-elected with President Buhari, for a second term as Vice President and I want to praise the Lord. Praise Jesus. Who did it? Jesus!, Osinbajo added. Source: Dailypost.ng Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, says, religious leaders must be considered as partners in national development and not enemies that ought to be attacked. He said political leaders must not perceive Leaders of Faith-Based Organisations and other Civil Society Organisations as their enemies. Faith-Based Organisations have functioned as Institutions of Calm in our governance efforts over the years. Their roles are very crucial for national cohesion and fair reflections on both intended and unintended outcomes of public policies, Rev Opuni-Frimpong said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Sunday. He said the strategic political efforts by some political leaders to silence voices of wisdom in the society through verbal and other forms of attacks did not augur well for national development and good democratic governance practices. He, therefore, urged faith-based and other civil society organisations leaders to encourage themselves to play their God-given responsibilities as Stewards of the Society and Peace-Makers. There is the need for the leaders of the People of God to stand in the gap for the common good of the Nation and the ultimate Glory of God Rev Opuni-Frimpong added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vowed to hit the streets with millions of demonstrators if the Inspector General of Police (IGP) fails to arrest and detain the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who is the National Chairman of the NDC was caught on tape threatening to make governance unbearable for Nana Akufo Addo by initiating moves, such as kidnapping people to make the current government unpopular. Ever since the content of the tape was made public, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo has come under a barrage of attacks and condemnation. Latest to join the legion of those condemning the NDC Chairman, is Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako. The NPP scribe indicated that the words of Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo should not be taken lightly since we have witnessed, in recent times, the kidnapping of innocent young girls in Takoradi. Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, urged civil societies, such as the Christian Council to come out and condemn the distasteful of Mr. Ofosu Ampofo since such motives could have a negative impact on the Ghanaian society. He also called on the leadership of the Church of Pentecost to reprimand the NDC chief scribe, since the church doesnt believe in evil. I know the Church of Pentecost does not support the perpetuation of evil. It is one church that has distinguished itself in Ghana and beyond by urging its members to live in conformity and rules which does not conflict the words and teachings of God. The church has carved a niche for itself in dealing with its members who flaunt the teachings of God, and those who dont promote good morals in society. Chairman Wontumi further called on Former President Rawlings to throw out any member of his party who does not set standards to meet the image of the NDC. He lambasted former President Mahama fo being the catalyst who has inspired Ofosu Ampofo to develop the mindset to kidnap innocent women and children. He also blamed former President Mahama for introducing thuggery into politics and called on mothers whose children have been kidnapped to turn their wrath on him. He sounded serious caution to the IGP to ensure Mr. Ofosu Ampofo faces the music and come to the realization that we live in a civilized society governed by a President, and not a jungle. The National Chairman of the NDC has however denied any wrongdoing in the ongoing leaked tape controversy. On the said tape, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo is allegedly heard telling party communicators that the NDC ahead of the 2020 elections is strategizing to launch attacks on some prominent personalities in the society including the National Peace Council Chair, Reverend Emmanuel Asante, the EC Chairperson Mrs Jean Mensah. For the first time, I will endorse insulting the National Peace Council Chair, to cheers from the NDC Communicators. He further stated that the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensahs comments over the Ayawaso by-election incident was unpalatable to them, and hence they will take her to the cleaners. He also told his people to launch similar attacks on President Akufo-Addo who is the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, urging them to do all in their power to paint him violent in the face of the international community, thereby discrediting his credibility. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video At about 5:00 EST (10:00 UTC), Crew Dragon reached Waypoint 1, a spot 150 meters away from the station's forward docking port on Node 2, also known as Harmony. At 140 meters, NASA astronaut Anne McClain commanded Dragon to back away from the station, as part of a test of the spacecraft's contingency abilities. Dragon obliged, firing its 4 foward Draco thrusters and backing up to about 180 meters. There, McClain commanded it to hold position. After another go/no-go poll, the SpaceX team in Hawthorne, California sent Dragon on its final approach to Waypoint 2, 20 meters from the docking port. There, it stopped for a final go/no-go poll. The views of Dragon from the station were incredible: Ahram Online shares the names and stories of some of the victims of the Ramses railway station blast On Wednesday morning, a deadly blaze broke out at Cairos Ramses Railway Station when a locomotive collided with a cement barrier and burst into flames, killing 22 people and injuring over 40 others. At least six people, including the locomotive driver reportedly responsible for the accident, have been arrested and are being detained pending investigation. The horrific incident led to the resignation of transportation minister Hisham Arafat. Ahram Online sheds the light on some of the people whose lives were cut short in the accident. Nadia Sabbour and Wessam Hanafy Nadia Sabbour and Wessam Hanafy Nadia Sabbour, the former head of Rotary Sun Rise, and Wassem Hanafy, the head of Rotary Golden Riders, who had just attended social work events in Luxor and Aswan, were transiting in Ramses station on their way back to their hometown of Alexandria. Sabbour and Hanafy had participated in revamping and developing a village in Luxor as well as the inauguration of the Middle Easts first floating hospital ship in Aswan. When the blast took place, Sabbour, 60, and Hanafy, 42, were waiting on Platform 6 with their another Rotary colleague Hend Moharram for two other colleagues who went to book tickets for the Cairo-Alexandria leg of he trip. Two other Rotary friends had gone to the bathroom. Sabbour and Hanafy were the first victims of the blaze to be identified publicly. Their identities were confirmed later through DNA testing. Sabbour was married but had no children. Wessam was single. Miraculously, their friend Moharram survived the blast but her arm was badly injured. Samia Mohamed Samia Mohamed and Rawya Samia Mohamed, 55, and her granddaughter Rawya, 7, were at the station waiting to board a train to Sharqiya to attend a memorial service. Mohamed had missed an earlier train heading to Sharqiya and had to wait for the next. A video circulated online shortly after the incident shows Rawya sitting on the floor with burns all over her body in the immediate aftermath of the blast. She states her name and age before falling unconscious. The 7-year-old was transferred to hospital in critical condition. She was the first among the injured to be taken to Nasser Medical Institute. For nearly eight hours, nobody knew anything about Rawya beyond her first name before her father showed up at the ICU. It turned out Rawya had been living with her mothers parents after her own parents divorce four years ago. The father recognised his daughter from photos and videos of her posted online. Rawya suffers from burns on nearly 86 percent of her body. Her grandmothers burned body was identified three days later using DNA testing. Evon Ayad Evon Ayad Evon Ayad, an employee at the Ramses Railway Station, was on Platform 6 when the blast took place. Forty-eight hours after the blast, Ayads body was identified using a DNA sample provided by her brother. Ayad, lwho ived in Shubra El-Khaima, Qalyoubia governorate, is survived by two sons and a daughter. Her eldest son had been planning to hold his wedding in a couple of months. Ahmed Hamdy Mahmoud Ahmed Hamdy Ahmed Hamdy Mahmoud arrived in Cairo's Ramses station from Upper Egypt's Minya earlier on Wednesday and was on his way to El-Demerdash Hospital in Abbassiya, where he worked as an anaesthesiologist. The 30-year-old had previously been working as an anaesthesiologist at Minya General Hospital, but was later assigned to work in a government hospital in the capital. For 48 hours, his family searched for Mahmoud in hospitals and made appeals for help on social media. His body was also identified using DNA testing. Mahmoud is survived by a wife and daughter. Beshoy Fathy Kamel Beshoy Fathy Kamel Beshoy Fathy Kamel, 25, took the train from Aswan governorate to Cairo on Wednesday to go to the Dentists Syndicate to collect his license to practice dentistry. After the accident, his family asked on social media for help to locate him before he was identified on Thursday. Beshoy was four-months engaged to be married by the end of the year. Mahmoud Fawzy Mahmoud Fawzy Mahmoud Fawzy took the earliest train from Aswan governorate, where he lived, to Cairo to buy merchandise for his souvenir shop in Aswan. Fawzy stepped on Platform 6, 15 minutes before the blast. For 36 hours, his family and friends searched for him before his body was identified using a DNA sample. Fawzy is survived by a wife and a four-year-old daughter. Makarios Rady Wadeed Makarios Rady Wadeed Makarios Rady Wadeed arrived from Upper Egypt's Qena governorate at Ramses Station at around 9:30am, seconds before the blast. The faculty of engineering graduate was making his way out of Platform 6 to exit the station when the blast hit. Wadeed, 27, had a ticket on a flight that afternoon from Cairo International Airport to the UAE where he had just found a job. On Thursday, his family announced that their son died at Nasser Medical Institute. Wadeed was the eldest son in his family. His father had worked at the Ministry of Education before his retirement. His mother is a housewife. Mohamed Abdel-Dayim Mohamed Abdel Dayim Mohamed Abdel-Dayim took the train from Mansura in the central Nile Delta to Cairo on Wednesday morning to submit his paperwork for a teacher's assistant job at the Faculty of Agriculture at Al-Azhar University. The 30-year-old was waiting on Platform 6 for the supervisor of his masters thesis, who took a later train to Ramses. Mohamed's family searched for him at hospitals for three days before his body identified at Zeinhom morgue in south Cairo using a DNA sample. Abdel-Dayim was preparing to get married. Ayman Mamdouh Abdel-Aziz Ayman Mamdouh Abdel Aziz Ayman Mamdouh Abdel-Aziz, who originally hailed from Sharqiya in the central Delta, had been a kiosk supervisor at Ramses Station for four months. The 29-year-old held a diploma in commerce. His body was identified in the morgue using a DNA sample provided by his father, who searched for his son for two days. Khaled Abdel-Aziz Khaled Abdel Aziz Khaled Abdel-Aziz, who lived in a village in Sharqiya governorate, travelled daily by train to Cairo where he worked for the Ambulance Authority. The 37-year-old ambulance driver was stationed in the Ramses area. After finishing his night shift on Wednesday morning and buying some childrens toys, Abdel-Aziz waited on Platform 6 for the 12pm train to return to see his family in Sharqiya when fate struck. The father of two toddlers was injured in the blast and transferred to a Cairo hospital with burns on 85 percent of his body. Abdel-Aziz succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. Ahmed Abdel-Raheem Ahmed Abdel Raheem Ahmed Abdel-Raheem, who hailed from a small village in Upper Egypt's Assiut governorate, worked as a construction worker in the New Administrative Capital. According to his family, they last talked on the phone with Abdel-Raheem, 19, when he told them he had just arrived at Ramses Station to catch a train home for his monthly holiday. Abdel-Raheem was building a home to get married. Emad El-Din Safwat Emad El-Din Safwat Emad El-Din Safwat took the train every Thursday from Luxor, where he worked, to see his family in Cairo, where they lived. The 36-year-old had been working as a manager in a paint factory in the Upper Egyptian city. Last week, he took an extra day off to start his weekend on Wednesday. The last phone call between Safwat and his family came at 9:05am, 20 minutes before the locomotive crashed. His family, originally from Qalioubiya in the Nile Delta, searched for Safwat for 24 hours in Cairo before his body was identified at Zeinhom morgue using DNA testing. Safwat is survived by his wife and four children. Mohamed Gouda Mohamed Mohamed Gouda Mohamed The last phone call between policeman Mohamed Gouda Mohamed and his nephew was at 10am from Ramses Station, where Mohamed told his nephew that there had been a huge accident and that he was trying to help save people. At 8am that morning, Mohamed finished his shift as a policeman at a Giza post office and headed to the railway station to catch the first train to his village in Sharqiya governorate, where he lived with his family. According to his family, the 37-year-old was initially standing far from the location of the blast, but ran there to help the victims, when his body caught fire. His body was identified using a DNA sample provided by his family at Zeinhom morgue. Gouda is survived by his wife and two children. Search Keywords: Short link: Offenbach: Tales of Hoffmann for children - Young Woo Kim (Hoffmann), Arnheidur Eiriksdottir (Muse), Kathrin Zukowski (Antonia) - Opera Cologne (Photo Matthias Jung) As this year marks the 200th birthday of Colognes most-famous son, Jacques (Jakob) Offenbach, Opera Cologne is focusing on the birthday boy as never before. Tony Cooper reports Jacques Offenbach in the 1860s The Offenbach Year at Opera Cologne began in the first month of this year with a compact family version of The Tales of Hoffmann performed by members of the International Opera Studio and Opera Cologne Ensemble under the baton of Rainer Muhlbach. Set to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and based on three short stories by ETA Hoffmann, the protagonist of the story, it turned out to be Offenbachs final work. He died in October 1880, four months before the works premiere. Cologne: the cathedral, the Hohenzollern Bridge and the river Rhine Not only a brilliant artist and a great inventor of characters, ETA Hoffmann was also a dreamer. In his world, nightmares and reality blur, figures from his life appear to him in a distorted form in his sleep. And like any great artist, he can only survive the adventures of his fantasy world in the company of his muse who supports him on his journey between dreams and reality.Kai Anne Schumacher not only created the staging but also the puppets which the performers brought to life in an impressive fusion of opera and puppetry to the amazement of audience members - young and old.However, the premiere of(an opera-bouffe in three acts) promises a great treat. The first performance on Sunday 9th June at the StaatenHaus, Opera Colognes temporary home while the renovation of their opera-house on Offenbachplatz (well behind schedule and way over budget) is now projected to be ready in autumn 2022.Under the musical direction of Francois-Xavier Roth (with staging by Renaud Doucet)states everything that makes an Offenbach operetta so special, accessible and appealing such as the sparkling melodies, acerbic wit and cleverly-concealed erotic nuances.Opera Cologne will also present the world premiere of a production actually on the construction site of the opera-house on Offenbachplatz namelyby Christian von Gotz. A cheeky, anarchic piece, it pays close attention to Offenbach, the theatrical genius, whose work still astounds with its progressive attitude and provocative desire for freedom.Surprisingly, several of Offenbachs strongest works, however, remain relatively unknown and, in this respect, Opera Cologne will be presenting a host of duets, couplets and ensembles from pieces rarely (or never seen) in Germany. For instance, an incredibly-strong duet from(an opera-fantastique dating from 1857) will receive its first performance.Georg Kehren, head dramaturg of Opera Cologne, said: The Cologne-Paris axis already exists here. It is embodied in our French-born conductor, Francois-Xavier Roth, wholl roll out a sparkling musical carpet highlighted by a new production ofin June - the actual month of the composers birth.The audience needs to be prepared for many Offenbachian references to the present. This current relevance is also to be found in, a valuable rediscovery that will receive its Cologne premiere in October as part of a co-production with Strasbourg.(an opera-bouffe in three acts premiered in 1860) enjoyed a well-received premiere at the Opera National du Rhin in Strasbourg in December of last year, earning high praise from the public and press alike.Dr Birgit Meyer, Artistic Director of Opera Cologne, said: The music in Offenbachs works is incredibly varied. I always adore the raw emotion that it evokes. At the same time, it is refined and bears the signature of an excellent theatre-maker and connoisseur. Offenbach wrote with the individual evening at the theatre always at the forefront of his mind. He was a feverishly prolific composer who worked not only as a director but also as a conductor as well. Many of his works are no longer familiar to us. Therefore, in this respect, the Offenbach Year should help to jog ones memory of this wonderful and entertaining composer while the premiere of Je suis Jacques at the construction site on Offenbachplatz offers a very special tribute to the great man in his special birthday year.Check out the full programme of OFFENBACH 200 by visiting www.yeswecancan.koeln NordFX Shares Forex and Cryptocurrency Forecasts for Early March 2019 The balance of powers in the international currency market (also known as forex) influences many contemporary tendencies in the entire world. At the same time, traders and investors rely on accurate forex forecasts to earn money. That is why we keep on publishing those weekly consensus forecasts, courtesy of NordFX. In particular, the local expert team has come up with another forecast based on the time-tested approach, which boils down to studying tons of related sources, expert opinions, as well as predictions made based on technical and graphical analysis. EUR/USD. The latest report shows that the American economy grew by 2,9% in 2018. President Trump promises that the national economy will grow even stronger this year. He names 3.0% when predicting the economic growth in 2019. However, unlike Donald Trump, the Fed has predicted a recession and a slowdown to 2,3% this year. Also, when estimating the possible market scenarios, it's necessary to take into account the statements made by several representatives of the ECB. They expect the European economy to gain 0,5% in each quarter of 2019. This creates a controversial situation. The experts are divided 50/50. However, most of the experts assume that the exchange rate is likely to keep moving withing the 1.1300-1.1500 range set in October 2018. However, reaching the highs and lows is not excluded. The range may expand slightly to 1.1215-1.1570. When switching from the weekly chart to the meed-term perspective, the bulls has gained the upper hand - 65% of the experts anticipate a rally to the 1.1700-1.1800 area. That's backed by 80% of the indicators, which have turned green. Still, 15% of D1 oscillators indicate an overbought asset. Fluctuations within the 1.1215-1.1455 range are possible. When it comes to significant events to take into account this week, pay your attention to the ECB meeting scheduled for Thursday. Chances are, we will get to know Mario Draghi's successor. Also, the volatility may increase after the Eurozone GDP report and the U.S. employment stats. The reports are to be published on Thursday and Friday respectively. GBP/USD Last week's optimism associated with the British Pound turned out to be temporary. A posible delay in the Brexit process can hardly be called a solution. The next Brexit voting is scheduled for March 12. It only then that we will know whether the decision will be delated.If the voting fails again, Theresa May will have to raise the question of forbidding the UK to quit the EU without a major agreement. If the parliament approves the corresponding decision, the parliamentarians will get a chance to delay the Brexit talks till next time. Given the uncertainty around the Brexit voting, the experts cannot tell for sure how the situation will affect the British Pound. For now, around 60% of the experts anticipate a drop down to 1.3115, with next levels of support located at 1.2965 and 1.2830. The remaining 40% think the British Pound will rebound from 1.3200 to head for 1.3315, 1.3470. If that's the case, the next level of resistance is 1.3615. USD/JPY Most experts (65%) draw our attention to the increasing risk tolerance and more expensive oil when talking about USD/JPY. The experts assume the Japanese Yen is likely to keep losing value under such circumstances, which means a rally, probably up to 112.25-113.25. The next target is 114.20. The scenario is backed by the technical analysis of the D1 chart. On the other hand, around 20% of the oscillators on H4 and D1 signal an overbought asset, which may result in a deep retracement. That's why 70% of the experts do not deny a possible reversal of the trend, with a move down to 110.25. The next support is located at 109.15. Cryptocurrencies Despite the current weakness, the cryptocurrency market still has a positive news background. For starters, J.P.Morgan is reported to have successfully tested JPM Coin. At this point, the market has been waiting for similar projects from Facebook and Telegram. According to the experts, introducing WhatsApp's own coin will make it possible to expand the use of cryptocurrencies up to 35% pf the world's population. Against the positive background, many crypto-enthusiasts resumed their talks about cryptocurrencies recovering and getting ready to skyrocket to new heights. According to IBM's Vice President of Blockchain Department , Bitcoin may recover up to 5000 dollars per coin by the the end of 2019. After that, Bitcoin will keep growing until it reaches 1 million dollars per coin. Apparently, the latter is more like a hope than a forecast. Still, 65% of the experts are getting positive on the future of Bitcoin. They are certain that the coin will consolidate above 4000 dollars per coin and move towards 4,300-4,600 dollars per coin in the near future. The remaining 35% of the experts are bearish on Bitcoin, anticipating a move down to 3,200-3,500 dollars per coin. You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investors If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Welcome Guest! You Are Here: About This Site This website is an exploration into the rationalist approach to Judaism that was most famously presented by Maimonides. It also explores contemporary rationalist approaches, as well as being a forum for various other notes. Well-written comments in the spirit of this enterprise will be posted; please include a name (even a pseudonym). This article originally appeared in RECOIL Issue 41 Photos by Iain Harrison and Red Donkey Studio A Collection of Automotive Engineering, Bonding, and Scenic Beauty Unlike Anything Youve Ever Seen Hollywood has depicted some interesting races over the years. Gumball Rally, Cannonball Run, Rat Race, and Speed Zone were about as close as most of us could probably get to living out our automotive fantasies on public roads. But what if someone actually took an idea like that and made an event out of it? Although its really fodder for its own cinematic homage, the Gambler 500 is exactly that. Were not talking the usual who can make it to the finish line first type deal. Its all about fun on four wheels, friendship, and Oregon sightseeing with a lynchpin that involves some rather whimsical and resourceful innovation with cars that probably didnt have much of a future. Google some of the images of this event and you might think its a mad mad mad mad world. Participate in it, and youll walk away counting down the days until the next one. It defies conventional categorization. We hesitate to use the word race in describing it, as the preferred nomenclature is rally. The events taglines are fun is greater than rules and dont be a dick. We think those are pretty self-explanatory. No, the Gambler 500 isnt a cosplay event like the Mad Max-themed Wasteland Weekend, nor is it a balls-to-the wall adrenaline dump like the Baja 1000, nor some hackneyed demolition derby where cars and property are intentionally destroyed and abandoned. This is an exercise in automotive adventure. The Gambler 500 began in 2014 as an exercise in bragging rights but is now a source of national attention, with participants venturing from the far reaches of the country for a spot in this one-of-a-kind event. The idea came about when the Gamblers impresario, Tate Morgan, began discussing how to create an unusual challenge among friends. It was never originally intended to be a commercial venture or open to the general public. The unique appeal of the Gambler 500 eventually spread like word of a high school kegger after Chubbies clothing shared some clips of their first few events online. It looked like the most (and cheapest) fun anyone could have with a car. The tidal wave of interest was too much to keep it a secret anymore. Heres the premise: Buy a car for no more than $500. Put as much money as you want into it afterward, but drive it from point A to point B with waypoints in between, enjoying the Oregon landscape and helping others who may be sidelined with repairs. Sure, you could show up in a new 44 telling people you only spent $500, but what kind of challenge or fun would that be? The point is to see if you can assemble a crew of navigators, other drivers, and impromptu mechanics to make the trek in something whose performance is questionable at best. Its an A to B rally, but the A is wherever you start from as long as you record how much off-roading you did, which should equate to roughly 500 miles when its all said and done. Last year, RECOIL teamed up with staff from Salient Arms, Noveske, and SIG SAUER, who brought everything from two Crown Vics, a 70s Javelin, a 90s Mustang, and a boat car. Previous RECOIL vehicles include a vintage fire truck and an 80s Toyota van. As you can see by some of the other cars pictured, entrants are encouraged to think outside the box with their choice of transportation. The wilder and more impractical, the better. How do you determine the amount of off-road covered, you ask? Last year, we developed an app. We use a technology solution, which I think actually made the rally better. It measures your percentage of off-road taken, Morgan says. So, if Im in Portland and going to head down to Chemult where our camp was this year, since the competition isnt about speed or time, but the percentage of off-road taken, I cant take I-5 down and cut over on another highway. That way Ive gotta kinda get out a map and discover my own way, because if theres 1,700 other cars doing the same thing, but are starting at different times, going different ways, and from different places, were not concentrating everyone on one particular road. To accommodate the ever-increasing number of entrants participating, keep things interesting, and introduce you to some hidden gems of the Oregon countryside, the event also changes format each year. You might think that an event with this many people traversing rural back roads and public land would lead to something that resembled the aftermath of an Occupy gathering. Quite the opposite. Morgan had the foresight to incorporate a trail cleanup into the Gambler as well. Were currently the largest trail cleanup in the world because we challenge every one of our 4,000 participants to bring back as much garbage as they can, he says. Big names such as Yakima, Benchmade, and SIG SAUER (the 2018 event's presenting sponsor) incentivize the effort by offering prizes for whoever collects the most trash. You may also assume that people ditch their cars after the race, forcing the locals to figure out what to do with them, but in the past Morgan has arranged for cars entrants didnt want to hang onto to be auctioned off for charity. Nowadays it seems as if people are more inclined to keep their cars for future races or just maybe for the hell of it. How many events can you think of that have that sort of environmental concern, philanthropy, and conservation as part of their focus? Didnt think so. Considering trying out your automotive ingenuity at the Gambler? Morgan suggests keeping it challenging by buying something simple and two-wheel drive thats not the most obvious choice. As long as you have a keen sense of outdoor adventure, thats really the only prerequisite for participation. Big egos need not apply. The guy with the cheapest, dumbest car who was slowest to arrive at the campsite rally points will be the one who really embodies the spirit of the event. Thats what makes it fun. The Gambler 500 is a competition focused on how much you can do with how little. It keeps people coming back year after year and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, plans to expand the event to other locations are also in the works. Want to see more of what its all about? Check out some of RECOILs participation in the Gambler 500 at www.recoil.tv. New Ethiopian Ambassador to Egypt Dina Mufti arrived in Cairo on Saturday to assume his duties. Mufti is expected to submit a copy of his credentials in the coming period before he officially takes the office. Search Keywords: Short link: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouliy reaffirmed in a speech to the 4th edition of Egypt Investment Forum (EIF) Egypt's keenness on boosting development efforts in Africa and upgrading mechanisms of strategic integration and partnership to promote the continent's status in the global economy, "This would contribute to ensuring the economic and social prosperity of all countries and peoples," the prime minster explained. Egypt's Trade and Industry Minister Amr Nassar delivered the speech to the EIF attendees on behalf of PM Madbouly. The forum is held in Cairo under the patronage of President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi, with the participation of ministers, experts, businessmen and investors from Egypt and various Arab countries as well as representatives of regional and international financial institutions and bodies. "Egypt trusts the ability of African countries to achieve greater cooperation and make all possible efforts to create an integrated African unity at all levels and in various fields," Madbouly added. The forum reflects Egypt's current vision towards the future of Africa and its future relations with all African countries, the prime minister said. "It sends a message to the whole world that Egypt is regaining its status in the heart of Africa, aiming at achieving desired continental economic and commercial integration," he said. He stressed that "the Egyptian government is looking for more economic partnerships and cooperation projects with different countries." "An ambitious plan implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry aims to strengthen the Egyptian presence in the African markets, basing on expanding trade and industrial cooperation, including the transfer of industrial expertise to African countries," he added. Egypt is also seeking to establish joint projects in African markets, making use of its distinguished strategic relations and preferential trade agreements inked with many countries worldwide, he said. Egypt is the current chair of the African Union for the year 2019. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukraine mulls domestic launch site A leading Ukrainian rocket developer has published plans for a space port on the country's Black Sea coast, which could give the former Soviet republic a fully independent access to space for the first time. Previous chapter: Tsyklon-4M rocket From the publisher: Pace of our development depends primarily on the level of support from our readers! In February 2019, the KB Yuzhnoe design bureau based in Dnipro, Ukraine, disclosed plans for a launch site on Ukrainian territory to host a newly proposed light-weight rocket dubbed Tsyklon-1M (Cyclone-1M). The small launch vehicle appeared to feature two stages with a single engine on the first stage. If ever built, it could compete on the emerging market of smallest commercial satellite launches, primarily targeting near-polar orbits, which allow global coverage of the Earth's surface. This is likely the first known plan for Ukraine to build a spaceport on its own territory. In nearly three decades since its independence, the lack of a launch facility seriously hampered indigenous space efforts in the country, despite a great deal of experience and technological heritage surviving from the Soviet period. In the intervening years, KB Yuzhnoe operated as a major contractor in the Russian, American and European space programs. The proposed Ukrainian site would be located in the rural area on the northern coast of Black Sea in the Mykolaiv (Nikolaev) Region of Ukraine at 46.36 degrees North latitude, 32.03 degrees East longitude. (During the Cold War, the same region hosted Soviet ballistic missiles.) The particular location also happens to be in the delta of the Dnipro (Dnepr) River, providing a direct water route to Yuzhnoe's production plant, perhaps as an alternative to ground transportation across a landmass notorious for its bad roads. The orbital ascent trajectory envisioned for the spaceport, would take the rocket south across the Black Sea and after overflying Turkey, it would allow a splashdown of the first stage in the Mediterranean Sea, east of Cyprus, around 1,300 kilometers downrange from the launch site. The fragments of the payload fairing would follow shortly thereafter, also falling into the Mediterranean north of Egypt, around 1,500 kilometers downrange. The second stage and its payload could be inserted into a polar orbit and they would reappear over the Ukrainian territory after one revolution around the planet. The ground track was apparently designed to cross the shore of Asia Minor east of the Bosphorus Straits and then continue over the mountainous regions of Turkey to avoid the densely populated areas around Istanbul. However, a possibility of an accident with the rocket at a certain point of ascent would still leave some chance of debris falling on the Turkish landmass. Therefore, some sort of political agreement between governments in Kiev and Ankara would be required to settle overflight rights for successful missions and to provide compensations in case of an accident. In the past few years, KB Yuzhnoe advertised plans to build a launch site in Canada for the heavier Tsyklon-4M rocket, but the development of that new launcher and its launch site has been continuously delayed due to financial and technical problems. In February 2019, KB Yuzhnoe promised to break ground at the Canadian site at the end of the year. The two proposed sites can theoretically co-exist, because they will host rockets in different weight categories, but the developers of both vehicles will have to overcome considerable financial and technical challenges. A previous attempt to develop a launch site for the Ukrainian Tsyklon-4 rocket in Brazil was abandoned around 2015 due to political problems. A concept of the light-weight Tsyklon-1M rocket as of February 2019. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe Launch pad, processing complex and fueling facility proposed for the Mykolaiv launch site in the spring of 2019. Credit: KB Yuzhnoe BEIJING (AP) In an unusual step, China's ceremonial legislature is due to endorse a law meant to help end a bruising tariff war with Washington by discouraging officials from pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. The battle with China's biggest trading partner is overshadowing the National People's Congress, the country's highest-profile event of the year. It brings 3,000-plus delegates to the ornate Great Hall of the People in Beijing for two weeks of speeches, meetings with senior leaders and political ritual to endorse the ruling Communist Party's economic and social welfare plans. A gathering of noncommunist groups held at the same time brightens Beijing's drab winter, drawing tech billionaires, movie stars and ethnic minorities in distinctive traditional dress. That gives President Xi Jinping's government a platform for advertising changes aimed at ending the fight with President Donald Trump that has disrupted trade in goods from soybeans to medical equipment. The technology measure is part of a proposed law on foreign investment that aims to address complaints by Washington, Europe and other trading partners that China's system is rigged against foreign companies. Trump cited complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology when he slapped punitive tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports in July. Europe, Japan and other trading partners disapprove of the tariff hikes but echo U.S. complaints. China has balked at changing its strategy for nurturing technologies that American officials worry might challenge U.S. industrial dominance. But communist leaders face pressure to reach a settlement after economic growth sagged to a three-decade low of 6.6 percent last year. On the domestic front, companies and investors are hoping officials announce details of how Beijing will carry out promises to curb the dominance of state industry and support entrepreneurs who generate much of China's new jobs and wealth. They are looking for details of a promised cut of up to 1.3 trillion yuan ($200 billion) in value-added and other taxes. The congress opens Tuesday with an annual "work report" on government plans by Premier Li Keqiang, the No. 2 ruling party leader behind Xi and China's top economic official. State media have cited other potential topics including revising China's patent law another source of foreign complaints and measures to encourage foreign investment in agriculture and technology and developing free-trade zones. Chinese officials deny Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over trade secrets and technology. But they are trying to mollify Trump and other governments by promising better legal protections. "I think the (American and European) complaints have been reflected in the revision of the law," said Citigroup economist Li-Gang Liu. Under the proposed law, officials would be barred from using "administrative methods to force technology transfers." The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Tim Stratford, called the measure a "step forward." But business groups say they need to see how it will be enforced. It was unclear whether the vaguely worded measure would appease Trump. The American Embassy in Beijing said it had no comment. Companies have been disappointed in the past after "hearing positive words," said Stratford, a former deputy U.S. trade representative. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said the law's "vague language" gives regulators too much discretion. The focus on "administrative methods" would leave officials free to use other pressure tactics, it said. The state press has cited other potential topics including revising China's patent law another source of foreign complaints and measures to encourage foreign investment in agriculture and technology and developing free-trade zones. The youngest baby boomers are around 55 years old. The oldest are in their 70s. Most Americans dont remember a workforce without the largest generation. And yet, as boomers enter their final years in the workforce, their retirements are taking companies by surprise. In the next five years, almost three-quarters of the companies surveyed in 2018 by Willis Towers Watson, a risk-management and insurance brokerage company, expect to face significant or moderate challenges from late retirements. But because nothing is predictable, a significant share are also worried about early ones. Companies typically said they were more concerned than they used to be about the cost of older workers, and the challenge of replacing the knowledge and skills those older workers will take with them on the way out the door. The reported rise in concern over older workers blocking promotions of younger employees was not as sharp, though about two-thirds of respondents said it was at least a moderate concern. Advertisement The survey included 143 human resources managers at companies that, together, employ about 2.9 million people. It was analyzed in a working paper circulated in February by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Managers were asked to compare the business challenges of employee retirements over the past five years to the next five years. In each category, companies saw a greater challenge in the years to come. The respondents were not part of a random sample, and their experiences cannot be considered representative. But they suggest broad concern in the business world about dealing (or not dealing) with an aging workforce. This data was not available otherwise. Reason 1: Its hard to plan: Boomer retirement dates are a mysterious moving target. Record-breaking shares of Americans plan to work longer. An April 2018 Gallup poll showed 41 percent expect to be working beyond age 65 a huge jump since Gallup started tracking in 1995, when it averaged 13.5 percent. The age required for full Social Security benefits has also risen. Americans born before 1937 became eligible for full Social Security benefits at age 65. By the time the oldest boomers were born in 1946, the standard retirement age had risen to 66. Boomers and others born after 1960 wont get full benefits until 67. Workers arent always transparent with their employers about their plans, said Alan Glickstein, a managing director at Willis Towers Watson who helped oversee the survey. Theres some pretty significant disconnects, gaps in knowledge between what the employers think and what the employees think, Glickstein said. They may not know themselves. Even if they do, they may be reticent to discuss their financial situation or make themselves vulnerable to replacement by committing to a retirement date with their employer. While some people will only retire when forced, Glickstein said, a lot of the older workers are working primarily because of financial need, not because theyre fulfilled with their job and they want to be in the workforce until theyre 70. In 2017, The Washington Posts Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan reported on the lives of people who had been forced to keep working well beyond typical retirement age, often into their 70s. Fundamental changes in the U.S. retirement system have shifted responsibility for saving from the employer to the worker, exacerbating the nations rich-poor divide, Jordan and Sullivan wrote. Two recent recessions devastated personal savings. And at a time when 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day, Social Security benefits have lost about a third of their purchasing power since 2000. Reason 2: Workers and employers are confused: Nobody knows what retirement means anymore. As more workers become consultants or accept temporary contracts or gigs, their relationship with employers is changing. Boomers ties with their employers may be more tenuous from the start. In the end, their bonds are more likely to unravel piecemeal than to sever all at once in a nice ceremony involving a gold watch. You kind of wonder what retirement is anymore, Glickstein said. Theres no longer a magic moment when you stop working entirely, he added. The share of companies offering older workers partial-year employment and shorter hours is expected to rise sharply. About 2 in 5 companies surveyed are considering offering part-time work or flexible hours by 2020, nearly double the current rate. Others hope to keep older workers around with reduced responsibilities, and a small but growing minority are offering options that blend volunteer work with traditional employment. Reason 3: Boomers in some industries will be very hard to replace. Four out of 5 manufacturers, and 2 out of 3 employers in the mining and nonprofit sectors included in the survey were concerned about loss of talent. Retail and service-sector employers were not as concerned. That tends to track somewhat with each sectors reliance on older workers, but individual industries within each sector vary considerably. Funeral homes, religious organizations, bus drivers, florists and real estate agents all have more than a third of their workers over age 55, according to our analysis of the Census Bureaus American Community Survey. At the other end are industries that tend to rely on a younger workforce, such as retail, restaurants, electronics stores, theaters and warehouses. In those fields, fewer than 1 in 7 workers are nearing retirement. In many industries, employers also face significant uncertainty as to whom or what will replace a retiring boomer, Glickstein said. Respondents reported that loss of specific company knowledge would be an increasingly difficult challenge, as would finding workers with similar knowledge and skills. As technology progresses, its feasible that a robot or computer program could take on some of a workers responsibilities when he or she is ready to retire. That means employers succession strategies will evolve alongside technology. And because boomers are the first generation to face the task of passing on their knowledge to machines and computer programs as well as to apprentices and junior employees setbacks and tensions are bound to arise. How do you translate that business knowledge into an algorithm? Glickstein asked. The Washington Posts Scott Clement contributed. This story was first published by The Washington Post. Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter. Read more of the Tribunes Dollar Sense coverage It was a happy coincidence when Freedy Johnston and Cindy Lee Berryhill first shared concert stages in 1994. That was the same year Johnston released This Perfect World and Berryhill released Garage Orchestra, two justly acclaimed albums that sound just as enchanting now as they did 25 years ago. Its a doubly happy coincidence, then, that Johnston and San Diegos Berryhill will share a concert stage here Friday, after having performed together just once more since their joint 1994 shows. Somehow we stayed friends, though our separate lives changed, Berryhill told the Union-Tribune. Advertisement Ive always been a huge fan of Freedys work. I can hear the wind from the prairies blowing through his songs and a little bit of Jimmy Webb in there, too. Johnston and Berryhill will perform individual sets Friday. With any luck, theyll also team up for a song or two. Freedy Johnston and Cindy Lee Berryhill 7:30 p.m. Friday. Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St., Point Loma. $25. (619) 786-5595. freedy-johnston@eventbrite.com Twitter @georgevarga george.varga@sduniontribune.com The Timken Museum, the bastion of old masters, is going pop. The free museum in Balboa Park is displaying nine contemporary art pieces from some of the biggest pop artists of the 20th century. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are just two of the artists whose works will be integrated into the museums collection for the exhibition Metonymies: A Dialogue of Twentieth-Century Works from the Sonnabend Collection. The idea is to shake things up a bit and spark some conversations. One contemporary piece is substituting one work by an old master in each of the museums five permanent galleries. The remaining contemporary pieces will each be displayed next to a piece from the permanent collection in the temporary Exhibitions Gallery along with the artwork that was swapped out in the other galleries. We wanted to make sure any contemporary pieces we bring in always have a connection to the collection, said Megan Pogue, the museums executive director. It has to make sense for the Timken. Advertisement The nine contemporary pieces have been selected from the private collection of the Sonnabend Collection Foundation and are on display in San Diego for the first time. Ileana Sonnabend was pivotal in promoting the careers of young and upcoming artists such as Warhol, Lichtenstein and Jeff Koons. Ileana was one of the 20th centurys greatest gallerists. She had an incredible way of discovering young artists. She was so far ahead of her peers, said Derrick Cartwright, director of curatorial affairs at the Timken. The pop artists that Sonnabend championed are now mainstay. Sonnabend helped steer the course of 20th century art with her galleries in Paris and New York. The Paris gallery, opened in 1962, introduced Europe to American pop art. In 1970, she launched a gallery on Madison Avenue that later moved to SoHo, where it was instrumental in establishing the neighborhood as an international arts center. Sonnabend, a native of Romania, died in 2007 days before her 93rd birthday. Her foundation holds many pieces of her vast private collection. The loan to the Timken was through Liz Anne and Phokion Potamianos of La Jolla. Potamianos father, Antonio Homem, the chairman of the Sonnabend Collection Foundation, is the adopted son of Sonnabend. Cartwright came up with the name for the exhibition because like metonymies, there are similarities between the old masters and the contemporary pieces that are temporarily taking their place. Sometimes its the content, other times its the subject matter. The substitutions and comparisons will change opinions of the work we have, Cartwright said. We think that when people step in (a gallery) they will notice something different. Its a little bit of a Wheres Waldo? kind of puzzle. Among the pieces on loan are two by Andy Warhol. His portrait of Sonnabend has been exchanged for Bartolomeo Venetos Lady in a Green Dress. Venetos unknown woman is seen looking to the right with a slightly pensive expression. Warhols Sonnabend is also looking to the right with a thoughtful look. Warhols Jackie (Gold), a silkscreen on canvas from a photo of Jackie Kennedy at John Kennedys funeral, will substitute for Anthony van Dycks Mary Villiers, Lady Herbert of Shurland. Villiers is also in mourning, wearing a gold dress and holding a wilting flower. These are important political women in a moment of mourning, Cartwright said. They have some things in common and some things quite different. Warhols Kennedy, which has been on loan at a museum in Italy, will be on display beginning March 19. Once the Van Dyck is returned to its original spot, Cartwright said, Well never look at the painting quite the same way. Perhaps the most jarring substitution is Tom Wesselmanns 3D still life of a turkey for Raphaelle Peales realistic still life of a cutlet and vegetables. Wesselmanns fiberglass turkey is reduced to essential forms in a statement on American consumerism. Realism is so important to Peale. Wesselmann likes that idea and makes it revolting at the same time, Cartwright said. The substitution of a Lichtenstein piece (one of two in the exhibition) in the Russian Icons Gallery is a bit more surprising. But, Cartwright said, the famous pop artists 3D piece titled Small Explosion relies on the same strategies the Russian icon painters used to create supernaturalism. Jeff Koons is represented by a cartoonlike sculpture of Bob Hope, which stands side-by-side with a bust of Walter Ames by Ruth Hayward. Ames was crucial in the establishment of the Timken Museum and the two pieces are a look at how men are monumentalized with sculpture. Other artists in the show are Lawrence Beck, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Candida Hofer. This is the biggest blend of contemporary and old masters that weve done, Pogue said. Its a chance for the Timken to attract visitors who wouldnt normally be drawn to the traditional collection. Five-hundred-year-old paintings may not have that sizzle for younger audiences. Were hoping we can attract a younger crowd and build that bridge to our collection. The exhibition is intended to be fun, Cartwright said, who spent months picking out the pieces to replace and pair. The Sonnabend collection has more than 1,000 works of art. People are definitely going to be talking about it, Pogue said. Metonymies: A Dialogue of Twentieth-Century Works from the Sonnabend Collection When: Through April 28 Where: Timken Museum, 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park Admission: Free Phone: (619) 239-5548 Online: timkenmuseum.org Schimitschek is a freelance writer. The death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez in 2013 was a notorious failure of Los Angeles Countys safety net to protect abused and neglected children. The case prompted criminal charges against four child protective services caseworkers and a deep examination of systemic breakdowns. Now, the recent death of another boy from alleged abuse is focusing attention on a prominent contractor that is paid millions of dollars by the county for child welfare services. The agency, Hathaway Sycamores Child and Family Services, and one of its former counselors, Barbara Dixon, provided services to 10-year-old Anthony Avalos following a troubled history in Gabriels case, court documents reviewed by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley and The Times found. At a 2017 court hearing, Dixon testified that while at Hathaway she withheld information from the child abuse hotline about Gabriels injuries that she felt were suspect. People who work with children are required by law to report suspected abuse to authorities. Advertisement Anthony Avalos (Family photo) Dixons counseling visits in Anthonys home began in February 2015 and ended in January 2016, according to case records. Anthonys mother, Heather Barron, and her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, have been charged with murder in his June 2018 death. Both have pleaded not guilty. While working Anthonys case, Dixon at times offered a positive account of Barrons parenting and depicted Anthony as a difficult child, the DCFS records show. Social workers cited Dixons assessment that Anthony could continue to live at home. The Department of Children and Family Services closed Anthonys case more than a year before his death. Dixon and her lawyer, Gina Lacagnina, declined to comment for this article. At a hearing Wednesday in the criminal case against Barron and Leiva, prosecutor Jonathan Hatami disclosed Dixons history in Gabriels case to their defense attorneys. Dixon was questioned about her work on the case by DCFS internal affairs investigators and by an investigative grand jury in 2015, Hatami said in court. Those records are not public but could be obtained by the defense through court motions, he noted. In 2017, Dixon testified at a preliminary hearing for the four case workers who have been charged with child abuse and falsification of records for their alleged misconduct in Gabriels case. The testimony followed negotiations with Los Angeles County prosecutors who offered her immunity from prosecution related to her testimony. That case is still ongoing. Dixon testified that during her 2013 sessions, she went to Gabriels home and found him limping, with a black eye, scrapes across his face and bruising on his wrists and ankles. She said she initially believed the familys story that he fell from a bike. But after going on a walk and speaking with Gabriel, she came to doubt that account, she testified. Dixon testified that her boss at Hathaway, Michael Bailey, did not want her to report the abuse. Dixon added that she complied. Child abuse investigators never learned about the injuries she saw while he was alive, DCFS records show. Dixon also testified that her supervisors at Hathaway told her not to cooperate with police investigating his death. Bailey did not respond to messages seeking comment. Dixon testified that she did report an earlier allegation of possible sexual abuse by a person outside the home, and the investigation of that information was still pending when Gabriel was killed. During his argument, Hagop Kuyumjian, an attorney for one of the case workers, Kevin Bom, said Dixons actions left his client hamstrung in his efforts to protect Gabriel because he was unable to ever learn all she knew. Bom could not have predicted an in-home counselor like Ms. Dixon would knowingly fail to report signs of abuse, Kuyumjian said. A trial in the case of Bom and the other three case workers is expected later this year. Los Angeles County officials continued to enlist Hathaway Sycamores and Dixon for counseling services, according to DCFS records. Hathaway Sycamores is one of the countys largest contractors, receiving $467 million over the past decade. The non-profit provides mental health, foster care, adoption and other services throughout the county. Following Gabriels death, the Board of Supervisors increased payments to the agency, according to records from the Auditor-Controller. In 2013, the contractor earned $45.1 million from county taxpayers. Last year, the figure was $50.8 million. County officials have declined to publicly address Hathaways role in the two cases of Gabriel and Anthony. The blue ribbon commission convened in the wake of Gabriels death did not examine Hathaway Sycamores and Dixon in its final report. An internal county review of Anthonys death also did not mention them. DCFS Director Bobby Cagle declined to be interviewed about Anthonys case. He said he was not able to directly address questions about an outside contractor. Office of Child Protection Director Michael Nash, who led the countys review of Anthonys death, said he read limited excerpts of the Hathaway records but not Dixons notes. He also did not examine whether their handling of Gabriels case affected the countys decision to continue using the firm. Dixon is licensed as a marriage and family therapist by the state Board of Behavioral Sciences with no record of discipline. At the time she was assigned to Gabriel, she was approved by the board as a marriage and family therapist intern. Hathaways chief executive, Debbie Manners, declined to be interviewed for this article, but in a brief email she offered no direct response to a transcript of Dixons testimony. She also said that her agency was in full compliance with Californias mandated reporting requirements and that administrators train employees on their responsibilities to report suspected abuse. The reporting statute specifically lists that individuals (not entities) are mandated reporters, Manners wrote. Dixon testified that Hathaway Sycamores trainers instructed her that she could not make a call to the child abuse hotline without the authorization of a supervisor. In 2016, Dixon left Hathaway Sycamores to join the Childrens Bureau, another DCFS contractor. Ronald Brown, the Childrens Bureaus chief executive, said she is still employed but would not detail her responsibilities or whether she continued to work directly with children under the supervision of DCFS. Thats a personnel issue, he said, and I wouldnt be at liberty to discuss that. Gabriels mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were convicted of first-degree murder in his torture death. Aguirre was sentenced to be executed and Fernandez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Times staff writer Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report. Ali Abdel-Aal said he believes the incident was a result of stark negligence Egypt parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal revealed Saturday that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly will deliver a statement before parliament next week on the deadly train crash that took place in Cairo's Ramses Station 27 February. The crash, which left 22 people dead and dozens injured, forced transport minister Hesham Arafat to resign on the same day. Abdel-Aal said: "Madbouly's statement will not be confined to the accident, but will cover the current performance of the railway authority and train traffic in Egypt." "The prime minister should tell parliament what measures should be taken to avoid such tragic accidents in the future, and what should be done to streamline performance," said Abdel-Aal, adding that, "Although the whole accident is still a matter of investigation by prosecution authorities, it is clear it was the result of stark negligence." Abdel-Aal's comments came after he paid a visit to the Nasser Institute Hospital where a number of those injured in the crash are receiving treatment. An official statement said Abdel-Aal made sure that the injured receive all necessary treatments, and that "state authorities will take all possible measures to make sure that the negligence faces punishment." Plenary sessions of Egypt parliament will be held 10 March. Search Keywords: Short link: The decision by prosecutors not to charge the officers who fatally shot Stephon Clark last year marks a milestone in an incident that has gotten national attention. But it does not close the case, or its effects, by any means. Here is a breakdown from reporting by The Times. The shooting Clark, who is African American, was killed the night of March 18, 2018. Advertisement He was shot at 20 times, and struck at least seven, by two police officers investigating reports of somebody breaking into cars. The officers chased Clark to the backyard of his grandmothers home, where, authorities say, he turned and advanced toward the officers while holding what they thought was a firearm. Only a cellphone was found at the scene. In the weeks after the shooting, police released numerous videos that showed parts of the incident, though there remained some disputes about exactly what happened. Officers responded to the 7500 block of 29th Street after reports of vandalism in the neighborhood. The crew of a Sheriffs Department helicopter spotted a man in a backyard and directed police officers toward him. Deputies told police that the man had picked up a toolbar and broken a window to a home. The man was then seen running south, toward the front of the house, where he stopped and was looking into another car, police said. Following deputies directions, officers entered the frontyard of a home and saw the man along the side of the residence. Police said that the officers ordered the man to stop and show his hands, but that he ran toward the back of the home. They chased him to the backyard, where, authorities say, he turned and advanced toward the officers and was shot. The decision On Saturday, Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert said Officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet acted legally when they opened fire. Schubert said the officers acted reasonably because they saw a flash of light near Clarks hand seconds before Clark advanced toward the officers. Both officers said they believed Clark had a gun, she said, and responded by opening fire. Read the entire report prepared for the district attorneys office here. The aftermath Clarks family is seeking up to $35 million in damages. The lawsuit claims that the officers violated Clarks constitutional rights and that they were negligent because they failed to identify themselves as police officers and gave no proper warning to Clark about the use of deadly force before firing their guns. Plaintiffs have also been deprived of the lifelong love, companionship, comfort, support, society, care and sustenance of [Clark] and will continue to be so deprived for the remainder of their natural lives, according to the 31-page court document. A second review of the incident by state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra will probably be released soon, his spokeswoman said. The Sacramento Police Department requested the state Department of Justice assessment to allay community concerns about the impartiality of the investigation. Protests over Clarks shooting helped spur last years landmark police transparency law, Senate Bill 1421, which requires the release of investigative and personnel records in police shootings and some instances of substantiated misconduct. This year, legislators introduced two competing bills to address use of force by officers in California. Assembly Bill 392 revived an American Civil Liberties Union-backed effort that would make it easier to prosecute police in instances of deadly force. But it could encounter a tough fight as law enforcement unions put forward their own legislation, Senate Bill 230, that focuses on internal training and policies. The second measure has gained traction, with 17 Democrats signing on as coauthors. The border wall prototypes built on Otay Mesa were supposed to lead to the kind of southern barrier President Donald Trump promised. Yet most of them werent remotely the kind of wall or fence border security officials advocated and already had in the works to replace existing fences. Neither was the solid, 30-foot concrete wall Trump pitched during his campaign and much of his presidency. Before they were demolished last week, the prototypes became high-profile props in the raging debate over Trumps methods of trying to combat illegal immigration from Mexico and they put San Diego in the middle of all of it. For the moment, forget about the policy discussion over whether his proposed extended wall is a good idea or merely a spoiler alert! political device. None of the prototypes was deemed adequate by government analysts and wont be used to replace existing fencing or for Trumps extended wall should that ever happen. Advertisement Critics have dismissed the design competition as a farce. Maybe it was. If so, it was an expensive one and took up a lot of our attention. In that light, a serious postmortem is warranted. Consider what should have been the simple goal here: Whats the best kind of wall to build? On that score, the prototypes and the process that generated them lacked pragmatism. Six of the eight versions were opaque and immediately disqualified. One of the top priorities, according to U.S. security officials, is to have barriers agents can see through. Well before Trump became president, plans were under way to replace areas of existing fencing with taller, sturdier steel bollards that are too close together for people to slip through and high enough to be difficult to get over. Initially, the fencing was in the 18- to 20-foot range, though that has now grown to 30 feet, perhaps in deference to Trump. While the prototypes were not deemed useful barriers, Department of Homeland Security officials told reporters in background briefings that they learned from the models and used that knowledge to help improve the replacement fences. But mostly they said the prototypes essentially confirmed that what they already had designed was the way to go. Trump, during his campaign and after his election, said he consulted with experts who said the extended wall is necessary. (Lots of experts say it isnt.) Apparently, they didnt discuss what kind of wall. Eventually, Trump saw the light about the value of a see-through barrier. Clearly, U.S. security officials researched what kind of replacement fencing would work best and tested them. Not that the choice couldnt be questioned once Trump came into office, but certainly starting there would have saved time and money in figuring out, realistically, what was best. But that would have spared us a lot of hoopla, which just isnt Trumps way. Still, he is a developer and theres a nuts-and-bolts reality of figuring whats the best way to actually build something. Surely, the showman in our chief executive could have created his desired media circus with a more legitimate process to develop a wall or fence that works. The display of prototypes did give the sense that his wall project was moving from an idea to something more concrete. But some thought might have been given to the eventual metaphor they would become: useless and a waste of time and money. They cost between $300,000 and $500,000 each. Then there were security costs for local law enforcement as the prototypes were being built, which weighed in at about $1 million as of January 2018, according to the Union-Tribunes Greg Moran. They were always meant to be torn down, but the public was led to believe that one of them or a combination of them would become the model for what Trump would build. The United States government has had plenty of procurement problems over time. But usually requests for proposals end up with something in the ballpark of what was originally sought, even if wildly over budget. The prototype walls may be gone, but they apparently will still be with us in the afterlife. According to the Union-Tribunes Kate Morrissey, U.S. officials said the materials will be ground up and used for fill for the replacement fences. The folly of the wall-prototype derby shouldnt come as a surprise, given that the extended wall was devised as a means to help get Trump elected, providing him with a simple image that would fan the political flames over illegal immigration. In his book Devils Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency, journalist Joshua Green reported that the wall idea was developed by two political consultants Sam Nunberg and Roger Stone as Trump was gearing up to run. There was no analysis of whether the wall was effective policy, according to Green. Keep in mind, this turned into a real $25 billion proposal. Inside Trumps circle, the power of illegal immigration to manipulate popular sentiment was readily apparent, Green wrote, and his advisers brainstormed for methods to keep their often-distracted boss on message. They needed a trick, a mnemonic device. In the summer of 2014, they found one that clicked, Green continued. Roger Stone and I came up with the idea of the Wall, and we talked to Steve [Bannon] about it, Nunberg said. It was to make sure he talked about immigration. Initially, Trump seemed indifferent to the idea. But in January 2015, he tried it out at the Iowa Freedom Summit . . . One of his pledges was, I will build a Wall, and the place just went nuts, said Nunberg. Warming to the concept, Trump waited a beat and then added a flourish that brought down the house. Nobody, he said, builds like Trump. So far, the only walls Trump has built in the quest for his political holy grail have come tumbling down. Tweet of the Week Goes to Ana Laura Galicia (@analauragalicia), a psychologist, on the day the wall prototypes were being torn down. Show is over people michael.smolens@sduniontribune.com Twitter:@michaelsmolens (619) 293-1256 On this day in 1946, a San Diego-bound American Airlines DC-3 crashed in the Laguna mountains 46 miles east of San Diego, killing all 27 persons on board in what was then the nations worst commercial airline disaster. It was San Diegos worst airline accident, until 144 people died in the crash of PSA Flight 182 over North Park in 1978. From The San Diego Union, Monday March 4, 1946: WORLDS WORST AIRLINE CRASH KILLS 27 IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS Transport Falls Near Lagunas Storm, Downdrafts Possible Cause; Nation City Man Among Victims Twenty-seven persons were killed in the nations worst commercial airline disaster when a San Diego-bound American Airlines plane crashed into the side of Thing mountain in the Tierra Blanca range 46 miles east of here and four miles east of Mt. Laguna at about 8 a.m. yesterday. Advertisement Last night deputy coroners had counted 21 bodies, and it was assumed the other bodies still were pinned in the wreckage. Aboard the plane were 15 men, 10 women and two children in arms, airlines officials said. Among them was Chief Machinists Mate V.C. Berdine, of National City, whose wife Viola, had gone to Lindbergh field to meet the planes scheduled 8:30 a.m. arrival. She was prostrated after hearing news of the accident. ON RADIO BEAM, BUT BELOW CEILING The highest previous commercial airlines accident toll occurred Jan. 10, 1945, when 24 were killed in a crash near Los Angeles, The Associated Pres reported. That plane also was flown by American Airlines. The plane, bound from New York to Los Angeles, was a special section of the airlines Flight 103. It left Tucson at 5:55 a.m., was last reported over #l Centro at 7:54. State highway patrolmen said it was exactly on its radio beam when it hit the mountain at an elevation of about 5000 feet, a few hundred feet below the summit, and 3000 feet below its scheduled ceiling. Belief that the big plane, a Douglas DC-3, might have been caught in colossal downdrafts as it approached the fog-obscured heights grew from reports made by Deputy Sheriff L.A. Mathiot, of Jacumba, and Lt. (jg) John Vukie, coast guard flier, whose plane first sighted the wreckage. AIR CALLED EXTREMELY TURBULENT At 8 oclock, Mathiot said, the slope was covered by fog and it was raining in gusts. Visibility was zero. Vukie, whose co-pilot, Coast Guard Aviation Pilot 1c R.M. Blissey, spotted the crash throught a hole in the overcast at 12:52 p.m., described the air at that time as extremely turbulent, due to the passing of a weather front. He said at one point his big Mariner seaplane was thrust downward 5000 feet by a sharp downdraft. After Vikie identified the wreckage as that of the missing airliner, he kept circling, the site, dropping red flares and directing sheriffs cars by radio until deputies had seen the wreckage. Immediately after word that the wreckage had been found reached San Diego, a rescue caravan was organized to go to the scene. Besides 10 cars of sheriffs men, it included the mobile disaster unit of the San Diego Red Cross chapter, commanded by Comdr. R.S. Bulger, eight navy ambulances and jeeps. CARAVAN TURNS OFF The caravan proceeded along Highway 80 to Live Oak Springs, where it turned off on a forest service road which ended about two miles north of the Manzanita Indian reservation. There passengers crowded into the ambulances and were taken from the road across the mesa toward the disaster. They were stopped momentarily at a creek bed with high banks. One of the trucks with four-wheel drive, careened down one slope and up the other. It was soon followed by another and the two proceeded to a point about a half-mile from the bottom of the slope where the plane crashed. SNOW BLANKETS AREA Several of the burned bodies were removed immediately and transported back to the temporary morgue at the end of the road. Each of the ambulances had had flat tires on the first trip, and later were left on the mesa overnight as a heavy snowfall began to blanket the area. Upon reaching the scene at about 1:30 p.m. the searchers found the still-smoldering fuselage almost completely burned. The tail section and a part of the wing were intact. The wing, shorn from the fuselage, had come to rest about 100 feet further up the mountain. Observers concluded that the plane exploded upon hitting the ground and that all its occupants were killed outright. Historical photos and articles from The San Diego Union-Tribune archives are compiled by merrie.monteagudo@sduniontribune.com. Search the U-T historic archives at NewsLibrary.com/sites/sdub. A man possibly under the influence of the psychedelic drug PCP last week died Saturday at a hospital, days after being subdued by San Diego police, authorities said. Officers were called to Winona Avenue near University Avenue in City Heights about 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday after a witness reported a man running into traffic. Another caller said he was rolling around in the street after a vehicle had hit him. When officers arrived, they found the 44-year-old man standing in the street with his hand in his mouth, attempting to bite off his own fingers, said homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree. A bystander who knew the man told officers that he was under the influence of PCP, a drug that can cause hallucinations and violent behavior. Advertisement The officers tried to calm down the man verbally, waiting for backup to arrive. When two more officers got on scene, the man threw himself on the ground, banging his head against the pavement and again trying to bite his fingers, Dupree said. Officers were able to pull his hand out of his mouth and handcuff him. He continued to bang his head on the ground, and officers placed his shoes under his head to prevent further injury. In the ambulance ride to the hospital, accompanied by an officer, the man went into medical distress and medics had to perform life-saving measures. He was put on life support at the hospital but again went into medical distress on Saturday and died. The homicide unit is investigating the death due to the seriousness of the mans condition and the encounter with police. Authorities are calling it a possible overdose death. At this point, it appears minimal force was used by officers to handcuff the male and prevent him from hurting himself, Dupree said. The man has been identified but his name is being withheld pending family notification. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis The cost of keeping San Diego County safe was just over $2 billion last year, marking the fifth straight year of budget increases in law enforcement, courts and corrections facilities. The report issued last week from the San Diego Association of Governments Criminal Justice Research Division found that the $2.21 billion spent on public safety in fiscal year 2017-18 equated to spending about $668 on every county resident. SANDAG Division Director of Criminal Justice Cynthia Burke said expenditures had dropped about 10 years ago because of the recession but have rebounded to the 2009 level and represent a 3 percent increase from the 2016-17 fiscal year. The report cited a stronger local economy, higher labor costs and state allocations as contributing reasons for the increased expenditures. Advertisement Public safety costs increased in five categories last year. Prosecution and corrections-facilities costs were up 5 percent, law enforcement and public defense costs were up 4 percent, and court-related costs were up 1 percent. Probation field services and administration costs were down 4 percent, and other unspecified costs were down 3 percent. The 5 percent increase in correctional facilities brought the overall expenditure to $423 million and was related to growing costs of medical care, food and bedding expenditures for inmates, wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, and jail-based treatment services and activities, the report found. The exception was the Chula Vista City Jail, where costs decreased 3 percent because of vacant positions.. The report found the 5 percent increase in prosecution costs a total of $193 million in actual dollars was driven by operational expenditures related to digital evidence and negotiated labor costs in the offices of the District Attorney and San Diego City Attorney. The 4 percent increase in public defense costs $79 million was related to operational expenditures in digital evidence processing and reviews. The 1 percent increase in court-related costs $253 million was mostly due to the Sheriffs Court Services Bureau expenditures, including increases in licensing and supportive services, start-up costs for new facilities and electronic equipment upgrades, the report found. Law enforcement costs accounted for 48 percent of the $2.21 billion public safety expenditures in the region, followed by corrections, which accounted for 19 percent of the costs. Court-related expenditures made up 11 percent of the overall costs, prosecution accounted for 9 percent, probation for 6 percent and public defense 4 percent. Other undefined costs made up the final 3 percent. While almost one of every two dollars was spent on law enforcement, the report noted that the region has fewer sworn public safety officers per capita than the national average. Locally, there were 1.29 officers per 1,000 people compared to the national average of 2.4. In actual dollars, almost $1.07 billion was spent for regional law enforcement activities last year. Across the 10 agencies listed in the report, law enforcement expenditures ranged from $11 million in Coronado to $456 million in San Diego. The county Sheriffs Department spent $313 million on law enforcement. Oceanside spent $54 million on law enforcement, Chula Vista spent $52 million, Escondido spent $40 million, Carlsbad spent $34 million, El Cajon spent $31 million, National City spent $22 million and La Mesa spent $17 million, according to the report. Law enforcement activities account for an average of 32 percent of the general fund in local jurisdictions. Among the nine cities in the report, Coronado had the smallest allocation with 20 percent while El Cajon had the largest with 46 percent. San Diego allocated 32 percent of its general fund to law enforcement. Broken out as a per-capita cost for law enforcement, Chula Vista was at the low end with $194 for each resident while Coronado was at the high end with $447. The San Diego per-capita cost was $324. The full report can be found online at https://bit.ly/SafetyCost. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Sheriffs deputies are investigating a stabbing that occurred in Vista Saturday night that left one man injured. Around 8:17 p.m. dispatchers received a call reporting that a man had been stabbed by two men on Sycamore Avenue near Thibodo Road. The assailants then fled and the victim ran into a nearby IHOP restaurant, where the attack was called in, said sheriffs Lt. Dave Perkins. Deputies searched the area but were unable to find the suspects, according to the lieutenant. Meanwhile paramedics transported the inured person to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido with unspecified injuries. The investigation is ongoing, said Perkins. A San Diego physician whose firm was hired as a medical examiner in Texas has been accused in a lawsuit of harvesting body parts from deceased children not for medical reasons, but to boost his research prospects. The lawsuit accuses Dr. Evan Matshes of practicing medicine in the state of Texas without a license. It also says he and his company, NAAG Pathology Labs PC of San Diego, terminated employees who complained about the practices. Matshes declined to discuss the allegations in the litigation. His company issued statements that rejected all assertions that Matshes, the firm or its chief medical examiner, Dr. Sam Andrews, did anything improper. The company said the lawsuit is being driven by former employees and others who lack medical expertise. Advertisement We strongly deny that either NAAG Pathology Labs or Dr. Andrews have acted in any manner that is contrary to the best interest of the public, the statement said. We are confident that we will be exonerated of all claims of wrongdoing. The Texas Rangers state police are investigating the allegations leveled in the lawsuit filed by Tita Senee Graves, a Lubbock County prosecutor said. Graves is a career medical technician who landed a job with the Lubbock County Medical Examiners Office in 2015, after working for decades as an X-ray technician at a private laboratory. She was fired Jan. 17 after she and others in the medical examiners office questioned what Matshes was doing with the bodies of deceased children, according to the lawsuit. She filed suit Feb. 20 in the 72nd District Court in Lubbock County. Ms. Graves and the other staff were disturbed by the autopsies of the infants, the suit states. The unnecessary harvesting of body parts for a pathologists personal research interests seemed wrong. NAAG Pathology Labs (Jeff McDonald/U-T) NAAG Pathology Labs is a private company based in Sorrento Valley, and most of its Texas work is performed by about 10 employees in Lubbock County. It performs autopsies and other medical-examiner services across the United States and other countries. The company said it does not perform any medical research. Matshes has a second firm called the National Autopsy Assay Group that provides independent tissue and organ analyses. In Lubbock County, medical examiner services have been farmed out to private contractors for years. NAAG Pathology Labs took over the department on an interim basis in August after a former medical examiner vacated the post, the lawsuit states. The agreement was rewritten in October, and Andrews was named chief medical examiner. Within weeks, the complaint says, NAAG began harvesting more human tissue during autopsies than was needed to determine causes of death. Dr. Matshes stated that he wanted to collect more tissues from those autopsies than had been done in the past because he needed the tissue for his research, the suit states. ... The new protocol required the removal of the childrens brain, eyes, spinal cord, posterior neck, including vertebra, and the heart and lungs. Matshes, who lives in San Diego and travels to Lubbock County for work, performed two procedures in front of his employees, even though he was not qualified to do so in the state of Texas, the suit said. Dr. Matshes stated that he was acting as a tech, not a doctor, since he was not licensed to practice medicine in Texas, the complaint states. Dr. Matshes made the incisions and removed the organs himself, while Dr. Andrews observed along with the staff. The company said there is nothing improper about removing organs from the bodies of decedents whose deaths are under criminal investigation. It also said that the procedure does not require a medical license. Dr. Matshes did not practice medicine during the procedure mentioned in the lawsuit, the statement said. NAAG Pathology Labs said the lawsuit and related complaints to the Texas Rangers and state medical board are the result of peoples lack of expertise. It is clear that some of the employees, who were not physicians or pathologists, didnt understand the thorough process necessary for an autopsy that may be later challenged in court, the company said. Dr. Andrews ships some items to the San Diego lab because some specific expertise is not available in Lubbock. According to letters Matshes and Andrews each sent to Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish before the lawsuit was filed, the allegations are politically motivated by a newly elected county commissioner who is opposed to the changes that NAAG Pathology Labs implemented to professionalize the department. It is a fundamental expectation that I, as a forensic pathologist in the role of your appointed Chief Medical Examiner, be free of political influence, which includes being free from fear for my personal safety, the safety of my staff and free from the fear of all forms of retaliation, Andrews wrote. Barron Slack, of the Lubbock County District Attorneys Office, declined to comment on the lawsuit. He said his office will wait for results from the Texas Rangers criminal investigation into the allegations before deciding on the next actions. Matshes received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2004. He was licensed by the California Medical Board in May 2017 and licensed in Texas prior to 2013. His application for a new license there is pending. Andrews holds a valid Texas Medical Board license. Matshes had performance issues in Canada, where he also worked as a medical examiner prior to establishing NAAG Pathology Labs. According to a 2012 news release from the Alberta Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, work performed by Matshes at the Alberta Medical Examiners Office did not meet professional standards. The panel found the conclusions reached by Dr. Matshes to be unreasonable regarding either the cause of death, manner of death and/or other opinions, the release said. Matshes disputed those findings and sued for up to $30 million in damages to his reputation. The case is ongoing in an Alberta court. In the Lubbock County lawsuit, Austin, Texas, attorney Kevin Glasheen said his client, Graves, was extremely disturbed by the new protocols imposed by NAAG Pathology Labs, once it took over the medical examiners office. Lubbock County, which also provides pathology services to about 20 other rural counties across West Texas, has a troubled history associated with its medical examiners office. In the early 1990s, then-Dr. Ralph Erdmann was accused of falsifying records, botching blood samplings, losing some body parts and performing made-to-order autopsies that would favor versions of events put forward by police. He pleaded no contest to seven felonies and received a 10-year probation sentence and agreed to surrender his medical license. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald The affidavits filed by the FBI and firearms bureau agents to secure search warrants for properties owned by San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel and others have been sealed by a judge, along with any inventory of what was seized earlier this month during multiple raids across the region. But other court records in El Cajon show that Hamel and his former wife stored many firearms at their Jamul estate. The couple owned so many guns that the divorce settlement they signed in December includes a one-time payment of $100,000 from Leo Hamel to Penelope Hamel to compensate the wife for her share of the collection. Advertisement There is no list of specific weapons in the divorce case, which Leo Hamel initiated in July 2017. But the 47-page settlement agreement singles out numerous pistols, shotguns and other firearms that Penelope Hamel excluded from the family gun collection retained by her ex-husband. According to family court records, Penelope Hamel kept thousands of dollars worth of sentimental firearms, including an 1873 Winchester rifle, a weapon that has been marketed by the manufacturer as The Gun that Won the West. The historic lever-action repeating rifles routinely sell for $10,000 or more on collector websites. Penelope Hamel also kept a .50 caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a nickel diamondback Colt pistol, a small gun collection, two AR-15 assault rifles, three pistols listed on her Concealed Carry Weapon permit and a pair of shotguns she won at auction, the agreement states. Leo Hamel, who regularly appears with his family in television commercials promoting his jewelry business, is one of multiple subjects in a gun-trafficking investigation now being conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On the morning before Valentines Day, investigators from the two federal agencies executed search warrants at Hamels estate in Jamul and at his place of business, Leo Hamels Fine Jewelers on San Diego Avenue in Old Town. Federal agents also searched the Spring Valley home of San Diego sheriffs Capt. Marco Garmo, a long-time friend of Hamels who was placed on paid leave by Sheriff Bill Gore on the same day the warrants were executed. The sheriffs department declined further comment on the decision to relieve Garmo, the Rancho San Diego substation commander, from duty, except to say officials were fully cooperating with the federal investigation. Hamel and Garmo each have declined to respond to requests for comment on the search warrants or the federal investigation. The two men share a history in East San Diego County that dates back years. Both men have been active in the Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County, a labor group that negotiates wages and benefits for its members and operates a store in Poway where members can purchase guns and other law enforcement tools. Garmo formerly served as an association director and Hamel has been a long-time donor and was previously named an honorary deputy sheriff. The two men also sought and won seats on the local Republican Central Committee in 2016. Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said Hamel and Garmo only served in the volunteer positions for a short time before their seats were vacated in 2017 for failing to attend meetings. Garmo is not new to criminal investigations related to gun sales. The career law enforcement officer was disciplined by Gore in 2017 after the California Department of Justice found that Garmo had bought and sold at least 44 guns without a federal firearms license. That license is required for anyone who sells more than five guns per year. State investigators referred the case to the District Attorneys Office for prosecution but then-District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis declined to file charges. Instead, the office issued Garmo a warning letter that he would be prosecuted if he violated the rules again. Internal sheriffs department records showed that Garmo had bought and sold more than 150 weapons over many years. But the state investigation, which Gore said he referred to Sacramento to avoid a conflict of interest, was limited to the three calendar years between 2014 and 2016. In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune last March, Garmo said he was a collector who bought and sold firearms frequently but was unaware he needed a federal license to do so. He said he never turned a profit on the gun sales. All of my purchases were legal, Garmo said last year. All of my transfers were legal through standard measures. Department records show Garmo continued to request and receive so-called 10-day waivers even after he was investigated and reprimanded for illegal firms sales. The waivers, obtained by the Union-Tribune under the California Public Records Act, do not confirm that purchases were made. Instead, they permit qualified law enforcement officers to avoid the mandatory 10-day waiting period to buy firearms if officials like Sheriff Gore agree. Garmo received six such waivers in 2017, most of them after he received his official reprimand from the sheriffs department. He requested and received two more in 2018, the records show. Department lawyers redacted the types of firearms Garmo was permitted to buy, saying there were public safety concerns about identifying the specific weapons that might be possessed by individual deputies. Robert Faigin, the sheriffs chief legal advisor, said of the 14 waivers Garmo received since 2016, 12 were for handguns and two were for rifles. Federal law enforcers in recent years have made a priority of cracking down on so-called off-roster gun sales -- firearms that are not legal in California unless they are purchased by a law enforcement officer. On Monday, a former Pasadena police lieutenant was sentenced to one year in federal prison for illegally selling more than 100 firearms. The Hamel divorce case closed in December after a year and a half of settlement negotiations and other legal filings. The couple married in 2001. In addition to the $100,000 payment for her share of the gun collection, Penelope Hamel agreed to a one-time $800,000 payment, $21,000 a month in spousal support and $7,500 per month in child support for the couples three minor children. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Providing parking hikes cost of local housing On Monday, the San Diego City Council will consider Mayor Faulconers plan to reform parking standards for new residential development around the citys busiest transit routes. Until now, housing developers have been forced to build more parking than residents actually need, especially in walkable areas where bus and train service is easily accessible. Eighty-nine percent of sites recently surveyed in transit priority areas were utilizing fewer parking spaces than the current city regulations require. Building a parking space costs between $30,000 and $90,000. Renters pay an average of $1,700 extra for parking every year whether they own a car or not according to a recent national study. These are unnecessary costs that local households cannot afford amid San Diegos acute housing crisis. Advertisement This plan is a smart step toward bringing down sky-high housing costs, while also encouraging residents to use transit and curbing climate pollution in our region. Lori Holt Pfeiler President/CEO San Diego Habitat for Humanity You cant force people to give up their cars I have great concern about the city allowing developers to build without providing parking for their residents as a solution to the affordable housing crisis. I believe that will lead to San Diego becoming one big parking lot. It will negatively impact single-family neighborhoods and harm businesses that will no longer have parking for their customers. I live in Normal Heights where many apartments were built without adequate parking. Now we have all those extra cars parked on our streets many times blocking driveways and taking up two spaces. I have little faith that everyone is going to take mass transit. Our transit system isnt great and people like driving their own cars. These days people often own two cars. There needs to be further study of creating more density with zero parking and its impact on the livability of San Diegos neighborhoods. Laura Impastato Normal Heights Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. 'Women represent half of society. If we dont pay attention to them, it would be like walking on one foot,' Al-Azhar's grand imam said during his weekly Friday talk Egypt's Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning, issued a statement on Saturday clarifying that Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb did not call for polygamy to be be banned while addressing the issue of multiple wives during his weekly Friday television show on state TV. The issue of polygamy leads to injustice to women and children in many cases, said El-Tayyeb, adding that this is a result of incorrect understanding of the verses of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet on this issue. He added that polygamy is conditioned by [the ability to maintaining equitability], and if equitability is not possible, then polygamy is forbidden. Polygmy is a restricted right; and we can look at it as a sort of licence and as a licence it requires a reason, the grand imam explained. In Egypt, Muslim men are legally allowed to marry up to four women at the same time. However, a 1985 law has set restrictions on the ability of Muslim men to marry more than one woman by mandating that husbands inform wives of any new marriages and granting wives the right to divorce in these cases Al-Azhars media department also posted a 2016 video where he denied that he was calling for legislations which ban polygamy, or any legislation which tears down the Quran or the Prophets teachings. During his Friday talk, El-Tayyeb also addressed other womens issues. Women represent half of society. If we dont pay attention to them , it would be like walking on one foot, he said. The National Council for Women hailed the grand imams statements and his reasoning on the matter. We extend our appreciation to the grand imam for his assertions, which came to enlighten minds and reveal the truth, while constantly affirming that Islam honours women by bringing justice and rights that did not exist before, said Maya Morsy, the president of the council. Search Keywords: Short link: Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The terrorism circuit at Cairo Criminal Court sentenced on Sunday one to death four others to life in prison in the case known in the media as the "October Terrorist Cell" over murder and terrorism related charges. The prosecution had charged the defendants with premeditated muder, attempted murder, joining an outlawed group and plotting violent acts in 2013 and 2014 with the aim of preventing state institutions from fulfilling their duties. The men were convicted of killing a policeman and attempted murder of other police on guard at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Cairo's 6th of October City on the outskirts of Cairo. Those convicted were also accused of assaulting members of the armed forces and the police, endangering the safety and security of the community, financing terrorist groups, and obtaining illegal firearms and ammunition. The verdicts can be appealed. Search Keywords: Short link: Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Global Medical Simulation Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global Medical Simulation Market. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Laerdal Medical, CAE Healthcare, Simbionix, Surgical Science, Simulaids, Kyoto Kagaku, Gaumard Scientific, Mentice, Limbs & Things, Simulab, Tellyes, Shanghai Honglian, Yimo Keji, Shanghai Kangren, Shanghai Yilian, Shanghai Boyou, Shanghai Zhineng, Shanghai Bezer, Shanghai Yikang & Shanghai Shengjian. Medical simulation is the modern day methodology for training healthcare professionals through the use of advanced educational technology. Simply put, medical simulation is the experiential learning every healthcare professional will need, but cannot always engage in during real-life patient care. Medical simulation has also been called healthcare simulation, simulation in healthcare, patient simulation, nursing simulation, surgical simulation and clinical simulation. The medical simulation industry concentration is not high; top ten manufacturers took up about 55% of the global market, and high-end products mainly from America and European. In the world wide, giant manufactures mainly distribute in North America and Europe. North America has a long history and unshakable status in this industry, like Simulaids and Gaumard Scientific, both have perfect products, the CAE Healthcare has become a global leader since it acquired METI in 2011. In Europe, Laerdal Medical leads the technology development and market. The Chinese manufacturers are manly in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin. Medical simulation industry is closely to be mature these years, and the consumption growth rate will show a smooth curve in the next few years. The average product prices has a slow downward trend with the rate of 2.8%-4.3% in recent years, and it will maintain in near future. North America is the largest market of medical simulation, with the share of about 40% in the past five years, flowed by Europe (About 25%). There are mainly low-end products in chinese market, the production value is only 8% of the world, while the production is about 15%. The chinese product price is nearly 1/2 of the global average price. Although sales of medical simulation brought a lot of opportunity, the study group recommends the new entrants just having money but without technical advantage and downstream support do not to enter into the semiconductor silicon wafer field. In 2017, the global Medical Simulation market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025. Medical Simulation Market Overview: If you are involved in the Medical Simulation industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Medical colleges, Hosptials, Medical traing institions & Other, , Patient, Sutgical, Endovascular, Ultrasound, Dental, Eye & Task and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/917605-global-medical-simulation-market-4 Medical Simulation Market: Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023 Research study is to define market sizes of various segments & countries in previous years and to forecast the values to the next 5-8 years. The report is designed to comprise each qualitative and quantitative elements of the industry facts including: market share, market size (value and volume 2012-17, and forecast to 2023) with admire to each of the areas and countries concerned inside the examination. Furthermore, the report additionally caters the detailed statistics about the vital elements which includes drivers & restraining factors which will define the future growth of the market. Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows: Historical year 2013-2017 Base year 2018 Forecast period** 2018 to 2025 [** unless otherwise stated] Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players. The designated segments and sub-section of the market are explained below: The Study is segmented by following Product Type: , Patient, Sutgical, Endovascular, Ultrasound, Dental, Eye & Task Major applications/end-users industry are as follows: Medical colleges, Hosptials, Medical traing institions & Other Some of the key Manufacturers Involved in the Market are Laerdal Medical, CAE Healthcare, Simbionix, Surgical Science, Simulaids, Kyoto Kagaku, Gaumard Scientific, Mentice, Limbs & Things, Simulab, Tellyes, Shanghai Honglian, Yimo Keji, Shanghai Kangren, Shanghai Yilian, Shanghai Boyou, Shanghai Zhineng, Shanghai Bezer, Shanghai Yikang & Shanghai Shengjian You can get free access to samples from the report here: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/917605-global-medical-simulation-market-4 For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies. If opting for the Global version of Medical Simulation Market analysis is provided for major regions as follows: - North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) - Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) - South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) - Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa) Buy this research report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=917605 Key Answers Captured in Study are Which geography would have better demand for product/services? What are the strategies adopted by big players in the regional market? Which country would see the steep rise in CAGR & year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth? What is the current & expected market size in next five years? What is the market feasibility for long term investment? What opportunity the country would offer for existing and new players in the Medical Simulation market? What is risk involved for suppliers in the geography? What factors would drive the demand for the product/service in near future? What is the impact analysis of various factors in the Global Medical Simulation market growth? What are the recent trends in the regional market and how successful they are? Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/917605-global-medical-simulation-market-4 There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Medical Simulation market. Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Medical Simulation market, Applications [Medical colleges, Hosptials, Medical traing institions & Other], Market Segment by Regions United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & India; Chapter 2, objective of the study. Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques. Chapter 4 and 5, to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics; Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition; Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & India ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis Chapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencer's, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers; Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behaviour, Marketing Channels and demand & supply. Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning) Chapter 15, deals with Global Medical Simulation Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia or Oceania [Australia and New Zealand]. About HTF Market Report HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the "Accurate Forecast" in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their "Goals & Objectives". Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE). The research study is titled "Advanced Marine Power Supply Market Outlook and Growth Stance Forecasted Through 2025" which encloses important data about the production, consumption, revenue and market share, merged with information related to the market scope and product overview. This report provides an analysis of the global advanced marine power supply market for the period of 2015 to 2025, wherein the period from 2017 to 2025 comprises the forecast period and 2016 is the base year. Data for 2015 is provided as historical information. The report covers all the major trends and technologies playing a major role in the growth of the advanced marine power supply market over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints and opportunities expected to influence the market's growth during the said period. The study provides a holistic perspective on the market's growth in terms of revenue in US$ Mn, across different geographical regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America. Advanced marine power supply market has wide applications and used in internal lighting, navigation lighting, communication, surveillance system, engine control and others. To Get Sample Copy of Report, Click here @ https://www.mrrse.com/sample/4541 The market overview section of the report showcases the market dynamics and trends such as the drivers, restraints and opportunities that influence the current nature and future status of this market. The report also provides value chain analysis and key market indicators for the advanced marine power supply market. The advanced marine power supply market estimates are the result of our in-depth secondary research, primary interviews and in-house expert panel reviews. These market estimates have been analyzed by taking into account the impact of different political, social, economic, technological and legal factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the market growth. The global advanced marine power supply market is segmented on the basis of devices, power supply source, and application. By devices, the global advanced marine power supply market is segmented in terms of battery, switch mode power supply (SMPS), uninterrupted power supply (UPS), inverters, others. Further, the power supply source segmentation includes direct power supply and renewable power supply. On the basis of application, the advanced marine power supply market is segmented into internal lighting, navigation lighting, communication, surveillance system, engine control, others. The report covers the analysis of these segments across all geographies, along with qualitative analysis for key market indicators supplementing the growth of advanced marine power supply market during the forecast period. Geographically the report classifies the global advanced marine power supply market into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America. We have analysed the regions in terms of revenue. Region wise prominent countries covered in the report include the following the U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., France, China, Japan, South Korea, India, GCC (six middle east countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman), South Africa, and Brazil. The report also includes competitive profiling of the key players associated with the advanced marine power supply market around the globe. The important business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, financials, SWOT analysis and recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The competitive landscape section of the report also gives an overview about the major contributing regions/countries by these key players in order to strengthen their market position in the future. Browse Complete Report with TOC @ https://www.mrrse.com/advanced-marine-power-supply-market Growing number of vessels and the increasing expenditure on submarines and ships by military and navy across emerging economies, are forcing companies to develop marine power supply devices to continue the profitability of the market. Some of the major players in global advanced marine power supply market are Emerson Electric Company, Schneider Electric SE, ABB Ltd, Exide Industries Ltd, EnerSys, HBL Power Systems Ltd, Systems Sunlight S.A., Eaton Corporation Plc, Powerbox International AB, ENAG, Marine Electric Systems Inc. Newmar, and Analytic Systems among others. Details such as financials, business strategies, SWOT analysis, recent developments, and other such strategic information pertaining to these players has been duly provided as part of company profiling. Market Segmentation: Advanced Marine Power Supply Market, by Devices Battery Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), Inverters Others Advanced Marine Power Supply Market, by Power Supply Source Direct Power Supply Renewable Power Supply Advanced Marine Power Supply Market, by Application Internal Lighting Navigation Lighting Communication Surveillance System Engine Control Others In addition, the report provides analysis of the Advanced Marine Power Supply Market with respect to the following geographic segments: North America The U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe The U.K. Germany France Rest of Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) China India Japan Australia Rest of APAC Middle East and Africa (MEA) GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA South America Brazil Rest of South America Enquire about this Report @ https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/4541 About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords. MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSE's repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting. Contact Us State Tower 90, State Street Suite 700 Albany, NY - 12207 United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559 Email: sales@mrrse.com Hong Kong: Land supply ideas being pursued The Government is pursuing various initiatives to address land shortage, Secretary for Development Michael Wong said. Speaking to media after attending a radio programme today, Mr Wong said there is no magic wand to tackle the land supply issue in the very short term. For the short to medium term, if you take a slightly longer time frame, then there are a lot of initiatives that we are pursuing. These initiatives include the Land Sharing Scheme and intensified efforts in town planning or zoning can boost land supply. In addition to the demand management measures, there are also measures that the housing side is pursuing in terms of freeing up, for example, public rental housing units under certain criteria so that they can be rented out to other people, he added. This story has been published on: 2019-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Geneina was sacked in early 2016 as top auditor of the country's main anti-corruption agency after he claimed that widespread graft had cost Egypt $68 billion in four years Egyptian Military Appeals Court upheld Sunday a five-year jail term for the former head of the countrys Central Auditing Organisation, Hisham Geneina, over spreading false news about the armed forces and the country's internal affairs. Sundays sentence came following an appeal by Geneina against the sentence handed down by a military court in April 2018. Geneina was arrested over an interview he gave to the HuffPost Arabi news website, where he claimed that former military chief Sami Anan possessed secret documents containing state secrets and evidence relating to major events since 2011. He can still appeal the sentence in front of the militarys high appeals court, according to his lawyer Ali Taha. Geneina was sacked in early 2016 as top auditor of the country's main anti-corruption agency after he claimed that widespread graft had cost Egypt $68 billion in four years. He was later handed a one-year suspended prison term after being convicted in a lower court of spreading false news in regards to the matter. Search Keywords: Short link: Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Airport security remains to be top challenge for government bodies owing to high threat associated with it. The activities such as terrorist attacks and goods smuggling are looming large amid changing socio-political relation thus, making airports more vulnerable to attacks. With heavy air traffic, airports authorities have upped their ante and deploying technologies such as remote security screening and bio-metrics. This market research report looks into and analyzes the Global Airport Security Market and illustrates a comprehensive evaluation of its evolution and its specifications. Another aspect that was considered is the cost analysis of the main products dominant in the Global Market considering the profit margin of the manufacturers. Get Free PDF Sample Pages Of Airport Security Market Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/34507-global-airport-security-market Major Key Players in This Report Include, American Science and Engineering Inc. [United States], Bosch [Germany], C.E.I.A SpA [Italy], Hitachi Ltd. [ Japan], L-3 Communications [United States], Lockheed Martin [United States], OSI Systems Inc. [ United States], Safran Morpho [France], Siemens AG [Germany], Smiths Detection [United Kingdom] This research is categorized differently considering the various aspects of this market. It also evaluates the current situation and the future of the market by using the forecast horizon. The forecast is analyzed based on the volume and revenue of this market. The tools used for analyzing the Global Airport Security Market research report include SWOT analysis. The regional analysis of Global Airport Security Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2019-2025. The Global Airport Security Market in terms of investment potential in various segments of the market and illustrate the feasibility of explaining the feasibility of a new project to be successful in the near future. The core segmentation of the global market is based on product types, SMEs and large corporations. The report also collects data for each major player in the market based on current company profiles, gross margins, sales prices, sales revenue, sales volume, photos, product specifications and up-to-date contact information. For Early Buyers | Get Up to 20% Discount on This Premium Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/34507-global-airport-security-market Table of Content 1. Market Overview 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Scope/Objective of the Study 1.2.1. Research Objective 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Introduction 3. Market Dynamics 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Market Drivers 3.2.1. Growing Focus on Airport Security Amid Rising Concern Over Safety 3.2.2. Rising Security Threats Such as Goods Smuggling and Terrorist activities with Influx in Air Traffic 3.3. Market Challenges 3.3.1. Growing Number Security Checks Owing Rising Air Traffic 3.4. Market Trends 3.4.1. Need for Compliance with Security Protocol 3.4.2. Implementation of New Security Features Such as Remote Security Screening and Bio-metrics 4. Market Factor Analysis 4.1. Porters Five Forces 4.2. Supply/Value Chain 4.3. PESTEL analysis 5. Global Airport Security, by Type, Application and Region (value) (2012-2017) Get More Information: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/34507-global-airport-security-market New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/02/2019 -- The latest report on Dilatometer (Dil) market offers detailed information about the industry based on the total revenue generated for the forecast period, 2019 - 2026. The comprehensive study performs an in-depth analysis of the Dilatometer (Dil) industry and lays immense emphasis on the major driving forces and restraints expected to govern the overall business for the forecast period, 2019 - 2026. Most importantly, researchers assessing the business environment take a closer look at the past and present trends as well as the future prospect to offer business owners, stakeholders and field marketing executives an intellectual understanding of the winning strategies. The researchers behind the study have further leveraged the industry-leading assessment tools to gauge the growing level of competition, recent acquisition and mergers, product launches and new entrants. Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/31472 Scope of the Report: In addition, the study on Dilatometer (Dil) market for the forecast period 2019 - 2026 quantifies the share occupied by the prominent players of the industry and enlightens the business owners from the fast-growing investment pockets and competitive landscape. Furthermore, the industry is classified into various segments with a detailed assessment of each and every aspect such as gross margin, profits, import and export status and others. All vital statistics are presented with the help of charts, tables and graphic images, which can be easily incorporated into any business presentation. In market segmentation by manufacturers, the report covers the following companies- - AZoM - NETZSCH Group - Linseis - Hitachi - TA Instruments - THETA Industies - Orton - C-Therm - Setaram Instrumentation - Instrotek In market segmentation by geographical regions, the report has analysed the following regions- - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Southeast Asia - India - Others On the basis of product, the report covers: - Capacitance dilatometers - Connecting rod (push rod) dilatometer - Optical dilatometer - High Resolution - Laser Dilatometer - Vertical Dilatometer - Horizontal Dilatometer - Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer - Others On the basis of the end users/applications, the report covers: - Glass & Ceramic Industry - Metallic alloy fabrication - Composite materials & plastics - Chemical Industry - Other Buy Full Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/31472 The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What will be the size of the market of Dilatometer (Dil) market for the forecast period, 2019 - 2026? What will be the estimated growth rate? - What are the major driving forces determining the future of the market worldwide? - Who are the major industry players dominating the industry and what have been their winning strategies to stay competitive? - What are the major challenges that are expected to hinder the development of the industry worldwide? - What are the favourable opportunities prominent vendors can bank on in the years to come? The study objectives of this report are: - To analyze and study the global Dilatometer (Dil) capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2019-2026); - Focuses on the key Dilatometer (Dil) manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. - Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis. - To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. - To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. - To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. - To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. - To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market - To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market - To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. Browse Full Report Summary @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/dilatometerdil-market About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: www.marketexpertz.com/market-news New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- The latest market research report titled Excavator Bucket market offers a detailed evaluation of the market situation within a specific geographic region. This Excavator Bucket Market study contains vital data on market shifts owing to social, economic, cultural and technological changes worldwide. Explaining market opportunities remains the key focus of the study. Industry experts analysing the business environment also take a closer look at the organizational alignment as well as the capital structure. Request for Sample Copy of Excavator Bucket Market Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/21718 Scope of the Report: The report analyses the various aspects of the market including the major sectors that are imperative for the growth of the same. It highlights the data collected and the trends seen in its demand in the years 2013 to 2017 along with the year 2019 and predicts the possible trends for the forecasted timespan of 2019 to 2026. Further, it calculates the size of the market in the year 2019 and the share of the industry in the global economy. It gives a view of the companies that are a prominent part of the business's value. Major Players in Excavator Bucket market are: - Cukurova - Mantovanibenne - ALLU Finland Oy - ARDEN Equipment - Geith International - KOVACO - KAISER AG Fahrzeugwerk - ATTEC N.V Most important types of Excavator Bucket products covered in this report are: - Standard Bucket - Strengthen Bucket - Rock Bucket Most widely used downstream fields of Excavator Bucket market covered in this report are: - Sand-Excavating - Digging - Mining - Other Major Regions play vital role in Excavator Bucket market are: - North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.) - South America Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile etc.) - Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.) Buy Excavator Bucket Market Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/21718 The market intelligence study for the Excavator Bucket market further provides an inside-out overview of necessary aspects associated with the product classification, important definitions, major orders and other industry-centric parameters. An underlying part of the study also maps the important factors associated with the recent events such as mergers and acquisition, collaboration and new product launches. Understanding the market size: The size of the Excavator Bucket market is viewed in terms of the Share of Market, Total Available Market as well as Served Available Market. Not only does the study present the combined revenue for a particular market but also the market size for a specific geographic region. Analysis of percentage or the size of the Total Available Market based on the type of product, technology, regional constraints and others form an important part of the Excavator Bucket report. Market share: The report discovers market's total sale that is generated by a particular firms over a time period. Industry experts calculate share by taking into account the product sales over a period and then dividing it by the overall sales of the Excavator Bucket industry over a defined period. Subject matter experts further use this metric to offer a general idea of the share and size of a firm and its immediate rivals. By providing an in-depth knowledge of the position a company as well as an entrepreneur holds in the Excavator Bucket market Attracting the target audience: First, the comprehensive report finds out why customers need a certain product or service. The study focuses on what problems a certain product and service can solve. Apart from target demographics industry experts weigh up on the factors including audience type, as well as others vital attributes about the target customer segment. The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What is the estimated growth rate of the Excavator Bucket market for the forecast period 2019 - 2026? What will be the market share and size of the industry during the estimated period? - What are prime factors expected to drive the Excavator Bucket industry for the estimated period? - What are the major market leaders and what has been their winning strategy for success so far? - What are the significant trends shaping the growth prospects of the Excavator Bucket market? - What are the key challenges expected to restrict the progress of the industry for the forecast period, 2019 - 2026? - What the opportunities product owners can bank on to generate high profits? Read More @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/excavator-bucket-market There are 13 Chapters to deeply display the global Excavator Bucket market. - 1 Excavator Bucket Market Overview - 2 Global Excavator Bucket Market Competition by Manufacturers - 3 Global Excavator Bucket Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2019) - 4 Global Excavator Bucket Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2019) - 5 Global Excavator Bucket Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type - 6 Global Excavator Bucket Market Analysis by Application - Continue About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: https://www.marketexpertz.com/market-news Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Ferromanganese is a ferroalloy that has high content of manganese; it is manufactured by heating mixture of oxides Fe2O3 and MnO2 along with carbon, which is usually coke and coal in an electric arc furnace or blast furnace. In the furnace, the oxides go through carbothermal reduction, hence, producing ferromanganese which is used as deoxidizer for steel. The major deposits of ferromanganese are found abundant in South Africa, Mexico, France, and Australia among others. One of the major drivers of ferromanganese market is the growing demand of steel across the globe. Moreover, increasing demand from the aluminum alloy sectors is also expected to fuel the growth of ferromanganese market. Ferromanganese has proved to be essential to steel and iron production owing to their deoxidizing, sulfur fixing and alloying properties. The major consumption of ferromanganese is reported from the steelmaking segment in the U.S. It also has application in aluminum alloys and is used in dry cell batteries in the form of oxide. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ferromanganese-market.html Ferromanganese is segmented into two types namely, high carbon ferromanganese and medium carbon ferromanganese. The primary features of this element include good anti-oxidant properties, excellent chemical composition and low melting point. High carbon ferromanganese is an excellent antioxidant with high carbon content and is heat resistant. It has desulphurizing and anti-oxidant properties that has applications in metallurgy, chemical industry and steel industry among others. Due to environmental health concerns and health hazards, ferromanganese market is expected to experience threat to some extent. High level of exposure to ferromanganese in drinking water is allied with reduced intelligence quotients and intellectual impairment in children. In case of human health, inhalation or ingestion of ferromanganese leads to a rare neurological disorder known as Manganism, which is a restraint to the growing ferromanganese market. South Africa is known to have abundant ferromanganese resources and some trace deposits in India, China, and Australia among others. China is estimated to be the leading producer of ferromanganese among others economies globally but it still relies on imports from South Africa and Ukraine. Read Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2302 The Indian Ferro Alloy Producers Association (IFPA), represents the manufactures of noble and bulk Ferro Alloys in the country. It was established as an auxiliary industry to meet the growing demands and need of the domestic steel industry. This association was established in the year 1961 to take care of the interests of the members of this association. This association has been promoting the interest familiar to the Ferro Alloy producing company, developing synergy and cooperation among the producers in India which leads to the growth of steel industry thereby leading to increase in the demand for ferromanganese in the market. Some of the key companies profiled in the ferromanganese market research report are Monnet Group, ISPAT India, Jiaocheng Yiwang Ferroalloy Co, Ltd (Yiwang Ferroalloy), Calcutta Carbide Pvt. Ltd, OM Holdings Limited, Gulf Minerals Corporation Limited among others. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- The global market for gasoline-naphtha-crude-MTBE is witnessing an exponential surge in its valuation, thanks to the swift expansion in the automotive and the aviation industries and the trend is likely to remain so over the next few years. Gasoline, also known as petrol, is a type of fuel, widely utilized in internal combustion engines, whereas crude is the unprocessed form of petroleum. Flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures are termed as naphtha while MTBE is a gasoline additive, which is volatile, highly flammable, and colorless. Although it exists in a liquid form, it is sparingly soluble in water. The main application of MTBE is to increase octane number, and hence, it is mostly used as oxygenate in order to raise the oxygen content of gasoline. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/gasoline-naphtha-crude-mtbe-market.html Owing to the rising concerns over the adverse effect of gasoline-naphtha-crude-MTBE on the environment and subsequent ban on the usage of MTBE in developed countries, their consumption is likely to reduce to some extent in the coming years, creating a hindrance in the growth trajectory of this market. On the basis of its historical and current performance, this report presents a detailed assessment of the worldwide market for gasoline-naphtha-crude-MTBE. The opportunities and growth prospects of this market have also been examined thoroughly in this study to identify the market's future status. Global Gasoline-Naphtha-Crude-MTBE Market: Trends and Opportunities Gasoline market in Europe is on an unprecedented buying spree due to the production cut in Brazil and Venezuela. However, the purchasing appetite for gasoline from within the region is moderate. A gasoline-glut has been formed in Europe, therefore, participants in this region are keen on exporting volumes to West Africa and the U.S. to keep stocks in balance. Gasoline export to the U.S., however, is under pressure comparing to the recent years due to the enduring shale revolution in the economy. Read Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=355 As the crude in North America gets lighter, the overall demand for gasoline from the U.S. has begun to decline. Although events of refinery outage may uptick the demand for European gasoline in the coming years. Global Gasoline-Naphtha-Crude-MTBE Market: Geographical Analysis On the basis of geography, the worldwide market for gasoline-naphtha-crude-MTBE can be segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. In terms of consumption of gasoline-naphtha-crude-MTBE, Asia Pacific is likely to emerge as a prominent regional market across the world in the near future. The markets in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are also expected to witness a rise in their share, due to the augmenting demand for these fuels, thanks to increasing focus of developing nations on economic progression. Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/02/2019 -- Global Automatic Mounter Wafer Equipment market report is first of its kind research report that covers the overview, summary, market dynamics, competitive analysis, and leading player's various strategies to sustain in the global market. This report covers five top regions of the globe and countries within, which shows the status of regional development, consisting of market value, volume, size, and price data. Apart from this, the report also covers detail information about various clients which is the most significant element for the manufacturers. Request a Sample of this report: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/982565/global-automatic-mounter-wafer-equipment-market The following manufacturers are covered: DISCO Corp. Syagrus Systems Advanced Dicing Technologies Longhill Industries Lintec Corporation Nitto Denko Tokyo Electron Technovision Takatori Ultron Systems Segment by Regions North America Europe China Japan Segment by Type 100 mm Wafer Size 150 mm Wafer Size 200 mm Wafer Size 300 mm Wafer Size Other Checkout link: https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/70b351f99d3020f770b8295bd38e3d8b,0,1,Global%20Automatic%20Mounter%20Wafer%20Equipment%20Market%20Insight%20and%20Professional%20Survey%20Report%202019 Regions Covered in the Global Automatic Mounter Wafer Equipment Market: The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) Ask our Expert if You Have a Query at: enquiry@qyresearch.com Strategic Points Covered in TOC: Chapter 1:Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Automatic Mounter Wafer Equipment market Chapter 2:Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Automatic Mounter Wafer Equipment market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products Chapter 3:Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales Chapter 4:Presenting global Automatic Mounter Wafer Equipment market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Oil and gas industry is experiencing a tremendous growth from several years and is expected to grow during the forecast period. The industry growth is also elevating the demand of various other industries which are directly related to oil and gas industry. The global oilfield services market provides services to oil and gas industry and is experiencing the similar growth. The oilfield services market is expected to grow in near future. Get Report Sample Copy for More Industry Insights @ https://www.mrrse.com/sample/317 Oil and gas are produced from the reservoir in various phases such as exploration, drilling, production, completion, etc. Different oilfield services are required in these phases to obtain desirable results. Oil and gas reserves are identified using geological modeling, seismic surveys and exploration wells. The well drilled to extract oil and gas requires various services such as wireline, coil tubing, well intervention, simulation, etc for enhancing its production. The oilfield services companies provide equipment, services and infrastructure which are required by the oil and gas exploration and production companies to explore and extract oil and gas. The Global Oilfield Services Market can be segmented on the basis of type into drilling & completion fluids, well intervention and wireline services, coiled tubing services, pressure pumping & services and others. Each service is very important for the proper functioning and economic production of a well over its life span. Different services are required by wells for various hindrances. Drilling fluids are used during drilling as coolant, lubricants, debris carrier, etc. Coil tubing is used for oil and gas well intervention and rarely as production tubing in depleted gas wells. Pressure pumping services is used to access proven reserves and improve asset value. On the basis of geography, the global oilfield services market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and RoW (Rest of the world). North America is expected to be the market leader in this segment due to the shale gas boom in North America. A large number of wells are being drilled in North America for shale gas exploration which requires various oilfield services. RoW is expected to attain higher growth due to huge expenditure in Brazil and West Africa during the forecast period. Increasing exploration and production activities will result in increasing demand of oilfield services market. However, stringent environmental regulations regarding some services such as drilling waste disposal and controversies regarding hydraulic fracturing are expected to hamper the growth of the oilfield services market. The availability of abundant offshore oil reserves and unexplored shale gas reserves will provide an opportunity for oilfield services market during the forecast period. To Browse Complete Report with TOC Visit @ https://www.mrrse.com/oilfield-services-market The service provider companies are investing heavily in research and development so as to provide an economical and feasible solution to their clients. Moreover, they have to develop technology and provide services for some of the roughest environmental conditions such as arctic sea and deep and ultra deep sea. Some of the key players in the oilfield services market are Weatherford International Limited, Baker Hughes Incorporated, Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton Company, National Oilwell Varco, FMC Technologies Inc., Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services Group Co. Ltd., Cameron, The Weir Group PLC, Zhongman Petroleum and Gas Group, Frontier Oilfield Services Inc., Airtrust (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Pe Ben Oilfield Services L.P., Beron Energy Ltd. and Decollement Consulting Inc. among others. This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the World This report provides comprehensive analysis of Market growth drivers Factors limiting market growth Current market trends Market structure Market projections for upcoming years This report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porter's five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis. This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segments Send an Enquiry @ https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/317 About MRRSE Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords. MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSE's repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting. Contact Us State Tower 90, State Street Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207(USA) United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559(Toll Free) Email: sales@mrrse.com Guangdong, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/02/2019 -- Global Switchable Glass market report is first of its kind research report that covers the overview, summary, market dynamics, competitive analysis, and leading player's various strategies to sustain in the global market. This report covers five top regions of the globe and countries within, which shows the status of regional development, consisting of market value, volume, size, and price data. Apart from this, the report also covers detail information about various clients which is the most significant element for the manufacturers. Request a Sample of this report: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/982563/global-switchable-glass-market Key Players Name: Saint Gobain View Gentex Corning Asahi Glass Polytronix Vision Systems PPG Glass Apps Ravenbrick Scienstry SPD Control System Pleotint Smartglass International Merck Smart Films International Checkout link: https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/4658a86d5d2d2e5ce005c9b44d1bcbc3,0,1,Global%20Switchable%20Glass%20Market%20Development%20and%20Forecast%20Report%202019 Regions Covered in the Global Switchable Glass Market: The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) Ask our Expert if You Have a Query at: enquiry@qyresearch.com Strategic Points Covered in TOC: Chapter 1:Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Switchable Glass market Chapter 2:Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Switchable Glass market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products Chapter 3:Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales Chapter 4:Presenting global Switchable Glass market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Immunochemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of the immune system. Immunochemical methods do not require extensive and destructive sample preparation and expensive instrumentation. Most immunochemical methods are based on simple photo, fluoro or luminometric detection. These methods have rapidly replaced chromatographic techniques in clinical diagnostics and offer fast detection of antibodies associated with specific diseases, hormones, disease biomarkers, and pharmaceuticals. Most commonly used assays in clinical immunochemistry involve either quantitative or qualitative formats using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immunochromatography in the form of lateral-flow devices like dip-sticks and test strips, and Western Blot assays used to interpret data from protein analysis with gel electrophoresis. Moreover, it is also used in food safety assessment, environmental analysis, and the target chemical structures cover the widest range of molecular weight approximately hundreds of kilo Dalton (kD). Immunochemicals also develop antibody assays for cholera, anthrax, and diphtheria toxins. The global immunochemicals market is categorized based on various types of antibodies. The report covers custom antibodies and catalog antibodies. Custom antibodies represent the fastest growing segment of the market. This is due to increasing demand for custom antibodies in genomic and proteomic research. Request to Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4127 In terms of geography, North America dominates the global immunochemicals market. This is due to increased awareness about therapeutic applications of immunochemicals in disease management in the region. Moreover, improved life science studies and healthcare infrastructures are also supporting the growth of the immunochemicals market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for immunochemicals in North America, followed by Canada. In Europe, Germany, France, and the U.K. hold major shares in the immunochemicals market. The immunochemicals market in Asia too, is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years. This is due to advancements in the biotechnology sector which increased the demand of antibodies in research activities. Furthermore, improved government support for biotechnology research and emergence of India and China as major centers for clinical research are also favoring the growth of this market in the region. Availability of infrastructure facilities and low-cost workforce are fuelling the growth of clinical research organization (CRO) market. This, in turn. is increasing the demand for immunochemicals assays in the region. Advancements in antibody technology and increasing prevalence of cancer are key drivers for the global immunochemicals market. Antibodies are used as tools in various applications, including expression levels of cancer-related proteins, signaling pathways, identification of candidate biomarkers, and analysis of enzyme activities. Increasing investment in life science research activities and CRO market has also fueled the growth of the global immunochemicals market. Moreover, increase in research efforts for improving food production, enhancing food nutrition and quality, as well as production of pharmaceutical products through genetically engineered plants is also propelling the demand for immunochemicals. Request Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4127 However, stringent regulations set by various governments hamper the growth of the immunochemicals market. Increasing number of mergers and acquisitions of drug manufacturing companies and biotechnology research organizations is a key trend in the global immunochemicals market. The major companies operating in this market are Advanced ImmunoChemical, Inc., BIOTREND Chemikalien GmbH, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Meridian Life Science, Inc., Maine Biotechnology Services, EMD Millipore, Randox Laboratories Ltd., MitoSciences Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Rockland Immunochemicals, and Trinity Biotech plc. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Intraoral scanners are the digital devices used to capture 3-dimentional image of the internal area of the mouth. The device provides details of soft-tissues located in the intraoral area through images of superior quality. Intraoral scanners generate videos or capture images, coupled with its software to fabricate virtual copies of the intraoral area. The devices eliminate the need to generate stone models or conventional impressions of teeth in the dental restoration process. Intraoral scanners are becoming widely popular among orthodontists owing to their lower lab turnaround time and superior results in the form of 3D images. View Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/intraoral-scanners-market.html Rising number of dental restorative procedures across the globe and superior output of intraoral scanners which facilitates the detection of intraoral soft-tissue malfunctions are the major factors expected to drive the intraoral scanners market during the forecast period. However, low adoption rate for intraoral scanners by orthodontists in emerging countries and high cost of the devices are estimated to restrain the growth of the intraoral scanners market during 2017-2025 The global intraoral scanners market is segmented on the basis of modality and end user. In terms of modality, the global intraoral scanners market is segmented into standalone and portable. The standalone devices accounted for maximum revenue in 2016, owing to the improved workflow of dental professionals in the oral scanning procedures, and improved output of the device. However, introduction of miniaturized intraoral scanners by key players in the market, and incorporation of side-oriented tip in the small intraoral scanners making the buccal surface scans process easier and quick are the major factors projected to drive the growth of portable intraoral scanners at a relatively significant CAGR during the forecast period. Various end users in the global intraoral scanners market are hospitals and dental clinics. Hospitals accounted for highest market share in terms of revenue in 2016, which is attributable to the rising preference of patients for technologically advanced and precise techniques for intraoral scanning, rising per-capita income of the population, and increasing incidence of teeth malfunctioning and other dental disorders. Hospitals are expected to remain dominant in terms of revenue during the forecast period, which is caused by the improvement in the infrastructure of hospitals, rising number of multispecialty hospitals, and favorable reimbursement policies by hospitals. Dental clinics are anticipated to witness maximum CAGR during 2017-2025, owing to the cost-effectiveness of the intraoral scanners, and rising adoption of digital dental scanning technologies. Request a Brochure of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=39347 Geographically, the intraoral scanners market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the highest market share in 2016, which is attributed to increase in investments in R&D of dental technologies, and strategic presence of key players in the U.S. and Canada. The same region is anticipated to be the market leader during the forecast period, due to the rising awareness of orthodontists about advanced dental scanning techniques. However, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in terms of CAGR, due to improved patient compliance and comfort during the intraoral scanning procedures in comparison with the traditional process, and the high percentage of geriatric population in developing countries such as China and Japan. Major players in the intraoral scanners market are Adin Global, Dental Wings Inc., 3M, 3Shape A/S, Align Technology, Inc., Dentsply Sirona, Carestream Health Inc., PLANMECA OY, Condor International, 3DISC, and others. Investing in the R&D of intraoral scanners to make the devices wireless and technologically superior is a major strategy being followed by prominent players in the market. Request TOC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=39347 About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. Contact Us Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Egypt's parliament speaker said the Arab peoples also extend a hand of peace to build two states in Palestine and Israel, living in peace side by side. Gamal Essam El-Din reports In a statement before the 29th conference of the Arab Parliamentary Union on Sunday, Egypt parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal re-affirmed that the administration of US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel represents a stark violation of international law. The conference, held on 3 and 4 March in Jordan under the title Jerusalem, The Eternal Capital of the State of Palestine, attracted parliamentarians from all over the Arab world. Abdel-Aal said that the US administration's decision, announced in May 2018, does not have any legal or political impact. "Jerusalem is a Palestinian city which Israel occupied in 1967 and it represents an integral part of the Palestinian state," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "the occupation of Jerusalem, no matter how long, will never lead to the loss of this occupied city to the Israelis." "The US administration's decision will never break our will to defend Jerusalem," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "a number of parliamentary committees will be formed to hold tours all over the world to defend the right of Palestinians in having an independent state and having Jerusalem as the unified capital of their state." Abdel-Aal also condemned the Trump administrations decision not to give any more money to the UNRWA organisation. "This administration, which has lost its heart, decided not to give any more money to the UNRWA, which helps Palestinian refugees meet their basic needs," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "this comes at a time when America gives the Israeli army all kinds of sophisticated weapons which it uses to kill Palestinian children." "These children have nothing but small rocks to defend themselves against an occupation force armed to the teeth, and we have to do our best to defend them," said Abdel-Aal. Search Keywords: Short link: Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- A military parachute is a device which is used for defense purpose during free falling in sky. It is made up of light and strong fabric which is mostly nylon. Growing conflict among nations and never ending hoarding of defense equipment are bolstering the demand of the very market. This growth is primarily driven by Growing Military Activities Owing to Rising Conflict Among Nations and Advancements in Parachute Technology. This market research report looks into and analyzes the Global Military Parachute Market and illustrates a comprehensive evaluation of its evolution and its specifications. Another aspect that was considered is the cost analysis of the main products dominant in the Global Market considering the profit margin of the manufacturers. Get Free PDF Sample Pages Of Military Parachute Market Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/53928-global-military-parachute-market Major Key Players in This Report Include, Zodiac Aerosafety [France] , Atair Aerospace [United States] , Butler Parachute Systems Group [United States] , Parachute Systems [South Africa] , PLUSMAX [Germany] , Spekon [Germany] , OZONE [United Kingdom] , Ballenger International [United States] , FXC [United States] , Mills Manufacturing [United States] , Cimsa Ingenieria De Sistemas [Spain] , NH Global SDN BHD [Malaysia] , Airborne Systems [United States] and Cirrus Aircraft [United States] This research is categorized differently considering the various aspects of this market. It also evaluates the current situation and the future of the market by using the forecast horizon. The forecast is analyzed based on the volume and revenue of this market. The tools used for analyzing the Global Military Parachute Market research report include SWOT analysis. The regional analysis of Global Military Parachute Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2019-2025. The Global Military Parachute Market in terms of investment potential in various segments of the market and illustrate the feasibility of explaining the feasibility of a new project to be successful in the near future. The core segmentation of the global market is based on product types, SMEs and large corporations. The report also collects data for each major player in the market based on current company profiles, gross margins, sales prices, sales revenue, sales volume, photos, product specifications and up-to-date contact information. For Early Buyers | Get Up to 20% Discount on This Premium Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/53928-global-military-parachute-market AdvanceMarketAnalytics follow a focused and realistic research framework that provides the ability to study the crucial market dynamics in several regions across the world. Moreover, an in-depth assessment is mostly conducted by our analysts on geographical regions to provide clients and businesses the opportunity to dominate in niche markets and expand in emerging markets across the globe. This market research study also showcase the spontaneously changing Manufacturers landscape impacting the growth of the market. Table of Content 1. Market Overview 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Scope/Objective of the Study 1.2.1. Research Objective 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Introduction 3. Market Dynamics 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Market Drivers 3.2.1. Growing Military Activities Owing to Rising Conflict Among Nations 3.2.2. Advancements in Parachute Technology 3.3. Market Challenges 3.3.1. Stringent Government Regulatory Guidelines 3.3.2. Maintaining Efficient Supply Chain 3.4. Market Trends 3.4.1. Rising Use of Parachutes in Aero Sports 3.4.2. Use of Nanotechnology in Parachute Manufacturing 3.4.3. Growing Occurrences of Joint Para-trooping Exercises Among Countries 4. Market Factor Analysis 4.1. Porters Five Forces 4.2. Supply/Value Chain 4.3. PESTEL analysis 5. Global Military Parachute, by Type, Application, Covers, Component and Region (value and volume ) (2013-2018) Get More Information: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/53928-global-military-parachute-market Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Transparency Market Research (TMR) has published a new report titled, "Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20182026". According to the report, the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market was valued at US$ 14,311.52 Mn in 2018. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.3% during forecast period. The global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market is anticipated to be driven by factors such as emphasis on beauty and appearance, rising awareness about anti-aging, and assurance about safety and efficacy of physician-dispensed cosmeceuticals. The physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a high CAGR of 12.0% due to changes in lifestyle and cultural attitudes, increasing pollution levels, and potential high consumer base. The region has witnessed increase in purchasing power and better exposure to international brands. Increasing demand for cosmeceuticals Physician dispensed cosmeceuticals include medicated esthetic products that are referred by dermatologists, trichologists, cosmetic surgeons, and allied medical professionals. These products are dispensed at skin and hair clinics, beauty and wellness centers, and are available as OTC products through selected retail outlets. Increasing levels of stress, pollution, and climate change can cause damage to the skin, hair, and eyes. This has created a demand for cosmetic products to treat a wide range of dermatological conditions. Cosmeceutical companies, therefore, are developing newer and advanced cosmeceuticals to target these medical conditions. Consistent demand for advancements in skin care and beauty products is leading to exciting new entries of various products in the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market. Request A Sample https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=565 Entry of new players in the market Various locally based cosmetic professional startups specializing in the manufacture and marketing of cosmeceuticals owned by dermatologists have recently entered the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in order to cater to the demand for cosmeceuticals among the local population. New entrants in the cosmeceuticals industry from developing countries include ZO Skin Health, Inc. (Japan), CU SKIN Co., Ltd. (Korea), Dr. Batra's Skin & Hair Clinic, VLCC, and Kaya Skin Clinic (India). Hence, newer and advanced products are anticipated to enter the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in the next few years. Emergence of new concept of herbal medicine is paving the way for the demand for organic physician dispensed cosmeceuticals. These factors drive the global physician dispensed cosmeceutical market. The global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market has been segmented based on product type and region. Furthermore, in terms of product type, the market has been divided into skin care products, hair care products, eye care products, injectable Botox, and others. The skin care products segment accounted for a major share of the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in 2017, as the nature of cosmeceuticals demanded by consumers is largely to treat dermatological conditions. Increasing awareness about personal appearance among the geriatric population and changing attitudes of middle-aged and geriatric populations in developing countries have fueled the demand for cosmeceuticals in order to eliminate the outward signs of aging. The anti-aging segment is expected to maintain its dominance of the market during the forecast period. Similarly, dermal fillers and injectable Botox segments are expected to expand from 2018 to 2026. Request Brochure of Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=565 Huge consumer base in Asia Pacific to create opportunities in market In terms of region, the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is mature and technically developed, as compared to the other regions. Hence, the region accounted for a prominent share of the market, in terms of revenue, in 2017. Europe is anticipated to account for a significant share of the global market between 2018 and 2026. Surge in awareness among consumers about cosmeceuticals is expected to fuel the market in the region during the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand considerably during the forecast period. Increasing preference to retain beauty and youthful appearance drives the demand for effective cosmeceuticals. These factors are expected to propel the demand for cosmeceuticals in this region. Moreover, increasing focus of key players on expansion in Asia Pacific, huge consumer base in the region, and rising awareness drive the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in Asia Pacific. Key players profiled in this report are Allergan plc, Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal S.A., Procter & Gamble Co., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Unilever plc, and ZO Skin Health Inc. Companies operating in the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market focus on development and launch of new cosmeceutical products in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMR's global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. Contact us: Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fabric market has been witnessing an exponential rise over the past few years as it has become an integral material in the production of several industrial goods. It is largely being used for coating non-woven and flexible-woven materials such as woven wire, glass fiber cloth, and aramid fabrics as it offers excellence resistance to fire. Properties such as non-stick, friction-free, and non-brittle are also expected to win the global PTFE fabric market a definite consumer base between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ptfe-fabric-market.html The research report by Transparency Market Research provides a detailed outlook of the global PTFE market. The publication has been compiled using primary and secondary research methodologies to offer its readers an accurate evaluation of the market dynamics impacting the demand and supply of PTFE fabric. Furthermore, the research report also includes a SWOT and a Porter's five forces analysis for a comprehensive scrutiny of the global market. Global PTFE Fabric Market: Drivers and Trends The PTFE fabric has been designed to be chemically inert and are known to remain intact under extreme temperatures up to 73 degrees Celsius to 232 degrees Celsius. This has been the underlying reason for the swift uptake of PTFE fabric in a wide range of industry starting from construction and stretching up to packaging. The self-cleaning properties of PTFE fabric has proven to be an asset to builders, ensuring consistent usage of these fabrics in the building and construction industry. The global market will also be driven by adoption of PTFE fabrics for the production of gaskets, seals, and bearings for chemicals, gases, oils, chutes, hoppers, hot platens, and troughs as they are known to be non-sticky. The chemical industry will also be a loyal consumer of PTFE fabric as they are being used for making lining materials for piping compensators in the near future. Global PTFE Fabric Market: Segmentation The types of PTFE fabric available in the global market are glass mesh fabric and glass fiber fabric. The report indicates that glass fiber fabric will witness a stupendous rise in the coming years as it is known to have terrific resistance to water, alkali, aging, and excellent softness. In addition, its superior tensile strength and flex life are also likely make a popularly used option over the forecast period. Currently, glass fiber fabric is extensively used in artificial stone materials, natural marble, plaster board, reinforcing walls, and exterior insulation finishing systems. Among the end-user industries, the building and construction segment is segment be the key consumer of PTFE fabric during the forecast period. These will be predominantly used through industrial goods such as pipe and line fittings, tubes, and rods especially in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific where construction industry is flourishing. The ability to this fabric to weather harsh climatic conditions and environmental changes will win the market a wide consumer base. Request to view Sample Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18833 Global PTFE Fabric Market: Regional Outlook In terms of geography, the global PTFE fabric is segmented into Latin America, North America, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The research report states that the Asia Pacific PTFE fabric market will dominate the global market, closely followed by Europe and North. The dominance of this region will be attributable to the growing number of end-user industries such as construction, chemical, food and beverages, packaging, and textile. The emerging economies of Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea are expected to be key contributors to the soaring revenue of the Asia Pacific PTFE fabric market. Analysts project that Australia and New Zealand will also be pivotal to the regional market. On the other hand, North America and Europe PTFE fabric market will show a slow-paced growth pattern as the markets experience saturation. However, ongoing technological advancements and launch of new products will boost the demand for PTFE fabric in the regions over the forecast period. Key Players Mentioned in the Report are: Some of the leading players operating in the global PTFE fabric market are Urja Fabrics, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation, Daikin industries Ltd, Fiberflon GmbH & Co. KG, Birdair Inc, Fothergill Group, and W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- Increasing demand for consumer electronics which include smartphones, tablets and other electronics devices is one of the prime reasons contributing in the rapid growth of semiconductor dry strip systems market globally. Rising usage of advanced electronic products is fueling the application of semiconductor dry strip systems across different regions globally. Obtain Brochure For Latest Technology Advancements @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=15926 Dry strip systems primarily eliminate photoresists and follow every step of diffusion processing. Techniques and process of eliminating these residues include dry and wet strip systems. Moreover, the upgraded advanced dry strip generates plasmas or gaseous chemistries, to which wafers are generally exposed to eliminated mask residues and films. The demand for advanced semiconductor dry strip systems is growing owing to the increasing number and complexity of thin-film layers needed for each wafer has increased. Rising technological advancement the semiconductor manufacturers are focusing on increasing their strip capacity. With rising research activities in the field of semiconductor dry strips systems, the application of the system are growing in the consumer electronics, automotive and high-end industrial application segments. Increasing adoption of electronics is one of the major reasons behind the rising popularity of semiconductor dry strips systems. Increasing usage of smartphones, tablets, and other smart gadgets are fueling the market for semiconductor dry strips systems across different regions globally. Obtain Report Details @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/semiconductor-dry-strip-systems-market.html Asia Pacific is leading the semiconductor dry strip systems market worldwide. Growing usage of consumer electronics devices such as smartphones, tablets, wearable and other smart electronic devices in economies such the China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and India is contributing in the positive growth of this market across Asia Pacific (APAC). North America is one of the prime regions which is contributing in the positive growth of the semiconductor dry strip systems market. Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/02/2019 -- GLOBAL Tahini MARKET SIZE, STATUS AND FORECAST 2019-2025 studies the latest industry trends, market development aspects, market gains, and industry scenario during the forecast period. The report provides the details related to fundamental overview, development status, latest advancements, market dominance and market dynamics. Leading Companies - Haitoglou Bros, Balsam, Prince Tahini, Halwani Bros, Al Wadi Al Akhdar, Dipasa, Carwari, Firat , A.O. Ghandour & Sons, Sesajal , Mounir Bissat , Jiva Organics, Arrowhead Mills, Ruifu, Fudafang, Shagou, Xiangyuan, Luoyang Xuetang, Yinger, San Feng Along with their company profile, growth aspects, opportunities, and threats to the market development. This report presents the industry analysis for the forecast timescale. An up-to-date industry details related to industry events, import/export scenario, market share is covered in this report. Inquire for free sample copy at https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/02261113535/global-tahini-market-insights-forecast-to-2025/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=3 GLOBAL Tahini MARKET CATEGORISED ON BASIS OF TYPES, APPLICATIONS AND REGIONS Global Tahini Market: Type Segment Analysis Hulled Tahini Unhulled Tahini Global Tahini Market: Applications Segment Analysis Paste & Spreads Halva & Other Sweets Sauces & Dips REGIONAL ANALYSIS FOR Tahini MARKET: For comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the global Tahini market is analyzed across key geographies namely: United States, Europe, China, Japan, Other Regions. Each of these regions is analyzed on basis of market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market. We Offer 15% Customization on the Report covering additional 3 countries or 3 Companies in the report + We also offer FREE POST SALES SUPPORT FOR 6 MONTHS from the date of Purchase of the report The report has 124 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/02261113535/global-tahini-market-insights-forecast-to-2025?source=releasewire&Mode=3 PIVOTAL BENEFITS OF Tahini MARKET REPORT The Tahini report provides an in-depth evaluation of market driving factors and the growth limitations. Individual market revenue of main territories in every region is portrayed in this report. It consists of a comprehensive analysis of recent research and technological and clinical developments occur in the market. Leading players of Tahini market and their commercial growth in recent years is conferred in the report. AVAILABLE CUSTOMIZATIONS Customize given market data, according to the companys specific needs. Data information by region, company, type and application Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players. Regional and country-level analysis of the Tahini market, by end-use Connect to Our Sales Team at (sales@marketinsightsreports.com) About MarketInsightsReports MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated market research on industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. MarketInsightsReports provides global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. Contact Us: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) - Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/03/2019 -- GLOBAL WATER BASED NAIL POLISH MARKET SIZE, STATUS AND FORECAST 2019-2025 studies the latest industry trends, market development aspects, market gains, and industry scenario during the forecast period. The report provides the details related to fundamental overview, development status, latest advancements, market dominance and market dynamics. Leading Companies - OPI, Zotos Accent, Maybelline, Dior, Chanel, ORLY, ANNA SUI, Revlon, Sally Hansen, Missha, CND, Butter London, Kiko, COSMAY, Nails Inc, Essie, LOreal, Bobbi Brown, Nars, Rimmel, China Glaze Along with their company profile, growth aspects, opportunities, and threats to the market development. This report presents the industry analysis for the forecast timescale. An up-to-date industry details related to industry events, import/export scenario, market share is covered in this report. Inquire for free sample copy at https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/02281118078/global-water-based-nail-polish-market-insights-forecast-to-2025/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=3 GLOBAL WATER BASED NAIL POLISH MARKET CATEGORISED ON BASIS OF TYPES, APPLICATIONS AND REGIONS Global Water Based Nail Polish Market: Type Segment Analysis Transparent Color Single-color Multi-color Global Water Based Nail Polish Market: Applications Segment Analysis Nail Art Institutions Individuals Other REGIONAL ANALYSIS FOR WATER BASED NAIL POLISH MARKET: For comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the global Water Based Nail Polish market is analyzed across key geographies namely: United States, Europe, China, Japan, Other Regions. Each of these regions is analyzed on basis of market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market. We Offer 15% Customization on the Report covering additional 3 countries or 3 Companies in the report + We also offer FREE POST SALES SUPPORT FOR 6 MONTHS from the date of Purchase of the report The report has 127 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/02281118078/global-water-based-nail-polish-market-insights-forecast-to-2025?source=releasewire&Mode=3 PIVOTAL BENEFITS OF WATER BASED NAIL POLISH MARKET REPORT The Water Based Nail Polish report provides an in-depth evaluation of market driving factors and the growth limitations. Individual market revenue of main territories in every region is portrayed in this report. It consists of a comprehensive analysis of recent research and technological and clinical developments occur in the market. Leading players of Water Based Nail Polish market and their commercial growth in recent years is conferred in the report. AVAILABLE CUSTOMIZATIONS Customize given market data, according to the companys specific needs. Data information by region, company, type and application Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players. Regional and country-level analysis of the Water Based Nail Polish market, by end-use Connect to Our Sales Team at (sales@marketinsightsreports.com) About MarketInsightsReports MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated market research on industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. MarketInsightsReports provides global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. Contact Us: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) - Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/02/2019 -- The global Wood TV Cabinet market has been garnering remarkable momentum in the recent years. The steadily escalating demand due to improving purchasing power is projected to bode well for the global market. QY Research's latest publication, offers an insightful take on the drivers and restraints present in the market. It assesses the historical data pertaining to the global Wood TV Cabinet market and compares it to the current market trends to give the readers a detailed analysis of the trajectory of the market. A team subject-matter experts have provided the readers a qualitative and quantitative data about the market and the various elements associated with it. The research report is broken down into chapters, which are introduced by the executive summary. It's the introductory part of the chapter, which includes details about global market figures, both historical and estimates. The executive summary also provides a brief about the segments and the reasons for the progress or decline during the forecast period. The insightful research report on the global Wood TV Cabinet market includes Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis to understand the factors impacting consumer and supplier behavior. Request a Sample of this report at: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/978301/Global-Wood TV Cabinet-Industry-Analysis-Report The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Wood TV Cabinet Market Research Report: DeFehr,Alphason,BDI,Optimum,Munari,Schnepel,Simpli Home,Baxton Studio,Sonax,Furinno,Winsome Wood Regions Covered in the Global Wood TV Cabinet Market: ?The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) ?North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) ?South America (Brazil etc.) ?Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) ?Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) The scope of the Report: The report segments the globalWood TV Cabinet market on the basis of application, type, service, technology, and region. Each chapter under this segmentation allows readers to grasp the nitty-gritties of the market. A magnified look at the segment-based analysis is aimed at giving the readers a closer look at the opportunities and threats in the market. It also address political scenarios that are expected to impact the market in both small and big ways. The report on the global Wood TV Cabinet market examines changing regulatory scenario to make accurate projections about potential investments. It also evaluates the risk for new entrants and the intensity of the competitive rivalry. Ask our Expert if You Have a Query at: enquiry@qyresearch.com Strategic Points Covered in TOC: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Wood TV Cabinet market Chapter 2: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Wood TV Cabinet market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products Chapter 3: Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales Chapter 4: Presenting global Wood TV Cabinet market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions Purchase the Global Magnetic Latex Mattress Market Report at: https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/c1e0842a3b56deeaf8f96b9fc8788cf3,0,1,Global%20Wood%20TV%20Cabinet%20Industry%20Depth%20Survey%20Report%202019 Contact US QY Research, INC. USA: +1 6262 952 442 China: +86 1082 945 717 Japan: +81 9038 009 273 India: +91 9766 478 224 Emails enquiry@qyresearch.com Egypt's prosecutor-general Nabil Sadek summoned on Sunday the head of Railways Authority and other top officials for questioning as part of the investigation into the deadly train crash that took place in Cairo's Ramses Station on Wednesday. The crash, which left 22 people dead and dozens injured, prompted Transport Minister Hesham Arafat to resign on the same day. On Thursday, the prosecutor-general ordered on the detention of six people for four days pending investigation into their involvement in the deadly. Those detained include the drivers and drivers assistants of the two locomotive engines involved in the crash. Search Keywords: Short link: French Rafale jets have arrived at an Egyptian air base to conduct a joint military exercise with Egyptian air forces, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced. According to the Egyptian Armed Forces' statement on the drill, the joint exercise is the first of its kind involving Rafale jets to bolster security and stability in the region. The several-day aerial drill comes in support of Egyptian-French distinguished military ties, the statement added. The joint military training included a number of lectures on pre-flight tasks to unify military concepts and exchange experience between the two countries' participating troops. The drill also included carrying out several combat sorties and training on different combat methods, in addition to carrying out a joint air operation to defend vital targets and attack hostile targets. The French side lauded technical and practical skills shown by Egyptian troops in dealing with the multi-purpose Rafael jets in record time. The military exercise was attended by the commander of the Egyptian air forces Air Marshal Mohamed Abbas, the deputy of the French ambassador in Cairo and the French military attache in Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: Press Release March 3, 2019 ANGARA HOPEFUL FOR STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT BILL ENACTMENT BEFORE SUMMER VACATION Reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara has expressed hope that the bill seeking to institutionalize and expand the 20-percent student fare discount to include air and sea transport will be passed into law before students return to their home provinces for the school summer vacation. Angara said the proposed discount would make the summer break more enjoyable and economical for students and their families, especially those who work hard and regard travel as a necessity rather than a luxury. "Students need not have to wait for promo fares. They should be given a regular discount on air and boat fares as they return to their home provinces for their summer vacation, starting this April," said the senator, who is running under the platform "Alagang Angara." Angara, who has been pushing for a student fare discount law since he became a member of the House of Representatives, authored and sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 1597 to expand the coverage of the student fare discount to air, water and trail transport all year round, including weekends and holidays. In the present 17th Congress, Angara chaired the Senate Subcommittee on Education that heard and sponsored the committee report on the student fare discount bill. The Senate approved the bill on third and final reading as early as October last year, while the House of Representatives passed its own version only last month. Angara was part of the bicameral conference committee and sponsored its report in the Senate. The enrolled bill will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte's signature once signed by officials of the Senate and the House. Under the circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, students get 20 percent discount on land transport like jeepneys and buses. But by making the student fare discount permanent and year-round, Angara said, it would lessen the hardship of parents in sending their children to school as it would cut down their transportation expenses. "A few pesos or centavos saved from the fare discount can be used for other school requirements," he pointed out. According to the lawmaker, more than 20 million public and private students stand to benefit from the institutionalized student fare discount. "This is especially more significant to the indigent and underprivileged sector that rely on public transport services," said Angara, a known advocate of educational reforms and one of the authors of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which guarantees free tuition and other miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges. Under the proposed student fare discount law, all Filipino students--from elementary to college, as well as those enrolled in technical-vocation schools--would be entitled to a 20-percent discount on buses, jeepneys, taxis tricycle, transport network vehicle services or TNVS, MRT, LRT, and airline and passenger ships upon presentation of their duly issued school ID or current validated enrollment forms. Students may avail of the discount on regular fares not only during school days and summer classes, but also on Saturday and Sunday, Christmas break, Lenten break, semestral break and school summer vacation. Angara has been filing the measure since the 14th Congress during his second term as representative of the lone district of Aurora province. He first filed it under House Bill (HB) 147 in July 2007. After it failed to pass in the 14th Congress, Angara refiled the bill in the next congresses--HB 90 in 2010, SB 203 in 2013 and SB 945 in 2016. Angara served as Aurora congressman for three terms since 2004 prior to being elected for a six-year term in the Senate in 2013. Press Release March 3, 2019 Duterte like 'Pontius Pilate' for death threat vs Catholic clergy - De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has slammed Mr. Duterte for washing his hands like Pontius Pilate for denying any hand in the reported death threats against members of the Catholic clergy. De Lima, a human rights and social justice champion, said she doubts that Mr. Duterte could be trusted that he would not want any harm to happen on Catholic bishops and priests, notably on Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David. "Duterte is not fooling anyone with his Pontius Pilate act. As it is for the victims of the drug war, when men of the cloth become the targets of Duterte's assassins, it will be no joking matter," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 475. "The blood of murdered priests and bishops will still be on his hands. The real tragedy here is not that more people will die, but that we did not stop the madman even after he started going after the leaders of our church," she added. Last month, Duterte has encouraged street loiterers to steal from wealthy bishops and kill them should they resist, especially those who are purportedly using the church pulpit to criticize him and his administration's all-out war on drugs. During last Sunday's campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan, Duterte denied that he has put the safety of Catholic clergy at great peril as he warned those going after them to lay off or risk becoming his enemy. De Lima, however, recalled how Duterte has repeatedly threatened to kill Catholic clergy who are opposing his administration's war on drugs that resulted in the continued spate of extrajudicial killings in the country. "In fact, the Catholic clergy was never threatened with harm by anybody until Duterte said they are better off dead. No one in this Catholic country, whether politician or ordinary citizen, ever had in his agenda the killing of bishops and priests, until Duterte started it," she said. "Only Duterte, among all the inhabitants of this country, said that the bishops deserve to be robbed and killed. The death threat came from him. His warning now that they should not be harmed can only be addressed to him," she added. According to the lady Senator from Bicol, it is worrying that Mr. Duterte's jokes "can be taken seriously by his executioners who have already reiterated the same death threats to several clergymen." Late last year, Duterte publicly threatened to cut off the head of a certain "Bishop David" - whom many identified as the Caloocan Bishop - of stealing Church funds for personal use and having drug links because of his nightly rounds around his diocese. "Strange as it may seem, the President telling himself not to carry out his threat to kill bishops is not entirely unexpected. Once again, Duterte is toying with officials of the Catholic Church with his sick jokes that can only come from a sick mind," she said. In 2018, De Lima filed Senate Bill No. 1699, also known as Human Rights Defenders Bill, which seeks to institutionalize and enforce state obligations for the protection of human rights defenders. Press Release March 3, 2019 Legarda Tells French Senators: Boracay Rehab Example of Political Will Senator Loren Legarda shared with visiting French senators the government's successful efforts to rehabilitate the island of Boracay, stressing that political will to implement laws was key to its success. On behalf of the Philippine Senate, Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and President and Founding Member of the Philippines-France Parliamentary Association, hosted a delegation of French senators in Boracay on March 2. The French delegation was composed of Senators Jacky Deromedi, Simon Sutour, Philippe Mouiller, and Jerome Durain. "I am proud to share with fellow parliamentarians from France the successful story of the rehabilitation of one of the world's most famous tourist destinations. The story of Boracay Island is an example of how our laws are effective if leaders in the Executive have the political will to implement what we legislate," said Legarda. The French senators were briefed by Boracay Inter-agency Rehabilitation Management Group General Manager Natividad Bernardino, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Asec. Manuel Felix, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Usec. Arturo Boncato on the changes that were implemented for the 6-month intensive rehabilitation of the island last year. Legarda said that among the steps taken for the Boracay Island rehabilitation include water quality testing and improvement, removal of structures, banning of pets and smoking, banning of single-use plastic and plastic bottles, proper disposal of liquid and solid waste, mangrove and seagrass reforestation, the improvement of biodiversity and wetlands, implementation of carrying capacity, and implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, which Legarda authored. "Boracay's successful rehabilitation is an example of political will, strong leadership, and cooperation among stakeholders. It is still a work in progress and much still has to be done, but it is a good start. Vigilance in the implementation of environmental laws is important," said Legarda. "Our government is taking action to do the same in other beach and tourist destinations in the country, including the Manila Bay. Aside from the strict enforcement of our environmental laws, we also need everyone's cooperation. There needs to be a change in the mindset of our citizens. We must all realize the importance of sustainable development and embrace our responsibility as stewards of our natural resources," Legarda concluded. The New Zealand dollar was slightly higher after the greenback was weighed by comments from US President Donald Trump who said the strong US dollar is hurting US competitiveness. The kiwi traded at 68.08 US cents at 8am from 67.99 US cents late Friday in New York. The trade weighted index was at 73.78 from 73.71. I want a strong dollar, but I want a dollar thats great for our country, not a dollar that is so strong that it is prohibitive for us to be dealing with other nations," Trump told the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Reuters reported. We have a gentleman in the Fed that loves quantitative tightening. We want a strong dollar, but lets be reasonable, Trump said. Mike Shirley, senior dealer at Kiwibank, said Trump's comments, coupled with some softer US manufacturing data overnight Friday, helped push the kiwi higher. However, it remains largely range bound and will continue to get pushed around by global sentiment. "It is probably likely to continue its role as a small cork in a very big sea of volatility," he said. With little domestic data this week, investors will be focused on the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate decision Tuesday. ANZ's FX/rates strategist Sandeep Parekh said that weakening house prices in Australia and concerns around US-China trade and its potential impacts on Australia "has seen the market talk up chances of the RBA reducing its cash rate." However, the labour market remains strong and may give the RBA "room to breathe for now." Shirley said markets will also be focused on US jobs data later in the week. This week's dairy trade auction may also garner some interest. The New Zealand dollar was trading at 95.94 Australian cents from 95.95, at 51.34 British pence from 51.48, at 59.80 euro cents from 59.75, at 76.09 yen from 76.05 and 4.5646 Chinese yuan from 4.5586. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NZX: LIC) Special Dividend 8th December 2021 Morning Report New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited (NZX: NZK) Market Update Scales Corporation Limited (NZX: SCL) Market update Delegat Group Limited (NZX: DGL) $333 million syndicated bank facilities 7th December 2021 Morning Report Sky Network Television Limited (NZX: SKY) Transformation accelerates - Sky raises FY22 guidance PGG Wrightson Limited (NZX: PGW) FY22 Operating EBITDA forecast to better last year Vulcan Steel Limited (NZX: VSL) Trading Update & Earnings Upgrade 6th December 2021 Morning Report British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Sunday that a peace process in Yemen's main port city "could be dead within weeks" without more committed effort from both sides. The agreement to implement a troop withdrawal in Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions facing famine, by Jan. 7 was intended to clear the way for wider negotiations to end the four-year war but progress has been slow. "We are now in last chance saloon for the Stockholm peace process," Hunt said in a statement during a visit to Yemen. "The process could be dead within weeks if we do not see both sides sticking to their commitments in Stockholm." Search Keywords: Short link: As India and Pakistan seemingly dial down hostilities that brought the arch enemies to the brink of another war, a massive crackdown on militancy in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region is killing both militants and security personnel in big numbers. At the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the nuclear-armed neighbors, there was relative calm in the past 24 hours, their armies said on Sunday. The exchange of fire in the past few days has killed seven people on the Pakistani side and four on the Indian side, though the release of a downed Indian fighter pilot by Pakistan on Friday night has helped de-escalate tensions. By and large the LoC was calm last night but you never know when it will become active again, said Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, a minister in Pakistani Kashmir. Tension still prevails. Indian warplanes carried out air strikes on Tuesday inside northeast Pakistans Balakot on what New Delhi called militant camps. Islamabad denied any such camps existed, as did some villagers in the area when Reuters visited. Nevertheless, Pakistan retaliated on Wednesday with its own aerial mission in a show of force. The countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. In Indian-ruled Kashmir, troops on Sunday shot dead two militants after a three-day gun battle that also killed five security force personnel, taking the total death toll to 25 in the past two weeks. The fresh anti-militancy drive was launched after a Kashmiri suicide bomber, a member of a Pakistan-based militant group, killed 40 Indian paramilitary police on Feb. 14. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also come down hard on separatist groups operating in Kashmir, including by banning the Jamaat-e-Islami party, two of whose clerics were detained in raids on Saturday night. On Sunday residents observed a shutdown in South Kashmirs Tral area against the detentions. Shops were closed and traffic was off the roads in the area, and a protest march took place. Indian authorities have arrested more than 300 Jamaat leaders and activists in the past two weeks, accusing the group of supporting attempts to carve out an Islamic State out of India by destabilizing the government. Amit Shah, the president of Indias ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party that faces a general election by May, told an election rally that the government has made it clear to the separatists that if they want to live in India, they will have to speak the language of India, not Pakistans. The government, however, has come under pressure from the opposition to share proof that a very large number of militants were killed in air strikes inside Pakistan this week, after doubts were raised there were any casualties in the attack. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, one of Modis top lieutenants, said on Saturday no security agencies ever share operational details and dismissed suggestions that the escalation in tensions with Pakistan had anything to do with domestic politics ahead of the election. Pollsters expect the ruling party to benefit from the nationalistic passion sweeping the country. Search Keywords: Short link: High steaks: Meaty differences at Trump-Kim summit Hanoi, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 Sanctions and nuclear plants are not the only bones of contention between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un: while the US president likes his steaks well done, the North Korean leader has rarer tastes. Paul Smart, the executive chef at the Metropole hotel in Hanoi, worked closely with two of the North Korean leader's personal chefs on the meals prepared during the two-day summit. An intimate dinner on the first day featured marinated tender sirloin served with kimchi-stuffed pear, but the principals missed out on a foie gras and snow fish lunch as negotiations over the North's weapons programmes and international sanctions ground to a halt. The team had strict instructions on how to prepare the meat, Smart said. "Kim had medium-rare to rare, very rare," he told AFP. "And Trump had well done." The US president is known for his simple culinary tastes, but Kim's preference for bloodier meat showed an appreciation for quality, Smart said. "He really likes to dine and experience cuisine for what it is." According to his chefs -- both of them called Kim -- the North Korean leader has expensive tastes, Smart added. "He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine." Each side in the Metropole kitchen prepared dishes of its own, with the North Koreans bringing all their own ingredients -- including the steaks, carried in a chilled metal container on board Kim's train. The beef was "very natural and marbled, very red", Smart said, suggesting that -- as with Japanese wagyu -- cattle may be allowed to roam free in North Korea. But aside from ox-drawn carts, bovines are a rare sight in the North Korean countryside. The impoverished country consistently fails to produce enough food to feed itself and according to the United Nations, more than 10 million people -- around 40 percent of the population -- need food aid. But for those who can afford it, there is an increasing number of coffee shops in Pyongyang, where restaurants offer cuisines ranging from Western to Japanese. - Sanctions breach? - Trump previously stayed at the Metropole during a state visit in 2017 -- in the $4,800 a night top suite -- when Smart stocked the freezer in his room with six tubs of vanilla ice cream to ensure his sweet tooth could be satisfied. On Wednesday Trump ate every last morsel of his chocolate lava cake dessert, while the main course was almost certainly the first time the US president has consumed North Korean beef. For an ordinary American citizen eating a steak provided by the North Korean leader could potentially violate the sanctions Washington has imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes. In June 2016, the US Treasury designated Kim and other North Korean officials as subject to sanctions for their roles in human rights abuses by the North. Under Section 6 of Executive Order 13722, the legislation, which applied to Kim, US citizens are barred from receiving "goods" from any sanctioned person. But as US president on official business, the rule does not apply to Trump himself: another clause says that transactions "for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government" are not prohibited. - Shrimp cocktail - Sniffer dogs were brought in to sweep the kitchen ahead of the summit, and food samplers from both sides tasted each dish before it went out to the Metropole tables. "Everything was individually wrapped, it was very hygienically packed and everything," Smart said of the North Korean supplies. "They even brought a little alcohol swab to swab down their knives, swab down their chopping boards. In a clinical way they prepared the food very nicely." The two chefs were talented and "very nice", the Australian added, and "very intrigued by the way that we're doing things and the style that we're cooking". They had one culinary blind spot: they had never before seen a shrimp cocktail, the 1980s American classic which Trump requested for the opening dinner. "They were really intrigued by the taste" of thousand island dressing, Smart said. "So I gave them the recipe and they took it home with them." In return, they explained how to make kimchi, the fermented cabbage side dish that is a mainstay of Korean cuisine. For lunch on the summit's second day, the North Koreans were responsible for the apple foie gras jelly appetisers -- again providing their own ingredients, and carving long-beaked birds of out of a white seaweed jelly for presentation. "It was really kind of a masterpiece," Smart said. They were laid out on the table, but the leaders never sat down as the summit deadlocked over Washington's demand the North close its Yongbyon nuclear complex and Pyongyang's desire for relief from UN Security Council sanctions. The leaders left without a signing ceremony or the scheduled meal, to the disappointment of the culinary team. Instead, hotel staff ate Smart's main course of grilled snow fish, roasted vegetables and rice pilaf. "It was delicious," said Anthony Slewka, Metropole's sales and marketing director -- and the hotel is now considering offering guests the same menu. Britain is likely to be forced into delaying its March 29 exit from the European Union if parliament rejects Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal later this month, junior justice minister Rory Stewart told Sky News on Sunday. May has promised to bring a revised deal back to parliament by March 12, and if lawmakers reject it they will be given an opportunity to vote to leave without a deal or to extend the Article 50 negotiating period. I think we would have to be forced into an extension of Article 50, Stewart said when asked which option he would chose if Mays deal is rejected. There doesnt seem to be parliamentary majority for no deal. Search Keywords: Short link: US, South Korea to end key joint military exercises Seoul, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 The US and South Korea announced Sunday an end to their annual large-scale military exercises in support of diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as provocative rehearsals for invasion. While Trump has ruled out withdrawing the troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive". During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The two allies will instead carry out "adjusted outside manoeuvre trainings and united command exercises to continue firm military readiness", Seoul's defence ministry said Sunday. The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, it added. South Korea's foreign ministry said that Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, will leave for Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun. "Lee will fly sometime this week," ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP. Lee and Biegun are expected to discuss the Hanoi summit, which failed to build on the vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula signed by Kim and Trump during their meeting in Singapore last year. - Combat readiness - Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. "Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "The South's conventional forces outclass the North's, and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added. Retired General Vincent Brooks, a former commander of US forces in South Korea who helped organise Trump's first meeting with Kim in Singapore, said last year that any end to joint training would not hinder the Pentagon's combat-readiness on the peninsula. "Perhaps we've been told for now to put our sword back into its sheath, but we have not been told to forget how to use it," he said. Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme. Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. "Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point ... would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin. US, South Korea to end key joint military exercises Seoul, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 The US and South Korea announced Sunday an end to key annual large-scale military exercises in support of diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The decision comes days after the conclusion of US President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, which ended without a formal agreement but with both sides suggesting they would keep talking. There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as provocative rehearsals for invasion. While Trump has ruled out withdrawing the troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive". During a Saturday phone call between South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Patrick Shanahan, "both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises", according to a Pentagon statement. Foal Eagle is the biggest of the regular joint exercises held by the allies. In the past, it has involved 200,000 South Korean forces and some 30,000 US soldiers. It is accompanied by Key Resolve, a computer-simulated war game conducted by military commanders which usually begins in March and runs for about 10 days. The decision was reached to support ongoing diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearisation and ease military tensions with the North, Seoul's defence ministry said Sunday. Washington and Seoul will instead conduct "modified" drills starting Monday through to March 12, a joint military statement announced Sunday. The nine-day exercise, officially named "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance", will largely focus on joint defence manoeuvres rather than the offensive posture of the Key Resolve drill, a South Korean military official who requested anonymity told AFP. There was no indication of how many US and South Korean troops will be mobilised for the new exercise. South Korea's foreign ministry said that Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, will also leave for Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Stephen Biegun. "Lee will fly sometime this week," ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP. Lee and Biegun are expected to discuss the Hanoi summit, which failed to build on the vaguely-worded commitment to denuclearise the Korean peninsula signed by Kim and Trump during their meeting in Singapore last year. - Combat readiness - Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could impact the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula, but most analysts said such concerns were exaggerated. "Suspending or downgrading the US-South Korean drills may hurt the readiness of the two militaries, but I don't think it's going to be a serious security threat to South Korea," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "The South's conventional forces outclass the North's, and given the current situation (with the US and the existing sanctions), it's highly unlikely that Pyongyang will do anything with its nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future," he added. Retired General Vincent Brooks, a former commander of US forces in South Korea who helped organise Trump's first meeting with Kim in Singapore, said last year that any end to joint training would not hinder the Pentagon's combat-readiness on the peninsula. "Perhaps we've been told for now to put our sword back into its sheath, but we have not been told to forget how to use it," he said. Washington has sought to end long-running tensions on the peninsula and encourage North Korea to scrap its nuclear programme. Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint military drills, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. "Not downgrading or suspending the drills at this point ... would mean the involved countries are not serious" about reaching a denuclearisation accord, said University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin. White House security chief defends Trump-Kim summit Washington, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 US national security advisor John Bolton denied Sunday that last week's nuclear summit with North Korea was a failure, despite President Donald Trump coming home empty-handed. A high-stakes second meeting to strike a nuclear disarmament deal between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and Trump broke up in disarray Thursday, without even a joint statement. But Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" Trump's failure in getting commitments from Pyongyang on destroying its nuclear capability should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." The White House aide said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected." The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of the pre-meeting expectations, after critics said their initial historic meeting in Singapore -- which produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" -- was more style over substance. Others pointed to a lack of preparation, with the two sides unable to bridge the gaps between them in time. According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all the UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - In return, Pyongyang was only offering to close a portion of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple different facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downcast Trump told reporters on Thursday, adding that he would "rather do it right than do it fast." After returning to Washington, the US president tweeted Friday that his relations with Kim were "very good". "What President Trump was trying to do was look at what was possible for them overall," Bolton told CBS. "He remains optimistic this is possible. Kim Jong Un himself said in our last meeting, you know, we're going to go through many stations before we achieve this deal. The meeting in Hanoi was one such station." Bolton repeated the US position that it would help North Korea's economic progress if it committed to complete denuclearization and closing its chemical and biological weapons programs. Compounding criticism of the summit, Trump sparked a firestorm by his remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. The president said he believed Kim's claim that he didn't know what happened to 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, who died days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. After a stern rebuke from Warmbier's parents, Trump took to Twitter, insisting he held North Korea responsible for the student's death -- but without directly blaming Kim or even mentioning him. "The president's been very clear he viewed what happened to Otto Warmbier as barbaric and unacceptable," Bolton told CBS. "And I think the best thing North Korea could do right now would be to come up with a full explanation of exactly what happened to him." ft/jm White House security chief defends Trump-Kim summit Washington, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 US national security advisor John Bolton denied Sunday that last week's nuclear summit with North Korea was a failure, despite President Donald Trump coming home empty-handed. A high-stakes second meeting to strike a disarmament deal between the North's Kim Jong Un and Trump broke up in disarray Thursday in Hanoi, without even a joint statement. But Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" that Trump's failure to obtain commitments from Pyongyang on destroying its nuclear capability should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." The White House aide said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely -- or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected," Bolton added. The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of expectations, after critics said the two leaders' initial historic meeting in Singapore -- which produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" -- had yielded more style than substance. According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Still ample opportunity' - In return, Pyongyang was only offering to close a portion of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downcast Trump told reporters on Thursday, adding that he would "rather do it right than do it fast." After returning to Washington, the president tweeted Friday that his relations with Kim were "very good." A senior US official said the process was continuing and there was "still ample opportunity to talk." Bolton repeated the US position that it would help North Korea's economic progress if it committed to complete denuclearization and closing its chemical and biological weapons programs. Compounding criticism of the summit, Trump sparked a firestorm by his remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. The president said he believed Kim's claim that he didn't know what happened to 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, who died days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. After a stern rebuke from Warmbier's parents, Trump took to Twitter, insisting he held North Korea responsible for the student's death -- but without directly blaming Kim or even mentioning him. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - "The president's been very clear he viewed what happened to Otto Warmbier as barbaric and unacceptable," Bolton told CBS. "And I think the best thing North Korea could do right now would be to come up with a full explanation of exactly what happened to him." Bolton was touring the Sunday political shows the morning after the US and South Korea announced an end to key annual large-scale military exercises involving close to 30,000 US troops. The drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- with Pyongyang condemning the maneuvers as provocative rehearsals for invasion. Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint exercises, and US bombers are no longer flying over South Korea. Opponents of scrapping the drills have warned that it could affect the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula. Bolton sought to play down Saturday's announcement, however, saying nothing had changed since Singapore. "It's not like a new decision has been made," Bolton told CNN. "The president made the decision on the exercises back in the summer of last year, and those continue." ft/bbk White House security chief calls Trump-Kim summit 'success' Washington, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 US national security advisor John Bolton denied Sunday that last week's nuclear summit with North Korea was a failure, despite President Donald Trump coming home empty-handed. A high-stakes second meeting to strike a disarmament deal with the North's Kim Jong Un broke up in disarray Thursday in Hanoi, without even a joint statement. Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" Trump's failure to obtain commitments from Pyongyang on destroying its nuclear capability should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." He said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely -- or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected," Bolton added. The summit's collapse followed the leaders' historic meeting in Singapore that produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Seat of its pants' - In return, Pyongyang was offering only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump said on Thursday, adding that he would "rather do it right than do it fast." The president added Friday that his relations with Kim were "very good," and a senior US official said the process was continuing, with "still ample opportunity to talk." Bolton's evocation of progress was dismissed by leading Democrats, however, including House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, who described the Hanoi meeting as a "spectacular failure." "The president did give up a great deal, by going to that summit, by enhancing Kim Jong Un's prestige on the world stage, by giving up those military exercises in the last summit and getting nothing for it," Schiff told CBS. "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kinds of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and is essentially flying by the seat of its pants." Much of the criticism of the summit was sparked by Trump's remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - The president said he believed Kim's claim that he didn't know what happened to 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, who died days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. Bolton said Trump had been clear that Warmbier's death was "barbaric and unacceptable," although Schiff countered that the president's "obsequious comments" had compounded the summit's failure. Bolton was touring the Sunday political shows the morning after the US and South Korea announced an end to key annual large-scale military exercises. The maneuvers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- condemned by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for war. Since the Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint exercises, and US bombers no longer fly over South Korea. Opponents of scrapping the drills warn that it could affect the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula. Bolton sought to play down Saturday's announcement, however, saying the policy remained unchanged since Singapore. ft/bbk White House security chief calls Trump-Kim summit 'success' Washington, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 US national security advisor John Bolton denied Sunday that last week's nuclear summit with North Korea was a failure, despite President Donald Trump coming home empty-handed. A high-stakes second meeting to strike a disarmament deal with the North's Kim Jong Un broke up in disarray Thursday in Hanoi, without even a joint statement. Bolton told CBS's "Face the Nation" that Trump's failure to obtain commitments from Pyongyang on destroying its nuclear capability should be seen as "a success, defined as the president protecting and advancing American national interests." He said the issue was whether North Korea would accept what the president called "the big deal" -- denuclearizing completely -- or something less, "which was unacceptable to us." "So the president held firm to his view. He deepened his relationship with Kim Jong Un. I don't view it as a failure at all when American national interests are protected," Bolton added. The summit's collapse followed the leaders' historic meeting in Singapore that produced only a vague commitment from Kim to work "toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. - 'Seat of its pants' - In return, Pyongyang was offering only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities -- and the North is believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho however disputed the US account, saying Pyongyang offered to dismantle all "nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area" in exchange for partial sanctions relief. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump said on Thursday, adding that he would "rather do it right than do it fast." The president added Friday that his relations with Kim were "very good," and a senior US official said the process was continuing, with "still ample opportunity to talk." Bolton's evocation of progress was dismissed by leading Democrats, however, including House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, who described the Hanoi meeting as a "spectacular failure." "The president did give up a great deal, by going to that summit, by enhancing Kim Jong Un's prestige on the world stage, by giving up those military exercises in the last summit and getting nothing for it," Schiff told CBS. "This is, I think, the result of a president who is not prepared for these kinds of negotiations, a staff that is not well-prepared and is essentially flying by the seat of its pants." Much of the criticism of the summit was sparked by Trump's remarks on the case of an American student tortured and left in a coma in North Korea. - 'Barbaric and unacceptable' - The president said he believed Kim's claim that he didn't know what happened to Otto Warmbier, who died at age 22 days after being sent back to the United States in 2017. Bolton said Trump had been clear that Warmbier's death was "barbaric and unacceptable," although Schiff countered that the president's "obsequious comments" had compounded the summit's failure. Bolton was touring the Sunday political shows the morning after the US and South Korea announced an end to key annual large-scale military exercises. The maneuvers have been a perennial target of North Korean fury -- condemned by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for war. Trump has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises and, since 2017's Singapore summit, the US and Seoul have scaled back or scrapped several joint exercises. "The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed," Trump tweeted Sunday. "That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" Opponents of scrapping the drills warn that it could affect the combat readiness of the combined US and South Korean forces and hand the North a strategic advantage on the divided peninsula. Bolton sought to play down Saturday's announcement, however, saying the policy remained unchanged since Singapore. ft/wd C.Africa armed group says govt failing to honour peace commitments Bangui, Central African Republic, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2019 One of the Central African Republic's main armed groups on Sunday accused Bangui of failing to honour "its commitments" under a peace deal signed in February by forming a new government without changes to the main ministries. The authorities had shown "bad faith, amateurism and incompetence", Noureddine Adam, head of the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC), said in a statement. "The president (Faustin Archange Touadera) has just snuffed out the hope of the Central African people in the Khartoum peace agreement," he added. The group's political leader said it would "not take part in this government charade", without elaborating further. A new government was formed earlier on Sunday -- in accordance with the deal which called for an "inclusive government" -- but with all the main ministers remaining in post. The peace deal was agreed in Sudan between the Bangui government and the 14 CAR armed groups controlling most of the territory in the strife-scarred country. The agreement called for a series of confidence-building measures, such as establishing joint patrols and the creation of a truth and justice commission within 90 days. The pact was the eighth since 2012 in the mineral-rich country. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Former colonial ruler France intervened militarily under a UN mandate, pushing the Seleka from power, and a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSCA, was established to help restore stability. Despite elections in 2016, the country is still engulfed in regular clashes. The armed groups control about 80 percent of the CAR. The conflict has left thousands dead and forced a quarter of the population of 4.5 million from their homes. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Berlin, March 3, 2019 (SPS) - At the invitation of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, the Sahrawi negotiating delegation will hold consultations with Mr. Koehler in German capital Berlin from Monday to Tuesday. The consultations come in the context of Mr. Koehler's efforts aimed at activating the United Nations-sponsored political process in Western Sahara. In his briefing to the Security Council on 29 January, the UN Secretary-General Personal Envoy of had announced his intention to invite the parties to the conflict, the POLISARIO Front and Morocco, to hold private consultations with him to discuss several issues related to the political process and to prepare for the second round of talks in Geneva this month. The POLISARIO Front had assured through its representative to the United Nations, Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar, of its strong and continued support for Mr. Kohler's endeavors and its constant readiness to engage in a constructive and serious spirit in the negotiating process under the auspices of the United Nations with a view to achieving a peaceful, just and lasting solution that will guarantee the Sahrawi people their inalienable and inalienable right to self-determination and independence in line with relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA Egypts top cigarette maker Eastern Company SAE shares were up 5 percent at opening on Egypt stock exchange after share offer to reach 17.50 Egyptian pounds($1.00) per share. The company sold 95 percent of the shares on offer in the private sale and will sell the remainder at a public offer that begins on Sunday. The Egyptian government had been planning to launch a programme of sales in state companies last October by selling 4.5 percent of Eastern Company. The total amount of the IPO will not exceed 1.635 billion pounds. Sundays trading comes nearly a week after the cigarette making monopoly said it will be offering 4.5 percent of the shares of Eastern Tobacco to the stock market, with 95 percent in a private offering, and 5 percent for public offering. This comes under a 2018 state launched programme to sell stakes in state-owned companies under strengthening the Egyptian capital market and attracting more liquidity to the Egyptian stock exchange. Under the programme, dozens state-owned companies will offer shares over the next three to five years in sectors such as oil, services, chemicals, shipping, marine services and real estate, to help support the state's public finances. The programme will also see shares offered in Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company, Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals Industries Company, and Heliopolis Company For Housing and Development. The last public offering of state-owned companies was in 2005 when shares of Telecom Egypt, AMOC and Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Company were sold. Search Keywords: Short link: On today's market, we find a whole series of products deprived of their malignant property: coffee without caffeine, cream without fat, beer without alcohol, and the list goes on. by Slavoj Zizek What a surprise! After Bernie Sanders announced his bid for the US presidency, attacks on him instantly arose from all sides. They came not only from President Trump, who referred to him as a "wacko," nor the usual bunch of conservative commentators who proposed dozens of variations on the motif "You want Sanders as president? Look at Venezuela today!" The smears also came from his more centrist Democratic Party opponents. And reading these barbs, one is immediately overwhelmed by a feeling of deja vu. Because we have lived through this situation before, in the time of the Democratic primaries contested between Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Arguably, the Clinton campaign against Sanders reached its lowest point when, campaigning for Hillary, Madeline Albright said: "There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other!" (Meaning: females voting for Sanders instead of Clinton.) Now maybe we should amend this statement: there is a special place in hell for women (and men) who think half a million dead children is an acceptable price for a military intervention that ruins a country (as Albright said in support of the massive bombing of Iraq back in 1996), while wholeheartedly supporting women's rights and gay rights at home. Is Albright's worldview not infinitely more obscene and lewd than all Trump's sexist banalities? We are not yet there, but we are slowly approaching it. Strong principles Liberal attacks on Sanders for his alleged rejection of identity politics returned from the dead again, ignoring that Sanders is doing the exact opposite, insisting on a link between class, race and gender. One has to support him unconditionally when he rejects identity in itself as a reason to vote for someone: "It is not good enough for somebody to say, I'm a woman, vote for me. What we need is a woman who has the guts to stand up to Wall Street, to the insurance companies, to the drug companies, to the fossil fuel industry." As expected, for this very statement, Sanders was attacked as a white male chauvinist advocating "class reductionism." Indeed, don't be surprised if it will be soon denounced as an expression of toxic masculinity. If we disregard straight lies (like the claim, proven false, that the young Sanders did not work with Martin Luther King in the civil rights struggle), the strategy of those who privilege Warren over Sanders is a rather simple one. First, they claim that the difference between their respective economic programs is minimal and negligible. (One is tempted to add here: yes, minimal, like the fact that Sanders proclaims himself a democratic socialist, while Warren insists she is a capitalist to her bones... It is sad to hear Elisabeth Warren declaring herself a "capitalist to the bones" when even top corporate managers like Bill Gates, Elon Musk or Mark Zuckenberg talk about how capitalism, at least the way it functions now, cannot survive.) Muddying waters Then, critics claim that in contrast to Sanders' exclusive focus on economic injustice, Warren also brings in gender and race injustices, so her advantage over Sanders is clear: only Warren can unite a broad progressive front against Trump. Ultimately, critics of Sanders end up with a kind of electoral affirmative action: Sanders is a man and Warren a woman. Thus, two key facts get obfuscated here: the democratic socialist of Sanders is much more radical than Warren, who remains firmly within the Democratic establishment. Plus it is simply not true that Sanders ignores racial and gender struggles he just brings out the link with economic struggle. Warren is not, as her defenders claim, a third way between centrist Democrats and Democratic Socialists, the synthesis of what is best in race/gender identity politics and in the struggle for economic justice. No, she is just Hillary Clinton with a slightly more human face. Even defenders of Warren admit that her claim to Native American roots was a mistake but was it really just an innocent mistake? The Cherokee Nation's secretary of state, Chuck Hoskin Jr, responded to the test showing Warren was between 1/64th and 1/1,024th Native American: "A DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship. Current DNA tests do not even distinguish whether a person's ancestors were indigenous to North or South America." Hoskin was right, and what one should add is that to prove that you have a little bit of exotic ancestry is to legitimize your popular roots it has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual fight against racism. However, the main point is that Warren applied for a "progressive" cause, using the same procedure that the Nazis applied to identify those with suspected Jewish blood. On today's market, we find a whole series of products deprived of their malignant property: coffee without caffeine, cream without fat, beer without alcohol, and the list goes on. What about virtual sex as sex without sex and what about the contemporary politics the art of expert administration as politics without politics? Do "Leftist" Democrats attacking Sanders not offer something similar socialism without socialism, deprived of the features that make it a threat to the establishment? Slavoj Zizek is a cultural philosopher. Hes a senior researcher at the Institute for Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Ljubljana and Global Distinguished Professor of German at New York University. by Anwar A Khan Death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind Poet John Donne Good, kind, decent, insightful: these are the adjectives most frequently can be used to describe Shah Alamgir, a veteran newsman of Bangladesh who suddenly passed away on 28 February 2019 at the age of 62. He was measured, reassuring, organised and efficient. For all his achievements, I, being like his elder brother and friend, admire him most. More than four decades ago, Shah Alamgir and Mozammel Haque (former DGM, BKB), both are classmates and friends of the Bengali Department of Dhaka University became resident students of Sergeant Zohurul Hoque Hall, Dhaka and took abode in Room No. 327 with me. I was then a student of Masters class. They just admitted into the DU as first year B.A. Honours class. They were then serious student leaders of Chhatra Union (Matia Group). As their elder brother, I always received highest regards from Alamgir unto his death. Mozammel has always been more advance in showing respect to me. Yesterday morning, Mozammel broke this very sad news to me over phone and he was about to weep to tell me many things about him. He was completely broken down while communicating this sad news to me. I was then too busy otherwise, but I could not bear this unendurable death news of my younger brother like Alamgir. Once upon a time, while I was a student, somebody told me not to be filled with melancholy in the morning time, but the whole day of mine passed away with deep mentation about Alamgir. Grief is a deeply physical as well as psychological trauma. In the aftermath, we experience shock and often deep anxiety and guilt, as the part of the brain that copes with our readiness for fighting goes into overdrive: our brain releases a higher-than-usual level of cortisone, which also lowers our immune systems (hence all the stories of people "dying of grief"). An over-stimulated nervous system wreaks havoc on our ability to understand and react to the world. So grief can seem endless, formless, and painful; physically as well as mental debilitating. I was so shocked that I am not feeling well as yet. He was born in Brahmanbaria district, but due to his father's job, he spent a large part of his life in greater Mymensingh. I hail from Kishoreganj District (Kishoreganj town which was once a part of greater Mymensingh District). If I look back, I always found him in beamish face, exhibiting courtesy, politeness and benignancy. If I made a phone call to him, he made several phone calls to enquire about my well-being showing extraordinary respectfulness. After Bangabandhu Mujibs brutal murder in 1975, both Alamgir and Mozamme could clearly fathom that Bangladesh would lose its glorious spirits that we achieved through our Liberation War in 1971. Along with other Chharta Union activists risking their life, they in disguise pasted protested words on the walls of the DU campus and elsewhere of the country to raise voice against the killer military regime days after days in the darkness of the nights. They toured the whole country to organise students and people against this dark episode of our history to bring back the values for which Bangladesh was fought and attained in 1971. Those days were so struggling for them under the barbarous military rule, but they all carried forward their mission ceaselessly. I am a witness of their struggles which they went on taking all hardships with diligence. In countrys journalism arena, Shah Alamgir walked through with all his powerfulness, but without any proud-fullness. His journalism career started from his student life. He started his journalism through joining the first child-teen weekly Kishore Bangla. He worked as co-editor here from 1980 to 1984. Then he worked Dainik Janata, Banglar Bani, Daily Azad and Daily Sangbad. He was involved with the Prothom Alo from 1 November 1998 to September 2001, he served as joint editor. Then he started working on television media. After that he worked Channel I as Chief News Editor, Ekushey Television as Head of News, Jamuna Television as Director (News), and Macharanga Television as Head of the news. Along with journalism Alamgir served as president and general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists. He is also the President of Children's Welfare Council and Children's National Institutes Chader Hat. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Shishu Academy. Prior to joining Press Institute of Bangladesh in 2013 as its Director General, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Editor of the Asian Television. He was laurelled with awards like Poet Abu Jafar Obaidullah literature award, 2006, Chandraboti gold medal, 2005, Rotary Dhaka South vocational excellence award, 2004, Cumilla Youth Samity award, 2004 and Rotary International Life Achievement award, 2016 because of his commendable chores. When I did office at a large private business house at Sena Kalyan Bhaban, Motijheel Area, Dhaka during the time of 19991 to 1999, he frequently came to see me there. We discussed on many things including the countrys politics. Since he was a newsman and did politics whole-heartedly, he expressed his opinions freely based on strong logic and truth. I used to enjoy his conversations with deep attention. When Alamgir was with Macharanga Television as its Head of the news, on my way back to Mohakhali office after seeing-off a foreign friend of mine at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, I suddenly visited Macharanga Television office. Once he came to know my presence at their premises, he immediately came down and received me with all his warmth, took me to his chamber, offered me with coffee and biscuits with all his hospitality. He was so happy to see me at his office that I cant now express in appropriate words. We passed about two hours time together and discussed on many important topics. When I was leaving him, he invited me to go his house at Uttara, Dhaka. When Mozammel was Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Krishi Bank at Banani Branch office, he invited Alamgir and me to have a lunch with him at a nearby Chinese restaurant. We took lunch together, nostalgia engulfed us remembering those days of yore that we passed in the Dhaka University campus, its library premises, Sergeant Zohurul Hoque Hall, its canteen, dining hall, TV room, Suhrawardy Uddan, Bangla Academy, New Market and in many more places. I raised the question of moral degradation of some key leaders of Chhatra Union who once had high morality in politics, under whose leadership they did politics. They were aware of those leaders abasement and expressed their strong resentment against their not adhering to ethical or moral principles. Shah Alamgir was a man of high moral principles all along in life. So is Mozammel Hoque. Outstanding scholar Prof Dr. Ahmed Sharif was the Chairperson of the Bengali Department and Dean of Arts Faculty during our last part of the Dhaka University and he was canonized as the nations conscience. We revere him like anything because of his high morality, scholarly knowledge, courage and patriotism for the country. Alamgir had tutorial class with him, but he was a whole time student politician. So, he could no appear at two tutorial classes with him in time. His B.A. Honours examination was almost knocking at the door, but without those two tutorial examinations, he would not be able to sit for the examinations. Sharif Sir was very angry with him because of that reason. Sharif Sir always wanted to see that a boy or a man should be very courageous like a lion. Alamgir knew this attribute of Sir. So, he entered into the chamber of Sir and asked for taking his remaining examinations. Dr. Sharif became very furious upon him, but he liked Alamgirs spirit of boldness and finally allowed him to sit for those examinations. Later on, he shared this experience with us. Today Sharif Sir is not alive. Alamgir has left this mundane world. Where shall we keep our pains stored now? Being the DG of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Alamgir invited me politely to go his place on many occasions. I nodded. I went there several times. Every time, he received me very cordially as his elder brother. When I am writing this piece, my eyes were welling up every moment because of his humility, caring attitude and respectfulness towards me. He was an avid reader of all articles of mine which appeared in the English newspapers of both at home and abroad. He used to make comments against those articles which are of thought-provoking. I shall now miss his ever smiling face, phone calls, comments, invitations and many more things. He used to come to the TV talk-shows. I used to listen to him attentively. He was a very good debater, but he did never use any abrasive words. He politely engaged in the debate of TV talk-shows, but his logic was highly praiseworthy. I spoke to him over phone every time whenever I found him in the TV talk-shows. He was very happy with my words. After joining PIB, he could not attend at any TV talk-shows and he had tremendous sorrows for it. PM Sheikh Hasina picked up a right person for heading PIB like an institution. He did many commendable initiatives for PIB for its better image and functioning. Shah Alamgir was a decent persona in Bangladeshs journalism. Honourable President Abdul Hamid has aptly said, His (Shah Alamgir) death is an irreparable loss to the journalism of Bangladesh. His ideal and ethics will remain exemplary for the journalists." Fellow journalists were shocked and saddened by the surprise news. Most recalled him as both a talented colleague and a generous mentor, with many citing his acts of friendship and support for fellow newsmen. He is hailed as one of the best journalists of his generation "the best of the breed." Rarely does a journalist die and the world is different, but without Alamgir we will know less, and settle for less nuanced, less human truth. I am personally devastated by the loss of this brilliant, kind, inspiring man. Knowing him meant learning from the best. Shah Alamgir was the gold standard of journalism in Bangladesh because of language skills, hard work, compassion and toughness. I can't believe it. Alamgir is gone. His courage, intelligence, grace, fluency and determination to tell us the truth... unequalled. One of his friends Mujibur Rahman, a veteran freedom fighter of our glorious Liberation War of 1971, told me in his remembrance that "he found humanity amid the rubble, compassion in the tableau of violence in the persona of Alamgir. We had a lot of intimate talks during the last four decades or so. Dear Alamgir, my younger brother, do you hear me? We are mournful here for you. Please accept my fond affection. The echoes of his name have travelled the canyons of the world of Bangladesh and back, to await him in a silent grave. But the throb of our hearts will forever beat out a refrain in his memory. He was a person not easy to forget. And now he is gone. We have lost a star, a man big in stature, intellect and heart. We pray for eternal peace of the departed soul of Alamgir and express sympathy for his bereaved family members. To finish-off today, we wish to read out a few lines of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay: Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. -The End The writer is a senior citizen of Bangladesh, writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs The Windsor Street car park in Stratford-upon-Avon ITS been branded a disgrace and believe it or not the lifts at Windsor Street Car Park in Stratford-upon-Avon have not worked for around ten years. Quite simply the parking facility which was built circa 1970, might be described as being in a very sorry state. It sits on a key gateway into Stratford and a stones throw away from the birthplace of William Shakespeare in Henley Street a must see for anyone visiting the town. Come the evening when the light fades - Windsor Street Car Park becomes a dark and unwelcoming place where some strip lights remain inactive for weeks not a very reassuring environment for car park users. However, following the publication of this article in last Thursdays Herald strip lights that were out of action previously were being replaced the following day, Friday. Stratford District Council (SDC) maintains/owns 11 car parks including Windsor Street. The multi-storey in Bridgeway has won accolades and awards for its pleasant appearance and easy to negotiate parking spaces and ramps. Windsor Street, however, is the ugly sister in the portfolio which prompted Cllr Peter Moorse to say at a full of SDC on Monday: The condition of the Windsor Street Car Park is a disgrace to our town. Its a ten storey car park with no working lift. The money we are proposing investing would refresh the site, fix the pot holes and the windows, though unfortunately I dont think it would be enough to fix the lift. This area of Stratford lets us all down. Its an important point because Windsor Street could be classified as an important of Stratfords Gateway Project, the all singing all dancing dynamic plan to transform a key arterial route into the town incorporating shops, homes and new facilities which after two years hasnt moved forward at all. Cllr Tony Jefferson said: I have had one meeting with Peter Warwick (who owns much of the Gateway site) in the past nine months to try and move forward the Gateway Project, I have to say it was not successful. Clearly a source of frustration, there is a school of thought out there that mischievously suggests Windsor Street is being neglected on purpose so it can be demolished as part of The Gateway Project. A spokesperson for the district council said: There is a land option available with Gateway Limited to allow for the car park to be included in the Gateway Project with an option to purchase the car park but they are not obliged to purchase. Full story in this weeks Herald. CAPTION Faulty and broken strip lights did offer a safe and reassuring environment for car park users. However, following the publication of this article in last Thursdays Herald strip lights that were previously out of action were being replaced the following day, Friday. The 24th edition of the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium opened on 19 January and will close on 9 March This years round of the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium, which hosts 15 artists by the banks of the Nile for seven weeks, will conclude on 9 March. This round featured three Egyptian artists, four international artists, and eight workshop artists, who work on smaller granite blocks for a shorter period of time. The symposiums selection committee includes sculptors Hany Faisal and Abdalmageed Ismail. They selected projects from a pool of submissions, in an effort to curate a collection that will later be placed in Aswans Open Air Museum. If theyre lucky, the proposed projects will be both refreshing and realistic to implement in the granite stone the artists will handle. For Egyptian artists, the symposium is a rite of passage and a valuable addition to their CV. It is also a place where the world is brought to them, as they work side-by-side with international artists. For viewers, the symposium is a look into the contemporary sculpture scene. What sets this symposium apart from others is the use of granite, a valuable but challenging material to sculpt with. in1 Some of the participants are more experienced than others, some more intimidated than others, and some willing to take more risks. Some artists went for a purely geometric design, such as Egyptian artist Taha Abdelkarim. While he is interested in mixing organic with geometric shapes, his true inspiration comes from movement, which he always tries to capture in its different forms. He presents a very geometric piece depicting two wheels of a machine, carved into a single large horizontal rose block. One wheel is larger than the other, and they are connected with a belt that unifies their motion. We can imagine the movement as we picture how the wheels will move together. The parts of the structure are on different layers, making the work engaging from all angles. Abdelkarim chose the wheels as a symbol for the rigorous movement found in production factories. In contrast, Egyptian artist Alaa Yahia presents a purely organic form, in three parts. From the granite she sculpts curves which, despite the heaviness of the granite, look as though they are melting. She is developing a line of work that began in a moment of compassion while observing forms in nature that are between life and death. Its about unity with all forms of nature, and how we can relate to this ambiguous form, accept it, and even love it, she tells Ahram Online. The work is comprised of three separate pieces. Each with its own personality, one is very complex, another is very simplified, and the third is in between sharing elements from both. They are like three sisters, when displayed together they make a family in conversation, and yet each one stands her own separately. Another work in conversation with itself is that of Spanish artist Xavier Escala. Escalas interest in the human condition is apparent in his choice of figurative sculptures throughout his career. Here he presents a tall vertical piece with a 1x1 metre square base. On each side of the square we see a figure taking one step forward, so it appears that four people are walking in the tight square. The artist has named it Soliloquium, from the Latin word for soliloquy. But he says this title is just a suggestion, and the work inspires many different interpretations. The figures could be different voices in the mind of the same person, thinking and wondering. Another interpretation relates to the artists interest in time and its nature. It can be like the cycle of life, he says. Xavier believes the artist can do nothing but create the work, and then he must set it free to have its own life. Only if you are able to put some life into the work, which is a challenge in itself, he adds. Sometimes this happens naturally and the soul of the artist just naturally pours into his works, as with Austrian artist Hermann Gschaider. Gschaiders life has always been closely tied to nature: growing up in the forests of Austria, then moving to his current countryside studio in Bulgaria. He still keeps a home in the city, and his themes touch upon this contrast between fast city life, and the calm state of being in tune with nature. The human condition is my inspiration. When the human was living in nature, he was growing with it. We must make time to look around and be aware of natures cycles and ways, he says. Titled The Temple of the Time, his piece for the symposium is a surreal depiction of futuristic housing. The multiple-piece sculpture has a large square base on top of which is a triangular structure, with gaps and protrusions. With a bit of imagination we can see the green roofs that can fill the flat surfaces, we can hear the wind passing through tunnels where wind turbines can be placed. Gschaider imagines a future where mans modern life is in harmony with the forces of nature. in2 Ahmed Nabil, a young artist in the symposiums workshop, approaches the relationship of man and building in a different way. Inspired by his monochrome photographs of Alexandrias 1980s and 1990s architecture, Nabil captures the essence of the buildings geometric elements, and then reinterprets them as a figure, to make multifaceted cubist pieces. His piece, Tale of Contemporary Man, is a vertical structure with two small cubes serving as windows, and one curved edge that could reference the figure incorporated within. For granite, the design is simplified to just one block, despite his work with metal usually having more details. Granite is hard to work with, but the joy comes when the work is completed, says the artist. Other workshop artists negotiate the relationship between organic and abstract Ola El-Toukhy, for example, combines organic and geometric, while balancing a process of simplification and complexity. She presents a piece inspired by the natural biological forms of pollen grains, resembling bubbles layered up vertically. This composition is then made more complex by the addition of two horizontal rectangles. The effect is a striking contrast that draws the viewer in. While in previous years many of the symposiums artists were influenced by ancient Egyptian sculpture, this year that influence is much less apparent. However, artist Sally El-Sayed has come close with her piece depicting a scorpion, which the ancient Egyptians associated with Serket, a goddess of protection. In ancient Rome, the scorpion symbol on armour was meant to strike fear into the hearts of enemies. El-Sayed was also interested in the physical shape of the scorpion, which she finds unique. Her abstract sculpture sits low on the floor, the natural habitat of a scorpion. The emphasis is on the raised tail, the pinnacle of the scorpions power, as its high tip catches the eye. While this years symposium has offered some good works, there were some well-worn ideas and forms, particularly among the younger workshop artists. To be fair, many of them were still exploring the material and chose to play it safe with simple forms. Perhaps if they return to the symposium to work on a larger stone we see bolder, more interesting works from them. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: